Just then, Brian returned a wide grin on his face and a young woman hanging on his arm. “Hey, guys!” he said, his voice cheerful as ever. “Meet Julia.”I barely caught her name, my mind still hazy as I tried to come down from the high Liam had just sent me to. I managed a polite smile, but my attention was fractured, scattered, tethered to one person and one person only, Liam.Brian and Julia slid into the booth, and casual conversation flowed between them and Liam, but I couldn’t bring myself to participate. Instead, I let my eyes, or rather, they chose linger on Liam, trying to figure out what he was doing to me.What we’d just done brought back memories of how we used to be in high school, and later, sometimes, in college before we broke up. Young, wild, free. Back then, being with Liam felt like the most natural thing in the world, like we could conquer anything together.But after I met and married Dan, all of that felt like a distant dream. But I never got any of those things I
LiamI drove to the hospital as fast as I could, my mind racing faster than the car. The call from my mom replayed over and over in my head, her shaky voice barely coherent as she told me about Dad. I gripped the wheel tighter, trying to keep myself calm as several thoughts ran through my mind. This wasn’t his first heart attack. Over the past few years, my dad’s health had steadily declined. And every time something like this happened, a gnawing question echoed in my mind: Is this the one?When I arrived, Mom was waiting in the lobby. The moment she saw me, she threw her arms around me, her body trembling. “Liam,” she said, her voice cracking. “Oh, thank God you’re here.”I held her close, trying to absorb some of her panic. “Mom, what’s going on? What happened?”She pulled back, tears brimming in her eyes. “I found him in his study. He was holding his chest, gasping for air. I should have gone in earlier to check on him. I shouldn’t have allowed him to be in his study alone…” Her v
Dan was chasing me through a dark, empty alley, his voice echoing off the walls, low and menacing."You can’t escape me, Amber. I’m never letting you go," he growled, his tone dripping with venom. "If I can’t have you, no one will."His bitter laugh ricocheted in my ears, chilling and cruel, as I ran faster, my breath hitching with each frantic step. No matter how far I pushed, the alley seemed endless, his shadow looming closer and closer.I woke up with a start, gasping for air, my body drenched in sweat. My heart pounded wildly in my chest as I sat up, clutching the blanket like it could protect me from the lingering fear. It was just a nightmare, I reminded myself, glancing around the dark room to reassure myself that Dan wasn’t there. He couldn’t hurt me anymore.Curling into a ball, I reached for the bedside lamp and turned it on. I tried to calm the storm inside me, taking deep, shaky breaths. When that didn’t work, I forced myself out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom.Standi
The next morning, my phone buzzed with a text from Liam. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and smiled as I read his message: "I'll be at the hospital for a while. Go into the office without me. One of the guys will take you. I'll join later."I sent a quick response letting him know I would reschedule his meetings. Stretching in bed, I felt a warmth I hadn’t felt in years. My thoughts drifted to last night, his voice, soothing and deep, a lullaby that carried me into sleep. I sighed, letting the moment linger before reluctantly slipping out of bed.As I brushed my teeth, my gaze caught my reflection in the mirror, a soft pink coloring my cheeks. I froze my toothbrush in midair. Blushing? Over Liam? I shook my head, muttering, “Get a grip, Amber,” but even as I rinsed my mouth, I couldn’t shake the image of his smile, the way he had looked at me last night, and the feel of his hands on me. I managed to get ready for work without spending the entire morning daydreaming about Liam. When
AmberThere was a time when I loved him with everything I had, and thought he loved me too. I was so sure of us, so sure of him. But now…I wasn’t sure anymore. It’s hard to believe you’re loved when you’re constantly being treated like a maid in your own home.There are some days I try to convince myself that Dan still loves me, but I later get to realize that’s all a show for the public’s approval. My husband lives off it.I’m fumbling with the zipper of my dress when Dan storms into my bedroom, his voice already rising as he calls out my name.“Amber!” Dan’s voice booms with anger. “Are you still not ready yet? We’re going to be late for the gala! What the hell is taking you so long?” His words are sharp, cutting into me like a thousand tiny knives. They always do.“I’m almost done,” I reply, my voice trembling as I finally get around to zipping my dress. I’d chosen one of the dresses Dan had Lilian his personal shopper bring me. Trust Dan to treat me like trash, but the moment ther
AmberI find myself staring into familiar eyes. It’s Liam—my high school sweetheart whom I thought I was never going to see again. Am I hallucinating?For a second, I wonder if I’m dreaming, but he seems just as real. The same look of surprise mirrors on his face, and then he says my name, his voice warm and steady. Just as I remembered it to be.“Amber?” His voice is filled with shock.“Liam?”“Are you alright?" he asks, his voice laced with concern.I nod, still shaken, suddenly aware of where we are. People are starting to look, glancing curiously at us. I step away from his hold, my heart fluttering. The last thing I want is for Dan to see us like this.“Liam… is it really you?” I ask, breathless.He chuckles, that same charming smile spreading across his face. "In the flesh and blood," he replies.“You’re the last person I expected to see here,” I can’t help but smile, seeing him after such a long time is a pleasant surprise.He nods. “Me too. I just moved back to the city. Just
Liam.I can't shake her from my mind. After all these years, seeing her again tonight was like ripping open an old wound that never fully healed. I thought I’d moved on, buried those feelings somewhere deep enough that they couldn’t touch me anymore.But the moment she looked up at me, every emotion I’d worked so hard to forget came flooding back.Breaking up with her is still my worst mistake. I should have fought for us; I should never have allowed my work to get in the way between us. I was a fool. A big one. A few years ago, after my graduation, I wanted to reach out and reconnect, hoping to get back with her, but that was when I found out that she’s now married, so I’d convinced myself that keeping my distance was for the best. I figured her being married was my sign that she’d moved on, and it was time I did the same.But seeing her tonight, with that hollow look behind her smile, made me question everything. There was something about her tonight—something that gnawed at me lon
It's the weekend and Dan's mom and sister are coming over for dinner. So that means that I have to cook up a storm because they always demand for different dishes. His parents are divorced and his dad is currently globe trotting with his new wife.This time, his mother insisted I prepare a medium-rare steak with gravy, while his younger sister—never missing a chance to undermine me—demanded fried rice, ribeye, and coleslaw.I’ve been in the kitchen all day, juggling pans and chopping ingredients, every muscle aching from the constant motion. Exhaustion weighs on me, but I don’t dare rest until everything is perfect. With only minutes left before they arrive, I’m still scrambling, a dozen little tasks left unfinished.The house has to be spotless or Rose, Dan's mom will have something to say, she always does anyway.We could have these meals ordered in but Dan would never hear of it. "Of what use are you then?" He would always ask. It's the reason he fired all the helps and makes me do
The next morning, my phone buzzed with a text from Liam. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and smiled as I read his message: "I'll be at the hospital for a while. Go into the office without me. One of the guys will take you. I'll join later."I sent a quick response letting him know I would reschedule his meetings. Stretching in bed, I felt a warmth I hadn’t felt in years. My thoughts drifted to last night, his voice, soothing and deep, a lullaby that carried me into sleep. I sighed, letting the moment linger before reluctantly slipping out of bed.As I brushed my teeth, my gaze caught my reflection in the mirror, a soft pink coloring my cheeks. I froze my toothbrush in midair. Blushing? Over Liam? I shook my head, muttering, “Get a grip, Amber,” but even as I rinsed my mouth, I couldn’t shake the image of his smile, the way he had looked at me last night, and the feel of his hands on me. I managed to get ready for work without spending the entire morning daydreaming about Liam. When
Dan was chasing me through a dark, empty alley, his voice echoing off the walls, low and menacing."You can’t escape me, Amber. I’m never letting you go," he growled, his tone dripping with venom. "If I can’t have you, no one will."His bitter laugh ricocheted in my ears, chilling and cruel, as I ran faster, my breath hitching with each frantic step. No matter how far I pushed, the alley seemed endless, his shadow looming closer and closer.I woke up with a start, gasping for air, my body drenched in sweat. My heart pounded wildly in my chest as I sat up, clutching the blanket like it could protect me from the lingering fear. It was just a nightmare, I reminded myself, glancing around the dark room to reassure myself that Dan wasn’t there. He couldn’t hurt me anymore.Curling into a ball, I reached for the bedside lamp and turned it on. I tried to calm the storm inside me, taking deep, shaky breaths. When that didn’t work, I forced myself out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom.Standi
LiamI drove to the hospital as fast as I could, my mind racing faster than the car. The call from my mom replayed over and over in my head, her shaky voice barely coherent as she told me about Dad. I gripped the wheel tighter, trying to keep myself calm as several thoughts ran through my mind. This wasn’t his first heart attack. Over the past few years, my dad’s health had steadily declined. And every time something like this happened, a gnawing question echoed in my mind: Is this the one?When I arrived, Mom was waiting in the lobby. The moment she saw me, she threw her arms around me, her body trembling. “Liam,” she said, her voice cracking. “Oh, thank God you’re here.”I held her close, trying to absorb some of her panic. “Mom, what’s going on? What happened?”She pulled back, tears brimming in her eyes. “I found him in his study. He was holding his chest, gasping for air. I should have gone in earlier to check on him. I shouldn’t have allowed him to be in his study alone…” Her v
Just then, Brian returned a wide grin on his face and a young woman hanging on his arm. “Hey, guys!” he said, his voice cheerful as ever. “Meet Julia.”I barely caught her name, my mind still hazy as I tried to come down from the high Liam had just sent me to. I managed a polite smile, but my attention was fractured, scattered, tethered to one person and one person only, Liam.Brian and Julia slid into the booth, and casual conversation flowed between them and Liam, but I couldn’t bring myself to participate. Instead, I let my eyes, or rather, they chose linger on Liam, trying to figure out what he was doing to me.What we’d just done brought back memories of how we used to be in high school, and later, sometimes, in college before we broke up. Young, wild, free. Back then, being with Liam felt like the most natural thing in the world, like we could conquer anything together.But after I met and married Dan, all of that felt like a distant dream. But I never got any of those things I
AmberI knew I should tell him to stop. I should push him away, walk away, and do something to regain control. But I couldn’t. It was like I’d lost the ability to speak, my body betraying me in ways I didn’t fully understand.Liam’s lips brushed against my ear, his deep voice a soft, deliberate murmur. “You want me to continue, don’t you?”The way he said it sent a wave of heat crashing through me, and I felt my arousal pooling between my legs. My breath hitched, and I could hear the erratic rhythm of my own heartbeat in my ears.He seemed to unravel me with ease, and his presence alone suddenly made me forget every reason why this might be a bad idea. I didn’t care because at that moment, none of those reasons mattered.His hand inched higher, skimming the edge of my thigh as he held my gaze, his eyes dark and full of promise. “Amber,” he drawled like he was trying to control himself.I opened my mouth to speak, but instead of words, a shaky breath escaped.“Tell me to stop.” His han
AmberBrian’s club was located in the bustling part of the city. The place was alive, the air buzzing with music and chatter as stylishly dressed people flocked inside. Liam pulled his sleek black SUV into the valet line and handed his keys to a young man in uniform.Before we could make our way inside, a tall, good-looking guy around Liam’s age approached us, his smile wide and warm. Liam immediately stepped forward, clasping his hand in a firm shake before pulling him in for one of those bro hugs.“Good to see you, man,” Liam said, his tone light.“Good to see you too,” the guy replied before turning to me. “And it’s good to see you again, Amber.”I blinked, my brows furrowing in confusion. See me again? I couldn’t place him, was this Brian? My confusion must’ve shown on my face because Liam stepped in.“This is Brian,” he said with a knowing grin.My jaw dropped. The Brian I remembered from high school looked nothing like this. The Brian I knew was Obese used to sit on the bleacher
Amber“Did I do something wrong?” Mom asked as I packed my things to move to Liam’s place, a hint of guilt on her face.It was at the tip of my tongue to tell her that one of the reasons I was moving out was because of her titanic tussle with her man every night, but I quickly decided against it.“No, Mom, it’s because of Dan. I don’t want him coming here to cause trouble for you.” is that the only reason?I silence the voice in my head with a slight shake of my head. “And besides, Liam’s place is closer to the office.” Yeah, keep telling yourself that.Mom’s lips curled into a smile as she listened. “What?” I asked, now feeling defensive.“You realize what you’re doing right? You’re going to Liam for protection.”I opened my mouth to argue, but no words came out. The truth was, when Liam offered for me to move in yesterday, I wanted to say no. I really did. But the fear of what Dan might do next stopped me.Does that make me a coward? Running when I should be standing my ground? But
LiamAmber wasn’t herself today.I noticed it almost immediately after I picked her up from her mum’s. Something was wrong and it was evident in how her laughter didn’t quite reach her eyes and how often she got lost in thought. She was barely paying attention to the game, standing there as though she didn’t even care that she was losing. The competitive side she always had whenever we played, wasn’t there. After I knocked down all the pins on my turn, I glanced back at her, smirking. “Are you letting me win on purpose?”Amber stepped up to the line, grabbed her ball, and gave me a tired smile. “Maybe today’s just your lucky day.” She rolled the ball, and it veered to the side, knocking over only one pin.“That’s not like you,” I said, folding my arms as she turned back to me.She shrugged, brushing it off. “I’m just not feeling it, I guess.”“Something’s bothering you,” I pressed gently. “What is it?”“Nothing.”She said it quickly, too quickly, and I wasn’t buying it. But I also k
AmberLiam wouldn’t leave me alone no matter how hard I tried to push him away. The harder I pushed, the closer he got, and he never failed to make it known that he was going nowhere.I’ve stopped trying now because, deep down, I don’t want him to go. Even though part of me feels like I should be running the other way, I can’t seem to keep him at a distance.He insisted on driving me home after work every day, and I had to fight him off from trying to pick me up in the mornings too. We’re not technically dating, and the last thing I want is my colleagues thinking otherwise.Now we were seated in his car, parked in front of Mom’s house. It’s become a ritual of some sort, Liam drops me off, and we spend at least ten minutes in his car talking about anything and everything.“So what are your plans for the weekend?” He asked, turning to look at me.“It all depends,” I replied, my breath catching slightly at the intense way he looked at me.He had ditched his suit jacket earlier in the day