Zoe, Camille's assistant, is walking behind us when we get to the mall.We step into the elevator and stop at the tenth floor. Camille said that it was going to be a surprise. I think she wants to buy me some new clothes or maybe she wants to buy herself some new dresses."No." Camille laughs. "It's for the baby girl. We are shopping for the baby girl."My heart stops. Vomit clouds in my throat. I shouldn't have come here. I look around the mall, trying to avoid Camille's eyes. From a distance, I spot a familiar couple...The woman is blonde. She's wearing a hideous maternity dress. She has a couple of bags in her hand. The husband is carrying their cute little baby. That little cute baby is my niece. And that blonde woman is my sister. She looks so happy as she disappears with her little family to the other side of the mall... I miss her... I miss my family....Camille claps loudly to get my attention. She's looking up at me, seated from the wheelchair."Pregnant women are more activ
DAMIENVanessa is the first person I see when I get to the housewarming party.Her house doesn't look warm at all. So huge. So empty. Just huge framed photographs on the wall. This is a collection of her best works over the years. For a second, I'm a little jealous. This could've been me if the freaking accident had not happened. This could've been me if I followed her to Italy. A showcase of my best works in my living room for everyone to see. How magical. It almost feels like we are in a museum to worship her masterpieces. And I must say. Vanessa is the god of photography."Where's my wife?" I ask Vanessa."That's the first question your wife asked." She rolls her eyes. "Why are you late for my party?"I was in a meeting with my lawyers to make sure Brandon never tastes the joy of freedom. And they are doing a brilliant job. That man has caused Dani nothing but pain. I'll do anything in my power to make sure he wears that orange jumpsuit for a very long time. Forever, if it's possib
PART TWO | DATE | I Dare you to Date meDamien grabs my waist and plants a kiss on my lips. His hands trail down to my butt."You look hot, Mrs Hunt."I'm wearing a black tuxedo on a tight black miniskirt and a pair of red heels. I dressed myself for the magazine shoot today. And I also dressed my husband who looks gorgeous in a pink tuxedo and pink shorts. This man looks hot in everything.Forbes wanted to bring in another stylist for this shoot. But I asked them to let me be the stylist for free. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to show my potential as a stylist and designer. But they turned me down. They blatantly said they only work with big names. So Damien called the editor-in-chief and said he would turn down the shoot if I wasn't the stylist. He also demanded that I get paid the same as the other stylists. I was shocked when they sent me a contract immediately after that call. Even more s
Damien is a bit late for dinner.But I don't care. All that matters is that he's here. And I made him roast chicken. And spaghetti. And there's also candles on the table. And a fresh bouquet of flowers with a card tucked inside it."To the best photographer I know." Damien reads as he takes a seat.Damien was wonderful at the shoot today. It takes talent and courage to take your own pictures. He was snapping and posing and then snapping and then posing. Ofcourse he had help from the other crew members but he did most of the work. For a shoot he didn't even prepare for. "Never do that again." He says coldly. "And this card is a lie so I'm going to tear it into pieces. Sorry."My stomach drops as I watch him tear it into pieces and throw them on the table.This dinner date was supposed to be perfect. Just the two of us. Sophia has been staying with Vanessa for the past few days. I thought this was the perfect time to bond as a couple. And probably do the dishes together after dinner. B
Vanessa pulls up in a big bungalow."Welcome to our studio." She swings the door open for me.She bought an entire bungalow for the sole purpose of making it a studio? She is really passionate about photography. Unlike my husband who still hasn't called or texted me.The interior is completely empty. The only thing in the room is a huge framed photograph of a lion hanging in the wall. "It's my masterpiece." She says staring at the photograph. "I took it on one of my trips to Africa. It's when I was there that I completely fell inlove with lions. Their strength. Their bravery. Their royalty. Their unity. They taught me one important lesson.""What?""In life, you have two choices." She pauses. "Grab what's yours or watch other people grab it. And that really stuck with me. It's become my life motto.""Powerful." I fake a smile.I wonder if this has anything to do with her obsession with Damien. I wonder if this is her giving me some sort of warning or threat. It definitely feels like
DAMIENI couldn't sleep last night.Not after what I did to Dani. She was so confused when I tore the card into pieces. The look on her face broke my heart. And what broke my heart even more is watching her leave the dinner table. She had cooked for me. She had set the table for me. She wanted us to celebrate my comeback to photography. But I wasn't happy about that. And I punished her for it. It was wrong to do that.And that's why I'm trying to make her forgive me. That's why I'm trying to make it up to her.I left work early. I didn't find Dani home. Just Hannah. I asked her to help me make cupcakes which are all written "Sorry".She doesn't look too happy to see me. Which is understandable. But atleast she doesn't throw all the cupcakes in my face. Instead she falls on the island and stares at them. That's a good sign."You were a complete àsshole last night." She says coldly."I agree." I nod. "I was a bad boyfriend.""I agree." She smiles."Look, I know cupcakes don't make up f
DANII'm sitting in the balcony, staring at the Eiffel tower.Growing up, Paris was all people talked about in school and in the movies and in books. It was everyone's dream destination. Just like Lana, I never got the hype. I honestly thought it was overrated until now.Paris is breathtaking. The city lights. The little cafés outside. The nice people. The curious tourists. The Eiffel tower. It literally glows at night.I feel strong big hands on my shoulder. I turn around to see Damien wrapping a warm jacket around me."Thanks." I smile. "Don't tell me I woke you.""No." Damien disappears back into the hotel room and comes back with a bottle of wine. Damien still looks exhausted from the flight. It was an eight-hour flight and we got here last evening. First thing we did is change into huge comfy t-shirts and baggy shorts. And then we slept. A lot.He comes back with a bottle of wine and two glasses. He falls on the plush couch next to me."I'm starving." He says. "Are you starving?
"Why do you think I brought you to Paris?" Damien grins. "I want to fùck you. Hard."Damien carries me from the floor and sets me on the couch. He kneels infront of me, planting kisses on my thighs. He slowly takes off my panties and parts my legs gently. Then he digs his head between my legs. His tongue is smooth and wet on my kitty. I hold the arm of the couch tight when he starts teasing my clìt. I let out a breathless moan, looking up at the glowing lights of the Eiffel tower. I completely lose it when he digs his tongue inside me and starts stroking. I roll my eyes back, grabbing his hair in my hands. With each stroke, I get weaker and moan louder. He strokes and strokes and strokes until I reach climax.My Fùcking God.That was the most mind-blowing òrgasm I've ever had. Nothing compares to it. Nothing comes close.Damien looks up at me with a smile. He's so satisfied with himself after the euphoric ride he just gave me. And his tongue is magic. Didn't know that little organ can
DAMIENtwenty years laterIt's our twentieth anniversary.For every anniversary, we celebrate it in Bali. In the same hotel we went for our first, second and third honeymoon. There's been a lot of changes and renovations in the hotel over the years but it still gives me a feeling of nostalgia every time I come here.I step out of the shower and start drying myself with the towel.Dani is busy typing on her laptop. I apply some lotion and slide into a pair of white shorts. My wife doesn't bother to look up."George filed for divorce." I huff. "Gina cheated on him again. This time, with a younger man.""Not surprised." I sigh. "Why can't he just leave her?""He's addicted to the toxicity."Dani doesn't respond. She's still busy on her laptop. Plus, she's so over George and Gina. And honestly, so am I. For years, I wanted to save George from that abusive marriage but he clearly doesn't want to be saved. He made the bed. I'll just let him lie in it. Even if it's a bed of thorns that makes
DANII stare at Nate in shock.But he's not staring at me. He's staring at Damien."When Dani's dad shot me, I was paralysed." Nate says. "I could see everything. I could hear everything. But I couldn't move. I couldn't even feel blood oozing from my body."Okay, where's this going?"Dani was in shock after her father shot himself infront of her." He continues. "She just sat there, staring at his lifeless body. She was in shock and despair. She had lost all hope for life. That's until you came out of nowhere and wrapped your arms around her, crying. She was relieved. She was hopeful again. I was relieved too. And I was hopeful. That's when I allowed myself to pass out. All that time, I'd been forcing myself to hold on a little longer for Dani. I didn't want to leave her all alone and scared. But when you showed up, I knew she was in safe hands. So l let myself pass out."Nate finally turns to look at me, a small smile forming on his face."Remember that double date with Richard and yo
DAMIENI ring the doorbell.Dani swings the door open, dressed in her pajamas. She stares at me in complete shock and confusion."What are you doing here?" She asks in concern. "Are you okay?"I don't reply to that. I just pull her in my arms and cling to her body. I know she's pregnant and I'm probably hurting her baby but the baby will have to forgive me. I need his mother now. He can wait.Dani escorts me to the livingroom. She sneaks to the kitchen and brings me coffee. Yes, I definitely need coffee this time. I'm shaking due to the cold. Or maybe I'm shaking due to the shock. It's been a night of horror and I can't wait for it to end."What's going on, Damien?" Dani asks softly. "Where's Vanessa?"Just hearing her name sends chills all over my body. I look up at the ticking clock.The images of the last three hours play vividly in my head.Vanessa screaming in terror. Vanessa's head being chopped off. Vanessa's head being tossed in a black plastic bag like garbage. The "bad guys
VANESSABe calm.Whatever happens in life, be calm. That's one of the greatest tricks to tackle every situation in life. Be calm. Take a deep breath. Don't lose it. You might be losing it inside, but don't show them. Act calm. Act confident.I turn to look at Damien.Ofcourse I'm shocked. And confused. He just jumped out of the kitchen. He was listening to the conversation this entire time. I should have listened to my gut when I entered the house.I got a whiff of his cologne when I entered the living room. Then I got a glance of his shoes at the door. But somehow, I convinced myself that they didn't belong to Damien. A bunch of shoes look the same. And there's no way they belonged to Damien. I mean, I left him home looking hungry and exhausted. There's no way he could drive back to the city for two hours instead of taking a rest. God, I was in for a shock!But I'm still calm. "Babe." I smile. "You know I hate surprises.""Don't babe me!" He snaps. "I heard everything you just said,
DAMIENI dash into the kitchen and pour all the coffee in the sink.I don't want coffee. I want something stronger. Something like scotch. Something that will make me forget about my dad. And Vanessa. And the pregnancy scam. And the whole drug dealing thing. And the way I just talked to Dani. And the way she looked at me. All I do is hurt her with my words and actions. And all she does is be kind and nice to me. After everything I did, she's letting me spend the night at her house. God, I don't deserve her...It's pouring heavily outside.I look outside, the rain beating down on the roof and sliding down the window. For a moment there, I wish that the rain could wash away all the pain. I wish that the rain could slide down my soul and wash away all the sadness and sorrow. The doorbell rings, pulling me away from the sea of sad thoughts."Good evening, Dani." I grit my teeth when I hear that familiar voice. Vanessa. What the fùck is she doing here? How the fùck did she know that I wa
DANIDamien is standing at my door when I get home from the hospital.The second he sees me, he runs to me and our bodies clash in a tight embrace. He starts crying in my arms. And I start crying in his arms. And now we're crying in each other's arms. I don't even know why I'm crying. But I definitely know why he's crying.He lost his father. A father that he deeply loved. And today he lay his father to rest. That's hard on anyone.The sky rumbles. We break apart and silently walk into the house before it starts raining. Damien takes off his shoes and sits on the couch. I take off my black coat and sneak to the kitchen. There, I make coffee and grab some cookies from the pantry. Damien looks like he needs something stronger than coffee but it's the best choice for now. "Thankyou." He smiles when I set the tray of coffee and cookies on the table.I sit across from him, creating some distance between us. I'm just from seeing Nate in the hospital and we even kissed when I left. I wou
DAMIENThe ride home was silent.Two hours on the road with Vanessa sulking and seething and staring at me, her eyes filled with fury.The second I stop the engine, she flies out of the car and storms into the house. I follow her quickly but I can't keep up with her pace. When I walk into the house, she's already flying up the stairs.Maria steps out of the kitchen with a bunch of sandwiches on the tray."Spill the tea." She giggles. "Why is she so mad this time? What happened at the funeral?""Nothing interesting." I shrug.That's my way of brushing Maria off. Although I like her, she can be a little nosy in a way that's annoying and steps on boundaries. Vanessa is still the mother of my child. She's just a surrogate. Sometimes I think that Maria forgets that. Vanessa can be a pain in the àss but she still deserves respect as the biological mother of my child."Want a sandwich?" She offers."Sure." I grab it. "I'm starving!"I run up the stairs, chewing on the sandwich as I head to o
DANICamille's mansion was the perfect pick for the reception after the funeral.The guests are waltzing around the large livingroom, cups of coffee clutched in their hands. A bunch of bowls are sitting at the dining table with cookies and biscuits and even chocolates.I'm sitting on the couch next to Camille, munching on the crunchy cookies. Her face is blank and void of emotion but I know that deep down, she's having an emotional crisis. A few hours ago, she broke down as her husband was put to the ground. I can't imagine what that felt like for her. Spending half of your life with someone and then having to watch their lifeless bodies being lowered to the ground. Tragic."Look at them!" Camille points to Damien and Vanessa. "She's always complaining about something. They should break up already."They seem like they are fighting. Vanessa is nagging about something. And Damien is glaring at her. They are obviously the unhappiest couple in the room. I get a little thrill watching the
DAMIENVanessa slides into her black heels and walks towards me.She stands so close, looking up at me. There's a blank look on her face and it's kinda creepy. She straightens my collar and starts fixing my black tie."I'm going to ask you something and I want you to be completely honest with me."The cold tone in her voice sends shivers down my spine. She's not been speaking to me the entire morning. I thought it was odd but chose not to overthink it. I thought it's because we were both busy getting ready for the funeral. I thought maybe she's giving me some space and silence because this is the day that I lay my dad to the ground. From the tone of her voice, that's clearly not the case. She's mad at me. And from the way she's playing with this tie, I might end up getting strangled if I don't provide the answer that she wants. And that makes my heart start racing."Have you been fùcking Dani?"I can't help but laugh. I thought it was something serious. Something that was going to be