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CHAPTER 71 - ELENA
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2025-04-11 04:08:54
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CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 72 - ELENA
I couldn’t sleep.I tossed and turned in Noah’s small bed, my thoughts tangled like the bedsheets. Martha’s words kept echoing in my head, over and over again.He never gets any good things.If you break his heart... I’ll make your life hell.The room was dark, the only light coming from the streetlamp outside the window. The soft hum of the fridge and the occasional creak from the living room were the only sounds.I couldn’t take it anymore.I slid out from under the blanket and tiptoed to the door. My fingers hesitated on the knob. Then I opened it quietly and padded down the short hallway.Noah was curled up on the couch, a thin throw blanket over him. One arm was tucked under his head, his other hand resting on his chest. He looked peaceful… but tired. Like someone who had been carrying the weight of the world alone for too long.I stood there for a moment, just watching him. Then I whispered, “Noah?”His eyes opened instantly. He blinked up at me, then sat up slowly. “Hey… what’s
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-11CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 73 - ELENA
I stepped into Noah’s room quietly, the warmth of the kitchen still clinging to my skin, along with the sweetness of that almost-kiss from last night. My chest tightened just thinking about it. I let out a soft breath and closed the door behind me.The room was quiet, peaceful, lit only by the soft morning sun peeking through the half-closed blinds. Cardboard boxes still sat along one wall, like reminders that this wasn’t exactly home yet. But still… it felt more real than anything back at my old house. Messy, yes. But real. Lived in.I picked up my phone from beside the bed and hesitated.Tiffany.I hadn’t spoken to her since yesterday, and the guilt was starting to chew at me. What if something went wrong? What if my parents found out she helped me? God, they’d kill her. Or worse—destroy her family’s reputation. And Tiffany? She’d risked everything for me.I tapped her name, heart pounding.It rang once. Twice.Come on, Tiff. Pick up.Then—finally—her voice came through, a rushed wh
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-12CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 74 - ELENA
I left Marcus and Martha at the table and stood by the sink, rinsing out my coffee mug as the sound of soft chatter filled the room. Elena had helped serve breakfast earlier, and I won’t lie—watching her move around my kitchen like she belonged there did something to my chest. Like it squeezed and relaxed all at once.I glanced over my shoulder. Martha was trying to act uninterested, but I caught her watching Elena out of the corner of her eye. Marcus was too busy stuffing eggs into his mouth to notice anything.It was... nice. Too nice.I dried my hands and leaned against the counter. I couldn’t stay in this bubble forever.“Elena,” I said, and she looked up from the table. “I’m heading out. Gonna look around for a job.”Her face tensed a little. “Already?”“Yeah,” I nodded. “I’ve been putting it off, but I need to pull my weight. Especially with all of us here now.”She stood up, walked over, and handed me the keys I’d left on the counter. Her fingers brushed mine. “Be safe, okay?”
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-12CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 75 - ELENA
Two Weeks LaterIt had been two weeks since I started working at the diner.Two weeks of the greasy smell of frying food sticking to my clothes, burnt coffee that made my stomach churn even before I was fully awake, and the dull ache in my feet that seemed to get worse with each shift.Two weeks of keeping my head barely above water, of feeling like I was just hanging on by a thread—but somehow, I was still making it through.The days had all started to blur together. Breakfast rushes, endless refills of coffee, the same tired faces with the same tired stories.I dragged myself out of bed every morning, the knot in my stomach tightening as I pulled on the faded blue uniform. The diner’s logo—a goofy, smiling pancake—seemed almost mocking, a reminder of who I was.The routine had become automatic. I didn’t think about it anymore. I just did what I had to do to get through the day.It wasn’t that the job was bad. In fact, most of the customers were friendly enough, and the diner had its
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-12CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 76 - ELENA
NOAHHer words hit me like a punch to the gut. I blinked, completely thrown off guard. I hadn’t expected that. It was as if the ground had shifted beneath me, and now everything felt out of balance.“Wait, what?” I stammered, my confusion clear in my voice. “Why?”She turned to look at me, her eyes softening, almost apologetic. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to do everything on your own. I don’t want you carrying this weight all by yourself anymore. I just…” She paused, a small sigh escaping her lips.“I don’t want to sit around, waiting for things to get better. I need to start doing something too. I need to figure out my next step. You know I need to start applying for college, and I just…”Her voice trailed off, and I could see the desperation in her eyes. It wasn’t about the ring, not really. It was about everything—her future, the uncertainty that hung in the air, the pressure she felt to contribute.“I know you’re trying, Elena,” I said gently, reaching out to take her
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-12CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 77 - ELENA
I blinked.“I—what?” The word sounded hollow. “Frozen? Why?”“I’m not entirely sure,” she said gently. “It might be due to a legal hold or family restriction. It could also be related to an ongoing investigation—”“What investigation?” My voice came out sharper than I intended.She looked uncomfortable. “There’s limited information I can provide. But the hold was placed by a third party with shared access. A guardian, co-signer...”“My father,” I whispered, feeling the ground tilt beneath me. Of course. Who else?“I can’t confirm that,” she said, though her hesitation told me everything.My throat tightened. “I need that money. It’s mine.”“I understand,” she said kindly. “But you’ll need to speak to the branch manager. They’ll help you figure out the next steps.”I nodded slowly, even though everything inside me was screaming.I turned and walked out into the sunlight. It felt too bright now, like it was exposing every raw inch of me. I stood on the sidewalk, stunned, unsure where to
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-12CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 78 - ELENA
There was only one bank in Hazel Town.Just one.If Elena needed to get money, that’s where she would go. It wasn’t a guess. I knew it.And her last message? “Don’t come.”That text wasn’t just words.It felt like a soft scream. A whisper begging me to help her.I didn’t stop to think. I just ran.My legs moved fast, too fast. My heart pounded so loud I couldn’t even hear my thoughts. I didn’t bother with the main road. I cut through the back streets, past old fences and broken street lamps. Overgrown gardens brushed against my jeans, and the smell of flowers mixed with car fumes made me lightheaded.People stared as I rushed by, but I didn’t care.I turned the final corner, and there it was—Hazel Town City Bank.Two security guards stood outside. One looked like he hadn’t smiled in twenty years. His arms were crossed, his face cold like stone. The other was younger, maybe close to my age. He chewed gum loudly, like he was bored out of his mind.I ran straight up to them, holding out
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-13CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 79 - NOAH
Cameron.The moment I saw him, my stomach dropped.He stood by the door like he owned the room, wearing that same wicked smile I used to fall for. His dark eyes sparkled with something close to amusement, like he was enjoying the show. Like I was the show.Of course he was here. Of course this was all planned. He and my father—two master manipulators playing chess while I was just the pawn.“Hello, Elena,” Cameron said smoothly, taking slow, confident steps toward me. His hands were tucked into his suit pockets like he had no care in the world. “You look… tired.”Tired? I almost laughed. I was tired—of running, hiding, and fighting. But hearing it from him made me want to scream.I didn’t answer. I just looked away.My father was seated behind his massive desk, fingers steepled under his chin. He looked at me like a judge waiting to deliver a verdict. Cold. Distant.The silence in the room felt sharp. The only sound was the loud ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. Tick. Ti
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-14
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CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 91 - ELENA
The room was quiet now, save for the soft rustle of fabric as I gathered my things. The aftermath of what had just happened still hung in the air, an unspoken understanding between us, but I couldn’t shake the weight in my chest. My heart was racing, a mix of emotions—confusion, longing, and a bittersweet sense of peace.I stood by the window, my fingers brushing against the cool glass, watching the early evening light stretch across the sky. The room felt too small, too intimate, like it was closing in around me.The reality of what we had done was setting in. I had to leave. I had to face the rest of my world, the chaos outside this safe little bubble we’d created. But Noah—Noah was right there, watching me, his eyes full of that familiar intensity.“Don’t go yet,” Noah’s voice was low, thick with something I couldn’t quite place, but I felt it in my chest. He was still sitting on the bed, his legs tangled in the sheets, his body so still, as if he was trying to hold onto the moment
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 90 - ELENA
WARNING!!!! “I thought you weren’t ever coming back,” he said, voice low and sharp. “So what changed?”I swallowed hard. “Everything.”He didn’t respond. Just stared at me with those guarded eyes, the ones that used to be warm when they looked at me.“Noah,” I said again, stepping forward, “please just give me five minutes.”“You disappeared, Elena.” His voice cracked, full of pain and resentment. “You texted me that morning, and then you were gone. Your father took you. I knew that. But then weeks passed. No calls. No messages. Nothing. What was I supposed to think?”“I tried,” I whispered. “He took everything—my phone, laptop, tablet. He even changed the locks in my room. I wasn’t allowed out. I was a prisoner in my own home.”Noah’s jaw clenched. “Why didn’t you run?”“I couldn’t. Not at first. I was scared. He was watching everything I did.”“Still—” His voice broke. “You could’ve found a way.”“I did,” I whispered. “Eventually. Stella—my maid—risked everything to sneak me a burn
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 89 - ELENA
The legal battle was just beginning, and the acceptance letter from the University of North Dakota, while incredible, felt like a dream I wasn’t allowed to hold onto for too long.I sat cross-legged on my bed, staring at my laptop like it might vanish. The glowing email sat open, still unread all the way through. A new life.But all of it now felt so… far away.How was I supposed to focus on college classes and dorm rooms when my world was on fire?My fingers trembled as I closed the laptop. I hugged a pillow to my chest and let out a shaky breath.I couldn’t cry. Not again.I heard a knock on my door.“Elena?” It was Julian, my brother.“Come in,” I called softly.He peeked in, his expression a mixture of concern and exhaustion. “Hey... I just wanted to check on you.”I nodded, trying to smile. “I’m okay.”He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “Liar.”A small laugh escaped me. “Maybe a little.”He walked over and sat beside me. “You don’t have to act like you’ve got this al
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 88 - ELENA
The crisp white envelope felt like a punch straight to my chest.Court Summons.I stared at the bold letters, my hands trembling. It was real. Everything I’d planned, everything I’d dared to dream—it was finally happening.I was taking my father to court.A tremor ran through me, but it wasn’t fear. It was something sharper. A strange, shaky kind of defiance. This was it. After years of being treated like I didn’t own my own life, I was finally standing up for myself.And I wasn’t turning back.Then my phone rang.I jumped, fumbling to pick it up. The screen flashed: Ms. Brenner.“Hello?” My voice cracked, and I hated that it did.“Elena,” Ms. Brenner said, her voice firm but urgent. “We need to talk. Can you come into the office right away?”My heart dropped. “Did something happen?”“Yes. The summons has been officially served. Your father’s lawyer just reached out to me.”I swallowed hard. “Okay. I’ll be there soon.”My chest tightened, and I grabbed my phone, scrolling until I saw
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 87 - NOAH
Days turned into weeks, and the waiting nearly drove me insane.Every morning, I’d wake up with a sliver of hope in my chest, rush to check my email, only to be met with silence. And then I’d do it again ten minutes later… and again.I must’ve refreshed that inbox a thousand times a day. It felt like my entire life was sitting in someone else’s hands—waiting to be stamped with either a yes or a no.I started dreaming about it.Some nights, I saw the words Congratulations, you’ve been accepted blinking on the screen like they were meant just for me. Other nights, it was the opposite. A simple, cold rejection. Or worse—no reply at all. Those nights were harder to shake off. They stayed with me, like a weight I couldn’t shrug.One evening, I was back at the diner, elbow-deep in soapy water, scrubbing plates and trying not to spiral.The clatter of dishes and the hum of conversation around me couldn’t drown out the thoughts running wild in my head.That’s when Maria noticed.“You okay, N
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 86 - NOAH
I sat on the edge of my bed, the old springs groaning beneath me like they understood just how tired I was.The room felt smaller than usual, like the walls were pressing in on me, squeezing out the last bit of air I had left. I needed a break. I needed a plan. I needed something.The diner job hadn’t made me rich. Far from it. It just kept me going.Kept food in my stomach, rent barely paid, and my head above water. Barely. But somehow, I had scraped something together. Real money. Not a lot, but enough to make me feel like maybe—just maybe—I could start over.Then there was the cash Kade had given me.I hated thinking about it. About him. About where that money came from. It made my skin crawl. Taking it felt like swallowing glass. But I’d needed it.I couldn’t have cleared all my debts without it. I couldn’t have shaken off everything that was holding me down. As bitter as it was, it helped. And I needed to move on.I emptied my pockets and laid out the bills and coins across my bl
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 85 - NOAH
The bank. It kept replaying in my head like a bad memory that wouldn’t go away.I saw Elena every time I closed my eyes—her face, the way she would have reached out for me, and her voice calling my name as the car drove off. And I just stood there, helpless. Like a fool. Like a coward.They took her like she didn’t matter. Like she was just something to be collected and returned to a prison.The guard had said something that day. I don’t even remember the exact words anymore. Something about how they had the right.Something about her family. It didn’t matter. Nothing he said could explain it. Nothing could make it okay.I don’t remember how I got home. Cars honked, people yelled, and the world kept moving, but I didn’t care. Everything felt far away. Like I was underwater and everyone else was still breathing air.When I walked into the house, it felt colder.The kind of cold that had nothing to do with weather. The couch where she used to sit felt emptier. Her mug was still on the t
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 84 - ELENA
I barely made it to the end of the hallway before the tears started stinging my eyes.I wasn’t crying because of the slap—though it did hurt, and the sting was still fresh on my skin. I was crying because everything inside me felt like it was breaking apart. But also… finally falling into place.I stepped outside the mansion into the cold evening air, letting it fill my lungs like freedom. My steps were slow and shaky. I didn’t know where I was going—I just needed to get away from those walls, that house, and their voices.Then my phone rang.The screen lit up with a name I hadn’t seen in weeks.Julian.My brother.I almost let it go to voicemail. But something inside me said, Pick it up.So I did.“Hello?” I whispered.“Elena,” came his voice, rough and tired. “What the hell are you doing?”I blinked, caught off guard by his tone. “Excuse me?”“Do you have any idea what you’ve just started?” He snapped. “I got ten missed calls from Dad. Mom is blowing up my phone. I leave town for tw
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 83 - ELENA
I poured my heart and soul into that application like it was my lifeline.Every section, every word—I gave it my full attention. But it was the essay that really cracked something open inside me. The moment I began typing, it felt like the dam I’d been holding back for years finally broke.Tears rolled down my cheeks. Not the kind that came from sadness—but the kind that came from release. From finally speaking my truth.“I want to study people,” I typed, my fingers trembling as they danced across the keyboard. “Because for so long, I’ve been surrounded by people who never really saw me.”I stopped and stared at the screen. That one sentence said everything.My parents never saw me. Not really. They saw a trophy daughter. A future heiress. A social puppet they could dress up and parade in front of their world.They never noticed the quiet girl who loved books, who asked questions, and who dreamed about simple things like bike rides and real love.I sniffled and wiped my face with the
