The morning was sunny and chirpy, the soft rays of sun in-filtered through the large floor-to-ceiling window into the dining area. The table that last night was filled with deserts and delicious food, was now empty as Amara, Rhys, and Adrian sat around it, but the atmosphere was far from warm and inviting. Tension hung heavy in the air, like an unwelcome guest.Amara's gaze flickered between the two men, her expression a reflection of her emotions. She didn’t know how or when she ended up in her bed, covered with warm sheets. Someone even changed her clothes. She somehow thought Martha had something to do with it. But she could not shake the ghost of touches on her skin. She had a vivid imagination of some tall and muscular man picking her up, and she snuggled closer to his hard chest. Just thinking about that made her cheeks flush as she lowered her head. Another reason she couldn’t meet Rhys’s eyes. Adrian looked at her with a heavy heart and cleared his throat. With much-needed c

A few days passed, and Amara started indulging herself in household work. Waking up before Adrian and making breakfast for him. It all came naturally to her—preparing his morning coffee, ironing his clothes, arranging his lunch, preparing dinner, waiting for him in the living room of their giant apartment, and then sleeping—on different beds of course.She was glad Adrian agreed to let her have a room to herself. She barely got time to paint, and she was glad because every time she grabbed the brush, her hands would shake and she wouldn’t know what she’d draw. All the while, pale blue eyes haunt her now and then. Amara moved between the kitchen counters, the clinking of utensils and the sizzling sounds from the stove pulling her out of her thoughts. The enticing aroma of pasta began to envelop the living room, but her mind was elsewhere—lost in the abyss of memories that seemed to intertwine with the scents reminding her of the time she lived with Rhys. It had only been a week, and

The warmth of the soup had not only comforted his body but had stirred something deeper within him, something he couldn't quite put into words. He watched Amara, her shy eyes and tinted cheeks only added to her ethereal beauty. The admiration he felt for her swelled in his chest, making it difficult to breathe.Adrian’s phone rang cutting through, frowning he picked it up. “Hello?” “The files you asked for are here. Do you want me to send them to your apartment?”Adrian glanced at Amara and shook his head. “No, not here. I’ll be there in ten.” He said before hanging up. Whatever emotions he felt inside him a second ago were now replaced with deep sadness and regret. The files he asked for were of Amara’s condition. He did not want her to stumble upon those files. She’d know about her scars and the…rape. Adrian tried his best not to let his emotions show in his face as he averted his eyes to the side and started getting up. Amara looked worried at him. “Are you going somewhere?” She

The room was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from a lone lamp. Amara sat on the floor, her eyes red and swollen from tears. The scent of the Peonies lingered in the air mixed with Rhys’s intoxicating scent that baffled her. She shut her eyes and let out a deep sigh thinking to herself. Why, Rhys? Why did you have to come back into my life? She wondered. Amara clutched her chest, a mix of guilt and conflicting emotions washing over her like a heavy, damp cloak, clinging with invisible fingers, each breath burdened by the weight of unspoken words. It was a shadow that refused to fade, casting a pallor on the heart's canvas, where every beat echoed a remorseful melody.Amara sobbed uncontrollably, her hands trembling as she wiped away the tears.She betrayed Adrian... betrayed herself.She curled into a ball on the floor, the weight of reality pressing down on her. The room felt suffocating, echoing with the silence of her thoughts. The weight of guilt became too much. Amara

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue across the park. Amara and Rhys strolled through the peaceful surroundings, oblivious to the passage of time. Her laughter and his intense gaze. Easy conversations created a cocoon, shielding her from the world outside. Amara's gaze flitted between the blooming flowers and Rhys's captivating eyes. Unbeknownst to her, the sun's descent painted the sky with hues of pink and orange. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in a timeless embrace. It was like she was standing in a sunlit meadow, surrounded by the fragrance of blooming flowers, yet wearing a blindfold. Every petal, every scent, even every warmth of sunlight registered, but the source remained a puzzle she couldn’t solve. There was an unspoken melody in the air, a gentle hum that resonated through her every nerve and travelled through her body, leaving her captivated yet unaware.Being with Rhys was truly something Amara knew she couldn’t feel