Chapter 124NathanI woke up with a pounding headache. The moment I looked up at the ceiling of my bedroom, reality hit me hard, and my heart ached all over again.The first thing that hit me was the realization that Nicole was no longer here.I sat up in bed, trying to shake off the dizziness that made everything spin. The trip to Los Angeles had drained me-both mentally and physically-and I couldn't even recall when I last had a meal.I sighed deeply, my hands trembling as I buried my face in them.Nicole.I had no idea how I was going to get through the days without her. She meant the world to me, and the thought of never seeing her again was crushing. I already felt her absence so intensely.With a heavy heart, I finally got out of bed. Maybe a hot cup of coffee would help kickstart my day, or perhaps I could whip up one of my favorite meals.I knew it felt impossible to keep going with this much pain, but I had a business to manage.I shuffled out of my room and headed down the s
Chapter 123NicoleMy head throbbed painfully. I slowly opened my eyes, but everything was a blur.Why did I feel so weak? Why was my body so numb?I blinked a few times, and as my vision cleared, I saw the grey ceiling of a room, but I had no clue where I was. A cold shiver suddenly ran down my spine.Suddenly, I sat up in bed, hitting the headboard behind me, and I winced as I held my head. My heart dropped when I looked down at myself.I was only in my bra and panties, nearly completely exposed. Tears filled my eyes as disbelief washed over me.No. What happened to me? My brain refused to accept the painful truth."Hey, baby. Woke up already?" A deep, husky voice startled me, and I looked up, only to find Homer leaning back against the wall, watching me with a smirk on his face.And now, I can see clearly where I was. In this small and dim-lit room that only consisted of a closet, a desk, and a bed. His bed."Homer," I stuttered, a tear rolling down my cheek. "What have you done?"
Chapter 122NicoleNathan told me he loved me, but after meeting Trish again, everything changed.What went wrong? Did he still have feelings for his ex-fiancée?I could tell they still cared for each other. That had to be why he was acting this way. It probably explained the bruise on his lips too. Did he get into a fight with Drake?My heart felt like it was being torn apart repeatedly. I had never experienced such pain before; it felt like I was dying.The man I loved hurt me so deeply that I wished I could just vanish from existence. Nathan wanted me gone. He despised me that much. He didn't want to be with me or even see me again.My tears were never-ending, and I struggled to breathe. I clutched my chest, hoping to ease the agony, but nothing could mend a hurt like this. I couldn't even picture myself feeling whole again.This emptiness in my heart felt like it would last forever. How could I shake off such a powerful feeling? How could I ever forget Nathan?I shook my head as I
NathanLandon rolled his eyes. "Care to explain that? Because what you just said makes zero sense. Let me ask you this: when you were in LA, did you let those two mess with your mind again?" There was a pause before Landon added, a bit uncertain, "Did you and Trish--""We didn't do anything," I replied. "There's nothing going on between us anymore. I ended things with her, and she promised that she won't bother me again."Landon sighed in relief, but the thought that he even considered me and Trish together made me feel sick."So what's going on right now?" His voice dropped, laced with anger. "Do you really want Nicole to leave you? She loves you, man. She told me that just yesterday."My fists trembled as I gripped the armrests. "Love me?" I scoffed. "What? She said she was in love with someone else, and now she tells you she loves me? She's just messing around, dude. She needs to leave, and honestly, she should have done it ages ago.""You're unbelievable!" Landon shook his head, c
Chapter 120Nathan I just couldn't do it. I couldn't let her stay with me any longer.I was staring out the window in my room, lost in thought, when I felt Nicole at my door.She wasn't leaving, even though I was clearly ignoring her. It would have been simpler if she had just walked away. Each passing moment reminded me that I had to guide her to the farewell I never wanted to face."Nathan," Nicole called out again, her voice sounding weaker than before. There was a fragility in it, like glass that could break at any moment.She was losing her resolve, which was concerning because she had always tried to be strong for me. If she hadn't been strong, she wouldn't have been able to handle me. I knew I wasn't the easiest person to be with because of my past."What are you doing here, Nicole?" I finally spoke, still staring out the window.An awkward silence followed. She must have been puzzled by my question.But I genuinely wanted to know why she was here with me."Uh, I..." She hesit
Chapter 119NicoleI was so anxious that all I wanted was to hear Nathan come through the front door. Landon's gaze softened, revealing the sadness he couldn't hide.Seeing that made me want to cry because I knew he understood. Given his intelligence, there was no way he didn't know about the articles. He stayed silent, not wanting to hurt me, and he wasn't trying to comfort me either, because the truth was undeniable."I get it," he said, swallowing hard as he looked at me one last time before turning to leave.I let out a sigh as he disappeared from view. I adjusted my pillow, lay back down, and pulled the blanket up to my chest. My eyes were fixed on the ceiling, which was adorned with balloons and letters wishing Nathan a happy birthday.When I planned this surprise, I was so excited to see his joyful expression. But now, I couldn't shake the worry of whether I'd ever see him again.Come on, Nicole. What are you doing? Stop letting negative thoughts creep in, as if crying in bed f