Semua Bab Straight Until Him: Bab 31 - Bab 40

Micah’s POVSunlight crashed through those enormous Duvall windows, basically flooding the brunch table. Gold everywhere, like Midas had a brunch party. I’d snagged the head seat; just soaking in the smell of croissants and oranges.Sandra was doing her usual routine, hovering and beaming that too-perfect grin. You know the one practically glued on. She kept bobbing her head at mother and father, playing the polite daughter.Mother was beaming. “I can’t wait for the wedding! Alessandro is so lucky… I adore the dress I picked for the rehearsal dinner. Clarissa, what do you think?”Clarissa shot her a look, full-on eye roll and everything, with this smirk like she’d been waiting all day for this moment. “Oh, come on, sis. You’re doing the absolute most, as usual.” But yes, it’s… elegant.”“Overdoing it?” Mom gasped. “Why, I’m creating memories! A Duvall wedding is nothing if not perfect!”Sandra leaned in. “Mom, you always make everything so beautiful. Alessandro will love it.” Her eyes

Alessandro’s POVThe moment Micah left, the room felt colder. Like the air itself had collapsed around me. He hadn’t slammed the door or shouted goodbye. He stared me down, eyes blazing like I’d just insulted his entire family or something, and growled, “Don’t avoid me.” Poof... gone, vanished, Houdini style. Just left me there like an idiot, gripping that coin to my chest like it could stop my heart from pounding out of my ribs.My hands trembled. My head spun. My chest ached. His words just kept bouncing around in my skull; like, seriously, on repeat: You already chose me the moment you kept that coin. What a line.By the time I stumbled into my room, the clock was basically laughing at me, it was that late. My eyes were half-glued shut. The sheets were cold. The house was silent. My father was asleep in his wing of the mansion, and my mother tucked away quietly. The staff kept to their quarters. And I… I lay there with eyes wide open, the coin necklace pressing into my skin every t

Alessandro’s POVCity lights sprawled out for miles, all glitter and promise, but they just made me feel lonelier, staring out from behind my office glass. They mocked me. Flickering dots, distant and cold, like everyone out there had no idea what I was going through. The Romano Corp tower was supposed to feel like home, a palace of power. Instead, it felt like a cage.I couldn’t focus. Every email, every ping of a new notification, every file on my desk blurred into meaningless shapes. My assistant called twice. Twice, I ignored her. I couldn’t stop thinking about Micah. His laugh, the way he looked at me without judgment, without pretension. The honesty in his eyes. That night… that night with him replayed in my mind again and again, burning brighter every time I tried to push it away.And then… Sandra.Her name and Marcus Chen’s; linked together like some cruel joke in the files I’d discovered yesterday. Her poise, her perfect smile… and behind it, something dangerous, hidden, cal

Micah’s POVThe days just went by. They stretched out like gum stuck to your shoe. I swear, I started thinking the house was shrinking, walls creeping in.Sandra had basically moved into the Romano's mansion. Her perfume got everywhere; seriously, open a window and you’d probably still catch a whiff.And then there’s me, her brother, tagging along because “someone needs to look after Sandra.” Father tossed that line out with his usual fake-nice grin, and nobody bothered to object. So here I am.Something had shifted. Even the staff; usually all business and smooth moves; were on edge, tiptoeing around like they were scared to breathe too loud. Mrs. Romano barely said a word, but now it felt sharp, like one wrong move and she’d shatter. And Alessandro was basically a ghost.I barely caught more than a flicker of him here and there. Just enough to wonder if I was making him up. A shadow hovering at the end of the hall. Sometimes I spot him drifting across the courtyard, but poof, he’d

Alessandro’s POVThe walls felt too close. My room was not a room anymore; it was a cage. I shoved the door open, wanting nothing but silence, nothing but space. My chest was tight, lungs stuttering like they’d forgotten how to breathe.But before the door even clicked shut, Micah’s hand caught mine. Firm. Unshakable.Micah.“Let go,” I hissed, yanking my hand back. It did not move. His grip tightened, warm skin against mine, steady in a way that made me shake harder.“Alessandro…”“No.” My voice cracked like glass. “Whatever you think we have, whatever this is… it ends now. I am done.”I could detect the detachment in my voice, the hardness I shoved into it, yet my body sold me out. My heartbeat was racing, craving for him to alternatively abandon me or draw me tighter. Both at once.I turned, eyes burning, ready to cut him off for good.Micah’s jaw tightened. His voice was low, raw, nothing like his usual smooth confidence.“Before you walk out of my life again, you should at least