All Chapters of Our love to hide: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Sarah stood outside the gleaming front doors of Kensington University’s administrative building, fingers fiddling with her student ID. She’d given a prepared speech to the board three days ago an impassioned defense of her family, of truth, of loyalty. She’d grown up learning to curate her image. Now her heart was unfiltered on a well-lit stage.She took a deep breath, stepping inside.The good morning greeting from the receptionist felt brittle. Sarah wasn’t sure if she’d ever feel unwelcome before but today, she did.Minutes later, she sat across from Vice Chancellor Prescott, an austere woman in her fifties with steel-gray hair and an expression that measured cost before compassion.“Your conduct this past week,” Prescott began, voice carefully neutral, “has raised concerns among several parties: donors, students, alumni.”Sarah's stomach tightened.“I provided context,” she said. “I stood up for my brother’s right to speak for himself”Prescott held up a hand. “Public outbursts i

Chapter 33 - Fault LinesThe morning after the protest, Ethan awoke to a strange hush in the air. The usual sounds of birds chirping, cars rolling past, even the low hum of life felt distant, as if the world was holding its breath. Sunlight crept past the blinds, cutting across the room in pale ribbons. He lay still, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of everything press against his chest.Nathan wasn’t beside him.The bed still held warmth, the sheets rumpled where Nathan had once slept. Ethan rolled toward the indent and pressed his face into the pillow, trying to ground himself, to remember that Nathan was still here, still real.Last night had been a blur of noise, heat, fear and love. The protest had been louder than anything he’d ever experienced. People screaming, holding signs, some of them bearing their faces. He remembered Sarah’s protective arms around him, Nathan’s hand clutched tightly in his, and the overwhelming sensation of being both seen and hated.He fina

The invitation came in an email with a subject line so soft it barely looked real:Visibility and Voice: A Safe Space Panel for LGBTQ+ Youth.Ethan stared at it for a long time. He hadn’t told anyone about it yet. Not Nathan, not Sarah. Just seeing the email made his heart pound. The sender was an old professor from his college Dr. Alvarez, someone who'd once told him he had a voice that could move people if he dared to use it.He read the message again. *"We’d love for you to share your story. We believe it can help others feel seen. Safe. Real."*Real.The word stuck with him. After weeks of hate, of stares in public and cruel whispers online, Ethan wasn’t sure he remembered what real even felt like.Nathan found him later in the kitchen, standing over the open email on his phone."You okay?" Nathan asked gently.Ethan looked up. "I got invited to speak. At a panel. For LGBTQ+ students."Nathan’s brows lifted. "That’s huge.""It’s terrifying."Nathan walked over and placed a warm h

The sun had barely risen, yet the Rivera household was already humming with tension.The kitchen, once a sanctuary of lazy breakfasts and warm laughter, now hosted a war council. Ethan sat at the counter nursing a cold coffee, Nathan leaned over the dining table scrolling through files on his laptop, and Sarah paced back and forth, her phone pressed to her ear.Vanessa entered quietly, setting her purse down. “Any luck with the files?”Nathan looked up. “Sarah found records of hush payments. Employees silenced after filing HR complaints against Lucas. It’s all buried, but it’s there.”“I found copies of signed NDAs, too,” Sarah added. “And an email chain where Lucas’s assistant confirms a false testimony against a female employee he harassed.”Ethan looked up. “This is enough to expose him, right?”“It’s more than enough,” Nathan said. “But we have to be smart. One wrong move and he’ll bury us first.”Vanessa moved closer to the laptop, her eyes scanning the documents. “I know someone

The air was thick with tension as Sarah sat in front of the laptop, her fingers trembling slightly as she hovered over the mouse. The folder on the screen glowed like a forbidden fruit, labeled "Lucas - Full Evidence." Inside were the documents, audio clips, financial statements, and a confession video from a former employee. Everything they had collected over the past few weeks."Are you sure about this?" Vanessa asked from behind her, arms crossed tightly. Her face was unreadable, but the worry in her eyes betrayed her.Sarah nodded. "He won't stop unless we stop him first."Ethan stood beside them, Nathan at his back. The house had become more than just a place of safety; it was now their war room. Every wall hummed with the weight of what they were about to do.Vanessa stepped closer and placed a hand on Sarah's shoulder. "Then do it. We will back you."Sarah clicked the upload button. A progress bar crawled across the screen. The documents, videos, and files were sent to four maj