I nearly lost my appetite to consume anything for breakfast as Eryx shifted his eyes over in my direction and walked further back inside the house where moments ago I rushed back inside after finally announcing how I truly felt about being back here in Alphacrest. My back stiffens as he walks past me, but he stops as if contemplating if he should speak to me. Instead of giving him more attention, I turn my body around facing the kitchen bar focusing on the plate of food of delicious food Chef Diane has fixed.

My mouth waters as I smell the sweet aroma of French Toast drizzled with homemade warm maple syrup and slices of strawberry placed perfectly on top with three slices of crispy bacon and fluffy scrambled eggs. I was never one to turn down a plate of food.

Although I was on the petite side, I had the appetite of a football player. Your girl was a foodie and had a habit of consuming various types of cuisines to cure my hunger cravings.

"This is so delicious", I moan my pleasure at how good the food is to Chef Diana as she begins to clean up the pots and pans she used to make this culinary masterpiece.

"Anytime Verena. Do not be a stranger. I live on the edge of the property in a small cottage, whenever you need me to cook something, you can text me".

She then hands me a piece of paper with her phone number. I smile in her direction as I hold the small piece of white paper in my hand.

"Thanks I call you whenever I am craving some food".

Chef Diane allows me the space to enjoy my breakfast in silence. Instead of getting into my business and asking me about the status of Eryx and I's marriage, she focuses on her tasks which is prepping food for lunch. Once I am done eating, I walk over to wash my dirty dishes, but Chef Diane pops my hand.

"Mr. Vallea would have a fit if he saw you cleaning. I have everything under control from here". I open my mouth to argue back but Chef Diane gives me a look urging me to not bother.

Somehow I have to get use to people doing things for me again as simple as washing dishes. Although some people would not make a big deal about someone volunteering to clean for me, I felt as though my independence was slowly being taken away from me.

I was beyond tired of explaining myself to everyone so I opted to go upstairs and take a shower.

As I make my way down the hallway, marveling at intricate and expensive pieces of artwork framing the wall, my heart nearly stops as I make eye contact with a portrait of Erxy and me: it was our engagement picture.

I walk as close as I can to the wall eyeing the portrait of my former myself. In the portrait, I am wearing a yellow off-the-shoulder custom Vera Wang gown that enunciates my small curvy figure. My hair is in soft voluptuous curls that frame my head perfectly. The only jewelry I wear in the portrait is the 10-carat pear-shaped diamond ring on my left finger.

I truly felt like a princess on that day because I felt as though I had found my true love and we would live happily ever after. I never would have imagined that 15 years later, I would be in an estranged place in my marriage where I contemplated divorce regularly.

Looking at this picture was making more and more upset as the seconds went by so I decided to finally go upstairs. As I go back inside of the room, I feel tears slide down my face as I remove every article of clothing and I make my way inside of the beautiful spacious bathroom that has floor-to-ceiling windows where the sheer curtains diffuse the sunlight gently.

The window offers a view of the landscaped garden outside of my bedroom, illuminating the elegance and luxury this estate provides to anyone who lives here. I walk passed the garden tub and open the door handle to the wall-in shower as my hand shifts the knobs for the rainfall showerhead to shift on.

More tears pour down my face as my body drips with water. I push my wet hair out of my face and lower my body to the ground belting out a loud cry. I cover my face with my elbows as my cries become softer until no more sound comes out and sitting in silence as the water pelt off my skin.

I am unsure how long I sit on the shower floor until I feel my body being lifted off the ground. I look up to see Eryx carrying me out of the shower, his outfit is drenched with water, but instead of making complaints about it, he grabs a white robe that hangs on one of the hooks near the bathroom door as he places it around my shoulder covering my nakedness.

I push him away from me as I move forward to place my hands on the counter and I stare at my reflection. My eyes are red and puffy from crying and I wrap my hands around my hair before leaning forward to squeeze the excess water out of my hair. "Are you okay Verena".

I was growing irritated with him always popping up at random moments when it is clear I wanted space away from him. lean back and gasp when Eryx presses himself again.

"Why do you keep doing that you can't fix everything. Just leave me the fuck alone", I say as I glare at him in the mirror, my eyes shift down to see his hard muscles are on display being his clothes stick to his body like a second skin. He takes notice of where my eyes have drifted to and he pushes me back against his frame as I feel his erection poking me.

"Do you feel that Cherie? It's obvious you still are attracted to me. I can't change the past. What I've done, but I want to fix what we have"", he then slides his hands down my body as I keep my face neutral, I bite down on my lips as his hands send chills down my body.

"I thought I told you I did not want you touching me " You are getting on my last damn nerve," I say with annoyance in my voice. Eryx stops his hands from moving further down my body.

He makes eye contact with me for several moments before he firmly places his hand around my neck as is pressed against my ear.

"That mouth is yours is going get you in some fucking trouble Cherie".

My breathing becomes labored as his whisper causes my body temperature to become warmer. His tongue touches my skin and one of his hands slides down my back until it reaches my ass.

I move my right leg back to hit Eryx in the groin area, but he takes notice of what I am trying to do and lifts my body off the ground until I am sitting on the counter staring up at him before he kisses me, taking me off guard. I nearly almost give in to his kiss of passion but I manage to break free.

"My body no longer belongs to you. I. Don't. Want. You. Anymore". I then point down to my body as I catch his drifting down to admire my frame.

Eryx's eyes become darker, " Whatever you say, Cherie, I know you want me as just as much as I want you. but I know want me as just as much as I want you. I am not giving up on us. Not now..not ever, he says before he finally leaves out of the bathroom.



Guys we now have 1k reads on Mines Forever. Yayy!!! glad you all are enjoying this story as much I am writing this.