All Chapters of Chasing Midnight Promises : Chapter 161 - Chapter 170

Before Mia could utter a word, a sharp sound cracked through the air—a slap.Her head tilted slightly from the force, her cheek stinging with heat. She stood rooted, her breath caught in her throat, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Gasps rippled through the small crowd forming around them.The girl who had struck her glared, breathing heavily. “So it’s you? The little bug who sabotaged our project?!” she demanded, her voice trembling with anger.Mia’s lips parted, but no words came out. Her heart raced painfully inside her chest.Then, from behind Rayna’s group, another girl stepped forward—the same one who had collided into Mia with the bucket of foul liquid a week earlier. Her face was full of fake remorse, her eyes glistening as she looked at Rayna. “That’s her,” she said, pointing at Mia. “She’s the one.”Shock rippled through Mia’s mind, leaving her momentarily speechless. “Wait, what are you talking about?” she managed to whisper, but her voice was drowned by the acc

Mia’s life had quietly begun to piece itself together again. The tension that once clung to her every move had eased, and for the first time in weeks, she could walk through campus without hearing her name whispered behind her back. Each morning felt lighter, each night calmer. Whatever fire Rayna and her girls once fueled seemed to have gone cold.Noah noticed it too—the way she laughed more, the way her shoulders no longer seemed burdened by invisible weight. He found himself smiling at her laughter, and then quickly looking away before she caught him. Somewhere in the chaos of trying to protect her, he had lost control of his own heart.Sometimes he wished he could stop caring. Other times he didn’t even want to. But he knew how delicate this peace was. Mia had only just found her rhythm again; he couldn’t be the one to throw her off balance. So he buried every feeling that tried to rise, pretending that friendship was all he wanted.They still met almost every day, usually at he

They reached the airport in no time. The flight to New York felt like a blur. Mia barely spoke, and Noah didn’t try to force words out of her. He just stayed close, making sure she ate something, handling their tickets, carrying their bags, keeping her together in silence.When the plane finally landed, the New York air hit her like a wave of memories. Every corner of the city whispered her father’s name.They arrived at the Kings’ mansion at noon. Even from outside the gate, they could hear the quiet hum of voices—mourners, family members, reporters, neighbors—all gathered to offer condolences.The compound was crowded with people. Some stood in groups whispering, others moved about with grief written all over their faces.The moment Mia stepped out of the car, she heard her name.“Mia!”Bella came running from the veranda, her hair messy, her face streaked with tears. She threw herself into her sister’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Mia held her tightly, her own tears spilling again

Rayna and her girls mapped out roles. One girl would flirt her way close to a staffer from the department and ask careless questions. Another would befriend the junior admin on social media, gently prying for screenshots of internal emails.Rayna herself would handle the on-site drama; she had a face for performance, and she knew how to look righteous and hurt at the same time.“And timing,” Lena added quietly, twisting her ring around her finger. “Everything must hit when the cameras are rolling. When Noah is in front of faculty and donors. When Mia is nearby. The optics have to be devastating.”Rayna smiled for the first time all day, thin and satisfied. “Exactly. We don’t just want to make him stumble. We want a collapse. Onstage. Live. And I know the perfect move to get him right where we need him.”They rehearsed the narrative: what would leak, who would be the ‘innocent’ witness, which messages would be shown. They practised responses to obvious counters—denials, requests for pr

The lights dipped low, casting a warm golden glow over the hall. The charity event was buzzing now, people moving between tables, laughing, taking photos. Glasses clinked. Music hummed in the background. Professors, donors, students—everyone seemed to be dressed for the event.Noah stepped onto the stage, microphone in hand. He looked calm, maybe even a little nervous under the bright lights. His voice carried across the room, smooth, deep. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, a small smile tugging at his lips, “let’s make tonight one to remember. Every donation tonight brings us closer to changing lives.”The crowd cheered, some clapped, others whistled. Noah nodded, letting the applause wash over him for a beat before he moved on. Noah’s smile grew a little wider, genuine this time. He had that kind of charm that filled a room without effort. But even as he spoke and laughed with the crowd, his eyes kept drifting, scanning past the tables and the lights—always searching.When they fina