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Bitter Meal

Author: Menah_writes
last update publish date: 2026-04-14 04:19:25

Lucy spent the afternoon sleeping. The stress of the morning call and the hangover from the night before had exhausted her. When she finally woke up, the sun was beginning to set. Her head felt clearer, but she remembered had dinner with Adrian.

She stood in front of her small closet and looked at her options. Usually, she would spend an hour picking a dress that Adrian would approve of… something expensive, tight, and striking. Today, she didn't have the energy. She reached for a simple, navy
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  • Rejected by One, Wanted by Another    Terrible Jokes

    Lucy’s mother stood by the window, clutching her phone as if it were a lifeline. She looked at Lucy, her eyes red from crying, then dialed a number."Adrian? It’s Martha Quinn," her mother said, her voice trembling. "I am so sorry I didn't thank you properly at the hospital before you rushed off. Things were so chaotic, and I was in such a state... I just wanted to tell you that you are a godsend. We would be lost without you."Lucy sat stiffly in the plastic chair, her skin crawling. Adrian’s voice came through the speaker, it was completely different from the cold, threatening man who had just whispered in Lucy’s ear that he owned her."Please, Martha, don't apologize," Adrian said, his tone dripping with fake sincerity. "I understand completely. Family looks out for family. I’ve already arranged for a private nurse to arrive this evening so you can go home and be with Leo. You shouldn't have to handle this alone.""You are so kind, Adrian. Truly," Martha sobbed."I’ll check in toni

  • Rejected by One, Wanted by Another    The Price of a Life

    The lilies Adrian had given her were still sitting on the desk when Lucy returned to her room, their white petals beginning to curl at the edges. She walked to her bed and lay down, staring at the shadows moving across the ceiling.Her mind was far away from the flowers and the campus gossip. She was thinking about Jonathan. She imagined what it would feel like to walk into the university ballroom with him. In her mind, there were no cameras and no grand speeches. There was just the way he looked at her in the library and the steady warmth of his hand. She imagined dancing with him in a corner where no one could see them,she smiled slowly as she drifted into the fantasy.Her phone rang and shattered the silence.Lucy stood up and picked up the phone. "Lucy!" Her mother’s voice was a high, broken scream. "You have to come back! Your father—he was talking to me, and then his face just... he couldn't speak. He collapsed. They’ve taken him to emergency.""I’m coming, Mom. I’m coming righ

  • Rejected by One, Wanted by Another    A Quiet Wish

    The heavy scent of the lilies followed Lucy around as she walked toward the library. She had left the massive bouquet in her dorm room, but the floral perfume seemed to have soaked into her sweater. The campus was still buzzing. Every time she passed a group of students, they stopped talking and stared at her. She kept her head down until she reached the arts department. She turned the corner and nearly walked straight into Jonathan. He was standing by a stone pillar with a stack of heavy books tucked under his arm. He looked up, and for a second, neither of them moved. The air between them suddenly felt very thin. Lucy felt heat rush to her face, her skin prickling with the memory of his apartment. In that moment, she remembered the way his hands had felt on her waist. She remembered the taste of him. Judging by the way Jonathan’s ears turned a deep, burning red, he was thinking about the exact same thing. "Hi," Lucy said. Her voice was barely a whisper. "Hey," Jonathan replie

  • Rejected by One, Wanted by Another    The Gala Invitation

    Lucy woke up before her alarm went off. She lay perfectly still, staring at the ceiling. The memory of her conversation with Adrian yesterday still made her feel uneasy. She reached for her phone on the nightstand. She checked the hidden folder she had created. There was no new message from Jonathan, and she felt relieved but there was also this strange feeling of sadness. She put the phone back and sat up. She needed to talk to her mom. She walked into the small kitchen and dialed her mother’s number. It rang three times before her mother picked up."Lucy? Is everything okay? It's very early," her mother said. Her voice sounded tired but steady."I just wanted to check in, Mom," Lucy whispered, leaning against the counter. "How is he doing this morning? Did the doctors say anything new?""Actually, the news is a bit better today," her mother said, and Lucy could hear a small smile in her tone. "His vitals stabilized overnight. The nurse said his heart rate is more regular than it w

  • Rejected by One, Wanted by Another    Secrets and Lies

    Jonathan opened his eyes first. He felt the weight of Lucy’s head on his chest and her soft breathing. He stayed still for a few minutes, watching the way the early light touched her face. He didn't want to wake her, but he knew the risk of her being seen leaving his place after sunrise.He reached down and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her forehead. "Lucy," he whispered. "Lucy, hey. It’s morning."Lucy stirred, her eyelashes fluttering before she opened her eyes. For a second, she looked confused, her eyes darting around the unfamiliar room. Then she saw Jonathan, and the tension left her shoulders. She sat up slowly, the wool blanket sliding down to her waist."What time is it?" she asked, her voice raspy from sleep."Just past five," Jonathan said. He stood up and stretched, his muscles stiff from sleeping on the sofa. "The sun isn't fully up yet. I need to get you back to the dorm before the campus wakes up. I’ll ride you on the bike."Lucy nodded and stood up. She fel

  • Rejected by One, Wanted by Another    In His Arms

    Lucy took several deep breaths, forcing the air into her lungs until her chest stopped heaving. She used the hem of her sweater to wipe the tears from under her eyes and smoothed her hair. She had to be strong for her mother. She couldn't let her see how much the promise to her father had broken her.She walked back down the hallway to the waiting area. Her mother was sitting on the edge of the plastic chair, clutching a damp tissue. She looked up as Lucy approached."He’s sleeping now," Lucy said, sitting down and taking her mother’s hand."He loves you so much, Lucy," her mother whispered. "He’s just so worried about what happens to us when he's gone. He doesn't want us to lose the roof over our heads.""I know, Mom. I understand." Lucy squeezed her hand. "Where is Leo? Is he okay?""He’s with Mrs. Gable next door," her mother replied, referring to their neighbor. "He wanted to come, but I told him the hospital is no place for an eight-year-old. He’s been asking about Dad every hou

  • Rejected by One, Wanted by Another    The Breaking Point

    The atmosphere in the small apartment remained tense, despite the cool rain outside. Jonathan seemed to realize he had pushed too far. He saw the way her lip trembled, the way her eyes searched his for a lie she couldn't find. He sighed in frustration and ran a hand through his damp hair."I’m goin

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-17

  • Rejected by One, Wanted by Another    In His House

    The ride ended in a narrow alleyway behind a row of old brick buildings. Jonathan put off the engine. "We’re here," he said, his voice raspy.Lucy came down with shaky legs, her knees nearly buckling. Jonathan caught her by the elbow, steadying her as he led her toward a heavy steel door. He fumbl

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-17

  • Rejected by One, Wanted by Another    Public Humiliation

    Lucy barely felt the cold morning air, as Adrian dragged her to the administrative courtyard. His grip on her upper arm was extremely tight, his fingers digging into the soft skin just above where her bruise was starting to turn yellow. Zoe followed a few paces behind, pretending to be worried. "A

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-17

  • Rejected by One, Wanted by Another    Are you Following Me?

    The ride home from the Matthews estate was quiet. Adrian was already tipsy from drinking too much wine. He kept his hand on Lucy’s thigh, his thumb stroking the red silk of the dress Zoe had picked out. Lucy sat still staring out at the blurred streetlights, feeling the cold night air from the wind

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-17
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