Chapter 33 Flashbacks (Disowned)
Her mother kept ranting about ruined futures, about how Laura might never have children again but none of it mattered. Laura only wanted to see Smith. She needed him.
Harry and his girlfriend rushed in shortly after, only to be ordered out immediately. But Harry managed to speak before being dragged away.
“My brother said he never wanted to leave your side,” Harry blurted out. “That no matter what happens, you’ll always be the only woman in his life. He said he’s sorry for letting you get hurt.”
Her father physically shoved Harry out before he could finish. But it didn’t matter.
For the first time since waking up, Laura felt a spark of hope.
SLAP!
A harsh slap landed across her face so suddenly her vision blurred. Except for the complications with her womb, she was physically healthy, which made it easy for her father to hit her without restraint.
His voice came next, sharp and venomous.
“When did you get a boyfriend? Sixteen years old and already sleeping around? Is this how I raised you? You conceived a bastard like yourself, and now you’ve ruined your life!”
That’s it, Laura realized with hollow clarity. This is the real problem.
Even if she had never gone through with the abortion, her father would have beaten the baby out of her. And her mother’s silence wasn’t mercy, it was obedience. If she opened her mouth, she would say something worse.
Laura had tried so hard to resist Richard Smith at first. The boy was relentless. Every chance he got, he confessed, teased, or found ways to be near her. His feelings were intense, borderline obsessive, and he never backed down.
But when he suddenly stopped showing up, when his confessions ceased, she felt like the world had lost its color. She found herself unable to concentrate. Her eyes drifted endlessly, searching hallways, classrooms, any place he might show up.
And that was when she realized she had fallen for him too.
She waited every day. And every day felt the same.
Unknown to her, Smith was dealing with a life-changing moment. He had just landed a major project, one big enough to determine his future. As an orphan who paid for both his and Harry’s education, he couldn’t afford any distractions. He took a break from school to focus entirely on the project.
When Laura visited Smith’s department to ask about him, she was told he hadn’t shown up to school for an entire week.
Her heart dropped instantly.
Did something happen? Was he sick? Was he hurt?
Fear gnawed at her.
Then she remembered Harry Smith, his younger brother, two grades below her. She visited him immediately.
Back then, Harry wasn’t yet consumed by jealousy or greed. He lied innocently, saying Smith was sick. Laura panicked and begged him to take her to their house.
Even summoning the courage to go there made her heart race wildly. If her parents found out, it would be over for her. They were strict, controlling, unable to tolerate disobedience. If they discovered she had visited a boy’s house…
They would make her regret ever being born.
When Harry messaged Smith to warn him that Laura was coming, Smith was stunned.
He was even irritated at Harry’s follow-up message, advising him to take advantage of the situation and sleep with her, because she might never have another excuse to visit.
Smith ignored the stupid suggestion. When Laura arrived, he pretended he hadn't seen Harry’s message and casually moved to the balcony with his laptop. He kept typing, looking perfectly healthy and absorbed in his work.
“He's fine,” Laura whispered the moment she saw him, energetic, focused, and so very alive.
Harry grinned. “He’s work-sick.”
Laura blinked, confused. “Work-sick?”
“He barely sleeps,” Harry explained. “He’s been like this every day for the past week.” He leaned closer, dropping his voice mischievously. “Maybe you can get him to take a break. You know… since he has feelings for you.”
Laura’s face instantly turned crimson.
Her heart pounded.
Feelings.
Just that one word was enough to send her thoughts spinning.
Their relationship blossomed after that day.
The fear of being caught by her parents slowly faded when she realized she had managed to visit him without anyone noticing. That tiny victory gave Laura the courage to accept Smith’s feelings and keep their relationship hidden. She still worried that someone from school might report her, so the only place they met was his house. Whenever she was expected to be in the library, she was actually at Smith’s side.
His home became the only place where she felt safe. And for a long while… it worked. Her parents never suspected a thing.
Two young people in love, alone under the same roof, could only resist temptation for so long. They tried, truly tried but the tension between them kept building. Out of respect, Smith held himself back as much as he could, but Laura’s shy gestures made it hard. A brush of their hands, an accidental touch when reaching for the same book, even those small things made her blush.
They studied together, whispered dreams together, and shared secrets. Richard Smith even revealed things about himself that no one else knew. He was already known online as President Smith long before he owned an actual corporation. Laura finally understood why he and Harry lived alone and never worried about money, Richard Smith was already becoming someone extraordinary.
If his project went as planned, he would be rich. She was proud of him, proud to be the girl he loved.
She was the one who initiated their first intimate moment. Smith wanted her as well, but he had been terrified of taking advantage of the fact that she visited him secretly. Laura, however, was consumed by love, fear, and the desire to hold on to him.
But afterward, she was terrified. Every time her mother called her name, her heart would jump with panic. She avoided walking in front of them, convinced they would somehow know. But days passed, then weeks, then months with no consequences.