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
"Except for that guy,"Henry gets up from his chair, I grab his arm and he looks at me. He was angry, he didn't want us anywhere near his father after what he did."Babe no,"He shakes his head and releases his hand from my grip. I look over at Aunt Linda for help and she shakes her head. I had to let him be. I watched as he went upstairs, and I sat back down in my chair."You need to let him be," Aunt Linda says, "Their relationship has nothing to do with you, Penny."I sigh, "Aunty, I don't know if it's a good idea. He needs to let his mother live.""And you need to give them space and Henry will learn that he needs to mind his damn business when it comes to his mama."I chuckle, "I guess, you're right."Aunt Linda gets up and starts dishing up breakfast for her and me. She places a knife and a fork in front of me."Nana?""Yes?""How would you feel if we hired a cleaning staff and a cook?"Aunt Linda grins, "It's about time you asked me that question. I would love that.""Isn't it
A bitch had the nerve to show up at my house, after everything she did to me. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel my blood boiling as I locked eyes with her. The living room, usually a warm and inviting space with its cozy furniture and soft, ambient lighting, now felt like a battlefield.The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the faint aroma of the jasmine flowers in the vase, a stark contrast to the icy fury coursing through my veins. Henry saw me charging at Sophia and swiftly intercepted, pulling me away from her with a firm grip."Babe, calm down," he whispered urgently, his blue eyes wide with concern.I glared at him, my chest heaving with anger. He let me go, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I'm sorry, I thought you were over the whole situation.""Of all the people on God's good green earth, he chose that b—" Henry covered my mouth, his hand warm against my lips, and pulled me into the kitchen. The cool tile floor under my bare feet did nothing
"I really appreciate you guys being so understanding," Sophia says, her voice a sugary sweet facade masking her true intentions."It's your life, and as long as you're both happy, we're happy," Archie replies, his tone diplomatic and calm.Why did they leave me with this witch? The thought gnaws at my mind, unsettling me.Sophia rises gracefully from the lawn chair, her movements fluid and deliberate as she saunters towards me. The seductive glint in her eyes makes my stomach churn, but I force myself to remain composed. She's so damn evil; she could destroy me right here and now.Standing beside me, her intoxicating perfume invades my senses, almost making me forget her malevolence. At least she smells nice.
Henry rose from the plush sofa, his movements deliberate and slow, and silently left the living room. The weight of the situation was palpable, a tangible tension hanging in the air. I glanced over at Archie, who returned my look with a sympathetic nod, his eyes filled with understanding and concern. Shifting my gaze to Ashby and Sophia, I noted how they seemed to have moved on from the fraught conversation, their laughter and easy demeanour a stark contrast to the turmoil churning within me.I stood up from the couch, the cushions sighing in relief as I left, and made my way to the patio. The evening air was cool and crisp, a welcome change from the stifling atmosphere inside. The patio overlooked a beautifully manicured garden, the setting sun casting long, golden shadows that danced across the vibrant flowers and lush greenery. The scent of blooming jasmine
The air in the room is charged, tension palpable as Henry's words hang in the space between us. The dim glow of the bedside lamp casts a warm hue on the intricately designed bedroom, its walls adorned with paintings that seem to witness the unfolding drama."You have to apologize," Henry's voice, usually steady and composed, echoes through the room, and for a moment, it seems as if the very walls are holding their breath in anticipation."Henry, you're seriously siding with her right now?" My response carries a mixture of disbelief and frustration, the emotions mirrored in the ambient light that flickers across the room's classic furnishings."You can't hit someone, Penny. You have to apologize." His words, though stern, seem to float in the air, tangled in the essence o
The air in my office carries a heaviness, thick with the tension of unspoken words and unresolved conflicts. The mahogany furniture exudes an aura of timeless elegance, standing witness to the familial drama that unfolds within its walls. Chris, my brother, leans casually against the intricately carved bookshelf, a raised brow signalling his anticipation for the impending revelation."Now, don't judge me. Who am I kidding, you're going to, whether I like it or not," I mutter, the weight of my decision hanging in the air like an unspoken decree. The golden hue of the room accentuates the gravity of the moment, casting long shadows on the polished wooden floor.Chris, ever the stoic observer, raises a sceptical brow, waiting with the patience of someone accustomed to my tendency to put my foot in my mouth. His eyes, a deep shad
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'