‘Some sins are worth every scar they leave behind.” Kaelith narrowed his eyes as they burned with fierceness.“Moreover, what kind of husband leaves his wife all alone to get drunk in a local bar? What kind of husband doesn't care about you like I do?” Amara's walls started to crumble as Kaelith' words hit her. She knew he was right. But this couldn’t excuse the thing she just did. Guilt started to hit her as the daze of desire faded.
Kaelith sensed her conflict as he cursed under his breath backing away.
“Right, this was wrong. All of this is wrong.” He muttered trying hard not to look her way. His words stirred pain inside Amara as she turned around and bit her lips.
“Fuck!” She heard him curse as she heard his footsteps and the door opened and then with a slam, it was shut.
Amara lost it. The balance of her emotions as a tear escaped her eyes and it slowly rolled down her cheek as she glanced at the table with the vase of peonies.
CHAPTER 26
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 Kaelith’ s intoxicating scent that baffled her.
She shuthereyesand letout a deep sighthinkingto herself. Why, Kaelith? Why did you have to come back into my life? She wondered.
Amaraclutchedherchest,amixofguiltandconflictingemotionswashingoverherlikeaheavy, 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 Rafael... betrayedherself.
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 buried her face in her hands, letting the tears fall silently.
She hated how this affected her. She wanted him, yet she knew she shouldn’t. She hated how even if he was not there, she could feel him. Like he was engrossed deep within hersoul. He was the set of memories she lost, and she wished, hoped, begged, that she could be as bold with her feelings as Kaelith was.
Amara leaned her head back on her couch, staring at the ceiling. The room was still, except for the occasional sound of rain tapping against the window. And her thought once again roamed to him.
It was raining outside. Her lids were heavy as she blinked. She wondered if he brought an umbrella with him before she drifted into the eternal torments of her nightmares. Her last thought was of Kaelith, strangely, it was not about the guilt she was feeling, but the way his touch made her feel.
****
The first light of morning peaked through the curtains. Amara stirred awake, her eyes swollen and puffy. Reality crashed over her as she glanced at the around. The living room looked as empty as she remembered. The food was still on the table.
Rafael...
She checked the time and bit her lips hard drawing out blood as the heaviness in her chest grew. The room felt emptier than ever as she pushed herself up and groaned at the soreness in her back and…lips.
She frowned unconsciously touched her lips and winced. Did she buy too hard? She wondered and picked up stale food and dumped it in the dustbin feeling down.
After cleaning up to take her mind off things, she took a shower and changed into a floral print knee-length dress, the length she had never worn before. Usually, she’d wear ankle-length dresses but today weather was somewhat hot. And moreover, this was a slight change.
She was purposely keeping herself busy to not think about what was last night when her eyes landed on the mirror and a frown etched between her brows. Amara slowly walked to the mirror and her eyes widened when she saw a large noticeable bruise on her lip—purple and blue as if… she quickly threw the towel away and grabbed the nearest lip stain she could find and applied it on her lips hoping it would cover the whole thing.
How did she even—
Her actions halted.Kaelith. Her cheeks flamed and her heart started beating loudly once again. The man she was trying not to think about once again found a way to her head and heart. She swallowed hard rubbing the coral lip stain all over her lips.
Her lips were swollen and with stains on they looked pouty and plum. Amara hoped Rafael—Rafael.
Thebutterfliesinherstomachdied.Amaraslowlyplacedthebottleoflipstainonthetableand looked at her reflection. More than anything, she hated herself at that moment. Unable to lookat herself, she walked to the window, staring out at the rain-soaked city.
What had she done?
Amara stood by the window, gazing outside, deep in thought. Her expression reveals a mix of confusion and guilt. She felt a heavy burden of guilt, like a weight on her chest, and her mind was a jumble of conflicting emotions. It was as if she was lost in a confusing maze of right and wrong, making her unsure about the choices she had to make. The air around her seemed filled with uncertainty, leaving her stuck in a swirl of complicated feelings.
Her eyes unconsciously wander around the room until they fixate on a covered canvas tucked away in a corner. It was untouched, collecting dust.
She hadn’t touched that since she moved in.
An inner conflict played on her face. Suddenly, an overwhelming urge to paint took over. She slowly walked toward the canvas, uncovering it with hesitant hands. The colors beneath the sheet seemed to call out to her.
