The Lover Behind my Back のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 30

Helena’s POVFor a moment there, time stilled. I felt the drop of sweat slowly rolling down the side of my face.My fingers remain wrapped around his wrist, burning from the heat that erupted through his skin.For a second, I couldn’t move.I didn’t even understand what I had just done.My breath hung somewhere in my chest as my eyes slowly lifted from his hand… to his face.Barron Hale was staring at me, not in the cold, burning way I had expected. But he was staring at me with his eyes wide.I could tell he didn't see that coming.His brows had drawn together slightly now and his gaze flickered between my hand gripping his wrist and my face, like he was trying to make sense of what he was seeing.He couldn’t believe it, and honestly, neither could I.What was I doing? Well, the simple answer was that I was holding my boss.But not just holding him, I was standing between him and what he wanted.My grip loosened slightly, but I didn’t pull away immediately.Not yet.“I…” My voice cam

Barron’s POVThe door now sat wide open and I froze outside it.For a second, my mind went blank. It didn’t process what I was seeing right before my eyes.Helena… was laying asleep on her desk.My gaze closed in on her, on her resting body that only rose and fell slightly as the quiet from her lips filled the room. I walked over into the room slowly, stopping at her desk.Her head was resting on her opened laptop while her hands were spread out like she just fell there.She was slightly turned to the side while laying on the right side of her face with strands of her hair falling loosely across her face.The system in front of her had gone blank but was still plugged in.My eyes flicked over the screen briefly then back to her, then a slow breath left me as I leaned slightly against her desk.She had stayed, she had actually stayed here all night, I thought as I pulled my brows up.Who does that? Who pushes themselves this far… just to prove a point?My gaze returned to her as she l

Helena’s POVThe food suddenly didn’t taste the same.One second, I was eating like I hadn’t seen food in days, which, technically, I hadn’t, and the next…I couldn’t swallow. It just refused to go down.The lump sat heavily in my mouth, dry, uncomfortable, and completely wrong.Slowly, I lowered the fork.That thought… it didn’t just pass through my mind.It settled.My grandfather. My chest tightened instantly, I hadn’t gone to see him.Not since yesterday, but that wasn't the worst part. I hadn't even thought about him or his ailment since my interaction with Barron.Talk more of sending in a call.My fingers curled slightly against the edge of the plate as guilt crept in, quietly at first, then screamed loudly at me.What if something has happened to him?What if he got worse?What if—I exhaled sharply, shaking my head as if I could physically push the thoughts away.No. No, don’t go there. But I couldn’t stop.That was the problem.Images started forming in my head, uninvited i

Helena’s POVI didn’t realize how exhausted I was until that moment.It wasn’t the kind of tiredness that sleep could fix. It sat deeper behind my eyes, in my chest, dragging every thought down with it. “Going somewhere?” He asked as he finally reached where I was standing.I stood there for a fraction too long before gulping and turning to face him.Barron was standing just a few feet away from me now and looking slightly casual with his tie loose and one hand tucked into his pocket. He looked kinda different today, dare I say, he looked lighter, less guarded. Or maybe it was just me noticing things that weren't there.“I…” I adjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder before continuing. “Yes. I’m heading out.”He raised his brow slightly. “Already?” He asked.He didn't sound annoyed as his voice remained calm, if anything, it was slightly warm. But still, it made something tighten in my chest.“I’ve finished what I had to do today,” I said, keeping my voice tamed. “No point stayi

Helena’s POVMy eyes struggled to make out the figure standing before me at first.Maybe it was because I wasn’t expecting to see him again.Or maybe it was because a part of me had already convinced myself that our last encounter had been a one-time thing, okay, maybe two-time thing, just something that wouldn’t repeat.But there he was, standing a few steps ahead, just leaning by my doorpost.And for a brief second… something inside me dipped.It came so fast, that I almost frowned.But I buried it just as quickly, pushing it down before it could show on my face.Then straightened my expression just as his eyes landed on me again.There was a pause, then a warm smile lit up over his face.“Well,” he said with a faint smile tugging at his lips, “if it isn’t my favorite data analyst?” He teased me.I huffed lightly, folding my arms over my chest. “That title is very undeserved,” I replied with a chuckle.“Is it?” He asked, stepping closer. “You do show up when he needs you.”“That’s l