A Forbidden Affair -Realization

Morning came quietly, but Lena woke with a feeling she couldn't understand.

For a few seconds, she just lay there, staring at the ceiling. She thought about 

Jayden.

She groaned softly and sat up. “Get a grip,” she muttered under her breath.

The house felt lonely.

Lena walked downstairs slowly, expecting to hear something from Jayden, his voice, anything.

But nothing.

She eventually found him in the kitchen.

He wasn’t shirtless this time. Fully dressed. 

He stood by the counter, scrolling through his phone, barely acknowledging her presence.

That alone felt… off.

“Morning,” she said, her voice cautious.

Jayden looked up briefly. “Morning.”

That was it.

No teasing, smirk. Or lingering glance.

Just… normal.

Lena frowned slightly. “You’re up early.”

He looked up slowly. "Yeah," he said. 

She shifted awkwardly, suddenly unsure of what to say.

This wasn’t the Jayden she met.

The silence was disturbing.

A few moments passed before he spoke again.

“About yesterday…”

Lena looked up immediately.

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair like the words didn’t come easily.

“I shouldn’t have said that.”

Her chest tightened. “Said what?”

He met her eyes this time, serious.

“Calling you a whore.”

Lena folded her arms. “Yeah. You shouldn’t have.”

“I was angry,” he said. “Doesn’t make it right.”

She studied him, trying to understand him.

Jayden Blake… apologizing?

That was new.

“I crossed a line,” he added.

Then Lena nodded slowly. “You did.”

“I’m sorry,” he said again.

She hesitated before replying.

"It's okay, I'm sorry too; I shouldn't have involved your mom.”

And she meant it.

He nodded.

But something about the way he stepped back afterward.

Instead of feeling relief…

She felt something else.

The distance started immediately.

Jayden barely stayed in the same room as her.

He left early. Came back late. Conversations became one-word answers.

It was like he had built a wall overnight.

And Lena… noticed.

By evening, her phone buzzed.

Richard.

Her mood lifted instantly.

“Hey, babe,” she said, smiling.

“Get dressed,” he said playfully. “I have a surprise for you.”

Her eyes lit up. “A surprise?”

“Yeah. Be ready in thirty minutes.”

The line cut before she could ask more.

Lena stared at her phone, excitement bubbling up despite everything.

Finally, something to set my mood.

The drive was smooth, filled with light conversation and laughter.

When they arrived, Richard led her into a beautifully decorated room with dim lights, candles, and rose petals scattered across the bed.

Lena gasped softly. “Wow…”

“I love you,” he murmured behind her.

She smiled, turning toward him. “I can see that.”

Everything felt perfect.

Until it wasn’t.

The door clicked open.

Lena turned, confused, and froze.

A woman stood there.

Dressed in sexy lingerie.

Lena’s heart dropped.

“What… is this? ” she asked slowly.

Richard didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he stepped closer, his tone calm.

“I wanted to try something different.”

Her stomach twisted. “Different how?”

He hesitated, then said it.

“A threesome.”

The word hung in the air like a slap.

Lena blinked. “You’re joking.”

“I’m not,” he said gently. “We could explore… together.”

Her expression changed instantly.

Confusion was written all over her face.

“You’re serious?” she whispered.

“Lena”

“No.”

Her voice came out sharper than she intended.

“No, Richard.”

She stepped back, shaking her head.

"We came all this way for your surprise," she said, her voice trembling. “And this is what you planned?”

“I thought you would understand."

“Understand what?” she cut in. "Don't you enjoy our intimacy?”

“It’s not like that."

“Then what is it like?” she snapped.

There was a pause.

That was enough to answer.

Lena grabbed her bag. “I can’t do this.”

“Lena, wait."

But she was already walking out.

He followed her outside.

“Just listen to me,” Richard called, catching up.

She turned, eyes glassy. “What?”

“I want us to be open,” he said.

Her heart sank even deeper.

“Open?”

“I should have told you earlier,” he admitted. “I didn’t know how.”

Lena let out a bitter laugh. “So you decided to show me instead?”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“But you did.”

She shakes her head. 

“I need space,” she said finally.

Richard nodded slowly. “Okay.”

And just like that

He let her walk away.

That hurt the most.

The music in the club was loud, almost overwhelming.

Exactly what Lena needed.

She sat at the bar, drink in hand, trying to drown out everything, the ache in her chest.

“Another,” she told the bartender.

By the time she stood up, the room was spinning slightly.

She didn’t care.

That’s when she saw him.

Across the room.

Jayden.

Or someone who looked like him.

A girl was pressed against him, laughing, moving to the music.

Lena blinked.

I’m drunk, but I still see him great". She said, rolling her eyes.

But then, he looked up.

And their eyes met.

Her breath caught.

Jayden whispered something to her and pulled away, walking towards her.

“Lena?”

Up close, his expression shifted from confusion to concern.

“What are you doing here?”

She laughed weakly. “Having fun.”

He frowned. “You’ve been drinking.”

"Is it obvious?"

His gaze softened slightly. “What’s wrong?”

And that was it.

The question broke something in her.

“I gave him everything,” she said, her voice cracking. “And it’s still not enough.”

Jayden went still.

“He wants an open relationship,” she added bitterly.

His jaw tightened.

“Let’s go,” he said quietly.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she snapped.

“Lena”

“I said I’m not going!”

People were starting to look.

Jayden exhaled slowly, then gently took her hand.

“Come on.”

This time, she didn’t fight as much.

The hotel room was quiet.

Lena paced unsteadily while Jayden stood near the door, watching her carefully.

“You don’t have to babysit me,” she said.

“I'm not.”

“Then why are you here?”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he moved closer.

“Because you’re not okay.”

Something about that made her chest tighten again.

Before she could think, she stepped closer.

Her hands pressed lightly against his chest.

“I want you to make me feel okay,” she murmured.

His eyes widened.

“Lena…”

But she leaned in, her lips brushing his.

He pulled back immediately.

“No.”

She frowned. “Why not?”

“Because you’re not thinking straight.”

“I am,” she insisted, moving closer again.

He held her shoulders gently, stopping her.

“You don’t want this,” he said firmly.

"You don't know what I want", she said slowly licking her lips.

And stared at him.

He didn’t give in.

Her face went pale, before she threw up.

He rushed to her side steadying her.

Later, everything blurred.

When Lena woke up, the room was quiet again.

Her head ached slightly.

She turned and froze.

Her clothes were gone when she woke up, and panic set in when she saw Jayden was beside her.

Fully dressed and asleep on top of the covers.

Relief hit her first.

Then panic.

“What if Richard?"

“He won’t know,” Jayden’s voice cut in, low but awake.

She sat up quickly. “This looks bad.”

“You refused to go home,” he said calmly. “I wasn’t leaving you alone.”

She stared at him.

Trying to understand him.

“Why?” she asked softly.

Jayden didn’t rush to answer.

Instead, he looked at her in a way she couldn’t quite explain.

“Because I care about you and you're my dad's girlfriend, I can't leave you like that,” he said finally.

She couldn't help but look at him with admiration; she finally got her question answered. She had fallen for Jadyden.