Evelyn Bottling up my emotions, desires, and the twisted dreams my heart dared to whisper despite what it went through—dreams I deemed too bizarre, too dangerous for the future I craved—I stepped out of the room and agreed to go out with Cameron. No trauma, no doubts, no pain. That was the life I envisioned for myself, so here I was, sitting beside him, my safe choice, our feet sinking into the cool lake water. The bench, which Cameron described or I would say guessed as specially designed for this—soaking feet and relaxing—did little to calm the chaos in my mind.In my memory, this bench used to sit a foot away from the water. I vaguely remember coming here as a child, back when the lake seemed smaller, more innocent. But time and rising water had expanded it, so now, the bench sat at the perfect level for someone to sit and let the water gently touch their feet. I suppose, in different circumstances, it might have been calming.But my mind was a battlefield. Instead of peace, I was
EvelynChase dropped me off with a quick goodbye hug, and I stepped into the house, instantly engulfed by its familiar darkness. As expected, all the lights were off. That was Dad and Clara's nightly ritual, plunging the house into shadow as if setting the stage for a horror movie. When I'd teased them about it, they only laughed, claiming it was perfectly normal to have a vampiric darkness in your house at night.But it never felt normal to me. Lately, though, I hadn't bothered to complain. The darkness had become my refuge, a place where I could vanish, and disappear from the weight of the world. It was easier to exist in shadows when you didn't want to be seen.I kicked off my shoes and started toward the stairs, already feeling the exhaustion seeping into my bones. But then, out of nowhere, the thought popped into my mind: wine.It had always helped. Especially on nights like this, when my mind was spinning with questions, doubts, and that gnawing anxiety that had been haunting me
EvelynI couldn’t hold back any longer as the silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. Jacob wrestled with the words hovering on the edge of his lips, but my patience had worn thin. The storm of emotions swelling in my chest was unbearable—I needed him to speak. I needed answers. At least to end this storm in my heart, the pain that threatened to break me, and hurt me more with each second passing."Because?" The word slipped out, barely louder than a whisper.Jacob turned toward me, closing the space between us with agonizing slowness. His face hovered just an inch from mine, but I couldn’t bring myself to pull away. I didn’t know why. Maybe I didn’t want to.“Because I don’t want to force my feelings on you,” he murmured, his voice gentle as his hand reached for mine, our fingers intertwining. His other hand rose to my cheek, the warmth of his touch sending shivers through me. “I’ve overstepped every boundary you’ve tried to set. I didn’t give you space to breathe. I was
EvelynI stumbled into my room, a complete wreck, eyes swollen from the tears I couldn't hold back. What I didn't expect was Clara. The room was bathed in the soft glow of the lamp—so unlike the usual darkness I hid in. She sat on the edge of my bed, waiting, her presence startling me.“Clara?” I wiped at my face, trying to clear the tears with shaky hands. But to my surprise, she didn’t react—no shock, no questions. It was as if she’d known.Of course, she did. Jacob must’ve told them he was leaving, and they all knew he wouldn’t go without saying goodbye to me.“So, he told you?” Clara’s voice was soft, her lips curving into a melancholic smile. Her gaze flickered down to the wine bottle clutched in my hand, and she let out a resigned sigh. “Drinking won’t fix this, Evelyn. Come here.”She stood and opened her arms to me, her gesture so familiar, so full of understanding.For a moment, I hesitated, afraid that if I let myself fall apart, I’d never be able to stop. But this was Clar
Evelyn Morning arrived quicker than expected, rousing me before the sun had fully risen. Clara had taken the wine bottle from my hand and lulled me to sleep, her presence soothing but only temporarily. I’d cried myself to sleep into her arms, the tears relentless. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment I drifted off, only that I’d slept earlier than usual. My body, weighed down by stress, had forced itself into rest, but it was also the reason I was awake now—my mind refusing to grant me even a second beyond my usual routine.Clara’s comfort might have dulled the ache last night, but the moment my eyes opened, the familiar sting of pain returned. It was as sharp as ever as if it had never left.I sat up, exhaling a weary sigh. Despite the hours of sleep, I didn’t feel the usual grogginess, nor the need to rub the sleep from my eyes. Surely, rest had come, but peace hadn’t followed. I didn’t expect it to. The fact that I’d slept at all with the storm raging inside me was a miracle in it
EvelynThe party felt nothing like a party. At least, not to me. I used to love parties, always in the thick of it, laughing and dancing—but tonight, I was just a shadow. A fucking sad shadow. Sitting in a corner, scrolling through my phone, pretending to be present. Pretending to listen to conversations when my mind was elsewhere. And it was no secret where it had wandered.Forget about me. I was stressed, sad, emotionally wrecked—so many things I couldn’t even find the right word for it. Everyone around me could sense it, too. Not a single person was unaware. Even Cameron, on his own birthday, didn’t seem to be having much fun. Sure, he was laughing, dancing, making jokes like he always did, but something about him seemed off. Distant. Uncharacteristic.He'd asked me a few times before the party if something was wrong, and I shrugged it off. But then he spoke to Mason for a second, and I had a hunch. That piece of garbage must have spilled the beans—told him about Jacob leaving ton
EvelynFor a few seconds, even though I understood Cameron’s words perfectly, my body and mind refused to accept them. My soul though? I wouldn’t say anything from her side because it had been long since I’d been nice to her. I was stunned—stunned by his sudden shift in demeanor, his unexpected decision, and the pained look in his eyes that seemed to cut right through me.“Cameron… what are you—”“You know exactly what I’m talking about, Evelyn,” he said, his voice steady as he took a step closer, his gaze locking with mine. “You know what you truly want. Every part of you knows. But you’re stopping yourself. I’ve watched you wrestle with this for days, and I’ve chosen to turn a blind eye, but I can’t do that anymore. You need to give yourself what you want. You can’t let fear imprison you like this. Life isn’t meant to be lived in chains. This is not how it fucking works! If you love him then go and fucking give it a chance!”“Cameron, it’s not what I want. You’re misunderstanding e
EvelynMy heart skipped a beat the moment our lips met, and suddenly, the…world stopped. It stopped totally, completely and utterly.His lips, his scent, his warmth—I was here, in this moment, with him again. This time, there was no need to restrain myself. No need to hold back, no lingering ache in my chest as I walked away, haunted by the weight of unsaid words and unfulfilled desires. I wouldn’t have to endure the days, weeks, or months spent craving his touch, consumed by the thought of him, wondering what it would be like to feel his arms around me once more.There was no stopping now.No pullback. No restraint. No obstacles. No judgment. No fear. No pain.It was just love. Love, all over again.Jacob’s body froze the second our lips touched, as if time itself had stilled for him. But as I kissed him, I could feel him slowly awakening to the moment, his hands sliding around me, pulling me flush against his chest. The heat of his body enveloped mine, and I let out a breath I hadn’
Evelyn"You know, Evelyn... you're the only woman I've ever met who complains about shopping too much," Jacob chuckled, his deep voice resonating with amusement as we strolled down the pavement hand-in-hand.I rolled my eyes, but the smile tugging at my lips betrayed me. After a marathon of "extra shopping" we'd stuffed the car's backseat with bags and parked nearby for a walk—because I insisted, of course.As we wandered through the peaceful evening, enjoying the crisp air and easy conversation, my eyes suddenly caught sight of a street-side ice cream shop. I stopped mid-step, my gaze locking onto the neon-lit counter like a moth to a flame.Jacob noticed immediately. "You want ice cream?" he asked, already grinning."Yes, please!" I chirped, tugging him toward the shop.When we reached the counter, Jacob, knowing me better than anyone, placed the order without hesitation. "One cookies and cream, please.""And," I added, "a mint chocolate chip."He raised a brow at me. "Evelyn, I don
Evelyn I had somehow managed to send Jacob to the office after an entire week of… well, do I even need to spell it out? Let’s just say we thoroughly tested every surface in the house—counters, the floor, the bed, the shower, the bathtub—nothing was spared.We’d been inseparable. And even now, sitting alone on the couch, I found myself missing his warmth. Usually, by this time of day, I’d be curled up in his arms, both of us pretending to watch cartoons on the TV. I liked them because they were silly and comforting; he liked them because he could watch me laugh.But today, the cartoons felt hollow. I sighed, flipping through channels, hoping to stumble upon something decent.And then, there it was.I paused mid-click as a familiar name from the news anchor pierced through my disinterest.“Tyler Ricci…”My hand froze, the remote slipping from my grasp as the screen showed him—Tyler Ricci, striding into a courthouse, his lawyers trailing behind like shadows.“Tyler Ricci, CEO and propri
EvelynJacob drove with reckless abandon, the car slicing through the night as the engine roared. The wind rushed in through my open window, sharp as a blade yet strangely smooth, wrapping around my hand as I held it outside. The music played softly in the background, barely audible over the wind's howl. Jacob had his hand on my thigh, soft and soothing.I glanced at him. His focus was entirely on the road, his jaw set in quiet determination. Unable to resist, I leaned closer, kissing his jawline, then his cheek, then trailing it slowly to the corner of his mouth.His eyes flicked toward me, his grip on my thigh tightening, the green of his irises darkening like the night enveloping us.Teasingly, I shifted my lips to the other corner of his mouth, hovering just enough to feel his breath. Then, I brushed against his lips, soft and deliberate. I felt him stiffen beneath me."We could both die right now, Evelyn," he growled, his voice low and warning. "Do you want that?""What if I said
Evelyn"You know people are going to think we're weird if you keep looking at me like that," I said, shifting awkwardly in my seat. My attempt to maintain a composed smile was failing miserably, and the heat creeping up my neck warned me a blush was imminent.After an exhausting hour of meeting Jacob’s business associates, Enzo’s friends, and a handful of extended family members, we had finally found a moment to sit. But Jacob—predictably—wasn’t letting the moment breathe. His eyes were locked on me, piercing and unwavering, as if I were the only person in the room."I don’t give a fuck about what people think," he replied, his tone casual but his gaze anything but. He leaned in, the back of his fingers brushing against my cheek, sending a shiver down my spine. "I’m admiring my girlfriend. That’s nobody’s business but mine."A smile threatened to break free as I looked at him, trying to keep my composure. "You really have an answer for everything, don’t you?"He grinned, that maddenin
Evelyn"Honey, you look absolutely ravishing in this dress," Eliot declared as he ran his fingers through his green hair—a habitual gesture he repeated every two minutes without fail. His lips curled into a grin as he added, "God! You’re a freaking goddess!" He pressed his fingers against his lips dramatically, as if silencing his own awe.A soft chuckle escaped me as I reached out to ruffle his hair. "Thanks, Ellie.""You’re most welcome, Evie," he replied before turning to his assistant, who had already begun packing up their tools and supplies.I shifted my gaze to the mirror, unable to suppress a small smile at my reflection. The black, one-shoulder evening gown shimmered subtly, hugging my curves in all the right places. My hair, neatly styled into an elegant bun, paired perfectly with the understated nude makeup that complemented my skin tone. The black heels added a touch of height, accentuating my posture and elongating my frame.Well, I looked really pretty today.No one else
EvelynAfter what felt like an hour of relentless bickering and a barely controlled wrestling match, Jacob and Bianca finally collapsed onto the couch. Both were panting, disheveled, and bruised—though we all knew Jacob had gone easy on her. Let’s be real: one solid punch from him could probably send ten Evelyns and ten Biancas straight to heaven."Are you two done now?" I asked, trying—and failing—not to laugh. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined I’d witness two grown adults behaving like this."Yeah," they grumbled in unison, their synchronized reply only making my lips twitch with amusement."Great," I said, standing up. "Once you two finish catching your breath, we’re setting the table together. I’m starving, and I’m sure you are too."Jacob, of course, couldn’t help himself. "Well, I doubt we can eat if Bianca cooked."Bianca’s head snapped up like she’d been personally insulted by the gods. "Excuse me, you absolute piece of shit in the name of human! If you don’t want to e
Evelyn “We’re already late,” I sighed, resting my chin against his chest. “We really need to get up and head to Bianca’s, or she’s going to kill us.”“We can be a little late,” he murmured, effortlessly flipping us so I was on my back, with him hovering above me. Slowly, he buried his nose in the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply. “God, you smell so good.”“Dummy,” I chuckled, threading my fingers through his hair and massaging his scalp. “It’s already past breakfast time. If we don’t get there soon, she’ll be plotting our deaths.”He hummed, pressing a kiss to the spot between my neck and shoulder before trailing his nose along my jawline. “Trust me, baby. Since she invited us for breakfast, she probably has a secret dinner planned too. Besides, she knows us.”“She knows us?” I raised an eyebrow, gently grabbing his jaw and making him look at me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”“What I mean,” he began, his left hand slipping under the duvet and tracing my inner thigh, “is that she k
Sometimes, just when you think you’ve finally reached solid ground, life finds a way to pull the rug out from under you. One moment, everything seems to be falling into place, and the next, it's unraveling faster than you can hold it together. Evelyn and Jacob are bracing for the fiercest storm they've ever faced—a storm that will test them in ways they never imagined. This isn't just another bump in the road; it’s a plunge into depths they’ve never explored. Get ready, because this time, they’re on a rollercoaster that’s about to dive even deeper, with twists and turns they may not come back from unchanged. It’s time to dive deeper. *** “You’re too young for a child, Evelyn. Don’t you get it?” Jacob’s voice thundered. “You can’t have that baby.” “Why not?!” I shot back, defiant and trembling. “I have a say in this too! This is my choice. I’m keeping the baby, Jacob, whether you like it or not.” Jacob groaned, running a frustrated hand through his hair. “Evelyn, I really don’t h
Evelyn “Welcome back.” Jacob scooped me up the moment I stepped inside the apartment, spinning us around before I even had a chance to take a step on my own. I laughed, holding on tighter as he twirled us, our laughter filling the familiar space.“Silly,” I whispered as he settled us on the couch, cradling me in his lap like a baby. Jacob always treated me like one, and honestly, I didn’t mind being spoiled. After the long flight, I should’ve felt tired, but the moment we breathed in the air of Italy, any exhaustion disappeared. And being back in this apartment, where we’d built so many memories—the good, the hard, the unforgettable—felt as sweet as it was bittersweet.“You have no idea how empty this place felt after you left,” Jacob murmured, his eyes scanning my face as if memorizing every detail. “It was like I was dying a little every day. The silence, missing your warmth, your scent, the soft sound of your footsteps… it all just killed me, baby. I love you.” His forehead presse