007 — FROM HEARTBREAK TO SAVAGE QUEEN

AMANI — SIX YEARS AGO ( AGE 19)

***

“Sweetheart, you look so excited this morning. What’s going on?”

I grin at my aunt and twirl, showing off my little white dress. I decided to wear this dress today because white is my fiancé’s all time favourite colour.

“I have a date with Bhyron. He asked me to look extra nice today because he has a special surprise for me. I’m so excited.”

Something flashes in Aunt Ophelia’s eyes, but it disappears so quickly, I’m left wondering if I’d imagined it. Her lips stretch in a wide grin.

“Oh, that’s wonderful. You look gorgeous, my love. I hope you have a wonderful time.”

A part of me registers that her excitement seems a bit forced, but just like the naïve nineteen year old that I am, I choose to ignore it.

Aunt Ophelia has been taking care of me ever since my parents died in an unfortunate boat cruise accident early last year. She has two grown children but decided to raise me as her own. I love her so much. Without her and Bhyron, I would’ve probably died of drug overdose after the death of my parents.

Suddenly, the smooth horn of a car filters in through the open windows and my heart soars with even more excitement. Oh, I’m so in love.

“That’s my man! I’ll see you later, aunt. Don’t let Doherty eat all the chocolate cake!”

Doherty’s my cousin and Aunt Ophelia’s first son.

Without waiting for her response, I snatch my hot pink purse from the kitchen island and proceed to float out of the kitchen on the wings of love. Literally.

Outside, the fluttering of my heart morphs into fierce drumming when I sight the gleaming, silver Maserati parked by the curb. But what really draws my attention is the man leaning against it.

Bhyron Macaulay. The man of my dreams. The air I breathe. The love of my life.

Over the years, Bhyron has grown right before my eyes, from a tall, gangly teenager to a solid, muscled young man. At twenty-four, he’s accomplished way too much for a man his age, and I’m so proud to call him mine.The fact that he’s gorgeous-as-sin is just an added bonus.

He’s dressed in a silk dress shirt that’s neatly tucked into sleek, black slacks. His feet are encased in shiny Tomfords, and when he looks up, those fierce blue eyes fixate on me, sending pleasurable shivers up my spine.

My man. My man. My man.

He holds out a hand to me and I literally run into his arms, giggling when he kisses my neck.

“Mmm, Vanilla.” He whispers in that delicious , throaty baritone. Just how I like it.”

Three minutes later, I’m seated inside the luxurious Maserati and we’re already speeding towards our destination.

“Where are we going?” I ask, too excited to notice his sudden, unusual silence.

“To your favourite place, Little Caramel. The beach.”

I let out a high-pitched squeal of joy and a corner of his lips lift in a sensuous smile.

The ride passes by quickly with me chattering nonstop. Finally, we arrive and he helps me out of the car.

My excitement gradually dwindles when we just keep walking towards the water. I expected a reservation at a beach restaurant or even a romantic picnic by the ocean.

I keep stealing glances at him but he doesn’t return my gaze. Bhyron’s a naturally quiet guy, but today, he seems distant.

My confusion escalates when we finally get as close to the water as allowed… and just stop.

“Uh… babe? Where’s the restaurant?” I ask with a nervous smile.

Bhyron takes off his designer glasses and looks down at me with a closed off, unreadable expression.

“What restaurant?”

Okay…

“The beach restaurant, silly. Or is it a picnic?” I look around excitedly, searching for the blanket and romantic set up.

Bhyron frowns.

“I never said I was taking you to a restaurant, neither did I say we were going on a picnic date. I only said we were going to the beach.”

I wouldn’t be bothered if he’d said that to me on a normal day, but his tone is harsh, slightly condescending. Bhyron has never, ever spoken to me in that manner. I suddenly feel apprehensive.

The dread in my stomach triples further when he suddenly lets go of my hand.

I know I might come off as clingy and needy, but at this point, I do not care. Something’s not right. I can feel it. And it scares me to death.

“Babe? What’s wrong with you? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?”

I try to hold his hand again but he steps back. That’s when I realise that something is indeed not right.

“We’re not here for a date or any of that bullshit. We’re here because I’ve got something important to say.”

I blink in surprise. I’ve known Bhyron since I was five years old and I’ve never heard him swear even once. He considers it ungentlemanly. What’s going on?

Finally, he looks me in the eyes and says those words that would leave me heartbroken for a long, long time.

“I am no longer interested in this betrothal, Amani. I’m no longer interested in this relationship. Let’s call it quits. It’s over.”

For a moment, I just stand there, struggling to come to terms with what I’ve just heard. I’m shocked. No, that’s an understatement. I’m flabbergasted.

“B-babe, what are you saying?” I stutter helplessly. “Why? What happened? I thought things were going great…”

He holds up a hand, effectively cutting me off. His gorgeous face is twisted with anger and his eyes blaze with annoyance.

“There’s no need for all of these questions. I’m choosing to call it quits. You should respect my decision.”

An image of what my life would look like without Bhyron suddenly flashes in my mind. Propelled by desperation, I lunge forward and grab his shirt;

“Babe, please. Please, don’t do this. Just tell me what I did wrong. I’m sorry. I’ll change, I promise. Just, please…” my voice breaks as tears cascade down my cheeks in torrents.

My heart is broken. I can hear it shatter to the sand in a million pieces. If Bhyron leaves me today, I might as well kill myself because I would never survive it.

Bhyron grabs my hand that’s firmly wrapped around his shirt and pushes me away, causing me to stumble backwards in the sand.

“Don’t you have any self respect?!” He spits bitterly, his voice dripping with disgust.

“No!” I sob as I run towards him. “No, please…”

“I never loved you, Amani!” He bellows suddenly. “It was all lies.”

I freeze, my pulse pounding wildly against my throat. “Wh-what?”

“You heard me.” He snarls. “I never loved you. The only reason we’ve been together this long is because of my parents. They forced this betrothal on me. I never wanted to be in a relationship with someone like you.”

I shut my eyes tight and press my left palm against my chest, over my broken heart. It hurts. It hurts so badly.

Bhyron retrieves his phone from his pocket and quickly scrolls through it, then he waves it in my face;

“This is the woman I’m in love with. Her name is Sharon, and we’re getting married in a month’s time.”

I blink in shock and recognition… because I recognise the gorgeous, dark-haired lady on the screen. Her name is Sharon Armstrong. Her family, the Armstrongs, own the biggest petroleum company in the city. And they’re filthy rich.

“You’re in love with Sharon? You’re getting m-married?” I ask with a small voice.

Bhyron nods and my tears fall afresh.

“B-but why? What does she have that I don’t? I thought you loved me. I’ve been betrothed to you since the day I was born, Bhyron. You’re the only man I know. What do you want me to do? How do expect me to start over?”

“This is exactly why I don’t want us to get married.” He growls angrily. “You’re just weak, filthy trash, Amani. We were never in the same social standing anyways. I can’t marry a woman who isn’t in my class. I hope you understand and stay away.”

No. I will never understand.

He turns to leave but my words stop him in his tracks;

“If you leave me, I’ll kill myself.” I threaten mindlessly. “I’m not joking, Bhyron. If you leave, you can kiss me goodbye forever.”

His shoulders are stiff as he turns to me. His eyes are ice cold. His jaw is tight.

“Do whatever you want, Amani. I don’t care about you and I never have. I only endured this relationship because of my parents, but not anymore. If you want to die, then die.

Those are the final words that break my heart completely. No longer able to hold myself up, I sink to the ground, consumed by pain and sorrow.

I watch him leave, hoping he’d turn around and tell me that it’s all a silly prank. I’d forgive him willingly. I’d take him back without complaint. But he doesn’t. Instead, Bhyron climbs into his car and drives away, leaving me behind.

This is the story of how Bhyron Macaulay hacked my heart to pieces. After him, I promised to swear off men, but in my second year of college, when I hadn’t even recovered from the pain he’d caused, I met Henry, and made the same mistake all over again.

Now, six years later, Bhyron is back to torment me.

I’m starting to think he’d made a vow to himself to make my life a living hell…

***

BHYRON (PRESENT)

‘Don’t touch her. Don’t touch her. She’s not yours. Yet.’ Those words float around my brain like a chant as I watch Amani twirl a strand of her naturally white-blonde curls around one slender finger.

It takes a lot of self control to stop myself from reaching out and wrapping the golden strands around my fists, just like the good old days.

Six years ago, I told myself that I wasn’t going to search for her. I told myself that I could forget her. But Amani has occupied my mind every single day for the past six years. I go to bed thinking about her and wake up only after dreaming about her. So basically, I lied to myself.

I finally caved and searched for her on social media two years ago, only to receive the heart shattering news that she’d gotten married.

When I first walked into the ward and laid my eyes on her, I can swear my heart shifted. I’ve missed her terribly. Now that she’s within my reach, I’m never, ever letting her go again.

Suddenly, she looks up and pins me with those bright chocolate eyes.

“What are you still doing here?”

I frown. “Excuse me?”

“You came here to inform me that I’m indebted to you. Message delivered. You can leave now.”

I remain frozen to my chair, unsure of how to react. She’s right. They still have two days to repay their debt and I have no reason to be here.

But one thing is certain. I don’t want to leave.

Amani’s eyes flash with annoyance and she points at the door.

“In case you’re confused, the door is that way. Please, leave.”

I’m just about to respond when suddenly, violent vibrations rock the room and the building trembles in response.

My heartbeat accelerates and Amani’s eyes widen in shock seconds before the lights go out,

Shit! It’s an earthquake warning.

We’ve been getting these warnings for the past few weeks. No one is certain if New York will experience an actual earthquake, but these mini earthquakes are gradually becoming a normal occurrence.

Adrenaline shoots through my system as the vibrations start coming in quick successions.

I hear Amani’s whimper of fear and without thinking, I dive onto the bed, wrap her small frame tightly against my chest and roll off, choosing to take cover underneath the sturdy bed.

It takes a moment for the adrenaline to wear off and for me to realize that Amani is safely tucked in my arms, and she’s not fighting me. But she’s scared. I can feel it.

Her delicious vanilla scent fills my nostrils and sends blood rushing to my cock in torrents. This is the only woman who can turn me on without even trying.

Before I even get the chance to properly savor the moment, the lights come back on. I know the moment Amani realizes that she’s no longer in danger — she stops trembling and her shoulders stiffen in response to my touch.

Slowly, she looks up and our gazes clash and hold. The world suddenly stops spinning. We’re so close, I can count every single one of her thick, long lashes.

Her lips part and I can no longer hold myself back. Without thinking, I wrap my fingers around her nape, gently push her head closer and cover her lips with mine.

Almost immediately, I feel a sharp, painful sensation that has me releasing her and rearing backwards in surprise.

Amani’s lower lip is covered in blood and her eyes are blazing with chocolate rage.

Shit! She bit me.

“How dare you kiss me without my permission?!” She snaps on an almost growl. “Try this nonsense again and I’ll rip your lips off right before suing your ass for assault…”