LOGINWhat do you think Mars is up to? Lemme see ‘em in the comments!
NORA I step out of the bathroom feeling like I've been wrung out and left to dry. My body aches from the long day of filming, and all I want is something sweet. My favorite dessert. Those delicate pistachio macarons from the little patisserie near the resort. I've been thinking about them since this morning.I'm halfway to the bed when a sharp knock sounds at the door.My bare feet pad across the floor as I cautiously approach the door. I peek through the peephole first.It's Marcellus.I exhale, some of the tension leaving my shoulders, and open the door.He stands there, looking unfairly handsome even while clearly exhausted. In one hand, he holds a beautiful bouquet of white lilies and soft pink roses. In the other hand, he's holding a small white box from the patisserie.My favorite macarons.The relief hits me so hard that my eyes actually sting. I want to throw myself into his arms and bury my face in his chest.But then I remember that I'm currently at the war front. So
MARCELLUS I don't answer immediately. Instead, I look at Nora. She's staring at the chocolate spilling across the plate, refusing to look at me."...I do."No one utters a word. Even Sebastian has his narrowed gaze on me."She's right." My voice is calm. "Obsession doesn't announce itself. One day you're simply... rearranging your entire life around another person without realizing you've already lost."A few contestants exchange glances."And lies?" I continue. "They sometimes don't begin with bad intentions."Now Nora looks at me."They begin with someone convincing themselves they're protecting the person they love." I clench my fist. "Eventually... you forget the difference between protecting them and hurting them."I keep my eyes on Nora. "So yes. I agree with every word my wife said."I pause."The only thing she forgot..." My gaze lingers on hers. "...is that some obsessions don't end when they're exposed. They become love."I don't realize how bad those words got to N
MARCELLUS I already know I'm in deep shit. It's as clear as daylight.I flip through the pages slowly, pretending to be calm while my heart threatens to explode out of my chest. Most of the clauses are exactly what she threatened earlier. Petty, predictable and ridiculously cute.Then I reach the last page.My eyes narrow.Article 30: Access & TransparencyFor the duration of the 100 days, the Husband shall grant the Wife full access to all business-related documents, emails, and communications upon request. This includes, but is not limited to, financial records, contracts, and meeting notes connected to any company in which the Husband holds a controlling interest.I read it twice.No timelines. No restrictions. No confidentiality carve-outs. Just "upon request."It looks... reasonable. Almost boring. Like she's just being a concerned wife who wants to understand my world. On paper, it's the kind of clause any normal person might agree to.But this is Nora.I look up to meet
NORA Marcellus falls asleep first. It happens relatively fast. His heavy arm stays draped over my waist, holding me tucked tight against his chest.For a while, I just lie there, drowning. My cowardice has kept me here.Carefully, I lift his arm, inch by careful inch, until I can sneak away. He stirs once, then settles again with a sigh.I slip out of bed, head to the bathroom, and lock the door. Only then do I let myself breathe. My face is ghostly pale under the harsh light.After receiving Val's message, my curiosity had led me down a rabbit hole on the internet.Those earlier messages from the unknown number creep back into my mind. The photo and the audio as well.How stupid of me to downplay the possibility that I was entertaining my own doom. But Dad's company is really crumbling. It's all over the news.Cold dread crawls up my spine. What if it's actually worse than I thought?Trembling, I hit Dad's contact. The phone rings three times. And goes into voicemail.So I try
NORA Marcellus doesn't hesitate."No," he replies calmly. "I don't have a twin."I stare at him, waiting for the usual arrogance. It doesn’t come. He just looks back at me with an unshakable certainty."How are you so sure?" I ask, narrowing my eyes. "People lie about family all the time. Especially in your world."He shrugs. "Because I spent years making sure I knew every single person connected to me. I dug into every record, every rumor, and every ghost from my past. There was no twin."His eyes stay locked on mine. "If there was another version of me walking around... I would have found him."Weird. Then... who the hell was that guy?We head to the diner attached to the resort and get our food. I pick something simple for both of us. Plain rice, grilled chicken, and clear broth. Nothing that could upset his stomach.When the plates arrive, Marcellus stares at his food with a slight crease in his brows. He takes one bite, then another, but his movements are slow.I watch him
NORA The director merely folds his hands, his expression calm."Mr. Gregory has not been charged with a crime," he says. "As of this morning, the police have confirmed that there is insufficient evidence to detain him."A murmur sweeps through the room. I don't join in.I just keep my eyes fixed on the stack of papers in front of me, tracing the sharp edge of the confidentiality agreement with my thumb over and over.Insufficient evidence. Not innocent. There's a difference. A cruel, technical one."...Mrs. Gregory?"My head shoots up. The director is looking directly at me."Will you and your husband be continuing on the program?"Several pairs of eyes swing towards me. My throat tightens.I don't even know if we're still pretending to be a married couple. I don't know what we are anymore.Before I can find an answer—"Yes."The voice comes from behind me. I don't have to turn around to know it's him.Marcellus walks deeper into the room. He's freshly showered, wearing a cris
EVERMONT UNIVERSITY, OFF-CAMPUS 30TH OF JUNE, 2022 08:45PM. ~~~~~ NORA I can't believe I'm making out with my mortal enemy three days after breaking up with my boyfriend. Marcellus Gregory has me pinned against the wall of his off-campus apartment, his mouth devouring mine. His hands ar
NORA Marcellus doesn't even blink. He tilts his head slightly, studying her with a lazy expression."No," he says. "You're not."Florence's smile falters. "What?"Marcellus's mouth curves. "You heard me, Flo. This trip is for my wife and me. You're not invited. Try to board that jet and I'll h
NORA I stare at Mars, my pulse going out of control again. He looks like he's suffering, yet somehow he's still… beautiful. The vulnerability in his face makes my throat tighten.I gently push him back down onto the pillows. "Lie down. Stop talking. Just sleep."He doesn't resist me at al
NORA The silence on the other end of the line lingers so long that I think the call might have dropped."Daddy?" I whisper again, my voice cracking.He exhales heavily. "Nora, sweetheart... I can't do this over the phone. Come home tomorrow morning. We'll sit down properly—your mother and I.







