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 ScottI stand in front of my mirror, turning slightly to the left, then to the right, appraising my reflection. My black dress clings to my curves just enough to make me feel both elegant and comfortable. I don’t know why I’ve put in so much effort for tonight. Damien already called earlier, telling me that he had arranged a car to pick me but he was vague with the details. I just hope he isn’t planning something huge. We agreed on a date. Which is short for dinner.Elinor still doesn’t think it’s a good idea but she’s agreed to watch Lily tonight. I smooth a hand over my hair, freshly curled and cascading down my back, and apply a final coat of lipstick.“You look gorgeous.” Elinor says as she walks into the room. “You’re literally going to blind everyone with your gorgeousness.”She’s exaggerating. That’s what she does.I frown. “You’re overcompensating.”“I’m not. You’re going to steal breaths away.” she says dramatically. “You really went all out with your dressing to
Imogene ScottDamien walks toward me, the crowd parting as he moves. When he reaches me, there’s something in his eyes that’s different—something softer."Happy birthday, Imogene," he says quietly. "This... all of this, it’s for you."My mouth goes dry. "You did all this?" I manage to whisper, barely able to form the words.He nods, his eyes never leaving mine. "I wanted to show you how much you’ve meant to me. How much you’ve always meant to me, even when I didn’t know how to show it."My heart feels like it’s about to burst out of my chest. I look around again, my mind struggling to keep up with the enormity of what he’s done. It’s too much. Too grand. Too… overwhelming. I want to say something, anything, but my words fail me.He gestures toward the center of the gallery where a painting sits covered by a cloth. “I have something special for you. A gift.” He leads me to it, the crowd falling silent as he gently pulls the cloth away.The painting is beautiful. It’s me, but not jus
Imogene ScottMy head is buzzing. The rest of the party feels louder, brighter and more wonderful. Halfway through, Damien leads me to a small empty room for the last surprise of the night.My mind is still unable to comprehend the ones he’s already revealed and now he’s telling me there’s another one?We walk into the quiet room in the hallways. The gallery has a suite right in the corner and urs next to the room we’re in. “I’m sorry I…erm…kissed you out there in front of everyone.” I say.He smiles. “I don’t mind.”I cough. “So…”Reaching into his pocket, Damien pulls out a thick bundle of letters, tied together with a faded ribbon. “I wrote you every day since you left. I never sent them, but I want you to have them now.”I stare at the letters, my hands trembling as he hands them to me. My name is scrawled across the top of each envelope in his familiar handwriting, and my heart feels like it’s about to break. This is too much. “I’ve never stopped loving you, Imogene,” he says
Imogene ScottDamien shrugs out of his jacket and let it drop on the floor. Half my dress falls from my torso, revealing my breast. I stand there, completely unashamed and honest in my need for him.He reaches around my back for the zipper, then finds and lowers it. He pushes the dress down, and I let it slip down my legs, leaving me in nothing but a tiny red thong. He hisses, then pushes me back gently until I’m sitting on the soft, bouncy mattress. He hooks his fingers on the tiny waist string on my thong and pulls it down. Once I’m stripped of everything except my heels, his warm, large hands on my knees keep me spread wantonly.“You’re dripping,” he grates out.“Looks like you might be, too.” I try to say it playfully, but it’s difficult to act carefree when you’re so turned on you feel like you’re going to die without him on you.I can’t believe I’ve been celibate for three years.At least I’m not the only one going crazy with need. His erection’s pushing hard against his pants
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