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CHAPTER TWENTY ONE - ELENA
Last Updated:
2025-03-27 14:16:06
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CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 22 - ELENA
I should have seen it coming. The moment my history teacher started talking about an extra-credit project, I should have known fate was about to take another swing at me. But nothing—absolutely nothing—could have prepared me for what came next."You’ll be paired up," Mr. Langley announced, adjusting his glasses. "And since we’re low on slots, some of you will be sent in pairs to the same location."I barely paid attention until I heard my name."Elena Kensington and Noah Carter. You’ll be working together on the Renaissance exhibit at the Halloran Museum. It’s an overnight trip. You leave tomorrow after school."I blinked. Surely, I had misheard.Noah scoffed. Low. Dismissive. Like he’d rather swallow glass than spend a weekend anywhere near me.I didn’t blame him.Still, my stomach twisted. This was the last thing I needed. Being forced into close quarters with Noah Carter, of all people, was nothing short of cruel punishment.I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. His jaw was t
Last Updated : 2025-03-27CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 23 - ELENA
We barely made it back to the room the museum staff had provided before we were at each other again—hot, desperate, unable to stop.The air was thick with the scent of us, our bodies tangled in the dim light, sheets pushed to the floor as we devoured each other over and over. There was no hesitation, no second-guessing, only the raw need that kept us going until the early hours of the morning.When dawn finally crept in, spilling golden light through the windows, we lay in a breathless, tangled mess. My body ached in places I hadn’t even known could ache, and Noah looked just as wrecked, his lips swollen, his skin marked with the evidence of the night we had lost ourselves in.We didn't say much. There was no need to. The silence between us wasn’t awkward—it was something else. Something that felt dangerously close to contentment.With lazy movements, we reached for the extra uniforms we had brought, exchanging smirks as we realized the ones from last night were nothing but shredded r
Last Updated : 2025-03-27CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 24 - ELENA
The bus rolled to a stop in front of the school, the familiar brick facade looming ahead like nothing had changed. But everything had.Noah and I weren’t the same people who had stepped onto this bus yesterday.I could still feel the ghost of his hands on me, the lingering heat where his touch had burned itself into my skin. My pulse was still too fast, my breaths still too shallow, and the way Noah looked at me—as if he was barely holding himself back—only made it worse.I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to focus. The last thing we needed was to walk into school looking as wrecked as we felt.Noah stood first, stretching like he hadn’t just been seconds away from completely unraveling in the back of the bus. His gaze flicked down to me, amused, heated. "Are you coming?"I shot him a look. "You’re asking that now?"His lips twitched, but he said nothing as he stepped past me, moving toward the exit.I followed, smoothing my uniform and running my fingers through my hair in an attempt
Last Updated : 2025-03-27CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 25 - ELENA
I barely made it three steps out of the library before I heard my name, sharp and laced with accusation.“Elena.”I sighed, already knowing what was coming. Squaring my shoulders, I turned to find Tiffany standing a few feet away, arms crossed so tightly her nails pressed into her skin. Her eyes flicked over me—too observant for my liking—taking in my flushed cheeks, the slight mess in my hair, the way my blouse wasn’t as perfectly tucked as it had been before.Shit.She knew.“Care to explain what the hell is going on?” Her voice was clipped, her expression unreadable.I forced a smirk, tilting my head as if I had no idea what she was talking about. “What do you mean?”Tiffany scoffed, stepping closer. “Don’t play dumb, Elena. I saw you sneak off to the library, and I know exactly who was in there with you.”Noah.Of course, she knew. Tiffany missed nothing, and if I had been smarter, I would’ve been more careful. But I wasn’t thinking about Tiffany or anyone else when I was with him
Last Updated : 2025-03-28CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 26 - ELENA
The next day at school started out as a disaster, and it only got worse.I sat with Cameron and Tiffany in the cafeteria, feigning interest in whatever mindless conversation they were having when my gaze landed on him.Noah.And Aria.She was laughing, her eyes bright, head tilted just enough to show she was comfortable with him. Too comfortable.I clenched my fork so hard my knuckles turned white.Why was he with her again?I tried to ignore it. I really did. But the way he leaned toward her, the way her hand brushed his arm—it was like a spark igniting in my chest, scorching through my veins.Cameron’s voice barely registered in my ears. Tiffany said something about my "weird mood," but I couldn’t focus on anything except the rage and possessiveness boiling inside me.Aria laughed at something he said, her hand barely brushing his arm. He didn’t move away.I clenched my jaw, gripping my drink so hard that I nearly cracked the plastic cup in my hand. I couldn’t go to him, not while I
Last Updated : 2025-03-29CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 27 - ELENA
My hands trembled as I smoothed down my skirt, my pulse still erratic. Every inch of my body was hyperaware of what had just happened—of his touch, his lips, the way he completely unraveled me.But I couldn’t afford to fall apart here.Not now. Not in front of him.I lifted my chin, forcing my expression into something cold, indifferent, as if my legs weren’t still weak beneath me. As if my heart wasn’t still racing.Noah leaned against the sink, arms crossed over his chest, watching me with that insufferable smirk.I hated that smirk.Mostly because I wanted to kiss it off his face.“You’re staring,” I snapped, keeping my voice sharp, unaffected.He shrugged, lazy and unbothered. “Hard not to, considering what just happened.”Heat scorched my skin, but I forced myself to glare instead. “That was a mistake.”He pushed off the sink, closing the distance between us in two slow steps.“Sure,” he murmured, voice dripping with disbelief.I clenched my fists. “I mean it.”Noah tilted his he
Last Updated : 2025-03-29CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 28 - ELENA
The ride home was silent. Tense.Cameron didn’t say another word, but I could feel the frustration rolling off him in waves. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, his jaw locked, and I knew whatever was going through his mind wasn’t good.When we finally pulled up to my house, he didn’t even look at me before unbuckling his seatbelt and stepping out.I frowned. “Where are you going?”He slammed the car door shut, exhaling sharply before turning to me. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes… His eyes burned with something cold and determined.“I need to talk to your father.”My stomach dropped.I shot out of the car, my pulse spiking as I grabbed his arm. “Cameron, don’t.”His gaze snapped to mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw hesitation. But it was gone as quickly as it came.“This has gone too far, Elena.” His voice was sharp and clipped. “Your father needs to know what’s happening before you make a mistake you can’t fix.”My blood ran cold.Before I make a mistake?I f
Last Updated : 2025-03-29CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 29 - NOAH
I wasn’t supposed to be here.I knew it the second I saw Elena walk through the library doors, her eyes full of something dangerous—something that made me feel both alive and completely powerless at the same time.She was trouble.She was chaos.And she was going to ruin me.But I couldn’t stop myself from watching her, from drinking in every detail—her clenched fists, the way she worried her bottom lip between her teeth, the way she looked like she was seconds away from falling apart.I’d seen Elena angry. I’d seen her arrogant, cruel, and reckless.But this?This was fear.She stopped a few feet away from me, crossing her arms like she was trying to put a barrier between us. “My father knows.”The words settled like lead in my stomach.I swallowed, forcing a smirk. “No surprise there. Cameron was practically foaming at the mouth.”Elena didn’t laugh. She didn’t even roll her eyes. She just took a step closer, her voice low. “You don’t understand, Noah. This isn’t just about keeping
Last Updated : 2025-03-29
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CRUEL OBSESSION EPILOGUE
Six months later...The wind in North Dakota had a bite to it, but the sky stretched wide and endless, like a soft blue promise.The air smelled fresh, a little wild—like new beginnings.I stood by the window of our small off-campus apartment, cradling a chipped mug of hot cocoa between my hands.The windows fogged slightly from the warmth, and outside, the trees shivered, shaking loose the last stubborn golden leaves.Behind me, I heard Noah moving around—the heavy thud of books hitting the floor, the low, sleepy curses as he dug through his bag.It made me smile.“Your Psych book’s on the table,” I called out without turning.There was a beat of silence. Then the familiar sound of his bare feet padding closer.The next thing I knew, his arms were sliding around my waist, pulling me back against him.“You’re magic, you know that?” he murmured into the curve of my neck, his voice low and rough from sleep.I laughed softly, leaning into him, feeling the solid weight of his chest agains
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 105 - ELENA
Cameron’s presence hit me like a slap.For one terrible second, I couldn’t breathe.The blood roared in my ears, drowning out everything else.Then I was on my feet before I even knew it, my chair screeching loudly across the marble floor.“What the hell, Mom?!” I shouted, my voice sharp and broken at the same time.The room went deathly still.Noah reached for me quickly, his hand brushing my wrist, his voice low and urgent.“Elena... don’t. Calm down.”But I couldn’t.I shook him off hard, blinking against the hot sting behind my eyes. My chest heaved as I looked at my mother.She just sat there, unbothered, like the commotion in front of her was nothing more than a breeze.I pointed a trembling finger at her, my anger spilling out faster than I could control.“You planned this,” I hissed, my voice breaking. “You had an agenda when you invited us. You set us up.”A sick, bitter laugh threatened to climb up my throat, but I swallowed it back.My mother didn’t flinch.Didn’t blink.Di
CRUEL OBSESSION CHAPTER 104 - ELENA
I paced the room while Noah tried on the last suit. My feet moved without meaning, a slow circle around the scattered ties and open boxes.He stood near the mirror, tugging gently at the dark jacket, adjusting the collar like it was choking him.He looked… perfect.Sharp suit. Fresh haircut. Clean lines. My heart ached just looking at him.But his eyes—those told a different story.Nervous. Stiff. Scared.“You okay?” I asked gently.He gave a short nod, jaw tight.I stepped closer, folding my arms. “It’s just dinner.”He looked at me in the mirror. “It’s dinner with your mother.”His voice was flat, but not cold. Just tired. Like he was already carrying too much and this was one more weight on his back.I didn’t blame him.“She’s not going to bite,” I offered, trying to lighten the mood.He raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that?”A laugh slipped from me before I could stop it. Then I moved behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist, resting my cheek against his back.“She doesn’t
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
