All Chapters of His Reluctant Bride: Contracted To My Enemy : Chapter 111 - Chapter 119

Liora Tristan didn’t pull away. Instead, he met me halfway, and for a moment everything else… The world outside, the noise, the ache between us… it all blurred until it was only him.Although the kids wasn’t gentle, but it wasn’t rough either, just full of everything we hadn’t said, all the pain and wanting we’d both buried.His hand brushed my jaw, steady but careful, as if afraid I might disappear if he held too tight as our lips moved in perfect sync.Even though I was the one who started the kiss, but not long after I was completely being let along as he took charge, deepening the kiss as though he meant to swallow all of me. When we finally broke apart, breathing unevenly, I couldn’t even look at him. My chest was tight, heart racing like it didn’t know where to go from here.He was silent too, staring at me with that same look that always left me undone, somewhere between guilt and something that felt dangerously close to love. Like he used to gaze at me all those years ago. W

LioraThe next morning.I checked my watch for what felt like the hundredth time, sitting in the corner of the coffee shop where I’d been waiting for… too long now. Any minute, I told myself. Any minute, they’ll walk through that door.But they didn’t.And now I was starting to think maybe they never got my message. Or maybe they did, but chose not to come.And honestly, I couldn’t blame them. Not after how things ended the last time we saw each other. I wasn’t expecting them to just come running because I suddenly decided I wanted to talk.“Are you sure you don’t want to order anything for now?”I looked up to see the waitress standing by my table, notebook in hand and a polite smile that didn’t quite hide her impatience.“Uh… yeah,” I glanced at the door again before turning back to her. “I’m actually expecting someone, so….”“I understand, ma’am,” she cut in gently. “But according to our policy, customers aren’t allowed to wait over an hour without ordering. And you’ve been here f

LioraI left the coffee shop about an hour later.Cassie and Jasmine had gone off in their truck. Jasmine didn’t offer me a ride today, which I was oddly grateful for.I caught a taxi straight to the company instead of heading home.There were still one or two things I needed to finish up before I could call it a day.After paying the driver, I clutched my purse, took a deep breath in, then out, before heading toward the gate.It wasn’t locked like the last time. The place looked surprisingly clean, almost unrecognizable which made me wonder just how much work those cleaners had put in.But thinking about it.. it should've been getting dirty again. Right?I stepped inside, taking in the sight of the compound. Even the mold that used to creep along the corners of the walls was gone. Someone had clearly taken care of the place.But… who?The question followed me as I made my way toward the building. The floors were spotless, the glass panes gleaming faintly in the afternoon sun. Defin

LioraWhen I turned to him, he was already watching me quietly.“Now that I’m really thinking about it…” I paused, searching his face. “It’s been you all along. Isn’t it?”He didn’t say anything right away. Though I could see the faint tension in his jaw, the way his hand gripped the wheel just a little tighter. He doesn't look like he'll be saying anything, so I went on“You really didn’t think I’d notice?” A small, tired smile slipped out of me.He exhaled, leaning back in his seat. “You think too much,” he said in an almost teasing voice but I could tell he was trying to deflect.Thus, I let out a soft laugh that wasn’t really a laugh. “Maybe I do. But I’m not wrong, am I?”He turned his head away, eyes on the road, refusing to meet mine. That alone was the answer I needed.I looked at him for a few more seconds before whispering, “Why didn’t you just tell me?”He didn’t answer that either. Just gave a faint, crooked smile that looked more like surrender than denial.So I looked aw

Liora“What have you been meaning to tell me?” I asked with a faint smile tugging at my lips to hide my curiosity.“Umm…” He paused, his gaze shifting for a moment as if searching for an escape route. “Nothing… it’s nothing. Let’s just eat.”I narrowed my eyes slightly, tilting my head. He was avoiding eye contact, busying himself with the cutlery like it suddenly required all his attention. For someone who claimed to have nothing to say, he looked way too uncomfortable.He definitely had something to say.But if he wasn’t going to talk, I wasn’t going to pry as well for the fact that I’d had enough of chasing unspoken words.So I sighed softly, picked up my fork, and turned my attention to the steaming food in front of me instead.The rest of lunch went by quietly. We didn’t talk much, only when it felt necessary. Still, it wasn’t uncomfortable silence… just one of those quiet moments where words didn’t really seem needed.By the time we were done, he paid the bill and we headed bac