Roman didn't say another word, his expression was grim as we drove through the city. Again I was in awe of so many changes that had been made, willing myself to look away from him and staring at the view appreciatively, then I remembered something. I turned to look at him, my nerves spiking up as I tried to figure out the best way to tell him what I needed to. When we reached a familiar road I knew was close to his estate, I cleared my throat and summoned false courage. “Roman?” He didn't say a word, but his gaze drifted to the side, acknowledging my call. “I have a favor to ask before we get back to your house,” His eyes narrowed as he stared ahead, he shook his head. “I can not make any detours for you, Amelia, I will drop you off and get back to work,” He said firmly, not bothering to hear me out. The asshole, to think I'd almost considered being nicer to him. I bit my tongue and nodded, disappointment spreading through my chest. “That's alright,” I repli
ROMANTo say I was exhausted would be an understatement. I found myself rethinking every decision I took that led me to this point. On the opposite side of Bertha, on the receiving end of my mother's constant plotting and my father's usual silence. I never once expected him to speak up for me, or tell my mother it was none of her fucking business if I decided to have kids with Amelia or not. Which will never happen. I was exhausted by how slowly the investigation was going, I wanted to know who it was that tailed my car a few weeks ago and why. I feared what I would find yet I was eager to get to the bottom of it. No one has asked how I'm doing…all they speak about is how difficult my decisions make things for them and how they have better ways of tackling the situation. If they can all run it so perfectly, then why the fuck have I spent five years of my life slaving away for them? For this fucking company? Not even Bertha has tried to find out how hard it has been for
I walked up the stairs, my mind filled with conflicting emotions. The shopping bags Amelia had given me felt heavier than they should, laden with a significance I wasn't ready to acknowledge. Reaching my room…which was once a guest room, I shut the door behind me and set the bags on the bed. For a moment, I just stared at them, reluctant to look inside. What could she have possibly bought for me? Why did I even care? An early birthday gift. She had said. My birthday is in three days, I figured she wouldn't remember, how exactly did she know about it? With a deep breath, I finally reached for the first bag. As I pulled out its contents, my breath caught in my throat. It was a tie, deep royal blue, the exact shade of that breathtaking dress she'd worn in the store. The material was silky smooth, clearly expensive. The second bag revealed a suit jacket and trousers in the same striking color. I held up the jacket, noticing immediately that it was slightly larger than my usual
AMELIANever have I met a man as infuriating as Roman. One second he is the nicest person, gifting me things I've never received from anyone, smiling at me like we could get along, and the next? He's an asshole who treats me like I am not human. I slammed the door hard behind me but winced when the sound reverberated in my ears. I plopped down on the mattress with a heavy sigh and buried my face in my palms. “I need to leave this place,” I muttered into my skin. I fell asleep with that single thought weighing down on me yet, in my dreams, I was plagued with blue eyes and a rare smile that was meant for me. I dreamt of a garden, somewhere I knew I'd been before yet I couldn't remember when or how I got there. I was there with Roman, he looked different in my dream. His hair was longer and was blonde rather than the black I was used to. It was tied back into a low ponytail and his blue gaze was as sharp as shards. He was dressed in an all-black attire that only showed his neck
I pulled on a black dress hurriedly as I prepared for a small gathering Roman put pm the schedule. We were attending the wedding anniversary of a major shareholder called Mr. Martinez and truth be told, I had no intention of leaving the house. Yet, the glare Roman sent my way said otherwise. I can't say no to him. I have to be careful as well, one wrong move and my mother's company might also be affected. So I begrudgingly put on some light make up and wore red heels along with a red clutch to match before meeting Roman down stairs. He didn't spare me more than a glance, which I wish didn't sting as it did. Making the image of him back at the mall seem like a false memory. We had a driver this time so I had to sit in the backseat with him. Something he looked visiblly upset by. I stayed on my side while fiddling wigh my fingers already feeling nervous for what was to come. My father never took me to such gatherings nor did he ever bother you teach me the way
Brilliant golden lights welcomed us as we walked into what I assumeed to be the man's house yet it seemed more like a castle with a rather extravagant design instead of a house. Roman's expression remained rigid as we stepped in, he was in a bad mood and he wasn't hiding it. It made me stiffen up and feel unsettled walking by his side. I had no idea who this Mr. Martinez was, though I tried my best to research a bit on him and his wife, I barely got enough info online. They stayed off social media and didn't like meeting up with the press from what I read. Though the people considered them a perfect couple, they've done countless charity works, have two teenagers who also engage in charity work…too clean. “You shouldn't look so glum,” I whispered into Roman's ears as we fell into the hustle of the golden crowd. There was not a tie or necklace out of place. Everyone held themselves with a certain elegance and grace that made it clear they were the top of the crop. They
Why is he so opposed to the idea of giving his mother a grandchild?Roman looked downright pissed off after we’d walked away from Tatyana, his expression darkening even further when we spotted his parents with the Martinez couple, the very people we were looking for.I could tell he didn't want to go, so I waited silently for him to make the first move.I didn't want to seem like I was meddling so I stayed silent despite the growing curiosity in my chest to understand the relationship between Roman and his parents.That includes his sister, they don't seem too close either.The entire family seemed rather tight-knit on the outside but in the few days, I've gotten to know them, I've come to realize they're almost as dysfunctional as my family.“We should just say hi, isn't that why we’re here?” I breathed while squeezing his arm lightly. Everything in me did want to be nice to the man yet, I sort of understood what he was going through, having parents who were only affectionate in the e
I wish I could say the night went on without a hutch, but quite frankly I had underestimated Victoria's severe dislike for me. After speaking with the golden couple, Roman and I became separated and I was surprised to find that I preferred staying by his side all night than with anyone else. He and Mr. Martinez had a few more things to close off on and seeing him go into business mode like that showed we would be staying longer than I wished. Victoria told me to come with her, that she had a few people she wanted me to meet. Politely declining was out of the question, Roman had walked away and so did Yaakov…I couldn't say no to ‘my beloved’ mother-in-law in front of Mrs. Martinez's scrutiny. So I agreed with a smile and we began to walk. There was a group of posh looking middle aged women that stood at the far corner, seemingly in their own worlds. They were four in number and unfortunately, Monica was one of them. When she noticed we were coming their way, she imm
The argument replayed in my mind like a broken record, each harsh word cutting deeper with each repetition.‘All you see is your own pain.’The accusation stung particularly sharp because it was untrue. I'd spent weeks trying to understand Roman's pain, making excuses for his absence, convincing myself that his distance was just his way of coping. And now he had the audacity to throw that in my face?That son of a–My phone felt heavy in my pocket. I could call Jessica, or Alexander—they'd be here in minutes. But what would I say? That my husband, the man who'd been my rock through everything, had just revealed a side of himself I'd never seen before? That he was keeping secrets about who had poisoned me?Instead, I did something I hadn't dared since being discharged; I walked upstairs to the nursery door.My hand trembled as it touched the doorknob. We'd painted it white just two weeks ago, discussing whether we should add some kind of decorative element. Roman had wanted to paint l
AMELIAHome was supposed to feel like a sanctuary. Instead, the walls seemed to close in around me, each room holding memories that felt more like wounds. The nursery door remained firmly shut—neither of us had the courage to face what lay behind it.I for one knew that I would break down into tiny pieces if I saw what was behind that door. I had already given instructions for the room to be emptied, without my knowledge, of course. I didn't want to see them. The crib. The stuffed animals, the onesies. Fiona had left or rather…fired. I had a feeling she had something to do with the poisoning seeing as Roman was being kind of secretive about why she left or why he fired her. He never really gave me a straight answer, not even when he hired an older woman to fill in as both housekeeper and maid for the meantime. Roman had been adamant about me staying home. "You need to rest," he'd say, his tone leaving no room for argument. But rest felt impossible when my mind wouldn't stop spinnin
The night air was cool against my skin as I stepped out of the hospital, fishing my phone out of my purse to order another Uber. The parking lot was mostly empty, illuminated by scattered streetlights that created pools of yellow light in the darkness. The sound of rapid footsteps behind me made my heart jump, but before I could turn around, I heard his voice."Greece!"Just one word. My name. But the way Colson said it made something inside me twist. I turned to find him slightly out of breath, as if he'd run to catch up with me. The sight of him – powerful, composed Colson – actually running after someone was so unexpected that for a moment, I could only stare."What are you doing here?" I asked, hating how my voice betrayed my awareness of him. Even in the dim light, he was devastating – the shadows playing across his features only emphasized the sharp angles of his face, the intensity of his gaze."It's too dark for you to be out alone," he said, his tone still carrying that profe
GREECE“Why…” I inhaled deeply, “...are you here?” I asked softly. I didn't know he was back from Mexico. But then again, we haven't kept any contact since I left. He couldn't be here for me, right? "Wellington Corp has a meeting with the university board today," Colson said, his voice carrying that familiar professional tone that I'd almost forgotten existed. "With Roman at the hospital with Amelia, I'm handling the meeting with the dean."The words hit me like a splash of cold water, washing away whatever foolish notions I'd been entertaining. Of course. He wasn't here for me. He was here for business, just like always. The realization stung more than it should have, but I refused to let it show on my face."It's nice to see you again," I managed to say, proud of how steady my voice sounded despite the chaos in my chest. But even as I spoke, my traitorous eyes kept drifting to his lips, remembering how they'd felt against mine that night in Mexico. The warmth, the intensity, the
GREECEThe lecture hall felt suffocating despite its size. Professor Williams droned on about corporate law, but my mind was elsewhere, wandering back to memories of Mexico City – memories I couldn't seem to shake no matter how hard I tried. It had been a month since I'd returned, since Colson had practically forced me onto that plane, and yet everything still felt fresh. Raw.The scent of his cologne. The intensity of his gaze. The way his hands felt when they caught me from falling. The almost-kiss on the balcony that still haunted my dreams."Miss Stavros?" Professor Williams's voice cut through my reverie. "Care to share your thoughts on the Jensen case?"I straightened in my seat, forcing myself to focus on the present. "The Jensen case highlighted the importance of fiduciary duty in corporate governance," I began, drawing on whatever information I could remember from last night's reading. "The board's decision to..."As I continued my response, I couldn't help but notice how dif
The days that followed blurred together like watercolors in the rain. I felt disconnected from my body, as if I were floating somewhere above myself, tethered only by the thinnest of threads to the physical world below. The hospital room became my entire universe—a bubble where time moved differently, where every breath felt like an effort against the crushing weight of loss.I used to think I was a strong person, I used to think if I could have survived this far, after everything…then I could handle anything. But this? This pain? It was something I wouldn't wish even my worst enemy. Jessica was my constant companion, her presence both comforting and guilt-inducing. She'd pull up a chair beside my bed, her white coat wrinkled from long hours, dark circles under her eyes betraying her exhaustion."You need to get back to work," I told her one afternoon, my voice still carrying that hollow quality I couldn't seem to shake. "Your patients need you more than I do."She looked up from h
AMELIADarkness. Unrelenting. Suffocating.The memory crashed over me like a violent wave, fragmentary and disjointed. Marcus. The name itself was a razor blade against my consciousness, cutting through the soft, sedated edges of my hospital room's tranquility.I could see him—not his face, never his complete face—but his presence. Overwhelming. Menacing. A shadow that had stalked me longer than I could comprehend. His voice was a low, calculated whisper that seemed to echo through the chambers of my most terrifying memories. "Finally," he had said. "Finally, I have you."I remember being so afraid that I couldn't speak, every time he walked into a room, every time he told me about his love for me…how many times he's watched me, how many times he's just been in the shadows…looking, seeing everything and anything that has happened to me, even times I had forgotten. Flashes of my previous attempts to escape flickered like a damaged film reel. The sharp object I'd used against him—som
AMELIAThe silence was almost like a living, breathing entity. It wrapped around me like a suffocating blanket, pressing against my chest, making each breath feel like a monumental effort. My body felt alien—a vessel that had somehow failed its most fundamental purpose. The white hospital walls seemed to close in, choking me yet at the same time those white walls managed to keep me calm despite the screams and wails I could hear in my head.Or perhaps it was just me, still recovering from the shock. Roman's voice broke through my fog, soft and tentative. "Do you need anything, Amy? Water? Another blanket?" His words were gentle, carefully constructed, as if speaking too loudly might shatter whatever fragile composure I was desperately trying to maintain.I turned my head slowly, mechanically, meeting his gaze. His eyes were rimmed with exhaustion and though I never saw it was obvious that he had cried. A concept that I'd never really associated with Roman up until that very moment.
T.W(Miscarriage) I had fallen back asleep. My body was probably unable to handle the exhaustion that came with my fear. Roman hadn't said a word to me which only served to make me feel worse. He just told me to wait till the doctor got there. My nerves were all over the fucking place and all that remained was fear. The world came into focus slowly, like a camera lens adjusting. White walls, the sterile smell of disinfectant, the soft beeping of medical equipment - everything screamed hospital. My body felt heavy, disconnected, as if I were floating just slightly above myself.Roman hadn't moved from my side. His hand was still clasped around mine, his thumb making small, repetitive circles on my skin - a gesture of comfort, of connection. I could see the strain in his face, the lines of worry etched deeply around his eyes and mouth. He looked so exhausted that my heart ached. But not just for his state, but because of mine. I could hear the blood rushing to my ears as my heart beg