Can I have a hug Li…before I could complete my word she gave me a tight hug which made me feel like I was revived once again.Uhuum… “Lia what would you love to take? I’m sorry I didn’t bother to offer you anything” I said while letting out a sigh.I gave her some ice tea for the warm weather.. hey babe won’t you spill it? How was your birthday celebration? Lia asked to I know I was supposed to be with you for your birthday but Jake called and said he would love to handle it all, and I later got busy at work…it’s like the universe knew my boss would ask for my help and made Jake take over the birthday. So tell me how was it?I smiled.. well it was pretty great I said trying to hide how happy I felt but Lia caught on. Tell me babe what happened between you guys..you’re blushing.“We kissed” I said before she could go any further with her long talks. You did what? Did you just say kiss? Oh my goodness….Lia covered her mouth with her palm as if trying to hold herself from shoutingI
Just calm down and relax Sophy, it might not be so serious. Lia said with a smile on her face. The ride home from the hospital was quiet. My mind kept replaying Jake’s words “We need to talk”.I couldn’t shake the voice out of my head. I kept thinking of it while biting my finger nails.Lia glanced at me from the passenger seat, noticing my silence. "Are you okay?" I nodded, but my stomach churned with uncertainty. "Yeah, just wondering what Jake wants to talk about." She smirked. "Maybe he wants another kiss." I shot her a look. "Lia." "What? Just saying!" She laughed. "Look, don’t overthink it. You said things are different between you two, right? Maybe he just wants to talk about the two of you since you haven’t said anything much since the kiss.Maybe. But something about his tone made me think otherwise. When we pulled up to the mansion, I exhaled, preparing myself for whatever was coming. "I’ll see you later?" Lia nodded. "Text me, okay? And if he proposes for real,
The warmth of Jake’s hand in mine sent a strange sense of calm through me. It felt so safe and real. Not like an act or something forced, but natural as if this was where I was meant to be. Jake exhaled slowly, his grip tightening just slightly before he let go, his fingers lingering for a second longer than necessary. He ran a hand through his hair, sighing. “You should get some sleep,” he said, his voice softer now. I bit my lip. “You too.” He gave a small tired smiles and then nodded his head . “I will. Eventually.He stood up, but before he could turn to leave, I found myself speaking again. “Jake?” He stopped, looking down at me. I hesitated. “Do you really think they will come after me again?” His expression darkened slightly, but he crouched down beside me, resting his arms on his knees. “I don’t know. But I’m not taking any risks.” There was something about the way he said it, it felt so certain, so protective that it made my heart skip a beat. I swallowed. “
I stood outside the apartment, watching as the last of my things were tossed onto the sidewalk. The sky above was cloudy and gray, mirroring the storm brewing inside me. Mr. Thompson, my landlord, didn’t even glance my way as he locked the door behind him.“This is your final notice, Sophia. I gave you more time than I should’ve,” he said, his voice sharp and unforgiving.I swallowed hard, trying to keep the tears at bay. “Please, Mr. Thompson. I just need a little more time. My mom’s surgery is next week, and—”“I’ve heard it all before,” he interrupted, shaking his head. “You’re already two months behind. I can’t wait any longer.”I wanted to scream, to beg, but I knew it wouldn’t matter. His mind was made up. I glanced down at the suitcase and the few bags scattered on the sidewalk—my whole life, reduced to a handful of belongings. The slam of the apartment door echoed in my chest, like the final nail in the coffin.I was homeless.For a moment, I stood there, frozen in place. I co
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears like a drum. The club’s backstage room was dimly lit, the hum of music vibrating through the walls. I could hear the muffled voices of people outside, VIP guests filling the private rooms.“Just breathe,” I whispered to myself, gripping the edge of the counter. I had to remind myself that this was only temporary—one night. One chance to get the money for my mom’s surgery. I couldn’t afford to think beyond that.Lia stepped into the room, her face serious as she looked me up and down. “You ready?” she asked, but I could tell from her expression she already knew the answer.“I guess,” I muttered, pulling at the hem of the short dress she had given me. It was tighter than anything I’d ever worn before, hugging my body in ways that made me feel exposed.“You’ll be fine,” Lia said, her voice softening. “Just do what you always do when we dance around for fun. You’ve got this
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. This was no different from the first room, I told myself, but it felt different. Liam had at least made me feel like I belonged there. This man, on the other hand, made me feel like I didn’t matter.The music played softly in the background, but my body felt stiff, unsure. I started to sway, trying to lose myself in the rhythm, but his eyes never left me. They were cold, calculating, as if every move I made was being scrutinized.Halfway through the song, I noticed he wasn’t paying much attention to my dancing. His eyes kept drifting back to his laptop, as if I was a nuisance interrupting his work. My frustration started to build, but I pushed through, telling myself to keep going.Finally, he stood up, closing his laptop with a sharp click. He walked over to me, standing just inches away, his gaze intense and unreadable. My heart pounded in my chest, my body freezing under his scrutiny.“You’re not very good at following directions, are
As soon as the second twin disappeared down the hallway, I let out a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Lia was still by my side, her hand resting on my arm as if trying to keep me tethered to the moment. But my mind was already racing, imagining what my life was about to become. I had agreed to something insane. A fake marriage to a man I didn’t know—a man who made me feel like a disposable pawn in his business game."Are you really sure about this, Soph?" Lia asked, her voice soft but laced with concern.I shrugged, trying to appear calm, though my heart was still pounding. "What other choice do I have?"Lia frowned, clearly not convinced. "We could still figure something out. Maybe there’s a loan, or we can raise money somehow."I shook my head, the weight of the decision sinking in. "There’s no time, Lia. The surgery is next week, and my mom needs it. This… this is the only option I have."Lia sighed, clearly not happy with my answer but knowing she couldn’t change m
As we settled into the lavish dining room, the atmosphere felt thick, almost suffocating. Conversations flowed freely around the table, laughter breaking through every now and then, but none of it reached me. I sat next to Jake, my hands folded tightly in my lap, feeling more like an accessory than a fiancée. His family was polite enough, but I could tell they didn’t really care about me. I was just the woman Jake had chosen to bring into their world for reasons they probably didn’t fully understand.Jake was in his element, dominating the conversation with his usual charisma. He hadn’t bothered to introduce me to most of his family members, and I didn’t have the energy to try and make small talk. My mind was elsewhere, spinning with thoughts of how I had ended up here and what the next six months of my life would look like.I felt out of place, like an actor in the wrong role, fumbling through a script that didn’t fit. Every glance from his family seemed to weigh heavier on me, every
The warmth of Jake’s hand in mine sent a strange sense of calm through me. It felt so safe and real. Not like an act or something forced, but natural as if this was where I was meant to be. Jake exhaled slowly, his grip tightening just slightly before he let go, his fingers lingering for a second longer than necessary. He ran a hand through his hair, sighing. “You should get some sleep,” he said, his voice softer now. I bit my lip. “You too.” He gave a small tired smiles and then nodded his head . “I will. Eventually.He stood up, but before he could turn to leave, I found myself speaking again. “Jake?” He stopped, looking down at me. I hesitated. “Do you really think they will come after me again?” His expression darkened slightly, but he crouched down beside me, resting his arms on his knees. “I don’t know. But I’m not taking any risks.” There was something about the way he said it, it felt so certain, so protective that it made my heart skip a beat. I swallowed. “
Just calm down and relax Sophy, it might not be so serious. Lia said with a smile on her face. The ride home from the hospital was quiet. My mind kept replaying Jake’s words “We need to talk”.I couldn’t shake the voice out of my head. I kept thinking of it while biting my finger nails.Lia glanced at me from the passenger seat, noticing my silence. "Are you okay?" I nodded, but my stomach churned with uncertainty. "Yeah, just wondering what Jake wants to talk about." She smirked. "Maybe he wants another kiss." I shot her a look. "Lia." "What? Just saying!" She laughed. "Look, don’t overthink it. You said things are different between you two, right? Maybe he just wants to talk about the two of you since you haven’t said anything much since the kiss.Maybe. But something about his tone made me think otherwise. When we pulled up to the mansion, I exhaled, preparing myself for whatever was coming. "I’ll see you later?" Lia nodded. "Text me, okay? And if he proposes for real,
Can I have a hug Li…before I could complete my word she gave me a tight hug which made me feel like I was revived once again.Uhuum… “Lia what would you love to take? I’m sorry I didn’t bother to offer you anything” I said while letting out a sigh.I gave her some ice tea for the warm weather.. hey babe won’t you spill it? How was your birthday celebration? Lia asked to I know I was supposed to be with you for your birthday but Jake called and said he would love to handle it all, and I later got busy at work…it’s like the universe knew my boss would ask for my help and made Jake take over the birthday. So tell me how was it?I smiled.. well it was pretty great I said trying to hide how happy I felt but Lia caught on. Tell me babe what happened between you guys..you’re blushing.“We kissed” I said before she could go any further with her long talks. You did what? Did you just say kiss? Oh my goodness….Lia covered her mouth with her palm as if trying to hold herself from shoutingI
The next morning we headed back home to the mansion, the drive home was so quite but at the same time it was peaceful. The soft hum of the car engine filled the silence between us, and despite the peaceful surroundings, my mind was beating fast .Adrian’s words kept replaying in my head. He fact that was done with all the threats . The twisted game of power, revenge, and deceit was finally over. But there was an odd mix of relief and uncertainty that settled in my chest. Everything had changed in an instant, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something else was waiting just around the corner.I glanced over at Jake, who was focused on the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel with an ease that made me wonder if he was as calm as he appeared. His eyes were fixed ahead, but there was something softer in his expression now. Maybe the realization that this whole issue with Adrian has finally come to an end and he can finally breath a fresh air. "Are you okay?" I asked softly, br
The world outside the beach house was quiet. The waves rolled in with a steady rhythm, the cool evening air carrying the scent of salt and freedom. But despite the peaceful surroundings, a weight still lingered in the back of my mind. Adrian. No matter how far Jake had brought me from the chaos of his world, it was still there, hovering like a shadow waiting to pounce. The kiss we had shared earlier had changed something between us, but it didn’t erase the reality we had to return to. And as if the universe could hear my thoughts, Jake’s phone buzzed on the wooden nightstand beside the bed. I looked over at him. He had been leaning against the window, staring out at the ocean like he was trying to hold onto the peace of this moment. But as soon as he heard the sound, his body tensed. His eyes flicked to the phone, then to me. Who is it? I asked softly. He didn’t answer right away. Instead he exhaled, like he already knew whatever was waiting for him on that screen wasn’t
**Sophy’s POV** I woke up to the sound of waves crashing in the distance. At first, I thought I was dreaming, but as my eyes fluttered open, the golden morning light spilled through unfamiliar curtains. The air smelled like salt and sun, warm and inviting. I felt refreshed from the breeze coming into the room I found myself in.Where was I? I pushed the covers off and sat up, realizing I wasn’t in my room at Jake’s house. Instead, I was in a cozy, sunlit beach house with wooden floors, soft white curtains billowing in the ocean breeze. The realization sent a ripple of surprise through me. I barely had time to process what was happening before the door opened. Jake stood there, casually dressed in a white button-up with the sleeves rolled up and dark shorts, looking effortlessly at home against the ocean backdrop. “Morning,” he said, leaning against the doorframe. His gaze softened as he looked at me. I swallowed, still trying to process. “Where are we?” Jake stepped insid
**Sophy’s POV:**The day had barely started, but the air in the house felt different. It wasn’t the same oppressive tension that had hung over us for days, but a fragile hope,a quiet shift that I couldn’t explain. There was still so much uncertainty between Jake and me, so many things unsaid but for the first time, it felt like we were on the same side. Even if we were not completely honest with each other yet, there was something deeper connecting us. I took a walk in the garden, needing a break from the house and everything weighing on me. The cool morning breeze rustled the leaves, and I pulled my coat tighter against the chill. As I walked, I kept thinking about my conversation with Jake yesterday.how, for once, he had let his guard down, even if just a little.But that wasn’t the end of it. Not by a long shot. I knew he was still hiding something. The question was, what was it? As I walked along the garden path, my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a car pulling into th
**Sophy’s POV:**It was strange how a single night could change everything. One conversation, one shared moment of raw honesty, and suddenly everything felt different—tighter, more intricate. But it wasn’t easy. I could still feel the weight of Jake’s words in the silence between us. The truth, however heavy it was, had cracked through the walls we had built around ourselves. And now, there was something new, something fragile, hanging between us. The following days were filled with a kind of awkward tension. I knew Jake was trying to protect me, but there was a part of him that was hidden deep down and was beginning to let me in. Or maybe I was simply pushing myself in. I wasn’t sure anymore. I woke up the morning after our conversation with a strange heaviness in my chest. I didn’t know where things were going with Jake, but for the first time, it felt like there might be something more than just the contract that kept us tied together. I went about my day, trying to keep my tho
Jake’s povMy phone was ringing so early in the morning with a number that’s not saved in my phone I picked up only to hear Lia’s voice..Lia: hi good morning, sorry to disturb you so early in the afternoon Jake: it fine, is everything good with you?Lia: uhmmm… I know you and Sophy have been thorough a lot lately, I’m not trying to come in between you guys but I just want to let you know that Sophia birthday is in two days time… I would love to have her around-she needs time to relax and forget about all that’s been happening even if it’s for a day…… Jake: two days time? That would be on Friday- I would love that too. So no problem you can invite her over.The call ended and all I could think of was having to breath a little since the tension between us was getting worse by the day. Maybe this birthday would make me relax a little from all of Adrian’s threat I thought to myself…Few hours later I found myself in a jewelry store , I don’t know why my legs brought me here- bu