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2024-11-16 00:39:00When Christian met Marlin, he become very defensive and wanted to protect her. Marlin’s return and aggression left Phoebe rather shaken, but even as she felt the twinge of guilt rising again. The girl’s past was not only complicated, but still charged with feelings that she was unable to deal with.
But tonight, when Phoebe was alone and sober she decided on it conclusively. She would cut off her relationship with Marlin and Seth once and for all, and do whatever it takes to get her future with Christian.The next morning, at Chroma Creative’s modern office, Seth Rivera walked through the facility with the air of a man who is in charge. It was said that he had taken back the position of the CEO and there was electricity in the air in the building. What Seth had failed to know in the past was that failure was only an option and he was back at the top, ready to take his shot.On that day, Seth had to convene a meeting with all the employees, and his words bor
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SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD Not Again
His goals had become his obsession, obliterating his mission statement, but he brushed it aside as soon as it crossed his mind. He would not allow any person, especially Aidan to hinder him.Elsewhere in town, Phoebe and Christian stayed home and just had dinner together. They have planned to go out of the city to relax themselves and free from the recent pressure. As they packed their belongings, Phoebe was ready for the burden of a decision to come to place on her. Though this trip was short, it served as an allegory for moving on to the next phase of building a new life, independent from former betrayals where she can trust Christian.They got to a cabin near a lake, in the middle of the woods and under the stars. For the first time in what seemed like a really long time, Phoebe was able to breathe easily. Christian embraced her while they admired the twinkle of the stars and she found solace that here in this place, they are now free to start living a life free
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD Act of Hatred
Day by day Phoebe and Christian found themselves living a normal life, while their love grew even more with the days they were spared from Marlin’s madness. But as they hoped to live a normal life again, Seth returned to their lives again as if he owned it. It began subtly. After several months of no contact with Seth, Christian got a call from him, which Seth said he just wanted to talk and move forward. But the feeling of responsibility realizing that Seth did stand up to Marlin one day at Chroma Creative, intense as it was made Christian agree to meet. They went to a chic bar downtown and after waiting for a few minutes, Seth changed the topic to something more intimate. “You know, Christian,” Seth began, his voice hard, his eyes never leaving Christian’s face “Phoebe… she was a different person to me.” Well, we suffered a lot, and, to be honest, I do not believe she is as punctual as she looks.” Christian’s face was impassive, but his forehead creased a little. “People cha
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD Fight for wealth
Seth tried not to let the doubt surface but he could not help it when he heard Aidan say that. He tossed it away, which he didn’t want anyone to see him struggling with. However, over the days he started seeing the effects of his choices on the organization. He was shunned, rumors followed him around campus, and the overall attitude of the employees was low. This was the first time that Seth started to wonder if his obsession with power was worth the price it was costing the people who once admired him. At the same time, the lovers came back from the trip refreshed and even more united than before. They were willing to start over again as a couple and left behind all the chaos that they have experienced. That was when Phoebe realized that she needed to go all the way and give her best shot to the dream she had for the future, be it in her life or at the workplace. When she came back to Chroma Creative, she was surprised at what she saw there. The place which she used to recogni
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Phoebe was beginning to think she was disappearing. Each day the words that Christian said, his low, brooding anger chiseled on her heart. She could hardly see the man she had fallen in love with, the man who used to look at her with love and confidence now he looks at her with suspicion and aloofness. One evening, from Chroma Creative, she arrived home to meet Christian seated in the living room, with his back towards her, facing the floor. She paused, sensing the distance that has been between them slowly widening. “Christian?” She questioned softly, after a while. “Are we… are we okay?” He looked up, his face was pale, and he seemed as though he had slept for weeks. “I don’t know, Phoebe,” he said and his voice was different, icy, unfamiliar. “It’s like I am living with an unfamiliar person most days.” She blushed, and it was hard to maintain her calmness, but she didn’t want him to see her pain. “Christian, you are listening to Seth the man who only wants to be between us.
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He looked her in the eye and his lips curled into a cynical grin. “Perhaps I have not learned how to see you any differently from what I used to see you.” And then after all that… after Seth… maybe it altered the way that I look at you.” Phoebe could feel the knot in her chest, growing tighter and tighter as a result of frustration and pain. She had wanted to be honest, to reveal all, but his scepticism remained and their passion turned into a venomous toxin. She didn’t know how much longer she could continue to resist the barrier he had put up in himself. It was so low that it was barely audible, “If you can’t see me as I am, then maybe you’re just not seeing me at all.” They looked at each other over the table and the air was charged with electricity that seemed to crackle and split them apart. Phoebe experienced the strong impulse to touch him, to hold his hand, to say that she still loved him even if all the bad things that happened. But there was an unconcern in his eyes which
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD Power of manipulation
Christian’s eyes were cold as he leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a wall between them she couldn’t breach. Phoebe was opposite him, and she felt uncomfortable under the man’s intense look. “Well, Phoebe,” he started, his words icy, “how in the hell am I supposed to trust a single word that comes out of your mouth?” You always give me the impression that there is more about you that I do not know when in fact there is more about you that is still a mystery to me. She shook her head and her voice was barely audible. I’ve told you everything, Christian.” I don’t know what more you want.” He laughed, and then walked away, a sneer of disgust on his lips. You always say that don’t you? ‘I’ve told you everything.’ But there is always something more; there is something I did not see, and Seth knew it from the beginning. “Seth has told lies,” she said calmly, but there was a desperation in her tone. ‘He wanted to drive us apart, Christian.’ That’s all he wanted.” “Did he lie to me,
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A small voice within her wanted to shout, to shake him to make him understand what he was putting them through. However, she choked on her words and did not let anger show on her face. “So what now? Are you going to continue to punish me for a mistake that I can’t control? For a mistake I made years ago?” Christian’s jaw tightened. “Maybe I’m just beginning to know you.” A person who has something to say, but does not state it and is a person who cannot be trusted.” “You are not being fair,” she said, her voice trembling. I didn’t do anything wrong to you that I am trying to keep from you.” You just don’t want to see it.” “Don’t I?” he said, and his voice was cold. “Or maybe you’ve just become so good at masking that you are now in denial that there is nothing left to mask.” She inhaled deeply, trying hard not to scream with frustration. “Christian, I can’t keep going like this, I can’t go on living like this anymore.” It’s like every day you are waiting for me to fail, to show yo
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Christian stepped closer then pulled back just enough so that Phoebe couldn’t quite touch him with her shaking hand. He could see the distance that was between them as a very large one and she was trying to contain herself from crying. A part of her wanted to call out, wanted to shake him and make him look at what they were losing, but the hatred in his stare froze her. Christian’s voice came into the silence, harsh, resentful. “It doesn’t matter how much you say you love me, Phoebe.” Because I’ve come to learn… words are useless if they are not backed up by truth.” She took a deep breath and choked down the bitter taste of his words before finding her voice. “Then give me a chance. Give us a chance, Christian. Whatever I kept from you… I was scared. I didn’t want you to look at me like this as if I was a stranger. That was the last thing I expected.” He looked at her, clearly appalled and offended. “Protecting us? By hiding who you really are? That is not protection, Phoebe that i
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"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
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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
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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
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“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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
