LOGINHello my lovely readers, Writing this story has been extremely fun, it’s been a roller coaster of self doubts, praises, long pauses, and a lot of what now’s? This story wasn’t just about the love between Rowland and Selene, it was an about a young woman, discovering herself, fighting for freedom and being allowed to choose. I tried to capture real life experiences as I much as I could especially with Tom. Of course, I am not going to leave you hanging. There is going to be an epilogue chapter right after this. If you enjoyed this story as much as I loved writing it, give me a follow… support me, drop a comment, let everyone know what you honestly think. I would be delighted to read all comments, sitting on my bed, excited that all the overthinking was finally worth it. ❤️🤭 you could also check out my other book, what butterflies don’t tell you. Thank you for your support, I won’t be here without my readers.
Selene’s POV. My eyes fluttered open, and I am sitting back in the chair. I didn’t know where I was.The ceiling above me was white.Too bright.I blinked slowly.Then I realized I was sitting back in the chair.The empty coffee cup lay on the floor beside me.Everyone was gathered around me.Mother.Father.Rowland.Lisa.Sophie.My eyes moved from one face to another.My heart began to pound.Then I heard it.“Mummy!”I froze.My head snapped toward the voice.“Mummy!”A little girl stood a few feet away.Her eyes were filled with tears.She was looking straight at me.My breathing stopped.I shook my head.The room seemed to tilt around me.The little girl took a step toward me.“Mummy.”My lips parted.Nothing came out.She took another step.Then another.Her little hands stretched toward me.“Carry me.”My heart shattered.I pushed myself farther back into the chair.“No.”The word came out as a whisper.The little girl stopped.Her face crumpled.“Mummy?”I shook my head hard
Selene’s POV. I sat at the station; a towel was draped over my shoulders while I sipped hot coffee slowly. My mind raced through everything that happened within the past three days. It all felt like a dream. Something far from reality, but it all did happen.Rowland spoke with the inspector. My eyes roamed the station. Officers moved around us, talking quietly. Phones rang. Doors opened and closed. Someone laughed softly somewhere behind the counter.I looked down at the coffee in my hands. Life goes on, always. Even after everything changed.I looked towards the door.Mark was nowhere to be found.Seeing him again had brought back a memory I could touch.A reminder of the betrayal.He was Rowland’s brother.But years ago, he had been a part of the family that had watched Rowland disappear from my life.I still didn’t know what to make of seeing him again.I pulled the towel tighter around myself.For the first time in days, I wasn’t running.I wasn’t hiding.I wasn’t trying to
Rowland’s POV. The sound tore through the noise. My heart raced. I couldn’t hear anything except Selene’s scream.She buried her face in her palms, her whole body trembling as she cried.“Selene!”I looked down at myself.My hands moved frantically over my chest, my stomach, and my arms. I searched for blood, for a wound, for anything that could tell me where the bullet had hit.Nothing.I touched my chest again, breathing heavily.I wasn’t shot.My eyes lifted.Tom was crouched a few feet away, one hand gripping his leg. Blood was already soaking through his trousers.He had been shot.I stared at him, trying to process what I was seeing.Then I heard footsteps behind me.I turned.Mark.My brother was walking through the bushes, his clothes drenched from the rain, his face hard with concentration.And in his hand was a gun.He stopped a few feet from us. “Police! Your hands in the air!”Officers circled around us. They moved so quickly. In seconds, Tom was lying face down on the
Rowland’s POV. I squinted my eyes towards the pathway. The rain was pouring down heavily now. I had lost track of time. How sure are we she’s even here? I kicked the trunk of a tree hard. My body retracted at the impact of the ripples of pain through my body. I cupped my palm over my mouth. “Selene!” I had no idea where the mark was, and I had gone too far into the bushes. I let myself fall back into the tree. Tears stung my eyes. I was tired. I wailed, twisting a twig in my fingers. “I am so, so sorry, Selene.” The rain trailed it way down my body. I was drenched. But I didn’t care. “Help!” My head snapped. “Selene?” I got up immediately. “Help!” Again. It sounded muffled. Like she was struggling to speak. followed the direction of the voice, pushing through the thick branches that slapped against my face and caught at my clothes.“Selene!”“Help!”My heart slammed against my ribs.“I’m coming!”I pushed harder, stumbling over roots and wet ground until I finally b
Rowland’s POV. “Oh dear, I should have called the police earlier.” I watched the old lady, who stood in front of the abandoned house, with her fingers wrapped around her body. “You really wouldn’t have known, honey.” An elderly man, who I presumed to be her husband, rubbed her shoulder lightly. He turned to the officer. "We need to head in now, Officer, before my wife's blood pressure spikes.” I threw my head back in frustration. That man seems to be ten steps ahead. Mark stood a few feet away on the porch, talking to the inspector. I watched the inspector receive a call and place the phone over his ear. He nodded and slipped the phone into his pocket. It seems there has been a sighting in the east. I straightened, alarmed. “Do you think it’s them, Inspector?" “It has to be.” He mumbled something into the walkie-talkie on his shoulder and headed for his car. "It has to be; the description matches the one from the old lady. A car is parked lazily on the r
Rowland’s POVI was on my way to Elena’s to pick her up for the date. I glanced at my watch for the hundredth time. I was this close to canceling.This close.Selene’s call earlier today had been surprising. I had expected her to be happy. I mean, I was only trying to help. But she seemed more piss
I stood in front of the mirror, twirling from side to side."You look stunning, Selene," Sophie said from behind me, holding up the foundation brush she had used to touch up my face.I hardly put on makeup, but today was different. My spirits were high, and I had an interview soon.I spun around an
Rowland's POV.When I got back from work yesterday, I couldn't stop thinking about Selene, the lunch, and the look in her face when her husband called. Sophie said they had issues, but something just doesn't sit right with me.I could have sworn it was him I saw at the restaurant that day.I rubbed
Selene's POVI sighed, staring at another rejected application. This will be the third this week.Amira was in the living room with Sophie. They were both watching TV while I gazed at my declining bank account. I really didn't want to bother Sophie. I will have to move to my place eventually.The d







