Alex pushed open the door to Emily's hospital room, his heart sinking as he saw her still form on the bed. The steady beep of the heart monitor was the only sound breaking the silence. For a moment, he just stood there, frozen, as the weight of everything crashed down on him.He approached slowly, his eyes fixed on her pale face, willing her to open her eyes. She looked so fragile, surrounded by tubes and wires.He sank into the chair beside her bed, taking her hand gently in his. It felt so small and fragile. A lump formed in his throat as he struggled to find words."Hey, Em," he whispered, his voice cracking.He took her hand gently, his thumb tracing circles on her skin. "I'm back. I... I need you to wake up, okay? Please."He then squeezed her hand, searching for any sign of response. Nothing.His voice broke as he continued, tears welling up."I'm so sorry. God, I'm so sorry for everything. I know I've messed up big time. But I swear, if you just open your eyes, I'll make it r
Alex froze just a few a few steps away from Emily's hospital room. He had just returned from home with the doctor-prescribed meal and some clothes, but what he overheard stopped him cold."Those few days... I've never been so terrified in my entire life." Emily's voice trembled from behind the door.He knew she would probably never open up to him about the horrors she had endured in captivity, no matter how much he begged her to share. Torn between respecting her privacy and his desperate need to understand what she had been through, he hesitated, deciding to listen."They starved me," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "Even though I was in agony, even knowing my condition, they only allowed me one meal a day. Like an idiot, I asked who was behind all this torture. They said it was Isabella's order." She let out a bitter laugh that barely masked her anguish. "Asking that question... God, they made me regret it."Her voice dropped to a whisper. "But the worst part, th
Weeks had flown by, each day adding another vibrant brushstroke to the masterpiece of Alex and Emily's relationship. The storm that had once threatened to tear them apart seemed like a distant memory now, their bond stronger than ever. Their love had blossomed into something even more beautiful: an engagement. He had popped the question in a cosy little restaurant, the kind of place where fairy lights twinkled like stars and the aroma of exquisite dishes filled the air.***Flashback***"Em..." His voice cut through the comfortable silence, with a hint of nervousness in his tone.She looked up from her plate, a forkful of pasta halfway to her mouth. "Hmm?" she mumbled, her eyebrows raised in curiosity.He took a deep breath, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of the tablecloth. "So, there's actually a main reason I set up this date. I mean, besides just hanging out and enjoying this sick view of the city lights."Her interest was instantly piqued. She set down her utensils with a so
In the heart of the bustling city, amidst towering skyscrapers and the ceaseless hum of urban life, stood the magnificent headquarters of 'Thornton Screen and Stage', the undisputed pinnacle of the entertainment industry, which was owned and controlled by Alex Thornton. Born into a lineage of affluence and the only child of extraordinarily successful parents and heirs, Alex was the sole heir to a vast fortune; his path was paved with golden opportunities. Yet, despite his privileged upbringing, he possessed an insatiable drive and a relentless pursuit of excellence that propelled him to the forefront of his chosen domain.His company helmed an empire of creativity, where dreams were nurtured and stardom was born. His agency, a beacon of hope for aspiring talents and famous celebrities, wielded an unparalleled influence over the entertainment landscape.He was born into a world of privilege and wealth. His parents, renowned for their entrepreneurial prowess, possessed manufacturing em
"Your mom and I, and her family have made the agreement for years." His dad said."How could you have made the agreement for years without my knowledge, dad?" His emotions were fueled by anger over the news, but he tried to control it from erupting."It is what it is, son. Nothing changes, whether you were aware of the arrangement or not. You just have to wed her. You have no choice but to." The way his father talked with composure and confidence infuriated him."How could he not see anything wrong with this? An arranged marriage for Christ's sake!" He lamented inwardly."Besides, she is beautiful and also a public figure. She will be a good asset to your life due to her influence." His mom cut in for the first time since they started the conversation.He ignored her and furrowed his brows at her instead, because she had never gone against his father's words—not in his presence before."You can both decide to stay in a relationship for months as boyfriend and girlfriend to understand
With the act he put on towards his father, he knew that it wouldn't end there. He knew his father not to back down on anything of his interest until he achieved it. He had resorted to many dirty and illegal practices to secure contracts and deals on numerous occasions, as he discovered during his investigation of the company at his request.One of the reasons he didn't take over the company was because of the secrets and dirty acts he discovered during the investigation. He entered his car, pressed the ignition button, and when he was about to drive out of the mansion, the thoughts of what happened flashed in his mind again."When will this end for God's sake?!" His knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel, and his face contorted into a mask of rage. With a grunt, he slammed his fist down on the wheel, then again and again. With each blow, his anger intensified and his frustration mounted.His frustration became palpable as his emotions spilled over, like a dam bursti
Alex's footsteps echoed through the dimly lit hallway as he entered his home on the Friday night of the week, when his parents announced the arranged marriage between him and Isabella.The air felt heavy with an unsettling tension. As he stepped into the living room, his eyes widened in disbelief.Her pictures adorned every available space, transforming the familiar surroundings into an unsettling shrine. The frames hung meticulously, capturing the nooks and crannies of his living room. The room, once a sanctuary, pulsated with a strange energy."What an audacious act." A surge of anger erupted within him as his gaze fixated on the intrusive display. His normally composed demeanor shattered, and his head turned blank, consumed by a fiery rage. The audacity of her act struck him like a thunderbolt.The wall was only filled with a variety of pieces of artwork, and he found it comfortable that way. He didn't know why some persons liked hanging their pictures' frames on the wall because
The persistent ringing of Alex's phone echoed through his throbbing head, piercing the fragile veil of his sleep.Groaning, he fumbled in the dim morning light, his hand searching the cluttered drawer for the phone. The remnants of the hangover from the wild night he had spent with Henry the previous night clung to him like a shadow."It is the weekend, for God's sake! Why can't I have a peaceful morning and night? Can't a guy catch a break on the weekend?" He bemoaned as he stretched his hands to pick up his phone from the drawer beside the bed, while he was still half-awake.His irritation for Isabella from the previous night heightened as he noticed the constrained space on the once-empty drawer as her array of deodorants and cosmetics had encroached upon his territory.He couldn't reconcile himself with the idea of being tethered to her as he cast a disdainful glance at her belongings.A small sense of relief washed over him as he realised she was not beside him. Her absence spare