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Chapter 25
Last Updated:
2025-03-10 15:31:58
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To Love Again Chapter 26
It was Jordan. I smiled at him and nodded. He'd disappeared earlier after his mother walked down the stairs, and I'd wondered where he went.Now, as I let him lead me back to the dance floor, I thought to myself that this night was going a lot better than I'd envisioned. I was actually having fun. The people here weren't stuck up like the people at that party that I'd gone to with Jordan.After the first dance, which for me was really just a chaotic movement of my feet, the tempo of the music changed to slow and sensual.“Nope. Certainly not me." I said with a laugh and made to leave, but Jordan held me firmly in place.“Why are you leaving?"“Because I'm terrible at this sort of thing." I said over the music. “I can't dance to save my life."His hands went to my waist and he pulled my body closer to his. "I can teach you.” He said in a voice that sent shivers down my skin."Just move with the music and follow my lead.” He guided me with his hands firmly on my waist.I didn't have to
Last Updated : 2025-03-11To Love Again Chapter 27
Marissa's POVI felt like a thousand butterflies had been let loose in my stomach as his lips roamed slowly over mine. At first, I was too stunned to respond, but then his tongue probed my closed mouth, and as I opened, it felt as if a switch was turned on in me.I placed a hand over his chest, as I let my lips run over his. His tongue sought mine and found them, and I heard myself let out a moan as his hands cupped my breasts through the dresss.It was he who pulled back. He rested his forehead over mine and let out heavy gasps of breath. His hands were still on my breasts.As I fought to catch my breathing, the realization of what had just happened suddenly hit me, and I jumped to my feet. What had I been thinking?I took one step back, and then another. He rose to his feet.“Marissa….”“Excuse me.” I said, and left the enclosed garden in a near run.I went into the hall and walked straight towards Chloe who was at this time, holding a glass of wine in one hand, and staring into Cal
Last Updated : 2025-03-12To Love Again Chapter 28
Jordan's POVWhen Marissa ran off after the kiss that we shared that night, I didn't know whether to follow her or to just let her be. I called after her and was about to go to her, then I sat back down, confused.I got into the hall a few minutes after and saw that she and Chloe had left. I didn't understand why, but I sent Dane to find them and get them home safely. If she'd run off on me in the garden and had even left the party, then I wasn't sure that she'd be eager to have Mr come after her now.Over the course of the weekend, I stopped myself several times from sending a message. I just wanted to know what was running through her mind, and if she was open to a conversation about it. I stopped myself, though. Better to talk to her about it in person.Monday came with a lot of work and by the time I managed to get a few minutes away from all the work, she was… weird.There was an air of excitement about her that felt false and when I tried to bring up the kiss, she cut me off. Her
Last Updated : 2025-03-13To Love Again Chapter 29
Marissa's POVI looked at my reflection in the mirror one last time before going down to join Chloe who is already set.“All good?" She asks, and I nod. “Great. Whatever happens, you have to keep a cool head. Don't let that asshole get under your skin, and don't lose your confidence. You've got this, Rissa, okay?"I nodded again. “Yes, yes. I won't let him or anything get under my skin. Thank you Chloe.” I said, and we got out of the house and into her car. It was the second hearing for Anthony's and my divorce today, and I was nervous. Outside the courthouse, I clutched the strap of my purse so tightly that my knuckles grew white.Chloe walked over to my side and took my hand in hers. There were no words needed between us. I flashed her a weary smile and thanked the heavens for the day I met her.Chloe's parents were already seated inside. We walked over to their side and Mr Jenkins got up to hug me. Nancy mirrored the action.“How are you, sweetheart?" She asked.I sighed. “I just
Last Updated : 2025-03-14To Love Again Chapter 30
The morning after the hearing, I woke up feeling like I’d been hit by a truck. My body was heavy and my mind even heavier. Anthony’s words kept replaying in my head like a broken record. Get ready for hell. I didn’t know what he was planning, but I knew him well enough to know he wasn’t bluffing. He’d always been the type to double down when he felt cornered, and now, with the restraining order in place, he was definitely cornered.Yesterday, we'd gone to Chloe's parents, and in those few hours, I had almost forgotten about my predicament. Almost, but I hadn't forgotten. The lies and threat still lingered in my heart.I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower, letting the hot water wash over me until my skin turned pink. It didn’t help much, but I continued anyway. I got out of the shower and dressed up for work sluggishly.By the time I got down the stairs, Chloe was already in the kitchen, humming to herself as she made coffee. She looked way too cheerful for someone who had
Last Updated : 2025-03-15To Love Again Chapter 31
Nancy threw a birthday party a week after I got the car gift from Sam. She was turning 55, and she wanted to spend the day with friends and family.It was a Tuesday, and Chloe and I came straight from work to the house which was already bubbly with people. We'd been in the house over the weekend, and had also come after work yesterday to help with the planning.Of course, helping with planning basically meant that we'd planned the entire party, and Nancy had squealed excitedly over the stuff that she liked, and vehemently crossed out the things that she didn't.The party seemed to be in full swing, and we joined in on the fun. Chloe's parents had never been fans of alcohol so there was none available at the party. Instead, we had mocktails, juice, and some nonalcoholic wine.We both hugged Nancy tightly and gave her the presents we'd got her. Her eyes watered when I said I loved her and was so grateful for her existence. Some old friends soon came to pull her away.Chloe went outside
Last Updated : 2025-03-16To Love Again Chapter 32
I woke up to find Nancy in the kitchen dancing and singing along to some country music. I smiled at the sight. I'd picked up the habit from her. I danced in the kitchen too.I wrapped my arms around her from behind. “Morning, Nancy."She turned around to hug me properly. “Morning, baby. How are you?"“I'm okay. I'm gonna be late for work." It was almost 8. The distance from their house to Kingstons was almost an hour.“Well then, pour yourself a cup and go get ready." She said.I opened the cabinet and took out a cup. I poured some coffee, and Nancy handed me a slice of leftover cake. With how much I loved my fluffy chocolate cake, I wonder how I survived on Anthony's blasted wheat cake for three whole years.He'd talk down on all the things that I liked and would always go on and on about how they were unhealthy and I had to pay more attention to my health. Not like he cared much, anyway.As I ate, Nancy turned down her music and watched me for a few seconds.“So, how do you feel?" S
Last Updated : 2025-03-16To Love Again Chapter 33
The rest of the day at work dragged on, but I kept my head down and focused on getting through it. Nancy’s words still echoed in my mind, but so did the image of Jordan and Cassandra laughing together at the restaurant. Somehow, I felt that the universe had been intentional about making sure that I saw them as I did today. It was a stark reminder of the world Jordan lived in– a world I didn’t belong to. How ridiculous of me to even entertain the idea that anything could happen between us.By the time I left the office, I was exhausted, both mentally and emotionally. I just wanted to go home, curl up on the couch, and forget about everything for a while. But as I got into my car, my phone rang. I looked at the screen. It was Chloe.“Rissa, I need you,” she said as soon as I answered. Her voice was frantic, and I could hear the clatter of dishes and people shouting in the background.“What’s wrong?” I asked, my heart immediately racing. Rissa was always calm and collected when she was
Last Updated : 2025-03-17
Latest chapter
To Love Again Chapter 106
Jordan's heart beat steadily under my head. His arm was wrapped around my waist as I lay against his chest. I liked the warmth. We'd been in each other's arms all day, and it still felt like we hadn't spent enough time together.For a while, I kept my eyes closed and simply listened to the silence of his bedroom. I was at home here, in his arms. The world outside could be chaotic and unpredictable, but right here, in this moment, there was peace.“You’re still awake,” he murmured, his voice low and warm against my neck.“So are you." I responded.He tried to shift me to his side, but I hugged him tighter. “Don’t move. I just want to remain like this.”“Okay then.” He whispered, and wrapped his arms tighter around me.I turned in his arms until I was facing him. His eyes were open now, and in the low lights in the room, I searched his eyes. He looked somewhat tired- work was probably still as stressful. But he was beautiful. He was always beautiful.“I like this,” I said quietly. “Bein
To Love Again Chapter 105
When I returned to the police station the next morning, Chloe was with me. Inspector Ariya seemed to be leaving as we came in. Surprise registered briefly in her eyes when she saw us.She walked up to us briskly. She looked tired but sharp, her dark hair pulled back into a no-nonsense ponytail.“Hello, ladies. I wasn't expecting to see you back so soon.” she said this last part, facing me. “Have you decided to press charges after all?"I shook my head. “Not yet. I haven't. Actually, we came to speak to you, and if possible to her."She quirked a brow. “Her? You're sure you want to do that?”"I don't know. Actually… we found something.”We told her about looking online and seeing that Layla's online presence had been completely wiped off. We told her about the photos of her that we'd come across and how the timing didn't add up. And then out of the blues, Chloe told her about her thoughts that Layla was working with someone.“Why do you say so?" She asked very calmly.“Because I know L
To Love Again Chapter 103
Chloe stared at me like I’d grown another head. “You mean, like, private investigator type digging?”“If we have to,” I replied, folding my arms. “Because I can’t sleep at night knowing she might not be done, and that she meant what she said. We have to get to the bottom of this, Chloe.”Chloe looked at me skeptically. “I don't know, Rissa. I can't say that I agree with this being a good idea.”“Well, are you going to help me or not?" I demanded.Sighing, she reached for her laptop and pulled it into her laps. "Okay, Sherlock. Where do you want to start?”I hadn't actually meant for us to start immediately, but we did. We weren’t police officers, and we weren’t detectives. But we had working brains and the internet. And at this point, that felt like enough.“I don’t even know what I’m looking for,” she muttered, typing rapidly. We searched for everything we could think of. It was as though Layla Freeman didn't exist.We scrolled through pages of irrelevant news and articles. There was
To Love Again Chapter 103
Chapter 103I stared at her in dazed shock.There was a venom in Layla’s eyes I had never seen before, and as I watched her now, some of my anger gave way to something colder. something worse. Fear.“What the hell are you talking about, Layla? What do you mean this is only the first of many? What else are you planning?” I tried to keep my voice steady, but it trembled as I spoke.“She will not be doing anything, Miss Colton,” Inspector Ariya’s voice cut through the tension, drawing my attention away from Layla. “Come on now, you. Get up.” She grabbed Layla by the arm and pulled her to her feet.I watched as they began to leave. I didn’t want them to. I wished the inspector had let me speak to her just a little longer. There was something unfinished, something dangerous in Layla’s last words. A few hours ago, I might have dismissed them as a threat—a pathetic attempt to scare me. But not now. Not after seeing her admit, without an ounce of guilt, that she had set the fire. Not after wa
To Love Again Chapter 102
Chloe was still in bed when I left for the police station the next morning. She’d already told me before that she didn't want to go. What was the point anyways? Whatever she was going to find out from speaking to Layla, she would find out when the police were done with their investigation.In any case, I didn't want to go with anyone either. Not with Jordan, and not with Chloe too. I wanted to just go alone. I needed to speak to Layla by myself, see her with my own eyes, and listen to whatever explanation she had. It just needed to be me. Just me.The drive to the police station only lasted about 30 minutes but it felt like 3 hours. As I drove, my mind kept going back to the last few weeks since we met Layla at that restaurant. I thought of how I had been skeptical about letting her into my space and then I thought of how Chloe hadn't really liked her or trusted her. Then I went on to remember how over time, she had sort of broken our resolve, mine especially, and had slowly made her
To Love Again Chapter 101
The silence was deafening. We all stared on in silence at the image on the screen. It was her. It really was Layla. It didn't make any sense. How could she have tampered with the wiring? She'd been a part of the entire planning, after all! She had put in so much effort to make this work so how was it even possible that she would be responsible for ruining the night."That can't be." I said shakily. "Maybe there's a mistake. Maybe it's..."Inspector Ariya's voice cut me. "The footage is very clear, ma'am. That's the culprit."I swallowed. I didn't know what to say. I didn't think Chloe did either. Again, it didn't make sense. I didn't think as I sat backwards on the couch with knees pulled to my chest like I could somehow protect myself from the storm that had just torn through the room. Chloe sat beside me in stunned silence. Her arms were wrapped around her body like she, too, was trying to keep herself from falling apart.The laptop was still open on the dining table, the paused f
To Love Again Chapter 100
The silence in the room after I said those words was thick enough to suffocate a person. Chloe blinked at me, with her mouth slightly open. Her brows knit together in first, confusion, then alarm.“What do you mean someone set the bakery on fire?” she asked slowly, like she was trying to give the question time to change into something less terrifying. “You know that's impossible. The firemen said it to Caleb.I shook my head. “That’s what the guy from the insurance company just now said. He said… he said the wires were tampered with. Deliberately.”Chloe stood up and began pacing like the movement would somehow bring clarity. “But who? Why? That doesn’t even make sense. Who would do something like that?”I didn’t have an answer. All I had was a sharp ache in my chest and a hundred questions tumbling over each other in my mind.Someone had intentionally tried to sabotage me. Who could it be? Why? I felt my heart squeeze at the thought of the obvious betrayal. Everyone at that launch y
To Love Again Chapter 99
Jordan dropped me off at home at a little past noon. When we pulled up to the house, Chloe was already waiting at the door. As soon as I stepped out, she rushed toward me, wrapping me in a tight embrace.“Everything’s going to be fine,” she whispered, her voice steady. “We’ve got each other.”I clung to her, feeling a weight being lifted off my shoulder. The scent of the lavender shampoo that we both shared filled my nostrils and for a brief moment, replaced the acrid smell of smoke that had plagued me since last night. Now, having Chloe hold me like this after such a chaotic night served as a reminder that amidst the chaos, some things remained constant. Like friendship. And family.Jordan was at my side by the time that Chloe broke off the embrace.“You're sure you'll be okay?" He asked, gently."Yea, of course. What am I, like an egg?” I asked and managed a small smile. “Plus, I've got Chloe. I'm absolutely fine, Jordan. You can go.”“Okay." He said, nodding.He reached out and bru
To Love Again Chapter 98
I woke up to silence. Not the kind of silence that brought peace or the one that insinuated a sort of calmness, but the kind of silence that pressed against my chest and made it harder to breathe.I lay still, blinking up at the ceiling, unsure for a moment where I was. The room wasn’t mine. That was for certain. The scent in the air was clean and warm, and the sheets were softer than the ones on my bed at home.Then it all came rushing back. LoveBites. My bakery. My dream. The dream I'd nursed.I felt fresh tears gather in my eyes as the memory from the scene played over and over in my head. That small pop that I'd first heard in the middle of my speech, then the crackling, the smoke, the fire, me being rooted to a spot, the chandelier that came crashing down.Wasn't it too early to be crying again? Last night, after Jordan had gone to sleep with me tucked comfortably in his arms, I cried again. I'd cried myself to sleep in fact.I sat up slowly, the sheets falling away from my bod
