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OH..NO

VIOLET

Today made it a week since Mom dropped the bombshell about her new husband. The past days have been a whirlwind of anger, sadness, and reluctant acceptance. I never imagined Mom would remarry ever since Dad died when I was five, and since then, itā€™s been just the two of us. The news shattered me, but Iā€™ve come to accept it. If Mom is happy, I suppose thatā€™s what matters.

Last week felt like a blur. Each day was a repetitive cycle of school, coming home, and packing gradually. Weā€™re moving out today, heading to my new stepfatherā€™s house. Itā€™s still so strange to think of him as my stepfather. Iā€™ve only just learned his nameā€”Max. I donā€™t even know him well enough but one thing I'm sure of his that he loves mom,not just because she was beautiful with her large brown eyes,a small button nose and a full pink lips

I hurriedly finished packing the last of my things. Boxes were stacked carelessly around my room, remnants of a life I was about to leave behind. The thought of leaving my childhood home was bittersweet. It was the only place I had ever known, filled with memories of Dad and growing up with Mom.

Momā€™s voice called up from downstairs, breaking through my thoughts. ā€œViolet, weā€™re ready to go! Can you come down?ā€

I grabbed my last box and made my way downstairs hurriedly,almost knocking my feet. Mom was waiting by the door with her new husband,my stepfather

ā€œIā€™ve told you severally to stop wearing baggiesā€

She said,her tone carrying a hint of irritation.Her eyes betrayed disappointment as she took in the sight of me.

And yeah,I have a strained relationship with my mom. She's the perfect definition of a lady,always prim and proper. She was a soft of woman who'd never allow a strand of hair to escape her styled updo,her appearance was always impeccable

While I was the polar opposite,which I figured is the real reason we never got along well. Growing up,I had always been much closer to my dad which made his death hurt a lot.

I was relieved she didnā€™t comment on how I wrongly tied my hair, or how I hadnā€™t managed to iron my shirt properly, or the way my jeans had frayed at the hems. Those were the kinds of details she usually honed in on, making me feel like I fell short of her standards. But today, she simply sighed and shook her head which was a big relief. It would have been embarrassing. I'm sure Max will eventually get to know about my interactions with mom but that'll have to wait.

ā€œI have a son your age. I'm sure you both will get along wellā€ Max said smiling at me. Iā€™ve heard it for the umpteenth time now. Mom has rang it into my ears a lot,even mentioning something about us attending the same school which I found a bit disturbing

ā€œYes, I'm sure we willā€ I replied, averting my gaze from his face which looked too handsome given his age. Oddly,he looked vaguely familiar but I couldn't place where I saw his face. I shrugged it off, it's probably because he's been coming over a lot these days.

ā€œAre you all set?ā€ Mom asked, probably tired of the time I wasted in packing. I could tell her patience was wearing thin

I nodded. She exchanged a quick kiss with Max again and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

We loaded the last of our boxes into the car, and I stole a glance around the house that had been my sanctuary for so long. The walls seemed to whisper memories of laughter, tears, and family moments. I felt a pang of nostalgia but quickly shook it off.

The drive to Maxā€™s house was filled with an awkward silence. I stared out the window, watching familiar streets give way to new surroundings.

The car soon stopped in front of a huge house, its grandeur taking me by surprise. His car already said so much about his wealth. No middle-class man would buy a car of this worth and not break the bank.

Mom and Max stepped out of the car first, chatting indistinctively as they headed towards the house. I lingered behind,emotions twirling in me. For some reasons,I was glad I'm moving into a new environment.

I took a deep breath and started unpacking from the car. The inside of the house left me agape. There was an elegant foyer, with high ceilings and a grand staircase that led to the second floor. The interior was immaculate, decorated with expensive-looking furniture and art pieces. It was a far cry from the modest life I was used to.

Max showed me my room which was beautifully furnished, with a large bed, a desk by the window, and a walk-in closet. By the time I was done unpacking,it was late already. I collapsed heavily on the bed, exhaustion taking over.

I must have fallen asleep because a hard knock on my door jolted me awake.

ā€œCome downstairs for dinnerā€

Mom's voice said through the door. I stretched my arms lazily and made my way downstairs. The smell of freshly cooked meals wafted through the air making my stomach growl. It was then I realized I hadn't eaten anything all day except a slice of bread. The chaos of moving out totally overwhelmed me.

As I stepped into the dining room, I was greeted by three figures.My gaze briefly lingered on Mom and Max before shifting to the third person. I couldn't catch his face because he was so engrossed with his phone. I assumed he was Max's son.

"You're here," Max said, drawing the guyā€™s attention. He lifted his head, and as soon as our eyes met, my heart skipped a beat as I froze in shock..

Those piercing green eyes, that unmistakable tousled blonde hair... it couldn't be.

What the hell is Ryan Jenkins doing here???

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