Not her Biological Father

a house where love arri

mother's profession. Elaine Harts was a senior nurse in a public hospital, a woman who worked double shifts and came home with tired eyes but s

uel, but because it demanded effort. She watched her m

rotective, outspoken, and fiercely independent. Togethe

etly ambitious. She wasn't loud, but she was present. Not reckless, but curious. She dreamed of build

sacrifices had meant something. Proof that she could build

oast campus with a suitcase at her feet and her heart racing with a

trust could feel safe b

yet how thin s

..

s she catwalked toward me. I got lost staring at her cleavage peeking from the V-neck crop top she wore

he called, snapping

or the past three years. This was currently my fourth and final year. I'm

ectly carved figure-eight body. A face that makes heads turn.. pointed nose, almon

ot lost on her way to a lecture hall. I remember the day like it

ost and a little flustered. "Hi... sorry. Do you kno

was soft,

We had gone to the same elementary school yea

he side of the students' cafete

dded, "You know what, I'll take y

u so much," she repli

fer became

egister for courses, talked her through assignments, and answered her late-night ca

d into something else. Something

d me "Dad" like it was a joke, always laughing, always wrappin

ad no

essica's voice pulled

d been sta

I'm fine," I q

asked, placing her hand softly on m

, d

on't want to talk about it

But no-it's not that

till looking handsome

d you're beauti

you heading

'm going to get it," she replied, adj

ig bag of good

th la

ell you," she said, raising a brow. "So you don'

retending to clutch my chest.

eyes. "I'll let you know i

st show up uninvi

mirk lingering. "Try it, and

ng up on my child," I said,

ather y

nt, laughter slowly fading, a sil

arm brown eyes, the kind that sa

ad," she said softly,

altered fo

. later

y bouncing with her stride, her cu

d around and head

I di

at a girl I had no business seeing the way I did. My thoug

s seve

her safe. I was supposed to protect her. Guid

of my neck, frus

a grip," I mutter

, I already k

ore than f

ied to hide it... It was on