Three

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?"

“Mom, this is all happening so fast,” I said, struggling to find the right words. “I know you’re excited, but there are things you need to know about Jack.”

My mother’s face tightened, her eyes narrowing slightly. “What things, Sophia? You barely know him. You haven’t given him a chance.”

I struggled to find my voice, my thoughts racing. "It's just... everything is happening so quickly. How long have you known him, that you want to get married?"

Her expression softened slightly. “I know it’s a lot to take in, Sophia. But this is our chance for a better life. Jack is a good man. He’s been so kind to us, and we've been dating for a few months now."

I forced a smile, but inside, I felt like I was crumbling. “If you’re happy, Mom, then I’ll support you.”

Her face lit up with relief. “Thank you, Sophia. This means everything to me.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I’ll go finish my homework,” I said, retreating from the room before my emotions could betray me.

Back in my room, I collapsed onto my bed, tears streaming down my face. I felt trapped, suffocated by the weight of my secret. How could I let my mother marry Jack? But the fear of shattering her happiness kept me silent.

As I lay there, my phone buzzed. It was Rachel, checking in on me. I hesitated, then typed out a quick message: “I can’t do it. She’s so happy.”

Rachel’s response was immediate. “You have to, Sophia. She deserves to know.”

“I can’t,” I replied, feeling the tears well up again.

“Then we’ll find another way,” Rachel texted back. “I’m here for you.”

I clung to those words, finding a small measure of comfort in her unwavering support. But the thought of confronting Jack, of revealing the truth to my mother, still felt like an insurmountable task.

As the weekend approached, the tension in the house grew. Boxes were packed, arrangements were made, and my mother’s excitement was palpable. I went through the motions, helping where I could, all the while feeling a growing sense of dread.

The night before the move, I found myself alone in the kitchen, my mind racing. I couldn’t let this continue. But how could I stop it?

“Hey," I heard a voice low and husky, call to my attention. I looked in the direction and saw Jack.

“We need to talk," he said, his gaze locked on mine.

I nodded, my throat dry. “Yeah. We do."

“Not here though," he said, suggesting we go out of the house.

We walked to a nearby coffee shop, the tension between us palpable. I didn't know what to expect, but I knew I had to face whatever it was head-on.

As we sat down, he turned to me and said, “I've been wanting to talk to you."

My heart skipped a bit as I listened.

He smiled nervously, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I haven't been able to stop thinking about that night at the party."

I felt a flutter in my chest. “Why?"

“Because I just can't, no matter how hard I try."

I stared at Jack, trying to decipher his expression. His nervous smile didn’t match the confident, almost predatory demeanor he had when he was in my home.

“What do you mean?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jack sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Sophia, I didn’t know who you were that night. If I had known you were Emily’s daughter, I would never have...”

“Never have what?” I interrupted, feeling a surge of anger. “Kissed me passionately? Invaded my dreams and thoughts?”

He shook his head. “It’s not like that. I’m genuinely sorry for the misunderstanding. But now, everything’s changed. Your mother and I... we’re serious about each other.”

I looked away, trying to keep my emotions in check. “So, what now? You just expect me to pretend nothing happened?”

“No,” Jack said firmly. “I want us to be honest with each other. I don’t want any secrets between us. That’s why I asked you here. I want to make things right.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Make things right? Jack, my mother is planning to marry you. She’s over the moon about this. How do you expect me to ruin her happiness?”

“I don’t,” he said softly. “I want to find a way to move forward without causing any more pain. For all of us.”

I shook my head, tears welling up again. “I don’t see how that’s possible.”

Jack reached across the table, his hand brushing mine. I pulled away, the contact sending a shiver down my spine. “Sophia, please. Let’s try to figure this out together.”

The sincerity in his voice made me pause. Maybe he was right. Maybe we could find a way to navigate this mess without breaking my mother’s heart. But the thought of keeping such a huge secret from her still felt wrong.

“I need time,” I said finally, standing up. “I can’t deal with this right now.”

Jack nodded, his expression somber. “I understand. Take all the time you need. Just know that I’m here, and I want to make this work.”

I left the coffee shop, my mind swirling with conflicting emotions. As I walked back home, Jack's words echoed in my mind: "I haven't been able to stop thinking about that night at the party."

So it wasn't just me. I blushed.