CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

ADRIANI walked into the basement—our usual meeting spot for business that couldn't be discussed over wine and polite smiles. The dim light hung heavy in the air, the scent of cigar smoke, thick. My "boys" were already there, seated at the large oak table: Marco, Selim, Rafiq, and Jasper. All dangerous men, loyal but decisive. And tonight, I was paying them to settle Evelyn.I closed the door behind me. Selim looked up. "You sent for us, boss."I nodded. "Yes. Evelyn's crossed a line."Marco leaned forward. "She's threatening with court, again?"I took my seat. "She's threatening full custody. Says if Lena remains in Nova's life, she'll use it to ruin me."Jasper lit a cigar and exhaled slowly, smoke curling. "Messy family shit. We can handle it."I ignored him. This wasn't about eliminating Evelyn—yet. This was chess. "I need a file. Background: finances, social circle, bank transfers, who she's spending time with. I want everything."Rafiq smiled. "You want us to dig into her life?

Last Updated : 2025-06-10

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

MIKEI didn’t expect to see Leo's mouth on that tattoo guy’s neck. Not in his apartment. Not when I was still technically… his. Or was I?Leo was on the couch, half sprawled, and the tattoo guy was straddling him. I think they heard the door, but neither of them stopped. I just stood there. Like an idiot.“Oh hell nah,” I said, finally. My voice felt foreign, like it didn’t even belong to me. Leo didn’t flinch. Tattoo guy just glanced back, unbothered. Like I was some minor inconvenience.Leo stood up finally, running a hand through his hair like I’d just interrupted him from doing laundry. “Mike, it’s not what you think.”I laughed. Like actually laughed. “Isn’t it? Because what I think is that you’re a fucking liar. And a user.”“Can we not do this here?” he said, glancing at his little make-out buddy. “You’re being dramatic. I told you that I wasn't interested in committing from the beginning.”That was it. The final blow, me seeing my situationship—if you could even call it that—s

Last Updated : 2025-06-11

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

AVAI knew the feeling wasn’t paranoia — it was him. It always was.It started small, since I decided that I didn't want to have anything to do with him again.A subtle shift in my pace on the street when I felt him behind me. At first I twisted my head and saw him, he was putting on a dark coat, and his hands were in his pockets — but by the time I focused, he seemed to vanish into the crowd. That’s what he wanted: me unsure if he was real or not.But I knew.My heart thumped as I locked my bike outside the campus parking lot. The lot was nearly empty — only half a dozen cars around the lampposts.I dropped my bag and sighed, tired from class and late-night studying. As I walked, I caught movement in the corner of my eye — a tall figure slinking between cars. I tensed, quickening my pace.“Stop,” a voice rang out behind me.I froze.It was him.Nathan.My breath hitched as he approached.He stopped two steps away, arms folded casually. “Hey, Ava.”“Why are you following me?” I asked,

Last Updated : 2025-06-11

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

ADRIANI walked into the faculty office, half-awake, nursing a black coffee and reviewing lecture notes. The day was supposed to be routine—seminar, lunch, meetings.Then Janice, the department assistant, called out, “Professor Knight? There’s an envelope here for you. Marked as urgent.”She handed me a thick manila envelope with the school crest and a red stamp that said CONFIDENTIAL.“Thanks,” I muttered, frowning. I stepped into my office, shut the door, and sat down.I tore it open.> Subject: Notice of Disciplinary HearingAllegation: Violation of School Conduct Policy — Sexual Harassment Complaint FiledIndividual Named: Miss Lena HartYou are requested to appear before the board at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday.My breath stopped.Lena?I read it again.No. No way. She wouldn’t… would she?I grabbed my phone, heart thudding. Hovered over her name. Didn’t dial. I slumped back in my chair, rubbing my face.“What the hell is going on?”I didn’t sleep that night. Not since I received the

Last Updated : 2025-06-12

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

LENAI left Ava’s room in the middle of the night, my heart beating way too fast, head spinning from the alcohol and… whatever the hell that kiss was.It was probably nothing. Just a drunk thing. Ava was going through a lot of tension and trauma and I didn't want to add to her anxiety. So it had to be because she was drunk. That had to be it.Still, I couldn’t sleep.By morning, I was staring at the ceiling in my room, eyes dry from lack of rest. I expected things to be weird between us, but when I walked into the kitchen, Ava was already making pancakes, singing off-key to whatever was playing from her phone."Morning!" she chirped, like she hadn’t kissed me senseless hours ago.I blinked. "You’re chipper.""Hangover cure…pancakes and way too much syrup." She slid a plate toward me. "You want coffee or something stronger?""Coffee's fine."She poured it for me, no weird looks, no awkward silence. Nothing. It was like it never happened. Maybe it really didn’t mean anything.Maybe she