Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 31 - Chapitre 40

Elias WardI slid into the driver’s seat and closed the door gently, the quiet thud echoing through the metal engine. For a moment, I just sat there, hands resting on the steering wheel.It had been a long morning of meetings and negotiations, having to drive here and there.It was an easy task, one I excel very well.And yet, none of that matters now.The moment I was alone, my thoughts had always drifted to her.Lucy.The faint scent of leather filled the car as I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. I heard from Mrs Claire that Lucy and Mia were at the boutique today.I stared at her name on the screen longer than necessary, thumb hovering over the keyboard. I had closed multimillion dollar deals without blinking, yet texting her made my pulse shift in a way I couldn’t quite control.‘What are you doing?’ I typed.I erased it.Too casual.I tried again.‘I heard you're at the boutique?’I sighed, that was better.Then, after a brief pause, I added.‘Are you free to me

Elias WardI pulled Lucy’s chair out gently, my hand steady against the carved metal as she stepped closer to the table. The restaurant was warm, dimly lit with golden lamps that cast everything in a soft glow. It should have produced an intimate vibe, instead, all I felt was tension threading through the air.Lucy gave me a small, grateful smile before sitting down. I waited until she was settled as I took my own seat.And just then, the chair beside me scraped against the floor.I didn’t need to look to know who it was.Adrian sat down calmly, folding his hands in front of him as though this had always been the plan. I honestly didn’t know how we ended up here, an unplanned dinner for the three of us.If anyone had described this scenario to me a week ago, I would have laughed.Yet here we were.From the way Lucy held the menu, I could tell she was uncomfortable. Her shoulders were stiff, her fingers slightly tense against the paper. And I could decipher it, that she had proba

Lucy HaleThe car was silent except for the sound of my sobs. My hands were trembling in my lap, my chest aching with every breath.“I’m sorry,” I whispered again, my voice cracking. “I don’t know why I’m crying.”That wasn’t true.I knew exactly why.It was Adrian’s fingers digging into my wrist. The way he pulled me closer like I still belonged to him, the way his voice lowered for me to follow his command.My body remembered even if I tried not to.But how could I tell Elias that?How could I tell him everytime I look at Adrian, I see the man who killed me?He would think I was insane.Anyone would.And yet, a dangerous part of my heart whispered that if I ever told Elias everything, he wouldn’t dismiss me. He would just believe me.That scared me more than the memory.Why did I trust him so much?We weren’t supposed to be this close. In my past life, Elias wasn't there, I barely could remember who he was. So why did it feel as though I had known him for years?Why did his pre

Adrian HawthorneI sat in the front passenger seat, teeth clenched, eyebrows drawn together so deep it felt as if they might split my skin.Nothing ever went the way it’s supposed to when it involved Lucy.The streetlights blurred past the window as the car moved, but all I could see was green fabric and intertwined fingers. Her hand in his, how they wore matching clothes.How delighted she looked.It was as though I was watching my possession slip through my grasp in slow motion.She avoided me like I’m a disease, like I’ve wronged her in some unforgivable way. And yet with Elias, she looked overjoyed.When did that happen?How did he always manage to be one step ahead?Surely they weren’t developing feelings, right?The thought makes a sharp twist inside my chest.No, it can’t be that far yet.A low scoff came from the backseat.“Useless.”I didn’t need to turn around to know who said it.Father.His voice carried that familiar edge of contempt that had followed me since childhood

Elias WardI stared at my phone far longer than necessary.‘I’m on my way to eat lunch with Adrian.’The message sat there harmlessly. And yet it felt as if a heavy dagger pressing against my ribs.I don’t know what I missed.Everything seemed fine this morning. She had sounded normal when we texted, excited, even. So why so sudden? Why him?I leaned back in my chair and dragged a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. It’s not as though I can just walk into whatever restaurant they’re at and sit beside her. That would be absurd, it's inappropriate.Lucy was not mine to claim, she was priceless, untouchable.I pressed my thumb against my temple. The documents spread across my desk blurred into meaningless lines. The project proposal in front of me, something I would normally dissect with precision, felt utterly unimportant.All I can think about was her.Was she uncomfortable? Was he pressuring her? Was she smiling? Was she safe?And the thought that truly unsettled me was