Damien Shaw“Just tell me.” I say, my voice ragged.“It’s…Keith. Keith Jordan.”I cock my head. “Keith?”Fiona nods, her voice trembling. “He... He planned all of this. He needed Imogene to believe you had a son with me. He knew she wouldn’t marry him unless she had a reason to move on from you.”I take a step back, my mind reeling. Keith planned this? Keith? The man who just proposed to Imogene, the man she thinks she’s in love with, orchestrated this whole lie? So he could trap her into saying yes?“How low can he stoop?” I mutter, barely able to process it.Fiona doesn’t say anything, just stands there, wringing her hands. It is my fault for ever thinking highly of him. How could he? I take a deep breath, my hands curling into fists at my sides. Imogene thinks I betrayed her. She thinks I have a family with another woman because of Keith’s lies. But now... now I know the truth.And Keith is going to pay.I storm out of Fiona’s office, the anger boiling in my veins. My hands ball
Imogene Scott“I seriously cannot believe you got engaged, Imogene.” Elinor says, walking out of my kitchen with a big bowl of ice cream.She usually doesn’t binge eat unless she’s stressed. She won’t tell me what’s wrong, or where she was all night, or why she had Breonna come lever to babysit Lily instead of her.“Well, surprise.” I say.I’m sitting in the living room, legs curled beneath me, flipping mindlessly through a magazine. Elinor takes a seat across me, then places her leg on the ottoman and starts munching on her ice cream.“I’m happy for you. Keith is a really nice guy. But I’m more interested in why you agreed to the proposal. Marriage is a huge step. Does Damien know yet?”My mind crosses with an image of the way Damien had looked at me in the garden—like I’d ripped his heart out. What am I doing? I glance at the diamond ring. I don’t even love Keith. But... hurting Damien? A part of me hates myself for it, but another part, a deeper, angrier part, thinks he deserves it
Imogene ScottDamien stands up first, his eyes locking with mine. There’s a storm in them—anger, hurt, regret, and something else. Something raw that makes my throat tighten.Keith tries to stand, but he winces, clearly in pain. “Imogene,” he says, his voice soft, like he’s expecting me to run to him. But I don’t. I can’t.The officer clears her throat. “Miss Scott, you’re free to post bail for either or both of them. Though, I suggest you talk to them first.”Talk? To them? I don’t even know what to say.I step toward Damien first. My heart tugs in his direction before my brain can stop it. He’s leaning against the wall, looking down at the floor. His knuckles are bruised, and his jaw is tight, but his eyes... they’re softer now, searching mine as I stand in front of him.“What the hell happened?” I ask, my voice barely more than a whisper. Damien lets out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. “Keith. He lied, Imogene. About everything.” His voice is rough, and there’s
Imogene ScottThe words hang in the air. I see the flicker of defeat in his eyes, and for a moment, he looks like a stranger to me. Keith opens his mouth, as if to argue, but no words come out. His shoulders slump, and he turns away. I don’t feel triumph in this moment. Just a deep, aching sadness. How did everything get so messed up?I step away, needing air. I can’t be in the same room with him any longer. The officer, sensing the tension, steps in. "Miss Scott, if you’re done here, you can handle the bail paperwork for Mr. Shaw. We can proceed with Mr. Jordan’s after that."I nod, numb, and turn to Damien. He hasn’t moved, still standing there, watching me with an intensity that makes my heart stutter. He has a small cut on his cheek, but he doesn’t seem to care. His eyes are locked on mine, waiting for some kind of sign.I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”He follows me silently. As we walk toward the front of the station, the dim ligh
Thank you for making it this far with "He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back." So Far, what do you think about the pace of the book? Is it too fast or too slow? Do you think the problems are being solved too fast or they should drag on much longer? Feel free to leave a comment on what you think. XoXo- Author Siwa Rose.
Imogene Scott Two weeks later… It’s no surprise that the whole incident didn’t affect the Tech Con Project. Except Keith now works his part alone. He sends his assistant to important meetings too. What’s with men and having their poor assistant face the humiliation for them?I haven’t seen Keith since that night at the police station. We don’t even run into each other even though we stay in the same building. I’m not sure how long he’s going to avoid a confrontation. He should at least own up to his mistakes and apologize like a man.I guess I should really level up regarding my taste in men.But I can’t let that bother me right now because I need to get ready for a wedding. Not mine obviously, but my Dad is getting remarried. Funny, right? His third marriage. I’m surprised he suddenly found the love of his life two months after finally regaining everything he lost.But I’m happy for him, at least Sasha and Fiona, my step mom and step sister, are out of the picture now and Da
Damien Shaw Imogene is standing by the altar, resplendent in a pale orange dress that makes her glow despite the dark skies. Wisps of hair frames her face, and a delicate glint of gold gleams around her neck.If I were a bride, I would never let her in my wedding party because she outshines everyone around her. Every time, a million times over.Orange instead of white. Bridesmaid instead of bride.It isn’t our wedding, but seeing her up there, looking so damn beautiful I can’t believe she’s real...it’s an excruciating reminder of what I’d had.And what I’d lost.But at least now there’s hope. Keith is out of the picture and Imogene is letting me have visits with Lily too. I’m finally getting to occasionally see my daughter and I’m finally unlocking the cage in Imogene’s heart. She knows it. She just isn’t ready to admit it. The rest of the ceremony passes in a blur. It isn’t until the other guests stand and file into the reception hall that I realize the actual wedding is over
Imogene Scott“You what?” Elinor’s face scrunches in disapproval. “Why would you agree to go on a date with your ex-husband?”“It’s not as bad as it sounds. I told him one date and that it doesn’t mean we’re dating, which means we can see other people.” I say, grabbing my robe out of the closet.Elinor and I are staying in the same hotel room and the wedding ended an hour ago. Dad and Lila will be staying in Brooklyn for a few more days and Elinor also agreed we stay for the weekend. Except she might change her mind now that she knows Damien and I are going on a date tomorrow night.“Are you actually seeing other people?”“Not yet,” I admit, putting on my robe. “But I will once I’m back in LA.”I doubt that. I still haven’t moved on from Keith’s betrayal. “You’re going on a date with someone you divorced three years ago,” Elinor says gently. “I’m just worried you’re...backsliding,” “No.” My response contains the ring of a half- truth. “I know Damien. He won’t give up until he get
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
Damien Shaw "I don’t even know who to trust anymore." The words are frustrating as they leave my mouth. I press my hands flat against the edge of my desk, gripping it harder. Gerald stands across from me, his expression carefully neutral, but I can see the tension in his jaw. “Weaknesses in our security?” I continue. “And now we’re sure someone on the inside helped with the leak?”Gerald nods. “Yes. The evidence points to internal involvement. Possibly more than one person.” The idea sinks into my chest like a stone. More than one person. It’s almost unthinkable. My team, the people I’ve trusted, built this company with—could they really be working against me? My throat tightens at the thought. “We need a full background check on every employee,” I say. “No exceptions. I don’t care how long they’ve been with the company, whether they’re at the executive level or just interns. Go through them all.”Gerald hesitates, just for a second. “That’ll take time,” he says carefull
Imogene Scott My mind is spinning as I step out of Lila’s office. Divorce papers. My father’s name on them. Lila’s isn’t. A billion-dollar check. For her? My heels echo sharply against the marble floor as I walk. In the lobby, I see the receptionist who texted me earlier and make my way toward her. She looks around nervously, then waves me over to a quieter corner. “You’re Mr. Scott’s daughter, right?” her voice low.“Yes,” I say. “Why?”She glances over her shoulder, then leans in, her voice barely above a whisper. “Your father was here the day before he was... you know. Killed. He and Lila had a huge fight in her office. I couldn’t hear what they were arguing about, but it was bad.”My stomach drops. “Do you remember anything else? Anything at all?” She shakes her head apologetically. “No, but... there’s something not right about her. She’s hiding something about this company. I’ve been here a long time, and I know when something’s off.”I blink, trying to process her word
Imogene Scott A week later… I sit in the stiff leather chair, my hands resting over my stomach. The waiting room is quiet and the door finally swings open. The doctor steps in, holding a folder. My breath hitches. This is routine, I remind myself. Routine. I’m here for my usual checkup. Alone this time. I had told Damien he didn’t have to accompany me since he’s been missing a lot work a lot lately because of me.“Mrs. Shaw,” The doctor says with a polite nod, gesturing for me to join him in his office. I follow, my heels clicking against the tile floor. His office smells faintly of antiseptic and lavender, maybe. I sit across from his desk, the folder now open in front of him. He doesn’t look alarmed, but there’s a wrinkle in his brow. “Imogene, I’m glad you came in today.” “Is everything alright?” He nods but steeples his fingers, leaning forward slightly. “The babies are fine, but your stress levels are higher than we’d like. It’s starting to show in your vitals
Imogene Scott The bedroom feels too big when Damien walks out. I sit up in bed, clutching the edge of the blanket. I let out a shaky breath, staring at the door he just closed. He’s going to ask me about therapy. I know he will. I don’t even know how to explain it. How do I tell him that sitting in that room felt like unpacking a suitcase only to realize you’ve brought nothing but broken things? That therapy didn’t feel like healing—it felt like dragging wounds out into the open and watching them bleed. I shake my head. I can’t stay in bed waiting for him to corner me. The quiet will drive me insane. I throw back the covers and swing my legs over the side of the bed. My head spins as I stand, but I grip the bedpost and steady myself. I shuffle to the door, trailing my hand along the wall as I make my way downstairs. The faint hum of the stovetop reaches my ears, along with the rhythmic sound of Damien chopping something. I stop at the edge of the kitchen and watch him.
Damien Shaw “Please, keep the investigation discreet for now,” I say firmly, meeting Gerald’s gaze. My voice is steady, but my insides churn. Gerald nods and gathers his notes before leaving my office. The door clicks shut and I sink into my seat, pinching the bridge of my nose as my temples throb. Five meetings, all back-to-back in one morning. Each one is a battlefield of strategy, damage control, and trying to piece together what the hell is happening with this damn leak. My head feels like it’s about to split open, and the office suddenly seems unbearably warm. I loosen my tie and lean back, closing my eyes for a brief moment. I need just a second—one second to breathe— My phone vibrates against the desk, shattering the silence. I grab it immediately, hoping it’s Gerald with an update, but instead, I see Imogene’s name. It’s a text: Imogene: "I don’t think therapy is good for me."My stomach twists. Therapy. The session. What happened? My thumb hovers over her nam
“Yes,” I say with a little more heat on it than I would’ve liked. “Because he believed in me. He believed I could do it.”“Okay.”“He believed in me.”“I understand.”Beat.“Can you tell me what happened after you helped him save the company?” Annie pauses to find the right words. This one I don’t want to answer but I feel like if I wiggle around it Annie will just come right back for the jugular with her follow up. I tread with caution.“Well… he got married again.”“And you?”“Yes, what about me?”“Were you in touch with him?”“Well, he had his new life. We barely kept touch.”Annie holds another of her trademark unreadable stares at me. Even though I can’t gauge the specics, I can tell there’s a lot of speculation going on. I feel theneed to add more.“Plus, we started keeping in touch again recently.” I give a little nod to punctuate my statement. I’m hoping that moved the dialon Annie’s judgment, but after a few seconds I can tell it didn’t.Annie purses her lips. “Who reached
Imogene Scott I sit down in the tufted chair opposite Dr Annie Eddie and let out a sigh. This is my first therapy session with her and I’m a little nervous. I’m only here because of Damien. Because I want to be better for him, for Lily and the twins. I tell her a few things about my life I’m comfortable telling anyone and she tells me in order to get to what’s underneath those emotions, what’s driving it, we need to unpack my life in a more comprehensive way.“Okay…” I’m hesitant. What will this entail? I hate the uncertainty.“And please, address me as Annie.” I nod. “Sure.”“Now, I want to understand more about Little Imogene,” she says tenderly. “I understand your mother died of cancer when you were just ten.”Always with the childhood, these therapists. I’ve seen enough movies and TV shows to know that this is the classic therapeutic scapegoat. Some shit happenedin your childhood, it messed you up, that’s why you are the way you are.But not me. I didn’t have an alcoholic d
Damien Shaw The kitchen smells like butter and eggs as I stand by the stove, flipping the omelette in the pan. The sizzle fills the air, and I catch the faintest scent of parsley—Lily insists she hates green things, but I sneak them in for her anyway. I glance at the clock above the sink. It’s later than I thought. Imogene is still upstairs with the doctor. I hope that goes smoothly, but something tells me it won’t. “Mummy says eggs make you strong like Superman!” Lily’s voice cuts through my thoughts as she rushes into the kitchen.“Is it ready, Daddy?” she asks.She’s peering up at me with those wide, curious eyes that make me feel like I’m doing something right in this whole parenting thing. “Just in time,” I say.I slide the omelette onto a small plate, cut it into smaller pieces, then hand it to her. “Thank you!” she chirps before scampering into the living room. I follow her with my eyes as she climbs onto the couch, settling in with her plate. A faint movement ca