تسجيل الدخول“Are you serious right now?” I asked.He raised an eyebrow.“Do I look like I’m joking?”I opened my mouth, then closed it again.“I came here because I’m worried about you! And David! You two left for the airport saying you were going to Italy, and now you’re back, David is crying downstairs, and you look like someone just ruined your entire life. Of course I’m going to ask what’s going on!”Noah watched me quietly.For a second, I thought he might finally drop the attitude and tell me what was happening.Instead, he let out another small chuckle.“Okay. I’ll tell you.”I blinked.“Really?”“Yeah.” He shifted against the pillows. “But you have to do one thing first.”I narrowed my eyes.“What?”“Come to the bed, and I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”I stared at him.“You’ve got to be kidding me.”He shrugged.“Your choice.”I couldn’t believe him.“What’s wrong with you? Seriously, Noah, what has gotten into you? Can you just talk to me like a normal person for once?”He di
My mother somehow managed to get David back on his feet and led him upstairs to their bedroom. He didn’t even look at me as they passed. His head was lowered, and he looked so broken that I almost felt bad for standing there staring at him. Almost. Because I was still confused as hell. What had happened? Who was the woman he kept talking about? What had she done to him? And why did Noah look at me as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t bring himself to do it? I stood in the living room for a few more minutes, hoping someone would come back and explain things to me. But nobody did. Of course. Apparently, everyone in this house had suddenly decided that keeping Rosalie in the dark was a family tradition. I let out a frustrated sigh and headed upstairs. I was halfway down the corridor when my eyes landed on a figure. It can’t be anyone else but Noah. He was leaning against the wall beside his bedroom door with his head hanging low. His arms were folded across his chest,
Noah and David had already left for the airport. David had called me himself to tell me they were going to Italy, and now Noah was coming to pick us up?Had they changed their minds?Had something happened at the airport?Or was this somehow connected to whatever had made David cry?But the thought of being in the car with Noah, at least my mum is with us.I didn’t have to wait long for an answer, though I wasn’t sure I was ready for one.A few minutes later, my mother’s phone vibrated.She glanced at the screen.“That’s Noah. He’s outside.”I picked up her bag, and we made our way out of the hospital.The moment I saw Noah’s car, a strange feeling settled in my stomach.He was sitting behind the wheel, staring straight ahead. He didn’t even look up when we approached.My mother opened the passenger door and got in while I settled into the back seat.“Hi, Noah,” she said gently.He didn’t respond.She fastened her seat belt and turned slightly toward him.“Thank you for coming to get
“Mum, what’s wrong?”She looked at me, then shrugged as if she didn’t know how to explain it herself. Her phone was pressed against her ear, and she kept rubbing her forehead while trying to calm whoever was on the other end.“David, please. Just calm down,” she said. “We can’t do this over the phone. I’ll talk to the doctor and see if I can be discharged. Then we can all come home, and we can talk about this properly, okay?”She paused, listening.“David, please. I need you to calm down. You’re not helping yourself like this.”I frowned.David?What was going on?From the little I could hear, he sounded nothing like the man I knew. His voice was too muffled for me to make out his exact words, but there was something about the way my mother kept reassuring him that made my stomach twist.Then I heard something that made me look up sharply.Was he crying?I stared at her, trying to read her expression, but she was too focused on the call to notice me watching her.“I’m coming home, Dav
After a while, I came back to the room. How was I to take it? How was I supposed to just sit there and listen to all the deceit and affected my life.I let out a sigh, then told my mum to continue.“I told him we needed to meet,” my mother continued. “I thought if he saw me, if we sat down and talked, perhaps he would remember what we once had. I thought maybe we could fix things. But he refused.”“Did he give a reason?”“He said he would only meet me if I brought you along.”I blinked away the tears threatening to fall.Of course.Even then, he had been thinking about me.My mother gave a sad smile, but there was nothing happy about it.“So I agreed. We arranged to meet at a bar, and I told myself I would keep things casual. I wouldn’t beg him to take me back. I wouldn’t make him feel guilty. I would just talk to him and see where things went.”She paused, staring at the floor.“But when I got there, he barely looked at me.”I could almost picture it. Darrel sitting across from her,
“Mum, who is the father of the baby you’re carrying?”Her eyes widened.For a moment, she just stared at me, as if I had asked her something she wasn’t prepared to answer. Then her lips parted, but no words came out.I knew there was more to this story.Somehow, I just knew it.She looked at me with tears gathering in her eyes, and the next thing she did was apologize.“I’m sorry, Rosalie.”I frowned. “What are you apologizing for?”“I’m so sorry.”“Mum, it’s okay.” I reached for her hand, trying to reassure her even though I had no idea what was happening. “Whatever it is, you don’t have to apologize. Just tell me.”She lowered her head.Then, in a voice so quiet I almost didn’t hear her, she whispered one name.“Darrel.”I blinked.“What?”“Darrel,” she repeated, looking straight into my eyes. “He’s the father, Rosalie. The baby is Darrel’s.”I stared at her.For a few seconds, I genuinely thought I had misheard her. There was no way. After everything she had just told me, after all
I adjusted the dress I’d just changed into as I walked down the stairs. My eyes landed on my mom. She was sitting on the couch, just staring at a blank wall.“Mom?”Her eyes fell on me and a heavy sigh escaped her lips.“Rosalie… I’m sorry.”“Sorry? What for?” I took a few steps closer, then halted
The video game store guy took Noah’s phone with a shrug. He promised to crack it for a hundred bucks. Expensive, but I’m desperate. It’s going to take a lot out of my savings. Considering I’m not the stepdaughter to a millionaire, It shouldn’t be such a big deal. I should be getting my big girl al
Rosalie’s POVNow I’m sure Noah is running mad. How can he just barge into my room without knocking? Like he just threatened me with a knife a few minutes ago. I kept my back pressed against the headboard, refusing to flinch as his shadow swallowed the space between us. I continued to stare at h
My eyes widened.Was he really asking me that? Because you threatened me with a knife.Because you stole my panties.But the words died in my throat when his thumb brushed my pulse point. “Why?” He asks again.“Are you really asking that?” I scoffed. “I’m going to assume you’re drunk. It’s the







