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Chapter 16: Imagine a future
Last Updated:
2025-03-29 16:05:03
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Against all odds Chapter 17: No president or judgment
ElliotBeing in Luca’s apartment, just the two of us, feels like a sanctuary, a place where I can finally let my guard down. There’s no pressure, no judgment—only the quiet understanding that somehow, he sees me in a way no one else ever has.As I sit there, sipping my tea, I find myself opening up to him in ways I never thought possible. I tell him about my family, about the weight of their expectations, the pressure to live up to an image that never quite fit. I tell him about the fear that’s kept me silent, the longing to break free, to live a life that feels true.He listens without interrupting, his gaze steady, his hand warm on my shoulder. And as I talk, I feel a sense of relief, as if a weight is slowly being lifted from my chest.“I don’t know how to change things,” I admit finally, my voice barely a whisper. “But I want to. I want to find a way to be…me.”Luca reaches out, taking my hand, and his touch is like an anchor, grounding me in the present moment. “You will, Elliot.
Last Updated : 2025-03-29Against all odds Chapter 18: Baby step
ElliotI spend the morning trying to calm my nerves, repeating Luca’s words in my mind like a mantra: “Baby steps.” I want to believe that’s all I need, but it’s hard to shake the weight of years spent keeping everything about myself locked away.By the time I reach my sister Emma’s apartment, my heart is pounding, and my hands are clammy. I clench and unclench my fists, trying to steady myself. Emma’s always been the one I’m closest to. Growing up, she was my confidante, the one person I felt understood me without needing an explanation. If there’s anyone I can start with, it’s her.I ring the doorbell, taking a steadying breath. After a moment, the door swings open, and there she is—my older sister, with the same warm smile and the glint of curiosity that’s always made me feel like I could share anything with her.“Elliot!” she says, pulling me into a hug. “It’s so good to see you. I was starting to think you were avoiding me.”I laugh, though it comes out a little shaky. “Never. Ju
Last Updated : 2025-03-29Against all odds Chapter 19: Finding Solace with Luca
Elliott Later That NightAfter dinner, I drive to Luca’s apartment, needing the comfort of his presence. The minute I step inside, he pulls me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me like a protective cocoon.“How did it go?” he asks softly, his voice filled with concern.I sigh, resting my head against his shoulder. “I talked to Emma. She was…she was amazing. So supportive. But at dinner…I couldn’t do it. I wanted to, but when I looked at my parents, I just…froze.”Luca pulls back slightly, looking into my eyes with a gentle smile. “Elliot, you don’t have to do it all at once. You took a big step today, telling your sister. That’s something to be proud of.”His words wash over me, soothing the sting of disappointment. I nod, a small smile forming as I lean into him, feeling the tension melt away.“I just want to be with you,” I whisper. “Without all this…fear.”He cups my face, his thumb tracing gentle circles on my cheek. “And you will be, Elliot. One day at a time. I’m here, every
Last Updated : 2025-03-29Against all odds Chapter 20: A Chance Encounter with His Mother
Elliott A few days later, I’m at a café near my office when I unexpectedly run into my mother. She’s sitting alone, reading a book, her tea steaming beside her. For a moment, I consider leaving before she sees me, but something in me tells me to stay. Maybe it’s the conversation I had with Emma, or the look of quiet peace on my mother’s face. I feel a tug of courage, an impulse to try and bridge the gap, even in a small way.“Mom?” I say, approaching her table.She looks up, her eyes lighting up in surprise. “Elliot! What a pleasant surprise. Are you free to join me?”I nod, pulling out the chair across from her. We talk about little things at first—work, family, memories from my childhood that make her smile. But underneath it all, I can feel the weight of the unspoken, the things I still can’t bring myself to say.After a pause, she reaches across the table, placing her hand over mine. “You seem…different lately,” she says, her voice gentle. “Is there something on your mind?”The q
Last Updated : 2025-03-29Against all odds Chapter 21: A Deal with the Devil
Elliott Immediately I went back home from Luca place. It started with a dinner invitation, or rather, a summons.My father isn’t the type to casually invite me to dinner unless he has an agenda, and the text message I receive in the afternoon makes it painfully clear.Dinner at the penthouse. 8 PM. Don’t be late.No explanation. No pleasantries. Just a command, like always.I debate ignoring it, pretending I never saw the message, but I know that won’t work. My father has a way of making things miserable when he doesn’t get what he wants. If I don’t show up, he’ll track me down at work tomorrow and make a scene in front of the board. That’s how he operates, control through pressure, appearances, and power plays.So at 7:58 PM, I step into the private elevator leading up to my parents’ penthouse, feeling like I’m walking into an ambush.Dinner is as extravagant as always, crystal glasses, candlelight, expensive wine that I barely sip. My mother, ever the graceful hostess, asks me abou
Last Updated : 2025-04-07Against all odds Chapter 22: Unwanted Arrangements
Elliott I should have seen this coming.After last night’s disaster of a dinner, I expected some sort of retaliation from my father. A punishment disguised as a lesson. But I thought I’d have at least a few days before he tried again.I was wrong.Because the moment I step into the penthouse today, there’s a stranger sitting on the couch.And from the smug look on my father’s face, I already know why she’s here.“There you are, Elliot,” my mother says, standing with a practiced smile. “Come, sit. We have someone we’d like you to meet.”I don’t move. My eyes flick to the girl instead.She’s beautiful, glossy dark hair, sharp cheekbones, the kind of expensive confidence that only comes from growing up with wealth. But the moment our eyes meet, I see disdain.Good. At least we’re on the same page.My father gestures toward her. “Elliot, this is Cecilia Laurent. The Laurents are old family friends, and her father is a respected figure in the industry. We believe this match will be benefi
Last Updated : 2025-04-07Against all odds Chapter 23: Confessions and Consequences
Elliott Luca opens the door before I even knock. His apartment smells like coffee and cedarwood, warm and familiar. He’s wearing a loose hoodie, his dark curls slightly tousled, like he just woke up from a nap. Normally, I’d take a second to admire him, but tonight, my mind is a mess.He takes one look at me and frowns. “Elliot?”I don’t answer right away. I step inside, running a hand through my hair as I pace the length of his living room. My heart is hammering, and I can’t tell if it’s from frustration or fear. Probably both.Luca watches me with quiet concern before shutting the door. “Okay. What happened?”I let out a sharp breath, finally turning to him. “They’re forcing me into an engagement.”He went numb for a second.Then he blinked, he blinked again and again, then raised his eyebrows as if waiting for me to say it’s a joke. When I don’t, his expression hardens.“What?” His voice is dangerously low.I swallow. “My parents. They’re making me marry some girl… Cecilia Lauren
Last Updated : 2025-04-07Against all odds Chapter 24: Luca in L.A
Elliott I just can't explain it, he said, turning his face away. Luca in L.A.? The thought slams into me like a punch to the gut.Though I should be happy for him, this is what he’s always wanted. He’s been obsessed with films but it just hurts that he didn't tell me before he applied.And that's not just it, all I am thinking about right now is how far L.A. is from here.“You haven’t heard back from them yet?” I ask, my voice tight.“No,” he says, watching me carefully. “Not yet.”I nod slowly, but my thoughts are spiraling. If they accept him, he’s gone. And what happens then? What happens to us?“I didn’t tell you to freak you out,” Luca says, stretching his hands to reach mine, but I take a step back again. He sighs. “Elliot, come on.”“I just…” I swallow, shaking my head. “It’s a lot, okay? My parents dropped this marriage thing on me, and now you’re telling me you might move across the country?”Luca watches me, and for a second, I see something flicker in his eyes. Hurt? Frus
Last Updated : 2025-04-07
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Against all odds chapter 30: I already know how this will end.
Luca Elliott walked away without looking back, his broad shoulders stiff, his pace quick and unrelenting.I knew that walk. That damn walk he always did when he wanted to act like something didn’t bother him. When he pretended he could just shake things off, bury them deep enough that they wouldn’t matter.But I wasn’t about to let him get away with it this time.I wasn’t done.Not after everything we had been through. Not after the sleepless nights, the stolen moments, the words left unsaid. I refused to let this be how it ended.My chest was tight as I pushed forward, my footsteps echoing against the polished floor as I went after him.“Elliott, wait…”He didn’t stop.I could see the way his fists clenched at his sides, the tension in his shoulders growing, but he kept walking like he didn’t hear me.“Dammit, Elliott, just talk to me!”That made him stop.He let out a sharp exhale before turning around. His face was carefully composed, but his eyes…God, his eyes held something raw
Against all odds Chapter 29: I am leaving in two days
Luca I couldn't take it anymore.The entire night had been a blur of frustration and anxiety as I sat on the edge of my bed, phone in hand, watching the screen light up, only for it to be notifications that weren’t from him. The missed calls, the unread messages, the radio silence, it all added up to one thing. Elliott was ignoring me.My chest tightened with every passing minute. Had I pushed him too far? Was he angry? Or was something actually wrong? My mind spun with possibilities, each one worse than the last. The longer I waited, the more suffocating the silence became, swallowing me whole.I should have just told him the truth from the beginning. The moment I found out, I should have just told him when he came earlier, I should have looked him in the eyes and confessed everything. Maybe then he wouldn’t be shutting me out now. Maybe then he would still be talking to me instead of making me feel like I no longer existed in his world.But I couldn't undo the past.What I could d
Against all odds Chapter 28: Cecilia and Elliott
Elliott’s POVBy the time I got home, my entire body felt heavy, like I was carrying something I couldn’t put down.Luca was hiding something from me. I could see it in his eyes, hear it in the way his voice wavered. And yet, he wouldn’t let me in. Wouldn’t tell me what the hell was going on in his head.I clenched my jaw, slamming the door shut behind me.Maybe I had been stupid to think that night actually meant something.I kicked off my shoes and headed straight for the liquor cabinet in the dining room. My father never touched the cheap bottles, he only cared for his overpriced whiskey and aged wine, so I figured he wouldn’t even notice if something was missing.I grabbed a half-full bottle of vodka and a glass, already preparing to drink myself into oblivion.If Luca wanted to be distant, fine.If he didn’t want to tell me what was wrong, fine.But I wasn’t going to sit here and drive myself insane thinking about it.I had barely taken a step toward my room when I heard a muffle
Against all odds Chapter 27: Luca and Elliott
Elliott’s POVEven after everything, after the punishment, after the pain, after the bruises that still burned across my skin, I couldn’t stop thinking about Luca.I didn’t want to stop thinking about him.I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling, my body aching from the beating my father had given me the night before. My ribs throbbed with every breath, and my cheek was still swollen, but none of that mattered. Not really.What mattered was the way Luca had touched me. The way he had kissed me, made me feel like I wasn’t just someone trapped in a life he didn’t want.I needed to see him.But my father would lose his mind if I stepped outside without permission again.I turned my head to where Cecilia sat by my bedside, quietly dabbing ointment onto a cut near my temple. Her brows were drawn in worry, but she didn’t say anything.I shifted slightly, wincing. “Cecilia?”She looked up at me, her expression cautious. “What is it?”“I need you to cover for me.”Her hands froze. “Elliott…”
Against all odds Chapter 26: Dear Luca Romano
Luca I couldn’t stop thinking about last night, everything was just surfacing over and over again anytime I closed my eyes.The way Elliott’s lips had felt against mine. The hesitant way he’d responded at first, and then, when he finally let himself go, how desperately he’d kissed me back. Like he needed it just as much as I did.It wasn’t just some drunken mistake or a fleeting moment of weakness. I knew that.But did he?I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I sat in front of my laptop, trying to focus on editing my latest film project. The footage blurred together, my mind refusing to cooperate. Every time I tried to concentrate, my thoughts drifted back to him.To the way his breath had hitched when I touched him. To the quiet gasps he made when I kissed down his neck. To the way his fingers had curled against my shirt like he didn’t want to let go.I shut my laptop with a frustrated groan and leaned back in my chair, rubbing my hands over my face.This was bad.I wasn’t su
Against all odds Chapter 25: Utterly lost
Elliott The Next MorningI woke up to the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the blinds, casting streaks of warmth across Luca’s small apartment. My body felt heavy, my limbs tangled with his as we lay in bed, still wrapped in the lingering warmth of the night before. For a moment, I didn’t want to move, I just wanted to stay in this cocoon of safety, away from the expectations waiting for me at home, but I know I don't have that's luxury.Luca stirred beside me, his arm tightening around my waist as he murmured something incoherent against my shoulder. I smiled faintly, running a hand through his messy hair.“You’re awake,” he muttered sleepily, his voice husky from sleep.“Yeah.” I sighed, glancing at the clock on the bedside table. It was past nine, my father was going to be furious.Luca must have caught the change in my expression because he propped himself up on one elbow, studying me. “You don’t want to go back, do you?”I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down my face. “
Against all odds Chapter 24: Luca in L.A
Elliott I just can't explain it, he said, turning his face away. Luca in L.A.? The thought slams into me like a punch to the gut.Though I should be happy for him, this is what he’s always wanted. He’s been obsessed with films but it just hurts that he didn't tell me before he applied.And that's not just it, all I am thinking about right now is how far L.A. is from here.“You haven’t heard back from them yet?” I ask, my voice tight.“No,” he says, watching me carefully. “Not yet.”I nod slowly, but my thoughts are spiraling. If they accept him, he’s gone. And what happens then? What happens to us?“I didn’t tell you to freak you out,” Luca says, stretching his hands to reach mine, but I take a step back again. He sighs. “Elliot, come on.”“I just…” I swallow, shaking my head. “It’s a lot, okay? My parents dropped this marriage thing on me, and now you’re telling me you might move across the country?”Luca watches me, and for a second, I see something flicker in his eyes. Hurt? Frus
Against all odds Chapter 23: Confessions and Consequences
Elliott Luca opens the door before I even knock. His apartment smells like coffee and cedarwood, warm and familiar. He’s wearing a loose hoodie, his dark curls slightly tousled, like he just woke up from a nap. Normally, I’d take a second to admire him, but tonight, my mind is a mess.He takes one look at me and frowns. “Elliot?”I don’t answer right away. I step inside, running a hand through my hair as I pace the length of his living room. My heart is hammering, and I can’t tell if it’s from frustration or fear. Probably both.Luca watches me with quiet concern before shutting the door. “Okay. What happened?”I let out a sharp breath, finally turning to him. “They’re forcing me into an engagement.”He went numb for a second.Then he blinked, he blinked again and again, then raised his eyebrows as if waiting for me to say it’s a joke. When I don’t, his expression hardens.“What?” His voice is dangerously low.I swallow. “My parents. They’re making me marry some girl… Cecilia Lauren
Against all odds Chapter 22: Unwanted Arrangements
Elliott I should have seen this coming.After last night’s disaster of a dinner, I expected some sort of retaliation from my father. A punishment disguised as a lesson. But I thought I’d have at least a few days before he tried again.I was wrong.Because the moment I step into the penthouse today, there’s a stranger sitting on the couch.And from the smug look on my father’s face, I already know why she’s here.“There you are, Elliot,” my mother says, standing with a practiced smile. “Come, sit. We have someone we’d like you to meet.”I don’t move. My eyes flick to the girl instead.She’s beautiful, glossy dark hair, sharp cheekbones, the kind of expensive confidence that only comes from growing up with wealth. But the moment our eyes meet, I see disdain.Good. At least we’re on the same page.My father gestures toward her. “Elliot, this is Cecilia Laurent. The Laurents are old family friends, and her father is a respected figure in the industry. We believe this match will be benefi
