جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 19

The alarm blared at 6:30 AM on Monday morning, pulling me out of a restless sleep. Today was the day. the first day of resuming classes on campus. I lay in bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling. Aunt Clara was already moving around downstairs; I could hear her humming in the kitchen as she prepared breakfast. The reality of her presence in the house made everything feel ten times more dangerous.Derek had barely touched me since she arrived. The few stolen kisses and touches we managed felt rushed and paranoid. Last night, he had pulled me into the bathroom while Aunt Clara was watching TV and fucked me hard against the sink, his hand clamped over my mouth to keep me quiet.I got up, showered quickly, and dressed in a simple white blouse and navy skirt that reached just above the knee. When I came downstairs, the kitchen smelled of pancakes and coffee.Aunt Clara turned with a bright smile. “Good morning, Cassandra! First day back at school. You look lovely.”“Thank you, Aunt Cl

The morning light filtered through my curtains as I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my blouse for the third time. My hands were trembling slightly. Ryan’s message from yesterday still burned in my mind.I replied yes.Derek had been furious when he saw the message, but after a long, tense conversation where I begged him to trust me, he had reluctantly agreed on the condition that I text him every hour.Downstairs, breakfast was already on the table.“Good morning, dear,” Aunt Clara said warmly when I entered. “You look beautiful today. Special occasion?”I forced a smile. “Just a normal school day, Aunt Clara. Thank you for breakfast.”Derek was already seated, looking sharp in a dark blue shirt. His eyes locked onto me After breakfast, Derek drove me to campus again. The car ride was silent at first. Then his hand found my thigh.“You’re really going to meet him?” he asked, voice low and tight.“I have to,” I whispered. “I can't say no?”Derek’s grip tightened. “If he to

The feeling felt very overwhelming. The feeling that I was now in love with Derek was hurting. I wasn't supposed to love him or feel anything. He was my stepdad and nothing else.*****I stayed quiet during breakfast, pushing my food around my plate. Derek sat across from me, his presence impossible to ignore. He hadn’t touched me since the night of my birthday. Not once.Mom noticed my silence. “Are you okay, sweetheart? You’ve been so quiet since I got back.”“I’m fine, Mom,” I lied, forcing a small smile. “Just tired from school resuming. Lots of assignments already.”Aunt Clara nodded sympathetically. “That’s normal, dear. You need to focus on your studies now.”Derek didn’t say anything. He simply watched me.The avoidance continued throughout the week.In the mornings, I left for campus early, telling Mom I was meeting Sophie for group study. In the evenings, I stayed late at the library or at Sophie’s house, making excuses about projects and upcoming tests. At home, I spent

The drive back from Sophie’s house on Sunday evening felt like walking toward my own execution.Every turn brought me closer to the house I both loved and feared. Sophie was still buzzing with excitement beside me, talking nonstop about how perfect Ryan and I looked together, how happy she was for me, and how this was “the best possible thing” after all the stress I’d been under.I smiled and nodded at the right moments, but inside, I was crumbling.I was now officially Ryan’s girlfriend.The silver necklace he had given me rested against my collarbone like a brand. Every time it moved, I felt its weight, a constant reminder of the choice I had made in a moment of panic and desperation. When Sophie finally pulled up in front of the house, my stomach twisted into knots. Mom’s car was parked in the driveway. Aunt Clara’s too. The lights were on inside. “Thanks for the weekend, Soph,” I said, hugging her tightly. “I really needed it.”“Anytime, babe. And text Ryan! He’s probably dying