Shonee's POV

Later that night...

Gently, I shut Mirasol's bedroom door, careful not to wake her up. She had drifted into slumber halfway through her favourite bedtime story, showing how exhausted she was. She really needed her beauty sleep, and I was happy enough to give it to her so I could get my own.

I walked through the dimly lit hallway, rubbing my neck when my eyes landed on a familiar door that led to a familiar room.

Vincent's home office.

The soft glow of light spilling from the space under the door meant he was hard at work. Part of me wanted to go in and check how he was doing like I usually do. But then the argument we had yesterday flashed in my mind's eye and just like that, the thought vanished from my head.

He has his beloved wife to check up on him. What the heck does he need me for? With that, I steered myself in the opposite direction and entered my room.

I know I should get over it, but the fact that he willingly threatened to kick me out of the house if I so much as touched a single hair on Nancy's head, made me stew with rage. This was the same woman who kicked and beat up his own daughter just because she wouldn't have dinner with her, and now Vincent was protecting her?

I shook my head.

To take my mind off it all, I stripped out of my clothes and took a warm, much-needed bath. After that, I slathered on my night cream and pulled on a loose pair of shorts and a tank top, before gathering my hair into a messy bun. Then I climbed onto my bed and snuggled in. Not long after, I found myself drifting off.

Steam, along with the hot droplets of water raining down from the shower, caressed my skin, providing that warmth and relaxation I was seeking.

But for some strange reason, my body craved more...

Grabbing the strawberry-scented shower gel on the stand, I squirted the content in my palm and began rubbing it all over my body, slowly, seductively...

"Need some help with that?"

When I turned around, Vincent stood at the entrance of the shower, leaning against the ledge with a smug smile on his face.

I should be angry with him, but my body said otherwise. With one finger, I summoned him into the shower, drinking in his nakedness as his hands wrapped around me, pulling me flush against his skin.

"Mhmmm," I mumbled, enjoying the way his hands explored every curve of my body. "I missed you."

"Missed you even more," he murmured back, then captured my lips in a scalding kiss that had my arms curling around his neck.

His hands continued to roam, gripping my butt checks and giving them a zealous squeeze that had me moaning into his mouth. "Ooh!"

"Aww, you're enjoying yourself."

I jerked back in surprise.

Lo and behold, Nancy stood at the entrance, right where Vincent was a few seconds ago with her arms crossed against her chest. "Hello, Shonee." Her eyes held a twinkle of mischief.

Then she unfolded her arms, revealing a gun.

My heart jumped into my throat. "No! Vincent!" I turned to him for help, but he was gone. Nowhere in sight.

Nancy lifted the gun. Her lips stretched into that cunning smile of hers. "Goodbye Shonee."

"No, wait!"

Before I knew it, she pulled the trigger, slotting a copper bullet into my stomach. Pain immediately engulfed my senses, and when I looked down at my hands, crimson red stained my hands.

Blood.

With a loud gasp, I jolted up from bed, clutching my stomach like my life depended on it.

It took me a minute or two to catch my breath, and then I swiped a hand against my forehead, wiping away the sweat. "Oh thank God," I heaved. It was just a dream, but it didn't stop my heart from thudding like I had just finished running a marathon.

I leaned over and turned the bedside lamp on, catching a glimpse of the time.

11:53 pm

I'd only been asleep for roughly an hour. Another sigh left my mouth. That dream. It made me wonder why my mind was playing tricks on me because it felt real. In fact, too real for me to even consider laying back down again to get some shuteye. The vision of Nancy, aiming that gun at my stomach was ingrained in my head, sending another spark of fear up my spine.

I honestly didn't get it. I'm not afraid of Nancy anymore. I had overcome almost every hurdle she'd thrown my way, so why the heck was I scared of her again?

Exhaling, I pulled back the covers and rolled out of bed. From the way my heart was beating, it was clear enough that I wasn't going to get some sleep anytime soon. So, I grabbed my robe and stepped out of my room.

As I walked through the corridor, heading for the stairs, I passed by Vincent's office again. No light seeped from underneath the door. Good, he's gone to bed.

I descended the stairs and entered the living room, grabbed the remote and turned the TV on with the hope of finding something interesting enough to distract me. But after a few minutes of browsing an endless number of horror movies and boring late-night talk shows, I turned the TV back off.

The entire house was quiet, so quiet that I could practically hear the soft hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. It drew me over. If I couldn't find anything entertaining to watch, then I might as well indulge in whatever was available.

I flipped the switch on, flooding the kitchen with light, and the first thing that caught my eye was Vincent's liquor cabinet. Now, I wasn't much of a drinker, but hey, anything to take my mind off the edge.

Covering the short distance to the cabinet, I pulled it open and browsed the array of whiskey and wine bottles, some dating as far back as the 1800s. Aged wine has a reputation for not only being insanely expensive, but also complex in its flavours, and who wouldn't want to try something complex at a time like this?

I gingerly plucked out a bottle of Pinot Noir. The fancier the name, the better.

I uncorked the bottle, poured myself a glass and settled down at the kitchen island, savouring the luxurious and richly-satisfying beverage.

"I was saving that for a special occasion, you know."

******