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Chapter TwentyThree

Author: Tory June
last update Last Updated: 2024-09-02 23:47:25

Monica's lips twisted into a cheeky smile, and her eyes gleamed with a mixture of amusement and defiance.

"Oh," She scoffed, moving closer to Caleb. "I didn't realize I was now required to call you before coming to your office," she joked, her voice light and teasing, but with an hint of something that suggested a deeper familiarity.

Caleb's shoulders fell slightly, and he let out a frustrated sigh while running his hand through his hair.

"Let's talk in my office," he murmured, his tone low as he cast a short glance my way.

I quickly looked away, pretending to be focused on my task.

My fingers hovered over the keyboard, but my mind was far from focused.

For that little second, I could feel the weight of his gaze, which sent my mind spinning.

Caleb turned without saying anything further and led Monica down the hallway, her heels clicking fiercely on the floor.

The office came back to life around me, with everyone returning to their tasks, but I could still sense the tension in the
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    I extended my arms above my head, wincing as my back protested the hours I'd spent crouched over my laptop. The quiet hum of the city filtered through the window, a constant reminder of the life that still thrived beyond Ann's apartment. The room was dim save for the brightness of my screen and the digital clock in the corner, which read 12:43 AM. My workspace was chaotic, with half-empty coffee cups, sticky notes with reminders, and a stack of sketches that needed to be finalized for an upcoming gallery assignment. I needed a distraction. The option was to let my thoughts drift back to Tyler. To Julia. Hello to everyone. God, I had been willing to give him another chance. Despite his aunt's harsh remarks and the mountains of baggage between us, I was prepared to try. But he'd shattered that fragile relationship with a truth I couldn't ignore: he was still sleeping with her. The notion twisted in my chest, harsh and cruel. I shook my head and concentrated on the image, r

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