ROBERT *A FEW MINUTES EARLIER*"Please give me a minute, Mr. and Mrs. Charles. I need to check on someone." I spoke to the elderly couple before me, and my gaze was drawn to the Rolex on my wrist. "Certainly, Mr. Clarke. We'll be patient. The party is still going on, and we're not going anywhere." Mr. Charles smiled at me, then returned his attention to his wife and whispered in her ear. They moved toward the crowded dance floor, where several elites and socialites had gathered, sipping their cocktails and mingling. With a sigh, I glanced at my wristwatch for the umpteenth time and then back at the hall's entrance door, where Renee had vanished. Not just a few seconds ago, but nearly a half-hour, and I was becoming increasingly concerned about her whereabouts with each tick of my watch. She should’ve returned by now. It was unusual for her to spend so much time in the restroom, and as time passed, worry ate at my stomach like acid. Renee was never late. She was always on time a
RENEE “What a beautiful elite family reunion. Isn’t this lovely?” As she spoke, her words dripped with phoniness and venom. My heartbeat quickened as I watched her saunter casually toward where Robert and I were standing, whistling and clapping her hands maniacally, keeping the attention on her. My stomach churned with shock and anger, but I couldn't talk or move a muscle. I was stuck, frozen to the spot in Robert's arms, afraid to blink lest she noticed my fear. But I did blink. My tear-stained lashes fluttered as I looked at Robert, our gazes briefly meeting before he turned away. His grip on my shoulders tightened painfully. That expression on his face. He looked like someone forced to endure a painful and awkward situation—like a student caught doing something wrong and desperately wanting to flee. His lips were drawn into a thin line that showed no emotion. His eyes were lifeless, and his face had turned deathly pale. Terrified. He was terrified, I realized, and by God, ho
ROBERT Regret! That word lingered in my mind, biting at me until I was too sick and tired to think of anything else. It was eroding the edges of my sanity, making it difficult for me to breathe properly or think clearly. I felt a deep sadness as I watched Renee's silhouette fade into the darkness. That's when I realized how much of a jerk I'd been. She had vanished. My woman was gone, and the worst part was that I couldn't chase after her like I used to. Instead, I’d told one of the nearby security guards to follow her and ensure she got home safely. I would keep an eye out for her. After a while, perhaps days, I'd get through to her and... 'And then what?' My mind screamed at me. Despite my best efforts at being strong, tears prickled behind my eyelids. Back in the hall, I’d seen the pain swimming in her eyes and the look of utter disbelief, fear, and disgust as she saw me for who I truly was.She had every right to flee—to turn around and run away from me as fast as she coul
Forewarned, forearmed— to be prepared is half the victory. ~Miguel de Cervantes.~•~AMANDA Victory! This one word rang out in my head like a triumphant yell. I let the adrenaline wash over me like an orgasmic wave as I stared out the car window, watching the buildings flash by. The cool breeze whipped through my hair, and I could almost taste freedom in the air, but there was also something bittersweet about it, an intangible longing that made my heart ache. That sense of power—of finally accomplishing what I’d been planning for days, if not months—was gone, replaced by an unsettling sense of regret and... ‘Regret? 'What in the world was I thinking?' I pondered sharply, shaking my head slightly and smiling broadly. I closed my eyes briefly as I let the sense of victory wash over me again, replaying the previous hours’ events in my mind. Robert and Renee. The paparazzi and commotion I initiated. The press, the cameras, and the gossip. Damn! I’d done well. And to think I was o
RENEE Monday came too fast, as usual. Watery eyes fluttering open, I looked at the clock by my bedside with a frown as the numbers blurred together. It was seven in the morning. I should be getting ready for my morning shift at work. I told myself this but couldn't drag myself out of bed. I felt trapped, strewn atop the soft mattress, with swollen eyes and aching bones. It wasn't just the lack of sleep—my nights had been spent crying my eyes out—or the fatigue. No. It was much more. The fortified walls built within me were no longer there. The barriers between me and the emotions that flooded my heart were long gone. And now, since the night of the masked ball, the floodgates of guilt, anger, shame, and repulsion. These emotions spilled forth when I thought of him. Whenever I saw his name light up my phone screen as he barraged me with never-ending streams of messages. Or heard, “Please call me!” coming from my voicemail after I refused to pick up.Gosh! How could I have been
ROBERT "No fucking way!" I exclaimed loudly. "This has to be the dumbest joke in history! This cannot be true. Tell me this is a lie. Just some ploy by the media to sell a story, right? I mean, who made this up?" I spat, returning my gaze to my secretary, and flinging the magazine on the floor. "We can't say, Mr. Clarke, but we know the media will do anything for money. Aside from that, the allegations look too good to be true, and they have photos to back it up." Mr. Patrick, my lawyer, chimed in, his face concerned as he looked at me from his chair across the office desk. God, this was worse than I'd imagined. I closed my eyes and sighed deeply, thinking about the headline I'd just read. 'SCANDAL OF THE YEAR OR NOT? POPULAR BILLIONAIRE, ROBERT CLARKE, CAUGHT IN A ROMANTIC RUSE WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND & SON.' The article described and fabricated theories about Dylan being Renee's ex. They even had photos to prove it. My mind replayed the article's content as the words flashed before
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 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
O, how the mighty fall! With ruin upon ruin, heap’d, and vengeance answer’d upon vengeance. ~ John Milton, Paradise Lost.~•~AMANDA“I didn't pay you thousands to stop at every fucking checkpoint, Mister.” I seethed, gritting my teeth in anger, as the driver pulled to a stop at another police roadblock, this one much busier than the other two we passed.“I have to fucking stop, missus.” He looked over his shoulder at me, scowling. “Either this or my cab is confiscated, and I'm fined. I damn well can't afford that, even with the scraps you're paying. So do me a favor, stop being a whiny bitch, and shut up.”My mouth flew open in surprise, and for a few seconds, all I could see were spots, my cheeks flaming with rage. What the fuck?Did this good-for-nothing asshole just call me a whiny bitch? And did he call the 2,000 extra dollars scraps? Scraps? The fuck!I almost laughed at the irony of my situation. Almost.Take deep breaths, Amanda. Deep… deep… deep fucking breaths, I told myself