Last Updated:
2024-06-21 02:53:03
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD GRANDMA
"Grandma, how can you let us leave Seth in the police station?" Phoebe screamed, upon entering the room grandma's shrugging and acting nonchalant. "Your husband is a grown man," grandma sneered," and not a baby. I hope you know that," she adds, popping a piece of gum and chewing it loudly. "And so what?" Phoebe snaps, turning to Grandma, her eyes glistening with fury, " Only the heavens know what treatment is being meted out to him," "Well he could have opted for bail but he keeps on asking for a good lawyer rather than actual help," grandma retorts, pulling out her phone and scrolling through it. "Why are you always ungrateful?" Phoebe counters, " He is doing this for this family," she roars, pointing her index finger at Grandma. "It isn't like he was forced in the first place," grandma shrugs, " He wholeheartedly submitted himself to the cops in exchange for our freedom," "Can you listen to yourself?" "Ohh please Phoebe quit being over dramatic," grandma rolls her eye
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD NOT SO PLEASANT
The sound of the birds chirping in the distance, announced the break of morning. Stirring in bed, Phoebe sat up, rubbing her eyes and adjusting to her surroundings. It was 6am, and she barely got enough sleep, her mind was invaded by thoughts of Seth and his welfare, ridding me of all the sleep I tried to get. She doubted if he was given anything for dinner, she mused to herself, throwing the duvet off her body and springing out of the bed. Heading straight for the bathroom, she took the time to carefully strip herself of all clothing before getting under the shower, letting the water run over her body as though in an attempt to wash away the guilt that had consumed her all through the night. He should not be there in our place. “But he willingly volunteered to, didn't he?” her grandma's voice sounds in my head, contradicting her entire thought process. “I will find a way to get him out of there,” she declares solemnly, drying her body with the towel and applying lotion all ov
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD THIS DOESN'T ADD UP
Handing her the bag, she turned her back and headed towards the door. “Where are you going?” her voice asked behind phoebe “To see my husband, it's fine if you guys have forgotten about paying him an actual visit, after it isn't y'all's fault that he Willing volunteered to be the sacrificial lamb.”she said, giving her a scornful look. It is nice that they could all sit and act like a supposed member of their family was not in the police custody. “Ohh wait Phoebe,” she calls behind phoebe, “here have my lawyer's contact,” she offers, standing up from her chair, “Tsk,” she clicks her tongue, “i will find a way to have him out of there myself,” Walking towards the bed, her eyes fixed on Aidan who was lying down face up on the bed. “What are you doing, are you a doctor now?” Gloria says behind her. “Maybe I took night lessons,” phoebe shrugged nonchalantly. His chest moving in up and down heaves. “Is it possible for me to denote what happened to him,” she mused to herself, trudg
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD SEBASTIAN
Ending the call with Sebastian, his heart finally settling after the call. “I have faith in him. He is a total tech genius and would not leave traces of anything.” Seth said to himself, swaying his head in thought. Hiding the phone back in the boxer briefs he wore under his trousers and returning back to his cell room, the officer waited by the door. “What took you so long,” The officer sneered, holding the cell door open for Seth as he reached. “You really don't want to know the deets,” he grinned, holding eye contact with him, watching as he retreats his eyes away from him, dragging his eyes to now focus on his boots. Seth could not make out the colour of the sky, there wasn't a single window provided and the doors were always guarded. The only sign of a brand new day that Seth could detect, is the distant chatter from the other prison cells. Alerting him that is day break and time for us to get up, even though he barely got enough sleep. “Seth,” the officer calls from outside
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD SEEKING JUSTICE
Watching Seth intently, I could tell that he was trying too hard to maintain a smile. He is always like that, putting others emotions and feelings before his own.I know why he is doing all this; he doesn't want me to see him at his lowest, and he doesn't want me to think of the situation as too difficult to handle.“Hey, everything will be fine,” I assure him, squeezing his hand softly.“I know it will,” he smiles. "I am more worried about you,” he trails off, his gaze lingering on mine.Typical! Always worried about me first. It will be better if he can be selfish, at least just once.“Seth, it's okay for you to think about your condition, even if it's just once.” I groan, trying to hide the edge in my voice.“Babe, it is fine,” he assures, holding his gaze with me a little longer as we approach the counter up front.Upon moving to the counter with Seth, I spotted the officer whom I had tipped off earlier."YYour time is up,” he declares, motioning to Seth to break his touch with me
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD CONGRATULATIONS
"You are where?" Sasha screams into the phone, her voice peeking out of the phone. She was barely able to get a chance to congratulate Seth on his release and now they were back in the prison? See just could not wrap her head around what was happening. It was happening all too fast and my head was already dizzy from trying to put things together. "Police station Sasha," Marlin snorts, "and will you quit screaming in my ears? My ear buds are bleeding at this point," "I am sorry,"she pleads, " but you know you could have just avoided the fight with for Pete's sake..I hope you did not injure him," "Are you calling for me or for your delusional man?" He snorts, growing irritated by the mere sound of Sasha's voice. "I can't help it,". She sighs into the phone, "but I am still concerned about you tho," "Whatever," he hisses. "But why did you get into the fight in the first place?" She probes, still unable to wrap his head around the fact that Marlin had just dropped her off a
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD PHOEBE
The sound of the birds chirping in the distance, announced the break of morning. Stirring in bed, Phoebe sat up, rubbing her eyes and adjusting to her surroundings. It was 6am, and she barely got enough sleep, her mind was invaded by thoughts of Seth and his welfare, ridding me of all the sleep I tried to get. She doubted if he was given anything for dinner, she mused to herself, throwing the duvet off her body and springing out of the bed. Heading straight for the bathroom, she took the time to carefully strip herself of all clothing before getting under the shower, letting the water run over her body as though in an attempt to wash away the guilt that had consumed her all through the night. He should not be there in our place. “But he willingly volunteered to, didn't he?” her grandma's voice sounds in my head, contradicting her entire thought process. “I will find a way to get him out of there,” she declares solemnly, drying her body with the towel and applying lotion all o
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD REMINISCING
Seth drove into the town's central park where Sasha had stationed herself. He found her already dishing out the foods and sharing them.He got out of the car, and observed the crowd in front of her. He walked slowly through it until he got to the platform where she had placed each food, and was serving. Seth watched her impressively dish out the food into plates, and share it."Need a hand?" He asked peering up at her. "I thought you wouldn't make it today? I did not want you to bother at all. It is a lot of work just being up here, and I'm sure you must be really tired already." She replied as more homeless people trooped in to get food."How did you manage to get them to be so organised?" Seth asked her."Well I promise to tell you if you help me get the food to everyone left." She said with a smile.Seth nodded and picked up the plates of foods she had already dished out. As soon as everyone had eaten, the food was almost don
Latest Chapter
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
"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
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
Need You
Christian 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
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
Believe inYou
Phoebe 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
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
“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
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
Either you believe or not
Christian 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
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
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
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
All about Phoebe
Phoebe went back to the fire, her hands folding over her chest. For what seemed like a long time she did not respond. The fire crackled in the background, and its heat was the only thing that made the atmosphere between them warm.“What do you want from me, Christian?” she asked after a long time her voice was so low that it was barely audible.“Nothing,” he said quickly. “I don’t want anything from you. I just… I had to share it with you because it is the truth. To say sorry and let you understand that I noticed your suffering. That I see you.”Phoebe only managed to stifle a sarcastic laugh. “You see me now? That’s rich. Where was this clarity two years ago?”Christian moved a little closer and spoke slowly and calmly as if he was pleading with her. I was blind back then Phoebe.” As if the rest of the world does not exist, or, at least, I don’t exist to the rest of the world. But now… now I see everything I should have seen before. I understand how powerful you are, how much you inv
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
Get rewarded
“Sorry isn’t enough,” said Phoebe, tears rolling down her cheeks. “They think they can just come out and apologize and that’s the end of it.”“I’m not expecting that,” Christian said quickly. I know that I can never reverse the wrong I have done. But I had to tell you. I had to stop bringing this with me without doing something about it.”Phoebe exhaled hard and then rested her weight against the windowsill. “Well, did you even know what you left behind?” “How much I had to tidy up after you?”“I’ve thought about it,” Christian said, softly. “But I know that thinking about it isn’t the same as living it. I still can’t fathom how difficult it must have been for you.”Phoebe looked at her and shook her head, fuming again. “And you didn’t just hurt me, Christian.” You made me doubt, everything, including us, including myself. I used so much time thinking why am I not enough. Why I couldn’t repair whatever was ailing you.”Christian cringed as if the words that came out of her mouth had h
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
Another Game
One part of him wanted to kick Christian out, shut the door and never see him again. But there was another part, a lesser, more contemplative part of him that was interesting. What if Christian really had transformed? What if this wasn’t just another one of his games?“Alright,” Phoebe said in the end, the word coming out sounding more like a bitter grumble. “You want to talk? Talk. ‘I’m not making any guarantees here,’ I tell him.Christian nodded and his shoulders dropped down as well. He looked around the room, and then looked at the couch. “Do you mind if we sit?”Phoebe frowned, then reluctantly gestured at the couch with a nod. He stayed on his feet, leaning with his arms folded against the wall, a defensive air about him.Christian leaned back on the couch, placing his elbows on his knees and his hands on top of each other. He looked at the floor for a moment with a blank face, then he said something.“I know I hurt you. And not just once—repeatedly. You wanted to help me and I
