The Price of Success 6
Dark! Peter Parker x Clementine! Reader
Summary: Clementine has fought tooth and nail to achieve her dream of attending a prestigious university. Balancing her demanding workload, a suffocating home life, and financial strain, she’ll do whatever it takes to stay afloat. Enter Peter Parker: wealthy, charming, and unexpectedly fixated on her. When he offers a proposition that could solve all her problems, Clementine reluctantly agrees—unaware she’s stepping into a carefully constructed trap. What begins as a transactional relationship spirals into something far darker as Peter’s true intentions come to light.
Warnings: This story contains dark themes, including manipulation, psychological and emotional abuse, unhealthy relationships, non-consensual elements, obsessive behavior, gaslighting, loss of autonomy, familial neglect, and power imbalances. Please read at your own discretion.
Dividers by @thecutestgrotto
Series Masterlist
"Clem, please come see me. Come and meet your niece," Mandarin pleaded over the phone.
It had been a couple of months since I escaped my personal hell to move in with Peter. Life since then has been nothing short of amazing. I quit my work-study job at the library, and now my tutoring client list is down to one person: Carrot.
I occasionally tutor Peter only when he insists he needs some "practice." Otherwise, my focus is solely on my studies, and acting as Peter’s unofficial girlfriend.
We never formally made it official, but peer pressure forced me to bear the title. Living with a guy who takes me on dinner dates and introduces me to his high-society friends at fancy galas practically screams "relationship." At this point, it’s easier to just go with it.
My parents called twice since I moved out. The first time, my mom berated me for not paying rent, even though I wasn’t living there anymore.
I hung up on her.
Peter, ever the problem-solver, offered to help with their bills. But when I told him they weren’t strapped for cash, he was confused, then shocked. Once he realized my parents made me pay rent despite not needing me to, he offered to ruin their lives. I had to give him a side-eye before calming him down and explaining that I didn’t want revenge.
The second call was from my dad, asking if I wasn’t coming back. When I told him no, he sounded genuinely guilty. But that guilt wasn’t enough to make me care.
Mandarin hadn’t called me at all, at least not until now.
She was practically begging me to meet her newborn, born earlier that morning at 2 a.m.
“I’m hanging up now,” I replied flatly.
Honestly, I had no intention of reconnecting with my family. I figured they felt the same, so Mandarin’s sudden outreach was surprising and irritating.
“Her name is Morgan,” she continued, her voice thick with emotion. “She’s so small and cute, and I honestly think you’d love to meet her.” She sniffled, clearly on the verge of tears.
I sighed. “Mandarin, we don’t exactly have the best relationship. So tell me, especially after the last time we saw each other, why you’d want me to meet your daughter. Or why you think I’d want to.”
“Please,” she whispered, hiccupping. “I need you. Morgan needs you.”
“Then call Mom and Dad,” I snapped. “They seem to have all the time and love in the world for you.”
“They’re not here. None of my friends are around, and I feel so alone,” she admitted, her voice trembling.
Rolling my eyes, I relented slightly. “I’ll think about it.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
As soon as I hung up, I decided I wasn’t going. Life was too good right now, and I’d be damned if I let Mandarin drag me back into the chaos.
“Was that Mandarin?” Peter asked from the couch.
“Yeah,” I said.
“What did she want?” he asked, walking over to me and wrapping his arms around my waist.
“She wants me to meet her baby,” I said.
“Are you going?” he asked, his tone curious as he rested his chin on my shoulder.
“No,” I replied firmly.
He smirked. “Probably for the best. Considering.”
He kissed my temple.
I’d told Peter a lot about my childhood with Mandarin. It was…therapeutic, and he was a great listener. However, now, he seemed to have his own quiet vendetta against her and my parents.
Which wasn’t my intention. But I had to appreciate the fact that he had my back.
Right?
He turned me around to face him, the widest grin spreading across his face. I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned in for a kiss.
His hands slid over my hips and down to my bottom, giving it a gentle squeeze before pulling me closer. When we pulled apart, he whispered, "So, when do I get to see the outfit you plan to wear to Tony’s event tonight?"
"Why? So you can ruin it like you did the last one?" I teased.
"Ruin it? Is that what I did?" he asked, feigning innocence.
I rolled my eyes. "I don’t even have it right now. Gerald insisted I get it tailored, so it should be ready in a couple of hours."
"Damn," he said with a smirk, "I was hoping to practice all the ways I’d take it off you."
I slapped his arm lightly and pulled away, gathering a few things as I moved toward the door. "I have to get to class to present this final project. Afterward, I’ll pick up the dress. Do you want just to meet me at Tony’s?"
"Never," he said, quickly closing the distance between us to plant another kiss on my lips. "I’ll be waiting for you right here."
When I arrived to class, I sat down and waited for presentations to begin. My phone buzzed with a text from Mandarin.
She’d sent a picture of baby Morgan. I had to admit, the baby was one of the cutest I’d ever seen. Still, I rolled my eyes, saved the photo, and closed the message.
Switching to a group chat with Carrot and Nikki, I saw Nikki had been sending pictures of potential outfits for Tony’s event. I decided to send Mandarin’s baby photo to the chat with the caption: Baby Morgan made it into the world.
Carrot replied almost immediately: OMG, she’s so cute!😍
Nikki added: Isn’t she? I’m planning to visit tomorrow. Are you coming, Clem?
Before I could think of a response, I heard my name.
Looking up, I saw Professor Xavier staring at me expectantly. I quickly put my phone away, stood up, and walked to the front of the class to start my presentation. Nikki’s question faded into the back of my mind as I focused on the task at hand.
"So, you never told me how the presentation went," Peter said.
We were on our way to Tony's event, running a bit late because Peter couldn’t keep his hands to himself. His distractions had pushed us back by at least half an hour. While Peter insisted it would be fine, I couldn’t shake my nervousness. I had only met his group of friends and associates once before, never all at once. I didn’t want this to set a bad precedent, especially considering how affluent and influential everyone there would be.
"It was fine. I’m pretty sure I passed," I replied.
Peter chuckled. "You definitely passed. I had to sit through that presentation a hundred times before you felt like it was perfect."
I rolled my eyes. "It wasn’t a hundred times."
"It felt like it," he teased, placing a hand on my thigh.
As we came to a stoplight, his hand started to inch toward my inner thigh, creeping up my skirt. I grabbed it and held it firmly in my own.
"Nope," I said firmly. "You already got what you wanted back at the apartment. We’re not doing this again."
"Oh, come on, just a taste," he smirked, clearly amused by my reprimand.
"No," I repeated, raising an eyebrows at him. "Be a good boy, and we’ll see how the night goes."
He gave my hand a gentle squeeze and sighed in mock defeat. "Alright," he conceded, though the mischievous twinkle in his eye told me he wasn’t done testing my resolve.
When we arrived at the party, Peter handed his keys to the valet with a casual smile, and we were greeted by coat check at the door.
As we were led through the grand halls of Tony Stark's mansion, I couldn’t help but gape in awe at the opulence surrounding us. The sheer size of the place was overwhelming, but it was the details that really got to me. The intricate woodwork, the polished marble floors, and the art—oh, the art.
“Wow,” I murmured as we passed a hyperrealistic statue of a nude woman holding a child. Her expression was serene, almost otherworldly. I glance at the name of the piece: ‘Love’s Secret Child’
“It’s something, isn’t it?” Peter commented, catching the direction of my gaze. “Tony loves to be extra.”
I looked back at him, catching his grin, and chuckled. “I can tell.”
We continued walking, my heels clicking softly against the polished floor as we approached what could only be the grand hall. As we entered, my breath hitched. The room was dazzling, crystal chandeliers bathed everything in warm, golden light, and the crowd was a sea of expensive suits and glittering gowns. Servers moved through the room with trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres, and the hum of conversation filled the air like a low, luxurious symphony.
Immediately, my eyes found Nikki. She stood in the middle of the room, wearing a stunning dark teal floor-length gown with a deep plunge at the neckline, the perfect balance of elegance and allure. A small crowd of men surrounded her, captivated by her every word, their laughter rising above the hum of the room. She looked radiant, commanding attention with effortless charm.
“She got comfortable fast,” Peter commented with a smirk.
I couldn’t help but grin. Of course, she did. Nikki had a way of fitting in wherever she went.
Carrot couldn’t make it tonight—she’d come down with something and decided to rest—but I was relieved Nikki was here. Out of everyone I knew, she was by far the most sociable and outgoing. If anyone could thrive in a setting like this, it was her.
Peter’s hand found the small of my back as we moved further into the room, grounding me amidst the grandeur. “Ready to mingle?” he asked, his voice low and close to my ear.
I nodded, drawing in a steadying breath.
“Peter!”
A high-pitched voice rang out, cutting through the murmur of the room.
We both turned toward it, and there was Pepper, walking toward us with a bright smile and her arms open in greeting.
“Peter, it’s so good to see you,” she said warmly, leaning in to kiss his cheek before turning her attention to me. “And you must be Clementine.”
I nodded. “Yes, nice to meet you.”
“Of course, I remember seeing you at Mandarin’s baby shower,” she said, her expression brightening as recognition dawned. “You’re her sister, right?”
I nodded again, glancing briefly at Peter, who gave me a reassuring rub on my back. The gesture was subtle, but it calmed my nerves a bit.
“How is Mandarin?” Pepper asked, her voice laced with genuine curiosity.
“I’m not sure,” I admitted, my tone neutral. “We haven’t spoken much lately, but from what I hear, she had her baby.”
Pepper gasped softly, her eyes lighting up. “Oh, that’s wonderful news! When?”
“This morning, I think,” I replied, leaning slightly into Peter’s touch.
“Really?” she said, a delighted smile spreading across her face. “I simply must go see her sometime this week.” She paused as if expecting me to say something more.
“You definitely should,” I said politely, maintaining a pleasant tone.
“Well, enjoy the evening!” she said with a graceful wave before whisking away to greet someone else who had just entered the room.
When I was sure Pepper was out of earshot, I turned to Peter.
“That was weird, right?” I asked.
He tilted his head, his expression puzzled. “What was weird?”
“How did she not know Mandarin was having her baby, or already had her baby?”
“Maybe they’re not that close,” he said with a shrug.
“She was at the baby shower, Peter.”
He hesitated. “I don’t know.”
I studied his face, but he looked genuinely confused. Maybe I was overreacting. I had decided I didn’t want anything to do with my immediate family, and yet here I was, grilling Peter about something he probably had no idea about.
“I’m sorry,” I said, exhaling a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
“No need to be sorry,” he replied, giving me a quick peck on the lips.
As the evening wore on, I chatted with Nikki, who was having the time of her life, mingled with a few more of Peter’s friends, and eventually found myself in a cozy lounge room with Tony and Peter.
Tony sat in a large armchair, a drink in hand, and a selection of bottles sprawled out on the small bar cart next to him. Every now and then, he poured himself another, sometimes without even finishing the previous one.
The two of them were deep in conversation about business, tossing around inside jokes and banter I didn’t understand. Tony’s laugh was loud and infectious, but there was something about the way he kept refilling his glass that made me uneasy. He didn’t seem drunk, just... restless.
I sipped my drink quietly, letting their dynamic play out, until Tony turned to me and asked,
“You’re Mandarin’s sister, right?”
Surprised by his acknowledgment, I turned to Tony before nodding.
“Yeah. Pepper told me she had her baby this morning... Morgan, right?” he asked.
That’s right. Mandarin’s baby’s name was Morgan.
I nodded again, taking a sip of my drink. “Yeah, Morgan.”
Something felt off.
“Or at least, that’s what Pepper told me,” Tony added, his tone casual but his gaze sliding over to Peter.
I followed his line of sight, turning to Peter. For a brief moment, I caught an unfamiliar look in his eyes. It vanished so quickly, I wasn’t sure if I’d imagined it. My stomach tightened, and I carefully placed my drink down on the table.
“Excuse me,” I said abruptly, my voice steady despite the unease building inside me. “I have to use the washroom.”
As I turned to leave, Peter reached out to grab my hand, but I stepped out of his reach before he could stop me. My heart was pounding as I made my way back to the large hall, scanning the crowd. The buzz of conversations and laughter felt muffled, distant, as my eyes landed on Nikki.
Without hesitation, I rushed toward her, grabbing her hand and leaning in to whisper in her ear.
“I need you to take me to Mandarin.”
Nikki paused to get a good look at me, concern etched on her face, before grabbing my hand and pulling me through the crowd.
We stepped outside, and Nikki went straight to the valet, not even bothering with coat check.
“What happened?” she asked, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
“I don’t know,” I said, my voice calm despite the whirlwind of emotions beneath. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”
“Clementine!” Peter’s voice called out as he rushed down the steps toward me. “Babe, listen—”
“No,” I said firmly but evenly, cutting him off. “I’ll see you at home.”
I gave him a look, one that told him not to push, and to my surprise, he stopped in his tracks. “Okay,” he said after a pause. “I’ll see you at home.”
The valet pulled up with Nikki’s car, and we climbed in. The ride to the hospital was quiet, eerily so. Nikki didn’t press me, and for once, my mind was completely blank. I wasn’t panicking or overthinking. I felt… tranquil, almost numb.
When we arrived, Nikki handled the visitor badges for us both, her efficient demeanor snapping me back into reality. Together, we headed up to Mandarin’s room. When we stepped inside, Mandarin’s face lit up, a smile spreading across her features.
“Hi!” she greeted, her voice tired but warm.
She looked rough.
In all my years of knowing Mandarin, which was my entire life, I had never seen her look anything less than flawless. Even in the depths of drama or chaos, she always managed to have every hair in place, and her makeup impeccable. Seeing her now, hair disheveled, bags under her eyes, was unsettling.
Nikki wasted no time. “Oh my goodness, is that Morgan?” she gushed, her voice full of excitement.
Mandarin nodded, holding up the tiny bundle in her arms. Nikki stepped forward eagerly. “You don’t mind if I hold her, do you?”
Mandarin smiled weakly and carefully passed Morgan over. Nikki immediately became a cooing mess, swaying gently with the baby cradled in her arms.
Meanwhile, I stood near the door, my arms crossed and my eyes locked on Mandarin.
“Hey, Clem,” she said, her tone cautious.
I didn’t return the greeting. Instead, I asked flatly, “Is Tony Stark the father?”
The smile on her face froze. For a moment, it was so quiet you could hear an ant fart.
Mandarin’s eyes widened, and her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. I could see the wheels turning in her head, the way her expression flickered between shock and panic.
“Well?” I pressed, my tone sharper this time.
She stammered, “W-What kind of question is that?”
“A reasonable one,” I said, stepping closer. “Answer it.”
I could see Nikki swaying baby Morgan back and forth, her earlier cooing replaced by wide-eyed silence as she watched me unload Mandarin’s mess.
“Mandarin,” I said, my voice firmer now. “Please just be honest with me.”
She hesitated, biting her lip before finally asking, “How did you know?”
“Tony,” I said flatly.
Nikki, still holding Morgan, chimed in, “We were just at an event he and Pepper hosted.”
Mandarin’s face paled, her guilt clear as day.
“He’s engaged to Pepper,” I said, each word deliberate and biting.
“I know,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
“What do you mean, you know?” My voice rose, sharp with disbelief, though I tried to remain mindful of the newborn in the room. “And you still slept with him?”
“It just happened…” she started, but her weak excuse only fueled my anger.
“Oh really?” I snapped, crossing my arms. “You just tripped and fell right on his dick?”
“It happened,” she said, her voice cracking. “And now I’m stuck.”
“Stuck?” I repeated, incredulous. “You’re stuck because you made the choice to mess with a man you knew was engaged to another woman.”
Tears welled in Mandarin’s eyes, and her shoulders slumped in defeat. “I didn’t mean for it to go this far, Clem. I didn’t plan this.”
“Clearly,” I retorted, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “You’ve managed to not only screw up your life but potentially wreck someone else’s too. Do you even care about what this could do to Pepper? To Morgan!?”
Mandarin looked down, avoiding my gaze. “I didn’t want to hurt anyone,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Well, congratulations,” I said coldly, gesturing toward Morgan, who was still peacefully swaddled in Nikki’s arms. “Because it looks like you’ve done a fine job of making a mess out of everything.”
“Hey, Clem, cut her some slack,” Nikki said, her tone soft but firm.
“Why should I?” I shot back.
“Because she just had a baby,” Nikki replied, carefully placing Morgan into her bassinet. “I get where you’re coming from, but this is neither the time nor the place for this.”
Nikki stepped closer to me, lowering her voice. “She’s clearly going through a lot right now, and berating her while she’s still probably feeling the aftereffects of her vagina being ripped open isn’t doing anyone any good.”
I glanced at Mandarin, her head buried in her hands as she tried, and failed, to stifle her sobs. A pang of guilt hit me, and I sighed, deciding to back off, at least for now.
The tense atmosphere had died down a bit and awkward silence was slowly taking its place.
“Can I hold her?” I asked.
Mandarin lifted her head, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks. She looked at me for a moment before nodding silently.
I made my way over to Morgan’s bassinet, carefully lifting her tiny form into my arms. Looking down at her for the first time, I couldn’t help but think how much cuter she looked in person. Her little face was soft and peaceful, her delicate features making my heart ache in a way I didn’t expect.
“Hi, Morgan,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I’m your auntie Clementine.”
When Nikki pulled up outside Peter’s building, I hesitated before getting out. The lights in his apartment were on, a warm glow spilling through the curtains, beckoning me back inside. But I couldn’t shake the knot in my stomach.
"Want me to come up with you?" Nikki asked, her voice softer now.
I shook my head. "No, I need to do this on my own."
She nodded, reaching over to squeeze my hand. "Whatever happens, just remember you deserve honesty and respect. If you don’t feel that here, then you walk. Simple as that."
I nodded, her words giving me a small surge of confidence. I grabbed my bag and stepped out, feeling the weight of uncertainty press on my shoulders as I made my way inside.
When I unlocked the door and stepped into the apartment, Peter was already waiting for me, pacing in the living room. He turned the moment I entered, relief washing over his face.
"Hey," he started, his voice gentle but unsure. "I wasn’t sure if you’d actually come back."
I didn’t respond right away. Instead, I took off my shoes and coat, setting them neatly by the door before walking into the living room. I sat down on the couch, crossing my legs and arms.
He followed standing in front of me, waiting for me to say something.
"I’m here. Now explain why you didn’t tell me Tony was Morgan’s father."
Peter’s face dropped slightly, and he rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous habit I’d seen a hundred times before. "Clementine, it’s not that simple."
"Really? Because it seems pretty simple to me," I countered, my tone sharper than I intended. "You knew, didn’t you? You’ve known this entire time."
He sighed, walking toward me cautiously. "Yes, I knew. But—"
"But what?" I interrupted. "What possible reason could you have for keeping that from me?"
Peter hesitated, his hands fidgeting at his sides. "Tony swore me to secrecy. He didn’t want this getting out, and I was stuck in the middle. I didn’t know how to tell you without betraying him."
I scoffed, my disbelief bubbling over. "So his reputation was more important than my trust? Good to know where your priorities lie."
"It wasn’t about choosing him over you," Peter said, his voice pleading. "I was trying to protect you, Clem. I didn’t want you dragged into this mess."
"Protect me from what, Peter? The truth?" My voice cracked, and I hated how vulnerable I sounded.
"From all of it," he said, stepping closer. "You don’t know Tony like I do. He’s powerful and ruthless when it comes to protecting his image. If you got caught up in this, he wouldn’t think twice about using his influence to hurt you, your family, your education…everything."
I stared at him, gauging whether this was genuine or just another excuse. His eyes were earnest, but the damage was already done.
"So you lied to me because you thought you knew what was best for me?" I asked, my voice quiet but biting.
"I didn’t lie," Peter said quickly. "I just-"
"You just omitted the truth. Got it," I cut him off, my words dripping with sarcasm.
Peter’s desperation hung thick in the air as he knelt before me, his hands firmly resting on my thighs as he pleaded his case. His eyes were wide, his face painted with genuine fear. "Clem, please. I know I messed up, but everything I’ve done has been to make your life better. You’re thriving here. You’re finally away from all the crap your parents put you through. Don’t let this ruin what we have."
I took a deep breath, leaning back into the couch, my body tense as I weighed his words. "What we have? How can I trust anything we have when you kept something like this from me?"
Peter’s pleading eyes locked onto mine as his hands rested firmly on my thighs, carefully uncrossing my legs, a mix of desperation and resolve in his voice.
"I’ve done everything I could to give you peace, to make you feel safe," he said. "I can’t lose you over something that doesn’t even involve us. You mean too much to me."
He pushes my dress up, as his fingers creeping in between my thighs.
I hesitated, searching his face for any hint of manipulation, but his expression was raw, almost pained. The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, but something about his logic still felt off.
"You kept something from me that you knew would hurt me," I said, my voice steady but strained. "That doesn’t feel like safety to me, Peter. That feels like control."
He pauses his movements flinching at my words, a flicker of guilt crossing his features.
"I wasn’t trying to control you," he insisted. "I was trying to protect what we have. I didn’t want to risk you seeing me in the same light as Tony or thinking I’m like him. You’re the only person who makes me feel... real."
I softened slightly, caught off guard by his vulnerability. He pushes forwards with his movements, and before he can get to my most intimate area, I grab hold of his hands, trying to move them away, but he won’t allow it.
"Protecting what we have means being honest with me, Peter. I can’t trust someone who can’t even be honest with me.”
He releases a long, shaky sigh “Please, I just want you.”
Peter swatted my hands away with ease, gripping my thighs and lifting them over his shoulders as if I weighed nothing. It caught me off guard, and my breath hitched as I tried to process what was happening. The look in his eyes was intense, almost primal, and it sent a shiver down my spine.
"Peter," I started, my voice uncertain, but he cut me off with a firm, determined tone.
"Let me show you how much you mean to me," he said softly, his lips brushing against the sensitive skin of my inner thigh.
His hands gripped me securely, his movements slow and deliberate, as if he had all the time in the world to make me forget about the whirlwind of emotions swirling in my head. It was overwhelming, the way he focused on me entirely, like I was the only thing that mattered in the universe.
I was stuck, what do I do? What could I do? But submit to him.
I felt him push my panties to the side, the cool air grazing my skin for only a second before his mouth replaced it. A sharp gasp escaped me as Peter’s tongue explored with deliberate, unrelenting intent. My fingers instinctively tangled in his hair, pulling at the strands as a wave of heat coursed through me.
"Peter," I whispered, my voice trembling, though I wasn’t sure if it was meant as a plea for him to stop or to keep going.
He groaned in response, the vibration sending a ripple of pleasure through my body. His hands gripped my thighs tighter, holding me in place as he worked with a precision that made my head spin. Every stroke, every flick of his tongue, seemed designed to pull me further from reality and into a haze of sensation.
I arched my back, my breaths turning into soft, helpless whimpers. The emotions I’d been wrestling with earlier, anger, betrayal, confusion, felt so distant now, replaced by a fire that consumed every part of me. It was maddening how he knew exactly how to unravel me, piece by piece.
"Peter, please," I gasped, not even sure what I was begging for anymore.
My legs trembled, the tension in my body building until it felt unbearable. Every nerve seemed to spark under his touch, his tongue and lips working me over with an expertise that left me breathless. My hands tightened in his hair, as I felt myself teetering on the edge.
"Peter-" My voice broke as my entire body tensed. The knot in my core unraveled all at once, sending a rush of white-hot pleasure through me. I gasped, my head falling back as wave after wave of ecstasy crashed over me, leaving me shaking in his grasp.
Peter didn’t stop, his movements softening but still intentional, drawing out every last bit of my release. I felt my body melt into the couch, boneless and completely spent.
When I finally opened my eyes, Peter was looking up at me, his lips curved into a satisfied smile. His hands slid down my thighs, grounding me as my breathing began to steady.
"Still mad at me?" he asked, his voice low and teasing.
I blinked at him, my mind still hazy from the high. "You’re impossible." The only response I could muster.
Peter leaned up, planting a gentle kiss on my lips. "And yet, you’re still here."
Oof
