LOGIN(Amara)I barely make it three steps into the living room before Grace’s voice slices through the silence.“Wow. Look who finally decided to come home.”A slow clap follows.Every eye remains fixed on me.I stop walking.Grace rises from her seat, shaking her head.“The daughter who disappears all day while the rest of us deal with the consequences of her actions.”“Grace.” My mother’s warning comes immediately.But Grace only laughs.“What? I’m telling the truth.”She points directly at me.“Do you have any idea what people are saying about this family right now?”My jaw tightens.“Everywhere I go, people are talking about the Roosevelt family.”Her voice grows sharper.“About the scandal.”“The affair.”“The disgrace.”Each word lands like a slap.“And it’s all because of her.”The room falls silent.My mother’s face hardens.“Enough.”“No.” Grace shakes her head. “You shouldn’t have brought her back into this house in the first place.”The words sting more than I want them to.Beca
(Amara)I sit alone on the bench, staring out at the amusement park.Life moves on around me.Children race toward the rides, their excited screams carrying through the air. The Ferris wheel turns slowly in the distance while the roller coaster rushes past with another round of terrified laughter. Bright music blares from nearby speakers. Families queue for attractions. Friends stop to take photos beneath colorful lights and decorations.Yet somehow, all of it feels distant.Blurred.Like I’m watching the world through a sheet of glass.My fingers tighten around the edge of the bench as Felix’s voice continues to echo inside my head: You betrayed me first. So whatever you’re facing, you deserve it.My throat tightens.A tear slips down my cheek.Then another.I quickly wipe them away, but they keep coming.“Do you really think I was going to let you go that easily? Certainly not. Not after what you did to ruin my life.”I squeeze my eyes shut.His face flashes through my mind.The co
(Rayner)“Rayner!”Stefan bursts into my office.“Rayner!”I don’t look up.My attention remains on the documents spread across my desk.“What is it?”I sign another page.“If it isn’t urgent, we can discuss it later. I’m busy.”“No.”The tension in his voice makes me pause.“You need to see this.”I slowly look up.Stefan immediately places his phone on my desk.I stare at him for a second before looking down.And my breath catches.The article.The photographs.Me.Amara.My chair scrapes against the floor as I stand.“What the hell is this?”Stefan runs a hand through his hair.“We’ve tried taking it down, but whoever uploaded it used a heavily protected site. Our team hasn’t been able to reach it.”My jaw tightens.“The article is spreading fast,” he continues. “And people are bringing up her old case with Selina.”A dangerous feeling settles inside me.“What?”Stefan hesitates.Then speaks.“They’re claiming Amara became jealous after Felix moved on with Selina.”My fists clench.
(Amara)The new week has been nothing short of exciting.Ever since returning from Beverly Hills, I have been living off the memories from my time there. And even though Rayner and I only just started seeing each other, it already feels like it has been forever.Is this what it feels like to be truly loved?My mind drifts back to that night.The way he held me.The way he protected me.Even that day at the hotel site.I had gone with them after finding out it was the real reason behind his trip to Beverly Hills and the same business trip Nathan had travelled for earlier.A smile touches my lips.Just then, my phone buzzes on the table.I immediately reach for it.Rayner.My smile widens before I even open the message: Good luck on your first day today.A soft laugh escapes me.Of course he would text.We have barely gone a day without talking since we returned. Calls. Messages. Random check-ins.And despite the fact that he already wished me luck last night, here he is again.My chest
(Amara)“Rayner, stop! Stop!”He doesn’t listen.He just keeps dragging me across the beach, the cool breeze whipping against my skin.“Rayner!”The scream rips from me as I finally yank my hand from his grip.He pauses.Then turns to face me.“What do you think you’re doing?” I point behind us. “You were supposed to drop me off at the hotel. So what makes you think you can just take me anywhere without my permission?”“Why?”His eyes stay on mine. “You want to go back and wait for when Lorenzo finally comes to join you?”“What?”My brows pull together.“What rubbish are you talking about?”“It isn’t rubbish, Amara. It’s the truth.”His jaw tightens.“If I hadn’t bumped into Lorenzo last night and mistaken his room key for mine, then he would’ve been the one in the room with you. Not me.”My stomach drops.So that’s what happened.That’s how Rayner ended up in my room.But…I still don’t understand.Why was Lorenzo assigned the same room as mine?A strange uneasiness settles in my ches
(Rayner)“Have Nathan know that we won’t be meeting as planned.”The command I gave Stefan replays in my head as I step hard on the gas, following closely behind Lorenzo’s car.I need to know exactly where they’re going.Exactly where Lorenzo is taking her.“Rayner!”Stefan’s scream rips through the car.He’s been clutching the handle since I started driving, screaming his lungs out every few seconds.But I don’t stop.I just keep driving.I can’t lose them.I won’t.********We stand in front of the tall building, Stefan beside me.“Isn’t this…”His voice trails off as recognition flashes across his face.My eyes narrow.It’s one of our buildings here in Beverly Hills.But what could they be doing here?I need to know.I turn and signal to Stefan.He immediately understands.Go find out.He leaves and returns barely a minute later.“A meeting?”My brows knit together as he explains.“Since when did Lorenzo start working for Eleanor Foods?”The question sits heavily in my chest becaus
(Amara)“So what are you going to do now?” Maya asks as we step back into the office. “You finally got the presentation done, and it was a success. The team will be dissolved soon, so you’ll have to get your hands on something else.”A scoff leaves me as I settle into my seat and lean my head back.
(Amara)My breath catches as I hurry around a corner, my heart beating hard.So hard it feels like it might burst from my chest.Slowly, my fingers rise to my lips.I touch them.Trace them.And instantly, my mind betrays me.The moment flashes before my eyes again.The moment we almost—I shake th
(Amara)"Alright, everyone, let's have your attention."The host's cheerful voice carries through the hall just as Maya and I step back inside.Conversations gradually fade.Guests begin gathering closer together, their attention shifting toward the small stage at the front of the room."Tonight, w
(Amara)My eyes stay glued to him as he steps fully into the mansion.The noise around me fades.The laughter.The music.The conversations.Everything becomes distant.My chest rises and falls unevenly.Breathe.Just breathe.I force air into my lungs, but it feels impossible.Then I tear my gaze







