THE GIRL WHO TOOK MY LIFE

FIVE MONTHS LATER

Five months had passed since Victoria's death.

At first, Amara had thought she would never feel normal again.

For weeks, food had barely tasted like anything.

She would sit at the dining table while her mother tried to convince her to eat, but most days she couldn't finish half of what was on her plate.

Sometimes she wasn't even hungry.

Other times, she was hungry but couldn't bring herself to eat.

Everything reminded her of Victoria.

A meal they had once shared.

A song Victoria liked.

A dress she had once complimented.

Even the smell of a particular perfume could ruin Amara's entire day.

But slowly, things began to change.

Food had started having flavor again.

It was such a small thing, but Amara noticed it.

One morning, she took a bite of toast and actually enjoyed it.

She had stopped halfway through and looked at her mother.

"Mom."

Elena looked up from her coffee.

"What?"

"This is actually good."

Elena smiled.

"Your toast?"

Amara laughed.

"Yes."

"You've been eating toast for years."

"I know. But it tastes different today."

Elena watched her daughter for a moment.

There was relief in her eyes.

"That's good."

Amara smiled and continued eating.

She was getting better.

Not completely.

But better.

She had started going out again too.

At first, Elena had worried whenever Amara left the house.

She would call her after an hour.

Then another hour.

Then ask when she was coming home.

Eventually, she stopped.

Amara understood why.

Everyone was still trying to be careful with her.

But she didn't want to be treated like she was fragile.

She had started meeting friends again.

She went shopping.

She had dinner outside.

She even went to a birthday party a few weeks ago and stayed until almost midnight.

She had laughed that night.

A real laugh.

Not the polite kind she used when someone asked if she was okay.

When she got home, she had stood in front of her bedroom mirror for several minutes.

She had almost forgotten what it felt like to have a good time without feeling guilty about it.

She still missed Victoria.

That hadn't changed.

But grief no longer followed her every second of the day.

It came and went.

Sometimes it stayed for hours.

Sometimes it disappeared for days.

And Amara had stopped fighting it.

She was learning to live around it.

That morning, she was sitting at the dining table when her phone rang.

She glanced at the screen.

Dad.

She answered.

"Hello, Dad."

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

"Are you busy?"

Amara looked down at her breakfast.

"Not really."

"Good. I want you to come to the office today."

She paused.

"The office?"

"Yes."

"Vale Enterprises?"

"Obviously."

Amara smiled slightly.

"Why?"

"I want to talk to you about something."

"Is everything okay?"

"Everything is fine."

She wasn't completely convinced.

"What time?"

"Come before lunch."

"Okay."

"I'll see you soon."

"Okay, Dad."

The call ended.

Amara placed her phone on the table.

Elena was watching her.

"Your father?"

"Yes."

"What did he want?"

"He wants me to come to the office."

Elena's hand stopped halfway to her cup.

"The office?"

"Yes."

"When was the last time you went there?"

Amara thought about it.

"I don't remember."

Elena didn't need to answer.

They both knew.

It had been before Victoria died.

Amara had avoided Vale Enterprises since then.

She hadn't planned it.

She simply never found a reason to go.

There were too many memories there.

Too many places where she had seen Victoria.

The cafeteria.

The conference rooms.

The elevator.

Even the reception area.

It was strange how a building could hold so many memories.

"You don't have to go if you're not ready," Elena said.

Amara looked at her.

"Dad needs me there."

"That's not what I mean."

"I know."

Elena studied her daughter's face.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Amara smiled.

"I'm fine."

"You always say that."

"Because I am."

Elena gave her a look.

Amara laughed.

"Okay. I'm mostly fine."

"Better."

Amara picked up her fork again.

After a moment, she asked, "How is Aunt Carol?"

Elena's smile disappeared.

"She's better."

"Really?"

"She's trying."

Amara nodded.

It had been two months since Elena had gone to stay with Carol.

After Victoria's death, Carol had completely broken down.

She barely ate.

She barely slept.

Some days she wouldn't leave her bedroom.

Elena couldn't stand watching her sister suffer alone, so she had gone to stay with her.

Two months.

That was how long she had stayed.

Amara had visited several times during that period.

Every visit had been difficult.

Carol would talk about Victoria.

Sometimes for hours.

She would tell Amara stories from when Victoria was little.

How she used to cry whenever her mother left the room.

How she hated vegetables.

How she once broke a vase and blamed the dog.

Little things.

Normal things.

Things that made Victoria feel alive again.

And every time Carol finished talking, the room would become quiet.

Because there was no Victoria sitting beside them.

"She asked about you yesterday," Elena said.

Amara looked up.

"She did?"

"Yes."

"What did she say?"

"She wanted to know if you were eating properly."

Amara smiled sadly.

"That's something she would say."

"She also asked if you were going back to work."

"I am."

Elena nodded.

"She's worried about you."

Amara looked down at her plate.

"I'll visit her this weekend."

"You don't have to."

"I want to."

Elena reached across the table and touched her hand.

"Okay."

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.

Then Amara's phone buzzed.

She picked it up.

A message from her father's assistant.

Mr. Vale is expecting you at 11:30.

Amara checked the time.

"I should get ready."

Elena nodded.

"Take your time."

Amara stood.

"I won't be late."

"You said that last time."

"I wasn't late."

"You were twenty minutes late."

"That's basically on time."

Elena laughed.

Amara smiled as she walked away.

It felt good.

Normal.

For a moment, she wasn't thinking about death or funerals or the empty space Victoria had left behind.

She was just a daughter arguing with her mother about being late.

She didn't know how much she had missed that.

An hour later, Amara stepped out of her bedroom.

She had changed into a simple cream blouse and black trousers.

She kept her makeup light and left her hair down.

She looked at herself in the mirror before picking up her handbag.

There was a time when she would have spent an hour deciding what to wear to Vale Enterprises.

Today, she didn't care as much.

She just wanted to get there and find out what her father wanted.

Downstairs, Elena was waiting.

"You look nice."

"Thank you."

"Are you nervous?"

"A little."

"That's normal."

Amara nodded.

Her mother walked over and fixed a strand of her hair.

"You'll be fine."

"I know."

Elena kissed her forehead.

"Call me when you're done."

"I will."

Amara walked outside.

Her driver was already waiting.

She got into the back seat and looked out the window as they pulled away.

The city was busy.

People were heading to work.

Cars filled the roads.

Shop owners were opening their businesses.

Everything was moving.

Amara rested her head against the seat.

Five months.

It was strange.

Five months ago, she had been standing at Victoria's funeral.

Now she was going back to the company.

Life really didn't wait for anyone.

Her phone buzzed.

A message from one of her friends.

Dinner tonight? Don't say no.

Amara smiled.

She typed back.

Maybe.

The reply came almost immediately.

That's not a yes.

Amara laughed.

She typed:

Fine. Yes.

She put the phone away.

For the first time in months, she was actually looking forward to something.

Vale Enterprises came into view.

Amara looked out of the window.

The building hadn't changed.

Forty floors of glass and steel.

The large Vale logo stood above the entrance.

Her stomach tightened.

"Stop here," she said.

The driver pulled toward the entrance.

Amara took a breath.

She could do this.

It was just a building.

Just work.

She opened the door.

And immediately heard her name.

"Amara!"

She looked up.

A camera flashed.

Then another.

"What—?"

A group of photographers stood across the street.

More appeared near the entrance.

"Amara, over here!"

"Miss Vale!"

"Amara, look this way!"

She froze.

She hadn't expected anyone.

Security rushed toward her.

"Miss Vale, please come inside."

Amara started walking.

The cameras followed.

"Amara, how are you doing after Victoria's death?"

"Have you returned to the company permanently?"

"Are you taking over Vale Enterprises?"

"Is your father preparing to retire?"

Amara kept walking.

She didn't answer.

Then someone shouted a question that made her stop.

Her face changed.

"Will anyone be replacing Victoria CFO in the company?"

She stopped.

Replacing Victoria?

The question hit her harder than she expected.

She turned around.

For a second, she almost answered.

Then she remembered Victoria.

Her smile.

Her voice.

The way she used to walk into a room as if she owned it.

Amara looked away.

"No one's replacing Victoria" she said quietly.

As the word came out of her mouth, she felt less sure of it.

The Position of CFO was a crucial one at the company. And Victoria had been Efficient in her work.

She had to talk to her father about it. No one was replacing Victoria.

As absurd as it sounded, she wanted it this way.

The security guard moved closer.

"Miss Vale, please."

Amara turned and walked inside.

The glass doors closed behind her.

The noise outside faded.

She stood in the lobby for a moment, breathing slowly.

An employee at the reception desk stared at her.

Then smiled.

"Welcome back, Miss Vale."

Amara looked around.

Welcome back.

She wasn't sure why those words made her chest feel tight.

She had spent five months staying away from this place.

Now she was standing in the same lobby again.

The same elevators.

The same reception desk.

For a spilt second she thought she caught a glimpse of Victoria smiling at her .

Amara swallowed.

"Thank you."

She walked toward the elevators.

As she waited, she caught her reflection in the polished doors.

She looked calm.

She looked fine.

But inside, she was still trying to convince herself that coming back had been the right decision.

The elevator doors opened.

She stepped inside.

Just before they closed, her phone buzzed.

A message from her mother.

Good luck with your dad. Call me after.

Amara smiled.

She typed a quick reply.

I will. Love you.

The doors closed.

The elevator began to rise.