Page 50 of One Baddie for Three Daddies

The woman's eyes widen as she takes in the scene behind me. She opens her mouth, but no words come out. Her gaze darts from me to the blanket fort sprawled across the living room floor.

"Mom?" Bianca's voice comes from behind me, and I turn just in time as Bia stops short.

Her mother finally finds her voice. "Bianca, what is going on here?"

I step aside, letting Bianca face her mother. The tension in the air is thick enough to cut with a knife.

"Mom, I can explain," Bianca starts, stepping forward. But her mothers eyes blaze with something fierce.

"Explain? There's nothing to explain," her mother retorts, voice cutting through the room like a knife. "I'm so damn ashamed of you, Bianca."

I watch Bianca's shoulders tense, her hands balling into fists at her sides. "Ashamed? Because I'm happy? Because I'm living my life the way I want to?"

Her mothers face hardens. "This isn’t living. It’s... it’s debauchery. This isn’t how I raised you."

"Yes, it is." Bianca's voice rises, indignant. "You raised me to be strong and independent. And that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m making my own choices."

Her mother scoffs, shaking her head. "Sleeping around with three men? That’s not a choice; that’s a disgrace."

My stomach twists as I stand off to the side, unsure of what to do or say. This is between them, but I can't just leave Bianca here alone either.

I can't ignore the hurt in Bianca's eyes as she fights back tears. She shakes her head vehemently. "No, Mom. You’re wrong. This isn’t some fling or phase. They mean something to me."

Her mother crosses her arms, resolute. "You need to end this now before you ruin your life."

Bianca clenches her jaw, taking a deep breath before speaking again. "I'm not ending anything. You may not understand it or approve of it, but this is my life and my decision."

Her mothers lips press into a thin line as she turns towards the door. "Then you’ve made your choice." She yanks the door open.

"Mom, wait!" Bianca reaches out but stops short when her mother whirls around.

"No more waiting, Bianca." Her voice softens for just a moment before hardening again. "Goodbye."

Her mother storms out, leaving Bianca standing there with her hand still outstretched and a look of devastation on her face.

Bianca’s face crumples, and she breaks down crying. Her sobs come in waves, shaking her entire frame. I step forward and pull her into my arms as she falls apart, her shoulders heaving and breath hitching. Her tears soak through my shirt, but I don’t care. All that matters is holding her together when she's falling apart.

“Bia, it’s okay,” I murmur into her hair. “You’re okay.”

Her hands clutch at my back, desperate and trembling. “She hates me, Alex,” she chokes out between sobs. “She’ll never understand.”

I tighten my hold on her, the raw pain radiating from every part of her body. “She doesn’t hate you,” I say firmly. “She just needs time.”

Bianca shakes her head against my chest. “No, you didn’t see her face. She looked at me like I was a stranger.”

“Bia,” I say softly but with a firmness that demands her attention. She lifts her head to look at me, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Your mom’s set in her ways. It doesn’t mean she won’t come around eventually.”

Her eyes search mine for some kind of reassurance, and I can see the fear and hurt swimming in them. “What if she doesn’t?”

“Then that’s on her,” I reply. “Not you.”

She lets out a shaky breath and buries her face in my chest again, holding onto me like I'm a lifeline in a stormy sea.

Liam and James stir behind us, clearly torn between giving us space and wanting to offer their own comfort.

James steps closer, his voice gentle but firm. “Bia, we’re here for you,” he says. “All of us.”

Liam nods in agreement. “We’ve got your back, no matter what.”

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