Lahat ng Kabanata ng Total Surrender : Kabanata 51 - Kabanata 59

Richard’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel as he pulled into the driveway. He was already beginning to question his choice-dragging Pamela into a life of danger. Wasn't she better off with Jason? At least she would have a safe life.He killed the ignition and sat there for a moment, fingers still wrapped around the steering wheel. The confrontation with Eleanor was inevitable, but he hadn’t decided yet how he wanted to play it. Stepping out of the car, he made his way to the front door, the weight of the night pressing down on him. The house was eerily still when he entered, the only sound the soft click of the door shutting behind him. “Eleanor?” he called out. No answer. He checked the kitchen first—empty. The living room, the study, even the damn guest bedroom. Nothing. A bitter laugh escaped him. Of course. She’d disappeared after the dinner, likely off to some late-night rendezvous of her own. He exhaled sharply and yanked open the fridge, grabbing the

Pamela woke up the next morning with a lightness in her chest that hadn’t been there in weeks. She stretched, her muscles humming with a quiet energy, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she didn’t have to force herself out from under the covers. Sophia was already in the kitchen, scrolling through her phone with one hand and shoveling cereal into her mouth with the other. She looked up as Pamela entered, her eyebrows shooting up at the sight of her. “Damn,” Sophia said, mouth half-full. “Someone’s glowing. Did you and Jason have a really good talk or something?” Pamela rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t stop the smile tugging at her lips. “Jason is so sweet. We ended things, but he still wants us to hang out. ” Sophia snorted. “Are you kidding me? He wasn't mad?” "He said he was disappointed, not mad," Pamela replied, with sadness in her voice, "But he still wants to be friends. We have friendly date at this restaurant that makes awesome chicken pies, and he ev

Pamela lay sprawled across Richard’s desk, her body still humming from the aftershocks of their encounter until her phone buzzed violently against the wooden surface. She groaned, rolling her head to the side to glance at the screen. Sophia. Richard’s hand, which had been lazily tracing circles on her bare thigh, stilled. “Who is it?” His voice was rough, still thick with desire. Pamela swallowed, reaching for the phone with tremblingfingers. “Sophia. She says it’s urgent.” Richard exhaled through his nose but didn’t stop her as she swiped to answer, putting the call on speaker. “Pam!” Sophia’s voice was sharp, laced with something Pamela had never heard before—panic. “Where the hell have you been? I’ve called you six times!” Pamela winced, pushing herself up on her elbows. “I was—uh—” She shot Richard a helpless look. He arched a brow, unimpressed. “I was busy,” she finished lamely. Sophia made a frustrated noise. “Busy? Jesus, Pam, check your messages. Now.” The l

The moment Eleanor’s car disappeared down the driveway, Richard’s composure shattered.Pamela. He promised to keep her safe. And he would. He couldn’t let this happen. Richard grabbed his phone from the counter, his fingers moving before his mind could fully catch up. He scrolled to Pamela’s contact, hesitated for half a second, then pressed call.It rang once. Twice. Then— “Hello?”Her voice was small. Richard closed his eyes. “Don’t say a word.” A beat of silence. Then, “What?”“At the hearing or summons,” he said, his voice low, measured. “If they ask you anything—anything—you don’t answer. You say you don’t remember. You say nothing.” Another pause. He could almost hear the way her breath hitched, the way her fingers must be tightening around the phone. “Richard, I—”“No.” He cut her off, sharper than he intended. He softened his tone. “Don’t explain. Don’t defend yourself. Don’t give them anything to use against you.” A shaky exhale on the other end. “Okay.”“I’ll