They were best friends for years, sharing every secret except one. When Felix finally confesses his feelings, Josephine lets him down with a gentle lie: she's not interested in men. Heartbroken but determined to keep their friendship, Felix tries to...
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This chapter has STRONG trigger warnings. Readers discretion is advised. ⚠️⚠️⚠️‼️
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The room felt heavy, the air suffused with tension as Felix stood frozen in the doorway, staring at his father. His heart plummeted into a chaotic rhythm, the rush of blood in his ears drowning out the silence. He hadn't seen his father nor his entire family in years. Yet here he was, standing tall in the doorway, the very embodiment of calm authority, his weathered face unreadable.
Felix's gaze flickered toward Josephine, whose wrists were still bound with rope. Her face was a mask of indifference, her eyes blank and lifeless, as if she had already resigned herself to whatever would come next. Felix swallowed hard, the weight of his father's judgment pressing down on him like an anvil.
"What are you doing, son?" his father asked at last, his voice low but laced with an edge of disbelief.
"I—I—" Felix stammered, his mind scrambling for an explanation. He could feel the sweat forming on his palms as his father's gaze moved to Josephine, taking in the scene with a cold, analytical detachment.
"She's... she's my girlfriend," Felix finally managed, his voice trembling. "She loves me, Dad. We're in love."
His father's expression didn't change. He stepped further into the room, his boots thudding softly against the worn carpet. "Relax," he said, holding up his hands in a gesture of peace. "You can stay here. I won't tell anyone. I promise."
Felix blinked, caught off guard by the response. "Really?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
His father nodded, his expression softening. "Of course. You're my son. Family comes first."
Josephine remained motionless, her heart sinking further. She had hoped—foolishly—that his father might be her salvation. But deep down, she had always known. No one was coming to save her. She didn't know that Felix's dad could be so rancid. He has known of Josephine since high school and it was the fact Felix's father wasn't going to do anything, when clearly she was held against her will.
Felix's tense shoulders eased, his lips curling into a relieved smile. "Thank you," he murmured, setting down the suitcase he'd been clutching.
His father closed the distance between them, pulling Felix into a firm embrace. "You're my boy," he said, clapping him on the back. "Stay as long as you like."
Felix's smile grew as they pulled apart. "This means a lot, Dad. Thank you."
His father nodded once more before turning toward the door. "I'll leave you two to settle in," he said, his tone neutral. He cast one last glance at Josephine before stepping out into the night, closing the door behind him.
