All Chapters of Craving My Mother's Hot Fiancé: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Melissa’s POVAfter spending the rest of the day hiding in my room and crying like a literal horse I fell asleep. The next day i woke up feeling like death.My body was heavy, my stomach churned, and my head throbbed with a dull, persistent ache. The message from yesterday haunted me, replaying over and over in my mind like a broken record.I stretched slowly, wincing at the stiffness in my muscles. Every part of me wanted to crawl back under the covers and hide. The thought of facing a party full of strangers, of smiling and pretending everything was fine, made me want to be sick all over again.But I didn’t have a choice.This was important to Mom. Important to Gavin. And I couldn’t let them see me fall apart.I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over me until my skin turned pink. It didn’t help. The nausea remained, sitting heavy in my gut like a stone.When I was finally done and made my way downstairs, I stopped short at the bottom of the

Melissa’s POVI needed to get out.The walls of the penthouse seemed to close in around me, the crystal chandeliers suddenly too bright, the laughter too loud, the air too thick. My chest felt tight, like someone had wrapped bands around my ribs and was slowly squeezing.I pushed through the crowd of people, my breath coming short and shallow gaps. Bodies pressed against me. Someone tried to hand me a champagne flute. I brushed past them without looking.“Melissa?” I heard someone call. Maybe Jason. Maybe Mom. I didn’t stop to find out.My heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as I made my way to the entrance. The security guard at the door opened his mouth to speak, but I was already past him, pushing through into the building’s lobby.The cold night air hit me the moment I stepped outside.It cut through the thin fabric of my emerald dress and raised goosebumps along my exposed arms and shoulders. I welcomed it. Welcomed anything that felt real, that pulled me out of the su

Melissa’s POVI never made it to Gavin.Halfway across the room, someone pulled me aside to introduce themselves…a business partner of Gavin’s whose name I immediately forgot. Then another person. Then Mom appeared, beaming, wanting to dance. Then Jason swept me into a waltz before I could protest.Every time I looked for Gavin, he was occupied. Talking to board members. Shaking hands. Playing the role of perfect host.Our eyes met across the room more than once, but we never got close enough to speak.Eventually, exhaustion won. I slipped away to my room as the party wound down, my feet aching, my heart heavy with everything that had happened. Hopefully I’ll get to dance with him next year.————I woke to sunlight streaming through my windows and the warm, familiar feeling of Christmas morning.My favorite time of the year.I stretched lazily, a smile tugging at my lips despite everything. Christmas had always been magical for me…even in the hardest years, even when money was tight,

Melissa’s POVI stood outside the apartment building, with my hands shoved deep in the pockets of my hooded coat.The neighborhood was run-down… broken bottles littered the sidewalks and every shadow felt like a threat. Graffiti covered the crumbling brick walls. A homeless man slept in the doorway of the building next door. The streetlights flickered weakly, casting everything in sickly yellow.I took a deep breath through my mouth, trying to steady my nerves and avoid smelling the air.I could do this. I just needed to get in, give him the money, get the video deleted, and get out.Simple.The building’s entrance door hung crooked on its hinges, the lock broken long ago. I pushed through and immediately wanted to gag.The hallway smelled worse than outside…like mold and cigarette smoke and something rotting that I couldn’t identify. The wallpaper peeled in long strips. Water stains spread across the ceiling like diseased branches.My footsteps echoed through the building as I climbe

Kane’s POVI’d been heading to meet a contact three blocks from the financial district when I spotted her. With her bright purple hair she was actually difficult to miss.I slowed my pace, when I realized it was Melissa’s friend from the gala… I found her pretty interesting with her sharp tongue and fearless eyes.I hesitated for a moment, then canceled my meeting with a quick text. Curiosity got the better of me, I suppose. I kept my distance as I followed her.She wandered the streets with no clear destination, her steps were aimless and unsteady. She entered a hotel, came out empty-handed looking devastated. Now she stood outside, bent over with her hands on her knees like she couldn’t breathe.Something was obviously wrong. I approached slowly and tapped her shoulder.She spun around so fast she nearly fell. Her eyes went wide…recognition flickering across her face.“You,” she whispered. “From the gala.”“Kane Rivers.” I offered my hand.She took it, and I pulled her upright. Her h