Cheryl My phone buzzed relentlessly under my pillow, worsening the dull throb in my head. Ever since I woke up in the school clinic with a concussion, headaches had become my unwelcome companion. So much for standing up to my bullies. If I’d run, I’d still have a perfect medical record—and no pounding headache to ruin my life.Reluctantly, I pushed myself up from the soft pillows, wincing at the effort, and fumbled for my phone. The screen lit up with a familiar name. Mr. Han.It was 10 p.m. What could he possibly want at this hour?“Mr. Han,” I groaned, pressing the phone to my ear.“Come outside,” he said simply.My brows furrowed. “Come outside where?”“Your dorm.”I snorted. “That’s where I nearly got my brain bashed in last time. Hard pass.”“Cheryl, come outside. Don’t play with me,” he said, his tone flat but commanding.I sighed, tossing the phone onto the bed before grabbing my jacket and smoothing down my hair. I stepped outside into the crisp night air, my breath puffing o
Miles I waited carefully, glancing at the clock as the minutes ticked by. I didn’t expect it to come to this—memorizing her schedule, worrying when her routine didn’t go as planned. On Thursdays, she usually skipped lunch with me, stopped by my office at 5 p.m., and I’d drive her to her therapist. While she was in her session, I hung out with my friends and returned to pick her up by 7 p.m. before we headed home.It was predictable. Comfortable. Except for one thing.I glanced at the screen showing the first-floor lobby, waiting for her arrival. The issue wasn’t her schedule; it was the way she ran straight to my office, burst through the door, and threw herself onto my lap like it was the most natural thing in the world.I’d told her to see me as a father figure. But being her chair was definitely not part of the deal.Every time she did it, I felt like I was walking a tightrope, praying she wouldn’t notice anything beneath her. Apparently, she hadn’t, because she kept doing it.I s
Miles The storm had jolted me awake, the wind howling and rain lashing into my room through the open window. How had I forgotten to close it? Groggy and disoriented, I stumbled out of bed and trudged toward the window.As I reached to shut it, something caught my eye—a figure in the lake behind the house, swimming under the storm.“What the…? Is that Cheryl?” I leaned closer, squinting against the rain.It was her. She was struggling to swim back to the shore. The storm was too strong.Adrenaline kicked in. I slammed the window shut and bolted downstairs, my heart pounding. Racing through the rain-soaked backyard, I made my way to the lake, the wind biting at my skin.“Cheryl? What the hell are you doing in the lake during a storm in the middle of the night?” I yelled, my voice barely carrying over the storm’s roar.“I’m fine,” she replied, stepping out of the water, shivering violently.“You’re not fine!” I snapped, scanning her drenched frame. She was wearing nothing but a black bi
Cheryl The freezing pool water was sharp against my skin, but I welcomed the cold. Spending time with my mother-in-law had been pleasant enough, though she refused to join me in the pool, claiming to be allergic to cold. Unlike her, I found solace in it.The only other person in the pool was Jenny. Suspicious Jenny. I called her that because everyone was acting strange around her—especially Mr. Han.I glanced toward the backyard just as Mr. Han and his sister strolled out, laughing at some private joke.“So, you’re Miles’ wife?” Jenny asked suddenly, her tone curious rather than hostile.“Yeah,” I replied, nodding, though my attention remained on Mr. Han. Our eyes met briefly, but he quickly looked away, his expression unreadable.The rejection stung.I mean, I had indirectly called him a groomer. If I were him, I'd hate me too.I dragged myself out of the pool, no longer interested in staying. Guilt gnawed at me as I remembered the words I had thrown at him in a moment of fear and f
Miles I sat at the dining table, pushing the food around my plate, pretending like I wasn't just jerking off to the image of Cheryl in that wet bikini. My chest tightened as the memory intruded again, followed by the moment I ripped our marriage certificate. “Ahem,” Minnie cleared her throat, her tone dripping with mischief. I glanced up and caught the smirk playing on her lips. “Why did you both take so long? Were you…” “Shut up,” I snapped, cutting her off before she could finish the thought. “Sorry,” she muttered, rolling her eyes, but the smug grin didn’t entirely fade. My gaze shifted to Cheryl. Her bloodshot eyes and downcast face made guilt churn in my stomach. I didn’t understand her. Hell, I didn’t understand women, period. One moment she was calling me a groomer, and the next, she was crying because I suggested boundaries. Unable to bear the oppressive silence and the odd glances my mom and Minnie kept throwing my way, I pushed back my chair. “Good night,” I mutter
Cheryl“Are you crying?” Chris’s concerned voice cut through the quiet.“No,” I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper.“Then why are you out here? It’s freezing,” he said, draping his jacket over my shoulders.“I like being cold,” I replied, though I secretly appreciated the gesture.“Is it Mr. Han?” Chris asked softly.I sighed, frustration bubbling to the surface. “He hates me.”“What happened? I noticed you two haven’t been... close lately,” he pressed, his brows knitting together.I hesitated, guilt twisting in my chest. “You know what happened to me, right?” I asked, needing to start at the beginning so he wouldn’t judge me too harshly.Chris nodded, shivering slightly. “Yeah.”I took a deep breath. “Mr. Han and I promised not to touch each other, ever. But when I’m close to him... I see the way he reacts. It scared me. I—I do feel safe with him, but I freaked out and said something terrible. Something I didn’t mean.”“Ah,” Chris exhaled, a look of realization crossing his fac
Miles The way she said my name—Miles—itched at my brain. It was the first time she’d ever called me by my first name. Did it mean she wanted us to be more casual now? No.As much as I loved hearing her say it, we couldn’t go back. If we wanted to survive this mess, we had to keep our distance.My phone buzzed on my desk, snapping me out of my thoughts. Gavin’s name flashed on the screen.“You’re going to kill the girl, Miles,” his voice boomed as soon as I picked up.“What? Who?” I asked, frowning in confusion.“Cheryl,” he snapped. “She called me, wailing about how you’re avoiding her.”“What the fuck? Stay the hell out of my marriage,” I hissed.“Now she’s your wife? I thought you ripped up the marriage certificate,” he shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm.“My mistake for telling you that,” I muttered.“Look, just bring her to the island. She’s miserable, Miles. If you won’t, I will,” Gavin warned before hanging up.His words hit a nerve. I slammed my phone down, packed my t
Cheryl I had been staring at my phone for hours, waiting anxiously for Gavin’s text. He had promised to convince Mr. Han to let me come to the island, even though I hadn’t fully recovered yet. And he’d said Anna could come too. Finally, the notification pinged, and I opened his message. Gavin: Yay! We’re on our way. A smile spread across my face, but it disappeared just as quickly when a tennis ball smacked me in the nose. “Anna!” I whined, clutching my face. She doubled over in laughter. “Why the hell are you grinning like that? You look like a cat that just caught a bird.” “Silly,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Mr. Han said I can go to the island—and you’re coming too!” Anna squealed, her excitement infectious. “Really? Oh my God! This is going to be amazing!” She started jumping around, her loose ponytail bouncing as she danced. Anna was the type of nerd you couldn’t put in a box. She wore trendy glasses and shirts that never quite reached her knees, loved to eat and party,
Cheryl I had been staring at my phone for hours, waiting anxiously for Gavin’s text. He had promised to convince Mr. Han to let me come to the island, even though I hadn’t fully recovered yet. And he’d said Anna could come too. Finally, the notification pinged, and I opened his message. Gavin: Yay! We’re on our way. A smile spread across my face, but it disappeared just as quickly when a tennis ball smacked me in the nose. “Anna!” I whined, clutching my face. She doubled over in laughter. “Why the hell are you grinning like that? You look like a cat that just caught a bird.” “Silly,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Mr. Han said I can go to the island—and you’re coming too!” Anna squealed, her excitement infectious. “Really? Oh my God! This is going to be amazing!” She started jumping around, her loose ponytail bouncing as she danced. Anna was the type of nerd you couldn’t put in a box. She wore trendy glasses and shirts that never quite reached her knees, loved to eat and party,
Miles The way she said my name—Miles—itched at my brain. It was the first time she’d ever called me by my first name. Did it mean she wanted us to be more casual now? No.As much as I loved hearing her say it, we couldn’t go back. If we wanted to survive this mess, we had to keep our distance.My phone buzzed on my desk, snapping me out of my thoughts. Gavin’s name flashed on the screen.“You’re going to kill the girl, Miles,” his voice boomed as soon as I picked up.“What? Who?” I asked, frowning in confusion.“Cheryl,” he snapped. “She called me, wailing about how you’re avoiding her.”“What the fuck? Stay the hell out of my marriage,” I hissed.“Now she’s your wife? I thought you ripped up the marriage certificate,” he shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm.“My mistake for telling you that,” I muttered.“Look, just bring her to the island. She’s miserable, Miles. If you won’t, I will,” Gavin warned before hanging up.His words hit a nerve. I slammed my phone down, packed my t
Cheryl“Are you crying?” Chris’s concerned voice cut through the quiet.“No,” I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper.“Then why are you out here? It’s freezing,” he said, draping his jacket over my shoulders.“I like being cold,” I replied, though I secretly appreciated the gesture.“Is it Mr. Han?” Chris asked softly.I sighed, frustration bubbling to the surface. “He hates me.”“What happened? I noticed you two haven’t been... close lately,” he pressed, his brows knitting together.I hesitated, guilt twisting in my chest. “You know what happened to me, right?” I asked, needing to start at the beginning so he wouldn’t judge me too harshly.Chris nodded, shivering slightly. “Yeah.”I took a deep breath. “Mr. Han and I promised not to touch each other, ever. But when I’m close to him... I see the way he reacts. It scared me. I—I do feel safe with him, but I freaked out and said something terrible. Something I didn’t mean.”“Ah,” Chris exhaled, a look of realization crossing his fac
Miles I sat at the dining table, pushing the food around my plate, pretending like I wasn't just jerking off to the image of Cheryl in that wet bikini. My chest tightened as the memory intruded again, followed by the moment I ripped our marriage certificate. “Ahem,” Minnie cleared her throat, her tone dripping with mischief. I glanced up and caught the smirk playing on her lips. “Why did you both take so long? Were you…” “Shut up,” I snapped, cutting her off before she could finish the thought. “Sorry,” she muttered, rolling her eyes, but the smug grin didn’t entirely fade. My gaze shifted to Cheryl. Her bloodshot eyes and downcast face made guilt churn in my stomach. I didn’t understand her. Hell, I didn’t understand women, period. One moment she was calling me a groomer, and the next, she was crying because I suggested boundaries. Unable to bear the oppressive silence and the odd glances my mom and Minnie kept throwing my way, I pushed back my chair. “Good night,” I mutter
Cheryl The freezing pool water was sharp against my skin, but I welcomed the cold. Spending time with my mother-in-law had been pleasant enough, though she refused to join me in the pool, claiming to be allergic to cold. Unlike her, I found solace in it.The only other person in the pool was Jenny. Suspicious Jenny. I called her that because everyone was acting strange around her—especially Mr. Han.I glanced toward the backyard just as Mr. Han and his sister strolled out, laughing at some private joke.“So, you’re Miles’ wife?” Jenny asked suddenly, her tone curious rather than hostile.“Yeah,” I replied, nodding, though my attention remained on Mr. Han. Our eyes met briefly, but he quickly looked away, his expression unreadable.The rejection stung.I mean, I had indirectly called him a groomer. If I were him, I'd hate me too.I dragged myself out of the pool, no longer interested in staying. Guilt gnawed at me as I remembered the words I had thrown at him in a moment of fear and f
Miles The storm had jolted me awake, the wind howling and rain lashing into my room through the open window. How had I forgotten to close it? Groggy and disoriented, I stumbled out of bed and trudged toward the window.As I reached to shut it, something caught my eye—a figure in the lake behind the house, swimming under the storm.“What the…? Is that Cheryl?” I leaned closer, squinting against the rain.It was her. She was struggling to swim back to the shore. The storm was too strong.Adrenaline kicked in. I slammed the window shut and bolted downstairs, my heart pounding. Racing through the rain-soaked backyard, I made my way to the lake, the wind biting at my skin.“Cheryl? What the hell are you doing in the lake during a storm in the middle of the night?” I yelled, my voice barely carrying over the storm’s roar.“I’m fine,” she replied, stepping out of the water, shivering violently.“You’re not fine!” I snapped, scanning her drenched frame. She was wearing nothing but a black bi
Miles I waited carefully, glancing at the clock as the minutes ticked by. I didn’t expect it to come to this—memorizing her schedule, worrying when her routine didn’t go as planned. On Thursdays, she usually skipped lunch with me, stopped by my office at 5 p.m., and I’d drive her to her therapist. While she was in her session, I hung out with my friends and returned to pick her up by 7 p.m. before we headed home.It was predictable. Comfortable. Except for one thing.I glanced at the screen showing the first-floor lobby, waiting for her arrival. The issue wasn’t her schedule; it was the way she ran straight to my office, burst through the door, and threw herself onto my lap like it was the most natural thing in the world.I’d told her to see me as a father figure. But being her chair was definitely not part of the deal.Every time she did it, I felt like I was walking a tightrope, praying she wouldn’t notice anything beneath her. Apparently, she hadn’t, because she kept doing it.I s
Cheryl My phone buzzed relentlessly under my pillow, worsening the dull throb in my head. Ever since I woke up in the school clinic with a concussion, headaches had become my unwelcome companion. So much for standing up to my bullies. If I’d run, I’d still have a perfect medical record—and no pounding headache to ruin my life.Reluctantly, I pushed myself up from the soft pillows, wincing at the effort, and fumbled for my phone. The screen lit up with a familiar name. Mr. Han.It was 10 p.m. What could he possibly want at this hour?“Mr. Han,” I groaned, pressing the phone to my ear.“Come outside,” he said simply.My brows furrowed. “Come outside where?”“Your dorm.”I snorted. “That’s where I nearly got my brain bashed in last time. Hard pass.”“Cheryl, come outside. Don’t play with me,” he said, his tone flat but commanding.I sighed, tossing the phone onto the bed before grabbing my jacket and smoothing down my hair. I stepped outside into the crisp night air, my breath puffing o
Cheryl I stepped out of my car, the crisp night air biting at my sweat-soaked skin after an intense workout. My favorite playlist had been blasting through the car speakers, but now the silence felt stark as I turned them off and locked the car.The walk from the parking lot to the dorms felt unnecessarily long tonight. Why were the dorms so massive, and why was the parking lot always what felt like miles away?Oddly enough, the dorms were unusually quiet for 10 p.m. Normally, there’d be music, laughter, or the faint hum of conversations. Maybe everyone was at a party. As I approached the entrance to my building, a rustling noise behind the nearby bushes stopped me in my tracks.I glanced back, squinting into the shadows. Probably just the wind, I told myself. I turned toward the doorway, but then—“Cheryl Mills.”I froze. That voice—sharp, familiar, and dripping with venom. Brae.I turned slowly to find her standing just beyond the bushes, flanked by her friend—my roommate’s twin si