As winter's chill set in, they started looking forward to their first holiday season as a couple. They spent hours decorating the apartments with twinkling lights and stringing up mistletoe even if it was too early. Every festive activity sparked playful kisses and tight embraces. Ellis did not want something elaborate, he just wanted to spend time with Zoey in that period. To him, she was the reason why he celebrated at all. For Thanksgiving, they decided to host a big dinner party for their close family and friends only. They worked for days preparing all the mouth-watering dishes. Ellis stuffed the plump turkey while Zoey taste-tested the creamy mashed potatoes and green bean casserole.When Christmas arrived, Zoey joined the Royale family for the celebration. The Royale living room was warm with mouth-watering smells and the cheerful conversation of loved ones around. Between bites of pie and sips of hot cider, friends and family smiled as they watched the young couple gaze adori

The stalker watched in silence as Ellis got in his car and drove off toward what the stalker could guess was Zoey's apartment where the couple spent most evenings together. Leaving a discreet distance between Ellis, the watcher followed for a while and when the direction was confirmed, the person stopped following them, and took a detour to avoid being seen.Ellis and Zoey ended up going to watch a movie. Ellis rented out a private theater so they could enjoy it alone. The cinema was one of the few in the city that had private viewing rooms like these made mostly for couples, or just those who wanted privacy. It was a quiet evening after a long workweek for both of them. Zoey had her head resting on Ellis's chest, his arms wrapped around her. Though the film was an action movie Ellis had been wanting to see, he found his attention kept drifting away from the explosive scenes on the screen. He was acutely aware of the rhythm of Zoey's breathing, her warm weight against him, and the fa

Unable to tear their eyes away from the warm, inviting scene inside, the watcher reached for the door handle without consciously deciding to go through with it. But at the last second, a small shred of self-restraint stopped their hand. They realized how insane it would be to actually intrude on Ellis and Zoey's lives in such a reckless way, with neither a plan nor rationale to justify it.The watcher's mind raced, senses suddenly hyper-alert to the sounds and movements around them on the sidewalk. What if someone noticed them lingering here staring through the window like a deranged stalker? The thought of being seen, having to explain themselves, flooded the watcher with panicked adrenaline.With a harsh indrawn breath, they backed away from the bar's entrance and turned to melt into the crowd heading down the street. The fantasy of upending the watcher's twisted little world had nearly overwhelmed their rational judgment, but they managed to pull back from that brink. At least for

Emily nodded. "Yes. A little girl. He's been... hiding her from you. We used to be classmates, and the mother of the child is also a classmate of ours. Or she was, but she had to drop out of college after getting pregnant."She didn’t mention that she was Ellis’ ex-girlfriend, to give more credibility to her story. She didn’t want Zoey to suspect that this was being done out of jealousy. And it was a bit of petty revenge since Ellis hadn’t even discussed about her with his new girl.Zoey stood frozen, the colour slowly draining from her face. Emily plunged on, weaving a narrative of concern and empathy, careful not to implicate herself as the source. She spoke of accidental encounters with Ellis and the child, painting a picture of a secret life he had kept hidden. She kept saying she could introduce Zoey to the mother of the child at any time, and she could also meet the child too as a form of confirmation. That was a lie but she said it so confidently in order to look genuine. All o

As she walked out of the office building, the city lights blurring into a kaleidoscope of colours, Zoey knew one thing for sure. The next week would be the longest of her life. Across town, at the Royale mansion, Ellis hummed along to music as he put the finishing touches on the arrangement of his room. A vase filled with lilies, Zoey's favourite flower, graced the centre of the table. He checked his watch – she should be here any minute. The doorbell chimed, and a smile spread across his face. He hurried to open the door, anticipation bubbling within him. But the smile faltered when he saw the woman standing on his doorstep."Emily? What are you doing here?" he asked, a frown creasing his forehead. Emily shifted uncomfortably. "Hey Ellis. Actually, there's something I need to talk to you about.""Yes?" Ellis frowned at her."It's about Zoey.""Zoey? What about Zoey? We’ve managed to go back to being cordial again, don’t ruin it by trying one of your shenanigans. I’m not in the