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TWENTY TWO
Tanggal publikasi:
2026-03-19 18:04:56
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I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON 122
THALIAThe moment Adrian's SUV disappeared through the camp gates, I let out a slow breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.He always had a way of making me feel like everything would be okay, even when he wasn't around.I straightened the clipboard in my hands and turned back toward the training rink.The players were already halfway through the final practice session of the morning.Coach George's whistle echoed across the arena every few seconds as he barked instructions, his voice carrying effortlessly over the sound of skates cutting across the ice. The pace was relentless, yet none of the players complained. They moved with impressive discipline, pushing themselves through one drill after another until sweat soaked through their training shirts.A few feet away, Olivia stood beside me, jotting down the last of our notes."I still can't believe this is work," she murmured.I smiled without taking my eyes off the rink."You've been saying that since we got here.""Because look
I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON 121
THALIAI woke before the sun had fully risen to the sharp sound of whistles echoing through the camp. For a few sleepy seconds, I lay on my bed staring at the wooden ceiling above me, wondering who would willingly choose to exercise at such an ungodly hour. Then it all came rushing back.Hockey camp.A muffled groan came from the bed beside mine.Olivia had crashed in my room the night before after telling me about how Brandon looked like a poor kid till he left.Olivia pulled the blanket over her head as if she could somehow block out the noise."I swear these people don't believe in sleep," she muttered.I laughed quietly as I climbed out of bed."They're professional athletes.""They're insane.""You'll survive."She peeked at me from beneath the blanket."Barely."By the time we got dressed, the sky had begun to brighten with the first hints of morning. We headed out for our usual run, following one of the winding trails that stretched around the camp. The cool morning air felt r
I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON 120
THALIAAdrian remained beside me for a few moments after Brandon disappeared into the darkness, his eyes following the same path mine had unconsciously settled on. Neither of us spoke immediately, and I was grateful for that because I wasn't entirely sure what I was feeling. "Are you okay?" Adrian asked quietly, turning to look at me.I met his eyes and offered him a small smile."I'm okay."He studied my face for another second, almost as though he was trying to decide whether he believed me."You don't have to pretend with me.""I'm not pretending." I rested my forearms against the wooden railing and looked out across the lake, where the lights from the party shimmered on the water. "I really am okay."He nodded slowly, but I could tell there was still a question sitting at the back of his mind."What is it?" I asked.He hesitated for a moment before speaking."Would it be wrong if I asked how you felt talking to Brandon just now?"I let out a quiet breath and smiled to myself."N
I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON 119
BRANDON I glanced over my shoulder and watched as she stepped onto the porch, quietly closing the door behind her before wrapping her arms around herself as the cool night breeze swept through the camp. She hadn’t seen me. Good. I then turned to leave through the other side. “Brandon.” My feet stopped before my mind had a chance to tell them to keep moving. Slowly, I looked back. She was watching me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. “You don’t have to leave.” I frowned slightly. “What?” A faint smile touched her lips. “You don’t have to make it look like I’m chasing you away.” I blinked. “If you came out here for fresh air,” she continued, gesturing toward the lake, “then stay and get some fresh air. Don’t walk off just because I happened to come outside too.” I let out a quiet breath, almost embarrassed that she’d seen right through me. “I wasn’t trying to make you look bad.” “I know.” “Then…” She shrugged lightly. “I just don’t want anyone thinking I ow
I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON 118
BRANDONI had already spent the better part of the afternoon sitting through meetings with the club executives, discussing sponsorships, facility upgrades, and a dozen other things that normally would’ve held my attention. And yes, I was invited because I’ve been Ravens Elite's biggest sponsor.I held on to sponsoring them even after they refused to partner with Langford pharmaceuticals just so I could have an excuse to see Thalia once in a while.Seeing her again after everything that had happened between us had unsettled me far more than I cared to admit.She’d looked… different.Not because she’d changed physically, although she looked healthier than the last time I’d seen her in the hospital. The bruises were gone, the exhaustion that had once shadowed her face had faded, and there was a quiet confidence about the way she carried herself that hadn’t been there before.She looked lighter.As though she’d finally laid down a burden she’d been carrying for years.The realization sh
I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON 117
THALIA“What the hell are you doing here?”Olivia’s voice rang out before I even had the chance to react, making everyone standing nearby glance in our direction.I looked at her and almost smiled. Her arms were folded tightly across her chest, and the glare she was directing at Brandon could have frightened just about anyone. If looks alone were enough to chase people away, he would’ve turned around and driven straight back out of the camp.Instead, Brandon remained exactly where he was.For a brief moment, our eyes met across the parking lot, and I caught the slightest flicker of pain on his face. It disappeared almost as quickly as it came, replaced by an expression I couldn’t quite read. He simply gave the three of us a polite nod.It was the kind of acknowledgment you gave strangers you happened to recognize.Nothing more.Nothing less.Without saying a single word, he shifted his attention to a man walking toward him from the direction of the main lodge. The man looked to be i
I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON FOUR
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
I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON THREE
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
I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON SIX
THALIAAcross the city, my new apartment still smelled faintly of fresh paint.Freedom had a strange scent.I stood in the middle of the living room, staring at the half-opened boxes scattered everywhere. The place wasn’t nearly as large as the Langford estate, but it felt lighter somehow. The sile
I LEFT WHEN HIS EX CAME BACK WITH HIS SON FIVE
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
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