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Eighteen
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
One Careless Night Nineteen
I slowly opened her eyes, and was greeted by the warm sunlight peeking through the curtains. I stretched, feeling a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. And as I turned, I noticed I was alone on the bed. Jack must have left early this morning, as had we slept off in each other's arms after our love making. As I sat up, memories of the previous night flooded my mind. It was intense. It was exhilarating. It was more than perfect. But it was also wrong. I recalled the way Jack's eyes sparkled in the dim light, his gentle touch, and the whispered promises. A flutter rose in my chest as I remembered the butterflies I'd felt. But alongside the romance, a voice whispered doubts and uncertainties. Jack was still my stepfather. I sighed deeply as I swung my legs over the side of the bed, planting my feet firmly on the ground. I needed clarity. Last night had been magical, but reality awaited. I needed to know my next move of action, especially with Alex. "Okay, Sophia, think this through,"
One Careless Night Twenty
I quickly composed myself, trying to hide the panic that threatened to surface. My mother’s words echoed in my mind—your boyfriend and stepfather.The two people who were complicating my life beyond measure, waiting for me downstairs, both likely unaware of the storm brewing inside me. “Sure, Mom. I’ll be down in a minute,” I managed to say, forcing a smile. My mother nodded, giving me a warm smile before she left the room. As soon as the door closed behind her, I collapsed back onto the bed, covering my face with my hands. Breakfast with both Alex and Jack? How was I supposed to handle that? I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. There was no avoiding it. I had to face them, even if it felt like I was walking into a minefield. But how could I look them both in the eye, knowing what I had done? I stood up, staring at myself in the mirror. My reflection looked tired, worn out from the emotional turmoil of the last 24 hours. I straightened my shoulders, trying to
One Careless Night Twenty -One
Alex deserved honesty, and I owed it to him to be upfront about my feelings.“You said you love me too at your party last night. Just checking you didn't just say it back because I did." He continued.“Alex,” I began, my voice shaky, “I care about you, I really do."But…things are complicated right now. There’s a lot going on in my head, and I’m not sure where I stand. I said the rest in my head. I couldn't muster up courage to voice it out. I just couldn't hurt Alex like that. Alex's face lit up. “I care a lot about you too." he scooted closer to me, "but I can see that something’s been weighing on you. I just want you to know that whatever it is, I’m here for you. You know you can tell me anything.”His words only made the guilt worse. Here was this amazing guy, offering me his support, and all I could think about was Jack. I wanted to tell Alex every
One Careless Night Twenty-Two
As we walked through the park, heading back home. I couldn’t shake the heavy feeling in my chest. I knew I needed to talk to Jack, to clear the air and figure out what we were going to do. But I also knew that doing so would force me to confront my feelings for him, feelings that were growing stronger with each passing day.When we finally returned to the house, I was relieved to find that Jack was nowhere in sight. I needed more time to gather my thoughts before facing him. I needed to find a way to untangle the web of emotions that had ensnared me, before it was too late.As Alex and I stood at the door, he leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips. It was a sweet, gentle kiss, filled with all the affection he had for me. But as much as I wanted to lose myself in it, my mind was elsewhere—on the man who was waiting inside, the man who had already claimed a major part of my heart."See you tomorrow?" Alex asked, his eyes full of hope."Yeah," I replied, trying to sound enthusiastic.
One Careless Night Twenty-Three
We walked into his office, the tension between us almost suffocating. As soon as the door closed behind us, I turned to face him, ready to confront the truth. “What’s happening between us, Jack?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “What are we doing?” He didn’t answer right away, his gaze fixed on the floor. When he finally looked up, there was a sadness in his eyes that I hadn’t seen before. “I don’t know, Sophia,” he admitted, his voice raw. “I don’t know what this is, but it’s tearing me apart.” “Me too,” I whispered, feeling the tears welling up in my eyes. “I can’t keep pretending that everything’s okay, because it’s not. And now… now it’s affecting my mom, Jack. She thinks she’s losing you.” Jack winced, the pain in his expression cutting me to the core. “I never wanted to hurt her. Or you. But I can’t keep going on like this, Sophia. It’s driving me insane.” “Then what do we do?” I asked, my voice cracking. “Because
One Careless Night Twenty-Four
The days following that painful conversation with Jack were a blur for me. I went through the motion of my daily life , but everything felt muted, the weight of Jack's decision hung heavy on me. Each day, i tried to push through hoping that time would dull the ache in my chest.At School, I kept my head down avoiding unnecessary interactions with my classmates. I sat in the back of the classroom, my head resting in my hand as I stared blankly at the notes in front of me. The words on the page blurred together, my mind far too distracted to focus on the lesson. I felt numb, like I was moving through the day in a fog, I wasn't sure how long i could keep up the facade.As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, I slowly began packing up my things, my movements mechanical. I didn’t notice Rachel approaching me until I heard her voice."Sophia? You okay?" Rachel’s tone was gentle, filled with concern.I glanced up, startled by the at
One Careless Night Twenty-Five
Finally, Jack’s eyes flicked up, and he noticed me standing there. His expression shifted from relaxed to tense in an instant, and he pulled his arm away from my mother as if he’d been caught doing something wrong. My mother followed his gaze and turned to look at me, a warm smile on her face.“Hey, sweetheart,” she said, her voice bright. “How was school?”I forced a smile, trying to ignore the tightness in my chest. “It was fine,” I replied, my voice sounding hollow even to my own ears.Jack’s eyes lingered on me for a moment, his expression unreadable. I couldn’t tell if he felt guilty, sad, or something else entirely, but I couldn’t bear to look at him for too long. I quickly shifted my gaze to my mother, focusing on her instead.“I’m just going to head up to my room,” I said, already turning to leave before they could respond.“Oh, okay,” my mother said, a hint of concern in her voice. “If you need anything, just let us know.”“Thanks,”
One Careless Night Twenty - Six
Rachel couldn’t shake the thoughts of Sophia’s confession from her mind. The more she mulled it over, the more determined she became to take action. She cared for Sophia, but she also couldn’t ignore the feelings she had been harboring for Alex. It wasn’t just about the secret anymore; it was about what she wanted too. That afternoon, Rachel made a decision. She grabbed her keys and headed over to Alex’s place, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t call ahead—this was something that needed to be done in person, without giving him the chance to brush her off. When she arrived at Alex’s door, she took a deep breath before knocking. The door opened a moment later, and Alex’s surprised face appeared. “Rachel?” he said, eyebrows raised. “What are you doing here?” “Hey, Alex,” she replied, offering him a tentative smile. “I hope you don’t mind me dropping by unannounced. I just… I needed to talk to you.” Alex frowned slightly, but he stepped aside to let her in. “Sure, come in.
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One Careless Night Fifty
The laughter faded, leaving an unspoken tension lingering in the room, but for now, it felt comforting to have my mother’s support. I looked over at Jack, who shifted uncomfortably, his gaze dropping to the floor. He knew, as I did, that eventually, the truth would have to come out. But in this moment, having my mother’s encouragement brought a strange sense of calm.As the evening wore on, my mother began to ask gentle questions about how I was feeling, what my plans might look like, and whether I’d considered any next steps. She offered ideas about support, connecting me with her doctor, and even mentioned a friend of hers who’d been through a similar situation in her youth. Her presence was reassuring, filling the spaces of uncertainty with a steady warmth.Jack, however, remained mostly silent, watching the interaction between my mother and me with a guarded expression. I knew he was weighing the impact of this truth—and how much more complicated things would become once the full
One Careless Night Forty - Nine
The text from Alex tightened the knot in my stomach, making my hands tremble as I clutched the phone. Three days. It was a short deadline for a choice that could unravel my life, my family, everything.I spent the rest of the morning feeling trapped, my mind racing with conflicting thoughts. I’d told Jack, and that was a relief, but now Alex knew I had only a few days to comply. If he found out I’d broken his warning and involved Jack, there was no telling how far he’d go to carry out his threats.That evening, Jack returned from a long day, looking more tired than usual. I watched him move through the house, noticing the weight of this new truth sinking into him. When he finally approached me in the living room, there was a strange determination in his eyes.“I spoke to Margaret,” he said, his voice steady but strained. “She lied. Alex is not my son.”I felt a mixture of relief wash over me. "Really?"Jack nodded in response as he took a seat beside me, exhaling deeply as he rubbed h
One Careless Night Forty - Eight
I stood there, frozen, Alex’s words echoing in my mind. The weight of the ultimatum settled heavily over me, tightening like a vice around my heart. It was hard to believe that everything between us—all the trust, all the closeness—had been built on a lie. He’d known all along who I was, known he could use me to exact his revenge.Yet there was something more chilling in his parting threat, something that hinted at a side of Alex I’d never seen. This wasn’t just a vendetta against Jack; he’d twisted our past into a weapon, leaving me with no way out. My own secrets, things I’d never meant to share with anyone, were now in his hands, poised to be exposed.Back home, I tried to steady myself, clutching my phone as if it could somehow give me strength. My mind was racing, desperate to find some solution, some way to protect Jack from Alex’s plans. But my choices were clear, and either path led to betrayal. For a moment, I considered telling Jack everything. But the thought of his reacti
One Careless Night Forty - Seven
The phone rang twice before Alex answered, his voice cool and guarded.“Sophie,” he greeted, as if expecting my call."Alex," I managed, struggling to keep my voice steady. "Look, we need to talk—alone. Please. Just give me a chance to explain why this…this whole thing you’re doing is wrong."A pause on the line. “There’s nothing to explain. You know what’s at stake.”“I know, but… isn’t there any way you’d reconsider?” I forced down my pride, appealing to whatever part of him might still have some shred of decency. “You and I—we were close once. You don’t have to go through with this.”His sigh was faint but enough to make me hope he was wavering. “You think I haven’t thought about that?” His voice was unexpectedly tight, as if my words had struck a nerve. “I have reasons for what I'm asking.”“Then explain those reasons to me,” I pressed, clinging to the opening. “If you want me to really do this, help me understand why you’re asking me to betray Jack.”There was a pause, and I coul
One Careless Night Forty - Six
My breath caught as Alex approached, his expression unreadable but tinged with curiosity. Rachel leaned back, her smirk deepening at my discomfort. She seemed to revel in the chaos she’d created.“Alex,” I managed, my voice steady despite the tremor inside me. “What are you doing here?”“Don't be scared honey,” he replied, his eyes darting between Rachel and me. “I'm only here to make a request.”Rachel raised an eyebrow, her smirk never fading. “Oh, and you can't say no to this request, Sophie.”“Really?” I looked at both of them, suspicious and wary. My gaze lingered, probing.I squared my shoulders, trying to maintain my composure. “You guys are really funny. So after betraying me the way you did, you expect me to do you a favor?”Rachel chuckled, her laughter dripping with mockery. “Oh, but Sophie, it is important that you come through.” She shot me a look that was pure malice. “You know you've a lot of secrets that we are very well aware of.”My stomach twisted. Rachel was settin
One Careless Night Forty - Five
Jack paced back and forth, the weight of the situation sinking in, his face a storm of emotions—fear, anger, helplessness. Every step he took seemed heavier than the last. The room felt thick with tension as I watched him struggle to grasp the reality of it all. Finally, he stopped, running a hand through his hair, and looked at me, his eyes darkened with worry."Rachel is dangerous, Sophia. If she goes through with this… If she tells your mother, or anyone, it would ruin everything," he said, his voice filled with dread. "...everything we’ve tried to protect."I nodded, barely able to speak. "I know, Jack. I thought she was my best friend."He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "We have to find a way to stop her. If she’s threatening to expose us, she’s not going to stop until she gets what she wants.""And that’s what scares me," I admitted, feeling my own anxiety rise. "She’s unpredictable, and I don’t know what she’s really after, Except for my Alex." I said rolling my
One Careless Night Forty - Four
I took a few steadying breaths before heading back downstairs. Jack was still in the living room, looking up as I entered, his expression a mixture of curiosity and concern. He must’ve sensed that something heavy was weighing on me."Sophia, are you sure you’re okay? You seemed... shaken," he said, his voice gentle but laced with worry.I managed a weak smile, sitting down beside him. "It’s been a long day, Jack. There’s... something I need to tell you."His brow furrowed, but he reached over, placing a comforting hand on mine. "Whatever it is, you can tell me," he said, his voice steady and reassuring. For a brief moment, I felt the weight on my chest lift, bolstered by his calm presence."Where is my mother?" my eyes hovered around as I asked."She just left the house not quite long." he answered, his voice laced with concern.Taking a deep breath, I finally found the courage. "Jack, I'm... I’m pregnant."For a second, the world seemed to go silent as he stared at me, his expression
One Careless Night Forty - Three
The drive back home felt surreal, my thoughts tangled in a web of secrets, choices, and uncertain futures. My mother’s deception, Jefferson’s unexpected kindness, and now, the looming conversation I needed to have with Jack. Everything seemed to be closing in, as if the walls of my life were shrinking with every revelation. I pulled into the driveway and sat in the car for a moment, gathering the courage to go inside. How would I even begin this conversation with Jack? How could I tell him that I was carrying his child when we’d barely spoken to each other since he returned from the trip? My stomach twisted at the thought of his reaction—anger, confusion, maybe even regret. But I couldn’t keep him in the dark; he had to know.Inside, the house was quiet, still. I found him in the living room, flipping through a document absentmindedly, lost in his own world."Jack," I said softly, and he looked up, a gentle smile crossing his face."Sophia," he replied, setting the magazine aside. "Y
One Careless Night Forty - Two
I left my mother sitting at the table, her hands clasped tightly around her now-cold cup of tea. I didn’t look back as I grabbed my coat and keys, my mind set on paying Jefferson a visit. As I stepped out into the brisk morning air, I felt the weight of her confession still pressing down on me, fueling each step I took toward the answers I was determined to uncover.The drive to Jefferson’s place was a blur, my thoughts racing, fragmented memories of small moments with my mother that suddenly made more sense in a twisted, painful way. Had she always known? Every time I’d asked about my father, she’d deflected, claimed it was “complicated” or simply said, “He isn’t part of our lives.” And all the while, she’d known exactly who he was.Pulling up outside Jefferson’s home, I took a deep breath to steady myself. I needed answers, and I wasn’t leaving without them. I walked up to his door, my hand hovering for a moment before I finally knocked. It took only a moment before the door swung
