'When everything else fails, when you feel like the darkness closing in on you, you will be able to see a sliver of light. It's called hope dear. Wherever you are, however you are, do not let go of that hope. Do not let go of that sliver of light and it will pull you out of your misery...'567Please respect copyright.PENANAhW0Cx1P2kH
567Please respect copyright.PENANADnQ5plxMGs
567Please respect copyright.PENANAka6CmP2ysI
567Please respect copyright.PENANAqS9eoNyuoh
"Eve?"567Please respect copyright.PENANAAyG3ZfA7M5
567Please respect copyright.PENANA7CN6lLRrJ6
567Please respect copyright.PENANA0i47dFCESN
567Please respect copyright.PENANAGkQm0IGDTV
Her eyes opened, staring at herself on the mirror. The little yellow bulbs along the top of the mirror glowed on her damp face. She leaned down again, cupping some water into her palms and washed her face.567Please respect copyright.PENANAoyzlyEdl2R
567Please respect copyright.PENANAg8GO7DCNlG
567Please respect copyright.PENANAFY9HhFqGuH
567Please respect copyright.PENANAwXMAaBRJPd
Eve used her hankie to dry her face and sighed, tying her hair into a pony tail and adjusted her knee length vine red dress and palmed the small oval shaped fire opal locket of the gold chain around her neck.
"Are you alright?"
567Please respect copyright.PENANAj96LMCd6vU
She felt her best friend's hand in her bare shoulder. Eve appreciated her concern but she genuinely didn't want to burden her with her pathetic life.567Please respect copyright.PENANAiOgnlb7hk7
567Please respect copyright.PENANAse4oKAa16T
567Please respect copyright.PENANAwiT6dSn2uX
567Please respect copyright.PENANAmMnQexjuXq
"I'm fine", she said, more to herself. She needed to assure herself that she was fine eventhough it was a lie. 567Please respect copyright.PENANAnGVJ9AjJBT
567Please respect copyright.PENANAbwaCNtk0X4
567Please respect copyright.PENANApRAhg6E8jU
567Please respect copyright.PENANAogEzU32MYn
"Let's go", Eve smiled at her bestfriend and walked out of the washroom. She took the short hallway that led to the hall where the main event was going on. 567Please respect copyright.PENANAklp7UAMInn
567Please respect copyright.PENANAr1MqkARdg7
567Please respect copyright.PENANAACXSaf5xZ2
567Please respect copyright.PENANAsxyCGMan80
People greeted her, complimenting her about the beautiful cake that she made for the newly engaged couple. Most of the people present were businessmen since both the couples' parents are known businessmen. Some even requested for her business card.567Please respect copyright.PENANAvsu9lEhfqm
567Please respect copyright.PENANABRiIpv8BYP
567Please respect copyright.PENANAXBJQ7p7wza
567Please respect copyright.PENANADOVDMvNoqa
"At least you got something beneficial out of this engagement"567Please respect copyright.PENANAhPXrAAzHiM
567Please respect copyright.PENANA95SnYvIiZj
567Please respect copyright.PENANA7kcC7RN3Sk
567Please respect copyright.PENANAHVdcrDaznL
Sam muttered beside her, blue grey eyes shooting daggers at the couple who was dancing to the soft piano music. Rene was wearing an off shoulder navy blue mermaid dress that showed off her curves and Daniel wore a suit that matched Rene's. They looked so happy together and a pang of pain hit her chest like a knife.567Please respect copyright.PENANAKZeRP8Zaqp
567Please respect copyright.PENANAn04lHC3GEs
567Please respect copyright.PENANA64CZuZFPBq
567Please respect copyright.PENANA3pk0YYR5RD
She had dreamed of this very moment with him. A future that she built carefully,only for it to be shattered suddenly.567Please respect copyright.PENANADu21YlJQvi
567Please respect copyright.PENANARm1f3inhtw
567Please respect copyright.PENANAxOcBkvpz9r
567Please respect copyright.PENANAjhJT7fN0ql
Like glass.567Please respect copyright.PENANArxxwv7O1or
567Please respect copyright.PENANAFi46CDgUPV
567Please respect copyright.PENANAjR7cpT9tC3
567Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4knq8bYvY
"Genevieve?"567Please respect copyright.PENANAdK2IVewWHc
567Please respect copyright.PENANAb9eNrlyvlA
567Please respect copyright.PENANAoFQEGyYTZg
567Please respect copyright.PENANAVfRCegRIx2
Eve snapped out of her thoughts and looked to her side. Talia Evans was staring her with wide green eyes that Daniel inherited. She looked stunning in her purple floor length dress, her dark blonde hair pulled into a tight bun. 567Please respect copyright.PENANA7HbhALf1JF
567Please respect copyright.PENANAsS0X7R9zTn
567Please respect copyright.PENANALPJc6y5zdv
567Please respect copyright.PENANAtBDCsqLaFQ
"Hey", Eve smiled at her. She had met Talia a few times when she was dating Daniel and she was a genuinely pleasant woman.567Please respect copyright.PENANAiOc2s3oHux
567Please respect copyright.PENANAnPriOSjFBN
567Please respect copyright.PENANAXYLb4UuJ6l
567Please respect copyright.PENANAYWEwLcGbbG
"I- I didn't knew he invited you"567Please respect copyright.PENANAHryCXZ5YEX
567Please respect copyright.PENANASTG5zTRTPX
567Please respect copyright.PENANAOw0lun9UQ2
567Please respect copyright.PENANAlNcu82Wbl7
She breathed out and soon, she was hugging Eve. Sam stood to the side, awkwardly drinking her white wine. 567Please respect copyright.PENANAlfs0yKST1b
567Please respect copyright.PENANAFPGih625v9
567Please respect copyright.PENANAbDrG4SX67I
567Please respect copyright.PENANA4DNcElmoMC
"Oh he didn't. Rene is a close friend of mine", Sam snickered beside her and Eve ignored it. "She requested me to do a cake for the auspicious occasion"567Please respect copyright.PENANAJvOXs2xk5D
567Please respect copyright.PENANA5ondKhCK2O
567Please respect copyright.PENANAKqPggm3b0l
567Please respect copyright.PENANAzpWr7S4kT8
She didn't meant to but the last few words came out a bit harsh and Talia's eyes grew sad.567Please respect copyright.PENANAAoZt3CltIC
567Please respect copyright.PENANAtwbB19DWh3
567Please respect copyright.PENANACzWHsRllcT
567Please respect copyright.PENANAWOrGeo0cOt
"Genevieve if I knew what his father was planning-"567Please respect copyright.PENANAPqT0Y5WqUZ
567Please respect copyright.PENANAgCipqyNTiC
567Please respect copyright.PENANAfIqHD04jdW
567Please respect copyright.PENANAsUX0UBZCco
"It's fine Talia. It's not like your son isn't happy with his father's decision"567Please respect copyright.PENANAQzhsji1kFc
567Please respect copyright.PENANAnNk6Fu0IJX
567Please respect copyright.PENANAo1rPf1caH0
567Please respect copyright.PENANACWtSRElMtQ
Her eyes floated over to where Daniel and Rene was sharing a kiss. Of course, he looked genuinely happy to be with someone more beautiful and a high social status. 567Please respect copyright.PENANAKNGy68gQrM
567Please respect copyright.PENANANQGrx5Ilx0
567Please respect copyright.PENANAL8CevEFsy4
567Please respect copyright.PENANAXfJ3OesN2h
Eve looked back at the woman. Her green eyes were glossy and Eve felt bad. Before Eve could say something, another enthusiastic voice called out to her.567Please respect copyright.PENANA0qqZq771gq
567Please respect copyright.PENANAiIzZn55cd8
567Please respect copyright.PENANACvjclSPWhL
567Please respect copyright.PENANAZqLWblWhUn
"Just great", Sam groaned and quickly emptied her glass of wine and escaped the scene saying something about refilling her glass. Eve restrained herself from strangling her best friend and smiled warmly at Rene who was walking towards her with a huge smile, Daniel in tow.567Please respect copyright.PENANAV8pL29R717
567Please respect copyright.PENANA81imMmncZr
567Please respect copyright.PENANAmUUUs2oiIG
567Please respect copyright.PENANA3duJEE5ifv
"My goodness Eve! The cake was ah-mazing!"567Please respect copyright.PENANAz8EHaNyApY
567Please respect copyright.PENANAMhi1cTCLVH
567Please respect copyright.PENANAr97PVh1yZp
567Please respect copyright.PENANAwQfmeoU1JV
She squealed, hooking her arm around Daniel's. He tried to smile at her but dropped it the moment he saw the cold fire in her cerulean eyes. 567Please respect copyright.PENANAUIvXf8JGBN
567Please respect copyright.PENANAAng1LEDhCV
567Please respect copyright.PENANAoPOee3v1i1
567Please respect copyright.PENANAtWDDun5iSa
"I'm glad to hear you loved the cake, Rene", she smiled and glanced at Daniel. "And congratulations too"567Please respect copyright.PENANAJWfp2G0B8K
567Please respect copyright.PENANA8jMsFcJFL5
567Please respect copyright.PENANAaN8Gq6W8lJ
567Please respect copyright.PENANAsZGx0Nk0gl
He remained silent while Rene giggled, thanking her and reached over to plant a kiss on his cheek. Talia shifted uncomfortably by her side. 567Please respect copyright.PENANAvfs238vwi5
567Please respect copyright.PENANAnxQujztWKL
567Please respect copyright.PENANA0C2V0ooMrH
567Please respect copyright.PENANAj9SfnGU3kH
"I know Eve. And congratulations to you too. I swear everyone thought you were crazy to abruptly drop out of collage", she laughed. "But look where that brought you? A successful woman owning a bakehouse"567Please respect copyright.PENANAvmAbgkb1lx
567Please respect copyright.PENANAJHVoqDbiGG
567Please respect copyright.PENANAT1k67Dczdv
567Please respect copyright.PENANAkyeyhsH4rJ
Eve didn't bother to correct her. The bakehouse was still not fully hers. The owner of the building was an old hag who just wouldn't budge. 567Please respect copyright.PENANAl0akRVXX1u
567Please respect copyright.PENANA3EHOslsWXS
567Please respect copyright.PENANAXF8riyFDe8
567Please respect copyright.PENANAYG6L44EbND
"Yeah", she mumbled and checked her wrist watch. Half past nine. The usual time to close the bake house/ coffee shop was at 10 and it would take her roughly half an hour to reach there. 567Please respect copyright.PENANAV90se4SQAf
567Please respect copyright.PENANAchsoiDjBmt
567Please respect copyright.PENANA89T1J6iQMO
567Please respect copyright.PENANAhfJWs79bdp
"I will take my leave now", she smiled at them, deliberately avoiding Daniel and turned on her heels. Sam was no where to be found and Eve pressed her lips into a thin line. She forgot to take her phone and Dana was her ride back home.567Please respect copyright.PENANA71auqX6G8Q
567Please respect copyright.PENANARvw0IrvFiL
567Please respect copyright.PENANA5j2dEh1dMI
567Please respect copyright.PENANAPIELbpgYvL
"That woman", she muttered under her breath pushing open the double doors that led out of the main hall. She walked through the narrow dimly lit hallway, muttering obscenities under her breath, most of them aimed at Sam and a few at Daniel and turned a corner, walking straight into someone's chest.567Please respect copyright.PENANACaWZUquK4B
567Please respect copyright.PENANAKLZokFucHk
567Please respect copyright.PENANA69oKC3QOqy
567Please respect copyright.PENANArvM4YOpdTQ
Eve stumbled back, not realizing that her locket had somehow got stuck on the guy's jacket. Her movements were abrupt. It snapped.567Please respect copyright.PENANApUNPd5HqEP
567Please respect copyright.PENANAQrNVc8Dhep
567Please respect copyright.PENANA5VTEbmtgo3
567Please respect copyright.PENANAiSapoAqpzU
Breath got knocked out of her chest when she fell on her butt unceremoniously. She ignored the dull ache on her backside and gaped at the chain that was now dangling from his jacket.567Please respect copyright.PENANA6LNfio6b78
567Please respect copyright.PENANAT3DPYis3Y5
567Please respect copyright.PENANAAjxA1sSDGD
567Please respect copyright.PENANAq3bep9W2By
The guy whose dirty blonde hair was in a messy top knot, frowned at the thin chain and locket dangling from his black jacket. Eve struggled to push back the tears that burned her eyes and climbed back to her feet.567Please respect copyright.PENANAnJx9pSQHlA
567Please respect copyright.PENANAwXSDBYAt6W
567Please respect copyright.PENANASvnWLN2C9E
567Please respect copyright.PENANAG55sd130Lu
He took the chain off gently and stared down at the fire opal locket that now rest upon his palm, then his eyes flicked over to her face. His frown deepened, a confused look crossing his brown eyes. His neatly trimmed beard made him look older, but he looked around thirty and she had no idea who this guy was. A business man maybe?567Please respect copyright.PENANA2FDGPUGXqi
567Please respect copyright.PENANAq53diQ0cue
567Please respect copyright.PENANAjVvwBiiOd4
567Please respect copyright.PENANAEzvfffoVDP
"Um-", she started but stopped herself when a hard look replaced the confusion on his face. He thrust his hand forward. "It snapped", he muttered under his breath, lips pulled down. 567Please respect copyright.PENANAEF0ewK1Z3E
567Please respect copyright.PENANAhhuv5vtvr1
567Please respect copyright.PENANAQXUCwoIa6l
567Please respect copyright.PENANANvNfhyJZh5
Eve swallowed and grabbed the chain. Once again her eyes burned. It was not seriously damaged yet...567Please respect copyright.PENANAKLoK8NbqAF
567Please respect copyright.PENANAlFsRjhNeoz
567Please respect copyright.PENANA3Y3tuwNNMe
567Please respect copyright.PENANAAjyz0L6Szc
The man pocketed his hands into his dress pants and side stepped her, walking off. Eve stood still until the heavy echoes of his footsteps faded into nothing and resumed her journey.567Please respect copyright.PENANArL4lC55pNm
567Please respect copyright.PENANAdvUJkTlM2R
567Please respect copyright.PENANAd1eWhzkqKm
567Please respect copyright.PENANAQSpNSljEpa
She clutched the locket inside her palm as she made out of lobby through the automatic door. Chilly October air whipped against her face and she shivered.567Please respect copyright.PENANAKAaEOoaoAR
567Please respect copyright.PENANA8XnUp9kzi1
567Please respect copyright.PENANAvUbfNt72JW
567Please respect copyright.PENANAtzNgGNkBye
"Eve!"567Please respect copyright.PENANA67XzOLBSQC
567Please respect copyright.PENANAM4KCzappCr
567Please respect copyright.PENANAF3UjGBkMtp
567Please respect copyright.PENANA3AWTZpOp5O
Her head whipped to the side and breathed out in relief.567Please respect copyright.PENANAC2DA6hmVrM
567Please respect copyright.PENANAWAY0F6F7Mb
567Please respect copyright.PENANAg8vnxP1Dal
567Please respect copyright.PENANATY3BKrL1wY
"Where were you?!"567Please respect copyright.PENANAO0JrM5Me7K
567Please respect copyright.PENANAwx343beo8V
567Please respect copyright.PENANAHWB8zaZD4P
567Please respect copyright.PENANAhU1UhhL7aM
Sam gave her a sheepish smile. "Got distracted"567Please respect copyright.PENANAj6ow3kIsU1
567Please respect copyright.PENANATgnW94zim8
567Please respect copyright.PENANA6Otb1236R9
567Please respect copyright.PENANAvRexRNEY11
And Eve didn't wished to hear what the distraction was and uncurled her fingers. Sam's eyes widened at the snapped clasp of the chain. "What happened?"567Please respect copyright.PENANA44OBUxZix9
567Please respect copyright.PENANApIUn5AG2Si
567Please respect copyright.PENANAwEbLdnv0r3
567Please respect copyright.PENANAKpG8J2SaGz
She took the chain into her hands, gently checking out the snapped clasp. Eve shrugged and explained how she ran into a guy.567Please respect copyright.PENANAaEpH63rcaw
567Please respect copyright.PENANAb7EmFurOx8
567Please respect copyright.PENANAo62iw8gGEv
567Please respect copyright.PENANAjZOsFKbTyz
Sam grinned, returning Eve's chain. "Was he hot?"567Please respect copyright.PENANAm6ceybCqpl
567Please respect copyright.PENANAiVQfSBrB7c
567Please respect copyright.PENANA5NLLkLzMeI
567Please respect copyright.PENANAUowzZmH1zX
Eve smacked her shoulder with a glare. "How would I know?" She frowned, making her way towards the parking lot where Sam's black SUV was parked. She threw a fit when Eve told her to take her SUV and not her favorite mustang because bringing a four tier cake in a mustang while Sam was driving? Nope.567Please respect copyright.PENANAdubU10iIog
567Please respect copyright.PENANAzl3XPRGOA0
567Please respect copyright.PENANAhwymIQS4do
567Please respect copyright.PENANAfTCoCpPGD3
Sam rolled her eyes, climbing into the driver's seat. "Last time I checked, you were not blind"567Please respect copyright.PENANAk0ga0wvhR0
567Please respect copyright.PENANAsfhxPjwDms
567Please respect copyright.PENANASAhHewFMUa
567Please respect copyright.PENANAnqbRymA14q
"I don't know...", Eve trailed off leaning back against the beige seat. "He had a man bun and beard and brown eyes? He looked like a serious business executive and-"567Please respect copyright.PENANAIibfIGcaEv
567Please respect copyright.PENANADkWi5FPTgP
567Please respect copyright.PENANARQj1lIuZsu
567Please respect copyright.PENANA8QWezR0gRn
"Wait wait wait! Did he had a scar right here?" Sam used her free hand to trace a line on her left cheek, close to her nose.567Please respect copyright.PENANAONANJP0Y5x
567Please respect copyright.PENANAilNICmjQdg
567Please respect copyright.PENANAT1yARQS9wd
567Please respect copyright.PENANAz3x2dAXaDK
Eve shook her head. "I don't know. I didn't notice"567Please respect copyright.PENANADlXnuv1jXg
567Please respect copyright.PENANAKxnGm36Rdp
567Please respect copyright.PENANAN0u9KRIHmY
567Please respect copyright.PENANApZNPnU4Jxc
Sam squealed, pressing her foot down on the breaks suddenly. Eve cursed as they lurched forward and the seat belt dug into her skin painfully.567Please respect copyright.PENANAnaAR8eZEo0
567Please respect copyright.PENANA2MVgE5eHXt
567Please respect copyright.PENANABW5R0DR0S2
567Please respect copyright.PENANAq4PBtJx9H2
"Samantha!"567Please respect copyright.PENANALYTfoFeDx1
567Please respect copyright.PENANAwRehYMh3Ik
567Please respect copyright.PENANAwShxiGK8z4
567Please respect copyright.PENANAGRHjSftKJd
She hissed, rubbing the sore skin. They were lucky the road was currently deserted.567Please respect copyright.PENANAqmqNkZpArN
567Please respect copyright.PENANA2X4A9lgH4Q
567Please respect copyright.PENANAAfkXahiI05
567Please respect copyright.PENANAcTTkvrbUc3
But Samantha was on her phone, furiously typing away and let out a triumphant aha! before shoving the phone screen into Eve's face.567Please respect copyright.PENANA4fBNGq46SR
567Please respect copyright.PENANAKg3qYtnIFq
567Please respect copyright.PENANAQJAS60QQ87
567Please respect copyright.PENANA3x7jByAeWJ
"Is this the guy you ran into?"567Please respect copyright.PENANAYBwx6Ycglt
567Please respect copyright.PENANA9HgPdVn9cD
567Please respect copyright.PENANAw7Dn6YtfAd
567Please respect copyright.PENANAHnOiQEgkt2
Eve scowled, pushing her hand away to a considerable distance before staring at the bright screen. Indeed, the guy she ran into was on the picture, in a black suit and adjusting the cuff of his shirt's sleeve while the photo was taken.567Please respect copyright.PENANAYGKlOLnayz
567Please respect copyright.PENANAGZkGVKttJU
567Please respect copyright.PENANAR8jCgZOfPR
567Please respect copyright.PENANAUeNsDYqglt
The name under his photo caught her eyes. Adam Ratchford.567Please respect copyright.PENANAzheSfCH89y
567Please respect copyright.PENANADW4l1b3xwL
567Please respect copyright.PENANACfBGUI8QS0
567Please respect copyright.PENANApC4R8BWLfp
"Oh?" 567Please respect copyright.PENANAtEBgV1f3Fx
567Please respect copyright.PENANAllYzjoSkUE
567Please respect copyright.PENANA3c4FU5oQ8q
567Please respect copyright.PENANAkWQ7X8rPAR
Her eyes grew wide.567Please respect copyright.PENANAJuJcJ89Fj3
567Please respect copyright.PENANAqXACvDA8Hj
567Please respect copyright.PENANA2EULchdrrw
567Please respect copyright.PENANAS0zonJWis6
"Oh indeed" Sam giggled, snatching her phone back and started the car again. 567Please respect copyright.PENANArPCKbzqzUT
567Please respect copyright.PENANAzX0g7P3OgB
567Please respect copyright.PENANAY7DUFS3kFU
567Please respect copyright.PENANA8iKBWUGKCt
Eve rolled her eyes. Great White Shark. He couldn't be that bad right?567Please respect copyright.PENANAyC2rnhD3kA
567Please respect copyright.PENANAhjxaQvpU69
567Please respect copyright.PENANArcs727LcJf
567Please respect copyright.PENANAZixMmz7FM5
She caressed the pendant with her thump. Sam was rambling about Adam. How everyone else were wary about him and that she was surprised that Rene's dad invited him for the engagement.567Please respect copyright.PENANA1Mv289J6qk
567Please respect copyright.PENANA66TratJMaH
567Please respect copyright.PENANA3luWYUwapy
567Please respect copyright.PENANA59H4uuVa6x
Eve turned her out, relaxing back on the seat, already planning to take the chain to a repair shop first thing in the morning.567Please respect copyright.PENANAyAMYldnhBN
567Please respect copyright.PENANAYLRmoCWU2k
567Please respect copyright.PENANAfjlbA731eL
567Please respect copyright.PENANA1m2AvgFFO5
Her mum.567Please respect copyright.PENANA2rZdgl1bbD
567Please respect copyright.PENANAKxsiUTUERA
567Please respect copyright.PENANAr2g7KxYTd3
567Please respect copyright.PENANA3hqWTftR1R
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567Please respect copyright.PENANAUR3a9fFSKw
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567Please respect copyright.PENANAS5LAs5B4Ub
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567Please respect copyright.PENANAy0QXtk7SuL
567Please respect copyright.PENANA5UIMsgWUzD
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567Please respect copyright.PENANAEpmLMQXsa8