"When will Amber leave this house? If you don't give me an answer, I won't be intimate with you anymore. If you truly value me over her, then do what needs to be done," Gwen said as she distanced herself from Dave while they were naked in bed. *********************** Amber’s world falls apart as betrayal and heartbreak push her to the edge. Her husband, whom she helped get out of a huge debt, abandons her for her best friend, leaving her with nothing. In her pain, she makes a solemn vow to never love again. Now, she faces a risky choice between love and revenge in a dangerous game of deceit. Her grandmother’s life is at risk, and Amber must make a crucial decision. Will she break her promise and embark on a dangerous mission that could land her in jail if she fails? Will she give in to her desire for payback or find a way to rediscover love? This captivating romance novel is filled with suspense, surprises, and a woman’s journey to reclaim her worth in a world where nothing is what it seems.
View MoreAmber’s pov
My heart starts racing once again. When something is done at a specific time and in a certain pattern, the human body becomes accustomed to it. Each time I dress up before leaving the house in the morning quickens my heartbeat. When will this end? The truth is, my husband is unhappy. From the bedroom where I'm getting ready, I can hear the running water in the kitchen sink and the clatter of dishes as my husband angrily washes them. In my upbringing, it was my father who woke up every day, dressed quickly, and rushed out of the house for work, leaving my mother behind. He was the one I knew as the primary provider for our family. However, since my husband's company was taken over by one of the wealthiest men in the country due to a significant debt, my husband stays at home and takes care of all the household chores. Despite my efforts, he refuses to join me in my small pharmaceutical company, which I inherited from my parents, or seek employment elsewhere. Every time I step out of the house to work, I indirectly feel guilty for allowing him to stay at home, considering his continuous requests as I'm about to leave. Each day becomes a debate as he tries to convince me to do something that I believe would disrespect my late parents and humiliate me. How can he expect me to sell my inheritance? And not just that, my thoughts pause as I consider the other thing he has asked me to do while fixing my right earring. His demeanor in the morning always suggests that I am responsible for his unhappiness. How long can I continue living with a man who hasn't smiled or made love to me for the past six months? I wish I could go to work without him seeing or knowing. Ever since we were forced out of our mansion, there is only one entrance and exit door to this one-bedroom apartment. And Dave always sits on the couch near the door with one purpose in mind—to confront me and repeat what he has been telling me. Rejecting his request every morning has become a task more daunting than my entire workload at the office. Should I comply and bring peace to my family? A subtle voice often whispers this question in my heart. But then, a louder voice immediately suppresses it, asking, why should you sell your inheritance and sleep with a man you haven't even met, just to help your husband regain his company? When did your beauty and body become abstract collateral to free your husband from debt? The idea of sleeping with another man unsettles my heart, and due to my restless thoughts, I find myself spending more time in front of the mirror while getting dressed. In an attempt to convince myself that my actions were justified, I confided in my best friend, Gwen, about the struggles I've been facing. I needed someone to validate my choices. Surprisingly, Gwen expressed the belief that a husband's happiness should be paramount. I can understand her perspective, as she is still desperate to find a man of her own. As expected, after wearing my pink gown and was about to open the door, I heard my pet name being called. "Sweetheart!"I stopped, turned, and made my way towards Dave. He was seated on the couch as usual, but something about his demeanor and the way he called out to me felt different. It was as if we hadn't shared the same bed. His voice carried a deep sadness, akin to someone who had lost a loved one to death. His facial expressions and the way he sat conveyed the torment in his heart. "Sweetheart, I have a new suggestion regarding what I've been asking you to do for me."When he mentioned a new suggestion, a sense of relief washed over me, and I sat down next to him, intrigued by the prospect of an alternative to his previous request. "Instead of selling your inheritance," he began, "I've come to realize that preserving it is a way of honoring your deceased parents. What if we lease it out for a few years? Once I've regained control of my company, I'll activate the clause to return your pharmaceutical company to you. You know that the revenue generated by my company far exceeds that of yours. I understand your desire to respect your late parents, but in truth, it was your grandparents who established the company and passed it down. It would be a shame if, when it came to your turn, you decided to sell off the family legacy. Leasing it doesn't mean losing ownership. This is my new suggestion, and I promise you, I will restore your company to you." This is a much more reasonable suggestion, I thought to myself. But before I could finish processing my thoughts, he interrupted me. "But Sweetheart, you must understand that the money obtained from leasing your company won't be enough to settle my debt. Just one night with one of Mr. Miller Morgan's sons will resolve everything. As your husband, I approve of it." Lately, whenever he mentioned this second part, I would simply stand up and leave the house. However, this time, for some reason I don’t understand, I sat there without getting up. Had he managed to sway me? Then he gently touched my shoulder, as if he knew my mind had started to wander. "Sweetheart, look at our current living conditions," he said, rising from his seat and gesturing around the small apartment. "We're confined to a one-bedroom apartment compared to the grand mansion we used to live in. By taking this one action that I'm begging you for, we can reclaim all our possessions. I understand how humiliating it is for you, but I am the one who feels the most humiliated. Ultimately, it's for the good of our family. Family comes first in everything. This will remain our secret, known only to you and me. You have every right to refuse, but how long can a grown man like me continue to live this way? From working in a luxurious office to performing household chores at home. If you observe closely, you'll notice that I no longer leave the house. How can I face my friends and business associates? I've had to lie to some of them, claiming to be on vacation. Even if I worked diligently for the next twenty years in someone else's company, there's no way I could repay my debt. Amber, you are my only hope." The more I listened to him, the more I sensed his deep anguish. It was completely unexpected when Dave dropped down to his knees, but I couldn't bear to witness tears streaming down his face. For the first time, I felt his pain intensely. What should I do? The person who had seen me at my nakedness now wanted me to expose myself to another man. How long could I keep refusing before Dave spiraled into depression? A multitude of questions raced through my mind as Dave remained on his knees, awaiting my response. Would I ever be able to forgive myself if I did what he asked? Would I not harbor resentment towards him for persuading me to sleep with another man?Without uttering a word to Dave, I left the house. Once I reached my office, I buried my face in my hands, resting them on my desk, and wept. I wept because my husband believed that I stood between him and his happiness and success. The only way to avoid this predicament would be if I weren't married to Dave, or if I had never been born. It would be a relief if all of this were just a terrible dream. I didn't sign any documents on my desk or engage with my staff after closing my office door. I didn't even switch on my computer. In the silence of my office, the ticking of the wall clock resonated loudly, echoing the rapid beats of my agitated heart. It reached a point where I contemplated suicide as the only escape from all my troubles. How could I undress in front of a stranger without feeling a shred of emotion? Around 4:30 pm, my heart reluctantly acknowledged reality, but there was something on my mind that has helped me to come up with this resolve. I picked up my phone and dialed Dave's number. "Send me the hotel address. I have made up my mind."Without waiting for his response, I promptly ended the call. I didn't want to hear my husband's voice, which had become grating at this moment of my life. Thirty minutes later, a notification pinged, indicating the arrival of a text message. "Room number 12, Paradox Palm Hotel, at 7 pm. Please refrain from identifying yourself as my wife." If I wasn't supposed to introduce myself as Dave's wife, then why couldn't he use someone else's? But now wasn't the time to question anything further. I didn’t go home again, and I didn’t want to see Dave’s face. His little excitement for doing what he said might provoke me and I will change my mind. Around 6:30 pm, I arrived at the hotel, my face filled with sadness. Without exchanging any smiles or greetings, I headed straight to the room, hoping he hadn't arrived yet. Thankfully, the door was already open, and the unfamiliar man was nowhere to be seen. I entered the bathroom and proceeded to bathe. Just as I was about to finish, I heard the sound of the room door opening, indicating his arrival. My heart raced, and I paused for a moment. He knew I was in the bathroom, as the shower had briefly paused. A few minutes later, I sensed him undressing, knowing that as soon as I emerged from the bathroom, he would begin touching me. Taking a deep breath, I carried out my plan and waited for some seconds before coming out of the bathroom. I came out covering my head to my neck with a thick black nylon, ensuring he couldn't see my face and I was only putting on red pants and a black bra. "Why are you covering your face?" the man asked immediately, his tone revealing his surprise. "Sir, I am a virgin, and I have made a solemn vow to myself that the only man that would make love with me is the man I will walk down the aisle with. What I am about to do goes against my will, and that's why I have covered my face."The hall was thick with tension as Mrs Morgan’s voice shook, her emotions barely in check. She stared at Adrian, her face full of confusion and frustration.“What kind of confession is this, on your wedding day? People are waiting!” Her voice was sharp, but beneath the anger was fear—fear of what was coming next.Adrian’s expression was cold and unyielding. He didn’t react as the guests whispered, casting curious and judgemental glances."Amber and I... we’re not blood-related." His voice cut through the murmurs, and the crowd instantly fell silent. He turned to his mother, the woman he had always trusted. "Who did you sleep with to have me?"Gasps rippled through the hall, and Mrs Morgan’s face turned pale as if all life had left her."Me?" She laughed, but it was hollow, full of disbelief. "You’re mad, Adrian! Is this your twisted confession?"Before she could continue, Adrian handed her an envelope, his fingers trembling slightly. "This is the DNA test. I ran it several times."Her
Amber's pov Did Adrian just say in his last statement that he will be spending a night with me here alone at the hotel? What does he want? He has so much emotion for me. Can't he control it? Despite suppressing my emotions for him, I still love him. I was still holding my phone when it rang again and it was Adrian. “Hello…” I said. “I'm still waiting for your address. I kept my promise. What are you waiting for? I'm ready to enter my car and drive out of the house. At this point, I was having one question in mind to ask him, but my tongue was too heavy to say it. “Are you coming here to…?” I stopped and thankfully he knew what I meant and he started laughing. “Your voice turned me on. It's not a matter of coming there or holding your precious fingers. I have something to tell you. We need to talk. I miss you and I want to have a nice time with my sister. Whatever angle you want it to be, I will be. But there is something I will never do, I will never force you against
Author’s pov Two white cars suddenly stopped in front of Amber’s grandma’s house and it was in the evening. The doors of the car at the back opened and Mrs Morgan and her friend, Merit’s mom came out of the car after the guards had opened the doors for them. They walked majestical towards the front door and one of the men guarding them knocked on the door. The first person that came out to open the door was a lady, one of those ladies that assisted Amber’s grandma. “Are you related to Amber?” Mrs Morgan asked with a cruel voice, putting great fear into the young lady. “No, I am here to do some housekeeping.” “Where is Amber’s grandma?” This time, it was Nora that asked this question. “She is inside,” she slightly trembled and went inside. They stood at the door post and when Amber’s grandma came out, her age demanded respect and in turn, she welcomed them by saying, “What are my guests doing at the mouth of the door? Please come inside.”Nora wanted to reject the offer of
Amber's pov Adrian walked up to me while I was in the room. Then he said, “I just received a call from the laboratory and they have informed me that the result is out.” My heart raced as we both stood at the edge of uncertainty. We neither know if it will be positive or negative. The laboratory center we went to was one of the sophisticated centers in the country. They were equipped with modern technologies. So, any test that was done there was often done with different testing techniques. “Will you inform your dad?” I asked as my voice started to crack out of tension. I felt more panicked than anything I have had in my entire life. It drew a line of separation between Adrian and I. I love Adrian and nothing apart from blood related could stop us from being together. “Get dressed, we need to go and collect the result.” Adrian said and kissed my forehead. I went to my wardrobe and by this time, I had already taken my bath. What will I wear? Does this occasion require speci
Author's pov “Flora, when are you going to inform Dora about your new plan?” Nora asked. They were outside, under a well spread white umbrella at Nora's house. “I will tell her once my son gives me a meaningful answer. Since I told her about my plan, he said he would get back to me. I love Dora and I want her to be part of my family.” Nora took a sip from her glass of blue wine and after she carefully placed the cup on the table, he said, “Your husband's infidelity has become a blessing in disguise. If your husband hasn't cheated on you, you wouldn't be able to achieve or say what you are demanding.” Flora shrugged and sighed. “He disappointed me. I could swear that he can't do something like that. If I had listened to my thoughts, I would have found out before now. I saw their closeness and I wondered what was happening. My husband Mut had known that Amber was his daughter. I am thinking he knew about it when he was sick at the hospital.” “Flora, that reminds me, what
Amber's pov When I held the lab report in my hands and carefully read the result word for word, I was astounded to see that Mr Morgan is my biological father. How come? Is there anything my grandma is hiding from me or my late mom is hiding from me? I didn't know what to think about? This information has thrown me upside down. I didn't know where to place my thoughts. If my grandma knew about it, why had she not told me all this while? Does that mean that Adrian is my half-brother? I came down from the cab and walked into the house and I felt like an ordinary paper that the wind could blow off. “Grandma,” I paused as I saw her picking up her phone call. I was so deep in thought that I didn't pay attention to my grandma's conversation over the phone. “Amber!” She called and I turned my eyes towards her. “Why are you looking at me like this? Has…” “Grandma, do you really know my dad?” “Your dad? You mean your late date?” She asked. “Yes. What about my mom? Do you
Author's pov “Why did you lie to me that I will leave here today?” Mrs Morgan said angrily and it was only her friend that was in her room. She had been hostile with her words, and even more angry when she saw Amber. “That was what the doctor said initially.” Then the ringing of Mrs Morgan's phone stopped her friend from speaking. “Your husband is calling you.” “I can't speak to someone that I'm angry at.” Flora said to her friend. “We only have one night to stay at the hospital. It's for your own good. At home in Mr Morgan's house, he was very worried. He had been calling his wife, but she had refused to pick up her call. Mr Morgan was first in his new room downstairs. He had been told by the doctors not to stress himself. So climbing the stairs was seen as stress. He walked out of his room and came to his private sitting room. The first time his eyes saw was the wall clock. “It's about 7pm and my wife has refused to pick up my call. Is there something that everyone is
Author's pov When the lab scientist said, “congratulations…” Mrs Morgan's heart raced as she didn't know why he was congratulating her. Does he know why she came to do the paternity test initially? He doesn't know, so when he said congratulations, Mrs Morgan was confused. Instead of saying it verbally at first, the man handed her the result on an envelope. “Congratulations on what?” She could still remember these words as the last moment and when the lab scientist said, “Mr Morgan is the father of your daughter.” Mrs Morgan lost it and she fell unconscious. “Doctor!” Nora, her close friend shouted. The lab scientist and Nora rushed her into one of the wards and they immediately started to resuscitate her. “Flora!” Nora shouted as one of the nurses told her to leave the room. The envelope was in Nora's hands as she came out of the room and stayed outside. “Oh my god, please Flora, you need to wake up. Who will I call now?” She asked herself. “I need to tell…” she pause
Author's pov “Has she picked up your call?” Merit asked her mum as she came back to the sitting room and her mother’s phone was still in her hand. “Hmmm…I can’t say she has answered me. She only told me she will get back to me.” Mrs Williams raised her face and looked at her daughter, who was putting on a very short skirt and a white top. It was in the evening and through the window, they could see the sun settling down. “How long will she get back to you?” She spoke with so much anger and after pacing the right side of the sitting room, she stopped and stood behind one of the couches. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Her mom asked, as Merit’s anger could be seen all over her body. “If you were very serious with what I told you, you would have expressed your anger towards her. How will she disgrace me in front of Adrian and her girlfriend? It’s so embarrassing.” “Are you sure Mrs Morgan did the things you have told me?” “She cannot deny it.” “When all of this wa
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