Empire of Hate (Empire, #3)

by Rina Kent

An unhealthy obsession is to have an extreme interest in something or someone. It’s to constantly think about them. It’s to do something repetitively, even against your will. It’s to have a compulsive preoccupation with them and being unable to chase them away, no matter how much you try.

Loving something that hurts you is also an unhealthy obsession, I think.

“When we grow up, will you marry me?” His eyes widen, but he looks away. My heart shrivels and breaks in my chest. Once again, it was all for nothing.

If life throws you a lemon, you should probably eat it or else you’ll remain hungry.

It doesn’t matter how many years pass or how old she gets, Nicole was and always will be beautiful. The provocative type.

“You have the beauty of a fucking angel, Peaches.” He rests his chin on my stomach, his eyes clashing with mine for a brief second. “Too bad you possess the personality of the bloody devil.”

I sit there and wait. And wait. But Daniel never came back for me. And just like that, I’ve become invisible again.

“I was taught early on to never show emotions. They’re a weakness, a hindrance, and would lead to my downfall.

“And you know what the funny part is? The bitch kept calling your name like a fucking chant. Daniel…Dan…help… You weren’t there to do that, were you, Prince Charming? And guess fucking what? She’ll never forgive you for not coming to her rescue.”

“I’m gonna have her back, Danny. With my kid. We’re a family.”

A sun that’s in love with the moon.

“You’re the only woman I wanted with a desperation that bordered on both pleasure and pain. The only woman who drives me fucking insane but I still can’t look away from. My fixation with you made me hate all blondes because they reminded me of you. Brunettes aren’t my type, Peaches. You are. And you know what, your condition about exclusivity is bloody useless. Ever since you came back into my life, I haven’t been able to see another woman, let alone fuck her. It’s you. Only you.”

I hate you meant I like you, I miss you, I love you.

“The art of pain is an abstract form of vengeance,”

you made Glyndon, who’s spoiled and unnecessary.” “I told you to not call your sister unnecessary, Lan,” Astrid says in a teacher’s voice.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t a good mother, Danny. I’m sorry I never grew a backbone, but if you give me a chance, I’ll try.”

“I stepped on my pride to love you. I crushed my bleeding heart, then gave it to you. All I wanted was for you to see me, to not make me invisible. All I wished for was a tiny piece of your heart, a sliver of your attention, but you never gave me that. You never fought for me as I fought for you!”

That’s when I see what we are. I’ve always been the upper half of an hourglass while he was the bottom. Sooner or later, he was meant to empty me until nothing was left.

It’s hard to hate you and even harder to forget you, but loving you was the easiest thing that I’ve ever done. It was natural, inevitable, and fucking infinite.”

“My home is wherever you are. You’re my home, Nicole.”

“Remember what you asked me back when we were children?” “What?” “You proposed to me.” My cheeks turn hot. “I was…a kid.” “It still counts and it’s my turn to propose.”