I don’t step into the room right away; I’m panting from all the running, my heart pounding in my chest. The excitement bubbling inside me melts away the stress of everything else. As I catch sight of Richie’s face, a wave of relief washes over me. His eyes lock onto mine, and I can’t help but feel a smile spreading across my face, brightening the moment.“Rach,” he says, his voice warm and inviting, his eyes lighting up as they meet mine.“Richie.” I take slow steps toward him, my gaze fixed on his familiar features that I’ve missed so much. The moment I get closer, he beams at me, and I feel my heart flutter. “How are you?” I ask, my voice a mix of excitement and nervousness.Instead of answering with words, he wraps his arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace. I melt into him, feeling the strength of his presence and the warmth radiating from him. Richie’s arms hold me securely, and it feels incredible to finally be this close to him again. Tears start to flow down my cheeks
After Richie’s test, the nurse finally brings him his first meal since waking up from the coma. She explains that he needs to eat healthy foods that are easy on his stomach, which is why he’s being served miso soup with diced tofu and a side of brown rice. I can’t help but want to assist him, so I take on the role of feeding him, even though I know he can eat by himself. I just want to be there for him during this time.I scoop up another spoonful of rice and offer it to him, watching as he hovers over it. The expression on Richie’s face is priceless; it’s clear he absolutely hates the food. He’s only eating it because he feels he has no choice. I can sense he probably doesn’t have much of an appetite, but he knows he needs to keep eating to regain his strength. As he swallows the rice, he points to the water, and I quickly bring it to his lips, watching him take a sip. He smiles at me and says, "You know what’s making this food more bearable to eat?""What?" I ask, genuinely curious.
I wake up really early today. My heart races with excitement at the thought of finally meeting Richie and spending some quality time together. Last night, I toss and turn in bed, unable to settle down. The thrill of seeing him has been building up inside me, and I can’t help but wonder how today is going to unfold. I just finish a call with my assistant, feeling a sense of relief wash over me as I cancel all my meetings and appointments. Today is all about Richie. I want to be fully focused on him, ready to talk and do whatever he wishes. Whether it’s grabbing lunch at his favorite spot or just wandering around, I’m eager to make him happy and enjoy every moment together.I pick out a simple blue dress, knowing it’s Richie’s favorite color, and I let my hair fall freely around my shoulders. He loves it when I do this, especially because he often tucks it behind my ear, and it feels so sweet. I slip on a pair of comfortable flat shoes, ready to take on the day. With my heart racing, I
I wait for a couple of minutes for Richie to come back, but he doesn’t show up. Growing impatient, I pull my phone from my pocket and dial his number, my heart racing a little. The phone rings a few times but then goes straight to voicemail. I try again, but once more, it goes to voicemail. Panic starts to creep in, and I can’t help but wonder what’s going on. My mind races with the thought that maybe Richie has been transferred across the country. I know his family had been pushing for him to move back home, but now that he’s awake, I can’t imagine they would go through with that. Even if they did, would Richie really agree to it? He wouldn’t just leave without saying anything to me, would he?The more I think about it, the more anxious I feel. I decide to walk out of the room, trying to convince myself that maybe he had just moved to another room. I make my way to the reception desk, my heart pounding as I approach. "Hi, I’m Rachel Green. I’m here to ask about Richard Maranzano. Did
I take the note from her, my hands trembling with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. Why would Richie write me a note? My heart races as I wonder what he could possibly want to say, and I can’t help but feel a wave of confusion wash over me. What could be so important that he needed to leave me a message?I wait for both nurses to leave the room before I open the note. My heart races and a deep fear settles in my stomach. Richie has never written me a note or left without telling me, so this is really unsettling and I can’t help but wonder what it contains. As I unfold the letter, my hands tremble slightly, and I take a deep breath before I start to read.It says, “My darling Rach, I’m so sorry for leaving without telling you, but I had to. You don’t need to worry about me; I’m fine and just at home, taking care of myself. The hospital isn’t the right place for me, it’s lonely and boring and I just can’t handle it so I had to leave. The doctors didn’t want me to but I did anyway becau
I drive to Richie’s apartment, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. The feeling that something is off gnaws at me, and I’m determined to uncover the truth. I won’t accept a no as an answer, nor will I allow anything to jeopardize what we have built together. Now that I finally want to commit to him and fully embrace our relationship, there’s no chance I’m going to sit back and let anything come between us.After countless ups and downs with Richie, it’s time for us to break through this barrier. I want us to be together forever because I know how happy we are when we’re with each other. I’ve seen the way he looks at me, the warmth in his gaze that makes me feel cherished. The way he talks to me, with that mix of tenderness and excitement, only reinforces my belief that our connection is special. His eyes radiate joy when we’re together, and I can’t shake the feeling that he wouldn’t want to throw all of that away.I refuse to believe he actually wants to cut me off. I’m almost a
People have no clue what real pain is. Some say pain is heartbreak, and I think that’s stupid; some say it’s letting go of someone you love, and as much as I believe it hurts and mentally drains a person, I don’t think it’s the real definition of pain.To me, real pain is losing someone you lose by fate, not by death. When you lose someone through death, you don’t get to see them anymore, and as much as that hurts, over time, it tends to fade. You learn to adapt, to create a new normal, even if it’s filled with an empty space where they once were. But when you lose somebody by fate, it’s a whole different kind of tragedy. You have to watch them continue their lives, thriving and moving forward while you feel like you’ve been left behind, paralyzed in your own grief. They don’t get to be the one who dies; you become the one who feels dead inside, trapped in a state of longing and despair. What other pain can compare to that feeling of being alive yet feeling utterly lifeless? I stood
~ RICHIE’S POVSome decisions feel like the worst, but they can actually turn out to be the best ones in the long run. It hurts so deeply that you feel an instinct to pull away from it all, but that pain is far more bearable than the lingering agony you would carry for the rest of your life. I had to make the incredibly difficult choice to let Rachel go. It’s not something I wanted to do, but it’s a necessity; we both understand why. For us to truly embrace a life of freedom, we had to take this painful step apart.Rachel was right when she said it was unusual for me to just end things, but given the circumstances we found ourselves in, I had no other option. The intensity of my hurt is staggering; I don’t think I’ve ever felt this level of emotional pain before, even during the times Rachel was far away from me. I guess it’s because, despite the toxic situation we were in, I held on to a flicker of hope that things could improve, and now that hope has vanished. There’s nothing more e
~ RICHIE’S POVWatching her sleep is something I would never forsake- I love it. I think of it as a small bonus from having the best night and the best sleep then you wake up to watch the best woman in your life sleep- It feels like a bonus to me. A sweet, sexy bonus.As I keep watching Rachel sleep, I can’t help but smile. Her peaceful expression makes my heart swell with love. I really love her and I love that I get to spend my days with her but that’s not all I want. I want to spend the rest of my life with her and I want her to always be there with me. The thought of having Rachel all to myself for life fills me with excitement. I wish I could just marry her right now and make her mine forever. That idea strikes me like a bolt of lightning, and I can’t help but wonder if I should really consider proposing. Sure, it feels a bit soon, but what’s the point of being together if it’s not to build a future and spend the rest of our lives together?My thoughts come to a gentle stop when
After dinner, Richie and I walk them out of the house, exchanging warm goodbyes and promises to get together again soon. As we close the door behind them, I feel a sense of satisfaction from the evening. Just as I’m about to head to the dining area to tackle the mountain of plates, Richie suddenly grabs my hand, pulling me closer to him. He wraps his arms around me from behind, planting soft kisses along my neck. "You’re not going anywhere," he whispers, his breath sending shivers down my spine as he kisses my neck again."The dishes won’t wash themselves, you know," I tease, trying to keep the mood light.He chuckles softly, his voice low and playful. "The dishes can wait, but I can’t." With that, he turns me around, and I find myself gazing into his eyes, which sparkle with mischief. He smiles, leaning in closer, and presses his lips against mine with a tenderness that feels electric. It’s soft and delicate, like the flutter of butterfly wings, lingering just long enough for me to i
It had been two weeks since Richie and I got together, and every single moment felt like pure bliss. I absolutely loved having him around; it seemed like every second was filled with joy and warmth. There was nothing that could make my life better than that. The peace and happiness I found in our relationship were incredible, and I could see that he was just as happy too. It felt like we had created our own little paradise together.After we decided to let go of everything that was weighing us down, we also made the choice to part ways with the diamonds. They couldn’t be destroyed, but they could definitely be hidden, and we made sure they were tucked away safely so they wouldn’t complicate our lives. I didn’t want anything causing drama or risking the relationships with the people I cared about most. It was high time I focused on living a good life, free of worries, and just enjoyed the love I had with Richie.At that moment, I was in the kitchen preparing a warm dinner for my guests
I’ve never felt as scared as I am right now. Seeing a box filled with my things shatters my heart. It feels like Richie has intentionally packed my belongings, wanting to cut me out of his life completely. He doesn’t need me anymore. I know what it means when someone puts the other’s things in a box—they want to get rid of them, and it’s clear he doesn’t love me anymore. Tears well up in my eyes as my heart pounds heavily in my chest. I can’t understand why Richie is doing this, why he wants me gone. With my eyes brimming with tears, I glance at the letter. I open it, and my heart sinks. As I read each word, the pounding in my chest intensifies. The pain is overwhelming, and I can’t wrap my head around it. Why is this happening? Each line leaves me with more questions about what went wrong. Richie and I have had our fights before; we’ve separated but always found our way back to each other. But now, it feels like there’s no coming back. For the first time since we met, it seems like
I jump into a taxi and give the driver the address, my heart racing with every passing moment. As he starts driving, anxiety washes over me, and I can’t shake the feeling of dread mixed with hope. I really hope Richie is willing to talk because right now, all I can offer is communication—just a chance to express how I feel. I can’t do anything more than that, but I’m really hoping he has room in his heart to take me back. The thought of not having him in my life feels unbearable. It’s like a dark cloud looming over me, and I can’t picture my life without him. The thought of not being with him hurts so much that I can hardly bear the idea of living without him. I’ve thought about it a lot, and honestly, life without Richie feels like just existing on this earth with no joy or purpose at all.When I was leaving, Arthur offered to drive me to Richie, but I turned him down. I really don’t want Richie to think there’s anything between me and Arthur because there isn’t. He’s just someone I
I don’t waste a single moment as I hurriedly pack my belongings from the room, my heart racing as I step outside. Tomorrow can't come soon enough; I need to meet Richie and make sure everything is on track between us. I can’t afford to lose him again. I’m done with the little arguments, the big blowouts—I'm finished with all of it. It’s time to step up my game and finally do the right thing.As I walk out of the room, dragging my small suitcase behind me, I catch sight of Arthur. He rushes over, concern etched on his face when he notices my bag. "Why do you have a suitcase with you?""I’m leaving," I reply, my eyes scanning the hallway for Rebecca. I need to find her to say goodbye before I go."What!" he exclaims, his voice rising in disbelief. "Why? Did something happen? Is that why you look like you’ve just cried?" He probes, but I keep moving, determined to locate Rebecca. The sooner I find her, the sooner I can leave and meet Richie to mend things between us."Rachel, come on, wh
I always despise the mafia men, the entire mafia world, and everything that comes with it. I remember the fire in my heart, how fiercely I want to ruin them, to shatter their existence completely. I hurl insults at them, calling them cruel, wicked, and so many other names, never imagining I could ever become one of them, never believing I could sink to that level.But after years of facing harsh realities, I become the very villain I loathe. The villain I refuse to acknowledge, the one I write about in all my stories, always as the antagonist. Tears stream down my face as fear grips me tightly, causing my head to throb and my heart to race uncontrollably. I’m terrified of myself, scared that I’ve morphed into something I never thought I could be—something I’ve always feared. When I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror, I feel a wave of panic wash over me. I can’t bear to look at the person staring back, so I bolt out of the bathroom, as if I’m fleeing from an unseen pursuer.
Rebecca’s wedding is such a joyful occasion; it is filled with laughter and excitement. The atmosphere is electric, and I find myself having a couple of drinks at the reception. I promise myself I won’t drink, but as I look around and see everyone toasting and enjoying themselves, I can’t resist. I get caught up in the moment and end up having more than I intended."So tell me one fun fact about you, Rachel," Arther asks me while we stand together at the open bar, the music softly playing in the background. We have been chatting for a few minutes, and I really enjoy his company. He’s a cool guy, easy to talk to, and I feel a connection."I don’t have a fun fact," I reply, taking a sip of my drink and trying to think of something interesting."Come on, I know you do," he urges, a playful smile on his face."I don’t really have one, but I guess a fun fact about me is that I can stick my tongue to my nose," I say, feeling a bit silly but also playful."Really?" he asks, clearly intrigued
I wake up to a loud knock on my door, groaning as I rub my eyes with my hands, trying to shake off the sleep. Slowly, I push myself up from the cozy warmth of my bed, feeling the weight of exhaustion on my shoulders. I shuffle over to the door, open it, and there stands Rebecca, practically glowing with a wide grin plastered across her face. "It’s my wedding day!!" she exclaims, her excitement practically radiating off her. I let out a heavy sigh, a mix of happiness for her and sheer tiredness. I really want to celebrate with her, but all I can think about is how much I need more sleep. So, I start to turn back toward my bed, hoping to catch a few more minutes of rest. But Rebecca, quick as lightning, steps in front of me, her eyes sparkling. "It’s my wedding day!!" she exclaims again, her enthusiasm unwavering. I smile back at her, trying to muster some energy. "I know, and congratulations! But I really need some more time to sleep; I wasn’t able to sleep at all last night," I admit