Jane Frederick 的作品

Aaron’s POV..I finally snuck out of the gate, sucking in a breath. Nessa and I had decided to come to town to visit Mom and Dad with Marshal and also see his wife.Yes, a year ago Marshal had secretly had a small wedding with Martha, a woman in her early forties he’d apparently been seeing for years but was too shy to introduce to Nessa. Nessa, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care. Her dad was happy, and that was all that mattered. Martha seemed like a really nice woman, to be honest, with a great sense of humor.The party didn’t seem like it would end anytime soon, and it was already 8 p.m. Nessa and I would be leaving by noon tomorrow, which meant if I didn’t go see Sam tonight, it would be impossible.I got into my car, thanking God I hadn’t parked inside, and started it. My eyes drifted to the gifts I had picked up for Sam on the way here.It’s been almost a year since he lost his dad and almost a year and a half since we last talked. He never replied to my texts, never retur

Sam’s POV..It had been almost two years since the incident, a year and a half since I graduated, and five months since Baba passed — and yet it felt like time hadn’t moved at all.I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. The dark circles under my eyes were so deep they looked like makeup. I had lost so much weight my cheekbones felt painfully visible.I couldn’t understand it. It had been just a little fever. Baba had faced other serious illnesses before and he’d recovered — yet a simple fever took him in less than forty-eight hours.Just when I was about to make him proud. Just when life was starting to make sense. He died.Baba… died.I held the sink tight, splashed water on my face, then dragged myself back to bed. Bottles of alcohol and junk food from weeks ago were scattered around and I didn’t care. I fell under the covers — that had been my routine for as long as I could remember: waking up, drinking, then hiding under blankets in the illusion that the world was som

Nessa’s POV..I sat outside on the front porch as Aaron’s car pulled up. I stood, resisting the urge to clap like a kid whose favorite parent just came home.What the hell was wrong with me?He stepped out, walking toward me with a small smile on his face.Me: come on, I cooked dinner..I sat cross-legged on the bed in my nightwear, my hair still damp from the shower as I waited for Aaron. Dinner had been silent, him barely looking at me once—but with how pink his cheeks were, I knew exactly why.The bathroom door opened and Aaron stepped out in a loose shirt and shorts, his legs showing. God, he had beautiful legs. And, as expected, his eyes landed on everything but me.Aaron: uhm… I’m gonna… go sleep on the couch.Me: you can just sleep here! It’s a big enough bed anyway.He hesitated, pressing his lips together before finally nodding. He got in on the other side, and I slid under the covers too, our faces turned toward each other as his round dark eyes searched mine.Aaron: how’

Sam’s POV..My eyes fluttered open, landing on a grey ceiling. I frowned, blinking repeatedly as I raised my head, my gaze drifting around the room. The memories of last night rushed back, and I quickly shut my eyes.Nicholas fucking Grey.Opening my eyes again, I moved my legs, relieved to finally feel them working. I sat up, tried pushing myself to my feet, but fell back against the bed with a groan. I tried again, wobbling this time but managing to stand. My balance was shaky, but I forced myself forward, using the wall for support until I reached the door.The hallway stretched out, wide and silent, except for the faint sound of pots clinking. I followed it, one hand gripping the stair railing, taking each step slowly, carefully, until I reached the bottom.The living room was massive, painted in muted greys. I turned toward the corner—and there he was. Nicholas, standing at the stove, his back to me as he stirred something in a pot. My stomach twisted, anger flaring.I moved qu

Aaron’s pov..I took a deep breath, opened the door, and stepped inside as three pairs of eyes landed on me—Annie, Bella, and Nessa.We glared at each other for a moment, the silence suffocating, until I finally cleared my throat.“Guys…” Nessa started.“Oh yeah… of course!” Annie jumped in. She stood, pulling Bella down from the counter. Bella scowled at me while Annie gave me a small, pitiful smile before leaving.I slowly turned back to Nessa. Her arms were crossed, her face blank.“Nessa…” I said, my voice low as I searched her expression. Nothing.“Aaron, I—”“I didn’t do it! Nessa, I swear I didn’t do it. I have proof! Nicholas… he—he planned this entire thing. He drugged me!” My eyes widened.“...Nicholas?” she asked, frowning.I nodded quickly. “The day after your date with him, he came to me. He showed me a video of you signing documents at his place. He had a contract where you supposedly signed over half the shares to him. He said he could take over the company. I panick

Aaron’s POV..I felt a tap on my knee as my eyes fluttered open, meeting the worried face of Elliot as he looked down at me.Elliot: Aaron? Are you awake?I groaned, sitting up, looking around. I was at Elliot’s apartment.Me: Arghh… what am I doing here?Elliot: You called me last night to come pick you up, which I did. You seemed to be in danger, so I tracked your phone and found you in a room.I ran my hand through my hair as the memories of last night slowly started to come back.Sam.Sophia.Me: Last night I… I was dancing with Sam and out of nowhere I’m in a room with Sophia. And then… there’s Sam… and the last thing I remember is him telling me he’s sorry. But… I don’t understand. Or was it a dream?Elliot: Wait… Sophia? The girl in the Love on Sea show?I nodded.Elliot: And your best friend was there too?I nodded again.Elliot sighed, looking at me.Elliot: I don’t know how to say this, but… Aaron, there’s a video of you going around the internet. With you and… Sophia.I f