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Chapter 25
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2024-12-24 19:50:11
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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.
Last Updated : 2024-12-25The 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
Last Updated : 2024-12-27The 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
Last Updated : 2025-01-01The 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
Last Updated : 2025-01-03The Forbidden Ties Chapter 30
I made my way down the hallway to Happiness’s room. These past few days, I've been even more attached to her that going to bed without spending some time with her feels like something is missing.I know we've had sex a couple of times, but I try to control myself around her. The last time I almost lost it was the weekend. We had sex all night long, and I made her cum so many times. Not that I wasn't proud of it though. Yet, I don't want to be labelled as a grown man who exploits a young lady that's a decade younger than me. Exploit?What the Fuck Mason? I knocked on Happiness's door and wait for her to invite me in. “Come in.” Her alluring voice echoed from the other side of the door. I opened the door, and my gaze darted to her swallowing something on her dresser. It looks like a pill. She dropped the glass on the dresser then turned to face me, and I frowned. I closed the door behind me and strode towards her. “Are you okay?” I asked her softly, my gaze darting back to the pa
Last Updated : 2025-01-03The Forbidden Ties Chapter 31
Happiness's POVThe next morning, I woke up to the warmth of Mason’s arms around me. His steady heartbeat was a comfort I had grown addicted to. I lay still for a moment, enjoying the peace, but the quiet didn’t last long. The weight of the secret we were carrying pressed heavily on my chest.Our relationship wasn’t supposed to happen. Not like this. Carefully, I slipped out of Mason’s embrace, wrapping the blanket around me as I walked toward the window. The morning light bathed the room in soft hues, but it did little to calm the storm brewing inside me.“Why are you up so early?” Mason’s groggy voice broke the silence, making me turn. He was sitting up, and even with his hair tousled he was still handsome, a sleepy yet concerned look on his face.I gave him a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Just thinking.”“About what?” He swung his legs over the side of the bed, standing and walking toward me.“Mason…” I hesitated, my fingers tightening around the edge of the
Last Updated : 2025-01-04The Forbidden Ties Chapter 32
Happiness POV The morning light filtered through the blinds as I groggily reached for my phone. I barely slept after that message. My heart still raced every time I thought about the words: “Sweet dreams, Happy.”My thumb hovered over Mason’s contact. I wanted to call him, to tell him everything. But how could I? He was busy working on a major case, and I didn’t want to sound like a paranoid college girl afraid of her own shadow. Though I know Mason would refute that thought.Still, the text haunted me. I shook my head and told myself that it was just a prank. It was probably one of my course mates with too much time on their hands. I can count the number of people I speak to in class aside from my friends and Leah's group. As the day wore on, I tried to push the strange incident out of my mind. Between my literature class, tutoring sessions, and the girls, I managed to keep myself distracted. But as I walked into the apartment that evening, the unease crept back in.Something was
Last Updated : 2025-01-05The Forbidden Ties Chapter 33
The apartment felt colder without Mason. He’d left a few hours ago for a late shift, but his absence was heavier tonight. I tried to focus on my schoolwork, yet every creak of the floorboards and whisper of the wind against the windows had my nerves on edge.By midnight, I gave up. My books were abandoned on the coffee table as I curled up on the couch with a blanket, the TV humming in the background. Mason had promised to call when he was on his way home, and I was determined to wait up for him.I must have dozed off, because the next thing I knew, I was startled awake by a faint click.At first, I thought I’d imagined it. I sat up, blinking groggily at the TV, but the sound came again. A soft, deliberate noise, like a lock turning.My chest tightened.The apartment was still, the kind of stillness that prickled under your skin and warned you something wasn’t right. I glanced at the door, my breath hitching. The lock. Did I double-checke it after Mason left?“Mason?” I called out h
Last Updated : 2025-01-05
Latest chapter
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
