First day nerves.

Chapter twenty oneLaylaThe morning sun poured through the curtains in thin gold lines, brushing across my face like a whisper. My alarm hadn’t gone off yet, but I was already wide awake. Today was the day — my first day at jewelry design school. I’d waited weeks for this moment, and now that it was finally here, a strange mix of excitement and nervousness fluttered in my chest like trapped butterflies.I pushed the blanket aside and sat up, staring at my reflection in the mirror. “You can do this, Layla,” I whispered to myself. “You deserve to be here.”After a quick shower, I changed into a cream blouse tucked neatly into a pair of high-waist trousers. I tied my hair into a ponytail and applied a touch of lip gloss — nothing fancy, just enough to make me look put together. My tote bag sat on the chair, already filled with my new sketchbook, pencils, color sets, and the mini jewelry box I’d bought earlier.Just as I was slipping on my flats, Knowing I was going to be extra busy not

Last Updated : 2025-11-08

a powerful start

Chapter twenty two We both laughed, and it instantly eased the tension in my chest.A moment later, the door opened and a tall woman walked in. Her aura demanded attention. She was elegant, with sleek black hair pinned neatly, a long cream coat, and gold-rimmed glasses that gave her the air of authority.“Good morning, everyone,” she greeted with a warm but confident smile. “I’m Professor Elara Winslet — your instructor for Fundamentals of Jewelry Design."The room went silent as she placed her bag on the front table and scanned the faces of her new students. "Since we are all new here, I'll start from the basis."“Jewelry design,” she began, “is not merely about making something beautiful. It’s about creating meaning, emotion, and connection through form, texture, and story. Every piece you design should tell a story, your story or that of someone who will wear it.”Her words struck something deep inside me. Maybe that's why I chose this dream, because it was personal. Professor El

Last Updated : 2025-11-12

Hope.

Chapter Twenty three.Layla. Time has passed, I'm three months into design school and honestly everthing has not been going as smoothly as I imagined. Design school was so difficult, I leave in the morning, come back late, work late.Everthing was so exhausting.And being Theodre's wife was not as hard as I was expecting it, he was rarely around and even if he was around he was either working in his room or wants to be alone. He rarely calls me for any event nor do I have to be introduced to anyone. I was living a good life. I was so grateful to him, the cold person I assumed he would be, yes cold but he never tells at me or even disregards me, we are just two strangers living in the same house. it was exhausting though, I really wanted to talk to him, even make friends but he's distant and he specifically told me not to dare come near him. How long can we keep up? I don't know about him but I couldn't keep up at all. I tried to but I can't control my heart. I know deep down I am m

Last Updated : 2025-11-13

Drink wife.

Chapter Twenty-FourAfter everything that happened earlier, Mia and a few other classmates insisted on dragging me out to celebrate. I wasn’t really in the mood, but Mia grabbed my arm like a determined little soldier and pulled me along anyway. Before I knew it, the group had led us to a lively restaurant-bar just a short walk from campus bright lights, loud music, the smell of sizzling food in the air.Mia and I settled at a small wooden table near the window while the others moved to the back to order snacks. She ordered food and drinks with the confidence of someone who had done this at least a hundred times.“Here,” she said with a grin, pushing a small glass toward me. The liquid inside was completely clear, like water. “Have a taste. When you want to celebrate success, this is the correct way.”I stared at the cup suspiciously. “What is that?”“Don’t worry about what it is,” she dismissed with a wave. “Just drink it. Trust me.”She lifted her own glass, counted down from three,

Last Updated : 2025-11-16

Drunk words.

Chapter Twenty-FiveThe ride home was quiet, the kind of silence that felt heavy yet oddly peaceful. Theodore drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting lightly near the gear shift, but his eyes… his eyes kept drifting toward Layla. She was slumped against the seat, her head tilted to the side, fast asleep, her breathing soft and uneven from the alcohol.Every few minutes, Theodore stole another glance at her. It annoyed him that he was worried—he shouldn’t be. She was only his wife by contract, a stranger he married under circumstances he didn’t even want to remember. But still… he checked. Just to make sure she hadn’t woken up crying or choking or doing something stupid.Traffic suddenly slowed to a crawl. Theodore sighed, leaning his head back against the seat, closing his eyes for a moment. He was exhausted. Between the meeting he postponed, the chaos at the bar, and Layla’s drunken ramblings, his mind felt cluttered and strangely loud.He hadn’t even rested for two minut

Last Updated : 2025-11-21

What changed?

Twenty-SixLaylaI tossed and turned in my bed, half-conscious, half-floating between dreams and reality. My head felt stuffed with cotton, and even the soft pillow beneath me couldn’t ease the heaviness pressing against my skull. I knew it was morning—the gentle warmth from the sun seeped into the room, brushing against my closed eyelids—but I couldn’t muster the strength to open my eyes just yet.After a few miserable minutes of fighting myself, I finally forced my eyes open. The sunlight flooded in immediately, warm and golden, and for a second I almost smiled. But then my head throbbed painfully, reminding me exactly why I felt so heavy. I winced and pressed a hand to my forehead. It truly felt like I was carrying something enormous up there.When the dizziness faded slightly, I scanned my surroundings. I was in my room. My neatly arranged vanity, the soft cream curtains, the familiar scent of lavender detergent clinging to the bedsheets—it was unmistakably mine.But… how did I ge

Last Updated : 2025-11-26