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Forty

Author: Vivah_writes
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-31 07:15:28

My mother’s eyes met mine, and for a split second, I saw the fear in her expression—the fear of truths she had buried for years finally coming to light. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but no words came out. Jefferson stood there, silent, giving her the space to respond. He seemed to know that this moment wasn’t his to control, that it was between her and me now.

“I…” My mother faltered, glancing at Jack as if unsure how much to say in front of him.

“Mom,” I urged, my voice firmer. “Why didn’t you tell me about him? Who is Jefferson to you?”

She shook her head slowly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I… I didn’t want you to know. I didn’t want to dredge up the past.”

Jack took a step back, his hand falling from her shoulder. “Karen, what’s going on?” His voice had softened, but the confusion was still clear. “What does this man have to do with our family?”

My mother turned to Jack, her expression pained. “Jefferson… he’s someone I knew a long time ago, before I met you.”

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  • One Careless Night    Forty - One

    As I sat on my bed, emotions swirling, a fresh wave of anxiety washed over me. My secret weighed heavily, pressing down with an intensity I could hardly bear. The pregnancy had been my private burden, something I hadn't yet come to terms with myself, let alone shared with anyone else. And now, with my mother's secrets unraveling downstairs, my own truth felt even more daunting.I hugged a pillow to my chest, my mind drifting back to the moment I first found out. The shock, the panic, the uncertainty—it had all come crashing down, leaving me feeling more alone than ever. And now, as much as I longed for clarity from my family, I was afraid of what they’d say when my own truth came out. My mother would likely be furious, disappointed, and Jack… I can only but wonder how would react when he discovers I am pregnant with his child.The faint murmur of voices drifted up from downstairs, but they were too low for me to make out. I felt a pang of frustration as I imagined them discussing life

  • 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

  • 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 - 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 - Five

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  • 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

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  • One Careless Night    Fifty

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  • One Careless Night    Forty - Nine

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  • One Careless Night    Forty - Eight

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  • 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

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