Jack's mind was already filled to the brim with thoughts, all cursing himself as he thought about the recent events over and over again. For the first time, both the devil and angel in his heart were in agreement over something, and unfortunately for him, the verdict was that he was utterly stupid. How could he have been so careless, and so impulsive? He was scolding himself for this, especially because he used to take great pride in the fact that he used to keep his calm perfectly under pressure!And yet, the memory of his hasty actions burned like acid in his mind, and he couldn't help but curse himself again and again for his recklessness, for putting both himself and Amy in such an awkward position… How could he just offer her the proposal of being his fake fiance! He originally wanted to make her sit and have a reasonable discussion about it, but what actually happened was far from his expectations… His question of a fake engagement in exchange for money would naturally seem a
As Jack closed the door behind him, he expected a sense of relief to wash over him, knowing that he had finally found someone to play the role of his fake fiancée in Clemensdale.Why shouldn't he feel happy, after all, most of his objectives would be fulfilled by introducing her as a part of his family.But instead, he found himself pacing around his bedroom, his mind swirling with an unexpected array of thoughts and emotions.In this too, he was most concerned by not being able to shake the feeling of disbelief, that Amy had agreed to his proposal so easily. "Was it really that simple of an ask?" he wondered aloud, his voice barely above a whisper to himself.Jack ran a hand through his hair, trying to make sense of it all. "I thought anyone would have reservations about such an arrangement," he muttered to himself, his brow furrowed in confusion. "I thought she would hesitate again, or say a clear no when I asked her for the second time."But Amy's quick acceptance of his proposal
As Amy sat alone in her room, her thoughts drifted towards how she had accidentally overheard Jack and Helen's conversation, and how the possibility of losing her job had caught her so off guard. Just the thought of being fired had sent a pang of dread coursing through her, and she realized with a start just how deeply attached she had become to the two girls she cared for. They had become more than just the kids she was responsible for; they were like family to her, and the idea of being separated from them was enough to bring tears to her eyes.But as she wiped away the tears, Amy found some satisfaction in the fact that for the first time in a long time, she had someone she could truly call a friend, someone who trusted her and whom she could trust in return.It was a realization that filled her with a sense of comfort and security, and with a smile playing at the corners of her lips, Amy finally allowed herself to relax. And as she drifted off to sleep,.With a sigh, Amy closed
After a few seconds… minutes… or maybe even hours, Amy finally managed to gather her thoughts, her heart still fluttering with the weight of Anna's words. She glanced at the wall clock soon after she came back to her senses, and realized that it had actually been just a few minutes… And once again, a wave of happiness washed over her; it was such a wonderful feeling to know that the girls and Jack had started to see her as family. Even though she had never expected that, she welcomed the feeling with open arms.Just this notion that Anna and Dottie had started to see her as their safe place, along with Jack, who had started to trust her beyond an employee… it was enough to fill Amy with a sense of warmth and belonging she hadn't felt in a long time. And now, maybe Jack and her could turn out to be good friends in the future… or there might be a chance that he also likes her back! Her heart almost skipped a beat, but just then, she caught herself with surprise. She couldn't help bu
Two days later, as the morning sun was just beginning to rise over the city, Amy stepped out of her room, carrying her belongings in the luggage she was carrying out of the room. It was a bittersweet moment as she bid a small goodbye to the familiar surroundings she had come to call her own, although temporarily. To her surprise, Anna was waiting for her outside the room, her face beaming with excitement. "Let's go, Amy!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands with glee. "We are waiting for you!"Amy couldn't help but smile at Anna's infectious enthusiasm as she reached out and took her hand. "Yes, I'm ready sweetie!"She replied as they stepped out of the house hand in hand, only to find Helen waiting for them by the SUV, a warm smile on her face. As they approached, Helen greeted them with a wave, while Jack emerged from around the corner, dressed casually in a polo t-shirt and goggles, Dottie in his arms. His presence brought a sense of comfort and familiarity to the moment, and a
Jack and Amy drove together from the Giorgio family's estate towards the main city in almost unbroken silence, even though they had pretended to leave from there very affectionately.Amy, who was now Sofia Rivera, stepped out of the home in a white and blue printed chiffon skirt which was light and flowy, along with a white tank top.Passing a polite smile to Megan, she happily took Jack's hand and threaded her down arm through his elbow– just to make their act more convincing.But whatever illusion of intimacy they wanted to give only lasted until they actually got inside the car. After that, it was just the steady hum of the car engine that filled the space between them as they made their way to the city. Once they reached the bank, Jack pressed the brakes, bringing the car to a smooth stop. Turning towards Amy, he broke the silence with a simple question."Would you like to stay in the car while I finish up some work?" Amy considered his offer for a moment before shaking her head
Amy's mind was still frozen in shock and disbelief, but in spite of that, she somehow watched her body move with a sense of urgency she had never known. It was as if some unseen force had taken control of her body, causing her to run across the pavement towards Jack's injured body, lying in the dirt. With a sense of dread knotting in the pit of her stomach, she knelt down beside him, her heart pounding in her chest… "Hairam!! Hairam! Say something, are you okay? Hairam…"But in spite of her calls, Jack lay there motionless, blood trickling from wounds on his hand, temple and the side of his head. Amy could feel her head start to buzz as her vision began to blur; but somehow, she forced herself to focus and push past the fear clouding her mind.He was unconscious and badly injured… but at least… at least he was breathing.This thought gave her some hope as she reached for her phone, her fingers fumbling with the buttons as she dialed the ambulance service code. As she waited for th
"What!? Who is in the hospital?!" Megan could hear her own voice echoing in her ears as she almost dropped her phone from her band, her tone laced with fury and disbelief. The peaceful solitude of the moment was totally shattered, replaced by a storm of anger and indignation… But before the man could respond, Megan abruptly ended the call. She could hardly believe what she had just heard, as the meaning of his words sank in with a chill.With a sense of urgency coursing through her veins, Megan sprang into action. As she stepped out of the bath and hastily dressed up, leaving her room with a dash. *****Amy was sitting on a bench outside the ward where Jack had been admitted, while the rhythmic hum of machines was leaking out into the hall.Meanwhile, her thoughts were swirling with fear and guilt… How would she explain the whole thing to Helen? And would she truthfully narrate the events that had led to Jack's hospitalization?! And moreover… how would she ever find the courage t