culpables years later

Michael

Free at last. I was ready to take revenge on my dear Noah and her Nicholas. And so kindly, I had made a new friend who hated them just as much as I did. Right now, I'm in a good place with him, and I'm watching everything very closely. I knew that Noah and so were with their parents. I knew that from the beginning.

I had it all planned, and everything went according to plan. Noah and Nick I'm saving for the end. I'd start with somebody else. They should watch each other, because what comes is going to take them all apart piece by piece. "Michael? Everything's ready for the first stage." I nodded to my new friend. Let the games begin.

Noah

The next day was grinding. My mother took Maggie and Andrew to school, and Nick and I talked to Lopez. There was not much she could tell us, except that the letter was being examined for clues and that the investigation was being stepped up.

Nick and I decided not to be intimidated. We both went to work with a bodyguart each. Steve stayed with me, and Alex would go to Nick's. Once at work, everyone asked me what my vacation with my husband was like. Of course, I couldn't say anything about Michael, so my standard answer was they were good. There were no meetings today, just lots of manuscripts and paperwork. So I made a coffee, and I sat down to work. Steve was sitting in the back of my couch, reading a book. I didn't mind having him with me all the time, watching over me. A couple of colleagues would come into my office every once in a while and ask me things about work or personal. They weren't surprised to see Steve here anymore. They knew who my husband was and that we needed protection. The day was so slow. Work didn't really help. I loved my work. I loved reading and writing. Except in some situations like this, I didn't enjoy it.

My phone was blinking, and I got a message from Nick.

                                          Nick❤️

How are you?

Hope you have a nice day. 

                                                                                   Not so good. You?

The same. Shall we meet for lunch? I'll pick you up?

                                                                                   Gladly. When? Half an Hour?

Look out your Windows freckles. 

I got up and looked out the window. Nick stood outside my window with flowers leaning against his car. I couldn't help smiling. I texted him that I was coming down and packed my phone. Steve came down and drove our car after him. Nick had chosen a nice restaurant to eat. We've never been here before, but we'd like to eat here more. Steve and Alex stayed by the cars at the entrance so Nick and I could get some togetherness. We both ordered iced tea, he ordered noodles and I a risotto. No matter how long we were together, we were still in love like we were the first day. We sat across from each other, and he held my hand. "Did I ever tell you how pretty you are freckles?" It was cute as he tried to lighten the mood after yesterday's affair. "You mentioned it once or so."

"I like to look at you. You already enchanted me when we first met in the kitchen. Your freckles and your cheeky manner. You were the first woman who didn't throw herself around my neck. Your simplicity and your way of seeing the world drove me crazy about you." "You're really romantic today, Nick. What's going on?" "I don't think I tell you enough how much I love you. Tell me something I don't know about you yet, Noah." I was puzzled by the question. I had to think. "OK, I'll tell you. But don't tell anyone." "I'm curious now." "I was sixteen or so. My friend thought that one guy was so horny, but he thought I was good. At the time, he had sung a song in front of the whole class to tell me how he felt. She beat him up on stage. I felt so sorry for him that I helped him, and then he kissed me in front of the whole class."

Nick looked at me in horror and started laughing. "Wow, I didn't expect this to happen." Our dinner was brought to us, and we went on with the game. "I remember at the time, it was my second time or something. It was at a party in the spare room, and she fell asleep having sex. I was so uncomfortable."

"Wow, he came in person." He nodded, and we continued to eat. The dinner went quite well, it was great to be able to laugh lightly. As the dinner drew to a close, we said goodbye to each other in front of our cars. "Thank you for cheering me up, Nick. I love you." He kissed me goodbye, and we got into our cars. Back at work, I got a message from my mom showing me a picture of her, Andie and Will at the zoo. I responded with a heart. When I arrived at my office, there was a package on my desk. Maybe a new manuscript? I opened it, and a hoodie with a letter leapt at me.

Have you missed me? The hoodie is for you when you're cold or you want to smell me. We'll see each other again soon. 

I dropped the note and put my hand over my mouth. Steve jumped up and saw the note. "Noah, come with us." He took my things and pulled me to the car. He sat me in and walked upstairs for a second. My hands were shaking. I was in shock. I even got it more right when he got into the car and called Nick. When we got home, he drove me to my room and brought me a glass of water. Thank God Andrew was out with my mom. I lay down on the bed and looked out at my balcony. I don't know how much time had passed when Nick came into my field of vision. He lay down on his side so he could look at me and rest one hand on my cheek. There were two of us. Steve was gone. "Noah are you okay?" I looked at him. My mouth wouldn't open to talk. "He or someone else was in my office to bring me the package. He knows where I work. He's starting his revenge plan." "I'm so sorry, but you're fine and everybody's fine. He's just trying to scare you. You're not going to get hurt." "I'm scared Nick. He's trying to break us up and hurt us. It's my turn today and who's tomorrow? You? I don't want any of this, all because I talked to him and trusted him. The night of the gala was the beginning of the end. I was talking to him, and suddenly his hands were all over my body. I didn't want any of this, and yet everything has its course." 

"Nothing is your fault, Noah! If anything, we're all to blame. We have to stay strong. Promise me that?" It was all hard for me. But Nick was right, I had to stay strong. He pulled me into his arms and gave me warmth for the soul and the body.

For a moment, I closed my eyes and fell asleep. When I woke up, I was alone in bed, my eyes were red and my head was pounding. I took a sip of water and went to the shower. Freshly dressed, I went down to where William and my mom were sitting on the couch and Maggie were sitting in the kitchen at Prett's. I went into the kitchen to make myself something to eat. Maggie noticed me first and gave me a hug. ,, How are you? Nick had told me what happened." I broke away from the hug and then walked into the next one with Prett. "Better, thank you. You guys How are you?" "We're fine, Miss Noah." I forced myself to smile. "Do you know where Nick and Andie are?" "Yes, they're in the backyard playing soccer." I went to the fridge and made myself a snack. I went outside where Steve was standing on the side watching Nick with Andrew. My gaze followed him, and what I saw made my heart melt. Nick and Andrew laughed and played soccer as if everything was perfect. Andrew was so happy and carefree in spite of everything. 

None of us wanted Andrew to experience something traumatic at a young age. He wasn't supposed to have a childhood like us. But Michael played with us, and there was nothing we could do about it. 

Unfortunately, I didn't have my phone with me, or I would have taken a picture of the moment. I suddenly felt all slack. 

Michael

Free at last. I was ready to take revenge on my dear Noah and her Nicholas. And so kindly, I had made a new friend who hated them just as much as I did. Right now, I'm in a good place with him, and I'm watching everything very closely. I knew that Noah and so were with their parents. I knew that from the beginning.

I had it all planned, and everything went according to plan. Noah and Nick I'm saving for the end. I'd start with somebody else. They should watch each other, because what comes is going to take them all apart piece by piece. "Michael? Everything's ready for the first stage." I nodded to my new friend. Let the games begin.

Noah

The next day was grinding. My mother took Maggie and Andrew to school, and Nick and I talked to Lopez. There was not much she could tell us, except that the letter was being examined for clues and that the investigation was being stepped up.

Nick and I decided not to be intimidated. We both went to work with a bodyguart each. Steve stayed with me, and Alex would go to Nick's. Once at work, everyone asked me what my vacation with my husband was like. Of course, I couldn't say anything about Michael, so my standard answer was they were good. There were no meetings today, just lots of manuscripts and paperwork. So I made a coffee, and I sat down to work. Steve was sitting in the back of my couch, reading a book. I didn't mind having him with me all the time, watching over me. A couple of colleagues would come into my office every once in a while and ask me things about work or personal. They weren't surprised to see Steve here anymore. They knew who my husband was and that we needed protection. The day was so slow. Work didn't really help. I loved my work. I loved reading and writing. Except in some situations like this, I didn't enjoy it.

My phone was blinking, and I got a message from Nick.

                                          Nick❤️

How are you?

Hope you have a nice day. 

                                                                                   Not so good. You?

The same. Shall we meet for lunch? I'll pick you up?

                                                                                   Gladly. When? Half an Hour?

Look out your Windows freckles. 

I got up and looked out the window. Nick stood outside my window with flowers leaning against his car. I couldn't help smiling. I texted him that I was coming down and packed my phone. Steve came down and drove our car after him. Nick had chosen a nice restaurant to eat. We've never been here before, but we'd like to eat here more. Steve and Alex stayed by the cars at the entrance so Nick and I could get some togetherness. We both ordered iced tea, he ordered noodles and I a risotto. No matter how long we were together, we were still in love like we were the first day. We sat across from each other, and he held my hand. "Did I ever tell you how pretty you are freckles?" It was cute as he tried to lighten the mood after yesterday's affair. "You mentioned it once or so."

"I like to look at you. You already enchanted me when we first met in the kitchen. Your freckles and your cheeky manner. You were the first woman who didn't throw herself around my neck. Your simplicity and your way of seeing the world drove me crazy about you." "You're really romantic today, Nick. What's going on?" "I don't think I tell you enough how much I love you. Tell me something I don't know about you yet, Noah." I was puzzled by the question. I had to think. "OK, I'll tell you. But don't tell anyone." "I'm curious now." "I was sixteen or so. My friend thought that one guy was so horny, but he thought I was good. At the time, he had sung a song in front of the whole class to tell me how he felt. She beat him up on stage. I felt so sorry for him that I helped him, and then he kissed me in front of the whole class."

Nick looked at me in horror and started laughing. "Wow, I didn't expect this to happen." Our dinner was brought to us, and we went on with the game. "I remember at the time, it was my second time or something. It was at a party in the spare room, and she fell asleep having sex. I was so uncomfortable."

"Wow, he came in person." He nodded, and we continued to eat. The dinner went quite well, it was great to be able to laugh lightly. As the dinner drew to a close, we said goodbye to each other in front of our cars. "Thank you for cheering me up, Nick. I love you." He kissed me goodbye, and we got into our cars. Back at work, I got a message from my mom showing me a picture of her, Andie and Will at the zoo. I responded with a heart. When I arrived at my office, there was a package on my desk. Maybe a new manuscript? I opened it, and a hoodie with a letter leapt at me.

Have you missed me? The hoodie is for you when you're cold or you want to smell me. We'll see each other again soon. 

I dropped the note and put my hand over my mouth. Steve jumped up and saw the note. "Noah, come with us." He took my things and pulled me to the car. He sat me in and walked upstairs for a second. My hands were shaking. I was in shock. I even got it more right when he got into the car and called Nick. When we got home, he drove me to my room and brought me a glass of water. Thank God Andrew was out with my mom. I lay down on the bed and looked out at my balcony. I don't know how much time had passed when Nick came into my field of vision. He lay down on his side so he could look at me and rest one hand on my cheek. There were two of us. Steve was gone. "Noah are you okay?" I looked at him. My mouth wouldn't open to talk. "He or someone else was in my office to bring me the package. He knows where I work. He's starting his revenge plan." "I'm so sorry, but you're fine and everybody's fine. He's just trying to scare you. You're not going to get hurt." "I'm scared Nick. He's trying to break us up and hurt us. It's my turn today and who's tomorrow? You? I don't want any of this, all because I talked to him and trusted him. The night of the gala was the beginning of the end. I was talking to him, and suddenly his hands were all over my body. I didn't want any of this, and yet everything has its course." 

"Nothing is your fault, Noah! If anything, we're all to blame. We have to stay strong. Promise me that?" It was all hard for me. But Nick was right, I had to stay strong. He pulled me into his arms and gave me warmth for the soul and the body.

For a moment, I closed my eyes and fell asleep. When I woke up, I was alone in bed, my eyes were red and my head was pounding. I took a sip of water and went to the shower. Freshly dressed, I went down to where William and my mom were sitting on the couch and Maggie were sitting in the kitchen at Prett's. I went into the kitchen to make myself something to eat. Maggie noticed me first and gave me a hug. ,, How are you? Nick had told me what happened." I broke away from the hug and then walked into the next one with Prett. "Better, thank you. You guys How are you?" "We're fine, Miss Noah." I forced myself to smile. "Do you know where Nick and Andie are?" "Yes, they're in the backyard playing soccer." I went to the fridge and made myself a snack. I went outside where Steve was standing on the side watching Nick with Andrew. My gaze followed him, and what I saw made my heart melt. Nick and Andrew laughed and played soccer as if everything was perfect. Andrew was so happy and carefree in spite of everything. 

None of us wanted Andrew to experience something traumatic at a young age. He wasn't supposed to have a childhood like us. But Michael played with us, and there was nothing we could do about it. 

Unfortunately, I didn't have my phone with me, or I would have taken a picture of the moment. I suddenly felt all slack.