Chapter\u00a0516\u00a0<\/p>\n
He\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0much\u00a0help\u00a0right\u00a0now;\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0absolutely\u00a0no\u00a0getting\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0this.\u00a0T<\/p>\n
As\u00a0we\u00a0entered\u00a0the\u00a0thought\u00a0front\u00a0doors,\u00a0I\u00a0caught\u00a0the\u00a0curious\u00a0eyes\u00a0of\u00a0Alex,\u00a0who\u00a0was\u00a0standing\u00a0near\u00a0the\u00a0doorway\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0usual\u00a0post.\u00a0He<\/p>\n
raised\u00a0his\u00a0brows\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0Gavin,\u00a0who\u00a0was\u00a0trailing\u00a0at\u00a0a\u00a0distance\u00a0behind\u00a0me.\u00a0I\u00a0swear\u00a0I\u00a0heard\u00a0him\u00a0chuckle,\u00a0which<\/p>\n
admittedly\u00a0aggravated\u00a0me.\u00a0For\u00a0some\u00a0reason,\u00a0Alex\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0the\u00a0biggest\u00a0fan\u00a0of\u00a0me,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0even\u00a0plotted\u00a0against\u00a0me\u00a0with\u00a0Irene\u00a0at\u00a0one<\/p>\n
point.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0scowled\u00a0at\u00a0him\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0pulled\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0parlor.\u00a0The\u00a0entire\u00a0parlor\u00a0smelled\u00a0like\u00a0Rachel,\u00a0and\u00a0it\u00a0made\u00a0my\u00a0stomach\u00a0feel\u00a0uneasy.<\/p>\n
Rachel\u00a0sat\u00a0with\u00a0me\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0couch,\u00a0and Gavin\u00a0sat\u00a0in\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0chairs\u00a0a\u00a0bit\u00a0away\u00a0from\u00a0us.\u00a0I\u00a0tried\u00a0hard\u00a0not\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0him,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0could<\/p>\n
certainly\u00a0feel\u00a0his\u00a0gaze\u00a0trained\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo,\u00a0tell\u00a0me,\u00a0Judy,\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0girl like\u00a0you\u00a0doing\u00a0working\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0guy\u00a0like\u00a0Gavin\u00a0Landry?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0teased, giving\u00a0Gavin\u00a0a\u00a0playful\u00a0wink\u00a0that<\/p>\n
made\u00a0me\u00a0scowl,\u00a0though\u00a0I\u00a0suppressed\u00a0it on\u00a0my\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0not\u00a0sure\u00a0what\u00a0you\u00a0mean?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked,\u00a0my\u00a0brows\u00a0furrowed.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0giggled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0mean,\u00a0surely\u00a0there\u00a0were\u00a0better\u00a0jobs than\u00a0just\u00a0being a\u00a0tutor to an\u00a08\u2013year\u2013old,\u201d\u00a0she told\u00a0me,\u00a0a\u00a0hint of\u00a0something\u00a0in her\u00a0eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0made\u00a0you\u00a0decide to\u00a0do\u00a0tutoring?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0tell\u00a0her\u00a0my\u00a0entire\u00a0life\u00a0story\u00a0and the\u00a0fact\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0only\u00a0reason\u00a0why I started\u00a0working\u00a0as\u00a0Matt\u2019s tutor\u00a0was\u00a0to get\u00a0the<\/p>\n
money,\u00a0I\u00a0needed\u00a0to\u00a0bail\u00a0my\u00a0dad\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0jail\u00a0by\u00a0paying\u00a0off\u00a0his\u00a0debt.\u00a0I\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0Gavin,\u00a0who\u00a0was\u00a0no\u00a0longer\u00a0looking\u00a0at\u00a0me,\u00a0but his\u00a0eyes<\/p>\n
were\u00a0on\u00a0Rachel.<\/p>\n
My heart\u00a0squeezed\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0sight\u00a0of\u00a0him\u00a0watching\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0a\u00a0college\u00a0student,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0decided\u00a0to\u00a0tell\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cAnd\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0use\u00a0the\u00a0money.\u00a0Gav\u2026\u00a0uh\u2026\u00a0Alpha\u00a0Landry\u00a0offered\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0job,\u00a0and\u00a0with\u00a0the<\/p>\n
pay\u00a0amount,\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0exactly\u00a0say\u00a0no.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0nodded\u00a0thoughtfully.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0nice\u00a0of\u00a0him to\u00a0offer\u00a0you\u00a0a\u00a0job,\u201d\u00a0Rachel\u00a0said\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0genuine\u00a0smile.\u00a0\u201cGavin had\u00a0always\u00a0been\u00a0so\u00a0selfless\u00a0like\u00a0that.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0him,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0shining\u00a0with\u00a0something\u00a0that\u00a0made\u00a0me\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0vomit\u00a0right\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0middle\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0parlor.\u00a0Her\u00a0words\u00a0had<\/p>\n
a\u00a0double\u00a0meaning,\u00a0that\u00a0much\u00a0was\u00a0clear,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0sit\u00a0around\u00a0deciphering\u00a0them.\u00a02<\/p>\n
Before\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0say\u00a0anything,\u00a0the\u00a0parlor\u00a0door\u00a0opened,\u00a0and\u00a0Gamma\u00a0Derek\u00a0walked\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0room.\u00a0He\u00a0looked\u00a0surprised\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0me<\/p>\n
seated\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0couch\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0bowed\u00a0his\u00a0head\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0respect\u00a0to\u00a0me;\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0always\u00a0respectful\u00a0like\u00a0that,\u00a0which\u00a0I\u00a0appreciated,\u00a0though\u00a0I<\/p>\n
told\u00a0him\u00a0it\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0necessary.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha,\u00a0sorry\u00a0to\u00a0interrupt.\u00a0But\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0an\u00a0urgent\u00a0matter\u00a0that\u00a0needs\u00a0your\u00a0attention,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0told\u00a0Gavin.\u00a0\u201cIt\u00a0shouldn\u2019t\u00a0take long.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gavin\u00a0looked\u00a0a\u00a0bit uneasy\u00a0having\u00a0to\u00a0leave\u00a0the\u00a0room;\u00a0he\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0briefly\u00a0before\u00a0turning\u00a0to\u00a0Rachel\u00a0and\u00a0addressing\u00a0only\u00a0her,<\/p>\n
1\/2<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0516<\/p>\n
which\u00a0was\u00a0another\u00a0ping\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0right\u00a0back,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0told\u00a0her\u00a0softly.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0nodded,\u00a0her\u00a0cheeks\u00a0flushing\u00a0at\u00a0his\u00a0attention.<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0Bonus<\/p>\n
He\u00a0stood\u00a0and\u00a0stepped\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0room,\u00a0leaving\u00a0me\u00a0alone\u00a0with\u00a0Rachel.\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0stay\u00a0here\u00a0any\u00a0longer;\u00a0I\u00a0got\u00a0the\u00a0answers\u00a0I\u00a0needed\u00a0and\u00a0plus,\u00a0Chester\u00a0was\u00a0waiting\u00a0for\u00a0me\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0car\u00a0outside.\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0keep\u00a0him\u00a0waiting\u00a0any\u00a0longer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0should\u00a0get\u00a0going, but\u00a0it was\u00a0nice\u00a0talking\u00a0with\u00a0you,\u00a0Rachel,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0her\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0stood\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0feet.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0stood\u00a0up\u00a0as\u00a0well.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave\u00a0you\u00a0heard\u00a0about\u00a0me?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked\u00a0suddenly,\u00a0putting\u00a0me\u00a0on\u00a0edge\u00a0and\u00a0high\u00a0alert\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0face\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0sorry?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0mean\u2026\u00a0have\u00a0you\u00a0heard\u00a0what\u00a0happened?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked.\u00a0\u201cWhen\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0you\u00a0my\u00a0name\u00a0earlier,\u00a0you\u00a0looked\u00a0surprised.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0assuming<\/p>\n
it\u2019s\u00a0because\u00a0you\u00a0heard about\u00a0me\u2026\u2018<\/p>\n
\u201c}<\/p>\n
I\u00a0nibbled\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0lower\u00a0lip\u00a0and then\u00a0nodded\u00a0once.<\/p>\n
\u201cGuess\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0just\u00a0surprised\u00a0that\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0still\u00a0alive,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0her,\u00a0the\u00a0words tasting\u00a0bitter\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0tongue.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0complicated\u00a0story,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0admitted.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0back\u00a0now\u00a0and that\u2019s\u00a0all\u00a0that\u00a0matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u00a0why\u00a0are\u00a0you\u00a0back?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0blurted,\u00a0hating\u00a0how\u00a0vulnerable\u00a0my\u00a0tone\u00a0sounded.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor\u00a0Gavin,\u00a0of\u00a0course,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0told\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0were\u00a0really\u00a0close\u00a0once\u2026\u00a0so\u00a0close\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0considering\u00a0marrying\u00a0him.\u00a0I\u00a0want\u00a0us\u00a0to\u00a0get<\/p>\n
that\u00a0relationship\u00a0back\u2026\u00a0I\u00a0want\u00a0us\u00a0to\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0second\u00a0chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 516 Chapter\u00a0516\u00a0 He\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0much\u00a0help\u00a0right\u00a0now;\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0absolutely\u00a0no\u00a0getting\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0this.\u00a0T As\u00a0we\u00a0entered\u00a0the\u00a0thought\u00a0front\u00a0doors,\u00a0I\u00a0caught\u00a0the\u00a0curious\u00a0eyes\u00a0of\u00a0Alex,\u00a0who\u00a0was\u00a0standing\u00a0near\u00a0the\u00a0doorway\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0usual\u00a0post.\u00a0He raised\u00a0his\u00a0brows\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0Gavin,\u00a0who\u00a0was\u00a0trailing\u00a0at\u00a0a\u00a0distance\u00a0behind\u00a0me.\u00a0I\u00a0swear\u00a0I\u00a0heard\u00a0him\u00a0chuckle,\u00a0which admittedly\u00a0aggravated\u00a0me.\u00a0For\u00a0some\u00a0reason,\u00a0Alex\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0the\u00a0biggest\u00a0fan\u00a0of\u00a0me,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0even\u00a0plotted\u00a0against\u00a0me\u00a0with\u00a0Irene\u00a0at\u00a0one point. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21584","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21584"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21584\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}