Chapter 84
Mia couldn’t believe she said yes.
She sat in Alex Blackwell’s car, stiff as a board, her hands tightly folded in her lap like she didn’t trust them not to do something stupid-like reach out, touch him, slap him… or maybe worse, hold onto him.
The car was too quiet. No music. No idle chatter. Just the hum of the engine and the occasional sigh of the wind against the windows.
Alex kept glancing at her. She felt it-each look like a brush of heat on her cheek, like the seat between them wasn’t enough distance. She didn’t meet his eyes.
She just stared straight ahead, lips pressed into a thin line, trying to make sense of what she had just agreed to.
She was going to his house.
The same guy who once made it a sport to taunt her, who played cruel games just to see her squirm. The same guy who, minutes ago, dragged her into a restaurant like she was some stray dog that needed feeding.
So why was her heart racing like this?
Why did she say yes?
Stupid.
Stupid, stupid girl.
When they pulled up to his place, Mia could barely lift her eyes. The house was just as she imagined-a wide, modern space with tall glass windows.
It looked expensive. A house that said, I have everything.
Alex parked the car without a word, stepped out, and walked around to her side. He didn’t open the door, just waited until she moved.
She hesitated for a second, then opened it herself and followed him up the walkway, into the elevator, then to his floor
She shouldn’t be here.
She didn’t belong in a place like this.
But she followed anyway.
Alex walked ahead of her, pointing casually. “Living room… kitchen’s down that hall… there’s a guest bathroom there if you need it.”
Mia nodded slowly, eyes scanning the space. Everything was so clean. Cold. Beautiful.
Like him.
The tension between them felt like it was stretching across the room, thin and tight like a wire about to snap.
He led her upstairs next.
Mia followed silently, her footsteps echoing behind him. At the top of the stairs, he pushed open a white door.
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Chapter 84
“This’ll be your room,” he said, stepping aside for her to walk in first.
It was beautiful-neutral walls, soft lighting, a large bed with blue sheets, and long curtains drawn halfway open to let in the
sun.
She stepped in slowly, as though afraid her mere presence would ruin the place.
Alex walked in behind her, pointing out the closet, the ensuite bathroom, the fresh towels. Mia only half listened. Her heart was pounding again.
Then it happened.
They moved at the same time, reaching for the same light switch, and their hands brushed.
It was just skin.
Just a light touch.
But it might as well have been fire.
Mia’s stops, her fingers tingled. She looked up at him, and for the first time today, they really looked at each other. No shouting. No sarcasm. Just silence.
Their eyes locked.
The air between them turned heavy. Unspoken things hung between their gaze-memories, misunderstandings, pain, curiosity. Regret.
Alex took a slow step toward her.
Mia didn’t move.
He was close now-too close.
Their faces were inches apart. His breath mingled with hers, warm and steady. His eyes dropped briefly to her lips, then flicked back to her eyes.
And he leaned in.
Slowly.
Cautiously.
Like he was afraid to scare her off.
Mia froze. Her heart slammed against her ribs. Her skin burned.
Their lips were just about to touch-
-and Mia turned her head away.
The spell broke.
The closeness shattered.
The air rushed back in like a wave crashing between them.
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Chapter 84
Alex lingered for half a second, his face still just inches from hers. Then he exhaled sharply, stepped back, and cleared his throat like he’d just woken up from something.
“Make yourself comfortable,” he said, voice low, tight. “There’s food in the kitchen.”
And then, without another word, he turned and walked out of the room.
Mia stood there alone, still not breathing, her heart still thundering.
Mia walked slowly through Alex’s penthouse, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if trying to hold all her pieces. together.
The space was quiet, too quiet, and so elegant it made her skin itch with discomfort.
Everything was Clean, spotless windows stretched from floor to ceiling, offering a stunning view of Willowcrest
Mia wasn’t looking at the view. She was looking at everything else—terrified she might knock over something expensive or step somewhere she shouldn’t.
Her eyes lingered on the white couches, the glass coffee table that looked like it cost more than her family had made in months, the artwork framed neatly on the wall that probably meant something important to someone like Alex.
She stood still, frozen in the middle of the living room like a guest who’d overstayed her welcome.
“What am I doing here?” she muttered to herself, her voice barely above a whisper.
What was it with her and him? Why couldn’t she just stay away?
She let out a sharp sign, frustrated with herself. No matter how far she ran, somehow, Alex always ended up right in front of her. And worse—he always ended up pulling her back.
She rubbed her arms and began pacing. A part of her wanted to scream, wanted to cry, wanted to go back to the version of herself that wouldn’t have dared step foot into this place.
But then she remembered the way he looked at her earlier. Not the usual smugness. Not like a man playing a game. He looked… real. Like someone who genuinely cared.
Then again, that was how Alex always reeled people in, wasn’t it?
She shook her head hard and turned back to her assigned room.
“I shouldn’t be here,” she mumbled. “I need to go before I start believing whatever this is.”
Mia marched into the guest room, which was far too big and perfect for someone like her. The bed was neatly made. She barely sat on it earlier, afraid even the mattress would judge her. Her bag sat where she left it on the floor. She grabbed it.
But then paused.
Would it be okay to leave while Alex wasn’t here? What if he accused her of taking something? Of running off like a thief?
That wouldn’t be too surprising. She knew how easily people like him turned on people like her. All it took was a rumor, a glance, a misstep, and suddenly, she was the villain in a story she never agreed to star in.
No. She wouldn’t give him the chance.
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She dropped the bag back inside and shut the door behind her. She’d wait until he returned, say what needed to be said, then leave with her dignity.
If she had any left.
Sitting back on the edge of the bed, she buried her face in her hands.
“What are you even doing, Mia?” she whispered into her palms. “Is this what you want now? To be toyed with?”
God, Mia.
Her stomach twisted, and not from hunger this time. It was that sinking, curling kind of feeling. The kind that told her she was setting herself up for more hurt.
Maybe she was addicted to pain. Maybe somewhere deep inside, she didn’t believe she deserved anything better.
But was he really trying to kiss her? Or is it part of some twisted plan?
Mia closed her eyes tightly, trying to erase the way his scent had filled her nose, the way his eyes had burned into hers like he saw something she didn’t even see in herself.
“Stop thinking about him,” she whispered harshly. “You’re here because you were desperate. That’s it. He offered help. You were stupid enough to take it. That’s all.”
She exhaled deeply and stood, brushing imaginary dust off her jeans. Maybe she could at least wash her face, gather herself, try to look less like she was falling apart from the inside out. Maybe-
The sudden sound of the doorbell pierced the silence like a knife. Mia froze, her entire body tensing.
Her first thought was that it might be Alex.
Her second thought-What if it wasn’t?
She stared, heart thumping louder now. Something about that sound, so sharp and unexpected, triggered every part of her anxiety.
Who could it be?
She didn’t move, didn’t breathe. She was as still as the walls, waiting… listening.
But the doorbell rang again.
And Mia’s blood ran cold.
That can be Alex,
