I zipped up my suitcase, my hands steady despite the storm of emotions raging inside me. My decision was made. Staying here would only lead to more pain, more accusations, more screaming matches with my mother. It was time to leave.As I stepped out of my room, I treaded carefully down the hallway, listening for any signs of my mother. The house was quiet, but I knew she was still awake. The tension from our earlier argument still lingered in the air like thick smoke.Just as I reached the front door, her voice rang out behind me."And where exactly do you think you're going?"I froze, my grip tightening around my suitcase handle. I turned around slowly to face her. She stood by the staircase, arms crossed, eyes burning with anger and something else—hurt, maybe."I'm leaving," I said, keeping my voice even. "I'm going to stay with my father."Her lips pressed into a thin line before she scoffed. "Oh, so now you suddenly care about your father? The same man who abandoned us? The same m
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.
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
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
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
It all began with a dare, a reckless challenge from my friends to kiss a stranger at the party. I should have said no, but I had just broken up with my boyfriend, and the alcohol with the music had lowered my inhibitions to a dangerous level. “You can do it Sophia, don't be shy." My friends cheered, their voices buoyed by the party atmosphere. I scanned the room, my eyes finally locking on a mysterious figure standing in the corner. He was older, maybe in his forties, but still strikingly handsome with an air of mystery that drew me in. It felt as if he were waiting for me, and in that moment, I felt a thrill of excitement mixed with a hint of fear as I made my way towards him, my heart pounding. As I approached him, he smiled, and his eyes crinkled at the corners. I felt a flutter in my chest, and my heart raced with anticipation. We didn't exchange words; we didn't need to. The music and the moment said it all. He pulled me close, and our lips met in a passionate kiss. Time se
I stood frozen in the doorway, my mind shattered by the unthinkable sight before me. The stranger who had haunted my dreams, the one who had claimed my lips in a passionate kiss, now stood in my living room, smiling at my mother with a familiarity that made my blood run cold. My mother's voice, dripping with happiness, noticed me and gleefully rushed to hug me. "Sophia, you're home," she chimed, oblivious to my horror. But I couldn't reciprocate her enthusiasm. My eyes were fixed on him, my mind reeling with questions. How did he end up here, in my home, with my mother? His gaze locked onto mine, piercing me with a gleam that made my skin crawl. My mother's smile was so huge on her face, a wicked contrast to my despair. "Sophia, meet Jack, your new stepfather," she announced, her words dripping with excitement. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me. Stepfather? No, this couldn't be happening. My world crumbled around me, the room spinning with a s
Taking a deep breath, I opened the door. Inside was quiet. With my heart pounding in my chest, I made my way to my mother's bedroom, each step felt heavier than the last. When I reached her room, I knocked hesitantly. “Sophia, is that you? Come in," she said. Inside, I see my mother packing her belongings. “Mom, what's going on?" I asked, my voice surprisingly steady.My mother looked up, her smile faltering at the sight of the gloom on my face. “Sophia, why aren't you happy for me?" she asked, her voice filled with disappointment. “Why did you act like that towards Jack?" “I'm sorry mother, but..." My voice left me, I couldn't find the courage to utter another word.“Jack is everything we've been praying for. He is kind, loving, and a billionaire." My mother says, her eyes popping with excitement.“A billionaire?" “Yeah, your mother is getting married to a billionaire!" she announced gleefully. “And we're moving into his mansion this weekend." “What?" “Don't you want to?"
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
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
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
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.
I zipped up my suitcase, my hands steady despite the storm of emotions raging inside me. My decision was made. Staying here would only lead to more pain, more accusations, more screaming matches with my mother. It was time to leave.As I stepped out of my room, I treaded carefully down the hallway, listening for any signs of my mother. The house was quiet, but I knew she was still awake. The tension from our earlier argument still lingered in the air like thick smoke.Just as I reached the front door, her voice rang out behind me."And where exactly do you think you're going?"I froze, my grip tightening around my suitcase handle. I turned around slowly to face her. She stood by the staircase, arms crossed, eyes burning with anger and something else—hurt, maybe."I'm leaving," I said, keeping my voice even. "I'm going to stay with my father."Her lips pressed into a thin line before she scoffed. "Oh, so now you suddenly care about your father? The same man who abandoned us? The same m
Once my mother and I got home, she barely spared me a glance as she walked toward the living room. I knew she was still upset about my refusal to report Jack, but I needed to tell her everything before she heard it from someone else.I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “Mom, there’s something I need to tell you.”She sighed dramatically, rubbing her temples. “What now, Sophia?”I hesitated, but there was no easy way to say it. “Jack proposed to me.”For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, slowly, she turned to face me, her expression unreadable. “What did you just say?”I swallowed. “Jack proposed. He wants to marry me.”The color drained from her face before fury replaced the shock. She let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “You must be joking.”“I’m not.”She took a step closer, eyes blazing. “You mean to tell me that after everything, after the mess he created, after he ruined our marriage—you’re standing here, telling me you want to marry him?”I met her glare, my voice
The weight of Rachel’s words sat heavily on my chest as I left her apartment, my mind spinning with a million thoughts. Jack had lied to me. He had betrayed me. And Rachel—someone I had once called a friend—had been playing a game all along.As I walked down the street, I felt like the world around me was moving too fast, blurring together while I remained frozen in place. I wanted to scream, to cry, to demand answers from Jack. But at the same time, I felt so empty inside, as if my heart had shattered into pieces that I might never be able to put back together.By the time I reached home, I felt numb. I pushed open the front door and walked straight to my room, ignoring my mother’s questioning gaze. I knew she’d be smug if she found out the truth, and I wasn’t ready to deal with her gloating.I threw myself onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. The memories of Jack—his touch, his words, his promises—played in my head like a cruel joke. Had he ever really loved me? Or had I been nothin
That evening, as I sat on my bed, lost in my thoughts, my mother walked in, her expression unreadable. I knew she had something to say—she always did when she had that look. “Sophia, we need to talk,” she said firmly, closing the door behind her. I sighed, already exhausted from the emotional storm Jack had left in his wake. “What is it, Mom?” She sat on the edge of my bed, her gaze serious. “It’s time you stop protecting him.” I frowned. “What are you talking about?” “Jack,” she said sharply. “I know you still have feelings for him, but you need to see things clearly. He took advantage of you, Sophia. He got you pregnant, and now, when you caught him with Rachel, he’s feeding you some ridiculous story to save himself. You can’t keep falling for his lies.” I clenched my fists. “Jack didn’t take advantage of me. I wasn’t forced into anything, Mom.” She let out a frustrated sigh. “That’s exactly what he wants you to think. But you were vulnerable, and he—” “I knew what I
The soft rays of morning sunlight streamed through my curtains, pulling me from a restless sleep. I blinked a few times, my eyes adjusting to the light, when a rich aroma wafted into my nose—freshly brewed coffee and something warm, buttery, and sweet. I sat up slowly, confused, and that’s when I saw him. “Good morning, sleepyhead,” Alex said with a boyish grin, standing at the foot of my bed with a tray in his hands. “What… what are you doing here?” I stammered, my voice still thick with sleep and disbelief. He shrugged, setting the tray down on the bedside table. “I figured you could use some cheering up, so I thought I’d surprise you.” My eyes darted to the tray. It was a perfect breakfast spread—pancakes drizzled with syrup, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, and a steaming cup of coffee. It looked like something out of a magazine. “Cheering up?” I repeated, frowning slightly. He sat on the edge of the bed, his usual playful demeanor softened. “Your mom called me last nigh