Lahat ng Kabanata ng His Lens Has No Room for Me: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

When my coworkers found out my boyfriend, Dwayne Norton, was a photographer, they were green with envy. "Oh my god! You must get the best photos so easily!""I'm so jealous. Mine still doesn't even know how to focus a camera!"I just smiled and shook my head. "He only shoots landscapes, never people."That was Dwayne's golden rule.Even on our first anniversary, when I told Dwayne I only wanted a simple souvenir photo, he still lost his temper. "My ex-girlfriend and I broke up precisely because she kept nagging me to take her picture."To keep us together, I spent the next seven years walking on eggshells, meticulously minding my words and actions, terrified of crossing his boundary.Until today, I was scrolling through social media when I saw a new post from my influencer friend, Aviana Reed."My personal photographer has been shooting me for seven years. Every single shot is a masterpiece!"The top-liked comment read, "It's an honor to shoot my muse."The profile picture was

I didn't reply.I just lay on the bed, letting the harsh glare of the overhead light sting my eyes until they watered.Back in the orphanage, Aviana had been chosen by a wealthy couple because of how pretty she was.Everyone knew that going with them meant a life a thousand times better than what we had.But Aviana refused. She wouldn't go because they wouldn't adopt me, too.That day, consumed by guilt, I had sobbed until I could barely breathe. It was Aviana who comforted me."What is there to cry about?" she had said. "We've known each other since the day we were born. We're supposed to be sisters for life."Then there was the year of our high school entrance exams. Aviana had rejected the school bully, and his admirer cornered us at the school gates."Which one of you is Aviana Reed?"I glanced at the glass bottle the woman was holding and replied, "I am."By the time Aviana found me, I was covered in blood.She shook and cried hysterically. "Are you stupid? Your hand is

The moment I stepped into the office, I was met with the mocking stares of my coworkers. "She's just bitter because Aviana has a rich and hot boyfriend. Talk about pure jealousy.""I've always said career women are trouble. Living like a nun for so long must have thrown her hormones out of balance."The office was quiet, allowing every vicious word to pierce straight through me.I said nothing. But as my gaze swept past Dwayne, a memory suddenly flashed of a time when someone had merely muttered a complaint about me, and he had immediately stepped up to defend me.Now, he didn't even look up.Instead, he pulled out his phone and posted a cease-and-desist letter on Instagram. "I will not tolerate a single person maliciously attacking or harassing my girlfriend."Attached were screenshots of the private messages Aviana had received over the past few days. They weren't nearly as vile as the insults currently being thrown at me, but Dwayne couldn't stand them.Inside the manager's o

Kathleen's POVOnce I was back in Southia, it didn't take long for my experience at Norton Group to land me a great job offer. The pay was even better than before, but most importantly, I was back where I grew up.Before my official start date, I made a trip back to the orphanage to drop off a large donation of children's books.Kids from underprivileged backgrounds had to work twice as hard just to have an ordinary life.Out of everything I had learned so far, that was the one truth I believed in the most.When I arrived, I noticed a tall, well-built man unloading supplies from a vehicle.He wasn't the cute, younger-guy type that was trending nowadays. He had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and was wearing a black tank top with cargo pants. His sharp, rugged features gave him a deeply intense, commanding presence.The orphanage director, Janae Bates, introduced us. "This is Alfie Hudson. He's been a regular donor and volunteer here for the past few years."I smiled and nodded

When I headed out the door the next day, I was wearing a newly bought floral dress. It was a bold, vibrant shade of orange-red.The sales lady at the boutique had told me it made my smooth skin pop and look incredibly radiant.I didn't know if she was telling the truth, but I didn't care.Years ago, Dwayne had glanced at my closet full of colorful clothes and scoffed. "Such cheap taste."So, in an effort to match his supposedly high-end aesthetic, I replaced my entire wardrobe with nothing but black, white, and gray.Back then, I chased after Dwayne as if he were my personal stream of light. But as I looked back now, he wasn't a light at all. He was a fire—the kind that would burn away my identity.This time around, I didn't want to live by anyone else's standard. I was done doubting and diminishing myself over other people's opinions. Even if my taste was cheap, and even if it didn't look perfect, it was mine.Just then, I received a text from Alfie. "Almost there. Take your ti