I narrowed my eyes at Eric, wanting to ask what he meant, but I didn’t. I restrained myself. Every nerve in my body was screaming for an explanation, demanding answers, but I kept my mouth shut. I glanced at Tina. It seemed she hadn’t been ready for the answer she got either, but she wasn’t about to let it go."Huh, what do you mean by that?" Tina asked, her tone light but I could tell she was very interested. "I’m sorry if I’m prying. I just love a story that has a happy ending, don’t you?"Eric smiled like he had been waiting for someone to ask him this forever. "You’re absolutely right, Tina" he began, leaning forward. "I met Mina because her father and my father were close friends. We spent a lot of vacations together, and weekends at each other’s houses. We practically grew up around each other. And since Mina was closer in age to me than Rita, I never really saw Rita in that way. She was just a kid then."He paused, before continuing."When Mina and I started dating. We hit it
After Eric’s statement, the entire table seems to be still, as if someone pressed pause. Trey is frozen. Tina sits as if she’s turned to stone. I glance over at Emerson. His face remains neutral, but he’s grinding his teeth in the way he does when he’s holding back. So, Eric must have said something wrong.If I’m not overthinking it—and I might be—I’m almost certain Tina’s husband is dead. Trey’s father. This would make Eric’s comment about fathers taking wives not just tasteless but also cruel.Rita shifts uncomfortably next to Eric, clearly aware of the misstep. Her eyes flick toward the others, her expression pleading for him to stop. “I am not your wife.“ I snapped.Thank God for the waitress, who arrives just then with Eric and Rita’s drinks and hands us menus.No one speaks. No one even looks at each other. It’s as if we’ve all retreated into our own minds, each of us wrestling with our own thoughts. And for once, ever since Eric arrived, he’s silent. Maybe he knows what he’s d
"Stay out of this," Eric tells me, glaring as if his eyes alone could shove me back.I raise an eyebrow, the silent challenge clear in my expression. What? What are you gonna do?I feel Emerson’s hand on my arm. I can’t tell if he’s trying to calm me down or if he simply wants me to stop talking for the sake of keeping peace. Either way, it doesn’t work. Not when it comes to Eric."Okay, just… what is she having?" Tina asks. "Maybe she’s not allowed to eat the food." She says trying to keep the peace."That’s not what he said," I shoot back."Mina, you’re not the one who’s pregnant," Eric snaps. "You’re not my wife. Stay out of this, It doesn't concern you."I press my lips together, holding back the words burning on my tongue. My eyes stay locked on his.Tina shifts her attention to Rita. “What seems to be the problem?”I think Tina knows. It’s no secret that Eric and I share a certain… tension. Maybe she’s hoping to diffuse it by getting straight to the point.Rita looks at me, th
I am frozen in place.It feels like I’m the scapegoat, like this whole exchange isn’t really about me but somehow it is, and Trey—whatever he’s actually curious about—probably isn’t interested in any of the words coming out of my mouth. Maybe this is a game between him and his mother, or maybe it’s truly about me. I can’t tell.My heart races and I can feel Trey’s eyes still on me as if waiting for an answer.But no, his gaze shifts. He’s watching his mother now, something underneath his gaze there—anger? Maybe it is. Maybe this is more about her than anything else, but that’s just a guess, I don't know.And then, abruptly, Tina stands.Her chair scrapes back against the floor. Her wine glass topples over. Red liquid pools across the white tablecloth. She snatches the glass, upright again in her hand, but it’s too late to stop the stain from spreading. She doesn’t try to clean it away.“Excuse me,” she says, her voice tight.Without waiting for acknowledgement, she walks away from the
"You know what? The two of you deserve each other." My voice drips with venom as I push back my chair and rise to my feet. "And you will soon get whatever it is the both of you are looking for. Is it love? Is it happiness? Is it a child to help them get their funds sooner? I don't know which one it is, but you're finally going to get it."My words hang in the air.I know I said I wouldn't leave the table. I told myself I’d stand my ground, but how can I stay here, in this charade, and pretend I’m not drowning? How do you sit with people who have carved a wound into your very soul and smile as if it doesn’t burn? Are you freaking kidding me?I feel the heat of their eyes on me as I walk away, but I don't care. My legs carry me, faster than my mind can process, until I’m searching for the ladies' room. I push through the door, and the silence inside greets me, I'll take it.Relief comes first, followed by the crash of reality. I stare at myself in the mirror, gripping the edges of the s
"What are you doing?" I asked Trey, my voice sharp as I looked down at his hand on mine, then back up at him.He immediately let go, But he didn’t step back. Instead, he closed the small gap between us, leaving me with no choice but to tilt my head slightly to meet his eyes."You told me you wanted to have your look, your fill. You already looked." I kept my tone steady, even though I didn't like how close we stood. "What is it now? I really have to get back. It’s time to say goodbyes and for everyone to head home. After all, we have a huge day ahead of us. I assume you’ll be coming to work tomorrow?""Yes," he said, his voice softer now. "But before we do, I was wondering if you could answer my question."I frowned. "Another one? What question is that?"He paused, his words slow and deliberate. "I know I got myself mixed up back there at the table, but I’m really curious. I want to know.""You want to know what?""When did you realize you were in love with your FATHER-IN-LAW?."I sti
Suddenly, he was holding me in his arms. His grip was strong and unexpected—and then his mouth was on mine. He was kissing me.For a few moments, I froze.I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. My body went rigid as shock poured through me. I was caught off guard, completely blindsided. My mind raced to catch up with what was happening.By the time I realized, truly realized, I shoved him away with everything I had. My palms pressed hard against his chest, and I slapped him with a force that carried all my rage, and the confusing emotions that followed in the wake of his kiss.The sound of my palm cracking against his face echoed in the hallway.He stumbled back a step, but not far. He was strong—too strong—and though I had pushed with all my strength, he remained right there filling the space between us. His eyes were locked on mine, dark and intense, his breathing uneven.I glared at him, my chest heaving. My heart hammered against my ribs as I seethed, “Are you crazy? How dare—”Befor
Emerson As we sat at the table, I found myself waiting for Eric more than I wanted to admit. I knew my son well—too well, and I could see everything going on behind his cool expression. With all that had happened with Mina, he believed I didn’t love him. He was wrong. He was my son, my only living relative, and the only true blood connection I had left. Of course, I loved him. But love doesn’t come without complications. And sometimes when he wanted to, Eric was a pain in the ass. To put it plainly, he could be an asshole. His tendency to push limits, challenge authority, and test boundaries was frustrating. He wasn’t just angry about me and Mina—he was livid. I understood his reasons, even if I didn’t agree with them. The truth was, I wasn’t going to let this woman go. Mina was mine, he had her and lost her. I intended to marry her. Eric would have to live with the fact that Mina was going to be my wife whether he wanted to or not. But tonight wasn’t just about our perso
After the nurse disappeared, the silence in the waiting room thickened. Every pair of eyes turned to me again.Tina’s gaze was sharp and accusing, her lips pressed into a tight, angry line. Eric didn’t bother hiding his disgust. He looked over me with disdain. Rita threw glances at me now and then and I couldn't tell what she was thinking, but I knew which side she was.I sat there, wondering.Why does Trey want to see me?The question circled in my mind over and over like a broken record. It made no sense. Why would he want me, of all people, by his bedside? This wasn’t just strange—it was absurd. Whether he realized it or not, he was putting me in a position I didn’t want to be in, a position I didn’t ask for.The minutes dragged on in agonizing silence.Finally, Tina broke it with a snarl. “Oh no. No one is stopping me. I’m going to see my son.”Without waiting for anyone’s response, she marched off furiously as she barreled down the hallway in search of Trey’s ward.Emerson exhal
I couldn’t believe it. Trayson was awake. Talking. Alive. Relief and dread worked together inside me. I was glad he was conscious—no one here wanted a murder charge hanging over their head. But he was awake.Do you understand what I mean?He was going to talk. And what would he say?Would he say that Emerson attacked him? Would he twist the truth in his favour? Every eye in this room had already judged me. Even the officer, who was supposed to remain neutral, seemed to believe I was guilty.The worst part? Tina.This was the same woman who had spent the entire dinner praising me, gushing about how much she liked me. Her son had said so himself too. Now, here she was, transformed into a raging lioness, accusing me of being a monster who had hurt her son. And no matter what Trayson said—no matter what those security tapes from the restaurant revealed—Tina wasn’t going to believe that her precious son was an arrogant asshole.BUT, No alcohol in his system? Seriously?I remembered the fla
Everyone's eyes turned toward me, their expressions thick with anger, surprise, hatred, and disappointment. I could feel their judgment like sharp knives against my skin.Emerson's hand moved to his face, shielding his eyes as though trying to block out the truth or perhaps the sight of me standing there. He was the one person I wanted to look at, the one person whose reaction I needed to see. But he didn’t meet my gaze. I stood frozen, letting their stares cut into me, letting their judgment pour over me.Tina’s hand trembled as she raised it, pointing at me. Her voice was sharp, almost unrecognizable.“You tell me—what did you do to my son?”She pushed herself up, her entire body shaking with rage. I couldn’t move. I stood there, rooted in place, my breath caught in my throat, my mind blank. Tina was coming for me, and I didn’t know what to do.Eric grabbed her arms just in time, pulling her back as she lunged toward me. “Tina, stop!”The police officer stepped between us. His cal
“He is not dead, Tina!” Emerson snapped, his voice filled with frustration. “Stop acting as if he’s dead. He is alive and doing well. He is going to wake up, he’s going to regain consciousness, and he’s going to say what happened. Why are you causing all this ruckus? Why don’t you wait until he wakes up and speaks about what happened?”Tina’s expression hardened, her face replaced with suspicion and anger. “Because I’m afraid that one of you will get to him before I do,” she retorted. “Maybe you’ll get rid of him before I can find out the truth. And I’m going to protect my son.”Emerson’s face twisted in disbelief. “ Are you serious right now? I can't believe this, now you think we want to do what?“ Emerson released a sad laugh before he continued. “It’s okay if you don’t want me or Mina to go close to him. You’re his mother. You’re the first person he’s going to see. He’s going to tell you everything.““ And when he does tell me something, I don’t want any of you to flee. You’re g
I sat there on the chair, just sitting, staring at the walls, watching nurses and doctors pass by, their steps brisk, their faces a blur of calm and urgency. They came in and out, speaking softly, holding clipboards in hushed tones. My mind was blank. My body felt distant, as though I was a spectator of my own life.Then, out of nowhere, I heard the hurried click of heels—a determined, sharp sound cutting through the quiet of the hospital. Voices followed voices trying hard to be composed but strained.Tina and Emerson appeared first. They weren’t walking together; they were locked in a tug-of-war of anger. Emerson’s face was tight, his jaw clenched. Tina, her eyes wild, was a storm barely held in place.And behind them, a police officer.The sight of the uniform turned my stomach to ice. Panic surged through me so violently that I thought I might be sick. It’s done. We’re done. Everybody knows. I didn’t know how far this would go, but my mind raced to the worst. Was I an accomplice?
They were all staring at me, waiting. The room felt smaller, and my heart raced. I was nervous. Too nervous. So I blurted the first word that came to my head."Nothing."Tina’s eyes darkened, her voice rising. "What do you mean nothing? Treyson is lying in there. He is hurt. His life is on the line, and you’re telling me that nothing?""I mean… nothing really happened," I stammered, my voice weak. "I don’t know what you expect me to say. I just… I don’t know what happened."Her anger rose as she stepped closer. "What do you mean you don’t know what happened, Mina?""Okay, let’s just calm down," Emerson interjected, his tone soothing as he placed himself between us. "I get that our emotions are running high, and we all want answers, but let’s take a breath."Tina was having none of it. Her glare burned right through me. "No. I want to know what happened to my son. You and Mina were the ones with Trey when it happened, and I want to know exactly what went down. Are you going to tell me?
I know some people are going to call me a hypocrite, but Eric always treated Tina with respect—almost like she was his mother. He had just called her his godmother at dinner for Christ's sake.This was so inappropriate.I didn’t know if he was taking advantage of the situation, taking advantage of her, or if he didn’t even realize what he was doing. I didn’t know.But seeing the look on Rita’s face?Now that was good.That was priceless.The way she got mad. How her face turned red with fury. My heart released some heartache.As we reached them, Rita shifted her body, positioning herself firmly beside Eric. Emerson and I stood directly in front of Eric and Rita.Emerson didn’t waste time.“How is he? What did the doctor say? Is he going to be alright”Tina, trying her best not to cry, answered, “They haven’t told us anything. Ever since we got here, nobody has told us anything. I don’t know how my son is doing. I’m so worried. I just hope he gets out of all of this alive.”Eric reach
The car grew silent again, but of course, Rita couldn't just let the moment be. She decided to shift her attention from me to Emerson.“Mr. Blackwind—oh, I’m sorry,” she started awkwardly.Emerson didn’t miss a beat. “It’s fine, Rita. We’re family. You can call me Emerson.”I couldn’t help myself. “Or, Dad. You can call him father.” I gave a low laugh, the kind that dripped with sarcasm. If she was going to call him Dad, how exactly was she supposed to refer to me?Classic!The thought amused me more than it should have. I started laughing again. Rita shot me a glare, but then she straightened her posture, composed herself, and chose to ignore me. Smart choice.“What do you think happened to Trey?” she asked, her voice suddenly filled with curiosity and concern. “I mean, he was fine one minute, and then he just fell, and there was blood everywhere. Do you think it could be… a disease? Maybe he fainted from something else? Maybe he had a heart Attack Or an allergy to the food?”She li
The car was silent as we made our way to the hospital. The hum of the tyres on the road was a dull soundtrack to my chaotic thoughts. 'Oh God, please let Trey survive. Please don’t let anything bad happen. Please, just this once, let everything be okay.'The prayer looped in my head, unspoken but desperate, until a voice broke through to the present.“Mina? Mina?”I didn’t respond. I was too lost in my thoughts.“Mina!” Rita’s voice sharpened, as she shouted.I turned my head sharply toward her.“What do you want, Rita?”“Have you seen Mom? Have you talked to her lately?”I scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping before I could stop it.“Of course, you know I haven’t. You’re the one who talks to her all the time. You’re her bestie, aren’t you? You’d know if I had because she tells you everything.”Rita continued. “I think you should call Mom. At least check in on her. Whatever happened between the two of you—she’s still your mother.”Another scoff, sharper this time.“After what she said at