"Self pity is a sin. It is a form of living suicide." -Charles J. Shields- *** Adonis Ravenwood’s heart was beating loudly as he pulled the chair and turned on his computer. If his calculation was right they should have sent him the news that day. He logged into his email and checked if there was any reply or feedback from them. He had been waiting for it all day long. His expectation was really high and he wanted nothing more than to hear a positive response. He saw the email and could have sworn his breathing nearly stopped. He carefully read the letter, only to be disappointed in the end. It was a negative. "God, what else am I supposed to do!?" The man stood up from his seat and kicked the wall. Frustrated, he rubbed his fingers harshly around the edge of his head. It was probably the fourth company he had tried to send his CV and resume to that month and for the fourth time he got rejected as well

"When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life, now that I am old I know that it is." -Oscar Wilde- *** "How is everything? I want to make sure all the preparations go as I asked. Don't try to alter anything without my permission, do you understand?" Vian went back and forth on her phone between different calls with the event organizer whom they had assigned to take care of the family party. It was their annual family gathering that was held at the end of the year. It was a mix celebration for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Because her family was a prestigious family in the city, they always became the party host each year. Besides family member, there would also be a few close family friends and some whale business partners invited. Of course, if they could kill three birds with one stone they would definitely do it. They were after all, the Sterling. Their family history had alway

"Unhealthy families discourage individual expression. Everyone must conform to the thoughts and actions of the toxic parents. They promote fusion, a blurring of personal boundaries, a welding together of family members. On an unconscious level, it is hard for family members to know when one ends and another begins. In their effort to be close, they often suffocate one another's individuality."-Susan Forward-***Since Vian was the person responsible for the party, she was also the one welcoming the guests as they arrived. Although the guest was her own family members, sometimes she felt a bit alien whenever she was among them. Yes, she was raised with the same kind of lifestyle they had, good education, never lacked any comfort or privileges most common people would not have, she still felt out of place sometimes because of her mother’s humble background. The previous years she had tried to stay away from the spotlight for the sa

"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of others."-Charles Dickens-***Once they had arrived home, the first thing Vian did was to turn on all the lamp and rushed into the bathroom to take the first aid kit. She knew it might have been too long for her to start mending on his wound but she thought it was better than nothing. She pulled the drawer and took the box out of the shelf and brought it to their bedroom.Adonis was seated on the edge of their bed when she returned, he had taken off his suit and changed into a casual t-shirt and shorts for bed instead. His eyes were staring at the full length mirror right across him and saw the bruises on his lips and cheek from Carson’s punch earlier. He did not like how it looked because he knew they would only darken overtime, maybe turned a bit green and odd looking, but there was also a part in him that felt a bit proud of the bruise because it was a

"Everything can change at any moment, suddenly and forever."-Paul Auster-***There was a time when Adonis thought he was born to struggle forever, yet it all changed in a snap of an eye. He slowly drove his car to the restaurant where he would meet the man who claimed he knew of his father. He did not wish to put so much expectation in just yet for he did not wish to be disappointed but he did have a bit of faith within him that told him to continue driving.Once he arrived he mentioned the man’s name to the staff and she led him right through the caller man. He had booked a quiet spot in the corner just for the two of them, where no one could disturb their lunch. For the first time ever he met the mysterious caller that made him lose his sleep. The man appeared to be in his sixties, with trimmed white beard and hair all over. His skin was wrinkly all over as proof of his life maturity. He wore a well-tailored black suit