The next morning, I awoke to the sound of soft footsteps entering my room. My body still ached, but the sharpness had dulled, replaced by a constant, steady throb. I blinked my eyes open to see the nurse from the day before standing by my bedside, a gentle smile on her face.
"Good morning," she said softly, checking the machines beside me. "How are you feeling today?"
"Sore," I replied, my voice still hoarse.
"Are you okay?" she asked again, noticing the pain in my voice.
I nodded weakly, even though I wasn't sure if I was okay. How could I be? The weight of everything felt even heavier now—Jack, my mother, Rachel, Alex, and now this baby. I didn’t know how to feel, what to think. My whole life had just been turned upside down again.
"Want to talk about your pregnancy?" the nurse asked, her voice full of concern.
I shook my head.
"I know it's a lot to take in," the nurse said kindly, patting my arm. "But you're stron
As I sat there, the reality of my situation settled in, heavier than I had imagined. The thought of being a mother was terrifying. I didn’t feel ready, especially not now, when my whole world seemed to be crumbling. My mind drifted to Jack and my mother, their happiness, and how I had been left behind. My fingers instinctively brushed against my stomach, and I wondered what kind of future this baby would have, what kind of mother I would become, and most especially how Jack would react to all of this when he finds out. What would he say? Would he want to be involved?The elderly man cleared his throat softly, pulling me back to the present. "I know it's overwhelming," he said, his voice gentle. "But you'll figure it out. You don’t have to have all the answers right now."I nodded, appreciating his words. He was right—everything didn’t have to be decided today. But the thought of telling Jack about the pregnancy, or even my mother, filled me with dread. What would they say? How would t
I stared at the photograph, my mind racing. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Jefferson, the man who had hit me with his car, the man who had taken me in, was in a picture with my mother. But how could this be? They lived worlds apart, their paths never crossing.I traced the lines of my mother's face, the same smile that had been so rare in recent years. The woman in the photo was full of life, her eyes sparkling with joy. It was a stark contrast to the woman married to Jack now.Footsteps approached from behind, and I turned to see the elderly man standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable. His eyes followed my gaze to the photograph, and he sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging as if a burden had just been laid on them."That was my fiancee." he said softly. "Her name is Karen."My heart ached. I had never heard my mother speak about my father, let alone a fiance. "Why didn't you get married?" I askes, still not sure of my suspicions."We were very young, head over heels
As I lay on the bed, exhaustion tugging at my body, my mind continued racing. The pieces of this strange puzzle were falling into place, but too slowly. I closed my eyes, willing myself to rest, but sleep felt impossible with so many questions swirling in my head.Who was Jefferson really to my mother? Why had she kept him a secret for so long? What did it mean that I was here, in his house, at this very moment? The timing felt too coincidental, almost like some unseen force had guided me here to discover this long-buried truth.After what felt like hours of tossing and turning, I decided to get up and walk around the house. The moonlight filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the floor. The silence of the house felt both comforting and eerie, as though it held secrets it wasn’t yet ready to reveal.I made my way back to the living room, where the photograph still sat on the mantel. I couldn’t resist looking at it again. My mother’s smiling face stared back at me, s
I woke early the next morning, the first rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains. The house was still quiet, almost too quiet, but I didn’t have time to dwell on the strange emptiness. Today was the day. I would go home, face my mother, and demand the answers I deserved. There was no avoiding it anymore.After a quick shower, I packed my things, slipping the small photograph from the mantel into my bag. I wasn’t sure why I took it—maybe I just needed proof, something tangible to hold on to when the questions felt too overwhelming.As I walked down the stairs, Jefferson was already in the kitchen, pouring himself a cup of coffee. His eyes met mine, and for a brief moment, I saw the same sadness from the night before. But there was also a quiet acceptance, as if he knew what was coming.“Leaving already?” he asked, his voice soft.“Yeah. I think it’s time,” I replied, glancing down at my bag. “I need to talk to her.”He nodded, taking a sip from his mug. “I figured as much. I wi
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.”H
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
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
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
It had been days since my last conversation with Jack, and I was still navigating the emotional storm it had left behind. The weight of my mother’s expectations, Jack’s unwavering stance, and the impending reality of the baby were more than I could bear. But the thought that kept reoccurring the most was our initmate time together. It was so good, I replayed it several times, and somehow wished I could go back to him and do it all over again. The silence in the house was both a blessing and a curse, giving me too much time to think. What was going to happen after my mother and Jack get divorced? Will Jack and I be able to be together? Or was that a dream that would never come true?When the doorbell rang that afternoon, I wasn’t expecting anyone. I hesitated for a moment before opening the door, my heart sinking the instant I saw Alex standing there.“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.Alex stood there, looking as confident as ever, but there was so
The dim light of the bedroom cast shadows on the walls, and the world outside seemed to fade away as Jack gently set me down on the bed. His touch was tender, his gaze unwavering as if he were memorizing every detail of this moment.“Sophia...” he whispered again, his voice a mixture of longing and restraint.I reached for him, pulling him closer, silencing his hesitation with another kiss. The intensity grew, and for a while, everything else ceased to exist—no secrets, no lies, no guilt. Just us.My breath hissed in wonder at the sensation of him inside me, it has been a while since we were together like this. It had been a very long time since i'd been on top, and I liked it. I rocjed my hips down over his cock, and got rewarded by a low grunt from Jack. Encouraged, I swirled my hips over his in circular motions that reminded me how big he was, how well he filled me, how good he felt inside me. My hands moved to his chest, teasing his nipples as I rocked gently atop him."Touch me,
Jack guided me to the couch, his arm still loosely wrapped around my shoulders. The weight of the world felt lighter in his presence, even if only for a little while.“I told her, Jack,” I said softly, breaking the silence. “About my feelings for you. About us... and now she’s demanding I keep the baby and do whatever she says.”He let out a low, frustrated sigh. “Karen doesn’t forgive easily. She’s definitely up to something.”I nodded, tears welling up again. “I don’t know what to do. I agreed to her terms because I just wanted her to stop looking at me like I’m a stranger, like I ruined everything.”Jack leaned back, running a hand over his face. “Sophia, you didn’t ruin everything. I—” He stopped, his jaw tightening. “I should’ve stopped this before it got to this point. You’re in the middle of a storm I helped create.”I reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly. “Don’t do that. We’re in this together. I don’t regret the baby or what we had, Jack, no matter how complicated thing
I sat nervously at the edge of the couch in the living room, my hands trembling as I waited for my mother to join me. I had pleaded with her to have a word. All through last night I couldn't sleep, I couldn't bear the fact that my mother was hurting because of me and my selfish actions.The air was thick with tension, and as the door to the living room creeked opened, my heart jumped. When Karen finally walked in, her presence was as commanding as ever—poised, but her eyes sharp and unreadable.Karen’s gaze swept over me, lingering for a second too long before she sat across from me. “What is this about, Sophia?” she asked coolly, folding her hands akimbo.I swallowed hard, suddenly unsure of how to begin. “Mom... I wanted to talk about everything. About the baby. About us.”Karen’s lips thinned, but she didn’t interrupt.“I’ve been thinking,” I began, my voice faltering. “I’ve been thinking about what you said, about how I’ve hurt you, how I’ve destroyed everything.” I hesitated, wa
Jack’s face hardened, and he took a step toward her, but Karen held her ground. “This isn’t just about you, Jack. You don’t get to ruin our family, and then sit there and act like it’s all just going to blow over. You have no idea what this has done to Sophia—what this is doing to me.”“I didn’t mean for it to get this far,” Jack muttered, his voice quieter now, though there was no apology in it.Karen shook her head, her heart racing with the pain of it all. “You never meant for it to get this far, Jack. You had an affair with my own daughter, under my very nose and you're acting like you had no choice. But you had choices. You always had choices.”Jack’s jaw tightened as he looked at her. “I didn’t ask for this. But I didn’t want to lose you. I didn’t want to lose Sophia. And now I don’t know what to do.”“Well, you don’t have to worry about that anymore,” Karen snapped, stepping back, her hand pressed to her forehead as she tried to hold back tears. “I don’t know who you are anymor
I retreated to my room, the weight of my mother’s words pressing down on me like a suffocating fog. Her anger was justified, her pain palpable. I wanted to undo everything, to take back the confession that had shattered her world, but it was too late.The house was so quiet, every sound seemed amplified—the creak of the floorboards, the tick of the clock, the low hum of the refrigerator. It was suffocating.I sat on my bed, staring at my phone. Then I decided to call Jack. The secret we’d kept for so long was no longer just ours.My hands trembled as I dialed his number, he was just doors away but I couldn't face him to tell him what I had done.“Jack,” I whispered, my voice shaky as soon as he picked.“Sophia,” he said, his tone laced with tension. “What’s wrong?”“I told her,” I admitted, my throat tightening.There was a pause, and then, “You what?”“I told my mother everything,” I said, my voice breaking. “About us. About the baby. She knows, Jack.”I heard him inhale sharply, fol
The air in my room felt suffocating, my mother's confession still hanging thick between us. Her revelation stirred a storm of emotions—shock, confusion, and the tiniest glimmer of guilt. She was questioning her choice to stay with Jack, and all I could think about was how precarious our lives were, balanced on the edge of lies and hidden truths.Karen’s gaze softened as she studied me. “Sophia, I didn’t mean to overwhelm you with all of this tonight. I just... I didn’t want to keep you in the dark anymore.”I nodded faintly, though her words barely registered. My mind was already spinning with the implications of what she’d said. If she was doubting her commitment to Jack, it could mean an escape for both of us. Jack would no longer have to deal with the blackmail, and I could—what? Come clean? Start fresh? And possibly, with Jack by my side.The thought sent a chill down my spine. It wasn’t that simple.Karen reached out, her hand brushing against mine. “I just want us to be okay, So
Inside the house, the tension was suffocating. Karen stormed upstairs without another word, her heels echoing on the wooden staircase. Jack lingered in the living room, his phone clutched in his hand. His shoulders slumped as though the weight of his secrets had finally become unbearable. I stood by the door, unsure whether to follow my mother or seize the opportunity and talk to Jack. My thoughts were spinning, but one thing was clear—this was spiraling out of control.Jack turned toward me, his face a mix of exhaustion and frustration. “Sophia, we need to talk.”The words sent a jolt through me. Slowly, I nodded, and he motioned for me to follow him into his study.The room was dimly lit, the faint smell of leather and cigar smoke clinging to the air. Jack closed the door behind us and sat heavily in the chair behind his desk. He gestured for me to sit across from him, but I remained standing, my arms crossed defensively.“What's the 20 million dollars about?” I asked, my voice sha
"Your time is almost up, Jack. $20 million, or the truth comes out. You have until midnight."“Jack…” Karen’s voice was barely a whisper, trembling with disbelief. “What is this? Who’s blackmailing you?”Jack slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a sudden halt at the side of the road. The tires screeched, and my heart lurched in my chest. “Karen, give me the phone,” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.“No.” Karen held the phone tightly, her eyes blazing with anger now. “You’re being blackmailed for twenty million dollars? What truth are they threatening to expose?”“This isn’t the place,” Jack snapped, his voice taut with frustration. “We’ll talk about it when we get home.”“No!” Karen’s voice rose, her anger boiling over. “We’ll talk about it now, Jack. What are you hiding? What truth could possibly be worth twenty million dollars?”I shrank back in my seat, my heart pounding as I watched the scene unfold. Jack’s face was a mask of barely contained fury, and Karen’s determ