Carmela couldn't believe her eyes - her best friend, Nichole, was wearing the same red queenly gown, adorned with shiny diamonds and almonds, just like her.
She glanced at Max, who stood solemnly by her side, admitting that he had invited Nichole. The audacity of him to bring his affair to his grandmother's anniversary left Carmela seething with anger."Wow, you guys wore the same dress," Grandma Atom exclaimed, looking at Carmela and Nichole's dresses.Nichole laughed, covering her mouth with her hand and waving her wig in the air. "Oh my goodness, I had no idea you would wear the dress. I hope you're not angry, Carmela?"As Max and Grandma Atom looked expectantly at Carmela, she felt torn inside. Her anger wanted to lash out at Max and confront Nichole, but she knew she had to put on a fake smile."No... no, I don't mind. I don't even like the dress. Red is not my color," she replied, forcing herself to chuckle, and Grandma Atom seemed to appreciate her response.As they continued chatting, two black Jeeps pulled up at the outskirts of the Atom's mansion.A man in his late 60s stepped out of the first car, accompanied by his wife, who was dressed in a black linen garment. They looked graceful as they walked together.The door of the other Jeep swung open, and a masculine figure emerged. He was the second son of the Atom family, Gregory Atom. Beside him stood a young woman adjusting her short skirt - Vanessa Atom, the youngest daughter of the family."Goodness, you're all here," Grandma Atom exclaimed, rushing to greet them with warm hugs.Good day, sir," Max greeted his father, Mr. Atom, bowing his head slightly. Mr. Atom nodded, his gaze shifting to Carmela, who stood frozen like a statue."You've forgotten how to greet your in-laws?" Mr. Atom sneered, disgust evident in his eyes.Carmela lowered her head, her heart sinking, as she tried to apologize for any offense caused.She waited in silence, feeling the weight of his disapproval. However, before he could respond, Mrs. Atom interjected."I don't understand why she thinks so highly of herself. She's just an empty barrel with no child-" Her words trailed off as she glared at Carmela, but Max quickly interrupted."Mom..." he called out, attempting to intervene. Mrs. Atom snapped back, "What? Am I not speaking the truth?""It's okay. Let's not speak hurtful words to one another. Let's go inside," Grandma Atom intervened, guiding Mrs. Atom away from the tense situation.After a while, as they waited for the other guests to arrive, the ceremony commenced.Gifts were exchanged, and couples took to the dance floor. Carmela looked around, searching for Max, but he was nowhere to be found."Aren't you going to dance with your husband?" Vanessa Atom teased a hint of malice in her voice. "By the way, where is your husband?"Carmela's heart sank further as she realized Max was missing. She scanned the room, desperately trying to locate him, but he remained elusive."I'm sure he's tired of being near his barren wife," Mrs. Atom interjected, her words stinging with cruelty, as she approached them, holding a glass of red wine.Carmela raised an eyebrow at Mrs. Atom, who couldn't help but revel in her discomfort. "Are you seeing that, Vanessa? Look at the way she's glaring at me," Mrs. Atom taunted, her eyes gleaming with malice.Vanessa tried to defend Carmela, but she knew she didn't need anyone's support. She had grown accustomed to the family's mistreatment, especially from Mrs. Atom. She was done being bothered by their petty remarks. Her focus now was on keeping her husband away from her best friend."Please, ma'am, if you have nothing else to say, I'll excuse myself to find my husband," Carmela calmly stated, unwilling to engage in their drama any longer."Look at her, that witch!" Mrs. Atom cursed in anger as Carmela left.Throughout the ceremony, Max's eyes remained fixated on Nichole, filled with fury. He approached her and asked to talk, but when she refused, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the restroom."What are you doing here?" Max whispered, his voice cold."So, you weren't going to invite me?" Nichole retorted, crossing her arms and pouting."No, I wasn't. And why are you wearing the same dress as my wife? I asked you to get something nice for her, not to copy her and embarrass me," Max lashed out in anger.Nichole was taken aback by his rage. Max pushed her against the wall, his grip tightening around her neck. "What are you trying to do? I thought I made myself clear. I only love Carmela. She's the one my heart beats for. I don't feel a thing for you."Nichole was speechless, her voice choked in fear as Max's grip tightened. Trembling with terror, she struggled to catch her breath.How long would she keep toying with Max and his marriage?.“L-let go off my neck, I’m pregnant, I’m pregnant!” Nichole's voice trembled, and Max immediately released his grip, stepping back in fright. At that moment, Carmela emerged from behind the restroom door, her eyes wide with disbelief.How could it be? Was Nichole telling the truth? Was she carrying Max's child?Tears welled up in Carmela's eyes, but she stayed silent, listening to their conversation."I'm pregnant. What else? I'm carrying a child in my womb," Nichole said, her emotions in turmoil - joy, fear, worry, and sorrow all intermingled.Would Max accept his responsibility or push Nichole away?"Why are you telling me this?" Max's face contorted with a frown."Because you're the father," Nichole replied without hesitation."How? We just had sex once-""Are you going to deny your d just because it happened once?" Nichole interrupted, her words rushed and anxious.Carmela took a step back from the door, her heart pounding in her chest as she heard Nichole claim that the child was Max's.How was this even possible? Carmela's mind raced with questions as she turned away, feeling overwhelmed."Really?" Max exclaimed, a brief smile appearing at the edge of his lips. He couldn't deny his excitement at the prospect of being a father, even if the circumstances were complicated.He wondered why it was so easy for him to impregnate Nichole while he and Carmela struggled to have a child.Despite his momentary happiness, he still felt concerned. He knew he had to confront the truth and sort out his feelings for both women. Max couldn't afford to lose Carmela, as she meant everything to him.How would he accept the child and tell his wife without making her angry?“Yes..” Nicole raised her brows, and Max breathed hard. “What are we going to do?”“Nothing, we can’t let Carmela know.” He turned away from her and faced the mirror in the restroom.Nicole's figure appeared behind him, saying, “Did you think Carmela would stay with you if she found out you are facing some financial challenges you are passing through right now in your company? She only married you because of your money.” Max raised his eyes to meet Nicole’s.“I can't leave my wife; I love her,” Max firmly said.“What about my baby?” Nicole rubbed her belly, and Max turned to her, holding her soft hands.“I’ll think about it, I’ll find a way.”After the two discussed in the restroom, Max walked out first and discovered that his wife had already left.In an hour or two, he was already at home. He opened the door to the mansion, and slowly his feet stormed on the footrest.“Carmela!!!” He called, and the light turned on immediately.“Yes, Max, have you finally noticed that I left early?” Carmela was sitting at the dinner chair, frustrated. “Tell me Max, did you ever love me?” She stood up in a rush, moving the chair back.“Carmela, what do you mean?” Max approached her where she stood. As he reached her, he wanted to lay his hands on her, but she shrugged his hands away.“Don’t touch me, just answer the question.” She moved inches away from him. Max noticed that she was upset about something, and if he didn't apologize to her now, he was going to lose her forever.“Is this about the dress that Nicole wore? I can explain-.” Carmela flared up.“Don’t call Nicole into this. I don't need your explanation about her wearing the same dress as me. All I need to know is if you ever loved me.”A brief silence filled the room, and the couple exchanged glances at each other. Carmela was waiting for his response to be yes. Max, on the other hand, was confused. He didn’t know where he had wronged her, and he didn't know what to say. Yes, he loved her, but if he told her, would she believe him?“I-I don’t know.” He looked away, and tears slowly rolled down Carmela’s eyes.“Here, sign the papers.” She stretched her hands forward and turned immediately to the papers in her hands."What's this?" Max collected the paper from her hand, and slowly he realized that he had made a terrible mistake. "No... no, it can't be. This isn't real. Is it because my company is facing a financial crisis that you want to leave me now?" Max asked, his heart sinking at the thought that Carmela might have married him for his money."Yes, it's because of that. I can't stay with you." Although she wanted to hurt Max in return, she was more hurt that Max could believe Nicole's claim about her intentions."Forget it, I won't sign the papers." Max ripped the papers apart."What are you doing?" Carmela screamed, holding his hand as he tore the papers in front of her.After he was done, he stormed out of the mansion, leaving Carmela behind, both of them feeling a mix of anger, pain, and confusion. Their once strong and loving relationship now faced its most challenging test.The room brightened as a ray of sunlight slipped through the curtains, gently caressing Carmela's face and filling the space with warmth and comfort.Feeling the rays of light, Carmela sensed a glimmer of hope and optimism, as if the universe was assuring her that everything would be alright.She stirred on the bed, pulling the bedspread closer for a cozy embrace. Slowly, she opened her eyes, greeted by the breathtaking sky outside.With a gentle yawn, Carmela sat up and tenderly placed her hand on her stomach. "Good morning, world. Good morning, baby. I promise I'll give you the best of myself," she whispered, feeling a strong connection with the little life growing within her.Sitting at the edge of the bed, she reached for her phone on the table, sliding it open to embrace a new day.The bright light from Carmela's phone illuminated her face, reminding her that she had missed the time to meet her lawyer. She had signed the divorce papers and wanted to hand them over to the lawyer, l
Nichole and Max held unto each other on the floor, like they were some sort of couple. However, Carmela stood right in front staring at these two betrayal.“You’ll believe her over your wife?” Carmela strikes her chest, in pain. She couldn’t believe that her husband would voice out at her in such a manner.To the extent of not letting her say her part of the story. “Isn’t it obvious? Or do you want us to go to the police station? She can press charges and I would testify as well that I saw you try to hurt her.” Max glared hard at her, his eyes almost piercing out of its socket.Even though Max and Carmela had been together for 5 to 6 years now, never for once has he ever yelled at her or regarded her resolve useless. The man standing right in front of her wasn’t her husband anymore, but her best friend.“You tried to kill her. Who knows what would have happened if I didn’t get here early.” The way he spoke sounded like a threat to Carmela’s hearing and by the looks of things, she had
Six years had passed, and Carmela had finally found herself. She had left the city of Winchester, but not before getting a divorce from Max. It took a while for the divorce to be settled, as Max didn't want to let her go, still having two minds. But in the end, she won and she was able to move on with her life. She started a new life in a small town called Springdale. It was a quiet town, and she liked it that way. She didn't want any drama or excitement in her life. She just wanted to live a simple, peaceful life.Carmela's twins, a boy, and a girl, were a source of joy and light in her life. She named the boy Noah and the girl Hannah. They were both bright, happy children, and they loved their mother very much. Carmela was devoted to them, and she loved spending time with them. She was glad to be able to give them a happy, stable home, which was something she had not had as a child. Noah and Hannah were always curious about their father, but Carmela never told them anything about h
The next day, Carmela went to work as usual. She tried to focus on her job, but she couldn't stop thinking about the shadow she had seen the night before. Had it really been there, or was she just imagining things? And if it had been real, what did it mean? Was someone watching her? She shivered again.Just then, her boss, Pedro, walked into her office. "Hey Carm," he said. "How's it going?""Fine," she said, forcing a smile. "How's it going for you?""Pretty good," he said.Pedro hesitated for a moment, then said, "Hey, I was wondering if you'd like to go out to dinner with me this weekend. I know a great little Italian place, and I think you'd really like it."Carmela's heart skipped a beat. She knew she should say no because Pedro has always been nice to her, since she entered this firm and decided to work with him on several works here and there.She didn't want to lead him on, and she didn't feel that way about him. But at the same time, she didn't want to hurt his feelings. "Tha
"You know I'm here for you, right?" Sarah asked. "No matter what happens, I'm always here to listen and support you. And I'm sure your friends and family will feel the same way."Carmela felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. "Thank you, Sarah," she said. "I don't know what I'd do without you.""You don't have to worry about that," Sarah said. "We're family, even if we're not related by blood. And family is there for each other, no matter what."Carmela hung up the phone and grabbed her keys, heading out the door. She drove to the police station, her mind racing with thoughts and worries. ***She sat in the waiting room, tapping her foot anxiously as she waited for someone to call her name. Finally, a police officer came out and asked her to follow him to a private room."So, you want to report a missing person?" the officer asked as they sat down at a table. "Tell me everything you know."Carmela took a deep breath and told the officer everything.The officer took notes, his brow fu
Carmela followed Pedro to his car, a sleek black sedan with tinted windows. As they drove through the city, she noticed that they were headed to a very fancy neighborhood, filled with huge houses and perfectly manicured lawns. When they pulled up to a large, imposing gate, a guard stepped out to greet them. "Mr. Lone, welcome back," the guard said. "Is this your guest?""Yes, this is Mrs. Martins," Pedro said. "She'll be staying with me for the night. Please make her feel at home.""Yes, Mr. Lone," the guard said. He turned to Carmela with a smile. "Welcome to the Lone estate, Mrs. Martins. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable."Carmela felt a little like she was in a dream. Everything seemed so surreal. She followed Pedro into the house, marveling at the opulent furnishings and the massive chandeliers. A maid was dusting in the foyer, and she nodded politely as they passed.A swarm of Maids followed along with a lady in front to greet C
Just as Carmela was starting to feel a little more at ease, her phone rang. It was the police station, calling to tell her that she needed to come in right away. Her heart sank as she hung up the phone. "I'm sorry, but I have to go," she said to George. "The police need to talk to me."George looked worried. "I hope everything is all right," he said. "If you need anything, please let me know."Carmela nodded and left the room, feeling a mix of fear and confusion.As Carmela pulled up to the police station, her heart was pounding in her chest. She had no idea what was going on, but she had a feeling that it wasn't good. She took a deep breath and walked into the station, her hands shaking.The officer at the front desk greeted her with a smile. "You must be Carmela," she said. "Follow me, the chief wants to speak with you."Carmela followed the officer down a long hallway, her mind racing with possibilities. What could the police possibly want with her?The officer led Carmela into a s
"I know this is a lot to take in," Andrew said, "but we need to figure out what to do next. We can't just sit here and do nothing. We need to take action, and we need to do it quickly. The longer we wait, the harder this will be on everyone involved."Carmela nodded, her mind racing. "What are my options?" she asked.Andrew took a deep breath. "There are a few different paths we could take," he said. "I can help you explore all of them. But first, we need to answer one crucial question.""What do you want?" Andrew asked. "What outcome do you want from all of this? What's your end goal?"Carmela thought for a moment. "I want my kids to be safe and happy," she said. "I want them to have a stable, loving home. I don't want them to be caught up in a legal battle. I don't want them to be hurt by any of this."Andrew nodded. "That's a good place to start," he said. "Now, let's talk about how we can get there.""I think the best thing we can do is talk to Max," Andrew said. "We need to hear h