JASPERI blinked my eyes open and sat up, rubbing the sleep from my face. This wasn’t my room. My Spider-Man nightlight wasn’t glowing. My big, fluffy blanket wasn’t here. I looked around. The bed was too big, the walls were gray, and the air smelled weird, like old socks and something burnt. Where was I?I slid off the bed, my bare feet touching the cold floor. My tummy felt funny, like when I got scared watching scary cartoons. I walked to the door and pushed it open. The hallway was long and empty.“Hello?” My voice was small.Nothing.I took slow steps, my heart thumping fast. Then I saw him, the man who took me. He was sitting at a table, eating chips, and watching something on his phone.I walked up to him, my fingers curling into fists. “Where are we?” I asked, trying to sound brave. Mommy always said I was her brave little soldier.The man looked up, surprised. “You’re awake.”I nodded. “I had a bad dream. I want my mommy.”The man sighed, putting his phone down. “Kid, your mo
SHAWNAMy hands shook as I stared at the phone screen. A strange number. My heart pounded.Liam leaned closer. "Answer it."I swallowed hard and pressed the button. "Hello?"There was silence for a second, then…"Mommy?"My breath caught in my throat. "Jasper?! Baby, is that you?""Mommy!" His little voice was filled with excitement. "I found the police! They helped me!"Tears streamed down my face as I clutched the phone. "Oh my God! Where are you, baby? Are you okay?"A deep voice came through the line. "Ma'am, this is Officer Reynolds from the Oakridge Police Department in Washington. Your son was found a few hours ago. He came to us himself and reported that he had been kidnapped."Liam exhaled sharply beside me. "Is he safe? Did you get the kidnapper?""We’re still searching, but he’s unharmed. We need you to come immediately.""We’re on our way!" I said quickly. "Please don’t let him out of your sight!""Understood, ma’am."I hung up and turned to Liam, gripping his arm tightly.
PHOEBEI bounced on the couch, swinging my legs as I watched Grandma stir something in a big pot. The kitchen smelled nice, but I didn’t care about food. I just wanted Mommy. And Daddy. And Uncle Liam. And Jasper."Grandma, when is Mommy coming back? And Daddy? And Uncle Liam? And Jasper?" I asked for the hundredth time.Grandma sighed and wiped her hands on her apron. "Phoebe, sweetheart, they’ll be back soon. Just be patient."I hugged my teddy close and frowned. "But what if they don’t come back? What if they’re lost forever?"Billy, who was lying on the couch beside me, groaned loudly. "They’re not lost forever, Phoebe. Just… stop asking."I turned to him and crossed my arms. "But how do you know? What if something bad happened?"Billy sat up, rubbing his face. "Nothing bad happened. You’re just making stuff up."I pouted. "I am not!"Grandma sighed again, coming over to pat my head. "Sweetheart, your mommy and the others will be back soon. You just have to trust me."I looked dow
SHAWNAI stood in the hallway, my heart heavy as I listened to the sound of my children’s feet racing ahead, eager to see their father. I was grateful for their eagerness, for their simple hope that he would wake up, but I was also terrified. How could I explain to them that everything might not go back to normal? That their dad wasn’t just going to wake up one day like he always did?"Mom," Billy called back, turning his small face up to me, "we’re not going anywhere until Dad wakes up, right?"I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a smile. "Of course not, sweetie. We’re all staying right here."The weight of the words I didn’t say hung in the air, but Billy didn’t seem to notice. He turned back and tugged on his sister’s hand. "Come on, Billy! Dad’s gonna be so happy to see us!"I nodded at their excited faces and tried to hold it together. They needed me to be strong. They couldn’t know how badly I was breaking inside.As the kids dashed down the hall, I leaned against the w
DAMIENThe first thing I felt when I woke up was the thudding in my head. It was like a drumbeat pounding against my skull, relentless and unforgiving. My throat was dry, and I could barely focus my blurry vision on the sterile white ceiling above me. What the hell happened?I tried to sit up, but the weight of the IV in my wrist stopped me. Groaning, I reached for it, fingers trembling as I fumbled for the connection. I was going to yank it out, end the damn pain, and figure out what had happened. Maybe then I’d understand why the hell everything hurt so much.But just as my hand hovered over the IV, I heard her voice. Shawna’s voice. It was shaky, full of urgency.“Damien, don’t you dare!”I froze, my heart skipping a beat. Her tone was sharp, but beneath it was something I hadn’t expected: fear. Real fear.I turned my head slowly to find her standing at the foot of the bed, wide-eyed, her face pale, tears glistening on her cheeks.“Shawna…” I croaked, still trying to make sense of
SHAWNAI felt like I was on a rollercoaster that wouldn’t stop. It was only a few hours ago when Damien had asked me to marry him. The words still echoed in my head, as did the joy on his face when I said yes. It felt right, no, more than right. It felt like everything I’d been hoping for, everything I’d wanted. A family, love, stability... finally, I was getting the life I’d always dreamed of.But then, of course, reality hit. Damien’s family came into the picture, and things started to spiral out of control.“Mommy, what kind of dress are you gonna wear?” Phoebe asked, her tiny voice cutting through the thoughts swirling in my head. She was jumping up and down, her little hands clapping. She was thrilled, and I couldn’t help but smile at her excitement. Billy wasn’t far behind, grinning like a Cheshire cat.“I don’t know yet, sweetheart,” I replied, ruffling her hair. “But I’ll make sure it’s something special.”Damien was watching me with that goofy grin, practically glowing from h
SHAWNAI could feel the weight of it all pressing down on me. The constant decisions, the expectations that seemed to build up faster than I could keep track of. I just wanted a small wedding, simple and quiet, with the people who mattered most. But it felt like every step I took toward what I wanted was met with resistance.“Shawna, you need to speak up if you’re not being treated the way you deserve,” my mother had said earlier, concern thick in her voice. “You can’t let them walk all over you.”“I’m not being walked all over,” I’d snapped back, though I wasn’t sure if that was entirely true. “It’s just... the wedding. It’s a lot of pressure.”She sighed, her hand resting gently on my shoulder. “I know it’s a big deal, but you need to be honest about what you want, honey. If they’re making you uncomfortable—”“I’m fine, Mom,” I cut in, though I wasn’t. “I just want a small wedding. Is that too much to ask?”“Nothing wrong with that,” she said, squeezing my shoulder. “You deserve to
DAMIENThe moment I walked in, Mom turned to face me, arms crossed, her expression already set in irritation.“What did you say to Shawna?” I asked, my voice calm but firm.She scoffed, shaking her head. “Oh, so now I’m the villain?”“I didn’t say that,” I replied, crossing my arms as well. “I just want to know what happened.”She let out a dry laugh, her eyes flashing. “You should be certain you want to marry her, Damien. It seems like she’s still holding onto the past.”I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay composed. “You’re not making things any easier by controlling every little thing about our wedding. This is supposed to be for us, not you.”“For us?” she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief. “You mean for her. Because it seems to me that she’s getting everything her way while I’m being cast aside. Do you think that’s fair?”I exhaled sharply. “Mom, Shawna isn’t trying to push you out. She just wants to have a say in her own wedding.”Mom scoffed again. “A small wedding?
RAMONI was dead tired by the time we finished the meeting at the company. My shirt clung to my back, and my head was pounding from all the numbers and back-to-back discussions. All I wanted was to check my phone and unwind, maybe see if Phoebe had texted.I reached into my pocket. Empty.My heart skipped.I checked the table, the chair, and even under the folder I’d used. Nothing.“Where the hell is my phone?” I muttered.My uncle, sitting across from me, raised an eyebrow. “Lose something?”“My phone. I had it before we came here.”He shrugged. “Maybe you dropped it at the house.”I didn’t like how quick he was to answer.Still, I forced a calm nod and stood up. “I’ll go check.”The ride back to his place felt like it took forever. My mind was racing. Phoebe. Had she called? Texted? What if something was wrong? My gut wouldn’t calm down.When I got to the house, I tore through every room I had been in earlier. The living room. The guest room. Even the damn kitchen. Nothing.My uncle
PHOEBEThe hotel was breathtaking, with marble floors, chandeliers sparkling like stars, a scent of roses, and money hanging in the air. My heels clicked softly as I followed the receptionist, who wore a perfectly polite smile. My coat was still wrapped tightly around me, hiding the dress Winnie helped me pick out. My heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and nerves.“He’ll be with you shortly,” the receptionist said sweetly, opening a suite door for me. “Please, get comfortable. There are refreshments inside. Make yourself at home.”I gave a shy nod. “Thank you.”The door shut behind me.The suite was luxurious, with soft couches, a large table with drinks and fruit, and dim romantic lighting. I let out a small breath. “Wow…”I walked slowly to the table, brushing my fingers along the glass rim of a wine glass. Red wine. A chill ran up my spine, and I shook it off. Maybe he asked them to pour it before he arrived. Maybe this was his way of setting the mood.I pulled out my phone.
PHOEBEI slammed the front door a little harder than I meant to when I got home.Winnie looked up from the couch, raising an eyebrow. "Whoa. Somebody’s in a mood. What's wrong, sunshine?"I dropped my bag by the door and flopped onto the armchair with a loud sigh. "It’s Ramon," I said, pouting like a child.Winnie immediately perked up. "Ramon? Spill. What happened?!"I buried my face in my hands for a second before looking up at her. "We kissed. Like... really kissed. It was amazing. He kissed me like he needed me to breathe or something."Winnie squealed, hugging a throw pillow. "Oh my God! Finally!""Yeah, it was incredible," I mumbled, my cheeks heating up. "But right after that, he got a call. Emergency at home. He had to leave. Just like that."Winnie’s face softened. "Oh, babe...""I know he had no choice," I said quickly, fiddling with a loose thread on the armrest. "But... it sucks. I’m losing my mind over him, Winnie. I’m slowly going crazy. I want him so bad it hurts."Winn
PHOEBERamon’s eyes burned into me like I was the only thing he could see. I felt my cheeks heat up under his stare, and I shifted awkwardly on my feet.“Phoebe,” he said, his voice low and rough, “I want all of you…every part of you. I’m not afraid of being with you. I’m just... trying to restrain myself.”My heart pounded so hard it hurt. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out at first. Then I swallowed hard and said, "I want all of you, too, Ramon. I’m not scared."Something snapped between us.Ramon closed the space in a single, hungry heartbeat, grabbing me again and crashing his mouth onto mine. This kiss wasn’t soft. It wasn’t sweet. It was rough, fierce, almost desperate, like he had been starving, and I was the only thing that could satisfy him.His lips crushed against mine, demanding and urgent. I could feel the heat pouring off his body as he kissed me like he needed me more than air. His hand slid up, fingers threading into the hair at the nape of my neck, then wrapping
RAMONI tossed and turned all night. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t sleep. My mind kept racing, full of everything Uncle Richard had said... and Phoebe. Always Phoebe.I was falling for her. Hard. It scared the hell out of me, but it also felt so right. I didn’t just like her, I needed her. Every smile, every look, every word she said stuck in my head like glue.When morning came, I dragged myself out of bed, showered, and dressed like a man on a mission. I didn’t even think twice. I was going to see her. I had to.No more running. No more hiding.When I got to the worksite, she was there already, sorting through some papers, looking so focused and beautiful that it made my heart twist. She looked up and blinked like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing."Ramon?" she said, her voice small but full of surprise. "I thought... I thought you weren’t going to be available anymore."I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling awkward and stupid all at once. "Yeah, about that. I’m
WINNIEWinnie stared at me like I had just grown two heads. "What do you mean you don't know if Ramon likes you enough to be intimate?" she asked, her eyes wide.I hugged my knees to my chest, feeling small and stupid. "I don’t know, Win. Maybe... maybe he’s just not that into me. Maybe he sees me like a kid or something."Winnie shook her head fast. "No way. Anyone with eyes can see Ramon is crazy about you, Phoebe. Seriously. He looks at you like you hung the moon!"I smiled a little, but it didn’t reach my heart. "Then why is he so hesitant? Why does he always back away when things get... close?"Winnie opened her mouth to say something, then paused. Her face changed slowly, like she was putting puzzle pieces together."Wait a second..." she said carefully. "Have you guys ever... you know... done it?"I looked down at my lap, my face burning. "No," I whispered.Winnie’s mouth fell open. "Wait. You mean... never?"I nodded, feeling like I was about to sink into the floor."And he kn
RAMONI stood in the garden, massaging my temples and trying to figure out what just happened. I hated seeing Phoebe hurt. I hated that I was the reason for that look in her eyes, the one that made my chest ache. I wanted to run after her, fix it, explain everything better.I had just taken a step toward the house when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see Billy and Jasper coming out. Great. Just what I needed right now.They stood there awkwardly for a second before Billy cleared his throat."Hey, man," he said, not meeting my eyes. "We, uh... we just wanted to say sorry."I blinked, surprised. "Sorry?"Jasper shoved his hands into his pockets. "Yeah. For looking down on you. We didn't know... well, we didn't know you were who you are."I sighed, not really wanting to have this conversation. "It's fine," I muttered, even though it really wasn't."But," Billy added quickly, "we still think you're hiding something. And honestly... we don’t think you're worthy of our sister."Tha
PHOEBEThe second everyone was distracted inside, I grabbed Ramon’s hand and tugged him gently toward the garden. I was buzzing with excitement, my heart beating way too fast. I needed a moment alone with him, away from all the heavy stares and questions."Come on," I said, smiling at him. "Let’s get some air."He smiled back, letting me pull him along. The night air was cool and smelled faintly of roses. The garden lights made everything look soft and dreamy.Once we were far enough from the house, I stopped and turned to him, crossing my arms playfully. "So..." I began, raising an eyebrow. "You’re secretly rich, huh?"Ramon chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess so.""You guess so?" I laughed, nudging him with my shoulder. "Why didn’t you tell me?"He shrugged, looking a little sheepish. "I was going to tell you... eventually. I just wanted you to like me for me, you know? Not for anything else."I looked at him, my heart softening even more. His voice sounded so honest, s
PHOEBEI felt like I’d been holding my breath the whole night, but when Uncle Richard finally gave his answer, it was like the air rushed back into my lungs.“Well,” he said with a small chuckle, wiping his mouth with his napkin, “the truth is, we’re a wealthy family. Very wealthy. Ramon chose to keep that hidden because he didn’t want gold-diggers. He wanted someone who’d love him for who he is, not what he has.”There was a beat of silence.Then Billy blinked. “Wait… you’re saying Ramon’s been pretending to be broke?”“Not broke,” Uncle Richard clarified with a grin. “Just… simple. Down-to-earth.”Everyone at the table was stunned. I couldn’t help it, I let out the tiniest giggle. Then a bigger one. And before long, laughter started to ripple around the table. Even Jasper cracked a smile. It was like the whole room finally exhaled.I glanced at Mom and made a small, sneaky wink. She caught it instantly. Her lips curved just slightly, and then she gave a quick nod.“Phoebe,” she said