LOGINOliviaThe rich aroma of herbs and roasted chicken drifted through the dining room before my mother appeared from the kitchen, carefully carrying a bowl of creamy mashed potatoes.Beside it sat a platter of roasted chicken glazed to a perfect golden brown, steamed vegetables, and warm buttered dinner rolls.The entire dining table looked like something out of a family magazine.She carefully set the bowl down before smiling at Shawn, seated across from me."Hope you're enjoying your dinner, Shawn?"Shawn had just picked up another piece of roasted chicken and took a bite. His eyes slowly closed. For a brief second, he didn't even say anything and simply chewed.And from the ridiculous expression on his face, you would think he had just discovered the meaning of life hidden inside a piece of roasted chicken.When he finally swallowed, he let out a contented sigh before opening his eyes."This..." he said dramatically, pointing at the chicken with his fork, "is the best chicken I've had
OliviaThe lecture hall, which had been buzzing with conversations just moments ago, gradually fell into silence as Professor Hale adjusted his glasses and looked around the room with an unusually satisfied smile."I have one final announcement before everyone rushes out."He picked up a folder from the podium."I have finished grading all the team project assignments."Almost everyone straightened in their seats in anticipation. Professor Hale scanned the class for a brief moment before speaking again."I'm pleased to announce that the highest-scoring project belongs to Miss Olivia Brooks and Mr. Shawn Sinclair."The classroom immediately erupted into applause."What?""No surprise there.""Those two were always at the library."Someone even whistled from the back.Heat rushed to my cheeks as dozens of eyes turned toward me. Behind me, I heard someone lightly clap Shawn on the shoulder.Professor Hale smiled."I must say, your presentation was one of the finest team submissions I hav
ColletteThe first thing that hit me wasn't anger.It was shock.Pure, bone-deep shock that rooted me to the doorway for the briefest second as my eyes struggled to process the horrifying scene unfolding before me.For one terrifying heartbeat, I couldn't breathe.No.No...My hand reacted before my brain did.I yanked my phone from my pocket, lifted it high, and immediately began recording everything in front of me as I stormed into the room."Get away from him right now!"Every head whipped toward me. Time itself seemed to freeze.Aaron's grip was still on Vincent's phone as he whipped his head towards me, Sarah's eyes widened so much I thought they would fall out of her head, and even Vincent stared at me in stunned disbelief.I could barely believe what I was seeing either.Just minutes ago, I had walked out of this very room because I needed air and to calm the emotions raging inside my chest.The hospital gardens had been peaceful. The fresh breeze had helped clear my thoughts a
VincentI slowly turned my head toward Sarah.She froze the moment our eyes met.Her fingers instinctively intertwined, clutching each other so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her shoulders were stiff, and she deliberately avoided looking at me."So..." I said quietly, my voice calm. "You heard everything your son just said, didn't you? Tell me, Sarah... what exactly are your thoughts after hearing all of that?"She swallowed hard."Vincent... please..." Her voice came out much softer than usual, carrying a pleading tone that almost sounded desperate. "Please try to understand our son.""He... he was only hurt. You keep comparing him to Axel. No one likes being told they're not as good as someone else, especially by their own father. He was angry... that's why he said those things."She looked at me hopefully."He didn't really mean everything he said."She hesitated, her lips parting slightly before pressing together again, as though she were arguing with herself over whether
Vincent“Get your hands away from me!”My fingers wrenched free from Sarah's grip, and I quickly turned toward the door… It was already closed.Collette...My Collette was gone.A crushing ache spread through my chest—she had turned around and walked away without looking back.She hadn't even spared me a single glance.I could still see the emptiness in her eyes before she'd left, and that image cut deeper than any knife ever could.God… What have I done?How had I managed to hurt the woman I had loved with every piece of my soul? How had I become the very man who had destroyed the person who once trusted me more than anyone else?I had watched her cry and lose herself because of me. And now… she was gone. This time, I wasn't sure she'd ever come back."Vincent..."Sarah's voice pulled me back to reality. She cautiously moved closer again, her eyes already brimming with tears."How are you feeling now? Does your heart still hurt? Was... was it because of Collette? Did she upset you ag
Collette Relief crashed over me so suddenly that fresh tears spilled down my cheeks."Oh, thank God... You're awake. I'll go call the doctor now."I immediately stood, but before I could take another step, his fingers weakly wrapped around my hand."Collette, please..." His voice came out hoarse. "Stay... don't go."The plea in his eyes stopped me. I slowly sat back down. For several moments, neither of us spoke. He simply looked at me as if afraid I would disappear if he blinked."I'm sorry." His voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm... so sorry, Collette."The regret in his eyes nearly shattered me."I should've told you. I should've trusted you. I hid Sarah and Aaron, foolishly convincing myself...""...that if I kept providing for them... if I made sure they were taken care of... everything would remain peaceful."He coughed weakly, resting for a brief moment before he continued."I thought... I could hide them forever. I believed... the truth would never come out."His eyes slo
JasmineCollette let out a small, embarrassed laugh.“Jane, you really shouldn’t…”But I didn’t let her finish.I couldn’t.Because that forced, apologetic, submissive laugh was the sound of a woman trying to make herself smaller to accommodate cruelty she did not deserve.And I refused to allow it
JasmineI stepped into yet another grand charity ball of the elite.A soft swell of violins drifted through the air, mingling with the clink of crystal glasses and the low murmur of laughter.Another ball.I paused just inside the entrance, allowing the attendant to take my shawl before stepping fu
OliviaProfessor Hale adjusted his glasses at the bridge of his nose and glanced around the lecture hall.“I hope you all paid attention to the case studies I assigned last week,” he began, pacing slowly in front of the projector screen. “Because your next assignment will require more than memorizi
OliviaI didn’t remember the drive or the traffic lights or even the turns.All that kept replaying in my mind was the image of blood pooling beneath the dim dock lights.When we reached my apartment building, I stepped out of the car on unsteady legs. We didn’t speak as we walked upstairs.I unloc







