Ashes Of My Mate's Late Obsession

"Frank, the orders are piling up insanely fast!" A voice crackled through the speakerphone, filled with excitement.

Frank's eyes, glued to the screen, glinted with a maniacal light.

"I see them. Another hundred, you say? These folks can't get enough."

The voice on the other end chuckled.

"And they're asking for new videos, different poses. They're willing to pay a fortune."

Frank sneered. "Tell the tech team to work overtime. If the money's good, we'll give them a show they won't forget."

Just then, I couldn't hold back anymore.

"Frank, what are you doing? How could you sell my videos like this?"

He spun around, his face contorted with anger.

"You dared to humiliate Alice. This is payback. You'll rue the day you crossed her."

I sobbed, "But I love you. Four years together, and this is how you treat me?"

Frank's laughter was cold and cruel.

"Love? You should have thought of that before you made an enemy of her. This is just the start."

As he turned back to the screen, I wailed, "Please, stop this madness."

He ignored me, barking into the phone, "Make sure the next batch is even more scandalous. Let's see how she likes being the talk of the town."

My heart broke into a million pieces as I realized the man I loved was a monster.

I thought back to our time together, his strange requests during our intimate moments. "All those recordings... it was all a setup?"

Frank didn't even look at me as he replied, "You were so naive. Now, you'll pay the price."

The memory of that day at the hospital flashed before my eyes. .. ."

I was doubled over in pain, waiting in the hospital corridor for my turn to see the doctor.

Suddenly, a figure rushed past me, and before I could react, I was sent sprawling to the ground.

It was Alice. She stood over me, looking a bit sheepish, but not a single word of apology escaped her lips.

Fury flared within me.

"Hey! What's your problem? Why are you cutting in line?"

I shouted, my voice strained with pain.

Normally, I might have let it go, but the excruciating pain from my appendicitis was unbearable.

Alice just glared at me. "I'm in a hurry. Move aside."

Just then, a kind - hearted nurse intervened. "Miss, you need to queue up like everyone else. This lady is in a lot of pain."

Reluctantly, Alice stepped back.

Once I was finally seen by the doctor, the pain in my heart lingered. I walked up to Alice, who was still nearby. "You owe me an apology."

Alice scoffed. "Apologize? You should be grateful I didn't cause more trouble."

I stepped forward. My voice was stern as I said, "Alice, apologize. Now."

Under Frank's intimidating gaze, Alice mumbled, "Sorry," and then, with tears in her eyes, she stormed off.

Before that incident, Frank had held my hand and said, "Once you meet Alice, we'll arrange for our parents to meet and start talking about marriage." I thought our future was set.

But then, to my horror, I discovered my bathing videos all over the internet.

I confronted Frank, my eyes filled with tears. "Why? Why would you do this? You said you loved me!"

Frank's face was cold, his eyes devoid of the warmth I once knew. "You humiliated Alice. She's family. You should have thought twice before crossing her."

I was heartbroken. "But what about us? All those promises, all those 'I love you's? Were they all lies?"

Frank didn't answer, his silence a confirmation of my worst fears.

I realized that the man I thought I knew was a stranger, willing to destroy me for the sake of his so - called family.