Her Daughter’s Lover

Claire's POV “Boss requests your presence in his office, right now.” My colleague said and walked away. Wasting no time, I stood up and went to his office. I knocked softly and entered. He sat on his chair, tie loosened,and if I had known any better I’d say he had sex in this office. "Close the door," he ordered. I complied and sat on the other chair in the room. He stared hard at me. "Your performance has dropped lately. Numbers are off, deadlines missed. Are you alright?" I managed a smile. "Everything's fine, sir. Just a rough patch." He took a deep breath. "You say everything is fine but you can’t even send a simple mail without making a mistake.By the end of the week, you'll be out of here, and that promotion? Well, it is going to someone else-someone hungrier. By the time I thought of my mortgage and car payments, I blurted out, "I can do something. Tell me how I can improve my performance. I want that promotion. He smirked, leaning closer. "Easy, as I want you on this

From Mommy's Point of View "Sophie filled my ear. "I've been trying to call you since last night. Where on earth were you?" The tension now makes sense to open my heart from the very sound of her own: "Sophie," I breathed, rolling up into position. "So glad to hear from you." "I missed you. I was calling to inquire about how you're doing, you know?" She was still giving me grief. "You've gone silent for a while. Fine?" No. I paused. "It has. Not been easy," I said quietly. "Work was a disaster." "Oh, how?" She was still being all talky. "Did someone get on your nerves, again?" I sighed. "Letting me go would appear to be one," I said to him. Refraining from sex with him was poor work performance in his mind. The shocked shout of Sophie snapped that silence. "He what?" "Honey-" "No, mom. That's disgusting," she said. "I'm serious, I'm going in there and telling that slime something. Who does he think he is?" "You haven't lost a hair," I was able to get out on a weak smile. "B

Claire's POV "Mom?" she asked, confused tone creeping into her voice. I blinked, dragged back to reality, spreading my lips to a firm, anxious smile. "Oh, sorry." I shook his hand quickly retracting my hand. “You okay?" Sophie asked, inspecting my countenance. “Yes," I said too hastily. "I'm just tired, that's all."". Ryan smiled cordially at me. "It's wonderful to finally meet you, Mrs. Lawson. Sophie never ceases to tell me about all of you.” I smiled blushfully. "Good things, I hope?" “All good things," he smiled. That very same smile I recall that evening—the one which made my heart pound and head spin. I tried to avoid looking and said, "I'm glad to finally get to welcome the man that my daughter won't stop talking about. Congratulations to both of you." Sophie smiled and snuggled back into him. "Thanks, Mom." Ryan pointed to the car that was parked along the road. "Shall we? Dinner's waiting, and my mother will be delighted to meet you finally.” The drive to his house

(Months later)POV: ClaireThe morning sun spilled through the curtains, soft and golden, casting the apartment in a deceptive calm. Today was Sophie’s wedding day. I should have been exhilarated, enveloped in the joy of my daughter’s new beginning, but the knot in my stomach refused to untie itself.The dress hung on a hanger, delicate lace catching the morning light. Sophie had chosen it herself—classic, elegant, yet youthful. She would be radiant. I knew that. And I wanted to feel only happiness for her. I did. But the shadow of Ryan’s presence hovered behind every thought, unbidden and unwelcome, yet impossible to ignore.I stared at the hem, tracing the intricate patterns with a fingertip, thinking of the first time I had seen him, that one reckless night at the bar. My heart twisted, and I quickly turned away. I would not—could not—allow myself to think of him today. Not now, when Sophie was the center of the universe.The chapel was adorned with white roses and soft candlelight

POV: ClaireThe apartment was quiet, almost too quiet different from where I lived, but I’m here since we all decided to live under one roof. And I also got a job.The clatter of dishes from the dinner earlier still echoed faintly in my mind, mingling with the hum of my own heartbeat. I sank into the armchair by the window, the city lights spilling across the floor in shards of gold and silver. My fingers traced the rim of the wine glass I hadn’t touched, and I closed my eyes, letting the memories pull me under.Dinner had been… excruciating. Margaret’s sharp gaze, Sophie’s oblivious chatter, Ryan’s polite but restrained attention—each element a weight pressing down on me. I had smiled when necessary, laughed when prompted, but behind my lips, there was a storm of guilt, desire, and fear.And then there was Ryan.I swallowed hard, my throat dry. I could feel him everywhere in my mind: his hands on my hips, the warmth of his body pressing into mine, the heat of our shared breath. I trie