"Hey, come back here..." Her eyes narrowed in a squint as she motioned for me to come forward. She then glanced at Mr. Clinton, furrowing her eyebrow with her hand on her waist. "Won't you introduce her properly? You haven't even introduced me to her yet." His face lit up in amusement; it seemed this was his mother's typical behavior. "Forgive my manners," he apologized, gesturing towards me with a sheepish grin. "Mother, this is Sarah, my best friend's daughter. And Sarah, this is my mother..." He glanced at her after his conciliatory introduction. She glared at him and slapped his shoulders. "Is that how you introduce your mother?" Her reproof made me snort; my eyes darted to Mr. Clinton, his eyebrow quirked, looking away as he was fed up with her tantrum. "You called me mother without adding sweet or lovely." She hummed in annoyance and faced me with a warm smile. "I am his mother; you can call me Miss Rose." She is quite a funny one; I think we might get along really well
His brow knitted as he tilted his head, staring at me incredulously. "And how are you so sure?" My lips still hovered over his face while I slightly slouched towards him. "Let's make a bet." He turned around to face me, finally realizing how seriously I was. He looked down at me, the imposing yet intimidating height difference was palpable. He let out a throaty chuckle, amused by my sage. "Really? A bet?" He chuckled again, crossing his arms. "How desperate are you?" I admit I repeatedly cross my boundaries, but I couldn't help it when my heart keeps nagging me to never shut my feelings out. "I might be desperate today; it will be your turn tomorrow." To be honest, I don't know where this frightening boldness was coming from. I know I can be a pest sometimes, but this is way out of the charts. "You're gonna look at me the same way I do, and then you will interpret love from my perspective." His eyes keenly trailed my mouth as I spoke; he was truly amused and intrigued by my c
"Erin." I called, my eyes narrowed as she continued scanning the floor. She stood at the edge of the room, slouching under my small table as if searching for something. My eyes wandered on the ground to ascertain what she must be looking for, but I had no clue. What's she even doing here? She doesn't look to be cleaning... "Erin..." I called again, gliding toward her. "What are you searching for, and how did you get in..." I jangled a bunch of keys in her face, ambiguously hinting that I locked the room before going downstairs. She remained silent, a smile spreading across her face, which made me roll my eyes in a scoff. She never gets tired, but I wonder what she is hiding behind that smile. But then a frown etched my face as I noticed her eyes lingering on the keys I was holding. "Now tell me how you got in..." I asked, tossing the keys onto the table, waiting for a response, but there was none. She tilted her head toward the table, her gaze still fixed on the keys. What the
My eyes darted to Mr. Clinton as I whispered a silent plea for another help, but he ignored me.I guess I'm alone in this one.I smiled awkwardly, swaying my legs. "Well, um, I have written up to a hundred words yet, so it's not enough to make a chapter.""But I saw a lot of words written in there..." she said incredulously, a slight frown etching her face."No, it's just the outline..." I replied, slowly stepping backwards to escape any more questions. But the expression on her face showed she was ready to hurl more at me..."Then I'd like to read the outline..." she insisted, attempting to snatch the book from me.I flinched, clutching the book to my chest. "Miss Ross, I don't think... it's... a... good idea..." I drawled, stealing glances at Mr. Clinton. But to my surprise, he was going back upstairs.My face contorted while I watched him leave me alone to continue the explanation he started...My gaze returned to Miss Ross, her eyes widening with a sudden realization as she let ou
Days passed, and Erin hadn't returned to the duplex, which was quite a relief. I wouldn't have to put up with the weirdness and the smug look on her face for knowing my secret.I had no lectures, so I decided to spend the rest of the day at home studying. Exams were on the way in a few weeks. Since Mr. Clinton promised not to rat me out for missing my last test, I would have to make up for it..."Xavier, my driver hasn't arrived. Won't you call him?" Miss Ross's voice echoed from downstairs. "I hope you haven't hired some incompetent...""Oh, Mother, please be patient..." I heard Mr. Clinton cutting her off.I snorted at the mother and son bickering; the house had been more lively ever since her arrival... It made me see another frustrated side of Mr. Clinton, and honestly, I loved the look on his face when his mother taunted him...I chuckled, grabbed my bathrobe, and made my way to the bathroom, only to find out that the water system was faulty.I rolled my eyes, sighing as I kept p
**XAVIER'S POV** Her groan scared me to death, causing me to quickly come to her aid as a thudding sound reverberated through the walls. But my initial fears that drove me running down here turned into insignificance. I felt hooked when my eyes landed on her body. At first, I struggled to look away, too captivated by the sight in front of me. Every lump of her body was alluringly pinning me down and throwing my typical rationality out the roof. I quickly snapped out of it, averting my eyes. "I'm sorry." I stepped backward, inwardly berating myself for coming in without thinking. I turned around to leave, but her whimper made me halt. I tilted my head in her direction, looking anywhere else apart from her. "Are you okay?" I asked, my voice laced with concern. "Of course not, and you're about to leave me..." she replied, shielding her bosom with her arms. "I know this is awkward, but I'm dying in pain." Helplessly, I grabbed her towel and tossed it to her. She donned it on
I could barely put on my jeans but strived anyways. Pain or no pain, I would have to put on my clothes eventually. I limped to the mirror to brush my hair, but the chime from my phone interrupted me. I glanced at the caller ID and sighed, refusing to pick up the call. It was Helen; she was definitely calling to scold me for getting drunk and ruining her plans. My phone continued ringing incessantly, getting on my nerves. I reluctantly answered, getting straight to my warning. "Don't you dare scold me, Helen; I'm not in the..." I trailed off when I heard her sobbing on the phone. "Helen, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" My exasperated tone turned to one of concern as I pondered. Helen had hardly cried since high school; she always had the notion of a perfect life with no problems. She had no care in the world, always doing as she pleased with all joy. I was quite taken aback when I heard her voice breaking with sobs. "Sarah... can you please... come over?" "Of course, I
The night cold wind seeped into my exposed skin, sending trails of goosebumps all over me. I looked far off in the distance, constantly checking to see if a black or grey car was approaching, but none I recognized passed by. Sulking in my breath, I tried dialing his number again, but there was no answer, which only got me exasperated. I huffed, kicking the ground with my feet, but a shrill of pain surged through me, my knee throbbing from the abrupt pressure. I groaned silently, berating myself for getting out of control and hurting myself in the process. "Is he angry at me to the extent that he wants to abandon me?" I murmured, my heart slowly racing in desperation and an immense urge to shield myself from the harsh weather. I got back into the car, leaning on the headrest, my vision almost betraying me to sleep, but I snapped awake. Sleeping in the middle of the room was a sensible thing to do, especially at nighttime. I barely registered how the time flew by, but I was certain
A month had passed since we left Paris. Our little family had settled into a cozy villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Well, we moved in for the wedding, actually. Now, standing in front of the mirror, I smoothed out my lace wedding gown. My heart fluttered as I thought of Xavier waiting for me at the altar. "Sarah, you look stunning," my maid of honor said, adjusting my veil. Who else would it be? It's my best friend, Helen. I smiled, feeling like a princess. The ceremony was intimate, with only close friends and family attending. "Hey, kiddo." A voice interrupted my thoughts, bringing a smile to my face. "The guests are waiting. Are you just gonna sit there and admire yourself?" Juniper appeared at the door, crossing her arms and wearing a feigned frown on her face. Juniper had helped out with the wedding planning; she even brought her kids along. Although I was grateful for her expertise, her planning ways exceeded Xavier's budget, but he didn't complain. "Juniper, you'
SARAH'S POV "About what!" I snapped, my eyes blazing. Xavier held my shoulders to placate me, but I was beyond reasoning. My baby was at risk because of him, and he was lucky nothing happened to him or her. If something had happened, I would have... I stopped and forced myself to stay calm when I noticed my father's soft gaze.He leaned against the wall without speaking, letting me pour out my anger. Only when I was done did he finally speak. "I meant to say..." He hesitated, glancing at Xavier. "I'm... sorry."It was as if he forced those words right out of his mouth.I looked away, breaking eye contact, and Xavier gently stroked my shoulder again."Sarah, calm down. Don't stress yourself out, okay?"Yeah, I'm pregnant. I shouldn't stress myself out.I flashed him a soft smile and leaned on his shoulders, making sure to avoid eye contact with my father."Sarah, I'm happy for you," my father continued, despite my bad attitude. "Now that there's nothing else I can do, you're free to l
My eyes widened in shock as I found Sarah lying on the bed, pale and motionless. In an instant, my heart sank, and my world crumbled around me."Sarah?" I whispered, approaching her cautiously.My legs felt heavy, as if rooted to the spot, but I forced myself to move closer. William's presence faded into the background, irrelevant to the only thing that mattered – Sarah.I gently sat beside her, my hand reaching out to brush away the strands of hair clinging to her forehead. Her skin felt cold and clammy."Sarah," I whispered, my voice trembling.Her eyelids fluttered open, and our gazes met. For a moment, I saw a glimmer of recognition, a spark of life.But it was fleeting.Her eyes, once bright and full of laughter, now seemed dull and lifeless."Sarah, please," I begged, my voice cracking. "Talk to me.""Sarah!" William, who had finally broken out of his stupor, rushed over to her side, shaking her gently, completely disregarding my presence.Then he froze, staring at Sarah, as the
XAVIER'S POV"Daddy, when is Sarah coming back?" Elizabeth had asked after I had watched as William's car disappeared, taking Sarah away from me. My heart felt like it had been ripped out. I couldn't believe I had to let her go.But I knew it was necessary. William's anger and determination to keep us apart were palpable.I crouched down to meet Elizabeth's height, her big brown eyes filled with concern. "Soon, sweetie. Sarah needs to go for now." I offered a reassuring smile."Where's William, her dad?" Harper chimed in, her brow furrowing. "Did the two of them leave?"I glanced up at Harper, who stood beside Hayden, his expression serious as if they were interrogating me.I let out a sigh and tried to simplify the truth. "Like I said, they're gone, but—" I was interrupted by Elizabeth whining. Her face scrunched up. "Why did Sarah leave without telling us? This is so unlike her."I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "Sometimes, grown-ups need to figure things out. She
With my curiosity piqued, I got off the bed and made my way to the door. Walking down the hallway, the sound of heels clinking on the floor grew louder, making me even more curious about who had come to visit. Ever since I moved in, we’ve never had visitors, and that thought only fueled my curiosity.I entered the living room only to find a woman and my father walking from the door. My father’s gentle smile was a stark contrast to the tension that had filled the air moments before.Seriously? So I am the only downer here who won't get what she wants. I scoffed and quietly strode towards them.My eyes remained fixed on the lady, and I couldn’t help but keep my mouth wide open as I saw her intimate with my father. Her lips were pressed against my father's, and he responded with equal fervor, completely oblivious to my presence.So he has a girlfriend in Paris, huh?Way to go, Father; only you deserve happiness.I felt a mix of disgust and betrayal surging through me. I’ve learned to use
"Welcome to my humble abode. Don't you like the view?" My father's cheerful voice cut through my thoughts. Again. He kept interrupting my moping with his unnecessary small talk and fake enthusiasm. Can't he see I'm still reeling from the pain he's caused?I forced a glance around the luxurious penthouse apartment, trying to appear unimpressed. To be honest, it was quite breathtaking, but I wouldn't say it."It's nice, Father," I said flatly, my voice devoid of enthusiasm.My father's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered."I'm glad you like it. You'll be comfortable—""Cut the small talk,I wasn't done talking." I spat, cutting him off. I chuckled, still glancing around. "It's just that it's missing something."My father, sensing my fake enthusiasm, leaned close with a smile. "What do you think is missing?"A mischievous grin spread across my face as I replied, "My happiness."My father's smile froze, his eyes widening, caught off guard by my true intention."Sarah, co
I turned and walked away, leaving Xavier behind. My father's suffocating grip on my arm guided me toward the car. I felt numb, my heart heavy. As we drove away, I glanced back at the duplex, the building fading away. There wasn't any sight of Xavier, and it hurt to sense he was giving up. Or isn't he? I really don’t know. I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye to the girls; they would be devastated when they wake up without me beside them. This can't be happening. "We're going to Paris, Sarah. You'll be safe there. We're better off without him." My father's voice cut through my thoughts. His words felt like acid in my throat. I turned to him, my face twisted in a mix of anger and desperation. "Safe from what, Father?" I demanded. My father's expression remained unyielding. "From Xavier. From his influence on you." I felt a surge of indignation. "You don't even know him," I spat. "And you claim he is your best friend." My father's grip on the steering wheel tighte
SARAH'S POV"Father, what are you doing!" I rushed over to Xavier's side and cupped his cheek, blood trickling out of his nose. My eyes locked onto my father's scrunched-up face, his eyes blazing with fury."Get away from him, Sarah!" he growled.But I stood firm, my heart racing. "You're hurting him!" I pleaded, my eyes welling up. "How could you do this, Father?"Xavier's eyes fluttered open, and he winced."Sarah, I'm fine," he whispered.My father's face twisted in disgust."Don't talk to her, Xavier. You've done enough damage."I felt a surge of anger. I never expected this kind of reaction from him."That's not true! I did the damage!" I said, my voice firm as I walked towards him. "It was me who fell for him first, so if you're angry, then pour it on me."My father's gaze snapped back to me, and I could see the disappointment and hurt in his eyes."Sarah, I didn't expect this from... both of you," he said, his voice soft with a layer of pain and betrayal. "I trusted him."I sto
WILLIAM'S POVI didn't know what was taking Xavier so long to open the door after telling me he would open it in a minute. A minute had turned into an eternity."Xavier!" I called again, attempting to knock on the door again, but it opened, revealing Xavier's wry smile."Hey," he said, scratching the back of his head. "Why are you here?"My brow furrowed. "Didn't you hear what I said? I said I need help. That's why I came. Now will you let me come in?" I said and gently pushed him out of the way, letting myself in.I tossed the towel I was holding onto his bed and turned to meet his surprised, perhaps shocked, expression."Why are you here with the towel?" he asked, chuckling."Sorry for disturbing you. I wanted to take a late-night bath, but my water system isn't working," I explained, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible, despite the curiosity brewing inside me."Water system's out? Figured I'd use yours. Hope that's okay."Xavier's raised eyebrow and amused smile hinted that h