RENEE"…We've reached our destination." Robert spoke up, mischief dancing in his eyes as he glanced at me.The Jeep accelerated slightly before coming to a halt in front of large, automated gates, opening of their own accord. As we were scanned by a state of the art security system, a narrow red light flashed over us, accompanied by a peculiar whirring sound from the back of the car. Then everything went quiet. The car crept forward, but slowly, until I could see what lay ahead of us, and my jaw dropped in surprise. "What is this place?" I muttered, my gaze riveted on the massive structure beyond the gate. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen.The architecture itself appeared to be formed of an alloyed metal and glistened, looking like something out of a sci-fi film. I took a look around. Men in full black uniforms flanked the entrance door of the enormous facility. Guns slung about their waists. Some wore earpieces and held walkie-talkies over their mouths. They all appeared serio
RENEEI awoke with a start, disoriented and unsure of my surroundings. The last thing I remembered was warm, masculine hands gently stroking my hair until I fell asleep. And then it all came rushing back—the surprise trip and the thrilling ride to Robert's cabin in Aspen, as I'd later discovered.Last night was a blur, but I remembered the incredible ride. I got to just be with Robert, and small talk with the love of my life. A cheesy grin spread across my face at the memory. When we arrived at the luxury cabin, he showed me around briefly—saving the rest for morning, before taking me straight to the bedroom, where I fell asleep immediately. With the sun shining brightly through the windows and into my eyes, I stretched out my limbs, groaning as my joints popped. I whispered Robert's name and looked at his side of the bed. It was empty, and I blinked, perplexed. Last night, I distinctly remembered Robert caressing my brow and kissing my forehead before lying beside me. He'd wrapped
ROBERT Renee's mouth gaped open as she stood, silently staring at me, astonished. Her dark eyes were filled with shock and dismay. It tore my heart apart. I resisted the urge to curse. Silence descended on the room like a frigid fog. It was dense with tension—the kind that’d be difficult to break from. This was not how I’d envisioned our evening. Not even close. Work had been stressful, but I still wanted to spend quality time with her when she returned from her day out. I was excited to make dinner plans, walk around the cabin while she told me about her day, and then have a calm, relaxed night watching vintage movies in the chalet's lounge. Not this!The uncomfortable silence dragged on for far too long as I waited for her to say something—anything. I chastised myself for even telling her about the blackmail. I shouldn’t have said a word. I should’ve lied or changed the subject. When she spoke, she broke me. “No more secrets, Robert. You promised, and you keep your promise. So d
RENEEIt had been four days since I arrived in Aspen—four blissful days since Robert had whisked me away on a private plane to the luxurious cabin he owned. A beautiful recap? So, the day after we arrived, he was mostly involved in work-related activities while I was out and about in the city. On the second, however, we spent meaningful time together. The next day, he took me to a car racing event, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Then, we had lunch at a prominent Italian restaurant. When we returned to the cabin, Robert took me on a long romantic walk over the cabin grounds before taking me to the bedroom, where he passionately made love to me for hours. And I loved every minute of it. I could still feel his body against mine, his firm, warm hands grabbing my hips as he pushed into my feminine warmth. The sensation of him between my thighs and being entirely consumed by him would always be etched into my brain. Being with Robert constantly altered my brain chemistry. It was nothing new.
ROBERT"The lady is with me." I firmly repeated, wrapping my arms around Renee's waist and drawing her close. I sized up the man before me, noting his thin frame, dark eyes, and brown hair trimmed short and spiked at one end. He was impeccably dressed, as was everyone else in the room, but something about him stood out. I suddenly became wary of him for no apparent reason. Perhaps it was the determined expression on his face and his straight stance. Or maybe it was how he held his head high, a cheeky grin on his face as he scrutinized me with undisguised attention. "And you are?" He asked, his attention drawn back to Renee as if anticipating an answer from her. He made no mistake concealing his feelings for her.I hated it. Hated the way he fucking looked at her, like a predator assessing its prey. It enraged me and made me want to strike him in the face and wipe that arrogant look off. But I restrained myself. I forced myself to remain calm, maintaining a neutral expression even as
Envy is the cowardly side of Hate, and all her ways are bleak and desolate. ~ Henry Abbey.~•~AMANDA I was listening to a crime podcast about a woman who committed suicide in her toilet with an acid bath. The only thing that kept her from dying on impact was a tiny piece of metal that had embedded itself into her skin, preventing the chemical from spreading — it sounded absurd that something as insignificant as a metallic piece could delay her death for a few seconds. But this was a crime story. That tidbit was probably fabricated to make the story more twisted and dramatic. The show was a popular one called Serial. I'd become accustomed to hearing the voices of detectives and crime fans debating unsolved murders. It was the type of show where one might listen to everything from common facts to conspiracy theories and deep evil secrets, ranging from drug overdoses to random acts of violence, such as serial killer cases and accidents. Each one appealed to my dark side and entertaine
RENEE The silk fabric covering my eyes was tight and uncomfortable, but the anticipation of where Robert was taking me made the discomfort bearable. The sensation kept me going, and my heart pounded as I followed him with a barely restrained thrill. He kept my body pressed against his, his arms possessively clutching my waist. Now and then, my lips would touch the back of his neck in a fleeting kiss — one that would have been more intimate if not for our current circumstances. Nevertheless, the aroma of piney forests and lush grasses confirmed my guess - we were on the cabin grounds.We'd left the art exhibit moments before, and in the limo, Robert pulled out a blindfold from his pocket and urged me to close my eyes. My brows furrowed in astonishment, and I'd wanted to object, but he didn't give me the chance. Instead, smiling, he’d kissed me sweetly on the forehead and said, “This is part of something special I've prepared for you tonight, baby girl. So obey me.” He finished. Bef
ROBERT "I'm glad you had a good time, Renee. It has been a joy to host you.""Thank you so much for everything. This was incredible." Renee responded in kind I watched her eyes flit over my shoulder when she finished her last sentence.Her shoulders stooped slightly, indicating she wasn't only talking about Mrs. Herbert's hospitality. She meant more with her comments, which were directed at me. I knew it, and as my gaze remained fixed on her and the frail older woman sweetly holding her, I c ouldn't stop the smile from dancing about my lips. Of course, she'd had a fantastic time here thanks to me, and my grin deepened just thinking about it. It hadn't been difficult persuading the staff to make this cabin extra special for our first romantic holiday, and Mrs. Herbert had been the ideal company for Renee whenever I was away. The previous several days had been nothing short of a frenzy of activity and absolute heaven with the love of my life. If I could turn back time, I would. I wi
ROBERTI 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 Amanda would ne
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
RENEEI’d heard “congratulations” a million times tonight, and my ears were still buzzing from it all.Most were from people I barely knew—Robert's acquaintances and business associates—and I was grateful that they at least seemed genuine about it.Their words were kind and, for the most part, calmed my ruffled nerves, but they weren't enough to dispel the lingering fear that’d settled over me like a cloak all evening. There was a nagging voice in my head. A small whisper kept telling me that something bad would happen tonight. That danger was lurking around, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Sometimes, I worried that my pregnancy hormones were to blame and whether it was affecting my mental health. But no, it couldn't be. The growing child inside me did not cause my feelings of paranoia and continual dread.Instead, it had everything to do with what this party stood for. I mean, I'd had this feeling ever since Dylan came into the suite to talk, and then Robert had this elabora