Semua Bab Alpha Santa : Bab 11 - Bab 20

Piper."You know nothing, Piper," Zoe spat, her face a mess of streaked mascara and tear-stained cheeks, but her eyes burn with a stubbornness that catches me off guard."Zoe, no," I plead desperately. "You’re not going back to him. Not after everything he’s done to you. He doesn’t deserve your pity—he doesn’t deserve you."She jerks her arms free, her eyes narrowing at me as if I’ve said something offensive and unforgivable. “You don’t get to decide that,” she snaps, her voice shaking with anger and something else—maybe fear. “Zack needs me now more than ever. He’s hurt, and I’m not going to abandon him.”“Zoe, he dragged you by your hair and—”“It wasn’t a big deal!” she yells, cutting me off. My mouth falls open in shock. “What happened… It’s not some big, unforgivable thing, okay? So he cheated—so what? That’s between me and Zack, not you. Stay out of it.”“Not a big deal?” I repeat, my voice rising despite myself. “He dragged you, Zoe! Like you were some—some piece of furniture h

Piper's Throughout the night, sleep evades me like a cruel joke. My bed is comfortable—too comfortable, actually. Yet every time I close my eyes, Elijah’s face is there. His smirk, the warmth of his lips on my cheek, the way he said, “Dream of me.” It’s like he’s haunting me, and I’m not even mad about it.By 3 a.m., I give up. Grabbing my phone, I scroll mindlessly, and there it is—Adam’s name glowing on the screen. Missed calls. Messages. Voice notes. My stomach twists, but this time, it’s different.I stare at his name, and without overthinking, my thumb hovers over the block button. The memory of Elijah’s kiss gives me the courage to press it. The second I do, I exhale loudly, like a weight has been lifted off my chest. For the first time in forever, I feel free. His voice notes and messages? Deleted without a second thought.By morning, my body feels lighter, even if my mind still races. I stand in front of the sink, brushing my teeth, staring at my reflection in the mirror. The

ElijahShe stands there, looking breathtaking in the red dress I personally chose for her. It takes everything in me not to pull her close, bend her over one of the tables, and show her just how badly I need her. But what drives me mad is the way other men are eyeing her, lust in their gazes. I want to punch each one of them in the face, wipe that look off their faces.But then, I hear Piper’s voice, defending me—the CEO—and it eats at me like slow-burning poison. She sounded so adamant, almost... hopeful. It haunts me, like she was imagining some Cinderella fairy tale where the rich, charming CEO sweeps her off her feet and showers her with luxurious gifts, like the dress.The dress.The one I thought I had given her as "Santa."Goddammit.I grip the edge of the tray in my hand tighter, imagining it snapping in two. The urge to break it is overwhelming, but I force myself to set it down carefully on a nearby table before I do something stupid like throwing it across the room. My jaw

PiperThe breakfast room buzzes with soft chatter and the clinking of silverware against fine china. I stab a piece of melon with my fork and glance across the table at Zoe, who looks like she’s trying to blend in with the seats. Her eyes dart nervously around the room, as if she’s expecting Zack to burst in at any moment.I lean forward, lowering my voice."I don't think he would dare come to you here, especially with eyes watching, so relax and eat."Zoe freezes mid-bite, her croissant hovering just inches from her lips. She places it back on her plate with and exhales sharply. "Honestly, it was like... like an eye-opener, you know? Like the slap was exactly what I needed to finally see him for who he really is.”“Zoe…” I start softly, but she barrels on.“He started apologising right after, of course. Begging me to stay, crying like some pathetic little boy. But I kicked him in the dick and ran out of there.” She gives me a wry smile, but there’s no humour in her eyes. “Pretty sure

Zoe hums softly to herself, her back to me as she meticulously arranges my clothes in the spacious wardrobe as though every piece needs to be in just the right place. The faint scent of lavender and fresh linen fills the room, mingling with the subtle tension in the air.Her hands pause for a moment as she looks over the space she’s created, leaving enough room for when she plans to shop for her own things. She’s been like this since morning—fidgety and paranoid, constantly glancing at the door as if Zack might burst in at any second. After last night, I can’t blame her.She woke me up in the middle of the night, her face pale and drenched in sweat. She’d had a nightmare—one so vivid and terrifying that she’d begged me, on her knees, to stay in her new room with her. I didn’t even hesitate. I agreed, and by morning, she was already busy helping me pack my things and move them from my old room to hers.Now, we’re in her new suite on the fifth floor, and I can admit it’s a huge upgrade.