“Amara! What a surprise?!” Anna grabbed Amara by the hand and pulled her in a hug pushing past Adrian who glared at Amara. There was a hidden promise in his eyes that made Amara want to run for hills.Adrian gave her his infamous cold glare as Anna obliviously pulled Amara in. Amara noticed another presence stepping out of the elevator. Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she felt a chill running down her spine.Abigail smirked. “Amara. Long time no see.” His politeness seemed like a mockery as Amara managed a small smile which further pissed Adrian who groaned in distaste and let out a frustrated sigh. Amara felt disgust ripping through her skin as Abigail looked suggestively at her. But that’s not what she was worried about. Adrian scared her more. “Let’s go in,” Adrian mumbled without taking his eyes off her. She nodded and Anna followed them. The living room was chilling and Amara realised how much she suddenly missed the warmth Rhys’s home provided her. Shruggi
“Now you’re trying to seduce my friend too?” Adrian grabbed Amara by the neck and slammed her hard against the wall as soon as Anna and Abigail left. Amara felt her windpipe breaking as her eyes automatically watered. She tried to shake her head only for him to grab her by the hair as he pushed her down on the floor. Her head hit the sharp corner of the coffee table and she winced. Before she could process, Adrian crouched down and grabbed her by the neck once again. His eyes screaming at her with so much anger and jealousy. Fear gripped Amara's eyes, widening them in terror as Adrian's hand closed around her neck tightly, a stark realization of danger etched across her face. “Adrian…it’s not like…” Adrian raised his hand and struck her across the face. A momentary silence engulfed her. The flickering lights above her cast shadows around her and with trembling hands, she slowly touched her cheek where he hit her. Her heart shattered so did her life. Every comforting word he had
Amara fought against the heaviness of her eyelids, attempting to open them only to be met with resistance. ‘No!’ Her voice echoed in her head as her head pounded with sharp pain. Turning on her side as she groaned, She grappled with the wish to see, but her eyes seemed reluctant to comply. A wave of obliviousness engulfed her, momentarily shielding her from the memories of what happened before he lost her conciseness. Breathing heavily, she scrunched her nose, feeling another sharp pain ripple through her head. Her hand fisted her hair, seeking comfort amid distress. As she struggled through the haze, memories crashed into her mind like a relentless storm. The names echoed with a mix of familiarity and dread – Adrian, Abigail. A chilling shiver crawled down her spine as she recoiled from the vivid memory of his belt. Her head throbbed with pain. The sensation of her insides being ripped out intensified, and panic gripped her. A haunting echo of her scream lingered in the back of
Amara recognised those magnetic grey orbs instantly. How couldn’t she when those eyes tormented her nights and ruled her days? The tension in her body was replaced with something unknown, even to her. "R-Rhys?" She muttered in shock not believing her eyes. Why was he here? Did he kidnap her? Rhys raised his brow, jerking her by the wrist making her gasp as he pulled her to his chest wrapping his arm carefully around her waist trying not to touch her wounds. The impact had her stumbling into his arms. Before she could move, he locked her arms behind her back. "What-what are you doing!?” she struggled. "I like this fiery version of yours, little one. But there's only little much I can endure." His words sent shivers down her spine, and she gasped as he deftly twisted her wrist, causing her body to pivot. Her back met his chest, and despite her attempted resistance, her legs flailed in a futile kick. Swiftly overpowering her, he pressed her onto the bed, his right knee trapping her w
“But I’ll let you have freedom for a day. Gather your thoughts, make your decisions, and when the day tomorrow ends, you’ll find me right here. But under different conditions.” Rhys mumbled against her lips—separated by an inch distance yet close enough to breathe in her scent. “You’ll be under me. Not standing.” He whispered and pulled away. Amara took a deep breath she was holding as his warmth pulled away. The thoughts swirled like a storm within her. It wasn’t like she wanted to go to Adrian after what he did to her, but a rational part of her knew how wrong this was. Staying with Rhys, who was equally morally grey, was far more dangerous than anything. For her heart and her mind. He played with her like his favourite toy, teasing her, making her feel butterflies and whatnot, and then, he took a step back, leaving her begging and panting for more when she knew she shouldn’t ask. What was happening to her? It mustn’t be what she thought it was. “Don’t have any ideas of running
After bandaging her wounds, Martha brought something to eat for Amara. The freshly made risotto and pesto pasta seemed as delicious as it sounded. Martha helped Amara sit on the bed and gently placed the plate on the bed. She told Amara that she had been unconscious for two days. “What? Two days?” Amara’s eyes widened. Martha placed a glass of milk and some medicines on the bedside table. Before placing some of the books that Amara usually used to read when she was living here, Martha also put some fresh flowers in her room. “Yes, you were unconscious when Master De Luca brought you here,” Martha confirmed with a nod of her head.“Oh…” Amara wondered how bad her condition must be to be unconscious for two days. Then she recalled the way Adrian was seething at her and called her names. Amara felt her chest tighten at the thought. The man he trusted more than anything caused her an immense amount of pain. She thought he’d be her soulmate, yet he seemed like a man who was self-centr
Amara quickly turned around and stared at her back in shock. Not even a single inch of skin was showing. Her whole back was covered in bandages. And to her horror, the dress was backless. The front wasn’t decent either. The deep neckline that almost spilt most of her chest and the short length that exposed her legs. Her cheeks flamed at the realisation. Did Rhys see her like this last night? Shame infused within her. Grabbing the sink, she took deep breaths. Calm down, she shouldn’t panic like this. It was probably too dark for him to see her like this, right? He wouldn’t have caught anything inappropriate, right? She tried to assure herself knowing damn well that the design of the dress wasn’t as scandalous as the things he did to her. Taking a deep breath, she focused on the task at hand. She found two new toothbrushes, a razor, and a toothpaste placed in the holder. Amara frowned. Why was a razor here? Someone must have kept it by mistake. She brushed her teeth and did her mo
The door knob twisted and the sound had Amara turn around. She watched as Martha entered. A small smile resting on her lips. Amara smiled back. “Good morning. How are you?”“That should be my line.” Martha rolled her eyes and Amara giggled like a child as she helped Martha placing the tray of food on the bedside table. “Here, eat your breakfast. I’ll bring your medicines.” Martha said and Amara nodded like an obedient child. Martha smiled and walked to the door. Amara’s stomach growled at the sight of food as she dipped the spoon into the warm soup and was about to scoop up the rest when she heard it. The familiar click of the lock. Frowning she looked at the closed door for a moment. Did she lock it? Something panic swept through her as she confusedly moved the tray aside and moved towards the door, hoping it might be all her paranoia. Martha wouldn’t lock the door. But when she grabbed the knob and twisted it, her frown deepened.“Why is it locked?” She mumbled to herself. Frown
A lush garden filled with vibrant flowers and towering trees. In the centre lies a small, serene grave adorned with a single peony. Rhys with a weathered face and gentle eyes, slowly approached, his steps heavy with the weight of memories. Raindrops fell softly, casting a melancholic veil over the scene.He smiled down at the grave and replaced the weathered Peony with a new one. “Another day, my doll.”With trembling hands, he delicately placed a fresh peony on the grave, its petals glistening with raindrops. He knelt beside it, his movements slow and deliberate. Sitting beside the grave, he gazed at it with a mixture of longing and acceptance.Twenty-five years have passed and he still couldn’t fill the void in his chest.He looked up at the sky and closed his eyes. Can you feel the rain, my love? It's as if the heavens weep with me.He reached out, his fingers brushing against the cold stone of the grave. A soft smile graced his lips as he recalled memories long past.“Do you remem
TWO MONTHS LATERRhys focused his attention carefully on the picture in his hand, slowly analyzing each detail captured within it, memorising it. His face remained void of any noticeable emotion, leaving his inner sentiments hidden from his friend’s eyes. However, Lorcan despite this, managed to catch a fleeting glimpse of longing and despair that momentarily flickered across Rhys’s dark eyes. It was an invisible twitch of his jaw and a subtle clenching of his fist that Rhys was attempting to hide. Lorcan instinctively lowered his gaze, avoiding direct eye contact with him, before repeating his previous words.A bouquet of soft pink peonies was on his lap. The one he'd never forget to bring. “Doctors said we can shift her-“ He started looking pitifully at Rhys. The man destroyed Francis and Abigail in days, and his brother behind bars, but couldn’t save his destination.“She’ll come back, right?” Rhys mumbled caressing the picture in hand. It was of them, as children.“Of course…” Lo
Two weeks laterNo matter if I am alive or not, you must always be with me, residing inside me. If I were to face death, my only wish is to spend my final moments in your arms, Amara. Whenever the rain troubles you, consider me as the raindrops. And when the warmth of the sun touches your feet, know that it is my essence within those sun rays.Rhys gripped the pen tightly in his hand, his eyes staring in darkness and he watched the stars dissipating behind the clouds in the dark sky. His heart was heavy and his eyes blurred with unshed tears.The chords of his heart were broken, his nights were sleepless. Yet he couldn't stop recalling the last look of panic and concern on her face. He should be happy that she felt something for him, but at what cost? On the verge of losing her...Whom I should ask, Amara? You are not here. Where do I search for your touches of laughter, this world is filled with silences. Where do I find happiness, Amara, when you are not here? I don't know how many
"Fuck, Amara! Don't die on me!" Rhy’s fear was palpable as he carried her inside the car, his growl echoing in the tense atmosphere. The urgency in the air increased when Lorcan swiftly followed suit, his actions mirroring the sound of distant gunshots that pierced through the day."Rhys... Rhys.." Rhys clenched his fists as she muttered through her mouth drawing in deep breaths. Her hand limply slipped through his fingers.Lorcan wasted no time in sliding into the passenger side, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any threats. With a surge of adrenaline, he pressed his foot on the accelerator, causing the engine to roar to life, matching the intensity of their situation.He felt a rush of adrenaline. It was too intense and too overwhelming as he felt sweat trickling down his back."Drive fast!" Rhys muttered as a few cars followed them. Lorcan cursed in Italian and pulled the windows down.Rhys’s concerned gaze fixated on Amara’s complexion, which appeared remarkably pale, while
A sharp agonising pain stung the side of her body as she moaned in pain. She panted as she tried to blink the blurriness away. There was a long silent pause for a moment when a scream left her mouth as her body was jerked forward. Confused and panicked she yelped as she felt something trailing down her arms.Looking down she saw blood oozing down her arms, the pain came afterwards when she realised she had a deep cut over her upper arm. The tattered piece of shirt dug into the wound as she winced at the stinging sensation. Crawling on her legs she pushed herself up as she swayed at the dizziness.With unfocused vision, she breathed heavily trying to stand still but due to weakness and exhaustion, she stumbled a step back before a large pair of hands e flushed her in a warm embrace.There was chaos all around but what stood among them was shooting sounds. Amara felt her heart pounding loudly in her chest as she looked baffled at the person behind her. Her eyes widened as she saw his fa
"Get up." Amara looked confusedly at two men towering over her. Dressed in black clothes and scary tattoos.A deep frown formed on her face, accompanied by a sense of discomfort and unease. Having remained in a stationary state for a long duration of nearly a day or so, her legs had gradually succumbed to a numbing sensation, rendering them almost unresponsive to her commands. Thus, when she attempted to move, her steps were unsteady and unstable, causing her to stumble momentarily. The guard hastily and instinctively reached out, swiftly grasping her arm. With a swift motion, he began to lead her towards the door with an undeniable urgency.A sudden surge of panic forcefully swept over her entire being, overwhelming her senses and plunging her further into a state of trepidation. It was as if a new, more potent wave of fear had washed over her, intensifying the gravity of the situation. As her gaze frantically scanned the surroundings, her eyes inevitably locked with the piercing sta
"YOU PROMISED SHEʼD BE SAFE! YOU FUCKING PROMISED!" Adrian bombarded in Rhys’s office unannounced. Rhys’s jaw ticked a subtle frown of annoyance on his handsome face."And she will be," Rhys said nonchalantly ignoring him. Rhys didn’t pay him any attention, all his focus was on his computer screen where he was looking at the files on Francis. If these filed were to be released in public, Donovon's reputation would be in ashes in less than an hour. "HOW?! YOU LET THOSE FUCKERS TAKE HER!" Adrian slammed his fists on the table as Rhys glared at him. Adrian looked dead in his brother’s eyes, his orbs dilating as his teeth clenched. "You said you won't let anyone touch her again!" Rhys tilted his head, remembering he also sent the video footage to Adrian a day ago, which explained why he was in Spain. The videotape. Ever since Rhys had seen that, he hadn't been able to sleep. The pain and humiliation his little doll went through was bone-chilling. It took every ounce in him to not do s
Amara shrieked in fear, she woke up terrified from the nightmare, her body drenched in sweat. Her heart racing and her hands trembling as she tried to catch her breath, the memory of the terrifying images still fresh in her mind. She didn't understand what she exactly saw a nightmare or twisted fragment of her lost memories. It all seemed too real to be called a mere nightmare.Reality blurred with the remnants of the nightmare, leaving her disoriented and unsure of her surroundings. Anxiety coursed through her veins, a relentless tide threatening to overwhelm her fragile sense of composure. She longed for the comforting embrace of Rhys.Yet, despite her desperate yearning for solace, she found herself hesitating to close her eyes again, afraid of what horrors the night may hold. Each moment of wakefulness was a precarious balance between the desire for rest and the dread of reliving the nightmare's torment. She was scared. Terrified. Top of FormShe patted her cheek when she felt som
He clenched his fists, teeth grinding as he looked down at her unconscious frame. The straps of the dress had slipped down to her shoulder exposing the delicate collar bones. A flash of raging blood flashed through his eyes as his dark eyes zeroed in on the hickeys on her neck descending under her blouse. It infuriated him when he saw Rhys with her, and it angered him more knowing that the bastard had her. So many days without her. "I fucking don't care. I am not backing down." He raised his head ever so gradually as his dark eyes held his Francis. Francis clenched his jaw as he said. "I can kill for her too. And I won't hesitate, not even a bit." Francis let out a frustrated sigh as he ran his hand through his dishevelled hair. He looked at Amara and another stressed breath left his mouth. He was fucked, along with his son. Not only did he mess with Rhys, but Rhys De Luca would also crush them under his feet. ***** Amara woke up with a pounding sensation and dizzy head. The firs