Avenge Marriage Book 2 (Two Parts Combined Edition)

Chapter-1

                                                                         A Year Later

                                                                     New Town, Edinburgh

The steaming vapor along with the sweet smell of hot chocolates and all sorts of chocolatey delectable made the cafe a very distracting place to work in and yet she found herself coming back at this place over and over again. Amber stared at the notes, while the tune played in her ears and tried to focus. But it was hard. She should have never chosen a place like this in the first place. She liked to watch people and the cafe she sat in swarmed with tourists. Her eyes kept flitting from the music sheets to the people who walked through the glass door, making the bell above the door jingle relentlessly and she knew there was no way she would be able to focus here.

Placing down her pencil, she stared at the cute little marshmallows bobbing in her hot chocolate before turning her eyes outside the glass wall. The weather was perfect and the street as always was busy with residents and tourists flocking around, their eyes shining with excitement. This was her, a year ago. When she came here for the first time. She had felt lost and scared and in the same breathe there was also a sense of relief and thrill within her. This was a new life and she can start over again. Rub the slate clean and try again. To figure out what she wants. To figure out how to just be happy.

And now that she sat in this warm, cozy cafe, the smell of sweetness enveloping her, she smiled to herself. This was probably the best decision she has made for herself in a really long time. Yes, it hasn't been easy. This was in fact, one of the toughest choices she has had to make in her life but she was glad that she did.

It has been a year since she has left Ivan. A year since their tumultuous avenge marriage came to an end. Amber hoped he has managed to gather his scattered life around and found a way to be happy. If she says she hasn't thought about him once, that would be a lie. But slowly, she has learned to keep the thoughts at bay rather than let them consume her. After all, it was her choice to leave. And that was the deal, to begin with. That was what she signed up for. A year. A year...she will never forget in her life.

A part of her felt guilty. Maybe she should have stayed back. Because she knew it will take a lot for him to recover from the blow that Helena inflicted. He needed her. But she also needed herself. The six months of mental torture that she endured weighed down heavily on her. If she stayed back and tried to work their relationship, it would have imploded sooner or later. Because she was not in her right mind then. The fear, the constant fear of something happening to Ivan or Vin took an incessant toll on her. She still sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night screaming in fear.

And despite knowing that Ivan's behavior those six months was strictly based on the way she treated him, she was still a little hurt by him. It took him too long and a confession on her side to understand everything, if he has that is. She didn't wait for his confession. She was exhausted from waiting around. It shouldn't have taken him so long. If his feelings were strong enough as hers, he would have looked right through her. Through the facade she was wearing to protect his life. She couldn't have moved ahead with him without being certain about what he felt. And Amber realized Ivan himself needed some time to work that out.

But what if he decides to move on? A year away from everything has given her enough time to work on herself. To heal and pull herself together. She was mentally prepared for that too. If he chooses to move on with someone new, she will be happy for him. But if he has waited along for her, well she hasn't thought about it. But one thing she was sure of was that it would be a brand new start this time. From the very beginning.

"How was school today?" Katrina, flopped down on the cute pink chair in front of her and smiled as she shoved a plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies towards her.

Katrina worked in the cafe itself. She was a music enthusiast like her and played guitar sometimes, for  fun of course. But it was the music that pulled them together and eventually they ended up becoming great friends. Mrs. Brown had recommended her to a school just half an hour from here. She worked as a part time music teacher there and also performed at various orchestras and concerts and charities around the world. Her mentor ensured that she was busy throughout the year but if she was not traveling, she loved nothing better than to be in the company of those children and enjoy warm hot chocolate and Katrina's never ending blabber.

"Great," She smiled at her. "Finally got some time off?"

"Tell me about it. I so pester Mr. Donovan that we could do with an extra pair of hands but he is adamant on making me do all the bloody work," She made a face. "I am going to ask for a raise...see if I don't,"

"Best of luck with that," Amber smiled. "How about lunch at my place tomorrow?"

"Splendid," She smiled. "I will bring dessert then. Mum hopes you will visit soon, she is dying to hear you play. You are a celebrity to her,"

"I will try to stop by someday," Amber laughed. "Your mother is adorable. Alright, it's getting late. I should get going. It's a long walk after all,"

"See you tomorrow," Katrina beamed as she hugged her. 

Amber grabbed her bag and headed out into the cool evening. She finally had a friend she could have fun with, do things that girls of her age were supposed to do. Of course, she didn't know anything about her past and Amber liked it that way. The last thing she wanted was Katrina to give her a starry-eyed look when she finds out that she was practically married to a royal heir. This life was about her. Not about who she was married to or where she was born. As long as she was here, she was just Amber Moreno.

The walk from Princess Street to her apartment at St. Vincent Place was that of around ten to eleven minutes but since she walked slowly, watching the beautiful view of the New Town, the crowd of tourists, the pretty shops, it took her around twenty minutes to get to there. She fumbled around for her keys as she reached her apartment complex and stopped abruptly as a very familiar male voice called her name.

"Long time no see, Amber Moreno," She froze momentarily and then slowly turned. Her eyes widened in surprise as she stared at his smiling face and tears immediately flooded her eyes. She can't believe she was looking at him.

"Vin," She whispered and he beamed, opening his arms for her. For a brief moment, she could barely move. It's been so long since she saw him. Almost like an eternity. And now that he stood in front of her did she realized how badly she missed him.

"Oh come on," Vin rolled his eyes and Amber ran to him, crashing hard against his chest. He wrapped his hands around her and they stood there silently, neither of them saying anything. He smelled just like him. Warm and comforting, brotherly. And Amber noticed he has recovered well from that fatal blow. He was back to his sturdy, handsome self.

"I missed you so much, munchkin," Vin whispered, kissing the top of her head. "You have no idea. It was like a piece of me was missing,"

"Me too," She said, careful not to hug him too tight, just in case. "How are you now?"

"Thanks to you, still alive and going on," He said, grinning down at her. "You look old,"

"I am twenty-six now," Amber pointed out and Vin shrugged. "But how did you?"

"Find you?" He demanded and she nodded her head vigorously. She didn't tell anyone where she was going. Nobody knew.

"Mrs. Brown," He chuckled. "I tracked her down first. She blurted out everything the very moment she saw me," He fanned himself dramatically and Amber rolled her eyes at him, inwardly pleased that he found her after all. That she wasn't forgotten completely.

"Let's go upstairs. Have you been waiting long?" She asked and he shook his head.

"No, a couple of hours. That's all," He answered and Amber laughed at him. She can't believe the feeling of relief and happiness that flooded through her on seeing her brother.

"Come on now," She grabbed his arm and started to pull him upstairs. She mentally tried to remember if it was even presentable. Her clothes could be scattered or take-out boxes. Living alone makes some people lazy and she was one of those people.

"Wait, there's someone else with me," He said, stopping her and Amber froze, her heart immediately going into panic mode.

"You didn't?" She whispered and Vin shook his head.

"No. He doesn't know yet but I had to bring him. He was annoying the crap out of me and I hoped you wouldn't mind him anyway," Vin murmured and moved a little so that Amber can have a clear look at the guy standing behind Vin. She stared wide-eyed as he walked towards her, his eyes were dark and he was not smiling. Amber couldn't fathom whether he was angry or pissed to see her.

"Enrique," She whispered, and before she could say anything else, he wrapped his arms around her, startling her. He held her so tight that Amber felt like her limbs would tear apart.

"How could you?" He glared at her after he pulled away. "Didn't you say we were best friends? Was I not worth it? Do you know how I felt? It's been a year Amber....a f*****g year!" His voice was anguished and even though he looked angry, Amber knew he was hurt.

"I had to," She replied silently. "Didn't Christina give you my letter?"

"She did. But it was too late. You were gone. Vanished into the thin air. If you would have just told me everything...."

"Okay," Vin intervened. "I will go and get some wine? Shall we? It's a celebration tonight!" Amber nodded her head and Enrique managed to calm down a little and nodded as well. They watched Vin strode away and then she turned to him.

"Let's go upstairs. You can scold me better when we are inside and neighbors are not gawking," She said and Enrique's lips twitched in a half-smile. He gingerly followed her upstairs and Amber was relieved to find that her apartment was tidy enough.

"This is me," She mumbled, shutting the door and Enrique looked around.

"It's cozy," He commented and she nodded in agreement. It really was. Small but cozy, just her preference.

"Would you like a drink?" Amber asked, feeling a bit weird with him in her apartment. No guy has ever come up here. In fact, the last man she was with was Ivan...that night. She shook her head and dragged her attention back to Enrique who was watching her intently. She blushed, feeling self-conscious under his heated gaze. She never expected Vin to be here. And she definitely didn't expect Enrique.

"Come...sit here," He said softly, patting the couch beside her, and Amber nodded, flopping down beside him. It was a bit awkward especially when she knew how he felt. And after his reaction earlier, it didn't seem like his feelings have faded.

"How have you been?" Enrique asked softly and Amber managed a smile.

"Better than ever," She answered and every ounce of that was true.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He demanded, looking hurt. "Why did you endure everything all alone all those months? Why couldn't you tell me, Amber?"

"They threatened to kill Vin," She answered. "And Ivan. I couldn't have risked their lives at any cost. They might have even hurt you, Enrique. The only thing I could do was to stay silent and do what I needed to do. There was no other way," Enrique sighed and nodded his head.

"Okay. I am just glad to see you and to know that you are okay," He whispered, stroking her cheek with his fingers. "You have no idea how much I missed you. You have no idea how hard this one year has been,"

"I missed you too. All of you," Amber said even though she knew Enrique's miss you meant different than hers. Enrique stared at her and reaching out took her hand in his. Amber stared at him blankly and he smiled softly, bringing her hand to his lips and kissing it with such delicacy as if it was made of glass.

Oh, dear...Amber could barely speak. She knew what was coming and she wasn't sure whether she was ready for that yet. No, she doesn't think she will ever be ready for that.

"Before Vin comes...there's something I need to tell you," He said and Amber opened her mouth to protest but he shook his head, placing his index finger on her lips.

"Please...listen," He said softly, tucking stray hairs behind her ears. His grey eyes held hers and Amber was very aware of how close he was.

"I love you, Amber," He whispered and she froze.

She knew this. She knew this for a long time now. She overheard him and Ivan at the hospital months ago. But now as the words left his mouth did she realize the weight of them. She didn't want this. The complication was not her ideal start back to the life she left behind. She stared at him cluelessly and bit her lip.

Now what?