I Was Always Second Until I Left Novels & Stories

"Give me a chance to explain. Give me a chance to fix this." "The contract is over, Adrian," I said, turning away from him and taking Ryan’s arm. "And so are we." Without looking back, I walked toward the private elevator that led back up to my company the empire I built with my own hands, where I would never be second choice again.

A pause, then: “I’m trying to help you, but I can’t if you keep shutting me out.” I turned the phone off and dropped it into the suitcase. At last, the room was quiet. I stood in the middle of the bedroom and looked around. For years, I had called that place home. Now I saw it: a polished cage full of beautiful things that were never mine, a life arranged by other hands, a marriage where another woman approved what I could touch, spend, wear, and ask for. Only then did I understand how completely I had disappeared. Once I understood, leaving no longer felt impossible. It felt overdue.

Their usual polished and fashionista personas had all gone down the drain. After I signed the documents, I left the group chat in front of them. A system message stating, 'Madison Ziegler left,' was displayed on all their screens. "Don't ever let me see you again," I warned. Then, I put my phone in my pocket and sauntered out of the court. The sun felt warm on my face as I basked in the relief of having completely severed ties with these so-called best friends. I was now renting a luxury one-bedroom apartment near my company.

I, Wayne Watson, grew up in an orphanage, which made me strong and calm. I never asked others for help, no matter what happened. My girlfriend, Rosetta Walter, always said she admired my independence and ability to solve problems on my own. "Men who run to others for help whenever something happens are the worst." I once believed she truly meant it. That was until the new assistant, Kevin Skyler, at her company called her for the 99th time while crying. "Ms. Walter, the light bulb at my home is broken. It's so dark, and I'm scared." "Don't cry, Kevin. I'm coming right over!" Just like that, Rosetta left without another word. Watching her hurry away, I knew our relationship was over.

I got home late after working overtime, only to find the takeout I'd ordered earlier was gone. My girlfriend, Miranda Hensley, had eaten it. She stood in front of the bathroom mirror, going through her skincare routine without a care in the world. "You didn't tell me you'd be home this late. How was I supposed to know?" she said casually. "There's half a dinner roll left in the kitchen if you're hungry. Try to get home earlier next time." I stared at her in disbelief. "Miranda, do you think I want to get home this late? Do you have any idea how long it takes me to get home? I told you we shouldn't have rented a place all the way out here." Her face immediately darkened. "Shh!" She shot

On my birthday, my girlfriend Serena organized a trip to the amusement park for the five of us. When we got to the log flume, the four of them stepped right past me and took the whole front row. I froze for half a second, then said nothing and went to the second row on my own. As we plunged down the drop, all three girls cried out, "Kyle!" and threw themselves into his arms, laughing and squealing. I was still gripping the safety bar when, all at once, the three of them pulled out umbrellas and held them over their heads. The massive waterfall ahead shredded my poncho in seconds and drenched me from head to toe. Kyle turned around. "Adrian! Why don't you have an umbrella?" Serena and

Over summer break, right after graduation, my parents, Stuart and Rachel Powell, decided the whole family would take a road trip together. But the moment I hauled my suitcase up to the car door, Mom's hand shot out to stop me. "There's no room. Maybe you should just sit this one out." She glanced back at the seat behind her. "Aiden doesn't want you along, either. He's not feeling well right now, so give way to him." My knuckles went white on the suitcase handle, and my throat turning bitter. Aiden was the biological son they'd lost years ago and only just found again. Ever since he came back, everything that used to be mine had gone to him. Slowly, I'd been pushed to the margins of t

It means handing over your whole life. On that wolf bone, a line was carved. To Cain, with all of me and my love. E. I went still. Three months ago. I hadn't yet left for the North, hadn't yet met Rowan. The me of those days, wounded all over by him, was still secretly, telling no one, loving him. I'd quietly had someone begin an acknowledgment token, thinking that if he ever turned back one day, I'd acknowledge him. Later I burned the acknowledgment ground, severed my bloodline, left for the far North, and forgot the whole thing, along with that love.

“You are the first one to say that” “I won’t be the last,” I said. “Bye” “Bye” I left him.

I don’t think someone like me was ever meant to have a mate. My mum left me as soon as I was born. My friends all left me. Well, I suppose I left them when I moved away, but it wasn’t exactly of my choosing. Natalie would soon leave me too. Just tonight she had told me that I was boring. The only person that had never left me was my dad. And I wasn’t sure why.