Tessa"Yes Mom, I'm already at home. I'm about to enter the house now." I said to my mom on the phone. "Are you together with your father?"Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. Not at the fact that she was asking whether we were together but the use of the word 'father' It hit my nerves deeply. "No. He still has some work to do at school. I return home alone." I mustered up and answered. I don't even think it would be a good idea to come home together with him. Firstly, no one should know I am connected to him in any way. I had barely gotten familiar with the new school. I don't want to be the talk of the school. Or for anyone to give me special treatment because I was his stepdaughter."Alright then. I made some soup before leaving. You can heat it up and boil potatoes. I will be back a bit late. My boss was invited to a dinner meeting, so she wants me to tag along.""No problem Mom. Take care.""Sure. Talk to you later." and the line went dead silent. I closed the door behind me a
TessaI went home with excitement and nervousness coursing through my veins. Was I not supposed to be scared? Being in the room with a man who wanted to eat me alive, despite being my stepfather, was terrifying. But I was happy that my mom wouldn't be back home on time.I got out of the taxi in front of the house. I would have come home with Carter, but he had a short meeting to attend, which made me come home earlier than him. I paid the cab driver and turned to leave when my phone suddenly beeped. It was a message from my mom instructing me to buy the necessary ingredients to make dinner.I groaned inwardly at the fact that I was already home and would have to turn back. I walked down to the next store to get some ingredients. It wasn't far from my house, so it only took me a few minutes. I purchased what I needed and turned to leave when I suddenly heard someone calling my name. I turned around, my gaze met Leah's. She was in the middle of buying a cucumber.She walked toward m
TessaMy face turned pale as I looked at my mom through the window. My heart beat faster than normal, I glared at Mr. Carter on the bed, and he was still there, with a light smile. Didn't he have respect for my mom?"Are you going to sit there?" I was forced to make that statement, but his expression didn't change. I sucked my lower lip before rushing into the bathroom, splashing water on my face and cleaning my dirty body. I then rushed out of the bathroom to change into something else. Mr. Carter was still on the bed, his eyes scanning each of my moves. I ignored him totally, changing into a pair of pants and a top.I heard my mom's voice from downstairs, chanting my name. Each of her calls made my heart beat faster. I made my way to the door to open it, but Mr. Carter's voice stopped me as he walked closer. I felt his presence at my back, his hand wrapped around my neck, traveling down to grab my nipple and caress it along with the cloth. Only God knows how he could locate it
Tessa The night passed with Mr. Carter doing different styles with me, and I couldn't deny the fact that I enjoyed each of it. I couldn't lay my hands on whether I was happy that Mom didn't sleep at home, and one part of me prayed it was always like this, but I knew that was much unrealistic. To be practical, guilt hit me hard yesterday with every passing moment with Mr Carter, I knew Mom was supposed to be in that position, but I was the one enjoying it. I wondered how Mom would react if she later found out about all this, but I prayed she doesn't.I did the final touches on my head, taking hold of my bag before storming out of the room, surprised to see Mr. Carter already waiting for me downstairs. I couldn't prepare breakfast today because I slept quite late and couldn't even wake up early, not to mention cook. He flashed me a devilish smile, but my face remained cold. Seeing him now with that smile made another pang of guilt hit me hard, at the same time I wanted him to hol
TessaI rolled my eyes before marching out of the class, going forward to Carter's office, while my mind was throbbing on why he had told me to go to his office. What more reason was I looking for? If not he had something on his mind. I just hoped people wouldn't be suspicious of us, because why would he tell Leah to go and sit while he tossed me out of the class?I seemed to be lost in thought, not realizing someone was standing in front of me until my head banged into the person's chest. I raised my head to meet the gaze of that woman, the shameless woman who came to my Carter's office.I twisted my face before branching to the other side to walk away, but she stopped me on my track, and I turned back to look at her. "Where did you keep your manners?" She asked with a hard voice as if she could beat me right there.I searched through my body, maybe I could find the manners she was talking about, but I couldn't. "Oh, I guess I forgot it at home," I replied with a little smile, know
TessaAfter the steamy moment with Mr Cater, I walk back to the class. My leg feeling weak. He had thrust over and over me today. I was feeling weak and I felt like going home. But I have another lecture at noon and I have to attend because the lecturer gave us an assignment last class. Even though I was not given a chance to do the assignment yesterday, I promise to do the assignment once I get to the class. Like a devil is to follow me around. I met this woman who had stopped me when I was going to Mr Cater's office earlier. I don't know her name but she kept appearing in my face. I squeezed my face. I wanted to dodge her but seems she had already seen me. "Hey, you! You there, stop over there!" she uttered, walking towards me. I furrowed my brows, hoping that I could just disappear, but that was already late, and she was already in my face. "Where are you coming from, sweating like this?" she asked, and I twisted my face. How could she ask me such a question? I'm an adult.
Cater's POVAfter the intense moment with Tessa, I made my way out of my office to compile fresh air outside. I was surprised when I saw Rebecca about to open the door to my office. I squeeze up my face, wondering why she was there."I was about to knock on your door," she said to me, and I raised my brows. "Why are you here?" I asked, unable to comprehend why she kept monitoring my movements."I'm just here to ask you a few questions," she replied. "I saw a student coming out of your office earlier, and she seemed to be sweating. I don't know what happened, but I think I should ask you why a student is sweating after coming out of your office." I was astonished. Is she monitoring me and Tessa? Why is she doing this? Why is she being a devil behind me?I screwed up my face. "Are you surprised that a student is coming out of a lecturer's office? How are you bothered that the student is sweating because it's hot inside the office," I asked, playing naive as if I didn't understand what s
TessaThe day went well, with classes and a visit to Mr Carter's office. Now, it was evening, and I had to head home. Mom will be coming home by five, exhausted, and had asked me to prepare dinner since she was too weak. I knew she hated me entering her kitchen, but she had no choice.As I left school, I grabbed a taxi, but not before seeing the guy who had slapped me earlier. He was rich, just like people said, but I didn't care about his wealth or his entitled attitude. He stared at me for what felt like an eternity before getting into his car, but I didn't bother to acknowledge him. I got into my taxi and headed home, lost in thought.During the drive, my mind kept wandering back to the moments I spent with Mr. Carter in his office. I couldn't deny that I enjoyed every second of it, even though it was forbidden. My body reacted to him in ways I couldn't control, and my mind struggled to push him away, to make him my enemy for breaking my mom's heart. But every time I tried, he f
Tessa Epilogue. Two years had passed. I could hardly believe it, but here I was, standing in my cozy living room, arranging the last of the decorations for Jasper's 5th birthday party. The house smelled of freshly baked cookies, the faint scent of balloons, and the light hum of excitement in the air.I was nervously running through the checklist in my head as I put the finishing touches on the birthday setup. Balloons? Check. Cake? Check. Presents? Check. Family and friends? A little of both. I glanced at the clock, realizing the guests would be arriving soon. Everything was in order. Well, as much as it could be. Jasper had been babbling all morning, excited for his big day, even though he had no full idea what was truly happening. To him, it was just another day of love and laughter.My mind wandered for a moment, drifting back to the years that had passed. Life had changed so much, and yet, some things remained constant. Jasper's little laugh, his giggles as he played with his to
Tessa The past week has been a blur. After everything that happened, life has felt like one long, surreal dream, a strange mixture of relief, reconciliation, and nervous anticipation. I still can't quite believe it's real.Jasmine had come to me almost the day after I reconnected with Carter. I hadn't been sure how I'd react, but the moment she started to apologize, I could feel my defenses starting to crack. She poured her heart out, tears in her eyes, confessing all the things I'd never known she felt. She admitted her insecurities, her jealousy, her regrets. And for the first time, I saw the human underneath all that bitterness. It was hard, but I forgave her. I didn't want to carry that anger anymore.Then there was my mom. She hadn't just given Carter her blessing, she insisted I finish my education, too. I'd always wondered if she'd think I was weak for leaving, for not holding myself together. But her love and support had been unwavering. She understood me in ways I didn't ev
CarterI glanced out the car window at the small, quiet town as we pulled in. It was the kind of place I'd never imagine myself setting foot in, a town so small it was almost hidden on the map, tucked away like an afterthought. But here I was, waiting for Mila, parked outside a diner that looked like it hadn't changed since the seventies. It didn't make any sense why we were here, and frankly, I was too tired to argue."You're still not going to tell me why we're here, are you?" I said as Mila climbed out of the driver's seat.She shot me a look over her shoulder, her lips pursed in disapproval. "You don't get to complain," she said bluntly. "Not after everything."I felt a pang of guilt, one I'd been feeling more often than I liked lately. I knew she was still angry with me, but I was trying to make up for my mistakes. "I'm sorry," I murmured, not for the first time. "I just... I thought maybe this was about Tessa. I thought you'd heard something."Her expression softened just a litt
TessaMy mum didn't waste a second. Her expression hardened, and before I could open my mouth, she stepped forward and, with a sharp crack, slapped me across the face. My cheek stung, but the shock was worse than the pain. I could barely comprehend what was happening before, in the next breath, her arms wrapped around me, pulling me into a fierce embrace. She held me so tightly, and it felt like she was holding onto all the lost years, all the words we'd never said.I felt the weight of it all pressing down on me, and I couldn't stop the tears that came. They poured down my face as I buried myself in her shoulder. Her breath hitched as she sobbed against me. It was strange, to feel her strength and her sorrow all at once. "I'm sorry," I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible. I didn't even know where to start. There was so much between us, so much hurt and misunderstanding.She pulled back just enough to look at me, her face streaked with tears. "Why didn't you come to me, Tes
TessaThe warm, familiar scent of coffee and freshly baked pastries filled the air as I poured a hot cup for the man at the counter, a regular who'd become a comforting presence in my little world. "Here you go, Mr. Davis. Extra sugar, just the way you like it.""Thank you, Tessa." He gave me a smile, his eyes crinkling in that friendly way that made me forget, if only for a moment, about the mountain of worries I kept carefully tucked behind my smile. "Can't find coffee like this anywhere else, you know."I chuckled softly, appreciating his words. "Glad to hear it. Keeps me in business, anyway."He laughed, but as he turned and left, the cheerful facade slipped just a bit. In the quiet that followed, I let out a sigh. Keeping this place running had been harder than I'd ever imagined.When I first arrived in this town, I was barely holding on. Lost, alone, and with no idea how I was going to make it on my own, I'd been saved by the kindness of a woman I'd met by chance. She'd offered
Carter POV It had been 3 years. An entire 3 years, and still, nothing.I set the phone down, and exhaled, forcing the frustration from my chest, but it was no use. It never seemed to leave me. Jasmine's concerned eyes met mine, asking me for answers I didn't have."Was that...?" she started, her voice quiet, uncertain. She didn't need to finish the question. I knew what she wanted to hear, even if I'd stopped letting myself hope for that answer."No," I replied, managing a small, empty smile. "Nothing yet. Still no word on Tessa. They're following up on the last few leads, but..." I trailed off, feeling the weight of the words I couldn't say.The police had already declared her a runaway. As if it were that simple as if it explained why she'd vanished without a trace. They had ruled it a voluntary disappearance, a choice she had every right to make as an adult. I'd used every bit of influence I had to keep it out of the press, to keep her name clean, to make sure her image remained
Carter The weight of what I'm seeing settles like lead in my chest. The grainy video plays on the screen in front of me, though every word feels like a scream. Tessa, slipping through my office door, alone. I look up at the board members. Their faces are impassive, judging, waiting for me to explain. But the truth is simple, and I refuse to give them the satisfaction of seeing me squirm."What you're implying," I say, my voice rougher than I intended, "is absurd. Nothing inappropriate happened between Tessa and me. She came to talk to me about her grades, and her future. I was offering her advice, mentorship."They exchange skeptical glances as if the word "mentorship" was just another excuse, another way to cover my tracks. The bitter reality of it sinks in, I've already been tried and convicted in their minds."Mr. Carter," the chairman finally says, voice laced with condescension, "regardless of your intentions, it's clear that certain boundaries were crossed. Even the appearanc
TessaThe sharp, sterile light stings my eyes as I blink myself awake. Everything feels hazy, muffled, as if my senses are wrapped in cotton. My head throbs, and when I try to sit up, a wave of dizziness forces me to sink back onto the stiff hospital bed."You're awake. Good." A voice cuts through the haze, gentle but firm.I turn my head to find a nurse standing at my bedside, clipboard in hand and an expression that's equal parts concern and disapproval. I try to speak, but my throat is so dry that only a croak comes out. She hands me a cup of water, and I sip it gratefully, letting the cool liquid soothe my throat."Where...?" I manage to mumble, but she's already anticipating the question."You're in the hospital," she says, matter-of-factly. "Some good Samaritans brought you in. You were unconscious on the sidewalk."The memory floods back, a blur of exhaustion, of pushing myself until I couldn't anymore, the ache in my chest from everything that's happened recently, everything t
Carter I've barely had a moment to breathe since Tessa laid everything out for me, I think of everything I might have done for her but was unable to lay hands on a particular reason. It all felt like a nightmare. I walk through the corridor leading to my office my mind raising with the thought of Tessa, what I can do to change her perspective? No matter how hard I tried to reason it nothing seemed to come up, if only I knew what I did in offending her maybe I would apologize but nothing, the last I remember, we were on good terms and everything was going perfectly well. I raised my head only to find that the Students were smirking as I passed them, something that usually wouldn't bother me, but today it feels different. Something's off. A couple of the professors cast me looks that are anything but neutral. Disapproval, disdain. I don't know what they are looking at that made them press their gaze on me but I know it's nothing worthy of my time. I brushed them off thinking I had