บททั้งหมดของ Chasing Midnight Promises : บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

I threw off my blanket and jumped out of bed, a bright grin spreading across my face.“Third year, baby,” I whispered to myself, my voice full of excitement.I grabbed my notepad and books, tossing them into my bag without a second thought. Sliding into a peach-colored fitted top and my dark skinny jeans, I paused only to lace up my white sneakers. They were still spotless, and I wasn't about to ruin that.I clipped on my sparkling earrings and sprayed a bit of vanilla perfume onto my neck. The mirror caught my attention. I stopped in front of it, standing tall.My room wasn't anything fancy—just a small wooden bed, a reading table always messy with novels and half-used pens, shelves full of my favorite books, and a flower-patterned curtain swaying in the breeze.Around the mirror's edges were sticky notes with reminders like "Ace that test!" and "Be kind to yourself."I stared at my reflection. My curls spilled down to my waist, and my blue eyes sparkled like they had their own light

The moment I stepped into the house, the weight on my chest collapsed. I didn't make it past the hallway. I dropped my suitcase, threw my shoes off, and ran straight into Nana's arms.She opened them without a word, catching me just in time as I broke into sobs. My body shook. My fingers clutched her shirt like I was drowning and she was the only thing keeping me afloat."Baby girl," Nana whispered, brushing her hand through my hair. "Talk to me. What happened?"I couldn't speak. I just cried harder. Nana rocked me gently like I was five years old again."Mia... you're scaring me now. You're home? Did something happen at school?" I pulled back slightly, enough to see her worried eyes.But I couldn't answer. Words stayed trapped in my throat. If I opened my mouth, I'd scream. I wasn't ready to relive it. Not yet.Nana sighed and cupped my face. "It's okay. You don't have to talk right now. Come on, let's get you inside."I nodded, wiped my face, and let her lead me into the living room

I watched her from the side, my eyes narrowing with every uneasy shift she made. A few minutes ago, in the café, Raven had been glowing. Laughing. Reconnecting like we'd never missed a beat. She held my hands like she never wanted to let go. Her smile had lit up the whole space, loud enough to make strangers glance our way.But the moment we stepped out into the street, something shifted. Her posture changed. Her smile faded into something almost ghostly. What happened between that glass door and now? I told myself not to ask again. She'd already said she was fine, blaming it on hormones. But that didn't sit right with me.This wasn't a pregnant woman waddling with mood swings. This was someone scanning her surroundings like she owed someone money. Or worse—like she was being hunted. Her eyes flicked to every shadow that passed us. Every car that drove by made her flinch just a little. Her steps weren't confident anymore. They were unsure, hesitant.I bit my bottom lip, trying hard to

The shrill sound of my alarm pierced through the quiet room, dragging me from sleep. I groaned and reached toward the bedside table with eyes barely open.7:15 a.m. Great. I slapped the top of the clock blindly, trying to find the off button. Just as I managed to silence it, my phone buzzed beside it.Still half-asleep, I reached for it and squinted at the screen. A call from Mr. Simmons, the real estate agent. I quickly answered, my voice thick with sleep.“Hello?”“Good morning, Miss Mia. Just reminding you of our appointment today,” he said in a polite British accent. “We’re still on schedule for 9 a.m., right?”I cleared my throat and sat up. “Yes, thank you for calling. I’ll be there.”“Perfect. I’ll be expecting you at the office.”The call ended, and I sighed, rubbing my eyes. I had spent another night at The Dorchester, a five-star hotel fifteen minutes away from the school. Luxurious, yes, but three weeks of hotel life was slowly draining me.No kitchen. No personal space. No

The drive back to Mr. Simmons' office was silent. For him, it was probably peaceful. For me, it was war.Inside my head, pieces of memory tossed and turned like a storm. I sat still, staring out the window, but my thoughts raced.The image of that man in the car with the blonde woman clung to my brain like a shadow. His hands. His hair. That easy smirk he wore like a signature. Something about him wouldn't let me go.I squinted, mentally forcing the face back into focus. Who was he? Why did it feel so familiar?And then... I saw it. The watch. That same silver-faced, brown-strapped watch I had seen yesterday when he stretched his hand for a handshake. The same one that gleamed under the sun when he kissed Raven's forehead.My mouth parted as my stomach dropped. Oh my God. It was him. Raven's husband. I gasped. Then screamed."Aah!"Mr. Simmons jerked, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. His foot slammed on the brakes out of pure reflex, and the car screeched to a halt, throwin