Please, I beg you...
Austin dreamt of a strange place, calm and quiet, like the world had paused just for him. He wandered through a park, his steps light against the soft grass. That’s when he noticed a tiny kitten hiding beneath a tree. Its fur was a mix of grey and white, and its wide eyes glimmered with fear. When it saw him approaching, it tried to crawl back.
"It’s okay. I won’t hurt you," Austin whispered, crouching down. His hand slowly extended towards the kitten, never breaking eye contact. A smile tugged at his lips, it reminded him of Dora, that same mix of defiance and vulnerability.
The kitten took a hesitant step, then another, before finally grazing its nose against his hand. His heart softened as he lifted the little creature into his arms, stroking its soft head. It nestled into his shoulder, a comforting warmth spreading through him. But then, without warning, the kitten began to struggle, scratching at him with its tiny claws.
"Easy," Austin murmured, trying to calm it, but his breath hitched when he heard a voice, a soft, angry voice.
"Leave me."
Austin’s eyes flew open, the kitten vanished, and in its place was Dora, angry, disheveled, and caged between his arms.
"Mr. Jess, how dare you?! If you don’t let me go right now, I’ll report you for harassment!" she snapped.
Austin blinked, still half-dazed from the dream, but a sly smile curled his lips. Dora’s hair was a wild mess, her cheeks flushed, and the resemblance to the kitten in his dream was uncanny.
He didn’t loosen his hold. Instead, he leaned in slightly, his voice a husky murmur. "You came here of your own will. Go ahead and report me. The apartment has CCTV cameras, and legally... we’re husband and wife." He paused, his gaze burning into hers. "And it’s normal for a husband and wife to share a bed."
Dora’s heart pounded so hard she thought it might break free from her chest. She tried to form a response, but no words came. His bare chest was inches away, and the heat of his skin, the sheer intensity of his stare, left her breathless.
Then she felt it, his arousal pressing against her stomach.
Terror gripped her. Not of him, but of herself. Of the desire threatening to drown her. Of the fear that he’d call her a whore again. Of the helplessness of being at his mercy.
Tears welled in her eyes. "Please, I beg you..."
Austin’s expression softened instantly. "Hey, it’s okay. I’m not going to do anything." His voice was gentle now, and he carefully moved away from her.
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling deeply. "You can use this bathroom. I’ll use the other one."
Before she could say anything, Austin left, leaving Dora frozen in place.
When he returned, freshly showered and dressed, Dora was still sitting stiffly on the bed, lost in thought.
"How... why am I here? Whose place is this? What happened last night?" she finally blurted out, her voice shaky.
Austin remembered something, how she always wanted tea first thing in the morning, how he used to leave a cup on her desk whenever she took a nap.
Old habits die hard.
He placed two cups of tea on the bedside table. "You felt dizzy last night. After having ice cream for dinner, you fell asleep in my car. I was tired too, so I brought you here to my apartment."
"Why didn’t you wake me up?"
"I tried. You didn’t even move."
Silence hung between them. Dora’s mind was a whirlwind of confusion and something else—something she didn’t want to admit. Relief? Comfort?
"Have some tea and freshen up. I’ll drop you home," Austin said softly.
She nodded, realizing it was Sunday. She should have felt scared to be alone with him, but strangely... she didn’t want to leave. A strange tiredness weighed her down, even though she’d just woken up.
Later, when Austin came to call her for breakfast, he found her asleep again.
She must be exhausted from work, he thought, quietly shutting the door.
Hours later, Dora woke with a jolt. Panic surged as she recognized her surroundings.
What is wrong with me? How could I sleep, knowing he’s in the same house? She scolded herself.
She leapt out of bed, only to freeze as the door opened. Austin stood there, holding a tray of food.
"Good timing. I was about to wake you for lunch."
"What time is it?" she asked, her voice still groggy.
"Four in the afternoon."
Her eyes widened. "I need to go home. I can’t stay here."
Austin’s jaw tightened. "Eat first. Then I’ll take you."
"No, I don’t need your concern. You’re not my babysitter," she snapped.
His patience snapped too. "You’re not leaving without eating something."
"Why are you yelling at me?" Her voice cracked, and tears pooled in her eyes.
Austin opened his mouth to speak, but the words died on his tongue. The sudden shift in her mood left him speechless.
Austin's eyes stayed fixed on her, his gaze sharp and questioning. Just a moment ago, she was yelling at him, her fury crackling like a live wire. Now, she sat quietly, eating without a hint of resistance. The sudden shift left him speechless.
As promised, he drove her home. Another surprise, she didn't argue, didn't demand to be dropped elsewhere. She simply let him.
"She's driving me insane," he muttered under his breath, gripping the steering wheel a little too tight before starting the car.
But the nights that followed were a different kind of torment. Austin found himself tossing and turning, haunted by the memory of her warmth, the way she used to curl into him like she belonged there. He missed her more than he was willing to admit. Each passing day only deepened the ache, and no matter how hard he tried to summon the anger, to remind himself of her betrayal the affair nothing seemed to ease the emptiness.
On the other side of the city, Dora wrestled with her own ghosts. She missed her parents terribly, but she couldn't ask them to come back. Fiona was pregnant and needed all the support she could get, especially with her husband away most of the time, chasing stories as a freelance journalist. When Fiona, usually so headstrong and independent, had asked for their parents' help, Dora knew her sister was struggling more than she let on.
Even with Sienna's cheerful company, a strange emptiness clung to Dora. It was like a shadow she couldn't shake, something was missing, though she couldn't quite figure out what.
As if on cue, her phone buzzed. Her mother's name lit up the screen.
A smile broke across Dora's face. "Mom!"
They talked for what felt like hours, their conversation a comforting blur of family news and small talk. But then, her mother’s voice took on a more serious tone.
"Your next hearing is in a week."
Dora's smile vanished. A cold wave of reality washed over her.
How had time moved so fast? The last hearing felt like yesterday. Austin's lawyer had requested two months, and those two months had slipped by like sand through her fingers. She hadn't even told her parents that she was working under her estranged husband.
He's coming back to finalize the divorce, she realized.
That's why his lawyer needed time to prepare for the end. The final chapter.
Her chest tightened. She wanted to be strong, to keep her head high, but her defenses seemed to have packed up and left. The tears came often now, uninvited, unstoppable. She didn’t even understand why half the time, which only made her cry harder.
At lunch the next day, Dora sat across from Sienna, absently poking at her salad.
Sienna leaned forward, breaking the silence. "There's an office party tomorrow. You're coming. No excuses."
"I don't feel like it," Dora mumbled.
Sienna rolled her eyes. "Are you seriously chickening out because of him?"
Dora’s head snapped up. "Fine. Let’s get it over with."
"And we need to go shopping." Sienna was already grabbing her arm, dragging her toward the nearest boutique.
"Again? Can't I just wear something I already own?"
"What? Your pajamas?" Sienna teased.
Before Dora could protest, a familiar voice called her name.
"Dora?"
She spun around, eyes wide. "Daniel?"
He grinned. "Thought I saw someone familiar. Long time no see. How have you been?"
"Yeah, it's been a while…" Dora's voice wavered. She hesitated, uncertain what to say next.
Daniel’s smile softened. "Still trying to get away from me?"
The playful jab hit a little too close to home. Dora froze, her pulse racing.
"You don’t have to be awkward," Daniel added, his voice light. "We’re not together anymore. Relax. Just pray I don’t bump into your husband or—"
Her face went pale.
Before she could respond, a new voice broke through the tension.
"Is everything alright?"
Douglas.
He’d just parked his car and spotted them through the shop window. But the sight of Dora standing stiffly next to an unfamiliar man made him step in without thinking.
"Douglas?" Dora blinked in surprise.
The tension only thickened when Daniel turned around. Recognition flared in Douglas’s eyes.
"Daniel?" he asked.
"Yeah. Wasn't expecting to see you again, mate," Daniel replied, pulling Douglas into a brief, friendly hug.
"Didn’t know you lived here," Douglas said.
"I don't anymore. I moved back to the U.S. I’m only here for my sister’s wedding."
Dora's confusion deepened. "Wait… you two know each other?"
Douglas chuckled. "Yeah, from my business days. We worked together on a deal."
Daniel’s smile dimmed slightly. "I'm sorry about your sister… and the business loss too."
Douglas gave a tight nod.
But before Dora could make sense of any of it, a cold voice sliced through the air.
"He was my restaurant partner… and my best friend."
Austin. His glare burned hotter than a thousand suns.
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