All Chapters of FOUR SHADES OF DREY: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Chapter 21Aurelia Everything goes quiet. The chatter of students fades to white noise. The breeze dies. Even my heartbeat seems to pause mid-thump.It's not some passionate, dramatic movie kiss. That would almost be better. This is worse. This is comfortable. Natural. Easy. Like they've done this a thousand times before.His hand comes up to cup her cheek. That hand. The same hand that linked pinkies with mine yesterday. The same fingers that brushed my jaw so carefully.She melts into him. Her fingers curl into the front of his jacket. His jacket. The dark blue one he wore on our coffee date.Our coffee date.My bag slides off my shoulder. I hear it hit the pavement with a dull thud but I can't look down. Can't look away from them.They fit. That's what's killing me. They look like they fit together. Like one of those couples in magazines or movies. Perfect and golden and right.My chest is getting tight. Like someone's wrapped rubber bands around my ribs and they're pulling tighte

Chapter 23Aurelia My face gets hot and blotchy. Snot runs down my face. I make these horrible, choking sounds that don't even sound human. My whole body shakes with the force of it.I cry because I was so stupid. So incredibly, monumentally stupid.I actually believed him. I believed Julian when he said I was special. When he said I meant something to him. When he held my hand and smiled at me like I was someone worth smiling at.How could I be such an idiot?I cry because for a few perfect days, I thought maybe things could be different. Maybe I could be normal. Maybe I could have coffee dates and held hands and Friday night dinners like regular people do.Maybe I could be the girl who gets the guy instead of the girl who gets destroyed.But no. No, because Victoria doesn't let me have nice things. She never has and she never will.She saw me. Saw that I was happy. Saw that I was healing. And she couldn't stand it.So she did what Victoria does best: she found my weakest spot and s

Chapter 25Aurelia More sounds. Movement. Bed springs creaking. Julian's voice, low and rough. "You feel so good.""Better than her?" Victoria's laugh is cruel even through her fake pleasure. "Better than that pathetic little virgin who thought you actually wanted her?""So much better." Julian's breathing is heavy. They laugh together. The sound mingles with other sounds, intimate sounds, sounds that make my stomach turn.The phone slips from my hand. Falls to the floor. I can still hear them through the speaker. Still hear Victoria's theatrical moans and Julian's rough breathing and their cruel laughter.This is intentional. This is planned. They called me specifically so I could hear this. So I would know exactly how much of a joke I am to them.They didn't just reject me. They're rubbing it in. Making sure I know I meant nothing. Making sure I understand that every kind word, every coffee date, every moment I thought we were building a friendship was just them playing with me. E

Chapter 27Two weeks.It's been two weeks since I called Drey, and I barely recognize myself anymore.I'm sitting on my bed, staring at my reflection in the mirror propped against my desk. My hair is pulled back in a ponytail that Drey taught me how to do properly, not the messy knot I used to hide behind. My face is flushed from this morning's workout. There's a bruise on my shoulder from yesterday's boxing lesson.I look alive.That's the word for it. Alive. Not just existing, not just surviving. Actually living.Two weeks ago, I couldn't even sit on a bench without wanting to disappear. Now I'm throwing punches at a heavy bag at six in the morning like it's the most natural thing in the world.My phone buzzes.*Drey: Gym. Tomorrow. 5:45. Don't be late.I smile despite myself. He's always early. Always pushing. Always demanding more than I think I can give.And somehow, I keep giving it.I don't understand him. That's what keeps me up at night sometimes. Trying to figure out why h

CHAPTER 29 Drayton I always knew there was someone beautiful hiding under those oversized sweaters.The way she moved when she thought no one was watching. The curve of her jaw when she tilted her head. The flash of intelligence in those green eyes when she talked about something she loved.But seeing her in that dress, hair falling in soft waves, makeup highlighting features she'd been hiding for god knows how long, I wasn't prepared for the impact.She looked stunning.Not just pretty. Stunning. The kind of beautiful that makes you forget what you were about to say.And when she'd stepped out of that fitting room, nervous and uncertain, looking at me like she needed my approval, I'd almost told her the truth. Almost said she looked incredible. Breathtaking. Like she'd finally become the person she was always meant to be.But I'd caught myself.Remembered why I was doing this. Remembered the plan. Remembered that this was all temporary, all fake, all leading to one inevitable con