All Chapters of FORBIDDEN FLAMES ;Touch Me Like A Sin: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

The weeks after our little vacation to downhill resort settled in quick, but Mom was still buried in work. As Chief Surgeon, her schedule was relentless — early mornings, late nights, and emergency calls that pulled her away even on weekends. Dad wasn’t much better, his business booming with new contracts that kept him locked in his office until the early hours, yet Mom kept her promise she worked tirelessly to clear her calendar, and one evening she announced it at dinner with a bright, tired smile.“We’re going to Thailand just as I promised but just for two weeksDad will stay behind to handle things here, but the rest of us are leaving next weekend.”Marbel squealed. Jayden gave a small nod, eyes flicking to me for a second I smiled genuinely, excitement bubbling up despite everything, a family trip. No school pressure, no secrets weighing me down as heavily it felt like the perfect escape.The flight was long but filled with anticipation when we landed in Bangkok, the humid air

The invitation came on a quiet Wednesday afternoon. Dave’s text was simple but made my heart skip “Lunch tomorrow? Just us i know a place you’ll like.”I stared at the message for a long moment, a small smile tugging at my lips. After the chaos at school and the emotional rollercoaster with Jayden, this felt… easy, light like a breath of fresh air. I replied quickly before I could overthink it: “I’d love that.”The next day, I got home from school, rested for a bit, then took a long shower i chose my favorite casual but nice outfit — a crisp white shirt that hugged my shoulders just right, dark jeans, and the cologne Marbel had bought me for my birthday. Nothing too fancy, but enough to feel confident. I checked myself in the mirror, running a hand through my hair for the first time in weeks, I liked what I saw — someone who was starting to stand on his own.I texted Dave that I was ready he offered to pick me up, but I said no. “Just send the location i’ll meet you there.”He sent

Weeks slipped by in a strange, uneven rhythm after Jayden was home Marbel return the house felt full again, but the space between Jayden and I had never felt wider.Jayden gave me attitude at every turn, if I greeted him in the morning, he’d barely grunt a response, if our eyes met across the dinner table, he’d look away like I was nothing more than background noise. He avoided my gaze completely, like looking at me for too long might burn him part of me was glad — at least he was respecting the boundaries I’d tried to set. But the truth was, it hurt. Low-key, quietly, in the places I didn’t want to admit being ignored by the person who once held me like I was the only thing that mattered left a hollow ache in my chest that no amount of distraction could fully fill.At school, it was the same cold game he’d walk past me in the hallways without a word, shoulders tense, jaw set. His friends still came around to tease Brandon and Kylie when I wasn’t there, but the moment I showed up, J

The days after our argument settled into an uneasy kind of quiet that felt heavier than any shouting match. Jayden’s attitude toward me hadn’t improved. If anything, it had grown colder, sharper, like a wall he was determined to keep between us, he barely responded when I greeted him in the mornings, his eyes sliding past me like I was part of the furniture. At dinner, he’d sit across the table, jaw tight, answering Mom and Dad with short, clipped words while avoiding my gaze completely. It was like I didn’t exist part of me was relieved — at least he was respecting the boundaries I’d tried to set. But the truth was, it hurt. Low-key, quietly, in the places I didn’t want to admit. Being ignored by the person who once held me like I was the only thing that mattered left a hollow ache in my chest that no amount of distraction could fully fill.Mom noticed.One evening, after Jayden had left the table early again, she pulled me aside in the kitchen while Dad was still finishing his coff

(Jayden’s POV)When Mom asked for Sophia to come stay with us, I was really excited and told myself this was the plan and I'll make the most of itSophia was here, recovering in our guest room, and I was going to make it work, I was going to fall for her or at least make myself believe I could she was perfect on paper — kind, smart, beautiful, the kind of girl who made my parents light up and the kind who fit neatly into the future they imagined for me no complications or secrets nor risk of destroying everything we’d built as a family.So I threw myself into it every morning, I brought her breakfast in bed — fresh fruit, toast with her favorite jam, and a small flower I’d picked from the garden. She’d blush and thank me with that soft laugh that should have made my chest feel warm. Instead, it felt… polite and nice but not enough,never enough.“You don’t have to do all this, Jayden,” she said one morning, sitting up against the pillows as I set the tray down her hair was messy from