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 I continue to stare at the screen, mouth slightly open, watching the news anchor talk about Emmett Harrington, billionaire heir to the Harrington empire. My brain is spinning. A glossy image of Emmett is still on the television, he’s standing tall in a sharp suit.“I knew something was up,” I mutter, leaning back into the couch, shaking my head. “I totally called this. I’ve always known there was more to him.”Breonna, sitting beside me, is pale. She hasn’t said much since we saw his face flash on the screen, but now, she lets out a disbelieving laugh. “He’s been lying to me this entire time. To all of us.” She says it like she’s still trying to convince herself that it’s real.I glance at her. “He’s been lying to all of us, Breonna. And now he thinks giving credit to my gallery on TV is going to make it better? Like it’s some grand gesture to wipe away all the deception?”“How... how can someone be so good at lying? I should’ve known when he said he went to high
Imogene Scott The next day, Breonna and I are fully ready ready to return to LA but our flights got canceled. Something about a technical issue or a booking delay, I can’t even keep track. Now, we have to spend another whole day in Hong-Kong. Good for me, I’m another twenty four hours away from facing my problems. And it’s even more daunting now that ‘Emmett’ problems have been added to it. God, when does this ever end? Breonna, though, looks excited about staying another day. How is she so unbothered? I still can’t wrap my head around how she’s just quote-unquote moved on from Emmett so fast. I suppose it’s easier when you were never in love. Still, it’s impressive how she can bounce back so quickly. We’re sitting in the hotel room now in silence. I can tell Breonna is thinking, she’s probably wondering what to do with this unexpected extra time.“How about we go shopping again?” she says.I laugh a little. “The clothes we bought last time are still packed. I’m not sure I’ll
Nobody beats Damien Shaw when it comes to grand gestures. Right? But don’t you think he always weasels his way out of everything by making these huge romantic grand gestures and giving Imogene no other option but to forgive him?
Damien Shaw I know what you’re thinking…how did we get here? How did I end up standing at this altar, waiting for the woman I’ve loved more than anything to walk toward me, in the middle of Hong Kong, no less?It all started two days ago when I came home to an empty house. No Imogene. No Lily. The panic that hit me was instant. I called, texted, searched everywhere, but no sign of them. My mind raced through all the worst possibilities, had something happened? Did she leave for good? After hours that felt like years, I couldn’t breathe. I almost lost my mind.For two whole days, I searched. I went to every place I thought she might be, checked in with friends—non existent ones since Imogene has none—even reached out to people I hadn’t spoken to in years, hoping someone might know where they went. And then it hit me, Interpol. I know a guy there. If she left the country, they’d have a record of it. I made the call, barely keeping it together, and when they confirmed it, when they
Imogene Scott I can’t believe I’m married. Married. Again. To Damien. The words don’t fit inside my mind. They slip and slide away, refusing to stick. I feel like I’m still dreaming, or maybe playing dress-up in a life that isn’t really mine. Damien’s hand in mine feels real, though. His fingers are warm as he leads me toward the hotel room. I’m still trying to make sense of what just happened—the vows, the kiss, the ring on my finger—but none of it feels real yet. None of it is registering:I don’t even notice we’ve stepped inside the room until Damien taps my shoulder. I blink, looking around. I have so many questions and I don’t know where to start."How long have you been in Hong Kong?" I finally ask. My voice is small."Two days," he says, his gaze never leaving mine.My heart squeezes painfully. Two days. He’s been here for two days. "Why didn’t you reach out?" I ask.He hesitates, then sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I wanted to be prepared before I did."Pr
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