Damien Shaw The next three days are perfect. Less work for Imogene, more time spent with her, just the way I’ve always wanted it to be. In three consecutive days, I’ve come home to find her in the kitchen, cooking. It’s like she’s determined to make up for lost time, and with every moment I spend with her, I fall even more in love.My birthday is in two days. I’m not too psyched about the baseball match with the very mysterious Emmett—I don’t even know how that’s going to go—but the family dinner? That’s what I’m really looking forward to. It’s the thought of being together, just the three of us, that makes me feel like things are finally right.Tonight, after dinner, Imogene puts Lily to sleep while I read her a bedtime story. Lily’s tiny hand grips mine as she listens to me fumble through the pages. Her eyelids get heavier with each word, and by the time I finish, she’s already drifting off. Imogene tucks her well under the blanket and smiles at me from across the room.We
Imogene Scott “I told you not to put those balloons there!” I shout across the room.Breonna gives me one of those long, tired looks—the kind that says ‘you’re worrying too much’—but continues tying the red balloon to the pole anyways. Of course, she doesn’t listen. We’ve got five hours to pull this off, and she’s focusing on the least important details. My nerves are stretched thin, even though we have a whole crew of event planners working to transform the house into something magical. Everyone’s playing their parts perfectly so far. Emmett’s doing a great job distracting Damien, keeping him far away from the house. Keith has handled the guest list and sent out all the invitations, which is why we’ve been texting so much lately. Breonna made sure the event planners pulled through at the last minute.But despite everything, I’m still worried. I really need this to be perfect for Damien.I turn to one of the event planners bustling nearby. “Where’s the cake?”“It’ll be here in le
Imogene Scott I laugh. “As the birthday king pleases.”I walk to the door, flicking the lock, anticipation buzzing through my veins as I turn back to him. He nods and pulls me towards him, claiming my mouth in a deep kiss. Our mouths fuse, he cradles the back of my head, then slides his hand down to the back of my neck. The touch is possessive and I love it.A low, thick moan tears from his throat, the sound muffled between our mouths. His naked need soothes some of the jagged edges I’m feeling, and shivers run through me. He pulls back slight, breathing heavily. “How much time do we have?”I glance at the clock on the wall and press my forehead to his, trying to catch my breath. “5-6 minutes.”His mouth curls into a sexy grin. “I can work with that.”He captures my lips in a lush kiss again. He devours me like he has been starved for me since forever. And I devour him back, inhaling his sexy, masculine scent, and feeling his hot, uneven breath on my skin. Lust grows until it see
Damien Shaw The sound of clinking glasses and soft music fills the air as I make my way through the party, greeting guests with a smile. The ballroom looks amazing—Imogene really outdid herself. The whole night feels so perfect and it’s all thanks to her. I catch a glimpse of her in the distance, laughing with a group of people. I really am the luckiest guy in the room. But then my gaze shifts, and I spot Breonna and Emmett in the corner. They’re deep in a conversation and their heads are close together, smiling like they’re sharing some private joke. It’s weird, really. I’ve noticed they don’t argue as much anymore, which is a relief. I’m not against whatever’s going on between them, but Emmett… there’s something about him. He’s this mysterious and secretive guy. Even when we went to that baseball game earlier today, it felt like he was holding something back. He was fun enough, sure, but there’s an underlying vibe that doesn’t sit right with me. I walk over and interrupt th
Damiem Shaw I stare at the name, the bile rising in my throat. Imogene has been meeting my father behind my back? My father, who walked out on me and my mom when I was barely old enough to remember his face? The man who left us to pick up the pieces of his mess, who disappeared without a trace only to show up out of the blue?Why? Why would she meet him? What could they possibly be talking about? I feel sick. She’s been meeting him. Behind my back. I clench the phone tighter, my mind screaming with questions. Why didn’t she tell me?I need to find Imogene.I push through the crowd. My chest is tight and every breath is coming out short and shallow. The room feels too loud, too full, people laughing, chatting, drinking. But all I can hear is the pounding of my heart.I spot Imogene by the far end of the room, still laughing with some guests. My hands clench at my sides as I make my way over. I don’t say anything when I reach her; I just grab her hand, hard, and start pulling her aw
Damien Shaw She recoils at my words, hurt flashing in her eyes. But I can’t stop. Every unresolved emotion I’ve been bottling up, about my father, about Imogene’s secrecy, about Keith about every single thing comes crashing down like a tidal wave.“You don’t get to decide this for me,” I continue. “This is my life, my father. You don’t get to make decisions about something that hurt me for years without telling me.”“I wasn’t trying to make decisions for you,” she says, her voice shaky. “I just wanted to help. I thought maybe if you two could talk…”“I don’t want to talk to him!” I yell, cutting her off. “I don’t want anything to do with him! You know that. You’ve always known that. But you went behind my back anyways. How could you do that?”“Because I care about you, Damien! I thought maybe if you could get some closure, it would help you heal.”“I didn’t ask for your help! I didn’t ask for any of this! You’ve been keeping secrets from me, meeting my father behind my back. What e
Imogene Scott I stand in the bedroom, more tears spilling down my cheeks. How can this happen? One minute we’re celebrating, and the next… Damien looks at me like I’m the enemy.My breath hitches as a sob forces its way up my throat. I tried to help him. That’s all I wanted, to fix something, to make things better for him, close a chapter that’s haunted him for so long. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I’ve made everything worse.I sink to the floor, my knees hitting the carpet. I bury my face in my hands, the tears spilling freely now. Damien’s words echo in my mind. “You went behind my back. How could you do that?I didn’t mean to hurt him. God, I would never hurt him. I love him. But he was so angry, so hurt, and I couldn’t get through to him. He wouldn’t listen. He looked at me like I’d betrayed him, like I’d done the one thing he could never forgive.My sobs grow louder. I curl into myself, trying to muffle the sound. I hate this feeling, the helplessness, the guilt
Damien Shaw I lie on the stiff hotel bed, staring at the ceiling. The room feels cold and quiet, and no matter how many times I toss and turn, sleep won’t come. I glance at the clock on the nightstand. 12:00 AM. The bright red numbers mock me. I’ve been here for hours, and my mind still won’t shut off.It’s like everything is crashing down on me at once. My father. Imogene. The lies. The secrets.I turn over, clenching the pillow under my head, but it’s useless. I can’t stop thinking about that damn text. Seeing his name, Luke Shaw, was like being by a bullet. My father, the man who wrecked everything for my family, the man I swore I’d never speak to again. And Imogene… she’s been meeting with him behind my back.I feel a surge of anger rise in my chest. How could she do that? After everything I told her, after knowing how much pain he caused me, how much I’ve been trying to move on from the hell he put me through. And she still thought it was a good idea to go behind my bac
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