Semua Bab The Billionaire Regret After My Goodbye: Bab 61 - Bab 70

Aria's POVThe days I spent in the hospital felt endless, stretched thin by anxiety and silence.Every creak of the door made my body tense, convinced Kane would come bursting in again.But the man I feared—and longed for—never appeared.Slowly, my condition stabilized. The fever subsided. The welts on my skin began to fade.But I knew… some wounds ran deeper than skin. No ointment could erase the memory of that whip cracking through the air.Every night, the sound haunted my dreams. I'd jolt awake, drenched in sweat, heart pounding in the darkness."I... I still have nightmares," I whispered.The woman across from me looked up from her notes.She was the therapist Harlan had arranged—gentle eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses, and a voice that never rushed."That's completely normal," she said softly, closing the folder. "Think of it this way—your emotions have caught a cold. And l

Aria's POV"Aria, come stay with me."His words hit me out of nowhere.I froze, caught between surprise and awkwardness. "What?""I just don't feel comfortable leaving you here alone," Chad said, his voice low and sincere. "You're still recovering, and if Kane shows up again... I can't just sit back and do nothing. Come stay at my place—no, not the apartment. I've got a house out in the countryside. It's quiet, safe. Just for a little while. Please."I looked at him, but my thoughts were scattered."I mean it," he added gently. "You're not ready to be alone. You still need therapy, you can't stay in the hospital, and someone has to take you to your appointments. Let me help you, Aria. Come with me."Maybe it was the softness in his tone.Maybe it was just him—Chad—someone who's always felt like home.Whatever it was, a part of me that had been locked up and guarded started to give way.I knew I wasn't okay.I was barely holding it together—tense, exhausted, waking up in the middle of

Aria's POVThose words slithered into my ears like venomous snakes, their poison rushing through my veins, freezing me from the inside out.I stumbled backward.Crash—My elbow knocked over a glass. The sharp shatter sliced through the air, but it couldn't compete with the deafening sound of the wall of trust inside me crumbling to pieces.I stared at the broken shards on the floor, Chad's voice still echoing in my mind."I'll make sure he dies."My fingers trembled, cold sweat pooling in my palms.He had once been the person who knew me best—my safe harbor, my calm in the storm.And that's exactly why it would've been so easy for him to manipulate me, to earn my trust again, to use it.Suddenly, everything made sense.His reappearance at the hospital.Bringing me to this secluded house.Even the nightly glasses of milk that made me fall asleep so fast—were they part of the plan?"Aria?" Chad rushed in, concern etched across his face as he reached for me. "Are you okay?"I flinched aw

Aria's POVThe phone screen dimmed as Caleb's text popped up like a bucket of cold water over my head:[Sorry, Aria. Something came up at work. I won't be able to pick you up.]Of course. I should've known better than to expect anything different.I checked the time. If I tried to get into the city now, I'd be arriving after dark.And this place… it was so remote. Not a single car in sight.My fingers tightened around the suitcase handle, the metal growing warm in my grip. Just then, the soft click of the front door unlocking made my heart leap into my throat.I looked up. Chad had returned.His suit jacket was slung casually over his arm, his tie loosened, dark circles under his eyes. He looked exhausted.He stopped when he saw me, all packed and ready to leave. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed."You're leaving?" His voice was rough, like it hadn't been used in days. He twirled his car keys between his fingers, absentmindedly.I avoided his gaze. The suitcase wheels trembled sl

Aria's POV"Hello? Mr. Lake? Is anyone home?"A man's voice—unfamiliar. Rough. Not Kane.Relief flooded my body, but only just.I tiptoed to the door and peeked through the smart display.A repairman in a blue uniform stood outside, wearing a baseball cap pulled low over his face.He wasn't tall or broad like Kane. No expensive suit. Just toolboxes and wires at his feet."We're here to repair the kitchen control panel," he said.Right—the panel had shorted yesterday when the soup spilled on it. Chad must've called someone to come fix it.I took a deep breath and reached for the door."Chad's not home right now, but—"A sharp, chemical stench hit me the second I cracked the door open. A rough cloth clamped over my mouth and nose.My body went into panic. I clawed at his arm, digging my nails into his flesh.I felt blood under my nails—but my strength drained fast. My limbs turned to jelly. My knees buckled."Mmph—!"The world tilted violently.My vision blurred. I felt myself being dra