LOGINTrigger Warning: This chapter contains references to sexual assault involving a minor, coercion, and psychological abuse. Please read with care or skip this chapter if these topics are triggering for you.~~~My fingers tightened around Alec's hand, clinging to him like a lifeline as the memories rushed back.FLASHBACK It all started when he moved in.Every time my mom brought a new boyfriend home, I made sure they never lasted more than three months. I had my ways.A week after Joe moved in, I decided it was time to run my usual routine. I set my first trap, having no idea how badly it was going to backfire.I offered to bring him a cup of hot tea, then intentionally spilled the blazing hot liquid on his arm.I expected him to yell. I expected him to curse at me, lose his temper, and report to my mom. And then they will fight and break up. That’s what had always happened in the past but Joe didn't even flinch. He closed his eyes, leaned his head back against the chair, and let out
“Go ahead.” I said.Alec leaned down, his face inches from mine, his dark eyes locking onto my gaze. “Why are you really scared of Joe?” he asked softly. “What did he do to you, Jenna?”The warmth in my stomach turned into an icy block of panic as the memory of Joe’s raspy voice came back. The terrifying weight of his presence threatening to drown me all over again.I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but no sound came out. I couldn't say his name. I couldn't tell him.I slowly shook my head against the pillow, closing my eyes tight.“I can’t,” I choked out. “I can’t answer that.”Alec didn't press or demand an explanation. He just let out a low breath against my neck, his forehead resting against mine for a long second.“Alright,” he whispered, his thumb lightly stroking the skin of my wrist before he slowly released his grip.“I failed the question,” I whispered, opening my eyes to look at him.“You did,” Alec said, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Which means you
JENNA’S POVAlec kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the mattress, lying back against the pillows. I slid off my boots and laid down beside him, the mattress dipping under our weight.He reached out, hooked his arm around my waist, and pulled me flush against his side. My head rested against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.“Are you going to tell me what happened?” Alec asked softly, his voice low in the quiet room. “Was that your mother’s boyfriend out there?”“Husband,” I muttered into his shirt. “Apparently they got married.”“Why are you scared of him?”I went completely still, my throat closing up. Silence stretched between us.“You know you can talk to me,” Alec murmured, his hand gently patting my back.“I will,” I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut. “When I’m ready.”He let out a quiet sigh, his thumb stroking my side. “It’s okay. What do you want to do now?”“I don’t know. I just want to take my mind off it.”Alec paused for a second. “Do you want
“Jenna? What's going on?”“Alec,” I choked out, pressing the phone harder against my ear with both hands. My knuckles were white, my whole body vibrating with tremors I couldn't stop. “I’m at my dad’s house... I can't stay here. I need you to come get me. Please.”On the other end of the line, the background noise instantly shifted. I heard the sudden, harsh scrape of a chair dragging across floorboards, followed by the muffled sound of Roman asking a question that Alec ignored.“Why are you crying?” Alec asked, his tone dropping flat and sharp, stripped clean of any patience. “Did your dad lay a hand on you?”“No…no,” I whispered, staring wide-eyed at the door as if it might blow open any second. “My mom's here. And she brought someone else—some guy—and I can't be in this house, Alec. I just can't. Please, you have to get me out of here.”A low curse spilled out of Alec’s mouth over the line. “Open the window facing the side driveway. Keep your shoes on, keep your door locked, and d
I stayed in my room for a little while after Anna left, taking my time to unpack.I hung up my clothes, put my toiletries in the bathroom, and tried to slow my breathing down. Being back in this house made my chest feel tight, but Anna’s quiet kindness made it somewhat bearable. I was genuinely curious about what she meant by a surprise.Once I was done, I opened my bedroom door and walked down the quiet hallway and made my way down the grand staircase. As I reached the bottom, I heard soft laughter coming from the formal sitting room near the front of the house.I walked toward the doorway and peeked inside.Sitting on the armchair near the window was my mother.My breath caught in my throat. I hadn't seen her in months, and seeing her sitting right there in her warm sweater, sipping coffee, felt almost surreal."Mom?"She turned her head, her face lighting up the second her eyes landed on me. "Jenna!"Before I could even think, I rushed into the room. She stood up, and I threw my ar
JENNA’S POVThe shrill buzz of my alarm made me groan, the sound piercing right through my skull. I blindly reached out across the nightstand, grabbed my phone without opening my eyes, and hit snooze.I dragged myself into the bathroom and splashed cold water over my face to force myself awake. After running through my morning routine, I grabbed my phone and headed out down the hallway.As I neared the living room, the low rumble of two male voices stopped me in my tracks.I knew Roman would be there, but the other one…?Did Alec not leave?I walked into the living room and stopped when I saw my dad seated on my couch.Roman was sitting on the other couch opposite him.“Dad?”He turned his head and flashed me a wide, warm smile—a look so entirely out of character for him that my stomach flipped in suspicion.“Good, you’re awake. We were just talking about you.”I shot Roman a bombastic side-eye but he just gave a helpless shrug, keeping his mouth shut.“Talking about me why?” I asked,
The next morning, I woke up feeling strangely light, a feeling I hadn’t experienced in weeks. For the first time since I arrived in this town, there was a quiet excitement humming beneath my skin, the kind that made the air itself feel different. I dressed quickly in a simple T-shirt and jeans befor
I dressed up and went downstairs for dinner. Anna was placing some plates on the table, so I joined her, helping arrange them.“Is Dad having dinner with us? He’s not back, is he?” I asked, adjusting the forks.“No, he’ll have his when he’s back,” she replied.“Then who is the extra plate for?” I a
His body froze, mid-thrust. The girl beneath him whimpered, confused by the sudden halt.For a beat, a long, agonizing beat, he simply stared. Then, a slow, chilling smirk spread across his lips. His eyes, still locked on mine, held a malicious glint. The girl cried out a gasp of pleasure as he sla
After long hours of different lectures, with Liza by my side of course, it was finally time to go home.And that was when I realized something very important.I had no transportation.And worse, I didn’t even know my home address.I pulled out my phone and dialed Dad’s number. It rang then went str







