Eric's POVIt had been two weeks since Sapphire left me and nothing was the same. I was losing it, I was losing my fucking mind. I couldn't sleep for shit, not even for a minute, my eyes just staring at the ceiling, replaying every damn moment over and over again. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was her face, her beautiful face clouded with anger and hurt.Every single night was a marathon of tossing and turning in the empty bed, the bed that used to bear witness to how crazy in love I was with her. My brain kept buzzing with thoughts of my tigress, her eyes pooled with tears as she hurled that ring in my direction like a missile. Like it was nothing. And damn, did it sting. The disappointment plastered into every line of her beautiful face, that is.I thought about my mistake that led to this. I'd been replaying it over and over in my head, like some sick movie on repeat. The accident. The one that took her brother away and put her sister in a coma. And now she knew it w
Sapphire's POVMy head was in shambles. It was like someone had put it in a blender and hit the highest setting. I couldn't think straight; everything was spinning, and not in a fun way like a merry-go-round but in a nauseating, disorienting whirlwind that made me want to puke. I felt my own heartbeat pounding through my temples and jolts of pain crashing through my skull.I opened my eyes slowly and it felt like trying to see through fogged-up glasses—everything was fuzzy and blurry, shapes and colours melting into one another in a messy haze. The light filtering in through the window was similar to needles stabbing into my eyes and I let out a little groan, blinking slowly before scanning the place.And then it dawned on me that I was back home...Eric's house. I was in his bedroom, what used to be our bedroom, alone in the bed with no memory of how I ended up there. How did this happen? How did I get here? I wondered, gasping slightly, still feeling an immense ache in my head. I pus
Sapphire's POVI sucked in a breath, my heart drumming loud against my ribcage and skipping a beat or two. Eric's statement hung loosely in the air for what felt like a minute before descending on me like a lead balloon. His words resounded in my ear, chilling despite the heat of the soup still lingering on my skin. I felt my blood boil at his audacity. The audacity to think he could control me, dictate my every move.How dare he?"What..." My voice faltered. Suddenly, the room felt smaller, the walls closing in as my chest tightened and dizziness hit me once again. "What did you just say?"Eric's eyes bored into mine, steady and unblinking. There was a weird calmness which had settled in his gaze and his demeanour. He had no right to be calm or at peace for even a split second. Not after what he'd done. He ought to be in constant pain and restlessness for the sins he committed. It bothered me to see him so calm and composed all of a sudden. A monster like him deserved no less."You h
Sapphire's POV"May I take your order?" I asked, holding a pad and pen, trying to look all professional–like, but honestly, my nerves were like a bunch of monkeys on a sugar rush.The table in front of me had five people and each one seemed to have their own personal grocery list for dinner. Two men, three women, all dressed in their best, fancy watches flashing under the dim lights. The first guy, slicked–back hair like he was straight out of a mafia flick, started rattling off his order as if he was reading Shakespeare."I'll have the lobster bisque but hold the chives, extra cream, not too hot and a sprinkle of gold leaf on top. Then, for my main course, I'll take the wagyu steak, medium–rare, with truffle mashed potatoes, sautéed asparagus and a side of foie gras."I began scribbling his order down in a manner that seemed my whole life depended on it and I wasn't even done yet when the other guy announced his order, his eyes glued to the menu."I'll have the caviar appetizer but s
Sapphire's POVAnother exhausting day at work over...I sighed heavily and grabbed my stuff before heading home. It was almost evening and my shift was over. I just wanted to get home, take a nice cold shower and plop on the bed. My entire body was aching and screaming rest. I managed to reach Jamila's house and as it turned out, she wasn't home yet. And neither was Gwen.The both of them had assured me that they were okay with me living with them and that I shouldn't be in a hurry to leave just yet. It was really sweet and thoughtful of them but I preferred to have my own place. I didn't want to depend on people too much or burden them with my shit.I dipped my hand into my purse, searching for my keys and I let out a grunt of frustration as I couldn't find them. I hoped I hadn't dropped them carelessly at work or on my way here. I was still ransacking my purse for the annoying, little devils when I felt someone standing behind me."Austin!" I shrieked in horror as I quickly turned t
Sapphire's POVEric has been a real thorn in the flesh!Ever since that day he showed up at my house and beat Austin to a pulp, he seemed to have gotten off the shadows and had no problem showing his face to me every single day. He became a regular customer at our restaurant, always ordering the most expensive items on the menu like it was no big deal. Like he was just some wealthy and bored aristocrat with nothing else to do with his money but shower it on fine dining.But I wasn't fooled, I knew he didn't give a rat's tail about the food; he just wanted to be close to me, wanted to keep an eye on me, make sure no other man got too comfortable around me. It was like some twisted rendition of puppy love, him always showing up here, always ordering the most lavish meals and wines and insisting that I be the one to serve him.I was the warmest, most reliable and most efficient waitress, he'd told my manager. And he left me a huge tip everyday, which I never pocketed. I didn't want his m
Sapphire's POVThe news of Jade regaining consciousness after 5 long years of being in a vegetative state was like the first brush of cool wind in the peak of summer, like the first ray of sun peeking through on a particularly dark day. It was like a sweet tune unexpectedly dancing in the air when you're feeling your lowest, a ray of hope when you're lost at sea, so to speak.In my ears, the news was the sweetest melody ever played, better than the first rays of sunshine after a long terrible winter or hearing the most beautiful songbird's chirp after a five–year silence. I was elated as I rushed out of my house and flagged down the very first cab I could find. I found myself feeling lighter than I'd felt in ages, as if a huge load had been taken off my shoulders, a burden I'd been carrying for half a decade now suddenly lifted.Like a dream, the colours around me seemed brighter and more vivid. They were celebrating along with me. My heart pounded in my chest louder than a drum in an
Sapphire's POVI hurried out of Jade's room in search of Eric. He was no longer in the hospital. My legs were moving so fast, they were nearly a blur beneath me as I pushed through the sterile hospital doors and out into the blinding afternoon sunlight. Without thinking, I began to sprint towards the curb, my feet barely touching the ground, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I hailed a cab.It was as if the world moved in slow motion when I flung myself into the backseat, barely giving the driver time to register my frantic instructions before we sped away. My heart raced faster than a cheetah chasing its prey as I sat there, on that worn leather seat, thinking about My Eric.How could I have been so wrong? So quick to blame him for something he had no part in? And worse, how could I have let this blind rage cloud my judgement, severing ties with him without ever giving him a chance to explain himself? Why didn't I believe him? Why did I fail to see the pain in Eric's eyes when he t