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CHAPTER 73 - ELENA
Last Updated:
2025-04-12 07:20:06
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CRUEL 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?”
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
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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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 2025-04-14CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 80 - ELENA
The heavy oak doors of the mansion felt more like prison gates than anything else.Just a few days ago, I’d been free—so close to building a life that was truly mine. But now I was back. Trapped. Every move I made was watched. Every breath, controlled.My father had taken my phone. Said it was “for my own good.” That I needed time to “recover.”But I knew the truth.He just wanted to break me all over again. Turn me back into the obedient little doll he used to parade around.The days dragged by, slow and silent. Too quiet. The maids walked on eggshells around me, their eyes full of pity. The guards stood near every door like I was some wild animal ready to escape.And my mother?She didn’t say much. Just stared. Always so cold, so disappointed. I couldn’t take her eyes anymore. They made me feel smaller than ever.The worst part? I wasn’t even allowed to talk about college. Every time I mentioned it, my father would cut me off with a wave of his hand.“You’ll go to college after the
Last Updated : 2025-04-14CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 81 - ELENA
Two weeks.It felt like two years. Maybe even more.Since that call, I’d been counting every hour, every minute. Every footstep outside my room made my heart race, hoping—praying—it was Tiffany.Then, she came.I didn’t see her at first. I heard her. Her laugh floated through the hallway like a breeze of fresh air. I hadn’t realized how quiet this place had been until her voice cut through the silence.My heart jumped.“Ah, Tiffany,” my father said, his voice filled with fake warmth. “It’s been too long.”The butler didn’t even get to announce her properly. She was already here.I stood at the top of the stairs, trying to act normal as she approached. I smiled, but my cheeks trembled. I didn’t want to look too excited. My father was always watching, always suspicious.“There’s my girl!” she said, opening her arms wide.I ran into her hug like it was the only safe place in the world.She smelled like lavender and sunshine. I almost cried right there.“You look... tired,” she whispered
Last Updated : 2025-04-14
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CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 103 - ELENA
Noah froze the moment the words left my mouth.“My mother wants to meet you.” I said again.His mouth dropped open, his eyes wide like I’d just told him I was pregnant with triplets or something. He didn’t speak. Didn’t move. Just stood there, blinking like someone had knocked the air out of him.I couldn’t help it—I nearly laughed. The look on his face was priceless.“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” I said, smiling gently.He blinked again, his brows pulling tight. “I just… why now?”His voice was quiet, like he wasn’t even talking to me, more like he was trying to solve a puzzle out loud.I could see it—the way his mind was spinning, trying to make sense of it. His fingers twitched at his sides like he wanted to run them through his hair. His lips moved like he was still calculating something he couldn’t quite figure out.I stepped closer, my bare feet soft against the floor, and cupped his face in my hands. His skin was warm. Familiar. Mine.“It’s just dinner,” I whispered.The
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 102 - ELENA
I woke up to the chill of an empty bed.Noah was gone.The pillow beside me was cold, like he’d been up for hours.My chest felt heavy. A slow ache started to bloom there, right behind my ribs. I stretched beneath the blanket, trying to shake it off. But it didn’t help. I knew exactly why I felt like this.I had to tell him.About my mother. About the invitation to dinner. The one that had been sitting in my phone like a bomb I was too afraid to open.But I didn’t know how to say it. It felt… wrong. Strange. Like pulling him into a world he’d finally escaped. And yet, it mattered. Maybe not to him, but to me. Because things were starting to feel real between us, and if we were going to survive this—us—then I had to be honest.I sighed and pushed the covers off me. The floor was cold beneath my feet, the silence in the room louder than it should’ve been.I pulled on one of Noah’s sweatshirts hanging on the chair. It still smelled like him—woodsy and clean, like pine after rain.I padde
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 101 - NOAH
I woke before the sun.The sky outside was still dark, painted in shades of grey and blue. The kind of quiet only early morning knew.Elena was curled up beside me, her hand resting lightly on my chest, her breath warm against my shoulder. Her face was soft in sleep. Peaceful. Safe.For a moment, I didn’t move. Just watched her. I let myself feel the weight of her trust—how far we’d come, how close I’d almost lost her.But something inside me twisted. A heavy knot I couldn’t shake.Like I’d left something undone. Something important.I needed to close that door before I could fully stand in the one she had opened for me.I moved slowly, careful not to wake her. I slid out from beneath the blanket, freshened up, and got ready to leave.On a piece of scrap paper, I scribbled:Be back soon. Needed to close a door.I folded it and left it by her phone.I stood there for a moment, staring down at her sleeping form. My heart tugged, wanting to stay. Wanting to forget the past and just live
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 100 - ELENA
Noah sat quietly beside me, one arm resting on the window, the other curled around the bag of cookies on his lap. He'd eaten three already. I teased him about it earlier, and he just smirked like he always did and said, “Fuel.”I laughed. Really laughed. The kind that shook the quiet from my chest.But it didn’t last.My phone buzzed on my lap, and the screen lit up with one word that made my stomach twist.Mom.My laughter faded.The car didn’t feel so warm anymore.I stared at the screen until it stopped ringing, the silence that followed pressing heavy against my chest. I didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Just… froze.Noah didn’t say anything right away. He didn’t need to.He glanced at me—just once—and then kept his eyes on the road. Like he understood that whatever this was, it hurt.“I’m not ready to talk,” I said softly, the words barely making it past my lips.Noah reached over and placed his hand on mine.It was that kind of touch that didn’t demand anything. No questions. No pushin
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 99 - ELENA
The moment I stepped into the building, I knew I was in the right place.It smelled like fresh paint and old wood, like something new beginning inside something timeless. There was the faint scent of books too—paper and ink and glue—all of it weaving into the kind of comfort I didn’t expect to find.The walls were covered in past student projects. Sketches framed in gold, mood boards pinned with care, and models of rooms and houses displayed with pride. Like someone had once stood where I was standing and felt proud of what they made.For the first time in a long while, my chest didn’t feel tight. My fingers didn’t shake. My breath didn’t catch.I felt like I belonged here.I took another step forward.The registration desk sat just ahead, where a few students were already gathered. Their voices hummed low, full of curiosity and nerves. I walked up slowly, unsure, but trying not to look like it.A girl turned toward me. She had dark curls and soft eyes and offered a small, kind smile.
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 98 - ELENA
3 WEEKS LATERI woke slowly, the soft morning light slipping in through the curtains, painting the room with a gentle glow.For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to remember where I was. But then, I felt it—the warmth beside me. Noah’s body, solid and real, pressed close to mine. His arm was draped over me, and I could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest against my back.The scent of cinnamon and fresh coffee lingered in the air, mixing with the warmth of his skin. It was peaceful here, in a way I wasn’t used to. I wasn’t used to waking up in a house that felt so... normal.Stretching slowly, I blinked the sleep out of my eyes. The events of the night before were still fresh in my mind.The way Noah’s touch had made me feel—safe, wanted, like I was finally starting to fit somewhere, even if just for this moment. I hadn’t felt like this in a long time. I hadn’t felt like I belonged.Noah stirred beside me, and I turned to find him already watching me, his
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 97 - NOAH
I woke before the sun touched the sky.The room was quiet, wrapped in soft shadows. For a second, I didn’t move. I just breathed. Then I felt it—her.Elena.She was curled into my side, her body warm against mine. One small hand rested over my chest, like it belonged there. Like she’d always known where to place it.I turned my head slowly, careful not to wake her. Her hair was messy, tangled across the pillow and my shoulder. Her lips were parted slightly, her breath slow and steady. She looked peaceful.God, she deserved this peace.After everything she went through… the courtroom battles, the lies, the weight her father placed on her shoulders—she had finally found rest. And somehow, she’d found it next to me.I let my eyes trace her face. No makeup. No guard up. Just Elena. Soft and real. And mine.A strange ache bloomed in my chest. I wasn’t used to this kind of quiet. The kind that felt safe. I wanted to wrap it in my hands and never let it go.Leaning in, I brushed my lips agai
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 96 - CAMERON
The whiskey burned, but not enough.I sat in the corner of the bar, alone, elbows resting on sticky wood, shadows clinging to me like guilt. The place was quiet except for the low hum of the television above the bar and the occasional clink of ice against glass.Then I heard her name.“Elena Valmont wins legal battle. Full inheritance granted. Family corruption exposed.”I looked up.There she was—on screen. Her picture filled the space above the bar like a punch to the chest. Her hair pulled back, eyes calm and strong. Too strong. She didn’t look like the girl I used to know. She looked like the woman I lost.I stared at the photo like it would blink. Like she’d turn her head and smile at me.She didn’t.I took another sip, but the whiskey didn’t help.I never thought she’d really do it. I thought she’d threaten it, cry about it, maybe run for a while, then come back. Back to her place at her father’s table. Back to me.But she didn’t come back.She walked straight into hell and dragg
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 95 - ELENA
By the time I reached Hazel Town, the sun had already dipped behind the trees, casting everything in this soft, dusky glow. The town looked quieter than I remembered. Maybe it was the calm after a storm… or maybe it was just the calm before mine.My hands tightened on the steering wheel as I turned the last corner. I didn’t know what to expect. What he would say. What I would say. All I knew was I needed him.As I rolled into the familiar gravel driveway of his house, I saw him.Noah.Sitting on the porch steps.His elbows rested on his knees, his eyes scanning the road like he had been doing it all day.He stood up the second he saw me.I hadn’t even turned the engine off before I flung the door open and stepped out. My heart was thundering, my pulse racing like it was trying to make up for all the moments I had missed with him.“Noah,” I breathed, barely louder than a whisper.“Elena,” he said, his voice just as raw.And then we ran.I didn’t care how tired I was. I didn’t care abou
