Chapter 29 By the time I pulled into Lucas’s driveway, my head was pounding. I sat in the car for a moment with the engine off, hands still on the steering wheel, staring at nothing. The day felt too heavy to carry inside with me all at once. Signing that
Chapter 28 I was halfway to the chair when he moved. “Elaine p> I stopped because my body did it before my brain could argue. I didn’t turn back right away. I needed a second to steady myself, to make sure my voice wouldn’t crack when I spoke again. “What,”
Chapter 27 The undeniable sound of skin slapping against skin Just movement. The soft, irregular thud of something shifting against the desk. The faint clink of jewelry, metal brushing skin. I walked into the office without knocking. Then I looked up. Zane was behind his desk. Jacket still on. Shirt
Chapter 26 The moment I stepped into the building, I felt it. Not something loud. Not obvious. Just… eyes. The lobby was busy in that quiet corporate way. Phones ringing softly. Heels clicking against marble. Someone laughing near the coffee station. Normal. Until it wasn’t. One head turned. Then another.
Chapter 25 My grandfather was already seated when I arrived. Same chair. Same desk. Same unreadable expression. He didn’t ask how I was. He never did. “You’ve decided to come,” he said, like it had ever been optional. I sat across from him, folding my hands together so he wouldn’t
Chapter 24 I was halfway through my second cup of coffee when my phone rang. I didn’t need to look at the screen to know who it was. No one in this family called this early unless something was wrong or about to be. I answered anyway. “Yes, Grandpa p>
Chapter 23 I didn’t go home that night. No one said it out loud, but it was decided the moment Lucas walked out of the study. The house felt too big after that. Too quiet in the wrong way. So I ended up at his place, in Ivy’s room, like
Chapter 22 The study didn’t clear out right away. My grandfather left first. Cane tapping once against the floor before the door shut behind him. Final. Noah was the first to speak. “Say you didn’t mean it,” he said, turning to me. “Say it was shock or pressure or whatever
Chapter 21 Every instinct in my body screamed no. Not because I didn’t want to protect Ivy. I did. Not because I didn’t know why I’d done what I’d done. I did. But wanting something and choosing it were two different things. I lifted my chin. “Yes p> Lucas swore
Chapter 20 No one spoke. Atleast Not immediately. The words hung there, heavy and unreal. “I’m sorry,” Lucas said finally, his voice sharp. “You want who p> Zane didn’t repeat himself. He didn’t need to. He was still looking at me, calm as ever, like he hadn’t just dropped a
Chapter 19 The door opened. “Wow,” a familiar voice said. “Why does it feel like someone’s about to be executed in here p> Caleb. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Ivy turned so fast she nearly twisted in her seat. “Caleb!” she exclaimed, jumping up.
Chapter 18 “I’ll be there p> After we hung up, I stayed seated for a minute, phone still in my hand. I hadn’t slept much. Not because I was scared. Mostly because my mind wouldn’t slow down. Every time I closed my eyes, I replayed things out of order. The
Chapter 17 And what a foolish question it is to ask someone in this situation. I almost snapped at him but refrained. I laughed once, weak and breathless. “No p> “That’s fair p> We took another turn, then another. Residential streets now. Familiar ones. My chest tightened as I recognized
Chapter 16 “Elaine,” Zane snapped. “Stay with me! Fuck p> I forced my head up, breath coming fast and uneven. My fingers were locked tight around the gun in my lap, knuckles white, hands trembling so badly I was afraid I’d drop it. Zane reached for his phone without taking
Chapter 15 “Are they…are they the same ones from the club p> “Most likely p> “And they know it’s you p> He didn’t answer that. He took a sharp turn, the force throwing me against the door. I grabbed thr handle instinctively, heart climbing into my throat as another car
Chapter 14 The door burst open. I tightened my grip on the gun, heart slamming so hard it hurt. And then p> Someone ran out. Not threatening. Just a waitress, stumbling forward like she’d been shoved, heels slipping on the concrete as she hit the ground hard and cried her,
Chapter 13 A gunshot. Sharp. Loud and real as fuck. The music downstairs cut off instantly. Screams followed. Chaos erupted as people surged toward exits, bodies colliding, voices rising in panic. I froze. My heart slammed against my ribs as another shot echoed…shouting, then the unmistakable rush of security flooding
Chapter 12 “Me p> The word settled between us, heavy and irrevocable. Zane whitmore looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time. And I knew, with absolute certainty, that whatever happened next, there was no turning back. Zane didn’t answer right away. He leaned back against
Chapter 11 The realization hit me all at once. This man wasn’t just some rich stranger Ivyhad accidentally spilled a drink on. This was him. He was the date grandfather had planned for ivy. I stared at Zane Whitmore, my expression calm only because years of practice had taught me
Chapter 10 “I wasn’t looking,” Ivy continued quickly. “Someone bumped into me and I just I’m really sorry, I’ll pay for the cleaning, I swear p> I pushed through the small crowd without thinking. “Ivy p> Her head snapped toward me like she’d been holding her breath this entire time.