All Chapters of My Step Father, My Desire : Chapter 191 - Chapter 200

MonicaAfter ending the call with Knox, I drive home with my hands clamped tightly around the steering wheel, my knuckles turning pale from the pressure. The fear I felt earlier about the drug test is completely gone. In its place, a burning rage takes over every part of me. I speed down the road, cutting between cars without a second thought. That idiot actually tried to have me arrested. He went behind my back and called the police on me. The thought makes my anger flare even hotter, I want to tear everything from him, his reputation, his company, the perfect life he’s so proud of. He’s going to regret ever crossing me.By the time I pull into my driveway, my whole body is shaking. I can barely steady myself as I step out of the car and head toward the front door. The moment I get inside, I kick off my heels. They slide across the living room floor with a loud thud. I toss my bag onto the couch but before I can even sit, my phone starts ringing from inside it.Irritation sparks in

EmmaI stay curled up on the couch for what feels like forever, my legs tucked tightly beneath me as if I’m trying to make myself smaller, disappear somehow. The tears that once streamed down my face have dried into stiff, uncomfortable tracks, but I don’t bother wiping them away. I barely even notice them anymore. My eyes remain fixed on nothing, staring straight ahead while the world around me feels distant, blurred, like I’m no longer fully part of it.My phone rests heavily in my hands, its screen now dark after the call that shattered everything inside me. Knox’s voice still echoes in my head. His words replay over and over, each repetition cutting deeper than the last. My chest tightens painfully every time I hear them again in my mind, until breathing feels like a struggle. I try to push the thoughts away, to silence them even for a moment, but they come back louder, harsher, dragging me closer to a breaking point I can’t seem to escape.The phone starts ringing again.And

EmmaI sit across from Iva at the restaurant table, but I can barely focus on anything in front of me. The warm lighting, the soft music, even the delicious smell of the food, all of it fades into the background. My heart is beating too fast, loud enough that I feel it in my ears. I stare down at my hands resting on the table, and suddenly a cold realization creeps over me.My phone.I freeze.“Iva,” I say, my voice unsteady, almost unfamiliar to my own ears, “I think I've lost it.”Iva pauses mid-bite and looks up at me, her brows drawing together slightly. She studies my face, as if trying to measure how serious I am. Then she tilts her head.“Emma, are you sure you came with it? Think carefully.”I nod quickly, too quickly. “Yes, I’m sure. I had it when we walked in.”But the moment I say it out loud, doubt hits me like a sudden drop. My stomach tightens. My phone is not in my hand, not in my lap, not anywhere I can see.A wave of panic rises in my chest, sharp and suffocating.T

Emma I sit at my desk, staring at the picture of my father, the one I found on Iva’s laptop.My fingers hover over the edge of the desk, unmoving. My eyes stay fixed on the image like if I look away, it might disappear and take the truth with it. The man in the picture looks normal, kind, even. Not like the chaos my life has become.Across the room, Iva is busy typing away, the steady clatter of her keyboard filling the silence. She looks calm, focused, like everything in her world still makes sense.Unlike mine.I’m just sitting here, frozen, doing nothing while my thoughts spiral out of control.Knox already made it clear, I’m no longer his executive assistant. Just like that, I’m out. My resignation letter sits on my laptop, typed, formatted, and ready. All that’s left is to hand it over when he gets back from his board meeting.I push my chair back slowly and stand, my legs almost hesitating, like they’re unsure where to take me. Still, I force myself toward the printer.My fin

Emma The cursor points on the screen, my fingers linger above the keyboard for a moment longer than they need to. This is it, every file, every leftover detail from my old role, every document Knox asked for, it’s all attached. I press send with one final tap, watching as the progress bar flickers briefly before disappearing.A long, shaky breath escapes me, as if it’s carrying months of tension out with it. My lungs finally feel like they can fully expand again. Without thinking, I snap the laptop shut. There’s nothing left for me here. I lean back, staring blankly at the wall. Next month, everything changes. I’ve already made up my mind, I’ll start applying for jobs but not around here. I’m looking farther away, in cities where I'll have nothing to do with Knox or my mother.I need distance, somewhere I won’t accidentally spot Knox’s car or dread hearing my mother’s voice on the phone or seeing her shadow at my door. I want a fresh start, a life where no one knows me.I exhale