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Forty - One
Last Updated:
2024-11-02 03:59:30
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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
Last Updated : 2024-11-03One 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
Last Updated : 2024-11-04One 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
Last Updated : 2024-11-05One 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
Last Updated : 2024-11-06One 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
Last Updated : 2024-11-07One 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
Last Updated : 2024-11-08One 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
Last Updated : 2024-11-09One 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
Last Updated : 2024-11-11
Latest chapter
One Careless Night Eighty - Two
Silence.Then, barely above a whisper, “Is it him?”I frowned. “What?”“Alex,” Jack said, his voice laced with something dark. “Is that where you are? With him?”I hesitated, and that was answer enough. Jack let out a humorless laugh. “Wow. You didn’t waste any time, did you?”I clenched my jaw. “Don’t you dare turn this on me.”“I just find it interesting,” he said, bitterness creeping into his tone. “You walk out of our wedding and go straight to another man? Tell me, Sophia, was he the backup plan?”Anger surged through me, white-hot and burning. “You don’t get to be jealous, Jack. You don’t get to question me after what you did.”He exhaled harshly. “I didn't… I don’t want this to be the end.”I closed my eyes, trying to keep my emotions from spiraling. “It was already over the moment you betrayed me.”Another silence. This one longer, heavier.Finally, Jack spoke again, quieter this time. “Do you love him?”I sucked in a breath, caught off guard by the question.Did I?I didn’t k
One Careless Night Eighty - One
The drive to Alex’s house was silent, the air thick with emotions I wasn’t ready to unpack. I kept my gaze on the road ahead, my wedding dress crumpled around me like a reminder of everything I had left behind. The enormity of what I had just done was settling in, pressing against my chest, but I refused to break down. Not yet.Alex didn't try to force conversation. He simply drove, his grip firm on the wheel, his presence steady beside me. I was grateful for that.By the time we pulled into his driveway, I heave a sigh of relief, soon I would be able to pull off my wedding gown. The weight of it, a constant reminder of the faliure of my wedding.He cut the engine and turned to me. “We’re here.”I nodded, but I didn’t move. My fingers tightened around the fabric of my dress as a wave of exhaustion washed over me.Alex sighed, then got out of the car and walked around to my side. He opened the door, crouching slightly so we were at eye level. “Sophia.” His voice was gentle, patient. “
One Careless Night Eighty
The moment we stepped outside the church, the crisp afternoon air hit me like a shock to my system. My wedding dress, once a symbol of joy and promises, now felt suffocating—heavy with betrayal, with loss.Alex’s hand was warm around mine, steady, grounding. But as soon as we reached the steps, I pulled away, wrapping my arms around myself. My breath came in uneven gasps.I had just walked away from my wedding.From Jack.From everything I thought my life was supposed to be.Alex turned to face me, his expression unreadable. “Are you okay?”A laugh bubbled up in my throat—hollow, humorless. “Do I look okay?”He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “I had a feeling this would happen.”My eyes snapped to his. “Excuse me?”He met my gaze, unwavering. “Rachel wasn’t going to let this wedding happen. And Jack…” He shook his head. “He’s a fool to think his lies wouldn’t catch up to him.”I swallowed the lump in my throat, my emotions tangled in knots. “And what about me?” My voice cracked
One Careless Night Seventy - Nine
Gasps rippled through the crowd as all heads turned toward Rachel. She stood at the entrance, chest heaving, eyes darting between Jack and me.Jack’s jaw tightened. “Rachel, what the hell are you doing?”I stood frozen, my fingers trembling around my bouquet. My mother shot up from her seat, her expression a mask of barely concealed rage.Rachel took a shaky step forward. “I can’t let you do this, Jack. Not after everything we shared.”Whispers swirled around us. Jack exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face. “Rachel, this is not the time or the place.”“I don’t care.” Rachel’s voice wavered, but she held her ground. “You can’t marry her.”A lump formed in my throat. I had been prepared for doubts, for hesitation, even for Alex to make a last-minute plea—but not this. Not from Rachel.Jack’s shoulders squared. “Rachel, stop.”“No,” she shook her head. “You don’t love her, Jack. You love me. At least that's what you told me when we had sex.”Silence.My eyes flickered toward Jack,
One Careless Night Seventy - Eight
The moment the door shut behind my mother, I collapsed onto my bed, gripping my phone tightly. My mind raced with everything that had just happened.Alex. My mother. The wedding.I needed this marriage to happen fast, but a small part of me wondered—was I really doing this for myself, or was I just running?No. I wasn’t going to let doubt creep in. My mother had controlled my life for too long, and this was my way out.My phone vibrated in my hand, pulling me from my thoughts. A message from Jack.Jack: I spoke to the planner. We can do it in three weeks. Is that soon enough?Three weeks. It wasn’t as immediate as I wanted, but it was still fast.Me: Perfect. Let’s do it.His response came almost instantly.Jack: Are you sure about this? We can still take a little more time if needed.I clenched my jaw. The last thing I needed was hesitation.Me: I’m sure.He didn’t push any further, just sent a simple "Alright" before ending the conversation.I set my phone down and exhaled slowly. T
One Careless Night Seventy - Seven
The next day, I heard the doorbell ring just as I was stepping out of my room. I didn’t think much of it until I heard my mother’s voice—firm, yet sickeningly polite.“Alex, what a surprise.”I froze mid-step, my heart jumping at the sound of his name. Carefully, I moved closer to the hallway, staying out of sight but close enough to hear.“I came to see Sophia,” Alex’s voice was calm, but I could hear the slight edge of confusion. “Is she home?”My mother let out a short laugh. “She is, but there’s no need for you to see her.”There was a beat of silence before he spoke again, his tone more serious now. “No need?”“That’s right,” she said smoothly. “Sophia will be getting married soon. There’s no reason for you to be coming around anymore.”I clenched my fists at her words.Alex scoffed, clearly caught off guard. “Married?” His voice dipped into disbelief. “You mean to Jack?”“Who else?” my mother replied, her voice laced with triumph.Another beat of silence. Then Alex let out a low
One Careless Night Seventy - Six
The next afternoon, I was in the living room, curled up on the couch with a book, when the doorbell rang. I wasn’t expecting anyone, but when Jefferson called for me to get the door, a strange feeling settled in my gut.I walked over, pulled the door open, and there she was—my mother.She stood there, dressed elegantly as always, her lips curved into a victorious smile. I didn’t need to ask why she was here. I could already see it in her eyes.“Sophia,” she greeted smoothly. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”I hesitated but eventually stepped aside. She walked in confidently, scanning the place before turning to face me.“You look well,” she said, as if this were a casual visit.I crossed my arms. “What do you want, Mom?”She sighed, feigning concern. “I came to see my daughter, of course. You’ve been staying here for a while now. Don’t you think it’s time to come back home?”I scoffed. “Back home? After everything? What’s changed?”Her smile didn’t falter, but her eyes gleamed with
One Careless Night Seventy - Five
A heavy silence settled in the room after my father’s words.Jack's expression remained composed, but I could see the subtle shift in his posture—the tightening of his jaw, the way his fingers curled slightly on his lap. He hadn’t expected this condition, and I knew why. He had made my mother sign a prenup when they got married and that was why he was able to divorce her without splitting his wealth.Jefferson leaned back in his chair, his piercing gaze fixed on Jack. "What’s wrong? You said you love her. Surely, you’re not planning for a future where you two split?"Jack exhaled sharply, looking away for a moment before returning his eyes to mine. His hesitation made my heart race.I knew this wasn’t about money. Jack wasn’t a man who needed financial security—he had built his empire from nothing. But a prenup was protection, a safety net for someone like him who had been through a divorce before. And now, my father was testing him. And I didn't even know whose side to be on. My fath
One Careless Night Seventy - Four
The morning light streamed through the guestroom curtains, warming my face as I slowly opened my eyes. For a moment, I forgot where I was—until I glanced around and remembered that I had spent the night at my father’s house.A deep sigh escaped my lips. It was my first peaceful sleep in days.I stretched before sitting up, my mind already bracing for the storm I had left behind at my mother’s house. Would she try to call? Would she even care that I had left? I shook the thoughts away and made my way downstairs, following the scent of coffee.Jefferson sat at the dining table, a cup of black coffee in hand, his expression unreadable. The sight of him, so composed and collected, made me pause for a second.“Morning,” I greeted softly.He looked up, nodding. “Morning. Did you sleep well?”I nodded. “Yeah. Better than I have in a while.”“Good.” He took a sip of his coffee before setting the cup down. Then, with a measured look, he said, “I want to meet Jack.”I blinked, caught off guard.
