Semua Bab FATED to SIN, BOUND by TIME: Bab 21 - Bab 30

Arielle’s POVI sat behind the rocks, pressing my palms against my eyes until I saw little sparks. I didn’t want to cry. I didn’t want to give Cassian the satisfaction of knowing how much he got to me, but my chest felt heavy. Everything in me was torn between anger and humiliation.Just minutes ago, I had been smiling—really smiling—for the first time in a long while. Splashing water back at Justin, laughing like I didn’t have a single worry in the world… I forgot about Cassian. I forgot about the confusion, the longing, the pain. For that short moment, I was just a girl having fun. Then he showed up. He ruined everything.I wiped my eyes again and forced myself to stand, brushing the sand off my skin. At least an hour had passed since I’d stormed off. Maybe by now my mom and Soraya had started wondering where I was.When I finally walked back near the beach mats, I spotted them. My mother lay back with her eyes closed, soaking in the sun like she didn’t have a single care. Soraya was

Arielle’s POVMy head was spinning. My thoughts tangled together so much that I couldn’t even keep up with them. I wasn’t sure if my ears were betraying me or if I was just losing my mind completely.Had I really just heard Cassian say those words? Or was I finally delusional enough to imagine him confessing his love to me?“Yeah…” I whispered, smiling nervously even as my heart pounded.It had to be in my head. It was too impossible to be real.“Is that your response?” he asked, his tone calm but his eyes searching mine.I gave a small, shaky laugh as I wiped my tears away and stood. “I’m going crazy. I must be delusional,” I whispered, turning toward the window. I pushed it open, leaning into the cool night air. “I just need some air.”“Arielle.” His voice was firm this time, the bed creaking behind me as he stood. I froze when I felt his hand on my shoulder, steady, grounding me. “Is that your answer? Or did you not hear what I said?”Before I could move, his words fell again, heav

Arielle’s POVI walked across the campus, dragging my feet, each step heavier than the last. My eyes stung from lack of sleep, and the weight in my chest refused to lift. Last night, I’d barely closed my eyes because my mind wouldn’t stop replaying his voice—Cassian’s confession.I love you.Those words kept echoing inside me like a melody I never wanted to stop hearing. Even when Mom and Soraya came home from work, I had to bite my lip to hide my smile. I couldn’t stop stealing glances at him when no one was looking. It felt so unreal—too good.I’d even spent half the night on my phone, searching online for hidden romantic spots, imagining us sneaking away like any other couple. Places where no one would judge us, where no one would see him as my stepfather, just as a man in love with me. That little fantasy made my heart race, but now… I was paying the price. My body was fatigued, my head pounding.Sliding into the lecture hall, I collapsed into my seat and rubbed my temples. The pr

Arielle’s POVI hadn’t slept much, and honestly, it was becoming my new normal. Every time I had too much on my mind or when something happened with Cassian, sleep just refused to come. Last night was no different. My body was tired, but my mind was still stuck replaying what had happened yesterday—Cassian walking in on me half-naked.The embarrassment was unbearable. Every time I thought about it, I buried my face in the pillow and groaned. But if I was being honest, there was another part of me… the secret, shameful part that felt a little bit excited. I had seen the look in his eyes when he froze at the door. I knew I had affected him. I knew I had turned him on, even if only for a second. That thought kept me awake; it made my heart flutter like a fool’s, and yet, it also made me restless.Still, what made everything worse was that he left. He didn’t come back. Not even when Mom and Raya returned home. Not even when dinner was ready. The seat at the table that usually held his pre

Cassian’s POVI drove in silence, my hand tightening on the wheel every few seconds. My mind kept circling back to that boy.Not only had Arielle grabbed his hand, but he had the audacity to be in her college, walking beside her like he had every right.Fury burned in me. Every instinct screamed at me to demand answers from her right there, to follow her into that classroom, to drag her away from him in front of everyone. But I knew better. If I made a scene, it wouldn’t just be me who suffered—it would be her. The whispers, the gossip, the judgment would swallow her whole.And I could never let that happen.Her happiness had always been mine. Even if I was a selfish bastard, I wanted nothing more than to protect her. That’s why I forced myself to back down, to wait until she returned home.But then her call came—unexpected, soft, and warm. The moment she asked for me, I couldn’t resist. I went to her without hesitation.Now, with her in my car, silence stretched between us. I searche