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Chapter 61
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2025-02-25 00:38:03
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My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 62
James's POVAmanda reminded me of an inauspicious past — a past I buried under three decades of achievement and hard work. Actually, seeing her was like being dragged back to a hurricane I escaped.The kind of book wrote about, was our college romance. Amanda drew you in as well; a magnetic personality that was hard not to notice and even harder to forget. She possessed this way of gaining attention very effortlessly, her intelligence Which she never flaunts, but still towers over everyone. Everyone gravitated towards her, including me.So, it seemed like fate when we crossed paths. Amanda had believed in me like no one else ever did. I was nothing more than a typical college kid with unrealistic aspirations, but Amanda made me feel as if those aspirations were not just possible they were a guarantee. We were best friends - going together like peaches and cream - pulling all-nighters, taking road trips on a whim.You can picture a future with her. We discussed it so frequently — what
Last Updated : 2025-02-25My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 63
Amanda's POVJames' leaving still echoed in my head the way a forlorn old tune would play, in endless, torturing repetition. Not only did he leave at that moment, but the manner in which he had left. His voice had no hesitation; there was not even a flicker of doubt in his coldy grey eyes, as he turned his back on everything we had built. His words were knives that sliced deeper than not blades ever could, creating wounds within my soul that never healed."Amanda, you are suffocating me. I need space."Suffocating? Even still, the accusation jolted through me with rage and hurt. Suffocating him? I had loved him, no given him every thing that I could give. My career, my dreams—gone. I traded each one freely because I believed in us, in the possibilities we could create. I had contorted the shape of my life to match his, bending and shattering parts of me so that I could be the woman he wished for. I had drawn him into me so completely that I was left with nothing more to give, like a c
Last Updated : 2025-02-25My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 64
Rosa's POVThere were things about Amanda and her sudden re-appearance in my life that made me uncomfortable, but I couldn't really identify why. Not boisterous, aggressive; shouting or forceful. No her heft came by just walking in the door with all grey eyes on you, an atmospheric cloud sure to linger heavily above us all of our days in Topeka. The distant rumble of James's past that I never quite heard became vibrant and clear in mind. Her words echoed in my brain, an endless loop—Jamesi will always be mine—but that was not all it was. The way she looked at him, as if she still owned a little piece of him, that her heart was still somehow tied to his by an invisible thread that the constant turning of the world could not break.Perhaps it was the imagination of a sick mind, but the apartment seemed colder than usual. I could sit at the edge of that couch with my hands integrated into each other, knuckles bleached from exertion. James wandered around the room, leafing through papers
Last Updated : 2025-02-25My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 65
James's POVThe constant battering of the storm that was Amanda would not pass, and it tore at the flimsy structure Rosa and I built. And each interaction with her was a challenge, a twisted rewrite of my old mistakes, and all the collateral damage they had wrought. That nagging blackmail behind half a smile and the cool precision of a whisper that should have never left her lips—it was apple pie on warm summer nights, laid upon whipped cream laced with poison—it drove me, pushed me to my limits.Tonight was no different.Her arms crossed, head tilted as if with a smug assurance before me. She was an edge, the soft glow of the streetlight outside framed her in shadows, but nothing could dull the hardness of her shape. Amanda had a knack for filling up space, twisting the air around her until it felt thick and stifling.I lowered my voice and said, Leave Rosa alone, Amanda. But even I could hear the strain in his voice, the barely-restrained anger boiling just underneath.The same smil
Last Updated : 2025-02-25My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 66
James povOne could never shake that feeling of unease. It was like a second skin, always just this much away from me, a palpable reminder of Amanda’s relentless penetration into our lives. But the truth, I learned quickly, is that part of her — let alone all of her — can never be locked inside a dark corner of your mind. Having her in my life was like a storm—wild, crazy and terrible, turning both my life —and Rosa's upside down.The time was late at night, in the dim light of the living room, shadow filled on walls. Rosa sat opposite me, with her own arms wrapped around her torso as if to keep warm, but I had always found place in Rosa's bosom. It killed me to see her like this, Amanda had stripped the confidence right out of her.I took a deep breath and ran a hand through my hair. I finally spoke after a long silence, “Amanda is toxic. The words were heavy and felt like an admission of defeat. "She won't stop until we are all dead.Rosa gazed up at me then, blue eyes fiercely dete
Last Updated : 2025-02-25My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 67
Rosa’s povAll of this other drama spilled out on to our lives, expecially Amanda's, and was hitting close to home, when I realized that I needed to take charge of my own story. Way too long as a fractal of desecrated dimensions, twisting and twirling in winds surrounding my senses. I dealt with my families expectations, then James's baggage, and today Amanda's never-ending folly. Somewhere between the years of raising kids and worrying about bills and life, I had forgotten who I was–what drove me or what made me happy.One night, as the last light sunk low in the sky, sizzling hot through our windows like melted honey in August, and I was sitting next to James on a couch. There was an unsaid yet tangible pressure of the last couple weeks between us.I said, my heart racing, but I remained calm. “I need some space.”He widened his gray eyes, and I could see a brief flash of hurt play across his face before he wiped the expression clean. He stared at me for what seemed like an eternity
Last Updated : 2025-02-25My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 68
Rosa’s povI paused for a second to inhale and I chose the example of forgiving James. His history was far from simple, with a flawed past littered with missteps and deep regrets that had shaped the man he was today. Nobody was perfect — least of all me — and I could no longer harness the burden of past lineages to stall my travel. We had held each other mustered some wounds but then again imparting even poison is sought to die first on the side of the one who administers it.I forgave you, James. I repeated the words smoothly but with a heart slightly lighter. "But understand, my business is where I am so focused right now. My focus on it is something I have come too far for to allow anything to distract me from it.His expression softened, the tension in his body visibly released. The tightness in his body released, and for the first time in forever I saw the man whose heart I'd once held—defenseless, but hopeful.Because of that moment, he could barely choke out the words,Thank you
Last Updated : 2025-02-25My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 69
James povIndeed, there was a buzz in the air that day in Rosa's Boutique that I had not felt for years. There was a thin light coming through the high windows, revealing racks full of bright fabrics and stitches. Every piece almost bore Rosa’s signature, an amalgamation of strength and sophistication sewn with perseverance and a thread of love. More than just a shop, the boutique was a refuge. The women entered nervously, but the next moment strutted out surely wearing Rosa's designs like queens.I got wrapped up in the scene, watching Rosa strut about her home, confidence surrounding her like sunshine. Adjusting a display here, talking to a customer there, her laughter enveloping in warmth. The sanctuary was hers, her world that had been handcrafted. And I felt so proud in that moment, not just for her but for the journey that led us to those chairs.Rosa's shop was doing ever so well, a reflection of her cunning nature and brilliance. And for me, it was always more than a business.
Last Updated : 2025-02-25
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My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 117
James’s PovThere was a charged air, electricity hanging in the atmosphere — waiting for a spark. The energy in the room was palpable—anticipation, excitement, and disbelief. Rosa was pregnant with twins. Our twins. Years of love, toil and growth had built up to this moment, it was almost surreal in its enormity.I scanned the room to find our friends, family and colleagues filling up the venue for the grand opening of The Harden Family Foundation —the foundation we had worked so hard to build. This initiative was something we had both cooked up, helping young entrepreneurs and artists with the tools needed to build their dreams. This was the beginning of our next chapter, a one that would create an impact much larger than we ever could alone.Still, all of that felt secondary now to the fact that Rosa was mere hours away from delivering. Her body had been through so much already, the ability to carry this pregnancy now along with everything else—it was nothing short of a miracle. Yes
My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 116
James’s PovWatching all those little kids in their funny caps and gowns from the back of the auditorium felt strange. It filled me with a combination of pride, nostalgia and disbelief. Emma, our daughter with the wobbly knees walking into her first day at school was long gone. She was at the threshold of something more—her life. And it was happening literally in front of me.Rosa was next to me with her hand resting lightly on my arm, staring at Emma as she stood in front of the podium. I could almost taste her tension, the pride and love she'd been brewing there for more years than I could count. The moment was not only for Emma. It was ours. We had forged this, together, following our lead, with us being there to support and love her through her trials, and victories. And here she was now, standing ready to address an auditorium full of people, preparing to tell the world what she needed them to hear.My heart raced with anxiety as Emma walked to the mic. She was steady, composed b
My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 115
James’s PovThe day had been a long one. Too long, in fact. With the business problems, Bethel came back, and was still looking for whoever had started messing with Rosa's designs—my brain was like a one-person track team going around in circles. Through all those storms there had been one constant—Rosa. She was the peacekeeper, the nucleus of everything that revolved around it.That evening when she entered with a pale face, an absent look in her eyes, I knew something was wrong. I recognized the expression, my mind saying to keep it together baby girl as though something heavy was on her. Not that she needed to say anything. Not even for a moment did I doubt that always in the air, there was tension.“Hey, what’s wrong?” I said, putting down the coffee cup. Not waiting for an answer, I knew that she needed to talk and I was all ears.But what she would open her mouth and say next would leave me breathless.“I’m pregnant.”My initial reaction was disbelief. I found it hard to take in
My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 114
Rosa’s PovThose next few weeks were a series of meetings, lack of sleep, and questioning. Bethel had returned to the family home for some time, looking for a sense of stability. Yet, she was merely rebuilding things in her life — There lay an ambiguous journey the next. The search didn't let up for whoever was leaking our designs and the business was feeling that heat. Yet all that remained unchanged, despite the ruckus swirling around us, was James and I locked in as teammates who would bounce forth whatever lurked next.But while the storm raged on we did something weird — something that felt like a cosmic nudge in my direction to say life was still happening literally throughout all this.I had missed a few periods. I initially presumed it was stress. I had hectic days behind me and felt a whole range of emotions. But as days passed, a subtle dread grew in the belly of my stomach.So I grabbed the phone, called my doctor's office. They were able to squeeze me in the next morning f
My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 113
Rosa’s PovThe first days in the world after moving out of my family home, was like a strange kind of birth. I had reconciled my past and was okay with it, now I would get on with my life. The burden that held me down was finally removed. But as life likes to teach us, we donÕt get change without a fight.The first of many challenges hit James and me while we were sitting at our favorite restaurant, enjoying dinner together. Suddenly, there was a little buzz on the table where his phone was resting. His eyes scanned the words on it, narrowing as he read a message.“What’s wrong?” I half asked, my fork freezing in the air, the pleasant buzz of the restaurant dulled.James, with clipped vocals, replied: "It's about Bethel."I had put my fork down; I could hear the tension behind his voice. And his sister, Bethel, had always been the wild card of the Harden bunch—free-spirited, reckless and bold. Yet lately, she had been making more than a couple of bad choices.“What happened now?”"Of
My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 112
Rosa’s PovAs we neared the house, which had once been my world, now a rundown old heap. The car came to a slow crawl. I had completely forgotten how much I missed that creak of the tires rolling on the gravel driveway. When I stepped out of the car, a surreal sense of nostalgia and unease washed over me. It was the first time for me back here in years, not since everything had changed. Not since the day I left in search of making a life for myself: so far away from here and all this history that hung around like an echo.“Are you sure about this?” Uh oh what happened James asked down beside me with concern in his voice.I shook my head, probably too fast and grinned at him with a tight smile that was only half reassuring. “Yeah. I think it’s time.”He gazed at me for a second, dark eyes roving over my face, the furrow between his brows growing deeper. He didn't follow up, but I could feel the question line hanging in the air. James had watched me go through hard times over and over,
My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 111
James’s PovThe morning light was spilling through the blinds of my office, casting long shadows on the floor. While outside, the city hummed quietly in comparison to the storm in my brain. I had been expecting this. And I knew that after all we had done together Reginald would never let things like this slide. Defeat was not one of his words–not easily, anyway. So when I saw his name flash on my phone screen bright and early that morning, I knew it meant something.The door opened and Rosa, a placid but attractive figure of a woman always ready to chat broke into my thoughts. The question if she too had seen the message didn’t even need asking. There was already a heaviness between us.I said, and the words came out like an accusation — though I hadn't even finished speaking.Rosa’s gaze hardened. We knew that walking away quietly was not going to be an option for him. What does he want this time?”I sat back in my chair, rubbing the bridge of my nose as I pondered our choices. Such
My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 110
Rosa’s POVOn a lazy Sunday afternoon, Emma surprised me with a question that caught me short. She had just finished her homework and was on the couch with her legs tucked under her, watching TV without really paying attention. Her innocent voice interrupted the soft hum of the house.Someday, at some point in our lives, one of us will ask the question — “Mom, why do you and Dad get married?”I paused, as the shock of words were more impactful than I had anticipated. Emma had never been dull — she always asked the kinds of questions that forced you to consider things in a way you never had before. I knew this day would come, but so early I didn't expect My thoughts were tumbling a bit as I tried to find the most appropriate words; how do you explain the mixed feelings behind our choice, or rather why the decision was not so simple for me or us?I looked at James, who was sitting at the kitchen table reading a newspaper, with his back toward us. His eyes glanced at mine for a split sec
My Enemy Is My Lover Chapter 109
James’s POVIt was something I had always prided myself on: knowing where I came from; understanding the legacy of my family. I thought I knew everything about our wealth, our power, the empire we had created; that little part of my life which I imagined was mine. But when I sat across the table from my mom, her hands shaking a little as she passed me an envelope with a strange, faded insignia ironed on it, I knew just how little knowledge I had.“James,” her voice wavering, she continued “I have to tell you something. The family history around how we came by our money, I guess.I frowned and focused on my breathing. “What do you mean, Mom?”After some delay, she opened the envelope and took out a few creased yellowing sheets of paper. “Of course, I never wanted you to know this but today feels like it could be time. You have to know the real story about your father, about what it took to build the Harden dynasty.I leaned in, heart racing. Decades of effort, well-placed investments,
