(Allison's POV) I smiled in my sleep as I rolled over in bed. I lifted the huge duvet, covering my whole body with it, while I continued tossing and turning, lost in my dreams. I found comfort in this bed; it was so different from mine, and I could lay down on it forever. "It's so different from my bed!" the thought surged through my mind, and I quickly opened my eyes. I sprang up, my eyes widening in shock as I realized I had spent the night at Scott's house. What the heck happened last night? I was supposed to go home after the rain stopped, so how did I end up spending the night here? A portrait of him hung on the wall, confirming that this was Scott's room. I ran my hand through my hair as I tried to recall what had happened. Scott had insisted we talk about Liam. I would have declined, but since I'd do anything for my son's sake, I agreed to have a drink with him. My eyes darted around the room, my hair scattered all over my face, as I tried my best to remember what happ
(Allison's POV) Bonnie immediately rushed to me when I arrived at the office. "Good morning, Allison," she greeted with a smile. "Good morning," I replied, knowing the reason for that smile on her face. "I'll help you carry your bag," she said, taking it from me. I chuckled as we entered the elevator heading to my office. The moment we stepped inside, Bonnie dropped my bag on the table. "Tell me, Allison. Where did you spend the night yesterday?" she asked, excited to hear the full story. "Nowhere," I replied as I sat down, and Bonnie frowned. "Are you trying to say you spent the night on the streets? I doubt that. I'm sure you spent the night at a man's house." "What makes you think I spent the night at a man's house?" "Because you don't have any friends apart from me. Didn't you say the friends you knew are all from Sydney?" she asked, and I smiled. After my parents died, my brother and I moved to California to stay with Aunt Hilda. So, the friends I was close with are all i
(Allison's POV) "Order anything you want to eat, Allison," Jenna smiled at me as she handed the menu to me. At first, I didn't want to eat out with her, but after she kept insisting, I had to agree to her demand. And here we are, dining at an expensive restaurant meant for first-class people like her. It's no doubt that she is a rich heiress, with the way she carries herself and how she dresses. It got me wondering why she showed up unexpectedly at my workplace, demanding we eat out together. Faking a smile, I took the menu from her and placed my order. "Are you sure you just want cocktail? We came here to eat, so you can order any expensive food you want," she said, smiling at me, her legs crossed elegantly. "I’m okay with just cocktail," I replied, faking a smile back at her. My main concern was why she came to see me. "I'm going to have cocktail too," she said to the waiter, who nodded and left. "You're not going to eat?" I asked. "I want to be a copycat," she laughed at her
(Allison's POV) "Stefan!" Aunt Hilda exclaimed as she stood up from the couch to give Stefan a warm embrace. "How have you been, Stefan?" "I've been good, Aunt Hilda," Stefan replied with a smile. I stayed where I was, unsure of what to say to him. Alex leaned against the wall, clearly unhappy to see Stefan. "I thought you'd be back soon, but you were gone for too long. I know New York is your home, but you shouldn't have taken so long to come back," Aunt Hilda said, caressing his palm. I could see the genuine love she had for Stefan—she didn't just love him as a son, but also as someone she thought would be good for me. Even though she didn’t say it to my face, I knew she wanted Stefan for me. She hadn’t pressured me in the past because she understood what I had been through. "I'm sorry, Aunt Hilda. There were so many demands for children's books, and I had to wrap them up before coming down to California to see you all." "You are such a handsome, hardworking man," Aunt Hilda
(Writer's POV)Alex and Stefan ended up at a nearby open bar. It was the kind where passersby could easily glimpse inside. Alex had chosen this spot because it was quiet and different from the indoor bars that played loud, deafening music."Are you in love with my sister?" Alex asked coldly, his tone sharp and authoritative. From the way he spoke, one might mistake him for a spoiled little brat, but he was far from it. Alex loved Allison deeply and was determined to ensure that the heartbreak she had endured before would never repeat itself.He was only fourteen when Scott shattered Allison’s heart, and all Alex could do then was console his devastated sister. But now, as an adult, he had the strength and determination to protect her at all costs, even if it meant confronting anyone who dared to hurt her.Stefan smiled calmly and poured alcohol into Alex’s glass. "Have a drink?""I asked you a question, Stefan. It’s disrespectful to ignore me," Alex fumed, his irritation evident."It’
(Allison's POV) "Where's Alex?" I asked when Stefan came back without him. "He went back to school," Stefan replied, and I frowned. "He went back to school without telling me? When did he start doing that?" I asked, though I didn't expect an answer from Stefan. "He said he had an early class tomorrow, and that's why he went back to school. But don't worry, Allison. Alex will be fine—he's not a kid anymore," Stefan tried to calm my nerves, but I couldn't stop myself from worrying about him. Alex is my younger brother, and I care about him just as much as he cares about me. I quickly grabbed my phone to call him, just to make sure he was back at school, but Bonnie beat me to it—she has a knack for calling whenever I’m about to check on my family. "What's up, boss?" Bonnie said loudly over the phone. She always calls me "boss" when she wants to tease me. "Hey, Bonnie. What's up?" "I'm good. I just dropped your younger brother off at his school." "Alex?" I asked. "How many broth
(Writer's POV)"Hi Alex, can we eat lunch together?" a young girl, eighteen years old, with honey-colored hair and cute glasses asked Alex, who was seated with his friends inside the classroom. Her smile was innocent, making her look adorable. Her name was Skye, and she was an English student."I'm sorry, Skye, but I have another class to attend," Alex replied, and the cute smile on her face disappeared immediately."Oh, I see," she muttered sadly. One of Alex's friends nudged him. There were three of them in total, and all four shared a room in the boys' dorm."What do you mean you have classes? Our classes ended a few minutes ago. We don't have any classes until tomorrow," Jeremy said, while the rest of his friends nodded in agreement.Alex felt like punching their faces one after the other because they had just ruined his plan. He had lied about having classes because he didn't want to be alone with Skye. He wasn't slow-witted; he knew she liked him. She had followed him around sin
(Allison's POV)"Really? Alex called you but didn't say a word?" I asked Bonnie, who was sitting across from me."Yes. I tried calling him back, but he didn't pick up. I don't know why he hates it so much when I call him 'kid brother,'" Bonnie frowned."Or maybe you should stop calling my brother a kid. He's already twenty years old," I teased."He's still a kid to me, Allison. You better tell your brother to get used to it because I am his big sis.""You are just so obsessed with calling Alex your kid brother because you're an only child.""You're right. Should I adopt him so he can accept me as his big sister?" Bonnie asked, and we both laughed at her words. But it's still strange to me why Alex doesn't want Bonnie as his big sister when we all act like a family."So, have you thought of a way to tell your family the truth?" she asked, the smile on her face disappearing as I shook my head.Bonnie let out a deep sigh. "What are you waiting for, Allison?" she groaned."I'm going to te
(Writer's POV) "What's going on here, Allison?" Stefan asked, as surprise washed over him. He had come to California to give Allison a surprise visit, only to be surprised himself. He just couldn't believe what he had seen. "Stefan... I can explain," Allison stammered, feeling guilty. She had been thinking of how to tell Stefan that she had finally decided to give Scott a second chance. However, she didn't know how to go about it because she knew Stefan had been patiently waiting for her to love him back. "What do you want to explain, Allison? I already saw everything," Stefan said, his voice sounding so heartbroken. "Stefan, listen to me, I—" Before Allison could complete her sentence, Stefan stormed out of the house. "Stefan!" Allison screamed, trying to go after him, but Scott held her hand. "Allie," he whispered her name, and she turned to look at him with misty eyes. "Let's talk later, Scott. I need to explain things to Stefan," she sniffled. "I'll come with you," Scot
(Allison's POV) "What the heck are you doing here?" Bonnie asked harshly when she opened the door and saw me standing at her doorstep. "I came to see you so we can talk, Bonnie," I replied calmly. She had submitted her resignation letter, just like she said she would. I hadn't had the chance to talk to her about it because of what happened to Aunt Hilda. If not for Scott, who dropped the case against Jason so Michael would drop the case against my aunt, I don't think I would have been able to live properly—because she wasn't just my aunt, but a mother to me as well. "We have nothing to talk about, Allison. Didn't you see my resignation letter? What more do you want me to say?" Bonnie shot back harshly. I still couldn't believe she was acting this way because of a man. I understood that she was in love, but I thought she had always said, "Sisters before misters." "Bonnie, you can't be doing this. We've been friends for five years. You can't just cut off our friendship like
(Scott's POV) "How are you feeling, Clara?" I asked two weeks later. She had woken up, but the doctor said she needed to be hospitalized for a few more days. "I'm feeling better, uncle. I should be discharged already." "Discharged? Have you seen yourself in the mirror?" I asked. "Yes, I have. They're just bruises, I can manage," she smiled. "Was that why you came to California without letting me know? I send you an allowance every week, yet you never once called to say you were in California," I scolded. "Don't scold me, uncle. You didn't call me either. If you had called, maybe I would have told you about it." "Don't turn the table on me," I said, and she grinned. I reached for her head and patted her hair. "Are you really okay?" I muttered with worry. Clara took my hand away from her hair with a sigh. "I'm okay, uncle. Have you forgotten I'm strong like a rock?" she said in a funny way, and I smiled, caressing her hand. "I'm sorry I couldn't push through with the
(Writer's POV) Loud laughter filled the room as they all celebrated their victory in getting Jason out of jail. "Didn't I tell you Scott would drop the case the moment you hurt that woman or her family?" Jenna said with a smirk. "We owe it all to you, Jenna. And also to Michael and his girlfriend for pulling off their roles," Gwen said with a smile as she caressed Jason's hair, who clung to her like a child. "Jason is my friend. So when Uncle Hugo came with the offer to pull such an act, I couldn't say no. Thank you, babe, for pretending to be unconscious the whole time," Michael said, and his girlfriend kissed him. "It's nothing, babe. Anything for you," she smiled. "So Scott is still so much in love with that woman?" Hugo asked, not sounding happy about it. "Of course he is. If he wasn't crazy about her, he wouldn't have easily dropped the case against Jason," Jenna answered. Jason smirked, stood up, and sat beside Jenna, who quickly looked at him with irritation. "What the
(Allison's POV) "Are you deaf? Didn't you just hear what I said? Let her see her aunt this instant," Scott demanded in a deep voice. Even Alex was stunned by Scott's sudden transformation since he had always known him to be the calm type. "I wasn't instructed not to let them see her," the officer stuttered. "So it clearly means you're not even following the laws of the county but acting according to someone's instructions. Even murderers have a chance to receive visitors, so you better let them see their aunt, or I assure you—you will lose your job," Scott snarled. The officer was terrified by his threat, and I was sure Scott wouldn’t have threatened him if he wasn’t capable of carrying it out. Should I be thankful for the decision he made six years ago? Feeling threatened by Scott’s words, the officer allowed us to see my aunt. Scott didn’t go in with us because he felt she wouldn’t be happy to see him. Aunt Hilda rushed to us in tears when she was brought in. "Alli
(Allison's POV) "Are you sure you're not the only one dating yourself in this so-called relationship with your boyfriend?" Elena asked after Bonnie finished explaining her situation with Peter. We were seated together in a coffee shop, enjoying some time to ourselves since none of us had anything to do at our respective workplaces. "Peter is a really nice guy," Bonnie defended him, but this wasn't the first time I'd heard her do so. She was always quick to defend him, and I couldn't blame her—she just loved him too much. Moreover, I had met Peter before, and he did seem like a nice guy. "It's not always about being nice, Bonnie. Men can be nice just to cover up the fact that they're cheating on you," Elena said. "Peter isn't cheating on me. I'm the only woman he loves," Bonnie insisted. "Then why has he been so distant from you? Like you said, he doesn't answer your calls, and when you text him, he doesn’t reply or even try to call you back when he misses your calls," El
(Writer's POV) Gwen angrily walked into Hugo's study room and dropped a letter for him on the table. "What's this?" he asked. "It's a letter from the court. Scott is pushing through with the case. If Jason is taken to court, we're going to lose because all the evidence about what he did is on Clara's body. We need to do something about this, Hugo!" Gwen said loudly. "I'm trying." "No, you're not! If you're trying like you said, my son wouldn't still be in jail! He's crying every day. My son has lost so much weight! This is all your fault! If you hadn't had a one-night stand with a woman, Scott wouldn't have come into existence!" she spat. "Can you stop? It's already in the past. I don't acknowledge him as my son. Isn't that enough for you?" Hugo questioned. "No! It's not enough for me, Hugo! All I want is for you to get my son out of jail and make sure he doesn't appear in court. Speak sense into Scott, make him do what you want! You've always been good at that!" "That was six
(Writer's POV) Skye's eyes widened in shock as Alex kissed her. She hadn't seen it coming—not after how he had rejected her. She got her thoughts straight, and just when she was about to kiss him back, Alex broke the kiss. Realizing what he had just done, he ran his hands through his hair. "Why did you kiss me, Alex?" Skye asked with a smile. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to kiss you, Skye. I'm so sorry," he apologized, and the smile on her face turned into sadness. "What do you mean you didn't mean to kiss me? You kissed me out of the blue, so what the heck are you saying, Alex?" Skye asked, her voice strained. She thought the kiss meant something to Alex. She had hoped maybe he was finally starting to like her and that was why he kissed her—only for her hopes to be crushed by his apology. "I wasn't thinking when I kissed you." "I still don't understand you, Alex." "I'm sorry, Skye. I shouldn't have kissed you out of the blue. I just had a misunderstanding with the woman I love,
(Writer's POV) Alex pushed his luggage into the condo with a smile on his face. He had just moved into the condo he rented. It was a small apartment, but it was enough since he'd be the only one living in it. "It just needs a little fixing, and it will be perfect," he smiled to himself. Just when he was about to get to work, the doorbell rang. "Is Allison here already?" he muttered, then went to open the door. To his surprise, it turned out to be Bonnie. "Congratulations, Alex!" she exclaimed, spraying confetti on him. "Bonnie? What are you doing here?" he asked, surprised to see her at his doorstep. "Can you let me in first?" she grinned. Alex moved aside so she could enter. "Whoa! The apartment looks nice," Bonnie complimented, her eyes moving around. "You're already inside. Can you answer my question? Allison was supposed to be here." "I know. But she had a lot of work at the company, so she’s taking care of it. I volunteered to come help you settle in," Bonnie