Lahat ng Kabanata ng Tempting Hot Neighbor: Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

Nicole gazed lovingly at her mother, and then stood up from the chair. She needed a moment to collect herself. She quietly made her way to the bathroom, closing the door behind her.She turned on the faucet, letting the cool water flow over her wrists as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She splashed some water on her face, feeling the droplets trickle down her cheeks.As she patted her face dry with a towel, Nicole took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering emotions from her dream. She needed to focus on her mother, not get caught up in memories of the past.Nicole walked out of the bathroom, she was surprised to see Jack standing beside her mother's bed. He caught her eye and walked towards her, opening his arms for a hug. Nicole stepped into his embrace, feeling a sense of comfort and security.Jack held her tightly, whispering words of reassurance in her ear. "Hey, I'm here for you. Everything's going to be okay." Nicole felt a lump form in her throat as she hu

Nicole's face stung from the slap, but she was more shocked by her mother's words. "You're defending him?" she spat, her voice venomous. "After everything he did to us, you're defending him?"Karen's face softened, and she looked at Nicole with tears in her eyes. "I'm not defending him, Nicole," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm forgiving him. I forgave him a long time ago."Nicole's eyes widened in shock, and she felt like she had been punched in the gut. "You forgave him?" she repeated, her voice shaking with rage. "How could you? After everything he did to us?"Karen's face was calm, but her eyes were filled with a deep sadness. "I forgave him because I had to, Nicole," she said. "I had to forgive him for my own sake, for my own peace of mind. Holding onto anger and hatred only consumes you, Nicole. It eats away at your soul."Nicole felt like she was going to explode. She couldn't believe what her mother was saying. She couldn't believe that her mother had forgiven

Gage stood in the doorway, Mr. Flynn's face lit up with a warm smile. "Gage, darling! It's so great to see you!" Mr. Flynn exclaimed, walking towards the door with a flair of excitement.Nicole, on the other hand, felt a wave of discomfort wash over her. She hadn't expected to see Gage, and his sudden appearance had left her feeling off-balance. "What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.Gage shrugged, his eyes locked on hers. "I just need some sugar," he said, his voice low and smooth.Before Nicole could respond, Mr. Flynn swooped in, his voice dripping with seduction. "Oh, baby, why do you need sugar?" Mr. Flynn asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.Nicole felt her face grow hot with embarrassment as Gage's eyes flickered to Mr. Flynn, a hint of amusement dancing in their depths. "I need it for my coffee," Gage said, his voice even.Mr. Flynn clapped his hands together, his face lighting up with excitement. "Well, why don't you join us? We're having c

Nicole walked down the hallway, her eyes fixed on the floor as she talked on the phone. "Hey, Jack. I'm good, just busy with work," she said, her voice distracted."Busy with work, huh?" Jack's voice came through the phone, warm and familiar. "What's going on? You sound a little stressed."Nicole sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I just have a lot on my plate right now. Mr. Harrison's son is getting married, and I'm helping with the preparations.""Ah, that sounds like a big deal," Jack said. "I wish I could be there with you. You know, to help you out and keep you company."Nicole smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest. "That's sweet of you, Jack. But I think I've got everything under control."There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Nicole wondered if the call had dropped. But then Jack spoke up again."I miss you, Nicole. I wish I could be there with you, holding your hand and helping you through all this."Nicole's heart skipped a beat at the since

Nicole stood under the warm shower, her eyes closed, allowing the water to cascade down her face. But despite the relaxing sensation, her mind was elsewhere. The image of Liz kissing Gage kept replaying in her mind like a broken record. She tried to shake it off, to will herself to forget, but it was stuck, refusing to budge.Why was she torturing herself like this? She didn't love Gage, didn't even like him after the way he had spoken to her. But despite her better judgment, she couldn't help but feel...something. It was a feeling she couldn't quite put her finger on, but it was there, lingering in the shadows of her mind.As she stood there, the water pounding against her skin, Nicole realized with a start that the feeling was...jealousy. She was jealous of Liz, of the way she had so effortlessly wrapped Gage around her finger. But why? Nicole didn't want Gage, didn't need him. So why was she feeling this way?Nicole's eyes snapped open, and she felt a surge of frustration. She was