All Chapters of Unconditional Love: Chapter 21 - Chapter 29

LARA Lying in bed, Lara felt a strange sense of peace that she hadn’t experienced in weeks. Knowing Hades was just across the room, breathing the same air, safe and away from the chaos he usually endured, made her heart swell. She turned over, clutching the pillow tighter, her thoughts racing. For once, she didn’t have to brace herself for the sight of a new bruise or a fresh cut marring his face when he walked through the school gates. She didn’t have to spend her mornings wondering if today would be the day his world crumbled completely. Tonight, for this fleeting moment, he was here. Safe. Her lips curved into a small smile as her mind wandered to the way he’d looked at her earlier—the softest glimpse of vulnerability hidden behind his guarded expression. She knew he wasn’t used to this: care, comfort, someone worrying about him without expecting anything in return. Maybe he didn’t fully understand it yet, but she’d keep showing him, day by day, that he deserved it Lara’s ph

LARA By the time we got home, Dad was already standing outside the car, holding a set of keys in his hand. His expression was unreadable, but I could tell he was nervous about how this would play out. He glanced between Hades and me, then gestured toward the apartment building. "Got the keys ready for you," Dad said warmly, handing them to Hades. “It’s not much, but it’s safe and comfortable. You can start fresh here.” Hades hesitated for a moment, looking at the keys like they were something foreign. I saw the flicker of emotion in his eyes—gratitude, relief, maybe even disbelief. “Thank you, Mr. Kingsley,” he said quietly, gripping the keys tightly. Dad smiled and turned to me. "Help them settle in, sweetheart. Then we’ll give them some space." I nodded, already moving to the trunk of the car where some of the furniture and supplies Dad had insisted on buying were packed. Hades followed, his face still tense, but there was a softness in his eyes when he looked at me. We spent

LARA I was walking down the hallway, a slight bounce in my step. The past few weeks had been nothing short of amazing. Hades and I were finally in a good place, and I felt like nothing could ruin my mood. That is, until Hector decided to step in my way. He leaned against the lockers, blocking my path, with that smug grin plastered across his face. “Well, if it isn’t the school’s charity worker,” he sneered, his tone dripping with mockery. “Tell me, Lara, what’s it like slumming it with Hades? Are you trying to save him or something? Because, newsflash, you can’t.” I stopped in my tracks, narrowing my eyes at him. “Excuse me?” I said, my voice sharp. “What I do and who I care about is none of your business, Hector.” “Oh, but it is,” he said, crossing his arms. “You’re dragging our school’s reputation through the mud by parading around with someone like him. It’s pathetic, really. You’re way out of his league.” My fists clenched at my sides, but I refused to give him the satisf

I felt so relieved when Mr. Zane told those policemen off. The tension in the air seemed to dissolve in an instant, like a heavy weight lifted from my chest. My heart slowed, and I dared to hope that maybe, just maybe, Hades would be okay. But that relief was short-lived when Mr. Zane turned to Hades and said those words."Follow me to my office."My stomach sank. I could feel my pulse quicken, the weight of the situation crashing down on me again. Why did Mr. Zane want him in his office? Was it something more than just a talk? My gaze flicked from Hades to the policemen, then back to Mr. Zane, whose face remained unreadable.Hades, for his part, didn’t resist. His expression was neutral, but there was something about the way he walked toward the principal’s office that made my insides twist. It was like he had already accepted whatever came next, like he knew this was another thing he had to deal with. But I couldn’t shake the fear that something bad was going to happen.I stood froz

LARAI gripped my car keys a little too tightly as I stared at Hades. The tension between us was so thick it felt like it was pressing down on my chest."Come on, I’ll drive you home," I said, nodding toward my car parked a few spaces away. "We can talk."Hades shook his head instantly, not even considering the offer. "I’ll walk."I exhaled sharply, my patience wearing thin. "Seriously? Why are you acting like this?" I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "You have no reason to shut me out, Hades. My dad and I—" I stopped myself, frustration boiling over. "We helped you. We helped your mom. And now, when something’s obviously wrong, you’re pushing me away?"His jaw clenched, his shoulders stiff as if he were bracing for a fight. But instead of snapping back, he just looked away, like he didn’t even want to be having this conversation."It’s not about shutting you out," he muttered after a moment. "I just—" He cut himself off, shaking his head. "I just need to deal with it on my own."I