The Beginning of a Nightmare
The Beginning of a Nightmare
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10
The news of Christopher Gray, CEO of Gray Group, proposing to Evelyn Reed on a global
live broadcast had taken the world by storm.
As I walked home, I couldn’t avoid the massive billboard across the street showing the
two of them locked in an embrace, their kiss frozen in time for everyone to admire.
People were envious of Evelyn’s seemingly perfect life.
But I knew the truth–if Evelyn ever fell in love with Christopher Gray, it would mark the
beginning of her nightmare.
Because no matter how much she dreamed, she could never become Mrs. Gray.
Her moment in the spotlight would end with this grand proposal, no matter how dazzling
it seemed.
I had just stepped out of the grocery store with a bag of everyday essentials and a few ingredients for dinner. Cooking had become my way of passing time, a small distraction
from the monotony of life.
As I lifted my head, the giant screen on the skyscraper across the street caught my eye.
Christopher Gray and a young woman were shown in a close embrace, their chemistry practically leaping off the screen.
Even through a screen, their gazes lingered on each other, electric and intimate.
He was tall, sharp–featured, and impossibly handsome. She was delicate and breathtakingly beautiful.
They looked like the perfect couple, a match seemingly made in heaven.
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By now, everyone knew her name. She seemed to be one of those rare people blessed
the universe itself: stunning good looks, a petite, graceful figure, and eyes that could
captivate anyone.
It was said that from the moment Christopher Gray first saw her, he couldn’t take his e
off her.
Love at first sight, they called it.
And from that moment on, he poured his heart and soul into pursuing her.
He orchestrated grand romantic gestures–naming his latest jewelry line after her, dedicating new luxury apartment buildings to her, even naming an amusement park after
her.
Everywhere Evelyn went, there were traces of Christopher Gray’s devotion.
Standing on the sidewalk, I overheard two girls sipping bubble tea as they stared at the
screen.
“I’m so jealous of Evelyn,” one sighed. “Imagine having someone love you that much.”
“Forget love,” the other replied. “Do you know how rich Christopher Gray is? That’s the
real dream.”
“She must’ve saved the entire galaxy in her past life to deserve this,” the first one added wistfully.
I lowered my gaze and smiled faintly.
If Evelyn didn’t love Christopher, maybe she could enjoy the life he was offering her.
But most women would fall for a man like him, especially one who created a world of romance just for them.
And Evelyn? An orphan who’d grown up with nothing? She didn’t stand a chance.
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5
My phone buzzed, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I glanced at the screen:
“Hannah, I know who you are.””
Two days ago, Evelyn Reed had added me on WhatsApp after getting my contact information through Christopher.
I hesitated at first but ended up accepting her friend request.
Now she’d sent me another message:
“I’m getting engaged to Christopher soon. If you know what’s good for you, stay away from him.”
I didn’t bother replying.
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Instead, I grabbed my groceries and made my way to the apartment complex across the
street.
When I reached my building, I noticed a sleek Porsche parked outside, gleaming under the streetlights.
It was Christopher’s car.
Dealing with Christopher Gray had always been a headache.
He loved surrounding himself with beautiful women, which was his business. But for some reason, he never seemed willing to leave me alone.
2
I took the elevator up to my floor, and the moment I opened the door, Christopher greeted
- me.
He took the grocery bag from my hands and grabbed a pair of slippers from the rack.
“You’re back?” he asked casually.
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“You’re
back?” he asked casually.
“What’s for dinner tonight?”
He spoke like we were an old married couple, his tone natural and familiar, as if he belonged here.
I sighed, took the slippers from him, and sat down on the bench to change shoes.
Meanwhile, he carried the groceries into the kitchen like he owned the place.
“How about braised pork?” he asked, glancing at me as he tied the bunny–print apron hanging by the wall around his waist.
The sight was almost comically domestic.
I leaned against the kitchen doorframe, watching as the exhaust fan hummed in the background, drowning out the quiet tension in the room.
Christopher moved around the kitchen with ease, as if he’d done this a hundred times
before.
“Braised pork sounds fine,” I said finally. “But what are you doing here? Don’t you have work?”
“Nothing urgent at the office,” he replied with a smile. “Oh, by the way, the pink diamond necklace you wanted has been set. I brought it over for you.”
“Christopher,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “We need to talk.”
“Sure,” he said easily, tilting his head and flashing me a boyish grin.
He had a face that seemed to have been crafted with care–handsome, charismatic, and utterly disarming.
“Evelyn Reed,” I began, meeting his gaze. “You proposed to her on a global live
broadcast. You arranged a citywide light show for her birthday. You even filled the sky with
fireworks for her.”
114:28 Wed, Feb 5 tu
“And earlier this year, when she was in a car accident and needed a blood transfusion, you made a big public scene about it.”
“Christopher, with your resources, you could’ve handled all of those things quietly. But
you didn’t. You wanted the whole world to know how much you love her.”
Christopher chuckled lightly as he sliced the meat.
“Exactly,” he said. “When you’re trying to win someone over, you have to go all out. A little showmanship never hurts.”
“Girls love this kind of thing.”
The meat went into the pot, and the blue flame flickered beneath it.
I sighed.
“So, are you planning to marry her?” I asked.
Christopher turned to look at me, his smile as charming as ever.
“Hannah,” he said smoothly, “how could I possibly marry her?”
“She’s just a bit of fun. Life’s too long not to enjoy a little romance along the way.”
“I’m young. Why not indulge in a few fleeting adventures while I can?”
I had expected this answer.
But I tried to reason with him anyway.
“Christopher, you could marry her. I’ll talk to my family, convince them to support the idea. We can finalize our divorce. Yes, splitting the assets would be tricky, but-”
Before I could finish, Christopher waved me off, laughing.
“Hannah, don’t tell me you’ve fallen for some young boy,” he teased.
“Who is h? Some hotshot actor? A collage kid?”
14:28 Wed, Feb 5 ti
“Let me meet him first. I’ll judge if he’s worthy of you.”
The words I wanted to say caught in my throat.
