Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Forbidden Ties : Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

Happiness’s POV It wasn’t a sudden revelation or a grand gesture that changed things between Mason and me. It was the little moments, the quiet mornings when he brought me coffee, the way he asked about my day and actually listened, the way he never hesitated to reassure me when doubt crept in. We weren’t perfect, and we didn’t pretend to be. But over time, the cracks began to heal, replaced by something stronger. This evening, as we sat on the couch watching a documentary Mason had picked out, I realized how far we’d come. I wasn’t tense, waiting for the next shadow to fall. I was just… here, with him, and it felt enough. “You’re quiet,” he said, glancing at me. “Just thinking,” I replied, smiling faintly. “Good thoughts, I hope?” I nodded, leaning my head on his shoulder. “Yeah. Good thoughts.” And for once, that wasn’t a lie. Next morning, I woke up to the sound of Mason humming in the kitchen. It was a tune I didn’t recognize, but there was something comforting about it.

The room was quiet now, save for the sound of our labored breathing. Mason lay beside me, his fingers tracing idle patterns along my arm. For a moment, I thought he was asleep, but then his voice broke the silence.“I’ve never felt this way before, Happiness,” he murmured, his tone softer than I’d ever heard it.I turned to him, unsure of what to say. He looked almost vulnerable, his usual cocky demeanor stripped away.“I mean it,” he said, propping himself up on one elbow to look down at me. His eyes searched mine, and I could see the weight of his words reflected in them. “You’re different. You make me want things I thought I’d never have again.”“What do you mean?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.He sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “I don’t talk about it much, but… what happened with Sandra hurt me so much. Badly. I swore I’d never let anyone get close to me again. I still get nightmares from the day that was meant to be our wedding night. And then you came

Happiness POV I looked around the shelves, walking along the shelves of the campus library, and trying to get my mind off what happened this morning. I woke up in Mason's bed. Again. Does this mean I'm his girlfriend now? I should be after what happened in the cabin, right? My cheeks burned as I remembered the not so little details of that night. I sighed, leaning back against the shelf, and scanning the book titles in front of me. I don't understand why I'm here or how I got to this section of the Library. The books I'm looking at are unrelated to my project assignments. At least, that was what I told Ash and Martha. I just needed some time alone. My eyes darted around the many indigenous languages in Africa. Another book about Sanskrit, and another about Japanese. How did I end up in this section? My phone buzzed as I received a message from Mason. Mason: Hey. Mason: What are you doing this afternoon?I can feel the change in the rhythm of my heartbeat upon reading his text

Happiness POVThe rest of the evening passed in a blur of laughter and teasing, with Ash and Martha extracting every possible bit of entertainment from my misery. Mason played along with them, his wit sharper than ever, which earned him more than one glare from me.By the time we finished up and parted ways, I was emotionally drained yet strangely content. The walk back was quiet, save for the occasional rustling of leaves in the breeze. Mason hand brushing mine but never quite holding it this time. It was as if he understood I needed space to process everything.When we arrived, I turned to face him, my back against my door. “Thanks for today... I think,” I said, unable to keep the faint smile from tugging at my lips.His grin was lopsided, effortlessly charming. “Anytime, Happiness. I live to keep you on your toes.”I rolled my eyes, though the warmth in his gaze made my stomach flip. “Goodnight, Mason.”“Goodnight,” he replied, stepping closer. For a second, I thought he might kis

His lips brushed against mine, and I forgot how to breathe. Mason groaned as he kissed me with so much passion. I kiss him back with all my heart while my thoughts are having a battle inside my head. Does this mean I'm his girlfriend now? I think I am. But he didn't ask me. Focus on the kiss, Happiness. I reprimanded myself.Mason broke away from the kiss, panting, and I was taken aback. He stared at me, trying to figure out what's going on in my head. “Are you okay?” He asked, concern and worry etched on his face. “I'm scared,” I whispered, fear evident in my voice. “Are we in a relationship now?” Mason pulled away slightly and chuckled. “Is that what's troubling you?” He asked and I nodded. “You don't need to worry your pretty head about that.” “But–” I began, but was cut short when he placed his fingers on my lips. “Do you want to be my woman? My girlfriend?” He asked. “Well, if you're asking.” I shrugged, and he chuckled once more. “Yes, I want to.” I cupped his face and