The Breaking Point
Days turned into weeks, and Javier found himself stretched thin against the façade of his double life. While he managed to coordinate moments with Sharla—a spontaneous coffee here, a shared meal there—always tucked in the shadows, he felt the noose tightening around both relationships.
One afternoon in particular, while engaging in friendly banter at a family park gathering, Maria caught him off guard. She had invited a few others from their social circle and, amidst the...
The Unraveling
Over the next few days, their secret alliance began to take shape amidst meticulously crafted lies. They managed to intertwine their lives, juggling family functions, kids’ playdates, and casual encounters that threaded Sharla deeper into his world. Each meeting felt like a secret exchange of energy, a thrill laced within the pitter-patter of everyday life.
Yet, underneath it all, the stakes grew palpably high. Javier sensed the growing tension in his interactions with Maria. She...
Evening Shadows
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the laughter of children faded, and families began to gather their things to head back to their rooms. The shadows grew long, wrapping the beach in a cozy embrace. Javier and Sharla shared a cautious yet teasing look as they prepared to say their goodbyes.
“I had so much fun today!” Sharla beamed at the kids, kneeling to their level. “You all are wonderful sandcastle architects!”
“Thanks, Sharla! Come back and play more!” Lucas urged, eyes...
A Moment of Discovery
As the day rolled on, Javier and Sharla shared glances across the beach, their connection electric yet shrouded in secrecy. They crafted stories of friendship, all while skirting the edges of their hidden intentions. The sandcastle grew more elaborate, becoming a symbol of both a joyous day and the deceptive layers of their lives.
But as the sun began to dip low, casting long shadows beneath the palm trees, the unexpected happened—a family friend noticed Sharla standing...
The Next Day: The Game Begins
Morning light spilled over the horizon, flooding the room with warmth that felt almost foreign. Javier awoke to the sound of Maria bustling about, preparing breakfast and reminding the kids to get ready for the day ahead. His heart raced as memories of the night with Sharla rushed back, but he quickly steeled himself.
“Good morning, sleepyhead!” Maria chirped, her voice bright and full of energy. “Are you ready for a fun day at the beach?”
“Absolutely,” Javier...
A Tense Reunion
That evening, after the kids were tucked in and sleep came softly to their eyelids, Javier found himself staring out at the darkening sky from the balcony of their room. Stars blinked into existence, illuminating the vastness of his choice.
The dinner with Maria had gone smoothly, genuine laughter shared over plates of seafood, stories of their lives, yet he felt the knife-edge tension sharpening as he envisioned his upcoming rendezvous with Sharla.
At just past midnight, as...
The Game Is Afoot
As they finalized their plans, a swell of hope surged within him. They walked back toward the resort, Sharla’s laughter bubbling softly, a melodic counterpoint to the chaotic thoughts swirling in his head.
But the closer they drew to the main building, the more Javier’s anxiety crept back into his chest. The reality of their situation lingered like a shadow, and the thought of potentially balancing two lives pushed against his resolve.
“Just remember,” he said as they reached...
The Cabana
As he neared the cabana, Javier spotted Sharla leaning against the wooden posts, her silhouette outlined against the moonlit backdrop. The atmosphere felt electric, charged with tension as their eyes locked, each recognizing the risk they were taking.
“You made it,” she breathed, stepping closer and wrapping him in a warm hug, grounding him amidst the whirlpool of emotions.
“Of course, but I couldn’t be away for long,” he said, stepping back to assess her. “What’s this about? You...
The Storm Approaches
Later that evening, dressed up for dinner, he glanced into the mirror as he readied himself. The reflection revealed a man on borrowed time—conflicted, torn between two worlds he could no longer reconcile.
Dinner was filled with laughter and love as Maria animatedly recounted their plans for the year ahead—the home renovations, the family trips, the laughter shared around the holiday table. Each warm smile was like a dagger through Javier’s heart, where Sharla’s laughter...
Return to Reality
After breakfast, they parted ways, the importance of their next steps weighing heavily as they took a step back into their daily lives. Javier returned to his room, where Maria sat on the balcony, flipping through a travel magazine.
“Hey, how was breakfast?” she asked, glancing up with a smile.
“It was good. Just had a few discussions about activities for the week,” he replied, nerves creeping into his voice as he tried to gauge how closely she was watching him.
“Planning to...
The Unexpected Turn
Just as they began to settle into their plans, the unforeseen occurred. A waiter approached their table, and Javier’s stomach dropped as he recognized him—a friendly face from his neighborhood and a mutual acquaintance of both families.
“Javier! So good to see you! What are the odds?” the man beamed, oblivious to the unseen tension building between Javier and Sharla.
“Uh, yeah, we just needed a short getaway,” Javier managed, struggling for composure as every instinct told...
The Breakfast Meeting
The next morning came far too quickly. Javier felt the weight of vulnerability lingering over him as he prepared for breakfast. He dressed carefully, choosing something casual yet sharp, lingering in the mirror as though the reflection might tell him what to do next.
When he arrived at the dining area, the delightful scent of fresh pastries enveloped him in warmth. He scanned the room, spotting Sharla seated at a table far from his—her blonde hair cascading down her...
The Point of No Return
When they parted, he was met with the haunting realization that they would soon have to return to their separate lives, back to the families waiting with expectations—expectations they were both willing to shatter with their next moves.
“We need to find our rhythm,” Sharla murmured, laughing awkwardly as she tried to shake off the tension, leading them back toward the resort while hand in hand. “Let’s make it a game. We’ll strategize our moves like we do in Evony.”
“A...
Morning After: Rising Tensions
Dawn broke, casting the world in soft pastels as rays of sunlight filtered through the palm leaves. The two lovers stirred from a night heavy with whispered secrets and dreams. Yet, in the light of day, reality pressed in with renewed vigor.
Javier woke to find Sharla staring out at the ocean, a contemplative look on her face, the brilliance of the morning sun illuminating the uncertainty etched in her features. As he took in their surroundings, the memory of...
An Unexpected Encounter
The moment he reached the beach, the sound of waves lapping against the shore became a symphony heralding his desire. He spotted Sharla—a vision under the moonlight, silhouetted at the edge of the sand, looking both stunning and ethereal.
“You came,” she breathed, stepping toward him, the moon casting silver light on her face.
“It was too tempting to resist,” he replied, drinking in the sight of her. “Being with you feels like… freedom.”
They settled onto the sand,...
When he finally escaped to their hotel room that night, he stared at the ceiling, uncertainty swirling in his thoughts. Glances were exchanged throughout dinner, teasing but aware, and he felt trapped in a delicious purgatory. Every minute apart from Sharla felt like surrendering to a fate he had long accepted but now questioned.
Unable to sleep, he tiptoed onto the balcony, allowing the cool ocean breeze to wash over him. The moonlight shimmered on the water’s surface, a sparkling reminder...
The Vacation
The day arrived. Javier and Sharla arrived at the resort—tanned faces, beach umbrellas, and the sun kissing their flushed cheeks. They both kept their distance from one another, their secret lives swirling around them like invisible dread naught. Their spouses roamed nearby, blissfully unaware of the undercurrents that swept through the air.
With every moment of glances shared across the pool, every innocent brush past the bar—Javier’s heart raced. Then finally, as the sun dipped...
The soft glow of Javier’s computer screen illuminated the dimly lit room, casting flickering shadows across walls filled with the years of family photos. In the back office of his suburban home, he could hear the faint sounds of his children giggling in the living room, the growing chaos that reminded him of the life he had built with his wife. But in those moments, as the world flickered beyond his screen, it all felt painfully boring and pointless.
He logged into his game, Evonshire—his...
Bekka Scott
Published by Bekka Scott, 2024.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places,
or events are entirely coincidental.
BENEATH THE ASHES
First edition. December 18, 2024.
Copyright 2024 Bekka Scott.
ISBN: 979-8227739568
Written by Bekka Scott.
For my feral one. I love you.
The difference between a garden and a graveyard is
only what you choose to put in the ground. —Rudy Francisco
Chapter 1
Emma Dawson’s hands moved with a practiced grace, her
fingers deftly...
By Bekka Scott
Copyright 2024 Bekka Scott
All rights reserved.
DEDICATION
For all the parts of me and you that no one else understands. You are seen, you are valued, and you are loved.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My husband and children, thank you for believing in my wild dreams, even when I didn’t believe in myself.
Chapter 1
Arthur Hall slouched at his desk, the usual office noise fading into a low buzz in the background. His computer screen flickered, each flash making his heart...