Semua Bab His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret: Bab 161 - Bab 170

CALLIENow, I was trying to hide from Andy. Back then, the universe had done a magnificent job of keeping us apart. We were never aligned to begin with, so it was easy. However, this day, just when I decided to let go of my feelings for him, the universe seemed to have awakened with a vendetta and thought, “Let’s ruin Callie’s day in very specific ways!” Because suddenly, it felt like Andy was everywhere. In the hallway I was walking through. In the elevator I just stepped into. At the water fountain I reached for. And now, as I turned a corner too quickly, I collided with what felt like a solid wall. I wished it had been a wall, but no—it was Andy. My shoulder bumped his chest, and I stumbled back, mumbling an apology before I realized who it was. My heart stopped for a second. He still looked very good. Ugh. That stupid dark hoodie, the stupid messy hair, the stupid calm face. He looked handsome.I cursed internally as a crinkling noise made us both glance down. A small packet

CALLIE Why does Andy look so hurt?I shouldn’t care. I shouldn’t even be thinking about it. But the way he stood there… lips parted, eyes pleading like he was going to burst—like he’d just realized something big and now didn’t know what to do with it.He likes me?Just like that?There was no warning or build-up. Just—"what would you say if I said I like you?"And now he looks like I’ve kicked his heart in.God, why now? Why does he get to be sincere now? Why does he get to say that now—after everything?I hugged the books to my chest and tried to keep walking. I didn’t want to think about his voice or the way my own heart skipped a beat hearing it. Because if I did, I knew I’d cave. And I can’t cave. Not again.I rounded the corner.And there was Thomas. Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, waiting for me. My eyes narrowed. “Were you listening?”He clicked his tongue. “No.”He paused.“But you can tell me what he said.”I stared at him, trying to figure out if he was serious. He

CALLIE Emilio has always loved soccer. The sport was expensive, though—the cleats, the uniforms, the club fees, the travel—but my mom and I always found a way. She worked extra hours, skipped things we needed, and made it happen because he loved it. And he was good at it. He lit up when he played. That’s why hearing he passed out during practice took the air right out of me. I couldn’t breathe. My hands were shaking so badly that I could barely grab onto anything. I was desperate, so I even agreed to Andy’s proposition to drive me back. I knew it was the fastest way to get to my brother, and I certainly didn’t want to regret getting there later because my stupid feelings got in the way. Emilio was far more important. I sat there, numb in the passenger seat, staring out the window, pretending I wasn’t panicking. I was grateful, really. And I couldn’t stop wondering—does he really like me? Does he care enough to do this? I didn’t want to hope. Hope was dangerous. Hope taste

CALLIEI woke up and Andy wasn’t there anymore.For a second, I thought I was dreaming—that the past few days were just figments of my exhausted brain. That Andy hadn’t actually driven us all the way here. That he hadn’t held Millie like she was a feather in his arms. That he hadn’t been here, in my house, sitting at our chipped dining table and smiling like he wasn’t totally out of place.But his absence now felt like confirmation.He finally realized it—our house wasn’t livable.I sat up on the couch, pulling the thin blanket over my legs for a second longer. It was still early. The sun hadn’t even warmed the floors yet. A breeze came in from the window we cracked open, and the sound of the city waking up buzzed in the air.Millie’s room was quiet when I peeked in. She was curled up on her side, one hand still loosely clutching the stuffed toy she refused to let go of. Her chest rose and fell steadily, her cheeks pink from a good night’s sleep. Did Andy put her to bed?My chest cle

CALLIE I was in the same room as Julia Johnson.Alone.I didn’t know what to do with my hands. My brain wasn’t functioning. My feet were planted, but my heart was doing laps. My mouth may or may not have been hanging open. “I’m sorry for talking to you like this,” she said gently, reaching for my hand.And just like that, I forgot how to breathe.Her fingers wrapped around mine. I stared at her, and for a second, all I could think was, This is the hand that painted dozens of iconic art pieces in the past years. Oh my god.“I didn’t just want you to stay for dessert,” she said. “I wanted to talk to you.”I pursed my lips and turned serious. “I want to tell you a little bit about Andy,” she said.My heart jumped. “Okay.”She leaned back in her chair, still holding my hand, her thumb tracing idle circles on my knuckles.“He didn’t have the greatest childhood,” she began. “Evan and I… we weren’t in a good place for a long time. And children notice these things, Callie.” I pursed my li