Chapter 001

“He wasn't supposed to taste the forbidden. However, he couldn't resist the temptation. As if one little bite wasn't enough, he craved for more. Why did the forbidden taste like heaven even though it was a sin?” ___________ “Damn it! How does this work?” Chloe mumbled under her breath, her patience running thin. All she wanted to do was to prepare a cup of coffee to kickstart the day because she knew what was waiting ahead and needed a strong cup of coffee. Or… maybe two. It's the first day of senior year. If Chloe said she wasn't nervous, she would be lying because the truth was…she was freaking nervous. “Need some help?” Chloe almost jumped when a husky, deep voice sliced through the quiet air, startling her. Taking a sharp breath, she turned her head towards the source of the voice, and there he was! Aaron freaking Harrison! He was lazily leaning on the doorframe, his head almost touching the head casing. The black shirt that he wore fitted him perfectly as though it was made

Last Updated : 2025-05-07

Chapter 002

It was quiet inside the dining room, everyone paying attention to their plates. Chloe sipped on her coffee, savoring the taste as if it was the sweetest drink that she has ever tasted . Even though Chloe didn't want to admit it out loud, the coffee tasted good, just the way she loved it. To be honest, Chloe thought Aaron didn't know that much about the kitchen. She thought that… he was only good with his tongue, telling girls whatever they wanted to hear, making them giggle giddily. However, Aaron proved her wrong in the kitchen. Perhaps he knew more than Chloe thought. The images of him making coffee effortlessly flashed in her mind. It seemed as though he was enjoying the coffee-making process. Chloe recalled the relaxed look on his face and everything in between. He made it look so much easier and… Chloe found herself enjoying it, letting go of herself. Chloe couldn't explain how it happened. However, they ended up preparing coffee for the whole family as Victoria and Jacob prepa

Last Updated : 2025-05-07

Chapter 003

It was a little bit quiet when Aaron and his Dad left the dining room, leaving Chloe and her mother. “Did… I do something wrong?” Chloe asked doubtfully, not sure what her mother wanted to talk about. It seemed as though it was something very important that couldn't wait. Victoria’s lips curved into a smile when she heard her daughter's question. “You haven't done anything wrong, my love.” She said in a relaxed voice. A breath which Chloe had no idea she had been holding all this time left her lips. Victoria held her daughter's hands, giving them a gentle squeeze. “I can't believe this is your final year in Golden Willows High. It feels… surreal.” The smile on her lips broadened. Her eyes sparkling. "You have no idea how proud I’m of you. It's not that I have been a good example to you. However, I’m happy that you have been a good girl. All I would like to tell you is…” Victoria paused, then heaved a deep sigh. Chloe's heart warmed up when she saw her mother happy. “Focus on you

Last Updated : 2025-05-08

Chapter 004

"William…” Chloe said with a smile, and William smiled back at her. William was tall. However, he was not as tall as Aaron. While he was 6’1, Aaron was 6’2 an inch taller than him. He had black hair and blue eyes. Of course, he was masculine. But again… Aaron was a little bit more masculine than him. Chloe and William hugged so tightly. “I missed you so much!” Chloe confessed, her grip around him tightening even more. She closed her eyes, forgetting about everything for a split second and basked in his embrace. Forgetting...about her annoying Stepbrother too. When they pulled back from the tight hug, William pecked Chloe on the lips. Elara cleared her throat, and they both turned to look at her. “I think… we’ll see each other in mathematics class?” Elara informed Chloe, and she nodded at her words, feeling a little flushed. El walked away, giving Chloe and her boyfriend some privacy. “How are you holding up?” William asked in concern. “Pretty good, just getting used to the new en

Last Updated : 2025-05-16

Chapter 005

Chloe darted her eyes around, looking for someone and…there he was! William Lockwood. Her dear boyfriend. William was talking to a blondie, and they looked so comfortable around one another. The girl laughed at whatever William said, as though it was the funniest joke that she had ever heard. The girl's laughter didn't bother Chloe that much. What bothered her the most was the way the girl touched William as she laughed. She touched him in a way that made Chloe a little uneasy. ‘Stop being jealous, Chloe!’ She scolded herself. William could be funny sometimes, that was for sure. Perhaps he told the girl one of those funny jokes that he always told her whenever they were training. Chloe reasoned, pushing the unsettling feeling to the back of her mind. “Will?” Chloe called in a soft voice, her lips curving into a smile. William stiffened, not expecting Chloe to pop up out of the blue. However, he relaxed immediately then turned around. “Chloe? I did not know… you had already

Last Updated : 2025-06-04

Chapter 006

It felt as though time was moving in slow motion. The noisy crowd became a distant sound to Chloe. Her hand trembled uncontrollably, tears welling in her eyes, threatening to burn their way out.Her lips parted, desperate to say something, just anything that came in her mind but her mind was blank. Hard for Chloe to process what she had just said.The small velvet box she was holding dropped onto the concrete floor with a thud, cracking open, and the watch she'd bought for her dear boyfriend slipped out.William looked surprised when he saw Chloe. Perhaps he wasn't expecting her to walk in so soon. Chloe darted her blurry eyes between William and the blondie, trying to make sense of what she had seen. She wished someone could tell her that it was all a nightmare. A bad nightmare that she badly wanted to wake up from. However, the proof before her proved otherwise. William’s arms were still wrapped around Jane's waist as he froze in place.Chloe didn't miss the triumphant smile on Jane

Last Updated : 2025-06-06

Chapter 007

After driving for what felt like forever, the taxi finally came to a stop, pulling Chloe's mind back to the real world. The cruelty that she has been trying so hard to escape because the harsh truth was soul-crushing. She raised her head slowly and looked out of the window. Darkness had enveloped the earth, and it was raining heavily, a perfect reflection of the turmoil that has been looming inside her.. Chloe didn't have any idea how many hours had passed, but she was pretty sure it had been a couple because now she was in another town—a faraway town from her hometown, the town she grew up in, which had now become her nightmare. “Young miss, are you sure this is the right address?” The driver asked with concern. He was a little bit older, perhaps in his forties. Even though he didn't have any clue who Chloe was, he was concerned about her because she had been crying in the backseat throughout the journey. He tried to inquire what was wrong but she said nothing. Not even a single