جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 140

I slept with heaviness weighing down my chest last night. And woke up to a million dollars added to my account- courtesy of my father. Guess he decided to refund the money I paid Rebacca- doubled it.Teyana didn’t call back. And I was too disturbed about other things to try her again.Though, waking this morning, I had decided to let the thought of Rebecca go. I learnt my lessons already.I can now focus on what’s important to me with a clearer mind. Teyana.I picked my phone and dialed her. It rang but she didn’t pick. Now I was bothered. I texted her on IMessage, and waited for her reply. None came in.It was unlike her. Teyana would pick my calls, reply my messages like she had been expecting them. She would even accuse atimes for reaching out to her late.I tried to keep my cool as I called Knox, the agent I hired for her safety. “Where is she?” I asked immediately he picked.“Oh, you gave me two days off. Remember?” Shit. I had totally forgotten I gave him a two-day break because

~Jeremy’s POV~“Dante no longer controls the Los Alamos circle,” Jericho emphasized, every syllable carrying the weight of an irreversible decree. “He has been relieved of his authority because evidence of corruption and embezzlement has reached the top.”A ripple of disbelief shot through the room. Even the guards shifted back.Dante stepped away from his seat, shoulders drawn tight, eyes fierce with disbelief. “That’s not possible,” he hissed. “If such a decision had been made, El Santiago would have contacted me personally. I have received no such communication.”Jericho reached inside a leather folder and unfolded a crisp document, reading out the petition with clinical steadiness- an outline of Dante stealing billions meant for the fraternity’s global expansions, laundering some, siphoning more, and misrepresenting accounts for years.The room grew still, so still I could hear the faint hum of the ceiling lights.When Jericho finished reading, Dante’s gaze snapped sharply toward

~Teyana’s POV~I wiped beads of sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand and stared at the cake I had spent the entire day baking. A very silly idea, honestly, considering I’d already concluded I wasn’t going to take it to him anymore.Jeremy’s birthday had been stuck in my head for months- ever since I stumbled on Bianca’s Instagram post of his last birthday. The date had burned itself into my mind and refused to leave. And now, the day was here… but he wasn’t.A sigh shuddered out of me as I sank onto my bed, feeling completely spent—more from being Jeremy-sick than from the actual effort of baking the two-layer bluey cake that was sitting prettily on my counter. I’d probably eat one slice, call Carol, and force her to take the rest to some random Friday-night party so people could feast on my heartbreak.It’s the thought that counts, right?God, I hadn’t been myself for the past four days, not since his mother cornered me. It only got worse after I sent that breakup text and

~Jeremy’s POV~The balcony door clicked shut behind us as I closed it, and for a moment I just stood there, holding her. Her breath was warm against my collarbone, her fingers still tangled in my shirt like she didn’t trust I was real. Or maybe she didn’t trust I’d stay.God.Having her in my arms again was a feeling I wasn’t prepared for.I pressed her gently against the doorframe, not meaning to pin her—just needing the closeness, the grounding. She looked up at me with wide, overwhelmed eyes, lips swollen from where I’d kissed her too hard on the balcony.I almost kissed her again. But then, my gaze caught the cake on the counter for the second time. She didn’t even know how much that had blown up my mind earlier. Even in my absence, when we weren’t in talking terms, she’d remembered my birthday.Heck, she baked me a cake.Made by her hands.In my honor.In my absence.I felt my voice drop without even trying. “I’m so hungry right now,”Her half-lidded eyes swept my face. “You…you

Ashley stood there, bright smile, fluffy slippers, face full of nosy innocence. She was shorter, curvy in all right angles and a bit chubby. Her piercing hazel eyes were my favorite part of her appearance.“Good morning,” she chirped.“Morning, neighbor” I replied, clutching the sheet tighter around me. Gosh, I should have worn something. I felt seen.Her eyes swept over me once, and then she said, “Um… I heard a scream. Wanted to check if you’re okay. Actually…I heard it yesternight too. But, I contemplated coming here to check…” My soul left my body.“Oh. That.” I scratched the back of my head like an idiot, feeling totally embarrassed. “I was… laughing. At my phone.”And God, even I didn’t believe my own lie.Ashley cleared her throat. “Oh, so sorry. I was just being…”“I get it, Ashley. Thank you for checking in.” I expected her to leave right then but she lingered. “Is there…anything else?” I asked, almost impatiently.Her face straightened, “Um yeah, I…actually met a guy in th