All Chapters of The Mistress: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Victoria walked into the house after a long day, the air inside heavy with tension. She had just dropped Ethan off at school and had a quick errand to run. But now, she was facing the person who had been her silent observer in this mess—her stepmother, Rita. Victoria was already anticipating the conversation, but nothing could quite prepare her for the venomous tone Rita was about to unleash.Rita sat at the kitchen table, tapping her nails against the wood impatiently. She didn’t even look up as Victoria entered, but the coldness in her voice was unmistakable.“Victoria, we need to talk.”Victoria sighed, feeling the weight of the moment already pressing down on her shoulders. “What’s it about this time, Rita?”Rita’s eyes narrowed. “You need to get over whatever grudge you have with Daniel and reconcile with him. You’re jeopardizing everything for yourself and Ethan, and it’s not fair.”Victoria’s hand clenched at her side, her patience thinning. “What exactly are you trying to say?

Zander sat on the edge of his bed, his guitar resting on his lap, the strings cold beneath his fingers. The room was dim, lit only by the fading light from the window. Outside, the sky was a dull orange, the last bits of daylight slipping away as the world outside seemed to quiet down. His gaze was distant, unfocused, as he strummed absent-mindedly, letting the sound fill the emptiness in the room.It wasn’t like him to feel lost—he was used to knowing where he was going, knowing what he wanted. But tonight, everything felt uncertain, like he was in a place he couldn’t escape from, no matter how hard he tried. The melodies had always come easily to him, flowing from his fingers like second nature, but now, it felt like something was blocking the music, like the notes couldn’t find their way.He thought about Victoria—how she had come into his life with a quiet intensity, the way her presence filled the room without her even having to say much. She had become a constant in his world, a

“I’m telling you, it’s going to be incredible,” Victoria said, her voice brimming with excitement as she paced around the studio. “I’ve never done anything like this before, but it feels like the perfect time. A reflection of where I’ve been, who I’ve become.”Zander, leaning against the doorframe, raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical but trying not to show it. “You always say that, Victoria. Every time you try something new.”She stopped pacing and turned to him, her expression serious. “This time, it’s different. I can feel it.” She paused, her eyes momentarily softening as she met his gaze. “I want this to be more than just art. I want it to be a statement. A declaration of everything I’ve gone through.”Zander straightened, pushing himself off the door and crossing the room to where she stood, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “What exactly are you declaring? That you’ve survived the chaos?”Victoria rolled her eyes, though there was a hint of playfulness in her t

Daniel leaned against the doorframe, watching as Zander and Victoria laughed over their coffee, their shared jokes filling the air with a warmth Daniel had always envied. He waited, his presence subtle, until he knew he had their attention.“I’ve got to say, it’s good to see you two getting along,” Daniel said, his tone light, almost casual, but there was a sharp edge to it that made Victoria glance up. She was still getting used to the way he could change his mood so quickly.Zander smiled at him, but there was a hesitation. “Of course. Why wouldn’t we?”Daniel’s lips curled in a knowing smile. “Well, relationships can get complicated. Sometimes, you don’t see the cracks until it’s too late.”Victoria frowned, catching the undercurrent in his words. “What do you mean by that?”Daniel stepped further into the room, his posture relaxed, but there was a deliberate air about him. “I mean, sometimes people put on a good face for the world. They’re happy, everything seems perfect, but deep

“Victoria.” Daniel’s voice was low, almost coaxing as he leaned against the doorframe of her apartment. He looked different today—more disheveled, eyes filled with a certain intensity she hadn’t seen in him before.She didn’t look up from where she was organizing her art supplies. “What do you want, Daniel?” she asked, her voice steady but tinged with annoyance.He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. “I’ve been thinking a lot about us,” he began, walking slowly toward her. “About what we had… what we could have had. I know things got complicated, but it doesn’t have to stay that way.”Victoria remained quiet, her hands still busy sorting through her paints. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to engage in this conversation. “You always say that, but nothing ever changes, Daniel. You say one thing, then do another.”Daniel’s gaze softened. He took a step closer, his voice lowering even more. “I’m serious, Victoria. I’ve changed. I’ve been looking at things differently. I want