Shadows of Regret

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

Imani Williams

As soon as Ryujin walked into the kitchen, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders.

I hadn’t realized just how much I’d been holding onto that tension until I saw him standing there, looking every bit the man I remembered—confident, strong, and so damn sure of himself.

My heart, which had been fluttering with worry all day, finally started to calm down.

He had told me he was going out on some important business, and while he didn’t share the details, I could see in his eyes that it was dangerous.

The fear that had gripped me then was hard to shake, but now, seeing him here, I could breathe again.

But there was something else in the air, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

When Ryujin walked in, Vincent froze, his eyes locked onto Amara like he’d just seen a ghost.

It was like the entire room shifted, the easygoing atmosphere replaced with this heavy, charged silence.

I didn’t miss the way Ryujin glanced between them, his brow furrowing slightly as he tried to piece together what was going on.

He was just as curious as I was, though he didn’t let it show on his face.

“Ryujin,” I said softly, my voice betraying the relief I felt.

“Imani,” he replied, his tone steady, his gaze lingering on me.

There was something in his eyes, something that made my heart skip a beat.

It was subtle, but I could tell he was glad to be home.

I introduced Amara to Ryujin, and though he nodded politely, his attention kept drifting back to Vincent and the way he was looking at her.

It was like they were having a conversation without words, something deep and unspoken that neither of them wanted to acknowledge.

Amara had stopped chopping the vegetables, her hands trembling slightly as she put the knife down.

She wasn’t usually this flustered, and it made me even more curious about what was going on between them.

Wanting to ease the tension, I smiled and said, “Why don’t you both stay for dinner?"

Amara glanced at Vincent, her eyes searching his for something—maybe permission, maybe reassurance.

He finally tore his gaze away from her to look at me, his usual smirk returning.

“Sounds like a plan.”

Amara hesitated for a moment before nodding.

“Sure, I’d like that.”

Ryujin didn’t say anything, but he didn’t seem to object either.

He just gave me a slight nod, his gaze still watchful, like he was cataloging every detail, every reaction.

It was a look I was getting used to—the way he seemed to see everything, miss nothing, especially when it came to me and Kai.

Vincent finally broke the spell by turning to Ryujin.

“We should head to the office, get some things sorted out before dinner.”

Ryujin nodded, but as they turned to leave, Vincent paused at the doorway, his eyes meeting Amara’s once more.

He smirked, his voice dropping to a low, teasing tone.

“Can’t wait for dinner.”

Amara blushed, a shy smile tugging at her lips as she looked away. It was so unlike her—she was usually so composed, so confident.

Seeing her like this only made me more curious about what had happened between them.

As Ryujin and Vincent left the kitchen, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of history they shared.

And more than that, I couldn’t ignore the way Ryujin’s presence seemed to fill the room, the way my heart felt steadier just knowing he was back.

Whatever he was involved in, whatever danger he faced out there, I was grateful that, at least for tonight, he was home.

Back to me.