SHAWNAThe moment the bail papers were signed, Damien was already pacing like a caged lion. His voice came out sharp and cold. "Get out of my sight, Shawna. You and your lover." The word dripped with disgust. "Go home. I don't want to see either of you again."I flinched, but I didn’t say a word. I knew better than to argue with Damien when he was like this. Liam gently took my arm, guiding me toward the exit. We left the station in silence, his grip steady, but I could feel the tension in every step.When we got home, I called my mom immediately, desperate to hear her voice. “Mom, it’s over. The bail went through. We’re out.”“Oh, thank goodness,” she breathed, and I could hear her relief. “Are you okay? Where are the kids?”“They’re fine. We’ll be home in a few minutes.”By the time we pulled up, the kids were already waiting at the door. My mom ushered me inside, her arms wide open. “Come here,” she said, wrapping me in a tight hug.“I’m okay, Mom,” I whispered, but my voice cracke
SHAWNADamien’s hand rested lightly on my shoulder as he led me outside. His touch was supposed to be comforting, but all it did was remind me of the chaos my life had become.“Shawna, calm down,” he started, his voice soft but firm.I yanked my arm away, my frustration boiling over. “Calm down? Damien, don’t tell me to calm down when everything’s falling apart!”He sighed, running a hand through his hair, his face etched with concern. “That’s why we’re talking. I need you to see the reason. Your aunt…”“Don’t you dare bring her up!” I snapped, spinning around to face him. My chest was heaving, and I could feel the heat of anger rising in my cheeks. “If Eugene and her mother hadn’t barged into my life, none of this would’ve happened! None of it! I wouldn’t be in this mess, and I sure as hell wouldn’t be dragged into Stacey’s madness!”Damien raised his hands in a placating gesture. “I know you’re upset, but—”“But what, Damien?” I interrupted, my voice cracking. “What is there to reas
STACEYThe moment I stepped into my penthouse, my phone buzzed incessantly, but I ignored it. My focus was on the mess at hand. Eugene had slipped through our fingers, and I was fuming. I slammed my bag onto the glass table, and the sound echoed in the silent room.A man, sitting calmly on my couch, raised an eyebrow at my outburst. "I take it things didn’t go as planned?""They lost her!" I snapped, pacing back and forth. "How incompetent can they be? They let Eugene escape, and now she’s out there, God knows where probably plotting something!"The man didn’t react much, just leaned back, crossing his legs. "And you’re sure it was a clean break? No one saw her?"I glared at him. "That’s not the point! The point is they let her go! I told them to keep an eye on her, and they couldn’t even manage that!""Relax," he said, in a tone that made my blood boil even more. "You’ve still got Damien, don’t you? Isn’t he the whole reason you’re doing this?"I took a deep breath, trying to calm do
KYLEI leaned against the door, watching the scene between Damien, Stacey, and my father unfold with mild disinterest. These dramatic exchanges had become routine, and I was tired of being caught in the middle of their endless tug-of-war. Stacey was barking out retorts like her life depended on it, while Damien’s father looked ready to burst a blood vessel. It was all predictable until I noticed Damien’s left hand.Twitching.He tucked it behind Stacey as casually as possible, but I’d seen it. Damien’s finger only twitched when he was lying. Always had.What could he be lying about?I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes as I tried to decipher his face. But before I could piece anything together, Damien called a truce and walked off with Stacey into the garden.That evening, I decided to join them.“Mind if I join?” I asked, plopping down on the chair before Stacey could get a word out.Her eyes narrowed into slits, and her lips pressed into a thin line. If looks could kill, I’d be six f
SHAWNAI sat on the couch, my fingers drumming nervously on my lap as Mom sat across from me, her gaze sharp enough to slice through my thoughts. I could feel her impatience radiating across the room.“Well?” she asked, tilting her head slightly and narrowing her eyes. “What did Damien say?”I sighed heavily, leaning back into the cushions. “He hasn’t told me anything yet,” I admitted, my frustration bubbling just under the surface. “He’s…hesitating.”Mom’s frown deepened, and she crossed her arms tightly across her chest. “Hesitating? About what?” she snapped, her voice climbing a notch. “Shawna, this isn’t some casual decision. This is your life we’re talking about! Your safety. The kids’ safety!”“I know!” I shot back, running my hands through my hair. “Do you think I’m not aware of that? He just… he’s not ready to commit to a plan yet. I don’t know what’s holding him back!”Before she could say anything else, Grandpa Bryan cleared his throat from his spot near the window. His calm
SHAWNAKyle was sneaking around, and I wasn’t about to let him ruin everything we had worked so hard to set up.“Are you sure about this?” Liam whispered. His breath fogged in the cold air as he looked at me concernedly.I nodded, my jaw tight. “We can’t let him figure out what’s going on. If he does…”Before I could finish, Kyle took a cautious step away from the car, glancing around like he expected someone to pounce.“Now,” I hissed, grabbing Liam’s arm.We darted out from the shadows, Liam grabbing Kyle by the arm before he could take another step.“What the—!” Kyle yelped, stumbling as Liam’s grip tightened. His face twisted in surprise, his eyes darting from Liam to me. “Shawna? What the hell are you doing here?”I crossed my arms, glaring at him. “I should be asking you the same thing. Why are you sneaking around?”Kyle’s shock quickly morphed into a sly grin. “Sneaking around? Oh, come on. You’re the ones lurking in the dark, pouncing on people like some secret agents. What ar
EUGENEThe moment Kyle’s car taillights disappeared into the night, I turned to Shawna, frustration bubbling in my chest. I couldn’t hold it in any longer.“Why didn’t you just give him the contract?” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. “It could’ve avoided all this mess!”Her head whipped around so fast that I almost took a step back. Her eyes were blazing, and her posture was tense. “Excuse me?” she said, her tone icy. “Risk my company to protect you and your mom? Are you serious right now?”I swallowed hard, but I wasn’t going to back down. “It’s just one contract, Shawna,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “One deal, and he’d have nothing to hold over us anymore.”She let out a bitter laugh, throwing her hands in the air. “Do you even hear yourself, Eugene? One deal? That’s not just a ‘deal’—it’s my business, my reputation! I don’t owe you or your mom anything!”Her words hit like a slap, and I flinched despite myself. I opened my mouth to argue, but she wasn’t done
SHAWNA The moment I stepped through my front door, I slammed it shut, leaning against it to catch my breath. My head spun from the confrontation with Eugene, but I couldn’t dwell on it. There was no way I was risking everything I’d worked for to clean up her mess. Not long after, there was a knock at the door. I groaned, hoping it wasn’t Damien returning to pester me about the contract. Liam and Damien stood there when I opened it, looking serious. “What now?” I muttered, stepping aside to let them in. Liam gave me a small smile. “We need to talk.” I crossed my arms. “If this is about Eugene, save it. I’ve made my decision.” “You’re being stubborn,” Damien said, his tone clipped. “I’m being practical,” I shot back. “Eugene and her mother have done nothing but take advantage of me. Why should I do anything that benefits them?” “Because it’s the right thing to do,” Liam said gently. “You’ve always cared about people, Shawna. Don’t let this change who you are.” I shook m
SHAWNAI watched as Damien loaded the last of the suitcases into the car, his movements quick and efficient. There was something about the way he handled everything that made me smile. He had a way of taking charge, but at the same time, he always made sure I was comfortable with every decision."You know," I said, folding my arms and leaning against the car. "I never thought I'd be this excited to leave. But I am."Damien turned to me, a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh? And here I thought you’d be all sentimental and teary-eyed about leaving everything behind."I shook my head. "Not a chance. I’m ready for a fresh start. No baggage, no bad memories, no regrets. Just you, me, and a new beginning."His smirk widened, and he pulled me close. "That’s what I love about you, Shawna. No hesitation. No second-guessing. Just full speed ahead."I looked up at him and grinned. "Speaking of full speed ahead, you do realize you haven’t mentioned any honeymoon plans, right?"Damien blinked, then ru
SHAWNAThe day had been long and full of emotions. Damien had disappeared early in the morning with the kids, leaving me to spend time with my mother. I appreciated the quiet moments with her, but I couldn't shake the curiosity about where he had gone. He hadn’t said much before leaving, just kissed my forehead and told me he had plans.Later in the day, I was surprised when Damien’s mother showed up at the house. I had expected tension, maybe another disagreement, but instead, she looked almost... apologetic.“I owe you an apology,” she said, sitting across from me in the living room.I blinked, surprised. “For what?”“For how I spoke to you yesterday. I wasn’t being fair. I was so caught up in my own vision of the wedding that I didn’t stop to consider what you and Damien truly wanted.”I exhaled softly, the weight of our previous conversation still lingering. “I appreciate you saying that.”She sighed. “I see how much Damien loves you, how much the kids adore you. I was wrong to tr
DAMIENI stood in the middle of the beach, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filling the air. The sun was beginning its descent, casting a golden glow over everything. It was perfect. Simple yet breathtaking, just the way I knew Shawna would love it.The gentle breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean, blending with the faint fragrance of the flowers we had carefully arranged along the aisle. White chairs stood neatly in rows, facing the beautifully decorated arch where we would say our vows. Fairy lights twinkled in the early evening light, creating a magical ambiance. The entire setting was intimate, just family and a few close friends, exactly what I wanted for Shawna.“Dad, are we sure this is enough?” Phoebe asked, looking around with excitement. Her small hands clutched onto the hem of her dress as she took in the scene.I turned to her with a smile, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.“It’s perfect,” I assured her, ruffling her hair. “Your mom doesn’t
SHAWNAWalking into Damien’s house, I felt a mix of nerves and determination swirling inside me. This conversation with his mother needed to happen. I couldn’t keep pretending to be okay with her making every decision for our wedding.As we stepped into the living room, his mother turned to face us, her expression unreadable. “To what do I owe this visit?” she asked, her tone clipped.I took a deep breath and smiled politely. “I wanted to talk to you about the wedding.”Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Oh? Have you finally realized that I know what’s best?”I shook my head. “Actually, no. I wanted to let you know that the plans I have for the wedding are different from what you want.”Damien shifted beside me, but he didn’t say anything. This was my fight to handle, and he knew it.His mother exhaled sharply, clearly displeased. “Go on,” she said reluctantly, folding her arms across her chest.“I want a beach wedding,” I announced, watching her closely for a reaction.Her brows lifted. “A
DAMIENI watched Shawna pace back and forth, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The frustration in her eyes was impossible to miss, and I hated seeing her like this.“Maybe,” I said carefully, “we’re moving too fast with everything.”She stopped mid-step and turned to look at me, her lips pressing together in thought.“Are you saying you don’t want the wedding anymore?” she asked, her voice softer than before, but there was an edge to it.I shook my head. “No. That’s not what I’m saying at all. I want to marry you, Shawna. I just don’t want you to feel overwhelmed by all of this. If you need a break, we can take a step back.”She let out a deep sigh, running a hand through her hair. “I do want the wedding, Damien. I really do. But I feel like we need to change our environment. Just get away from everything, from everyone. Just for a little while, so we can focus on us.”I studied her, understanding exactly what she meant. “You mean away from my mother.”She gave me a pointed loo
DAMIENI watched Shawna pace back and forth, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The frustration in her eyes was impossible to miss, and I hated seeing her like this.“Maybe,” I said carefully, “we’re moving too fast with everything.”She stopped mid-step and turned to look at me, her lips pressing together in thought.“Are you saying you don’t want the wedding anymore?” she asked, her voice softer than before, but there was an edge to it.I shook my head. “No. That’s not what I’m saying at all. I want to marry you, Shawna. I just don’t want you to feel overwhelmed by all of this. If you need a break, we can take a step back.”She let out a deep sigh, running a hand through her hair. “I do want the wedding, Damien. I really do. But I feel like we need to change our environment. Just get away from everything, from everyone. Just for a little while, so we can focus on us.”I studied her, understanding exactly what she meant. “You mean away from my mother.”She gave me a pointed loo
DAMIENI watched Shawna pace back and forth, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The frustration in her eyes was impossible to miss, and I hated seeing her like this.“Maybe,” I said carefully, “we’re moving too fast with everything.”She stopped mid-step and turned to look at me, her lips pressing together in thought.“Are you saying you don’t want the wedding anymore?” she asked, her voice softer than before, but there was an edge to it.I shook my head. “No. That’s not what I’m saying at all. I want to marry you, Shawna. I just don’t want you to feel overwhelmed by all of this. If you need a break, we can take a step back.”She let out a deep sigh, running a hand through her hair. “I do want the wedding, Damien. I really do. But I feel like we need to change our environment. Just get away from everything, from everyone. Just for a little while, so we can focus on us.”I studied her, understanding exactly what she meant. “You mean away from my mother.”She gave me a pointed loo
DAMIENThe moment I walked in, Mom turned to face me, arms crossed, her expression already set in irritation.“What did you say to Shawna?” I asked, my voice calm but firm.She scoffed, shaking her head. “Oh, so now I’m the villain?”“I didn’t say that,” I replied, crossing my arms as well. “I just want to know what happened.”She let out a dry laugh, her eyes flashing. “You should be certain you want to marry her, Damien. It seems like she’s still holding onto the past.”I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay composed. “You’re not making things any easier by controlling every little thing about our wedding. This is supposed to be for us, not you.”“For us?” she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief. “You mean for her. Because it seems to me that she’s getting everything her way while I’m being cast aside. Do you think that’s fair?”I exhaled sharply. “Mom, Shawna isn’t trying to push you out. She just wants to have a say in her own wedding.”Mom scoffed again. “A small wedding?
SHAWNAI could feel the weight of it all pressing down on me. The constant decisions, the expectations that seemed to build up faster than I could keep track of. I just wanted a small wedding, simple and quiet, with the people who mattered most. But it felt like every step I took toward what I wanted was met with resistance.“Shawna, you need to speak up if you’re not being treated the way you deserve,” my mother had said earlier, concern thick in her voice. “You can’t let them walk all over you.”“I’m not being walked all over,” I’d snapped back, though I wasn’t sure if that was entirely true. “It’s just... the wedding. It’s a lot of pressure.”She sighed, her hand resting gently on my shoulder. “I know it’s a big deal, but you need to be honest about what you want, honey. If they’re making you uncomfortable—”“I’m fine, Mom,” I cut in, though I wasn’t. “I just want a small wedding. Is that too much to ask?”“Nothing wrong with that,” she said, squeezing my shoulder. “You deserve to