The bride that never was
When her meticulously crafted marriage to Elijah Rossi shatters on her wedding night with a brutal revelation: "There is no us, Imogen. There never was." Imogen is abandoned by her husband and further faces an even crueler twist when her husband refuses a divorce. With the arrival of Isaac Rossi, Elijah's revenge-driven half brother, Imogen strikes a clandestine deal with her brother-in-law to navigate a dangerous game of deceit, seeking to outmaneuver her indifferent husband. As loyalties are tested, Imogen must decide which brother is right for her. The one she was made for or the one she burns for.
Mommy's Boy
ELIJAH'S POV
The lamp slipped from my grasp, clattering to the floor as I scrambled backward. My eyes were fixed on Dad's chest, willing it to rise and fall. It didn't move.
"No, no, no," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart.
I lurched to my feet, nearly tripping over myself as I rushed to the door. My trembling hands fumbled with the lock, twisting it until I heard the satisfying click. Safe. We were safe now, weren't we?
But from what?
I turned back to face Dad's motionless form on the floor. The reality of the situation hit me like a punch to the gut, and I found myself muttering, "Fuck, fuck, fuck," over and over as I dropped to my knees beside him.
My hands shook as I placed them on his chest, interlocking my fingers the way I'd seen CPR done before. Imogen had taught me them once as well. I started compressions, counting under my breath, "One, two, three, four..."