Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 31 - Chapitre 40

Lara’s mind scrambled to process the man standing before her—the same one she had seen in Duke’s Instagram posts. The one she had been irrationally curious about.Seeing him in pictures was one thing, but in person… Damn.The photos hadn’t done him justice.He was tall—easily over six feet—with broad shoulders and a lean, muscular build that was obvious beneath his black dress shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing toned forearms. His skin was sun-kissed, a warm tan that contrasted sharply against the deep green of his eyes. Thick, dark brows framed his sharp features, his jawline was strong, and his slightly tousled black hair gave him an effortlessly attractive look, the kind that suggested he either didn’t care or simply woke up looking that good. There was something about him—an air of quiet authority, of confidence that didn’t need to be announced.Lara barely caught herself staring before Duke’s voice cut through her daze.“Reagan! You’re finally here!” Duk

The conversation around Lara carried on, voices blending into the steady pulse of music filtering in from the club outside. Every now and then, Gio, Noah, or Duke would try to pull her into the discussion, throwing casual remarks her way. She would offer them a polite smile, a nod, or a brief reply before retreating back into silence. She kept her focus on her drink, sipping slowly, letting the burn of alcohol distract her from the thoughts she didn’t want to entertain.She wasn’t necessarily trying to be distant—it just felt easier to listen than to engage.And besides, she wasn’t the only one who was quiet.Reagan didn’t talk much either. He sat across from her, effortlessly blending into the background despite his commanding presence. He responded when spoken to, but his words were few and to the point. But what Lara noticed most of all was the way his gaze would occasionally flicker toward her.It wasn’t obvious—not something that demanded her attention—but it happened often enoug

Lara made her way toward the door, reaching for the handle, but it suddenly felt heavier than it should. Before she could struggle with it, Reagan was there, his presence solid behind her as he reached over and pulled the door open with ease.She stiffened. She hadn’t even realized how close he was until she felt the heat of his body at her back. Without looking at him, she muttered, “Thanks,” and quickly stepped out.The moment she reached the stairs, she stopped.They blurred for a second, doubling in her vision. She blinked, hoping it would go away, but when she opened her eyes again, the steps still wavered.Before she could take a step, a firm yet gentle hand wrapped around her elbow.Lara flinched at the contact, but Reagan’s grip wasn’t overbearing—it was steady, grounding. She glanced at him, momentarily unsure.“Careful,” he murmured, guiding her down the steps.She swallowed hard, nodding slightly. “Thanks…”He didn’t respond, simply keeping his hold firm until they reached

Her stomach twisted slightly. It was Reagan who had driven her home. He had been the one who looked out for her when she had too much to drink. The man who made sure she didn’t fall down the stairs, opened the door for her, shielded her head as she got into the car, and even fastened her seatbelt without a word. Small gestures. Simple things. But things Lucas had never done for her. She gripped her spoon a little tighter. Would Lucas care if he knew? Would it even matter? She swallowed hard, pushing down the sudden turmoil inside her. “I—” She hesitated before forcing out a small chuckle. “I didn’t stay out too late.” Lucas raised a brow slightly. “Is that so?” Lara nodded, bringing another spoonful of cereal to her mouth—though she could barely taste it. “Yeah. Just had a little fun with some friends.” Lucas hummed in response, his expression unreadable. Without another word, he drained the last of his coffee and pushed back his chair. “I have to go,” he said,

The next day, Lara went about her usual routine. She showered, got dressed, and left for work without seeing even a glimpse of Lucas. She had no idea what time he had come home last night or when he had left this morning. By now, she should’ve been used to it. But some wounds never truly heal.Pushing the thoughts aside, Lara focused on the day ahead.Work kept her occupied. As always, her students were a welcome distraction, their bright smiles and endless energy filling the hours with warmth. She spent the day guiding them through their lessons, laughing at their silly antics, and gently correcting their mistakes.By the time classes ended, Lara was in the waiting area with the children who were still waiting to be picked up. The late afternoon sun bathed the playground in gold, casting long shadows as parents slowly arrived, one by one, to collect their kids.Just as she knelt to tie a little girl’s shoelace, her phone vibrated in the pocket of her skirt.She finished tying the bo