Share

Chapter 38

Author: Crystal hart
last update Last Updated: 2025-04-29 18:52:38

The house was unusually quiet that evening, the kind of quiet that made every creak of the floorboards echo louder than necessary. Zara wandered aimlessly down the long hallway leading to the private cinema room, intending to grab the sweater she had left there earlier. She wasn’t thinking much about Regan — at least not until she approached the corner near his bedroom.

That’s when she heard it.

Muffled voices leaked from his slightly open door. She froze, instincts sharpening.

It was Regan’s voice. And he was on the phone.

Curiosity tugged at her, rooting her to the spot. She knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, but something about the urgency in his tone made her inch closer, her back pressed against the cool marble wall.

“…you need what?” Regan’s voice was low but irritated. car for what now?”

Zara’s brows knitted together, but she kept listening.

There was a pause, then Regan spoke again, his frustration barely masked.

“You’re demanding for a car because of a baby that’s still in the w
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Related chapters

  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 39

    Zara hadn’t planned on making it a habit. But each night, as the house fell silent, she couldn’t help herself. The urge to follow Regan, to figure out just what the hell was going on, gnawed at her.It wasn’t like she was obsessed… well, maybe she was. Just a little.She would tell herself it was nothing, just curiosity, just needing to understand the pieces of the puzzle that were Regan’s life — the pieces he kept locked away. But each night, as he slipped out for another mysterious errand, she found herself slipping behind him again.It had started as an occasional thing, but now it was becoming routine. Every night, she donned the same hoodie, flattened her chest, and turned her mind off to any risk of getting caught. She had already followed him twice this week, each time more daring than the last. But tonight, she could feel the tension in her bones. Tonight, it felt different.She leaned against her window, watching as Regan prepared to leave. The same strange feeling settled in

    Last Updated : 2025-04-29
  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 40

    Zara barely registered the drive back to Kareem’s Mansion. Her mind buzzed with everything she had witnessed tonight. Every corner, every sharp turn Regan had taken, every shadowy figure he had met with—Imani, whoever she was, seemed like a piece of a puzzle Zara didn’t yet have the full picture of. The night air was thick with tension, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was getting closer to something dangerous.As she pulled into the driveway, Zara quickly shut off the engine and climbed out of her car. She glanced around, ensuring no one was watching, before heading to the front door. The mansion was eerily quiet at this hour, and Zara was grateful for the silence. Her steps were steady, but her mind raced.As she reached for the door, the cold handle greeting her with a sense of finality, she froze. The last thing she expected was to bump into Regan.He stood there, looking at her with a raised eyebrow, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his coat.“Did you go out?” Reg

    Last Updated : 2025-04-29
  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 41

    The atmosphere inside the Kareem mansion was different that night—tense, quiet, final. Tomorrow, Zara would return to her father’s house. The wedding was drawing near, yet everything felt off balance.Zara sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the clock. It was almost midnight. She couldn’t sleep with the weight of uncertainty pressing against her chest. The stalker’s message still haunted her, and Regan’s growing distance gnawed at her thoughts.She stood up abruptly, her bare feet padding quietly down the hallway to Regan’s room. This couldn’t wait.He was still awake, seated on the couch near his window, a glass of something dark in his hand. The moment she walked in, he looked up.“We need to talk,” Zara said, closing the door behind her.Regan leaned back slightly, eyebrows raised. “About what?”Zara took a breath. “About us. About… everything. Look, this is our last night here. After this, I go back to my father’s house. We’re getting married soon, Regan. And if we’re going to

    Last Updated : 2025-05-01
  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 42

    The morning sun broke gently through Zara’s bedroom window, but its warmth did little to thaw the cold, tight feeling in her chest. She was back at her father’s house now—just as planned—but something about it felt off. Foreign. Like she had left a part of herself behind at the Kareem mansion.Her mother’s knock came soft but insistent.“Zara, are you awake?”Zara sat up slowly, pressing a hand to her forehead. “Yeah,” she called back, though her voice barely rose above a whisper.The door cracked open, and her mother peeked in. Her eyes immediately scanned Zara’s face. “You look pale. Did you sleep at all?”“I’m fine,” Zara replied quickly, swinging her legs off the bed. “Just… tired.”Mrs. Tunde stepped in fully, her brows drawing close with concern. “You’ve been looking tired a lot lately. Is this about the wedding?”Zara gave a small, rehearsed smile. “Just nerves, I guess.”Her mother didn’t look convinced, but she nodded. “Well, breakfast is ready.”“Okay. I’ll be down in a minu

    Last Updated : 2025-05-02
  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 43

    Zara didn’t even finish brushing her hair that morning. She just tossed it into a bun, slipped on a hoodie, grabbed the flash drive, and dashed out. Her heart thumped the whole way to Kemi’s house, the mysterious note echoing in her head: He’s not who you think he is.Kemi’s mother opened the door with a warm smile, still in her satin wrapper and a shower cap.“Zara! Long time, my dear.”Zara curtsied lightly, breathless but polite. “Good morning, ma. It’s been a while.”“You and Kemi don’t visit like you used to,” the woman teased as she opened the door wider.“We’ve just been swamped with… stuff,” Zara replied, trying not to seem too anxious. “Is Daddy home?”“No, he’s gone for a business trip. Traveled late last night. You just missed him.”“Oh, okay,” Zara nodded, thankful. That meant fewer eyes watching her every move.She climbed the familiar stairs and pushed open Kemi’s door to find the room empty but the bathroom light on. The sound of running water echoed faintly.“Kemi!” sh

    Last Updated : 2025-05-02
  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 44

    The ride to the hospital was uneventful, though Kemi kept glancing at her phone like she was expecting a message. They didn’t talk much—both of them were still unsettled from the strange Imani encounter the last time.As they walked through the hospital doors, the scent of antiseptic hit them instantly. Zara wrinkled her nose while Kemi headed straight for the nurse’s desk to check in. After confirming the appointment, they were told to wait.The hallway was quiet except for the occasional beeping of machines and the echo of nurses’ footsteps. Zara sat beside Kemi, eyes drifting lazily over the faded posters on the wall.Ten minutes later, a nurse stepped out and called, “Miss Kemi Adebayo?”“That’s me,” Kemi stood, brushing invisible dust from her jeans. “You’re coming in with me, right?”“Of course,” Zara replied.Inside the dimly lit scan room, the doctor motioned for Kemi to lie down. Zara stood at her side as the technician prepared the gel and equipment. The whirring of the mach

    Last Updated : 2025-05-02
  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 45

    The penthouse lights were dimmed low, casting long shadows across the floor-to-ceiling windows that framed the city’s glittering skyline. A bottle of unopened red wine sat on the coffee table, untouched. Regan stood by the glass, hands in his pockets, eyes fixed on the night outside—but his mind wasn’t there.Behind him, soft footsteps padded across the marble tiles.“You didn’t say much at the mall,” Imani’s voice floated through the silence, calm and sultry. “Were you afraid someone was watching?”Regan didn’t turn. “You shouldn’t have touched me like that.”She chuckled, low and unbothered. “Oh, please. It wasn’t anything scandalous. And besides, she was watching, wasn’t she?”He finally faced her, jaw tight. “You planned that.”Imani stepped closer, removing her heels one by one as she walked, the sound of them dropping echoing through the room. “Of course I did. It was time she started asking the right questions.”Regan narrowed his eyes. “You said you’d stay away from her.”“I s

    Last Updated : 2025-05-05
  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 46

    Zara barely slept the night before.She kept playing the mall scene over and over in her head—Regan smiling warmly, the woman touching his chest, the way they stood too close, too comfortable. The memory didn’t sting as much as it baffled her. Why lie about who she was?By morning, she had her answer. Or at least, she needed one.“Are you sure about this?” Kemi asked as Zara adjusted her hair in the mirror.“I’m not going there to fight,” Zara said calmly. “I just want him to look me in the eye and lie again.”Regan opened the door still dressed in his sweats, surprise flickering across his face.“Zara?”She stepped in without waiting. “We need to talk.”Regan frowned slightly but moved aside. “Okay…”He followed her into the living room, confusion on his face. “You good? You look upset.”Zara turned to face him, arms folded. “I’m going to ask you something, and I want a straight answer.”Regan blinked, now visibly wary. “Alright…”“Who was the woman you were with at the Royal Crest M

    Last Updated : 2025-05-05

Latest chapter

  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 47

    The evening sky was smeared with grey clouds, and the light drizzle that tapped against the windows gave Regan’s apartment a haunting silence. He sat on the edge of his couch, elbows on his knees, eyes staring blankly at the floor. The confrontation with Zara played in loops in his mind—her eyes, the betrayal in her voice, and the way she’d walked out without giving him a chance to explain.But what was there to explain, really?He heard the door click open.He stiffened.Only one other person had a key to his place besides him.Imani.And she didn’t disappoint.She stepped in, umbrella tucked under her arm, a smug smile tugging the corner of her lips. She was dressed to provoke—black silk wrap dress, high heels clicking against the marble floor, and that signature scent that always lingered long after she’d left.She tossed the umbrella aside and dropped her designer bag on the couch like she owned the place.“So…” she began, her voice cutting through the tension, “you told her?”Reg

  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 46

    Zara barely slept the night before.She kept playing the mall scene over and over in her head—Regan smiling warmly, the woman touching his chest, the way they stood too close, too comfortable. The memory didn’t sting as much as it baffled her. Why lie about who she was?By morning, she had her answer. Or at least, she needed one.“Are you sure about this?” Kemi asked as Zara adjusted her hair in the mirror.“I’m not going there to fight,” Zara said calmly. “I just want him to look me in the eye and lie again.”Regan opened the door still dressed in his sweats, surprise flickering across his face.“Zara?”She stepped in without waiting. “We need to talk.”Regan frowned slightly but moved aside. “Okay…”He followed her into the living room, confusion on his face. “You good? You look upset.”Zara turned to face him, arms folded. “I’m going to ask you something, and I want a straight answer.”Regan blinked, now visibly wary. “Alright…”“Who was the woman you were with at the Royal Crest M

  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 45

    The penthouse lights were dimmed low, casting long shadows across the floor-to-ceiling windows that framed the city’s glittering skyline. A bottle of unopened red wine sat on the coffee table, untouched. Regan stood by the glass, hands in his pockets, eyes fixed on the night outside—but his mind wasn’t there.Behind him, soft footsteps padded across the marble tiles.“You didn’t say much at the mall,” Imani’s voice floated through the silence, calm and sultry. “Were you afraid someone was watching?”Regan didn’t turn. “You shouldn’t have touched me like that.”She chuckled, low and unbothered. “Oh, please. It wasn’t anything scandalous. And besides, she was watching, wasn’t she?”He finally faced her, jaw tight. “You planned that.”Imani stepped closer, removing her heels one by one as she walked, the sound of them dropping echoing through the room. “Of course I did. It was time she started asking the right questions.”Regan narrowed his eyes. “You said you’d stay away from her.”“I s

  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 44

    The ride to the hospital was uneventful, though Kemi kept glancing at her phone like she was expecting a message. They didn’t talk much—both of them were still unsettled from the strange Imani encounter the last time.As they walked through the hospital doors, the scent of antiseptic hit them instantly. Zara wrinkled her nose while Kemi headed straight for the nurse’s desk to check in. After confirming the appointment, they were told to wait.The hallway was quiet except for the occasional beeping of machines and the echo of nurses’ footsteps. Zara sat beside Kemi, eyes drifting lazily over the faded posters on the wall.Ten minutes later, a nurse stepped out and called, “Miss Kemi Adebayo?”“That’s me,” Kemi stood, brushing invisible dust from her jeans. “You’re coming in with me, right?”“Of course,” Zara replied.Inside the dimly lit scan room, the doctor motioned for Kemi to lie down. Zara stood at her side as the technician prepared the gel and equipment. The whirring of the mach

  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 43

    Zara didn’t even finish brushing her hair that morning. She just tossed it into a bun, slipped on a hoodie, grabbed the flash drive, and dashed out. Her heart thumped the whole way to Kemi’s house, the mysterious note echoing in her head: He’s not who you think he is.Kemi’s mother opened the door with a warm smile, still in her satin wrapper and a shower cap.“Zara! Long time, my dear.”Zara curtsied lightly, breathless but polite. “Good morning, ma. It’s been a while.”“You and Kemi don’t visit like you used to,” the woman teased as she opened the door wider.“We’ve just been swamped with… stuff,” Zara replied, trying not to seem too anxious. “Is Daddy home?”“No, he’s gone for a business trip. Traveled late last night. You just missed him.”“Oh, okay,” Zara nodded, thankful. That meant fewer eyes watching her every move.She climbed the familiar stairs and pushed open Kemi’s door to find the room empty but the bathroom light on. The sound of running water echoed faintly.“Kemi!” sh

  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 42

    The morning sun broke gently through Zara’s bedroom window, but its warmth did little to thaw the cold, tight feeling in her chest. She was back at her father’s house now—just as planned—but something about it felt off. Foreign. Like she had left a part of herself behind at the Kareem mansion.Her mother’s knock came soft but insistent.“Zara, are you awake?”Zara sat up slowly, pressing a hand to her forehead. “Yeah,” she called back, though her voice barely rose above a whisper.The door cracked open, and her mother peeked in. Her eyes immediately scanned Zara’s face. “You look pale. Did you sleep at all?”“I’m fine,” Zara replied quickly, swinging her legs off the bed. “Just… tired.”Mrs. Tunde stepped in fully, her brows drawing close with concern. “You’ve been looking tired a lot lately. Is this about the wedding?”Zara gave a small, rehearsed smile. “Just nerves, I guess.”Her mother didn’t look convinced, but she nodded. “Well, breakfast is ready.”“Okay. I’ll be down in a minu

  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 41

    The atmosphere inside the Kareem mansion was different that night—tense, quiet, final. Tomorrow, Zara would return to her father’s house. The wedding was drawing near, yet everything felt off balance.Zara sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the clock. It was almost midnight. She couldn’t sleep with the weight of uncertainty pressing against her chest. The stalker’s message still haunted her, and Regan’s growing distance gnawed at her thoughts.She stood up abruptly, her bare feet padding quietly down the hallway to Regan’s room. This couldn’t wait.He was still awake, seated on the couch near his window, a glass of something dark in his hand. The moment she walked in, he looked up.“We need to talk,” Zara said, closing the door behind her.Regan leaned back slightly, eyebrows raised. “About what?”Zara took a breath. “About us. About… everything. Look, this is our last night here. After this, I go back to my father’s house. We’re getting married soon, Regan. And if we’re going to

  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 40

    Zara barely registered the drive back to Kareem’s Mansion. Her mind buzzed with everything she had witnessed tonight. Every corner, every sharp turn Regan had taken, every shadowy figure he had met with—Imani, whoever she was, seemed like a piece of a puzzle Zara didn’t yet have the full picture of. The night air was thick with tension, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was getting closer to something dangerous.As she pulled into the driveway, Zara quickly shut off the engine and climbed out of her car. She glanced around, ensuring no one was watching, before heading to the front door. The mansion was eerily quiet at this hour, and Zara was grateful for the silence. Her steps were steady, but her mind raced.As she reached for the door, the cold handle greeting her with a sense of finality, she froze. The last thing she expected was to bump into Regan.He stood there, looking at her with a raised eyebrow, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his coat.“Did you go out?” Reg

  • The reluctant vow   Chapter 39

    Zara hadn’t planned on making it a habit. But each night, as the house fell silent, she couldn’t help herself. The urge to follow Regan, to figure out just what the hell was going on, gnawed at her.It wasn’t like she was obsessed… well, maybe she was. Just a little.She would tell herself it was nothing, just curiosity, just needing to understand the pieces of the puzzle that were Regan’s life — the pieces he kept locked away. But each night, as he slipped out for another mysterious errand, she found herself slipping behind him again.It had started as an occasional thing, but now it was becoming routine. Every night, she donned the same hoodie, flattened her chest, and turned her mind off to any risk of getting caught. She had already followed him twice this week, each time more daring than the last. But tonight, she could feel the tension in her bones. Tonight, it felt different.She leaned against her window, watching as Regan prepared to leave. The same strange feeling settled in

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status