Chapter 130 Bella stayed by the window long after Chloe and Timothy had left, her eyes fixed on the direction they walked even though they were already far gone. The morning light was brighter now, slipping through the curtains like unwelcome truth, touching everything she didn’t want to face. Her
Chapter 129 “I’m sorry but I’m not sure she’d want that p> Jake swallowed hard. “Please, I just need to see Bella,” he said quietly. His voice shook just a little. “Just for a few minutes. I need to explain… I need her to hear me out, please p> Chloe’s
Chapter 128 Jake’s plane touched down in Sweliss in the early hours of the morning the next day. The city below was quiet, still half-asleep, wrapped in a blue-grey haze. But Jake barely noticed. It all felt distant, like he was watching someone else’s life through a fogged window. He
Chapter 127 As she walked toward the front door, it opened before she could knock. Mr. Hanes stood there, tall, calm and kind-faced as always. But today, his eyes softened in a way that made her stomach sink. “Miss Rachel he said quietly, his voice filled with something like regret.
Chapter 126 After Bella left to pick Timothy up from school, the apartment grew too quiet for Rachel. Chloe had left for work and because of everything going on between Bella and Jake, Bella had decided not to step foot in StoneTech, after all, she’d actually told Jake she was
Chapter 125 As though realizing what that meant, Jake froze and his breath caught. His stomach dropped to his feet. “Oh… shit p> The word slipped out of him in a whisper. Then louder. “Oh, shit p> He pushed both hands into his hair. “You idiot,” he hissed to himself.
Chapter 124 Jake didn’t remember leaving Bella’s house. He didn’t remember getting into his car. He didn’t even remember starting the engine. All he remembered was the deafening sound of the door closing behind him and the way Bella’s voice, shaking, breaking, and tearing, echoed through his skull like a
Chapter 123 “What if he’s right?” Bella’s voice cracked, panic rising. “What if something happened that I didn’t know about? What if I’m the one mistaken? What if I was drugged and maybe I don’t remember anything p> Rachel pulled back slightly, cupping Bella’s face in both hands. “Oh, my
Chapter 122 Bella stood there, her chest heaving, tears streaking her face, her hand still shaking from the slap. Her knees gave way, and she sank to the floor, sobbing quietly into her hands. Her throat felt scorched from holding back tears, and her chest hurt so much she wondered
Chapter 121 Bella stood frozen, her breath catching painfully in her throat. For a second, she wasn’t sure she’d heard him right. That was how she’d been feeling for the past few seconds since she decided to tell him about Timothy. Or was this a dream? She had to be
Chapter 120 The door opened and there he was. Jake stood on the porch, the night breeze ruffling his hair, his expression unreadable. His phone was still in his hand — and on the screen, faintly visible in the reflection of the porch light, was the same image that had
Chapter 119 She could barely hear herself. Her thoughts were a mess, colliding, tangled, and scattered. What if Jake had already seen it? What if he thought p> Her stomach dropped at the thought. Rachel was watching her anxiously. “Bella?” she said softly. “You’re shaking p> Bella’s throat felt tight.
Chapter 118 “Helena,” he said curtly. “What do you want? I thought I made it clear. I have and want absolutely nothing to do with you p> Her voice came through syrupy sweet, the kind of false charm he’d learned to despise. “Oh, Jake! Don’t sound so harsh. I understand
Chapter 117 Bella went quiet for a moment, her eyes softening as she reached out and touched Chloe’s hand. “If that’s what he said then don’t you think he’s right?” she said gently. “We both know you wouldn’t give up your job, Chloe. You’ve worked too hard for it p>
Chapter 116 By the time Chloe got home, the world already felt like it had dimmed. The drive back was quiet. She didn’t even realize she hadn’t turned on the radio until she parked in front of the house and heard only the hum of the engine. The exhaustion in
Chapter 115 The first thing Henry Camden heard when he opened his eyes was the soft beeping of a monitor. His vision was blurry at first, the bright hospital lights making him squint. For a long moment, he just stared at the ceiling, trying to piece together what had happened.
Chapter 114 “So, now that everything is back to normal, when do you intend to tell us about her?” Evelyn asked with a mischievous smile. Jake froze halfway into reaching for his water glass. “Her?” he echoed, feigning innocence. “What ’her p> Charles chuckled deeply, the sound rumbling in his
Chapter 113 The late afternoon sun stretched long and golden over the quiet road, painting the city in soft amber light. Timothy’s delighted laughter filled the back seat as he clutched his half-eaten cone of ice cream, his little legs swinging back and forth. Jake glanced at him through the
Chapter 112 Moments later, Bella tucked Rachel’s blanket gently around her shoulders, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her tear-stained face. Her sister’s breathing had finally evened out, exhaustion pulling her under after hours of crying. Bella stood there for a moment longer, her chest tightening at the
Chapter 111 Rachel didn’t remember much of the ride home; only that the city lights blurred past the cab window like streaks of gold and gray through her tears. The driver had asked once if she was okay, and she’d only nodded, clutching her bag tighter on her lap. Her