RENEE ‘THIS IS WHAT YOUR VILE, DESPICABLE BOYFRIEND DID! YOU ARE SHARING YOUR HEART WITH A COLD-BLOODED MURDERER WHO GETS HIGH ON THE PUTRID FUMES OF DEATH AND DECAY, AND IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE YOU’RE JUST ANOTHER BODY BURIED IN HIS YARD. HE IS A SOULLESS BASTARD WHO LEAVES A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION IN HIS WAKE. HE SHATTERS LIVES & DESTROYS THINGS. HE DESTROYED HIS FAMILY, AND YOU’RE NEXT ON THE LIST. OR DO YOU THINK YOU’RE SPECIAL? YOU’RE NOT. LOVING HIM WILL DRAG YOU INTO THE ABYSS. IT WILL SUCK YOU DRY. IT WILL LEAVE YOU SCARRED, BROKEN, AND EMPTY. SO, GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN. YOU SHOULD RUN BEFORE HE DESTROYS WHAT'S LEFT OF YOUR SANITY. RUN BEFORE HIS POISONOUS GRASP ENVELOPES YOU. RUN, RENEE MICHEAL. RUN. OR ELSE YOU WILL PAY IN THE MOST UNIMAGINABLE WAY.’As I said farewell to Nicole and watched her leave the suite with Harry, these words replayed in my mind like an endless echo. I couldn't stop it. I couldn't block or drive it out of my mind because it kept returning
ROBERT I buttoned my collar, straightened the lapel of my suit coat, and faked a grin as I glanced at myself in the mirror. But the image staring back at me was different. Despite wearing a dark blue fitted pinstripe suit and matching shirt, the man I saw was not the same as the joyous soul who’d been in Aspen days before. The same man who'd been fantasizing day and night about a beautiful future with the love of his life. No. This man resembled someone from another era, another world. His countenance was blank, a hint of worry in his eyes. But more than anything, the darkness surrounding him made me feel uneasy. It was so…dark. And cold. Like an empty cavern. I hated myself for putting him through all of this suffering. He shouldn't feel this way. I shouldn’t. But I couldn't help it. The last week had altered me in ways I hadn’t thought possible. The murder case was taking its toll on me. It felt like a massive weight on my shoulders, threatening to drag me down and crush me from
RENEE“Mister Dylan is here to see you, ma'am.”When Harry announced Dylan’s arrival, I wasn't sure who was more surprised—myself or Nicole, who had arrived only a moment before.We almost didn't believe him; I tried to call his bluff for a second. But then, he repeated it, emphasizing that the “Dylan” in question was Dylan Clarke—his boss's son, my ex-boyfriend, the man who had ruined my life many times over.And now he was here. To see me.He stood awkwardly in the living room, his hands buried in the pockets of an oversized grey hoodie. His dark hair was chopped short and brushed out but still unkempt.He wore his customary faded jeans, tattered around the knees, and sneakers without laces. Rough stubble lined his jaw, and shadows were under his eyes.He looked exhausted, but not from lack of sleep. No. Something clearly pulled on his conscience.I could see the tiredness in his body language, in the way his shoulders slumped forward slightly as if he were carrying a great weight.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. ~ William Congreve.AMANDA Arms crossed, I listened to Robert’s press announcement with a smirk playing on my lips.My gaze never wavered from his image on the screen. His face was expressionless as he spoke about the investigation and how his team had apprehended the person responsible for framing him. Then he talked about throwing a party to celebrate his victory. The speech was monotonous and by far the most blatant but idiotic attempt to set a trap I'd ever seen. For someone so clever, it was always so easy to one-up him.I knew he was after me earlier today when I learned he’d obtained the club footage. Then, a hotel employee informed me of a search warrant issued in my name. At the same time, I’d thought briefly of my son, Dylan.Was he worthy of being called my son if he ratted me out to his father? Because that was the only explanation for what was happening. The bastard.Despite my threats, he decided to rebel against me. I'd deal w
ROBERT“You look so beautiful.”The words tumbled out of my mouth unbidden when I walked into Renee’s dressing room and took in her appearance for tonight's party.I’d just finished the security briefing for tonight's event with Cade's team and mine. I had a few minutes to kill before the party began, and what better way to spend them than with my woman?“So, so beautiful,” I mumbled again, my eyes taking in the gorgeous sight. She stood in front of the full-length mirror, wearing a low-cut black gown that hugged her curves and made her look like a goddess.A beautiful sterling silver necklace glistened around her neck, and the matching earrings added to the grandeur of her attire. Her hair was fashioned in a sleek updo and pinned up with a delicate ivory hair comb that complemented her jewelry. At the same time, the makeup artist behind her worked to polish her already gorgeous face.“Thank you for the compliment, Robert.” She smiled sheepishly. “I'm glad you approve.”I didn't utte
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
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
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
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