INICIAR SESIÓNROSEI stood at the door, my back facing Ryder and Lison. I dared not look. I was so embarrassed. The way Lison had spoken, I did not need to look to see his eyes were on me. Disgust, hatred, maybe both. Worst of it, my heart kept pounding. I think they could even hear it. The room was already calm, and any little sound could be heard.Back then, before I left, Lison did not show if he liked or hated me. I would describe him as cool. We were not close like girlfriends and their boyfriend's friends, but we still never fought. Just hi was enough. But right now, with what I saw, I knew if he was handed a gun, he would not think twice before pulling the trigger and blowing off my head.I did not know what to do. Back then when I left, I was hurting. Right now my throat tightened, and I suddenly felt guilt wash over me. I did not even use a second to think about how Ryder might have felt after I suddenly disappeared. I was selfish. Was I? I only thought about myself?But he cheated.A tiny
ROSENext morning, Ryder came just in time. Annie immediately ran to hug him, and he pulled her up and played with her while she laughed heartily. I looked away, trying to quickly arrange the things I needed into my bag. Ryder handed me a bag containing things he had brought for Annie to stay during the time I was at the hospital. We did not talk much. He helped me dress Annie while I dressed up in another room, of course. I was still feeling awkward around him. Last night and everything that happened was still running through my mind, and I felt my cheeks heating up anytime I felt he was staring at me.Tomorrow was going to be different. Before he came, I would be ready and waiting, I sang to myself. I did not know he was going to come early anyway. I was expecting him by 8 a.m., but at 6:30, he had already arrived. He was my boss now, or should I say soon-to-be boss? We might have been lovers from years ago, still trying to figure out what the hell we were doing right now, but allow
ROSERyder held the phone in his hand, and I did not bother trying to take it from him. He was stubborn, and he had definitely heard what I said earlier, so there was no way he was going to give it back easily."Your husband?"The question came, and I was tired. I simply nodded."Yes.""He cheated?"I nodded again."With who?"He did not even let me answer before saying her name."Maya?"I did not respond. I looked away, and I guess that was answer enough.He muttered, "I never liked her. She's always been fake. Everyone saw it except you."His brow was raised, and I could tell he was irritated. I did not reply. I just swallowed."You're not tired of your hide-and-seek game?" Steve's voice came from the other end with a scoff. "You think I will turn the city upside down looking for you?"Well, he would soon realize I was miles away from the city. One week later, and now he was calling? At least, if not for anything else, he should have called for his daughter. The thought reminded me
ROSEOpening my eyes and seeing him sitting right next to me made my heart ache badly. You know that feeling when something feels like it is suffocating you? That was how I felt. I thought he had left before I fell asleep, and realizing I had been unconscious for a whole week, I did not know what to say. I had thought it had only been a few hours, but still, I was glad to see him. My stomach filled with a sweet excitement, like a child being handed candy.He was wearing a sleeveless shirt, his broad shoulders completely exposed. I really wanted to look away, but my eyes had other plans. They refused to cooperate and instead slowly scanned his body. He had changed. He was broader, stronger, and it made me almost drool. I thought I had gotten over him. I hissed and looked away, my eyes moving to the little soul beside him.Annie was sleeping soundly on his chest. I was relieved that I had been the one hit instead. I did not even want to think about what would have happened if Annie had
RYDERI do not know why, but all my anger melted instantly. It was as though cold ice had been poured over me. This was exactly the effect she had on me back then, and I reminded myself that I should not let her daughter do the same. They could not toy with my heart, trash it, and leave me to the other man. At the thought, anger simmered inside me. Who was the man who had climbed into my girl's bed?Rose left. She fucking left. Why was I forgetting that so easily?I almost died. A few days later, Dad's sickness worsened, and I had to fight heartbreak while mourning my father. He did not make it. My hands curled into tight fists."Dada, where is Mama?"Her tiny voice came again. Did she not know her father? Did Rose give birth to my child? The thought crossed my mind, but I quickly shoved it aside. I had never penetrated her. Not once during all the time we were together. But then there was that dream where she moaned so sweetly for me and cried my name. It still felt so real. I pushed
RYDERI had just gotten off the phone with Lison. Ethan was causing trouble at my club again, and I did not wait for him to finish. I grabbed my jacket from the table, leaving everything I had been working on scattered across my desk, and within minutes, I was outside. I swung onto my new baby and kicked it to life.I was both happy and sad. After three years, I was finally moving on. My old bike, the one I had refused to change for years because it was the first and only bike Rose had gone with me to purchase, I had finally let it go yesterday. It felt good, but not that good.I kicked the bike to life again, and something about it felt off. I convinced myself I was just used to my old bike, and within minutes, I was already speeding down the tiled road, my tires screaming against the surface. I was about to make a turn when a woman carrying a little child suddenly appeared and ran into my path."What the hell?"A growl escaped my throat. I had not seen her early enough, and if not f







