Semua Bab CRUEL OBSESSION: Bab 51 - Bab 60

The cracked mirror stared back at me like it was laughing. I looked awful. A dark bruise was spreading over my cheek, thanks to Razor’s punch. My lip was dry and cracked, stained with dried blood. My knuckles were sore, still aching from the fight. But honestly, the pain in my chest hurt more than anything else.It wasn’t just about the bruises. It was everything else.The silence after the fight. The way the world just kept turning like nothing had happened. And most of all, the way Elena had looked at me. Like she wanted to help. Like she cared.But then I remembered.She was getting married.To him.In one month.The bathroom light above me flickered and buzzed, making everything feel worse. I turned on the faucet, and warm water ran out. Slowly, I dipped an old towel into it—it used to belong to Dad—and gently pressed it against my cheek. I winced. It burned.I looked back at the mirror and sighed. I looked like a total mess. A guy like me wasn’t meant to be in a girl like Elena’s

The next day arrived, and with it came the dreaded dress fitting. My mother was practically bouncing with excitement, her eyes sparkling like she was planning the most magical event of the century. Tiffany, my friend, was just as enthusiastic, her chatter filling the air as we stepped into the bridal boutique. The place was massive, with high ceilings and mirrors that seemed to go on forever. Gowns sparkled on the racks, like something out of a fairy tale.Tiffany, of course, was all smiles, practically skipping around as she touched every gown she could reach. But me? I felt like I was carrying a weight on my shoulders. The smile I forced onto my face felt like it might crack at any second. Inside, I was miles away, my thoughts a tangled mess I couldn’t untangle. Every step I took felt like I was wading through mud, and nothing seemed to fit right. The gowns, so beautiful and elegant, seemed like they belonged to someone else’s life, not mine.As we entered the fitting room, Tiffa

Noah’s voice came out soft, almost a whisper, but it hit me like thunder.“The Book Nook... that café near the General Library. Do you remember?”“Yes,” I said slowly, my voice barely making it past my lips.“Tomorrow. Noon,” he said. His voice shook a little, and somehow, it made my chest tighten. “Please, Elena.”Before I could say another word, the line went dead.I stood there frozen, still holding the phone to my ear, even though all I could hear was silence. The street around me felt distant, like I was watching the world from the other side of a glass wall. My hand trembled as I lowered the phone, cold metal against my warm skin.“Elena, darling? Are you alright?” My mother’s voice snapped me out of it.Her hand, soft and cold from too many rings, landed gently on my arm. I turned to see her carefully lined eyes studying me. Next to her, Tiffany was staring too, lips pursed, eyes sharp.“I’m fine, Mother,” I lied, forcing a smile I didn’t feel. It stretched across my face too t

The final exam ended on a quiet Thursday afternoon.Everyone burst out of the hall like waves crashing onto shore—laughing, shouting, and hugging each other like they’d just won the lottery.It should’ve felt like freedom.But all I felt was… empty.I stepped into the sunlight, blinking against the brightness. The world looked too cheerful for how heavy my heart felt.Cameron found me before I could even take a breath.“There she is!” he grinned, sliding his arm around my shoulder. “It’s over, babe. You did great. I can feel it.”I tried to smile. “Thanks.”“Let’s celebrate tonight, yeah?” he asked. “No more exams, no more stress. Just you and me. Steak or sushi?”“Sushi’s fine,” I replied quietly.I wasn’t hungry. I wasn’t excited. I wasn’t anything.Cameron kissed my temple. “That’s my girl.”I nodded, but my mind was already far away. I was barely listening. All I could feel was this strange ache in my chest, like something was missing—like something had been missing for weeks.The

The next morning, the sun had already risen when I woke up to the sound of Cameron humming in the kitchen. The warmth of the sunlight trickled through the curtains, nudging me awake. I stretched, the heavy weight of the night still clinging to my mind. I wanted to stay in bed to avoid whatever this day would bring. But the scent of food reached me, too tempting to ignore.I dragged myself out of bed and padded downstairs. The smell of sizzling eggs and warm pancakes greeted me like an old friend, pulling me forward. Cameron was moving around the kitchen with an energy I hadn’t seen in a while, his hands working quickly, whistling a cheerful tune that felt almost out of place in the tense quiet of the weekend.When he turned around and saw me standing in the doorway, he grinned widely. “Good morning, beautiful. I made us breakfast.” He practically beamed, his smile too bright, too eager, like he thought this morning would somehow fix everything.I forced a smile, masking the knot in my