Chapter: "What Regret"“Regret,” she said with a sneer. Regret is just a euphemism for guilt. It doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t wipe the slate clean, and it definitely does not heal the mess that you made.‘Christian,’ she said softly, ‘don’t come any closer.’ He stopped, as she decided to step back from him.Phoebe flared up again and asked him: “You said you came for the truth?” “Fine. Here’s the truth, Christian. I loved you. With everything I had. And you destroyed me. You were able to make me question myself in ways that I never knew existed. And now you stand here, asking me for what? Closure? Redemption? Forgiveness?”“No,” he said firmly. All I am demanding is an opportunity to prove that I can improve.” That I am better.”She scoffed. “And you believe that one conversation is going to make a difference?” You think I can just what? Stare at you and forget the years I struggled to climb up the ladder and get a life again?“No,” he repeated again, and there was no quiver in his voice. “But I can’t
Last Updated: 2024-11-21
Chapter: Need YouChristian did not answer this for a while. He looked down, his hands were tightly bunched into fists at his sides. “I know it caused pain,” he said, his voice rising in a hoarse whisper. “I know I can’t undo that. But I can’t just let things be this way. Not anymore. If that means living with your hatred then let it be so.Phoebe only chuckled bitterly and began to pace in front of the fire. ‘Christian, you keep saying all the right things.’ Saying sorry, admitting my mistake, promising to take my anger on myself. But you don’t seem to understand. It’s not about you. Not anymore.”He stared at her with a frown on his face. “Then what is it about?”“It’s about me,” she said angrily, turning to him. ‘That’s about the years I’ve spent struggling to climb out of the pit you dug for me to fall into.’ It is about finding out how to be independent, how to live without the feeling that my chest is going to collapse. It’s about healing, or at least, about trying to put myself back together aft
Last Updated: 2024-11-21
Chapter: Believe inYouPhoebe shook her head, her arms wrapped around herself. “You don’t get it, Christian. Other people also had the same feeling as you; they were scared. I was terrified too. Of losing you, of not being good enough. But I stayed. I fought. And you didn’t.”“I know,” he said and his eyes welled up with tears. “And I hate myself for that. I wish I could have been stronger and did not leave when I did. But I’m here now, Phoebe. And I’m not running this time.”She glared at him and her eyes were red with rage, hurt and something else which she could not describe. “You say that now,” she whispered. But what happens when things get hard again? This begs the question, what happens when the cracks start to show?“They won’t,” he said firmly. “Because I’ve come to realize that running in particular does not solve anything. It just leaves a trail of broken pieces behind.”Phoebe only shook her head and a tear rolled down her face. She gently removed it as if she was embarrassed to show her weaknes
Last Updated: 2024-11-21
Chapter: “I’m confused”It’s convenient. You were waiting until you felt I was ready and powerful enough to take the news. Until you thought I didn’t need you anymore.”“That is not true,” Christian said quickly, getting up, his voice a high pitched note. “I have been taking this guilt with me every day since I left.” I did not return because of convenience. I returned because I could not continue living such a life knowing that I destroyed something that was wonderful.Phoebe whirled on her toes, glaring. “And what about me? Have you ever thought what it feels like to wake up every day with the marks you have made on others? To have to break yourself down and begin to build yourself up again from scratch just to have the one who was responsible for tearing you down appear with an apology?”“I do now,” he said quietly. “Because I do, I see it in your eyes. I hear it in your voice. And I hate myself for being the reason it’s there.”She was breathing raggedly, her hands were balled up at her sides. “You don’t
Last Updated: 2024-11-21
Chapter: Either you believe or notChristian sighed deeply and rested his hands on the table. “I am a man who wants to know how to accept what I have done. To challenge it, rather than avoiding it. To be able to admit that I can change the future but I can’t change the present and I can’t change the past.”Phoebe scoffed. ‘You really believe that taking responsibility is sufficient?’ You really believe that saying you were wrong in any of this makes it alright?”“No,” Christian said quickly. “It doesn’t make it okay. Nothing can make it okay. But it’s a start, isn’t it? A step toward being better. Towards becoming a person who does not destroy things.”Phoebe looked at her sister with her face impassive and then shook her head. “You want to be better? Good for you. But you don’t get to use me as your redemption arc. I am not some check-point on your way to self-improvement.”“I’m not asking you to be,” Christian said, his voice quiet, but commanding. I don’t need your forgiveness or your approval for anything I am doin
Last Updated: 2024-11-20
Chapter: Lingering pain“Phoebe,” he started cautiously, “I’m not here to put more load on you regarding this.” I know you didn’t want any of this and I’m not going to say that I’m so great for coming here now. But I’ve been attempting to take responsibility for my actions. And part of that means realizing how much I caused you pain.”Phoebe’s lips formed, her arms drawn tightly around her in the manner of a shield. “It does not heal the wound, Christian.” Oh do you think that knowing you regret it will give me back the time I lost? The trust I lost? The parts of me that had to be reconstructed?”“No,” replied Christian, who now looked ashamed. “I don’t. And I’m not asking you to forget what I did or even forgive me. I just had to tell you that… I can see it now. I can now understand how self-centered I was and how unable to notice your suffering.She tilted her head to the side, her mouth tightening as she looked out the window and saw the rain running down the glass. “Blind, huh?” she said with much bitter
Last Updated: 2024-11-20
Chapter: The Poisonous Game As he turned to leave, Rita's eyes couldn't help but follow the contours of his body. His tailored suit hugged his physique in all the right places, showcasing his toned arms and broad chest. The way he moved with a confident swagger only added to his charm, leaving Rita breathless and wanting more.She watched as he walked out of the room, the door closing behind him with a soft click. Rita let out a sigh, her mind racing with thoughts of James and the promise of their future together. She knew she had to keep her end of the bargain and finalize her divorce from Stephan, but a part of her couldn't help but wonder if she was making a mistake by leaving him for James.As she sat there, lost in thought, Rita's phone buzzed on the table. She picked it up, her heart skipping a beat as she saw James' name flashing on the screen. She hesitated for a moment before answering, her voice barely above a whisper. "Hello?""Hey, just wanted to make sure you're on top of things," James said, his de
Last Updated: 2024-09-25
Chapter: The Power Play Rita’s interest piqued instantly. She knew of James Madison, the heir to the Madison Empire, a business conglomerate that spanned industries and continents. He wasn’t just wealthy, he was influential, powerful, and unattainable to most. But not to her.James approached with a charming smile, extending his hand to Maxwell. “Maxwell, good to see you,” he said, his voice smooth and composed.“Likewise,” Maxwell replied, his tone slightly sycophantic as he shook hands. He then turned to Rita. “James, this is Rita.”James shifted his gaze to her, his smile widening just slightly. “Rita,” he greeted, taking her hand and kissing it lightly. “Maxwell’s mentioned you before, but he didn’t do you justice.”Rita smirked, sensing the subtle flirtation in his words. “I hope he left out all the bad things,” she said, her voice low and sultry.“Oh, nothing bad,” James replied, his eyes lingering on her for just a moment longer than necessary. “You’re even more captivating in person.”Maxwell chuckle
Last Updated: 2024-09-25
Chapter: Severed Ties Rita walked in and noticed the look on his face, she laughed and walked past him. “ Is this what you really want?” Stephan said, looking at her from behind. “ Yes, I don't want a man who cannot be strong and be there for me. It is high time we went our separate ways,” she said with a smirk. “ And you are leaving me for Maxwell? Do you even know,he is after the company and doesn't even love you?” Stephan tried to make Rita realize that Maxwell was just a cheat, as she was too. “ Really? Do you think I didn't know?” Rita said, taking a seat on the couch and faced Stephan. “ You knew?” Stephan asked, taking back the fact that she knew what Maxwell wanted all along. “ Of course I knew, I am not as dumb as you think I am. I knew he wanted a share of the company or, should I say, wanted the paper work of the company.” “ Then why?” Stephan felt pained by the fact that he was still ridiculed by someone like Maxwell. “ Well, I needed him to get what I wanted, and I have gotten it.” Rita sm
Last Updated: 2024-09-25
Chapter: The Final Gamble The next morning, Stephan was barely functioning. His head throbbed from the conversation he had with Ben the night before. He kept hearing Ben’s words ringing in his ears: “We are going to outsmart her.” But how? Rita was always three steps ahead, meticulously planning every move as though life was just one big chessboard.As he dragged himself into the office, he could feel the tension in the air. His colleagues were whispering as he walked past, their eyes darting between him and their hushed conversation. He knew what they were talking about: his imminent downfall. It wasn’t just Rita who was done with him; it felt like the entire company was, too.Stephan took his usual spot by the entrance, once again reduced to the mundane task of opening doors for staff. He gritted his teeth every time someone gave him a pitiful glance or a smug smile, knowing they were thinking about how far he had fallen.Suddenly, the murmur of gossip caught his ear again.“I heard Maxwell is in talks with
Last Updated: 2024-09-25
Chapter: The Plan For Escape Stephan woke up the following day rubbing his two eyes. It was obvious that he didn't have a good night's rest. His hand slightly brushed the bedside, and he noticed that Rita was not in bed. He murmured to himself and sighed. There was nothing he could do. He wasn't good enough for her and that was all Stephan could think about. The little money he had managed to siphon over the years wasn't going to be enough for him to start a new life or even run away. He needed a game changer if he was going to beat Rita and her family.Getting out of bed, Stephan knew an opportunity was going to present itself, but he didn't know how long he had to wait for it. The funniest thing was that Rita and her family were enjoying the games they were playing. It almost looked like they were stalking and searching for a suitable man for their daughter, despite the fact that she was married to him. Stephan was now a mere guard in his own wife's company. He hurriedly got his bath and raced to work. “ You a
Last Updated: 2024-09-25
Chapter: The Breaking Point 2 Stephan couldn't hold his anger as he stared at Rita and back at Maxwell. “ Is this the reason you had me demoted to a mere common guard? Because of him!” “ You would do well to shut your trap, or I might have to do that for you,” Rita warned. Maxwell walked in and immediately went to Rita's desk and drew her closer to him. Stephan watched as he bit his lips' til they bled. He was not going to stand and let Rita insult him anymore. He went towards Maxwell and landed a blow to his face. Maxwell, who was more muscular than he was, carried him high and landed him on the glassy table right in front of him. Rita grinned, enjoying the WWE SMACKDOWN that had been displayed right in front of him. “ Get out!” she said with anger. Stephan rolled on the glass and felt blood trickling down from the back of his neck. He looks at Rita and back at Maxwell, holding his head, he slowly walks out in shame. Many of the staff felt pity for him, while some said it served him right. “ Why would a com
Last Updated: 2024-09-25
Chapter: CHAPTER SEVENTY -SIX Nobody heard him… “Ms. Cree” That was spoken with the same crisp precision which Lara knew represented both of them and the chasm which divided them. “Mr. Yorke.”Time stopped for both of them; both frozen in the instant. Carlos closed his eyes, rubbed them with his fingertip and let out a sigh as if this was the first exhalation a person was able to take when an extremely long, difficult day had been extended for an extra hour or two. “The strategy meeting will commence in fifteen minutes.” He stated, his eyes sweeping across the detailed grid calendar behind the door to the conference room. “I expect that you have all familiarized yourselves with the relevant documentation. “I have.”“Excellent. I did anticipate that.”Their eyes met for a breath and the ancient recognition in both was quickly contained and dismissed and would most certainly soon be contained again if something old and familiar would develop into something… and with a brisk, tight nod Carlos left them and turn
Last Updated: 2026-07-18
Chapter: CHAPTER SEVENTY -FIVEThere was always a subtle, almost palpable, shift in the atmosphere of the King’s Corporation headquarters the day after the annual charity gala. The change would have been invisible to the outside world, never to appear on any quarterly report or to be mentioned at a shareholder’s meeting, but to those who walked its corridors, it was as inevitable as the turning of the seasons. Decorum had loosened its grip just enough for personalities to finally seep through the veneer of corporate stiffness-executives who had communicated solely through their assistants suddenly remembered each other’s first names; partnerships that had only existed in spreadsheet columns transformed into hushed, giggling discussions over Champagne and foie gras.New material was uncovered which would fuel the company rumor mill for another year.This year, however, there seemed to be a different kind of hum throughout the building. By 8:30 AM, the executive lobby was already a veritable hubbub of activity. Regio
Last Updated: 2026-07-18
Chapter: CHAPTER SEVENTY -FOURCarlos walked in with a few thick folders piled under his arm. He stopped just inside the door frame and looked, first at Ansel, then at the screen of his laptop, on which a photo sat in his inbox. Carlos let out a heavy sigh. “So, we’re doing this now.”Ansel slammed the lid of his laptop shut. “Did you need something?”Carlos raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “Deflection. Very creative.”Ansel offered nothing more. Carlos continued his progress into the room and placed his stack of files on the large desk. “Just FYI half the company is sure that Lara and Daniel are an item,” he stated casually, as he laid the last file down. It was as though those words were thrown like little darts into Ansel’s chest. “People like to gossip,” he responded, trying to keep his expression even and aloof. “True,” Carlos agreed. His eyes remained fixed on Ansel’s. “But this isn’t about gossip, is it?” Ansel was silent. Carlos knew him too well. He’d observed him for years. “You know what’s f
Last Updated: 2026-07-18
Chapter: CHAPTER SEVENTY -THREEA comfortable silence hung between them for a minute or two, then Daniel lowered his gaze to the top of his mug before lifting it to her face again.A subtle shift in expression which instantly drew her attention. ‘Lara,’ he began, his voice softer now, almost intimate and the unfamiliar intonation instantly made her eyes fly to his. ‘Yes?’He took a slow, steady breath. ‘There’s something I have to tell you.’ All the levity of the last few minutes evaporated and Lara leaned back in her chair, the unfamiliar nervousness tightening her stomach. Daniel met her gaze directly. ‘I like spending time with you.’ The words were simple, and so direct they almost took her breath away, the subtext enormous and complicated and she stayed quiet, allowing the meaning of his words to settle in. ‘I look forward to seeing you each morning,’ he continued, his voice unwavering. He paused, then smiled gently at the edges of his mouth. ‘I love making you laugh. And I’ve discovered that it gives me a
Last Updated: 2026-07-18
Chapter: CHAPTER SEVENTY -TWOThe day after the gala came and went with a quiet dignity. The sun streamed through the massive windows of King’s Corp HQ, painting long shadows and streaks of gold across the polished marble floors and the gleaming glass walls, as the day shift arrived for work in various stages of sleep, with their respective coffees, their laptops, and the still unresolved conversations of the previous evening clutched between their teeth and their toes. All in all, the charity gala had been, by most measurements, a stunning success. Donations were more than expected. The press was almost entirely positive. The investors had been dazzled. The Board, most importantly, had been appeased. And in terms of pure numbers, the gala had done precisely what it was designed to do. Of course, it is generally rare for a corporation to concern itself with quantifying the kinds of things that employees will likely be talking about amongst themselves. By 8:30 A.M., the first photos from the event were already
Last Updated: 2026-07-18
Chapter: CHAPTER SEVENTY -ONE"Oh my god, my feet are killing me!" Sophia announced, pulling off her heels the second the door had closed behind them as they walked toward the living room.Ansel stopped in his study doorway, turning around. "You should rest.""I will."Sophia watched him unfasten his bow tie, and the next thing he knew, he was off toward his study as he usually was, even after any social function.She often wondered when the last time he had truly worked less. "Ansel."She stated, as if they had a prior conversation, stopping him in the door with surprise on his face and his head slightly tilted. "Yes?"Sophia forced a weak smile, "Can you stay with me for a little while?" He blinked, then gave a small chuckle, "I hadn't planned to do any work tonight, what's up?" she glanced over at his study door. "That's what you always say."He glanced between his door and her for a moment, then clicked the door shut with a gentle noise and walked into the living room.He settled himself across from her on the
Last Updated: 2026-07-18
