Arya’s POV A little stir of the yacht jolted my eyes open. ‘Seems it’s back to shore’ I mentally concluded as my eyes trailed down my naked frame causing me to remember how I lost woefully to Nicklaus. This only made me grit my teeth in annoyance as I reached for my phone to glance at the time. I genuinely felt shocked to see it reflected 2am. Just then, I realized the space next to me was empty. Where could he be? The washroom? My helpless mind couldn’t help wondering but I didn’t think much into it and shut my eyes close in hopes of drifting back to sleep but they peeled open thirty minutes later, still, Nicklaus wasn’t in bed and there wasn’t a sign that he had returned. This kinda got me worried as I moved toward the wardrobe and wore a gown.The chilly breeze cause me to fold my arms as I slowly but carefully made my way through the yacht. First I knocked on the bathroom doors but no response, then I checked back at the pool section and still no sign of him. And then it hit me,

The hatred in Nick’s guts only intensified. The day he woke up from his coma marked the dawn of a new him, one that knew no emotion, a fertile ground for Adam to sow ruthlessness. Most of all the guilt he felt constantly was strong enough to bury him alive. He didn’t have a purpose for living so he went ahead with whatever brutal and inhumane task Adam required of him, at the very least he felt like he deserved to go through that hell. That’s what living was for Nick. A sinkhole with no escape, just darkness lurking at every corner. His mother’s body was barely cold in the ground when Adam brought Juliet home, something about her triggered an ominous feeling and it wasn’t because all stepmoms are seen in that light. To make matters worse she brought home a son, just a year younger than him. The ugly truth that Adam was having an affair all the while he was with his mother was staring him straight in the face yet he couldn’t do anything. Like hell! He couldn’t even remember how th

Arya’s POV With winter slowly creeping in, the atmosphere was chilly with cold breeze gently sweeping through but I didn’t care. Being as stubborn as a bull I was adamant on wearing the strap dress which gave little to no protection against the weather. My palms moved to caress my elbows while my back slumped further into the back seat of the cab, the windows were locked but the cold somehow sipped through. I remember turning down Lucious offer to drive me there and I could only blame myself for getting stuck in traffic. “Ding!” My phone popped a message. It was from Emily. A soft chuckle escaped my lips as I read her text. “Arya, where’re you? Don’t even think of bailing”.Wow, my party reputation must be so bad in Emily’s eyes, then again I couldn’t blame her, I turned down more invites than I could count, still I was determined to keep face.“What’d you take me for? I’m stuck in traffic” I texted back and it didn’t take a second later to get her reply “sorry mama, traffic

The simple question turned to a thorn in her flesh. A lump stuck in her throat, seeming like time itself stopped. She couldn’t voice out the answer tugging her chest. Was this question a test? Did he know what he had done?Why would he ask her such? Especially at a time like this.The fact that she actually trusted him made it all annoying. Blindly following love is a crime. No matter what others said, it is. What’s she? The goddess of endurance? Did she learn the art of endurance in China?Her eyes remained emotionless, there was no point replying, either answer would pose a fool of her. Nicklaus seemed to catch on her hesitation and didn’t press further. He locked her hands and headed straight for the bathroom. Arya stared down at her cold feet, the sides colored red from the pressure of the heels. She couldn’t help but admire the back view of the man she’s trying hard to hate. He entered the cubicle, tested and regulated the water temperature then left it running. “Get i

Amidst the deafening music Alex ears seemed sharp enough to listen intently to the conversation between Emily and someone he’d best describe as a parasite. He took just a shot and was very much in control of himself but same couldn’t be said for the drowsy woman rambling on about. “So what’re you celebrating?” The ‘parasite’ asked Emily who couldn’t help smiling sheepishly at her thoughts. “Its a secret” she teasingly breathed while Alex helplessly rolled his eyes, unable to fathom what the hell kept him here? The man in question seemed more intrigued by her mysterious answer and took the opportunity to get closer. An act that didn’t go unnoticed by Alex. He found himself getting impatient which was strange and on impulse he voiced “another shot”.A shot was placed before him and as he reached for the little cup someone else beat him to it. A manicured finger slipped past and picked up the glass. In the blink of an eye the content was emptied down her throat. Alex followed the t