LOGINHi everyone! First, I want to sincerely apologize for the delay in updates. Unfortunately, it was due to circumstances beyond my control. I was involved in an accident and was only discharged from the hospital this morning. I’m very very grateful to everyone who has continued reading and supporting the story despite the inconsistent updates. Your patience, kind messages, and support truly mean a lot to me. Thank you so much for reading for enjoying this story with me. I appreciate every single one of you more than I can put into words. I’m recovering now, and I can’t wait for you all to read what’s coming next. There are so many exciting moments ahead, and I’m looking forward to sharing them with you. Thank you again for sticking with me. ❤️
CHAPTER 138THALIAThe sound of the slap seemed to linger in the room even after my hand had fallen back to my side. Clara stood frozen for a moment, one hand pressed against her cheek, staring at me with such disbelief that I almost wondered if she had genuinely expected me to stand there and take every word she threw at me without reacting.Then a familiar voice came from behind us.“What happened?”My stomach tightened before I even turned around.Brandon stood near the entrance, his gaze moving across the room, taking in the players, the abandoned cups and boxes of cookies scattered across the table, and finally Clara, who was still holding her cheek. The moment she saw him, something in her expression changed. The anger that had been burning in her eyes disappeared almost instantly, replaced by a wounded look that I knew better than to trust.“Brandon.”She hurried toward him before I could even process what she was doing and threw her arms around him, burying her face against
THALIACaleb was walking me back toward my cabin when I remembered the documents I had left in my office at the training center, and since he mentioned that he needed to pass some information to a few of his teammates, we decided to stop there before heading back.“I’ll be quick,” I told him as we entered the building.“Take your time. I’ll be downstairs.”I nodded and headed upstairs, relieved that I had finally found a reason to get my mind off everything that had happened earlier. I picked up the documents from my office, checked the few messages waiting on my phone, and started downstairs with the folder tucked against my chest.I heard laughter before I reached the bottom, along with the unmistakable sound of several people talking over one another, and I smiled because I assumed the players had started another one of their ridiculous conversations.Then I stepped into the lounge and saw who was standing among them.Clara.She was holding a cup of coffee in one hand while a few s
THALIA“From now onwards, I’ve decided to distance myself from Brandon Langford.”Olivia looked up from her phone, the expression on her face telling me she had been expecting me to say something completely different.“I don’t think I can be friends with someone who has no problem being friends with, or whatever it is he’s doing with, the woman I think might have killed me.”I sat back against the headboard, staring at the ceiling as the words settled between us. Olivia was quiet for a moment, studying me with the kind of expression that told me she was already preparing to give me a long lecture about Brandon.I knew that look all too well.Before she could say anything, I quickly added, “By the way, has Knox gotten back to you?”Olivia stared at me for a second before slowly raising an eyebrow.“Really?”I tried to look innocent.She shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips.“Which part do you want me to answer first?”I sighed, already knowing I wasn’t getting out of this
CHAPTER 135BRANDONIf anything, seeing Clara standing there made me more uncomfortable than angry.She had Leo with her, and the little boy looked nothing like the energetic child I remembered. He stayed close to his mother, one hand curled tightly around the hem of her shirt while his eyes moved cautiously around the unfamiliar clinic. When I looked at him, he quickly lowered his gaze, almost as though he had become accustomed to avoiding people’s eyes.That was what had been happening lately.Leo had stopped talking as much. He barely slept through the night, woke from nightmares he couldn’t properly explain, and became anxious whenever Clara stepped out of his sight. His doctors had called it trauma-related distress, and while they hadn’t given us a simple diagnosis that could explain everything, they had been very clear about one thing: Leo needed stability, and love.Something his mother can’t provide.Most importantly, he needed to feel that the people he loved weren’t going
ThaliaI expected Brandon to leave after Caleb told him I wasn't there, but when I glanced toward the doorway a few minutes later, I caught sight of him still standing in the hallway.He hadn't gone anywhere.He was leaning against the wall with his arms folded, occasionally glancing toward the clinic as though he had decided he could wait all afternoon if that was what it took.Caleb returned to my side and lowered his voice."He's still waiting."I looked toward the doorway again before turning my attention back to the ceiling."Maybe he'll leave."Caleb gave me a look."He hasn't."I sighed and closed my eyes, wishing I could somehow disappear beneath the thin clinic blanket and avoid the conversation altogether. It wasn't that I didn't want to see Brandon. A few more minutes passed before Caleb glanced toward the doorway again."Still waiting."I opened my eyes."He's really not going to leave, is he?""Probably not."A reluctant smile tugged at my mouth."I hate that you're prob
THALIAThe moment I heard Brandon ask for me, every muscle in my body seemed to tense at once.For the past few minutes, I had been trying to settle the uneasiness Clara's appearance had stirred inside me. Now, hearing Brandon's voice just outside the door made all of that effort feel pointless.I looked at Caleb, and behold, he was already looking at me.There was a question in his eyes, but I didn't have the energy to answer it. Before I could think better of it, my hand reached out and caught the front of his shirt, my fingers curling into the fabric near his chest."Don't let him come in."The words came out quieter than I'd intended.Caleb's expression changed immediately. The amusement disappeared from his face, replaced by something gentler as he glanced briefly toward the doorway."Okay."He didn't ask why.He didn't ask what had happened between Brandon and me.He simply stood and moved toward the entrance, positioning himself in a way that blocked most of the room from view
BRANDONThe first thing I felt was anger.It sat heavy in my chest all afternoon, refusing to fade.I stood in my office at Langford Pharmaceuticals, staring through the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city. Traffic crawled below like ants. People moved through their ordinary lives, wh
THALIAI had just placed the cardboard box in the passenger seat and was about to start the engine when someone called my name.“Thalia!”The voice came from behind me.I froze for a second before turning around.Brandon was walking out of the company building, his expression already dark with ange
THALIAThe meeting dragged on for nearly forty minutes.Charts flashed across the screen as Dr. Harlan talked about revised timelines for Project Elara. Clara stood beside him, explaining sections of the presentation as if she had always been part of the team.I stayed quiet.My pen tapped against
THALIABy the time the car rolled through the iron gates of the estate, the tightness in my chest had already become hard to ignore.Thomas stopped in front of the entrance and stepped out to open my door.“Welcome home, ma’am.”I nodded faintly and walked inside.The house was quiet. Too quiet.Wi







