Ada “Today is the day,” Damson says as soon as I answer the call. This sends goosebumps spreading all across my skin and I suck in a breath through my teeth. “What? What do you mean?”“I can’t tell you more but do you trust me.”I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear and fight my parched throat. I move away from the window in the living room and turn to sit on the couch instead. I don’t think my legs can keep supporting me. “Yes, I trust you.”“Then that’s all I can say to you. I don’t want to ruin the surprise. We’ll talk soon, alright?”After the call, I walk around my apartment restlessly. I’m chewing my nails. I’m pacing the floor of the living room. It’s a mess, waiting for Damson to call me again. The strange part about all this is that Max didn’t call me the way he usually does. What does that mean? That he doesn’t receive a call?I think briefly of calling him before deciding that it just isn’t worth it. What if Damson wants me to see my daughter today or something similar? May
Ada But Damson never calls me, and in the end, my hopes are crushed and I have this despair deep inside of me because I don’t know what to do. Why didn’t he call?I didn’t do anything wrong. I followed his stupid instructions. I did what I was supposed to! Yet, he left me hanging, which makes me wonder exactly what his plan is. I thought I had the whole thing figured out. Apparently, I was wrong. I’m so demotivated that when my phone rings and I see that it’s Max, I cry before getting any word out. On the other end of the line, his despair is evident, and even though I hear all his questions, I can’t bring myself to answer any of them. “Ada? Ada, please, tell me what happened. Please. Don’t leave me like this. Is it Damson? What did he do? What did he say?”“I can’t take this anymore,” I sob. “I can’t. He told me he’d send me the address. Told me I’d get to…to see Victoria today.”Max is silent as I try to get my emotions in check. Sniffling and feeling considerably calmer, I say
AdaWhen Max arrives, I have to admit that I feel nervous. Really nervous. Like I know what will happen before I do. Our eyes lock the minute I open the door, and a heated moment passes. I don’t know why it happened or even how. I just know that I feel this heat low in my belly at the sight of him and it didn’t happen when we saw each other the first time. This is a bad idea. I know it. Yet, I open the door wider for him, inviting him into my apartment. Max walks in uncertainly, looking around and clearing his throat. He’s clearly uncomfortable and perhaps senses the same thing that I do. I close the door and take a deep breath. “How are you feeling?” I whirl around to face him and notice that his eyes are already on me. Licking my lips, I say, “I’ve had better days.”His eyes soften with concern and for some reason, I’m transported back to the old days—the days when we used to be together all the time. He looked at me in this exact same way. “Did he try to call you again?”I
MaximilianThe sounds of her sobs make me desperate.I don’t know what I’ve done wrong. “Ada,” I whisper her name softly while caressing her face. She sobs even louder, turning her head to the side like the sound of my voice offends her. I wait for her to speak. It’s the only thing that I can do. “I’m sorry, Max,” she says once she’s calmed down enough. Her eyes are back on mine and they’re red. “I don’t mean to make you feel bad. I just…it hit me all of a sudden. How much things changed.”“Don’t I know it,” I murmur, doing my best to keep things between us light though it’s almost impossible to ignore how hard I am right now, and how she’s the only woman I’ve wanted for so long. “I feel like such a failure,” she admits. “It’s not easy, coming to terms with a separation. I loved you, Max. There are times when I think that I always will.”I meet her gaze, hope surging inside of me. “So will I. I’ll always love you no matter what happens between us.”“I’m scared,” she admits. “I’m t
Ada Max and I lie down next to each other afterward, breathing hard. This was the best sex I've ever had in my entire life. I didn't know I needed this until now. I'm exhilarated for a few minutes right after I climax before it all comes down hard and I feel even more depressed. As if sending the swift change in mood, Max wraps an arm around me and pulls me close. I let him because the only time I ever felt great in these last seven years was in his arms just now and I'm eager to have more of that feeling even if it won't last long and will only lead to more complicated situations. Compared to what I had before—which was nothing—this was everything. I turn my head to look at him just as he turns his as well. Our eyes lock and I lose myself in the depths of his eyes. There’s so much I want to say to him but wouldn’t know where to begin. I don’t even know if what I have to say is the right thing. Max runs his fingers down the length of my arm and I shudder, desire pooling in my
Maximilian Except, I’m not so sure if Damson was actually lying and that’s the part that bothers me most. Because I don’t know if the detective Rebecca hired actually went after him to find out where he lived. He was with us some hours ago, though, so maybe not? I’m still not sure. It seems unlikely because how would he know where Damson was? Either way, I’ll have to ask Rebecca and make sure it wasn’t him, and I feel shitty about the whole thing. Because the same thing happened the last time and it was what tore us apart. I’m actually glad I didn’t tell her about the new progress we’ve been making or she’d leap to conclusions and whatever we’re working on here wouldn’t work anymore. It’s not only that—I’m scared, too. What if this investigator ends up making things worse for us? I have a million questions at this point and no answers to them. I try not to feel angry as I think about the whole thing because I was pretty hopeful when I saw Damson’s face on the screen of the comp
Maximilian “I do love you,” she whispers in my ear before pressing a kiss on my earlobe. “I do.”“Then what are we waiting for?” I ask fiercely, my arms tightening around her. “Why don’t we take our lives? Why wait?”“I’m not…I’m scared,” she answers. I put her back on the ground and she keeps her hands on me. I register how her hands are shaking lightly and feel the urge to grab them between mine to make them stop. So, I do. Ada licks her lips and says, “Damson is counting on the fact that you and I aren’t together anymore, remember? It’s like I told you over the phone. He wants me to hear that I regret our relationship. That I just want…I don’t know what he wants from me, Max. Dammit, he’s my twin and yet, I don’t know if he still remembers that or if he even believes it. I don’t know if he wants a relationship with me like he did before.”I shudder at her doubts. Dammit, I’ve been thinking so much about myself that I completely disregarded how she’d be tormented by that man’s re
AdaI've spent years preparing for this moment, but standing in the grand foyer of the family who destroyed mine, I wonder if I'm truly ready to play the role of the dutiful maid."This way, Miss Johnson," the housekeeper, Mrs. Danes, says to me as we continue through the house. Well, it's more of a palace, but whatever."Your work will be done on this lower part of the house," she informs me as she looks over her shoulder at me through her thin, round glasses. "You'll need a valid reason if you're found upstairs. You're expected to follow your schedule strictly, as any deviation will lead to you being asked to leave. Do you understand?""Yes, Mrs. Danes," I reply shyly, but even that is an act. I'm going to have to find a way to make it upstairs because I'll have to look into the face of Reynold Loxley, the man who killed my father and brother many years ago, ruining my life forever.She continues showing me around, telling me to do this and that, and explaining how they want things
Maximilian “I do love you,” she whispers in my ear before pressing a kiss on my earlobe. “I do.”“Then what are we waiting for?” I ask fiercely, my arms tightening around her. “Why don’t we take our lives? Why wait?”“I’m not…I’m scared,” she answers. I put her back on the ground and she keeps her hands on me. I register how her hands are shaking lightly and feel the urge to grab them between mine to make them stop. So, I do. Ada licks her lips and says, “Damson is counting on the fact that you and I aren’t together anymore, remember? It’s like I told you over the phone. He wants me to hear that I regret our relationship. That I just want…I don’t know what he wants from me, Max. Dammit, he’s my twin and yet, I don’t know if he still remembers that or if he even believes it. I don’t know if he wants a relationship with me like he did before.”I shudder at her doubts. Dammit, I’ve been thinking so much about myself that I completely disregarded how she’d be tormented by that man’s re
Maximilian Except, I’m not so sure if Damson was actually lying and that’s the part that bothers me most. Because I don’t know if the detective Rebecca hired actually went after him to find out where he lived. He was with us some hours ago, though, so maybe not? I’m still not sure. It seems unlikely because how would he know where Damson was? Either way, I’ll have to ask Rebecca and make sure it wasn’t him, and I feel shitty about the whole thing. Because the same thing happened the last time and it was what tore us apart. I’m actually glad I didn’t tell her about the new progress we’ve been making or she’d leap to conclusions and whatever we’re working on here wouldn’t work anymore. It’s not only that—I’m scared, too. What if this investigator ends up making things worse for us? I have a million questions at this point and no answers to them. I try not to feel angry as I think about the whole thing because I was pretty hopeful when I saw Damson’s face on the screen of the comp
Ada Max and I lie down next to each other afterward, breathing hard. This was the best sex I've ever had in my entire life. I didn't know I needed this until now. I'm exhilarated for a few minutes right after I climax before it all comes down hard and I feel even more depressed. As if sending the swift change in mood, Max wraps an arm around me and pulls me close. I let him because the only time I ever felt great in these last seven years was in his arms just now and I'm eager to have more of that feeling even if it won't last long and will only lead to more complicated situations. Compared to what I had before—which was nothing—this was everything. I turn my head to look at him just as he turns his as well. Our eyes lock and I lose myself in the depths of his eyes. There’s so much I want to say to him but wouldn’t know where to begin. I don’t even know if what I have to say is the right thing. Max runs his fingers down the length of my arm and I shudder, desire pooling in my
MaximilianThe sounds of her sobs make me desperate.I don’t know what I’ve done wrong. “Ada,” I whisper her name softly while caressing her face. She sobs even louder, turning her head to the side like the sound of my voice offends her. I wait for her to speak. It’s the only thing that I can do. “I’m sorry, Max,” she says once she’s calmed down enough. Her eyes are back on mine and they’re red. “I don’t mean to make you feel bad. I just…it hit me all of a sudden. How much things changed.”“Don’t I know it,” I murmur, doing my best to keep things between us light though it’s almost impossible to ignore how hard I am right now, and how she’s the only woman I’ve wanted for so long. “I feel like such a failure,” she admits. “It’s not easy, coming to terms with a separation. I loved you, Max. There are times when I think that I always will.”I meet her gaze, hope surging inside of me. “So will I. I’ll always love you no matter what happens between us.”“I’m scared,” she admits. “I’m t
AdaWhen Max arrives, I have to admit that I feel nervous. Really nervous. Like I know what will happen before I do. Our eyes lock the minute I open the door, and a heated moment passes. I don’t know why it happened or even how. I just know that I feel this heat low in my belly at the sight of him and it didn’t happen when we saw each other the first time. This is a bad idea. I know it. Yet, I open the door wider for him, inviting him into my apartment. Max walks in uncertainly, looking around and clearing his throat. He’s clearly uncomfortable and perhaps senses the same thing that I do. I close the door and take a deep breath. “How are you feeling?” I whirl around to face him and notice that his eyes are already on me. Licking my lips, I say, “I’ve had better days.”His eyes soften with concern and for some reason, I’m transported back to the old days—the days when we used to be together all the time. He looked at me in this exact same way. “Did he try to call you again?”I
Ada But Damson never calls me, and in the end, my hopes are crushed and I have this despair deep inside of me because I don’t know what to do. Why didn’t he call?I didn’t do anything wrong. I followed his stupid instructions. I did what I was supposed to! Yet, he left me hanging, which makes me wonder exactly what his plan is. I thought I had the whole thing figured out. Apparently, I was wrong. I’m so demotivated that when my phone rings and I see that it’s Max, I cry before getting any word out. On the other end of the line, his despair is evident, and even though I hear all his questions, I can’t bring myself to answer any of them. “Ada? Ada, please, tell me what happened. Please. Don’t leave me like this. Is it Damson? What did he do? What did he say?”“I can’t take this anymore,” I sob. “I can’t. He told me he’d send me the address. Told me I’d get to…to see Victoria today.”Max is silent as I try to get my emotions in check. Sniffling and feeling considerably calmer, I say
Ada “Today is the day,” Damson says as soon as I answer the call. This sends goosebumps spreading all across my skin and I suck in a breath through my teeth. “What? What do you mean?”“I can’t tell you more but do you trust me.”I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear and fight my parched throat. I move away from the window in the living room and turn to sit on the couch instead. I don’t think my legs can keep supporting me. “Yes, I trust you.”“Then that’s all I can say to you. I don’t want to ruin the surprise. We’ll talk soon, alright?”After the call, I walk around my apartment restlessly. I’m chewing my nails. I’m pacing the floor of the living room. It’s a mess, waiting for Damson to call me again. The strange part about all this is that Max didn’t call me the way he usually does. What does that mean? That he doesn’t receive a call?I think briefly of calling him before deciding that it just isn’t worth it. What if Damson wants me to see my daughter today or something similar? May
MaximilianI nod. “That’s him.”“You’re sure?”“One hundred percent,” I grit out. “I would never forget his face. Not ever.”I’m exhilarated that we’ve managed to catch him. I know that this isn’t much—we still don’t know where he lives—but this is more progress than has been made in years. The investigator says, “I’ll be watching him closely after this to ensure that we find his residence as quickly as possible but the shop’s clerk didn’t have a fixed time. He comes and goes whenever he has to shop and it’s usually at random times. I’ve also mentioned this to Miss Loxley here, but they’ve never seen the girl. Not once in all these years.”“What could that mean?”The man shrugs. “Just that he keeps her well. I don’t know enough to draw any conclusions—this is just me guessing at things.”“We understand that,” Rebecca cuts in. My eyes are drawn to the screen again. Years of hatred bubble inside of me and nearly spill over. I have to keep it all in for when the time is right. “It’ll
MaximilianEvery time my phone rings, it can only be one of two people: Ada or that fucking lunatic. At least, that’s how it’s been in the last few days. But this time, it’s Rebecca who’s calling me. So much has happened since I last spoke to her that I forgot all about our interaction. “Max,” she says. “I have news.”“If it’s about Damson, forget it,” I say right away. “We’re already negotiating and I don’t want you getting involved and ruining everything.”Her response is a sputter. “What? What are you talking about? You’re talking to him? How? When did this happen?”“Very recently,” I reply, my tone clipped. “Max, you can’t buy into his story! That man is evil and he’s out to get both of you! I take it you didn’t call the police?”“Rebecca, we’re taking care of this the way we see fit. Thank you for your help but I never asked for it. I don’t want it.”“Max, I told you about the investigator, didn’t I? Well, now we have some information and he might have found the area that Dam