I took a deep breath, steadying myself. He had caused me pain—there was no denying it. He had shattered trust, dragged me into a world of lies and deceit. But he had also been there for me when no one else had, an unlikely ally in a world that had turned its back on me. The justice for my mother’s death, the truths of my fake parents, the dark reality of the world I’d been thrust into—Nicolai had been there through it all, even when I refused to acknowledge it.“I’m here,” I said, my voice calm, unwavering despite the storm inside. “I’ll stay.”For a moment, Nicolai’s face seemed to relax at my words. His hand found mine, but the grip was different—fragile, hesitant, as though he feared the slightest movement might shatter whatever connection remained between us.“I didn’t mean for any of this,” he murmured, his voice weak, the words dragging from him as if each one took everything he had. “I never wanted to hurt you. But I couldn’t let you go. Not then. Not now.”I remained silent. T
The woman’s smile widened, a glint of amusement in her eyes as she took a step closer to me. She didn’t seem intimidated by my questioning tone, which only heightened my suspicion. There was a cool confidence in the way she carried herself, as though she knew exactly how this moment would unfold.“I’m Nicolai’s sister,” she said, as though the words alone should have explained everything. “Name’s Elena.”Her name hung in the air, heavy with the promise of something I wasn’t quite prepared to face. I felt a pang of confusion and curiosity. Nicolai had never mentioned a sister, at least not in any context that would make this moment feel natural.Elena’s eyes didn’t leave me as she continued, her gaze flicking once more to Nicolai, who seemed to stiffen at the mention of her name. His expression darkened, and I could tell, even from the bed, that there was some history between them—a history that wasn’t written in any of the notes or explanations Nicolai had shared with me.“Funny,” Ele
Before I could respond, she turned and walked away without another word, leaving me standing there, heart racing, my mind in chaos.I glanced at Nicolai, whose expression was unreadable, though there was a flicker of something I couldn’t quite place in his eyes.And just like that, the air between us thickened, heavy with the weight of her words.“Amethyst…” Nicolai’s voice was a low murmur, fragile and uncertain.But I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. The question that hung in the air was far too real. Would I really go with him? With them? And what exactly did Elena mean by "getting to know each other"?The door clicked shut behind her, leaving us alone. But the feeling that something was about to change—something I wasn’t ready for—rippled through me.The decision had already been made for me.And now, I had to figure out what to do next.The silence that followed
Elena’s words hung in the air, thick with the promise of things I wasn’t ready to face. I stood my ground, refusing to let the tension unravel me. Nicolai remained silent behind me, a weight I couldn’t shake. But this wasn’t his moment, it was mine—and I wasn’t about to let Elena manipulate me.She tilted her head, studying me with her unnerving intensity. “I know you think you have a choice, Amethyst. But the truth is, you don’t. None of us really do. The question is, how far are you willing to go?”I didn’t flinch. I couldn’t let her see how much her words had rattled me. “I’m not playing your games, Elena,” I said, my voice steady, cutting through the tension. “So, spare me the drama and tell me what you really want.”Elena’s smile was cold, but it didn’t faze me. “You’re here because of Nicolai,” she said, almost condescendingly. “And you’ll do anything to protect him, won’t you? I’m offering you a chance to truly understand what that means. To understand us—to understand what we’
Sitting in the lavish living room, I felt a deep sense of unease. The high ceilings, elegant chandeliers, and pristine white sofas were supposed to be a testament to my perfect life with Gideon. But today, they felt like a hollow shell—a gilded cage trapping me inside a life I no longer recognized.Across from me, my stepsister, Alexa, sipped her tea, oblivious to the storm brewing in my mind. She had come over earlier, asking for financial support for our parents, something I’d always provided without question.“Amy, are you okay?” Alexa’s voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. “It’s Gideon.” I replied.“What do you mean?” Alexa asked, her brow furrowing.I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. “He’s been different lately. He’s coming home late, always with some excuse. Business trips that last longer than they should, meetings that run late into the night. And when he’s home, it’s like he’s not really here. We barely talk anymore.”Alexa listened intent
"You are under arrest for a case of qualified theft," the police officer said as he pulled my hands behind my back.As the cold metal of the handcuffs clicked shut around my wrists, I felt as though the entire world was crashing down around me. My heart raced, and my mind spun in disbelief. The officers’ voices were muffled, drowned out by the roaring in my ears as I struggled to comprehend what was happening.“What? Qualified theft? This is a mistake!” I protested, panic lacing my words. I turned to Gideon, desperately searching for some sign of support, some indication that this was all a horrible misunderstanding.But Gideon’s expression remained impassive, almost bored. Alexa stood beside him, her arms crossed and a smirk still tugging at the corners of her lips. She was enjoying this—relishing every second of my downfall.“This is absurd!” I shouted, trying to pull away from the officers, but their grip was firm. “I haven’t stolen anything! This is all wrong!”One of the officers
Alexa’s lips curved into a sneer as she stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over me with an air of condescension. “Oh, I saw plenty,” she said, her voice dripping with mockery.“I saw you destroy everything you had—your marriage, your reputation. And now, look at you. Just a pathetic shell of what you used to be.”The sheer contempt in her voice was a knife to my heart. I could barely contain my rage.“You think you’re so much better, don’t you?” I spat, my fists clenching at my sides.“You’ve been having an affair with my husband. You’re the one who should be behind bars, not me!”Alexa’s laughter was cold and unfeeling.“Gideon and I are quite happy, thank you very much. But don’t worry, Amy. The world doesn’t care about your side of the story. It only cares about what they see.”My frustration bubbled over, and I took a step toward her, my hands trembling with anger.“You think this is a joke? You’re ruining my life!”Before I could reach her, the police officers stepped in, restrai
I was led into the room, my heart racing with a mix of anger and confusion. The sight of Gideon, so composed and unaffected, made me clench my fists, the pain from the previous night's altercation still fresh. The officers left, closing the door behind them, leaving Gideon and me alone.“Gideon,” I said, my voice trembling with a mix of rage and desperation.“Why are you here? After everything, you have the nerve to show up?”Gideon’s gaze remained steady, his eyes cold and unfeeling.“I’m here to finalize a few things, Amy,” he said, his tone flat and devoid of any empathy. He placed a folder on the table between us, sliding it toward me with deliberate precision.I looked at the folder, my breath catching as I saw the word “Divorce” emblazoned across the top of the document.“Is this some kind of joke?” I asked, my voice cracking. “You’re here to divorce me while I’m locked up?”“It’s no joke,” Gideon said, his expression unwavering. “You’ve made your choices, Amy. This is just a fo
Elena’s words hung in the air, thick with the promise of things I wasn’t ready to face. I stood my ground, refusing to let the tension unravel me. Nicolai remained silent behind me, a weight I couldn’t shake. But this wasn’t his moment, it was mine—and I wasn’t about to let Elena manipulate me.She tilted her head, studying me with her unnerving intensity. “I know you think you have a choice, Amethyst. But the truth is, you don’t. None of us really do. The question is, how far are you willing to go?”I didn’t flinch. I couldn’t let her see how much her words had rattled me. “I’m not playing your games, Elena,” I said, my voice steady, cutting through the tension. “So, spare me the drama and tell me what you really want.”Elena’s smile was cold, but it didn’t faze me. “You’re here because of Nicolai,” she said, almost condescendingly. “And you’ll do anything to protect him, won’t you? I’m offering you a chance to truly understand what that means. To understand us—to understand what we’
Before I could respond, she turned and walked away without another word, leaving me standing there, heart racing, my mind in chaos.I glanced at Nicolai, whose expression was unreadable, though there was a flicker of something I couldn’t quite place in his eyes.And just like that, the air between us thickened, heavy with the weight of her words.“Amethyst…” Nicolai’s voice was a low murmur, fragile and uncertain.But I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. The question that hung in the air was far too real. Would I really go with him? With them? And what exactly did Elena mean by "getting to know each other"?The door clicked shut behind her, leaving us alone. But the feeling that something was about to change—something I wasn’t ready for—rippled through me.The decision had already been made for me.And now, I had to figure out what to do next.The silence that followed
The woman’s smile widened, a glint of amusement in her eyes as she took a step closer to me. She didn’t seem intimidated by my questioning tone, which only heightened my suspicion. There was a cool confidence in the way she carried herself, as though she knew exactly how this moment would unfold.“I’m Nicolai’s sister,” she said, as though the words alone should have explained everything. “Name’s Elena.”Her name hung in the air, heavy with the promise of something I wasn’t quite prepared to face. I felt a pang of confusion and curiosity. Nicolai had never mentioned a sister, at least not in any context that would make this moment feel natural.Elena’s eyes didn’t leave me as she continued, her gaze flicking once more to Nicolai, who seemed to stiffen at the mention of her name. His expression darkened, and I could tell, even from the bed, that there was some history between them—a history that wasn’t written in any of the notes or explanations Nicolai had shared with me.“Funny,” Ele
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. He had caused me pain—there was no denying it. He had shattered trust, dragged me into a world of lies and deceit. But he had also been there for me when no one else had, an unlikely ally in a world that had turned its back on me. The justice for my mother’s death, the truths of my fake parents, the dark reality of the world I’d been thrust into—Nicolai had been there through it all, even when I refused to acknowledge it.“I’m here,” I said, my voice calm, unwavering despite the storm inside. “I’ll stay.”For a moment, Nicolai’s face seemed to relax at my words. His hand found mine, but the grip was different—fragile, hesitant, as though he feared the slightest movement might shatter whatever connection remained between us.“I didn’t mean for any of this,” he murmured, his voice weak, the words dragging from him as if each one took everything he had. “I never wanted to hurt you. But I couldn’t let you go. Not then. Not now.”I remained silent. T
The nurse’s voice on the other end of the line grew softer, a touch of sympathy threading through her words. “It’s too early to say, Ms. Amadeus. He’s unconscious, and we’ve started treatment, but his injuries are quite severe. I recommend that you come in as soon as you can. He’s asking for you.”The words hung in the air like an unspoken command. Nicolai. After everything, he was still asking for me. The anger I’d felt toward him just hours ago seemed distant, replaced by an undeniable pull to be there, to see him for myself, to make sure he was really okay.“Alright,” I managed to say, though my throat felt thick, as though the words were difficult to extract. “I’ll be there soon.”I hung up the phone, my fingers lingering on the screen for a moment longer than necessary. I hadn’t expected this. I hadn’t expected to care, to be pulled back into his orbit so easily, so completely. But here I was, heart racing, guilt swirling inside me like a whirlpool.I stood up, my legs weak benea
The door clicked shut behind me with a finality that echoed in the stillness of the house. I leaned against it for a moment, my head resting on the cool wood, as the weight of the confrontation with Gideon settled over me like a heavy cloak. My breath was shaky, my heart still pounding in my chest. I had said everything I needed to say, everything I’d been holding back for years, but it still didn’t feel like enough.The anger that had fueled me outside still burned, but beneath it, there was a deeper, more painful exhaustion. I’d closed the door on him, but something inside me felt like it had been left open.I pushed off the door and stepped into the foyer, the dim light from the hallway casting long shadows on the walls. My hands were trembling, my mind racing with thoughts of Nicolai, Gideon, and the unshakable feeling that something was coming—something I couldn’t outrun.I walked into the living room, only half-aware of where I was going. My eyes drifted over the space—pictures
The door to my office slammed behind Nicolai, his presence still lingering in the air like a storm cloud. I stood there, fists clenched, heart racing, as the sound of his footsteps echoed down the hallway. For a moment, I thought I might collapse under the weight of his words. “You owe me, Amethyst. You’re not getting out of this.”I tried to steady my breathing, tried to push the anger and frustration aside. I was done with him. Done.But even as I forced my thoughts to calm, I could feel the storm inside me building. Nicolai hadn’t come to talk—he had come to control, to make sure I stayed trapped in a deal I had made in a moment of weakness. He wasn’t going to let me walk away, but that didn’t mean I had to roll over and let him take everything.I grabbed my coat, my movements sharp and deliberate as I marched out of my office, my heels clicking on the floor with the same intensity that burned in my chest. As I reached the elevator, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Nicolai’s eyes
As the finality of the words echoed in my mind, I slammed the phone down onto the passenger seat, my breath coming in sharp, uneven bursts. The engine hummed louder in the quiet, but it did nothing to drown out the storm brewing in my chest. My grip on the wheel tightened until my knuckles were white, the car speeding through the dark streets as though the road could outrun my thoughts.Gideon. Nicolai. Both of them seemed to be haunting me, lurking at the edges of my mind, tugging at the threads of my past like they thought they had any claim to me. But they didn’t. I wouldn’t let them.I had promised Nicolai I would marry him. I hated how his words echoed in my mind, how they pushed into my thoughts no matter how hard I tried to ignore them. He had helped me bring justice to my mother, had fought alongside me when I needed it most. And in exchange, I had given my word—my promise—that I would marry him. A deal sealed in the chaos of a moment, but a deal nonetheless.I closed my eyes
As I drove through the empty streets, the cool night air creeping through the cracked window, I focused on keeping my grip firm on the steering wheel. The hum of the engine was a dull noise against the thundering thoughts in my head. My pulse still raced from the confrontation with Nicolai, but my mind was more preoccupied with the man who had shown up uninvited: Gideon.I shook my head, trying to clear the confusion swirling in my chest. It had been so long since I’d seen him, and yet, here he was, right when I least expected it.Gideon. I could still feel the weight of his gaze, the way his presence seemed to fill every space between us. But no matter how much he tried to be the hero in my life, I wouldn’t let him back in. Not after everything.The past was filled with too many scars, too many broken promises, for me to entertain the idea of letting him slip back into my life. What he did to me, what we had, couldn’t be undone. I wasn’t some helpless girl waiting for him to save me