ROBERT After deliberating for an hour, I parked my car in front of the restaurant where Renee worked, ready to talk to her. My stomach flipped, and before I could change my mind or even consider whether this was a good idea, my hands instinctively went to the door handle and pushed it open. As I stepped out of the vehicle, a gust of wind hit me square in the face. The air was crisp and cold, biting at my exposed skin and forcing itself painfully into my lungs. The sky had suddenly turned dark gray, and the air was chilly, making me a little nervous as I approached the building. I glanced at my wristwatch and saw that it was already four in the afternoon—two hours before she finished her shift if I recall correctly—and I quickened my pace. I looked inside the restaurant through the glass windows, hoping to see Renee, but there was no sign of her. As I approached the front door, I took deep breaths and tried to convince myself that she was probably somewhere else in the building
RENEE "It’d be in your best interests if you left, Robert. She isn't interested in seeing you." I pressed my ear to the bedroom door, my chest tightening as Nicole and Robert's spat grew louder with each word. The argument had begun a few minutes ago when Robert arrived and, luckily for me, Nicole answered the door. He’d demanded to see me, wanting to talk, and she’d flatly refused. Then he'd tried to explain that he was here to apologize and make amends, but Nicole wasn’t budging. She was hurt and angry on my behalf, and rightfully so."I won't. I'm not leaving until Renee tells me she doesn't want to see me herself.” Robert spoke up, his voice firm, persistent, and determined. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but she won't. Leave, Robert. I'm doing my best not to be impolite here." "Nicole, please stop making this so difficult." He begged, sounding so desperate that my heart ached for a split second. Nicole made a noise of disgust. "I shouldn't make this difficult. Says the ma
ROBERT "A refill?" The bartender asked as I held up my empty glass, and I curtly nodded. Taking a sip of the burning liquid, I grimaced at the bitter aftertaste, then returned my gaze to my phone on the bar’s countertop. I sat and stared at the picture of Renee displayed on the screen.In this photo, she was asleep on my hotel bed, her mouth slightly open and her strawberry blonde hair messy and scattered on the sheets. Her long lashes cast shadows across her delicate cheeks, giving her a soft and fragile appearance. Dammit, but she was so beautiful. The most gorgeous sight I'd ever seen and one I'd never get tired of looking at.Flipping through my photos, I found another picture of her. One I’d taken while she was standing on the balcony of our new mansion.With her arms outstretched, her dress fluttering against the wind, and the fabric dancing wildly before settling back into place. She looked so happy and at peace that, for a moment, my heart clenched.Her eyes were closed, bu
RENEE As I walked into my apartment, the soothing sound of SYML's “Girl” played from the small stereo in the corner. The song brought with it a sense of peace and calm that I rarely experienced these days. It helped me relax, even if only for a short time. And that was precisely what I needed right now—to relax. To let myself breathe without being weighed down by my worries. The previous few days had been... trying. Trying and more challenging than I could’ve imagined. “Damn!” I muttered, shoulders slumping as I closed the door behind me, sighing exhaustedly against it. My body sagged in front of me. My hands pushed my long hair away from my face before rubbing my tired eyes and pinching my nose. I knew my sleep-deprived appearance wasn't doing me any favors, and I wouldn't say I liked thinking about how I looked. Instead, I tried to distract myself by recalling everything that’d happened today. From scouring the streets of Orlando in my fruitless search for another job—since I
ROBERT “Robert, stop sending me flowers! Stop sending apology notes! They won’t change anything, so stop. Stop it!” Renee’s voice came through from the other end of the phone the moment I pressed the answer button and held the phone to my ear. I shivered slightly. Her call had arrived just as I was wallowing in self-pity, with a bottle of whiskey in hand and a plate of uneaten food staring blankly at me. I’d been ready to drown myself in a sea of sadness when this phone call interrupted my lonely reverie. Like always, her voice pulled me out from under the water where my problems had taken hold, forcing me into a state of self-consciousness I hadn’t felt in days. Renee was my lifeline. A ray of sunshine amid a stormy sky. She made me want to be more. To be better. She was my rock, the one thing that kept me grounded in the midst of this constant chaos.Ever since she’d come into my life, everything had changed.For the first time in years, I felt so in love. So happy. So, satisfi
RENEE “I’ll go check who’s at the door.” Nicole offered, smiling as she kissed me goodbye and exited the bedroom for the living room. “If it’s the delivery guy with flowers and notes, just send him back to wherever he came from.” I yelled after her, my eyes rolling. “As usual.” She snickered. “Of course. As usual.” I said. “I’ll do exactly that, my lady. Whatever you say.” She responded with a mock curtsy, and I rolled my eyes. Sighing, I sat on my bed, pushing the comforter across my legs and pulling my knees into my chest. I leaned back and watched as the sun rays from outside flickered across the walls and curtains, casting a warm orange hue into the small cozy room. My thoughts drifted away as I reminisced on the past few days' events. I faintly smiled and closed my eyes as I inhaled the fresh breeze that filtered through the open window. Even though my life was in shambles, and I was still unemployed, I was doing my best to stay positive. Suffice it to say that nothing e
ROBERT “Mr. Clarke. Someone’s waiting for you in the office.” As my secretary leaned over the table and whispered something into my ear, I looked up from the conference desk, trying my best not to scowl. “And why are you telling me this? I said I didn’t want any interruptions or intrusions, right? I’m in the middle of a crucial conversation here.” I motioned to the board members seated dutifully, waiting for me to continue our discussion. “Any visitor is welcome to wait. I’ll take care of them after I finish here.” But my secretary wasn’t paying attention. “The visitor appears adamant about seeing you right now.” She continued, her brow furrowed. “She is…” “She?” “Yes. The guest is a lady. A certain Miss Renee.” Renee? Holy shit! What was she doing here? My lips twitched, and my eyes widened in surprise. “Did you say, Miss Renee?” I asked, this time softly.“Yes sir, that’s right,” my secretary replied with a nod.“Oh… But it won’t be Miss Renee for long. Mrs. Clarke would be
RENEE As Robert’s lips plundered me, our tongues clashed, our bodies collided, and my heart exploded with emotion.He was kissing me. This man who was the absolute love of my life. My soulmate. My all. My everything.He was my nemesis. Someone I claimed to despise with a zeal that could incinerate anything in its path. He’d hurt me so much I’d vowed to never forgive him.I’d told myself a thousand times that we’d never be together again, but now he was kissing me. And fuck, if I didn’t like it.Hell, I wanted this. Damn it! I wanted him even more desperately now.As his hands caressed, my hair and the kiss deepened, my knees weakened, and my brain began to shut down. Everything softened within me, and I melted into him, craving his warmth. His touch. His love. This should’ve been a romantic moment—after all, we were kissing after weeks apart. It ought to have meant something. But it didn’t, not with our ongoing quarrel and the fact that I still held a strong grudge against him.“Fu
RENEEI had no idea where Robert was taking me tonight, and I didn't ask.He'd told me it was a surprise, and though I was used to him spoiling me, tonight felt different.Was it because this was our first date in months or because we had so much to celebrate? I couldn’t say.And so, when our vehicle stopped in front of a large, automated gate I instantly recognized from the first—and only—time he brought me here, I didn't try to hide my confusion."The hangar?!" I asked after we bypassed security, and the car crept forward to the main building.Robert got out, walking around to open my door. He held his arm out to help me down, but I ignored him and stepped out on my own."Are we flying out for this date?" I asked again as we approached the building, its massive entrance doors sliding open."Yes, we are, baby," he replied immediately, wrapping an arm around me from behind and guiding me through the doors.As we entered the hangar, which looked exactly as I remembered it, with its bri
ROBERT On the way home, my phone buzzed with a text. ‘All is set, sir,’ it read, followed by a wink emoji. ‘Congratulations in advance!’ The text was from Mark, who was to coordinate the surprise I’d planned for Renee tonight—the surprise marking the start of our new chapter. Smirking as I read the message, I quickly typed thanks, before sliding the phone into my breast pocket and taking a glance out the window. The car pulled into the driveway, and before the driver could get out to open my door, I was stepping out. The house staff warmly greeted me as I entered, and one informed me that Renee was in the backyard garden. Nodding gratefully, I made my way there. Sure enough, I spotted her. She stood near the daisies—her miracle flowers she called them. She once told me about a dream where she saw a whole field of daisies. And now she was determined to grow them everywhere in our garden. I smiled softly as I stood there, admiring and taking in every detail of her gorge
ROBERT I watched as the officers led Amanda out of the courtroom, her shackled hands clasped behind her back and her head hanging low. She looked broken. Defeated. And whereas she'd walked in confidently earlier, flashing a smug grin at me, now her feet dragged, and she didn't dare to look up. She couldn't, though, not after all that’d happened. Seeing her like this, knowing she finally got her karma, a bitter satisfaction curled in my chest. Finally, she got what she deserved. After the chaos, the wreck—the way she'd torn through my life, Renee's, and so many others—she would finally pay. This was her end. Her retribution. And it was brutal, yes, but it was also entirely fitting. "Yes," I breathed out, an invisible weight, one I'd carried for far too long, lifting from my chest. "Damn, I feel good," I murmured under my breath, and a smile formed on my lips. God! I couldn't wait to get home to Renee. I couldn't wait to tell her it was all over. That we’d won, and Aman
Your worst sin is that you have destroyed and betrayed yourself for nothing. ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky. ~•~AMANDA TWO MONTHS LATER Typically, a day begins when the clock strikes midnight, and the seconds tick.For some, it begins at seven a.m. or earlier. But today, my day began when the courthouse doors swung open and the bailiff ushered me and my lawyer into the courtroom. As we walked in, a hushed murmur rippled through the room, and for a moment, my stomach clenched—not in nervousness, but in anticipation. Which was strange given my crimes.Any prisoner convicted of murder would probably feel fear. Fear of their impending punishment, fear of the unknown consequences of their actions, fear of being executed. They'd also feel guilty, combine that with a sense of helplessness, and voila!But see, I wasn't just any prisoner. I was Amanda Clarke, and I feared no one. I feared nothing. As a convict who'd hired the best defense attorney in the country—my lawyer's record was pristine wi
RENEE "Look who's getting out of these four bleached walls today!" Nicole squealed with delight the moment she entered the room. She ran toward me, arms outstretched. "I'm so happy, Renee." She sniffled. "So fucking happy." "As am I," I said, hugging her with all my strength. "Where's Mom?" I asked. "She's at home, er, the mansion, preparing for your arrival," Nicole said. "I suspect you're going to eat a lot today, my friend," she added, and I laughed. "I can only imagine." I groaned and let go of her when Robert and the nurse assigned to check me out of the hospital arrived. She pushed a wheelchair into the room, signaling it was time for me to leave. As Robert turned to greet Nicole, the nurse, a petite young lady, attended to me. She introduced herself, asked a few questions, provided some healthcare instructions, and then it was time to fill out the discharge paperwork, which Robert quickly took charge of. As usual, he wasn’t letting me lift a finger. It’d been
ROBERTShe was awake.God, she was awake.I couldn't believe it, but as my legs carried me across the room and toward her, yes, Renee was awake. She was alive. She was conscious. And she was looking at me with teary brown eyes, muttering my name repeatedly. As I reached her bedside in a flash, and despite the doctor's warnings to take things easy, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her hard. Tight. Bone crushingly. The tears dropped faster than ever, and I cried. I sobbed. I turned into a blubbering mess, not caring about the doctor or nurses in the room. I just let the fucking grief out because it was about damn time. "Oh, God... Oh, Renee..." I mumbled, my voice breaking as I buried my face in her hair. "I... I thought you wouldn't make it. I thought I had lost you forever." My body shook violently as I spoke, but it didn’t stop my arms from tightening around her. I wanted to permanently hold her close. To never, ever let go of her."You didn't lose me." She whispered, her v
RENEE My dreams were a blur. I saw everything and nothing. I remembered everything and nothing. There was sunshine, and there was rain. There was light, and there was darkness. It was all so beautiful, but so terrifying. It was like time stopped, and I could do nothing about it. Everything felt surreal and I couldn't make sense of it. But then, suddenly… a feeling overtook me—a familiar feeling. The feeling of being alive. Of being whole. Of being complete. There was no more pain, blurry dreams, distorted visions, or anything else. There was only peace. And that peace woke me up. That peace made me move. That peace snapped me from my trance. Eyes fluttering open, the first thing I saw was a white ceiling. Then white walls and curtains. I blinked several times to orient myself to where I was, but the room appeared unfamiliar. It looked like… a hospital room. But why would I be there? I blinked slowly, trying to adjust my eyes to the sunlight streaming through
‘You’re my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you… please don’t take my sunshine away.’The sky really was grey, almost black in its intensity. It looked like a storm could burst out at any moment and unleash its wrath on anything within sight. But he didn't care. Robert. He just stood in the field of daisies, arms crossed, staring up at the gray sky as if it were the most wondrous thing in the world. And he was singing. Singing with that bassy, beautiful voice of his. The one Renee had fallen for. That made her heart skip a beat and sent butterflies fluttering through her stomach. ‘When the sky is dark, and the clouds are thick, I will keep you warm through the rain. And I will always be with you through the wind and snow. I love you. I love you. I love you.’He kept singing, his voice carrying through the air and reverberating throughout the field, causing even the smallest flowers to sway gently to his me
ROBERT“…bad news, Robert. You need to get here. Renee… She was drugged. Or poisoned. I…I'm not sure, but she fainted. She’s in a critical condition, and her life is hanging on by a thread…”Nicole's words swarmed and raced in my mind like angry gnats as I rushed past the hospital's reception, the busy ER nurses and medics, and through the bustling hospital corridors to the VIP room reserved exclusively for the Clarke household.I could hear my heart thumping steadily, but the agony was nothing compared to the million terrifying thoughts flying through my mind. Every thought brought me back to that single word. Drugged. Or was it…Poisoned?Renee had been poisoned. Fuck no!This couldn’t be real. What I’d heard on the phone earlier wasn’t true, neither was this situation. It was a prank. Maybe someone, Nicole or Renee herself, was pulling a cruel joke on me.Yes. That’s it. And by the heavens, my woman was okay. She was at the mansion, and the party was still in full swing. She wasn’t