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Chapter 18 – Tables Turned & Truths Told
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2025-07-01 15:15:25
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Blooming Backwards 🕊️ Chapter 32– Between Two Worlds (Minnie’s POV)
Minnie sat on the edge of Kevin’s mattress—her old bed, still perfectly in its place—watching the early morning light stream through dust-moted curtains. The sheets smelled faintly of him, but it didn’t feel the same. This bed, this room, was hers again, and yet… it was hollow. Kevin stirred beside her, propping up on one elbow. “It’s going to be okay,” he murmured. She shook her head, exhaustion pooling behind her eyes. “I don’t know how, Kev… He tried. His family rallied. But it’s not Lulu — or Jeremy — that’s the problem.” She scrolled through her phone. Messages from Johnny: heart emojis, apologies, plans, desperation. Unread. Messages from his parents, Dane, and Jackie: “We love you.” “You belong here.” “Always.” Then there were her stepmom and sister: You embarrassed Dad. You blew it all up. It turned everything back inward instead of forward. She rested her head on Kevin’s shoulder. “I know it’s not him—but in one night, everything shattered. How do you recover from th
Blooming Backwards Chapter 31– Rage, Regret & Resolve (Johnny’s POV)
The grand ballroom buzzed as Johnny danced with Lulu, forced into cordiality. She pressed close, her perfume suffocating.“I think you should slow down,” he murmured, easing away.Her laugh was sharp. “Relax, Johnny. There’s plenty more night left.”He nodded curtly and moved across the floor, scanning for Minnie. That’s when he saw it—Jeremy and Minnie, locked in confrontation by the table edge. His blood froze.“Remove him,” he whispered into his hidden mic, low but urgent.Before they could move, his father’s voice called Minnie to the stage. Johnny made his way over just in time to catch her eye.He stepped forward, whispered in her ear: “I’m so sorry.”Her reply was soft but decisive: “We’ll talk later.”Then she walked across the stage to a swell of applause. Johnny stayed by the edge, watching her nobly lead, his chest tight with conflicting pride and agony.He turned, searching for her after the speech—but he stayed in place when Lulu reappeared, phone glowing. The old high-sc
Blooming Backwards Chapter 30– After the Spotlight
The applause roared as Minnie Cortez stepped onto the grand stage. Her heels clicked softly against the polished floor, lights catching on the delicate vintage beading of her Betsy Johnson gown. Johnny had stepped away just moments before—his eyes soft but shadowed, leaving her with his father and the roaring crowd.Johnny Castile’s father took the mic first. “There are a lot of incredible people in this room tonight,” he said. “But none more deserving of your time and support than this woman right here. A woman who turned her past into purpose—who made it her mission to uplift others, not because it’s easy, but because she lived through the hard parts. Minnie Cortez, director of El Camino House.”The room erupted in applause again.Minnie’s throat tightened, but she smiled. She scanned the crowd, eyes landing on a table of her kids—including Ryan—beaming with pride. Kevin waved his napkin in the air like a victory flag. Jackie gave her a double thumbs-up. She spotted Ana with tears i
Blooming Backwards Chapter 29: Magenta Evenings & Ghosts in the Ballroom
The past few weeks had been a whirlwind—of love, logistics, and looming shadows. Minnie Cortez had lived the kind of life lately that felt like a dream. After years of holding her world together with grit and late-night ramen, she now woke up in oceanfront sheets, kissed by Johnny Castile and tangled in silk instead of stress. They shared coffee, planned the gala, and wrapped themselves around each other like it was the only way to breathe. But even fairy tales had fine print. The center was still closed, and while the Castile and Ellis families had helped her secure a temporary space downtown, the ache of not being home—of watching her kids float without their foundation—sat like a bruise beneath her ribs. She visited the temporary space mid-week. The walls were blank, the furniture minimal, but the kids were there. Laughing. Tossing a football outside. Eating lunch in uneven rows. Minnie smiled. And then her heart dropped. Ryan stood near the corner wall, arms crossed,
Blooming Backwards Chapter 28 – Waiting Rooms & Armor Cracks
⚠️ Content Warning: This chapter contains sexually explicit content, emotional vulnerability, and mature themes. Reader discretion is advised.(Romantic, consensual intimacy between adults with strong emotional connection.)The villa smelled like roses, white tea, and Kevin’s garlic herb-crusted salmon.Candles flickered softly across the room, casting golden light on the walls and the two plates of untouched food on the table. Minnie stood in the middle of it all—hair curled, lips painted a deep berry red, and navy blue lace hugging every inch of her curves. The silky robe barely covered her thighs, and her bare feet padded quietly across the floor as she checked the clock again.9:41 PM.Still nothing.She picked up her phone, hoping for a text, a call, something. But no—just Lana’s cheerful message from earlier:“We’re heading out! You look stunning, babe. He’s gonna melt. Love you! ❤️”She’d been floating earlier. Kevin and Lana had helped her get ready, hyping her up like it was
Blooming Backwards Chapter 27 – Lingerie, Left Hooks & Loose Ends
Two weeks.Fourteen days of waking up next to Johnny Castile, her cheek nestled into his chest, the salty scent of ocean air laced with fresh espresso drifting in from the kitchen.They’d fallen into a rhythm. Planning meetings with Ana and Jackie in the mornings, working with Kevin and Dane in the afternoons. Evenings were cozy—sake, old movies, or just sitting on the balcony as the city lights blinked in the distance. It wasn’t just a fling. It was something deeper. Something healing.And Johnny? He had been nothing short of gracious.They shared a bed after the first night—when her nightmares about Jeremy had returned. He’d held her until dawn, murmuring that she was safe now. Since then, they’d gotten to second base, maybe a strong second-and-a-half, but Minnie was still cautious. Johnny never pushed. He waited. Patient, steady… tempting.Which is exactly why her brunch crew had called an intervention.Brunch & Black Cards“I’m not saying you owe him sex,” Lani said, spearing her
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