All Chapters of His Return, My Ruin: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

"How are things going with the student committee, Tasha?" Tyra Fury, Isaac's mother, puts down her wine glass and looks at me with a friendly smile. If I didn't know she was forty-five, I would never have guessed her age. There isn't a single wrinkle on her face. It's unnaturally smooth, like a rubber dolls. She could easily be thirty or fifty. Like me, she used to be the chair of the student committee, so she loves to ask me about its activities."Right now, we're organizing a fundraiser for a homeless shelter. Each participant brings an item worth at least a hundred dollars, and we hold an auction. The proceeds will be used to buy food and clothing."Mom nods contentedly as she listens to me, exchanging glances with Dad. They are proud that I'm involved in community service and encourage me every way they can."You're so smart, Tasha! Charity is always cathartic. Everyone should be involved in it to some extent. Know that our family will definitely support you in this,” Tyra says, s

His cheekbones are tense and sharp with fury. His angry gaze feels like it could scorch skin. He moves toward me with a heavy, deliberate gait. Each step echoes against the tiled floor as if he intends to grind me into it. The locker room smells of soap and damp fabric; the air is warm and foggy from the showers. Cheerful female voices drift through the steam beyond the frosted glass; laughter bounces off the walls—bright, careless, and impossibly far away. Their owners are unlikely to come to my aid.I am scared, trembling to the bone, but I can’t allow myself to run and hide. Running would mean admitting weakness. It would mean he’s already won. So, I wait with my back stiff and my fingers clenched in the edge of my towel, as if it were the only solid thing left in the world.“You!”Jaden grabs my throat and slams me against a locker. The impact sends a hollow, metallic clang through the room and vibrates my spine. Cold steel bites into my shoulders. My breath stutters, trapped in m

"You got what you wanted, huh?""I always get what I want," I say, holding his gaze. "It's good that you understand that."Jaden says nothing, opens the driver's door, and gets into his car. Before driving away, I notice the interior is immaculate—no empty cups or trash, not a speck of dust on the dashboard or leather seats. A clean slate. As always.The next day, I leave class in high spirits. The presentation I'd spent a month preparing for went great. Seeing three cars finally occupying their rightful places brings me a sense of moral satisfaction. This feeling lasts until I get closer, and what I see leaves me stunned. After a couple of seconds, the stunned feeling turns into burning anger. The front and rear tires of my BMW are flat, and the wheels are resting on the rims. I quickly walk around the car, but the result is disappointing; the passenger side looks no better.As always in a critical situation, my brain starts thinking quickly. I couldn't have possibly punctured all fo

I dream that Jaden and I are walking hand in hand through the grove from our childhood, guessing what his mother has prepared for dinner. The wind blows, but his hand is so warm that I don't feel cold at all. He looks different than he did when we were children, grown up and handsome. Only, his nose has no signs of having been broken, and there are no scars on his lips. I feel good and calm when I'm with him. It seems like I could walk like this forever.Then I hear voices. The sound sends a chill down my spine. I know they portend something very bad. I cling to Jaden's arm more tightly, pulling him back. I try to shout that we need to go back to the lake, but no sound comes out. I want to cry, but my tears refuse to fall. I am helpless.The voices grow louder, and panic overwhelms me. I dig my heels into the ground, refusing to move. Then, Jaden looks at me. His bright green eyes sparkle with golden light, and I hear him say, not so much with my ears as somewhere inside myself: "Don'

"Tasha, I want to tell you something, but you have to promise not to get angry," Ruby said, leaning toward me. Her hair tickled my cheek. She's drunk, but no more than usual."I won't promise anything I'm not sure about, especially since you're capable of anything."She looks me in the eyes, giggles drunkenly, and nods toward a group of students standing a little way off."I know you don't get along with the new guy, but I still want to sleep with him." She makes a pleading face and pouts. "Just once, to see what he's like in bed and if I can get him to take off his condom."The cup clenched in my hand breaks, and its contents splash onto my skirt. Even if Ruby had punched me in the face, it wouldn't have had the same effect as what I just heard. I look at Jaden, who is talking to a girl I don't know, and stare blankly at him. I feel an overwhelming urge to cover my ears and rewind the minutes. I want to forget that my best friend wants to sleep with him. I'm not ready for that. Not a