All Chapters of The "EX" Factor : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

The letter felt heavy in my hand, as if every word I’d scrawled on it held a weight I wasn’t ready to carry. My fingers tightened around the edges, crumpling the paper slightly, but I didn’t care. This wasn’t about perfection or politeness.. it was about reclaiming my life. For once, I was choosing to walk away before the pain could fully sink in. Taking a steadying breath, I straightened my back, squared my shoulders, and pushed open Caleb’s office door without knocking.Caleb looked up, eyebrows lifting in surprise.“Sam?” He glanced at the clock on his desk, confusion written across his face. “Is something wrong?”I ignored the warmth in his voice, willing my heart to stay calm. I stepped inside, the letter practically burning my fingers. “I need to talk to you,” I said, forcing my tone to stay steady. His gaze shifted to the paper in my hand, and I saw the flicker of concern flash through his eyes. “What’s going on?” His voice softened, the gentle edge enough to make me falt

I made my way to Annie's restaurant while dragging my bag through the crowded streets of New York City and dodging passersby who are impatient with its pace.There was no stopping now, despite the fact that my legs felt like lead. I feel as like I am crossing some invisible line between two lives, one of which is now in London with Caleb, and the other of which is the one I left behind here. Each step feels unreal. It has only been a few months, but it feels like years have passed.Everything that I believed I had constructed was left behind in that office, along with a portion of my heart.Last but not least, I am able to locate the restaurant, which has warm lights emanating from its windows onto the street. As I enter the door, I am surrounded by the aroma of freshly baked bread and coffee, which I am accustomed to smelling. Annie's eyes widen as if she has seen a ghost as she lifts her head up from the counter as I enter inside the house."What's up, Samantha?" She sighs, her

I strolled into Annie’s kitchen, my head still hurting from the blur of last night.She was already at the counter, flipping pancakes with a big grin that only increased when she got sight of me. Her eyes narrowed with mischief, obviously realizing I had a story to tell.“So…” she began, tilting her head in a way that made it apparent she wasn’t allowing me out of this. “Ready to spill, or are you going to keep me guessing?”I let out a deep sigh, collapsing onto one of the stools and grasping the mug of coffee she offered me. The recollection of waking up next to Tyler made my cheeks flush, the mixture of emotions boiling just beneath the surface... anger, nostalgia, a weird comfort I’d forgotten he could provide.“It was him,” I murmured finally, the words sliding off my lips, feeling both bitter and somehow liberated. “The guy from last night was Tyler.”Annie’s spatula landed with a crash. She gazed at me, blinking like she wasn’t sure if she’d heard me right.“Tyler?” she muttere

Trying to bring my breathing under control, I stabilised myself against the icy glass of the window ledge. Tyler was standing there, his presence apparent, a face that I had attempted to bury deep inside my consciousness. I had thought I had forgotten about him. However, when I saw him once more, my heart rate increased, and I felt a conflicting mixture of contempt and something that felt perilously near to love.Greetings, Sam! The tone of Tyler's speech was gentle, and his stare was unwavering, filled with something that was too close and too familiar.After taking a deep breath, I compelled myself to provide a response. I said, "Tyler," maintaining a steady tone of voice, despite the fact that each syllable seemed like it was balancing on thin glass. What are you doing in this location?I was extended an invitation. That you would also be here was a surprise to me. He placed his hands into his pockets, his shoulders stiff yet serene, his gaze never leaving mine. “But I’m glad you

When I entered my gallery the following morning, I took a deep breath and inhaled the slight aroma of newly painted rooms and varnish. We were two weeks away from opening, and the room was really coming together. It was a mixture of excitement and fear all mixed into one. My attention was suddenly drawn away from my thoughts as I heard a knock at the door. I had just started organizing some display pieces. I turned around, half-expecting to see my helper, but as I did so, I saw Tyler standing there. I was briefly taken aback by his sudden presence, and I blinked in response. It had been years since he had previously visited in this manner, and the manner in which he stood, with his hands stuffed into his pockets and a tightness around his mouth, made it quite evident that he was not simply there to say hello."Tyler," I answered, noticing that my heart rate was quickening. "Have I forgotten about a meeting that we might have?"He gave a small shake of his head while his eyes wander