Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 121 - Chapitre 130

Chapter 122 — Teaching Him How Not to BreakRyder’s POVThe message on Ollie’s phone stayed burned into my mind long after we left the school grounds.You should have kept your mouth shut.The words replayed over and over, sharper each time, until they felt like a blade pressed to my throat.Ollie walked beside me, quiet and pale, holding the paper he found, the one with her face on it. I could feel how tense he was, how he tried to hide the shake in his hand, how he kept glancing around like she might step out from behind a building. Every instinct in me screamed to pull him close, lock him behind a door, and never let anyone near him again.But that would crush him.That already almost did.When we reached my place, he followed me in without a word. I shut the door and leaned against it, trying to breathe through the heat of anger building in my chest.“Sit,” I said quietly.He didn’t argue. He sank onto the couch, eyes lowered. The room felt too still. I crouched in front of him an

Chapter 124 – The Weight of Loving HimRyder’s POVThe moment Ollie’s lips left mine, everything inside me shifted. I sat there on the edge of the couch, barely breathing, barely thinking, still tasting him on my mouth. My pulse wouldn’t slow, my chest felt tight, and the room seemed too small for everything I was holding inside. I knew what had just happened would change everything, no matter how much I tried to pretend I still had control.Ollie didn’t say anything afterward. He pulled back with wide eyes, cheeks flushed, hands trembling just slightly, then he whispered a small, fragile, “Goodnight,” before walking into the bedroom. He didn’t slam the door. He didn’t hide. He just looked confused, overwhelmed, scared, and somehow hopeful all at once.I stayed in the living room, staring at the door he had closed. My hands were still warm from touching him. My thoughts wouldn’t settle. For years I had forced myself to stay detached, to guard my emotions, to keep everyone at arm’s len

Chapter 126 — The Shift I Didn’t See ComingOllie’s POVI could tell something was wrong from the moment Ryder stepped into the apartment. His movements were too sharp, his eyes too restless, his breathing off rhythm. He didn’t look at me right away, which was the first thing that tightened my chest. He always looked at me, even when he didn’t want me to see what he was thinking. Tonight, he avoided it.I closed the book I had been pretending to read and watched him shrug off his jacket. It landed on the chair instead of the hook like he didn’t care where anything went anymore. That made my heart beat faster. Ryder didn’t do careless.He finally lifted his head. Our eyes met. Something dark flickered in his.“What happened?” I asked.He shook his head once, short and tired. “Later.”I hated that answer. I hated the weight behind it even more. I stood, walked toward him, forcing him to face me. His jaw tightened as if he wanted to push the truth back down before it could escape.“You a

Chapter 128 — The Things I Should Not WantRyder's POV The door handle shook again. I kept Ollie behind me and waited. I listened for the smallest sound, hoping to catch a voice, a breath, a step, anything that would tell me who waited on the other side. The handle finally stilled, silence settling heavy over the apartment. I stayed still until the quiet stretched long enough to be suspicious. When I was sure no one lingered, I stepped back and locked every bolt.Ollie stood close, holding his breath. His eyes were wide, frightened, searching my face for answers I could not give yet. I touched his shoulder gently.“It is fine for now,” I said. “Stay close to me.”He nodded, slow and uncertain. I hated that I had dragged him into danger he did not ask for. I hated even more that I could not bring myself to let him go. No matter how close the threat came, my instinct was to pull him nearer, to shield him with my body if I had to. I guided him away from the door and into the living room

Chapter 130 — The Weight of What I FeelRyder’s POVI sat alone in the living room long after Ollie drifted off to sleep. The quiet settled around me in a way that felt sharp, almost heavy. I kept thinking about the way he kissed me earlier, how he held my face like he was afraid I would disappear if he let go. I kept replaying the look in his eyes when he stepped back, breathless, confused, and sure at the same time. Something changed in him today, something deep. Something I felt right down to the core of me.I never planned for any of this. I expected to protect him, guide him, and keep him alive. I never expected to fall in love with him, but the realization kept pulling at me as I sat there staring at the shadows on the wall. Every time I thought about denying it, I remembered how my chest tightened whenever danger got close to him. I remembered how my hands shook the day Vince almost dragged him away. I remembered the fear that clawed through me when I found him alone, crying, t