Semua Bab The Sin Between US : Bab 41 - Bab 50

I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the hem of my dress as I got ready to head out with Ethan. The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the quiet room, but it did little to cool down the heat creeping up my neck. Tonight was supposed to be simple, just dinner, just us but my mind was a tangled mess. I reached for my lip gloss, trying to focus on the familiar routine of getting ready, but my fingers trembled slightly. It wasn’t nerves about Ethan. No, it was something else. Someone else. A knock on my door made me pause.Before I could answer, the door cracked open slightly, and Lucas peeked in, his signature smirk firmly in place. "Hope you're decent, Sunshine."I rolled my eyes, turning away from the mirror. "Ever heard of knocking and waiting?"He grinned, stepping inside anyway. "Where’s the fun in that?"I sighed, crossing my arms. "What do you want, Lucas?"He leaned against the doorframe, his gaze sweeping over me, lingering just a second too long. "You going somewhere?"

The villa was silent, except for the soft rustling of trees outside and the occasional distant sound of waves crashing against the shore. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, restless. No matter how much I tried, sleep wouldn’t come. My mind was a battlefield, torn between the present and the past between Ethan and Lucas. Lucas, just thinking about him sent a wave of frustration through me. Why did he have to come back into my life and stir up emotions I had buried long ago? Why did he look at me like he knew every thought running through my mind? I exhaled sharply and sat up. I needed air.Carefully, I slipped out of bed, making sure not to make a sound as I pulled on a sweater. The last thing I wanted was anyone knowing I was wandering around in the middle of the night. The hallway was eerily quiet as I stepped out. The dim lights cast long shadows, making the space feel almost unreal. My feet carried me outside before I even realized it, drawn to the open space where I could breat

The night was alive with the warmth of flickering flames, laughter, and the scent of grilled food. The family bonfire had always been one of my favorite traditions, a time when everyone gathered, sharing stories, eating too much, and enjoying the rare moments of togetherness.I sat beside Ethan on one of the wooden benches circling the fire, my legs tucked beneath me as I leaned slightly against him. His arm draped casually behind me, his fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on my shoulder. It was a small, almost subconscious gesture, but it grounded me, reminding me that he was here, that I was his. And yet, beside me, Lucas sat watching me. His gaze wasn’t obvious, not to anyone else, at least. But I felt it. Every time I looked away, every time I tried to lose myself in the warmth of Ethan’s presence, Lucas found a way to pull me back in. He wasn’t even doing anything. Not really. Just small, calculated movements. A tilt of his head, a smirk playing at his lips, his fingers lazi

The moment I stepped back into the house, my eyes searched for Ethan. I spotted him standing near the living room, laughing with some of the others, his smile warm and genuine. Before I could second guess myself, I walked straight toward him. His back was turned, but as if sensing me, he glanced over his shoulder.“Ava?”I didn’t say anything, I just wrapped my arms around him.Ethan tensed for a split second before he relaxed, chuckling softly as he pulled me against him. “What’s this for?”I shook my head, burying my face in his chest. “Nothing. I just… missed you.”A few people around us made playful comments.“Aww, look at them.”“Ethan, what did you do to make her so clingy today?”“She’s always cute, but this is next level.”Ethan laughed, his hand rubbing slow circles on my back. “I didn’t do anything. I guess I’m just lucky.”I tightened my grip, feeling his steady heartbeat against my ear. I wasn’t sure if I was holding onto him to comfort him or myself. All I knew was that I

For a fleeting second, I kissed him back. That was all it took for my entire world to start crumbling down. The weight of what I had just done hit me like a wave, cold and suffocating. My breath caught in my throat, and my fingers curled into fists as I realized the line I had just crossed. No. No, no, no.I pulled back sharply, my heart hammering against my ribs. “Lucas.....”But he didn’t move. His face was inches from mine, his breathing uneven, his eyes locked onto me with an intensity that made it impossible to look away. I felt dizzy, my thoughts a tangled mess. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Lucas searched my face, as if waiting for me to say something, anything. But what was there to say? That I had spent years longing for him only to finally move on.....only to betray the person who had been there for me when Lucas wasn’t? I took a shaky step back, putting distance between us. The rain still poured around us, the sound deafening in the silence that stretched between us.“Thi