DelilahSimon contacted me to update me on what he had found out about the woman in the picture. He had been working diligently ever since I asked him for this favor. This wasn't work-related, and he could've taken his time, but he wanted to get it done because it intrigued him. So he says. Much like me, he also wanted to know who this woman was.He had been keeping his findings to himself this whole time, as I was not ready to deal with anything other than grieving for my father's death. So he wanted to wait until I was better and more sound-minded.I called him and told him I was ready for a distraction, so here he was."What did you find out?" I asked. My eyes twinkled with excitement. Simon placed a blue folder in front of me and urged me to take a look. I opened it and went through some documents."Whoa, this was the place the picture was developed in! How the hell did you find out?" I was impressed. "Garden Valley, CA. Never heard of it.""It's a really small town with a popula
Simon I impatiently look at my phone. It was almost time for Jonathan's birthday party. I contacted Keira Blain, the woman in the picture shortly after meeting up with Delilah and Sebastian. I had a bad feeling about the woman and my intuition had always been right. I hope Sebastian doesn't get hurt over this. There must be a reason why she didn't look for her son. "Who is this?" Keira answered. Her voice sounds throaty as if she is a heavy smoker. "Mrs. Blain? This is Simon Stanley speaking." I hear her breathing on the other line. "Stanley? Haven't heard that name in a while. And it's Ms. Blain. I am not married." She sounds irritated, I thought. "My mistake. I believe you knew my father, Samuel Stanley?" "Yes, I know, Sam. We had some good times together back in the day," she cackled. I cringed. I really didn't want to know anything about my father's escapades with this woman. "What is that bastard up to? I hope happy with the fancy new woman he chose over me," she hissed
Simon "By the way, the flowers you sent?" Jonathan said, raising his eyebrows. "Yea? What about them?" I asked. I didn't remember sending flowers to Jonathan. My secretary must've done it. I finally settled down at the bar, and after guzzling down a glass of whiskey on the rocks, my nerves were calming down. "The flowers had daisies in them, and I am deathly allergic to daisies. So I spent an entire afternoon in the emergency room after I received them," Jonathan said. "Oh really," I murmur. I wasn't paying much attention to him as my eyes were glued to his sister. "That's it? You are just going to say, 'oh really?' after attempted murder? I could've died," Jonathan chuckled. "Oh shit, I am so sorry!" I exclaimed when I finally realized what Jonathan had said to me. "Don't worry about it." Jonathan smirked. I don't have the chance to say anything else as I see Olivia striding toward us. I smelled her perfume. She smelled sweet. "There you are. You are late," Jonathan said.
Olivia I tried not to think about him, but his face kept floating in my mind. Simon. Dammit, why did I have to think about him now? I remembered the way he grabbed me at the club and took me relentlessly, and it made me blush. I had promised myself to avoid that man at any cost, but I couldn't help but fall under his spell again that night. Simon may be unhinged, but he is sexy. Even I couldn't deny that fact. After that night, he kept sending me message after message. He even sent me gifts and flowers. He was determined to win me over no matter what. I sighed and got ready to go see my friends. It had been a while since I had a girls' day out, and I needed that. I was going stir crazy sitting at home and thinking about Simon. "There you are!" my friend Sierra waved her hands at me when I stepped inside the restaurant. Next to her were Amy and Lucy, who looked at their phones and chattered amongst themselves. "It's so good to see you guys. I'm tired of dealing with bullshit at
Delilah "Ohhh..." I groaned and held my stomach. "What's the matter, sweetheart! Are you alright?" Sebastian was already by her side, staring at me with a worried expression on his face. I took a deep breath and then smiled. "I'm okay." "What was that? Do you need to go to the hospital?" Sebastian asked, cupping my cheek. "No, I am fine. I think the babies just kicked. Those brats are strong in there." I giggled. Less than a month left in her pregnancy, and I was ready to pop them out already. "Awe, sweetheart. If I knew those brats would hurt you so much, I never would've gotten you pregnant," Sebastian said. I winced. "Hey! Don't call our children brats, you imbecile. Don't forget they take after you. You must've made your mother suffer a lot, too," I said. My eyes immediately turned wide as I realized what I had just said. I shouldn't have brought up his mother. It had been a sore subject ever since Sebastian found out about his birth mother. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have sa
OliviaI finally found the courage to ask Simon on a date to Amy's party. I was hesitant about tricking Simon at first, but I decided he deserved it after giving it much thought."You want me to be your date?" Simon sounded surprised over the phone."Yes, if you are free. Is that going to be a problem?" I asked."No, I'm thrilled, but I thought you didn't like me, so why are you asking me out?" Simon asked."I'm not asking you out. I needed someone to escort me to the party, and you're as good as any guy," I said curtly.Simon chuckled. "So, you just want to use me. I'm okay with that.""Good, pick me up at eight," I said and hung up. Simon was probably suspicious of my sudden offer, but at least he didn't refuse. I knew Amy's dumb plan wouldn't work for him. Not when Simon declares his love for me every other day. But I was curious to see how he acted. Besides, it'd be fun to see him all uncomfortable when Amy is all over him. Amy can be quite aggressive when she has her eyes on some
OliviaWe found an empty room and decided to stay there. John reached out and brushed some hair away from my face, and stared into my eyes. "You are so beautiful, Olivia. You have kind of an exotic vibe about you," John said."Do I really?" I asked distractedly. The alcohol made me dizzy, so I tried harder to focus."Yes. I love your long black hair and big brown eyes. And those lips...""What about my lips?" I asked."They are so kissable," John said, looking at my lips.I looked him in the eyes. "Do you want to kiss me?"John nodded and pressed his lips on mine without even waiting for my answer. I closed her eyes and let him. Sure, why not? It's not like Simon was here to stop this anyway. He was too busy groping Amy."You are so hot," John broke the kiss and said."Thanks," I said. I winced as I smelled his breath which was laced with beer. "I think we should go back to the party.""No, no, I like it here. Just the two of us." John cooed and pushed her down on the bed.I was agita
Sebastian I stare at the woman in front of me. Her name is Keira Blaine; she is supposed to be my birth mother. She resembles the picture I found when I was little, but only slightly as she aged horribly. But she is undoubtedly the woman from the picture. "So you are Sebastian all grown up, huh?" she says curtly. I didn't expect her to be overjoyed from seeing me or anything, but she could at least have a small amount of warmth in her voice. She really didn't want me, huh? "Yes. And as I mentioned on the phone, I am not expecting some kind of family reunion. I just want to meet my half-sister," I said, matching her coolness. Keira scoffed. "She isn't anything interesting to look at but by all means. Poor thing didn't get the same treatment as you since her father isn't rich." And whose fault was that for not letting me meet with her earlier? I think to myself but don't say it out loud. There's no point in causing a problem with this woman. "Where is she?" I ask instead. "She i
Emma It's my wedding day. I feel like I'm in a daze, floating in the cloud. I can't believe this is happening to me and I'm about to marry this amazing, gorgeous man of my dreams. Things can't get any better. I look at Sam, who is running around and giggling with some of the other kids in his house. He is wearing a tiny tuxedo and looks absolutely adorable. My heart swells with love and pride. I can't believe how fast he's grown up and how lucky I am to have him in my life. As I take a deep breath, I can feel the excitement and anticipation building up inside of me. I can't wait to walk down the aisle and see my husband-to-be waiting for me. "Sam, be careful! You will trip over the decorations!" Delilah scolded him, but he only giggled louder. Delilah couldn't help but crack a smile and look at me. "Ready for your big day?" she smirks. "I don't know," I giggle nervously. She raises an eyebrow. "You don't know? You're not getting cold feet, are you?" I shake my head frantically
Jonathan I go back to the building to check on Alaric. I made sure to have Ray send someone to kill the wasps ahead of time and give Alaric medical attention if needed before my arrival. Alaric is sitting on the chair with his face and body swollen, but he appears to be breathing. "I see you survived the wasps," I comment. "Fuck you," Alaric mumbles. "I came here to give you good news and bad news," I say. He looks at me with confusion. "What?" "The good news is that Emma and I are getting married, and Sam will officially become my son," I say. "Samuel is my son," Alaric barks. "Not anymore, he isn't. You will be waiving all rights as his biological dad," I say, putting the adoption paper on his lap. Alaric glares at me as he looks at the adoption paper. He doesn't say anything for a few moments. I watch as his expression turns angrier. "I don't want to give up my rights," he says. "It's not up to you anymore," I reply. "I've already talked to my lawyer, and everything is
JonathanHere I am at the abandoned building again, three days later. I kept my promise to Alaric and didn't show up until now, leaving him in the dark. I'm sure he is covered in his own piss and starving. The thought gives me comfort. "How was life in darkness, Alaric? It's not fun, is it?" I ask after taking the tape off of his mouth. There is no window down there, so Alaric wouldn't have known the difference between day and night. "Fuck you, asshole! What the fuck is wrong with you, man?" Alaric barks. "I couldn't begin to tell you. Are you ready to confess yet?" I laugh. "Confess what? I didn't do anything!" Alaric shouts. "Ah, so we are still playing the game. Say, Alaric, are you hungry?" I ask and shake the Mcdonald's bag in my hand. "I am fucking starving, man. You left me here tied up for three days!" he says as if I don't know what I did already. I take the burger out and take a big bite. "Mmm...you know I have all the money in the world, and I can afford expensive f
Jonathan "Emma doesn't want the police involved," Sebastian says. "I see..." I say grimly, but I'm not surprised. "I don't blame her. They will ask her a lot of questions in court. It'll keep reminding her of her painful past." Sebastian nods. "There must be an alternative. I want that bastard Alaric to suffer, even if it's in an unconventional way." "Leave that to me. I'll take care of Alaric," I say with gritted teeth. Sebastian narrows his eyes. "Emma is my sister. I shouldn't put this all on you." I shake my head. "You don't understand, Sebastian. I'm taking this personally because I love Emma. She broke down in front of me and told me everything. I could see the pain in her eyes, and it broke me. I'll do anything for her, and I personally want to cause that piece of shit pain." "Alright. Just keep me updated. I have your back," Sebastian says. I nod, then head over to my meeting with someone really special who can help me with my plan. I know it's risky, but I'm willing t
Emma "Mommy! Where were you?" I smile as Sam runs toward me with his arms wide open. I pick him up in my arms, laughing. "Did you miss me?" I ask, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Sam nods his head enthusiastically, burying his face in my shoulder. "Yes, mommy! I missed you so much!" he says, his voice muffled by my shirt. I hold him tight, feeling a surge of love for my little boy. "I missed you too, baby," I say, stroking his hair. "What did you do while I was gone?" "We played cars and watched cartoons!" he exclaims, his face lighting up. "That sounds like fun," I say, smiling. "Did you eat your lunch?" "Yes, I did!" Sam replies, grinning up at me. "Good job!" I say, giving him another kiss. "I'm so proud of you." Sam giggles, squirming in my arms. "Mommy put me down! I want to go get a snack. I'm hungry!" "Okay, okay," I say, lowering him to the ground. "Go get something to eat." I say, feeling my eyes well up with tears. I hope his happiness lasts forever. Sam looks be
Jonathan I feel anger surging through me, but I keep calm for Emma's sake. I need to keep my head clear so I can think of a plan to find that bastard Alaric. And when I do, I will rip both of his arms off. "What happened to him?" I had asked her, and she shook her head. "I don't know. He broke up with my mom after I got pregnant. Maybe he got scared," Emma told me. "And your mom? Did you ever tell her any of this?" I ask. Emma looks down at her hand. "I tried once, but she got mad and beat me. She said I was just making up lies to hide the fact that I got pregnant by some loser." I take a deep breath and try to push down the rage that's boiling inside me. Emma has been through enough already, and I need to stay focused on helping her. I gently put my hand on her shoulder and give her a reassuring squeeze. "Listen, Emma. You did nothing wrong. Alaric is the one who should be ashamed of himself for what he did to you. And your mom... well, she clearly didn't handle the situati
Emma I wake up in his arms in the middle of the night, engulfed by his warmth. I feel his steady breath against my neck as I snuggle closer to him, appreciating the way his arms feel wrapped around me. It is as if I am cocooned in a bubble of safety. I trace my fingers over his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing under my touch. It is a comforting rhythm. Why am I like this? Everything was perfect last night, he did everything right. He didn't push me into anything and showered me with warmth. And yet, I had my stupid panic attack and messed everything up. I touch his lips softly, careful not to wake him up. I can't believe I let my past get the best of me. I ruined the moment even though I wanted him to make love to me. I have to make things right, I think to myself, then climb on top of him to kiss him all over his body. And now he is awake, staring at me with those blue eyes, making me feel even more guilty about rejecting him last night. "Emma. You don't ha
Jonathan Fuck...maybe I am going too fast. The last thing I want is to scare her again by acting like a horny teenager. But she is not pushing me away. Instead, she took my hand in hers, still staring into my eyes. I take a deep breath, trying to calm the racing thoughts in my head. I don't want to mess this up. I don't want to push her away or make her feel uncomfortable. The cool breeze hit us both, and I felt her shudder against my arms. "Shit, you're cold. Let's get you inside," I say. "Maybe you can give me a tour of your house." She smiles. "Sure," I say, smiling at her. "I'd be happy to show you around." I start with the living room, then the kitchen. Then we move upstairs. "The upstairs has three bedrooms and a small terrace," I tell her. Emma looks around in amazement. "It's such a beautiful house." she pauses before speaking again. "Where do you sleep?" "Usually in the master bedroom," I say, gesturing towards the door at the end of the hallway. "Can I see it?" sh
Emma I run my fingers over the delicate silk of the dress. I've never seen any dress so beautiful, let alone wearing it. "Go ahead and try it on," Delilah says and smiles encouragingly. But as I hold it in front of me in front of the mirror, I feel weird. "I don't know if this will suit me," I say. "Of course, it will. Put it on immediately," Delilah orders. I laugh at her enthusiasm and then go inside the bathroom to change. I slip into the dress, and I can feel the smooth, silky fabric slide against my skin. It's like nothing I've ever worn before, and I can't help but feel a bit nervous. Will I be able to pull it off? I take a deep breath and step out of the bathroom and into the dressing room. Delilah's eyes light up when she sees me. "Oh my goodness, you look stunning!" she exclaims. "That dress was made for you." I turn to the mirror and can hardly believe what I see. The dress fits me perfectly, hugging my curves in all the right places. The color brings out the warm