TessaWe both walked out and Leah grabbed the first taxi that was packed in front of us. She waved and drove off my eyes lingered on her car until she was out of view. I scoffed and grabbed the next taxi giving the driver the home address since Mom was still at the hospital, I could just catch a quick sleep at home.The driver started driving, I rested my head in the mirror side my mind wandering around but the sudden sound of my phone startled me and I flung up surprising the driver but he kept quiet. I held my chest bringing out my phone with the aim to curse the person but it turned out to be my mum calling. I hissed inwardly before sliding the green button. "Hey sweetie, change of plans," she said immediately I picked up and I frowned my brows at what she meant by that. "I have to go to work," she revealed taking me by surprise. "Why? Didn't you submit a leave form?" I asked angrily. "Yes, I did, but my boss needs me, I'm also not expecting this, I don't know why he specializ
TessaMy eyes were wide and I couldn't comprehend the scene unfolding in front of me right now. Mr. Carter was staring at me with a sly smile crept on his lips. "Did I have an eye problem?" I contemplate, running my palm on my eyes but it was still the same. I woke myself up, It wasn't like I wasn't expecting him to wake or something but it was too sudden to feel real. I mean? "Mr. Carter!" I finally exclaimed accepting the scene in front of me, astonishment etched on my face, my eyes wide with joy.I rushed toward him, my feet moving swiftly, a smile spreading across my face. He smiled weakly, his eyes sparkling, warmth radiating from his gaze.I wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug, relief washing over me. "I'm so glad you're awake!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with tears.Mr. Carter's frail arms enveloped me, his face still pale, but a hint of color had returned."Easy, Tessa don't choke me," he whispered, his voice low and soothing.I released him, concern flooding in
TessaThe next day, the doctor informed us that Mr. Carter would be discharged that day, yesterday evening. Mom had gone home to prepare dinner, leaving me alone with Mr. Carter. If not for the doctor's presence, I knew what Mr. Carter would have done.After the doctor finished his check-up, he assured us that we could leave within the next three hours, as Mr. Carter had fully recovered. He left, and I turned to Mr. Carter on the bed, our gazes aligned.I had missed him so much, but I knew I wasn't in the best position to act on it, considering it could ruin my mum's health and relationship with him.He gestured for me to sit on the bed, and I did. He dragged me closer by the waist, his mouth pressed against my skin, his breath filling my body, making me shiver."I miss you," he murmured, sucking on my ear, and my body became tender, my vision blurring.His hand roamed over my body, sending waves of sensation as he gently cupped my breast, snatching a gasp from me."I miss your nippl
TessaThe sudden footstep echoing made me flinch as I pushed Mr. Carter away, my heart racing repeatedly. I walked to sit on the couch, while his eyes followed me in astonishment.Immediately I sat, the door slid open, and my mum stepped in, she was kind of surprised to meet us inside the house."You guys are back?" She asked, dropping the bag of things she had went to purchase.She walked toward Mr. Carter and held his cheeks, checking through them as if that would give her enough time to make up for what she had missed seeing when he was lying in the hospital bed."Are you feeling weak anywhere? Do you feel any discomfort?" She rushed her questions with a worried face.Mr. Carter shook his head, held her waist, and I didn't know when I bit my lower lip. How could he hold her like that? I slapped myself out of the thought. Had I forgotten the man belonged to my mum in the first place?I watched them talk to each other, a wave of anger boiling over me. I folded my fists together, not
TessaMy eyes became wide open as my tongue lost words to say. Mr. Carter swallowed hard before standing up and flashing mum a bitter smile.The most scary part was the knife mum was holding, as if she would slash us if we dared lie to her."What did you mean by your question? Isn't it a normal thing to do? Especially when she just came back from the hospital and I heard from her conversation that she's going to tutor a colleague? Don't you think it necessary to bathe?" He played it cool.Mum's gaze took a second before softening, and she nodded twice."True, you should take your bath," she gestured toward my room and walked back to the kitchen.I held my heart, which was bumping out. I'd seen many people lie, but Mr. Carter seemed different. He seemed to know how to lie naturally, all words coming from his lips sounded truthful.I knew he had told me to bathe because of our encounter at the hospital earlier, but seeing him lie about it made me smile.He smirked naughtily at me before
TessaI wiped my eyes with the back of my palm, wondering if I was seeing things, but no, I wasn't. Mr. Grumpy stood right there, staring at me with a strange glare, his hand supporting his waist."What are you doing here?" The question fell from my lips before I realized I wasn't in my own house."I should be asking you those questions. What are you doing in my house?" His voice was sharp, like he would punch me in the face."Your house," I swallowed hard, feeling the emptiness down my throat, and he took a step closer to me."You heard me right. What are you doing in my house?" His eyes pierced into my soul.I tried standing up, but my legs were weak, and I couldn't even lift my body up."You seem like a bold person in the hospital, but now?" He knelt closer to me. His hand reached for the tip of my hair when I yanked him away and stood up.He seemed shocked, releasing a heavy pant as he stood up. I swallowed hard, staring around the room in a daze, unsure what to do.I felt like di
TessaFear caught my breath as Leah's curious gaze shifted between me and Mr. Grumpy, waiting for an explanation. "What's going on?" She asked, this time around her voice was sharp, and her brow furrowed in confusion."Nothing out of the ordinary, Just a coincidence. Don't worry about it." Mr. Grumpy's expression softened a little bit, and he flashed a reassuring smile."Okay, if you're sure..." her eyes lingered on me for a moment before nodding. I exhaled silently, relieved that she didn't press the issue further. But my body was still trembling from the intense encounter with Mr. Grumpy."And one more thing," Mr. Grumpy suddenly shifted his eyes to me, his voice was low and firm. "Don't call me Mr. Grumpy again, this will be my last warning, there won't be next," his voice dropped with coldness. "Oh!O ...Okay." My eyes widened, and I nodded hastily. "Mr. Grumpy?" Leah chuckled on her breath. "It's not funny, is it?" Mr. Grumpy's eyes narrowed. But Leah continued to laugh. "
TessaLeah walked back and we stepped into the shopping mall even though the shock was still on me the view of the mall took my breath and I couldn't help but gasp. The interior was breathtaking, with radiant lights, glittering jewelry stores, and rows of upscale clothing boutiques. Everywhere I looked, something new and exciting caught my eye."I'm so happy to be here!" Leah exclaimed, drawing the attention of the passersby."You're being dramatic," Liam, rolled his eyes. Leah chuckled and nudged me playfully. "Let's go explore!" she exclaimed one more dragging me by force.I don't feel good coming here. We stepped into the clothing store, and Liam fell back, allowing Leah to lead the way. I lingered behind, hesitating to move forward."Why did I agree to come here?" I muttered under my breath. "If I'd known Mr. Grumpy was Leah's brother, I wouldn't have..." My thoughts trailed off as Liam's piercing gaze met mine. Had he heard me?I quickly fastened my pace, following Leah into
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