Lahat ng Kabanata ng Off Limits : Kabanata 101 - Kabanata 110

CallieI didn’t announce my return. The festival had ended hours ago, but the aftertaste of it—the whispers, the stares, the heavy sense of scrutiny—still lingered.Grayson met me at the door. Not with questions. Not with concern that demanded explanation. Just with his presence, solid, protective, a shield I hadn’t realized I’d been craving.“You are back,” he said, voice low, almost a growl.“I had to rethink,” I admitted, leaning against the frame for just a heartbeat before stepping inside. He nodded, eyes scanning me, noting the subtle shifts in my stance, the tension still coiled along my shoulders. Then, without another word, he took my hand and guided me toward the living room.Mary was already there. Of course she was. The nerve. Her expression shifted as soon as she noticed us—first surprise, then the tight mask of control she always wore, the one that crumbled under the right pressure.Grayson didn’t hesitate. He stepped in front of me, not blocking, not shielding, but dec

CallieThe morning light filtered softly through the curtains, brushing the Carter house in warmth. Outside, the town carried on, oblivious to the subtle battles that had shifted the balance of power. But inside these walls, everything felt lighter. I found Grayson in the kitchen, leaning casually against the counter, coffee in hand, his presence still as grounding as ever. He glanced up, eyes meeting mine, and the faint curve of his lips held a pride that made my chest swell.“You are up early,” I said, stepping toward him, letting my fingers brush his arm. “I couldn’t sleep,” he admitted, though the slight smile tugging at his lips said otherwise. “Too much to savor. Too much to plan for.”I returned the smile, letting the warmth between us settle like a protective cloak. “I still can’t believe she is backing off fully.”Grayson’s gaze sharpened with that familiar intensity. “She knows she lost. Publicly, privately, emotionally—she didn’t expect us to stand together. She didn’t ex

CallieThe sound of waves from the nearby shore still lingered faintly in my ears, a memory of last night’s release, but now it was replaced with the quiet moment of domestic life—cups clinking, the hum of the refrigerator, and the low, steady presence of Grayson moving through our shared space.I found him in the kitchen, leaning casually against the counter, shirt slightly rumpled, hair mussed in that way that always made my heart pick up. He glanced at me, a slow, almost mischievous smile tugging at the corner of his lips.“Morning,” he said, voice low but teasing. “Sleep well?”I leaned against the doorway, stretching slightly. “Better than I have in weeks,” I admitted, a small smile curling across my lips. “Thanks to you.”He stepped closer, brushing a hand lightly over mine as it rested on the counter. I felt a shiver run down my spine, even in the calm light of day.“I think we deserve breakfast,” he said, tilting his head, eyes scanning me as if assessing how much energy I had

CallieThe cafe smelled of fresh coffee and warm pastries, a comforting, constant aroma that made the space feel like a refuge from the world outside. The morning sun poured through the windows, soft and golden, and for the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe without holding my chest.I spotted Mia first, sitting at our usual table in the corner, hair pulled back loosely, glasses perched on the bridge of her nose as she scrolled through her phone. Her posture was relaxed, but there was still a hint of caution in the way she glanced around the room—alert, always a little careful.Grayson followed behind me, moving with that quiet presence that always seemed to command a room without needing to speak. He held the door open for me, but his eyes flicked toward Mia, giving me that small, knowing look that always reminded me we were aligned—even here, in the midst of ordinary life.“Hey,” I said softly, sliding into the seat across from Mia.“Hey,” she replied, her voice light,

CallieMorning arrived quietly. I woke to the faint hum of the ceiling fan and the subtle scent of coffee drifting from the kitchen. Grayson was already up, the easy rhythm of his movements across the floor somehow grounding me before my eyes even fully opened.He glanced over his shoulder as I stretched, a lazy grin tugging at his lips. “Morning,” he said, voice low and warm, carrying the familiar weight of comfort I hadn’t realized I craved so much.“Morning,” I murmured, letting myself linger in the silence, taking him in—the way the sunlight hit his hair, the slight crease of his brow as he read the morning news on his tablet. It was ordinary, mundane even, but it felt sacred.I slid out of bed quietly and walked into the kitchen. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wrapped around me, and I found Grayson leaning casually against the counter, mug in hand, just watching me. No teasing, no tension.“You are up early,” I said softly, reaching for my own mug.“I like mornings here,” he