All Chapters of A Forbidden Affair : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The next day Jayden traveled, and since then, the house hadn’t been the same.Lena told herself she didn’t care, that his absence didn’t affect her—but somehow, it did.He texted her, always giving her random updates about his day, what he ate, where he went, small things that shouldn’t matter—but did.And she found it adorable.She hated that she did.Her relationship with Richard, on the other hand, was going well—at least on the surface.They talked. They laughed. They still did the normal things couples did.But their sex life?It was getting worse.He barely initiated anything, and whenever she tried, he always had the same excuse.“I’m tired.”At first, she understood.Then it became a pattern.Now it just felt like distance.Something was missing, and she couldn’t quite explain it.So instead of sitting in that feeling, she decided to distract herself.She picked up her phone and called Chloe.“Let’s hang out,” she said.They chose a location and met up for coffee.They talked

When Lena got upstairs, the room felt… quiet.The bathroom door was closed, and the faint sound of running water told her Richard was in the shower.She exhaled softly, dropping her bag by the chair before sitting on the edge of the bed.Her mind was restless.Too many emotions tangled together in ways she couldn’t even begin to sort out.She leaned back slowly, staring at the ceiling.Maybe they could fix things.A soft buzz interrupted her thoughts.She turned her head slightly.Richard’s phone lit up on the bedside table.She ignored it at first.It wasn’t her business.Another buzz.Then another.Her brows furrowed.“Why is it so urgent…” she murmured under her breath.She sat up, hesitating for a moment before reaching for it.“I’ll just give it to him,” she said quietly to herself.The screen lit up again just as she picked it up.A notification.Her eyes narrowed slightly.It wasn’t saved under a name.Just a group.Curiosity got the better of her.She tapped it open.And every

It’s been two months now since she moved out.She couldn’t handle the emotions she felt staying there.So she left.Richard didn’t come back that night or the next day.And she didn’t wait.Jayden tried to reach her, tried to call, text, and explain—but she refused him.This time, she chose herself.She needed to heal.And to do that, she couldn’t stay in the same environment with either of them.When she got back, she resigned from work. Everything that concerns Richard should be cut off.No long explanation.She just knew she needed a reset.She started doing the things she always wanted to do.She became a photographer—nothing too big yet, just capturing moments, random things that caught her eye.Nature. PeopleShe found peace behind the lens.And she painted too.Just for fun.She also started therapy.That was the hardest part.Sitting down. Talking. Unpacking things she had buried for years.But it helped.And she noticed the changes.She even joined a reading club.At first, i

Lena went to her studio early that morning. She had a project lined up—a birthday shoot. A woman had booked her for her daughter’s birthday, and everything had to be perfect. So she left the house early, stopping by different places to pick up materials and decorations for the setup. The theme the client wanted was girly, soft, and princess-like. Lena didn’t even hesitate. She went with Cinderella. Because in her mind, every little girl wanted to be a princess at least once. And she wanted to give her that moment. When everything was ready, the studio looked like a dream. Soft blue tones, sparkles, flowers, and a touch of magic in every corner. When it was time for the shoot, the little girl walked in dressed like a princess doll. It was almost unreal how cute she looked. Her tiara sat perfectly on her little pixie curls, sparkling under the soft lights. Lena smiled behind her camera. “Okay, princess,” she said gently. “Let’s make magic.” The girl giggled, striking sm

Days passed, and Lena noticed Jayden was avoiding her. The only glimpses she caught of him were from afar, usually when he was talking to others. It was strange. She had wanted him to leave her alone, just not like this. Not completely like she didn’t exist. Today was the day they meet up at the book club, and she found herself oddly excited. At least there, they might finally talk. And clear things up between them. She didn’t even understand why she felt this way. Standing in front of her wardrobe, she let her fingers trail across her clothes before finally pulling out a form-fitting emerald silk dress. The rich color glowed softly under the light, complementing her skin perfectly. She layered a tailored black blazer over it, giving the look a touch of sophistication. To balance the elegance with confidence, she slipped into pointed-toe stiletto boots that clicked sharply against the floor. Gold hoop earrings followed, along with a delicate pendant necklace resting just abov