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CHAPTER TEN: A father’s shadow
Last Updated:
2024-12-11 20:59:09
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The figure moved swiftly toward the gate, and Mia’s heart surged with hope. As he stepped closer, his face became unmistakable. It was her father, Fred Williams—tall and broad-shouldered, with neatly trimmed hair and a fitted T-shirt and jeans. He looked well—too well, nothing like the disheveled father she had last seen four years ago.Mia’s heart surged as the figure stepped out of the gate. For a moment, hope filled her chest, a flicker of disbelief in her voice as she whispered, “Daddy?”The man paused near the gate, his expression caught between surprise and discomfort. “Mia? What are you doing here? How did you find me?” His voice lowered, as though he was wary of being overheard. “I thought you stayed in…” He hesitated, “Springwood. Isn’t that where you and your mom stayed?”Mia’s breath hitched. His tone felt cold, distant, not at all the warmth she had hoped for. “You’re right, but I’m here because it’s urgent.”The man glanced uneasily at the guard standing nearby. “Excuse u
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Mia’s hands shook as she dropped the shards of the vase, panic twisting her chest. She knelt beside the unconscious man, her fingers fumbling through his jacket. Who was he? Her breathing quickened as she searched for anything—an ID, a clue—anything that could explain why she was there. Suddenly, she froze. She could hear faint footsteps behind the door. Someone was coming. The sound was sharp, deliberate. Her heart pounded harder with each step. Who could that be? The door burst open, and she jumped, turning toward the noise. It was Zac. Mia’s stomach flipped at the sight of him. He stood in the doorway, tall and commanding, his sharp eyes moving from her to the man on the floor, then back to her. The calmness in his voice sent a chill down her spine. “What’s going on, Mia? What did you do?” Her heart raced. She didn’t even know where she was. The last time she checked, she’d been at least three hours away from home, stuck on a desolate street. How was Zac here?
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Mia woke to the smell of food drifting through the air. For a moment, she lay still, caught between sleep and waking. The bright exterior lights slipped through the thin curtains, casting a quiet glow in her room. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand—just past 5 a.m., the same time she always woke up.Stretching her arms above her head, she slowly sat up. Her eyes wandered to the empty chair by her bed, where she had spent hours last night, going over the questions Zac had told her to prepare. A few answers stuck in her head. Most of them didn’t. It didn’t really matter. She had a few hours left to cram, but the thought of why she was doing this lingered. Why did she care so much about obeying Zac?The answer came quickly: her mom.Mia hadn’t expected to see her mother last night. When she got home, her mom was asleep on the couch, her head resting against the armrest. She must have waited for hours, but Mia couldn’t bring herself to wake her. The soft rise and fall of her mom’s
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Angelo entered the parking lot, his footsteps clinking in shiny shoes. His eyes darted around, his face tense beneath furrowed brows as he muttered, “Where is she?”He scanned the rows of cars, turning to this side and that, his every movement a manifestation of frustration. Just as he turned to leave, a voice checked his steps.“Angelo?”He froze and turned slowly, relief washing over his face when he saw her. “Mia.” He exhaled deeply, the tension melting from his shoulders. “I’ve actually been looking for you.”Mia tilted her head, surprised. “Really?”He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest, narrowing his eyes slightly. “I heard you applied for the position of secretary here.”She paused, pushing a strand of her chestnut-brown wig behind her ear. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” she said softly.“Come on, Mia,” Angelo said, a slight edge of hurt in his voice. “I thought we were friends. Aren’t we?”Mia’s eyes dropped to the floor, her conscience pul
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“Yes, Dad,” she replied, her voice steady but cautious. “It’s my passion. I’ve wanted this for years.” Seth dropped the tablet onto the desk, his temper flaring. “Passion? What about the family business? What about everything I’ve worked for?” “Dad, I told you years ago,” Celine said, her voice rising slightly. “I have no interest in working under the family name.” “But you agreed to the business courses I enrolled you in,” he snapped. “Dad—” “No!” he shouted, cutting her off. “You’re my last chance, Celine!” Seth stood up immediately, pacing the room. “Your sisters have already disappointed me—one playing dress-up with her fashion company, the other running off to teach art to children! Let’s not even start with Angela, who eloped with her boyfriend. But you… You’re the only one who could—” “Could what?” Celine interrupted, her composure cracking. “Give up my dreams to live the life you want for me?” She stood now, her voice rising. “Dad, I’ve told you before. I lov
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Mia stepped into the private dining hall, her steps careful and purposeful. The room was filled with subtle luxury, muted golden lighting bouncing off polished silver accents, complemented by the soft hum of a piano in the corner. Two waitresses stood by discreetly, their postures perfect, as if rehearsed. It was the kind of refined luxury that made her feel like an uninvited guest at a gala. Zac sat at the far end of the room, casually swirling a glass of wine, looking like a king in his domain. He looked up when she walked in, his eyes scanning her as if measuring her value. When Mia stepped closer, he immediately noticed her simple outfit—a satin skirt, blouse, and flat sandals. She was beautiful, as always, but woefully out of place. He smiled, leaning back in his chair as she approached. “Good evening, sir,” Mia said with a polite bow. “Sit,” he said sharply, not bothering to acknowledge her greeting. “Check the menu if you need something specific.” Mia hesitated, her ton
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Mia’s heels clicked against the pavement, the sound echoing like a countdown in her mind. She tried to run faster, but the tight straps of her boots betrayed her. She tripped, twisting her ankle, and quickly reached for a streetlight pole to stop herself from falling completely. Suddenly, the sensor light above her snapped on, revealing the man trailing her. He came to a stop, raising his hands to pull back his hooded sweatshirt. Her breath hitched as she stared at the face now exposed. “Derrick?” she whispered, barely audible over her heavy breathing. “It’s me,” Derrick smirked, stepping closer. His tone was teasing, almost playful. “Why are you running? I was just messing with you.” “Messing with me? Derrick, you scared me!” She struggled to catch her breath, even though her heart was still pounding so hard it felt like it might burst from her chest. “Come on, Mia. Get up,” he said, extending a hand to her. She stared at his hand cautiously, as if it might bit
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Zac had no plans to show up at Angelo’s birthday party initially. He didn’t enjoy those kinds of gatherings, and being around a crowd of strangers wasn’t appealing to him. But as time passed, staying at home with Bella around left him with no choice. The party suddenly felt like a good excuse to get away—a break from the chaos waiting for him back home.When he arrived, Angelo looked surprised. “You’re here?” He asked, his grin faltering slightly.“I guess so.” Zac shrugged it off, offering no explanation. It was Angelo’s birthday, after all. There was no need to ruin it with his own troubles.Rather than sitting with the others, Zac chose a spot away from the crowd, one where he could blend into the background. He hadn’t told Angelo about his fiancée—now ex-fiancée—and her attempt to hurt Mia. How could he? It wasn’t the right time or place.And then Mia arrived.Her arrival caught everyone’s attention. The room seemed to pause, conversations stopping as heads turned her way. The th
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You’re telling me all that happened today?” Samantha asked, throwing a set of clothes on top of Mia’s bed. She was already dressed in her pajamas, wrapped her ginger hair up in a bun. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she watched Mia comb her tangled hair in front of the mirror. “You know I don’t make things up,” Mia replied, her voice tired. “It’s been one drama after another. To be honest, I’m done worrying about it.” She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. Samantha picked up a black silk top from the stack and held it up. “What about this? It screams edgy-but-cute, right?” Mia barely glanced at it before flopping back onto the bed with a groan. “I don’t even want to go. I should just cancel, Sam. I’m serious.” “You dare not cancel!” Samantha spun around dramatically, her hands on her hips. “Girl, it’s Angelo’s party. You have to be there. Besides, you can’t leave him hanging after everything. Remember, he even stayed back to clean up after your mom’s birthday
