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Shadows of the Past

ผู้เขียน: Sophs
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Chapter 5 – Shadows of the Past

Mia stood frozen in Ethan’s penthouse, her heart pounding. She didn’t know how to move forward from here. Ethan’s eyes searched hers, waiting for her to say something—anything—that would break the suffocating silence between them.

“Do you really think I can just forget everything?” Mia asked, her voice trembling. “You kept something from me, Ethan. You slept with Sophie, my best friend, and you didn’t think that mattered?”

Ethan sighed heavily, running a hand through his dark hair. His frustration was evident, but Mia could see the guilt in his eyes. “It wasn’t like that, Mia. What happened with Sophie was before you and I… It didn’t mean anything.”

“It doesn’t matter when it happened,” Mia said, her voice rising. “The fact that you didn’t tell me means you were hiding it.”

“I didn’t want to hurt you,” Ethan said softly, stepping closer. “I was trying to protect us. What I feel for you—what we have—it’s real.”

Mia’s chest tightened. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to let this go and just be with him, but the betrayal cut too deep.

“Then why does it feel like I’m just another one of your secrets?” Mia asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her throat tightened as the words left her lips.

Ethan’s jaw clenched, and for a moment, she thought she saw something flicker in his eyes—something dark and distant, like he was hiding more than he was letting on. He reached out, his hand resting on her arm.

“Mia, you’re not a secret,” he said, his voice firm but gentle. “I care about you more than you know.”

She wanted to believe him, but her doubts gnawed at her. Was he telling the truth, or was there more he wasn’t saying? She had already been blindsided once—she couldn’t let it happen again.

“I need some space,” Mia said, pulling away from his touch. “I need to figure out what I want.”

Ethan’s expression hardened, a flash of something unreadable crossing his features. “And what does that mean for us?”

“I don’t know,” Mia admitted, her voice cracking. “But I can’t keep going like this. Not when I don’t even know if I can trust you.”

Ethan’s gaze darkened, his jaw tightening. “You do trust me. You just don’t realize it yet.”

Mia blinked, taken aback by his words. There was something unsettling in the way he said it, as if he believed he knew her better than she knew herself. And maybe he did—but that didn’t change the fact that he had kept things from her.

“I need time,” Mia said again, her voice firmer now. “I’ll call you when I’m ready to talk.”

Without waiting for his response, Mia turned and walked toward the door, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t look back as she left his penthouse, but she could feel his eyes on her the whole way out.

The cool evening air hit Mia’s face as she stepped onto the street. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion, anger, and hurt. She didn’t know what to do anymore—didn’t know who to trust. Everything felt like it was crumbling around her, and the more she tried to hold on, the more it slipped through her fingers.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and for a brief moment, she thought it might be Ethan again. But when she pulled it out, it was a text from Liam.

“Dinner tonight? I miss you.”

Mia’s stomach twisted. She had been avoiding Liam all week, too caught up in the mess with Ethan to deal with her boyfriend. She didn’t deserve him—not with all the lies she was keeping. He had been nothing but good to her, and she was falling apart inside.

“I miss you too,” she texted back, her fingers trembling as she typed the words. She needed to see him. She needed something normal, something stable in her life—something that didn’t make her feel like she was losing her grip.

Later that evening, Mia arrived at Liam’s apartment, her nerves on edge. As soon as he opened the door, she felt a wave of guilt wash over her. Liam looked at her with that easy smile of his, his eyes lighting up the way they always did when he saw her. He leaned in and kissed her softly, his lips warm and familiar against hers.

“Hey, babe,” Liam said, pulling her inside. “I’ve got your favorite wine and takeout from that Thai place you love.”

Mia forced a smile, trying to push down the guilt that was bubbling up inside her. “That sounds perfect.”

They sat down on the couch together, the food spread out in front of them, but Mia barely touched her plate. Liam was talking, telling her about his day, but the words barely registered. All she could think about was Ethan—about the secrets, the lies, and the pull she still felt toward him despite everything.

“Are you okay?” Liam asked, his brow furrowing as he looked at her. “You’ve been quiet.”

Mia blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a long day.”

Liam nodded, but he didn’t look convinced. “If something’s bothering you, you can talk to me, you know.”

Mia’s chest tightened. She wanted to tell him—wanted to confess everything and finally be free of the weight of her lies. But how could she? How could she look him in the eye and tell him that she had been sneaking around with someone else? That she had been living a double life?

Instead, she just smiled weakly and leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I know. I just need a little time to clear my head.”

Liam kissed the top of her head, his arm wrapping around her. “Take all the time you need. I’m here.”

The kindness in his voice made her heart ache. He didn’t deserve this—didn’t deserve to be lied to. But Mia couldn’t bring herself to tell him the truth. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Later that night, after Liam had fallen asleep, Mia lay awake beside him, staring at the ceiling. She felt trapped—caught between two worlds, two men, and two versions of herself. One part of her craved the safety and security of her life with Liam, while the other was drawn to the danger and intensity of her relationship with Ethan.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and her heart skipped a beat. She reached for it, her fingers trembling as she saw the message.

“We’re not finished, Mia. Come back to me.”

It was from Ethan.

Mia’s breath caught in her throat as she stared at the words. She knew she shouldn’t respond—knew she should turn off her phone and go to sleep. But the pull was too strong, the temptation too great.

Her fingers hovered over the screen, and before she knew it, she had typed out a response.

“I’ll be there tomorrow.”

She hit send, her heart racing.

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  • Her dangerous desires   Sex on a stick

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    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-12-23
  • Her dangerous desires   Sweet thing

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    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-12-24
  • Her dangerous desires   Some kind of fetish?

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  • Her dangerous desires   You're my number one youngster

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    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-12-25
  • Her dangerous desires   Killing two birds...

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  • Her dangerous desires   Sex is a game

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  • Her dangerous desires   You ruined everything!

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  • Her dangerous desires   Reckless feelings

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  • Her dangerous desires   With all my heart

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  • Her dangerous desires   Olivia

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  • Her dangerous desires   Camping

    Chapter 138: CampingETHANThe drive to the cemetery was silent. Mia stared out the window, her fingers playing with the hem of her sweater. I knew she was deep in thought, maybe even trying to find the right words to say when we got there. I reached over, placing my hand over hers. "You don't have to say anything if you don't want to." She exhaled, nodding slightly but didn't look at me. When we arrived, she hesitated before stepping out of the car. The cemetery was quiet, the only sound being the rustling of leaves in the wind. I followed behind her, giving her space as she walked up to her father’s grave. She kneeled, tracing the name on the tombstone with her fingers. "Hi, Dad," she whispered. "It's been a while." I stayed back, leaning against the car, letting her have her moment. She wiped her eyes. "We won, you know. We got him. Smith Cole is going to rot in prison for the rest of his miserable life. Uncle Greg made sure of it." She let out a shaky breath. "But it d

  • Her dangerous desires   Together, We're stronger

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  • Her dangerous desires   Plea deal

    Chapter 136: Plea dealAUTHOR POVThe world around Smith Cole was crumbling. Politicians who once shook his hand in private meetings were now scrambling to erase any connection to him. Some fled the country entirely, disappearing into private jets with hastily packed bags, their families already on their way to safe havens overseas. George Ramsey, one of Smith’s closest allies, wiped the sweat off his brow as he rushed through a VIP airport terminal. “Where’s the damn pilot?” he snapped at his assistant, his hands trembling as he checked his watch. “He’s preparing the jet, sir. But…” “No buts! We need to be out of here in ten minutes!” The assistant hesitated. “Sir, the feds are looking into your accounts. If you leave now, it’ll…” “Shut up and do as you’re told!” George Ramsey barked before marching toward the boarding gate. Across the city, others were making similar escapes. Some tried bribing their way out of investigations, while others resigned from their governme

  • Her dangerous desires   Walk free

    Chapter 135: Walk freeMARVIN EVANSMia wasn’t the same anymore. Since Dad’s funeral, she had withdrawn into herself, barely speaking, barely eating. I saw it in her eyes, the emptiness. She would sit for hours, staring at nothing, lost in a world none of us could reach. Sophie visited often, trying to get her to eat, to talk, to function. Sometimes, Mia responded with a weak smile or a nod, but most times, she just existed in silence. Greg’s kids were around too, trying to lighten the mood, but it was like talking to a ghost. I knew what she was feeling. I felt it too. Dad was gone, Murdered in cold blood and the bastard who did it was still out there. That changed the day Greg walked in. I was sitting in the living room, flipping through TV channels, not really watching, when Greg strode in with a determined look on his face. “I found him,” he announced. I turned off the TV. Sophie looked up from where she sat beside Mia. Even Mia’s blank expression shifted slightly.

  • Her dangerous desires   Lawsuit

    Chapter 134: LawsuitSMITH COLEI had underestimated Greg Evans. That was my first mistake. I thought he’d come at me like a street thug, swinging wildly, making it easy for me to shut him down. But no—he was playing smart. Legal. And that was the kind of fight I wasn’t prepared for. One of my boys came running into my room interrupting my thoughts. “Boss, another club’s been shut down.” I glared at Marco, my patience wearing thin. “Which one?” “The one on the east side. The cops raided it last night, they said on suspicion of trafficking, illegal gambling, the whole damn list.” I exhaled sharply, gripping the edge of my desk. “And you’re telling me this now?” He hesitated. “Didn’t want to bring bad news first thing in the morning.” “Marco, you’re about to bring me bad news at your funeral if you don’t fix this.” I growled, staring daggers at him.I waved him off, already feeling the headache creeping in. My businesses were crumbling one after another. First, the cops hit m

  • Her dangerous desires   A ghost

    Chapter 133: A ghostETHANI stood at the abandoned shipyard, waiting for Greg. The scent of salt and gasoline hitting my nostrils. The place was quiet except for the occasional creak of metal and the distant sound of waves crashing against the dock.I had chosen this spot for a reason, it was neutral ground, away from prying eyes and close to my hideout.The black SUV rolled to a stop a few feet away. The headlights cut through the darkness before shutting off. The door opened, and Greg Evans stepped out, his movements stiff and with caution. He scanned the area before his eyes locked onto me. Then, he froze. His body went rigid, his eyes wide with shock. His lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out. He took a slow step forward, shaking his head. “No. No, this isn’t possible.” I smirked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Greg’s face twisted in disbelief. “You’re supposed to be dead.” “Yeah, well… I guess I’m not.” His fists clenched at his

  • Her dangerous desires   Conspiracy and racketeering

    Chapter 132: Conspiracy and racketeeringGREG EVANSThe funeral was over, but the fight had just begun. I sat in my office, staring at the wall of documents pinned up like a detective solving a crime. Because that’s exactly what I was doing—solving the crime of my brother’s murder. My anger hadn’t lessened since the day we buried John. If anything, it had grown into something cold. It was no longer just grief, it was revenge.If Smith Cole thought he could get away with this, that he could walk free after having my brother killed. Just because he had a few connections then he had another thing coming.He had no idea what he had just unleashed. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples as I went through another set of documents. These weren’t just business papers—they were evidence. The ones my boys brought in for me.Smith Cole’s entire operation was filth, built on money laundering, blackmail, and human trafficking. His corporation wasn’t just corrupt—it was a damn criminal emp

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