In Loving Memory

Chapter 1.

Amelia walked down the stairs, her face contorted into a hard frown.

“You are not walking away from me, are you?” her father’s voice followed suit as he took the stairs.

Amelia heaved out a sigh, throwing herself on the couch, her hands sinking into her hair.

“This is not fair, Father. Why do I have to follow you to Singapore?” she cried out bitterly.

“Because I am a cop, and my job requires that.”

His answer was quite ridiculous to Amelia’s ears. Of course, she knew that already, but what she didn’t understand was why she always had to transfer schools just to be with her father in whatever country he was being posted to.

All her life, she had lived without friends because she barely stayed a year in a country. She had changed so many high schools, and college wasn’t an exception because her father made her do that every single time he relocated. But this time, she wasn’t going to listen to him. Amelia was currently in her final year. She had moved down here two years ago and made a friend who took the place of the sister she never had in her life. How could she possibly leave Megan?

“Amelia.” Her father’s voice filled her ears, and she stared up at him with teary eyes.

“I do not want to go to Singapore, Dad. I do not want to.” Her voice cracked, tears filling the brim of her eyes.

Mr. Albert stared at her and sighed. She was being tough, knowing he would never leave her here by herself without a guardian.

Giving it another thought, he sighed and squatted to Amelia’s level.

“Look at me, Princess.” His hands found her cheeks. “You have to do this, Amelia, for your safety.”

The calmness in her father’s voice almost made her give in, but she pulled herself together.

If only he knew that she was safer here than in Singapore.

“I do not have to follow you every time you relocate, Father. I am sorry, but I am not moving with you this time. I am no longer twelve. I am twenty-one.” Firmly said, she hurried away, trying to hold the pain.

Amelia walked into her room, shutting the door behind her. She leaned on the door, shutting her eyes, trying to restrain the tears.

The sound of her beeping phone rang across the room. She sniffed back the tears and moved closer to the bed, picking up her phone.

The phone rang again, and she checked the caller. It was Jackson, her coursemate and close friend.

She picked up and took the phone to her ear.

“Hello,” she whispered softly, trying not to sound different. But nothing got past Jackson. He was the first friend she made when she moved down to Italy, and he had been by her side, watching over her like a brother would.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course.” She smiled like he could see her.

“Well, you do not sound like you are.”

“I am okay, Jackson. I will let you know if I am not, right?”

He hesitated for a while, shrugging his shoulders.

“I called because I haven’t given up on the hangout. You should join the party.”

Amelia let out a soft sigh, rolling her eyeballs alongside it.

‘He never gets tired,’ she muttered inwardly. It was a thing to have Jackson as a friend, but it was a burden to have him when there was a party hangout. He would hunt you until it was a yes.

She bit on her lower lip for a while, then replied.

“I will be there in an hour’s time.”

“Really?” he exclaimed.

“It’s so unlike the houseworm to give in so easily,” he teased.

“I just do not want you to pester me again,” she replied, a part of her reminding her of how many lies she had told during the week. But it was the greatest way to relieve herself of the stress.

Amelia had thousands of plans, but being caught up in a baseless conversation with her father wasn’t a part of it. Neither was attending a party. But right now, she needed to keep this nagging thought of traveling to Singapore out of her head.

“Okay, houseworm… see you at the party.”

Jackson giggled, dropping the call.

Amelia threw her phone onto the bed, dashing into the bathroom.

***

Clad in a red leather, handle-less bodycon, Amelia walked her way majestically through the little crowd that was gathering up in a large room with hard beats and bobbing lights like a club, music blasting out of the speakers. Her raven-black hair cascaded down her waist as her tall physique towered over a few people in the room. Her heels clacked against the tiles, alerting everyone of her arrival, her sophisticated aura sticking to her like a cloak as she walked past the lined-up alcoholic cups, trying to find her way.

“You came,” Jackson exclaimed, pulling her into a gentle hug.

Amelia flashed him a smile.

“I do not go back on my words, do I?”

He pulled her from the hug, his eyes scanning her body.

“Damn, houseworm, you look so hot!” His octave informed her of how extremely gorgeous she looked tonight.

“You better get yourself a man tonight.”

“Oh, please, Jackson. Spare me all of that.” Amelia rolled her eyes, and he smiled.

Love? It was one of Amelia’s greatest fears. After all that happened with her ex, Amelia couldn’t think of finding love—not until she healed from the three years of torture the word love had cursed her with.

“The guys won’t spare you,” he whispered into her ear, pulling her out of her thoughts.

She spared him a hard glare, and he comported himself, flashing her his teeth.

“Where is Megan? Did she come?” Amelia’s voice came up after some seconds, and Jackson shook his head.

“She had to visit her mom. She couldn’t make it.”

Amelia’s face dropped, her mind wandering off to how boring her day would be without Megan here.

Jackson rubbed her arm.

“Don’t think about it, Amelia. I am here, right? And you will meet lots of friends too.”

Amelia flashed him a warm smile. Making friends should be an exception. She barely engaged in conversation with people, so there was little to no chance of that.

“Sit here. I will be right back.”

Amelia nodded her head and took a seat as instructed. She reached out for the juice on the table and sipped from it. Jackson knew she was alcohol-intolerant, so he arranged that for her.

She watched the crowd as they walked in and settled at a table—some with their boyfriends, while some just fixed themselves with others.

Taking a sip and vibing gently to the soft music, Amelia’s eyes darted to the entrance, and her jaw dropped. The cold chills, in proportion to the sexy gaze in front of her, sent shivers reverberating through her body.