บททั้งหมดของ The Night Before I Knew Him: บทที่ 201 - บทที่ 210

Author POVThe wind moves softly through the buckwheat field, turning the pale stalks into waves of gold. White silk ribbons are tied to the wooden chairs, fluttering gently. Somewhere far away, music fades into quiet as June and Hermes stand facing each other beneath a simple arch of wildflowers.There is no palace or cathedral. Only sky, earth, and a love that survived fire.June’s dress glows against the field — soft, flowing, intimate, resting over the small curve of her stomach like a promise. Hermes stands opposite her in a dark tailored suit, his hands trembling just enough to betray how much this means to him.For a man who once believed love was a weakness, he has never been more exposed.The officiant’s voice fades into the background as Hermes lifts his eyes to June.He has stared down boardrooms, scandals, enemies, and his own father — but nothing has ever frightened him the way loving her does.“June,” he begins, voice low and steady, “I spent most of my life believing co

♡ Leila ♡This had to be a joke.A sick, twisted joke.“Hey, Leila.”Tobit’s deep voice yanked me out of my spiraling thoughts.The door opens widely.I sucked in a sharp breath, only then realizing I’d been holding it. My heart slammed against my ribs as I stared at him — at Tobias’s face staring back at me from a stranger’s body.“I—I—” My throat closed. I forced the words out. “You’re joking, right? This is a prank. It has to be.”“Leila, honey,” Mrs. Miller started, her voice trembling, “we don’t—”“This isn’t a joke,” Tobit cut in.His gaze locked onto mine, unblinking.“You’re carrying my baby.”The room tilted.I stared at his eyes, and that was when it truly hit me.They weren’t Tobias’s.Tobias’s had been ocean blue — soft, familiar, safe.Tobit’s were a sharp, unsettling emerald green, bright with something cold and possessive… like envy.And suddenly, the face I loved didn’t feel like home anymore.“No.” I stepped forward before I could stop myself. “I don’t even know you.

♡ Leila ♡My blood went cold.“What do you mean he broke into my house?” My voice came out thin and sharp. “Jesus— is he dead?”I edged closer despite myself, my heart pounding. “I—I don’t—”Cain rolled his eyes, folding his arms like this was all an inconvenience. “I told you he’s not dead, girl. Why do you even care about him?”I didn’t answer. I crouched just enough to look at the man sprawled on my floor, his chest rising and falling. Then I straightened slowly and faced Cain, my hands curling into fists.“How did you get in here?” I asked. My fear was real, but I refused to let him see it.He shrugged. “Pretty zombie, I already told you—” He jerked his thumb at the unconscious man. “He broke in. I caught him. You should be thanking me—”He stepped toward me.I flinched back immediately. “Don’t touch me,” I snapped, my fingers tightening around my phone.I was already thinking about Lia. About calling her. About getting him out of my apartment before everything fell completely apa

♡Leila♡I blink, trying to process his words.Murdered?No. Tobias died in an accident. A drunk driver. The case had been handled, the man arrested. It was tragic, senseless—but it wasn’t this.So where was this coming from?And people were after me because I was his lover?Is this—My thoughts stall, Lia’s voice echoing in my head.He loves telling cruel jokes.That’s it.He was doing it again. Just like earlier. Just like when he claimed the baby was his and—God help me—I’d doubted myself for half a second.I let out a slow breath and pinch the bridge of my nose.“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I say, dragging out each word.I’m exhausted. How does one person manage to pull so many emotions out of me in the span of a few hours? Fear. Anger. Confusion. And now this hollow irritation settling in my chest.For a moment, I’d thought we were… fine. Not good. Not friends. But calm. He fed me. Cleaned up after me. Acted—unbelievably—like a gentleman.And now he’s back to default settings.C

♡Leila♡I crossed my arms, forcing my anger down before it spilled over.“You’re not coming in with me, Cain,” I said through clenched teeth.He only shrugged, infuriatingly calm. “I am.”The pressure in my chest tightened. I turned toward the bathroom, then glanced back at him—at his size, his certainty, the way he acted like this was already decided.No.In the next blink, I bolted.I sprinted into the bathroom and slammed the door shut, twisting the lock just in time.“Damn, girl!” Cain shouted as his body hit the door. “You’re fast for a zombie.”A smug, childish victory curled my lips as I hurried to relieve myself, my heart still racing from the rush of it. For a few seconds, it felt good—like I’d won something. Like I still had control.But the moment I was done, the smile vanished.Why was I smiling?Nothing about this was funny. Nothing about being drugged, dragged across states, and trapped with Tobias’s twin—who might be a criminal, a liar, or something worse—was amusing.A