AMANIBhyron hasn’t said a single word since Sharon announced herself. Beneath my palm, his shoulders are stiff as a rock. His gaze, cold and blank, is firmly fixed on Sharon. The bitch doesn’t even have the decency to look ashamed of herself. She pats her belly with a smug expression, holding his gaze head on.“Sharon.” He seethes. “Start explaining. Now.”She shrugs unapologetically and lifts her chin. “My explanation is simple, Byron. I don’t owe you one. I tried to get us married the first time and you abandoned me at the altar. I tried again but you kept choosing her over me!” She snaps, jabbing a finger in my direction. “You and I went through so much together after she disappeared. I was by your side while you tried to build your business. But the moment Amani returned, you tossed me to the gutters like I meant nothing!”She flicks a glance at her perfectly manicured fingernails and lets out a cold chuckle..“Did you expect me to spend the rest of my life waiting for you? I m
AMANI“Duncan, get the car ready. We’re going back to the Hope Fortress in the next five minutes.” Bhyron’s voice swims like a fog above me, pressing into my tired brain as the sound of sirens fade into the distance. He swings me into his arms and I cling onto his neck for dear life, burrowing into his chest, breathing him in.God, he smells so good. I would give anything to slide under his skin right about now. “Baby, are you okay?” He whispers as he lifts me through the revolving glass door. “How are you feeling?”“Tired.” I mumble pitifully. My emotions are all over the place. Tears currently sting my eyes but I chalk it up to pregnancy hormones.I’m just glad it’s all over. I’m glad that King Murder is finally going to jail. I hope he gets a death sentence for all his atrocities. His death would never bring back the hundreds of children he kidnapped, sold and killed, but its a start in the right direction. A monster like him does not deserve any more chances at life.When we fi
AMANI“I want to see grandpa today.” I mutter excitedly as I fly down the stairs.I woke up an hour ago to an empty bed. Bhyron was gone, but there was a note on the bedside table that made my heart flutter.“Little Caramel,I prepared a scented bath for you. Soak in it so you can relax. Afterwards, come downstairs for breakfast. Your husband is waiting.”I literally swooned all the way to the bathroom.If anyone had told me that Bhyron and I would be together today, I would’ve probably laughed on their faces. But here I am, skipping across the penthouse, my heart giddy at the thought of seeing him again after I’d all but slept inside his skin last night.I love him so much. “Bhyron!” I squeal when I arrive at the dining room.My husband looks up and his whole face lights up when he sees me. God, this man is gorgeous. Too gorgeous.He’s clean shaven this morning and dressed in a blue sweater that does magical things for his eyes. I can spot black slacks beneath. Does this mean he’s n
BHYRONThe past few days have just been a rollercoaster of revelations. It’s crazy how so many secrets can be swept under the rug for years. It’s even more appalling how lives can be ruptured by these secrets within seconds.I asked my mother for an urgent meeting and of course, she tried to come up with excuses. But I told her in a not-so-kind tone that we had something important to discuss. Then I hung up. I’m not sure if she’d actually want to see me, but something tells me that I need to speak to her. Today.I want to send Amani home but she’s feeling a bit nauseous so I’ve decided to keep her by my side. I need to keep a close eye on her.Right now, we’re walking through my mother’s clothing company, Beauty and Roses, Amani’s smaller hands firmly clasped in mine.“Oh, Mr. Macaulay. Your mother already informed me of your coming. She’s waiting for you in the office.” I nod at Carla, the receptionist. “Sure. Thanks.”Seconds later, I’m knocking on the heavy oak door. The door swi
“Mommy, where’s daddy? He promised he’ll be here for my birthday. Is he working again?” I swallow the painful lump in my throat and turn to my three-year old son. The hospital air is already depressing enough, but watching my frail son tethered to so many wires threatens to break the dam that holds my tears. “Your father will be here soon, sweetheart. He promised us, didn’t he? I’m sure he’s on his way right now.” I say those words without any iota of hope whatsoever. It’s already eleven PM and I’ve been calling my husband since sunrise with no response. “It’s almost midnight.” Dave argues weakly. “Is he spending time with Miss Laura and her daughters again? But he promised to stay with me throughout today.” His eyes fill with tears and my heart tightens painfully. No longer able to bear his sad face, I plaster a fake smile on mine, get to my feet and wipe his cheeks. “You know what? I’m sure daddy is waiting outside right now. I’ll go out there and bring him in, ok
I’m shaking. I can’t breathe. I can’t even speak. The birthday decorations are still hanging from the ceiling and the cake that Dave refused to eat without his daddy still lies there, untouched. All that doesn’t faze me, but the moment I see my little boy covered from head to toe in a white cloth, a horrible, painful pang shoots through my chest. I’m shaking like a leaf as I lift the sheets and look at his frail face and closed eyes. Eyes that will now be closed forever. “N-no.” I whisper, tears falling in torrents down my face. “God, please no. Take me instead. Please take me and bring back my little boy. Please…” I lay my head on his chest, hoping to hear a heartbeat. Nothing. Dave is not breathing anymore. He’s really gone. My baby was diagnosed with brain cancer at just two years old. So far, we’d tried our best to give him the best medical care possible but three months ago, the doctor informed us that he only had six months to live. I run my shaky fingers ove
It’s been three days since my son died. Three days of keeping myself holed up in my new apartment and crying myself to sleep every night. Three days of darkness and gloom. I wake up frowning because the rising sun currently peeks through the sheer white curtains, bathing the room in brightness when all I want is to keep wallowing in darkness and grief. It suddenly hits me that I’ve not received any response from Henry ever since I served him our divorce papers more than forty eight hours ago. I pick up my cell phone and scroll through the endless list of missed calls. There’s none from my soon-to-be ex-husband. Henry never called me even once. Suddenly driven by anger and frustration, I dial his private number and wait impatiently for him to respond. I end the call when I get no response twenty seconds later and get to my feet. Henry still thinks I was playing around when I asked for a divorce. I’ll pay him a visit today and illustrate just how serious I am about leaving his
At exactly three PM the next day, I stand outside my matrimonial home, clutching the strap of my bag in a death grip. Henry had called me an hour ago with news that he’d finally decided to sign the divorce papers, but I was expected to pick it up at our house. I didn’t want to come here but he was adamant. I can already feel tears pricking my eyes. This house holds too many memories of my dear David. I finally summon the courage and knock once. The door opens almost immediately and Zeya, our house keeper, appears. “Who is it…?” Her eyes widen in surprise when she sees me. “Mrs. Amani! Oh, it’s so wonderful to see you again. How’ve you been?” The middle aged woman pulls me into a bear hug and I almost burst into tears as her familiar peach scent fills my nostrils. “It’s wonderful to see you too, Zeya.” With my best friend in another country and my aunt always busy with work, Zeya was always my only companion on those nights when Henry never made it home because he was too b
BHYRONThe past few days have just been a rollercoaster of revelations. It’s crazy how so many secrets can be swept under the rug for years. It’s even more appalling how lives can be ruptured by these secrets within seconds.I asked my mother for an urgent meeting and of course, she tried to come up with excuses. But I told her in a not-so-kind tone that we had something important to discuss. Then I hung up. I’m not sure if she’d actually want to see me, but something tells me that I need to speak to her. Today.I want to send Amani home but she’s feeling a bit nauseous so I’ve decided to keep her by my side. I need to keep a close eye on her.Right now, we’re walking through my mother’s clothing company, Beauty and Roses, Amani’s smaller hands firmly clasped in mine.“Oh, Mr. Macaulay. Your mother already informed me of your coming. She’s waiting for you in the office.” I nod at Carla, the receptionist. “Sure. Thanks.”Seconds later, I’m knocking on the heavy oak door. The door swi
AMANI“I want to see grandpa today.” I mutter excitedly as I fly down the stairs.I woke up an hour ago to an empty bed. Bhyron was gone, but there was a note on the bedside table that made my heart flutter.“Little Caramel,I prepared a scented bath for you. Soak in it so you can relax. Afterwards, come downstairs for breakfast. Your husband is waiting.”I literally swooned all the way to the bathroom.If anyone had told me that Bhyron and I would be together today, I would’ve probably laughed on their faces. But here I am, skipping across the penthouse, my heart giddy at the thought of seeing him again after I’d all but slept inside his skin last night.I love him so much. “Bhyron!” I squeal when I arrive at the dining room.My husband looks up and his whole face lights up when he sees me. God, this man is gorgeous. Too gorgeous.He’s clean shaven this morning and dressed in a blue sweater that does magical things for his eyes. I can spot black slacks beneath. Does this mean he’s n
AMANI“Duncan, get the car ready. We’re going back to the Hope Fortress in the next five minutes.” Bhyron’s voice swims like a fog above me, pressing into my tired brain as the sound of sirens fade into the distance. He swings me into his arms and I cling onto his neck for dear life, burrowing into his chest, breathing him in.God, he smells so good. I would give anything to slide under his skin right about now. “Baby, are you okay?” He whispers as he lifts me through the revolving glass door. “How are you feeling?”“Tired.” I mumble pitifully. My emotions are all over the place. Tears currently sting my eyes but I chalk it up to pregnancy hormones.I’m just glad it’s all over. I’m glad that King Murder is finally going to jail. I hope he gets a death sentence for all his atrocities. His death would never bring back the hundreds of children he kidnapped, sold and killed, but its a start in the right direction. A monster like him does not deserve any more chances at life.When we fi
AMANIBhyron hasn’t said a single word since Sharon announced herself. Beneath my palm, his shoulders are stiff as a rock. His gaze, cold and blank, is firmly fixed on Sharon. The bitch doesn’t even have the decency to look ashamed of herself. She pats her belly with a smug expression, holding his gaze head on.“Sharon.” He seethes. “Start explaining. Now.”She shrugs unapologetically and lifts her chin. “My explanation is simple, Byron. I don’t owe you one. I tried to get us married the first time and you abandoned me at the altar. I tried again but you kept choosing her over me!” She snaps, jabbing a finger in my direction. “You and I went through so much together after she disappeared. I was by your side while you tried to build your business. But the moment Amani returned, you tossed me to the gutters like I meant nothing!”She flicks a glance at her perfectly manicured fingernails and lets out a cold chuckle..“Did you expect me to spend the rest of my life waiting for you? I m
AMANIOkay, what in the actual fuck is going on here?!I turn around and panic grips my throat like a vice as I watch Zuri stumble backwards, her eyes wide and hazy with shock.“Zuri!” Without thinking, I pull away from Bhyron and lunge towards her, grabbing her before she falls to the concrete floor.“Zuri. Baby, can you hear me?” Fear slithers down my back when she doesn’t respond. Her eyes are wide open and she’s looking straight at me, but she seems distant, almost like she’s fallen into a trance.“Bhyron, she’s not responding!”A shadow falls over me and I look up to find Duke staring down at us — at Zuri — his eyes flashing with a deadly mixture of fear, worry and rage.“Give her to me.”It’s a command. Not a request.I don’t bother arguing. I hand Zuri over to him, my heart squeezing as I watch the big man delicately maneuver my best friend into the safety of his arms. He strokes a lock of her curly blue hair out of her eyes, lowers his face to hers and whispers softly; “Zu
BHYRONThere’s something very suspicious about this entire situation. After the disaster of our wedding, I went on a fucking rampage. I burned and destroyed every single last one of King Murder’s properties that came within my reach while he went into hiding. Thinking about it now, my blood heats with the fierce hint of violence.I have to give to him, he was wise enough to hide. Because only the devil would’ve been able to look at his body once I was done with him, if I’d gotten my hands on the bastard then. I hold Amani’s soft, smaller hand in mine, still amazed by her show of strength. Yes, I would rather she stayed back at the office and out of harm’s way, but there was something about the defiant spark on her eyes when she told me she’d like to confront King Murder that stirred my stony heart.I make sure to keep her behind me, shielded by my body as we make our way down the hall. I flick a glance at our joined hands and my heart beats a painful, comforting rhythm.She didn’t p
AMANII try to sit on my own, worried that my weight is a burden to Bhyron, but a low growl rumbles in his chest and he clamps his arms around my waist, keeping me locked against him. I look up and our eyes meet. I nearly melt from the heat in his gaze. He frowns at me, telling me exactly what he thinks about my attempt to escape. So I stay put. I wiggle against his chest, wrap my arms around his hard, solid belly and stay snuggled around my husband.“The guns in Grandpa’s house. The fierce-looking guards. The underground tunnel. Oh, and the tinted cars that kept taking you guys to God knows where at night.”His lips curl in a mysterious smile and he leans forward, running the tip of his nose across the shell of my ear.“How did you know about that? Were you watching me, little caramel?”I shiver in his embrace and lower my head, my cheeks reddening with awareness. “A little bit. You’re very interesting to watch.”To my surprise, Bhyron throws back his head and laughs. My head snaps
BHYRONLeft to me, I would never bother to relive those horrible memories. They’re with me day and night, haunting my nightmares and my waking moments.But it’s not left to me anymore. The moment Amani became involved, it was no longer in my hands. I need to say it out loud. I have to get it off my chest. Maybe, just maybe, doing this will silence the demons that haunt me till this day. So here goes;“When I was eight years old, I was kidnapped. It started out like a normal day, I’d gone to school as usual but on my way back, the unexpected happened.We were ambushed by three trucks filled with men all dressed in red. They killed my driver and two bodyguards. My bodyguards.” I pause for a moment, shivering as the worst of the memories come tumbling in.Amani presses closer against my back, silently lending her support. Believe it or not, that gives me the strength to go on.“The goons didn’t just shoot my guards, they tied them to a wooden stake and roasted all three of them alive wh
BHYRONAn hour and thirty minutes later, we’re all seated in Bhyron’s spacious, luxuriously decorated office. There are five of us — me, Zuri, Amanda, Bhyron and Duke.Amanda and Zuri were already waiting when we arrived. Zuri holds my hand, silently lending her support while Bhyron stands behind his desk, opposite us. There’s a strange look in his eyes, an interesting mixture of pain, sorrow and fear that tempts me to run across the room and hold him.Dread clings to the stiff atmosphere like the smell of petrichor on a dusty rainy day. Whatever Duke, Bhyron and Amanda are about to tell us will be horrible. I can already feel it. “Let’s go straight to the point and get it over with, shall we?” Duke begins. “But before we start, we’d like to show you a video, Amani.”My heartbeat accelerates painfully. Duke turns his laptop, giving me access to the video that’s already playing on the screen. My eyes are glued to the screen, scared that I’ll miss something if I even dare to blink.A