Trust Me

Trust Me
He leaned closer, his tone turning into a dark whisper. “…Knowing she’s carrying my child, and you disabled her— if I discover that it was really you, Maggie…”

He paused, eyes locked on hers. “You won’t just regret your actions. You’ll curse the very day you even thought of laying hands on her.”

The silence that followed was suffocating. Maggie’s throat tightened, but her face didn’t show it. She stood perfectly still, her lips trembling slightly before she bit them shut.

“You can leave,” Joseph said finally, straightening up, his tone flat and dismissive as he turned and began walking toward his massive wardrobe across the room.

Maggie wanted to say something— an explanation, an excuse, anything— but as her lips parted, she caught herself. His words still echoed in her mind like a curse. You’ll curse the day you thought of it.

She clenched her jaw, swallowed hard, and exhaled through her nose. Her eyes flicked toward Susan— who still sat trembling on the couch— and then back to Joseph, whose back was now turned to her.

A single thought rang in her mind, cold and deliberate: You have to be careful.

With that, she turned on her heels, her posture regal as ever, and left the room— her heels echoing across the marble floor, fading into the silence that followed her exit.

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'BACK TO A YEAR AGO— EVENTS AFTER SUSAN AND KATY’S ALTERCATION OVER JOSEPH'

The sun was slipping lower in the sky, washing the streets in shades of soft gold and orange. It painted every car window, every storefront, and every inch of the sidewalk in a warm glow that made even the old, cracked pavements look beautiful. Susan walked the narrow path leading home, her heels clicking lightly against the concrete, echoing softly in rhythm with the distant hum of the city.

She wore a plain ash gown, simple yet elegant, with a delicate flowery design resting on one shoulder. The fabric clung to her curvy figure in all the right ways — not expensive, but she made it look stunning. Her hair was tied loosely at the back, a few strands swaying against her cheek as the evening breeze teased her face.

She looked peaceful — content, even — until the screeching sound of tires broke the rhythm of her calm walk.

Two black SUVs sped in from opposite ends of the street and swerved sharply, halting right in front of her.

Susan gasped, her heart leaping to her throat as she stumbled backward, her palm pressing against her chest. Her heels scraped the sidewalk as she fought for balance, eyes wide in shock. “Oh my God!” she breathed out, trying to steady herself.

The sudden motion startled pedestrians nearby. Some stopped mid-step, their faces frozen in confusion; others watched from across the street, murmuring among themselves.

The air felt charged for a moment — tense, uncertain — until one of the SUVs’ tinted back windows began to lower slowly with a mechanical hum.

Susan’s heart was still racing, but when she saw the familiar face behind the glass, her expression softened instantly. Her lips curved into a relieved smile.

She didn’t even need to see his full face to know — the charm in the silhouette, that unmistakable smirk.

Joseph.

“Hey, fine shit,” he greeted from the backseat, leaning slightly toward the open window. His tone carried that teasing warmth she hadn’t heard in weeks. “You heading home?”

Susan let out a small laugh, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “You,” she said, smiling wide. “It took you long enough. I haven’t heard from you since our date two weeks ago.”

“Yeah, my bad,” Joseph replied, flashing a grin. “You know how it is — I’ve been buried in work. With the elections coming up and all that chaos.”

Susan kept walking, glancing back at him playfully. “Busy, huh? You still could’ve texted.”

The two SUVs rolled forward at a slow pace, following her as she moved.

“I don’t have your number,” Joseph said simply, still leaning slightly out the window.

Susan turned her head to the side, her voice dripping with teasing sarcasm. “And whose fault is that?”

Joseph laughed softly, raising his hands in mock surrender. “My bad, my bad,” he said, his deep voice carrying easily over the noise of the street. He leaned his arm against the window edge. “So, why are you walking home from work?”

“Who says I’m coming from work?” she quipped, a knowing smile playing on her lips as she continued down the sidewalk, her hips swaying lightly with every step.

“Just assumed,” Joseph replied, sitting back in his seat.

“Just assumed?” she repeated, side-eyeing him, her tone playful. “And I wonder why that is.”

Joseph chuckled, his grin widening. “It’s no brainer, you know. When you see a hot, sexy teacher walking down the street, you can tell. Trust me.”