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CHAPTER FOUR - ELENA

Author: J.O
last update Huling Na-update: 2025-03-17 05:41:59

The day of our presentation came faster than I expected, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was going to ruin it.

Noah had put everything into this project, carrying the weight of our partnership, while I had contributed little more than glares and silence. And now, that effort would be my weapon of choice.

The projector screen flickered in front of me, a distorted reflection of the presentation we—no, he had spent weeks perfecting. The class sat waiting, a sea of expectant faces. Mr. Harrison stood at the front of the room, arms crossed, and a faint, knowing smile played on his lips. He saw right through me; I was sure of it. But that didn’t matter. I just needed to make this believable.

I cleared my throat, putting on a bright, overly cheerful smile.

"Okay, so," I began, my voice just a touch too high-pitched. "As you can see, our initial projections regarding social class were slightly... exaggerated."

I trailed off, feigning confusion. The room was silent, save for the low hum of the projector. The truth was obvious. I was sabotaging our work on purpose.

Noah shifted slightly beside me, but he didn’t interrupt. He didn’t flinch. He just watched.

That quiet, unwavering confidence of his only fueled my irritation. He was too controlled, too damn smug. He needed to be knocked down a peg.

I stumbled through the next few slides, deliberately mispronouncing key terms, twisting facts, making a mockery of the work he had done. I could feel the weight of the class’s confusion, the subtle tension thickening the air. I waited for Noah to panic, to stammer, and to finally lose it.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he took a step forward, his presence suddenly commanding, his voice smooth and reassuring, as if speaking to a child who had gotten herself hopelessly lost.

"Actually, Elena," he said, his tone maddeningly patient. "If you'll allow me, I can clarify some of these points. There seems to be a slight misunderstanding."

I braced myself, expecting him to call me out, to turn this into a public confrontation. But he didn’t.

Instead, he did something worse.

He fixed it.

With a calm, effortless ease, he took my intentional blunders and wove them into something coherent, something even better than what he had originally planned. He built upon my mistakes, reframed them, and owned them.

And in doing so, he made me look incompetent without ever having to say it out loud.

I gritted my teeth as I watched him work. He was smooth, poised, completely unshaken. The class relaxed, the confusion replaced by amusement as Noah turned what should have been a disaster into something impressive.

He even smiled.

A small, knowing smile, like he had expected this all along. Like he was “enjoying” this.

And then, just to twist the knife deeper, he turned to me and nodded—nodded—as if I had been an actual contributor to his success.

"And with that," he finished, addressing the class, "we’d be happy to answer any questions you might have."

The room erupted in applause. Applause…..?

Mr. Harrison beamed, looking entirely too pleased. The class leaned forward, eager to ask questions.

And I?

I stood there, seething.

Then, just as I thought it was over, Noah leaned in ever so slightly, his shoulder brushing against mine, his voice a low, amused murmur meant for me alone.

"If you’re going to play dirty," he whispered, "at least try to be better at it."

A shiver ran down my spine, hot and unwanted, colliding with the burning anger coursing through me.

By the time I turned to glare at him, he was already answering a question, a smirk barely hidden on his lips.

And I was left standing there, speechless, my mind a chaotic mess of frustration, humiliation, and something else. Something I really didn’t want to name.

****

That night, I couldn’t sleep.

Images from the presentation replayed in my mind like a broken record. The way Noah had stood his ground, the almost imperceptible tightening of his jaw as I deliberately butchered our project, the calm, controlled manner in which he had dismantled my sabotage piece by piece.

I tossed and turned in my silk sheets, the plushness offering no comfort. I had expected him to be humiliated. I had expected him to crumble under the pressure. Instead, he had shone. And in doing so, he had turned the spotlight back on me, exposing my own pettiness.

His words echoed in my mind, his voice calm but laced with quiet amusement. "If you’re going to play dirty, at least try to be better at it."

It was infuriating. Arrogant. And yet… strangely intriguing.

I was bored, I realized. Terribly, desperately bored. Life had always been predictable, mapped out in advance. People around me laughed at my jokes even when they weren’t funny, agreed with my every word, never dared to push back. Except Tiffany, she was the only one who challenged me once in a while.

But even that wasn’t enough.

Noah was different. He was a breath of fresh air, a rude awakening. A challenge. A puzzle I couldn’t quite solve.

I already knew his background. Everyone did. Scholarship kid. Worked multiple jobs to survive. Ambitious, driven, and relentless in his pursuit of success. He came from a world so different from mine—a world I had only ever glimpsed from a safe distance.

I had everything I could possibly want, yet I felt empty. Unfulfilled.

I rolled onto my side, staring into the darkness, but even with my eyes closed, I could still see him. The way his brow furrowed in concentration.

The way his lips curved ever so slightly when he knew he had the upper hand. The way his voice had sent an unexpected shiver down my spine.

When sleep finally came, it was restless. Fragmented.

And every time I drifted off, I saw Noah Carter.

****

The next day in class, I found myself watching Noah.

He sat a few rows ahead, head bent over his notebook, scribbling furiously. His uniform was the same slightly worn one he always wore; the fabric stretched just enough over his shoulders.

He looked completely absorbed, oblivious to the world around him. Unlike me.

I tried to focus on the lecture, but my mind kept wandering back to the way he’d looked at me yesterday—the way he always looked at me, like he pitied me. As if he saw through all my walls and found my tantrums amusing rather than intimidating. It made my skin prickle, and I hated it.

I surprised myself by standing up and walking straight toward him during lunch. An impulse. A stupid, reckless impulse.

“Noah,” I said, my voice coming out softer than I intended.

He looked up, his expression neutral but his eyes sharp, as if already expecting some kind of battle. "Elena."

I hesitated, feeling suddenly ridiculous. "About yesterday," I started, then stopped. How did people do this? Apologize like it was nothing? I cleared my throat. "I... I apologize. That wasn't... nice."

For a second, he just stared at me, then one corner of his mouth quirked up. "An apology? From Elena Kensington? I must be dreaming."

My patience snapped. "Don’t flatter yourself. I just don’t want Professor Harding thinking I’m completely incompetent."

Noah let out a low chuckle, the kind that did something weird to my stomach. "Relax, Elena. Your reputation is safe." His eyes glinted with something I couldn’t quite place. "Besides, I’m sure you have your own unique talents."

Something about the way he said it made my spine go rigid. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

He shrugged like it didn’t matter, like he hadn’t just dropped some cryptic insult. "Let’s just say you have a certain... flair for the dramatic."

I crossed my arms. "And what exactly does that mean?"

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "It means," he said smoothly, "that you’re incredibly good at getting people to do what you want. You just need to learn how to use your talents for something other than petty sabotage."

I opened my mouth to fire back, because, excuse me, what? But he was already straightening up, turning away like he’d won some invisible argument I hadn’t even realized we were having.

Then he paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "Oh, and Elena?"

I lifted my chin, daring him to say something else that would make me want to strangle him.

"If you’re planning another performance, let me know in advance." His smirk deepened. "I might actually enjoy the challenge."

Then he winked. The audacity.

I stood there, fuming, heart pounding, completely thrown off. I wanted to scream. I wanted to shove him. I wanted to—

I had no idea what I wanted...

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  • CRUEL OBSESSION   CHAPTER FIVE - ELENA

    The air inside the country club felt stifling, thick with the scent of freshly cut grass and overpriced cologne. I pushed my lobster ravioli around my plate, barely tasting the creamy sauce that once would have been my favorite.The laughter, the clinking glasses, the effortless chatter of people who had never known real struggle—it used to feel like home. Now, it just grated.Across from me, Cameron reached for my hand, his tanned fingers curling around mine with the same easy confidence he carried in everything he did.Once, that touch had been comforting, like that was all I needed. Tonight, it felt like a weight, a heavy weight."Everything alright, Elena?" he asked, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. He was concerned, genuinely so, and that only made the guilt of my thinking twist tighter in my stomach."I'm fine, Cam. Just tired," I said, pulling my hand away to swirl my fork through the mess of sauce and pasta on my plate.It was a lie, one I had been telling so often late

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-17
  • CRUEL OBSESSION   CHAPTER SIX - ELENA

    The next morning, I arrived at the Academy, the manicured grounds feeling even more sterile than usual. My heels clicked against the pavement, but my mind was elsewhere. On him.I hated it. Hated that my eyes betrayed me, scanning the crowd, my pulse quickening even though I knew I shouldn’t be looking for him. It was pathetic. Ridiculous.Cameron had warned me about Noah, had told me to stay away, and yet here I was, preoccupied with the very person I was supposed to forget.I clenched my jaw, storming down the hallway. This wasn’t obsession. It was revenge.He had humiliated me, and unknowingly forced me to confront the ugly truths about myself. I needed to set things right. To reclaim control.But then—God—the memory crashed into me like a tidal wave.Last night.The air had been thick, suffocating. I had tossed and turned beneath my silk sheets, my body restless, burning with something I didn’t want to name.I had tried to fight it. To push him out of my head.But Noah was everywh

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-17
  • CRUEL OBSESSION   CHAPTER SEVEN - ELENA

    The gym had pulsed with restless energy, a mix of sweat, expensive cologne, and teenage excitement thick in the air. Fairy lights, lazily draped across the basketball hoops, cast a warm, artificial glow over the crowd.The student council’s chosen playlist blasted through the speakers, a chaotic blend of pop anthems barely cutting through the chatter and bursts of laughter.The Annual Spring Fling. A tradition carried out every third week after resumption. It wasn’t exactly necessary, but we all needed the release.I stood at the edge of the makeshift dance floor, my back pressed against the cool wall as I tried to ground myself. Cameron swayed beside me, his hand resting firmly on my waist. He was everything a girl like me was supposed to want—handsome, popular, the star athlete. And, most importantly, completely devoted to me.But tonight, his touch felt suffocating.I shifted under his grasp, forcing a smile even as my gaze wandered—again—to the opposite side of the room. My heart

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-21
  • CRUEL OBSESSION   CHAPTER EIGHT - ELENA

    Each step I took down the hushed hallway toward Professor Harrison’s office felt like a countdown to my execution or something. What could he possibly want?There was no explanation, no warning—just a scholarship kid, one of those riff-raffs like Noah, delivering the summons while I was with Tiffany and the girls. The moment he’d said it, an unsettling feeling settled over me. It had to be about my grades. But I shoved that thought aside.Professor Harrison’s office smelled like old paper and pipe tobacco—the kind of scent that clung to the walls and soaked into the heavy wooden bookshelves. It was a shrine to academia, every inch crammed with books, framed diplomas, and reminders of brilliance.He barely looked up when I entered, only gesturing for me to sit. The exhaustion on his face mirrored my own, but there was something else there—disappointment.“Elena,” he said, his voice carrying that patronizing, fatherly disappointment that made my skin crawl. “Your performance in my class

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-22
  • CRUEL OBSESSION   CHAPTER NINE - ELENA

    The thrill of acing the Macbeth test still buzzed in my veins. The red “A+” on the paper practically glowed, as if mocking all my past failures. I had never—never—gotten a perfect score in literature before. Even Tiffany always scored higher than me.I cast a quick glance in her direction. Her tight-lipped expression, the way her nails dug into her desk—it didn’t take a genius to know she was pissed.And I loved it.Still, I couldn’t take all the credit. I knew exactly who was responsible for this miracle.“Seriously, Noah, thank you,” I said, turning to him. I hated how sincere I sounded, how raw the gratitude felt on my tongue. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”His lips curled into that maddeningly smug grin. “I never knew you actually listened during our sessions, Elena. I thought your only goal was to make my life miserable.”“Oh, please,” I scoffed, nudging him with my elbow. “Don’t gloat.”I turned away quickly, as if the heat creeping up my neck wasn’t real, as if the way

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-22
  • CRUEL OBSESSION   CHAPTER TEN - ELENA

    “Mom, that’s enough,” I snapped, my voice shaking, my hands gripping the edge of the desk. “You’re being ridiculous.”Veronica arched a perfectly sculpted brow. “Ridiculous? Darling, I’m simply looking out for your best interests. You wouldn’t want to... dilute your potential by mixing with the less fortunate, would you?”I felt sick.A toxic, acidic sickness that burned through my chest, settled in my throat, and made my fingers curl into fists. I wanted to scream. To throw something. To do something.But I didn’t.And that was the worst part.Noah didn’t fight back. He didn’t argue. He didn’t give her the satisfaction of a reaction as usual. He just picked up his books, his expression unreadable.“Noah, wait,” I blurted, reaching out, desperate to stop this and fix it.He was already at the door.Veronica smiled. That smug, knowing, triumphant smile. “See? I’m sure Noah understands. Some people simply don’t belong in certain... circles.”I wanted to punch her.Instead, I stood there

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-22
  • CRUEL OBSESSION   CHAPTER ELEVEN - ELENA

    Noah consumed me. Every little detail about him had carved itself into my memory like an intricate painting—one I couldn't stop staring at, even when I knew I shouldn’t.The way he absently adjusted his glasses when they slipped down his nose. The subtle clench of his jaw when calculus frustrated him. The almost imperceptible drop in his voice when he was angry—or more often, trying not to be.It was maddening. A constant, low-humming awareness that pulsed beneath my skin, a pull so relentless it threatened to unravel me completely. I lingered by his locker more than I cared to admit, pretending to study the bulletin board just for a glimpse of him. And the worst part? I knew, deep down, he felt it too.I had confronted him earlier that week about the kiss—the kiss that had burned through me, leaving an imprint on my soul. It had been reckless, desperate, a moment of surrender to something we had both been fighting for far too long.For the briefest second, I had seen it—the vulnerabi

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-24
  • CRUEL OBSESSION   CHAAPTER TWELVE - ELENA

    The air crackled with unspoken tension as I stormed toward Cameron, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst from my chest. My hands curled into fists at my sides, my nails biting into my palms. He had no right. Noah had been nothing but kind to me, a rare source of steady comfort in the chaos of my life. And Cameron—vindictive, cruel Cameron—had deliberately targeted him just to remind me of my place.I spotted him near the bleachers, leaning against the wall like he had all the time in the world. That smug smirk stretched across his lips, as if he knew I’d come, as if he’d been expecting me. His usual entourage lounged around him, laughing at some meaningless joke, preening in his presence like peacocks eager for his approval.I didn’t even acknowledge them. My focus was locked on Cameron’s icy blue eyes."Cameron," I spat, barely able to control the fury in my voice. "What you did to Noah was disgusting. You had no right."His smirk widened into something darker, some

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-24

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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

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