Novels by Abigail Ayedenu

The message stayed in my head long after I dropped my phone."Enjoy tonight while it lasts.By tomorrow, everyone will know who you really are."I didn’t reply.I couldn’t.Sleep didn’t come easy either. Every time I closed my eyes, I kept seeing it—those words, repeating, settling into something heavier than just a threat.By morning, my chest still felt tight.Like something was already wrong and I just didn’t know where it would hit from.Walking into school felt different.Too normal.That was the problem.No one was staring.No one was whispering louder than usual.Everything looked the same.But it didn’t feel the same.I kept looking around anyway. At faces. At corners. At nothing in particular.Waiting.Then I saw her.Paige.She was already looking at me.Like she had been waiting.A slow smile spread across her lips as our eyes met.My stomach tightened.She walked toward me, calm, unhurried.Like she had all the time in the world.When she got close enough, she leaned i

A soft knock came a few minutes after Aaron left the room.I looked up from where I was sitting.“Come in,” I said quietly, my voice still a little unsteady.The door opened gently, and a well-dressed woman stepped inside holding a long garment bag. She offered a polite smile.“Mr. Briggs sent this for you,” she said, carefully placing the bag on the chair near the mirror before slipping out as quietly as she had entered.I stared at the bag for a long moment, curiosity and nervousness mixing in my chest.Finally, I walked over and slowly unzipped it.My breath caught the second I saw the dress.It was stunning. A deep, rich emerald silk that shimmered softly under the light. The fabric looked incredibly smooth and luxurious, the cut elegant yet daring. It didn’t just look expensive. It looked like it had been chosen with purpose.I hesitated for only a second before slipping out of my previous clothes and carefully putting on the new dress. When I stepped in front of the full-leng

The room went quiet.Not slowly.Instantly.The whispers died, conversations cutting off mid-sentence like something had snapped in the air.Even Paige’s smile faltered.For a second, no one moved.“Paige.”The voice was soft.Calm.But it carried.My breath caught as I slowly turned.She stood there.Elegant.Composed.Untouchable.Aaron’s mother.Her presence alone shifted everything.Her gaze moved from me—to the stain spreading across my dress—then to Paige.“What,” she said quietly, “do you think you’re doing?”Paige froze.“I—I didn’t mean to—”“Didn’t mean?” she repeated, tilting her head slightly.That was all it took.Paige swallowed, her fingers tightening around the empty glass.“I’m sorry,” she said quickly.But she wasn’t looking at me.She couldn’t.Her eyes stayed on Mrs. Briggs.Waiting.For permission to leave.For judgment.Mrs. Briggs didn’t raise her voice.Didn’t move closer.She just looked at her.And somehow… that was worse.Paige stepped back.Then another.An

I hesitated for only a second before stepping aside.“Yeah, come in.” My voice shook slightly.Aaron walked in without another word.I closed the door, fingers lingering on the handle before turning back.He had already moved into the living room, leaning casually against the table by the window.But his eyes… were on me. Slow. Intentional.My breath caught.It wasn’t his usual teasing look. It felt deeper. Like he could see through the thin fabric of my robe.Heat crept up my neck. I crossed my arms unconsciously.God.Why does he always do that?“You didn’t answer my texts,” I said softly.“Ethan’s fine,” he replied.I stepped closer. “Fine?”“He’s stable.”Something in his expression shifted. Not broken… but not okay.“What happened?”He looked away. “Wrong place. Wrong time.”That was it.Silence settled between us.Then he pushed off the table. “We should sit.”I nodded and moved to the couch.He sat beside me—close, but not too close.“My house wasn’t ideal tonight,” he said.“W

The silence in the car was intense.Neither of us spoke after the call.Aaron drove to my house and pulled up gently. He didn’t say anything.No teasing.No smirk.Just silence.I held my bag tightly and opened the door.“Thanks for the ride. Bye.”I turned toward him, expecting something.Anything.He said nothing.My chest tightened.I stepped out slowly.As I was about to close the door, Aaron finally looked at me. A faint, unreadable smile rested on his lips.“Take care,” he said.I nodded and shut the door.The car drove off immediately.I stood there for a few seconds, watching it disappear.The street felt too quiet.I exhaled and turned, walking into the house.The silence inside wrapped around me instantly.I dropped my bag on the couch and sank into it.Why did that bother me so much?Aaron was never like that. Never quiet. Never distant.I pulled out my phone and opened our chat.Are you okay?I hesitated then pressed send.Delivered.No reply.I waited.A minute.Two.Five

Paige couldn’t believe what she just saw.Her mouth was left open for a while.She tilted her head the other way like she didn’t care.The whole students were shocked. I guessed the entire school believed our relationship now.The entire cafeteria was buzzing with whispers.“Aaron Briggs kissed her!”“Since when were they dating?”I could hear all these from the group of students whose eyes were focused on us.I looked at Aaron, he stayed calm holding my hand like nothing ever happened, his fingers firm around mine like this was normal.Before I could do anything, Aaron tightened his grip on my hand and we both walked out of the cafeteria.We walked into an empty class and we shut the door behind us.I released my hand from his grip, my fingers tingling slightly.“You kissed me without warning,” I snapped at him, my heart still beating faster than normal.“Relax,” Aaron said with a shrug.“We wanted them to believe it right? That was the best way.” He said, leaning on a table.Aaron s