FORBIDDEN AFFECTIONS: ADDICTED TO MY STEPMOM

When I opened my eyes, I immediately saw a white ceiling that was unfamiliar to me. I sat down immediately and looked around; my heart racing hard nonstop against my chest. I realized I was in a room where everything was either white or black. All the few objects were covered in white and black. It was almost empty of furniture except for the table on the side and the massive bed where I was currently sitting.

My heart was beating faster and faster as I thought about what had happened. When I opened the door then, I saw Crista standing there. I remembered that time, I was about to speak and call Jack when something suddenly hit my head so I lost consciousness.

I wanted to think it was all just my imagination. But I was wrong. Because after a while as I tried to collect my senses back, the door of this empty room opened. And a person entered.

It was none other than Crista.

My head still felt like being split into two, but I tried to face her still.

“Crista … What’s the meaning of this? Where did you take me?” I asked Crista.

The room seemed to have no windows and doors except for the door where Crista entered from. I gulped down, trying my best to remain calm and assess the situation more. I don’t know Crista’s main motive for doing this to me but what I’m worried about was Jack and Amy.

Where are they? Did Crista take them too?

I couldn’t help but feel my blood run cold as an image of them being in the same position flashed into my mind.

“Auntie… I don’t want to do this either. but… You’re always taking Jack away from me. What should I do?” she said with a sad smile, then she looked me in the eye as if to emphasize her every word as she said, “If you don’t exist… Jack and I will be together. He will choose me, his wife.”

I swallowed down my fear and discomfort and took a deep breath. “Crista, how about we talk–”

“No, auntie,” Crista said. “You don’t get it, do you? I can’t live without Jack. He is… He is my most special person. I love him, auntie. And if you a love a person, you should keep them by your side, right?” She asked.

I sat down on the edge of the bed, my vision clear despite the pounding of my head. Crista… There was something wrong with her.

“Also, he is Yohan’s father and he is my husband. We’re a happy family, auntie,” Crista looked at me with wide, pointed eyes.

I looked in the other direction, wondering how I could escape. It was very clear that Crista was out of her mind right now. I can’t talk to her properly.

My thoughts of escape suddenly halted as I felt Crista move, and in an instant, she pulled out a gun.

Eyes wide, I looked at her and exclaimed, “C-Crista, put that down. Let’s talk…”

She shook her head and then pointed the gun at me. “You stole Jack from me, auntie. You… You always keep him to yourself… You broke our family apart! It was you! It was you who did this to us! You’re the reason why he left me!!!” Then her face contorted, seemingly unable to collect herself as she wept, “If… If only you didn’t appear in the picture, we’d still be together today. He’ll still be by my side, he’ll still be mine… He should be mine!!”Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

Crista shouted along with the gun being pointed even closer to me, her other hand aiming to grab my hair just the same time. I felt blocks of fear enter my throat but I wasn’t someone who would die at this place, especially seeing Crista’s state. But before I could even defend myself and steal the gun away from her hand, I suddenly heard a voice at the door.

Both Crista and I stopped.

“Let her go!”

My eyes widened and I could hardly believe it. It was Ryan.

I watched as he ran to us and took the gun from Crista’s hand, pushing her away as she stumbled and fell to the floor. He then turned to me, his face and voice all laced with intense worry. “Marianne, are you okay? Are you hurt?”

I couldn’t even respond as I only stared at him.

Why… Why is Ryan here?

“This is not what we’ve agreed to do, Ryan. Give me Jack if you want Marianne,” Crista said sharply as she stood up, face visibly fuming in anger. Now there emerge two men behind her, all armed with huge guns.

Ryan glared at Crista, then he held me and acted like he was protecting me. I was stuck frozen, completely stunned by the conversations between him and Crista.

“Don’t hurt Marianne. She had nothing to do with your fight with your husband!” Ryan exclaimed.

“Nothing to do with our fight?” Crista laughed like she was going crazy. “That woman was the main reason why my family was torn apart. She destroyed my family! She destroyed my relationship with Jack! She ruined us!!!”

“That’s not true! Marianne, I, I’m Amy’s father. I’m her father, right? Tell me I’m the one you choose. I’ll save you here. Amy and I will be happy, we’ll be a whole family,” Ryan said while staring at me and hugging me tightly.

I couldn’t speak at all. I stared at the distance, my heart, and blood all cold as I felt Ryan’s hands around me. How… How could he do this to me? I thought he was my friend. And Crista… How far will her affection for my son take her? She… She had always respected me even after she separated from Jack. So how… Why…

Just the thought that Jack and Amy could be in danger at this very moment because of them made my heart ache painfully. No… Anything but that… I shivered, thinking of a way to fight so I could protect them both.

What I hadn’t expected was Ryan to tie me up so suddenly.

“You don’t have to do this Ryan… P-Please, let’s talk…” I tried to speak with him, covering the fear in my voice but knew I terribly failed nonetheless.

Ryan looked at me with great concern and worry – something he had always shown me before that I appreciated. Too much for my own hopeful heart. He sighed and told me in a soft voice, “I’m sorry, Marianne… This is the only way for Jack to get here. But I promise I won’t let Crista or anyone else hurt you. Okay? Stay still and this will be over quickly.”

My heart stopped beating at what I heard. They… they plan to send Jack here? In this dangerous place?

One of Crista’s staff took a picture of me and my guess was the photo was sent to Jack. A few moments later and I heard the sound of a newly arrived car outside.

My heart dropped as I saw Jack by the doorway.

“Mom!” he cried the instant he saw me, his face full of shock.

No… This can’t be. Why did he come here?

I wanted to speak and ran over to Jack but Ryan stopped me, his hand grabbing my arm and pulling me back. He whispered to my ear while pinching my arm, “Shh. This will be over in the blink of an eye.”

I felt my entire body shiver in disgust at the touch, my body freezing and my mind seemingly going blank. The cloth on my mouth remained as I felt my mouth numb and trembling at the same time. I could only slowly turn to where Jack was, holding on to the last thread of hope in me as I saw him perfectly fine and unharmed.

“Jack!” Crista called with excitement and joy.

“Crista, let go of my mom.” My son’s face was full of anger. Only now have I seen him with those pair of eyes – glaring and seemingly full of uncontrollable wrath.

“Jack, don’t you understand? I love you. I really love you…” Crista said. “We don’t need your mom anymore, Jack. Besides … she chose Ryan over you.” Her eyes went larger and larger as she looked at Jack with a gasp, “You said you never learned who the father of Auntie’s baby is, right? You must be thinking about who the real father of Amy is, right? Well, the truth is… It’s Ryan, Jack. Ryan is Amy’s father.”