Teach me to sin II (Sins of the past) のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 151 - チャプター 160

I never get tired of watching people unravel. Tonight was no exception. The streetlights flickered against the damp pavement, but my attention was entirely on the sleek black car up ahead. I trailed him.I was careful, silent, far enough to be unnoticed, close enough to see every twitch of the wheel in his hands, every slouch in his shoulders. Alex. Always so wound tight, so prone to explosive emotions. I could almost hear the gears in his brain grinding against themselves. I followed him past the city streets, noting every turn and stop. He didn’t even notice me. Eventually, he pulled into a small park. He parked, then sat on one of the wooden benches, hunched over, elbows on his knees, staring at nothing. The streetlamps glowed dimly over him, painting him in the perfect shade of vulnerability. It was almost beautiful in a way only I could appreciate. I parked a short distance away, making sure my car blended into the shadows. I watched him cry, the way his chest rose a

The hospital smells like disinfectant and metal and something sour that sticks to the back of my throat.It’s one of the many reasons I hate the place but tonight, I had every reason to be here. Julius is sitting on the gurney like he’s waiting for coffee instead of stitches, one leg bouncing, the other stretched out. There’s dried blood at his temple and fresh gauze pressed to his eyebrow by a nurse who looks like she’s hearing one bad joke away from quitting her job. “I’m sorry,” I say again, my voice cracking in the middle like a weak hinge. “I’m so fucking sorry.” Julius smiles. Like some understanding stranger who doesn’t mind a misbehaving kid in public. “Alex,” he says mildly. “If you apologize one more time, I’m telling this pretty nurse to stitch your mouth as well ”The nurse gave him a weary smile and I rolled my eyes at him. “This isn’t funny.” “I didn’t say it was,” he replies. “I said I’m okay.” The nurse tapes the gauze down firmly. “You’re going to need stitc

Eloise is sitting on the rug instead of the couch. That alone tells me everything I need to know. She’s cross-legged, back against the sofa, fingers wrapped tightly around a mug she hasn’t touched in ten minutes. Her wrist is still bandaged, peeking out from the sleeve of her sweater, and every now and then she flexes it like she’s reminding herself she’s still here. “I’m not saying it’s over for the both of them,” I say carefully, adjusting my position on the couch. “I’m saying… it’s bad.” “How bad?” she asks quietly. I hesitate. “Bad enough that Alex didn’t come home last night.” Her head snaps up. “What?” “He left angry,” I continue. “Drunk and hurt. And Tristan followed him.” “Did they fight?” “Yes.” “Like… yelling fight or—” “Like broken-glass-in-the-kitchen kind of fight,” I say bluntly. Eloise’s mouth parts slightly. “Oh. How did I even sleep through all that?” She stares down into her mug. “Where did Alex go last night?” “I don’t know,” I admit. “I just know h

I knock once. Soft. No answer. Then again, louder this time around. “Dad?” I try. Still nothing. I turn the handle anyway. The study smells like ink and old books and frustration. Tristan is sitting behind the desk, jacket tossed over the back of the chair, sleeves rolled up like he’s been there for hours. Papers are everywhere. His laptop is open, but the screen is dark. His phone lies facedown beside it, untouched. He doesn’t look up when I step inside. “Dad. You okay?” This time he does. His eyes are red. Not crying-red. The kind you get when you don’t sleep and stare at the same thought until it eats a hole in your skull. “You shouldn’t be here,” he says. “I live here remember.” He exhales and leans back. “That doesn’t mean you need to see this.” “I already did,” I say quietly. “There’s nothing wrong with ninja assassins feeling sad” That gets his attention and he laughs a little bit.“I don’t feel like such a tough ninja assassin right now” I close the door b

The rain taps softly against the glass ceiling above the indoor patio, a slow, steady rhythm that makes the whole mansion feel tucked away from the world. Orion planned this.A quiet, indoor, romantic date. Just the two of us. Honestly after all the craziness of the past couple of weeks, he and I both needed this.Second hand stress isn’t the best option for a relationship. Candles everywhere. Low jazz humming from the speakers. The pool lights dimmed to a soft blue that makes everything look cinematic and expensive. I’m in a silk slip dress. It’s cream, backless, subtle enough to look effortless but fitted enough that I know exactly what he sees when he looks at me.It’s the perfect, sexy outfit to wear for my boyfriend.I know he loves it too because he wouldn’t stop staring at me. We’re halfway through dinner when he smiles at his phone. “I need to take this,” he says, already standing. “My sister.” I nod easily. “Okay, babe. Take your time.” He presses a quick kiss to m