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Chapter Sixteen
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2023-10-30 18:35:34Related chapters
Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Chapter Seventeen
Alethia woke up feeling tired. The night had weighed on her, and it didn't seem like it was done with her yet. Her eyes were heavy and itchy. And her head immediately strides into retrospection.She closed her eyes and shook her head to ward off the thoughts and the pain that wouldn't stop straining the back of her neck. She didn't want to think about anything now, the acceptance and the rejection she'd felt last night.Alethia drew her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around, burying her head in between her knees. The back of her eyes suddenly burned with restrained tears, but she kept them in restraint anyway. She wasn't going to let Ethan break her down any further. She would go out and act like nothing happened, if only to show him that she was strong and wouldn't allow herself to be toyed with.She nodded gently. She would go out, ignore him, and make him beg for her attention. And if he tried to bring up what almost happened between them last night, she would pretend amne
Last Updated : 2023-10-30Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Chapter Eighteen
Alethia had forced her mom out of her room. The woman wanted more information about the mystery boyfriend, his name, what he does and everything there was to know about him."It's not a big deal, mom. We just met." Alethia had said."But he does have a name, doesn't he?"Alethia had grunted. Why did she have to drop the news at that point, when it shouldn't even matter? It had been on an impulse anyway, but Emily wasn't going to take it that way, and Alethia knew how her mom could be when she decided to pester for information."Ethan, that's his name," Alethia said.Emily recoiled, her forehead squeezed so that she looked like a wandering cat. "Ethan?" Alethia bit her lower lip till she almost felt the taste of her blood. Why Ethan? It could have been any name and her mom would have bought it without stress. Why did Alethia have to make it more complicated again?"I'm confused here, Aleth. Why Ethan?" "Why not Ethan, mom? It's a name, and you wanted to know, right?" "Yes…? But, why
Last Updated : 2023-10-30Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Chapter Nineteen
"Hey...you look dashing," Olivia commented as Ethan stepped ahead of Emily to get one of the chairs for her.He was looking tall and refreshing in a pair of dark wash casual pants and a long-sleeve button-down with a blazer. His face brightened the mood the moment he walked in, and a lot of heads turned to look twice. There were side comments, and men holding their women tight as if they would be stolen awayEmily smiled to herself, obviously feeling like the most beautiful woman in the world. Or why would a man as handsome as Ethan be with her if she wasn't? She breathed deeply and made to sit as Ethan pulled the chair out for her, then held it in place as she sat. She felt super comfortable in the pink button-down dress styled with a belt, and a pair of over-the-knee boots."Mom, what are you doing here?""Is there a reason we can't be here?" Ethan said."I wasn't talking to you, Ethan. Okay?" She turned back to Emily."Honey, we--""Are you guys stalking me?"Ethan giggled. "Stalk
Last Updated : 2023-10-30Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Chapter Twenty
Alethia could barely recognize the image of what she looked like in the mirror. She was pale. Her eyes felt heavy in their sockets as if they could fall off if she kept her face down for too long, and her head weighed a ton on her neck that she could barely keep her face straight. It had been a mind-boggling week, and she hadn't been having much sleep. She'd spent most of the nights thinking of how to deal with being alone in the house with Ethan, while they seldom said a word to each other.Ethan hadn't spoken to her for days, though they were the only ones in the house now. He made breakfast on time, packed lunch in the fridge for her before going to work--left her notes telling her to make sure to microwave. The notes were always charming, but they were beginning to rile Alethia up. Why notes when he could just talk to her?And he always made her favorites for dinner. But he made sure he avoided her enough so that they didn't have to eat at the same table. And he spent his time a
Last Updated : 2023-11-28Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Chapter Twenty-one
"What is wrong with cereal?"Alethia wondered silently in her mind. Whatever was wrong with the cereal that she had made for Ethan, she was just realizing that they had the potential to kill him, and the fact that she fed them to him, the guilt, the regret, was ripping her heart apart.For all she knew, the cereal hadn't expired… Did she check beforehand?She forced herself out of her mind and crouched to the floor."What's wrong with him? Is he going to be okay?"The doctor felt Ethan's pulse and then felt his forehead while Alethia concentrated on Ethan's face. His forehead was squeezed and strained from the effort he employed in holding his eyes closed tightly. Alethia glanced over him with worries--the pain he was feeling was somewhat evident on his face. "He's allergic to cereal," the doctor said."What? He didn't say.""Right! He's got some explanation to give me when he gets better."Alethia breathed deeply. "That means he's going to be fine?"The doctor looked at her face. Th
Last Updated : 2023-11-29Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Chapter Twenty-two
Alethia and Ethan didn't hear Segun knock, but he'd let himself in anyway. And selfishly, he kept his presence unnoticed as he watched Alethia holding Ethan dearly to herself on the bed, like a baby she'd sang to sleep.Segun almost burst into laughter while watching Ethan sleeping calmly in Alethia's arms. Categorically, love could make even the strongest of men vulnerable. And though he wasn't a love-doctor, he understood that a man doesn't even have to make efforts to be strong in the face of such emotion.He'd never succeed anyway. And he was right after all. Alethia and Ethan did feel something for each other, and they weren't so good at hiding it.But as lovely as the two of them seemed at that moment, Segun couldn't help but sense the danger that seemed to loom in the room. He sighed worriedly as if he could feel the eeriness, the calm before the storm, and the disaster that seemed inevitable. He worries for his friend. But who was he to blame him or question his feelings? At
Last Updated : 2023-11-30Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Chapter Twenty-three
The night was strenuously long, but it was finally over, Alethia thought as she got out of bed. But it was quarter to 8am by the time she checked her clock. She looked inquisitively at the alarm clock on her bedside drawer and remembered that she'd been too stressed with thoughts the other night to have set it to wake her up by 6am. But somehow it extended the time she had to sleep, given that she slept late the other night.Alethia stretched her arms the length it took to make her shoulder joint adjust, while she yawned wide enough to make her feel warm tears at her tear ducts afterwards.She felt strained as if the weight of the world was sitting unabashed on her shoulders, and she had to deal with it because she asked for it anyway.She thought of Ethan and the situation with him the other day. She could already feel the piercing discomfort of the awkwardness that seemed to have found its way in between them again. And since they had both left each other the other night with bleak
Last Updated : 2023-12-03Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Chapter Twenty-four
Olivia turned back as she stepped into the room, wishing she could disappear from the moment. She had knocked, and when no one answered, she'd tried the doorknob and it allowed her in."Olivia!" Ethan said, with a strangled smile just enough to acknowledge the perfect escape that had been presented to him. He strode away from Alethia's front."Hey, you're here."Olivia giggled drily as she turned back, and she almost choked when she met the scowl on Aleth's face. Her aquamarine eyes had darkened with rage, so Olivia knew best what to do."I'll come back later," she said and made to turn back, but Ethan grabbed her by her shoulder immediately, as if his life depended on her presence."You just got here," he said, determined to keep her for as long as she might not even want to stay. Ethan was scared that if he spent another minute in the house alone with Aleth, he might not be able to stop himself from grabbing her to himself, and making what was probably going to be the biggest mistak
Last Updated : 2023-12-24
Latest chapter
Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Epilogue
It's been two months, five days, and eleven hours since Alethia moved in with Ethan. Two months, five days, and eleven hours of carrying more than just his love and the excitement that had known no rest.Alethia leaned on him and took a deep breath to relax her body which had begun to feel heavy just recently. They were sitting on the large couch in the living room, facing the expanse of glass that opened to the garden. The sun was setting ahead, the songbirds chirped with excitement in the garden--Alethia took a deep breath again. Then she reckoned that, while others had dreamt of a life like her own, she was living it. "Are you okay?" Ethan demanded."I'm fine, love," she said."Should I get you more water?" he asked, then he attempted to get up from the couch, but Alethia held him down."I'm fine, my love," she said. Then she picked up the glass cup of water on the ottoman upholstered in red in front of the couch. She drank and returned the cup. "See? I'm okay with this.""But I
Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Chapter Sixty
Ethan adjusted to sit properly. "I'm sorry, Emily. I know I should have told you earlier, but-" Emily interrupted."But you didn't, Ethan. You wouldn't have told me if you hadn't mistakenly picked up your call that day, while you, Segun, and Olivia discussed it."Ethan breathed deeply. "I'm sorry."Emily chortled. "Are you? I just can't believe you had gone for my daughter while we were together.""I've loved Alethia longer than I've stayed in this house for," he said and raised his head to look at Emily. She was looking at him strangely, confused, to say the least. "Yes, I met Alethia before you introduced us."Emily scoffed. "I see you're trying to meander your way around this, heh?" "No, I'm not. It's the truth. I surmise she'd left home that night, I helped her out, we felt a connection, and though we didn't express it then. It never left."Emily swallowed. Of course, she remembered the night when Alethia packed her bags and left the house--Emily had been so devastated, more so b
Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Chapter Fifty-nine
...but Alethia approached him. She moved closer so that the space left between them was so small that it could pass through the eye of a needle, not caring that he was holding his breath and trying so hard not to look at her. She swallowed the saliva that suddenly welled in her mouth, then she held him by his arms stiffened like a rock, and stood on her toes as she placed her lips lightly on his.He didn't respond. He didn't even as much as lower his gaze to look at her. But Alethia knew she'd be able to break him. Firstly she settled back on her feet and took a deep breath, then she stood on her toes again and pressed her lips on his, persistently. She could feel him going numb the more he tried to hold his wit in place, but his lips twitched now, and though he held back immediately, his hands had attempted for her waist. Alethia pressed her body closely to him so that his knees broke and he slumped on the bedside table. He looked sharply into her eyes now, while she held back for
Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Chapter Fifty-eight
Alethia was staring blankly at the TV. She could barely make out what the presenter was saying, and what relevance the game show was supposed to have with her state of mind. But Olivia had promised that it was necessary, at least to distract Alethia's mind for a while. She looked at Olivia who was sitting opposite. Olivia eyes were fixed on the TV, and she was grinning as if she was the one who needed the moment the most. At a point, she laughed, and then she instinctively turned to look at Alethia, only to raise a brow at Alethia's indifference."Are you okay?" she asked. Alethia shrugged. "Isn't it obvious that I just about exist?""You can live a little as well."She dragged a breath. "You know I find no interest in anything these days. But I'll be fine, okay?"Olivia glimpsed at the TV and sighed wearily. Then she got to her feet and came over to sit beside Alethia. "Should we go out?" Alethia chuckled. "I don't think my mom would love that. She brought you here to babysit me,
Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Chapter Fifty-seven
Chapter Fifty-sevenThe days didn't just roll away as they should, they dragged slower than a snail, creating longings and weariness as if to punish Ethan, and by the time it was a week, he was regretting his decision to stay away, and because he couldn't just crawl out of nowhere and appear in front of Alethia as if he hadn't made her worry for days. As if he hadn't put her through so much that he could feel would have been unbearable for her. Ethan breathed deeply on one of those beds that wouldn't stop creaking with his weight. He'd rented a room at a remote place to make it impossible for anyone to locate him. The room was small, though it contained three beds and usually gave access to three people at a time, as its purpose was only for people who needed to pass the night. Ethan had had to rent the room all to himself, and the bad condition of the room was a way to punish himself. But he'd learned to make do with the ceiling painted in white because each time he stared at it, ev
Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Chapter Fifty-six
"Alethia, stop!" Olivia appealed, halting immediately as she got to the last step of the stairs. Apart from the obvious, that the situation was escalating beyond what Alethia might be able to handle afterward, Olivia could feel it in her bones that the danger that loomed above was only hanging loosely and waiting for either Alethia or her mom to cut the tiny rope which was barely holding it in place. But Alethia was too annoyed to stop, and her legs were too ahead of her as if their purpose at that moment was to get her out of the house, away from her mom so that she wouldn't consider going back to do what the evil voice in her head whispered the moment she felt the torrent of her mom's hand on her face. Her hair had bristled when the disaster landed on her face. She would have treated her mom like any other woman, had reality not put them in the same house. And had she not called her 'mom' even in the heat of the dissension? She jerked the door to herself and thundered out of the h
Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Chapter Fifty-five
Alethia heard a sharp sound, prompting her fingers away from the keyboard of her laptop as she looked at the door immediately. What was that? She thought as she hesitated to look back at what she was doing on her computer. The sound had been light to be that of thunder, but it had been loud enough to shake something in her for worries. She got out of bed and removed her glasses, then she dropped them blindly on the bedside table. She approached the door gently, taking her time should the sound come again and it was nothing. But nothing came. All she could hear when she got closer to the door was the spiteful voice of her mom. Alethia opened the door and came out. She'd just closed the door behind her and turned around when she saw Ethan crouched, his face clouded with persistent hysteria like that of a man whose glory days had come to an end."Ethan?" she said and headed down the stairs immediately. Emily turned around and stood in her way."Aleth, go back to your room.""No, Mom,"
Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Chapter Fifty-four
"But first, is Alethia okay?" Segun chuckled. "Of course, that's what you're more concerned about.""She's my friend.""And she created this mess.""No! She didn't," Olivia said and sat right, facing Segun. "She didn't ask for this, okay? Ethan should have handled this better."Ethan scoffed. "Excuse me, I'm here.""No," Segun defended. "Ethan here is the victim. Do you know how hard it is to navigate your feelings for two women?"Olivia laughed. "Who asked him to fall in love with two women? A mother and daughter at that. This wouldn't have happened if he had just stuck to the mother alone."Segun chuckled in disbelief. He drank from his coffee and cleared his throat. "How about the fact that Aleth was in love with him and wanted him for herself as well?"Olivia looked sharply at Ethan. He looked back at Segun and scoffed. "That was supposed to be a secret."Segun shrugged. "You left me with no choice.""Of course, I didn't," she said and reclined in the chair, then sighed in resigna
Blazing Inferno: Step Dad's Mine Chapter Fifty-three
If anything, the silence that held them in that frozen moment spoke what was more apparent--'stunned'. Alethia's impulsiveness has never been more heart-wrenching than when Emily looked at Ethan's face and saw that should she decide to press further on the allegation, he didn't seem like he was going to deny it. It was true after all--he was cheating on her. She breathed deeply and bit her lower lip. Emily reckoned that she'd have preferred that Ethan had cheated on her by sleeping with just a random woman to having fallen in love with someone else. She wouldn't have decided how they move further from there by his momentarily carnal desire, which she considered only biological for him to satisfy. But how does she move on knowing that Ethan has fallen out of love with her?She looked at his face again, this time looking for a hint of remorse, but rather she met a screaming guilt that made it impossible for him to raise his lashes and look outright at her. Ethan took in a huge gasp o
