Share

Chapter 24

Author: Mummy zimchi
last update Huling Na-update: 2025-07-30 06:56:43

The next morning, I woke up before the sun.

I didn’t sleep much.

The thin mattress creaked beneath me as I turned slightly, groaning from the dull ache that had become a constant part of me. My hand rested over my swollen belly, the only warmth in that cold, silent room. The faint flutter of movement brushed beneath my palm—a tiny kick, soft but certain.

I breathed out slowly.

That small, fluttering life reminded me that even if I felt alone, I wasn’t.

There was life inside me. Depending on me. Waiting for me to be strong—even when I had nothing left in me.

I closed my eyes and whispered, “We’re okay... just a little longer, okay?”

I didn’t know if I was talking to the baby or myself.

Maybe both.

With effort, I sat up, every joint in my body stiff and sore. My lower back ached the way it always did now, and my legs protested as I swung them over the side of the bed. But I pushed through it, biting down on the pain.

I brushed my teeth over the tiny sink in the corner. The cold water ma
Patuloy na basahin ang aklat na ito nang libre
I-scan ang code upang i-download ang App
Locked Chapter

Pinakabagong kabanata

  • In love with my step-son    Chapter 33

    The storm had passed, but the silence it left behind felt even louder.Outside the window, the rain had stopped, but the sky still hung heavy with gray clouds. Puddles reflected broken patches of sky, and the trees bent low under the weight of soaked leaves. The world had quieted, as if nature itself were holding its breath, waiting to see what came next.I lay in the bed, barely able to move, my arms wrapped protectively around the tiny life curled against my chest. My body ached in ways I never thought possible. Every muscle burned, every bone throbbed, but none of that mattered. Not now. Not with her in my arms.My daughter—my baby—was fast asleep, her soft breathing the only sound in the dimly lit room. The little rise and fall of her chest became my anchor, my reason to breathe. Her skin was still flushed pink from the stormy night’s delivery, her dark hair damp and clinging to her scalp. Tiny fingers curled and twitched against me as if grasping at invisible dreams, dreams of a

  • In love with my step-son    Chapter 32

    The wind howled outside like it was warning me—like it already knew what was coming.Rain tapped sharply against the single window of my tiny apartment, steady and impatient, like fingers drumming on glass. The sky outside had turned a deep gray, angry and restless, and thunder rolled low in the distance, growling like a wild animal pacing in the shadows.Inside, the air was still. Too still.I sat on the edge of my old bed, folding baby clothes on the thin, faded comforter—soft onesies, tiny secondhand socks with little bears stitched on them, and a pale yellow hat someone from the shelter had knitted for me. I had folded and refolded the same pile three times already, just to keep my hands busy. My belly sat heavy in my lap, tight and round, making it hard to breathe when I bent too far.Each item I folded made my heart twist a little more. Every piece reminded me that something big—something terrifying and beautiful—was just around the corner. I didn’t feel ready. I wasn’t ready. B

  • In love with my step-son    Chapter 31

    “Celine. I’m so glad you called.”Dr. Maya’s voice was soft, almost like a blanket over my heart. I pressed the phone tighter against my ear, fighting the tears that were already threatening to fall.“I… I didn’t know who else to call,” I whispered, my voice cracking.“You did the right thing,” she said. “Where are you now?”I looked around the empty street. The bench I was sitting on was hard and cold. The streetlamps above me flickered in and out. Everything felt like it could break at any moment — even me.“I’m outside,” I said, my voice shaking. “In the park… near Main Street. I’ve been staying with someone, but… I had to leave.”There was a pause on the line, then her voice returned, firmer this time.“Stay right where you are. I’m coming.”I blinked. “What? No, I didn’t mean—”“I’m coming, Celine,” she repeated. “Sit tight. Ten minutes.”And before I could argue, she had ended the call.I stared down at the phone in my hand. My heart was racing.Why was she doing this?She didn’

  • In love with my step-son    Chapter 30

    Rain poured from the sky like punishment, sharp and relentless. I stood just outside the shelter’s door, shivering as cold droplets slid down my neck and soaked into the thin collar of my coat. I held it tighter around my belly, but it barely helped. My shoes squelched when I shifted my weight, and my clothes clung to my skin like a second, soggy shell.The door behind me clicked shut, sealing me out.A minute ago, I had been inside, clutching the counter, hoping—begging—for a spot. The receptionist hadn’t looked cruel, but her face had that tired kindness that comes from saying "no" too many times.“I’m sorry, Celine,” she had said, not unkindly. “We’re overwhelmed right now. No beds. No space. If anything opens up tomorrow, I’ll call.”That was it.No blanket. No cot. No chance to rest even for a night.I stared at her, blinking back tears, willing her to change her mind. But her eyes had already moved on to the next problem. The next name on the list.Now I stood outside, the cold

  • In love with my step-son    Chapter 28

    A Quiet Kind of StrengthThe next morning, I woke up before the sun.I didn’t sleep much.My hand rested over my swollen belly, feeling the faint flutter of movement inside me. That tiny kick reminded me that even if I felt alone, I wasn’t.There was life inside me. Depending on me.Waiting for me to be strong.I sat up slowly, my body heavy and sore, but I pushed through it. Brushed my teeth. Combed my hair. Put on the cleanest clothes I had left.Today, I was going to find her.I walked to the address listed in the article—the Maple Street Gallery. It was only three bus stops away, but every step felt like a mile.When I got there, my heart was pounding so loud I could barely breathe.The gallery was small, tucked between a flower shop and a café. A soft yellow sign hung above the door with painted roses on the corners.I hesitated.My hand touched the doorknob.What if she didn’t recognize me?What if she didn’t want to?I shook the doubt from my head and walked in.The inside was

  • In love with my step-son    Chapter 29

    The wind was harsh that morning.I wrapped my coat tighter around my growing belly as I walked down the cracked sidewalk. The diner was two blocks from the shelter — the only place that had given me a shift this week.I hadn’t eaten yet. My stomach grumbled, but I ignored it. The pain in my feet was nothing new. The ache in my lower back was growing worse each day. But I kept going. I always did.When I stepped inside the diner, the bell above the door jingled softly.Warm air greeted me. The smell of bacon and coffee filled the room, and for a moment, I closed my eyes and just breathed.The manager, a short man named Gary, waved at me. “You’re early, Celine.”I forced a smile. “Just didn’t want to be late.”He nodded toward the back. “There’s a table to clear near the window. And be gentle with the lady in the red coat — she doesn’t look like she wants company.”I glanced toward the booth. A woman sat there alone. Mid-thirties, maybe older. Dark curly hair pinned into a neat bun. Her

Higit pang Kabanata
Galugarin at basahin ang magagandang nobela
Libreng basahin ang magagandang nobela sa GoodNovel app. I-download ang mga librong gusto mo at basahin kahit saan at anumang oras.
Libreng basahin ang mga aklat sa app
I-scan ang code para mabasa sa App
DMCA.com Protection Status