Chapter 80: Unwanted Conversations

Daniel had just stepped out of his car after dropping Ryan off when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He expected it to be a work message, maybe a reminder for his client later, but the name on the screen made him pause mid step.Adrien: We need to talk. Tonight.Daniel’s jaw tightened. The words were blunt, leaving no room for misinterpretation. Adrien wasn’t asking he was summoning him.His first instinct was to ignore it, to pretend he never saw it. But he knew Adrien. If he didn’t respond, Adrien would just show up wherever he pleased.Daniel: Where?The reply came seconds later.Adrien: You know the place.Daniel exhaled slowly. The “place” meant the quiet rooftop bar they’d all been to once before, back when tensions hadn’t been this thick. Now, it felt more like neutral territory before a duel.Meanwhile, Ryan was at home, sitting on the couch with his laptop open but not really working. His head was still pounding faintly from the hangover, and Adrien’s visit earlier replayed in

Last Updated : 2025-08-05

Chapter 81: A Breath of Fresh Air

Ryan hadn’t realized how much tension he’d been carrying until Chris showed up at his door Now they were walking down a sunlit street toward the park, the kind of day that begged for open skies and long walks. Ryan squinted against the brightness, adjusting his sunglasses. “You know,” he said, “kidnapping people isn’t really your style.Chris smirked. “Oh, please. If I hadn’t shown up, you’d still be curled up in your room overthinking everything.”Ryan opened his mouth to argue but closed it again with a small laugh. He hated to admit Chris was right. The past week had been nothing but stress layered over stress. Maybe a break wasn’t such a bad idea.They stopped by a street vendor and bought ice cream cones. Ryan chose vanilla, while Chris predictably went for a double chocolate with sprinkles, because subtlety was never part of Chris’s vocabulary.“Want a bite?” Chris teased, holding his cone toward Ryan.“Pass,” Ryan said, wrinkling his nose. “I know you’d drop half of it on me j

Last Updated : 2025-08-06

Chapter 82: Back to the Grind

The hum of the elevator was the only sound as Ryan leaned against the mirrored wall, watching the floor numbers climb steadily. His day with Chris yesterday had helped clear his head, but as he adjusted his tie and smoothed the creases from his shirt, the familiar knot of work stress returned to his stomach. It wasn’t the job it self he liked what he did. It was the constant awareness of Adrien’s presence somewhere in the building, waiting like a shadow in the corner of his mind.When the elevator doors slid open, Ella was already standing in the hallway with a coffee in one hand and a tablet in the other. “You’re two minutes early, she said with a grin. “I think you’re trying to outdo me.Ryan smirked as he stepped out. “If I ever start competing with you on punctuality, check if I’m sick.“Noted,” she said, falling into step with him as they walked toward their shared office. “So, good news first or bad news first?“Bad,” Ryan answered automatically.“We’ve got another client who w

Last Updated : 2025-08-06

All Chapters of A Story That Doesn’t Belong To You: Chapter 81 - Chapter 83

Chapter 80: Unwanted Conversations

Chapter 81: A Breath of Fresh Air

Chapter 82: Back to the Grind