~Mia~ I walked down the school hallway with my head lowered, trying to hide the pain I was feeling. The last thing I wanted to do was to pull attention to myself. “What is it with that scarf? A change of style?” I heard Charles’ voice as I approached the door. I raised my head and saw him standing near the door. “Charles,” I called with a hint of disappointment. I wanted him to be in class already so we wouldn’t have to discuss what had gone down in the morning. “What are you doing out here?” I asked, and all of a sudden, he grabbed my arm and began to pull me away from the door. “What are you doing?” I asked in shock as I followed behind him helplessly. “The lecturer won’t let you in the class again. You’re twenty minutes late.” He uttered as he dragged me into another empty class, not so far from where the lecture was being held. “You weren’t able to get in too?” I asked, my eyes searched his face as he stared at me. “I wasn’t because I got here late too. You know, the delay
~Mia~ After ordering our meal, Charles approached the table where we sat with a wide grin on his face. I had a totally different thought going on in my head, making it hard for me to smile back. “I’m proposing to Sienna tonight.” I could hear his text in my head like he said them to my face. I don’t know why, but I kept feeling he wanted to go ahead with the proposal because of what happened in the car. I hated myself for moving onto him like that. ‘Maybe if I had shut the fuck up, I wouldn’t be the cook for his proposal party.’ I thought. “Are you sure you’re alright? You haven’t said a word since we left school.” Charles uttered as he sat in front of me. I heaved a loud sigh and shook my head. “I’m just tired, Charles. Even though I didn’t attend classes, I’m still pretty stressed.” I muttered and he smiled softly and reached for my hand that was on the table. “I just want you to calm down, beautiful. You are here to relax, okay? Just to eat, chat, and have fun. I promised to
~Ethan~ “Mia!” I called out as John and I walked into the house. In my breast pocket was the ring box I had gotten from Pandora. I pulled it out and placed it on the center table. “Mia!” John called out also, but we got no reply. I furrowed my brows and walked to the kitchen and when I got there, she was nowhere to be found. “That’s strange. I told her to get home at 4 p.m. My mother is on her way here already.” I uttered, walking back to the living room where John was. “You told her that? I met her at the Crunch and Munch restaurant when I went to grab our lunch this afternoon.” “The Crunch and Munch?” I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “What the hell was she doing there? That is like a two-hour ride away from school!” “She was with this guy…” “Let me guess, Charles, right?” I butted in, and he slowly nodded. “You know him??” He asked as I clenched my jaws tightly. “One asshole that won’t fucking leave her alone. Why would she go that far with him when I told her she has to b
~Mia~ While I continued cooking, I heard someone enter the kitchen again. I looked back and saw it was Mr Cross. However, the depressed look on his face made me very worried and curious. “Mr Cross, are you alright?” I asked, and he slowly nodded and let out a very faint smirk. I knew he was lying, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep asking him. I nodded and looked towards the pot on the fire. “I’ll be done with the second dish soon,” I said to him. “Great. You should stop after this meal, or we’ll have massive food wastage.” “Wastage?” I furrowed my brows. “What I have prepared won’t be enough for six to…” “Just do what I have said, Mia.” He butted in coldly and walked out of the kitchen. My jaw dropped and my mind went blank for a second. ‘What just happened? What is going on?’ I asked questions in my head. That was the most I could do at that moment. I did as I was told and after cooking the mushroom sauce, I turned off the gas cooker and kept everything I had prepared wa
~Mia~ The next morning My eyes opened to the loud splash of water from outside my window. I could guess it was Mr Cross having a nice time at the pool. I pulled the duvet off me as I sat up, yawning and stretching. I heaved a loud sigh and slouched as I remembered what happened last night. I wasn’t sure how to face him, but I knew I had to. ‘Maybe I should just pretend like nothing happened.’ I breathed out deeply and looked at my bedside table where the digital clock and my phone were. It was eight a.m. Reaching for my phone, I checked my school timetable and realized I had no classes. ‘A day at home sounds great right now.’ I thought. I didn’t want to see Charles, not after what happened yesterday. Just then, I recalled that he had texted me last night but I was so mad at myself to check his messages. I clicked on my iMessage and to my greatest surprise, there were twenty-two messages from him. “What the hell?” I muttered as I began to read through his message
~Ethan~“Ding dong!!” The doorbell rang. I took a quick look at my wristwatch as I stood up to get it. It was 7 pm, and I knew it was John. He was ready for our outing tonight.“I’m coming,” I uttered as I approached the door. Opening the door, I was met by his wide-ass grin. “I can’t wait to party tonight! It’s been ages!” He said as he walked into the house.He was right about that. The last time we had fun was the night of the auction. We have been so busy since then.“So, what are we waiting for?” He asked enthusiastically, spreading out his arms.“Erm… I forgot to mention this to you over the phone, but… Mia would be joining us.” I responded and his eyes widened. “Are you serious?” He let out another wide grin. “That is even better!!” He exclaimed in a low tone, giggling softly. I shook my head and stood akimbo, waiting for her to walk down the stairs.“She told me she needed a few more minutes,” I uttered, and I heard him chuckle again. “Women. I’m not surprised.” Just then,
~Mia~ My eyes opened to the ray of sunlight that seeped in from my windows. Letting out a soft moan, I stretched under my duvet and when I opened my eyes again, I felt some slight banging in my head.“Argh.” I moaned softly as I yanked the duvet off me and got out of bed. As usual, I could hear the splashes from outside my window– Mr Cross was busy having his morning moments at the pool.Dragging my feet on the floor, I moved closer to the window and peaked out. He was about to dive into the water again. My head was instantly filled with memories of the previous night, which made a wide smile curl up my lips. Though I was drunk, I could still recall how things went down. How he carried me like a child from the bar, how he carried me into his car and out when we got back home, how he carried me up the stairs into the bedroom, while I rested my head on his chest, enjoying how his strong arms felt around me.I remembered vividly how he tucked me in and planted a kiss on my forehead– t
~Mia~The night of our freshman year party was finally here, and I couldn’t wait to go all out. After the incident with Mr Cross at the pool, things— or would I just say, we haven’t been the same anymore. Sienna has been visiting constantly and they seem to be on good terms. She apologized for not being available on the day of the proposal and he just accepted. I guess that’s what happens when you think you don’t have a choice in certain things—-which I pretty much understand. I have been trying as much as possible to stay away from him. We haven’t had a moment to talk because… I don’t want to talk to him the way I used to. I realized I needed to keep my feelings in check and the best way to do it was to ignore him. Fortunately, he’s been on the same path, I guess, because apart from eating my food, he did nothing else when it came to me— which is good. After all, I have to stop feeling whatever I’m feeling for him and he has made it so much easier. I opened my closet and my eyes
~Mia~ I rummaged through my closet in a hurry, trying to find the perfect outfit for tonight. It had been ages since I’d gone out, so naturally, I was buzzing with excitement.“Jacket…” I murmured, grabbing one of my leather ones and tossing it onto the bed. Then I stood back, hands on my hips, eyeing the closet like it owed me answers.“Now where did I put those tights?” I muttered, diving into the drawers again, pulling things out and tossing them aside.Mid-search, the door creaked open. I leaned out to see who it was.Ethan stepped in, flashing a wide smile. “Hey.”“Hey,” I replied, returning the smile before turning back and plucking a short black bodycon dress from a hanger.I threw it onto the bed next to the jacket just as he came closer.“Someone’s got big plans,” he said, settling onto the bed and watching me with curiosity. “What’s the occasion?”I finally found my tights and tossed them onto the bed with the rest of my outfit. “Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten,” I
~Sienna~“Shit… shit,” Bernard groaned as he climaxed.I sighed, rolling my eyes as I shoved him off me.“This is the last time this is ever happening,” I muttered, snatching my clothes off the floor and slipping them on without a second thought.He slid a hand beneath my head, his gaze burning into my back as I dressed. “Why are you so cold about it? Don’t you enjoy it like I do? Or am I just not good enough for you in bed?”I scoffed and shook my head in disgust.“This was never about pleasure. This is a transaction. You handle Mia, do whatever the hell you want with her, but you don’t go near Ethan. He’s mine.” I turned to face him.Bernard smirked. “Well, I haven’t exactly had Mia to myself yet, like you said I would. So until that happens, you keep showing up.”“Oh, don’t worry,” I replied with a smirk of my own as I pulled up my pants. “You’ll have her all to yourself this weekend.”His brows knitted in confusion. “What do you mean?”I turned and met his eyes.“There’s a girls’
~John~I sat on the couch in the living room, with Darla lying beside me, her head resting gently on my thighs. “I was honestly so shocked when she approached me,” Darla continued, her hands animated as she spoke. “She’s never come to me like that before, so calm and genuine. Then she said, ‘I know I haven’t been the best sister to you, especially when it comes to your relationship with John.’” She mimicked the voice and I let out a laugh.“Isn’t that a bit odd?” I asked, raising a brow. She nodded.“At first, yeah. Even our parents were caught off guard. But once she started seeing that therapist, we all started to believe she was serious.”I shrugged lightly. “Guess that means I don’t have to kidnap you anymore.”She let out a thoughtful hum and nodded. “Exactly. And now it’s your turn to find time to meet my parents, don’t you think?” she said, lifting her head slightly to look at me.My eyes widened. “Wait, already?”“Well, we need their blessings before they change their minds,”
~Mia~Evening crept in faster than I expected, and I’d been completely caught up with making dinner. Once I was done, I headed to the bedroom to freshen up, eager for Ethan to get home so I could share everything about my day.After talking to Sienna, I felt elated, like a heavy weight had finally been lifted off my chest. There was nothing holding us back now. No more secrets, no more tiptoeing around. We were finally free to be with each other, without worrying about anyone's opinion.I stepped out of the shower and slipped into my short, red singlet that barely covered my bum. I was in such a good mood, and I needed him to feel that the moment he saw me.As I pulled my hair into a messy bun, it suddenly hit me, I hadn’t set the wine on the dining table yet. I dashed downstairs to do that, and just as I was placing the bottle down, the doorbell rang.“Speak of the devil,” I chuckled, hurrying over to answer it.When I opened the door, there he was, Ethan. His smile was soft, and as
~Mia~“I was honestly stunned when he told me. I... I was terrified to bring it up with Ethan because I didn’t want it to come off like I was pressuring him into something he wasn’t ready for, you know?” I said into the phone, lying on my bed.“I totally get that,” Sharon replied on the other end. “But I don’t think Mr. Cross would ever see it that way. He knows you’re still young and in college. It’s not like he’d expect you to jump into marriage just like that.”“I know, but it still made me start thinking about us again. Everything feels so messy. Or maybe I’m just spiraling,” I admitted.“That’s exactly it,” Sharon said. “You’re definitely overthinking it. Didn’t he already explain everything?”I let out a sigh and rolled my eyes. “I hate that you’re always right.”She laughed. “What can I say? It’s one of my best qualities.”“Yeah, yeah,” I replied playfully.“Yeah… before I forget the real reason I called. I heard Charles is out,” she said, and I raised my brows.“Yeah,” I exhal
~Ethan~I sat on one of the chairs beside the office door, deep in conversation with my police friend about Alexa’s latest schemes, when the door suddenly opened and Mia stepped out.My face lit up the moment I saw her. She offered a smile in return, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. My brows drew together as I rose to my feet.“Hey.” I reached for her hands and gently held them. “How are you? Are you okay?” I asked, concern lacing my voice.She swallowed and forced another smile. “Yeah,” she said with a small nod. “Let’s get out of here.”I nodded, still holding her hand as we walked down the hallway in silence.We didn’t say a word as we exited the building, and once we reached the car, I opened the door for her. She slid in without a word. I closed it softly behind her, then made my way around to the driver’s side.After settling into my seat, I started the engine and pulled out of the parking spot. As we drove, I stole occasional glances at her.Mia sat with her head down, finge
~Mia~I slowly blinked my eyes open and let out a yawn. Sunlight streamed through the window, and the soft chirping of birds filled the air.“Good morning, sweetheart,” Ethan greeted with a wide grin as he buttoned up his shirt.A smile spread across my face. “You’re up early,” I mumbled, stifling another yawn. Sitting up, I pulled the duvet over my legs.“Yes. I have an appointment with your parents’ lawyer today,” he said casually.My brows shot up. “You found them?” I asked, stunned.Ethan nodded, his smile widening. Grabbing his tie, he walked over to the bed.“All it took was asking my private investigator to look into it. He got back to me, and I’m meeting with him this morning,” he explained.Without hesitation, I threw off the bedsheet and climbed out of bed. “I need to come with you,” I said urgently, rushing toward the bathroom.Before I could get far, Ethan gently caught my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.“You don’t have to come,” Ethan reasoned. “The appointment is soon,
~Sienna~I stepped into the clubhouse, the music blasting so loud it felt like it was rattling my skull. It was uncomfortable as hell, but I didn’t care. I had one goal, and I wasn’t leaving without it.Glancing at my phone screen again, I studied the picture, my eyes scanning the crowded room. ‘Where the fuck is he?’ I thought, frustration bubbling inside me.Just then, a shady-looking guy appeared in front of me. He stood stiff, almost too rigid for a club setting, his dark shades making him look even more suspicious under the dim flashing lights.“You Sienna?” he asked, his voice low and unreadable.He looked nothing like the man in the picture.“Yeah?” I answered cautiously.“Follow me. The boss has been waiting for you.”Without another word, he turned and walked off, expecting me to follow. I scoffed under my breath but trailed behind him anyway.We weaved through the crowd—past the dancers, the drinkers, and even the couples lost in heated makeouts—until we reached a door near
~Mia~The car ride to the police station was quiet. I knew Ethan wanted Charles to suffer more for what he had done, but despite his own feelings, he couldn’t ignore what I wanted.“Are you okay?” I asked softly, my hand reaching for his thigh.Ethan glanced at me, then offered a small smile. “Yeah, I am.” He nodded. “Why do you ask?”“You seem deep in thought,” I replied, returning his smile.He arched a brow. “Well, you’re not wrong.” He exhaled. “I can’t shake this uneasy feeling about letting Charles go. We’re finally happy together—what if he does something reckless again? What if he tries to hurt you?”I sighed, understanding his concern. “I get it, baby. But that’s exactly why we’re going to talk to him first. He needs to prove that he’s no longer a threat. And who knows? Maybe he’ll finally reveal who sent him after you in the first place.”Ethan considered my words, then shrugged. “Well, we’re already on our way, aren’t we? Guess that means you win.” He smirked playfully, and