His Book club のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 71 - チャプター 80

Arian's pov Time seemed to crawl as I sat there in my room, my mind racing with indecision. My phone lay close beside me, yet felt like a barrier between me and Kael. Hours had ticked by, each one weighing heavier than the last, as I wrestled with the urge to call or text him. Regret gnawed at my conscience, its persistent voice whispering that I'd overreacted, that my response had been unfair. Guilt seeped into my mind, its chill spreading through my veins like cold blood. The more I replayed our interaction in my head, the more I realized I'd let my emotions get the better of me. Now, the fear of rejection or further conflict paralyzed me, leaving me stuck in this state of uncertainty. My fingers itched to pick up the phone, to send a text that might settle the problem between us, but fear held me back, it gripped me tight.My phone buzzed beside me, the vibration jolting me out of my thoughts. It was a message from Kael. Wow, was the universe listening to my heart? I wondered

Arian's pov Karl Palmer's voice cut through. “I hate people who take actions and end up regretting it,” he paused, pouring himself a glass of wine. “You are not supposed to be here… fine. But you are here… fine. No one is holding it against you if you admit that you orchestrated the mistake to meet me.”I felt like I had been punched in the gut. His words hung in the air, accusatory and unapologetic, leaving me reeling. How could he say that? The shock was followed by a wave of indignation, my mind racing to defend myself against the unfair claim. The audacity of his accusation left me speechless, my voice trapped in my throat. I couldn't believe he would even think such a thing, let alone say it out loud.“I didn't come here to…” I started but he cut in.“Save it, Adrian. I know how people like you behave.” Before I could form a better and not so rude response, Karl Palmer continued.“Young people these days…” He swirled the wine in his glass, his tone as casual as if we were tal

Arian's pov The last two days felt like a lifetime. I stayed in bed, telling April I had a fever, telling my teachers through short, clipped messages that I wasn't feeling well. The truth was that I couldn’t face anyone. Not after what happened. Not after sitting there while Hazel fed me to the wolf, Kael's father..Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the way Mr. Palmer had looked at me like I was dirt on his shoes. Like I didn’t belong in that restaurant, in Kael’s world, in Kael’s life.The weight of shame crushed me, and I hid away, unable to bear the thought of facing the world. The humiliation stung me like a slap, leaving my skin raw and tender.I couldn't shake the feeling that everyone was waiting to watch me. I could imagine their eyes piercing through me like knives. The thought of returning to school was unbearable. Would they all know? Would they whisper behind my back? Would their snickers and glances be a constant reminder of my embarrassment? I felt like I was trapped

Kael's pov How could I tell him that my father's grip on my mother was suffocating and caging me? How could I tell him that every decision I made was influenced by my father's threats? How could I make him understand that my father's leverage over me is too strong to defy?I glanced at him, seeing the anger and hurt burning in his eyes, and I knew he wouldn't understand. Not now, not when his emotions were raw and bleeding. When he asked me to leave, I nodded without hesitation, knowing it was only temporary, a brief separation to sort out my problems. But deep down, I knew I had to find a way to tell him the truth, that my silence wasn't cowardice, but a desperate attempt to protect the ones I loved. After I watched him walk away from me, I slammed the office door harder than I meant to, but I couldn’t care less. My mother looked up from her desk, startled. Her pen froze, hovering above some paperwork. “Kael?” she said softly. “What happened?”I paced across the room like a caged

Kael's pov When I stepped out of my mother’s office, I was exhausted. Not physically, but in that bone-deep way that drains you from the inside out. Talking to her about Arian, about my father, about everything I wanted to fight for had left me feeling raw. I scanned through the corridor, my eyes searching for a familiar figure, but he was nowhere to be found. I thought I might see him again but the anticipation that had built up inside me slowly deflated, replaced by a hollow sense of disappointment. I shoved my hands into my pockets and headed down the corridor, ready to leave the administration block behind. I told myself I’d look for him tomorrow, maybe the day after.I was halfway across the courtyard when I caught sight of my father. He stood near the parking lot, his tall figure unmistakable even from a distance. He wasn’t alone. There was another man with him, someone familiar, though I couldn’t place the face from here. Before I could get a proper look, the man climbed in