HEATHERI pursed my lips, not knowing how to react. Why was it that he was still so affected by that guy? If he truly didn’t care, then he would have no problem talking about HIM. Like he said, it was already in the past. Was it because he was still affected by how that guy changed the trajectory of everything? I really wanted to push it. However, seeing that his expression was serious, I let out a deep breath. “Alright,” I muttered. “I won’t talk about him anymore. I’m sorry.” His expression softened, and he raised his hand to pat my head, making me close my eyes. Evander always felt so warm. “It’s okay,” he said. “Everything is just in the past. So, can we leave it there, hmm?” I nodded once more, not wanting to argue with him. We stood there for a while, with him just stroking my hair, before he spoke again. “Why don’t we talk about my dad’s proposition?” he suggested. I froze, my stomach tightening. Of course, it was about that again. I forced myself to look unaffected, s
JULIA “So, that’s what happened,” I muttered, slumping back on Sarah’s couch. I was planning on keeping everything to myself, but the moment I saw Sarah, the story came spilling out. I leaned against the cushions, letting out a frustrated sigh. “I’m trying my best to be civil, but he just keeps pushing. Heather, on the other hand, is still perfect as ever! I don’t know anymore. Can I go back and live with your parents? ” “You know you can’t do that,” Sarah chuckled. “Now, let’s talk about Evander.” Sarah didn’t even hesitate. “That man has officially lost it. What a weirdo. He used to be so kind, so thoughtful—ugh. What happened to him?”“I don’t know,” I said, crossing my arms in front of my chest. Sarah placed her finger under her chin. “Heather happened to him,” she concluded. I raised one eyebrow in inquiry. “She must be poisoning his food or something,” Sarah said, her lips curling into a sneer. “What is she? A witch?” I asked. “She might as well be!” Sarah exclaimed.
JULIA My heart dropped.“Oh shit,” Sarah said before she could stop himself. Normally, I would turn to glare at her, but I was too shocked to even do that. “Aunt Sarah,” Andy said, shaking his head. "Don't say bad words."Sarah sheepishly smiled, also not knowing what to say. I cleared my throat. Maybe, I just heard it wrong. “Can you repeat that, bub?” Andy pursed his lips before speaking once more. “My dad,” he muttered. “Can I meet him on my 6th birthday, please?” I heard right. “Goodness,” I whispered to myself. He never asked for him. Not once in all these years. Not when he was teased for being the only kid in their neighborhood without a dad during a Father’s Day event. Not when I’d find him quietly watching other kids with their dads at the park. Andy had always been the “okay, mommy” kid. The “I’m fine” kid. The “everything is good” kid. It hurt, of course. It must be because he saw my struggles being a single mother. I knew my son. If Andy was asking for something,
JULIA "How's the project going?" Harper asked, slinging an arm around me. I sighed and shook my head. "Well, it's been put to a stop for the last couple of days since Heather has this modeling gig." "Ah, must be nice to have excused absences," Gianna said."Yeah," I muttered. Just then, someone approached us from the lunch table, causing the three of us to lift our heads. It was a young man looking confident. We exchanged looks of confusion before turning to him once more. "Can we help you?" I softly asked, not wanting to sound rude.He merely smiled, running his fingers through his hair and smoldering. I wasn't sure. It looked more like a flinch to me. "I was wondering," he said, focusing on me. My eyebrows raised in surprise when he suddenly winked. "You caught my eye from the other corner of the cafeteria," he said. "I think you're really cute. Let's exchange numbers." "Oh," I said, not being able to stop myself. Gianna and Harper exchanged glances, clearly amused. "Juli
JULIA I knew it was a bad idea to agree with what he had said. But then again, he made such an intriguing point—we didn't have to see each other after this project. Somehow, that made my heart hurt. Don't get me wrong. It wasn't because of me. Yes, truly. You can even subject me to a lie detector! It was because of Andy—my sweet, precious Andy who wanted nothing for his birthday except to meet his bastard of a father.We were alone now, with no other person to interrupt the moment. Was this a good time to ask him to come to Andy's birthday? "You're not looking at me again," he said, causing me to snap out of my thoughts. I lifted my head before turning to the canvas, seeing the painting of his face come together. I had been here for around half an hour, and I was already nearly done with his face. I glanced back and forth between the painting and Evan, not being able to hold back my smile. It looked like him—very much so. I didn't realize I was staring at it for so long. I o
JULIAMy heart sank.'Don't ruin it for me with a child.'The words echoed in my mind over and over again.Come to think of it, Evan wasn't too fond of kids even before. I could vividly remember our conversation then."Do you want kids?" I asked as I played with his hair.He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. I wasn't sure if it was out of relaxation or because of the question."Evan?" I asked since he hadn't responded for a few seconds.He opened his eyes and stared right back at me. Even if we've been together for so long, I still can't get over the fact of how handsome he was everytime we locked eyes."Now?" he asked with a teasing tone.I clicked my tongue and softly nudged his shoulder. "Not now, of course!" I exclaimed. "We're still living off of our parents' money. How can we raise a child in this economy? Gosh, just thinking about the expenses makes my head hurt.""I'm talking about the future," I softly added. "Would you want that?"I pursed my lips. I knew about Evan
EVANDER “Eleanor,” I whispered, staring at my sister. Julia’s eyes widened as she looked at her. It was still surprising, but for some reason, I felt relieved it wasn’t Heather. “Pulling out the government name when you’re startled?” Ellie asked before turning to Julia once more. “Now, care to answer my question?” Julia pursed her lips and simply nodded at Ellie before leaving the art room, leaving my sister and I alone. Ellie’s frown deepened as she watched Julia’s retreating figure. Once she was fully gone, she turned to me and raised one eyebrow. “So, what was that all about?” she asked. I sighed and massaged the bridge of my nose. “What are you doing here? I thought you hated this place.” “Don’t get me wrong,” Ellie said, grimacing as she looked around the room. “I wouldn’t come here if I had a choice. But Dad is pestering me to go to that party with Mr. Miyagi. He told me you still hadn’t closed the deal.” I let out a deep breath. That was another problem of mine. “So,
JULIA I arrived in front of my parent's house. I let out a deep breath as I stared at the familiar exterior. I had seen it plenty of times before, and what once felt like a home was now more of a house to me. I was happy that they were accepting us into their lives again, but a part of me couldn’t forget how they abandoned me during my weakest times. I shook my head and put on a small smile. My situation was already bad with Evan. I shouldn’t make it bad in front of my parents, too! Yup, you got this, Julia! I walked to the door and knocked, still with a small smile. My mom, Grace, opened the door, happiness seen in her eyes. However, as soon as she saw me, that happiness dimmed just slightly. I didn’t comment on it, of course—I didn't even react. I just greeted her with a nod. “Andy,” she called in a soft voice, one that I hadn’t heard in such a long time. “Your mommy is here.” I heard tiny footsteps padding to where we were. As soon as I saw my little boy, the exhaustion l
JULIA “Get back here! Face me so I can show you where you should be!” Cindy Astor continued to scream at my back. “Mom, that’s enough,” Evan finally said, but it was over. I tuned them all out. I walked out of the estate, shivering as my clothes clung to me like a second skin. Wet. Humiliated. The whispers followed me like ghosts, echoing in my mind long after I left the garden. They didn't even bother to be subtle. I didn’t look back as I walked out of the estate, not at Gianna, not at Harper, not at the wide-eyed onlookers who had made no attempt to hide their stares.And definitely not at Heather or Evan. I didn’t need to see their faces to know what they thought. I sighed in relief when I saw the gate ahead. It sucked that I had to fall in the swimming pool, but it sucked more because the pathway to their gate was too freaking long! The guard gave me a pitiful stare as he opened the gate, making me feel even worse than before. It seemed like he wanted to offer me his ja
JULIA Silence. The party was just at its peak a few seconds ago, but now, silence reigned in the large garden. It didn’t help that the DJ stopped playing the music, too. Even the crickets had gone quiet. Come to think of it, I should have noticed how strange everything was. The curtains on the stage. The microphone in Evan’s hand. The set-up itself. It seemed like they were gearing up for a surprise. And then, I noticed it. His other hand was occupied. In his palm was a small velvet box. My breath got caught in the back of my throat. It didn’t take a genius to know it was a ring. It must have been the reason why Heather invited me, too. Well, she really had no reason in the first place. But, she must have wanted me to see this—his proposal—knowing it would tear me to pieces. Evan must have noticed my gaze, so he placed it inside his pocket. However, it was too late. I heard something drop from behind me. I abruptly turned around and saw Heather. She was now dressed in a shorte
JULIAThe party was in full swing, but my thoughts were a million miles away.Evan looked like he really meant it when he told me to leave. However, how could I when he didn’t even give me a chance to say what was on my mind? Still, I had a bad feeling about it. I had a hunch; it was about what his father had told him, but I had no clue what that was.I shook my head, forcing myself to focus on the present. Just then, the lights became brighter, focusing on the door of the house. The music changed into an RnB song that I heard endlessly on the radio. Gianna and Harper scrambled to film the entire thing, amazed at the scale of her entrance. Then, the door opened, revealing Heather. Gasps rippled through the crowd as she stepped forward, sweeping into the garden in a gown of deep, fiery red, just as Sarah had predicted. The color suited her—bold, attention-grabbing, and a little dangerous. I stifled a laugh, remembering how Sarah had teased me earlier.“She’ll show up in red,” Sarah
JULIA Evan’s eyes widened, and before I could even react, his hand clamped around my wrist.“What are you—”He didn’t answer. He pulled me quickly to the side, his movements prompt but not rough, and before I knew it, I was standing behind a heavy curtain. The fabric scratched against my arm as Evan stepped in front of me, shielding me from view.“Stay quiet,” he whispered, his voice barely audible from how thick their curtain was. His body was close—really close. I could feel his warmth from the thick cloth. I was sure he could feel my chest, too, the way it rose and fell, along with the tension on my shoulders. My heart thudded in my chest, not just from the sudden movement but from the way his hand lingered against mine. His touch wasn’t harsh. It was almost...protective. Well, he had always been protective of me when it came to his parents. Despite their blatant rejection of my presence in their family, I never felt its heaviness because of Evan. I tilted my head up to look
JULIA Heather really must have invited the entire city.I tightened my grip on the clutch in my hand, glancing over the group of people spilling across the mansion’s sprawling garden. It was amazing that someone knew so many people. I didn’t even have these many friends on my social media! However, what was more amazing was the space. The place should have been cramped, but the Astor’s estate was designed to fit crowds that could fill a stadium. Instead of chaos, the scene looked like a magazine spread. Fairy lights were strung between towering oaks, champagne flutes glinting in the golden light, and impeccably dressed guests mingling like they owned the world.Their laughter was also a familiar tune. It was the sound of rich people laughing—the borderline fake one that you hear in casinos, golf courses, or yachts. “Woah, is this Heather’s house?” Gianna whispered beside me, her jaw practically on the floor.I shook my head, still amazed at the scene before me. “No, it’s the Asto
JULIA“What?” Sarah exclaimed, chuckling. “I’m just telling the truth!” “Whatever,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m going to get changed.” “Julia,” she said in a scolding tone. “Look at yourself right now.” She directed my body to face the mirror, and there, I saw my entire look. “What am I supposed to look at?” I muttered. “A very beautiful, breeda—” “Don’t even finish that sentence,” I warned, glaring at her. She chuckled and shook her head. “You look perfect!” she said. “I know you don’t want to capture anybody’s attention, but you’re just a natural at that. I can make you wear a rag, and you’d still get their attention.” “Where are you going with this?” I asked. “What I’m saying is,” she smiled, placing her hands on my shoulders. “You’re going to be okay. You’re not overdressed. Silver and gold are the themes, and this fits right in it! Heather would be predictable and go with something red, but hey, what do I know about it?” “Anyway,” she continued. “Don’t feel out of plac
EVANDER "Rui, grab me a coffee," I said, not looking up from my laptop. It was already the end of the week, and I was tired out of my mind. Tomorrow, I still need to come to work before going to Heather's birthday. "You should place the coffee maker in your office at this point," another voice said, making me frown. I sighed and lifted my head, already dreading the conversation. "What are you doing here, Dad?" I asked, massaging the bridge of my nose. "Why?" he asked, sitting on the large leather couch. "Can't I visit my one and only son?" "Dad, please," I said. "I'm already tired as it is. Cut to the chase." He chuckled, making me shake my head. "You really know me so well. You know that Heather's party is coming up, right?" "Yes," I said. "You arranged it to be in our mansion and invited all of your friends and colleagues." "Well, yes," he said. "Our house is big enough to host the entire city! Your mom wants to make it extravagant, too, since she's turning 25." "Hmm," I hu
JULIA This week was shaping up to be one of the worst weeks of my life. First, I got drugged by a lunatic and was saved by my ex—who made me feel like his help was worth a million dollars. Second, I found out that Heather, my ex's current girlfriend, was born a day before my son. Not only that, but she invited me to the said party, which was going to be held at the Astor's mansion. And third, Mr. Matthews, the professor who used to adore all of my works, called my latest piece 'mediocre,' 'lacking feeling,' and 'should have never been passed.' He didn't even take my artwork and told me to pass him another one by the end of next week! I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. It was the middle of the week already, and I still hadn't made my decision regarding Heather's invitation. I also haven't been able to restart the artwork as Mr. Matthews has instructed. Even Sarah was on edge as she watched me, not knowing what to say. Just then, Andy came out of his room with a wide a
JULIA "Woah!" Harper exclaimed as soon as she saw me. "What happened to you?" I pursed my lips. It hadn't been long since I arrived at school, but I already looked like it was the end of day. I clutched the canvas to my side, silently thanking the universe that it dried on my way here. I had so much in my mind that I forgot to start the project for Mr. Matthews' subject. With that said, I started it just yesterday. Was I satisfied with the result? Not necessarily. However, I still needed to pass something somehow. Old me would have scolded my current self. "I didn't sleep," I said, slumping on the chair. It didn't help that Mr. Matthews was our first-morning subject. "I can see that," Harper chuckled. Gianna joined them, nudging Harper's side. "Even if Julia didn't get any sleep, she's still prettier than the majority of people people in this class." "Well, you're right about that," Harper said. "She still looks very beautiful." Just then, the door opened, and it seemed like