Stepbrother by fate Mate by curse

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Chapter 4

Tessa’s POV

Three years later. That was how long it had been since I walked away from my old life, from the shame, the pain, and the humiliation that nearly destroyed me. Three years since I left Ridgewood, left behind the whispers.

At first, I had hated my mother for dragging me away. I had felt like a prisoner, locked in a world I didn't choose. But then I realized leaving had saved me in more ways than one. Because if I had stayed, I wouldn't have survived. Not with the secret I carried inside me every single day. Not with Asher.

The secret that changed everything

I had barely turned seventeen when I found out I was pregnant. I still remember the moment with bone-deep clarity, standing in the tiny bedroom of our new apartment overseas, the pregnancy test clutched in my trembling hand, my reflection staring back at me in the mirror, pale and terrified.

I had checked twice, three times, but the answer never changed. I was going to give Tyler's child. At first, I had refused to believe it. I had been careful. It was only one night, just one mistake. But mistakes had consequences, and mine had already begun growing inside me.

When my mother found out, she lost it. Juliana was never described to scream or cry, but the look she gave me that day was worse than any slap. It was pure disappointment.

"This is the price of your worthlessness," she said, standing over me as I curled into myself on the couch. "And now you expect me to clean up your mess?"

I had been too numb to argue, too weak to fight her when she decided I was getting an abortion. I would have gone through with it, too. I was not ready to be a mother. I was still a child myself.

But faith had other plans.

"Getting an abortion might cost you your life," the doctor had warned us. And just like that, my decision was taken from me.

Juliana was ruthless, but she was not good enough to make me die. She made a new plan. I would rather keep the baby, but I would never be his mother.

The moment we stepped out of the plane, a cold wave settled in my chest. I hadn't set foot in this country for three years. I had convinced myself I was stronger now than I had changed, but stepping back into the familiar world made me feel like that scared, broken girl all over again.

Beside me, Asher cloned to my hand, his small finger wrapped it tightly around mine as his curious golden brown eyes thatered around the airport.

He was a beautiful child, with soft curl and chewy cheek, his tiny back back wrapped securely to his shoulder. He was my entire word, my reason for breathing, even if I was not allowed to call him mine.

Juliana strolled ahead, as her clicking against the polished airport floor, a luxury suite wrapped over her shoulder like a queen returning to her throne.

She had changed over the year. She had built herself into a successful business woman, climbing the racks of high society with ruthless ambition. And she had done it all while pretending Asher was her son.

I'd never argue with her about it, not when I was too weak to stand on my own, not when she had provided everything for him to ensure he had the best education, the best care, the best life.

But now that we are back? I felt more suffocated.

We reached the parking lot, and a sleek black car was already waiting for us. Juliana slid the car open, Asher climbed in but before I could allow, she turned to me with that unreadable expression.

"We need to talk," she said.

I hesitated, then nodded, shutting the car door behind me.

"Now that we are back home, I want to make one thing very clear, Asher is my son. That's what everyone will believe, and you will not contradict it."

"Why?" my chest tightened.

She gave me a pointed look. "Because you are still young, Tessa, you have your whole life ahead of you, and I won't let you waste it playing house with a child. I have done everything to give you a fresh start, Tessa, the least you can do is act like the young adult you are."

I clenched my hand into fist. "But I'm his mother," I protested.

"You are a child," she corrected, her voice sharp, "and you don't know…..you don't know the first thing about raising one."

Anger burnt into my stomach, but I swallow it down. Fighting with her never got me anywhere. Instead, I looked at Asher, who sat in his car seat, happily playing with a toy truck, completely oblivious to the battle between us.

My heart hacked. I wanted to tell him the truth. I wanted him to know who I really was. But for now, I had no option but to play along with Juliana's plan.

When when we finally settle down inside the car, I expected Juliana to drive us back to our old house, the one we had left behind when we fled the country. Instead, we pulled up in front of a towering mansion.

"We are staying here?" confusion clouded me as I asked.

"For the night," she adjusted her sunglasses, her lips pressing to a firm line, "we will be moving tomorrow."

"Moving where?" I frowned.

She finally looked at me, I expression on me baby. "I'm getting married tomorrow."

My heart nearly stopped. "What?" She sighed, as if my reaction was exhausting her.

"I have been planning this for a while, Tessa, there is no need to drag it out."

Shock gripped me, I knew my parent's marriage had been broken for years. My father was a gambler, a man who cared more about his debt than his family, but Juliana had stayed with him for appearance, for control, and now she was just leaving him?

"Since when?" my voice came out hot.

"Since I decided I deserved better," she gave me a pointed look, "your father was a failure, Tessa, and I don't settle for failure."

I barely heard that, my mind was still spinning. She was getting married tomorrow, and I will be leaving with her new husband. Frustration clouded my throat.

"You expect me to live with some stranger? with Asher?"

"You mean my son?" Juliana shot back, the word felt like a slapped to my cheeks.

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to breathe. "Who is he?" I asked, my voice start. "Who are you getting married to?"

She smirked, as if she found my concern amusing . "A very powerful man."

That was all she said before turning on her heel and walking inside the hotel, leaving me standing there with my mouth opened.