LOGINBenita finally moved to the States and into our house.She slotted into the family so naturally that within weeks it felt like she had always been there. It felt like I had gained a sister while my parents gained another daughter.I noticed there was still something going on between her and Uncle Jason, but all my energy was on Aunt Sophia and the baby. Whenever I wasn't at work or with Adrian, I was at Aunt Sophia's house bothering her constantly and speaking to her stomach like the baby could fully understand me already."You are a girl," I would say while rubbing her bump. "Do not disappoint me.""You know the baby can't hear you yet." Aunt Sophia would tease."She can feel the energy,” I replied without looking up.She always laughed and said I reminded her of Mom when she was pregnant with me because she had been just as desperate for a girl.The moment anybody mentioned the possibility of the baby being a boy I instantly became defensive before later sitting somewhere sad about
Starting the vacation as boyfriend and girlfriend only to become Adrian's fiancée a few hours into it changed the vibe of the entire trip.We decided not to tell anyone until we got back home, but that didn't stop him from acting like the happiest man alive every single day.I would catch him randomly staring at me smiling. Other times I would catch him staring at the ring on my finger smiling like he still couldn't believe I said yes.He wanted everyone around us to know. Restaurant staff, hotel concierge, strangers in passing. He always found a way to work it in.One afternoon in Italy we were already halfway to our reservation when Adrian suddenly looked down at my hand. "Where's your ring?"I stared at my empty finger and gasped. "It should be on the nightstand, I pulled it out—"Before I finished he had already turned the car around. Drove all the way back, went up to the room, came back down and slid it onto my finger himself.I rolled my eyes. "I could have put it on after lunc
After spending days trying to separate Benita from Uncle Jason only for her to ignore every warning I gave, I finally gave up.At some point, I realized there was no point forcing it anymore. Benita was going to keep seeing him regardless of what I said, and maybe the only way she would truly understand why I had been so against it was by experiencing Uncle Jason for herself.Still, a tiny part of me secretly prayed that if Uncle Jason eventually broke her heart, it wouldn’t destroy her too badly.For what Adrian did helping Uncle Jason arrange that lunch date behind my back, I tried staying angry, but Adrian made it impossible.He kept showing up at my parents’ house carrying gifts and smiles until my irritation slowly disappeared on its own. Besides, I couldn’t even afford to stay mad for long because we were busy preparing for our vacation together.A few days before the trip, Mom was helping me pack even though Adrian specifically warned me not to bring too much.“Mom, it’s enough
I stormed downstairs ready for war only to find Uncle Jason waiting at the bottom of the stairs with a smile already on his face.“Stay away from Benita.""Sophia—""She's not for you. Find someone else.""I'm only trying to make her feel welcome.”“Your version of welcome has a body count.”Just then Mom and Dad walked into the house holding hands. I hurriedly walked to Dad. “Dad, please tell your brother to leave our house right now.”"Hold on." Dad raised a hand. "This is Uncle Jason. What exactly am I walking into?”"I know," I muttered. "I know I usually love when he's here. But not anymore.”Mom laughed. “I’m guessing this is about Benita?”“Exactly, Mom. He wants to make her one of his little situationships.”“Situationships?” Uncle Jason repeated. “Sophia, have you considered the possibility that I might actually be serious about her?”“I don’t care if you’re serious this time. Find somebody else to be serious with.”“You know she could be the love of my life and you’re the on
Once both our families accepted the relationship, everything in my life started falling beautifully into place.Adrian’s family publicly cleared up the entire engagement situation and officially denied every rumor linking him romantically to Zoey. It later came out that Zoey’s parents had been drowning financially for a while, which explained why they had been so desperate to tie her permanently to Adrian.The scandal became messy online for a few days before people eventually moved on to the next thing to gossip about.Thankfully, Adrian handled the public narrative perfectly.Things also changed for good within the Valecrest family after everything that happened. Adrian even admitted that my parents had influenced his parents in ways he was genuinely grateful for.“They’re actually trying now,” he told me one evening while we lay in bed together. “It feels strange finally getting the whole parent experience at this age, but I guess better late than never.”I understood exactly what
I didn’t realize how serious Adrian had been about changing his surname until Sunday afternoon.I had just woken up from a nap and was heading downstairs for lunch when I heard voices coming from the living room.One of them belonged to Adrian.That alone surprised me because he hadn’t told me he was coming over. Curious, I walked toward the living room only to stop halfway when I saw him sitting across from my parents.Mom smiled the second she noticed me. “Oh, you’re finally awake. Come join us.”I walked over slowly, still confused, before sitting beside Mom and finally paying attention to the conversation. That was when I realized Adrian had been discussing the surname issue with my parents.Dad looked surprised even though he was trying not to show it. “You’re seriously willing to do that?” he asked Adrian. “Do you even understand what you’re saying?”“Yes, sir.”The confidence in Adrian’s voice made Mom and Dad exchange looks.“You’re willing to walk away from your identity beca
I sat perched on Liam’s lap, refusing to yield, while she fidgeted with her documents. Every shift in her chair made it clearer, she couldn’t stand the sight of me there.After a few weak excuses about “needing to review things further,” she gathered her papers and left, though not without one last
My mom stepped into my room to check on me before leaving for a client meeting. She asked if I’d still be around when she returned, and I told her I’d probably head back to Liam’s.She gave me that mom look, the one that allowed no argument. “Eat before you go. You can starve yourself, but not my g
After a few days tucked away at Liam’s other house, we finally returned to the main one, carrying between us a secret Cassie could never know and an unspoken agreement to guard it as if it were worth more than gold.Sophia attached herself to my side the moment we walked in, slipping into full prot
Sophia appeared almost the moment I screamed her name.The fear in her eyes when she saw me crumpled on the floor nearly undid me. She didn’t spare Cassie a glance, not even when Cassie started stammering, “It was a mistake, I’m sorry, it was a mistake…” over and over like a broken record.Sophia s







