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Chapter 27: The Aftermath of Temptation
Last Updated:
2025-03-24 11:07:56
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The Price of A Bet Chapter 28: A Game of Resistance
Vivian stood in front of her mirror that evening, studying her reflection as if searching for answers. Her lips were still tingling from the ghost of Ethan’s words, his presence lingering in her mind like an intoxicating whisper she couldn’t shake. I’ll wait, Vivian. For as long as it takes.Her hands clenched into fists. She couldn’t allow this to continue. The longer it did, the closer she came to the edge of something dangerous, something irreversible. She needed to put distance between them before it was too late.Avoidance and TemptationThe next morning, she was determined to act as if nothing had changed. Her resolve was ironclad as she strode into the classroom, shoulders squared, face impassive. But as soon as she stepped through the door, her breath caught.Ethan was already there, lounging in his seat at the back of the class like he owned the world. His gaze locked onto hers the second she entered, a slow, knowing smirk tugging at his lips. Damn it.She ignored him and sta
Last Updated : 2025-03-24The Price of A Bet Chapter 29: The Push and Pull
Vivian had spent the entire night tossing and turning, replaying Ethan’s words in her mind. You can fight it all you want, but sooner or later, you’ll come back to me. The worst part was, he wasn’t wrong. The more she tried to distance herself, the stronger the pull became.She sat at her desk the next morning, sipping her coffee, willing herself to focus on her work. The school day had barely started, but she already felt exhausted. The sleepless night had done little to help her resolve. She needed to put an end to this, once and for all. She couldn’t keep getting caught in this dangerous cycle. But deep down, she knew—she was already in too deep.A knock on the door broke her thoughts. Before she could respond, Ethan stepped inside, closing the door behind him."You’re not supposed to be here," she said, her tone firm but lacking the conviction she desperately needed.He leaned against the door, arms crossed over his broad chest, a smug grin playing on his lips. "Since when do I fo
Last Updated : 2025-03-24The Price of A Bet Chapter 30: Giving In to the Fire
Vivian couldn’t shake the weight of Ethan’s presence no matter how hard she tried. Every look, every word, every stolen moment between them felt like an invisible force pushing her closer to the edge of a dangerous abyss.She knew she should be stronger, that she should fight harder against whatever this was. But deep inside, she was already losing the battle.That evening, as she stood in front of her bathroom mirror, her reflection showed a woman who was struggling with something she couldn't name. Her fingertips ghosted over her lips, still tingling from the way Ethan had looked at her that morning. It was ridiculous how much power he had over her, and yet, she wasn’t running away. Not really.A sharp knock at her door startled her out of her thoughts. Her heart skipped a beat. No one ever came to her place unannounced. With a shaky breath, she walked to the door and hesitated before unlocking it.The moment she pulled it open, her breath caught in her throat. Ethan stood there, hi
Last Updated : 2025-03-24The Price of A Bet Chapter 31: The Night That Changed Everything
Vivian's breaths were uneven, her body still trembling from the way Ethan's touch had unraveled her. She was pressed against the couch, his weight a comforting pressure, their lips still ghosting over each other’s in slow, lingering kisses. The heat between them was undeniable, the tension thick enough to suffocate. "Vivian," Ethan murmured, his fingers tracing a delicate path along her jawline. "Tell me to stop." She couldn't. Her fingers slid into his hair, pulling him closer, silently giving him the answer he needed. He let out a soft, shuddering breath, his hands pressing into her lower back as he leaned in, deepening the kiss. His lips moved against hers with urgency, tasting her, consuming her. The warmth of his breath sent tingles down her spine, making her knees weak beneath him. His hands roamed down her arms, his touch featherlight yet electrifying. Every inch of her skin awakened under his fingertips, and she arched into his touch, her body betraying her mind, urging h
Last Updated : 2025-03-25The 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
Last Updated : 2025-03-25The 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
Last Updated : 2025-03-25The 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?"
Last Updated : 2025-03-26The 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
Last Updated : 2025-03-26
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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
