MasukTessa Epilogue. Two years had passed. I could hardly believe it, but here I was, standing in my cozy living room, arranging the last of the decorations for Jasper's 5th birthday party. The house smelled of freshly baked cookies, the faint scent of balloons, and the light hum of excitement in the air.I was nervously running through the checklist in my head as I put the finishing touches on the birthday setup. Balloons? Check. Cake? Check. Presents? Check. Family and friends? A little of both. I glanced at the clock, realizing the guests would be arriving soon. Everything was in order. Well, as much as it could be. Jasper had been babbling all morning, excited for his big day, even though he had no full idea what was truly happening. To him, it was just another day of love and laughter.My mind wandered for a moment, drifting back to the years that had passed. Life had changed so much, and yet, some things remained constant. Jasper's little laugh, his giggles as he played with his to
Tessa The past week has been a blur. After everything that happened, life has felt like one long, surreal dream, a strange mixture of relief, reconciliation, and nervous anticipation. I still can't quite believe it's real.Jasmine had come to me almost the day after I reconnected with Carter. I hadn't been sure how I'd react, but the moment she started to apologize, I could feel my defenses starting to crack. She poured her heart out, tears in her eyes, confessing all the things I'd never known she felt. She admitted her insecurities, her jealousy, her regrets. And for the first time, I saw the human underneath all that bitterness. It was hard, but I forgave her. I didn't want to carry that anger anymore.Then there was my mom. She hadn't just given Carter her blessing, she insisted I finish my education, too. I'd always wondered if she'd think I was weak for leaving, for not holding myself together. But her love and support had been unwavering. She understood me in ways I didn't ev
CarterI glanced out the car window at the small, quiet town as we pulled in. It was the kind of place I'd never imagine myself setting foot in, a town so small it was almost hidden on the map, tucked away like an afterthought. But here I was, waiting for Mila, parked outside a diner that looked like it hadn't changed since the seventies. It didn't make any sense why we were here, and frankly, I was too tired to argue."You're still not going to tell me why we're here, are you?" I said as Mila climbed out of the driver's seat.She shot me a look over her shoulder, her lips pursed in disapproval. "You don't get to complain," she said bluntly. "Not after everything."I felt a pang of guilt, one I'd been feeling more often than I liked lately. I knew she was still angry with me, but I was trying to make up for my mistakes. "I'm sorry," I murmured, not for the first time. "I just... I thought maybe this was about Tessa. I thought you'd heard something."Her expression softened just a litt
TessaMy mum didn't waste a second. Her expression hardened, and before I could open my mouth, she stepped forward and, with a sharp crack, slapped me across the face. My cheek stung, but the shock was worse than the pain. I could barely comprehend what was happening before, in the next breath, her arms wrapped around me, pulling me into a fierce embrace. She held me so tightly, and it felt like she was holding onto all the lost years, all the words we'd never said.I felt the weight of it all pressing down on me, and I couldn't stop the tears that came. They poured down my face as I buried myself in her shoulder. Her breath hitched as she sobbed against me. It was strange, to feel her strength and her sorrow all at once. "I'm sorry," I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible. I didn't even know where to start. There was so much between us, so much hurt and misunderstanding.She pulled back just enough to look at me, her face streaked with tears. "Why didn't you come to me, Tes
TessaThe warm, familiar scent of coffee and freshly baked pastries filled the air as I poured a hot cup for the man at the counter, a regular who'd become a comforting presence in my little world. "Here you go, Mr. Davis. Extra sugar, just the way you like it.""Thank you, Tessa." He gave me a smile, his eyes crinkling in that friendly way that made me forget, if only for a moment, about the mountain of worries I kept carefully tucked behind my smile. "Can't find coffee like this anywhere else, you know."I chuckled softly, appreciating his words. "Glad to hear it. Keeps me in business, anyway."He laughed, but as he turned and left, the cheerful facade slipped just a bit. In the quiet that followed, I let out a sigh. Keeping this place running had been harder than I'd ever imagined.When I first arrived in this town, I was barely holding on. Lost, alone, and with no idea how I was going to make it on my own, I'd been saved by the kindness of a woman I'd met by chance. She'd offered
Carter POV It had been 3 years. An entire 3 years, and still, nothing.I set the phone down, and exhaled, forcing the frustration from my chest, but it was no use. It never seemed to leave me. Jasmine's concerned eyes met mine, asking me for answers I didn't have."Was that...?" she started, her voice quiet, uncertain. She didn't need to finish the question. I knew what she wanted to hear, even if I'd stopped letting myself hope for that answer."No," I replied, managing a small, empty smile. "Nothing yet. Still no word on Tessa. They're following up on the last few leads, but..." I trailed off, feeling the weight of the words I couldn't say.The police had already declared her a runaway. As if it were that simple as if it explained why she'd vanished without a trace. They had ruled it a voluntary disappearance, a choice she had every right to make as an adult. I'd used every bit of influence I had to keep it out of the press, to keep her name clean, to make sure her image remained
Tessa The night passed with Mr. Carter doing different styles with me, and I couldn't deny the fact that I enjoyed each of it. I couldn't lay my hands on whether I was happy that Mom didn't sleep at home, and one part of me prayed it was always like this, but I knew that was much unrealistic. To be
Tessa"Good morning, pretty lady." Mom kissed me on my cheeks as she entered the kitchen. "What are you doing in my kitchen? And that so early in the morning." She threw an accusing eye on me. To be honest, guilt was what made me wake up so early. I couldn't take the event that happened yesterday out
TessaI arched my back crying out in moan as his tongue flickered over my nipples. I didn't care about anything at that moment but to have him pleasure me till I could no longer think straight. I dug my nails into his scalp pushing his head more to my chest. He sucked my nipples as if he was given a
Carter"Who do we have here, Carter the Great." Samuel, my close friend and cousin hailed me as I occupied the empty stool next to him. I needed some fresh air to clear up my head and his call came at the right time. I rolled my eyes at his remark. "Stop acting as if you haven't seen me for decades."







