All Chapters of MORE THAN A STRANGER: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Living with my aunt and her family was meant to be a temporary arrangement. When I’d first moved in, I had told myself I’d only be there for a few months, helping out while I figured things out. I wasn’t exactly thrilled about it, but I couldn’t afford to live anywhere else. The promise of a quiet life, free from the chaos of my own plans gone awry, seemed like a welcome change. But peace, I would come to realize, wasn’t so easy to find.The first day of the new year, though, was an exception. Everyone else was out celebrating with friends, or attending some grand party in the city, but I chose to stay home. It was rare for me to have such solitude, and I was determined to make the most of it. The house was silent, the kind of quiet that you can only experience when everyone else is preoccupied with their own distractions. I sank into the couch, the soft hum of the house lulling me into a sort of half-sleep, catching up on the rest I had been missing.I was vaguely aware of the small

Over the next few weeks, I found myself spending more time with Evan than I had initially anticipated. We fell into an easy rhythm, meeting for coffee, grabbing lunch, and sometimes wandering through the city aimlessly, talking about everything and nothing. He had a knack for making even the most mundane conversations feel significant.Yet, no matter how much time we spent together, there was a part of him I couldn’t quite reach. Evan was charming, open in many ways, yet strangely guarded in others. He didn’t talk much about his past or the deeper intricacies of his life, and I couldn’t decide if he was being careful or just private.One evening, as I lounged in my room, my phone buzzed. It was a call from Rachel, my best friend from college. We hadn’t spoken in a few weeks, and I knew she’d be curious about my new life at my aunt’s house.“Hey, Clara!” Rachel’s familiar voice greeted me. “Finally, you pick up. I was starting to think you forgot about me.”I laughed, settling into my

The days following my conversation with Evan were marked by a growing curiosity I couldn’t shake. My feelings for him had deepened beyond what I thought was possible in such a short time. I found myself drawn to his warmth, his wit, and the quiet confidence he exuded. Yet, beneath it all, the question of who he truly was lingered like a shadow.One morning, just as I was beginning another endless scroll through job boards, a text from Evan interrupted my thoughts.~Evan: Hey, any chance you’re free today? I’d love for you to see where I work.~It was the first time he’d offered a glimpse into his professional life. My heart raced as I typed out my response.~Me: I’m free. What time?~~Evan: Come by around noon. I’ll send you the address.~By noon, I found myself standing in front of a sleek office building in the heart of the city. The glass façade reflected the sunlight, and the logo etched into the glass doors read "E-Tech Solutions." I stepped inside, greeted by a modern, minimalis

The tension between Evan and his past had become impossible to ignore. Though he tried to assure me he wasn't hiding anything, his guardedness only deepened my suspicions.The more I replayed our conversations in my head, the more I felt like there were pieces of the puzzle missing, pieces he wasn't willing to share.One evening, I sat at my desk, scrolling through articles about Evan's company. His success was undeniable, but there was an undercurrent of controversy woven into his story. The lawsuit with his former business partner, Jason Marks, was mentioned repeatedly. Each article framed it slightly differently, some portraying Evan as the visionary entrepreneur, others hinting at a more ruthless side.When I stumbled across Jason's social media account, I hesitated. Was I crossing a line? But curiosity got the better of me. His posts were cryptic, filled with resentment and veiled accusations. One in particular stood out:"The truth has a funny way of surfacing. Some people wear

Days turned into a week, and the space I had created between Evan and me felt both liberating and suffocating. I missed him, but l also felt a growing sense of clarity. The more I focused on myself, the more I realized how much I had been compromising to fit into his world, a world I still didn't fully understand.It was a quiet Sunday afternoon when everything changed. I was at home, flipping through a magazine, when my phone buzzed with a text from Evan.~Evan: I need to see you. It's important. My office, 6 PM.~My stomach flipped. This wasn't like him, his messages were usually casual, not so formal or urgent. I debated whether to go but ultimately decided I owed it to myself to hear what he had to say.When I arrived at his office, the building was eerily quiet. The receptionist desk was empty, and the usual hum of activity was absent. The lights were dimmed, and I felt a chill run through me as I made my way to his floor.Evan was waiting in the conference room, his posture tens