Four

The next day, as we loaded the last of the boxes into the car, my nerves were on edge. Jack arrived to help with the move, his presence making my heart flutter. I avoided his gaze, focusing on the task at hand. When I saw him and my mother holding hands my skin crawled. I couldn't decipher my feelings - disgust or jealousy?

I busied myself with packing, but the image of them together kept haunting me. I had to remind myself why I was doing this, why I had to keep it together. My mother's happiness was at stake, and I couldn't let my emotions get in the way.

Rachel showed up later, her usual cheerful demeanor a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me. She gave me a supportive smile, and I felt a bit of my resolve strengthen.

“Hey, need any help?” she asked, already grabbing a box.

“Thanks,” I muttered, grateful for her presence.

As we continued packing, Jack approached me, his expression unreadable. “Sophia, can we talk?”

I stiffened but nodded. “Sure,” I said, putting down the box I was carrying. We stepped away from the others, finding a quiet corner of the yard.

“I’ve been thinking about what we talked about,” Jack began, his voice low. “I don’t want to cause any more pain. I want us all to move forward with a clean slate.”

I crossed my arms, feeling defensive. “And how do you suggest we do that?”

He sighed, looking genuinely troubled. “I’m not sure. But I think we need to forget that night ever happened. I want you to know that I care about your mother, and I want to make her happy.”

I shook my head, frustration boiling over. “You don’t get it, Jack. This isn’t just about you and my mom. It’s about what happened between us. How can I pretend that didn’t happen?”

He looked at me, his eyes full of regret. “I wish I could change things, Sophia. But I can’t. All I can do is try to make things right, moving forward.”

I was about to respond when my mother called out, interrupting our conversation. “Sophia, Jack, we need to get going!”

Jack gave me a pained look before heading back to the car. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions.

Rachel walked over, having witnessed part of the exchange. “Are you okay?” she asked softly.“No,” I admitted, my voice cracking. “I don’t know how I’m going to get through this.”

Rachel squeezed my shoulder. “You’re stronger than you think. Just take it one step at a time.”

We finished loading the last of the boxes, and soon we were on our way to Jack’s mansion. The ride was silent, the tension thick in the air. My mother was chatting happily, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me.

When we arrived, the sheer size of the mansion took my breath away. It was grand and imposing, a stark contrast to our old home. My mother’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she stepped out of the car, Jack by her side.

“How did your mother get this lucky?" Rachel said to me as we stepped out of the car.

“What do you mean?" I asked.

“She's soon to be the wife of a very handsome billionaire."

“Who has also made out with her daughter," I added scornfully. I don't know why I was feeling so jealous of my mother. Even when I knew there was nothing that could ever happen between Jack and me. I just didn't want them together either.

“Well, it's up to you to tell her that part." Rachel chimed in. “But every action has a consequence, and you might miss out on living in this beautiful mansion".

As Rachel and I carried boxes inside, my mind raced with the consequences of my new situation. Whichever decision I made, there would be consequences.

Once inside, the reality of our new home sank in. The mansion was filled with luxurious furnishings and opulent decor, a world away from the modest life we’d known. My mother’s joy was evident in her every movement, her excitement palpable as she explored the grand rooms.

Rachel and I began unpacking, and I could feel Jack’s eyes on me from time to time. Each glance was a reminder of our tangled past, and my stomach churned with a mix of jealousy and frustration.

As the day wore on, my mother and Jack grew more comfortable in their new roles. They laughed together and shared stolen glances, and every display of affection sent a fresh wave of nausea through me. I couldn’t bear it, but I had to keep it together for my mother’s sake.

By evening, the move was mostly complete, and exhaustion had set in. My mother and Jack went to their room to refresh. While dinner was cooking.

I could hear their laughter and light conversation echoing through the house. The thought of them together in the bedroom made me nauseous. This was really happening. My mother was getting married to a man that I had shared a passionate kiss with, a man I had strange feelings for, and there was really nothing I could do about it. I felt utterly powerless to do anything about it. I just had to accept it, Jack was going to be my stepfather.