Chapter 52\u00a0<\/p>\n
DYLAN\u00a0<\/p>\n
As soon as I stepped out of the boutique, the cool air hit my face, and my eyes immediately locked onto the black car parked right out front\u2013the same one that brought us earlier. Panic nudged at the back of my mind, urging me to move before Beckett decided to follow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hurried toward the car, climbed inside, and shut the door behind me with quick, shaky breaths. The moment the latch clicked into place, a rush of relief washed through me, loosening the tight knot that had formed in my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I leaned back against the seat, pressing a hand over my chest as I allowed myself a mot to breathe. My thoughts drifted\u00a0<\/p>\n
back to Hunter. His face came to me so easily, like a memory my heart was too eager to replay. Even now, just thinking about him made my pulse flutter with a warmth I couldn\u2019t quite hide.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips..\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without thinking, I slipped my hand into my pocket and pulled out my phone. My fingers moved on their own, typing a message before doubt could even register.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018I left the shop. I\u2019ll wait for you in a cafe, and then let\u2019s go back to the shop together!\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hit send and stared at the screen, waiting for the familiar vibration, the immediate reply he always sent. A minute passed. Then two. The screen stayed blank.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A tiny pinch tugged at my chest. He never took this long. Not with me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tried to brush off the strange heaviness settling in my stomach. Maybe he was still in a meeting. Maybe he didn\u2019t hear the notification. Maybe anything but the growing sense of dread whispering at the back of my mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I muttered softly, shaking my head. \u201cDon\u2019t think like that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I forced myself to exhale, long and slow, trying to ground my nerves. When I finally lifted my gaze, I met the driver\u2019s eyes in the rearview mirror and cleared my throat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease take me to the coffee shop around the corner,\u201d I said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He nodded, and the car eased forward. I rested my forehead against the cool window, willing the unease inside\u00a0<\/p>\n
down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But no matter how much I tried to ignore it, that strange, creeping feeling refused to let go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
me to quiet\u00a0<\/p>\n
The car slowed to a stop in front of the small coffee shop tucked neatly at the corner. I thanked the driver before stepping out, the familiar clink of the door shutting behind me somehow grounding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped inside the coffee shop and let the familiar scent of espresso and warm pastries wrap around me. It eased the tightness coiled in my chest, even if just a little. I chose a quiet table by the window, somewhere I could see the street in case Hunter arrived before texting back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After placing my order, I finally sat down, letting myself sink into the seat. The moment I exhaled, my phone began to ring.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mom flashed on the screen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My shoulders loosened a little. At least this wasn\u2019t Beckett\u2026 or anything dangerous. Just my parents. I swiped to answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, Mom,\u201d I greeted softly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSweetheart,\u201d she said, sounding a bit tired but cheerful. \u201cWe just wanted to check on you. We didn\u2019t catch you in the middle\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 52\u00a0<\/p>\n
of something, did we?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNot at all,\u201d I said, glancing around the shop. \u201cI\u2019m just grabbing coffee.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s good. We just finished settling into the apartment you got us.\u201d There was a small shuffle on the other end, my dad voice chiming in faintly, asking if the curtains matched the living room. \u201cYour father keeps insisting we put the sofa on the opposite side, but the place is lovely, Dylan. We still can\u2019t believe you managed to get this for us.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A smile tugged at my lips, some of the earlier tension casing. Actually, it was Hunter who found that place for them. However, I don\u2019t think this is the right time to tell them about him. \u201cYou deserve it. Both of you. I\u2019m glad you\u2019re finally settled.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou sound tired,\u201d Mom said suddenly, gentle concern edging her voice. \u201cAre you feeling alright?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated. My head still throbbed faintly from the hangover, and the whole scene with Beckett lingered like a bruise on my nerves. \u201cJust a long day,\u201d I replied. \u201cBut I\u2019m okay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood,\u201d she said, as if reassuring herself. \u201cWe won\u2019t keep you. We just wanted to hear your voice.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My chest warmed at that. They didn\u2019t know about Hunter. They didn\u2019t know I was married. They didn\u2019t know my life was spiraling faster than I could update them. All they knew was their daughter was out here trying to live.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCall us when you get home, alright?\u201d Mom added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI will,\u201d I promised before hanging up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the line went dead, I stared at my phone, half\u2013expecting Hunter\u2019s reply to finally come through.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the screen stayed blank.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That uneasy feeling tugged at me again, like a warning knocking at the back of my mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I brought the mug to my lips, letting the warmth and bitterness of the coffee settle my nerves. I was overwhelmed with everything. But I urged myself not to let things get into me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was halfway through another sip when my phone buzzed against the table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart leaped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finally.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I set the mug down a little too fast, nearly sloshing coffee over the rim as I snatched my phone with both hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A smile already tugged at my lips\u2013only to freeze the moment I saw the name on the screen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was Beckett. My brows furrowed in annoyance and confusion. What does he want now? Was I not clear a while told him that I want nothing to do with him?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I almost ignored it, but curiosity got the best of me. I opened his text.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Read this. I hope you believe me now,\u2018 he said as I read his text.\u00a0<\/p>\n
ago when I\u00a0<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t have plans of entertaining his nonsense, but I couldn\u2019t help but get curious. I clicked the link, and it immediately brought me to a news article.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My chest tightened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The headline stared back at me like a slap.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:58 Wed, Dec 31 J M\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 52\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMystery Woman of Mr. Hunter Gage De Marco Finally Revealed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a second, I couldn\u2019t breathe. I tapped the screen, enlarging the photo, terrified that someone had somehow taken a picture of us earlier.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the second the image sharpened, the breath I\u2019d been holding whooshed out of me, only to freeze again in the center of my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The woman kissing Hunter wasn\u2019t me. Not even close..\u00a0<\/p>\n
My brows pinched together as I leaned in, studying every detail. His hand was on the woman\u2019s waist, gripped a little too firmly. Her fingers curled into his shirt. Her face tilted up to his. And Hunter, his face was angled down like he was kissing her back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A spike of disbelief stabbed through me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But what truly made the world tilt was the familiarity of the image\u2013not the woman but him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hunter was wearing the same clothes he had on this morning. The same dark long\u2013sleeved shirt. The same watch on his wrist. The same hairstyle he had when he told me he\u2019d be \u201cback in a bit.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
This wasn\u2019t an old picture. This was taken today.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My fingers went numb around my phone. The caf\u00e9 suddenly felt suffocating, like the walls were inching closer. A nauseating swirl churned in my stomach, bitter coffee climbing up my throat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I whispered, shaking my head as if that alone could undo the photo, erase the reality staring right at me. \u201cNo, this is fake. It has to be.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But my heartbeat was already spiraling, the familiar sting of betrayal clawing its way up my chest, threatening to crack me wide open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What the heck happened? We were just happy choosing a bridal gown, and then one minute, he left me, only for me to find him in another woman\u2019s arms? I don\u2019t understand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My hand covered my mouth as the ache settled in the very place I thought I\u2019d finally healed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My phone buzzed again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another notification slid across my screen, and dread tightened around my ribs. My thumb hovered before I finally opened the message.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStill think you made the right choice?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That was all Beckett wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I clenched my jaw, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. I locked my phone and set it facedown on the table, but my eyes kept drifting back to it. My coffee had gone cold. My hands wouldn\u2019t stop trembling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I forced myself to take a deep breath, but it did nothing to untangle the growing knot in my chest. The caf\u00e9 felt too warm, too loud, and too bright all of a sudden. I pushed my mug away and rested my elbows on the table, rubbing my eyes with my fingers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This didn\u2019t make sense. Why would he insist on pursuing the wedding after marrying me in court and then do this kind of\u00a0<\/p>\n
sh*t?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt foolish for letting my heart race at the thought of him just an hour ago. Foolish for feeling so happy. Foolish for wanting him the way I did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 52\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pressed a hand against my sternum, breathing through the pressure building there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My phone buzzed again\u2014not a message this time, but a call.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I flinched at the sound, snatching it immediately, praying it was Hunter calling to explain everything, to tell me the was fake, that the picture meant nothing, that I was spiraling for no reason.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the name on my screen wasn\u2019t his.\u00a0<\/p>\n
article\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was Beckett. But this time, I completely ignored him. I have no time for him. If there\u2019s someone I wanted to talk to right now, it\u2019s Hunter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I immediately left the shop and went straight to the car.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go back to the house,\u201d I told the driver as soon as I got inside the car.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, madam. But the boss already gave his instructions,\u201d he replied before starting the engine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cInstructions? What instructions?\u201d I asked, confused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But this time, he didn\u2019t answer. He remained silent as he continued to drive to God knows where. This road was unfamiliar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCan\u00a0<\/p>\n
you at least please tell me where we are going?\u201d I tried to ask once again. But just like before, he didn\u2019t answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My hands tightened around my bag, knuckles whitening as I tried to calm the panic rising inside me. Every instinct screamed at me to run, to fight, to do something\u2013but the driver\u2019s grip on control, the silence in the car, and the unfamiliar roads outside the window kept me frozen in place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tried to recall every detail I could, but nothing made sense. Nothing gave me a way out. My chest felt tight, and my breaths came in quick, shallow bursts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The car finally slowed, and my eyes widened as the familiar sight of a grand, towering building came into view. The polished glass reflected the fading sunlight, golden and glimmering like it belonged to another world. This wasn\u2019t just any hotel. This was one of the most expensive, most exclusive hotels in the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The valet stepped forward immediately, opening the door without a word. My stomach twisted at the sharp contrast: the luxury of the entrance, the soft hum of quiet music in the lobby, the scent of fresh flowers that filled the air\u2013it all felt surreal, almost cruel considering the unease coiling in my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The driver didn\u2019t say a word as he guided me toward the revolving doors. I hesitated at the threshold, feeling the weight of the unknown pressing down on me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The driver finally stopped at the elevators. He pressed a button, and the doors slid open with a soft chime. I looked at him, searching for any hint, any expression that could explain what was happening, but his face remained unreadable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The elevator doors closed, and the ride up felt like it stretched forever. My pulse quickened with every floor that passed, my thoughts spinning. Who was waiting for me at the top? What was going to happen when I stepped out?\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the doors finally opened, I stepped onto a floor that radiated opulence. The carpet was thick and plush under my feet, and the walls gleamed with gold accents and delicate sconces. Every detail screamed wealth, control, and power\u2013and every step forward made my heart pound faster.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s Hunter?\u201d I asked him again upon entering the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease stay here, madam. The boss will be here shortly,\u201d he answered, evading my question. And before I could even ask another question, he grabbed my bag from my hand. \u201cI\u2019ll keep this for now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d I asked, my eyes widened in surprise and confusion. \u201cBut why?\u201d Instead of answering, he turned his back and left the room. \u201cWhat the heck!\u201d I screamed in frustration. I looked around the room, trying to find something I could use to call\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:58 Wed, Dec 31 \u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 32\u00a0<\/p>\n
NA\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hunter. I know he\u2019s the only one who has answers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to get out of here,\u201d I muttered to myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u7530\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sara Lili 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
The Alchemist of Broken Dreams by Sienna Rose Blackwell 52 Chapter 52\u00a0 DYLAN\u00a0 As soon as I stepped out of […]<\/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":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-alphas-golden-cage-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24403","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=24403"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24403\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}