All Chapters of Treasured Yet Discarded: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

I feel like I’m watching my surroundings through someone else’s eyes, my entire body running on autopilot as Julian sets my bags down on what I suppose will be my bed for the time being. The spare room in his penthouse is ostentatious, to say the least. Hardboard floors covered by a white, faux fur rug lay underneath a luxurious king-size bed, an ottoman, a single sofa and a lounge sofa, all decorated in shades of white and grey with a jaw-dropping panoramic view of the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows. This entire room is bigger than my whole apartment was. I can’t understand why one person needs all this space. If I were living here, the overwhelming amount of space would just make me feel lonely.“Are you hungry? You probably haven’t had a chance to eat. I could call Brian or order us in something,” he offers with a hopeful expression.I manage to shake my head. “I’m feeling too sick to eat.”His face falls with that look of pity that makes the gross feeling in my stomach

It’s true when they say that everyone has their limits because I’ve clearly reached mine. When my father had his accident, I kept it together for the sake of my family. When I moved and had to start over in the US, I toughed it out and rolled with the punches. Julian cheating on me, hit me like a freight train, but I did my best to push through it. But to go from Julian’s cheating, to being attacked in my own home, to being stalked then to have my best friend and companion mutilated…that’s something not even I know how to push through.My mother has always told me my worst trait is the way I bottle things up. She said one day all my emotions were going to spill over like a shaken-up bottle of soda and she was right. I know I’m safe here in Julian’s home, but every night when I close my eyes I see that figure hovering over me, ready to do God knows what. Every time I walk into a room I see Ily’s lifeless body and it takes everything in me not to break down and cry. I constantly have to

This is what I needed.I’ve spent the last two days having a Good Witch marathon on Netflix and I can’t begin to tell you how much it has improved my mood. It’s sweet, wholesome, and every episode has a happy ending. Even if an episode has some person trying to steal from or blackmail someone, by the end of it they learn their lesson and try to be an upstanding member of society. I know life isn’t a Hallmark movie or TV show – the real world features more people of colour, for starters. I’ve experienced firsthand that most people who hurt others don’t give a shit about it and won’t ever stop doing it. So, given the hell I’m living in, I just needed to escape into a world where bad things don’t happen, and people can live happily ever after.The craziest part is that Julian has been watching episodes with me. It started with him bringing me food and drink while I stayed in bed watching episodes on my laptop and then eventually he stuck around to watch. It felt like how things were when

True to his word, the restaurant isn’t far at all, so we make it with barely any traffic. The limo pulls up and Julian is quick to exit, adjusting his jacket and extending his hand back into the car for me. I reach out with ease, taking his hand and sliding out of the limo. He wraps my arm around his elbow, escorts me into a rather quaint three-story building and guides me up the stairs. Once we reach the top we’re greeted by a hostess, who looks at us both with impeccable ambivalence, which suits her job – especially in this city.“Reservation?”“Easton,” Julian replies.After a quick glance, she grabs two menus from her podium and leads us out onto a gorgeous rooftop dining set up with people scattered at various tables just enjoying their evening. It has a somewhat rustic yet elevated décor, with structures and support frames that really have no purpose other than to allow lighting and garlands to hang and divide certain areas from others. Each light from the rafters and the ones pl

***“I hate to damper the mood and sour the delicious lunch you’ve made for us, but I have to ask. What’s the update with the police?” Irina asks, taking another bite of her veal.I take a sip of my mimosa, “I wish I had an answer for you, but there is no update.”“Nothing?!” Áine gapes in shock.I shake my head. “I haven’t even had someone call for further questions. I don’t know if they’re just busy–”“There are a lot of crazies in LA,” Irina concedes.“Or maybe they don’t care because I’m an immigrant. Immigrants aren’t exactly popular these days.”“Well, they are. Just for all the wrong reasons,” corrects Irina, causing Áine to nod solemnly. “You should ask Amber to look into it since she’s acting as your lawyer.”“I probably should do that, but I haven’t wanted to bother her,” I admit.“But still, to hear nothing is crazy,” Áine frowns.“Do you know anything? I mean, has anything happened at the diner?” I inquire cautiously.“Well, I remember the police showing up and taking Dyla