As much as I loathe calculus, I hate family dinner.Isn't it hypocritical to call it family dinner if you all don't see each other as one? If you don't treat each other as one? As I sat there, staring at the neatly arranged plates and utensils, the air around me felt so fake. Every movement felt scripted, as if everyone was pretending we were this perfect family. But the truth? We were far from it. Why do we even need to keep up this weekly charade? We all just sit here, eating in silence, pretending we're closer than we actually are.And honestly, the silence was better than the fake conversations.Uncle Sandro broke the silence, flashing his usual polite smile. "So, Farah, how's school going?"Farah, who had been quietly picking at her food, perked up a little. “I’m actually running for valedictorian in 10th grade,” she said, a hint of pride in her voice.A small smirk tugged at the corners of my lips. At least someone in this family was achieving something. But before anyone else
"Ahh... Fuck…”“Damn… Ahh, fuck me… fuck me… Elijah, baby… Please… Ahh. Fuck me… Ah!”“You're so tight and wet! Fuck it!” Ahh… Fuck!”I'm there. I can feel it. I squeezed her boobs harshly as if holding to my sanity. I gave her a long thrust that made her moan long and loud before I convulsed. I immediately stood up, grabbed the condom, tossed it in the trash, and picked up my phone from the nightstand. I couldn't help but feel irritated when I still saw no reply from her. Me: Where are you? Me: I saw you with your friend yesterday. Me: Hey? Me: I saw your bank statement and you're running out of money. I was so frustrated I could have thrown my phone against the wall!“Is that Eloise Hart that I know?” Before I could type a reply, I felt someone wrap their arms around my back.“Not your business,” I replied, irritation creeping into my tone. She rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed with my response. “Come on, I was just asking. You don’t have to be so uptight.”I ignored her
"You son of a bitch!” “Eloise, please, let me explain first!” He pleaded, there's desperation in his voice.“There’s nothing left to talk about! Fuck you!” I spat back, my hands gripping the car door, trying to steady myself. My heart was pounding, fury surging through every vein.“Eloise, come on! We’re going to crash! Damn it, fix your issues when we get home!” Eduard shouted from the back seat, his voice frantic, but I barely registered it. “Stop the car! I can’t stand looking at your fucking face! Stop the car!” I screamed, tears burning my eyes.The car swerved, and suddenly, everything was spinning—I jolted awake, gasping for air, my heart still racing as if I’d just lived through it all again. Reality came crashing down as I looked around and realized where I was.Elijah’s penthouse.Not his. Not that night.I closed my eyes, trying to calm my breathing, pushing the nightmare to the back of my mind. After a few moments, I threw the blanket off and got up. This wasn’t the firs
"I will never let this slide, Elijah!" I rubbed my temples, feeling the weight of her words settle in. Four years. Four damn years since Matthew’s death, and my mother still couldn't let it go. Every mention of Eloise sent her spiraling. Taking a deep breath, I looked around. The early morning air was cool, the sky just starting to lighten, and here I was, standing outside in a simple white v-neck and sweatpants because my mother couldn’t resist making a scene.As I walked into the penthouse, I saw Eloise sitting at the dining table, eating ramen while watching something on my laptop—probably something she took from my room again.She looked different now than before Matthew died. Back then, she was full of life; her hair was bright, and her laughter filled the room. She was a painter, known for her bold colors and deep feelings. Everyone loved her, and she had a bright future ahead.But after the accident, it was like everything changed. The bright colors in her life turned dark. S
ELOISE“Isn’t it better if I take you inside? I can vouch for you to Uncle Edmund.” My face turned sour at his question. “What am I, a teenager?” I asked irritably as I unbuckled my seatbelt. I heard him laugh. “Aren’t you?”“Do you also want your nose to get broken like what I did to those jerks?” Elijah held up his hands in mock surrender, a playful grin still on his face. “Okay, okay, I get it. No nose-breaking today.”“Good,” I replied, finally pushing the car door open and stepping out. I straightened my clothes, feeling the evening chill brush against my skin."Thanks." That was the last thing I said before I walked away from his car.I could still hear his shout behind me, but I just raised my middle finger.I stumbled back into the house, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. The events of the morning felt like a blur, but all I wanted was to crawl back into bed and forget about everything—especially the drama with my mother-in-law.I shuffled through the hallway, ignoring the s
I headed straight to my office after dropping Eloise off at her house. Despite the chaos she often stirred, there was something oddly energizing about it, and I found myself looking forward to the peace and quiet of my workspace—or so I thought. When I opened the door, I immediately heard the sound of someone crying. My brow furrowed as I stepped inside and saw Venice, her face buried in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks.Sitting beside her was Rafael, holding a coffee cup with a smug expression, clearly enjoying the scene before him.“Seriously, Rafael?” I closed the door behind me and gave him a pointed look.“What?” he shrugged, trying to hide a laugh. “It’s not every day you see Venice cry over someone. It’s... entertaining.”“Asshole,” Venice muttered, sniffing loudly as she glared at Rafael.I walked to my desk, dropping my keys on the surface before addressing them. “Alright, what happened this time?”Venice let out a loud sob and pointed dramatically at Rafael. “He d
The roar of the engine filled my ears as I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my foot pressing harder on the accelerator. The world outside blurred into streaks of light and color, but I kept my focus steady. I glanced at the side mirror, catching a glimpse of the car behind me struggling to keep up.A smirk tugged at my lips. Too slow.I swerved around a sharp turn, the tires screeching as I maintained control. The thrill of the race coursed through my veins, drowning out everything else. The crowd’s cheers were deafening, but it only fueled me. I could see them lining the makeshift track, waving their hands and shouting my name.They were all expecting me to win—no, counting on me to win. I knew most of them had bet everything on me, and I wasn’t about to disappoint.I stole another glance at my side mirror. The closest car was at least two lengths behind, its driver desperately trying to catch up. I laughed softly under my breath, the adrenaline making me feel invincible.“This is
"I thought we were in this for the ups and downs, bro. Damn you! I’m really going to kill that jerk. Damn, he punches hard!"I closed my eyes tightly as the scene from earlier replayed in my head. Eloise... Shit. Does she really kiss like that?! And she still had the nerve to make out with someone else right after getting into an accident?!Rafael finally stopped complaining when he noticed I wasn’t listening. He sat there, getting his bruises treated by a nurse, while I stayed on the sidelines, seated on the edge of a bench, staring blankly ahead. “Elijah,” Rafael called, his voice quieter this time. I didn’t respond. My thoughts were elsewhere. I couldn’t shake the image from my mind—the way she kissed that guy, like she didn’t care about anything. And then, the chaos that followed. “Elijah!” Rafael’s voice was louder now, snapping me out of it. I blinked and looked at him. “What?” I asked, my tone sharper than intended. He frowned, wincing as the nurse dabbed at his
I smirked. I needed to compose myself. There was no room for fucking drama right now, Elijah. We needed to focus. We needed to prioritize Eloise. Even with the gun pointed at me, I took a deep breath and let my smirk widen. "Go ahead, Eloise," I taunted. "Shoot me." Her grip on the gun was steady. Her expression was cold—unwavering. "You think I won’t?" she asked, voice sharp as a blade. "I know you can," I said, stepping forward. "But will you?" She didn't move. Didn't even blink. "You're standing beside the man who destroyed your life—”"But also," she continued, her voice unwavering, "the man in front of me pointing his gun is the brother of the woman who killed my brother and husband!"She was talking about Veronica.My fingers tightened around my gun, but I didn't move."And don't forget, dear, the reason why he distanced himself away from you it's because he choose Veronica than you—" “Shut the fuck up you old man!” I couldn't help it anymore. I feel like I lose
In this lifetime, I was never given the privilege to just exist.I had to fight for every damn thing—my name, my place, my worth, and even my love for Eloise.God really humbled me. I used to be so damn proud of myself, thinking that my success was solely because of my hard work. And yes, I did work hard. I bled for the life I built. But now, I realized that no amount of power, no amount of wealth, can protect the things I truly care about. Because in the end, the truth still came crashing down on me. Edmund Hart’s words that night never left my mind. You’re not a Dawson, Elijah. That one sentence ruined everything I thought I knew about myself. I remembered the way he looked at me—calm, collected, like he had been holding onto that secret for years, waiting for the right moment to shatter me. You are the product of your mother’s betrayal. The man you call your father? He knew the truth all along. He just loved your mother too damn much to let her go. I laughed bitterly, shaki
Two weeks. Fourteen fucking days, and still—nothing.No signs of Eloise. No leads. Nothing but dead ends and frustration.I ran a hand down my face, exhaustion creeping into my bones, but I couldn’t afford to rest. Not when she was still out there, not when I didn’t even know if she was—I swallowed hard, shoving the thought away.Jace and the others were doing everything they could, but it wasn’t enough. Every hour that passed without news was another hour of hell. And as if that wasn’t enough, my family was falling apart.Victoria was getting worse.She refused to take her meds, spiraling deeper into whatever darkness consumed her. She kept muttering Eloise’s name, her obsession bleeding into full-blown delusions. I had known she hated Eloise, but I didn’t think she’d actually—No.I should have known.I should have seen it coming, should have stopped it before it ever reached this point. But I was too blind, too fucking wrapped up in my own world to notice the signs. And now… now,
I felt the world tilt beneath me. My legs wobbled, and I had to grip the back of a chair just to keep myself standing. Twin brother? No. That’s impossible. I would have known. I should have known. I shook my head violently. “You’re lying.” My voice came out hoarse, almost desperate. Edmund smirked. “Am I?” He took another sip of his coffee, completely unfazed. “Tell me, Eloise. Have you ever truly *looked* at him? Have you ever noticed the differences? The little things? Because you should have.” My mind raced back to every moment I had spent with him—Noel. The way he carried himself, the slight differences in his mannerisms, the things he didn’t know that Noel should have. The blonde hair in that hospital document. The missing childhood memories. The way he changed after disappearing for years. Oh my God. I felt sick. My stomach twisted painfully as I took a shaky step back. “Where… where is the real Noel?” My voice barely came out. Edmund’s smirk grew wider. “N
I gritted my teeth before I followed Elijah with heavy footsteps. Unfortunately, I'm Eloise Hart, and I will never let you dismiss me like that! Never!Instead of heading to Elijah’s room, I turned toward Noel’s door, which was slightly ajar. The sound of retching filled the silence of the penthouse, followed by a sharp gasp for air.I froze mid-step, my frustration with Elijah momentarily forgotten.What the hell?Curiosity—and maybe a bit of concern—pushed me forward.I stepped inside and immediately spotted Noel hunched over the toilet, gripping the edges as if his life depended on it. His back was tense, his breathing uneven as he heaved again, cursing under his breath.“Noel?” I called out, my voice softer than I expected.He stiffened at the sound of my voice but didn’t turn around. Instead, he let out another heave, gripping the edges of the toilet like it was the only thing keeping him from collapsing.My annoyance with Elijah took a backseat as concern took over. “What the h
Months passed, and Edmund didn’t bother anymore. I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing.At first, I thought I’d feel relieved. No more unwanted confrontations, no more exhausting arguments. But as time went on, his silence became something else entirely—an eerie kind of absence that I wasn’t sure how to feel about.Did he finally give up? Or was he just waiting for the right moment to strike again?I hated that I even cared enough to wonder.Shaking the thoughts away, I focused on the present. My pregnancy had started to show, and with it came a mix of changes I wasn’t entirely ready for. The cravings, the exhaustion, the constant need to pee—it was all overwhelming.But the worst part? The hormones. I often see myself for the past few weeks crying over petty things—like when I dropped my spoon on the floor or when my blanket didn’t feel soft enough. Yesterday, I cried because my ice cream melted too fast. The day before that? I teared up watching a dog in a commercial. A
I stilled.I fucking stilled!Eloise's hug made my heart jump out of my chest. Never in my life did I think I could still be this close to her after everything that happened—after all the chaos and the lies. Yet here she was, holding on to me like I was her lifeline.Slowly, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer. I felt her trembling, her body so small against mine, and it shattered something inside me. She was scared—no, terrified—and I hated that I couldn't protect her sooner.Slowly, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer. She was trembling, her small frame shaking against mine. "The baby... My baby... Edmund..." she whispered, her voice breaking. I clenched my jaw, feeling the fear radiating off her. She was struggling to speak, her words barely making it out. "Shh," I said softly, brushing a hand over her back. "You’re safe now. Just breathe." She clung to me, and I held her tighter. No matter what, I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her or the
After changing into my normal clothes, I stepped out of the hospital room. I didn’t want to stay there any longer; the sterile walls and the beeping machines made me feel suffocated. As I opened the door and walked out, the first thing I saw was Noel and Elijah sitting in the hallway. They were seated so far apart, you’d think they were strangers. Both of them looked up at me at the same time, their expressions unreadable. I sighed internally. This was going to be exhausting. "I’m ready to leave," I said simply, avoiding their gazes as much as possible. I’m not really this dramatic before. I couldn’t even give a damn about everyone, but this... This pregnancy is so ugh! The baby is making me do things I’ve never done before—like hugging Elijah. Hugging! What the hell was that about?!I walked ahead of them, my pace steady, while Noel and Elijah trailed silently behind me. Their presence was heavy, but I ignored it. As we moved through the hallway, I couldn’t help but notice
When I opened my eyes, the sterile white ceiling greeted me, and the faint beeping of a heart monitor echoed in my ears. I blinked, trying to adjust to the harsh light. It didn’t take long for me to realize where I was—the hospital.I felt a soft squeeze on my hand and turned my head. Uncle Sandro was sitting beside me, his face etched with worry. "You’re awake," he said, his voice a mix of relief and concern. "What... what happened?" My voice came out hoarse, my throat dry. "You passed out," he explained gently. "The stress got to you, Eloise. Edmund brought you here immediately after you collapsed." Edmund. My heart clenched at the mention of his name. The memories flooded back—the juice, Mila, his anger, and... his words about my child. "The baby..." My hand instinctively went to my stomach. Uncle Sandro smiled reassuringly. "The baby’s fine. You just need to rest. Stress isn’t good for either of you." I exhaled deeply, the tension in my chest loosening just a little.