Page 22 of Vintage

My lips quivered, and my eyes brimmed with fresh tears. I never wanted him to end up in prison. But I had made the decision for both of us—to stay, toattempt to mend things, and to heal. Yet no one warned me it would hurt this deeply. My heart remained caught between the love I once cherished and the betrayal I now bore, aching with every breath I took.

“Mrs. Rowan…” His voice was soft, almost a whisper. “I will return to you, Mrs. Rowan. Nothing can separate us. There’s no power that can stop me from loving you.” I sensed he had so much more to express—I’m sorry, I love you, I’ll change. But words had lost their meaning now. Instead, he simply gazed at me, his eyes conveying everything he felt. And I understood without needing to hear it. I knew what he wished to communicate.

I didn’t reply to his declaration, but my lips parted in a silent, sorrowful acknowledgment. There was no going back. I wasn’t abandoning him, not completely—but I wasn’t certain I could ever be the same person again, not after everything that had happened.

For one long, agonizing moment, we were there, locked in each other’s gaze. Then, as the officers began to gently guide him out of the courtroom, Amir cast one last look my way, offering a smile so endearing it brought me to my knees for this man.

A look filled with apologies, love, guilt—and perhaps a hint of something darker, something raw.

I shut my eyes, as if to shield myself from the sight of him being led away. My hands gripped the sides of my chair, and my body shook uncontrollably.

“Amy, are you okay?” Reese asked, rubbing my back in an attempt to comfort me, but I shook my head, unable to fill the void within me. My head pounded with pain. My eyes burned with anger—at him, at myself, and at her. Willow. Perhaps if it hadn’t been for her, I could have continued living in this illusion.

The doors closed behind him, and the silence in the courtroom was overwhelming.

Why did this happen to us? We were in love!

Chapter Eleven

Six Months Later

Ientered the bakery, and the doorbell chimed softly as the delightful aroma enveloped me.

It was astonishing how much I had longed for the scent of freshly baked treats, yet I had kept my distance for so long.

"Oh, my dear, it's wonderful to see you back! Would you like your usual?" The elderly woman, her face bright with a warm smile, hurried to prepare my favorite—freshly baked pecan pie and a cup of coffee to go. She remembered my order perfectly.

With my takeout in hand, I stepped outside, inhaling the warm air of North Carolina, tinged with the refreshing chill of the rainy season.

Visiting my parents was the well-deserved reprieve from the mentally exhausting ordeal I faced six months ago. My divorce, which never materialized because Ro cleverly persuaded the judge to grant him another chance, left me in a state of uncertainty.

He promised to court me again, assuring me that the past would not repeat itself, that he would seek therapy, and by year’s end, he would present proof of his mental fitness from a qualified doctor.

The decision to proceed with the divorce was ultimately mine, and I found myself hesitating; the thought of losing Ro forever frightened me in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Consequently, I acquiesced to the court's ruling regarding our divorce, and for his actions, he received a three-month prison sentence.

I had been away from Willow Crest and Ro for far too long, yet I had little information about him. My only connection to this place was Reese, and our conversations rarely touched on Ro. When we did discuss him, it was as if he had become a mere whisper, a ghost of the past, and despite my efforts, I couldn’t glean any updates about him.

Even Darius, whom I called weekly to check on Ro’s situation in prison and his plans for after release, could only tell me that Ro had severed ties with everyone, leaving him completely unaware of my husband’s whereabouts.

Driving to Darius' bar, I noticed him outside the gates, chatting with one of his MC members.

As I got out of my car, I rushed over to him, and he looked at me in surprise.

"Hey, I thought you’d be away for a few more months... Welcome back!" he said, pulling me into a hug.

"How have you been?" I could see he was still the same—grumpy but charmingly quirky.

"Could be better, if those crazy idiots would stop screwing up my schedule with their absurd work ethics."

He gave me a wry smile that made me laugh, then invited me to join him for a drink in the afternoon. Although I should have said no, I accepted andfollowed him inside, taking my usual seat while he went behind the bar to prepare our drinks.

"So, are you looking for a new place? Let me know if you need any help; I know some excellent brokers," Darius said as he handed me my drink and started on his.

"Not that I wouldn’t appreciate the offer, but I think I’ll manage. I plan to meet with Ro first before deciding whether to get my own place or just stay at Reese's." I smiled and took a refreshing sip of my margarita.

At the mention of Ro, I noticed Darius tense up, his shoulders tightening as he avoided my gaze.

"What’s wrong?" I fixed my gaze on him.

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