Chapter 58: Time for Change The next morning, I tried to act normal. Really, I did. I took my bath as usual, contemplating whether to wear my favorite lip gloss or go bare. I also debated whether to wear my hair in a ponytail or let it down on my shoulders. Every decision was overthought, and it was exhausting. The reason was simple: I didn't want him to think I was trying to look good for him. But, in reality, I was. I just didn't want him to notice. Finally, I settled on a flowy, pastel pink sundress that hugged my curves in all the right places. The dress was adorned with delicate white flowers and had a subtle sheen to it. I paired it with a pair of neutral-colored heeled ankle boots that added a touch of sophistication to my overall look. I styled my hair in loose, effortless waves, and applied my favorite lip combo - a soft, rosy shade that complemented my skin tone. I finished off my look with a spritz of my best scented perfume. After ensuring I looked good
Chapter 59: Do you like me back Lyric Spencer? I exhaled slowly, my fingers gripping my phone as Aunt Stephanie’s words lingered in my mind. "Don’t let fear make your decisions for you. Love a little. You deserve it." I had spent so much of my life running—running from rejection, from loss, from anything that felt too big to handle. Maybe it was time to stop. Maybe it was time to do something terrifying. Like letting Gavin in. I glanced back at him just in time to see him get tackled by all three triplets at once. He let out a dramatic groan, collapsing onto the grass as if they had actually defeated him. Lana whooped in victory, standing on his back like a tiny conqueror. I bit my lip, fighting back a smile. He must’ve felt my stare because his head turned, his gaze locking onto mine. A slow, knowing smirk curved his lips. “You coming over here, or are you just gonna admire me from a distance?” he called. I rolled my eyes, but my stomach flippe
Chapter 60: My BoyfriendLYRIC SPENCER POV Just as Gavin’s hands slid beneath my dress, gripping the backs of my thighs, the shed door banged open. "Lyric Spencer!" Aunt Stephanie’s voice cut through the haze like a bucket of ice water. I jolted, shoving at Gavin’s chest as we scrambled apart. He stumbled back, breathing hard, his hair thoroughly wrecked, his shirt stretched from my grip. My pulse hammered in my ears, my lips still tingling from his kisses. Aunt Stephanie stood in the doorway, arms crossed, one brow raised. She wasn’t exactly angry—more amused, maybe exasperated. Gavin cleared his throat, running a hand through his hair. "Uh—hey, Aunt Stephanie." "Hey yourself," she drawled, eyes flicking between us. "Y'know, when I said to ‘love a little,’ I didn’t mean in broad daylight where the kids could walk in on you." My face burned. Gavin grinned, unrepentant. "To be fair, we were behind the shed." Aunt Stephanie sighed like she wa
Chapter 61: Hopeless Plates scraped, glasses clinked, and conversation flowed easily—though Gavin, the menace that he was, kept his hand on mine beneath the table, his thumb brushing slow, lazy circles against my skin. It was distracting. I tried to focus on my food, but every tiny movement of his fingers sent little sparks up my arm, making it impossible to think about anything else. After dinner, Aunt Stephanie called Gavin and me over for the talk. This was going to get uncomfortable. "So, Gavin," Aunt Stephanie said, sipping her lemonade and fixing him with a scrutinizing gaze. "What exactly are your intentions with my niece?" I nearly choked on my saliva and glanced at him, my stomach clenching. Gavin, however, remained infuriatingly calm. He wiped his mouth with a napkin, then shot her a lopsided grin. "I intend to keep her happy with me. Because she makes me happy." I froze, my gaze locked onto his face, my heart stumbling over itself. Au
Lyric Spencer POV Chapter 62: My fairy As Gavin’s taillights disappeared down the road, a strange unease settled in my chest. He hadn’t said where he was going. I turned back toward the house, wrapping my arms around myself. Aunt Stephanie stood by the door, cigarette between her fingers, watching me. “He’ll be back,” she said, exhaling a thin stream of smoke. “Let’s go in. We have a lot to do.” I gave her a weak nod, but the feeling didn’t go away. Inside, the house felt too quiet despite the distant sounds of the kids playing outside. I retrieved my phone from the couch and hesitated before texting Gavin. Me: Where are you going? The message stayed on ‘delivered’ for a while. No response. I frowned but tried not to think too much about it. Instead, I busied myself helping Aunt Stephanie organize the few bags we had brought. The house was old but well-kept, with framed pictures on the walls—some faded, some new. I paused in front of one near th
Chapter 63: An easy prey Sleep never came. The moment my alarm rang, I forced myself out of bed, the weight of exhaustion dragging at my limbs. The memory of last night—the worry, the fear, the warmth of Gavin’s forehead against mine—clung to me like a second skin. But as I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake the heavy fog in my head, something felt… different. The sheets under my fingertips weren’t Gavin’s. The air smelled sterile, like the inside of a classroom. And then I heard it. Laughter. Whispering. I looked up. I wasn’t in Gavin’s house anymore. No—this was school. The hallways stretched endlessly, the lockers dull gray, buzzing fluorescent lights flickering overhead. My hands clutched my backpack straps as I walked, but every step felt heavy, like I was dragging myself through wet cement. More laughter. This time, I saw them. Students lined the halls, their faces twisted in amusement, eyes locking onto me like vultures. Some pointed.
Chapter 64: I’m a new student here I watched as he rode off toward campus before turning in the opposite direction to walk. My pace quickened when I noticed the sky darkening. It was going to rain. Reaching into my backpack, I searched for my umbrella—only to realize I’d forgotten it. The first fat drops of rain hit my skin. Within seconds, the drizzle turned into a full downpour. I broke into a run, but I wasn’t fast—not like the other girls, the ones who seemed weightless as they sprinted ahead. Nearby, a guy crouched on the ground, frantically searching for something. "Where are they? Where are they?" he muttered under his breath. A strong gust of wind swept by, carrying a pink umbrella straight toward me. It landed at my feet. I picked it up and walked over, crouching beside him so the umbrella hovered over both of us. He looked up, his gaze meeting mine—and for a second, I forgot how to breathe. His eyes were the most beautiful shade of blu
Chapter 65 GAVIN HAWKINS' POV Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Practice was horrible today. With a game scheduled for Saturday, we were close to doom. Frustration boiled inside me as I threw my hockey stick across the rink, watching it slide past the blue lines. My hands clenched into fists—I needed to hit something. "Gavin," Shawn called out, tapping me on the shoulder. I turned to him, shooting an irritated glare. "What?" He didn’t flinch. "Coach wants to talk." I let out a sharp grunt, running a hand through my damp hair. "Save your energy for the game, Hawkins," Shawn said with a smirk. "For now, just listen to Coach's whining." "It's not whining," I snapped, my jaw tightening. "We were awful today. Worst practice ever. We weren’t in sync, and I couldn’t stop a single puck." My breathing turned heavy as anger twisted inside me. Shawn patted my back. "Calm down. Coach will figure things out." --- Locker Room Coach’s voice was sharp as a
Chapter 88: Breaking up with you Lyric POV "A lady back there asked if I could give her a drink since she's 'lack toast and tell her aunt,'" Viktor said over the counter, his eyes crinkling with amusement. I stared at him blankly, barely registering his laughter. "She meant lactose intolerant," he added, letting out a deep chuckle. I didn’t laugh. I wasn’t in the mood for jokes. My mind was too preoccupied with my fight with Gavin yesterday. What did he mean by what he said? Shaking off my thoughts, I left the counter to prepare the order Viktor handed me. My body moved on autopilot, my mind still trapped in yesterday’s argument. Then suddenly—pain. Hot coffee spilled over my hand, scalding my skin. The cup hit the floor with a shatter, but I didn’t scream. I didn’t even flinch. I only stared at the mess, the burning sensation barely registering through the numbness inside me. "Lyric, are you hurt?" Viktor’s voice was tight with concern as he hurr
Chapter 87: Who gave you that title? LYRIC SPENCER POV My hands trembled as I sat on the bleachers, clutching the edge of my phone like it was the only thing keeping me grounded. The crowd was still buzzing with energy after the win, but my focus was gone. I didn’t hear the cheers. I didn’t see the flashing lights. I couldn’t feel anything but the weight in my chest. He saw. I knew it the moment I looked up and saw Gavin’s face on the ice. The way his expression fell. The way his shoulders dropped like the air had been knocked out of him. He saw Viktor kiss me. And he thought I let it happen. I swallowed hard, trying not to cry, but the tears blurred everything—my screen, the rink, the people. I wanted to go to him, explain, scream if I had to, but I couldn't even speak. All I had was this goddamn phone, and I couldn’t get close enough in time. I tried to follow him after the ceremony, but the crowd was too thick, and he disappeared before I cou
Chapter 86: A nobody GAVIN HAWKINS POV I couldn’t move. The roar of the crowd faded into a low, muffled hum—like someone stuffed cotton in my ears. Everyone around me was cheering, celebrating, soaking in the win, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heart and the static in my head. Because on that giant screen… I saw her. Lyric. Smiling. Laughing. And Viktor… kissing her like he had the damn right. No. No. No. My throat tightened like it was closing up. My gloves suddenly felt like they weighed a hundred pounds. My chest ached, like someone had slammed a hockey stick straight into it. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t do anything but stare. She didn’t push him away. She didn’t even look surprised. I wanted to believe it was a mistake. That Viktor forced it. That it was out of nowhere. That she didn’t mean to let it happen. But none of it mattered. Because it still happened. And I felt so goddamn stupi
Chapter 85: Sugar town Third person POV “Gavin is back,” Aaron asserted, stepping into the room with urgency in his voice. “Where was he?” someone asked, confusion etched on their face. “Family emergency,” Aaron paused. “He forgot his phone at home, and it was switched off.” “That bigot,” Coach Fedelin cursed under his breath, shaking his head. He turned to Lyric, his expression softening. “Sorry to bother you. We’ll leave now.” Lyric offered him a tight, polite smile, though her mind was already spinning. She wondered how Gavin was doing. What kind of family emergency could make him leave his phone behind? And if his phone was really off... why did he reply to her text? Her eyes narrowed. Why was Gavin lying? A voice broke into her thoughts. “I saw Coach leaving. Is Gavin okay?” someone asked. Lyric nodded and signed, > “Okay. That’s great.” --- In the locker room, Gavin sat on the bench, already dre
Chapter 84 Third Person POV Finally, it was Friday—the day of the long-awaited match. Foreigners and out-of-town visitors filled the town stadium, eager for the game to begin. The scent of grilled hot dogs and burgers filled the air as vendors lined up their stands, taking advantage of the large crowd. Inside the locker room, the coach gathered his players for a final pep talk. The team was fully dressed in their uniforms and hockey gear, ready to take on their opponents. However, as they huddled together, the coach quickly realized someone was missing. "Where is Gavin?" he asked, his voice laced with irritation. The players exchanged confused glances, searching each other’s faces for an answer. "Shawn, you're closest to him. Where is he?" the coach pressed, narrowing his eyes at the player. Shawn hesitated before answering, his voice uncertain. "I don't know, sir. He hasn’t been picking up my calls or responding to my messages." The coach’s express
Chapter 83: Out of the game GAVIN HAWKINS POV The cold evening wind breezed past me, sending a shiver down my spine. I had driven over two towns to reach the Baby Dragon Casino, the location Allesio had assigned me to. The plan was simple: deliver over ten grams of methamphetamine. It was the most sought-after drug of the month, going for over a thousand dollars per 1.5 grams. I pulled over a few blocks from the casino, scanning the area for anything unexpected. By that, I meant the police. This place was notorious for drug dealing, thanks to its location by the famous casino. Politicians, celebrities, and the elite stopped here, not just for high-stakes games but also for a quick fix. Allesio was one of the biggest dealers in town. I was just the messenger. The deal was to dress decently—not enough to raise suspicion, but just enough to blend in while standing out slightly. With tight security and police dogs patrolling the area, the risk was high. I hoppe
Chapter 82: Just some guy > I signed before lowering my hands. Viktor smiled, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “She thinks she’s unlucky. Says I’m too overbearing.” > I teased, raising an eyebrow. "Hey!" He placed a hand on his chest, feigning offense. "I’m just helpful. It’s not my fault people don’t know how to take care of themselves." I rolled my eyes and turned away, stepping toward the main street. The town was quieter now, with most businesses closed for the evening. A few groups of people wandered around, probably visitors in town for tomorrow’s hockey game. Viktor easily fell into step beside me. “Are you walking home alone?” I nodded. "I’ll walk with you," he said casually, shoving his hands into his pockets. > "I know." His voice was light, but his steps remained firm. "But I want to." I didn’t argue. It had been a long day, and honestly, I di
Chapter 81: Gorgeous It was a little hotter than expected in the middle of January. The café was getting fewer and fewer customers during this time. People in Velmont didn’t drink much coffee in winter since snow rarely fell in town. The last time it snowed was at my sixth birthday party. I only remembered because Mama had kept the photos at home. I had clocked out of my shift earlier that day. It had taken a lot of convincing to get both Gavin and my aunt to let me work. The head chef, Sasha, was at the grill, her face red from the heat. She was also washing dishes in the back, her movements sharp with frustration. Then Michael stepped in. He stood by the threshold of the double doors, scanning the room like a hawk. "You, with the ugly hairband." I froze, pointing at my nose in question. "Yes, you," he clarified. Self-conscious, I touched the hairband resting atop my head. My mother had given it to me. It was beige and outdated, but I loved it.
Chapter 80: I pity her Gavin Hawkins’ POV I would like to say everything was going according to my plan. But it wasn’t. Lyric was never meant to be part of my life, and it would take me a year to realize it. Because if something wasn’t yours, it would hurt you until you realized it. --- I pulled my Jeep into the driveway of Alessio’s house, gripping my keys tightly as I made my way to the door. Lyric and her aunt were safer in my house than they were anywhere in Velmont, but that didn’t mean Alessio couldn’t still harm them. I wasn’t going to let that happen. Running a hand through my hair, I tried to ignore the weight of the steel tucked into my jeans. I pressed the doorbell. A sharp voice erupted from the speaker beside the gate. "Who is it?" "Gavin Hawkins. I'm here to see your boss, Alessio," I spoke into the intercom. The response was immediate and laced with hostility. "My boss says he doesn’t know a Gavin Hawkins. Leave be