Semua Bab ONE NIGHT STAND WITH MY STEPFATHER : Bab 51 - Bab 60

I don’t remember much about the drive home. I remember the headlights. I remember the sound of David’s voice. I remember staring out of the window while the city passed by in a blur. But after that, everything became a mixture of exhaustion and silence. By the time I finally reached home, it was very late. Much later than I had planned. I stepped out of the car and stood outside for a moment, staring at the house. The lights were still on. My heart sank. Mom was awake. I pushed the door open. The moment I stepped inside, I saw her sitting on the sofa with Mark beside her. Both of them looked up. Mom immediately stood. “Evie!” She rushed toward me. “Where have you been?” “I’m okay.” She grabbed my arms and looked me over. “You’re sure?” “Yes, Mom.” Her eyes were red. She had clearly been crying. Mark stood behind her. He looked worried too, although he tried to hide it. “Where were you?” he asked. I dropped my handbag onto the sofa. “With David.” Mom’s face tightened. “David L

Evie’s mom woke up alone. The sheets on Mark’s side of the bed were still warm. She stretched her hand across the mattress and felt the heat that was already starting to fade. She blinked at the dark ceiling. “Honey?” Her voice was soft, still thick with sleep. She waited. Nothing came back. She sat up a little and called again, a bit louder this time. “Honey?” Still silence. A small crease formed between her brows. It wasn’t fear yet. Just that quiet unease that settles in when your partner disappears in the middle of the night without a word. “Where has he gone by this time of the night?” She whispered to herself. She reached for her phone on the nightstand and called his number. The phone rang right away, close by. The sound came from a shelf near the bedroom door. She frowned. He had left his phone behind. Why would he leave the room without it? She got out of bed. The floor felt cool under her bare feet. She walked to the bathroom first and switched on the light. Empt

I stared at the wet sheets. My mother stared at them too. For a few seconds, neither of us spoke. My heart was beating so hard that I was sure she could hear it. “Evie?” She called out. I swallowed. “Yes?” “What happened here?” My mind went completely blank. Under the bed, Mark was silent. I could feel the panic rising in my chest. One wrong answer. One strange look. One nervous movement, and my mother would know something was wrong. “I…” I looked at the sheets again. “I spilled some water.” Mom frowned. “Water?” “Yes.” “Where’s the bottle?” I froze. The question hits me like a stray bullet. I wasn't expecting it because I made it up. “The bottle?” “You said you spilled water. Where is the bottle?” I looked toward my nightstand. “It must have fallen.” “Fallen where?” “I don’t know, Mom. I was half asleep.” She didn’t answer. Her eyes moved around the room. I forced myself to breathe normally. “Maybe I knocked it off the table.” Mom walked closer to the bed. My stomach

I stared at the person standing across the hallway. For a few seconds, I forgot how to breathe. Mark was still beside me, his hand wrapped around my arm. Neither of us moved. The stranger stood completely still, his face hidden by the darkness. My heart hammered against my chest. “Who are you?” I whispered. He didn’t answer. Mark moved slightly in front of me. “Stay behind me,” he whispered. I nodded. The stranger finally took one slow step toward us. The hallway light barely reached his face. He was dressed in dark clothes, with gloves covering his hands. Something about him felt familiar, but I couldn’t tell why. I tightened my grip on Mark’s arm. “Do you know him?” I whispered. “No,” Mark replied. The stranger took another step. Mark leaned closer to me. “We need to get out of here.” Before either of us could move, we heard a voice from downstairs. “Evie?” My stomach dropped. Mom. The stranger stopped. I looked toward the staircase, then back at Mark. “Mark, we have to

Nobody moved. Mom was still holding the condom between two fingers. Her eyes moved from Mark to me, then back to Mark. I could feel my heartbeat in my throat. “Evie,” she said quietly. “You know where this came from?” I swallowed. “Yes.” Mark looked at me immediately. He was shocked that I even had something to say. I had to come up with something immediately else, everything will be exposed. “It’s mine,” I said. Mom’s face changed. “Yours?” I nodded. Mark raised his eyebrow like he understood what I mean. “Amelia, it’s not what you think.” “Then what am I supposed to think?” He looked uncomfortable. For once, I was glad he looked nervous. “I found it among Evie’s things earlier,” he said. “When I asked if she was seeing anyone, she refused to answer me and asked me to get rid of it.” Mom stared at him. “And you decided to carry it around in your pocket?” “I forgot it was there.” “That is your explanation?” “Yes.” She looked at me. “Evie, is that true?” My mouth went