Caleb
“Hi, Honey!”
I opened my eyes.
Tatiana Myers, my fiancée, stared down at me. In her red lace lingerie, she looked every bit like a goddess, as though she had stepped straight out of a magazine spread.
“You’ve got to get ready,” she said, her golden hair falling along the side of her face in soft waves. “We’re going to be late for the Christmas lunch at my parents’ house.”
“Do we have to go?” I asked, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, my voice rough from a restless night.
“Yes, we do,” she replied, giving me the look—the one that left no room for argument. “Your entire family is going to be there. We can’t be late.”
Before I could respond, Cooper—my chocolate retriever—came bounding into the room, his tail wagging enthusiastically as he leapt onto the bed beside me.
“I’ve told Martina a million times to lock the dog in a different room when I’m here,” she snapped, raising her voice. Then she looked directly at me. “Please… please get this thing out of here.”
I sighed, pushing the covers aside as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed. Cooper trotted happily beside me, his tail wagging as though nothing in the world could be wrong.
He nudged his nose against my knee, letting out a soft huff before placing his paw gently on my leg.
“Hey…” I muttered.
I ran my hand over his head, letting my fingers trail through his fur. He leaned into my touch, his warm body brushing against mine as though he could sense the tension coiled tight in my chest.
“Come on, boy,” I murmured, scratching behind his ear. “I’ll ask Taylor to take you for a walk.”
He tilted his head slightly, watching me, as if he knew I needed the comfort more than he needed the walk.
Christmas and New Year—any occasion, really—had never felt the same to me again.
Everything in my life had changed, and there was no path leading back to the way things used to be. Each holiday carried memories, reminders that clung to me like frost on a windowpane.
Nyah.
Her name relentlessly haunted my mind. I found myself drifting back to the time she had spent with me during the holidays, when she had come to my parents’ house with her son.
The way she had smiled politely at everyone, trying to fit into a world that had never been hers.
The way Lucas had clung to her hand, trusting her completely.
And February—her birthday—always brought back the panic that had gripped me when she ended up in the hospital because of her heart.
The fear had wrapped around my chest, squeezing the breath from my lungs while I waited for answers.
Were they all lies? Were all her words tainted with deceit?
The questions orbited endlessly in my mind as I recalled every moment of subterfuge in our relationship.
Nothing could make me forget her.
And truthfully, I didn’t want to.
As the months passed, the pain in my chest never lessened. Time moved forward, yet my heart remained stuck in the same place.
I couldn’t move on.
Her pictures were still saved on my phone, her gifts remained in my closet, and her final letter stayed tucked inside my wallet, folded neatly, carried with me everywhere as though it were a lifeline I couldn’t bring myself to release.
I had tried to drown the pain.
Alcohol didn’t help.
Drugs didn’t help.
Nothing helped.
Memories of her returned in flashes—her scent, her smile, her eyes, her lips… and her lies.
I walked back into the bedroom where Tatiana had already laid out my suit on the bed, every detail perfectly arranged—jacket pressed, tie aligned, cufflinks placed precisely where they belonged.
Everything looked flawless, controlled, and predictable.
Just like the life I was supposed to walk into.
I stepped into the bathroom, and after a quick shower and brushing my teeth, I stood in front of the mirror in my walk-in closet and began to get ready.
As I buttoned my shirt, my thoughts drifted backward, to the first time I had met Tatiana.
Entering the bar at the Lexington Hotel in mid-June of 2014—the same hotel where I had worked with Nyah—she had caught my attention immediately.
A stunning woman with bold red lips and a hot pink dress stood near the counter. Confidence radiated from her like heat from an open flame.
“Can I buy you another drink?” I had asked, walking up to her.
“Thought you would come up with something better than that,” she replied, fluttering her lashes as she took a slow sip from her glass, amusement dancing in her eyes.
I knew I was going to have to work to win her over. Was she even worth the effort?
As I debated whether I wanted to pursue her or walk away, she twirled a strand of her blonde hair around her finger, watching me.
“Gosh!” she teased. “If it takes you that long to come up with something new, I think I’ll take that drink after all.”
That had been the beginning of my scandalous relationship with Tatiana Myers—the daughter of Richard Myers, a powerful business tycoon in the import-export market. Spending nights together had filled the empty spaces in my life, dulling the loneliness.
At first, it had been nothing more than physical attraction… a distraction… a temporary escape. But over time, what started behind closed doors gradually turned into something more complicated—something that looked like a relationship, even if it lacked the depth I once believed love required.
Now, standing in front of the mirror after putting on my jacket, I studied my reflection carefully, adjusting the collar as though perfection on the outside might quiet the chaos inside.
Tatiana stepped up behind me, her heels clicking softly against the floor.
“God! You smell amazing,” she murmured, wrapping her arms around my waist and pressing her face against my neck.
The scent of her perfume drifted into my senses.
I inhaled and closed my eyes.
Nyah’s face appeared instantly in my mind.
“Did you try a new perfume?” I asked quietly.
“Yes. Do you like it?” she replied, watching my reflection in the mirror. “It’s Montblanc Lady Emblem.” She tilted her head. “I don’t think it suits me. It’s too soft for my liking, don’t you think?”
Nyah’s perfume.
I nodded slowly, trying to keep my expression neutral while heat spread through my body. “Let’s go,” I said, clearing my throat as I reached for my keys. “We’re going to be late.”
Arriving at the Myers’ house, I noticed everyone from both sides of the family was already present. The driveway was packed with cars, their windshields dusted with snow, the house glowing warmly against the winter afternoon like a postcard scene.
Stepping inside, I was greeted by the rich scent of pine and cinnamon.
Garlands draped along the staircase banister, twinkling lights wrapped around every railing, and a towering Christmas tree stood proudly in the living room, its branches heavy with ornaments, ribbons, and shimmering gold and red baubles.
The soft glow of candles flickered on every surface, filling the house with warmth.
“Hi, Dad!” I called out, entering the family room and embracing him. “Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas, Caleb!” my mother chimed from behind him. “You finally made it.”
I leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Merry Christmas, Mom. You look beautiful.”
“Well, someone has to keep this family presentable,” she replied lightly, smoothing an invisible crease from her dress before studying me with a critical eye. “How was the drive? The roads weren’t too busy, I hope?”
“Not too bad. A little traffic near downtown, but nothing unexpected.”
“Took you some time to get here,” she remarked, raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow.
“Sorry, I was busy,” I replied, the lie rolling off my tongue with practiced ease.
My father gave a small chuckle and clapped me once on the shoulder. “Work can wait on Christmas, son. Tonight is about family.”
Before I could respond, Richard Myers approached with his wife, Grace, both of them smiling warmly.
“Caleb, there you are,” Richard said, extending his hand before pulling me into a friendly embrace. “We were just talking about you.”
Grace nodded, smiling widely. “Tatiana has been counting down the days. She keeps saying she wants everything to be perfect.”
My mother smiled. “She and I have been going back and forth about flowers all week. I didn’t realize there were so many shades of white.”
Grace laughed. “Oh, there are. Trust me, I learned that lesson very quickly.”
My father lifted his glass, chuckling. “All I know is that the bills keep getting bigger.”
Richard exchanged a knowing look with my father, cackling. “That sounds familiar. Randall and I have already agreed to stay out of the way and let the ladies run the show.”
My father nodded. “Exactly. We just show up when we’re told and pretend we understand what’s going on.”
They all laughed.
I forced a polite grin, playing my part, but inside, a jittery tension stirred in my stomach, twisting into a tight knot.
My mother turned to me again, her eyes softening. “Have you had anything to eat yet, Caleb? There’s plenty of food in the dining room.”
“Not yet,” I replied, reaching for the glass of whisky from the tray the server carried. “Thank you,” I said to him before turning back to my mother. “I’ll grab something in a bit.”
I took a slow sip, letting the burn slide down my throat as the conversation continued around me about wedding details, decorations, and guest lists.
I didn’t want to talk about the wedding.
I didn’t want to hear about it.
Because I hadn’t finished my mission.
My goal of finding Nyah and making her feel the same pain she had left behind still burned inside me, an unyielding fire that time had done nothing to cool. The thought of her betrayal hung like a scar beneath my skin—healed on the surface, yet still tender underneath.
I had searched for her everywhere.
Elle and Donna had no idea where she had gone.
I hired several private investigators, handing them photographs of Nyah and Lucas with strict instructions.
“I want to know where she is,” I had told them firmly. “I want to know every detail. Every movement. Every connection. And I want results.”
But none of them had found anything… not a trace… not even a single clue.
Still, I kept looking.
When I’d heard about Patty, her former neighbour, passing away, I was certain Nyah would appear at the funeral. I had stood there among the mourners, scanning every face, every car, every shadow.
Waiting and watching and hoping.
For a brief second, I thought I spotted her.
I thought I saw Elle’s car pulling into the parking lot, my heart leaping into my throat. But the moment slipped away just as quickly as it had arrived. It turned out to be someone else entirely.
Wishful thinking.
A cruel illusion born from desperation.
I waited, staying behind near the entrance long after the service ended, searching the crowd for a glimpse of her.
But it was useless.
She never came.
“Ready for lunch, son?” my father asked, snapping me back to the present.
I blinked, pulling myself out of the past, and nodded.
While eating, I studied everyone seated around the table. Alongside my family were new faces—Tatiana’s parents, her siblings, their spouses, and their children. Conversations flowed easily between them, laughter filling the room as though everything were perfectly normal.
They were all going to be connected now.
They were going to be my in-laws.
A decision made purely on impulse for my mother’s happiness.
My family!