All Chapters of Pucking Forbidden Claim: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Kade’s POVHis body stills, his eyes locking onto mine, sharp and searching. “What the fuck does that mean?” he whispers.“It means your family caused us to be living like this, Rook! That’s what it fucking means,” I snap.His gaze flickers around, like he’s trying to piece it together, trying to make sense of something that’s been a fact in my life for years. “I don’t get what you’re saying.”I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face. “When I visited, I told her, about everything. And she pulled out a picture. My father, about eighteen, standing with your grandfather.” I shake my head, jaw clenching. “I don’t know the whole story, but whatever happened, he lost everything. And he never got it back.”Rook exhales sharply, his posture shifting. “That wasn’t me. I’m not like that.”I scoff. “No? Then where are we sleeping tonight, Rook? Let me guess, you got a nice, fancy hotel nearby, right?”His head tilts, his brows pulling together, confusion flickering across his face.I laugh bitterly,

Kade POVHe glances at me for half a second before turning back to her, his voice lower when he speaks.“Because I’m not leaving him,” he says simply.The words hit harder than they should. I shift, staring down at my drink, pretending like that didn’t just mess with my head.Mom, however, isn’t buying it. “And what happens when your father doesn’t give you a choice? When the next time you need to prove your loyalty, it’s Kade who gets caught in the crossfire?”Rook doesn’t flinch. He just watches her, unreadable, before he says, “That’s not gonna happen.”She scoffs. “You sound real sure of that for someone whose family could end all of this in a second.”Rook’s jaw tightens slightly, but his smirk stays in place. “Then I guess I’ll just have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”Mom shakes her head, looking like she wants to argue, but I cut in before she can. “It’s late. If you want to fight, can we do it in the morning?”She exhales, rubbing her temple. “Fine. But this isn’t over.”I

Rook POVI shake my head, forcing out a breath. “My whole life, I’ve been surrounded by people who only take what’s useful, who only keep what benefits them. People who don’t give a single fuck about anything that doesn’t serve their own goddamn purpose.” My gaze meets hers, my throat tight. “And then there’s him.”Her expression doesn’t change, but something in the air shifts.I huff out a breath, shaking my head. “He’s the only one who doesn’t treat me like I’m some fucking legacy waiting to happen. Who doesn’t care about my name, my family, my power, he only cares about me. He fights me like he means it. Pushes back when I go too far, calls me out on my shit because he actually gives a damn.“And somehow, with him and when I’m around him, I don’t have to be Rook fucking Volkov, heir to a goddamn empire. I can just be. No expectations, no pretending, no need to prove anything.“He doesn’t want anything from me. Not money, not power, not protection.“But he chooses me. Again and agai

Rook POVHe leans back, stretching his arm across the back of the couch, settling in like he owns the place.“We just get each other,” he continues. “We have this thing where no matter how much time passes, it’s like nothing changed when we see each other again. We just pick up where we left off.”I hum, my smirk widening. “That so?”Paul nods. “Yeah. It’s not something you find often, you know?” He grins, his eyes flickering toward Kade’s room before settling back on me. “But I guess you wouldn’t know much about that.”I chuckle, keeping my expression easy, relaxed, while my patience thins by the fucking second.“Sounds like you two had something real special,” I say, my voice light, taunting.Paul smiles, like he’s pleased with himself. “Yeah, we do. Kade’s not the kind of guy to settle down, but he always comes back.”I nod slowly, watching him like I’m actually considering his words.I’m not.I’m watching the way his shoulders straighten slightly, the way his confidence builds the

Kade POV“What do you mean there’s nothing to pick up?” His voice is sharper now, his expression twisting in confusion.I exhale slowly, already feeling my patience wearing thin. “I mean exactly what I said. Whatever you thought this was, it isn’t.”Paul scoffs, shaking his head. “Kade, come on. We always do this.” He gestures vaguely between us. “You disappear, do your thing, and then you come back, and we go back to us.”“There is no us, Paul. I told you that last time I came,” I say, my voice flat.His jaw tightens. “Since when?”I don’t answer immediately. I can feel Rook beside me, silent, unmoving, but there. I glance at him briefly, and he’s just watching, waiting.Paul notices the glance. His eyes flick to Rook, then back to me, his expression darkening.“What’s changed?” Paul presses. “Because this?” He gestures between us again. “This was never a problem before. So what the hell is different?”Rook steps forward before I can answer.“What’s different?” Rook drawls, tilting h