Imogene Scott Damien and I take the rest of the day to rest after an hour’s video call with Lily. By morning, we are fully recharged to start out seven days relaxation plan. Except, we stay in a private villa, just us two. There’s another one next to ours, but I’m not sure if it’s vacant or not. Which leaves me with the option of checking out to check out the other villas which is a bit far from shore. The villa has tons of people, compared to the secluded part Damien and I booked. A few people are lurking around, while some are in bikinis, sitting under shades by the pool. I suddenly feel too dressed in my long yellow sundress.When I reach the pool, a blonde in a bikini rushes over. “Hey, want a balloon?” She waves a ball-shaped red balloon in front of me. “We’re about to have a game, and Team V needs another player.”“Um. No?” I want to explore a little bit before getting roped into playing some game.“You sure?” “Maybe later.”Her eyes widen. “Wait, aren’t you the MKTO bir
Imogene ScottDahlia smiles as she squeezes my hand. “Don’t stress with labels. I should know better.”“Really,”“Yeah. I’ve been married for ten years now.” she says calmly.Okay, did she just say she’s married? She’s been married for ten years? What the hell is happening here?“What? You were just crying over…”“My jerktastic boyfriend, yes.” she finishes for me. “It’s…erm…it’s an open marriage.”“Wow.” My hands fly to my mouth without me realizing it. An open marriage? I’ve always thought open marriages were ridiculous. Why would you want to sleep with other people when you’re already married and committed to someone else?“Yes. My husband and I can sleep with whoever we want to.” she adds as if she can read my mind. “It doesn’t affect the love we have for each other. At least that was the initial plan until…”“You fell for someone else.” Here I’m thinking my relationship with Damien is complicated.“Exactly.” she sighs. “His name is Daniel. Met him at this night bar my husban
Imogene ScottMy stomach twists. What is wrong with these people? I glance around, suddenly hyperaware of how absurd this entire situation has become. I came here to relax, to have time alone with Damien, not to be dragged into someone else's twisted marriage.I force a smile. “I don’t think that’s necessary,”Dahlia's grin only widens.“Come on, it's all in good fun. Jace and I have a special understanding.”Yeah, I bet you do. "Thanks, but I'm really not interested," I say more firmly this time. My skin still crawls from Jace's lingering touch, and I want nothing more than to put some space between us all.“Suit yourself.” Dahlia shrugs, clearly unfazed. "But if you change your mind, you know where to find us."I give a noncommittal nod and make a hasty exit. As I reach the villa, my phone buzzes in my bag. It’s a message from Damien:[Damien: Where are you? Miss you already.]I exhale, the tension easing slightly. Damien. He's the reason I’m here, not these bizarre distractions.
Imogene Scott Damien and I sound the rest of the day resting. We lounge on the couch, the soft hum of the evening wrapping around us. I take a sip of wine, the cool liquid slipping down my throat, and lean into Damien’s side. His arm drapes lazily over my shoulder, everything feels... easy. No stress, no drama—just us. It’s moments like these that make me want to forget everything else.“I could get used to this,” I murmur, swirling the wine in my glass, watching the deep red catch the light.“Mhm, same here. We should do this more often.”I nod, closing my eyes for a moment, savoring the peace. The faint sound of crashing waves fills the silence between us, and I can almost forget about the chaotic mess this trip has already been. Almost.That is, until the doorbell rings.I sit up a little too quickly, nearly spilling my wine. The soft chime echoes through the villa. My heart skips, my mind already jumping to the worst conclusions. Who the hell could that be?Damien groans beside
Imogene Scott I push back from the couch, taking a deep breath. The night is moving slowly and it’s been almost two hours. Dahlia is laughing at something Damien just said. In fact, she laughs at literally everything he says. I can’t shake the sense that something is off, from the way Jace also keeps glancing at me when he thinks I’m not looking. I need a break.“I’m going to grab more wine,” I announce, standing. I glance at the near-empty bottle on the table. “We’re running low.”“I’ll come with you,” Jace says, his voice too quick and eager.I hesitate, my hand frozen halfway toward the door. Why does he want to come with me? But I don’t know how to say no without it seeming weird, so I just nod. “Sure.”I lead the way, the sound of my footsteps echoing lightly against the marble floor as we make our way toward the wine cellar. The villa is large and the hallway feels quieter with each step we take. The laughter from the living room slowly fades behind us.When we reach the
Damien Shaw The door clicks shut, and the silence that fills the villa after Jace and Dahlia leave is almost a relief. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding, running a hand through my hair. The tension in my shoulders doesn’t ease, though, and I glance over at Imogene. She’s already started gathering empty glasses and straightening the cushions on the couch.I move to help her, picking up plates and stacking them. The whole night… It was hard to enjoy anything when I could feel Jace’s eyes on her, the way he kept glancing at Imogene like he didn’t care I was sitting right there. Every time she spoke, he seemed to hang onto her every word, and it took everything in me not to just call him out on it.But I didn’t. I held back because I wasn’t sure. What are we? What do I even have the right to feel? We’re here, together, and it feels right—she feels right—but I don’t know if I can just claim her like that. Our relationship is still unlabeled.I place the plates on t
Imogene Scott Ding!Seriously? I sigh, sinking deeper into the couch cushions. The doorbell rings again, shattering the peaceful evening Damien and I were enjoying. We’ve been at the villa for four days, and it’s been quiet—just the way I like it. We’ve managed to avoid Dahlia and Jace ever since that uncomfortable dinner, and I’m counting down the days until we can go back to LA and see Lily. Three more days, and we’ll be home.I glance at Damien, who’s lounging beside me, his legs stretched out. He raises an eyebrow at the doorbell. “Expecting anyone?” he asks, his voice teasing, but there’s a hint of irritation behind it.“No,” I mutter, standing up. Who could it be now?I head toward the door, the cool tiles beneath my feet sending a slight shiver up my legs. Opening the door, I’m greeted by a concierge, impeccably dressed in a suit, standing with a formal invitation in his hand. “Good evening, ma’am. I’m here to deliver this for you,” he says, handing me the envelope. “The
Imogene Scott I bite my lip and gaze into his eyes. “The party can wait, we have a few minutes.”Damien’s impossibly beautiful face breaks out into a heart stopping smile. God, he just looks so... joyful. He sits on tte edge of the bed and pulls me onto his lap and into his arms. I bury my face in his neck, wrap my arms around him and hold on, inhaling his sexy scent, planting soft kisses on his cheek.I lean back and take his face in my hands, gazing deeply into his eyes. “I love you.”He smiles again. “I love that you love me.”Suddenly he’s kissing me and we’re on the move. He stands with me in his arms then stands me gently at the side of his bed. He grabs the hem of my dress and pulls it over my head.I’m left with nothing but my thong, so I start unbuttoning his shirt. His eyes watch mine intently and I pop the buttons, one by one. I push the shirt over his shoulders and he lets it fall to the floor. Next I push my finger between the elastic of his boxers and his skin. His
Imogene Scott I slept through the night for the first time in weeks. No jolting awake. No sweat-slicked skin. No dreams of drowning in shadows. Just silence. Stillness. Peace.My eyes open slowly, blinking into the quiet morning light spilling through the gauzy white curtains. The ocean breeze flows in from the slightly open window. My head doesn’t feel like it’s been split in two.I pull the blanket down and sit up, cradling my growing belly with both hands. The twins will be here in a few weeks. Two heartbeats fluttering beneath my skin. Two tiny souls I haven't even met, but already love with an intensity that’s terrifying and beautiful all at once.My fingers press gently into the bump. “You two are going to be okay,” I whisper. “We’re all going to be okay.”A soft smile pulls at my lips. It’s real this time. Not the kind I force at dinner tables or mirror reflections. No, this one is real.“What are you smiling about?”Damien’s voice startles me. I look up as he steps into
Damien Shaw The sun spills through the curtains as my eyes flutter open. I groan, registering the soreness in my bones. I rub at my face, letting my hand fall onto the bed beside me…It’s empty.My heart kicks up, a sudden thrum against my ribs.Imogene is not here.The sheets are still warm, faintly scented with her shampoo and her pillow’s half-squashed. She couldn’t have gone far. But still… my throat tightens as I sit up fast, pushing the blanket off. My bare feet hit the cool wood floor and I stand, eyes scanning the quiet bedroom.I don’t call out. Not yet. My gut twists like it always does when she disappears from my line of sight. I step into the hallway, and I’m immediately hit with a warm, sweet and smoky smell.Pancakes?I follow the scent into the kitchen, tension loosening slightly with each step. And then I see her.She’s standing by the stove, her back to me, swaying ever so slightly to some melody in her head. She’s barefoot, in nothing but my oversized black T-shir
Imogene Scott“Mummy, how long are you going to be gone?” Lily’s small voice floats toward me.I pause, my hand hovering over the zipper of my suitcase. The last dress is folded neatly inside and I press it down before turning to face her. She’s standing by the edge of the bed.“Mummy will be back in a few days,” I say gently, kneeling in front of her and smoothing her curls with my palm. She looks at me like she’s studying me, trying to see if I’m telling the truth or just saying what I think she wants to hear.“Will Mummy be better by then?” she asks.My breath catches.Better.I nod, brushing my thumb across her cheek.“Yes, baby. Mummy will be fine.”Lily thinks about that for a second, then smiles. “Yes, then Mummy can go. Anty Kia will take good care of me.”A soft knock sounds on the door just as I press a kiss to Lily’s forehead. Sheila steps in. “Is there anything else you want to take to the water park, Lily?” she says.Before Lily can answer, Kia walks in right behind
Imogene Scott When I open my eyes, it’s dark outside.The ceiling fan spins slowly above me. My body feels warm as I place my palm on my forehead and try to register what time it is on the wall clock across the room. But my vision’s a little blurry and I can’t make out the numbers, so I sit up instead, blinking away the sleep.I swing my legs off the bed and the cold wooden floor kisses my bare feet. I tug Damien’s hoodie tighter around me before padding to the door. I didn’t mean to sleep that long. I was just going to close my eyes for a few minutes.The hallway is dim. I make my way down slowly, hand on the banister. My joints still feel a little stiff from laying in one position for too long.When I reach the last step, I spot him.Damien’s seated at the dining table, one elbow propped up, his head resting in his palm. His hair’s tousled like he’s run his hand through it a hundred times tonight.“Hey there,” I say, softly.His head snaps up.“You’re awake?” His voice is low.
Damien Shaw I help Imogene off the examination table slowly, my hands gripping her waist. She's light and it unsettles me more than I let on. She sits up and swings her legs over the edge, her fingers resting on my forearm to steady herself."I'm okay," she says softly.She’s not. But I nod anyway. We walk out of the room together and back into the office, where Dr. Rogers is typing something into her computer. The click of the keys fills the silence.She looks up and smiles, though there's a trace of something behind her eyes. Concern, maybe. Caution."Everything looks good so far," she says. "But we’re entering the home stretch now. Just a few more weeks. You both need to be careful, especially you, Imogene."Imogene nods politely. “We will.”I thank her and reach for the door handle, ready to leave. I’m already thinking about the drive home, when Dr Rogers calls out to me. “Damien, could I speak to you for a second?”I stop and glance at Imogene.“I’ll wait in the car,” she
Damien Shaw“You worry too much,” she says. “I’m fine.”I don’t believe her. But I let it slide. For now.I bring her hand to my lips and kiss it gently, holding on a little longer. Then I lean back and press on the gas, taking us the rest of the way.We pull into the hospital’s underground lot. I park, unbuckle, and rush around to open her door. She steps out slowly, her hand finding mine. Her fingers are colder than usual.Inside, the halls are clean, overly bright. We walk in silence to Dr. Roger’s office.She’s waiting when we arrive. “Glad to see Damien’s with you today.”I offer a hand. “Nice to see you too, Doctor.”We sit side-by-side, the chairs squeaking slightly beneath us. Imogene sits with perfect posture, her dress flowing around her legs.“So,” Dr. Roger says gently, “how are you feeling about everything?”“I’m fine,” Imogene says with a small smile.Her hand is in mine. I squeeze it.The doctor nods slowly. “Let’s go to the examination room. I want to check on the tw
Damien Shaw Returning to the living room, something feels...off.Imogene’s still sitting at the dining table, arms wrapped tightly around Lily. Her head turns the moment she hears me, and just like that, she lets go.I step closer. “Everything okay?”She lifts her face and gives me a smile. It's warm but it doesn’t reach her eyes. I see it immediately. “Just feeling a little emotional,” she says.I nod slowly. I don’t push, even though every instinct in me is screaming that something’s not right. “Eat up,” I say instead, nodding toward her plate.She nods and picks up her fork. I head to the counter, grab Lily’s pink backpack, and step outside. The spring air hits me as I open the back door of the car and slide Lily’s bag inside. My phone buzzes in my pocket, but I ignore it. By the time I’m back inside, Imogene’s finished eating. She wipes her lips gently, her eyes briefly flickering up to meet mine. I offer my hand.“Let’s go,” I say.She places her hand in mine. Lily ski
The last chapter has been edited. Read before you proceed. Imogene Scott Sunlight spills across the bed like golden syrup, warm and soft against my skin. I shift under the sheets, groaning quietly as I feel the heat against my eyelids. I blink once, then again, and finally push myself up on my elbow. Damien stands by the window, arms folded, wearing that smug little smile he always wears when he thinks he’s caught me being adorable. He’s already dressed in a gray fitted T-shirt and black joggers. His hair is damp from a shower, and he looks annoyingly refreshed. “Rise and shine, sweetie.” I groan and drag the covers over my head. “Ugh… it’s too early in the morning.” “It’s almost eleven,” he says with a chuckle. I fling the duvet back just enough to peek at him. “How did I sleep for that long?” He walks over, sits on the edge of the bed, and leans in with a playful glint in his eye. “Because I cuddled you in my arms all night.” I snort. “No. You’re not my sleeping pill.” “S
Imogene Scott As soon as Damien walks out the door, I let out a slow breath. It’s soft, almost soundless, like I’m trying not to break something fragile that still lives inside me. Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m what’s fragile now. He really cares about me. I know that. Every word, every touch, every look tonight, he’s trying. He always has. But the truth is, I’m struggling. I don’t know where I’m at anymore. Everything feels fuzzy, like the world has gone slightly out of focus and I’m squinting to make it make sense again. I sit up slowly, brushing my hair back from my face. It’s still damp from the shower earlier, curling at the ends in soft, stubborn waves. I reach for my slippers and slide my feet in. They make a soft shuffling sound against the hardwood as I walk toward the door. It’s just 8 p.m. The hallway is dim and the air smells faintly of pancakes, probably and something else... cinnamon maybe. Damien must’ve added cinnamon. I smile a little at the thought. He always adds t