“Mom” I repeat, walking towards her and she smiles.“How are you dear” she says, pulling me in a warm embrace and a tear rolls down my cheeks.“I missed you mom” I sobShe pulls away from the hug looking confused, “Jim told me you look stunning, and you really do. I’ll be glad to make you my daughter-in-law” she smiles, immediately covering up her confused look.“Yes, your daughter-in-law” I fake a smile and clean my tears.My heart drops when I voice those words, but I let it slide.Jonathan stares at me in awe wondering what just happened, but he refuses to say anything about it.“Jonathan my son, come and give your mom a hug” she tells Jonathan.Jonathan walks up to her, and she embraces him in a hug.“How are you my son?” she asks Jonathan, pulling away from the hug and holding on to his cheeks.He looks embarrassed.“I’m fine mom” he says, holding her hands and releasing them from his cheeks.She ruffles his hair and I could clearly read the embarrassment written all over Jim’s f

“It's good to learn how to cook, so you could always prepare dishes for your husband when you get married, since home cooked meals are better than takeouts” she says and the words sound too familiar.My mother always told me that when I was little. Mrs. Dan is my mom.“Mom, it’s me, Anastasia” I say, scared of her reaction.“Yea I know it’s you Anastasia, I love how you’ve already regarded me as your mom. We’re gonna have a great time together”.“I mean you’re her, my mom” I say, trying to make her understand.The expression on her face goes cold. Her eyes tilt and goes back to normal.And it’s just the same as when I was little.“Anastasia, I’m sorry that you miss your mom. But if it makes you feel any better, I’ve embraced you as my child” she winks and the joy in my heart completely drops.I fake a smile at her and decide not to talk about the topic anymore.“I’m sorry, you just look and act so much like her, my mother” I smile and she smiles back. Her smile sends warmth to me.“St

“Jonathan, if you had told me this earlier, I would have been excited like a baby who just got a candy from a candy store, but right now, I want nothing more than to lay in bed with Jim. I’m exhausted so how about we talk about it tomorrow” I tell Jonathan.On hearing these words, I could see the disappointment written on his face, but I ignore it.“Okay Anastasia, have a great night”“Bye” I smile and head to Jim’s room“Baby open the door” I say when the door knob doesn’t twist“Give me a second, babe,” he says from inside.He walks up to the door and opens it.He is tying a bathing robe. But not the one in the bathroom. It’s a different one, and I walk into the room and lock the door.“You got another?” I ask, pointing to the bathing robe his putting on.“Yeah, I figured you could have the other since it looks so perfect on you”“Yayy!” I cheer.“Babe, want to get in the shower with me?” He asks.“Of course I want to,” I say.Jim helps me take off my gown, leaving me in my underwea

“I don’t think I’m ready for what’s about to come” I say to Jonathan.“It’s nothing serious and I just need you to know some things that are going on”“Okay, should I be scared”“Take a chill pill, Anastasia. Everything is fine”.“Okay”“Jessica-“No, no no, no no, not yet, and at least not now. Her name gives me a sick feeling in my chest, and I don’t think I’m ready for that just yet”.“At your own time Anastasia, at your time” Jonathan says, and I could see his shoulders relax and so does his muscles“You’re not comfortable talking about her, none of you are. So I’ll just let Jim tell me when he’s ready”.“Okay Anastasia. I’ll respect your wish”.“But anyway, why don’t we go downstairs to have some breakfast, I’m starving” I say, trying my possible best to kill the tense atmosphere, and it seems to have worked“Alright Anastasia, I’m starving” he says, his tummy grumbles and I let out a laugh.JIM’S POV-chapter 34“Mr. Michael, the work has not been completed yet. It should be comp

Something tells me to light myself on fire.I adhere, and I use my thumb to push down the metallic wheel on the lighter, and I see the fire.And no, it’s not because of Jim. It’s because of them. My family.Everyone and everything that led me to this point.They should have let me die as a kid, but no, they didn’t. They never did, and it gets tiring.I’m tired.I bring the fire close to my wrist and the heat against my skin makes me flinch, but I don’t pull away.The fire finally touches my skin and a tear rolls down my eyes from the pain.“Anastasia, what are you doing?” A familiar voice yells and rushes to me.The hand hits the lighter away from me and pulls me into a hug.“Just leave me alone” I cry“Get a hold of yourself” the voice tells me and I turn to see its Jonathan.“Jonathan, I’m not okay” I cry into his chest, and he rubs his hands slowly on my back to comfort me.“It’s alright Anastasia. Just take a deep breath and we can talk about what’s wrong”.He calms me down and I