All Chapters of Don’t Tell Our Parents : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Chloe looked like she was about to explode, her chest heaving with rage as my completely unbothered reaction threw her off.Before she could spit out another word, I looked down at my plate. Honestly, any appetite I had left completely vanished the second she opened her mouth. I didn't even care to stick around for whatever toxic nonsense she was about to spew next.I just stood up from the table, grabbed my bag, tossed enough cash on the table to cover the bill plus a generous tip, and walked right past them without another glance.I walked out of the restaurant and headed back toward campus, the fresh air doing a good job of cooling down the annoying heat in my cheeks. Honestly, dealing with Chloe was exhausting, and my mood was totally shot.Since I didn't want to hang around outside and risk running into anyone else, I just made my way straight to the lecture hall for sociology class. It was still pretty early, so the room was mostly empty, which was fine by me. I picked a desk ne

It only took about ten minutes of driving with the windows rolled down for the humid afternoon heat to cool my skin and clear out the lingering annoyance from campus. I pulled my car into the driveway, killed the engine, and grabbed my bag before walking up the front steps.When I pushed the front door open, the house was dead quiet. There was zero sign of life, no bustling footsteps, no background TV noise. Dropping my keys into the small ceramic bowl by the entryway, I kicked off my shoes and called out to see if anyone was around. A moment later, one of the housemaids emerged from the hallway, offering a polite smile and letting me know that my mom and richard weren’t home.Relieved that I wouldn't have to deal with any unnecessary questions or nagging, I dragged myself up the stairs and headed straight to my room.The first thing I did was peel off my damp, sticky clothes and step into the shower. Letting the hot water blast over my shoulders felt like heaven after the absolute

I finished pulling on my clothes, giving myself a quick check in the mirror to make sure everything looked good. A second later, a soft knock tapped against my bedroom door. I pulled it open, and there stood Lael. He had already changed out of his earlier clothes, keeping it simple and casual in a fitted dark t-shirt that hugged his broad shoulders and a pair of clean dark trousers that showed off his height. He looked down at me, his eyes sweeping over my outfit with an approving glint. "You ready?" Lael asked, his voice low and smooth. I grabbed my small bag off the desk, slipping the strap over my shoulder. "Yeah, let's go." We walked out into the hallway together, heading down the grand staircase toward the front entrance. But as we passed the living room area, my mom and Richard looked up from the couch. My mom’s eyes narrowed slightly as she took in our party-ready clothes this late at night. "Where are you two going this late?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Before I co

We stepped through the automatic glass doors and out into the cool expanse of the asphalt parking lot, the automated doors swooshing shut behind us. The night air carried a faint, electric chill, smelling faintly of distant exhaust fumes and the damp concrete of the deserted strip mall. Overhead, the sprawling sky hung deep indigo and remarkably clear, dotted with a scattering of pale, indifferent stars that barely managed to compete with the harsh, buzzing amber glare of the overhead security lights.Lael walked with an easy, fluid stride toward the driver's side of his car, the heavy electronics bag shifting against his shoulder with a soft rustle of cardboard and padded foam. He hit the key fob, the vehicle responding with a sharp, double chirp and a blink of its hazard lights. Without a word, he popped the trunk, tucked the expensive gear securely inside away from prying eyes, and dropped the lid with a muted, solid thud.I circled around the front of the hood, the residual he

I looked over at Lael, but he didn't say a word. Instead, his thumb just started tracing slow circles against my waist, sending a sudden flutter straight to my stomach.Without breaking stride, he led me straight toward the kitchen island where the main drink station was set up.Of course, that meant walking right into the line of fire.As we pushed through the crowded room, people literally parted ways to let us through, whispering to each other while staring at Lael’s hand anchored firmly on my hip. I kept my chin up, trying my absolute best to act like I wasn't totally nervous.The second we stopped at the edge of the kitchen island, Leon’s jaw instantly clenched tight. He looked completely thrown off, his dark eyes dropping straight down to Lael's hand on my waist before snapping up to meet mine.Chloe, on the other hand, looked like she was about to blow a fuse. Her grip on Leon’s arm tightened so hard her knuckles went completely white, her eyes flashing with pure, bitter jealou