From the pages of the book…

“Oh my God,” I muttered while Brochan drove as fast as he could on the dark road without breaking speed limits on the way to Nona’s home. “They’re going to kill me.”

“You will explain to them you were with me, and it’s going to be okay.” Brochan tried to calm me down with his soothing voice, but all it did was anger me more.

“It won’t be all right, Brochan! They don’t even know I’m dating anyone, but when they do find out—” Only the seatbelt saved me from hitting my head on the dashboard when Brochan slammed on the brakes.

He squeezed the steering wheel so hard his tanned skin turned white, and he looked at me, hurt evident in every feature. “They don’t know about us?”

Oh, no. I didn’t watch my words in my panicked state and now the cat was out of the bag. “Brochan—”

“We’ve been dating for the last two months, and they call you every day. You told me they knew.”

“It’s just if I told them—”

Anger and fury came from him in waves as he pulled me closer so I couldn’t avoid his stare. “You give me excuses, but I need answers. Are you ashamed of being with me?”

“No, Brochan, no.” I tried to reassure him, palming his head and rubbing his cheeks with my fingers. “How can you say that after our night?”

Some of the tension left him, but his grip on me only tightened, as he spat, “Why then?”

“Because they would have done it sooner,” I shouted, failing to find the right answer to this. My reasoning might seem stupid to everyone, but no one knew them better than me.

Brochan would never be a perfect match for me in their eyes. “Done what?”

“Come here to ruin us.” I didn’t even have time to blink before he dragged me up, and I ended up straddling him with my arms circled around his neck.

“You think they have the power to ruin us?”

Tears streamed down my cheeks, as I replied, “I don’t know. I just know no one goes against their rules. And I love you, Brochan, but for them, you are—”

“Not worthy of their daughter,” he finished for me, and when I nodded, he wiped away my tears. “It’s all right. I’ll talk to your dad, and even if there is a shit storm… as long as I know you are with me forever, we can withstand it.” He slammed his mouth on mine, taking my tongue prisoner with his while he gave me a possessive kiss, which staked an invisible claim on me. “If you’re sure, nothing else matters.”

“I’m sure,” I told him, and we locked in another kiss while the panic in me settled a bit. His heart beating strongly under my palm and his warmth enveloping me in a cocoon made me believe that our future was possible.

And no one had the power to break it.

But it lasted only five seconds, until the tap on the window startled us and we saw Sheriff Duke standing there with two police vehicles. Their red lights lit the street brightly, directing all the attention on us.

“Get out of the car, guys,” he ordered, and we followed, never seeing him this serious about anything.

Once we were facing him, he clicked his fingers to one of the officers who exhaled heavily, but joined us nevertheless.

Brochan asked, “What’s going on, Duke?” The sheriff was one of the coolest guys I knew in the town, always taking care of his citizens and supporting guys like Brochan with special programs.

He always joked for us to not give him a reason to put us behind bars, because he caught us kissing several times. Lately though, he’d lost part of his easygoing nature after his daughter was in a car accident, and the surgeries were too expensive for the family to handle. The whole town tried to help him, but so far, it had been useless.

“The entire town is searching for her. Her folks are back, demanding to see her. I’m sorry, kiddo.”

Brochan’s brows furrowed, and I looked between them, fear building inside me. “For what?” That was when a second officer put handcuffs on him, locking them firmly on his wrists. “Are you insane, Duke? We didn’t do anything!” Brochan shouted, but the sheriff just shook his head.

“She turned eighteen today, which means last night when she was with you she was underage. If they say so, I have to keep you.”

“I was with him of my own free will!” Just as I predicted, my parents used the power of the law to handle this situation. Did I expect anything else from my father, the judge?

“Ron will take you home. Talk to your parents so I can let the kid go. Okay?” he ordered, and I nodded while turning to Brochan, hugging him closer.

“I’m so sorry. I’m going to fix it. You are not going to stay there for long.”

“Don’t agree to anything, okay? Do not make hasty decisions just to save me,” he warned me, right before we shared a kiss. “Promise me, Em.”

“I promise,” I said right before Duke separated us, and I hopped in the car, ready to unleash hell and fury on my parents so they would let him go and not ruin his life.

Back then, I felt like the world had ended.

If I only knew what awaited us after that, I wouldn’t have been so dramatic in that moment.

Island, United States

July 2019

Emerald

“So her parents were against the union. Sort of like Romeo and Juliet?” I ask myself out loud, drinking my tea and scratching my face. “So that’s why you are star-crossed lovers.”

Actually, all this plot development makes me one hell of a happy person, because it means it’ll end soon. Because really. Her parents will object, then see the error of their ways, and happily ever after happens.

So my heroine is sad for no reason.

Or so I hope at least.

My phone vibrates next to me and I grin, seeing Kaden’s number flashing on the screen. I quickly accept it, teasing, “I thought you promised not to bother me for a month.” After he “allowed” me to go, he kept brooding through all the months and didn’t even show up for our weekly meetings on Sunday.

Despite his protectiveness that shadowed me everywhere, he lived in a mansion located on the outskirts of the city, and I visited only once, only because his butler Levi insisted. Kaden gave me the apartment our parents bought for us, because according to the papers, they left it all for me along with a trust fund that I can access once I turn thirty.

Shortly after, I sold the penthouse in Manhattan and bought a two-bedroom condo in Brooklyn that was closer to my job, and I liked the cozy little place way more than the spacious apartment. It wasn’t like I had many friends to invite over. Just a few good acquaintances from my art class, like Frankie who became a famous designer, and Ariel, the keyboard player of a famous rock band. We’ve met from time to time, but mostly I spent my time either painting or teaching kids.

Thinking back on it now, my life is very boring. But then, how reckless can I be with all my health issues?

“Your humor is not welcomed right now.” His voice holds nothing but coldness, and I burst out laughing, some of the heaviness leaving my chest.

“Kaden Scott, are you implying you miss me?”

“Based on what, did you come to such a conclusion?” He pauses, and then says, “But yes. How are you?”

“I’m good,” I reply quickly, too quickly, and I curse inwardly at his next question.

“You don’t say? Why are you nervous, Emerald?”

Shit, hiding anything from Kaden is impossible. He knows people too well; it’s as if he spends his time studying human nature. When, in fact, he’s a businessman who owns a lot of stuff. I think he is worth billions currently.

“I’m not. Just tired. I’ve been working all day.” Which is the truth.

Sort of.

After Eve’s cafe, I walked around the town a bit and came back to the inn, where Marcy tempted me to try their mashed potatoes and fish. I ended up ordering them to my room where I’ve spent the last seven hours writing.

“It’s eleven at night for your information,” I add. Kaden operates on weird hours, always awake in the middle of the night but also the first one to wake up. Sometimes his unwillingness to share much about his life or never meeting his friends irritates me, but I don’t push.

He is the best big brother in the world, always being there for me after the accident, so I refuse to be curious. As long as he’s okay, his life is his business.

“Yet you are awake,” he replies. I step onto the balcony, basking in the light breeze that touches my cheeks. “Do you have any headaches?”

“Some. But I’m taking my medication.”

“Maybe try not to.”

My brows furrow, and I straighten my back. “What do you mean? You know I have nightmares without it.” He was the one to insist I take it.

“I think you’re ready,” he says cryptically, and I’m even more confused.

“Ready for what?”

“For the truth.” I can’t even question his statement, because he’s done with the call. “I’ll call you in a few days. Don’t worry, Em. No one is going to hurt you. You are under my protection.”

Staring at my phone, I try to make sense of this, and as always, I fail. I feel like a complete idiot, who wanders around the place not knowing what to do or say, because everyone around me keeps secrets or continues to throw odd sentences at me.

All thoughts about my problems fly away though when I notice an old woman hurriedly going to the beach, and she screams something I can’t make out. But it’s obvious by her swaying and posture she’s not all right.

And she’s moving right toward the ocean! I snatch off my huge glasses, which allow me to see properly, wiping away the sweat from under them. “Oh no,” I murmur, and rush out of the room, hopping down the stairs to the first floor and darting through the main door, just as Marcy calls, “Emerald!”

The time spent for explaining might be wasted. I need to save her before something happens.

I run and run, noticing the shadow far away, already in the ocean, and I add speed, breathing heavily, while determination unlike anything rushes through my veins.

This woman has to be saved.

I reach her right in time as she’s about to sink neck deep into the water, so I wrap my hands around her middle and pull her back, my actions not even registering in me. Fear of water is no longer an issue when someone else is in danger.

I pull her and pull her, as she continues to scream, “There. It’s there.” Oh my God, what is there?

When we get back to the shore, she freezes in my arms, then spins around, and our gazes clash. My breath hitches.

Her emerald green eyes could be a reflection of mine they are so alike; she looks at me with wonder and shock. She covers her mouth with her wrinkled hand that showcases every vein due to her thinness, and her silver locks fly around us. She seems painfully familiar, but I don’t know why.

She palms my head, rubbing my cheeks, as she whispers, “My little girl.” Her fingers trail over my forehead, brows, nose, and lips. “My beautiful little girl.” She starts crying, circling her arms around me and holding me so tight for a second I can’t breathe.

Or stop my own tears from falling.

Her scent disturbs me, reminding me of something I can’t quite name. A sense of deep loss is present in my chest, and I feel devasted.

“I’m so sorry for not being strong enough.” She leans back, sobbing, and I shake my head, because whatever she thinks she’s guilty of can’t be true.

“Nona.” The deep voice from behind me speaks, stilling my heart before it starts rapidly beating again. “Come here.”

“Micaden, my little girl came back.” She gives me a teary smile. “Look how beautiful she is. Isn’t she?”

Nona. As in his grandmother who has Alzheimer’s?

She probably lost her way and has confused me with someone else from her past, a granddaughter. “Micaden is here too. Full circle,” she speaks to me, hugging me again, but then she lets go when Micaden pulls her toward him. “It’s not her, Nona.”

“No, Micaden, she’s our girl.”

“No, Nona. Remember what we always talk about?” Her gaze stays blank, but then slowly the smile drops from her face and sadness comes back. She nibbles on her finger and nods. “Yes. My little girl is not here.”

I see some men joining us who address Micaden. “We are so sorry. She snuck out through the backdoor during the barbecue. We noticed she was missing almost immediately.” Yeah, right. Yet she had time to come here and do all that.

Immediately my ass.

“I’m tired,” she suddenly says. “I wanna go back now.” She pats my shoulder. “Thank you.” And then she willingly goes to the men who nod at Micaden and trail off with her.

An awkward silence falls between us, and I don’t wish to prolong it. Shivers rush through me, causing goose bumps on my skin, and my teeth chatter against each other, because the breeze touching my wet clothes is unbearable.

I blink in surprise when he orders, “Raise your arms.”

“What?” I rasp, my teeth still clacking.

“Raise your arms,” he repeats, and like the fool that I am, I follow his command blindly. He removes my summer dress with one swift move, causing me to gasp. “What are you doing? Are you insane?” Granted, I have a bikini underneath, because I planned to go to the beach earlier, but still.

He ignores me and instead pulls the back of his black T-shirt over his head and puts it on me. The cloth slides over my body, settling right in the middle of my thighs. “This should keep you warm.”

I glare at him. “In case you haven’t noticed, my bikini is wet too, so the shirt is soaked already.” I sound bitchy and all, but I don’t care. The guy hasn’t been nice either.

“A simple thank you would have been enough.”

Furious at his comeback, I intend to march to the hotel, only to cry out in pain as I take the first two steps. “Ouch, ouch.” I hop on one leg, my other one raised as pain travels from my calf to my foot like an electric wave.

Next thing I know, I’m in Micaden’s arms since he picks me up effortlessly. My face is pressed to his chest and his heartbeat echoes in my ear. His arms are around my back and under my knees, and despite the pain, I feel the heat from them putting my body on high alert.

Just kill me now, seriously.

The warmth of his body slips into my bones, and slowly heat spreads inside me, and my teeth stop chattering. He continues to walk, I assume back to the inn, not uttering one word.

Maybe he has knight-in-shining-armor syndrome; he’s ready to help a stranger, but to actually interact with one is another story.

Exhaustion overtakes me, and I doze off on his chest, lulled by the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks.

At least that’s what I think, because I don’t recognize the jellyfish sting or the fact that I simply fainted.

Micaden

Forgiveness.

A concept of moving on with your life, forgetting all the bad shit that has happened to you and accepting it at face value.

Some people are generous enough to give it.

And probably they are right for doing so.

But I can’t.

I can never forgive her for what she has done.

Because with her choices and lies, she destroyed my life.

And everyone who I held dear to my heart.