A FEW YEARS AGO… The final bell rang, its shrill tone echoing through the halls of the community high school. I let out a sigh of relief, grateful that another day of social navigation was finally over. As I made my way through the crowded corridors, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy a
My mind raced with possibilities. A new restaurant? A museum exhibit? Knowing Mom, it could be anything from a cat café to a trampoline park. As we drove, Mom told me all about her day, her hands gesturing wildly as she recounted a funny incident with one of her art students. She worked a few jo
BERTHAThere are two types of people in this world. There are the people who think there's a difference between good and bad and then those who know that there is no such thing. The world isn't black and white. It is a whole array of colors and even murder can be justified when the perpetrator i
Sure, I had to find a way to have Roman wrapped around my fingers. No man could resist a woman who is always seemingly weak and had tears in her eyes. Roman ate that shit up just as I wanted him to. But something changed. Or maybe it has been there this entire time but I chose to ignore it…unt
“Last night you made my wife leave the safety of her home and come over at a time that wasn't safe,” What? His wife? Is he referring to Amelia?! What the fuck is going on? Is he upset because my father called Amelia over at night? “I…Mr. Wellington…” Even my father was at a loss for wo
“Roman!” I screeched, my voice nearing hysteria. I watched as his back stiffened up as he made his way to his car, he stopped in his tracks, turning around slowly to finally face me. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his eyes cold, almost empty as he met my eyes. “Roman…” I breathed, r
AMELIA“Trenton, hi!” I smiled as I walked into the living room, he was the first person I found and behind him was Vincent. His handsome face was bright with a smile the second he spotted me. “Hey, Vincent,” I greeted. “Miss Amelia,” “Amelia,” I couldn't help but notice it was a rather
“I um…have you…had breakfast?” Roman watched me for what seemed to be an eternity. The look in his eyes was intense, I found myself rooted to the spot as we gazed into each other's eyes. He shook his head slowly after the long silence stretched, uncomfortably so. I had many questions, many.
AMELIA TWO YEARS LATER… I was twenty-seven years old, younger than my mother was when she had me, and five years older than she was when my grandfather entrusted the Guerrero family's responsibility to her. Despite trying my best not to think about her, everything I did, everywhere I walked in It
"And sitting back and doing nothing is better?" My voice rose, a mixture of frustration and desperation. "I'm tired of being the victim. Tired of being passed around like a piece of property, like something to be traded and bartered." His blue eyes flashed. "I would never let that happen to you aga
AMELIA Why was I so hesitant? I had been sure of my choices, I had accepted that it was what I really wanted and what I needed. But sitting here, with his head on my shoulder and his eyes looking so distant, I couldn't bring myself to say a word. Nothing. “Amy?” “Hm?” Roman raised his hea
Hi! Its me Dchenemi but you already know that lol. I want to thank you for sticking with this book this far and answer a few questions. Firstly O would like to apologize for the lack of updates, I have ongoing exams and I'm unable to focus on writing while the pressure of getting good grades are
AMELIA My mother had always told me I was destined for great things, and at some point in my life, I thought it was being a well-established painter or perhaps a tycoon like she wished to be. But now I realized what she truly meant. No matter how much she had tried to escape it, her past still cau
"I don't want anyone near you right now," he admitted quietly. "The thought of letting anyone close after what happened..." "Rome," I reached up to cover his hand with mine. "We can't live like that. I won't live like that – trapped in fear, suspicious of everyone." I wasn't going to tell him what
The thought of Roman losing control made my chest ache. I knew how he could get when his emotions overwhelmed him, knew the darkness he fought to keep at bay. "How bad was he? Really?" Maria led me toward the kitchen, her grip steady and supportive. "Bad enough that when this cousin appeared, even
AMELIA I cried myself back to sleep, my body was far too exhausted to do anything else. When I came to, Roman wasn't in the bedroom with me. Our bedroom. I was back home. It felt surreal seeing the familiar walls, the sheets, the scents. Everything made my eyes prickle with tears and the iron
AMELIA A FEW DAYS LATER… Isabella had kept her word. After the meeting with Mr. Rossi and a few others who Isabella failed to mention, she didn't send me back to the building I was locked up in. She gave me two flight tickets and told me to make a choice, one sent me back home and the other…was