Semua Bab The reluctant vow: Bab 31 - Bab 40

The morning sun poured weakly through the blinds, casting long slanted shadows across the room. Regan sat at the edge of his bed, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands tangled in his hair. He had barely slept a wink, haunted by everything that had unfolded the previous day — Zara’s angry words, Imani’s blackmail, and the mess his life was spiraling into.His phone vibrated on the nightstand.A new message.He grabbed it, already expecting the worst.But it was from Zara.“I’m less angry now. If you still want to talk, I’m free this evening.”Regan let out a slow breath. Relief and guilt warred inside him.She was giving him another chance.But he wasn’t sure he deserved it.Just then, his phone buzzed. A message from Imani.“See you today. Same time as last. 1 PM. Room 305. Don’t be late. Or don’t bother calling this child yours when he or she is born.”Regan read the message twice, his jaw tightening.He sighed and typed back,“lol I would love that tho.”It didn’t take Imani tw

Zara hadn’t planned to walk into Regan’s office that afternoon. She told herself she would be calm, professional. She told herself she was done letting him get under her skin.But after the show Imani pulled earlier with the gift delivery — the flowers, the note — her blood was boiling too fiercely for calmness.Without knocking, she pushed his office door open.Regan, who had been reviewing documents for the upcoming family dinner, looked up sharply.The second his eyes met hers, he tensed.There was fire in her gaze — raw, unforgiving.“Zara,” he said, standing up slowly. “What’s wrong?”“What’s wrong?” she repeated, her voice sharp with disbelief. “You’re seriously asking me that?”He frowned. “Zara, what happened?”She threw the small card onto his desk. The one that came attached to Imani’s flowers and gifts.“From Regan Kareem to my darling Imani.”Regan stared at it like it was a snake about to bite him.“What the hell is this?” he asked, genuinely confused.“You tell me!” Zara

Zara’s heels clicked sharply against the marble floors, each step punctuating the growing unease in her chest. The dinner had been a spectacle — a lavish affair with far too many smiles that felt fake and far too many eyes that seemed to follow her every move. As Zara mingled with the guests, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of her situation pressing down on her. The engagement was official now, the date set, and nothing about it felt genuine.She could feel Imani’s gaze on her from across the room. The woman was lingering far too close for comfort, always within Zara’s line of sight, her smirk never wavering. Zara tried to ignore it, pushing down the discomfort gnawing at her. Imani wanted attention, and Zara was determined not to give her the satisfaction of acknowledging it.Kemi, however, had a different idea. Zara turned toward her best friend just as Kemi spotted Imani. Without hesitation, Kemi marched across the room, her stance filled with determination. Zara watched as h

The morning light spilled softly into Zara’s room at the Kareem mansion, but she had barely slept. She turned onto her side, staring blankly at the elegant curtains, her mind still replaying the conversation with Kemi the night before. Her father’s warning echoed louder with every passing hour.A light knock came at the door before it creaked open. Kemi’s head popped in, her hair wrapped messily in a scarf.“Rise and shine, bride-to-be,” she said teasingly, stepping inside with two mugs of coffee in her hands.Zara sat up, forcing a small smile. “Thanks. God knows I need it.”Kemi sat beside her on the bed and handed her a mug. “You look like you’ve been wrestling demons all night.”Zara laughed dryly. “I feel like it.”For a few minutes, they sipped quietly, the comfort of friendship filling the silence.Then, Kemi’s voice turned serious. “Zara, what are you going to do? About all this?” She gestured vaguely around the luxurious room.Zara stared into her coffee. “I don’t know. I fee

Zara hadn’t planned on making it a habit. But each night, as the house fell silent, she couldn’t help herself. The urge to follow Regan, to figure out just what the hell was going on, gnawed at her.It wasn’t like she was obsessed… well, maybe she was. Just a little.She would tell herself it was nothing, just curiosity, just needing to understand the pieces of the puzzle that were Regan’s life — the pieces he kept locked away. But each night, as he slipped out for another mysterious errand, she found herself slipping behind him again.It had started as an occasional thing, but now it was becoming routine. Every night, she donned the same hoodie, flattened her chest, and turned her mind off to any risk of getting caught. She had already followed him twice this week, each time more daring than the last. But tonight, she could feel the tension in her bones. Tonight, it felt different.She leaned against her window, watching as Regan prepared to leave. The same strange feeling settled in