Chapter One

LIAR

Amelia's POV

His hands found mine as he looked into my eyes. I had dreamt of this day, one too many times to count that I never thought would come.

“Amelia…” he breathed out as his nose struck my neck, it tickled and made my body shiver as I closed my eyes from his touch, leaning into him till our chests were touching.

His hands slowly left mine as they found the zip of my dress, pulling it down and letting my dress fall to the ground, pooling at my feet.

He then looked me in the eye and smiled, his dimple popping up as his eyes crinkled from joy that my heart couldn't help but hurt from how much love I felt in that moment.

His mouth parted as he spoke.

“I love you.”

Tears welled in my eyes as his head dipped and his lips found mine.

The alarm by the bed rang, forcing me to slam my hands down on it as I peeled my eyes open, looking around the room before sitting up and resting my back on the headrest.

I let out a deep breath and smiled, the noise from the TV in the background, making the morning brighter and louder than it should be.

I turned to the other side, ready to kiss him when I felt nothing but the cold bed and ruffled duvet.

“Xade?” I called out to the room that was evidently empty but I heard no reply.

I gathered the sheets, wrapping them around my body that was covered in his marks as I walked to the bathroom, knocking gently and waiting for a reply but I got nothing.

My heart began to race as I thought of every unimaginable thing but my heart refused to believe my thoughts.

My hands trembled as I dialed his number.

“The number you have dialed is unreachable.”

No.

No.

I tried again and again but I got the same reply.

I couldn't reach him.

In anger, I hurled the phone at the wall, watching it crumble to pieces, my chest heaving from mixed emotions.

“In other news, Crosstech has announced yet another project promised to give us a fulfilling future.”

My ears pricked as I heard the newscaster on the TV. I spun around to come face-to-face with the man I had given my night to…

His stoic face stared back at me, as if he could see me and see the anger coursing through my veins.

His lips parted, the same lips that had worshiped my body and whispered my name like a prayer, parted as he announced their new project.

“The energy device would prevent the large amount of water we generate from other sources of energy…”

Wait. That sounded all too familiar.

That was when I let myself listen to all he was actually saying and I gasped, almost falling to the ground as I heard him announce the project my father and I had worked so hard on for years as his.

That bastard.

I rushed over to the telephone on the bedside table and dialed the house number.

The call was picked up after a number of tries.

“Silvia.”

“Madam. Is that you? We have been trying to reach you all night. Come home. Your father..”

That was all it took for me to end the call, get dressed, and rush out of the room, not looking back once as I took the first flight home.

The weather was dull as everyone gathered round, fake sympathy in the air.

It was the day of my father's burial. I was clad in black, standing at the entrance of the church as I heard the priest say good words about him and how he never gave up on the church even in their trying times.

People came up, speaking of my father's good deeds but all I could feel was anger.

I hadn't said a word since I saw his body limp on the bed with his eyes open.

All I had done was place my hand over his eyes, closing them and stepping away, motioning for Silvia to begin the burial process.

I didn't get to talk to my father one last time before he took his final breath.

A tear slipped from my eyes as the service was over and everyone began to stroll out of the church, placing comforting hands on my shoulder as they walked by.

“Miss. Stone.” a deep voice called out and I spun around to see a very tall and intimidating man, standing with other men, approaching me.

“Your father's project seems to have been exposed and stolen. That was the message I received from you hours ago.”

“Yes, I sent that text. Sir George-”

“Miss. Stone. You have no evidence claiming that it was stolen, do you? All the documents on the research of the said project of it being yours was gone, that is if it existed to begin with. Because of this, we are pulling out our shares from the company.”

“Sir, you can't just— not after everything my father has done for you!”

“Look, child. Business doesn't work this way. Once we see where there will be a loss, we don't bother to invest.”

With that final tone, he turned around and walked away with the rest of the men.

I crumbled to the ground, my clothes staining from the dirt but I didn't care. Silvia ran up to me, trying to help me up but I didn't budge and in that exact moment, it began to rain.

“Madam. Let's go, please.”

I finally gave in and got up, following her to the car when all of a sudden, I felt lightheaded.

My head spun as I felt bile rush up my throat and I couldn't hold it in as I pushed Silvia back, vomiting all over the ground.

She rushed up to me, handing me a bottle of water but it didn't do anything. My brain felt foggy and I began to mutter words that Silvia couldn't understand. Neither could I.

My eyes fluttered shut as I let darkness consume me.

—-

“You're three weeks pregnant.”

The doctor's voice rang in my head over and over again as he said those words.

Silvia’s hands tighten around mine.

“Madam…”