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Chapter 14: Vivian’s Loneliness
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2025-03-20 14:38:01Vivian Hayes sat in her dimly lit apartment, staring at the untouched glass of wine on the coffee table. The city skyline stretched beyond her window, lights blinking like distant stars, but none of it comforted her. The silence pressed against her, heavy and suffocating.
She had always known loneliness, but tonight, it felt unbearable.
With a deep breath, she leaned back against the couch, closing her eyes as memories clawed their way to the surface. She had spent her entire life under the careful orchestration of her parents. Every decision, every move, every step had been mapped out for her before she even had a chance to choose.
She could still hear her mother’s voice—cold, clipped, full of expectations.
“You are a Hayes. That name carries weight. Do not tarnish it.”
Vivian had lived by that rule her entire life. She had attended the finest schools, learned to walk with poise, speak with precision, and smile when
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The Price of A Bet Chapter 15: Another Chance
Vivian had told herself she was making a mistake. That allowing Ethan another inch into her life was a dangerous game—one she wasn’t prepared to play. Yet, here she was, standing in the quiet corner of a downtown café, waiting for him.The air smelled of freshly ground coffee and vanilla, the low hum of conversations blending with the soft jazz playing overhead. She exhaled slowly, fingers gripping the ceramic cup in front of her, wondering how she had let herself get to this point. She should have never answered his call. She should have ignored his persistence. But despite all logic, she was here, giving him another chance.Then, the doorbell chimed.Ethan walked in, looking both casual and confident, dressed in a fitted black shirt and jeans. His eyes found hers instantly, a small smirk tugging at his lips as he strode over. His presence was overwhelming in a way she didn’t want to admit, like he belonged anywhere he set foot. Vivian’s heart did
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-20The Price of A Bet Chapter 16: Growing Closer
Vivian knew she had made a mistake agreeing to meet Ethan again. The line between professionalism and something dangerously intimate was growing thinner, and she wasn’t sure she could trust herself not to cross it.But the damage had already been done.They sat across from each other in the dimly lit café, the air thick with unspoken words. Ethan, ever the confident flirt, was different tonight. He wasn’t just toying with her—he was studying her, his gaze burning with something deeper than mere amusement.“So,” he finally said, breaking the silence. “Are you going to keep pretending you don’t feel it too?”Vivian took a slow breath, gripping her coffee cup as if it were an anchor. “Feel what, exactly?”Ethan smirked, but there was no arrogance in it this time. It was softer, more knowing. “This pull between us. The way you look at me when you think I’m not
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-20The Price of A Bet Chapter 17: Ethan’s Growing Feelings
Ethan Carter had never been one to second-guess himself. Confidence came as naturally to him as breathing, and women had always been just another conquest. But as he sat in his car outside the café where he and Vivian had just met, he realized something unsettling.He wasn’t just playing anymore.For the first time, the thought of losing interest, of moving on to the next challenge, didn’t sit right with him. The bet, which had once seemed like an exciting dare, now felt like a noose tightening around his neck. Because the truth was undeniable—he was beginning to feel something real for her.He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly. He had to be losing his mind. Vivian Hayes was off-limits in every possible way—his teacher, older, more experienced, and bound by rules that could ruin her if she ever made the mistake of crossing a line with him. And yet, he couldn’t stop thinking about her, couldn’t shake the feeling that she was slipping through his fingers before he even had th
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-21The Price of A Bet Chapter 18: The Thin Line Between Right and Wrong
Vivian spent the night tossing and turning, her mind in chaos. Ethan’s words echoed in her head, refusing to be silenced. Tell me you don’t feel anything… Say it, and I’ll walk away. But she hadn’t said anything. Because she couldn’t.This wasn’t supposed to happen. She was his teacher. He was her student. A line had been drawn, and yet, she had let him inch closer and closer to it, until now, standing on the very edge, she wasn’t sure if she had the strength to pull back.The next morning, she dressed more conservatively than usual, tying her hair into a tight bun, as if it could somehow hold her crumbling resolve together. She couldn’t let herself slip again. She had to maintain her distance.But Ethan Carter had never made things easy.The Classroom Tension IntensifiesVivian walked into class, determined to act as though nothing had happened. She placed her books on the desk, her fingers clenching slightly. The air felt charged before she even lifted her gaze.Ethan was already wa
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-21The Price of A Bet Chapter 19: A Painful Distance
Ethan stormed out of the classroom, his mind spinning. Fiancé? The word echoed in his head like a taunt, each syllable slicing through him. He had expected Vivian to push him away, to deny whatever was growing between them—but this? This was a betrayal he hadn’t seen coming.The hallways were empty as he walked with quick, angry steps, fists clenched at his sides. He didn’t know where he was going, only that he needed to move. If he stayed still, he might explode.She was engaged.All this time, while she looked at him with those conflicted eyes, while she whispered in the dark corners of their conversations, while she let him believe that maybe—just maybe—there was something real between them… she belonged to someone else.Vivian’s RegretInside the classroom, Vivian felt the weight of Ethan’s absence like a physical force. Daniel stood beside her, adjusting the expensive cufflinks on his suit, completely unaware of the storm raging inside her.“I thought I’d surprise you,” he said s
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-21The Price of A Bet Chapter 20: A Night of Bad Decisions
Ethan’s head pounded as he took another shot, the burn of whiskey doing little to numb the ache in his chest. The Den was packed, bodies moving to the rhythm of the heavy bass, but none of it mattered. Nothing mattered.Not when his entire world had just shattered.Vivian was engaged. Engaged. To some rich, perfect businessman who had probably never had to fight for anything in his life. Ethan could still see the way Daniel had placed his hand on her shoulder, the possessiveness in the gesture, the ease with which Vivian had allowed it.And that killed him."Dude, slow down," Jake muttered, pulling Ethan’s glass away. "You’re gonna make yourself sick."Ethan laughed bitterly, shoving his friend’s hand aside. "That’s the idea, Jake."A girl he barely knew draped herself over him, pressing her lips to his jaw. He let her, if only to drown out the memories of Vivian—her soft voice, the
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-22The Price of A Bet Chapter 21: Lines Blurred
Vivian paced her bedroom, gripping her phone so tightly her knuckles turned white. She shouldn’t have called Ethan last night. She shouldn’t have allowed herself to hear the raw pain in his voice, the desperation laced between his words. But she had. And now, she couldn’t stop thinking about him.Her body ached with the weight of guilt, but underneath it, something darker simmered—an unshakable craving, a longing she didn’t dare name.The next morning, she walked into the classroom, determined to keep things professional, to maintain the boundaries she had already shattered too many times. But when she saw Ethan sitting in the back, his eyes darker than usual, something inside her cracked.He didn’t smirk. He didn’t flirt. He just watched her.And that was so much worse.The Tension BuildsThe day passed in a blur of lectures and half-hearted distraction
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-22The Price of A Bet Chapter 22: The Walls Crumble
Vivian sat in her car, her breathing uneven, her fingers gripping the steering wheel as if letting go would send her spiraling. The classroom, the desk, Ethan’s hands on her—it all replayed in her mind in vivid detail. She had let it happen. She had wanted it to happen. And now, she didn’t know how to move forward without crossing the point of no return.Her phone vibrated, breaking through the chaos of her thoughts. A message from Ethan.Ethan: Tell me you don’t regret it.She squeezed her eyes shut. She should say yes. She should put an end to this before it went any further. But when she pictured his face, the way he had looked at her—not just with desire, but with something deeper—she hesitated.Her fingers hovered over the keyboard before she finally typed back: I don’t know.She stared at the screen, half-hoping he wouldn’t respond, but her phone
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-22
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The Price of A Bet Chapter 40: Constructing Dreams Out of Ruins
The rain continued unabated.It beat against the hood of Ethan's truck like an angry drummer as they cruised through the tight streets, out of the gold cage of Vivian's past and into a future she and Ethan could barely imagine.Vivian hugged herself, looking out the window.She had no suitcase. No clothes. No clue.Nothing but the clothes on her back, the shattered phone in her pocket, and the boy sitting next to her.But for the first time in her life, she didn't feel trapped by what she lacked.She felt free.Ethan's hand brushed against hers along the bench, hesitant.Vivian intertwined their fingers without hesitation.He smiled, weak, tired smile, and squeezed.They traveled in silence for a great length of time, the only sound the repetitive slap of the windshield wipers and the rush of water underneath the tires.Finally, Ethan cleared his throat.**"There's not much at my place,"** he said. **"But it's dry. And it's ours."**Vivian's throat tightened.**Ours.**As if a promise
The Price of A Bet Chapter 39: The Storm We Began
The rain-tossed world outside was gray and shaking, but within Ethan's arms, Vivian was warm for the first time.For a few precious minutes, they just stood there in the doorway, clinging to each other like shipwreck survivors.Breathing each other in.Recalling.Vivian didn't want to move.Didn't want to break the magic.But the real world, as always, was in no mood to wait.Her phone buzzed wildly in her coat pocket. Again. And again.Ethan recoiled, his face darkening.Vivian pulled out her phone.Forty-two missed calls.Texts upon texts piling up like a tidal wave.From her mother. Her father. Daniel.Her chest tightened painfully.She knew what they were saying without even looking.Where are you?What are you doing?Come back now.**You don't have to answer them,**" Ethan breathed, his gaze on her face.Vivian hesitated.The weight of years of obedience was crushing her shoulders.But then she remembered the dead-eyed girl looking back at her in the mirror at the dress fitting.
The Price of A Bet Chapter 38: The Morning After
Vivian woke to the soft touch of fingers trailing down her naked back.For a moment, she was still, eyes closed, soaking up the feeling—the warmth, the gentleness, the safety.For a moment, she permitted herself to believe that this could be forever.But reality was a cold, unwelcome guest.The engagement.Her family.Daniel.Vivian's heart hurt badly.She opened her eyes slowly.Ethan lay on his side next to her, propped up on an elbow, his brown hair mussed, his blue eyes warm and impossibly wide as he looked at her.**"Good morning,"** he murmured, voice rough with sleep and affection.Vivian swallowed the sob in her throat and smiled.**"Morning."**For a few minutes, they just lay there, silent except for the sound of their breathing and the faint rain tapping against the windows.Ethan traced slow circles on her shoulder.**"You’re quiet,"** he said gently.Vivian stared at the ceiling. She could still feel him everywhere—on her skin, in her blood, woven into her bones.She wa
The Price of A Bet Chapter 37: Cracks Beneath the Surface
The days following Vivian's public commitment to Daniel Ashford were like navigating through heavy, sticky fog.Ethan had trouble faking indifference. He teased his friends. He flirted with women. He played the part of the charming, unattainable Ethan Carter.But inside, something was leaking, raw and ugly.Every time he looked at Vivian—her thin hand on Daniel's arm, that civility stretched so tight across her face—something inside him cracked a little more.And Vivian?She felt every inch of that space, too.She sat at the back of her classes these days, mute, mechanical.Her laughter was gone. Her smiles artificial.The fire that had once blazed between them was reduced to furtive glances, agonized silences, and heavy stares that said everything and nothing simultaneously.---Late one afternoon, when the spring rain lashed against the windows and most of the students had long since deserted the halls, Ethan found her.Vivian was sitting in the library, books spread out in front of
The Price of A Bet Chapter 36: Confessions in the Dark
The darkness was heavy with a suffocating tension as Ethan sat on the steps of the faded bleachers at the rear of the school gym. The field was painted in hues of gold by the sunset, and the gentle thrum of the cicadas vibrated in the night. His elbows on his knees, he drew a hand through his rumpled hair, gone into his mind. His universe had tilted, and for the first time, he had no idea how to get his balance back.Vivian.Her very name sent a searing pain through his chest. All that time with her had blurred the lines between the game he'd started and the feelings he couldn't deny any longer. The bet had been stupid, childish, and callous. And now? Now it was like a knife twisting in his guts whenever he even considered it."You're here," came a soft voice from behind him.Ethan stiffened, then turned. Vivian stood a few feet away, her arms wrapped across her chest, her expression wary but her eyes spilling over with emotion. The fading light made her seem almost ethereal, her dark
The Price of A Bet Chapter 35: Desperate Measures
Ethan's fingers drummed anxiously on the steering wheel as he sat outside Vivian's house, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. He had watched her enter, seen the tense exchange through the large living room window, and now, he could feel the weight of something slipping away—something he wasn’t willing to lose.His phone buzzed. A message from Ethan's friend.Did you do it? Got proof?Ethan scowled and shoved the phone aside. None of that mattered anymore. This wasn’t about a bet. It hadn’t been for a long time. He had fallen for her, hard, and now she was being ripped away from him.His grip tightened around the wheel. He needed to see her. Needed to talk to her. Needed to do something before it was too late.Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the car door and stepped onto the damp pavement. The night air was cool, and a slight breeze carried the scent of rain from earlier. He moved toward the side of the house, search
The Price of A Bet Chapter 34: Confrontation
Vivian’s hands trembled as she gripped the steering wheel, her father’s voice still echoing in her ears. She knew she had to face him, but she wasn’t ready for what awaited her at home. Every step toward the front door felt heavier, her heart pounding in her chest. The moment she stepped inside, the weight of the atmosphere crushed her.Daniel Whitmore was already waiting in the living room, his arms crossed, his face set in an unreadable expression. Their father sat nearby, his expression one of disappointment and quiet fury. The room felt colder than usual, and Vivian instinctively knew this wouldn’t be just another lecture."Where were you?" Daniel demanded, his voice sharp as a knife, slicing through the tense silence.Vivian hesitated, forcing herself to remain calm. "I told you. I was with a friend."Daniel’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. "Don’t lie to me. I know exactly where you were. Do you have any idea what you’ve done?"
The Price of A Bet Chapter 33: The Consequences of Passion
Ethan lay beside Vivian, their bodies still tangled beneath the sheets, the heat of their passion lingering in the air. He traced slow circles on her bare shoulder, his fingers reverent as if memorizing every inch of her. Vivian sighed, her head resting on his chest, her heartbeat gradually slowing from the intensity of their night together. "This is crazy," she murmured, her voice laced with contentment and dread all at once. "We shouldn’t have done this." Ethan shifted, lifting her chin with his fingers so she would meet his gaze. "But we did. And I don’t regret a damn thing." She searched his eyes, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to believe in the illusion that this could be more than just a mistake. That this could be something real. Then the sound of a car door slamming outside shattered the illusion. Vivian's body tensed instantly. "No..." She bolted upright, dragging the sheets over her chest as she listened. Ethan sat up too, brows furrowed. "What is it?" F
The Price of A Bet Chapter 32: Waking Up in His Arms
Vivian stirred as the first rays of dawn filtered through the sheer curtains, casting golden streaks across the rumpled bed. The warmth enveloping her wasn’t just from the sun—it was from the solid, sculpted body beside her, the heat radiating from Ethan’s bare skin pressing against her own. A deep inhale filled her lungs with the lingering scent of him, an intoxicating blend of his cologne and the musk of last night’s passion. Her body still thrummed with the echoes of pleasure, each movement reminding her of the way he had worshiped her with his hands, his lips, his body. She shifted slightly, and immediately, a strong arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer. A deep, husky groan rumbled against her neck as Ethan stirred behind her, his lips pressing instinctively against her shoulder. “Where do you think you’re going?” His voice was thick with sleep, yet still laced with that ever-present teasing edge that made her shiver. Vivian felt her breath hitch as his fingers
