Page 42 of Overdosed: Her Dark Side
“That might be a good idea,” Karl agreed.
Shane nodded. His body was tense, and despite the anger, maybe even hatred radiating from him, I found pain in his cold gaze. I saw the inner fight he was battling with himself reflecting in his eyes. He turned to walk away, leading me after him, my hand still in his. With a short exhale, he turned back to face Karl. “Keep me updated on Anders’ state.” His voice was low. “He’s my brother, after all. Even if I hate it at the moment.”
“I will.” A trace of a smile raised at the corners of Karl’s lips. His attention shifted to me. “I wish for the best for both of you.”
My lips pressed in a forced smile. I found it hard to believe. I nodded softly and followed Shane out.
Shane canceled all his meetings, securing a few days off from work, and the very next day, we were on his private plane on a flight to Miami. All three of us. Our first time as a family.
We have chosen a hotel by the ocean, with the soothing melody of crashing waves serenading the air. Our suite offered a captivating view of the ocean. It all felt so serene.
Every day in this paradise felt like a chapter from a fairy tale. Magical. We would spend our mornings exploring the city. In the afternoons, we would relax on the deck of Shane’s private yacht, relishing the sun.
Every moment of watching Shane embrace his role as a father made me smile. He was a natural. His interactions with Hope revealed a different side of him. A side I thought a dangerous man like him didn’t have. He had. A tender, loving, and caring side that melted my heart. The beach became our playground, filled with laughter and the building of sandcastles. I had never before seen Shane’s eyes sparkle with such a rare light and genuine happiness than when he spent time with his daughter. I tried to capture these moments in photographs and videos as if to freeze time.
With each passing day, it seemed like our bond grew stronger and our love deeper until it felt like nothing could ever tear us apart. This place would forever hold a special place in our hearts. We were creating memories as a family. Far, far away from all the secrets, lies, and intrigues we left behind. And it felt so refreshing. The only thing that reminded me of reality was a bodyguard who followed us everywhere like a ghost the entire time.
We settled into our chairs in a restaurant, our skin sun-kissed, hair tousled and gritty with sand after a day spent at the beach.
“I had a lot of fun tomorrow!” Hope exclaimed.
“You should’ve said you had a lot of fun today, sweetheart.” Shane chuckled, ruffling her hair. “Tomorrow is the day that comes after today.”
Hope giggled mischievously. “I know, Daddy. I was just teasing you guys.”
Shane and I exchanged amused glances, our brows raising before bursting into laughter.
“A smartie, just like your mommy,” Shane teased with a playful glimmer in his eyes.
“She may be a smartie like her mommy, but she is undeniably such a daddy’s girl.” She was, and I loved it.
“Will Daddy live with us from now on?” Hope surprised us with the sudden question.
Shane and I exchanged a fleeting glance before he turned to her. “Would you like that, princess?”
Hope’s eyes sparkled with excitement I’d never seen before. “Yes!”
Shane planted a tender kiss on her forehead, his hand caressing her cheek. “We’ll see what we can do about it.” Hope beamed.
“What do you want to eat, Hope?” I asked, shifting the conversation.
Although things between Shane and me had improved, and we were back together, we hadn’t talked about the future yet, and I didn’t want him to make any decisions only because of Hope.
“I want a cupcake!” Hope clapped her hands.
I giggled, knowing it was my turn to take the role of a responsible parent. “A cupcake is a dessert, love. You can have it after you eat something nutritious first.”
A waiter came by, and his voice reached me from behind, “Are you ready to order?” My heart skipped a beat. The voice was so familiar. Too familiar.
No, it couldn’t be.
My mind raced as the familiar voice triggered a cascade of memories. With my heart pumping in my chest, I slowly turned to face him, and my eyes met the person I least expected to see in Miami. Austin. My fleeting fling from my days back in Malta. In an instant, my cheeks flushed red. I was well aware that Shane wasn’t a saint during our time apart, and Austin meant nothing to me. He was just a fleeting, inconsequential fling. It was just sex. No strings attached. No emotional connection. And yet, I couldn’t help but feel so damn awkward.
“Are you okay, Melanie?” Shane followed my gaze and looked at Austin with a kind of suspicion in his eyes.
“Melanie? Is it you?” Austin beamed as his eyes met mine.
I managed a forced smile. “Austin, hey.”
