Chapter 126 

Chapter 126 

We were tangled in each other beneath the soft weight of the duvet, our skin still humming with the echoes of what had just happened. The air in the room was warm, heavy with a quiet kind of peace. Kaiden’s arm was draped around my waist, his fingertips tracing absent circles on my bare back, and my cheek rested against his chest, where I could hear the steady thud of his heart. 

I didn’t want to move. Not even a little. 

“It was…” I whispered, breath brushing his skin. “The best sex ever.” 

Kaiden let out a soft chuckle, the kind that rumbled through his ribs. “Yeah?” His voice was a little hoarse, roughened by passion and honesty. 

I smiled against him, nodding slowly as I bit my lower lip. “Yeah.” 

A beat passed. 

“Can I ask you something?” he said, quieter this time. 

“Umhum.” I nuzzled closer. 

“What happened?” His fingers paused on my back. “How come you…” he trailed off, unsure, like he was afraid he’d ruin it. 

I pulled back just enough to look at him. “You mean, I didn’t react this time–and even initiated?” 

He gave a small, sheepish nod. “Yeah… sort of.” 

I exhaled. “It’s hard to explain, but…” 

I looked away for a second, searching for the words in the ceiling. “I realized I was so scared of facing my fears, so terrified of remembering–that I was willing to push everything away. Even the people who made me feel safe. Even you.” 

His jaw clenched, but he didn’t interrupt. 

“But then, the very next second,” I continued, my voice soft but steady, “I also realized that you matter more to me than the fear ever did. And if I don’t start fighting it–fighting back–then this stupid defense mechanism of mine might do something really stupid… like… drive you away.” 

His expression shifted. Something flickered in his eyes–love, pain, maybe relief. 

“I love you, Kaiden Sterwalt,” I whispered, letting the words hang between us like a vow. “And no fear is bigger than my love for you.” 

For a moment, he didn’t speak. He just stared at me like I’d rewired his whole world. 

Then, he reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. 

“I love you too, Introvert,” he said. “So fucking much.” 

And just like that, we weren’t lying in the aftermath of sex anymore. 

We were lying in the aftermath of a new beginning. 

The Following Morning… 

We were at the dining table–the whole “pretend” family: Mom, Dan, Kaiden, and me–all set to enjoy a wholesome breakfast like one of those picture- perfect families. 

“Ahem!” Mom cleared her throat, just loud enough to grab my attention. 

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Chapter 126 

I was seated beside her, Dan at the head of the table like the king of this cardboard kingdom, with Mom to his right and Kaiden directly across from her 

on the left. 

I leaned toward her and whispered, “What happened?“. 

One of our servers brought in a tray full of cheese croissants, and Mom waited until the server placed them on the table and served everyone a piece except Kaiden. He took three. He loves cheese croissants, and I just love the way he devours the things he likes. 

And the same goes for how he devours his favorite person. 

I couldn’t help but think about our second round. The way he went down on me, oh god- 

“Lucy!” 

Mom’s voice–and the nudge of her elbow–snapped me back to the present. 

I turned to her, whispering in frustration, my forehead scrunching. “What?! What happened? Either tell me or don’t–but please, just don’t keep disturbing me.” 

*Disturb?” she hissed under her breath. “Says the girl who moaned the entire night, despite knowing her mother sleeps in the room right next to hers?” 

I bit my tongue, the shame flooding in with the heat of a full–body flush. Oh. My. God. 

I had completely forgotten that Dan and Mom no longer shared a room–and she had moved into the one right next to Kaiden’s. 

At first, I suspected she chose that room to keep an eye on me. But then I remembered her sacrifice–how she came clean and decided to divorce–and gave her the benefit of the doubt. I chose to believe her when she said the only reason she picked that room was because it was the third biggest one after Dan’s and Kaiden’s. 

“You heard us?” I whispered, horrified, scratching my forehead like I could erase the memory with friction. 

“Loud and clear,” she said through gritted teeth. “But only for ten seconds. I put on my noise–canceling headphones and tried to sleep.” She leaned in, voice low but deadly. “Tried, Lucy. But I didn’t succeed.” 

I grimaced.““Why? Don’t tell me it reminded you of your fun days or something-” 

“What?!” she barked. “Are you out of your mind?! Is that how you talk to your mother?! Don’t you dare forget what I’ve-” 

“Sacrificed for me, I know,” I muttered lazily, reaching for my juice!“I know, I know.” 

She narrowed her eyes, and I swear if looks could kill, I’d have died twice–once for the moaning and once for the sarcasm. 

Across the table, Kaiden smirked around a mouthful of croissant like he knew exactly what we were talking about. 

God, save me. 

“Ladies,” Dan’s voice cut through the room like a cold gust of wind. 

I nearly jumped from my seat. 

Mom and I snapped our heads toward him, caught/like thieves red–handed. 

“How about we focus on our breakfast?” he said calmly, though the look in his eyes was anything but. Cold. Calculating. And locked directly on me. “Kids need to reach school on time.” 

“Ye–Yeah,” Mom stammered, fumbling with her omelet. She tried to cut it gracefully, but her trembling hand betrayed her. “Sure. Kids need to reach school on time. My bad. Sorry.” 

“It’s okay, darling,” Dan replied, flashing a soft smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. 

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10:36 Tue, 10 Jun W 

Chapter 126 

That contrast between his lips and his gaze… It left a chill trailing down my spine. 

Which one was real? The warmth of his words or the frost in his stare? 

377%0 

We fell into an uneasy silence, the clink of cutlery and soft chewing the only sound in the room for the next five minutes. No one dared speak. But ! couldn’t stop thinking about Mom’s hand. 

It had shaken. Not just trembled. It shook like something inside her was caving in. 

And that wasn’t like her. Not at all. 

“Mom,” I leaned in and whispered. She also leaned closer to hear me clearly. “Is everything fine between you and Dan? Is he being hard on you? I mean, the way your hand shook… it just feels so not you. Is something wrong? Is there something I should be worried about?” 

The flood of questions spilled from my mouth, driven by concern for my mother. 

Mom didn’t reply immediately. She straightened her back, stopped chewing her food, and forced it down her throat. Then she used her tongue to clear the food stuck in her mouth before leaning in again and gesturing for me to come closer by blinking her eyes. 

I leaned in, just as she wanted me to. 

“Yes,” she whispered, her breath brushing against my ear. “There’s something that’s concerning me.” 

My stomach dropped. 

“What?” I asked quickly, heart pounding so loud I was sure someone could hear it. The room blurred, all my paranoia rising like a tide. 

What was she so afraid of? 

Was Dan hurting her? 

Now that their marriage was falling apart, was he revealing who he really was? 

My mother isn’t the type of person who gets scared by bad guys–but she is now. 

Does that mean… Dan is even worse than the bad guys? 

To be continued… 

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