As I stepped out onto the balcony, I heard the door open behind me. I turned around to find Jack standing there, his expression serious.
“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice soft, almost hesitant. Jack closed the door behind him, stepping closer. “I could ask you the same thing. You seemed… distracted back there.” I sighed, leaning against the balcony railing. “I was just thinking about you, actually. You didn’t seem happy when Alex asked me to be his girlfriend.” Jack’s jaw tightened slightly, and he looked away, staring out at the night sky. “Sophia, it’s not that I’m not happy for you. I just—” He paused, as if searching for the right words. “I worry about you. You’re young, and relationships can be complicated. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” I frowned, trying to make sense of his words. “I know relationships can be complicated, but I trust Alex. He’s been nothing but kind to me.”As we stepped back into the bustling party, the vibrant music and laughter of our friends filled the air. Yet, it all felt distant, like background noise to the thoughts swirling in my mind. Alex stayed close by my side, his presence comforting, but my heart was still tangled in the unexpected emotions that had surfaced on the balcony. We moved through the crowd, accepting birthday wishes and small talk from friends, but I couldn't fully engage. My mind kept drifting back to the look in Jack's eyes, the way he had leaned in, and how it had made me feel. I wanted to shake the feeling off, to focus on the present and the boy who had just made a grand gesture of love for me. "Do you want to dance?" Alex asked, pulling me back to the moment. His voice was hopeful, and I could see he was trying to make this night special for me. "Yeah," I said, managing a smile. "I'd love that." He led me to the dance floor, where couples swayed to the soft melody. Alex wrapped his arms around me,
Alex pulled out of the driveway, the grand estate fading into the distance as they hit the winding roads. Rachel settled into the passenger seat, her eyes fixed on the passing landscape."Hey, thanks for the ride," she said, breaking the silence."No problem." Alex replied, his gaze on the road ahead. Rachel turned to him, a mischievous glint in her eye. "So, how does it feel to be officially off the market?"Alex chuckled, shaking his head. "You're something else, Rach.""I'm serious!" she said, laughing. "You and Sophia now officially together, I guess you didn't believe any of the things i told you."Alex's expression hardened, the smile on his face disappearing instantly. "Sorry Rach, but I didn't." He sends a quick glance towards Rachel. "I love her Rachel."Rachel nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah, it's obvious. But..."Alex raised an eyebrow, sensing the unspoken concern. "But what?"Rachel hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "I don't know how to tell you this , Al
As Jack walked me to my bedroom, the silence between us was palpable. I couldn't help but steal glances at him, his profile illuminated by the soft hallway lights. We reached my door, and he turned to face me."Goodnight, Sophia," he said softly, his eyes searching mine.I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. "Goodnight, Jack."He hesitated for a moment, then turned to leave. I reached out, my hand brushing against his arm."Jack?"He turned back, his eyes questioning."Thank you," I said, my voice sincere. "For tonight."A small smile played on his lips. "Anytime, Sophia."With that, he turned to leave, but I stopped him again. "Wait. I forgot something," I said, my voice low.He raised an eyebrow, curious. "What?"I stepped closer, my eyes locked on his. "This."And with that, I leaned in, my lips brushing against his in a soft, gentle kiss. It was brief, but electric."I'm sorry," I whispered, pulling back. "I couldn't help myself." My heart raced, my mind reeling. "Jack...""S
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,"
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
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
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.
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
The weeks following our engagement were nothing short of magical. My heart swelled with happiness as Jack and I began planning our future together. Every morning, I woke up feeling grateful—grateful for my daughter, for my mended relationship with my mother, and for the love I shared with Jack.With our wedding date set, the excitement in the air was almost tangible. There was so much to do—venue selection, guest lists, cake tastings, floral arrangements—but the part I had been looking forward to the most was wedding dress shopping.And today, it was finally happening.With my baby left in the care of her trusted nanny, I set out for a day of wedding dress shopping with my mother. It felt surreal, especially considering how strained our relationship had once been. But now, things were different. We were healing, and today felt like another step toward solidifying our bond.As we arrived at the upscale bridal boutique, my mother reached for my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Are you
The days following my reconciliation with my mother felt lighter, as if a weight I hadn't even realized I was carrying had finally been lifted. For the first time in a long while, I truly felt at peace. My heart was healing, my fears were fading, and Jack and I were in a better place than ever.I spent my days bonding with my daughter, cherishing every moment with her, while Jack and I found new ways to strengthen our relationship. We talked more, laughed more, and for the first time in months, we weren’t constantly looking over our shoulders, fearing what might come next. The nightmare was over. Or at least, that’s what I thought.Little did I know, something else—something big—was coming. And it was going to change my life in ways I never expected.It started off as an ordinary day. Jack had insisted that we go out for dinner with my family that evening, saying it was just a small celebration for us moving forward. I hadn’t thought much of it, though I did find it strange how persis
Jack walked in just as my mother and I were pulling away from our emotional embrace. His footsteps were firm but cautious, and I could tell he had been standing outside the door for a while, listening. His gaze flickered between us, taking in my tear-streaked face and my mother’s red-rimmed eyes. His expression was unreadable, but I could see the tension in his posture, the years of resentment buried beneath his composed exterior. For a long moment, no one spoke. Then, my mother took a deep breath and turned to him. “Jack,” she started softly, folding her hands together, as if gathering the strength to say what had been left unsaid for too long. “I owe you an apology.” Jack arched a brow slightly, clearly not expecting that. His jaw tightened, but he said nothing, waiting for her to continue. “I know I made things difficult for you. I made it no secret that I disapproved of you, of your relationship with my daughter. I let my anger, my disappointment, and my stubbornness clo
Days turned into weeks, and life slowly began to settle into a new rhythm. My body was healing, my daughter was growing stronger, and Jack did everything in his power to make sure I felt safe. Yet, despite everything, there was still a heaviness inside me, a wound that had nothing to do with my physical health.It was the wound my mother had left behind.I tried to ignore it. Tried to tell myself that it didn’t matter, that I didn’t need her. But at night, when the house was quiet, I couldn’t stop thinking about how she had looked at me in my dream. The way she had looked at me with so much anger, so much disappointment. The way she had planned to hurt me, as if I meant nothing to her. But it was all a dream. I kept telling myself that.And then, one evening, she showed up at my doorstep.I froze when I saw her standing there, dressed simply in a dark blue dress, looking smaller than I remembered. Her face had aged in a way that had nothing to do with time—there was exhaustion in her
Jack frowned, his eyes scanning my face. “What is it? Are you in pain? Do you need anything?”I shook my head. “No, it’s not that.” I hesitated before finally whispering, “It’s about what I saw while I was in a coma.”Jack’s brows furrowed. “You mean… like a dream?”I swallowed hard. “It felt real, Jack. So real.” I exhaled, gathering my thoughts. “I was kidnapped… by my own mother. She took me and our daughter, and she wanted ransom money. But it wasn’t just about the money—it was about revenge. She hated the fact that I chose you.”Jack’s face darkened instantly, his jaw tightening. “Karen?” he asked, his voice sharp.I nodded. “She took us to some remote place, and I was trapped, powerless. I kept trying to find a way out, but it was impossible. And when the ransom was paid, I thought she would let me go—but she had other plans.” I shuddered at the memory, even though it had only been a dream. “I don’t know what she was planning, but the way she looked at me, the way she smirked w
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I held onto my mother, feeling the raw emotion in her embrace. It was different from the cold, calculating version of her that had haunted my dreams. My mother—was trembling, vulnerable, and truly relieved to see me alive. She pulled away slightly, her eyes scanning my face as if to make sure I was really there. “You scared me, sweetheart,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “We almost lost you.” I swallowed hard, shifting my gaze to my father. He wasn’t a man of many words, but the depth of emotion in his eyes told me everything. He had been just as terrified. Jack cleared his throat, stepping forward. “She’s still weak,” he said gently. “Let’s not overwhelm her.” My mother nodded, dabbing at her eyes before glancing down at the bundle in my arms. Her expression softened instantly. “Can I…?” She hesitated, looking at me as if asking for permission. I glanced down at my daughter, my heart swelling with love. My mother had been by my s
I blinked rapidly as the doctor continued his checks, his light flashing in and out of my eyes. My mind was a whirlwind of confusion, my body heavy, as though weighed down by something far greater than exhaustion. Jack’s hand was still gripping mine, his touch warm and grounding, yet a nagging feeling clawed at the back of my mind. Something wasn’t right. I tried to focus, to piece together what had happened, but everything felt… distant. As if my memories were slipping through my fingers like sand. The fear, the kidnapping, the plane ride, my mother’s twisted plan—it had all felt so real. Too real. My breath quickened. I had been trapped. My mother had taken me away. I had fought to escape, to protect my baby— My baby. Panic surged through me as I squeezed Jack’s hand. "Where is she?" My voice was weak, hoarse, as if I hadn’t spoken in days. "Where is my baby?" Jack's eyes softened, a flicker of something unreadable flashing across his face. He exchanged a brief look with
The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken threats. My mother’s smirk lingered as if she enjoyed watching the panic settle in my chest. She wasn’t just playing a game—she was winning. I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to remain steady. “You can’t keep me locked away forever.” Karen let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. “Oh, Sophia,” she said, almost pitying. “You still think you have a choice in this, don’t you?” I glared at her, my grip on my daughter tightening. “Jack will find me. And when he does—” She leaned in closer, cutting me off with a whisper that sent chills through me. “Jack won’t find you, sweetheart. Not this time.” Her words were like ice, freezing every hope I had clung to. I refused to believe it. Jack would never stop looking for me. He would turn the world upside down if he had to. But the confidence in my mother’s eyes told me she had planned for that. She straightened, smoothing down her dress before stepping back. “Now, get some r
My blood ran cold. “No…” I whispered, my mind racing. Jack thought he had paid for our freedom. He thought he had saved us. But this was never about the money—it was about control. It was about my mother keeping me away from him permanently. “You’re insane,” I breathed, my entire body trembling with rage and fear. “Jack will never stop looking for me. No matter where you take me, he’ll find me.” Karen chuckled, amused by my defiance. “Oh, sweetheart,” she crooned. “By the time he realizes what’s happened, you’ll be long gone. A new life. A new identity. Far away from all of this.” I clenched my jaw, my nails digging into my palms. I had to think. I had to find a way out before it was too late. A sudden cry escaped my baby’s lips, and I immediately rocked her gently, murmuring soothing words even as my own world spiraled into chaos. Karen sighed dramatically. “See? Even she knows it’s time to go.” I looked up, my eyes burning with unspoken fury. “I won’t let you take