I pushed the heavy door and entered the vibrant world of The Abyss. The heat, the smell of alcohol and smoke, and the thunder of electronic music immediately swallowed me. Neon lights flashed, casting shifting shadows over the bodies of men and women swaying in a trance. It was chaotic, sensual, and everything the old Amy would have avoided.My eyes searched for Simon. I found him in a slightly elevated corner, a figure that effortlessly dominated the space. He sat like a king on an improvised throne: legs stretched out and relaxed, holding a wine glass that swayed with the rhythm.When he saw me, that handsome face of his lit up under the strobe light, and he gave me a smile that bordered on insolence. The woman he had called “darling” sat beside him, her blonde hair messy, but Simon only had eyes for me.I pushed through the crowd with difficulty until I finally reached the spot where he was. I sat down next to him across from the bar. Not only tha
As soon as we left the restaurant, the frosty night air hit me, a welcome rush after the tension of that dinner, wiping away the sweat that clung to my face.“Do you really think all that was necessary?” Antony’s voice cut through the city noise, and I turned my eyes toward him.“Are you talking about the acknowledgment of debt?” I asked. Antony nodded slightly. “Trust me, Father, you’ll soon see I’m right. Don’t trust Asher or Warren blindly.”He shrugged, and I couldn’t tell whether he agreed with me or not. “You shouldn’t have mentioned the sapphire. It’s a little embarrassing to know how you got it.”I hadn’t told him about my collaboration with Simon. How could I? No father, not even mine, a shrewd business executive, would agree to marry his daughter to a notorious playboy, much less allow her to associate with a man like him. They only saw Simon as the irrespons
The silence that followed my demand was heavy, broken only by the distant clinking of silverware. Asher’s brief relief evaporated, replaced by a mix of irritation and barely concealed hesitation. He crossed his arms, a deep frown forming on his forehead.“Amy, dear,” he said, forcing his voice to sound gentle. “You’re right, of course, but an acknowledgment of debt between families is usually… a formality. Asking for such a strict document might send the wrong message, you know? It could seem like distrust, which is far from the truth.”I held his gaze, knowing he was fishing for a way out, trying to make me feel guilty for being “too demanding.” In the past, I would have given in. I would have reassured him, told him that his word was enough.But this wasn’t the naïve Amy from ten years ago.In my previous life, Antony had “loaned” the money, and Warren’s family simply acted as i
“You’re a magnificent couple,” Asher raised his glass for a toast, his eyes locked on me. “I’ll cover all the expenses for this wedding. Tell me, Amy, is there something special you want for your big day?”He seemed so kind that I finally understood why I had trusted them for so long without ever suspecting their actual intentions. But I couldn’t forget that after we got married, the pressure for me to get pregnant became unbearable. Warren’s family even forced me to take medication.Only before I died did I learn that the potion was made from the remains of disgusting insects. Every dose made me vomit and suffer from diarrhea for days, yet I endured it for eight long years, just to give birth to Warren’s son.My stomach twisted at the memories. I had to fight the urge to throw up the little I’d eaten. A cold wave spread through my body, and my legs grew weak. Those memories haunted me, and all I wanted was t
Amy’s POVAntony rushed toward us the moment Megan and I stepped inside the house. He had been standing by the entrance long enough, waiting for our return. I could see the anxious look on his face and the beads of sweat running down his slightly wrinkled forehead.“You should have told me you were going to meet your grandma. I should have been with you two.”I looked at him, then at Megan. It was better not to remind ourselves of the horrible things we went through in that house. Antony wouldn’t take it well if he knew Aaron had tried to attack me.“I’m sorry, Dad,” I murmured, lowering my head. “Grandma wanted to talk about the wedding preparations. She seemed even more anxious than I was for that day to come.”He narrowed his eyes at me, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and seemed to relax this time. He walked toward me with his hands behind his back. I knew that gesture well; it meant
Regina’s POVI had been standing against the wall beside the living room door for half an hour, listening to the entire conversation. Amy’s voice as she talked to my father made my stomach twist. I felt even more furious when she left, taking an immense advantage over all of us.I finally stepped out of my hiding spot with a champagne glass in my hand. Not only that, but I hurled it against the marble floor. The crash echoed through the room. Everyone turned to look at me, frozen for two seconds.“Sorry, it was an accident.” That’s what I wanted them to think. I threw the glass deliberately to let out my anger. “I heard the entire conversation. I’m so sorry you all had to go through this.”“Amy has lost her mind,” Grandma muttered, rubbing her forehead. “She dares to defend that woman and insult Aaron without any reason.”I moved closer to her quietly and stroked her gray