Chapter Twenty-Nine

Present

M y eyelids flutter, tentatively opening to the soft glow of morning light filtering through the window. The image of his glinting dark irises lingers in my mind, haunting me even as I open my eyes and take in the master bedroom. It’s a stark contrast from my old and messy treehouse.

I rub my eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream that cling stubbornly to my thoughts. But those intense eyes refuse to fade, leaving me feeling oddly empty.

Reaching out, my fingers graze the empty space beside me on the bed. Five mornings have come and gone without Damian, yet each night he continues to show up in my dreams.

With a heavy heart, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed. But before I can plant my feet on the floor, there’s a soft knock. It creaks open to reveal a familiar figure.

I smile as Vicky steps into the room, a tray in her hands bearing a steaming cup of my favorite coffee and a plate of freshly baked chocolate chip muffins.

“Good morning,” she greets me with a warm smile, her eyes scanning my face to gauge my mood.

“Morning, Vicky,” I reply, mustering a weak smile in return as she approaches, setting the tray down on the bedside table.

“I thought you might need this,” she says softly. “You’ve been having trouble sleeping again.”

Yes, I have. Despite volunteering, I still struggle with sleep. Just when I thought I could sleep without the pills, the nightmares from my past started creeping in, disturbing my rest once again. But I refuse to turn to sleeping pills.

I stare at the tray. Or more like at the porcelain mug. It’s the mug Damian gave me, the one with my initials engraved on it. I stopped using it after we got married, but ever since I showed it to Vicky a few days ago, she insisted I start using it again.

Wrapping my hands around the mug, I lift my eyes to her. “Thank you, Vicky.”

She gives me a gentle smile. “It’s my job to take care of you, River. And more than that, you’re my friend.” Then she insists on tasting the muffins.

Reaching for one of the warm muffins, I take a bite. It’s soft and fluffy, studded with gooey chocolate chips that melt in my mouth.

Breathing deeply, I smile then take her hand and pull her beside me on the bed. “So, friend, sit here and…” I lift the tray and put it down between us. “Eat with me.”

“But—”

“Come on, friends share, don’t they?” I smile and she returns it before nodding.

As we quickly finish the last of the muffins, I can’t help but feel gratitude for this new friendship. It has given me a sense of comfort. I no longer feel lonely in my gilded cage. Setting down the empty plate, I turn to her with a smile.

“You know,” I say, breaking the comfortable silence, “since you’ve made it a ritual to wake me up with coffee, you have to promise me something.”

“Okay… And what might that be?”

“That you’ll bring a cup for yourself as well,” I reply, my tone earnest. “For a very long time, I had no one to share coffees or meals with. Or even to have a simple conversation.”

“I’d really like it if we could do that, you know,” I continue, my words carrying the weight of longing. “To have someone to share these moments with, to laugh with, to confide in.” Because in the past, I used to do all that with Damian. He was my only friend in the world. And I was happy it was only him. I wasn’t greedy. I didn’t want anyone else because he used to make me so happy that I never needed anyone but him. Until… we got married and everything changed.

Vicky reaches out and gently squeezes my hand, her eyes filled with warmth and empathy. “I’d like that too.”

Then she clears her throat, “I better leave you to get ready. We need to leave in an hour.”

I nod and push to my feet.

“Hey, Vicky,” I call out when she reaches the door. “You don’t mind volunteering four days in a row, right? I mean we don’t have to go there daily but I like going there so, you know…”

“I like going there too. I enjoy volunteering. Ever since you’ve started, you’re happier and it’s for a good cause so I guess it’s a win-win.”

“Okay! Give me twenty, I’ll meet you downstairs!”

◆◆◆

“Do you want to give it a try?” The question spoken so close to my ear makes me jump and I spin, my wide eyes clashing with blue ones.

“Matt!” I smack at his arm. “You scared me!”

He just laughs. I roll my eyes. Then glance around to look for Vicky. She is supposed to shadow me and protect me from Matt’s pranks.

“Looking for Victoria?” He grins as though he read into my thoughts. “She went to the bathroom. In fact, she stopped me when I crossed paths with her in the hallway and asked me to be with you until she returns.”

“Really?” I ask, even though I know Vicky probably did. That girl takes her job pretty seriously. She hardly leaves my side and when she does, she makes sure I’m never alone.

For this reason, Damian always had at least a dozen men guarding me. In case one is not available, others should be.

Despite Damian’s usual precautions of having a dozen guards around me, she somehow convinced him not to send them with us to the center. Maybe Damian sees how much happier and mentally healthier I am with just her. Or perhaps Damian trusts Vicky’s capability to single-handedly guard me.

Either way, I’m happy.

“You don’t trust me?” he asks, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

“Trust you? Oh, absolutely,” I reply, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

The other day he came running to me in the storage room where I was rearranging supplies and told me I was needed by Laura. I obviously went but only to find out I was pranked. Laura looked as confused as I did. I was so embarrassed I ignored him the whole day.

He widens his eyes in mock offense, placing a hand over his heart. “Oh, really? Questioning my integrity now, are we?” he responds, his tone exaggeratedly wounded. “I’ll have you know I’m hurt to the core.”

When I don’t melt by his wounded puppy look, he sighs dramatically. “Well, despite your lack of faith, I come bearing gifts,” he says, reaching into his bag and pulling out a container. The cookies. “Your favorite, and yes, even my share.”

My anger vanishes. “You know you don’t have to do this every time,” I murmur softly, my gaze shifting away. “I mean, you love Erin’s cookies too.”

He reaches out, his touch gentle as he places the container of cookies in my hands. “I know, but seeing you enjoy them makes it worth it,” he says softly. Then, a mischievous glint flickers in his eyes, and he adds with a grin, “Plus, I can always sneak a few from your share later.”

I can’t help but smile. “Well, in that case, I’ll gladly take them.”

As the day unfolds, the team of the new volunteers’ head to the second floor. Together, we prepare for the upcoming art festival. And in the blink of an eye, time flies by and it’s time to wrap things up.

After collecting our things, Vicky and I begin to make our way toward the exit. Just as we reach for the door, I feel a sudden weight around my neck, and before I can react, I realize it’s Matt and he has his arms around both Vicky and me, halting our progress.

“Where do you two think you’re going?”

I exchange a glance with Vicky and watch color spreading across her cheeks. I subtly shift and pull myself out of his embrace and give him a dry look. “Home.”

“Don’t go just yet. Come join us for a drink at the pub nearby. It’ll be fun, I promise.”

Caught off guard by his invitation, I exchange a hesitant glance with Vicky.

It’s funny, I can’t even recall the last time I went to a pub. People my age do that all the time. It’s not really my scene, but I guess it shouldn’t be a big deal if I tried it for once. I mean, it’s not like I’m going alone; there will be others there, and Vicky’s coming along too. I mean if I decide to go, she’ll be there too.

I waggle my brows at Vicky in silent question and she shrugs as if to say the decision is up to me. But I can see that she seems excited about the prospect of hanging out with Matt.

Maybe it’s time to break out of my shell a bit, even if just for a night. Who knows, it might be fun to step out of my comfort zone. And Vicky seems interested as well.

I chew on my lip in contemplation. She catches my hesitation and misinterprets it as a refusal. “River needs to eat,” she offers, breaking the silence. “She barely had anything for lunch, so perhaps we can do this another time.”

He frowns. “Wait a moment,” and fishes out his phone. After a brief pause, he looks up with a grin, “Actually, they have a dining area too. How about we grab a bite to eat along with those drinks?”

As I’m about to agree, a sudden thought crosses my mind, halting my response.

“What’s wrong?” Matt asks.

“I don’t typically venture out much, especially with the paparazzi lurking around,” I admit, my voice tinged with a hint of resignation.

How could I forget who I am? Just because I’ve started volunteering doesn’t mean I can simply overlook the fact that I’m not an ordinary girl. First, my dad overshadowed my existence then it was gone, only to be replaced by my husband’s.

He looks at me, his brows furrowing, then starts tapping on his phone. After a moment, he excuses himself and walks off, phone to his ear.

I glance at Vicky and find her deathly pale. “Hey, are you all right?”

“I... I’m not myself anymore,” she stammers, her voice quivering with frustration. “Ever since I began working with you, I’ve been... off. How can I be so forgetful? I’ve trained for years, River. I should know better than this.”

Her hands shake as she speaks, “I know the risks, the protocols. I know you can’t just hang out in public places like others, and yet...” She trails off, a deep frown creasing her brow. “I’m sorry,” she says grimly. “I promise you, normally I’m not this irresponsible.”

Stepping closer, I gently place a hand on her shoulder, “Hey, it’s okay,” My voice is gentle and reassuring. “It’s not a big deal.” When she shakes her head frantically, I try to meet her eyes. She averts her gaze in embarrassment. “Take a deep breath,” I suggest softly.

“In all my twenty-six years,” she begins, her voice carrying a hint of disappointment, “I’ve never felt so careless. I take my job seriously. Mr. Montgomery and… Chief, they’ve put a lot of faith in me. They’ve entrusted me with so much responsibility, and now... I never got to do all this. Hanging out with friends. And now that I am getting a chance to do something new, I am acting like a teenager, getting excited about irrelevant things when I should be working.” She pauses, anger evident in her tone.

“Vicky, it’s okay ,” I squeeze her shoulder. “It’s understandable to want to enjoy some time with others, especially when we’re all getting along so well. And didn’t you admit this morning, that you’re not just my bodyguard but also my friend? And friends are allowed to have fun together.”

I notice the doubt in her expression, despite my attempts to reassure her. With a small sigh, I decide to put her skills to the test, hoping to boost her confidence. “All right,” I say gently, meeting her gaze. “Let’s say something were to happen in the pub. Do you think you could protect me?”

Her response is immediate and resolute. “Absolutely,” she affirms, her voice filled with conviction.

I nod, then push further. “What if there were ten people? All men?”

“I’ve been specifically trained in Krav Maga to handle situations like those,” she replies confidently. “Your husband made sure I was prepared for anything when he appointed me as your bodyguard.”

I expected nothing less from Damian. The only reason he would ever assign me with just one bodyguard, especially a female one, is if she’s not just skilled, but downright lethal.

“And not just that,” she continues, her voice tinged with pride. “Mr. Montgomery even had Chief personally test my capabilities. He wanted to ensure that I was more than capable of protecting you in any situation.”

The mention of Hal’s involvement adds weight to her words. I can’t help but smile at her proud expression. It appears that garnering praise from her Chief meant the world to her. “Then why are you so upset?” I ask gently. “There’s nothing to be worried about. You’ve been trained for this, and you’ve just proved that you’re more than capable.”

With a reassuring smile, I reach out and squeeze her hand. “Let’s go enjoy ourselves at the pub,” I suggest, hoping to lift her spirits. “We’ll have a great time, I promise.”

Just then Matt comes back with a grin, waving his phone. “I just arranged a VIP lounge that’ll keep you away from prying eyes. That way, you can enjoy the evening without any unwanted attention.”

He notices Vicky’s serious expression and without skipping a beat, he launches into his elaborate plan for ensuring my anonymity and safety. It’s both heartwarming and comical. Then, with a smirk, he declares, “And you know with these blue eyes, chiseled jaw and this Herculean physique, you might as well call me Superman.”

We can’t help but burst into laughter. His persuasive words manage to sway Vicky, and with a reluctant nod, she agrees. “All right then,” she concedes with a small smile, “Let’s give it a try.”

◆◆◆

The ambiance is lively. Matt is laughing and chatting with the group. Vicky is sitting next to me, keeping an eye on the surrounding as well as smiling whenever someone includes her in a conversation. And I am just taking it all in, my senses overwhelmed by the novelty of it all.

Crowded places were never my thing but this feels different somehow. I’m not surrounded by judging eyes and whispered criticisms.

The people around me right now aren’t just faces in the crowd; they’re genuine, down-to-earth individuals who see beyond the facade of wealth and privilege.

I might never get used to the lights, the music, the pulsating energy of the crowd but I can’t deny the thrill of stepping outside my comfort zone.

It’s a stark contrast from my usual quiet evenings spent curled up with a book. People will always make me a little uneasy because it’s the way I am. But despite my reservations, I find myself pleasantly surprised by how much fun I’m having tonight.

I thought I would never be able to take my mind off Damian. He hadn’t called me once since he left for Dubai. And try as I might, I can’t stop thinking about it. After all, I am a wife. Not matter how unwanted I am. So… I’m glad I took a chance and came here. Because it’s easier this way. I am able to distract my overthinking mind. And it’s all because of Matt.

I steal a glance at him and catch him staring back at me, a hint of something unreadable in his blue eyes. How long was he watching me? Before I can dwell on it further, he mouths a silent question, “Okay?”

I meet his gaze with a reassuring nod and a quick smile. He doesn’t look convinced. He parts his lips as if to say something when the beautiful brunette—one of his friends who joined us a while ago—begins pulling him toward the dance floor.

He stands but only to detach himself from the brunette and comes over. He crouches down on his haunches. “What happened?”

I look at him in surprise. “N-nothing.” The brunette was now openly glaring in our direction. “I think you should go back to your friend.”

He ignores my suggestion. “What’s the matter?” His brow furrows with worry as he leans in closer, his blue eyes searching my face. “Is everything all right? Did something go wrong? If there’s an issue with the food, I can definitely sort it out—”

His questions catch me off guard, but I can’t help but appreciate his genuine care. The way he’s ready to jump into action to fix any problem, no matter how small, speaks volumes about his character.

Touched by his earnestness, I shake my head. “No, no, everything’s fine,” I assure him, a fond smile playing on my lips. “The food was delicious, and I’m genuinely enjoying myself.”

His expression softens at my reassurance. “I’m glad to hear that,” he murmurs, his gaze holding mine for a moment longer than necessary.

“Matt!” The brunette whines.

“Seriously, Matt. I’m fine. Go.” I urge him before she comes over and scratches my eyes out.

Reluctantly, he pushes to his feet. But before he leaves, he extends his fist toward me, and I eye it questioningly, unsure of what he is doing. With a gentle nudge, he encourages me to bump my fist against his, and as I do, he twists his hand and opens it, revealing a small, foil-wrapped chocolate. The gesture so simple yet so sweet.

My eyes widen in surprise, a soft gasp escaping my lips. “For me?”

I was expecting something sarcastic, or one of his jokes in response. But all he does is nod. I take it. “Thank you,” I whisper, my voice barely audible above the music, but I know he hears me.

He smiles softly but then rolls his eyes when the brunette latches onto his arm and starts tugging him away.

“Sometimes I get the feeling Matt’s gunning for my job,” Vicky murmurs.

“What?” I chuckle, turning to her.

“He’s always acting like your personal bodyguard. Today, he’s taken it too far—checking the food quality you were served, making sure you’re comfortable. And his eyes were glued to you the entire time. That’s supposed to be my job!”

I don’t let the last part get to me and instead smirk at Vicky. “Jealous, Vicky?”

“More like worried. This is my job. And you’re my friend. I saw him trying to bribe you with chocolate.” She grumbles, making me laugh.

“You think he can sway me with chocolates?” I quirk an eyebrow, amused.

“Don’t forget the cookies! He even let’s you eat his share!”

“Which I share with you.” I bump my shoulder with hers gently, a smile playing on my lips. “What does that tell you?”

Her eyes soften. “It tells me that you’re my true friend.”

“Exactly. So, is there any reason to be worried now?” I ask, with a grin.

She shakes her head, smiling. Then she says, “I didn’t like the brunette.”

I burst out laughing at that. “One moment, you’re worried about me, and now you’re getting jealous over him?”

Before Vicky could reply, the clatter of falling glasses fills the air, followed by the sensation of cool liquid cascading over me. I gasp. Vicky’s muscles tense, her hand instinctively darting out to dodge the tray that was about to hit me.

I stare down at my soaked clothes, liquid dripping from my face and hair. The sound of Vicky’s voice cuts through the chaos, her tone cold as she scolds the waitress. In the midst of my shock, I hear her talking about suing the establishment and having the waitress fired for purposely spilling the drinks on me.

Through the haze, I catch the brunette’s voice. “Matt, wait!” Followed by Matt’s sharp response. “Stay out of this.”

Then strong arms wrap around me, hauling me up from the mess of spilled drinks. Matt. His grip is firm as he asks me questions.

I shake myself out of the shock and lift my head, intending to reassure him that I’m okay. But as I do, my gaze drifts over his shoulder, landing on the waitress Vicky is still admonishing.

A jolt of recognition shoots through me, sending a shiver down my spine. I blink once and then a couple more time.

Standing in front of Vicky with a defiant face and disheveled waitressing uniform is Melissa.

Melissa Thompson. Daughter of Nadine and William Thompson, my dad’s business partner.