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Chapter 21

Author: SHUAIB M.O
last update Huling Na-update: 2024-12-19 19:39:40

Happiness’s POV

It wasn’t a sudden revelation or a grand gesture that changed things between Mason and me. It was the little moments, the quiet mornings when he brought me coffee, the way he asked about my day and actually listened, the way he never hesitated to reassure me when doubt crept in.

We weren’t perfect, and we didn’t pretend to be. But over time, the cracks began to heal, replaced by something stronger.

This evening, as we sat on the couch watching a documentary Mason had picked out, I realized how far we’d come. I wasn’t tense, waiting for the next shadow to fall. I was just… here, with him, and it felt enough.

“You’re quiet,” he said, glancing at me.

“Just thinking,” I replied, smiling faintly.

“Good thoughts, I hope?”

I nodded, leaning my head on his shoulder. “Yeah. Good thoughts.”

And for once, that wasn’t a lie.

Next morning, I woke up to the sound of Mason humming in the kitchen. It was a tune I didn’t recognize, but there was something comforting about it.

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  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 22

    Happiness POV He stares down at me with a smirk, his eyes glinting with a promise. “You didn't think that was all, did you?” He tutted, and I couldn't reply because he leaned up and ran the tip of his cock up and down my slit making me gasp. I've not slept with anyone before, and the nerves are starting to kick in. “Mason I–” I began then stopped, worried that if I tell him how I'm feeling, he'll stop. He paused, looking down at me intently. “What is it baby?”I don't respond to him, shaking my head as an attempt to brush it off as nothing. “Nevermind.”“Tell me,” He said, his voice firm. “What is it? You don't want to do this?” I shake my head again. “No, it's not that. It's… just that… I haven't… you know.” I shrugged. His eyes widened. “You're a virgin?” I nodded. “Do you want to do this with me?” He asked, his voice low and his eyes peered into my soul. “Yes.” He visibly relaxed, his brows furrowing as he wets his lips. “This will hurt. I can't help it but I'll go slow so

    Huling Na-update : 2024-12-20
  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 23

    The room was quiet now, save for the sound of our labored breathing. Mason lay beside me, his fingers tracing idle patterns along my arm. For a moment, I thought he was asleep, but then his voice broke the silence.“I’ve never felt this way before, Happiness,” he murmured, his tone softer than I’d ever heard it.I turned to him, unsure of what to say. He looked almost vulnerable, his usual cocky demeanor stripped away.“I mean it,” he said, propping himself up on one elbow to look down at me. His eyes searched mine, and I could see the weight of his words reflected in them. “You’re different. You make me want things I thought I’d never have again.”“What do you mean?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.He sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “I don’t talk about it much, but… what happened with Sandra hurt me so much. Badly. I swore I’d never let anyone get close to me again. I still get nightmares from the day that was meant to be our wedding night. And then you came

    Huling Na-update : 2024-12-21
  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 24

    MASON'S POVI can't sleep. The clock on my bedroom door shows it's past midnight. I've been trying to sleep for the past 2 hours but failed. I grabbed my pillow and covered my head with it till I was suffocated. I squeeze my eyes shut, and damn, I can't stop thinking about Happiness. My Happiness. Our first time in the cabin keeps playing in my head, and it makes my heart so chaotic that I feel I might go crazy. I'm finding it hard to believe it happened. Now everytime I see her, I feel like pulling her close to me. It's like no control over my emotions anymore. I feel so much joy and fear. As I'm lying down on my bed, with the night getting too quiet, the fear is bigger. It's eating me alive. I need her. Everything feels like a dream that can turn into a nightmare in the blink of an eye. I need her in my arms to ease this worry, to make my pain go away and tell me it's real. I took my phone from my nightstand, I don't know if she's asleep or not. But I don't want to wake her if

    Huling Na-update : 2024-12-24
  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 25

    Happiness POV I looked around the shelves, walking along the shelves of the campus library, and trying to get my mind off what happened this morning. I woke up in Mason's bed. Again. Does this mean I'm his girlfriend now? I should be after what happened in the cabin, right? My cheeks burned as I remembered the not so little details of that night. I sighed, leaning back against the shelf, and scanning the book titles in front of me. I don't understand why I'm here or how I got to this section of the Library. The books I'm looking at are unrelated to my project assignments. At least, that was what I told Ash and Martha. I just needed some time alone. My eyes darted around the many indigenous languages in Africa. Another book about Sanskrit, and another about Japanese. How did I end up in this section? My phone buzzed as I received a message from Mason. Mason: Hey. Mason: What are you doing this afternoon?I can feel the change in the rhythm of my heartbeat upon reading his text

    Huling Na-update : 2024-12-24
  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 26

    Happiness POV A sharp jolt of panic shoots through me, and I freeze in Mason’s arms. My head snaps toward the source of the sound, and my worst fear materializes, a glaring Martha and Ash looking at us like we’ve committed a heinous crime.“Happy. We've been looking for you.” Ash exclaimed, her voice low but laced with amusement. Her eyes flicker between Mason and me, lingering on my flushed face. I quickly step away from Mason, attempting to fix my skirt and look as composed as possible. My mind races, trying to think of an excuse, but words fail me. My cheeks burn hotter than ever, and I’m sure I look as guilty as I feel.Mason, on the other hand, seems utterly unbothered. He straightens up, tucks his hands into his pockets, and flashes them a polite smile. “We were just... catching up on some reading,” he says smoothly.Martha raises an unimpressed brow. “With your tongue in her throat? In the African Indigenous Languages section? Hardly anyone comes here.” She narrows her eyes.

    Huling Na-update : 2024-12-25
  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 27

    Happiness POVThe rest of the evening passed in a blur of laughter and teasing, with Ash and Martha extracting every possible bit of entertainment from my misery. Mason played along with them, his wit sharper than ever, which earned him more than one glare from me.By the time we finished up and parted ways, I was emotionally drained yet strangely content. The walk back was quiet, save for the occasional rustling of leaves in the breeze. Mason hand brushing mine but never quite holding it this time. It was as if he understood I needed space to process everything.When we arrived, I turned to face him, my back against my door. “Thanks for today... I think,” I said, unable to keep the faint smile from tugging at my lips.His grin was lopsided, effortlessly charming. “Anytime, Happiness. I live to keep you on your toes.”I rolled my eyes, though the warmth in his gaze made my stomach flip. “Goodnight, Mason.”“Goodnight,” he replied, stepping closer. For a second, I thought he might kis

    Huling Na-update : 2024-12-27
  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 28

    I stepped out of the bathroom after a shower, drying my hair with a towel. Just as I sat down on the bed, my phone began to ring, and I reached for it on the nightstand to check who's calling. Mom. I picked the call with a smile on my face. “Hi, Mom.” “Hi, Honey. How was your day?” Her soft voice filled my ear, making me miss her more. “Great. The presentation was today. Though I was scared, but we nailed it. We had another team join ours, and that helped too.” I said, excitedly. “For the first time since I've been there, I walked through the school's compound with…” My sentences stop short.My face and neck heated up as I remembered walking with Mason. I want to share it with my parents but I'm scared of Dad's reaction, and I'm sure he's lingering around mom. Else I would have told her about it. Moments like this make me feel alone. “Honey, that's amazing. Your Dad is busy right now, but I'm sure he's listening in. He'll have to call you back later.” Of course, he is. I snorted

    Huling Na-update : 2025-01-01
  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 29

    His lips brushed against mine, and I forgot how to breathe. Mason groaned as he kissed me with so much passion. I kiss him back with all my heart while my thoughts are having a battle inside my head. Does this mean I'm his girlfriend now? I think I am. But he didn't ask me. Focus on the kiss, Happiness. I reprimanded myself.Mason broke away from the kiss, panting, and I was taken aback. He stared at me, trying to figure out what's going on in my head. “Are you okay?” He asked, concern and worry etched on his face. “I'm scared,” I whispered, fear evident in my voice. “Are we in a relationship now?” Mason pulled away slightly and chuckled. “Is that what's troubling you?” He asked and I nodded. “You don't need to worry your pretty head about that.” “But–” I began, but was cut short when he placed his fingers on my lips. “Do you want to be my woman? My girlfriend?” He asked. “Well, if you're asking.” I shrugged, and he chuckled once more. “Yes, I want to.” I cupped his face and

    Huling Na-update : 2025-01-03

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  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 72

    Ash rummaged through the freezer, letting out an exaggerated gasp when she found a tub of chocolate ice cream. “Oh, we are best friends for life. You keep premium ice cream stocked? I knew you were the one for me.”I chuckled, shaking my head as she grabbed spoons from the drawer and plopped onto the couch beside me. She handed me one and popped the lid open. “No bowls. We’re eating straight from the tub like the emotionally balanced young adults we are.”I scooped a spoonful, letting the cold sweetness melt on my tongue. “Emotionally balanced, huh?”She waved a hand. “Details.” Then, as if remembering something, she turned to me with a grin. “So, tell me, does this place come with any mysterious, forbidden rooms? Like a secret passage or a wine cellar full of rare vintage bottles?”I raised an eyebrow. “It’s not a haunted house, Ash.”“Disappointing,” she sighed dramatically before shoving a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.I set my spoon down and leaned back, letting my head re

  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 71

    HAPPINESS’S POVThe car ride back felt longer than it should have. Mason’s grip on the steering wheel was firm, his jaw set, but he didn’t say anything.I didn’t either.I was still trying to sort through everything Gift had said, still trying to make sense of the polite yet pointed conversation we’d had.She hadn’t been cruel. She hadn’t raised her voice.But every of her word had carried weight. And whether she meant to or not, I felt it pressing down on me.The moment Mason pulled into the driveway and parked, I exhaled slowly. My fingers lingered on the seatbelt before I finally unbuckled it.He turned to me. “Happiness…”“I’m fine.” The words slipped out automatically, but even I wasn’t convinced.Mason studied me for a long moment before nodding once. He didn’t argue. He didn’t press. He just reached over, took my hand, and squeezed.I squeezed back before pulling away and stepping out of the car.Inside, I headed straight for the kitchen. I wasn’t hungry, but I needed something

  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 70

    HAPPINESS’S POVThe silence in the car was heavier than it should have been. Mason’s hands gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles tight, his jaw clenched as he focused on the road ahead. He hadn’t said much since his mother’s call, but I could feel the tension radiating off him.“She won’t do anything to hurt you,” he finally said, breaking the silence.I swallowed, watching the trees blur past the window. “I know.”But that wasn’t the real concern, was it? It wasn’t about outright harm. It was about the unspoken words, the careful, measured tone that could cut just as deeply.Mason sighed, running a hand through his hair. “If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to.”I turned to him, searching his expression. “And what would that say about me?”His lips pressed into a thin line. “That you don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”Maybe he believed that. Maybe he wanted to. But we both knew this was something I couldn’t avoid forever. If I was going to be in his life, I had to face t

  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 69

    HAPPINESS’S POVThe morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. I stirred, blinking against the warmth of the sunlight as I became aware of the steady rise and fall of Mason’s breathing beside me.He was still asleep, his arm loosely draped over my waist, his body warm and solid against mine. I stayed still for a moment, listening to the quiet, trying to gather my thoughts.Last night, Mason hadn’t pushed me. He had simply been there, his presence steady, his touch reassuring. And somehow, that had made it harder to keep everything bottled up.I turned slightly, careful not to wake him, but as soon as I moved, his hold tightened.“Where are you going?” His voice was thick with sleep, his eyes barely open.“I thought you were asleep.”He hummed, shifting onto his back but keeping his hand on my hip. “I was. You okay?”I hesitated.I wanted to say yes. To brush it off like I did yesterday. But I couldn’t. Not this time.I swallowed, my fingers playi

  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 68

    MASON’S POVThe house was quiet when I got back. Too quiet.Happiness’s shoes were by the door, so I knew she was home, but I didn’t hear anything. There was no movement, no humming from the kitchen, nothing.I set my keys down, shrugging off my jacket as I walked further inside. The living room lights were dim, casting soft shadows across the walls. Then I saw her.She was curled up on the couch, knees pulled to her chest, staring at her phone screen with a look I couldn’t quite place. She didn’t notice me at first.I took a slow breath.James was right. Pushing her wouldn’t work. If I wanted her to talk, to trust me with whatever was weighing on her, I had to show her that she didn’t have to do this alone.So, I moved carefully.“Hey,” I murmured, settling down beside her.She blinked, startled, before quickly locking her phone and forcing a small smile. “Hey.”That smile didn’t reach her eyes.I didn’t say anything at first, just reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind

  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 67

    MASON'S POVThe bedroom was quiet, the only sound was the steady rhythm of Happiness’s breathing. The city lights filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows on the walls. She was curled up beside me, her back to my chest, her body warm but stiff—like she was here, but not really.I stared at the ceiling, replaying the night over and over.Something changed. I felt it the moment we left the party, the way she looked out the window instead of at me, the way her words were carefully measured, distant.She probably thought I didn’t notice. She was wrong.I reached out, letting my fingers trail lightly over her arm. She didn’t move, didn’t lean into my touch like she normally would.That tiny reaction, or the lack of it, gnawed at me.I exhaled slowly, my jaw tightening.Did someone say something to her?Had I done something wrong?I had tried to ask, but she shut me down with dismissive answers. Lies wrapped in soft words.I wanted to push, to demand the truth from her lips. But

  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 66

    HAPPINESS’S POVThe air in the ballroom was thick with expensive perfume, and laughter when I got back inside. The clinking of glasses as servers weaved through the crowd with trays of champagne.Mason’s hand rested against my back, firm and reassuring. Yet, despite his presence, the unease in my chest refused to fade.He leaned down slightly, his voice a low murmur against my ear. "You okay?"I nodded quickly, forcing a small smile. "Of course."His gaze lingered on me for a second longer, as if he didn’t fully believe me, but before he could push further, a deep voice called his name."Ah, Mason! Finally!"A tall man in a sleek black suit approached, exuding effortless confidence.“James,” Mason greeted, shaking his hand firmly. “Didn’t think I’d see you here.”“Couldn’t miss it. Besides, your Dad wouldn’t let me.” James chuckled before his eyes flicked to me. "And you must be Happiness."I nodded politely. "It’s nice to meet you."“Likewise,” he said, though I could tell his intere

  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 65

    HAPPINESS’S POVMason’s car glided smoothly down the road, the hum of the engine filling the comfortable silence between us. City lights flickered outside the window, casting a soft glow over the sleek leather interior.I adjusted my dress slightly, smoothing the fabric over my thighs. Mason had been stealing glances at me since we left, and I wasn’t imagining the way his fingers kept flexing on the wheel.“You keep looking at me like that, and we might not make it to this party,” I teased, glancing at him.Mason smirked, shifting in his seat. “It's not my fault you look like that.”I rolled my eyes, but the warmth in my chest spread. “Eyes on the road, detective.”He sighed dramatically. “You’re asking too much of me.”I laughed, reaching for his hand on the gear shift. The moment our fingers touched, he turned his palm up, lacing them together. His thumb brushed over my skin in slow, lazy circles.Mason stole another glance at me before shaking his head. “Seriously, how am I suppose

  • The Forbidden Ties    Chapter 64

    HAPPINESS'S POVThe scent of buttery popcorn filled the air as I curled up on the couch, my legs tucked beneath me. Ash sat cross-legged on the floor, scrolling through her phone, while Maria had claimed the other end of the couch, flipping through TV channels with little interest."Are we actually watching something, or is this just background noise?" Ash asked, tossing a kernel of popcorn into her mouth.Maria sighed, still flipping. "Honestly, nothing looks interesting. Why do they even make this many channels if they all suck?""Capitalism," Ash replied dryly.I chuckled. "You're just upset because you finished your series and now you don't know what to do with yourself."Ash pointed a dramatic finger at me. "Exactly. That show had me in a chokehold, and now I feel abandoned."Maria snorted. "Try reading a book."Ash gasped. "I'm offended. Do I look like someone who has the patience to sit through pages of tiny words?"I shook my head, amused. "You're ridiculous.""But you love me

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