"How long? How much fucking long?!" Adrian ran his hand through his hair as he paced around the room with tensed shoulders. Abigail watched him with concern. It had been two days. Two fucking days and yet no lead. Adrian wasn’t sure what he was looking for anymore. Every lead led to dead end. Even the men he hired to investigate seemed useless. The staff didn’t knew what happened that night, and the guard were scared of Adrian’s rage. This huge mansion clawing at him. How did someone managed sneak into his goddamn house and hurt his wife?! The guards who were supposed to protect the house at that time were quickly fired by Adrian before interrogation. Even the CCTVs around the house were tampered with. Either this was work of someone who was far clever to be a stranger or someone he knew. Too well. And that thought just someone—who might be close to him—did such beastly thing to his wife, enraged him to no point of turning back. Moreover, desp
“It’s…delicious…” Amara mumbled with her mouth stuffed with cheese sandwiches. The mayonnaise smeared on her lips as she moaned in bliss. Martha smiled at her adorable reaction. She couldn't help but join in on the indulgence, grabbing a sandwich of her own and taking a bite. Though the sandwiches Martha made were simple—cheeses and grated veggies—but as Amara munched like a child, Martha was happy just by watching her eat. There was something about Amara that pulled Martha to her. Like a child, innocent and naive, who would look for happiness in little-little things. It had been only few days but Martha found herself drawing to her beauty and kindness. Perhaps it was the way Amara's eyes sparkled when she smiled, or the warmth in her voice when she spoke.Her smile broader when Amara went for another sandwich. “Wow…they’re amazing!” Amara eyed the sandwiches as it was the last meal she was going to have. Martha was happy she made plenty to feed her. As she watched Amara devour the s
The next few days blurred into one another, like watercolour strokes blending on a canvas. Amara found peace in the simplicity of her days, losing herself in the vibrant swirls of paint she spent hours on and the comforting presence of Martha. Her emotions remained stormy, but amidst the chaos, she was slowly discovering ways to piece herself back together. Sometimes he’d wake up and find herself in an unfamiliar room, strange and lonely. Yet, as the days passed, she started relying more on her conscience than her fears. And strangely, whenever Rhys was home, the nightmares were less frequent. She’d feel someone beside her bed every night, dreamily stroking her hair, running their gentle fingers on her delicate skin. But when she’d open her eyes, the bedside would be empty. There would be lingering coldness left on her skin. She’d wonder if she once again imagined things. But the wrinkled sheets on the other side, how could she possibly imagine them? Moreover, the chilling sensat
Rhys growled throwing his phone on the passenger seat, his head spinning with both fury and white-hot rage. He underestimated Francis. Not only he lost two of his shipments worth billions but now the bastard was making a council to throw Rhys off the underworld. Rhys almost pitied the man. He’d make him scream and cry when he’d get his hands on her. Slowly killing him and torturing every single council member who dared to go against him. There were two rules Rhys go by—never have mercy on his enemies. And second—always follow the first rule. Rhys knew the day he stepped foot in this mafia world that this was not going to be easy, and he was not the boy to do easy things. He preferred challenges, thrilling and dangerous ones. And his trust in himself brought him near the pillars of success, as most feared man in underworld and worldwide. He had both the looks and money to buy anything, with just a flick of his fingers. Women, cars, houses, buildings, he could even buy those two lost
The ride to the mansion was torturous with his protective grip on her thigh as he drove with one hand on the steering wheel. Amara could feel him seething underneath the cold mask of his expressions. She swallowed hard, feeling scared for some reason. She was scared cause she didn’t knew what would happen to Martha, but other than that, Amara was strangely calm. Throughout the ride, her thoughts now and then moved to Martha. Was she alright? Her eyes widened as she gulped fidgeting with her fingers on her lap. Rhys's grip on her upper thigh loosened slightly as he absent-mindedly caressed the skin. His platinum ring shone under the moonlight as his long fingers glided over her flesh.The action was so intimate and lingering that it made her wonder if Rhys was doing it intentionally or was it just a gesture of his possessiveness. It took him more than an hour to reach the mansion. As they neared, her heart did backflips. From the distance, the mansion seemed quite–calm before the sto
Rhys paced around the room worked up. He regretted it. How could he be so blinded by his desires and anger that he hurt her? Again. Rhys felt like he just ripped his own heart apart. He shredded it in millions of pieces and each piece was now piercing his skin. He ran his hand through his hair sighing loudly as his eyes moved to Amara. She was asleep, after crying and screaming for more than an hour. He didn’t know what triggered her panic, but he knew he was the one to blame. With a heavy heart, he averted his eyes from her and walked to the window. Looking up at the night sky, he wondered what could have happened to Amara for her to be so scared and anxious. Adrian hadn’t told him anything, he just said she was in an accident, and at that moment too Rhys felt like dying. But now he knew there was more than it looked. There was no way she’d have nightmares—same nightmares—and the words she repeated. Pulling out his phone he dialled the only number who could answer him. The call co
Amara woke up with a sharp headache and heavy chest. A hazy film of dilemma lingering over her head as she blinked her eyes open. For a long moment, she took her time looking at the time and remembering what happened before she fell asleep. Just like someone poured cold water on her, her whole body suddenly froze. She did not fell asleep, in fact she fainted. She couldn’t remember what really caused her to pass out, but only thing was going on in her mind. Martha. Amara scolded herself for being so careless. How could she forget about Martha? Overtaken by the anxiousness, she quickly swung her legs off the bed when the door of her room opened. Amara stilled, shocked and taken off guard before she knew, she was tearing up and tried to stand up only to limply fall back on the bed. “Hush, hush! Everything’s fine, my child. See, I’m here.” Martha mumbled embracing Amara and rubbing her back. Amara held tightly onto Martha.“I thought…I thought…” Martha rubbed her back, telling her Rhy
Amara spends two days in her room, completing the painting. On the morning of the second day, she found herself wide awake staring a the ceiling lost in her thoughts. Last night, she once again had the same nightmare but this time, it was not just a nightmare, she saw Rhys in her dream, as her knight in shining armour. Her feelings for him were confusing and yet she couldn’t understand them wholly. The next day was warm and sunny unlike the last few gloomy days and she was more than ecstatic to roam in the gardens."This is so much fun!" Amara giggled. "Is it now?" Martha said looking over at Amara. The young girl looked so carefree and happy. Once again today, Martha had tied Amara’s hair in a braid bun, but today there were no flowers. She still managed to look ethereal and angelic. "I wonder when they’ll grow…" Amara pouted looking down at the freshly planted plants. Martha rolled her eyes. "They’re still babies. Just like people they also need care and nurturing to grow." Swea
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