Amara's emotions were a tumultuous mix of fear, frustration, and despair. The failed attempt at a simple task intensified her vulnerability, leaving her trembling and on the verge of tears. The conflict between her desire to resist Rafael and the seemingly inescapable situation weighed heavily on her.
And this was not the first time Rafael tried to force himself on her.
Amara tried not to provoke him and patiently waited for him to finish. What could she even do? She felt so helpless and vulnerable that even breathing the same air as him seemed difficult.
It was a cold, gripping sensation that sent shivers down her spine, a constant reminder of the unpredictable nature of her circumstances. Her heart raced, caught in the rhythm of anxiety, as she navigated the line between fear and anxiety.
After a while, Rafael was done and went back to his room. Amara remains seated. Hoping he’d stay in his room forever. She silently picked up the dishes and cleaned them. Then wiped the kitchen counter. As she was about to move to the room, her gaze lingered on the peonies in the vase.
The white, pastel-pink flowers looking back at her.
Amara's emotional dam weakened by the relentless pressure of fear and frustration, finally gave way. As her knees gave out and she fell on her knees, a wave of despair crashed over her. It wasn't just tears that streamed down her face; it was the breaking of something deep within. Her heart shattered into countless pieces, the pain echoing through every fiber of her being.
The stifled sobs that escaped her were both a release and a surrender. She despised this vulnerability, loathed the way her cries betrayed the facade of strength she desperately clung to. Yet, paradoxically, there was a strange comfort in the cathartic release of emotions, in the acknowledgment of her own pain.
Each stifled cry was a testament to the internal battle, the clash between the woman she used to be and the one that Rafael's manipulation was molding her into. It was a heartbreaking dance of anguish, a melody of self-loathinginterwoven with the longing for a reality she could no longer grasp.
She wondered how her life must be before she lost her memories. And somewhere inside, she wished she’d be in another accident and she’d lose her memories again. Cause this pain, this helplessness, this sadness was eating her.
CHAPTER 31
The morning was not as tense as Amara expected it to be. In fact, by the way, Rafael was reacting, she wondered if the last night was just a nightmare.
Rafael was making breakfast as soon as Amara entered the living room. The sweet delicious aroma of blueberry pancakes filled the air, along with a tangerine whisk of orange juice. It took her a while to process the situation.
Rafael was making breakfast. For her.
However, that wasn’t enough to calm her raging heart. The hurt from last night was too much. She barely slept a wink, fighting with her demons. Afraid that Rafael would barge into her room and force her once again. She was so scared that she stayed cocooned under the blanket with a vase so that she could use it to protect herself from her husband. The situation was laughable.
Amara took a cautious step forward, making sure not to give Rafael any— “Oh, you’re up. Good morning.” Rafael spoke stopping her in her tracks.
Amara tensed as he looked over his shoulder at her scared face. He sighed, his eyes lowering as he flipped the pancake.“I’msorry for last night, I was drunk and didn’t know what I was doing.”
Amara wanted to laugh. Drunk? Without alcohol he was drunk? She didn’t smell any alcohol on him last night howcould he say he was drunk? Was he lying just to make her feel better? What was the point anyway?
She cautiously slipped to the living area.“It’s…alright.” Despite wanting to say so much, she kept herself from initiating a conversation that would lead to such a situation. Amara kept looking over her shoulder visibly uncomfortable as she started tidying up the place.
Rafael watched her — attentively and calmly. He knew what he did last night. And he was ashamed. But what about the things she did? Sneaking away with his brother? The man who wanted her more than fire needs gasoline?
His jaw clenched. Despite cheating on him, she was acting like a victim. He felt his emotions swirling into rage and frustration.
“Don’t step out.” He muttered. “If I find you out, I’ll punish you severely. You wouldn’t want that, do you?” He said with a smirk making Amara shiver. The teasing suggestive smirk had her take a step back.
“No.” He stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous.
"Good.” Amara shuddered as he put his trench coat on and grabbed his phone. His brows furrowed as he looked down at the phone and then at her like silently asking her to obey him.
Amara averted her eyes to her plate and wished for him to leave soon. She needed time to think and with him hogging on her tail, she didn’t know how much longer she could bear.
It had been only an hour since Rafael left. Busying herself at work, she was wiping the counter when she heard the doorbell rang. Driven by startled surprise, she placed the cloth on the counter and wiped her hands on the apron before walking to the door.
Anticipating, she twisted the door knob.
“Hi.” His deep voice fell upon her ears before she could see him.
“W-what are you doing here?” Shock echoed in her voice, a sudden gasp escaping her lips as her eyes widened. Her body tensed, and she took a step back, hands instinctively reaching for support as Kaelith casually walked in as if he owned the place.
What was he doing here? After what happened last night, she couldn’t be seen with him. What if Rafael comes back soon and finds him?What would happen to her? A sudden fear gripped her. “I was expecting a good morning at least.” He mused taking a look around. His lips widened in a grin when he noticed the peonies on the table.
