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
Prologue:HE observed the couple dancing in the middle of the large hall. A delicate Cabernet wine glass in his right hand while his cold eyes drink the sigh in front. The masquerade party of this year was not amusing to him—not at all, but the view in front of him sure was. A light smirk touched the corner of his lips as a thought crossed his mind before looking at the other man sitting beside him. "You think it was right to let them meet again? Are you not afraid he will take her away from you once he recognizes her?" Lorcan asked bobbing his head at the couple. What came as an answer was only silence of a few seconds but then HE smiled slightly. It would have been a sweet smile, except it wasn't. Lorcan easily spotted the cold dark look in the eyes of his childhood best friend. "He can try. But it won't happen any time soon. Not when she won't agree to go with him." He answered confidently swirling the wine glass in his hand. The way one of the men in front danced with the most b
Adrian had never thought a situation like this would come in his life. Where he’d be vulnerable and on his knees—for a woman. Begging was all he had been doing for the past few days. Kneeling in front of the bed she was lying on, he clasped her bandaged hands between his and prayed repeatedly. “Please god…please god…save her.” The pain and suffering in his voice even made the nurses around him pity him, but the god above was showing no sign of redemption for him. He knew he did not deserve this, he did not deserve her, but the fast pacing of his heart stated otherwise. The constant ringing of her screams in his head bleeding his ears, the look of fear in her eyes tearing him every second he closes his eyes. Even unconscious, she was haunting him. It had been two weeks already. Yet no sign of her regaining consciousness. Adrian didn't blame her though. Considering the state in which he initially found her, he didn't even expect her to make it alive. It was a miracle she made it alive
"How are you feeling now?" She looked up at the man towering over her. His soft brown eyes looked down at her with concern lacing them, lips curled up in a small welcoming smile. Her eyes lowered down to his body, he was wearing a dark blazer over his white shirt and faded blue jeans, a brown leather belt and black formal shoes."I'm....okay," Amara muttered cringing at the way her voice sounded weak, feeling scratchiness in her throat. It had been a few hours since she regained consciousness, but every time she stressed her mind to think, a jolting pain rippled through the nerves that made her head pound. "Do you feel any pain?" Adrian asked, looking genuinely concerned as she shook her head. Except for the physical pain in her knees, legs arms and ribs, she could not feel anything. Strange how even her emotions were perfectly hidden. She did not know what to do. Was she supposed to freak out? Cry? Call for someone? What happened? Who was she? A thousand questions bombarded her. "Ju
Her whole body quivered the moment she stepped out the car. Oddly enough, it wasn't due to the weather, but rather an outcome of her jumbled thoughts running through her mind. The indescribable emotions she experienced were impossible for her to put into words. "Careful, lean on me," Adrian muttered, helping her, his hand unconsciously moving to her waist while with the other he positioned her on the wheelchair the driver pulled out from the back of the car. Amara swallowed feeling dryness in her throat, hands still hadn't stopped shaking as she settled in the chair. “Call Rhys.” She heard Adrian talking to the guard as the latter nodded and disappeared into the house. Now that she was in the open air, the confined air of the car had been replaced with nature's freshness. Her eyes were cautious yet curious as she innocently looked around herself, this was a large ground where the car was parked. Her curious eyes caught the large pool on the left side of the gigantic house, on the sid
"It’s been long since Amara visited us," Mother’s droning voice reached my ears, and I tuned her out as I scanned the room with my eyes before they landed on the dark piercing gaze of my father. He and mother were yet to know what happened to Amara and I was not sure how I’d tell them all this. "How is she doing?” The spoon in my hand almost dropped. I quickly hid my anxiousness with an unbelievably othered face. Amara. I didn't know what I was doing here, I deserved the pain Amara went through, all the times I ignored her, and every fucking rude word I threw her way. The very anguish I made her go through, I deserved to suffer the way she did. No. Not suffer. But die. I remembered the last time I held her in my arms. She was shaking and sobbing so hard, that she felt breakable and small. Last time. The thought squeezed my chest making me slip into darkness for a split second. I tried to ignore the memories suppressed, to continue how I was before her. Carefree. Pronoid. Not in lov
Amara stared at the darkness in front of her–that was all but stained with blood. Her nostrils scrunched holding back the urge to vomit. But the nasty and stale smell was forgotten in an instant when something shuffled behind her. Panicked, she turn around in a blur, her eyes huge and watering. Hands shook as she clutched her sides with a desperate need to get away from this horrific room. Her breathing became more unstable when she realise there was nothing behind her, but a small crack through which a beam of light was coming from. She swallowed the anxiousness and took an involuntary step towards the source of brightness, heart beating like crazy and senses all jumbled up. The silence engulfed. Sweat tickled down her back and forehead as she clutched onto the little hope of safety. As she moved closer, the light become more visible making she let out a relieved sigh. But it was short-lived as you felt something wet beneath her feet all of sudden. Panic was soon to seize her and s
The breakfast was a lot more awkward. She couldn't handle the piercing gaze of the man sitting in front of her filled with intensity that she was unfamiliar with. Less than an hour ago, she was in his arms. Crying and balling her eyes out. But now, Rhys acted like this never happened. His impassive and unbothered expressions bothered her to the extent she forget about the food in front of her. There was a little curiosity inside her. Ducking her head her hair curtained her face from his gaze. The food tasted as good as she remembered, the toast with freshly squeezed orange juice with a good portion of fruits. She found it quite frustrating to realise he wasn’t as affected as her. Awkwardly bitting at the toast, she glanced at him once again. He looked as magnificent as she remembered. Grey eyes—mysterious and unique blend of emotions, while his dark navy suit added four moons to his already authoritative presence. Rhys hardly touched his food, his sole focus snatched away by the w
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