Masuk(Rayner)“Do you plan on killing yourself by getting drunk?”Stefan’s voice rings beside me as he reaches for the wine bottle in my hand and pulls it away.I let out a bitter scoff.“What can I say?” I sink further into the couch, staring blankly ahead. “I’ve lost at everything, Stefan. I’m a failure. A complete failure.”“No…”“First, I failed to recognize the woman I had only ever truly loved. Then, when I finally realized it, I failed to save her from the marriage that caused her so much pain.”My throat tightens.“And now, I’ve failed to be with her.”I drag a hand down my face, the weight in my chest becoming unbearable.“I’m unable to be with Amara, Stefan. I’m a failure. I keep losing. Every single time I think I’m finally going to get something right, it slips through my hands.”My eyes burn.“And now she’s going to marry Lorenzo.”Just saying his name makes something ugly twist inside me.“To my worst enemy.”“You need to get a hold of yourself.” Stefan crouches beside me, hi
(Amara)The door to my office bursts open, and I look up to find Rayner standing there.He strides toward me, his pace hurried, his expression tense enough to make my chest tighten.I lean back in my chair, forcing myself to remain calm. “I don’t think there’s any reason for you to be here, Mr. Rayner Sinclair.”A bitter scoff tears through him.“Marriage? Really?”“Why?” I hold his gaze, refusing to let him see how much his presence unsettles me. “Am I not allowed to get married? Last I can remember, I’m free to do whatever I want with my life.”“It’s marriage we’re talking about here, Amara.”“Yes, I know.”“Then why are you agreeing to this?” His voice rises with disbelief. “How can you accept a marriage to him of all people? To Lorenzo?”A humorless smile touches my lips.“Good to know you’re only bothered about whom I’m getting married to and not the fact that I’m getting married at all.”“Amara, you know that’s not what I mean. You know—”I lift my hand, stopping him before he c
(Stefan)“Why does it feel like everyone’s just staring at us?” Rita asks, bringing her coffee cup close to her nose.“Yeah, it sure looks like it,” I say, darting my eyes around to catch their prying eyes.“Oh jeez!” She exclaims. “This is why I said we should keep our distance at the office. Now they’re already suspecting us.”“I did, Rita. But you don’t expect me to keep my distance from you all the time. We barely even have time for ourselves.”My voice lowers.“Oh, really?” she says sarcastically. “I guess you’ve finally gotten what you want then. Now they’re all gonna keep staring and talking about office romance between us.”“Well, that’s not a bad story either.”“Stefan…” she calls, frustration already filling her voice as a chuckle escapes me.Then I look at her and say, “Maybe it’s just you who keeps thinking about it. Because take a look…” I signal toward the people around us. “We’re just here having coffee. Who would begin thinking something else?”“Then why do they keep s
(Maya)“Ama… Amara.”I lunge forward just in time to catch her as her knees give out. She slides off the side of the bed, her body going limp against mine before she can hit the floor.“Maya…” Her voice comes out broken. She slowly lifts her tear-filled eyes to me. “How can she do that to me? She made me miscarry my child. I…” Her words catch in her throat. Her gaze darts around the room before settling back on me. “I could never have imagined Grace would do this to me. She killed my child, Maya. She planned it all.”“I knew she was up to no good.” I tighten my jaw, lowering my gaze. “She has never liked you. Never treated you well.”Guilt crashes into my expression.“It’s all my fault. I should never have let you drink that juice.”“No.” Amara shakes her head frantically. “I’m the one to blame.” Her fingers wrap tightly around my arm. “You warned me, Maya. You tried to warn me, but I didn’t listen.” Fresh tears spill down her cheeks. “It’s my fault this happened. It’s my fault.” Her
(Amara)I’m led into the large living room, my mom helping me inside when a familiar voice reaches us.“Amara… you’re home.”I slowly lift my head, my gaze landing on her.Grace.My jaw tightens.“I…” She takes a cautious step toward me. “Let me help you.”“Don’t you dare touch me!”My voice slices through the room.She freezes, shock flashing across her face as though she hadn’t expected my reaction. As though she expected me to simply let her after what she’d done.My fists clench.Maya’s words replay in my head.She did it on purpose.She made Amara lose her baby.It was all her plan.“Amara…” Her lips tremble. Her mouth opens, then closes again, no words coming out.I stare directly at her.“Why?”A bitter scoff escapes me.“Were you really thinking I’d forgive my child’s murderer?”Her eyes widen.“Mur… murderer?” A shaky breath leaves her. “You’re mistaken, Amara. I didn’t do it. I swear, I’m innocent.”“Oh really?” I pull free from my mother’s hold and close the distance betwee
(Martha)“What are you saying, Aunt Martha?” Rita’s trembling voice echoes through the corner. “How could Maya ever do something like that?”“Exactly,” Olivia adds in disbelief. “You have to be mistaken. Maya would never do that. She’s Amara’s best friend. The person Amara trusts the most.”Rita steps closer and gently turns me to face her.“I know Maya’s way of caring can be a little… intense sometimes. But she’d never do something so cruel to Amara. If anything, she loves her like a sister.”“That was exactly what I thought too,” I say quietly.A bitter smile touches my lips before disappearing.“I’ve never really liked Maya. There was always something about her that never sat right with me. Something I could never explain.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “But never… not even in my wildest dreams, did I imagine she was capable of something this monstrous.”I draw in a shaky breath.“Maya doesn’t love Amara.”The words leave my mouth slowly.“She doesn’t care about Amara the way
(Rayner)I watch her from behind as she walks into the kitchen.I knew she wouldn’t say no.Honestly, I hadn’t expected her to agree either. I only tried my luck. Yet here she is, tying the apron around her waist, moving around my kitchen like she belongs here.And I stand there, pretending my arm
(Amara)“Good day, Sir Rayner,” I say the moment he walks in.But another voice follows him.Soft. Feminine. Familiar.My eyes lift and there she is. The same lady from yesterday. The one who left the office with her arms locked in his.I freeze.She walks in behind him, talking rapidly, her words
(Felix)“Selina!”My voice crashes against the walls as I stride through the living room, anger boiling over with every step.I find her sprawled in one of the chairs like she owns the place. Her legs are propped casually on the table. One hand rubs slow circles over her stomach, the other lifts an
(Amara)The moment feels suspended until his voice breaks through it.“Are you okay?”His words are low and close, brushed against the side of my neck. There is a thickness to his voice, something steady and concerned, as if the question leaves him instinctively before he can think better of it.Sl







