Semua Bab Her dangerous desires: Bab 121 - Bab 130

Chapter 122: ErevosJOHN EVANSAs I walked out of Ethan’s office, the word replayed he asked me about in my mind ‘Erevos.’ I told him I didn’t know what it meant, but that was a lie. I didn’t trust him enough to tell the truth. The moment I got into my car, I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my mind racing. Erevos—Martha’s safe word. The code to her safe deposit box. She had told me about it once, in passing, as if she were preparing for the worst. At the time, I brushed it off, believing she was just being cautious. I pulled out of the parking lot and drove straight to the bank. The entire ride there, my chest felt heavy. If Ethan found the word in her documents, that meant she had been gathering something—evidence, secrets, something powerful enough to destroy Smith Cole. The bank manager recognized me immediately and led me to the private vault area. The safe deposit box sat there, untouched for years because I never had enough courage to check it out. I told the manager t

Chapter 124: BlissLIAMI sat in the office of Carter Industries, staring at the contract in front of me. The words were blurry, not because I didn’t understand them, but because I was still processing the fact that I had a new job. "You’ll start immediately," Mr. Carter, Sophie’s father, said from across the desk. "Although you just got into the labour market, I do not want my daughter to date a jobless guy who can't support her." I swallowed hard. Few weeks ago, I thought I had everything figured out. Then I lost my job. Lost my father in a way that wasn’t physical but still felt permanent. And now, here I was, getting a fresh start because of Sophie’s family. Because of Sophie. "Thank you sir," I said finally, picking up the pen. "I won’t let you down." "You’re part of the family now, Liam," Mr. Carter said, leaning back in his chair. "I trust you’ll do well here." I signed my name at the bottom of the contract, setting the pen down with a small exhale, grateful for my

Chapter 126: Stages of griefMIAFor the first time in weeks, I finally stepped outside without feeling suffocated. My father had reluctantly let me out of the house, and I had gone straight to my gallery. I've missed being here, the familiar scent of fresh paint and polished wood, everything about art just brought joy to me.I walked through the exhibits, my fingers trailing along the edge of a new canvas.I wished I could talk to my dad about my relationship with Ethan and how much Ethan had changed.Maybe if I had approached him differently, if I had convinced him to listen instead of pushing back so hard, things would have been better between us. But he refused to see me as anything other than his little girl, and I refused to be anything less than an adult who could make her own choices. Now that I was finally out, I should have gone to see Ethan, too. I had spent too long keeping my distance, letting my father’s disapproval dictate my every move. But I told myself I would snea

Chapter 128: NumbMIAThe house was too quiet. It had always been big, always been a little too empty but now, it felt hollow—like a shell of what it used to be. I sat on the couch, staring at the untouched plate of food in front of me. Aunt Cecilia had brought it over, placing it on the table with a look that told me she expected me to eat. But I couldn’t. I hadn’t eaten much since the hospital.Every time I tried, nausea crept up my throat, forcing me to push the plate away. I picked up the glass of whiskey instead, the liquid burning my throat. I'm not someone that drank, but alcohol was the only thing that numbed the ache I felt in my chest. Dad was gone, my love was gone. My entire world had shattered overnight, and I had no idea how to put the pieces back together. I let out a shaky breath, my fingers tightening around the glass. I used to sit here with Dad, curled up beside him while he watched the news. I remembered the way he used to shake his head, muttering under

Chapter 130: The funeralSOPHIEEverywhere felt cold. The air was thick, unmoving, suffocating in its silence. Mia’s dad was being laid to rest, and for those of us who loved him, the world might as well have stopped turning. The funeral was as grand as expected. The media lingered at a respectful distance, cameras flashing as notable figures arrived—politicians, shareholders, business partners. Some were genuinely grieving. Others were here to be seen. But none of them mattered. What mattered was the people that sat on the front row, Mia, Marvin, Cecilia, Greg, Ava. His family and loved ones.Greg stood first. His usual arrogance was gone, replaced by something raw. His hands gripped the podium tightly, his jaw clenched as if holding back the weight of his emotions. "My brother was a complicated man," he began. "Stubborn. Strong-willed. Sometimes impossible to deal with." He exhaled sharply. "But he was also one of the bravest men I knew. He carried burdens we will never unde