NEXT MORNINGI head downstairs to the foyer to welcome my father."Is everything set, Jeffrey?""Yes sir, you can sit in the living room sir," he replies."Thank you, you are excused."I walk to the door; I open it and watch as my father's car comes down the driveway and parks close to the door. My father steps out and reaches out his hand for someone in the car, and when she comes into full view I am livid, Sonja, he has some nerve bringing her here.They walk up to the door and I politely greet them both, and they walk into the foyer, where I usher them into the living
"Baby, you need to get out of your room at some point?" Nana says.I sniff, "No."I don't think I can handle being outside my room right now, I don't want to face the world. The world probably knows by now what happened."Penelope, I will not ask you again," she says sternly.Dammit, Nana, can't a girl be depressed in peace.I get out of my bed and walks to the door, unlock it, and walk back to my bed.She opens the door and walks into my room and straight to the curtains, she pushes them open and they and my eyes burn from the light."Nana," I groan.
"Thank you so much for coming, Penelope," Dr Lewandowski smiles.I take my seat in a seat on the all too familiar red velvet couch, that she has somehow kept clean and fresh, ever since she bought it, not a stain in sight."It's been a long time since we last saw each other," she says."Six months," I chuckle nervously."And why is that?"Dr Mary Lewandowski, the only other person I've trusted with my feelings, her forest-green eyes, always had a calming effect. Like looking into a beautiful forest, her chestnut brown hair, that she always kept in a neat bun, not a strand hanging out, she made sanity look effortless.
After a relaxing day out with Archie, we finally decide to head home for dinner, I needed today, to get away, get some fresh air and spend time with someone I trust."So, you had a good day?"I smile, "Yes I did, thank you so much, Arch, I really needed it.""I know, I did too," he confesses."Works been that stressful?"He sighs as he makes a right turn into my neighbourhood, "It's Ashby, he's behaviour has not only been affecting you but everyone at home, he's been a complete dick,"I frown.Has my relationship with Henry gotten to him t
"Babe, come on, we need to get going," I tell Henry, who was still doing his hair."Almost done," he replies.I put on my earrings, look at myself in the mirror and smile. I look good, even I have to admit it to myself. I get up from my vanity chair and walk to bed, I pick up my phone and text Archie that we are about to leave.Henry finally walks out of the bathroom, he's dressed in a nice blue suit and a white shirt, with the top buttons undone."So, what do you think?" he asks as he walks towards me.I get up from the bed and look up at his hair, and he has the cutest set of curls on his head.I gush, "
Henry looks at me and I watch as his beautiful blue eyes fill up with tears."Penny, you –"Surprise baby," I smile. He lifts me and kisses me."You are the best thing that's ever happened to me, thank you, baby,"Everyone coos and we share another kiss.He lowers me to the ground, and I walk over to the twins."Thank you, guys. This looks amazing," I say, looking around the room."Anything for your princess and Henry, of course," Ashby smiles."Henry almost cried," Archie laughs, "Y
I hate party poopers, gate crashers, and anyone who just wants to rumple on the happiness of others. My dad is one of those people."I can't believe you didn't invite me to your own birthday party Henry. I'm your father," he says faking his disappointment."We did it for a reason, Jeffery," my mother defends.I walk up to my father with the intent of beating the hell out of him, but I decide not to. I stare him down and shake my head. He had some nerve showing up here after everything he has done to me."What are you doing, father?'He smirks, "To see you son.""Bullshit.""I try to be the bigger person, a better father and this is how you treat me?"I chuckle, "We both know that that's not true. Please leave."I really thought you'd be happy to see me,""No. After everything you've done. You should be grateful that we didn't get you arrested."My father walks over to our table and picks up a glass of champagne. He looks at Penny and chuckles before chugging down the champagne."I see
I hear a phone buzzing and I groan, turning away from the sound. I knew it was an alarm. I wasn't sure who it was."Babe," Penny groans."Mhm?""Turn it off,"Shit, it was mine. I reach over to the bedside table and feel for my phone. Once I feel it, I press the screen and the buzzing stops."Thank you," Penny mumbles.I open my eyes and push myself up onto my elbows. I look at Penny and I can tell she's already deep in her sleep. I envy her ability to fall into a deep sleep within seconds.I push the blankets off me, and I sit up on the side of the bed. I catch my naked body in the mirror in front of me. Memories of the night before the flood are in my mind.I turn to look at Penny and contemplate whether I should wake her up, but I decide against it knowing I'll pay for it later. Instead, I kiss her on the cheek and fix her bonnet that was slipping off her head."Fuck," I mumble.I was hungover and I wasn't ready to get up. It was already 8 o'clock, I had to go to the gym but no, my
Epilogue: Not All Love Stories Have Happy EndingsNot every love story is destined to end with a romantic reunion or a picture-perfect ending. Some love stories are lessons, shaping the people we become and teaching us to value ourselves. For Henry and Penny, the end of their relationship wasn't the end of their growth—it was the beginning. As they stepped away from each other, they carried with them the hard-earned understanding that true healing often requires letting go.Henry's struggle was not only about losing Penny, but also about facing the deeper wounds he had been carrying since childhood. Growing up, he witnessed his father's toxic behaviours—manipulation, control, and neglect—which shaped his understanding of relationships. Unconsciously, he adopted some of those same behaviours, which ultimately led to the breakdown of his relationship with Penny. His inability to prioritize her and listen to her cries for support reflect
Two days later, I decided it was time to face the person I had hurt the most. I reached out to Penny, not knowing if she'd even want to hear from me. To my surprise, she agreed to meet. It felt like a small victory, though it came with the overwhelming weight of knowing that I had to face the consequences of my actions. I didn't expect her to take me back—how could I, after everything? But I needed her forgiveness. I needed to look her in the eye and admit my wrongs. Maybe, just maybe, we could find some sort of closure.We arranged to meet at a private location—an old park on the outskirts of town. It was one of those places with quiet trails winding through groves of oak trees, where the ground was carpeted in fallen leaves that crunched softly underfoot. The park had once been a favourite spot for us; we'd spent countless afternoons here, lying on the grass, watchin
"Henry, for God's sake, turn off that dreaded song! It's been two days!" Chris's voice boomed from outside my door, sounding more exasperated than usual.Careless Whisper had been playing on repeat for forty-eight hours straight, filling the room with its haunting saxophone melody. It was the only thing that made sense right now, the only sound that matched the broken rhythm of my heart. The rest of the world was a jarring cacophony I didn't want to hear."Don't make me call Mom," Chris threatened, his tone taking on that authoritative edge that always managed to get through to me.Shit. I reached for the remote and silenced the music.There was a moment of silence before Chris spoke again, his voice softer this tim
The past two weeks had felt like an endless loop of heartache and frustration, as though I was living in a bad dream that refused to let me wake. Ever since the breakup with Henry made headlines, the world outside had become too overwhelming. I was suffocating beneath the weight of my own emotions and the relentless attention from reporters, journalists, and even strangers who were all eager to pry into the details of my private life. I stopped answering calls altogether, letting my phone buzz uselessly across the room as I buried myself beneath blankets and tried to block out the world.Henry had gone silent, too. There were no signs of him anywhere—no statements, no pictures splashed across the gossip sites, no sightings at any of his usual haunts. It was as if he had vanished into thin air, and a part of me wondered if he felt the same choking pressure I did, hiding away
The car ride back to the estate is thick with silence. Chris grips the steering wheel, knuckles white against the leather, and I sit slumped in the passenger seat, drowning in the weight of my thoughts. The pain sits heavy in my chest, gnawing at me, making it hard to breathe. Guilt twists my stomach into knots. I keep replaying the moment over and over—the look on Penny's face when she caught me, the betrayal in her eyes, the way her voice broke when she told me to leave. I thought I had escaped the kind of life that leads to moments like these. I thought she'd be the one to help me rewrite my story.But I ruined it. I ruined us.I stared out the window at the shadowy trees rushing by the road winding toward the one place I swore I'd never return to. Back then, leaving felt like breaking
As Archie helps me inside, the familiar warmth of home wraps around me, yet it feels hollow. The muted glow of the lamps casts soft light across the living room, where Meryl and Nana are seated, their conversations falling silent as I enter. Their faces shift from calm curiosity to shock and concern the moment they see me. It's as if the weight of what's happened seeps into the room, thickening the air.Aunt Linda, her sharp eyes widening with worry, rushes towards me. "What happened?" she asks, her voice tight with alarm.Archie stands beside me, his jaw clenched, an unspoken fury simmering beneath the surface. "Henry, he—" he begins but stops as if struggling to say the words.Meryl closes her eyes, the gesture slow and resigned, as though she already knows what'
"So, you're telling me that Sofia called you and informed you that Henry was at her apartment, rummaging for evidence against his father," I inquire, leaning forward with keen interest.Ashby nods solemnly, a wry smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Winner, winner, chicken dinner."My brow furrows in confusion. "Why didn't Henry tell me?"Ashby offers a nonchalant shrug, his expression betraying no hint of concern. "Take it up with him."With a resigned sigh, I slump back against the cushions, defeated. "What is it going to take for him to respect me?""It's not you, he doesn't respect, it's himself," Archie interjects, his tone tinged with a hint of symp
We pull into the basement parking of Sofia's apartment complex, the concrete walls enclosing us in a dimly lit cavern. Following her lead, we ascend to the second floor, traversing a corridor adorned with nondescript doors until we reach the one at the far end. Nestled in the upper echelons of London's East Side, the apartment complex exudes an air of sophistication and exclusivity.Sofia deftly unlocks the door, ushering us into a realm of opulence and refinement. My eyes roam over the plush furnishings and tasteful décor, a testament to Sofia's discerning taste and apparent affluence. Despite my proximity to her, the nature of Sofia's occupation remains a mystery to me, yet the grandeur of her abode speaks volumes."Welcome to my humble abode," she announces with a flourish, guiding me towards the living room.
"So how did you come by this information about the assault charges?" I inquire, leaning forward in my chair.Chris draws in a deep breath, his expression grave. "Matt has a contact within Scotland Yard. Word has it that Sonja was there with Dad, filing a report, and there's purportedly evidence to support her claims.""Evidence?" I press, my mind racing to comprehend the gravity of the situation.Chris lets out a frustrated groan. "God, you're slow on the uptake, Hen. If they press charges against you, it's game over."There's no way I'm allowing that to happen. "Can't Matt make things disappear?" I suggest, grasping at straws.Chris scoffs incredulously. "You'