STACEYThe moment I stepped into my penthouse, my phone buzzed incessantly, but I ignored it. My focus was on the mess at hand. Eugene had slipped through our fingers, and I was fuming. I slammed my bag onto the glass table, and the sound echoed in the silent room.A man, sitting calmly on my couch, raised an eyebrow at my outburst. "I take it things didn’t go as planned?""They lost her!" I snapped, pacing back and forth. "How incompetent can they be? They let Eugene escape, and now she’s out there, God knows where probably plotting something!"The man didn’t react much, just leaned back, crossing his legs. "And you’re sure it was a clean break? No one saw her?"I glared at him. "That’s not the point! The point is they let her go! I told them to keep an eye on her, and they couldn’t even manage that!""Relax," he said, in a tone that made my blood boil even more. "You’ve still got Damien, don’t you? Isn’t he the whole reason you’re doing this?"I took a deep breath, trying to calm do
KYLEI leaned against the door, watching the scene between Damien, Stacey, and my father unfold with mild disinterest. These dramatic exchanges had become routine, and I was tired of being caught in the middle of their endless tug-of-war. Stacey was barking out retorts like her life depended on it, while Damien’s father looked ready to burst a blood vessel. It was all predictable until I noticed Damien’s left hand.Twitching.He tucked it behind Stacey as casually as possible, but I’d seen it. Damien’s finger only twitched when he was lying. Always had.What could he be lying about?I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes as I tried to decipher his face. But before I could piece anything together, Damien called a truce and walked off with Stacey into the garden.That evening, I decided to join them.“Mind if I join?” I asked, plopping down on the chair before Stacey could get a word out.Her eyes narrowed into slits, and her lips pressed into a thin line. If looks could kill, I’d be six f
SHAWNAI sat on the couch, my fingers drumming nervously on my lap as Mom sat across from me, her gaze sharp enough to slice through my thoughts. I could feel her impatience radiating across the room.“Well?” she asked, tilting her head slightly and narrowing her eyes. “What did Damien say?”I sighed heavily, leaning back into the cushions. “He hasn’t told me anything yet,” I admitted, my frustration bubbling just under the surface. “He’s…hesitating.”Mom’s frown deepened, and she crossed her arms tightly across her chest. “Hesitating? About what?” she snapped, her voice climbing a notch. “Shawna, this isn’t some casual decision. This is your life we’re talking about! Your safety. The kids’ safety!”“I know!” I shot back, running my hands through my hair. “Do you think I’m not aware of that? He just… he’s not ready to commit to a plan yet. I don’t know what’s holding him back!”Before she could say anything else, Grandpa Bryan cleared his throat from his spot near the window. His calm
SHAWNAKyle was sneaking around, and I wasn’t about to let him ruin everything we had worked so hard to set up.“Are you sure about this?” Liam whispered. His breath fogged in the cold air as he looked at me concernedly.I nodded, my jaw tight. “We can’t let him figure out what’s going on. If he does…”Before I could finish, Kyle took a cautious step away from the car, glancing around like he expected someone to pounce.“Now,” I hissed, grabbing Liam’s arm.We darted out from the shadows, Liam grabbing Kyle by the arm before he could take another step.“What the—!” Kyle yelped, stumbling as Liam’s grip tightened. His face twisted in surprise, his eyes darting from Liam to me. “Shawna? What the hell are you doing here?”I crossed my arms, glaring at him. “I should be asking you the same thing. Why are you sneaking around?”Kyle’s shock quickly morphed into a sly grin. “Sneaking around? Oh, come on. You’re the ones lurking in the dark, pouncing on people like some secret agents. What ar
EUGENEThe moment Kyle’s car taillights disappeared into the night, I turned to Shawna, frustration bubbling in my chest. I couldn’t hold it in any longer.“Why didn’t you just give him the contract?” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. “It could’ve avoided all this mess!”Her head whipped around so fast that I almost took a step back. Her eyes were blazing, and her posture was tense. “Excuse me?” she said, her tone icy. “Risk my company to protect you and your mom? Are you serious right now?”I swallowed hard, but I wasn’t going to back down. “It’s just one contract, Shawna,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “One deal, and he’d have nothing to hold over us anymore.”She let out a bitter laugh, throwing her hands in the air. “Do you even hear yourself, Eugene? One deal? That’s not just a ‘deal’—it’s my business, my reputation! I don’t owe you or your mom anything!”Her words hit like a slap, and I flinched despite myself. I opened my mouth to argue, but she wasn’t done
SHAWNA The moment I stepped through my front door, I slammed it shut, leaning against it to catch my breath. My head spun from the confrontation with Eugene, but I couldn’t dwell on it. There was no way I was risking everything I’d worked for to clean up her mess. Not long after, there was a knock at the door. I groaned, hoping it wasn’t Damien returning to pester me about the contract. Liam and Damien stood there when I opened it, looking serious. “What now?” I muttered, stepping aside to let them in. Liam gave me a small smile. “We need to talk.” I crossed my arms. “If this is about Eugene, save it. I’ve made my decision.” “You’re being stubborn,” Damien said, his tone clipped. “I’m being practical,” I shot back. “Eugene and her mother have done nothing but take advantage of me. Why should I do anything that benefits them?” “Because it’s the right thing to do,” Liam said gently. “You’ve always cared about people, Shawna. Don’t let this change who you are.” I shook m
SHAWNA I froze, my eyes glued to Stacey as her smug smile widened. My brain struggled to catch up. What was she doing here? How was this even possible? “What… what are you doing here?” I finally managed to ask, my voice shaky. Stacey leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs with infuriating ease. “Didn’t the receptionist tell you? I’m the new owner of this company. Surprised?” Her tone was mocking, her eyes glinting with amusement. “You bought this company?” My words felt hollow, disbelief and anger swirling in my chest. “Why?” Stacey tilted her head, pretending to think. “Why not? It seemed like a good investment,” she said, her smile turning sharper. “But I’m more curious about what you’re doing here, Shawna. Running around all day, closing deals. What’s the rush?” I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came out. My brain was stuck, trying to figure out how much she knew and why she cared. I stammered, “I-I—well, it’s just—” Before I could embarrass myself further
SHAWNADamien’s eyes narrowed as he caught the subtle shift in my expression. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice low but edged with concern.I swallowed hard and handed him my phone. “Read this.”Damien’s jaw tightened as he scanned the message on my phone, his knuckles going white around the edges of the device. When his eyes finally met mine, they were full of determination. “We can’t give her Eugene. That’s like signing her death warrant.”I crossed my arms and started pacing, the words spilling out before I could stop them. “Maybe she deserves it. After everything she’s done, Damien… the lies, the manipulation. But even if I wanted to do the right thing, we don’t have a lot of options right now.”Damien stepped in front of me, catching my arm gently but firmly, making me stop in my tracks. “Shawna, listen to me,” he said, his voice calm but intense. “We’ll figure something out. But we’re not handing Eugene over to Stacey. That’s non-negotiable.”I yanked my arm free and stepped b
PHOEBERamon’s face was frozen like he’d seen a ghost.I couldn’t hold it in, I burst out laughing. “Oh my God, Ramon! You should see your face!”He blinked a few times, like he was trying to wake himself up from a dream. “Phoebe. This is not funny.”I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye, still giggling. “It is a little bit funny.”“No, it’s terrifying,” he said, wide-eyed. “Your parents hate me. Your siblings ignore me. I don’t even think your dog likes me.”I placed my hand gently on his arm. “Ramon, come on. It’s not that bad.”“It’s worse.” He looked serious now. “You’ve seen it. Your mom glares at me like I stole her favorite necklace. Your dad won’t even shake my hand properly. And your brothers, they act like I’m invisible.”“They’ve promised they’ll try,” I said softly, squeezing his arm. “They told me they’re going to make an effort. And I believe them.”He raised an eyebrow. “And we’re just supposed to walk in there like nothing’s happened?”“Yes,” I said, nodding. “We’r
SHAWNAI met up with Damien later that evening, just after the sun had started to dip below the trees. The sky was painted in soft oranges and purples, the kind of calming colors that made you want to slow down and breathe. The air was cooler now, the heat of the day finally giving way to a gentle breeze that brushed against my skin. I pulled my cardigan tighter around me as I walked toward the little park near our house. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a few benches, a narrow path, and a small patch of grass, but it was our place. Whenever things felt too loud or too heavy inside the house, this was where we came to talk.Damien was already there, sitting on one of the wooden benches under a tall oak tree. His head was bent over his phone, his fingers scrolling slowly. His expression was calm, focused, the soft glow of the screen lighting up his face.“Hey,” I called softly as I got closer.He looked up immediately, and when our eyes met, he smiled, that easy, warm smile that always m
SHAWNAI sat there in the kitchen, my fingers wrapped around the coffee mug, the warmth of it doing little to ease the cold feeling in my chest. I had been trying to push away the gnawing jealousy I felt, but it wasn’t easy. Phoebe had been so open with my mother, telling her everything, while I was left feeling on the outside. I couldn’t stop thinking about how she’d run to my mom whenever she had something on her mind. What about me? Why didn’t she come to me?I was frustrated, unsure of how to even approach the situation. Phoebe was my daughter, yet it felt like I was losing her bit by bit. I knew she was growing up, and I didn’t have any control over that. But it still stung.I stared out the window, the feeling of being left out creeping up on me again, until I heard the soft footsteps coming down the hall. I didn’t need to look up to know it was my mom. She’d always been able to sense when something was bothering me, even when I tried to hide it.“Shawna, you okay?” she asked, s
PHOEBEI couldn’t stop smiling.Mom actually said it. She said she’d give Ramon a chance. I didn’t even know what to say. I just hugged her, tighter than I ever had.“Thank you,” I whispered. “You have no idea what this means to me.”She smiled, but her eyes still looked cautious. “Don’t make me regret it, Phoebe.”“You won’t,” I promised, still holding onto her like I never wanted to let go.It felt like the air had shifted in our house lighter, warmer. All that tension between us, all the arguing and silence and stares, it felt like it cracked open into something soft again. Something hopeful.The first person I thought about next was Granny. I needed to tell her. She always understood me more than anyone. Not just listened, but understood, like she could feel what I felt without me even saying much. I had to tell her. I needed to see her face when she heard it.I grabbed my bag and headed straight to her place. As soon as I walked in, she was already at the door, like she knew.“Ba
SHAWNAI sighed and wrapped my hands around the warm mug, even though I wasn’t cold. "I know. I do. But this feels different, Damien. She's not picking up her phone. She's not even replying to texts. That’s not like her."Damien reached over and gently placed his hand over mine. "You have to breathe, Shawna. She's not a little girl anymore.""That's the problem," I said softly. "She’s growing up and pulling away, and I don’t know if I’m handling it right. What if we pushed too hard this time?"He leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. "Maybe we did. But maybe... that’s what she needed to figure things out.""I don’t want her figuring things out in the arms of that boy," I muttered, staring into my tea like it would give me answers."That boy has a name. Ramon," he said gently. "And I don’t know much about him yet, but Phoebe’s not stupid. She sees something in him."I pressed my lips together, shaking my head. "But does she see it clearly? Or is she just rebelling against us? Agai
RAMONShe looked at me like I’d just ripped her world open. Those wide eyes, full of confusion and hurt, made something twist deep in my chest. And I hated myself for it, hated that I was the one who put that look on her face.But then she stepped closer.Soft. Careful. Like I was something fragile for once.“Ramon,” she whispered, voice barely there, “just shut up.”I barely had time to breathe before her hands were on my chest, sliding up to my neck, and her lips pressed against mine.God.It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t slow.It was everything I’d been holding back.Her mouth was soft, warm, but urgent. Like she needed this. Like she needed me.And I couldn’t stop myself.My hands gripped her waist, pulled her flush against me. I kissed her back harder, deeper, groaning into her mouth as all the tension from before snapped and turned into something else, something hotter, something real.Her fingers tangled in my hair. I pressed her back gently until her legs hit the edge of the bed. I
PHOEBEI stared at him, my heart pounding so hard it almost hurt. “So that’s it? You’re just going to ask me to leave? Just like that?”Ramon looked away, his jaw tight. “I didn’t ask you to leave. I said you could. If you wanted to.”My chest tightened. That stung more than I expected. “Wow,” I breathed, shaking my head slowly. “So cold. So distant. I thought… I thought you’d fight for me, Ramon. I thought you cared.”He turned his head back to me, eyes flashing. “Phoebe, what do you want me to do?” he snapped, his voice louder now. “You just said you might go. What am I supposed to say to that?”“Anything but that!” I shouted, my voice cracking. “You could’ve said, ‘stay.’ You could’ve said you need me. That you care. That you…”I stared at him, everything inside me going still. “That I love you?” he cut in, voice low and raw like he didn’t mean to say it, like it hurt just saying it out loud.I froze.The air felt heavy, like the moment had just changed everything. My heart thudded
RAMON“Get out.”“I’m not going anywhere.”“I said get out, Richard. And don’t come back here making plans behind my back. No more games. No more secrets. No more surprises.”“Watch yourself, Ramon. Don’t forget your place.”“My place? You think you still get to tell me what to do?”“I’m not telling. I’m reminding. You owe everything to me.”“I don’t owe you anything. Not anymore.”“You think just because you got a house and a little money you can run from the family? From who you are?”“I’ve built everything I have with my own hands. You didn’t do this. I did.”“I raised you.”“You controlled me.”Richard smirked. “Same thing.”“No. It’s not.”He stepped closer, eyes locked with mine. “You’re soft now. Letting that girl in here, messing with your head.”“You don’t get to talk about her.”“I’m just saying, don’t get too comfortable, nephew. This thing, it’s bigger than your feelings.”“This ‘thing’ you keep whispering about? Whatever it is, it’s not happening. Not with me. I’m done.”
RAMONThe moment I shut the bedroom door behind Phoebe, I turned back to Richard, my blood boiling. Heat crawled up my neck, my muscles tensed like a coiled spring, ready to snap. But Richard, he stood there, completely at ease, that smug little smirk still plastered on his face. As if he hadn’t just overstepped his boundaries. As if he hadn’t just dragged my past into the open like it was his story to tell.My hands clenched into fists at my sides. Every part of me burned with the need to wipe that expression off his face. To make him understand that he had no right. No right to bring up my mother. No right to stand in my home and act like he still had power over me.I didn’t bother lowering my voice. I wanted him to hear the fury in every syllable.“Get out.”Richard let out a low chuckle, a slow, deliberate sound that only fueled my rage. He didn’t flinch, didn’t even shift his weight. He just stood there, completely unfazed, watching me like he had been expecting this reaction.Li