Lucas blinked hard, hoping the sight before him would vanish with the next flutter of his eyelids. But nothing changed. The scene remained clear and he stood there dumbfounded watching the two people in front of him.Dexter was still there, his frame pressed against the counter, moving rhythmically against the woman. His thrusts forceful and powerful, his mouth on her breasts. The sound of their grunts and moans of pleasure filled the room.As if sensing a presence, Davina's eyes fluttered open, before widening in surprise. "Oh shit!" she exclaimed, shoving Dexter away. She leaped down from the counter, her movements frantic as she yanked up her shorts, her face flushing a deep crimson.Dexter, still caught in the haze of their moment, looked around, confused. "What, what happened?" he mumbled, his voice thick with lingering desire."I happened," Lucas said, his voice cold and steady. He leaned against the wall, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His eyes, dark and piercing, bor

Emma could hardly believe her ears as the courtroom erupted in noise. The judge’s gavel had barely fallen when murmurs turned into a loud murmurs, echoing off the high ceilings. She stood frozen, unblinking, as the judge’s final words looped in her mind like a broken record."You are free to go."The phrase seemed unreal. Free? The case had been thrown out?She was still in a daze when a pair of arms encircled her. The familiar scent of lavender and home enveloped her as her mother pulled her into a tight embrace."God, you're free, Emma," her mother whispered, her voice breaking into sobs that wracked her whole body. Emma felt her mother’s tears dampening her shoulder, and she slowly lifted her arms to return the hug, her movements stiff and mechanical as if she were afraid she might shatter this fragile reality.Her mother pulled away, her eyes red and shining with tears, and Lucas was next. He wrapped her in a bear hug, his breath warm against her ear as he murmured, "It's over, Em

"You're not the mother of Dexter's child," Lucas scoffed, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Davina."Too bad I am," she retorted, her voice trembling. "You ruined my relationship. He was always talking about you, always looking up to you. I got jealous. I hated it. He wasn't giving me the attention!" Her voice rose to a scream, tears streaming down her face.Lucas could see the anguish etched on her features, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She looked like a woman on the edge, every word dripping with years of pent-up resentment. "I got pregnant out of desperation, hoping he would just want me more, but it was the biggest mistake I ever made," she continued, her voice breaking. "I slept with someone else because I was so mad at him. He found out and left me. It's all your fault!" She shook her head, slowly sinking into the sofa, her head in her hands. Her shoulders heaved with each sob, the weight of her regret pressing her down.Lucas stood, his mind reeling from her confession

The steady beep of the unresponsive line gnawed at Emma's patience as she dialed the number again and again. She bit her lip, frustration simmering beneath her calm exterior.With a heavy sigh, she tossed the phone onto the bed and rose to her feet. Shedding her clothes, Emma walked into the bathroom, each step heavy with the weight of her thoughts.As the water streamed over her, she closed her eyes, letting her mind drift. She let out a loud sigh, the sound echoing off the bathroom and rubbed her temples, trying to make sense of everything that was going on.Finished with her shower, she wrapped herself in a towel and padded back to her room. She dressed in a simple T-shirt and shorts. Stepping into the living area, she noticed Davina still seated on the couch, her face a mask of indifference. Emma’s lips curled in a disdainful scoff as she glanced at the clock; it was a little past 4 PM.Ignoring Davina, Emma walked to the kitchen, her footsteps echoing softly on the hardwood floor

Emma stood there blinking, trying to process what she had just heard. The words echoed in her mind, a jumble of confusion and disbelief."What do you mean I should talk to my mother?" she asked slowly, each word measured as if speaking them too quickly might cause them to shatter. She turned to face Davina, whose expression remained frustratingly calm, almost detached.Davina's eyes held a glimmer of something—pity, maybe?—as she spoke. "Because you're not who you think you are. Your whole life has been a lie, Emma." She paused, letting the words sink in. "Maybe if you knew the truth, you'd let this all go. It's not my place to tell you, so talk to your mom. She knows what's up."Emma felt a cold shiver run down her spine. She scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping her lips as she tried to mask her unease. "Find a better lie next time," she retorted, her voice edged with sarcasm.Davina shrugged nonchalantly, her indifference like a slap to the face. "Whatever you say. But if I were you, I’