DESTINYI knew he meant it, and I felt a pang of sympathy for him, having lost his mother in such a horrific manner. But the pain of him keeping it to himself hurt deeply.“I forgive you, James,” I whispered after a moment. “But…” I raised my hand to silence him when he tried to speak. “You have to be completely honest with me. I can't support you if I don't know what's going on in your mind.”“I promise I'll try,” he replied, his gaze fixed on his fidgeting hands. “I carry so much baggage, Sugar. It's not something I want to burden you with.”“James.” I gently cradled his face, raising it to meet my eyes. “Whatever you tell me won't make me leave.”“You say that now, Destiny,” he responded, his voice filled with anguish. “You heard what my father said. I destroy people I love.” He placed his trembling hands over mine. “I want to protect you and our baby. I don't want to hurt you, but I'm terrified I might.”“You're being irrational. You're a good man. I don't care about your father or
JAMES I barely registered the sound of a splash as something fell into the pool, my vision clouded by the intense anger I felt towards Ronan. How dare he lay a hand on Destiny? Consumed by the desire to smash his arrogant face in, I punched him blindly. His cheekbone crunched underneath my fists."James! Fuck! Stop it..." Ronan's words were all muffled and blood splattered on my face, as he weakly tried to push me away by gripping my wrists tighter. We tumbled over the cold paving, our labored breaths and grunts filling the air.Just as Ronan's fist connected with my jaw, I caught a movement in the water. Stars exploded in front of me, blurring my vision. And then, in that moment of disorientation, I realized Destiny was no longer there.Ronan's scream of her name snapped me out of my daze. Without hesitation, we both plunged into the water. I reached her first, her waterlogged clothes dragging her down towards the pool's depths. With all my strength, I broke the surface, cradling he
DESTINYAfter Ronan left, James suggested we go for a drive. The longing in his eyes was apparent as he glanced at his gleaming motorcycle. But he wouldn't risk it with me being pregnant. As we ventured further from home, the road stretched out endlessly before us. I couldn't help but wonder where James was taking us."Where are we going, James?" I inquired, curiosity tinged with excitement as we left the familiar behind."To one of my favorite places, Sugar. It's been a while since I've been there," he replied.A few miles from the coast, we arrived at the summit of the cliffs, where James parked the Bentley at a lookout point. The sea breeze greeted us as we stepped out of the car. James, ever attentive, helped me with my coat, carefully buttoning it up to my chin. I couldn't help but smile at his protective gesture.We found a bench overlooking the majestic view, and I nestled close to James. The chill wind playfully tousled my hair, but being outside felt invigorating. The sight b
JAMES“James, you don’t mean that!” Destiny said, her gentle touch on my arm sending a shiver down my spine.Oh, but I did. The weight of my words hung heavy in the air.“James, come with me to the hospital. Please,” Dad pleaded, holding the limo's door open, its sleek black exterior gleaming in the interior light, a stark contrast to the darkness in my heart."Now, why would I do that? He's probably too stubborn to die, anyway. Plus, he hates me," I scoffed, the bitterness dripping from my words like venom. Although, the thought of being by his bedside filled me with a sick satisfaction, a twisted desire to see him suffer."He's still your family, James," Destiny prodded, her voice heavy with empathy and understanding."He needs your forgiveness, James. Besides, it's for your own sake as well," my father's concern seeped into his words, contrasting with the strained relationship we had shared for years.I shrugged, the weight of indifference settling on my shoulders. "Yeah, well. Des
DESTINYI listened to what Lord Barrington said. He was convinced that his actions caused his father's stroke.“Grandfather always had a bad temper.” James remarked. He had regained his composure after his emotional outburst. I thought it was endearing to see him so vulnerable. He hardly ever showed that side of him.“I know, but I just couldn’t keep quiet any longer. Not after what he confessed to.” Lord Barrington rubbed his temples as if he had a headache.Looking closely at Lord Barrington, I noticed a red welt on one side of his face. “What happened to your face?” I blurted out.He subconsciously stroked over the red mark. “He struck me with his walking stick,” he said, grimacing. “Right before he fell.”Curiosity piqued, I asked, “What did you argue about?”He let out a deep sigh. “It doesn’t matter now.”“Really?” James raised an eyebrow at his father, his voice filled with skepticism. “Was it about the inheritance?”“Among other things. You should go home. I can see Destiny is
JAMESHaving heard nothing from my father, we drove to the hospital, anyway. Destiny insisted we stop at a fast-food restaurant on the way to get my dad something to eat. The aroma of sizzling burgers and salty fries wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of freshly brewed coffee.“I don’t care if it’s not healthy, James. He needs comfort food. Just this once.” She was determined to get him what she considered being comfort food. I just shook my head. I’ve never seen my dad eat a hamburger and fries. Ever. But there was no arguing with a pregnant woman. The lack of peanut butter or strawberry ice cream in the house had already agitated her. I had to promise her solemnly to get it for her.We found him in the waiting room where we left him. He looked as if he hadn’t slept at all, his tired eyes reflecting the fluorescent lights overhead. The uncomfortable chairs creaked as we sat down next to him. Outside the waiting area, the hospital staff carried on with their task. The low
DESTINYIt was late evening when we made our way back home. The violet sky overcast with gray clouds hanging low signaled the promise of snow. Winter has finally arrived.Lord Barrington seemed reluctant to let us leave, finding many excuses to keep us there. The aroma of a delicious lunch drifted through the air, enticing us to stay. As the hours passed, lunch turned into dinner, filling the grand dining room with the clinking of cutlery and the soft murmur of conversation. Afterwards, the staff brought us steaming cups of tea, accompanied by the sweet aroma of freshly baked biscuits. I couldn’t resist. It was as if Lord Barrington didn't want to be left alone in that massive, eerie mansion. And honestly, I couldn't blame him. The place felt haunted, even if I didn't believe in such things.At least there was some semblance of harmony between James and his father. They engaged in polite conversation, discussing minor matters instead of arguing. It was a significant improvement, and
Was I dreaming? The world around me felt surreal, like a hazy fog had descended upon reality. The air was thick with a mix of anticipation and dread. Just a few hours ago, we were filled with joy, discussing baby names and envisioning the perfect nursery. The nightmare of Jenna's death seemed like it was finally coming to conclusion, and we could move on from all of it. Everything was supposed to be fine. But then, in a split second, it all came crashing down.Curious onlookers buzzed about, their whispers and murmurs blending in a cacophony of noise. Security officers stood tall, forming a barrier between the crowd and the chaotic scene unfolding before them. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably, blending with the sticky warmth that seeped through my trembling fingers as I clung desperately to James."James, don't leave me," I pleaded through sobs, my voice choked with anguish. I gently caressed his deathly pale face, hoping beyond hope that my touch could somehow anchor him to