Chapter 10Emma rolled her eyes, ignored her brother's words, and continued her chat with Tammie. Unlike other girls, Tammie looked pure, and simple, with the right personality that goes with Collins' cold attitude. Deep down, Emma hoped Tammie would be the one to soothe her brother and heal the deep, dark scars caused by different situations.Emma was a character, who jumped into conversations just to make sure everyone was clutching their stomach, laughing hard. Tammie had one of the best evenings—a perfect dinner with her family, people who love her for who she truly is. Emma gave her a tour of the house, showing her childhood pictures of Collins and his best friend. Her laughter painted the whole room, and when it was time to leave, she was reluctant to kiss them goodbye.“We’re leaving, mother.” Collins gushed, wrapping his arms protectively around Tammie. Emma couldn't stop the smile that threatened to tear her face, “Slow down, brother, she isn't running.” she pointed out.Tamm
Chapter 11Music blasted out the speakers, the sound of glasses and yellings filling the air. Waitresses dressed skimpily walked around with glowing trays of drinks, and the strippers danced with their poles, almost becoming one with it. The neon lights made the room dim, but it didn't stop the adrenaline rushing through people's veins.Tammie pushed some vodka down her throat and groaned, “That hits the spot.” she placed the glass down and poured another, “The bar seems lively today.” she commented, raising her head to stare at Mia, who was replying to a text on her phone, “You don't expect everyone to be a workaholic like you.”Tammie laughed, “Am I the workaholic here? You're replying to emails from work.” she pointed out, taking another sip of her vodka. Mia was Tammie's childhood friend, best friends now. They became closer than sisters, not like Tammie had any. Mia crossed her legs, her thighs coming in full view, “indeed.” she said plainly, bringing a glass of whiskey to her li
Chapter 12: A Perfect Date.Ethan trembled, his eyes bulging, suddenly unable to blink. The sight of Collins Blackwood sucked his breath away, making his pulse race. Collins is a formidable figure, highly respected in the whole city. Crossing his path is like making a death wish, and it seems like Ethan just made his wish by talking to Collins' wife. The sound of his heartbeat thrashed in his ears as a shiver ran down his spine. He pushed his chair back, “I…I need to go.” he stuttered, avoiding Collins' gaze.His frightened reaction brought a smirk on Collins's's lips. He licked his lips and rubbed his palm, “You really need to go, man. There's no telling what I could do if you remain here.” he chuckled, his eyes fixed on Ethan. Ethan swallowed, his chest tightening due to the immense pressure he felt from standing in Collins' presence, “I'll…I'll…” he paused, taking a few steps backward, “Okay.”Mia's jaw dropped, “OMG!” she beamed, watching Collins earnestly. She was only one opport
Chapter 13“Collins, how…how did you find out.” Tammie stuttered as tears gathered in her eyes. Her voice was shaky, a slight pang of pain in her chest, “I've not celebrated my birthday in years.” she whispered, clenching her hands into fists. Ever since the accident, her mother's death, she found no other reason to be happy. It felt unfair to celebrate when her mother wasn't there. She took a few steps backward, staring at the empty cinema, “I…I can't.”Collins took a few steps towards her, “I know.” he said softly, holding her hands in his. He wasn't a rash man who would just make decisions without considering them. He did his research on Tammie the last time she returned home in a dejected mood. He found out about the accident, her fear of blood, and how she hated herself because of her mother's death. However, it was all in the past. He wasn't going to allow her to continue blaming herself forever. “Tammie, you have to let it go.”Tammie shook her head, tears gathering in her eyes
Chapter 14Collins flipped through the pages of a file, his legs crossed as he drank some water. He tapped his finger on the table, thinking about a business deal, and at the same time, Jamie strode in, his shoes striking the tiles softly. Collins raised his head, meeting Jamie's gaze, “What are you doing here?” he asked, leaning backward, “I'm in my office, not a club room. Seal up your bottoms.” he said distastefully.Jamie grinned and tilted his head, “I don't want to.” He shrugged, pulling out a chair to sit. He crossed his legs and leaned forward, “Collins, what the hell happened?” he asked softly, staring at Collins' dark eye bags. He looked like he hadn't slept for days, his skin looked malnourished, his skin pale. Jamie clenched his fists, “I knew marriage was trouble, but I never thought something like this would happen to you.”Jamie's words made Collins chuckle, “Dude, do you think my wife did this to me?” he closed the file and picked another, “do you think she would do th
In the dead of the night, a well built figure walked around with a mask on his face, a dagger carefully sitting on his belt. He pulled his hoodie over his face and sneaked his way in, unnoticed by anyone. He stared at the large building before him and smirked. His boss had asked him to sound a warning to Collins and he had no other idea than torturing Tammie, his woman.The last time he visited, he realized that the couples slept in separate rooms which was quite odd. However, It was a bonus for him. He pushed Tammie's room open, the soft click piercing through the dead silence. He pulled out his dagger and walked slowly, becoming one with the darkness. He narrowed his eyes when he saw nothing on the bed, and the next thing he felt was a loud bang on his head.Tammie stared at the still figure on the ground, shaking all over. She dropped the vase to the ground and staggered backwards, running straight to the door. The figure moved slightly, letting out a groan, “You bitch, I might as
Chapter 16Tammie stared at her plate and pushed it away, not in the mood to have some food. The incident last night left her heart hanging, fear seeping into her veins now and then. Since last night, Collins hadn't checked on her. After he met with his men, he left for work the next morning.Tammie had imagined that he felt something, but it seemed like a lie. He was back to his cold, grumpy self. She couldn't go to work because she had to rest, but she wasn't having enough rest at home. Collins invaded her mind, and her thoughts, and everything that occurred last night was deeply buried in her heart, unmoving.She tried to sleep during noon, but the incident kept replaying in her mind—the man's creepy touch, his groans, and the sight of his blood splattered on the ground. It was all real like it was happening for the hundredth time.Tammie let out a breath, running her hands through her hair, frustrated. Staying in this ccrampedspace was doing aa lotto her, messing with her brains.
Chapter 17In a slightly dimmed room, a man could be seen sitting on a couch, his raven dark hair reaching his neck. He weaved his hands through it and let out a breath, followed by a soft, creepy chuckle.If the word “beautiful” was a person, then he could take all the credit. His Hazel eyes were enough to charm anybody’s heart, and his devilishly beautiful face could bring the world to their feet.Sandros carefully tapped his hands on a stool, staring at the glass of wine sitting perfectly on it. He flipped his attention to his subordinate, his gaze enough to pierce through the young man's soul, “What did you find out? Where's Andrew?”His subordinate inhaled a shaky breath, a chill creeping up his spine, “Yes, Master Sandros.” he said calmly, his voice different from his body reaction. His eyes darted around before landing on Sandros, “Collins has him.”Sandros raised a brow and Collins felt an unreasonable amount of pressure on his chest. It was like a huge weight was placed on hi
CHAPTER 29Having a nice sleep wouldn't be the right word to say. For Collins, had the best night of his life. He caressed her face and watched as she batted her eyelashes, about to wake up. Tammie yawned softly, “You're awake?” she blurted out, shocked Collins was up so early. A feeling of death crawled up her skin, “didn't you have a nice sleep?”Collins chuckled softly and pulled her closer, inhaling her scent, “I should be asking you that. Did you have any nightmares?” he asked, staring into her eyes and she shook her head, trapped in his gaze, “No nightmares.”“Likewise.” Collins wanted to say, but he didn't want to worry her. However, Tammie was hell-bent on hearing him talk about his night. He pulled her even closer, his hot breath caressing her skin, “I slept well, Tammie.” he smiled, warmth spreading in his heart.Tammie heaved a sigh of relief and cupped his cheeks, “How about dinner with my dad?” she asked, holding her breath for a response. She stared at Collins, not wanti
CHAPTER 28A slight frown appeared on Tammie's face as a shiver ran down her spine. She took slow strides towards Sandros and stared at him, her sharp gaze piercing through his skin, “I am Mrs Blackwood.” she replied, her voice soft, but strong. Sandros' appearance was intimidating, but Tammie wasn't weak as well. Both of them stared at each other for a few more seconds before Tammie asked, “Have I met you somewhere?”Mia's eyes darted around Sandros and Tammie, carefully watching as they gazed at each other. Sandros had a knowing gaze, but Tammie was trying to recall if she had met the strange man before. Mia parted her lips to speak, but Sandros beat her to it, “Mr. Collins Blackwood is magnificent enough to be known by everyone.” he said, walking further into the flower shop, “finding out who his wife is shouldn't be hard.”Tammie narrowed her eyes, bothered by his words. She tilted her head and forced out a smile, eying him suspiciously, “ Then you must be an acquaintance of my hu
CHAPTER 27Tammie let out a small chuckle, “Father, he's busy with work.” She said, tucking a few strands of her hair behind her ears.Other than focusing on Collins' unreciprocated love, she chose to focus on her father's company and watch it develop. It was an arranged marriage; it was only her fault for expecting something more.If they were to attend the dinner, her father might notice their strained relationship. It was better he never found out about the truth.“Why do I feel like something is going on?” Luke asked, slightly worried, “Tammie, is everything okay?” he asked, holding her hands in his. When Tammie had brought up the idea of having a marriage, he was slightly worried about her. He never wanted her to rush into anything, but it seemed like she loved the man called Collins.Luke never had the chance to have a decent conversation with his son-in-law due to his illness, and now that he was better, Tammie was making excuses, using his work ethic to keep him in place.Tamm
CHAPTER 26Tammie couldn't wrap her head around the fact that Collins had slept on her bed last night with his arms tightly wrapped around her waist. She could still feel the hardness of his chest, how warm his arms felt, and his intoxicating scent still lingered in the air.Collins was so perfect, he could be referred to as a Greek god.Tammie tightened her grip on her fork and raised her head to take a peep at him. She had confronted him this morning, but he simply shrugged and called it a mistake. With each passing second, she found his actions even more strange.Collins carefully replied to some emails while having a glass of coffee, “Have you had enough?” he asked, his gaze still fixed on his phone.Tammie's fork dropped to the table as a short gasp escaped her lips, “Had enough of what?” she blurted out, picking up her fork, “Haven't even started.”Collins pressed his lips together and smiled, “Then continue staring then.” he said, downing the rest of the coffee before leaving f
CHAPTER 25“Mia, this place is beautiful!” Tammie squealed, wrapping her arms around her best friend. Her gaze traveled across the flower shop—the ivy plants and the silk arrangement of flowers in their vases. Tammie closed her eyes, inhaling the sweetness of greenery, soil, and petals, “this must have cost a fortune.” she smiled, tracing a rose with the tip of her fingers.Mia crossed her arms and smirked, “spent all my life saving on this shop.” she said, taking slow strides towards some vases to clean them, “I hope I'll start making sales.”Tammie sat down on a small couch and closed her eyes to relax, “I know you will.” she smiled, licking her lips, “This place is magnificent. I got mesmerized immediately when I stepped in.” she said, proud of her best friend.Mia just got into town a few weeks ago, and now, she was about to start making a living. Most girls of her age would continue living off their parents, but Mia was the independent type. Fierce and bold. Not afraid of anythin
CHAPTER 24“Are we there yet?” Sandros asked, staring at his fingers as his driver stepped on the accelerator, speeding down the highway. The breeze ruffled his hair, caressing his scalp and a smile slowly appeared on his face, “Hurry. I need to make a deal with Olivon.” he said, closing his eyes to relax.A few minutes later, the car came to a stop at a popular nightclub. Sandros' subordinate alighted from the car and helped him with the door. Sandros placed a foot on the ground before placing the other, “get the stuff.” he ordered, smoothening his crumpled shirt. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one up, “Don't waste my time, Matthew.”Matthew jogged, opened up the car trunk, and pulled out the stuff. He held the suitcase protectively, checking left and right as he walked after Sandros. His master, Sandros, should be referred to as the most ruthless man in the whole city. He was cruel, heartless, and most importantly, thirsty for more wealth. He was extreme
Chapter 23Tammie watched as Collins strolled in with a journal in his hands, but like always, she ignored him and continued brewing her coffee. His actions yesterday had surprised her, and the fact that he got jealous over a man's jacket alone was annoying. She mixed her coffee with a spoon and walked towards the couch, “You're back.” That was all she said, and Collins nodded stiffly, still thinking about the first sentence written in that journal.He felt like Wills was giving him a chance to settle things with his wife and improve their relationship, but how was that supposed to help him sleep better? He inhaled a deep breath and walked towards her, “Do you feel better?” his cold voice warmed Tammie up and her grip on her cup tightened. She took some mouthfuls of the coffee and flashed a smile, “As you can see, I'm quite alright.”Collins nodded before ascending the stairs, his lips pressed together in deep thought. He placed the journal on his bed, and loosened up his tie, before
Chapter 22For ages, we've been told that the monsters are underneath our beds, hiding in the darkness only to come out during our rest time. However, as Collins grew, he realized there was no such thing as a monster beneath the bed.The real monster was locked up in his heart, haunting and terrorizing him during the nighttime. The gruesome memories and the torturous past were his monsters, the vulnerable part of him he so much wanted to hide from others.In a white room, Collins crossed his legs and leaned backward, closing his eyes as he listened to Wills’ rants,“I’ve told you countless times, only take two pills whenever you're about to sleep!”“You've been feeding your body with so much that now you're addicted.”“Now, the pills no longer work for you.” Wills spat, his body trembling from anger. He was Collins' therapist for several years, but Collins was still fighting the same battle, unable to overcome his nightmares due to a traumatizing event that happened several years ago.
Chapter 21“Ginger and garlic soup.” Collins forced a smile and scooped some soup with the spoon, “You're down with a fever. You need it to get better.”Tammie's eyes widened in shock at the sight of Collins. He was sitting next to her, smiling like nothing ever happened. The distasteful smell of garlic wafted into her nose and she groaned, turning away, “What happened to me?” she asked softly, her voice strained as she leaned on the wall, “And why are you here?”Collins simply stared at her, the soup turning warm, “You fainted while having a bath.” His words echoed in her ears and she trembled, her gaze traveling down her legs. She swallowed nervously and stared at her exposed arms, “What the hell happened?” She shrieked, fear evident in her features, “Did…did you carry me in here?”“Were you expecting the butler to carry you instead?” Collins asked with a chuckle, “Or you expect me to allow you to drown?” He placed the spoon back in the bowl and raised the whole bowl, “Would you ret