t 162
Chapter 162
Kaiden’s POV
Every time Mom had a fight with Dad and she couldn’t take it anymore, she used to come here, to this little house on the top of Mystique
Hills.
When I was small, she used to bring me along with her because, though she wanted to escape almost ninety–nine percent of her reality, she would not even think about escaping that one percent where she was my mother.
She used to say that I was the only part of her reality that she never wanted to escape. Though all of her roles had somehow brought mishaps into her life and made her tired on a certain level, her role as my mother never did. It only brought happiness to her, and she would never
want to escape it. Ever.
“Mom, why can’t we tell Dad about this place?” the little me asked. “This is so beautiful. We should sometimes come here for family time
“Sweet,” Mom said with a soft smile, cupping my cheek gently. “But I want to keep this place a secret. This is my haven. My salvation. My sanctuary.” She paused, then lifted her pinky in front of me. “So…” she whispered, her voice light and warm, “promise me this will stay our little heavenly secret.”
“Promise,” the little me chimed, smiling so purely that sometimes I wonder if it was even really me.
I kept the promise I made to my mom. Well, I thought I did. Until the sound of a chopper broke the peace of my memories with my mother.
“What the…” I stepped out of the house, squinting against the glare, trying to make sense of the charcoal–black helicopter hovering ominously in the sky.
My sole reason for avoiding everyone was not because I wanted to escape reality, but because I didn’t want to do or say something in anger that I’d later regret–something that couldn’t be repaired.
Mom used to say, when both parties are furious and their words–eyen an apology–sound like chalk squeaking on a board, then it’s better to
let silence do the work.
“But Mom, what if we become habituated to the silence? What if we never talk?” the little me asked.
“Then it’s better that way than to let your words hurt both you and your partner,” she said softly. “But… trust me, most of the time, you heal –and then you find yourself craving the lively voice of the one you love.”
“AaAAaaaaAaahahhahhahahahhahhhahhha!!!”
That scream from Lucy when she jumped off the chopper–it solely made me realize how much I craved her voice.
By the way… What the hell was that? How the hell did she know about this place? And why in the hell did she jump if she was so scared of it?
Lucy’s POV
I was scared to hell. I was seriously this close to pissing my pants, or maybe I actually did–I don’t know. I was not in my sense at all. My mind was foggy, and my heartbeat was so intense it felt like it was on the verge of blasting, but none of that mattered when I saw Kalden.
My heartbeat, my fear, my senselessness, my foggy brain–everything went blurry, and all I could see and feel was him.
“Kaiden, hi,” I whispered, my voice shaky but smiling, still hanging upside down from the rope, the ground just a foot below me like some cruel joke.
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18:08 Fr, 8 Aug
Chapter 162
“Well, hello, Introvert.” He stepped closer, eyes narrowing slightly as he studied me with a mix of curiosity and confusion. “heed some hel
“Um–um,” I nodded, my voice barely a whisper.
He carefully helped me out of the harness and steadied me as I landed on my feet.
The moment I was free, I didn’t hesitate. I wrapped my arms around him as tightly as I could, holding on like my entire world depended on I was so desperate, so overwhelmed, I wished we could just melt together–two halves blending, remolding into one whole.
“I missed you. You hear that? I missed you so much.” My voice cracked as I clung to him. “And I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you when you said Rubina was innocent. And I’m sorry for sharing your secret with my mom. I promise–promise, promise, promise–I’ll never do that again. Please forgive me, okay? Pleassseee=”
He gently pulled back, his hands steadying me. “Hey, Introvert,” he said softly, his voice calm and soothing. “Introvert, introvert, introvert. Hey, it’s okay.” His fingers cupped my face, wiping away my tears with tender care. “It’s okay,” he repeated, slower this time, as if making sure I really understood. “It’s fine. I’m not angry with you. And… I missed you too.”
Without hesitation, he pulled me close, leaned in and pressed his lips against mine in a soft and needy kiss.
His kiss magically began to bring my senses back. My heartbeat came to its normal pace, the fog in my mind cleared, and the thrill of jumping from the helicopter slowly began to be replaced with the comfort of being in between his arms.
“Lies.” I pulled back, pushing him a little. Though the kiss was temptingly perfect enough not to be ruined like that, I still ruined it, because when the fog in my mind cleared, common sense began to flood in. “If you were not angry with me, if you really missed me, then why the hell didn’t you call me? Or at least came back, huh? Two weeks. You know, I waited two weeks, hoping for you to return, but you didn’t.”
“This is an exotic place, babe,” he explained, holding me gently by my shoulders as he smiled in amusement. “There is no network here. That’s why I couldn’t call. And about returning, I was about to.” He pinched his neck. “I swear. I was just about to.”
“Do you even know what I have gone through in these two weeks?” I began to complain like a little kid.
“I got kidnapped, again. By Clara.”
He opened his mouth, but I didn’t give him any chance to speak.
“But Rubina saved me. She is really nice. I really regret wrongly accusing her.”
He again opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off.
“Don’t you dare say ‘I told you so.’ I know I was wrong. I’m an idiot and you’re a genius. You don’t have to point it out.”
He again opened his mouth, but again I cut him off–the urge to share every single piece of knowledge with him got the best of me.
“You won’t believe the fucking plot twist. Clara is actually Ana. Ana Franklin. Ross‘ dead sister.”
“What? But she was dead,” he said, his voice thick with shock. This time, I let him talk–I wanted to see his reaction..
ot twist was insane.
If Clara hadn’t been drooling over my man, I might’ve actually admired her for her moves–despite her attempt to kill me. “Whatever. Are you okay? I know Rubina saved you, but I still can’t help worrying-”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I turned away, revealing the bruised back of my head. “Marco hit me with something hard. But I’m okay now.”
“Marco? You mean the one who used to cook for us?”
“Yeah.”
“How-
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Chapter 162
“Oh, it’s a long story. The plot twist was movie–worthy,” I said, turning around and holding his hand, dragging him towards the antique house in front of us. “How about we go inside this beauty heaven of yours and I fill you in while snacking?”
~~EPILOGUE~~
Two Years Later…
Despite all the controversies, Dan secured his place as West Sterlingo’s new mayor. And just like he promised, he divorced Mom soon after.
He even generously gave her a substantial alimony–though he didn’t have to. In fact, he could’ve easily gotten out of it since Mom was having an extra–marital affair with Marco and some of the other workers. But still, he didn’t.
I think he gave her that money because, somewhere deep down, he still has a soft spot for her.
Sometimes, I regret ruining Mom’s chance for redemption with Dan, but then I catch her flirting with my professors at NYU–and I swallow that regret along with my lunch.
“Don’t you even think about peeking!” A grin tugged at my lips as I led Kaiden through the warm, inviting living room of the Mystique Hills
house.
“How could I possibly peek?” Kaiden said, his eyes squeezed shut, stepping slowly and carefully, as if navigating a delicate path. “Especially when it’s my girlfriend’s strict order.”
When we reached the painting hanging on the wall, I chuckled softly and said, “Alright, you can open your eyes now.”
He blinked slowly, and the moment his gaze settled on the artwork, his breath hitched. Awe softened his expression, and he seemed momentarily lost in the image.
It was the same painting Kaiden had stood frozen in front of at the museum just weeks ago–the one his mother had adored with all her heart. A woman with her back turned, cradling a baby in a field of dandelions, soft golden light brushing her silhouette.
“How?” he whispered, eyes wide in disbelief. “How did the museum let this go without dad’s permission?”
“Well, the museum didn’t let it go without Dan’s permission,” I said with a casual shrug, though a quiet pride bloomed inside me. “But… you could say… I have a pretty good relationship with my future father–in–law.”
“Introvert…” he murmured, stepping closer. And then–without warning–he pulled me into his arms, holding me tight, like he never wanted to let go. “I love you,” he whispered into my hair, his voice soft and a little shaky. “With every single breath I take.”
I hugged him tighter, my chest full, like my heart had way too many feelings to hold all at once. “And your Introvert is lucky to have your love, Kaiden Sterwalt.” I said, smiling into his shirt.
AND WE LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER…
Author’s NOTE: Thank you for reading The Lucky Introvert till the end.
I hope you enjoyed Kaiden and Lucy’s forbidden love story.
If you enjoyed The Lucky Introvert, you’ll definitely love my next book, “Don’t Moan My Name.”
18:09 TM, BAUG
Chapter 162
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Since the moment he realized his feelings for her, he’s town, he’s stuck babysitting her for a while.
everything to thay away. Imerger thic tommer and her dad aret Sinkta mat’s
But–surprise, surprise–JULIET WARNER isn’t the quiet, braces wearing bookworm he remembers. She’s ghum na vlada sery an completely unpredictable person with a chaotic bucket list and a wild streak that threatens to Weselé Mie gant command
“Fuck. Don’t moan my name, Trouble. I’ve promised to protect you. But if you keep tempting me, bum that permes et maler yüter today with its ashes.”
He swore he’d never cross the line. But when temptation wears the face of the one girl he can’t resist, Chris the friendship that means everything… or risk losing it all for a kiss he was never meant to steal.
P.S. Thank you for being such an amazing reader. I just can’t wait to dive into this new adventure with you a
