جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 150

MELANIE I hadn’t heard a single word my mom said since that call ended.Has Gavin already moved on? Had he found someone older, more experienced, someone whose life wasn’t a complete mess? Or had he decided I was too complicated and just… replaced me?My thoughts kept spinning, faster and louder, and I couldn’t shut them off. I hadn’t answered any of his calls since. I hadn’t even listened to the voicemail he’d left. I was too scared of what I might hear.Why was I this in love with him? Why did it still hurt this much?“Melanie, are you alright?” My mother’s voice finally cut through. “You haven’t been yourself since that phone call.”I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “I’m fine, Mom. I just… need to use the bathroom.”She looked worried but nodded. I stood up and walked to the restroom, my legs feeling a little unsteady. Inside, I locked the door and stared at myself in the mirror. My face looked pale and confused.How was I supposed to handle this? A woman had answered h

MELANIE I didn't know how or what to feel hearing that Gavin singlehandedly saved my mother and brought her back to me. She was still sniffing and wiping her eyes beside me.How was I supposed to stay angry at a man who had done something so selfless?“Can you do me a favour?” Gavin suddenly said, his expression turning serious.“Of course. Name it,” my mother answered without hesitation.“Keep this between us.” His brows pulled together. “I don’t want Dalton knowing I was involved in your release.”“Oh, of course.” She nodded firmly. “He will never hear your name from me.”He nodded, looking satisfied, then his eyes shifted to me and held my gaze as we stared at each other for several long seconds until my mother stood up and the moment broke.“Can you show me to the restroom?” she asked with a small smile.“Sure. Follow me.”He led her down the hall. I remained seated, biting my lips nervously, knowing that he would come back alone any second.A moment later, he returned and stoppe

MELANIE I kissed him like this was our first time, and I couldn't get enough. His hands tightened on my waist as I deepened the kiss, pouring everything I had been holding back into the moment. I would have kept going without thinking about anything else if Gavin hadn’t suddenly remembered we weren’t alone.He pulled back first, breaking the kiss with a ragged breath. His chest heaved against mine, his hazel eyes dark and heavy with a lust that made my knees weak. I could only imagine what he would have done if my mother hadn’t been standing five feet away. God, part of me wished she wasn't.“Melanie, what on earth is going on?” My mother’s voice came from behind me, quiet and stunned, like she was still processing the fact that her daughter had just kissed a man old enough to be her father.I closed my eyes for a few seconds, then turned to face her. “Can we talk about this after we leave?”She shook her head, her forehead wrinkling. “Is your father aware of this?”“Of course not.”

MELANIE We pulled up in front of the house. I parked and got out, but my mother stayed in the passenger seat, staring at the building through the windshield.“Mom?” I leaned down to look at her. “Are you alright?”She turned her head slowly and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. After a moment she nodded and opened the door. I walked around the car and took her hands. They were cold. I was a little worried that this move might be too soon and too much for her. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”She didn't answer immediately; she just looked away, staring at the house. I could only imagine how strange it felt to stand here again after so many years.“I’m ready,” she said finally.I nodded and kept hold of her hand as we walked up the steps and inside. In the foyer she stopped and looked around. “It’s still the same,” she murmured.She was right. Nothing much had changed all these years. Maybe just a few fresh coats of paint and other minor renovations, but the house remai

GAVINI sat behind my desk with the case file open in front of me, but the words on the page barely registered. Sarah stood on the other side of the desk, with her arms behind her back, waiting. I closed the file and looked up at her.“You crossed a line yesterday,” I said to her, my voice firm. “Threatening me was a mistake, a huge mistake on your part. I'm letting you remain on this case, not because of your threats, but because I don't want to complicate things.” She looked relieved as she let out a loud breath. “But don't expect things to stay the same between us after that.”Her jaw tightened. “I wasn’t trying to threaten you for fun, Agent Thorne. I was only trying to stop you from throwing away years of work. Your recent choices—especially the ones involving Melanie Wealth—are going to destroy everything you’ve built if someone finds out.”“That’s my problem to handle.”“No. It’s not just yours.” She stepped closer to the desk. “I’ve watched you change. You’re distracted. You’