At this point, Damien is basically the avatar. Always vanishing when he's needed the most. hopefully, they'll get through this. Or not.
Damien Shaw I stand in front of the mirror, straightening my tie for what feels like the hundredth time. The hotel room is quiet and my reflection stares back at me. I tug at my collar, it feels like it's strangling me. I don't want to go to this charity auction, but I have no choice. There’s no avoiding it tonight.I haven’t been to the office in days. I’ve kept everyone at a distance, even Breonna. She’s been checking on me through my assistant, but I can’t face her. My head is still a mess. The thought of seeing her disapproving look or hearing her well-meaning advice. I miss Imogene. I miss Lily. But I can’t go back home yet. Not until I sort through the mess in my head, until I can understand why I feel so damn angry all the time. It’s safer to stay away for now. For them, and for me.I take one last look in the mirror. Black tuxedo, perfectly pressed. I look the part of a man in control, but it’s all a lie. I feel anything but in control.The cool night air hits my
Imogene ScottEarlier that night…“You seem to be doing better today,” Breonna says, leaning back on the couch.We’re both sitting in the living room. I’m here but my mind isn’t. I haven’t slept well in days. And now, the baby. I don’t know what to do about the baby. I’m not ready to tell Breonna about it either.“I’m fine,” I reply too quickly. “Let’s not talk about me. Tell me about your life for a change. How’s everything going?”Breonna gives me a small smile. “Actually… I think I’ve found my passion.”“Really? How?”“The other day, Emmett took me to this book reading event. It was for an indie author he knows, and I…I think I like the art of it. I might be interested in writing and publishing.”I nod slowly. “That’s amazing, Breonna. But Emmett helped you discover it?”“I know, right? I’m equally shocked.”“So…is there something going on between you two?” Her smile fades a little, and she shifts in her seat. “Well, we’re in a relationship.”Wait, what?My eyes widen in surpri
Damien Shaw I lie in bed for the second straight day, staring at the ceiling of this hotel room. I haven’t shaved. I haven’t eaten properly. I’m a coward, no doubt about it. But it’s not just cowardice. I’m hurt. Angry. My ego is bruised. And yet, that nagging voice in my head keeps whispering, What did you expect, Damien?I don’t know how to move forward. I’ve distanced myself from everything, from everyone. Imogene’s words replay in my mind like a broken record. I was so focused on what she did wrong that I couldn’t see the bigger picture, how I’m the one who’s been running from everything. Running from her. From us. From myself.My phone buzzes, cutting through the silence. I glance at it. It’s a text from Howard. [I’m at our favorite bar. Can we get a drink?]Howard… it’s been a while since we caught up. We’ve known each other since forever, way back when we were just two kids in a neighborhood full of empty promises. Now he’s a CEO of a major conglomerate, and I’m hi
Imogene ScottBreonna comes up with oddly last minutes ideas and she was the one that brought the idea of going on a last minute trip together. Not exactly a trip, but she’s meeting with this Hong-Kong editor for a job interview and she’s refusing to disclose details about, so she urged me to go with her too. To clear my head.I told her you can’t just take a trip all the way to Hong-Kong to clear your head. But when she told me the company would be paying for our tickets, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Plus, I really need to clear my head. Decide on a plan B if Damien really doesn’t come back.Two lives her depending on me now.The plane touches down with a slight jolt, and I open my eyes to the sight of Hong Kong’s vast skyline. I glance over at Lily, who’s still sleeping peacefully in my arms. Breonna nudges me as the seatbelt sign goes off."We're here!" she says.Her voice is carrying that electric excitement she always gets when something big is happening. She unbuck
Imogene Scott I glance at her. “Does this mean you’d move here? To Hong Kong?”Breonna gives me a long look. I’m not really sure what she’s contemplating. Maybe about to tell me I might go back to not having anyone around again.She waves off the question. “Not necessarily. They’ve got branches in other places too. But come on, I’m not expecting to get the job. I’m just taking a leap of faith.”I swallow hard. The taxi arrives and we pile inside. I settle in next to Breonna, Lily still dozing in my arms. Just as I start to relax, Breonna reaches over, grabbing my phone out of my lap and switching it off. I blink.“Hey, why’d you do that?” I ask.She shrugs nonchalantly. “Because. If Damien calls, you’ll answer, and we both know you shouldn’t.”I open my mouth to protest, but she cuts me off. “Look, if he reaches out, it means he’s finally realized he messed up. But that doesn’t mean you should make it easy for him. He needs to go crazy wondering where you are, wondering if he’
Imogene Scott “So... when were you planning on telling me?” Breonna asks slowly.I blink, trying to stall for a moment, but there’s no hiding it from Breonna. She can see through me. She always could.“A few days ago,” I say softly.Breonna’s eyes widen. “A few days? Imogene, why didn’t you tell anyone?” I can feel her gaze burning into me, waiting for an explanation. I want to explain, but I just don’t know how to. I was all in my head, things spiraled quickly and I just…“I didn’t want to pressure anybody. I didn’t even know how to process it myself.” the words come out slowly even though I’m not even sure they make sense. I feel so confused.“That’s not fair.” “I know,” I mutter, turning to face her. “I’m sorry.” Breonna crosses her arms, studying me closely. “Does Damien know?”I shake my head. “No, he doesn’t.” The idea of telling him makes my stomach churn. What would he even say? Would he care, or would it just complicate everything all over again?Breonna lets out a
Imogene Scott My heart tightens at the sight.“I wonder who Cinderella is, getting married to her Prince Charming over there,” I say wistfully.Breonna glances at the lights, then back at me. “The wedding’s probably tomorrow. I’ve always wanted to attend a beach wedding.”I laugh softly. “I’ve always wanted to have a beach wedding.”“Wishes do come true, you know.”“As if,” I murmur, turning away from the dreamlike scene and back toward reality. As we head back to the room, Breonna grows quiet again, her brow furrowed like she’s deep in thought. I can’t ignore it anymore. “What’s on your mind, Bre?” I ask.She hesitates, chewing on her bottom lip before finally speaking. “I haven’t been able to reach Emmett for a few days now.”I stop. “Really? That’s odd.” Breonna nods. “I’ve tried calling and texting, but nothing. It’s not like him.”“Can I see my phone?” I ask, holding out my hand. “Maybe I can try to reach him.”She hesitates for a moment before she finally hands my phone o
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
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’
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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