Fated To Three, And I Broke Them All

Verity:

Morning arrived after a restless night.

I spent the remaining hours searching through every article I could find.

Just as I thought I might finally doze off, the sun rose.

A knock sounded at the door, and I already knew it was Roman.

He hadn’t slept either.

He had stayed awake with me, pacing back and forth outside my room every so often.

After freshening up, I opened the door and found him smiling at me with a tray in his hands.

I could tell he wanted to walk past me into the guest room.

Maybe he was trying to create a moment where the two of us would be alone together in a closed room again.

”Ah, could we please sit in the lounge and have breakfast?” I asked, giving him my best pleading look. ”I just– I don’t think I’m feeling very well. I should eat breakfast quickly so I can take my medication.”

I mumbled the lie because I wasn’t going to take my medication until I got back home.

I genuinely planned to go home as soon as possible, take my medication, and spend the rest of the day resting.

Both of my pain medications had strong sedative effects. Once I took them, I’d probably sleep for hours.

That wasn’t something I wanted to do anywhere but in the safety of my own home.

Roman looked disappointed, but he reluctantly nodded and stepped out of my way.

I clutched my bag and my medication tightly before walking out to the lounge and taking a seat.

Honestly, the view from the large windows of his condo looked even more beautiful.

A few clouds had begun to gather in the sky, making it seem like a heavy storm would arrive soon.

At least, that’s what the weather forecast had said.

A moment later, Roman came over with a cup of coffee.

He placed it on the tray in front of me before sitting down on the large couch beside mine.

I could tell he wanted me to sit there with him so we could share the same couch.

That was exactly why I had chosen the separate sofa.

I didn’t want him getting too close to me.

I didn’t know what was more unhinged.

What he had whispered in my ear and the way he had behaved with me yesterday, or the fact that he was now acting as if none of it had happened.

Maybe it was both.

”You should drink some warm milk,” he said, placing a glass of milk, scrambled eggs, and toast in front of me.

Of course, he’d made himself a coffee.

But since I was already planning to take my medication, and I knew it would make me sleepy, I didn’t want to confuse my body by drinking coffee.

The entire time, I could feel him watching me in a strangely intense way.

I finished my breakfast within ten minutes.

”You should take your medication,” he said, reaching for my medicine bag.

But I pulled it away.

”Yeah, but I have to leave right now. The office has been calling me. I have a file my boss needs, and I have to get it to him,” I lied quickly because he was getting far too comfortable.

He glanced at his wristwatch before looking back at me.

”If you wait just one hour, I’ll check on my patients, come back, and then I’ll drop you home. We can spend the rest of the day together.”

The suggestion already filled me with dread.

That explained why he had been so anxious. The next hour was the busiest part of his day.

”Actually, I can’t,” I said, pouting at him as I got to my feet. ”I have to get that file, and then I have to spend the whole day at the office. It’s a whole thing.”

I made up the excuse as I watched him tilt his head.

”Can’t you take a day off?” he asked.

”Jaguar acts like they actually care about their employees,” he muttered, rolling his eyes.

His voice was full of animosity toward Jaguar.

”Well, his brother is my boss. But it’s okay. We can spend the next weekend together,” I said with a smile because I wouldn’t even be here next week.

Besides, I knew his schedule was packed for the rest of the week.

He didn’t look convinced, but I was already hurrying toward the door.

”Just make sure you take your medication as soon as you’re done with work and get back home,” he said, wrapping an arm around me just as I was about to leave the condo.

He kissed my cheek before nuzzling his face against my neck.

I felt his hand slide over my body before it settled over my breast through my clothes.

He squeezed it hard, not caring that I was already injured there.

”Roman, come on. I don’t want us to get carried away. We’ll both be late,” I said, wriggling out of his arms and using a playful tone to stop him.

Finally, he stepped away from me.

I hurried out of the condo.

I’d already called a cab, so I got in without even turning around to wave goodbye.

I knew he was looking for another excuse to stop me.

Once the ride home began, I finally started to relax.

It took a while, and throughout the drive, I kept dozing off.

The moment I arrived at the Omega community, I stepped out of the cab, avoiding eye contact with everyone around me.

I didn’t want Mrs. Baker to come over or notice how sleepy I was.

I rushed inside my house, locked the door, changed out of my clothes, grabbed a glass of water, swallowed my medication, and slipped beneath the covers.

It felt so cozy.

Then I found my phone beeping beside me.

I sighed as I checked the screen. I always had to stay alert for any news.

But it wasn’t as if I could do anything now. I was heavily medicated, and I was sleep-deprived.

Through my blurred vision, I read the message, and my heart sank.

Jaguar: I hope you’re doing well. I just wanted to let you know that we’ve obtained the footage of your assault from the gas station. We’ve also learned that an elderly man who owns the flower shop on the same street has a security camera facing the area where the assault on Oliver happened. So don’t worry. We’ll find that man very soon, and we’ll punish him for what he did to you.