As Grace approached with a disdainful expression, Ayana felt a pang of anger deep within her chest. After months of being away, the hate Grace had for her was palpable. And it was not like Ayana’s own had faded too.Grace's disbelief in Ayana's artistic pursuits had always been a source of tension between them. While Ayana poured her heart and soul into her paintings, Grace often scoffed at her dreams, dismissing them as impractical and unrealistic. She had never understood Ayana's passion for art, viewing it as a mere hobby rather than a legitimate career path.As Grace drew closer, the bitterness in her eyes was palpable, casting a shadow over the joyous atmosphere that had enveloped Ayana and Adam. Ayana braced herself for the inevitable confrontation, knowing that her sister's disapproval would only serve to dampen her spirits. She expected no less from Grace, especially since Ayana had chosen to leave home rather than help them in the time of difficulty. But who had a right to bl
That night, Adam and Ayana settled in bed after seeing Lyana go to bed as usual. They were practically living together in Adam’s luxurious home. Her house was still there, and they could sometimes go there together and spend time there. But most of the time, they were at his house. The nights were much sweeter and more tranquil in his house. Since none of them had any complaints, his house had served as a beacon every night. They lay side by side in the dark, waiting for a nap or a spark. But the night seemed to be on the run, and the spark was nowhere near them. Each was lost in the events that had folded into the exhibition, wondering what the morning would bring for them. Did the world already know of Adam’s secret? Was the world already judging him? Judging them? How far had the news gone? Was it something that would rip them apart? “Can’t sleep?” Adam asked, flipping Ayana over to him. He could sense it. She was as troubled as he was. The most mesmerizing thing was that none of
As Adam and Ayana stirred awake to the soft glow of morning light filtering through the curtains, they were met with an unexpected barrage of notifications on their phones. With a sense of trepidation, they reached for their devices, only to be confronted with the glaring headlines and sensationalized images that flooded their screens.Their hearts sank as they beheld the breaking news: candid photos captured from the night of the exhibit, plastered across every news outlet and social media platform. The images depicted Ayana locked in an intense gaze with her sister, Grace, their expressions fraught with tension and rivalry. Yet, amidst the chaos, there was another set of images that pierced through the noise—snapshots of Adam and Ayana, their bodies entwined in a tender embrace, captured in a moment of unguarded affection.The contrast between the two sets of images was stark, highlighting the complexities of their relationships and the tangled web of emotions that now engulfed them
As Ayana and Adam approached her home, tension crackled in the air like static electricity. Ayana's steps were purposeful, and her resolve was firm as she prepared to confront her family, mostly Grace, for what she had done. Yet, as they entered the familiar surroundings, Ayana sensed an undercurrent of hostility brewing beneath the surface. Well, it was something she had gotten used to, so it did not surprise her much. She knew she was so unwelcome, but who said she needed to be? She was there to make a point, and she would do it no matter the reception.Jumping out of the car, she did not have to walk further. She could see the bunch of her oppressors basking in the morning sun as if they had not committed any crimes. Actually, she seemed to have interrupted their peace the moment her car with Adam drove into the compound, as they all stopped what they were debating about to see who had visited them. And their expressions changed the moment they saw her face, with Adam hugging her h
Ayana could sense the tension thickening in the air as her parents exchanged those uneasy glances. The weight of their shared apprehension bore down on her, yet she refused to yield. She had spent years piecing together the fragments of her past, struggling to unearth the truth buried beneath the lies they had woven so meticulously.But now, as she confronted them with her unwavering defiance, Ayana saw through their facade. Their attempts to shield her from the harsh realities of her history had only fueled her determination to uncover the secrets they sought to hide.With each passing moment, the walls they had built around her past crumbled a little more, revealing the raw truth lurking beneath the surface. Yet, despite their guilt and apprehension, her parents remained resolute in their refusal to surrender to her demands.Ayana squared her shoulders, her resolve unyielding. She would not be silenced, nor would she allow them to dictate the course of her future any longer. For she
As Ayana and Adam stepped out of the confines of her family's compound, a wave of emotions washed over them, each sensation a symphony of relief and liberation. For Ayana, the weight of years of deception and suppression lifted from her shoulders, leaving her feeling as though she could finally breathe freely for the first time in what felt like an eternity.Every step away from that oppressive environment seemed to fuel Ayana's sense of empowerment. She felt the pulse of her own heartbeat reverberating through her veins, a steady rhythm of defiance against the forces that had sought to control her. It was a feeling of exhilaration mixed with apprehension; the thrill of breaking free from the chains of her past mingled with the uncertainty of what lay ahead.For so long, Ayana had been confined by the expectations and manipulations of her family, but now, as she walked beside Adam, she felt a newfound sense of agency coursing through her being. She was no longer bound by their dictate
As Ayana carefully made her way down the bustling street, a sense of purpose filled her stride. She clutched the bundle of paintings she had poured her heart into, eager to deliver them to Mrs. Jones, a local art enthusiast who had commissioned her work. She was the same client from the exhibit, and true to her words, she had called a few days later and explained what she wanted to Ayana. And that day, even if the steam of what had happened at the exhibit was still on, Ayana had an obligation to fulfill, and that was delivering her masterpieces.Adam would have come with her, but there was a meeting at Lyana’s school, and he had gladly and voluntarily offered to go. However, his agreement with Ayana was that she would patiently wait for him until the meeting was over so that he could drive her to Mr. and Mrs. Jones house. But she was enthusiastic to wait. Every second felt like a failure of her professionalism, until her ass could no longer settle on the couch.She had set off and hai
As the man's face was revealed, Ayana felt a surge of shock and disbelief coursing through her veins. It couldn't be; it just couldn't. Yet, there he stood before her, his smirk widening into a smug grin as if he had been waiting for this moment.Robert.The name echoed in Ayana's mind like a thunderclap, dredging up memories she had long buried beneath layers of pain and betrayal. He was her college sweetheart, the man she had once believed she would spend her life with. But their relationship had crumbled under the weight of lies and deceit, leaving Ayana to pick up the pieces alone.Now, here he was, standing before her like a ghost from the past, his presence a chilling reminder of everything she had tried so hard to forget. The pain she had gotten over was buried in the grave of bad memories. Yet, here he stood, reminding her about it all once again, and the pain slapped her like it never left her to start with. She felt a mixture of anger, hurt, and resentment bubbling up inside