Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 101 - Chapitre 110

Ethan completely lost control of his emotions. He rolled onto his stomach, burying his face directly into the mattress as deep, racking sobs tore through his chest. He wept uncontrollably, his shoulders shaking with a level of grief and overwhelming shock I had never seen in him before.I sat right where I was on the edge of the mattress, my own face bathed in silent tears. As much as every instinct in my body urged me to reach out and pull him into my arms, I forced myself to give him space for a few long minutes. He needed to let the dam break.After about ten agonizing minutes, his heavy weeping quieted down to ragged sniffling. He slowly pushed himself up, resting his weight on his forearms. He raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, swollen, and shining with raw pain as his gaze met mine."Why?" he muttered, his voice trembling violently. "Why did you hide this from me, Claire? Why didn't you tell me my son was alive, well and that he was living right under my nose?""Ethan, please

I stood completely frozen, staring into Ethan’s eyes, unable to process the sound of my own name paired with the word love coming from his lips.I knew, deep within the darkest, most guarded corners of my heart, that I had fallen head over heels for him. But hearing him confess his feelings openly, without reservation was something I had never seen coming. Not once since the moment I stepped foot into this estate.Earlier, I had made peace with a quiet, heartbreaking reality, I had resolved to just let things be, to enjoy whatever small moments we shared while they lasted, without ever hoping for anything in return. I expected no commitment, no consistency, no long-term future, and certainly no love. I had convinced myself that I was nothing more than a temporary presence in his world, bound to him only by tragedy.Yet here I was, standing inches away from him, listening to him bare his entire soul to me.My mind spun so violently that I genuinely doubted my own reality. I needed to k

"Hey, Leo," Ethan called out softly, "What have you been learning in your online lessons today? How about you share some of that big knowledge with us?"Leo’s eyes lit up instantly. "Really? You want me to teach you?""Of course," Ethan replied, lifting Leo up in one gentle motion and placing him comfortably on top of his large oak desk. "Show us what you've got, Professor Leo." He said and walked over to his study corner, pulling a pad of smooth sketch paper and a few pens from his drawer before turning back to us with a warm smile.He pulled two plush chairs side by side facing the desk, sat down in one and gestured for me to take the seat right beside him. As I settled in, Leo tapped a pen against the sketch pad with total authority, taking his new role very seriously while Ethan and I sat like dutiful pupils ready for class."Okay, settle down, class!" Leo said sternly, tapping his colored pencil against his pad. "Today we are learning the alphabet!"He held up his pad, pointing t

I let out a breathless moan into his mouth, my fingers tangling tightly into the hair at the back of his neck. The kiss exploded with a raw, pent-up hunger that had been building between us for days. Ethan groaned softly, his grip tightening on my waist as he lifted me slightly, pressing my hips directly against his growing hardness through our clothes.His lips moved down to my throat, biting and sucking gently at the sensitive skin of my collarbone while his hands roamed freely over my body. He reached down, grabbing the hem of my top and pulling it over my head in one swift motion, tossing it onto the floor.I shivered as the cool air hit my bare chest, but Ethan was quick to replace it with the burning heat of his skin. His hands moved up to cup my breasts, his thumbs brushing over my hardened nipples through the lace of my bra. A sharp gasp escaped my lips, my head falling back against the door as he slid his mouth down to press hot, wet kisses along the swell of my chest."Ethan

My phone alarm chimed softly at 6:45 AM, pulling me gently from a deep, warm sleep. I blinked against the morning light filtering through the curtains and glanced over at the other side of the bed. Leo was still curled up tightly under the covers, breathing evenly and fast asleep.Quietly slipping out from under the blankets, I tiptoed into the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. As I dried my face with a soft hand towel, my phone buzzed sharply against the vanity counter.I picked it up, unlocking the screen to find a new notification from Ethan. I opened the message and blinked in surprise as I read the lengthy text;“Good morning, my gorgeous Claire. I’ve been sitting here since the sun came up, staring at the empty space beside me and wishing I could wake you up with my lips against yours. Last night’s texts nearly drove me completely out of my mind, and all I can think about this morning is the sound of your voice and the feel of your skin under my hands. You have comple