Chapter 162: One Door Awayz RUEI sat on the edge of the bed after she left, staring at the door she had just walked out of. My chest felt heavy, my head pounding with too many thoughts at once. I had told her we couldn’t talk now, that it wasn’t the right time, but the silence that followed… it was suffocating me . When I heard her knock softly the first time, I clenched my fists. My pride kept me rooted in place. She knocked again, pleading for me to open up. God, I wanted to. Every part of me wanted to, but my head was a storm and I didn’t trust myself not to say something worse.After the third knock, She stopped. I knew she was gone.I dragged myself to the corner where the small bar stood. My hands shook as I pulled out a bottle of whiskey, unscrewed it, and poured a glass. The first sip burned, but it was the kind of burn I wanted. Something to distract me . I leaned back in the chair, staring down at my stomach. Slowly, I lifted my shirt. The bandages were still there, cove
Chapter 161: Worth VICKY When Julia and Calvin left, the house fell into a strange silence. Rue stood there, looking restless, his jaw clenched and his shoulders stiff. I could see it written all over him, he was clearly angry and worried, maybe even disappointed He didn’t say a word to me. He just turned and started walking out of the kitchen, heading for his room. I hesitated for a moment, then followed him.“Rue,” I called softly.He didn’t stop. He kept moving until we got to his room, and when I followed him in, he was already sitting on the edge of the bed, his face buried in his hands.“Rue…” I said again, standing in the doorway. “Talk to me. What’s wrong?”He lifted his head slowly, his eyes dark and sharp. “You really have to ask me that, Vicky?”I frowned. “Yes. Because I don’t understand why you’re so upset.”He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “I can’t believe you’re actually still going on with this. After everything. After the tape. After the proof. After al
Chapter 160: Not so easy VICKY. “Actually… the thing is…” I started, but before the words could leave my mouth, the door swung open. Julia walked in with Calvin right behind her, both looking like they’d just come from a battle. Upon seeing me with Rue hovering around like a worried parent, Julia dropped her bag and rushed to my side.“What happened?!” she asked, her eyes scanning my hands until she spotted the bandage Rue was wrapping.“It’s nothing,” I said quickly, forcing a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “Just a small cut. I was slicing.”“Small cut?” Rue shot me a sharp look, his hands still holding mine firmly as if I’d break into pieces. “It wasn’t small. There was blood everywhere.”I rolled my eyes. “Rue, you’re exaggerating.”Julia ignored our back-and-forth and focused on me. “Are you sure you’re okay?”“I’m fine,” I said, gently pulling my hand back. Then, my mind snapped to the one thing I’d been waiting to hear. I looked at Julia and Calvin. “Did you get it? Please
Chapter. 159_ it will be selfish . VICKY . I adjusted the collar of Rue’s shirt as he sat at the edge of the hospital bed, looking far too pleased with himself for someone who had almost died days ago. “You know, you’re smiling like someone who just won the lottery,” I teased, brushing the dust off his shirt . Rue bent his head towards my lips, his lips curving into that lazy smile I knew too well. “Maybe I did. I’m leaving this hospital and going home, with you. That’s a win for me.” I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop the smile creeping up my cheeks. “You should be grateful you’re even walking out of here alive, Rue. You scared the hell out of me.” i teased . His smile faded into something softer, something that made my chest tighten. “Vicky…” His voice was low, pulling my attention. “Why do you look at me like that?” “Like what?” I blinked, trying to play dumb. “Like you still can’t believe I’m here,” he said. I swallowed hard, turning to zip up his small overnight bag
Chapter 158: Caught . Julia sat at the corner booth of the quiet restaurant, her fingers drumming against the polished wooden table as she glanced toward the entrance for the tenth time. Across from her, Calvin sipped his water with a calm that Julia couldn’t understand, and Jeremy looked restless, checking his watch every other minute, The detective they hired was observing from the other table , they didn’t tell the person they were waiting for about the private investigator so it was best that he didn’t sit at the table with them “Are you sure he’s coming?” Julia finally askedCalvin leaned back in his chair. “He’ll come. He knows what’s at stake.”Jeremy smirked, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “If he doesn’t, we’ll have to drag him in next time. I’m not sitting through another suspense movie like this.”Julia shot him a look. “This isn’t a movie, Jeremy. This is Rue and Vicky’s safety.”Before Jeremy could reply, the door creaked open. Reed stepped in, wearing a dark hoodie and
Chapter157: Postponed WilliamsThe phone rang for the fifth damn time before Barth finally picked up. I’d been pacing the suite like a wild animal, jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth would crack. Every second that man ignored my calls felt like a slap to the face, He was doing it intentionally and i knew it . When I finally heard his voice, I didn’t waste time pretending to be polite.“Barth,” I snapped, my tone sharp enough to cut glass. “What’s the date for the election? Don’t tell me you’re still dragging this nonsense because of that idiot Vicky”There was a pause. Too calm. Too calculated. I knew that kind of pause. It meant he was about to say something I didn’t want to hear.“The election has been postponed,” he said, his voice steady.For a second, I swear I forgot how to breathe. My whole body froze mid-step, the words echoing in my head like an explosion.“What the hell did you just say?” I demanded, my voice rising.“I said the election won’t be holding tomorrow. It’