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Carrying The Burden Alone
Last Updated:
2024-12-15 20:33:36
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He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back Mystery Key
Imogene Scott I sit in the living room, wringing my hands together as I stare at the clock. The agency said they’d send the fourth candidate soon, but if she’s anything like the last three, I’m not sure I’ll survive the day. The first woman looked like she’d send me into an early grave with how tightly wound she was, and the second… I don’t even want to think about her. I could practically see her zoning out halfway through our conversation. The third one made me tilt my head in disbelief—a heavy coat, in this heat? On a blazing sunny day? What was she hiding under there? I shake my head, exasperated. A long sigh slips from my lips, and I sink further into the couch, staring at the sun-drenched curtains. Why is this so hard? I just want someone competent. Someone who can help me manage this house without driving me insane. The sharp ring of the doorbell jolts me upright. I spring to my feet, brushing invisible creases from my dress. Fourth time’s the charm, right? I don’t
Last Updated : 2024-12-17He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back New Lead
Imogene Scott The man at the counter is already turning away, dismissing me, when he suddenly stops. "Wait a second," he says, scratching his chin. "There was this guy—Terry. Used to work here a few years back. He’d forge our company’s mark and make his own stuff to sell on the side. Got caught eventually, but we didn’t press charges. Just fired him." I freeze mid-step. "You didn’t sue him?" He shakes his head. "Nope. Boss said it wasn’t worth the trouble. But Terry packed up and left after that. Haven’t heard from him since." Something about this doesn’t sit right. "How long ago was this?" "Two years, give or take," he replies. I do the math in my head. Two years ago, my father was alive and very much involved in his business dealings. Could this Terry have something to do with the key? The timeline feels too coincidental. "Do you know where I can find him?" I press. The man shrugs. "We’ve got his old address in our records. No idea if he still lives there, though."
Last Updated : 2025-01-03He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back Happy
Damien Shaw I stretch in my chair, feeling the stiffness in my shoulders pull and then release. The clock on the wall reads 9:07 p.m. Another late night. Another day closer to the conference, and still no answers. I rub a hand down my face, willing the tension in my temples to ease. It doesn’t. My desk is a mess of reports, files, and sticky notes.Just as I reach for my bag, the office door swings open. Gerald steps in, looking as worn as I feel. “I’ve gone through background checks on half of the employees,” he starts without preamble, clutching a tablet to his chest. “Still nothing. But I’m digging deeper. I’ll—” “Not good enough,” I cut him off.Gerald falters. “I’m trying my best, sir.” “Try harder,” I snap, shoving my laptop into my bag. “We’re running out of time. If we don’t find out who helped the traitor before the conference, I’ll be walking into that room with a target on my back.” He lowers his head slightly. “I understand.” “Do you?” I retort, slinging my
Last Updated : 2025-01-03He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back Stuck
Imogene ScottThe following day, I drop Lily off at school first. I watch as she skips toward the school building. She turns at the door, grinning from ear to ear, and waves at me. I wave back. “Bye, Mommy!” she calls.“Bye, sweetheart! Have fun!” I call back, forcing a smile. She disappears into the building, and as soon as she’s out of sight, my smile falters. My stomach twists. I shouldn’t be doing this today—not with Mother-Daughter Day this afternoon. But I can’t ignore this lead either. Sliding into the car, I take a deep breath and grip the steering wheel. “It’s for the best,” I murmur to myself. I glance at the clock on the dashboard. It’s 8:15 a.m. If I time it perfectly, I’ll be back before 4 p.m. Plenty of time. The drive out of town is uneventful at first. My mind keeps drifting. What am I even expecting to find? Proof? Closure? Answers? All I know is that I need to figure out what Terry’s connection to my father really was—and why the key matters so much. An hou
Last Updated : 2025-01-04He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back Disappointed
Damien Shaw I stretch in my seat, leaning back to ease the tension in my shoulders. It’s almost five, and I’m thinking about getting out early for once. Mother-Daughter Day at Lily’s school is happening, and even though fathers aren’t invited, I still wish I were there. But that’s not my reality. I have work, responsibilities. Gerald was supposed to deliver a report today—background checks on all employees—but he’s been dragging his feet. My eyes flick to the clock again. If Gerald shows up soon, I can still make dinner plans with my girls. There’s a knock at the door. I straighten, expecting Gerald, but it’s Kia. She steps in.“Mr Shaw, can I have a moment?” I nod, gesturing for her to sit. “What is it?” “It’s about Gerald,” she says, crossing her legs and folding her hands in her lap. “What about him?” She hesitates. “I think he’s... off. Something about him doesn’t sit right with me. Maybe you should be cautious.” I lean forward, narrowing my eyes. “Why do you s
Last Updated : 2025-01-05He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back Help
Imogene Scott The gravel crunches beneath my heels as I shift my weight from one foot to the other. The heat of the day is fading, but it’s still sticky, and the air feels heavy against my skin. I’m standing by the side of the road, staring down the empty highway, wishing for a miracle. It’s almost 7 p.m., and I’ve been here for four hours. No cars. No buses. Just me and this crooked bench at the abandoned bus stop, looking like it’s ready to collapse. I push a strand of damp hair out of my face and glance at my phone again. Still no service. Damien must be losing his mind right now. He’s probably called the police, maybe even organized a search party. The thought sends a fresh wave of guilt down my spine. And Lily… God, Lily. My throat tightens at the memory of her excited face this morning, babbling about her school event. I missed it. I missed her moment. What kind of mother am I? I take a deep breath and sink onto the bench, resting my head in my hands. The wooden slats di
Last Updated : 2025-01-06He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back Home
Imogene Scott The rest of the ride is quiet. When we finally reach the city, I direct him to the house. He stops at the curb, and I thank him profusely, but he waves me off. “Take care of yourself,” he says before driving away. The house is dark when I step inside, eerily quiet. My shoes echo against the floor as I walk into the living room. Damien is pacing, his hair disheveled, his jaw tight. When he sees me, his eyes widen, and he strides toward me. “Where the hell were you, Imogene?” “I’m so sorry,” I start, but he cuts me off. “Sorry? Do you know how worried I’ve been? I thought something happened to you!” “I got stranded,” I explain. “My car broke down. I couldn’t call—there was no service.” “And you didn’t think to tell me where you were going?” His voice is sharp, his anger barely contained. “I didn’t think it would take this long,” He runs his hands through his hair. “Lily was so sad today.”Oh no, my baby.I walk up the stairs, Lily must be asleep by now, a
Last Updated : 2025-01-06He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back Frustrated
Note: the last two chapters have been edited. Read them before proceeding.Imogene ScottI wake up to the sound of water running in the bathroom. The spot next to me in bed is cold, Damien already gone. The faint hum of the shower fills the room, but it does little to distract me from the heavy knot of guilt in my chest. Last night’s events play on a loop in my head—Damien’s disappointment, Lily’s tears, Sheila stepping in where I failed. I sit up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and glance at the clock on the nightstand. It’s just after 6 a.m. Damien’s workday will start soon, and I don’t even know how to approach him after what happened. But more than that, I don’t know how to face Lily. I take a deep breath and swing my legs over the side of the bed. The floor is cool against my bare feet as I walk to the closet. Pulling open the door, I automatically grab one of Damien’s pressed shirts and a tie, laying them neatly on the bench by the foot of the bed. The shower contin
Last Updated : 2025-01-11
Latest chapter
He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back Can’t Do This Alone
Imogene Scott It was hard to focus on the dull ache in my lower abdomen, because I’m in a constant reminder of how close I’d come to losing everything. Abortion pills. The words echo in my mind. How? Why? I didn’t take anything like that. I wouldn’t.“Your gynecologist recommended drugs to you?” I nod, confused and uncertain at the same time. Yes, Dr. Pepp had prescribed something, and I’d taken them without hesitation, trusting they were for the twins' health. I can still see the disbelief in Damien’s eyes, the storm building behind them before he stormed out of the hospital room. Now I’m alone, left to piece together the scattered fragments of what had happened.I sit up slightly in the hospital bed, staring blankly at the door Damien just stormed out of. The words still echo in my head. It doesn’t make sense. I only took what Dr. Pepp prescribed. My hands tremble as I press them to my belly, trying to anchor myself to the reality that my babies are still safe. I can’t sto
He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back Emergency
Damien ShawThe office feels suffocating tonight. It’s past 9 p.m., and I’ve been waiting all day for feedback about Gerald’s latest screw-up. Patience isn’t my strong suit, and right now, it’s wearing thin. I glance at my phone for what feels like the hundredth time. No messages. No missed calls. Not from Imogene. That’s what surprises me the most. She always checks in, even if it’s just a quick text. Maybe she’s just tired. The drive home is quiet. When I pull into the driveway, the house looks the same as it always does. I step out of the car and into the cool night air. Inside, the aroma of something faintly sweet greets me. Sheila’s in the kitchen, wiping down the counter. She looks up and smiles when she sees me. “Evening, Mr. Shaw,” she says cheerfully. “Long day?” “Yeah.” I drop my briefcase by the door and loosen my tie. “Where’s Imogene?” “She’s been asleep since this afternoon,” Sheila says. “I didn’t want to disturb her. She looked so tired.” I frown. “That’
He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back Checkup
Imogene Scott The air inside the car feels suffocating as I grip the steering wheel, my knuckles white against the leather. The phone call is still replaying in my head including my conversation with Lila. It wasn’t her that made the threatening call. I’m sure of it now. But if it wasn’t her, then who was it? I force myself to focus on the road ahead. My fingers tighten around the wheel as I take the familiar turn toward the hospital. The parking lot is half-empty. I pull into a spot near the entrance and kill the engine. For a moment, I sit there, staring at the hospital entrance. Six months. I rest a hand on my stomach to feel the faint stir of life within me. “We’re okay,” I whisper softly, but the weight in my chest doesn’t lift. I climb out of the car, the cool breeze biting against my skin as I cross the lot. The hospital doors slide open with a faint hiss, and I step into the sterile, overly bright lobby. When I reach Dr. Pepp’s office, she’s waiting for me. H
He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back Betrayal
Damien Shaw I walk into the office that morning, lost in thought. I can still feel Imogene’s body next to mine from last night. I wanted to ask her about Ville Road, but I don’t know how to do it without sounding accusatory. Without making her feel like I’m questioning her. Hell, I’ve never been good at that—asking the hard questions, digging into the things I want to know but don’t always want the answers to. I close my eyes briefly as I move down the hall. What the hell was she doing there? I tell myself I trust her. I do. I reach my office, push the door open, and step inside. The moment I do, I stop dead in my tracks. Kia’s pacing in front of my desk, her heels clicking against the floor. Her brows are furrowed, and she doesn’t even notice me until I clear my throat. “Mr Shaw,” she says, stopping. “Gerald dropped by earlier this morning.” I feel relief at the mention of Gerald’s name. “Gerald?” I repeat, still standing in the doorway. “I told you he was only caught u
He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back Threats
Imogene Scott I sit frozen on the edge of the bed, staring at my phone screen, the words "Unknown Caller" still burned into my mind. The robotic voice from the call plays over and over again. “Whatever you think you’re doing, stop it now. Things might get ugly.”A chill runs through me, and I rub my arms, trying to shake it off. My mind races. Who was it? How do they know what I’m doing? And why now? The door creaks open, snapping me out of my thoughts. My heart jumps in my chest, and I instinctively clutch my phone tighter. But it’s Damien. Relief floods me, but only for a moment. His face is drawn. Something about him feels off. “Hey,” I say softly, rising from the bed. I move toward him and wrap my arms around him. He hugs me back, but it’s not the same. His body feels stiff, like he’s holding something back. I pull back and study his face. “Are you okay?” I ask. “Just work stress,” he mutters, brushing past me. Work stress? I know Damien better than that. He’s hid
He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back What Is Happening?
Imogene Scott The city stretches out in front of me as I drive. My fingers drum lightly against the steering wheel. How am I supposed to find out what this key unlocks? From what I’ve seen, Lila will continue to be tight-lipped. But at least I know how important the key is amd whatever “this is bigger than you.” threat she spilled isn’t going to scare me. I grip the wheel tighter. The dashboard clock flashes 2:45 PM, and I realize it’s almost time to pick up Lily. I push my thoughts aside, turning the car toward her school. When I pull up, I see Lily. She’s standing by the gate, clutching her little pink bag. Her mouth set in a pout. Normally, she runs to me the moment she sees the car. But today? Today, she walks. Slow. When she reaches the car, she opens the back door herself and climbs in, offering me only a quiet, "Hi, Mum," before clicking her seatbelt into place. When did my baby girl become such a grown up?"Hi, sweetheart," I say softly, turning in my seat to look at
He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back Secrets
Damien Shaw I pull into the parking lot of Shaw Tech. I’m a little stressed from all the drama this morning. Between Lily's tantrums of her avoiding Imogene and Imogene’s sudden emotional distance. I can’t seem to focus. It feels like I’ve been juggling too many balls, and any minute now, one of them is bound to drop. I grab my briefcase from the passenger seat and step out, adjusting my tie as I walk toward the building. The elevator ride up is quick, and when the doors open to my office floor, Kia is already waiting by my door. Her crisp blouse and tightly pulled-back hair are as perfect as always."Good morning, Kia," I say as I step into my office. "Morning, sir," she replies, following me in. "We’ve got a problem." I drop my briefcase onto the desk and loosen my tie slightly. "Don’t tell me. Let me guess—Gerald still isn’t here." "You guessed right," she says. "Three days now without any notice. And sir, I don’t think it’s just a personal issue." I pause mid-reach
He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back Mystery Key
Imogene Scott As soon as Damien and Lily leave the house that morning, I take a moment to gather my thoughts together. From what I discovered yesterday, Terry and Lila used to be together but Lila left him to get married to my father. My question now is why Lila would date someone who had nothing, someone like Terry. Could it be because she needed access to something? The key he made for dad? I mean Terry made the key which is something seemingly important so that’s the only explanation.I shove the thought aside as I rush into the bathroom. The water in the shower is scalding, and I let it sting my skin as I hurriedly scrub myself clean. I need to see Lila again.After a quick change into dark jeans and a simple blouse, I head downstairs and I spot Sheila walking in through the front door. She’s carrying a small tote.“Good morning, Imogene,” she greets me.Her smile is bright and unnervingly warm. Something about Sheila stirs an uneasy feeling in me, though I can’t place it.
He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back Frustrated
Note: the last two chapters have been edited. Read them before proceeding.Imogene ScottI wake up to the sound of water running in the bathroom. The spot next to me in bed is cold, Damien already gone. The faint hum of the shower fills the room, but it does little to distract me from the heavy knot of guilt in my chest. Last night’s events play on a loop in my head—Damien’s disappointment, Lily’s tears, Sheila stepping in where I failed. I sit up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and glance at the clock on the nightstand. It’s just after 6 a.m. Damien’s workday will start soon, and I don’t even know how to approach him after what happened. But more than that, I don’t know how to face Lily. I take a deep breath and swing my legs over the side of the bed. The floor is cool against my bare feet as I walk to the closet. Pulling open the door, I automatically grab one of Damien’s pressed shirts and a tie, laying them neatly on the bench by the foot of the bed. The shower contin
