Nights Burn With Regret — by Nathan Perez 71

3/3 

Twenty mutinn dollars 

+25 Bonus 

Twenty million dollars 

Violet 

The car ride was silent. 

Alec didn’t say anything, and I was grateful for that. I didn’t have the strength to form words, let alone respond to anyone. Everything felt frustrating. All I wanted was a hot shower, a few minutes of good sleep, and a chance to forget the last twenty–four hours had even happened. 

I leaned my head against the glass, staring out at the blur of people moving along the sidewalks. 

After a moment, my eyelids were starting to slip shut. 

If I closed my eyes for a few seconds, Alec probably wasn’t going to kidnap me. He looked sane enough, but then again, was anyone close to Hades actually sane? Still, if he tried anything, I’d fight back. 

I was just about to drift off when my phone rang, the vibration startling me. 

I opened my eyes and glanced at the caller ID. 

Penelope. 

Oh, right. She’d called me so many times last night. I’d been too distracted to message her back this morning. Penelope rarely called like that unless something was wrong, she knew how busy I usually was. 

I answered the phone. “Hello-” 

“Violet!” Penelope’s loud voice nearly blew out my eardrum. 

I flinched, pulling the phone slightly away. “Why are you screaming? Is everything alright?” 

“I should be the one asking you!” she shot back. “Are you alright? Where were you last night? I’ve been trying to get to you all night long.” 

My throat went dry. I licked my lips, glancing at the time she’d called. 

Ah, she called when I was busy with Hades in the restroom. 

There was no way in hell could I say that, especially with Alec sitting in front of me. 

“I was… busy with something important,” I muttered. 

There was a pause, then Penelope said, “Wait a minute. Let me switch it to video call so I can see your face.” 

I raised an eyebrow. She was acting weirder than usual, but I still accepted. The screen flickered to her frantic face. 

She looked stressed, her brows drawn tight. Behind her, Kai and Tiger were visible, and I instantly felt my body ease a little. 

They were safe. 

“You almost gave me a heart attack,” I said, shaking my head. “Did something happen?” 

Penelope leaned closer to her camera. “I have something to tell you, but first, promise me you won’t freak out. And tell me where you are.” 

my 

I narrowed my eyes. Penelope was always dramatic, but this was different. Something in her tone made skin prickle, 

1/4 

Twenty million dollars. 

+25 Bonus 

“I’m going home,” I answered. “So just tell me. Whatever it is, I’m sure I can handle it. Honestly, it can’t be worse than the shock I got yesterday.” 

From the front seat, Alec’s lips twitched faintly. I caught the movement in the rearview mirror and frowned. What the hell was he amused about? 

Penelope’s voice snapped me back. “Oh, this would be so much, if it’s true.” She exhaled, biting her lip. “I really hope I’m wrong, Violet.” 

My stomach knotted. “What are you talking about?” 

“I’m sending you a picture now. Check it, and tell me if I’m right.” 

A ping vibrated through my phone. 

A picture had just entered our chat. I swallowed and clicked it, waiting for it to load. And when it did, my body froze. 

Hades. 

The man in the picture was him. He looked striking, and terrifyingly handsome, with those same eyes that haunted me even when I closed mine. 

But how did Penelope have this picture? 

I blinked, trying to process what I was seeing, when Penelope gasped. 

“That look-” her voice shot through the speaker. “Is it fucking true? Is that guy your ex’s father?!” 

Against my better judgment, I glanced at the rearview mirror again. 

This time Alec wasn’t even pretending. He was smiling. His blue eyes gleamed with amusement, and when they locked onto mine in the mirror, I snapped my gaze away, my face burning. 

God. Kill me now. 

I lowered my voice, whispering, “Reduce your voice, Penelope.” 

“Oh, god. It is really true. Violet, how is this possible?! How could the hot man you fucked a few days ago be the father of the scumbag you broke things with?” 

“Penelope…” I warned, but she kept going. 

“I don’t even know if this is good or bad! I mean, the man is ridiculously hot, and he actually suits you. I wanted him to be your endgame, he’s the best sex of your life, plus he brought you a truckload of flowers. Who wouldn’t want that? But now that I know he’s the dangerous Hades Sinclair, I’m not so sure anymore.” 

I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling my soul leave my body. 

“And yet-” she went on, smiling now. “I’m kind of happy. This could be the perfect revenge for that asshole! Violet, you literally took the phrase ‘if you cheat on me, I’ll sleep with your dad‘ to a whole new level.” 

“Penelope!” I practically shouted, heat rushing to my face. I was so dead. All of this was definitely going to get 

back to Hades. 

I pressed my lips together, glancing nervously at Alec again, then muttered, “Can we talk about this later? This is not the perfect time.” 

2/4 

Twenty million dollars 

+25 Bonus 

Penelope blinked, then slapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, right. Sorry. I’m just so shocked. But you’re taking this calmly though. I thought you’d freak out by now.” 

I looked down, a humorless laugh bubbling inside me. Yeah. I would have freaked out, if I hadn’t already found out yesterday. 

Behind her, Kai’s voice cut in. “Are you okay?” 

I lifted my eyes and nodded. “Yeah, I’m just tired.” 

Penelope leaned closer to her camera. “Come here then. Crash at our place. I’ll make sure you can actually rest without those vultures circling your back.” 

The offer tempted me, but I shook my head. “No, I can’t. I have a student to tutor in an hour, and my notes are at home.” 

Penelope sighed. “Alright. But if you need anything, call me.” 

“Thank you, Penelope. I know you were worried.” 

“You deserve to be happy, Violet. I swear, the next person you let in, I’ll make sure he loves you and doesn’t hurt you.” 

I smiled at Penelope’s words. Sometimes, I truly wondered what I did to deserve them in a life where people only seemed to use me, they were the rare ones who didn’t. 

I parted my lips, about to say something, when my phone buzzed with a notification. I frowned and glanced down. 

A credit alert. 

“…Huh?” 

I tapped the screen again just to be sure I wasn’t imagining things. No, it was real, money had been credited into my account. 

I raised an eyebrow, a little baffled. Maybe it was a mistake? Or a glitch? 

“Penelope, I think I’ll call you later,” I muttered quickly, already distracted. Before she could ask why, I hung up and opened my banking app, half expecting to see just a few thousand. But my breath caught in my throat. 

The number stared back at me. 

There were so many zeros lined up it made my head spin. 

My hand slipped, and my phone fell onto my lap like it had burned me. 

“Eh?” My voice cracked out, my heart slamming against my ribs. 

This had to be wrong. Maybe I needed my glasses, my eyes were betraying me. 

I rubbed my eyes furiously, took a shaky breath, and picked the phone up again. 

The number hadn’t changed. 

It was still there. 

Twenty million dollars. 

What the fuck? 

3/4 

Twenty million dollars 

Why the hell was twenty million dollars credited into my account?! 

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