Semua Bab GUILTY DEVOTION: Bab 81 - Bab 90

Geneva was another experience for me. Never in my entire life have I been put under so much pressure. It made me remember Nicholas’s words of me possessing the ability to withstand the storm when it comes.This storm met me unprepared. I didn’t think we would have so much to do. I thought all I had to do was represent my company. Who was I kidding? My head almost exploded from brewing ideas that would work right on the spot.For three days straight, we barely breathed. Every morning began with team briefings at 7:00 AM sharp and didn’t end until sometime after midnight. My team and I shared the same hotel floor with the Governor’s aides, and though it was technically a luxury suite, we barely noticed. It could’ve been a hostel for all we cared. No one came here to relax. Everyone went hard at their different tasks. None of us slacked because we dared not in the first place.I coordinated interviews, prepped press materials, managed local and international journalists, fact-checked eve

I looked away. “Someone who can’t seem to shake off her past. It’s like I keep seeing parts of me in people I try to help. Every friend, every co-worker, and someone going along the street, I keep playing the fixer. I think if I can help them, maybe I’ll finally save myself too.”She nodded slowly, her eyes far away. “You think you’re helping others, but you’re really chasing your own healing.”“Exactly.” I laughed bitterly. “They tell me I’m kind. That I’m always showing up, always listening. But I feel empty. It’s like I’m bleeding into everyone and keeping nothing for myself.”She placed a wrinkled hand over mine. “You’re not crazy for that. You’re just projecting the girl you once were onto others. You are hoping someone will finally say what you needed to hear. That you also deserved safety and that you mattered even without doing a damn thing.”Her words hit like thunder; it was louder than what I expected. She sounded like she had known me for all my life. I didn't even have to

Zara took a deep breath and adjusted her scarf as she came out of the cab. Her heart drummed against her chest as the office building stood tall in front of her. Monday had never looked more intimidating ever since she joined the team.She couldn’t stop wondering what her resumption would look like after her suspension. Everyone had ignored her during the duration so no one needed to tell her how cruel and cold it would be for her going forward.Instead of going into her work building directly, she turned left and stepped into the flower shop just by the corner, the familiar chime of the bell that was at Eloise’s office giving her a weird sense of calm. The elderly florist smiled at her, receiving her warmly.“Do you want something special, sweetheart?”Zara offered a small smile. “I want something simple. Just... fresh and gentle. And a small box of chocolates too.”“Apology gift? Sounds like one,” the woman asked knowingly.Zara nodded with a brief smile. “More like... closure. Some

The rest of the week was a good one. He made sure to spoil her silly with several items ranging from food, drinks, and chocolate to flowers. She kept blushing from his random texts that assured her that she was his every single time.They finally planned to crash at his place over the weekend because she didn’t sleep over the other night. He dropped her at the house after they spent some time together, even though he didn’t want her to go.After telling her mother that they have a lot of files to review for the weekend, she got permission to stay over starting Friday evening. The Friday was so hectic that they had to eat out and crashed out on the bed immediately they got home. They could barely pull off their office clothes before they snored in each other’s arms.The morning sun seeped through the room’s curtain at Nicholas’s penthouse as he padded barefoot through the hallway, two mugs of coffee in hand. Cassie stood by the wide glass wall in his living room, arms crossed, and her

When I stepped off the train, the air hit different.It was cleaner and was maybe too clean, like it hadn’t been mixed with exhaust fumes or city tension in years.“I wish I could live here forever.” I didn’t know when I blurted that out because I had already fallen in love with the clean atmosphere.The last time I had this kind of atmosphere was when we went to the countryside for a school project right before the internship started.The breeze carried the scent of pine, soil, and lavender from an old farmhouse porch that was quite close to the train station. All around me were stretches of land so wide it made me feel smaller than usual as I came out of the station. I dragged my suitcase across the gravel parking area as someone approached from a beige SUV parked nearby.A petite woman, probably in her late thirties, smiled at me, holding up a sign that read Chloe M.—Health Rotation Program.“That’s me,” I called out, waving. She gave me a warm nod and came over quickly.“Welcome t