Laura "What? W-what are you talking about…?" I stammered, feeling my throat dry as I felt terribly judged by Richard and Ava's scrutinizing gazes, it was as if they were reading my soul in search of the truth. "Good heavens, what's all the fuss about? Even Annie could sense that something wasn't
When Richard left and it was just me and my daughter, as night had already fallen, I received a call from the number I recognized as Jason's. What did he want now? "Laura speaking," I said as soon as I answered. "Hello. You've had a pretty busy house today, haven't you?" He said with a light and
Laura"Why are you saying these things? Just to piss me off? Stop doing that," Jason said from the other side of the phone, and I ended up laughing, enjoying seeing him so jealous. "I'm just telling the truth, my dear. You're the one hurting over nothing, I never said we were a couple or anything,"
Jason The next morning, I had woken up first and was looking at Laura's cell phone. She was sleeping peacefully next to me, wrapped in the sheets so lazily, that I felt invited to lie down next to her, but I was doing something more interesting at the moment. "I'm using my woman's cell phone to t
Jason "Richard," I heard Laura whispering in astonishment, she definitely didn't expect the guy to appear out of nowhere at her house and find me there. "Daddy Ricky!" She shouted, and Annie ran to Richard, hugging him happily and innocently. "Good to see you, Daddy!" "I'm glad to see you too, g
Laura As expected, my daughter and I flew to Chicago on one of Jason's private jets, which made the trip much smoother. Although Annie was nervous and nauseous because it was her first time flying, I put her on my lap and caressed her to make her understand that she was safe. "It won't be long, i
LauraI thought about his words while looking at him, somehow that statement was making me emotional. Rosanne held my daughter's little hand and led her inside while the two chatted happily. Jason and I were following them. "This place is still the same as it always was," I commented as I took a lo
Laura "Are you in Chicago?" Ava asked on the other end of the line, amazed at what I had just told her. "My God, Laura. How did this happen?" I sighed, running my hand through my hair. I was avoiding telling Ava about it because I was afraid of her judgment. Furthermore, it was clear as water that
Annie POV Peter Morton’s face was just inches from mine, staring at me. The electric blue of his eyes was so close I could see his irises dilating and contracting. “You okay, Lady Ann?” he asked. I sighed with a small smile, half in delight. “It’s been a while since anyone called me that.” Actual
Annie POV The masked boy—who I didn’t want to admit was Peter—took me to an upscale, comfortable hotel where I could spend the night safely, away from everything, and try to regain my composure and figure out what to do next. “You can stay here,” he said calmly, though his voice still carried a hi
Annie POV The masked boy led me through the dark campus, his hand firm in mine as we ran away from the ballroom. My legs trembled, the blue dress swishing with each step, and tears still streamed down my face, hot and relentless. The sound of the shouts, the judgments, still echoed in my head, bu
“No choice?” He cut me off, his tone incredulous. “Are you serious? You chose to help Madison make that video. You chose to plug it into the projector. And now Annie’s out there, broken, while you try to run from the responsibility. This doesn’t fix anything, Abby. It wasn’t supposed to end like thi
Abby POV I was there, tucked away in the shadows of the ballroom’s corner, my heart still racing as I watched the chaos I’d helped create unfold. The giant screen kept playing that horrible video, distorted and manipulated clips of Annie echoing through the room like a final verdict. People poin
Annie POV I was still on the dance floor, the warmth of the masked boy’s body against mine, my head resting on his chest as the slow music guided us. The sound of his heartbeat against my ear was almost hypnotic, and I let myself get lost in that feeling I couldn’t quite explain. He’d just said s
I swallowed hard, Caleb’s words coming back to haunt me. “Have you ever stopped to think that maybe we’ve gone too far?” He’d said that at the mall, and I’d hung up on him, but now they echoed in my head. Annie had hurt me, yes. The fight in the dorm, the way she called me fake, like I was trash she
Abby POV I was leaning against the wall of the ballroom, the cup of punch in my hand already warm and forgotten, as I watched Annie dance with that masked boy. The soft lights of the ball cast shadows over them, and even from so far away, you could feel something in the air—a chemistry almost tangi
Anne POV I was there, trying to at least pretend I was enjoying the party with Summer, letting the loud music and spinning lights distract me from the weight pressing on my chest. Summer danced beside me, throwing her arms up with that endless energy of hers, and I tried to keep up, forcing a smile