Hidden Flames - Chapter 3: Chapter 3
You are reading Hidden Flames, Chapter 3: Chapter 3. Read more chapters of Hidden Flames.
The warmth of their secret relationship brought Cory and Debbie closer, but it also cast long shadows over their lives. The more time they spent together, the harder it became to keep their love hidden from the prying eyes of family and society.
Cory noticed the subtle changes first. Her father, Henry, had always been a man of strong opinions, but recently his questions had grown sharper, his gaze more searching. During family dinners, he would glance at Cory with a mixture of suspicion and disappointment, as if he sensed something unspoken.
One evening, after a visit to her parents’ home, Cory found herself trembling in her room. Her mother, Stan, had asked a pointed question about her friendships, and Henry had made a veiled comment about “influences” that didn’t align with their values.
Meanwhile, Debbie faced her own battles. Bishop, her mother, had started making offhand remarks about “proper” relationships and the dangers of straying from tradition. Austin, her brother, had become increasingly distant, his disapproval palpable in every interaction.
Despite the growing pressure, Cory and Debbie clung to each other. They shared their fears during late-night phone calls, their voices trembling but their resolve unbroken.
One afternoon, Kate invited them both to a quiet park, hoping to offer support. As they sat beneath the shade of a large tree, Kate’s words were gentle but firm.
“You don’t have to face this alone,” she said. “But you also have to be prepared. Sometimes, love means standing strong even when the world pushes back.”
Her words lingered in their minds, a reminder of the difficult road ahead.
The first cracks in their hidden world had begun to show. Suspicion, fear, and misunderstanding were closing in, threatening to shatter the fragile sanctuary they had built.
Yet, in the face of uncertainty, Cory and Debbie’s love remained a beacon — fragile, yes, but fiercely alive.
Cory noticed the subtle changes first. Her father, Henry, had always been a man of strong opinions, but recently his questions had grown sharper, his gaze more searching. During family dinners, he would glance at Cory with a mixture of suspicion and disappointment, as if he sensed something unspoken.
One evening, after a visit to her parents’ home, Cory found herself trembling in her room. Her mother, Stan, had asked a pointed question about her friendships, and Henry had made a veiled comment about “influences” that didn’t align with their values.
Meanwhile, Debbie faced her own battles. Bishop, her mother, had started making offhand remarks about “proper” relationships and the dangers of straying from tradition. Austin, her brother, had become increasingly distant, his disapproval palpable in every interaction.
Despite the growing pressure, Cory and Debbie clung to each other. They shared their fears during late-night phone calls, their voices trembling but their resolve unbroken.
One afternoon, Kate invited them both to a quiet park, hoping to offer support. As they sat beneath the shade of a large tree, Kate’s words were gentle but firm.
“You don’t have to face this alone,” she said. “But you also have to be prepared. Sometimes, love means standing strong even when the world pushes back.”
Her words lingered in their minds, a reminder of the difficult road ahead.
The first cracks in their hidden world had begun to show. Suspicion, fear, and misunderstanding were closing in, threatening to shatter the fragile sanctuary they had built.
Yet, in the face of uncertainty, Cory and Debbie’s love remained a beacon — fragile, yes, but fiercely alive.
End of Hidden Flames Chapter 3. Continue reading Chapter 4 or return to Hidden Flames book page.