Amanda’s POVI’ve avoided talking about what happened to me abroad for this long because of how much it hurts just talking about it, but Lucy is right.She has a right to know, as do her parents, after all they have done for me ever since I appeared here out of the blue.So, despite how difficult it is for me to talk about it and how much I want to forget all about it, I have no choice but to tell Lucy all about it.Within seconds of opening my mouth to speak, it feels like I’ve been transported back in time to that horrible night, and all the awful days and nights that followed.My whole body feels like it’s on fire as I regain consciousness, and for a moment, I am disoriented, but only for a moment.The pain coursing through my entire body brings clarity upon me in seconds, and I groan and struggle to get into a sitting position, but for some reason, I can’t do that.It doesn’t take long for me to figure out that I can’t get into a sitting position because I’ve been tied up like an
Lucy's POVThey all reply to my greetings, bidding me goodnight as well, and I leave, my heart heavy.I need to come clean and tell them the truth, which is that they’re never going to have any biological children from me.The last thing I want to do is tell everyone that I’m barren, so I don’t know how on earth I'm going to go about that as of yet.The happiness I felt earlier when I realized that Nathan was interested in continuing what we had on our trip has also faded away, because I realize that there’s no point in hiding the truth from him as well, since I will still have to come clean in the end.It’s late now, though, so now isn’t the time to dwell on all of that. I take off my clothes and go to take a much-needed shower.By the time I come out of the bathroom, Amanda is sitting on my bed and waiting for me.“Hey! I didn’t know you were in here. What’s up?” I say.“I … I came to see if you're okay.”“Of course, I am. Why do you think that?”“It’s the way you left the living ro
Lucy’s POVMy parents invite Nathan and Lucas to dinner that night, and the whole affair is both noisy and lively, in a very good way.Although I'm shy in the beginning, because I can't stop thinking to myself that everyone is going to take a look at Nathan and me and immediately know what we’ve been up to on the trip, seeing as we were photographed kissing each other by paparazzi, and we stayed in the same hotel, I soon warm up and enjoy the evening like everyone else is doing.It doesn’t help that I can't stop stealing glances at Nathan like some besotted schoolgirl, until I notice my mom looking at me with a knowing smile, at which point my cheeks grow hot. After that, I carefully avoid glancing at Nathan any more than necessary for the rest of the night.After dinner, we all retire to the big living room where we discuss everything and nothing like one big, happy family.This is all I ever dreamed of, and at a point, I can't hold back my tears of joy, so I excuse myself to use the
Lucy’s POV“Are you alright, Lucy? You’ve been awfully quiet, and you look like you’ve got something on your mind.” Nathan asks me as we're having breakfast. It's the last day of our business trip. Our flight back home is that evening.“Um, yeah. Of course, I'm fine.” I reply, but he’s right, and something is indeed on my mind.It's simple, and at the same time, complicated. I just can't stop thinking about how good being with Nathan feels. It’s not just the sex, although that is freaking perfect!It’s being around him, talking to him, cuddling, spending a lazy day with him, and just being around him generally. It's everything about him.Now that we’re going back home, things will definitely not remain the way they've been between us on the trip, and that’s making me feel a little down.“You don't look fine, but cheer up. You’ll see your family very soon, and you’ll see your friend, Amanda, as well. With the way you two have been calling each other in the two weeks since we’ve been h
Diane’s POVAbout an hour or so later, I arrive at the address that my dad texted me, and stare up at the small, modest house that, in my opinion, looks fit for only peasants in total shock.What in God’s name was this man thinking? Did he stop to think about how embarrassing it would be if people in our circle found out that he sold his house and now lived in this sort of hamlet? We can't hide the truth forever, after all.Maybe this is just some elaborate prank that he and his wife are pulling to make me ‘behave,’ as he usually puts it.I'm standing on the well-manicured lawn, still debating whether I want to go in or if I should just turn around and leave, when the door opens, and his wife pokes her head through it.“We heard your car drive up, Diane. Come on in. We’ve been waiting for you.” She tells me, leaving me no choice but to follow her into the house.I step in gingerly, looking around the tiny space, which feels suffocating. I'm sure that my disdain is showing on my face,
Diane’s POVAfter I manage to get my mouth closed, I unlock my phone and place a call to my dad. He doesn’t answer the call, even though I call three more times. This isn’t surprising, as he has been ignoring my calls lately.I can't believe the audacity. He’s the one who wronged me, for crying out loud, yet he’s the one with an attitude.Since he’s ignoring my call, I have no choice but to call his wife, who takes her sweet time answering the phone.Her tone is so unfriendly when she speaks, and I take a second to feel sorry for myself for the horrid way in which these two are treating me.“Diane … what do you want?” She asks. “Hey, Lauretta. I called my dad, but he didn’t answer his phone.”“What do you expect after you all but put him in the hospital with your behavior and then abandoned him. You couldn’t even be bothered to check up on him? People have cut off children like you for doing less. Pardon my saying so, but you’re a very lousy daughter. You're the only child he’s got f