WARNING!!
This chapter contains an attempted rape scene which some users may find disturbing. Please proceed with caution!
A taxi pulls up in front of a modest, single-story house nestled in a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood. The golden hues of the setting sun cast long shadows across the pavement, bathing everything in a warm, amber glow. The air carries the distant scent of freshly cut grass and barbecue smoke wafting from a neighborhood yard.
Ellery steps out of the car, her body heavy wth exhaustion after a long day. She stretches her arms over her head, rolling out the tension in her shoulders before reaching for her bag.
"Thank you," she said. The driver nods in acknowledgment of her gratitude before pulling away, the hum of the engine fading into the tranquil evening.
As she approaches the house, she notes the usual sounds of the neighborhood—the murmur of distant conversations, the occasional bark of a dog, and the rhythmic chirping of crickets. Everything feels... normal. Comfortable.
But when she steps onto the porch and reaches for her keys, an unsettling chill snakes down her spine.
The door is unlocked.
Ellery freezes, her fingers hovering above the doorknob. She and Mona were the only ones with keys, and Mona would never leave the door open like this.
Her heartbeat quickens.
She pushes the door open slowly, wincing as it creaks on its hinges. Dim light filters through the windows, casting strange, elongated shadows across the walls. The air inside feels different—charged, heavy with something unspoken.
Ellery swallows hard.
"Mona?" Her voice is steady, but her pulse races. Silence.
The furniture appears untouched, but something feels off. Her sense sharpens, scanning every inch of the space. That's when she hears it–a faint rustling sound from the couch, just beyond her line of sight.
Her stomach knots.
Taking slow, cautious steps, she moves toward the source of the noise.
"Mona? Is that you?"
A figure shifts.
Ellery's breath catches as someone sits up abruptly, ruffling his hair.
"Jesus—Bud!?"
There, lounging on the couch like he owns the place, sits Bud Carter—Mona's on-again, off-again boyfriend. He's dressed in a crisp white T-shirt that stretches over his lean, athletic build, the sleeves rolled slightly to reveal toned forearms. A dark navy blazer is draped lazily over the couch behind him, his usual worn leather messenger bag resting against the armrest. His black dress pants are slightly wrinkled, as though he's been sitting there for hours.
He looks up at her with amused golden-brown eyes, running a hand through his short, neatly cut dark hair. His expression is lazy, confident, exuding an effortless charm that has always grated on Ellery's nerves.
"Oh, hey," he greets casually, as if his presence isn't completely violating her sense of privacy.
Ellery storms toward him, slamming her bag onto the couch. "How the hell did you get in here!?"
YOU ARE READING
A Love To Last - (slow updates)
Roman d'amour❝True love is usually the most inconvenient kind.❞ Ellery Thatcher and Cassian Lancaster have been inseparable since their sophomore year of college, their bond forged by an accident that led to an unexpected love story. Now, with their hearts set o...
