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Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-31 23:53:01
Bab terkait
Bouquet Of Deception 75
75 RileyI don’t even remember how I got back home.One minute, I was in the hospital, sitting beside Ethan, begging him to wake up. The next, I was standing in front of my apartment door, my whole body numb.I turned my head, and there it was—Ethan’s apartment.The door was closed, just like always. His name still on the small metal plate next to the number. Everything looked the same. But it wasn’t.He wasn’t inside, making his stupid protein shakes that smelled awful. He wasn’t blasting music way too early in the morning. He wasn’t there to throw open his door, grinning at me like I was the best part of his day.I choked on a sob.Fuck.Tears blurred my vision as I stumbled forward, pressing my hand against his door like maybe—maybe—I could feel something. Some warmth. Some trace of him.I felt nothing but cold wood.I hated this. I hated how weak I felt.I hated that I was crying.Had I become a girl now? Some pathetic, lovesick idiot who only realized what she wanted when it was
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31Bouquet Of Deception 76
7666 59 Ethan I left the kitchen before Riley could see just how much his words affected me. I shouldn’t care that he was still here. I shouldn’t want him to stay. But I did. I stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind me with a deep breath. Focus, Ethan. I needed to get my head straight before work, not stand around analyzing every little thing Riley said or did. I turned on the shower, stepping under the hot spray with a sigh. The warmth eased some of the soreness in my muscles, but it did nothing to clear my mind. I kept thinking about him. About last night. About the way he touched me—like he wasn’t just claiming my body but something more. I shook my head, pushing the thought away. Riley wasn’t like that. This was nothing. Just a one-time thing. Even if he had stayed. Even if he was making pancakes in my kitchen. Even if— I groaned, tilting my head back under the water. I was losing it. After washing up, I turned off the shower and wrapp
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31Bouquet Of Deception 77
66 59 Ethan I left the kitchen before Riley could see just how much his words affected me. I shouldn’t care that he was still here. I shouldn’t want him to stay. But I did. I stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind me with a deep breath. Focus, Ethan. I needed to get my head straight before work, not stand around analyzing every little thing Riley said or did. I turned on the shower, stepping under the hot spray with a sigh. The warmth eased some of the soreness in my muscles, but it did nothing to clear my mind. I kept thinking about him. About last night. About the way he touched me—like he wasn’t just claiming my body but something more. I shook my head, pushing the thought away. Riley wasn’t like that. This was nothing. Just a one-time thing. Even if he had stayed. Even if he was making pancakes in my kitchen. Even if— I groaned, tilting my head back under the water. I was losing it. After washing up, I turned off the shower and wrapped
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31Bouquet Of Deception 78
7866 59 Ethan I left the kitchen before Riley could see just how much his words affected me. I shouldn’t care that he was still here. I shouldn’t want him to stay. But I did. I stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind me with a deep breath. Focus, Ethan. I needed to get my head straight before work, not stand around analyzing every little thing Riley said or did. I turned on the shower, stepping under the hot spray with a sigh. The warmth eased some of the soreness in my muscles, but it did nothing to clear my mind. I kept thinking about him. About last night. About the way he touched me—like he wasn’t just claiming my body but something more. I shook my head, pushing the thought away. Riley wasn’t like that. This was nothing. Just a one-time thing. Even if he had stayed. Even if he was making pancakes in my kitchen. Even if— I groaned, tilting my head back under the water. I was losing it. After washing up, I turned off the shower and wrapp
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31Bouquet Of Deception 79
35 Riley Ethan was avoiding me. Not obviously—not in a way that anyone else would notice—but I knew. He was quieter than usual. Fidgety. Kept his eyes on the TV but wasn’t actually watching. His fingers tapped against his knee like his thoughts were running too fast, like he couldn’t settle. And most importantly? He wasn’t looking at me. Not really. Which was funny, considering how, just minutes ago, he’d been pulling me down on top of him like he wanted me to ruin him. I smirked at the thought, shifting on the couch, letting my arm drape over the back of it—casual, easy. Ethan didn’t move away, but he didn’t lean into it, either. Interesting. “You’re thinking too much again,” I murmured, voice low. He tensed, a flicker of something crossing his face. “Am not.” I chuckled. “Liar.” That got me a glare, but it was half-hearted at best. His lips parted like he wanted to say something else, but then he stopped himself, shaking his head and focusing back on the screen. Right. T
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31Bouquet Of Deception 80
Chapter 76RileySpeedy had never been quiet before.My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done.You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault.It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there.Pounding against my skull.Reminding me.And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong.Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together.But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It only made it worse.I’
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-06Bouquet Of Deception 81
EthanI didn’t mean for tonight to go this way. In fact, I’d hoped it would be a quiet, straightforward evening. Just me, Riley, and some practice. But things with Ava never go the way I plan.“Riley’s looking at you again,” Ava remarked, tossing a chip into her mouth as she lounged across the couch, staring at the TV with an intensity that couldn’t possibly be genuine.I shifted uncomfortably, my gaze flicking to Riley, who was sitting across from me in my living room, half watching me and half trying to focus on the game we’d been supposed to practice. His eyes were on me, sure, but it didn’t feel like the casual look of someone who had no other interest. My heart thudded in my chest, and I hated myself for reacting this way. It was just practice. Just a favor.“You know, you should probably stop looking at him like that,” I muttered, hoping Ava wouldn’t catch the undertone in my voice. The last thing I needed was her drawing attention to the tension I was feeling.“What’s wrong?” s
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-07Bouquet Of Deception 82
82 EthanDarkness enveloped me, a heavy, impenetrable shroud that seemed to stretch on endlessly. Gradually, the blackness began to thin, peeling away in delicate layers. Sensations seeped in, subtle at first. A weight pressed down on me, as if invisible bricks had been stacked upon my chest, arms, and legs. An ache throbbed deep within my skull, a relentless pulsing against bone. I attempted to move, to lift my limbs, but they remained unresponsive, leaden and foreign. My mouth was parched, and each swallow felt like dragging sandpaper down my throat.Then came the sounds. A rhythmic beeping echoed nearby, accompanied by the soft whir of machines. Beyond these mechanical murmurs, faint voices ebbed and flowed, their words indistinct, as though carried from a great distance.Light followed. Blinding and harsh. I squinted against its intensity, a groan escaping my lips as a sharp sting ignited behind my eyes. Slowly, the sterile white ceiling above me came into focus, lined with recta
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-08
Bab terbaru
Bouquet Of Deception 103
Chapter 7: Memories in FocusRiley’s POVI parked my beaten-down car in the lot outside the studio, killing the engine with a sigh of relief. The sun had risen fully now, the sky painted in soft shades of gold and blue. It was one of those perfect mornings—too perfect for the dark thoughts still lingering at the edge of my mind.“Focus, Riley,” I muttered as I grabbed my camera bag and stepped out, the early city hum filling the air. Work was my escape, the only thing that made sense when nothing else did.The studio was quiet when I walked in, the faint smell of coffee and printer ink lingering in the air. I waved to Marcy, the front desk assistant, who gave me her usual bright smile.“Morning, Riley! Big day ahead?”“Just another day in paradise,” I replied, forcing a smirk.“Don’t forget there’s coffee in the break room,” she added with a wink. “You look like you need it.”I nodded in thanks and headed to my small workspace in the back. The room was cozy, cluttered with camera lens
Bouquet Of Deception 102
Chapter 76 Riley Speedy had never been quiet before. My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done. You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault. It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there. Pounding against my skull. Reminding me. And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong. Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together. But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It on
Bouquet Of Deception 101
Chapter 76 Riley Speedy had never been quiet before. My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done. You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault. It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there. Pounding against my skull. Reminding me. And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong. Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together. But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It on
Bouquet Of Deception 100
Chapter 76 Riley Speedy had never been quiet before. My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done. You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault. It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there. Pounding against my skull. Reminding me. And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong. Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together. But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It on
Bouquet Of Deception 99
Chapter 76 Riley Speedy had never been quiet before. My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done. You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault. It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there. Pounding against my skull. Reminding me. And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong. Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together. But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It only made it
Bouquet Of Deception 98
EthanI didn’t mean for tonight to go this way. In fact, I’d hoped it would be a quiet, straightforward evening. Just me, Riley, and some practice. But things with Ava never go the way I plan.“Riley’s looking at you again,” Ava remarked, tossing a chip into her mouth as she lounged across the couch, staring at the TV with an intensity that couldn’t possibly be genuine.I shifted uncomfortably, my gaze flicking to Riley, who was sitting across from me in my living room, half watching me and half trying to focus on the game we’d been supposed to practice. His eyes were on me, sure, but it didn’t feel like the casual look of someone who had no other interest. My heart thudded in my chest, and I hated myself for reacting this way. It was just practice. Just a favor.“You know, you should probably stop looking at him like that,” I muttered, hoping Ava wouldn’t catch the undertone in my voice. The last thing I needed was her drawing attention to the tension I was feeling.“What’s wrong?” s
Bouquet Of Deception 96
Ron coughed, blood spattering the wooden floor as Dylan Grenville pressed him hard against the tavern wall. His suit was torn, face swollen from the hits, and the cold steel of Dylan’s gaze was more suffocating than the grip around his collar.“You’re making a mistake,” Ron rasped, spitting blood to the side. “You think I’m the end of the line? You’ve just made an enemy you can’t handle. My boss—he’s Goliath. You hear me? Goliath. The man who eats corpses for breakfast.”That name echoed like a thunderclap.Chairs scraped.A drunk at the bar nearly dropped his mug. “Did… did he say Goliath?”A bald man near the hearth froze mid-laugh. “No damn way. You mean that Goliath?”From the shadows, someone muttered, “The one who blew up an entire casino over a poker insult?”The barmaid behind the counter dropped a glass, shards scattering. “I heard he skinned a man just for calling him ‘big guy.’”A grizzled patron in a tattered coat leaned over his shot. “Burned down three blocks just ‘cause
Bouquet Of Deception 95
EthanI didn’t mean for tonight to go this way. In fact, I’d hoped it would be a quiet, straightforward evening. Just me, Riley, and some practice. But things with Ava never go the way I plan.“Riley’s looking at you again,” Ava remarked, tossing a chip into her mouth as she lounged across the couch, staring at the TV with an intensity that couldn’t possibly be genuine.I shifted uncomfortably, my gaze flicking to Riley, who was sitting across from me in my living room, half watching me and half trying to focus on the game we’d been supposed to practice. His eyes were on me, sure, but it didn’t feel like the casual look of someone who had no other interest. My heart thudded in my chest, and I hated myself for reacting this way. It was just practice. Just a favor.“You know, you should probably stop looking at him like that,” I muttered, hoping Ava wouldn’t catch the undertone in my voice. The last thing I needed was her drawing attention to the tension I was feeling.“What’s wrong?” s
Bouquet Of Deception 94
Chapter 76RileySpeedy had never been quiet before.My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done.You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault.It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there.Pounding against my skull.Reminding me.And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong.Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together.But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It only made it worse.I’
