Fiona looks down at her drink, swirling the remaining liquid. Her lips press into a thin line.
She decides to stop thinking about Amanda. Maybe they just don’t get along—it happens sometimes, she tells herself. Not everyone has to like everyone.
Amanda, on the other hand, barely notices Fiona’s mood. Her thoughts are elsewhere.
That familiar figure she thought she saw earlier still lingers in her mind. She glances around the bar again, scanning the crowd, but there’s no sign of anyone who looks like Riley.
She shakes her head and lets out a quiet breath, trying to dismiss the idea. Riley couldn’t possibly be here. It must have been a trick of the light, or maybe just her imagination playing with her.
There’s no way it was him. She’s sure of it.
The crowd around the pool table finally starts to break up, their excitement fading into quieter conversations and laughter.
Amanda doesn&r
Amanda was left standing in the wreckage of a life she no longer recognized. She wasn’t even an adult yet.While other kids her age were worrying about exams or crushes, Amanda was learning how to survive.She remembered how everything felt hollow during those days. Her life turned into something flat and lifeless, like a piece of paper too thin to hold any weight. Most of the time, it felt like she was floating in a gray fog, detached from the world around her.There were days when she doubted everything—herself, her purpose, her reason for existing. She questioned why she was alive, why she had been given so much only to have it ripped away. She cried until there were no tears left, screamed at the universe in her empty room, and then cried again.But through it all, she survived.Amanda’s gaze drops to her drink as she swirls the ice again, her grip tightening slightly. She remembers how, even in the darkest moments, there were small lights. Friends who stayed by her side, eve
From the beginning, there were signs their relationship wouldn’t last. Riley was distant, even cold at times. Amanda gave everything to make it work, hoping her love would be enough.She prepared his favorite meals, listened patiently to his complaints, and stayed up late to help him prepare for meetings. Riley never acknowledged her efforts.He never remembered her birthday unless she reminded him. When she brought him coffee, he didn’t look up from his laptop. And when she smiled at him across the dinner table, he barely glanced her way.Amanda told herself this was just who Riley was. He wasn’t expressive, but that didn’t mean he didn’t care.She clung to the tiny moments of happiness they shared. The time he brushed a strand of hair from her face without saying a word. The rare evenings they spent watching TV together, his arm loosely draped over her shoulder.But those moments were like drops of water in a vast desert.One night, Amanda sat at her desk, staring at a sticky not
In the soft, flickering light of the candle, Amanda finds it hard to read Riley’s expression.He must have been smiling, just like me. She's a firm believer in that. After all, it’s our third wedding anniversary. Even though he still has a lot of work to do, he makes time to come home and have a candlelit dinner with me. Amanda closes her eyes, letting herself believe the lie for a moment.“I wish we could be together forever,” Amanda says with a happy smile. Her eyes come alive, twinkling like lakes in sunlight. Riley freezes for a while. It seems like there is an ethereal halo around her, he thinks.Suddenly, a sharp pain pierces through her abdomen, so intense it nearly knocks the wind out of her. Amanda’s face pales instantly, but she bites back the pain, not wanting to ruin the rare moment of warmth between them.But just as she gathers herself, a shrill ringtone shatters the peaceful atmosphere. The name flashing on Riley’s phone screen makes Amanda’s heart skip a beat. Before s
Eleven years ago, the Courtney family business had gone bankrupt. On their way back to deal with the aftermath, Amanda’s parents had been killed in a tragic car accident, leaving her, at 17, with no one to turn to. Grief-stricken and lost, Amanda had no choice but to crash an elite party, desperately seeking help from her parents’ old business partners.But the only responses she received were cold rejections, mocking laughter, or lecherous gazes that lingered far too long on her body. Just when all hope seemed lost, Riley, a handsome and wealthy man drawing everyone’s attention, had stepped in to save her.It was the first kindness Amanda had felt since her world had fallen apart. She began to believe that Riley Griffin, the man who stood at the top of the world, could be her lifeline, that he was a kind and gentle soul.From that moment on, wherever Riley appeared, Amanda’s eyes would follow. She found herself drawn to him, captivated by his presence. When he smiled, she felt as tho
When Amanda wakes up, it’s already the next afternoon.She is lying in a hospital bed, alone. The sterile white walls of the hospital room only added to the overwhelming sense of isolation and despair. She can hardly tell where it is. It has the same white walls as in the villa, and the same quiet.“Mrs Griffin, are you awake?”Riley’s butler enters the room, holding a medical report, and after seeing her awake, he lets out a sigh of relief.“You don’t know how dangerous it was last night. If we hadn’t gone to the villa to check on you and found you unconscious, I can’t imagine what would’ve happened.”“Thank you,” Amanda whispers, her voice barely audible. Her face is still pale, drains of all color. The butler smiles politely and hands her a slip of paper.“On the way to the hospital, our car broke down. Fortunately, a kind gentleman offered to help and even paid for your medical expenses. This is his contact information. Also…”The butler hesitates for a moment before handing her t
Meanwhile, in the VIP room of the same hospital, a few childhood friends of Riley Griffin and Faye Aiken are gathered. Riley tosses his phone onto the table in frustration. He cannot get a hold of Amanda.Faye’s spooked by the sound, and her body trembles slightly as her eyes filled with tears.“Riley, I’m so sorry. I know I’m always troubling you because of my terrible physical condition, but yesterday was unbearable… It felt like I was reliving the day of the air crash.”A few years ago, his mother, Faye, and her mother took his private jet for an overseas vacation. Tragically, there was a crash, and their mother had gone to heaven. Faye made a full recovery, but she was left with severe PTSD.Even though it was unpredictable, it happened on his plane. Faye was the only one who survived, and he swelled with guilt and sympathetic. He even promised Faye’s father he’d treat her like his little sister. So for all these years, no matter when she calls, he’s always there for her.But Rile
Life is unforeseeable, but Amanda never expects that the next time she bumps into Riley will be on the day she is discharged from the hospital.Amanda hates hospitals; they always remind her of her parents’ passing. Everything here feels like a lingering nightmare, pressing down on her until she can barely breathe.And just then, she sees the last two people she wants to see.Riley is there, still attractive and sturdy, carrying a vulnerable but lovely woman bodily up the stairs. Together, they look perfect—a picture of elegance and charm. People will smile when they see it, except Amanda. Because her husband, Riley, is here to accompany another woman as his own wife lies recovering in a hospital bed.Amanda notices how Riley, usually all strides and long legs, slows down to match Faye’s dainty pace. His gaze softened in a way Amanda has never seen.It hit Amanda that the first time she wore stiletto heels.At that time, she followed Riley to attend a quarterly business review. She’d
Amanda returns to the villa. Without resting, she begins packing her things. She didn’t bring much when she first moved in three years ago, and even though she has a habit of buying small items, she’s never displayed them—Riley doesn’t like clutter, after all.By the time she’s done, all she has are her clothes, a few keepsakes only she cares about, and some small personal items she’d kept carefully tucked away.While sorting through everything, she finds a few boxes of incense.The boxes are dusty, faded from the sun, and barely carry any scent anymore.Seeing them, Amanda remembers a small, silly thing she once did for Riley.After that banquet, Amanda started paying close attention to Riley. Once she became his secretary, she learned that Riley struggled with sleep, often waking in the middle of the night. Determined to help, she searched for ways to improve his rest.One day, a specialist suggested trying aromatherapy, so Amanda took it to heart. She went out of her way to lear
From the beginning, there were signs their relationship wouldn’t last. Riley was distant, even cold at times. Amanda gave everything to make it work, hoping her love would be enough.She prepared his favorite meals, listened patiently to his complaints, and stayed up late to help him prepare for meetings. Riley never acknowledged her efforts.He never remembered her birthday unless she reminded him. When she brought him coffee, he didn’t look up from his laptop. And when she smiled at him across the dinner table, he barely glanced her way.Amanda told herself this was just who Riley was. He wasn’t expressive, but that didn’t mean he didn’t care.She clung to the tiny moments of happiness they shared. The time he brushed a strand of hair from her face without saying a word. The rare evenings they spent watching TV together, his arm loosely draped over her shoulder.But those moments were like drops of water in a vast desert.One night, Amanda sat at her desk, staring at a sticky not
Amanda was left standing in the wreckage of a life she no longer recognized. She wasn’t even an adult yet.While other kids her age were worrying about exams or crushes, Amanda was learning how to survive.She remembered how everything felt hollow during those days. Her life turned into something flat and lifeless, like a piece of paper too thin to hold any weight. Most of the time, it felt like she was floating in a gray fog, detached from the world around her.There were days when she doubted everything—herself, her purpose, her reason for existing. She questioned why she was alive, why she had been given so much only to have it ripped away. She cried until there were no tears left, screamed at the universe in her empty room, and then cried again.But through it all, she survived.Amanda’s gaze drops to her drink as she swirls the ice again, her grip tightening slightly. She remembers how, even in the darkest moments, there were small lights. Friends who stayed by her side, eve
Fiona looks down at her drink, swirling the remaining liquid. Her lips press into a thin line.She decides to stop thinking about Amanda. Maybe they just don’t get along—it happens sometimes, she tells herself. Not everyone has to like everyone.Amanda, on the other hand, barely notices Fiona’s mood. Her thoughts are elsewhere.That familiar figure she thought she saw earlier still lingers in her mind. She glances around the bar again, scanning the crowd, but there’s no sign of anyone who looks like Riley.She shakes her head and lets out a quiet breath, trying to dismiss the idea. Riley couldn’t possibly be here. It must have been a trick of the light, or maybe just her imagination playing with her.There’s no way it was him. She’s sure of it.The crowd around the pool table finally starts to break up, their excitement fading into quieter conversations and laughter.Amanda doesn&r
Grace is the first to react.She lets out a cheer and rushes over to Amanda, throwing her arms around her. “You were amazing!” she exclaims, her voice loud and full of pride.Amanda laughs, hugging her back. Her cheeks are flushed, but it’s not from embarrassment—it’s from exhilaration.Around Amanda, the crowd gathers, clapping and congratulating her.For a moment, Amanda allows herself to bask in the attention, her smile wide and unrestrained.Henry walks over, cue stick in hand. He’s smiling, though it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. He extends a hand to Amanda.“Great game,” he says, his tone easygoing. “You’re really good. Where’d you learn to play like that?”Amanda shakes his hand, her grip firm. “Just practice,” she replies simply. “Guess it paid off.”Henry nods, though he can’t shake the strange feelin
Amanda shakes the thought away, forcing herself to refocus on the game.But the memory lingers. It takes her back to when Riley first taught her how to play pool.It was early in their marriage, during one of his rare evenings off. He had laughed as he guided her hands on the cue stick, explaining the basic rules.“It’s all about precision,” he’d said, his tone light but firm. “Think like you’re playing chess, but faster.”Back then, Amanda had thrown herself into learning, desperate to connect with him in any way she could. Riley loved pool, and Amanda had wanted to love it too—just like how she’d taken golf lessons to keep up with his hobbies.But their lives grew busier, and Riley grew more distant. Pool became just another forgotten thing, one more piece of him she could never quite reach.Yet, Amanda never gave up.She hired a coach, practicing un
Grace stands frozen for a moment.Amanda’s expression and tone take her back to their university days. It feels like she’s seeing the old Amanda again—the one who stood confidently in front of large crowds, fearless and full of energy.She remembers how Amanda led their debate team, always believing she could bring victory to her side.Grace breaks into a big smile.Suddenly, she doesn’t care anymore—winning or losing, none of it matters. Henry, Fiona—all of that feels unimportant now.What truly matters is this: Amanda has found her way back.Grace had invited Amanda to the bar to help her relax, meet new people, and maybe forget her troubles for a while.She just wanted Amanda to have a break, even if it meant using alcohol to dull her pain.She knew how much Amanda had loved Riley, and even though Amanda had decided to divorce him, Grace was scared that
Fiona shifts slightly in her seat, her fingers lightly drumming on the stem of her wine glass. She takes a slow sip, her gaze lingering on Amanda, though she pretends to focus on Henry instead.The conversation flows easily around her, Amanda’s voice carrying the kind of warmth and confidence that seems to draw everyone in.“Well,” Fiona says suddenly, cutting into the conversation. Her tone is light, but there’s a faint edge to it.“It’s great that you get to be so creative, Amanda. I really envy you for having that kind of freedom.” She pauses, tilting her head slightly and giving a practiced smile. “I hope one day I can earn that for myself—doing something I truly love.”It seems that Fiona doesn’t know Amanda at all. Amanda can see it from Fiona’s expression and words.So Amanda decides to pretend it’s the first time that she meets Fiona.Amanda tur
Amanda notices that Fiona’s gaze darts between Henry and her. Then Fiona's eyes linger on her for a long timeAmanda can feel Fiona’s gaze on her, even though she doesn’t look directly at her. The dim lighting of the bar can’t hide that kind of intensity.It’s the kind of look that burns—not in admiration, but in jealousy.Amanda knows it well.She doesn’t react.She’s learned not to.Attention, whether kind or cruel, has been a constant in her life.Back in school, she was one of those girls people naturally gravitated toward. Friends liked her wit and warmth, and boys—well, they liked her for other reasons.Almost all she felt at that time was kindness, and it seemed that the little bit of unkindness was drowned in the warm atmosphere around her.But what truly steeled her were her parents’ death and the five years she spent as Ri
Amanda moves through her day with quiet focus, the kind that comes from a well-worn routine. After finishing her breakfast, she spends the morning packaging orders for her online shop, carefully wrapping intense and candles in tissue paper before sliding them into sturdy boxes. She puts small thank-you notes in the box for each customer, her handwriting looping neatly across the cards.By noon, her workspace smells faintly of bitter orange and bergamot. She’s used to use different scent every day, which lets her creative juice flow.She tidies up and grabs her sketchpad, settling into the sunny corner of her living room. The hours slip by as she draws, her pencil tracing the contours of imagined landscapes and whimsical florals.Occasionally, she breaks away from her work. Some days, she packs a small bag and heads out on a solo trip. She’s visited nearby towns, strolled through markets, and even spent a quiet weekend hiking in the hills. These short getaways recharge her, filli