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Chapter 50
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-27 16:24:16
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The Forbidden Ties Chapter 51
Happiness's POVThe door clicked shut behind my parents, and I finally let out the breath I was been holding. My legs felt weak, but I forced myself to stay upright until I heard the sound of their cab driving away.Only after then did I sink onto my couch, burying my face in my hands.That was too close.Dad’s suspicion was growing, and Mom wasn’t fooled either. She wasn’t pushing now, and it was only because she was waiting for me to come to her on my own.But I can't do that.Not now.I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to refocus. I needed to be careful, to make sure they didn’t dig any deeper.A sharp knock at the door made me startled.My pulse quickened. I wasn’t expecting anyone.I hesitated before standing up and making my way to the door. Peering through the peephole, I felt my stomach drop.Mason.I hesitated before unlocking the door and pulling it open just enough to see him. “What are you doing here?”He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he studied me, his sharp eyes scann
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-01The Forbidden Ties Chapter 52
Happiness POV I was half asleep when my phone started buzzing. Groaning, I fumbled for it, squinting at the bright screen.Uncle Max.My heart stuttered. Why was he calling me this early?A knot tightened in my stomach as I hesitated before answering. “Hello?”“Happiness.” Uncle Max’s voice was calm, but I could hear the undertone of something else. Something that made my nerves spike. “Are you home?”I sat up immediately, my sleepiness vanishing. “Yeah… why?”“There’s something we need to talk about, and It'll be better if we see. The Edisson's Home, right?”I clutched the phone tighter. “Yes. What is it about?”A pause. “Just be ready.”The call ended before I could ask anything else.I stared at my phone, my pulse hammering.Uncle Max never called unannounced. And the way he’d spoken… like he was preparing for something difficult.Panic clawed at my chest.Did he know?Had Dad called him? Had he already figured it out?Throwing off the blanket, I rushed to my room, pulling on a fr
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-02The Forbidden Ties Chapter 53
Happiness POV The rest of the day passed in a blur. I stayed in my apartment, trying to distract myself with schoolwork, but my mind kept drifting back to my conversation with Mason. And Uncle Max. And the growing weight of keeping this secret.By evening, I still felt restless. I needed air.Pulling on a jacket, I grabbed my phone and stepped outside. The cool breeze hit my face as I walked down the quiet street, my hands buried in my pockets.Maybe I was overthinking everything.Maybe Uncle Max’s question about Mason had been casual.But deep down, I knew better.I turned a corner, heading toward the small café near campus. I didn’t plan on staying long, just needed enough time to clear my head.But as I pushed open the door, my breath caught in my throat.Sitting at a corner table, talking in hushed voices, were Uncle Max and Mason.My stomach dropped.I barely managed to step back before they could see me. My heart pounded as I pressed against the wall outside, peeking through th
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03The Forbidden Ties Chapter 54
Happiness POV I had just stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped around me, when my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I wiped my hands hastily before picking it up.Mom.My stomach twisted. Mom doesn't call me directly, she prefers to send texts or let Dad handle any serious conversations.Something was wrong.Bracing myself, I answered. “ Hi Mom?”Her voice was clipped, controlled. Too controlled. “Happiness, you need to come home.”I froze, gripping the towel tighter. “What? Why? Is everyone okay?”“Yes. Your Dad and I need to speak with you. In person.”A cold chill spread through me. They knew. They had found out about my relationship.I forced a weak chuckle. “Mom, I have classes to…”“This is more important than your classes.”My heart sank. Mom never interrupted my education, no matter how upset she was. If she was doing it now, whatever they had learned was serious.I swallowed hard. “Did… did something happen?”There was a pause. Then, “We’ll talk when you get here.” The f
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-05The Forbidden Ties Chapter 55
Mason’s POVPeter narrowed his eyes. “Love?” He scoffed. “Love is easy to say, Mason. But it doesn’t pay bills. It doesn’t build a stable future.”I nodded, unfazed. “You’re right. Love alone isn’t enough. But commitment, effort, and respect? That’s what matters.”His jaw tightened. “And you think you can give her that?”“I know I can.”Silence stretched between us.Then, he leaned forward, voice low. “Tell me, Mason. Where do you see yourself with her in five years?”I didn’t hesitate. “Married, or about to.”Happiness sucked in a sharp breath beside me. I felt her grip on my hand tighten, but I didn’t look away from her father.Peter’s gaze flickered, just for a second. He wasn't expecting my answer.His fingers drummed against his arm. “And kids? A family?”“When she’s ready.”His eyes narrowed. “So, you’d wait?”“For as long as it takes.”His wife let out a soft sigh. I could tell she was beginning to waver. Peter, however, wasn’t done yet.“You’re a detective, Mason.” His tone tu
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-06The Forbidden Ties Chapter 56
Mason's POV The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. Happiness stirred beside me, her face still relaxed in sleep. It was a sight I'd never get tired of. Her peaceful expression, the way her breathing remained steady, unbothered by the world outside.For so long, we had lived in secrecy. Now, we didn’t have to hide so she's back in my house. I shifted slightly, careful not to wake her, and simply watched. The weight of the conversation with her parents still lingered, but it didn’t feel suffocating. They also didn't know she's staying with I'm protecting my head. I snickered to myself at that thought.There was tension, but there was also progress. Her father hadn’t fully accepted me, but he hadn’t rejected me either.That’s something, and I'm holding onto it.Happiness stirred in her sleep, then slowly blinked awake. Her eyes found mine, and a sleepy smile tugged at her lips. “You’re staring.”“Guilty,” I murmured, brushing my fingers
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-15The Forbidden Ties Chapter 57
HAPPINESS'S POVThe media storm was not just on the. They followed us everywhere. By the second day, reporters were staking out Mason’s house. They waited outside cafes, hoping to catch us. I could no longer go out without someone recognizing me, asking invasive questions, or snapping pictures.It was suffocating.I couldn't go to class because of misleading rumors eroding among my colleagues which could lead to skepticism. I can't face Ash and Maria either. I just hope they're taking the information well. My phone rang, bringing me out of my thoughts.I picked the call and my mom’s voice was sharp with worry. “Happiness, come home.”Dad took the phone next. “Now.”No explanations. No arguments. Just a demand.Mason had been on high alert ever since the media exposure, but this was different.“They want us to come stay with them,” I whispered after hanging up. My hands trembled slightly, gripping hesitated. “I don’t know… but I think we have to.”He exhaled, rubbing his jaw. It wasn
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-15The Forbidden Ties Chapter 58
Happiness’s POVThe next day, we set out back to LA. The tension in my parent's house is too much, and I had to tell Mason to let us leave already. The stress is beginning to affect me, and I slept through the plane ride. The drive back to Mason’s house was eerily quiet.I kept staring out the window, watching the city blur past, but my mind was trapped in the confrontation with my parents. My father’s voice echoed in my head. “Do you even understand what love means?”I had never been more sure of something in my life. But the way he said it, the way he looked at me, made doubt creep in, poisoning my certainty.I sighed. So much for being sure. Mason’s grip on the wheel was tight, his jaw set in that hard, unreadable way he did when he was thinking too much.The weight of everything pressed down on my chest. The media’s relentless obsession, my parents’ disapproval, the way Mason had to defend me as if our love was some kind of crime.And it wasn’t over.I exhaled shakily, pressing
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-15
Bab terbaru
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
