All Chapters of FORBIDDEN AFFECTION : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Lara’s POV I stared at him, refusing to look away. “Well?” My voice was firmer than I expected. Aiden leaned back, exhaling slowly, like the weight of my question pressed on his chest. His eyes darkened. “Lara… you don’t understand. I want you. god knows I do. But if I let this happen—if I let us happen—I’ll ruin you.” The words stabbed at me. My hands curled into fists on my lap. “Ruin me? Do you even hear yourself?” His jaw clenched. “Yes. Because being with me means your life changes forever. People will judge you, drag your name through the mud, question every move you make. You’ll lose things you don’t even realize you’re holding onto.” I shook my head, my voice rising. “You think my future is so fragile it can shatter just because of you?” “Lara—” “No.” I cut him off, leaning forward, my heart pounding so hard it hurt. “Don’t feed me excuses. My future isn’t something you can ruin. But it will be ruined if you’re not in it.” His lips parted, but I didn’t let him

Elena’s POV Backstage was chaos — laughter, applause for other contestants, whispers about my performance. But I barely heard any of it. My ears were ringing with Mr. Lex’s words. “Lacked precision… I expected more.” It echoed in my head like a verdict. Not just a critique, but something heavier. Something that felt like a warning. I walked past contestants congratulating themselves, forcing a smile, but my hands were trembling. Every step felt heavier. My brush box felt heavier too. The dressing room was quiet when I slipped inside. I locked the door behind me and dropped onto the edge of the bed. My painting lay folded at the corner, unfinished. My chest was tight. I thought of Mr. Lex. That sharp look in his eyes when he spoke. Not a hint of pity. Only judgment. "Why the fuck is it soo hard to impress him." I whispered to myself. And suddenly, it hit me — what if that judgment wasn’t just about the painting? What if it was about my place in this competition? "No,

Elena’s POV The next morning came faster than I expected. I barely slept — my head kept replaying every single thing he’d said. “Do it wrong. But do it honestly.” What kind of man even says things like that? By 6:50 a.m., I was already in the hall again. No one else was there. Just the faint hum of the AC and the sound of my own heartbeat. At 7:00, he walked in. Black again. Same sleeves rolled. Clipboard tucked under his arm. His eyes flicked over me once. “You’re early. Again.” “You said not to be late.” He nodded slightly. “Good. Let’s see if yesterday was luck or progress.” I smirked. “You really don’t know how to compliment people, do you?” “I’m not paid to.” “Well, you could try being human for once,” I muttered under my breath. He heard it. Of course he did. “Humans get attached,” he said. “Judges don’t.” That stung more than it should’ve. I straightened and said, “Then stop looking at me like one.” His eyes met mine — sharp, unreadable. “Walk.”

Rose’s POV Days had passed since that night. And somehow, I still kept coming back here. Same club. Same noise. Same lights. Every night, I told myself I was done. That I wouldn’t come again. And every night, my feet still brought me here. I’d sit in the same area, order the same drink, and watch the crowd like I was waiting for something to appear out of it. Or someone. The first night, I told myself it was curiosity. The second, I said I was just bored. By the fourth night, I stopped lying to myself. I was looking for Kailin. I needed to see who he came with. Needed to know if he really had someone. A lover. A one-night stand. Someone he spends steamy nights with. Each night he didn’t show up, my chest tightened in a way I hated. And then tonight— I saw him. My breath caught instantly. Same tall frame. Same calm expression that never matched this place. He walked in like he owned the space without trying, eyes scanning the room like he was checking exit

Rose’s pov I woke up slowly, my head throbbing, my body heavy. Nothing looked familiar. For a moment I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, my heart starting to race. “Where am I…?” I whispered to myself. Then pieces of last night crashed back in—music, lights, a stranger’s face. I followed a man..... to a hotel. My breath hitched. I pulled the blanket down and froze. I was naked. I sat up too fast, a sharp ache tearing through my body. Pain spread everywhere—my legs, my back, places I didn’t want to think about. I hissed under my breath. “Bastard.” Everything hurt. And worse than the pain was the emptiness in my head. I couldn’t remember anything. Not how it started. Not how it ended. Nothing. My chest tightened as the truth settled in. I wasn’t a virgin anymore. I’d given that part of myself to a total stranger—and I couldn’t even remember what my first time was like. That realization hurt more than my body did. I glanced around the room, searching for h