Night had fallen, but the unease of not knowing where Lucius was still gnawed at me. He wasn't answering any calls, his phone was off, and he hadn't made any effort to reach out. Ever since I got back to my apartment with an anxious Alice, I hadn't been able to stop imagining the worst possible scen
"Speaking of that, did you get your IUD taken out? It was due to expire, right?" Jenna asked."It was a quick procedure, over in a minute. I don't know why I was so anxious about it," I admitted."Are you getting another one or switching birth control methods?""I have an appointment next month to d
My head and heart both throbbed as Lucius recounted his escapades from the rest of the afternoon. I listened closely as I focused on wrapping his injured hand as carefully as possible. We were both on the couch with my first-aid kit nearby while Jenna busied herself in the kitchen making coffee. Nev
"I don't know. When he came back, he gave me this ridiculous speech about how I should rebuild my life with a 'good man' who'd be right for me. Now... I don't know. I don't know if I'll ever be able to think clearly with him around," I confessed, struggling to keep my thoughts steady."I don't know
It was an interesting encounter, meeting Julia again after all these years. I could only recognize her by her deep voice and those intense, feline eyes—without them, I might not have known it was her.She looked entirely different now, dressed in a sleek blazer and pants, her hair tied back in a che
I looked at her, utterly baffled."Why are you telling me this?" I asked, trying to piece together Julia's intentions.She took a deep breath, her jaw tightening as she looked away, avoiding my eyes."When you're the one, Marianne... you just are.""The one...?""Why didn't you tell me you'd arrived
Lucius Brown's P.O.V.One last gamble. One last reward. That was what I hoped to walk away with today. But first, I took a final drag of my cigarette as I leaned against my car, watching people go about their lives without a hint of awareness of the corruption all around them.It had been a calm mor
Lucius Brown's P.O.V.The air between Amelia, Amanda, and I felt weighed down with every shameful quality that defined the woman who had birthed us. A horrendous mother to two wrecked children. Or maybe, I mused, it was she who deserved the blame for what we had all become.Amelia wasn't expecting A
I was easily the most boringly dressed guest here, yet the moment I arrived, I felt all eyes on me. Around me were either complete strangers or familiar faces tied to the Lewis family, and the latter group I knew watched me closely. I ignored them as best I could. Let's just say I wasn't a welcome p
"Well, that boy has been in love with you for many years, and a man's ego is fragile enough as it is. I'm not surprised he reacted badly to your rejection," my mother said.I bolted upright from the bed, startled."What are you saying?" I sounded offended. "Our romantic feelings are recent. That's w
My mother had had me when she was eighteen—a single mom who had faced countless struggles because she had a child so young. I know that for most of my life, I've had the financial backing of my father's family, but those early years of poverty, hunger, and loneliness were memories that hadn't faded.
He was staring at me a lot."What are you looking at? Haven't you had enough of staring at me since we were kids?" I teased him."I'll never get tired of looking at you," he replied.I couldn't help but smile at that. How could he be so sweet?"Well, since you've given up on that ridiculous wedding,
I unhooked my bra, wanting to be more comfortable, and I began playing with my nipples. He noticed and kissed his way back up to them, sucking on each one in turn. It was even better as he didn't stop using his fingers, thrusting them in and out of me. However, he hadn't looked me in the eye since I
I hadn't woken up this morning planning to test Lawrence's patience, let alone end up kissing him like this. But the way he held me tightly against his body, the way our tongues danced wildly together, had me teetering on the edge.I had no idea he was such a good kisser nor that he was so skilled a
"Hello, Emma. It's nice to hear from you too..." I answered, feeling utterly drained."I want an explanation now, Lawrence," she snapped.Honestly, my brain wasn't functioning well enough for riddles at this moment."Who is 'she'? How are we making fun of you?" I asked, confused.I heard a frustrate
The best treatment and care at home—that was what my father was receiving. But no matter how much money was spent or how excellent the medical attention was, it wouldn't save him. In the end, money could only buy the material things. It couldn't replace a body destined for death.I was so disturbed
Lawrence Lewis's P.O.VWhen I got engaged to Emma and put the distance between me and Sara that I should have enforced all along, I never expected this. Out of all the scenarios I had predicted, what had actually happened was never one of them. I tried to chalk up what happened in that dark closet t