As the days stretch into a rhythm of exploration, the island reveals its secrets.
They wander through the cobbled streets, where buildings stand like sentinels of time, their pastel facades glowing under the winter sun.
Kara insists on stopping at every cafe, tasting pastries dusted with sugar and thick cups of coffee, a local coffee layered with condensed milk and cinnamon. Grace, always the photographer, darts through the streets with her camera, capturing moments Amanda hasn’t even noticed—a stray cat lounging in a doorway, the way the light catches a stained-glass window.
They take a boat out to the towering cliffs, their dark faces rising like ancient guardians from the sea. Amanda stands at the bow, the salty wind tangling her hair, as dolphins dance alongside the boat, their sleek bodies cutting through the water with effortless grace.
Javier, ever the patient guide, takes them to hidden coves and local taverns, weaving stor
They walked in silence for a moment, the sound of the waves filling the gap.“Tell me,” Alessio began, “what’s been the best part of your trip so far?”Amanda thought for a moment. “Probably this,” she said, gesturing to the sunset over the water. “It feels like time slows down here.”He nodded. “I know what you mean. Life in Italy is like that too. Less rush, more moments like this.”They stopped to join her friends, who were busy taking pictures. Alessio offered to snap a photo for the group.“Alright, everyone say—mozzarella!” he joked.The group burst into laughter, the camera capturing their joy.Later, as they sat on the sand, Alessio pulled out his phone. “Mind giving me your contact info?”Amanda smiled, “Sure thing!” She took over his phone and typed in her insta account on it quickly.“You know what
Back near the honey stall, Alessio hands Amanda a small jar. “This one’s special. The vendor says it’s infused with wildflowers from the hills. Sweet and a little unexpected. Kind of like you.”Amanda blinks, caught off guard. “You’re full of lines, aren’t you?”He shrugs. “I can’t help it.”Grace, snapping pictures a few feet away, catches the subtle shift in Amanda’s expression. There is a softness, a vulnerability she hasn’t seen in months. She leans toward Lily. “Do you think she’s forgetting Riley?”Lily smiles. “Not forgetting—just realizing she deserves better.”As they move on, Alessio stays by Amanda’s side. And when she absentmindedly opens the leather notebook to scribble something, he doesn’t ask what she is writing. He just smiles, content to let her lead.Amanda pauses as they walk, her fingers brushing
Riley lies in bed, staring at the ceiling, the room cloaked in darkness. He tosses and turns, the sheets twisting around him like the thoughts he can’t escape.Every time he closes his eyes, Amanda’s face flashes before him—her laughter, her disappointment, her absence.It isn't until two or three in the morning that he drifts off to sleep.The second morning.Riley pulls up to the gate of the old manor, his heart heavy with hesitation. He rarely came to this manor, only coming here occasionally when his parents needed to hold a party. This manor was on the outskirts of the city, not close to his school and corporation.His mother had made it perfect. But after she passed, the place became a painful memory. He never returned, thinking it would only remind him of what he had lost.Yet here he is now, gripping the steering wheel tightly.He isn’t sure why he feels the urge to visit. Maybe it’s t
Riley wanders in the garden, the scent of roses heavy in the air, stirring long-buried memories. His fingers graze the soft petals of a red bloom, and he feels a pang of emotion he hasn’t allowed himself to confront in years. The garden is alive, vibrant, almost as if his mother’s presence still lingers here.His mind drifts back to that summer afternoon, not long after he turned 22.The sun had filtered through the canopy of trees, casting dappled light onto the stone bench where his mother sat, her posture graceful but weary. Her pale blue dress fluttered in the breeze, and she seemed smaller than usual, as if the weight of her emotions had diminished her.“Riley,” she had called softly, her voice tinged with sadness. “Come here, darling.”He had hesitated, sensing the gravity of her tone, but eventually, he joined her on the bench.“I see you’ve noticed the roses,” she began, gesturing
When Riley was a child, his family seemed perfect.His father was a successful businessman, always coming home with gifts after long business trips. His mother was warm and attentive, often baking his favourite cookies or reading him stories at bedtime.They were the kind of family other people envied. His parents held hands at parties, laughed at private jokes, and stole kisses when they thought no one was watching.Riley grew up thinking that was what love looked like.But somewhere along the way, that love started to crumble. He doesn’t remember exactly when the fights began—maybe when he was in his early teens?At first, they were small arguments over dinner plans or forgotten anniversaries. But as Riley grew older, the fights became louder, sharper.His mother would cry in the room, his father would storm out of the house, and Riley would retreat to his room, covering his ears with a pillow.
Amanda was different.When she first entered his life, Riley dismissed her persistence as a phase.He knew the first time he saw Amanda at an event—the girl was there for him. She always seemed shy and wouldn't stare at him for long. But Riley could feel her feelings.At first, he didn't give it a second thought. She’ll get bored soon, he thought. They always do.But Amanda didn’t.She didn’t back down when he was indifferent. She didn’t withdraw when he ignored her attempts at small talk. Instead, she adapted. She found new ways to approach him, slipping bits of humour into their conversations, offering insights he hadn’t considered.And slowly, against his better judgement, Riley started to notice her.He noticed how she stayed late to perfect her task. How she treated the janitor with the same respect as the professor. How her laughter could brighten even the dullest room.Most of al
Mrs Hopkins’s laugh is soft, almost motherly. “Love isn’t always fireworks, Mr Griffin. Sometimes it’s quieter, steadier. Tell me—when you think of Amanda, what do you feel?”He exhales sharply, leaning back against the bench. “I feel… regret. Like I failed her. And guilt because my friends told me she deserved better.”“Those are feelings of remorse, not necessarily love. What else? When you picture her in your mind, what comes to you?”Riley closes his eyes, letting his thoughts settle. Amanda’s face surfaces almost immediately—her determined smile, the way she bit her lip when she was nervous, her soft laughter that always seemed to fill the silence.“She’s… incredible,” he admits, his voice low. “She sees things I don’t. This garden, for example. I couldn’t care less about it after my mother passed, but Amanda… she saved it.
He closes his eyes. The warmth of the sun filters through the branches, and for the first time in ages, Riley allows himself to see Amanda in a whole new light without immediately trying to suppress the thoughts.He knows it now. He loves her. It’s not a new feeling, not something that suddenly sparked out of nowhere. It has been there all along, quietly growing while he kept looking the other way.The first time he saw Amanda was at a crowded banquet, years ago.Riley had been dragged to the event by his parents. These events were a regular part of their lives—lavish parties where people smiled too much, laughed too loud, and exchanged fake pleasantries while calculating how to earn more money.Riley hated them. He was good at navigating these spaces, good at shaking hands and making small talk, but he didn’t enjoy it. At that time, he was young and restless, tired of being tied down by the expectations of his family and the deman
Riley seems to see Amanda again, standing in front of him in a white dress, smiling at him.The memory fades, and Riley blinks, the present rushing back to him. His gaze shifts back to the box of incense on the desk, and a sudden thought strikes him.Why are these still here? he thinks.He presses his palms to his temples, as if trying to force the answer out of his own mind. It doesn’t take long for the memory to resurface—a detail he had buried so deeply it almost feels foreign.Amanda had given him these.It was early in her days as his secretary. At that time, she didn’t marry to him.He had been going through a rough patch, struggling with sleepless nights and the weight of his strained relationship with his father. His temper had been short, and the tension in the office had been palpable.One afternoon, Amanda had spoke to him directly, “You haven't been sleeping well lately.”Her bluntness had startled him at the time, but he’d admitted, grudgingly, that his sleep had been
He flips another page. This one lists his favourite foods:“Simple tastes. Grilled salmon and salad. Always skips dessert but secretly loves lemon tarts. Prefers red wine over white—Merlot especially.”He chuckles under his breath, the sound surprising even himself.She had always been spot-on with his quirks, even the ones he never admitted.How many times had she left a lemon tart on the counter, claiming it was “leftovers” from her baking, just so he wouldn’t feel guilty eating it?Further in, a recipe catches his eye:“Cinnamon coffee—Riley’s favourite.”Beneath it, Amanda had carefully outlined the steps: • Freshly ground beans, dark roast. • Two teaspoons of cinnamon powder. Must be fresh, not the old jar in the pantry! • Brew
Still, life doesn’t pause for reflection, and Riley forces himself to carry on.Determined to find a solution, he resolves to speak with Shawn and Rex, hoping their perspectives might offer clarity.But before he can arrange a time, his butler, Mr. Harris, calls to inform him that the villa’s cleaning has been completed.It has been a while since Riley last set foot in the villa.Ever since Amanda moved out, he’s only been back a handful of times.The place feels empty, too vast for one person, and its silence is oppressive.Riley has avoided it whenever possible, preferring the comfort of his more modest city apartment.Now, with the villa cleaned, he decides it’s time to return.Mr. Harris mentions something peculiar before ending the call.The janitors had discovered a few items in the rubbish bin that didn’t look like trash. Uncertain about what
Riley bites his lip gently. He’s thinking about how to explain their relationship.He thinks about the photo Amanda has posted to insta—that mysterious man.He also remembers what Rex and Shawn has said to him.Riley takes a deep breath. His fingers clutch at his pants.“I wonder if... you can give me a moment,” he begins. “to talk about Faye.”Amanda sits upright and gently pushes her hair back off her forehead. And then she nods to Riley to show she’s listening.“Sure.” She answers.He exhales slowly, trying to find the right way to say it. “Do you know how my mum passed away?”Amanda freezes for a moment, giving Riley a sad look.She shakes her head slowly.It suddenly hit Riley that Amanda had asked him about his mom a few years ago but he didn’t tell her.He lowers his eyelids, his gaze dropping to the floor. “It was a air cr
Riley feels the weight of her words settle into his chest.He looks down at the roses he has brought, now resting on the table between them.They seem ridiculous, almost insulting, in the face of everything Amanda has endured.“Is there nothing I can do?” he asks softly, his voice barely audible.Amanda stands, smoothing her hands over her dress.“You can let me go,” she said gently. “That’s what you can do, Riley. Let me live the life I’ve built for myself.”Riley lowers his head and doesn’t speak for a long time.Amanda ignores him and walks into the room.A few minutes later, she walks out of the room, a necklace in her hand.She hands Riley the necklace and says, “Give it back to you. It’s yours.”Riley looks up, surprised, at the necklace in Amanda's hand. “This—”“Maybe you don't rem
“Why? You don't want to be beholden to me?”“No, of course it's not because of this. Just because it's not working for us anymore.”Riley gives a puzzled look. “What does that mean?”“I’ve already took Kara to Dr. Hayes a long time ago.” Amanda explains.Riley stares at Amanda, her words settling heavily between them like a stone dropped in still water.“You already saw Dr. Hayes?” Riley repeats her words again, his voice barely above a whisper.Amanda nods, her fingers lightly resting on the edge of the table. “Yes, about a half year ago? Kara had her first appointment shortly after I called you.”Riley’s brow furrows as fragments of memory begin piecing themselves together.He remembers that phone call vividly now.He had been in a hotel room on a business trip, rushing to prepare for a major client meeting. At the tim
He looks down, his voice breaking slightly. “You left, and I thought I’d get used to it. But I haven’t. I can’t. Every moment you’re gone, I think about you. About us. And I realized… I love you, Amanda. I always have. I was just too blind, too stupid to see it.”Riley looks back at her, his eyes pleading. “I know I’ve been awful. I know I don’t deserve another chance. But I want to change. I will change. Please… don’t divorce me. Let me try to make this right.”“Please give me a chance to make it up to you.”Amanda looks away, her gaze flicking to the roses, then back to Riley’s face.“And I hope you can meet some of my friends—Rex, Shawn, even Faye. I want you to be part of every part of my life.”He pauses, running a hand through his hair, clearly struggling to find the right words. “I know I’ve got a lot to
Amanda stays a whole day in Kara’s house.The sun is setting as she steps out, the soft glow casting warm hues across the quiet street.The day has been long but strangely soothing—a much-needed pause after everything that’s happened lately.She tightens her scarf against the crisp evening air, feeling the faint scent of the incense still lingering on her coat.Sliding into the driver’s seat, Amanda takes a moment before starting the car.The leather of the steering wheel is cold against her fingers.She glances back at Kara’s house.Through the window, she catches a glimpse of her friend, curled up on the sofa, the faint glow of the lit incense stick flickering in the dim room.Amanda smiles softly to herself.It looks like she comes at the right time today.As the engine hums to life, Amanda adjusts the rear-view mirror.The drive bac
Kara’s parents look stunned, their faces a mix of anger and disbelief.Amanda doesn’t waver, meeting their gazes head-on.Kara breaks the silence, her voice quiet but firm. “She’s right. You’ve done enough damage. I’ve had enough.”She stands, moving to Amanda’s side, her posture strong despite the tremor in her hands.“Get out.”Her mother sputters. “Kara, we’re trying to help—”“No,” Kara says, cutting her off. “You’re not. You never have. Now leave.”Her father looks like he’s about to argue, but something in Kara’s expression stops him. He grabs his coat and heads for the door, her mother trailing behind him.As the door slams shut, Kara sinks onto the sofa, her face pale but determined. Amanda sits beside her, placing a steady hand on her shoulder.“You didn’t ha