All Chapters of The Mistress: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Victoria’s phone buzzed just as she stepped into her car, her art supplies neatly packed on the passenger seat. She smiled when she saw Sophie’s name flashing on the screen. Sliding her finger across the screen, she answered, “Hey, Soph!”“Vic! So, how was it? Your first day back in the art world?” Sophie’s voice practically bubbled with excitement, her enthusiasm infectious.“It was… amazing,” Victoria admitted, her lips curving into a smile. “I didn’t expect to feel so—” She paused, searching for the right word. “Liberated.”“I told you!” Sophie exclaimed, and Victoria could imagine her best friend bouncing with glee on the other end. “I knew it would be perfect for you. Did you meet anyone interesting?”“A few people. There’s this woman, Ella, who’s super friendly. She helped me get started. And the instructor—Marcel—he’s kind of eccentric but very encouraging.”“I love this for you, Vic,” Sophie said, her tone softening. “You deserve to have something just for you, you know?”“Tha

FLASHBACKThe Blackwood estate gleamed in the pale light of dusk, a fortress of wealth and power. For Zander, it had always felt more like a battleground. As he sat in his studio, fingers idly tracing the edge of a wine glass, memories began to stir, vivid and unrelenting, pulling him into a time when the rivalry between him and Daniel burned at its fiercest.Ten years ago, the summer air carried a suffocating weight as Zander returned home from Europe. His music tour had been a resounding success, with critics praising his compositions as visionary. Yet, stepping back into the Blackwood estate, the accolades felt hollow. Here, success wasn’t celebrated—it was scrutinized.That evening, the family gathered in the grand dining hall, its opulence marred by the palpable tension between brothers. Michael Blackwood, the family patriarch, sat at the head of the table, his presence as commanding as the crystal chandeliers above.“Zander,” Michael began, his deep voice cutting through the sil

The night had fallen, and the house was quiet, save for the hum of the refrigerator and the distant rustle of the wind outside. I sat on the edge of the bed, the weight of the past few days pressing down on me.My mind swirled with questions, anger, and a deep, gnawing ache in my chest. I could still feel the heat of the argument with Rita, the sting of her disapproval lingering like a bad taste in my mouth. But beneath that, something else had begun to grow—a quiet, dangerous thought that threatened to consume me.I stood up abruptly, pacing back and forth across the room. My fingers brushed against the corner of the dresser, my gaze moving to the window, where the moonlight spilled across the floor. The quiet seemed to mock me, reminding me of the stillness in my own heart.Daniel’s betrayal wasn’t something I had ever expected. I had always known he was distant at times, but the affair with Isabelle—that was something different. That had shattered something inside me, something I w

The afternoon light poured through the windows, casting a soft glow across the living room. Ethan was sprawled on the couch, a pile of books scattered around him as he flipped through the pages of one, his brow furrowed in concentration. I watched him for a moment, my heart aching with love for this little boy who had become my world, and I wondered how much longer I could keep him shielded from the storm brewing in our lives.I walked over and sat down beside him, running my fingers through his dark hair. “Hey, how’s the reading going?” I asked, trying to keep my voice light, even though my mind was a thousand miles away.Ethan looked up, his wide brown eyes filled with the innocence of childhood. “It’s good, Mom,” he said, offering me a small smile. “I like reading about the stars. Do you think there are aliens out there?”I couldn’t help but smile at his curiosity. His mind always seemed to be buzzing with questions, dreams, and ideas that had nothing to do with the chaos swirling

The grand ballroom was alive with laughter and the clinking of glasses, a world away from the storm inside my chest. I stood close to Daniel, trying to force myself to engage with the guests around us, but the weight of everything I’d been bottling up felt suffocating. Ethan was beside us, his tiny hand gripped firmly in mine, as we made our way through the crowd. I could feel Daniel’s hand on my back, his fingers gentle, but I couldn’t escape the distance I felt between us.“You look amazing tonight, Victoria,” Daniel said, his voice warm as he leaned in close.“Thank you,” I replied, offering him a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. The compliment felt empty, as if it was just another thing expected of us, another part of the performance I was growing so tired of.Daniel didn’t seem to notice the strain in my voice. He was lost in the excitement of the event, mingling with old acquaintances, greeting people with his usual charm. I could feel his gaze on me a few times, but it wa