All Chapters of GUILTY DEVOTION: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

I grabbed the nearest robe from my wardrobe, my hands fumbling with the belt as my mom's voice rang again.“Cassie, are you up? Can you hear me?”My heart pounded as I rushed to the door. Nicholas looked frozen for a split second before darting toward the closet at the hidden side of the room. His shoulder brushed mine, and I could feel the tension radiating off him. I shut the closet door just as I heard another knock before my mom would barge in.“Yeah, mom... just a stupid dream. I guess the drinks and stress contributed to it,” I said, cracking the door open and pushing my hair back to sell the lie.She stood in her nightgown, concern etched on her face. “I thought I heard some noise... like someone talking or you groaning?”“Just me fighting my dreams,” I said with a tired smile. “I was talking in my sleep again, I guess. Sorry if I woke you up. I didn’t intend to.”She squinted for a second, eyes scanning my face like she could see the truth hiding beneath. I tightened the robe

Wherever he popped out from, I didn’t know or care to. The fact that he made his way to my office floor just to torment me after I was grateful that I wouldn’t need to see his face at the cafeteria was baffling and annoying at the same time.“You know that you in the wrong place, right?” my voice was stern enough to let him understand that he was unwelcome.He only responded with a short smile. “Oh, come on! Don’t be like this. There’s no reason for you to be hostile. I am not here to disturb you. I didn’t see you at the cafeteria and decided to check in. It’s just colleagues looking out for each other.” One would think his intention was that pure and harmless but I know Ryan. He was here to torment me, to remind me that he was still very much available in the company, and that I shouldn’t get too comfortable.Before I could even say anything to his words, he said, “Take care and don’t forget your morals.” That left me madder and more confused as fuck!****Throughout that week, the

|Cassie|The office buzzed with renewed urgency as the team ramped up efforts for the governor's marketing campaign. Meetings ran longer than usual since the deadline was getting closer and the governor’s team gave the order to wrap it up so they can come over for the final check and meeting before launching.Thanks to that, people’s tempers grew shorter due to nervousness and everyone moved like they were racing against a clock only they could hear. I tried to focus and drown myself in the mountain of work and deadlines so I wouldn’t cause any mistake from my side.Even Nicholas was working on extended timelines so we could meet up. Most versions we came up with, he always had something better to suggest and we understood the pressure. It was a gig where he needed to prove himself worthy and capable.However, even in the noise and tension, Ryan’s attitude always found a way to pick on me. His tone had become sharp, condescending, and cold.We were halfway through a morning strategy m

Zara blinked awake to the unfamiliar texture of high-thread-count sheets tangled around her legs. The sunlight slowly seeped through half-open blinds, warming up the bed across the room with its light that filled the entire room. Her body ached badly as she stretched slightly, and something was draped around her waist, holding her back from stretching properly.It was Ryan.She turned her head slowly, dread rising in her chest. His arm was slung across her, and his bare chest rose and fell steadily beside her with his eyes closed tightly. She was naked, he was naked, and they were completely naked.“Uh?” her eyes bulged at the realization of what was happening. The way her hand flew to her mouth in order to cover it up was faster than her brain processing the whole scenario Her stomach dropped as she stared at their discarded clothes littered across the floor like shameful breadcrumbs. Even at this point, her head was still refusing to carry the right message, like a paper-jammed pho

Of course, he will always show up wherever I am experiencing pain and sadness. He enjoyed picking on me or watching others do so.He looked between us, his eyes gleaming like the villain he knew he was. Everything was interesting and amusing to him.“Oh wow. Are you both trying to talk things out now? After causing all that drama?”Zara looked away, suddenly all quiet.Ryan walked toward me, blocking my exit as I started marching towards the door.“I just wanted to check on the drama queen. Still crying to the shelves?”“Get out of my way before I slam you with the door. Don’t make me lose my cool!”He grinned. “Or what? You’ll cry harder? Maybe Nicholas will show up and rescue you like always? Face it, Cassie. You’re done for and he’s not even here to help you out of the mess.”I moved to shove past him, but he grabbed my wrist tightly and pulled me back to him.My skin burned where his fingers squeezed. He intentionally tightened his grip on my wrist.“Let go of me right now!”Zara