AMANI“…Bhy, Amani is very disobedient.” She says accusingly. “You choose the colours of the day yourself and she deliberately went against your wishes. She’s embarrassing you before all your guests…!”The room is as silent as a tomb. The only audible sounds are that of my heart pounding with rage.My eyes stray to Sharon’s arms that are firmly interlocked with Bhyron’s and the red in my eyes burn even brighter. I fist my fingers to tamp down on my temper and retain my composure.Sharon’s right after all. The colour for the bride-to-be was cream and Bhyron had already chosen a simple yet beautiful cream dress for me. I hate him but gotta admit, he’s got great taste.Anyways, I’m currently dressed in a floor length dress that’s completely bare at the back and extremely revealing in the bust area — the complete opposite of Bhyron’s dress which was very modest.The icing on the cake? The dress is blood red — Bhyron’s most hated colour — and so are my lips. I’m evil, I know.Bhyron’s eye
“You will never hurt me and dictate how I react…”— AMANI***They say revenge is best served cold, but I’m smoking hot so I prefer my revenge to match.Zephyr walks into the ballroom like he owns the place. He just ran for Mayor of New York City the second time and won. He’s a man of the people. They absolutely adore him. And he’s the most perfect specimen I could ever choose for my revenge. Not only is he charismatic, he’s also the kind of man you would call “lethally gorgeous.”His hair is white-blonde like mine, his eyes the most piercing grey I’ve ever seen. It also helps that he’s above six feet with the body of a Greek god. So he’s both successful and attractive. Lucky, lucky me.Zephyr was definitely heartbroken when I informed him of my engagement, but in his exact words; “as long as you’re breathing, I still have the chance to take you from Bhyron and give you the life of your dreams. The life you deserve.”I zero doubts that Zephyr can indeed give me the fairytale life of
“I don’t need a weapon, darling. I am one…”***AMANI“…take it all back.”When I asked Bhyron for all of those things at the dining table that fateful day, heaven knows I was joking. I never intended to accept any of Zephyr’s gifts. Infact, I was gonna thank him and politely decline, but after hearing Bhyron’s harsh tone, the evil little bitch in me is having a rethink.I step forward, giving myself enough space to turn around and look straight into his angry blue eyes. I don’t want to cause a scene before the guests, so I fold my arms and say in the calmest voice I can muster;“And what right do you think you have to make that decision on my behalf?”His anger suddenly dims by a few thousand watts, leaving me confused.“What do you mean, Amani? Will you really accept his gifts?”I shrug, “and if I say yes? What’s the problem with that? You couldn’t get these things for me when I asked. In fact, If I remember correctly, you preferred to hold Sharon’s hand and walk away from me inste
AMANIIt’s been five hours since the disaster of an engagement party. Five hours since grandpa apologized to the guests and sent them on their not-so-merry way. Five hours since Bhyron disappeared… and there’s a strange, heavy weight in my chest that I can’t seem to get rid of no matter how hard I try.It’s currently past midnight and I haven’t slept a wink. Instead, I continue to pace the length of my room, occasionally peering out the window to see if Bhyron has finally returned home. Grandma Alice and grandpa have both called him repeatedly with no response. I even cajoled Aunt Ophelia and ordered Jay to call him, but there’s still no response. His phone is ringing alright, but he’s obviously refusing to answer.“…please, Zuri. Just try his number once. I promise I won’t ask for any other favours throughout this week.”Our wedding is in a few hours and Bhyron is nowhere to be seen. If his plan was to punish me by making sure I worry to death, I’m afraid to admit that he’s almost
AMANII’m dreaming. I swear I am. I hope I am.My wide eyes meets Zuri’s shocked ones and I silently ask her if she’s thinking what I’m thinking. The slight nod of her head says it all. My chest twists with cold nervousness.“Aunt, c-can we go to the hospital?” I ask, lips already chattering. “Can we see Zephyr?”Aunt Ophelia shakes her head; “there’s a storm going on, Amani. I’m not sure grandpa would let anyone out that door right now. It’s obvious that Zephyr was attacked. Grandpa has ordered that no one should leave the premises until investigations are conducted.”A bone chilling cold suddenly settles on my shoulders and I sink to the floor with my arms wrapped tightly around my middle. Aunt Ophelia and Zuri exchange a few more words but I’ve completely spaced out so I can’t hear a thing. I barely notice when she kissed me on my forehead before leaving the room.Once the door closes, Zuri runs in my direction and plants her ass directly in front of me so our knees are touching.
AMANIMy fingers are trembling so badly, I end the call and barge away from the window like it’s on fire. My knees finally give way and I sink to the floor beside Zuri, trying hard to control the rapid pounding of my heart.“Amani, what happened? What did he say?”I open my mouth to speak but the phone rings again, shattering the tense silence. I don’t have Bhyron’s number saved on my phone but the moment I glance at the screen, I know he’s the one.“I can’t…” I whisper mindlessly. “I–I can’t…”Zuri looks worried as hell now; “Amani, who’s calling you? What did Bhyron say? What happened?”I shake my head over and over, covering my face with my hands. I know my reaction to Bhyron’s request is a bit extra, but for some reason, I feel like my heart is about to explode. “Amani! Speak to me, goddammit. Don’t me slap it out of you!”The phone keeps ringing and my panic keeps rising. Bhyron is relentless as usual.“Fine. Don’t tell me anything. I’ll answer the call myself.” Zuri huffs.Befo
AMANDAIn the lakeside city of Montana, a blonde-haired lady sits in her lawyer’s office, chewing her bottom lip and worrying her head off about her pending expenses.Her little sister’s hospital bills have to be cleared by next week, otherwise, the hospital might cut off her oxygen.The rent on her small cake shop and tiny apartment are expiring at the same time, totalling a whopping sum of three thousand dollars. She has to sign her sister up for dance lessons. Imelda loves dancing and there’s no way she’d be able to take that away from her. Which means she’d to find a way to get the money.Her cake shop hasn’t been doing too well lately. The town’s economy is on a downward spiral. Most of the residents can barely afford food, talk more of cakes. Her mind wanders to Jayden, her ex boyfriend, and chills run down her spine. After the last round of beatings ended her in the hospital and Imelda almost cried herself into a coma, Amanda vowed to leave him, even if it meant her heart wou
AMANIThe room is spinning. Or is it my brain? I’ve lost track at this point.My gaze darts between Aunt Ophelia, grandma Alice and grandpa, silently waiting for them to tell me that Duke is just playing around. Unfortunately, they don’t.Aunt Ophelia looks nervous as hell, grandma Alice’s face is currently buried in Bhyron’s chest as she cries her eyes out and grandpa looks at me with a disappointed expression that causes my heart to flip with the crushing weight of guilt.And Bhyron… he’s currently holding on to grandma Alice like she’s his lifeline, patting her back and murmuring soothing words in her ears.I’m shocked, yes. But I’m also confused as hell.“Are you sure of what you’re saying?” I ask, turning my attention to Duke. He walks towards me and holds up his phone. My eyes drift to the video on the screen and in the next one minute, my shock triples. It’s a news flash. The hostess’ chubby face is sent in grim lines as she reports;“…bad news for New York City as their may
AMANDAI pull my hoodie over my ears to cushion the harsh effects of New York’s cold night wind, still struggling to believe my stroke of luck.My plan was to come here, get my inheritance, go straight to the hospital and pay off my sister’s medical bills. Being “the child who was never wanted,” I was fully ready to find out that I was left out of the will.I also prepared myself just in case I was included in the will but only given a miserly sum. After everything I’ve been through, I vowed never to return to my biological family, talk more of begging them for money. But just a moment ago, I was prepared to go down on my knees and beg for money for Imelda’s treatment. Now, barely an hour later, I’m going back five million dollars richer. It feels like a dream.At first sight, Mr. Bhyron Macaulay is intimidating as hell. He had long hair in all the pictures that Caspian, my lawyer, showed to me, but his short cropped hair gives him the appearance of a seven star general in the army
BHYRON“Mr. Macaulay, your wife is suffering from severe dehydration and heartburn. That’s why she passed out. However, we have it all under control. She’s been stabilized and should be discharged tomorrow.”I sit before Dr. Samantha, Chief Medical Practitioner at one of the top private hospitals in New York, my heart beating a restless rhythm against my ribcage. The past two hours have been hell. I thought seeing Amani injured and bleeding in that horrible room was a nightmare, but I nearly lost my damn mind when I was forced to stand back and watch them strap her almost lifeless body to the stretcher.“And our baby?” I ask, tapping my feet anxiously.If anything happens to our child…The doctor flips through a couple of documents on her desk. “It’s still too early to tell. Once we conduct all the relevant tests, you’ll be the first to know.” Ten minutes later, I’m walking down the hall, intent on seeing my wife after being told I wouldn’t be able to see her for the next five hour
BHYRONThe woman on the floor lies completely still and unmoving. Her face is covered by a curtain of blonde hair and her long, graceful legs are twitching.Amani.A horrific roar tears from my throat and I attack blindly. One second, I’m standing by the door, fists clenched by my sides, and the next, I’m flying across the room, knife unsheathed. The gory sound of my blade slicing into something soft pierces the air as I tackle Antonio to the ground. Yes, I sliced off his useless manhood. And the wet sound it makes as it lands on the wooden floor does very little to soothe the beast inside of me. Pain filled moans bubble up his throat and I punch him there, forcing the bastard to stay silent.“What did you do to her, you neanderthal?! How dare you touch her!” I don’t give him the chance to fight or protest. I hit him blow after blow until his moans become off-key gurgles and his face is wet with blood; soft and disfigured beneath my fists. Even then, my anger is not soothed. Image
BHYRON“…your wife is pregnant.” The quiet world around me disappears and all that’s left is the loud, eerie buzzing in my ears. My eyes are glued to Duncan’s lips, my heart pounding an erratic rhythm as I wait for him to laugh it off, because I do not find this situation funny in the slightest.When seconds tick by and he still doesn’t attribute that statement to a failed attempt at mirth, white-hot mortification burns a hole straight through my chest.“Are you being serious?”Duncan nods, appearing braver. Or maybe he’s finally accepted that I might slash his head off of his neck very, very soon.“I’m really sorry that you have to find out this way, sir.”I take a threatening step in his direction but he stands his ground.“You’re sorry? You’re bloody sorry? This is insane!”I press two fingers against my eyes and draw several deep breaths. Amani is pregnant. My woman is carrying our child! My heart sinks with the recollection that the last two times we had sex was without protec
BHYRON“Sir, sir, I found something!”It’s been three hours since I personally set the Gunam Brother's seventh warehouse on fire. Unfortunately, the fire grew uncontrollable and gutted the warehouse beside it, burning it to ashes. That warehouse belonged to Bethel Washington, a renowned American drug and arms dealer. I’ve been trying to reason with his men for the past hour. Thankfully, the warehouse was empty and not much was lost. I only returned to my office thirty minutes ago and the police were already waiting for me, desperate to pin me for arson and send my ass to prison. My lips twitch at the thought. I don’t pay Axel millions of dollars, complete with paid vacation trips at luxurious islands to just sit around doing nothing. My alibi was ready even before I arrived at the warehouse and I just handed it to the police when I returned.The disappointment on their faces was almost laughable.Right now, I’m hunched over Axel’s computer, staring at the incomprehensible strings of
BHYRONI can count on my fingers the number of times I’ve been terrified. Five times. Five horrifying moments when I endured torture and darkness and hunger for weeks. But none of that compares to the feeling of utter, pure and undiluted horror that snakes through my bloodstream as I watch the video. My eyes are glued to the screen while the horror unfolds. My heart is barely beating as I take in the sight of Amani kneeling on the dirty floors, a group of masked men holding her down while another unknown man whips her mercilessly. The fucker blurred out his face. “No…” I whisper, my throat clogged, my lungs faltering. “No, no, no. God, no.”Memories of the horrific moments I spent in captivity, chained and whipped day and night assail my mind and I stagger backwards. I almost gave up during those horrific nights. Imagine what Amani must be feeling.Her cries are like little, venomous knives stabbed through my heart. I shut my eyes, already prepared to throw the phone across the roo
BHYRON“Mr. Ahmad, you can be rest assured that this project will rake in millions just like La Marièe. I’ll personally direct every single proposal and you’re guaranteed maximum profit.”Ahmad, one of our Arabian investors, had indicated interest in funding my new club months ago. He has the billions to spend and I’ve got the brains and man power to make sure we open another club by the end of this month that will probably earn ten times more than La Marièe.Ahmad nods, seemingly satisfied and about to give me a response when the sound of the door violently crashing against the wall rents the air.I rise from my seat, my heart pumping madly the second I lay eyes on Duncan and his grim expression. Duncan would never, ever interrupt my international meetings, talk more of slamming my door. Something’s wrong.Amani. Why is that the first thought that crawls into my mind?“Sir, I’m afraid we have a problem.”Dread settles like boulders on my shoulders. “Where’s Amani?” I ask through cle
WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS A BIT OF PHYSICAL ABUSE. **AMANII made a deal with Antonio Gunam and ordinarily, I shouldn’t be scared of him. But there’s something in his eyes. Something dark and ferocious. A wild, unhinged emotion that makes my strained arms tremble. I cringe away from his touch, my heart beating wildly when he presses closer. Of course the bastard doesn’t get the hint. His lips twist in a smirk and he runs a finger over my damp, sweaty chest. When those disgusting fingers almost touch my boobs, I pull backwards and a pained hiss escapes me as my skull slams against the drywall.He bends over, giving me a strong, involuntary whiff of his designer perfume. “You’ve gotten braver since the last time I saw you, little kitten. Have you forgotten how you writhed beneath me that night?” I bare my teeth at him, hiding the excruciating throbbing of my head with a snarl; “Why am I naked, Antonio? What’s going on? This isn’t what we agreed on.” He leans back with a wicked
AMANIYesterday was grandma Ayutthaya’s funeral but I wasn’t in attendance because Bhyron obviously felt I did not deserve to be there. He didn’t let me visit grandpa at the hospital either. He hid grandma’s dead body from me and now, I missed her funeral. An hour later, I’m still in the same position that Jay left me after he spilled the news. I’m shocked and cold. So cold. I only jolt back to reality when my phone rings. It’s a strange number. I pick up the device with shaky fingers. “Hello?”“Hello, kitten.” A breathy rasp filters through the speakers.My limbs turn to ice. That voice. It’s the devil himself.“Antonio?”He chuckles, a light dangerous sound that has goosebumps spattering across my flesh. “You remember my voice. Should I be flattered?”His flirtatious tone almost makes me gag. I shut my eyes and push back the horrible, dark memories that threaten to escape.“What do you want? I’m supposed to get the money to you tomorrow. I still have time.”“No, you don’t. In fa