Prom was supposed to be the highlight of every girl’s existence, a night of slow dances, whispered confessions of love, and promises that felt like forever and true. The night where everything came together perfectly, from the dress, the music, the love and ending the night with a cliche kiss. For me, it was the night I realized I had no one. The entrance to Lumière was pure luxury, I could see couples through the glass doors, leaning into each other, sharing laughter over plates of steaming pasta, the rich scent of roasted garlic and butter lingering in the air. The restaurant better be worth it because it took weeks to get a reservation here. I was second guessing entering but my fingers curled tighter around the edges of my dress for some sort of moral support. The red fabric clung to my skin, the deep V showing more than I was comfortable with. I never wore red. It was loud, bold, attention seeking. But I had worn it tonight because Alex once said it was his favorite color. I
I wasn’t going to waste my dress. I looked too damn good to cry alone in my crummy little apartment. So I took the unopened bottle of wine from the restaurant and found myself in a run-down bar, the kind of place where people drank to forget how life gave them the middle finger. And I needed to forget. The bartender eyed me like I had lost my mind when I set the bottle on the counter. “Can you open this for me?” I asked. He let out a short, unimpressed laugh. “Are you serious?” I nodded. He sighed, shaking his head. “Lady, this is a bar. We sell drinks here. You can’t just bring your own and expect service.” Embarrassment burned my skin. I hadn’t thought about that. “I—” “Put it on my tab.” The voice was smooth, deep, effortless. A quiet command that sent a shiver down my spine. I turned. Piercing gray eyes met mine, steady and unreadable. Damn! I was a sucker for coloured eyes. He smirked. I almost forgot I was meant to be heartbroken, I couldn't blame myse
The moment I stepped into his apartment, I knew I had entered a different world, this man was living in extreme luxury, it was in complete contrast to the bar where I had met him. Everything screamed of wealth. The marble, polished to perfection. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed a stunning view of the city skyline And the furniture was sleek, and obviously expensive, it looked like it had been lifted straight from the pages of a luxury magazine. Even the air smelled rich. New leather. Polished wood. And of course his intoxicating smell. That scent was masculine, dark, and addictive. I knew I was gawking. Who the hell was this man? From his tailored suit to his effortless confidence, everything about him oozes power. This wasn’t the type of man who belonged in a rundown bar. I barely had time to process before the door clicked shut behind me, the electricity between us only tripled, it was so thick and suffocating that I had to remind myself to breathe. He loosened the collar of
The first few days were unbearable. I woke up each morning with an unbearable pain in my chest, I would instinctively reaching for my phone only to find nothing. No missed calls, no apologies, not even a half-hearted excuse from Alex or Lily. It was like I had ceased to exist. At first, I told myself they needed time. Maybe they felt guilty. Maybe they would realize what they had done and try to fix it. But as the hours stretched into days, the truth became painfully clear. They weren’t coming back. They had erased me as easily as deleting a message. And I was done waiting. On the fourth morning, I blocked them both. No hesitation. No dramatic farewell text. Just a simple tap of my finger, cutting them out like they should have never been there in the first place. It wasn’t instant relief, but it was a start. I threw myself into anything to keep my mind from going back to them. My late nights weren’t for crying anymore; they were for prepping interview answers, reading articles o
It was obvious he was the one in control and it was not just the freaking interview. He looked different here than in the club. More uptight. More controlled. Gone was the teasing man who had flirted with me over drinks. Now, he was the man who owned every soul in this building. Including mine. I should have asked him what he did for a living. My gut had warned me, but no, I was too busy being interested in having sex him. And the worst part? I didn’t even do that! Ethan leaned back in his chair, his fingers folded in together, his piercing gaze dragging over me slowly, very focused and full of fucking intent. His suit was darker, crisp, his tie perfectly knotted, and that damn smirk the same one that had haunted me since that night never wavered. “Miss Carter,” one of the interviewers spoke, but I barely heard them over the pounding of my own heartbeat. “Let’s begin.” Ethan moved his fingers, nodding for them to proceed, but his eyes never left mine. The electricity between us
As I stepped out of the interview office, I spotted Lily approaching. Her eyes lit up with mischief and as if she was about to speak, but I didn’t slow down. I I had no patience for whatever she wanted to say. Without acknowledging her, I turned in the opposite direction, quickening my steps until I was outside. The moment I stepped out of the office, my phone rang again. Mom. I clenched my jaw, torn between ignoring it and knowing she wouldn’t stop until I picked up. With an exhausted sigh, I swiped to answer. After this call, I can finally have her out of my life… again, until she needs something and calls. “Finally,” her voice chirped, too sweet, too fake. “I was starting to think you would never pick up, sweetheart.” I rolled my eyes, already regretting my decision. “What do you want?” “Oh, Sophia, don’t be so cold. I have wonderful news! I’m getting married.” I stopped walking. Married? Again? I had lost count of how many times my mother had gotten married. Since my fath
I heard the words, but my brain refused to process them. Ethan. My stepbrother. No. Fucking. Way. The restaurant spun around me, my mother's voice fading into the background. My legs refused to move, but finally, I forced them forward. As soon as I reached the table, she looped her arm around mine, her grip too tight, too controlling. "Everyone, this is my daughter, Sophia." I barely had time to register the older man sitting beside her before she gestured toward him with a manicured hand. "This is Robert Blackwood, my fiancé." "And this is his son, Ethan. But I’m sure you already know that." I didn’t miss her wink. Then she gestured toward a girl sitting beside Ethan. "And this is Rachel, his daughter." Rachel looked just like her father, but I barely spared her a glance. Because my attention was locked on Ethan. His smirk was slow, knowing. “Looks like we’re family now, little sister.” Rachel smiled warmly, completely unaware of the earth-shattering bomb that had just b
Avoiding Ethan was impossible.I tried. I really did.He was always there, impossible to ignore, always throwing in some comments that got under my skin. But as much as he irritated me, my mother was worse she was practically draping herself over Robert. I knew they were getting married soon, but still.My mother had a toxic talent: luring in old, bored men with her hourglass figure. I had inherited the same shape, but unlike her, I preferred to cover it up rather than flaunt it.She played the part of the long-suffering woman who had raised her daughter alone, and that was exactly why she needed me here today. But I knew how this worked. She would get bored after six months, divorce him, and if she was lucky, walk away with half his money or at least the expensive gifts.That’s how we went from a trailer to a suburban house in three years. And now? Now she owns a mansion.One would think I am being too harsh on her, but stick around and see for yourself.I kept my focus on Rachel, pr
I pressed myself against the door, my fingers curling into the armrest, trying to anchor myself in the overly intense chaos of everything. I guess Roberts phone call I my buttressed the fact that we knew he was involved with Callahan at this point the man needed to be nicknamed the freaking puppet master, because he not only loomed over every tragedy in Ethan’s life, but caused them And he was the man who pulled strings with people's lives. Callahan froze, his hand hovering over the phone. His eyes went to Ethan, then to me, pleading for mercy or a way out. “Answer it,” Ethan said. “And remember what I told you. One wrong move, and I will not hesitate to end you, maybe I am my father's son.” I knew Ethan well enough to know that he wasn't joking, I saw the rage in the way his shoulders were square and jaw clenching so tightly I thought his teeth might crack. Callahan swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and fumbled to pick up the phone. His hands trembled as he pressed i
Ethan drove us to the golf club, but I supposed it was the one he played with Dr. Callahan.It was quiet with its wide lawns damp and other things I supposed were to be in a good club, I'm guessing because I have never been to one before.We pulled up near the clubhouse, Ethan’s eyes scanned the well groomed landscape until he spotted Callahan.He was dressed in soft grey slacks and a pristine polo shirt, one hand gloved, the other wrapped around a club. His swing was lazy and arrogant, like a man who didn’t have a care in the world.I could see why Ethan dominated him on the field.As we stopped a few feet away, he turned and smiled when he saw Ethan.“Well, well. Look who finally crawled out of the shadows,” he said smoothly, walking toward us. “You still haven’t taken me up on that rematch, Ethan or are you afraid I will beat you again?”“If my memory serves me right, I remember I was the one winning.”Callahan laughed and raised his hands like he was guilty. “You got me Ethan.”Et
Rachel took a long pause and then her eyes went to Ethan but I knew her next words were for me.“Do you even know why he is with you, Sophie?” she repeated. “Have you ever asked yourself what he really wants?”Ethan’s body stiffened like she was about to hit a nerve. His jaw clenched and his hands balled into fists at his sides.“Rachel,” he warned.But she ignored him, which was very predictable.She took a single step forward. “He found you at your lowest, didn’t he? When you had no one, when you were confused, vulnerable, lost…” She tilted her head. “That’s what he does. He thrives on women who need saving. But once you’re whole, he’ll walk away. Just like he always does.”My fingers clenched around the edge of my towel, knuckles white. “You’re lying.”Rachel didn’t flinch. “Am I? You never wondered why it was you? Of all people, why the broken, quiet girl who didn’t belong? Or did he make you feel special enough to ignore the math?”I turned to Ethan.He looked at me, but he was n
I reached the door with incredible speed but before I could open it, Rachel's voice called out.“Sophie, please sit down, it's nothing important.”Her voice was sweet like she was trying to convince a child not to lick candy.I paused as my hand was on the doorframe every though. everywhere was heavy with steam“Are you sure?” I asked, turning slightly to face her.She gave me a nice innocent smile that did nothing to calm me down.“I am positive, it might just be a mix-up or someone looking for the wrong person.”She stepped closer with her usual calmness, but there was something about her that offered the fact that this wasn't the Rachel I was friends with.Her fingers brushed my arm lightly like she was coaxing me back into the tub.“Come on,” she said. “Let it go, we are supposed to be relaxing, remember?”I hesitated but eventually, I sat down even though I didn't want to.My mind was far from calm. It was racing, I could hear Ethan's voice pleading for me to stay and the way Rac
I turned back to Ethan, his hand still hovering like he wanted to reach for me again but didn’t dare.“Ethan,” I said, almost begging him to say, “What were you going to say?”His eyes met mine. “Don’t trust her, Sophie.”My pulse jumped. “Why? Make me believe you just don't tell me what to do.” He opened his mouth to speak but then Rachel appeared with a smile on her face.She was dressed in something effortless and expensive, her designer sunglasses pushed up into her waves. She looked like a magazine cover come to life.“Sophie, oh my God,” she said, eyeing me from head to toe. “That dress is stunning on you, you’re glowing!”I blinked, still wanting Ethan to speak, but I could tell he wasn't going to Rachel's gaze went right past Ethan like he wasn’t even breathing in the same room.“I’m parked outside. Come on, they’re expecting us you are gonna thank me by noon.”She held out her hand and I was about to take it, Ethan stepped between us.“She’s not going with you.”Rachel’s sm
Sophie's POVRachel kept on talking as if what Ethan was saying wasn't her concern.“Well don't listen to Ethan, what I planned was amazing.” Her eyes gleaming with excitement. “It will be just us girls and I have got us booked at Valentina’s, with all the VIP things, steam rooms, facials, massages—the works.” She paused and glared at Ethan. “You will love it, Sophie. So relaxing, play you need to loosen up.”I opened my mouth, unsure what to say.Ethan didn’t say anything., but I could sense that he had a lot to say. “I thought it would be nice for her to get a break from all… this.”She waved vaguely toward him, but we both knew what she meant, that Ethan was the problem here.That’s when Ethan coughed out loud.Rachel flinched before regaining her sugar-drenched composure. “Just saying—it’s bonding and I am trying.”Ethan stepped forward, clenching his jaw. “Sophie is not going anywhere.”Rachel scoffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder like the queen of chaos she thought she wa
Sophie's POVEthan was pacing my room, like a mad man on rampage and I actually understood where he was coming from.“He’s been sending money to Callahan.” He repeated.He kept walking and then finally he started staggering and the, his back but the wall and he sank like his legs gave up on him, he looked like he was about to drown.His hands clawed at his shirt, as he was hyperventilating.I walked up to him and then dropped to my knees to stay beside him. “Ethan, hey please look at me.”But he didn’t look.“Ethan—look at me.” I repeated as I cupped his face trying to make him feel calm, my thumbs brushed over his cheeks. His eyes were glassy like he wanted to cry, but he was trying to hold it together.“Breathe with me,” I said calmly. “Okay? In... one, two... hold it. Now out. Nice and slow.”I repeated it until I felt him mimic my breathing and then his breathing calmed down, our backs were against the wall looking like two people whose life was over.He let his head fall forward
Sophie's POVI didn't know what to say, but Ethan was giving me a very apologetic look, but my look was anything but accommodating.He needed to know that his mere presence wasn't going to change anything.“What the hell are you doing in my house?”“I need just five minutes of your time.” He said and I nodded because it was rare to see Ethan Blackwood begging for something from a common girl like me. “I came to apologize.”A laugh escaped from my lips before I could stop it. “It’s a little too late for that, don’t you think?”“Sophie—”“No, do not say my name like we are still fine and like you didn’t shut me down and tell me to mind my business when all I did was trying to care.”He flinched at words, I was pleased that she was flinching like he should.“I was angry and I wasn’t thinking—”“Exactly,” I cut him short. “You weren’t thinking Ethan you were freaking spiraling, and I tried to help and you practically told me to disappear.”His silence only made me more angry and when I lo
Ethan's POVI have been missing Sophie, and I have been a terrible asshole that doesn't deserve her one bit.she was too kind, he was like a freaking saint who but up with me ever fucking time, she could do way better than a broken bastard like me but she still stayed.But it doesn't change the fact that I still wanted her.I know I hurt her. Maybe not with my hands, but with my words first and then my silence.I could apologize. But I won’t, because apologies don’t fix people like me.I want to make myself believe that she was better off without a sadistic mother fucker like me and a woman like her needs someone softer, who doesn’t wake up every morning with a bitter ass mood and snaps when he didn't .Still… I miss her.But not enough to seek her out.But the only thing I've been doing right this week is following Callahan, and the bastard's life was indeed monotonous.I parked my car behind him, as he stepped out of his sleek black BMW at Silver Pines Golf Club, he was laughing int