LOGIN“Please stop, you're drunk,” I whispered, my voice trembling as I tried to push him off. His body was heavy against mine, his movements sluggish but persistent. He barely heard me. “How old are you?” he murmured, his voice thick with alcohol. “18,” I gasped, heart racing in a mix of fear and confusion. “Then you're already an adult” he said with a low chuckle, as though that settled everything. I should’ve stopped it. I should’ve left. But I didn't have the strength to argue, didn't have the will to stop him. He moved against me again, and that's when I felt something cold touch the most intimate part of me…. I woke up alone in a dimly lit room. He was still there, his back turned to me, but his face-his identity-was still hidden behind the mask. I glanced down at his left shoulder. A Phoenix tattoo. Bold. Intriguing. But then, I didn't hesitate. I grabbed my things and ran, my heart racing as I left the room without another word. It was supposed to be just a night. One meant to be forgotten. And that's exactly what I intended to do. I didn't know his name. I didn't even know his face. It was a night meant to stay buried in the past. It was a night I promised myself I’d forget. But that promise broke when pregnancy came knocking.
View MoreCALISTA
“Stop... please, stop,” I said, my voice shaky, barely above a whisper. He didn’t stop. Instead his hand drew circle underneath my gown. “Your age,” he rasped, his deep voice rough with need. His breath fanned over my neck, making me shiver. I hesitated, my body trembling beneath his. “Eighteen,” I finally said, my words hitching. “Good,” he murmured, his lips brushing against the edge of my jaw. “You’re already an adult. That means I don't have to hold back." My mind screamed at me to run, but my body wouldn't move. There was something about him, something magnetic and dangerous, that kept me rooted to the spot. "You're beautiful," he murmured, his fingers brushing against my cheek. I swallowed hard, my pulse racing. His words sent a jolt of something I didn’t recognize through me. My mind screamed for me to push him away, to run, but my body wouldn’t listen. The weight of him pinned me to the soft bed, and I could feel the heat radiating off him. How did I get here? The memory of earlier in the evening came rushing back. Lila. It was her idea to come to this stupid party, dragging me out of the house with promises of “one last hurrah” before I left for college. She’d insisted I needed this, that it was time to live a little. “Come on, Calista,” she’d said, her eyes sparkling with as she adjusted the glittery mask on my face. “It’s just a party. No one will even know it’s you. You can finally let loose without all the judgment.” Judgment. That word stuck with me. For as long as I could remember, judgment had been the backdrop of my life. My parents, once loving and doting, had turned cold and distant when I was ten. That was when the truth came out—I wasn’t their real daughter. I was the result of a hospital mix-up, a mistake. From that moment on, I became the outsider in my own family. My adoptive parents barely acknowledged me. My sister ignored me. And the real daughter they lost? She became a ghost who overshadowed my existence. The only place I’d ever felt safe was with Lila, my best friend. She was my escape, my anchor. So when she begged me to come to this party, I gave in. I didn’t belong here, though. I knew that the moment we stepped into the grand mansion, the bass from the music rattling the walls. The people were glamorous, confident, carefree. Nothing like me. I’d wandered off at some point, looking for an escape from the noise. That’s when I found him. Or maybe he found me. I didn’t know his name. I didn’t know who he was beneath the black mask that covered half his face. But I could feel his presence, overpowering and magnetic. His eyes, dark and intense, seemed to pierce through me, stripping away every layer of defense I had. His voice brought me back to the present, low and commanding. “Don’t fight it,” he said, his hands sliding over my arms. I wanted to fight. I wanted to run. But I couldn’t move. Maybe it was the way he looked at me, like was the only person in the world. Or maybe it was the thrill of being wanted, even if it was by a stranger. Either way, I stopped resisting. His lips found mine, firm and demanding. My protests died in my throat, replaced by a mix of fear and something else—something I didn’t want to admit. His hands roamed over my body, his touch igniting sensations I’d never felt before. My breath hitched as his fingers brushed against the most intimate part of me. “Wait—” I managed to say, my voice trembling. “Use protection.” He stilled for a moment, his dark eyes locking onto mine. “Don’t worry,” he said, his voice softer now but no less intense. “I can’t have an heir.” I didn’t understand what he meant, but there was no time to ask. His lips were on mine again, and all rational thought slipped away. The night blurred into a haze of heat and sensation. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe. All I could do was feel. --- The sunlight streaming through the curtains woke me. For a moment, I didn’t know where I was. The room was unfamiliar, the air heavy with the remnants of last night. Then it all came rushing back. I turned my head and saw him lying beside me, his chest rising and falling steadily. His face was still covered by the mask, his dark hair messy against the pillow. I didn’t know his name. I didn’t know anything about him. My heart raced as I slowly sat up, trying not to wake him. My dress was crumpled on the floor, and I grabbed it, slipping it on as quietly as I could. That’s when I noticed it—a tattoo on his forearm. A phoenix, its wings spread wide, the design wrapping around his muscular arm. I froze, the image burning itself into my memory. I couldn’t stay. Without looking back, I bolted out of the room. My heels clicked against the marble floor as I ran down the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t stop until I was outside, the cool morning air hitting my face like a slap. It was just a night, I told myself. One night meant to be forgotten. But deep down, I knew it wouldn’t be that simple.CASSIUSThe soft thud of little feet against the carpet echoed through the room, followed by the faint giggle that I had come to like. Aaron.He was everywhere tonight — bouncing on his new bed, opening drawers, poking at the glowing nightlight shaped like a rocket. The decorators had just left, and the room still smelled of fresh paint and new furniture. Everything was perfect like something out of a catalog.“Dad! Look!” Aaron’s voice was bright, his small finger pointing toward the shelf. “They put my toy cars there!”I looked up from the chair near his bed and smiled, just a little. “That’s right. You’ve got more than you can drive.”He grinned and grabbed one of them, making engine noises as he zoomed it across the sheets. The laughter that followed hit something deep in my chest — something I didn’t want to name.It had been a good day. We’d played, eaten dinner together.Now, he was yawning between his giggles.“Alright, champ,” I said, rolling my chair closer. “Time for bed.”
CALISTA When I opened my eyes, I was met with a pair of sharp brown eyes staring intently at me. My breath caught in my throat, and for a brief moment, my muddled mind panicked. Where was I? The man leaned back slightly as if sensing my unease. “You’re awake,” he said, his voice warm and calm. he said, his voice calm and deep. “I’m Alaric King. “I found you collapsed in the rain and brought you here. You were freezing and unconscious. Do you remember?” I blinked at him, processing his words. Fainting? Rain? The memories returned in scattered fragments—the suffocating argument with Cassius, the storm, my heartache—and shame burned in my cheeks. He leaned back in his chair, giving me space, though his eyes never left me. “Walking in a rain as that wasn’t the best idea,” he said lightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “You’re lucky I happened to pass by when I did.” I didn’t respond, my thoughts still tangled with worry about Aaron. Was he okay? Did Mr Dario notice I was gone?
CALISTA The dull ache in my head was the first thing I noticed as I blinked against the morning light filtering through the curtains. My eyes burned from crying all night, and my body felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion and emotional turmoil. I hadn’t slept. How could I, when the past twelve hours had flipped my life upside down? My throat was sore and my heart felt like it had been shredded. But there was one thing that still mattered, one thing that kept me going even when the world around me seemed to crumble—Aaron. Pushing aside the blanket, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood, though my knees wobbled beneath me. My reflection in the mirror caught my attention, and I almost didn’t recognize the woman staring back. My hair was a tangled mess, and my face was blotchy and pale. But I didn’t care. Aaron needed me, and I needed him. I hurried out of the room, my bare feet padding against the cold floor. “Aaron?” I called, my voice hoarse and cracking. There w
CASSIUS Aaron’s question hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. “Are you my daddy?” I stared at him for a long moment, the resemblance hitting me harder than I cared to admit. The boy didn’t just look like me—he was a mirror of my childhood self. The same dark hair, sharp features, Hazel eyes and even that slight furrow in his brow when he was curious. “There’s only one way to find out,” I said, my voice calm but firm. Calista bristled immediately, standing protectively between me and the boy. “This is ridiculous. It’s just a coincidence! Lots of kids look like people they’re not related to.” “A coincidence?” I raised an eyebrow, gesturing toward Aaron, who was now findiling with his fingers in the corner. “He doesn’t just look like me. He is me, Mrs. Dario. The resemblance isn’t just uncanny—it’s undeniable.” Her jaw tightened, and she crossed her arms. “So what if he looks like you? That doesn’t mean anything!” I didn’t respond immediately, instead picking up my phone and












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