GET IT\u00a0<\/p>\n
4\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shy the hell ash horse\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stay the hell away from me\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at the doorknob, my hand hovering just above it, my fingers trembling slightly. My heart pounded so loudly I was scared someone inside might hear it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something was wrong.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knew my aunt. Whenever she sounded that sweet, it meant trouble. She only used that voice when she had something planned, something I wouldn\u2019t like. Something that would cost me deeply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And besides, a visitor for me?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Who do I even know that would walk in here on their own two feet?\u00a0<\/p>\n
My brain was racing through every possible person it couldn\u2019t be.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Penelope or Kai? No way. They\u2019d never show up here without telling me first, and if they did, my aunt would be the one visiting the ER, not calling me sweetly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was also no way it could be Sebastian. He knew better than to come here.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Matthew? My stomach twisted. God, I hoped not. I didn\u2019t have the strength to deal with his nonsense tonight. After everything that happened that day, I\u2019d rather sleep on the street than face him again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then\u2026that man?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hades.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart stuttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Could it be him?\u00a0<\/p>\n
No, there was no way he\u2019d show up here.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My hands were clammy. My fingers brushed against the cold metal of the doorknob, but I couldn\u2019t bring myself to twist it. The thought of him being inside, waiting for me, felt strange. I didn\u2019t even want to imagine what he might be doing there with those people.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They were probably making up awful things about me. I wouldn\u2019t put it past them, after all, they\u2019d done it before with Matthew.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back then, when Matthew came around, Riley and her mother spread stories about how I slept with men for money, how I couldn\u2019t commit to anyone. Matthew only chose not to believe them because he knew the kind of person I was. But Hades didn\u2019t know me like that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He wouldn\u2019t believe them\u2026 would he?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shook my head. Why did I even care whether or not he believed me?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as my thoughts spiraled further out of control, the doorknob twisted from the inside, and the door opened with a soft creak.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harper stood there, eyes gleaming. Her lips curled into a sigirk, and she tilted her head slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing out here?\u201d she said. \u201cThe madam and your visitor are waiting for you inside. You shouldn\u2019t delay them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked, something uneasy curling in my stomach. For a second, I forgot how to move, but my legs responded before my brain did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stay the hat (ay from\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped in without a word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The hallway was quiet, but I could hear the low hum of voices coming from the living room up ahead. As I stepped closer, the muffled sounds grew clearer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stopped at the entrance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My aunt lounged on the couch, her smile perfectly in place she laughed as if she was entertaining an old friend.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Across from her sat a man, his back turned to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I instantly knew it wasn\u2019t Hades. Their builds were completely different, Hades was more muscular, with broader shoulders. And besides, my skin didn\u2019t prickle the way it always did around him. There was a certain kind of danger to that man.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sighed in relief.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My aunt looked up and smiled. \u201cThere you are,\u201d she said brightly. \u201cI told you to come a while ago. He\u2019s been waiting for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I barely heard her. My gaze was locked on the man.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is this?\u201d I asked slowly, my voice barely above a whisper.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man stood, and turned. A familiar smile stretched across his aging face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a while, pumpkin,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stomach lurched.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Air rushed out of my lungs so fast it made me dizzy. The floor felt like it was tilting beneath me. I stumbled back a\u00a0<\/p>\n
step.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No, no, no.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What the hell was he doing here?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cConrad\u2026?\u201d I choked out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d my aunt said with a twisted smile of satisfaction, like she\u2019d been waiting for this moment. \u201cAre you surprised? Well, he just got released recently. Isn\u2019t that wonderful?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe came straight here from prison,\u201d she added. \u201cHe didn even stop by to see his sister first. He came straight to you. Can you believe that? After all this time, you were the first person on his mind. Isn\u2019t that just touching?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at her like she was speaking another language.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Touching?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Did she just say touching?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t speak, or think. All I could do was stare.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How was he here? How could she let him in this house?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Conrad used to be a respected doctor at my father\u2019s hospital He wasn\u2019t just anyone, he was a close family friend. My father trusted him blindly, partly because he was my aunt\u2019s older brother. He even had full access to our home. And I used to like him until his touches lingered too long, and his hand brushed just a little too low. I was too young to understand. I thought that was how adults showed affection. Even when I caught the hunger in his eyes\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stay the hall my from me\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
when he thought no one was watching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then one night, he cornered me, told me to shhh, and tried to take advantage of me. But my father walked in just in time. I still remembered how angry he was, and Conrad\u2019s blood on the floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After it happened, my father swore to me that Conrad would never get out, that he\u2019d never have the chance to hurt me again. But he was now standing in front of him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes locked on mine, then shamelessly traveled down the length of my body. A cold shiver crept down my spine. \u201cYou\u2019ve grown a lot, pumpkin,\u201d he said, a slow smile tugging at his lips. \u201cYou\u2019re a beautiful woman now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The sound of that nickname made my skin crawl. I flinched my stomach lurching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t call me that,\u201d I hissed. My nails dug into my palms to keep me from breaking down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He sighed. \u201cIt looks like you\u2019re still angry. I know what I did was wrong. I deserve your anger. But I\u2019m a changed man, pumpkin. I wouldn\u2019t hurt you. Please, trust me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He took a step forward, and tried to touch me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I snapped, stepping back so fast I nearly stumbled. My entire body recoiled, repelled by him. \u201cStay the hell away from me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My aunt looked irritated, as if I was overreacting and causing a scene.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She turned to Conrad and smiled. \u201cGive me a moment with her, I\u2019ll be right back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I opened my mouth. \u201cAunt, I-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was already grabbing my wrist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFollow me,\u201d she said, her nails digging into my skin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
11\u00a0<\/p>\n
I let her drag me upstairs, when we reached my room, she flung the door open and shoved me inside. I hit the floor, my elbow scraping the wood.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cUgh!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tiger, who had been sleeping peacefully by the dresser, sprang up with a growl. He rushed to my side, barking fiercely and baring his teeth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I reached up instinctively. \u201cTiger, no!\u201d I wrapped my arms around him, holding him back before he could charge. He paused at my command but remained pressed against me, his eyes locked on my aunt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. \u201cControl your mult,\u201d she said coldly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I forced myself up from the floor, heart pounding. \u201cAunt\u2026 what is this?\u201d My voice cracked. \u201cWhy is he here? How was he released?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She barely spared me a glance. \u201cWhat do you mean, why? His sentence was reduced. You and your parents twisted the judge\u2019s hand for a harsher punishment, but a new judge saw through it and gave him another chance.\u201d She shrugged, completely indifferent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My blood ran cold. \u201cB\u2013but why is he here? You know what he did to me! Why would you let him come back?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, don\u2019t be so dramatic,\u201d she scoffed, rolling her eyes. \u201c\u2018s been years. Isn\u2019t it time you let the past go? Besides \u2026\u201d she gave a sweet smile, \u201cyou don\u2019t really have a choice. He\u2019ll be staying here from now on.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
ARAG\u00a0<\/p>\n
A deal is a deal\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knew she was evil.\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knew she hated me. I knew she wanted me gone, wanted me erased so her perfect family could bask in luxury without the weight of my existence dragging them down. But even knowing that, even carrying that truth in my chest, nothing could have prepared me for her smirking like she\u2019d just won a game she\u2019d been playing behind my back all along.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Could a human really act like this?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Could a woman? Someone who should have understood what it meant to be scared, to be vulnerable, to be preyed upon by men?\u00a0<\/p>\n
My body shook, my stomach churning as the weight of everything crashed down over me. I wanted to believe I had misunderstood, that my mind had twisted it into something darker than it was. That maybe I was dreaming, that I\u2019d blink and wake up in a world where she wasn\u2019t this cruel.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But that vile smirk on her face told me I was wide awake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stumbled back, nearly tripping over the rug. Tiger whined softly and nudged my hand with his head, his warm eyes watching me, concerned. I wanted to reassure him but how could I, when I couldn\u2019t even reassure myself?\u00a0<\/p>\n
What was I supposed to feel?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hurt? But why? I already knew what she was capable of.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Anger? I was too exhausted to even scream.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fear? Maybe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cY\u2013You can\u2019t,\u201d I said, voice trembling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She scoffed. \u201cWhy not? How are you going to stop me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her arms crossed, her tone smug. \u201cThe only person who could\u2019ve done anything is your uncle. And guess what? I already spoke to him. He didn\u2019t like the idea, but I have my ways of making him agree.\u2018\u00a0<\/p>\n
>>\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her words echoed in the room, and my hands clenched into fists so tight my nails bit into my skin. My heart pounded against my ribs like it was trying to break out of my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t stay here. I couldn\u2019t live under the same roof as him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t do this,\u201d I whispered under my breath, barely able to hear myself, \u201cI can\u2019t stay here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without waiting another second, I reached for the suitcase shoved at the top of the closet. My fingers trembled as I yanked it down, flinging it open on the bed. I didn\u2019t bother folding. I just started grabbing everything, clothes, books, toiletries, whatever I could reach.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t care where I went, I just needed to go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My aunt watched, completely unfazed. She even perched herself on the edge of my bed, like this was amusing to\u00a0<\/p>\n
her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I were you,\u201d she said lazily, \u201cI\u2019d stop that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t even look at her. I kept packing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay then,\u201d she said after a moment, shrugging. \u201cGo, do as you wish. Don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll just bring your brother\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
A deals 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
home, then.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My hands froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The shirt I was holding slipped from my fingers and fell to the floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned slowly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d My voice was barely a whisper.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI said,\u201d she repeated slowly, like I was a child too stupid to understand, \u201cI will bring your brother home.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The air in the room turned ice cold. My vision tunneled, my fists clenched at my sides, and my voice dropped. \u201d Stay away from Sebastian.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She just shrugged, her smile widening. \u201cIt\u2019s your choice, dear. If you don\u2019t want your sweet little brother to come back, then you\u2019ll stay here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at her, stunned. \u201cWhy? You wanted me out of here since the beginning. Why the sudden change of heart? What\u2019s your angle?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She gave a low, almost giddy chuckle. \u201cI don\u2019t know, I think I find you more entertaining here. It\u2019s more fun to watch struggle. And besides\u2026to train a good dog, you have to put a leash on her. I want to watch your every move now, and keep you where I can see you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something in me burned from rage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I wasn\u2019t a violent person, but for one terrifying second, I wanted to hurt her. I wanted to see her smirk disappear, and make her suffer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stood, brushing imaginary lint off her dress, as if the conversation had bored her. \u201cWell, it\u2019s your decision, at the end of the day.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes flicked to mine, gleaming.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThink carefully, Violet. You, or your brother.\u201d She stepped out, closing the door behind her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As soon as the click of the latch echoed, I locked it. My body slumped against the door, sinking slowly to the floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tiger padded toward me, his tail low, his ears pinned back in worry. He gave a low bark.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t look at me like that,\u201d I whispered, my voice hoarse. We both know I\u2019d do anything to protect him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He licked my fingers gently, nudging his head into my lap. stroked his fur, my throat tightening with emotion I couldn\u2019t afford to release.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I laid back on the cold floor, staring up at the ceiling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJust wait a little, Tiger,\u201d I murmured. \u201cOur lives will be better, I don\u2019t know how yet, but it will.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I closed my eyes, my decision had already been made.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My freedom would have to wait because I wasn\u2019t leaving Sebastian behind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hades\u00a0<\/p>\n
His hands trembled as they hovered over the paper, the gold\u2013tipped pen untouched. I watched in silence, sleeves rolled up, forearms tense against the desk\u2019s edge, veins tight beneath my skin. A slow smirk curved my lips as I tilted my head slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
A cool is a deat\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSign it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
He swallowed, his eyes darting to the contract again. \u201cM\u2013Mr. Sinclair, please\u2026 can we talk about this?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I leaned back in my chair, lacing my fingers in front of me. Talk about what exactly?\u201d I asked, voice smooth but devoid of warmth. \u201cA deal is a deal. You should\u2019ve thought bout the cost before crawling to me for fame and power.\u2018\u00a0<\/p>\n
He gripped the edge of the table tighter, knuckles white. \u201cBut that division is my lifeline. It\u2019s seventy percent of my company\u2019s worth. If you take it, I\u2019ll be left with nothing!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I arched a brow, amused at the panic blooming across his face. \u201cThen maybe you shouldn\u2019t have sold your soul for convenience.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man flinched as if slapped. He lowered his eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood, pushing the chair back with a dull scrape. \u201cHow about this,\u201d I said, watching his eyes twitch toward hope. \u201cI\u2019ll make another deal with you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He looked up quickly, eyes shining like a man seeing salvation. \u201cA\u2026 another deal?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I walked around the desk and stopped in front of him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll give you one year. If your company can outperform mine in twelve months, I\u2019ll tear up the contract. I won\u2019t take a dime from you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
light sparked behind his gaze, and then died just as quickly as my smirk widened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd<\/p>\n
Nights Burn With Regret \u2014 by Nathan Perez 38 GET IT\u00a0 4\/4\u00a0 Shy the hell ash horse\u00a0 +25 Bonus\u00a0 Stay […]<\/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":[83],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27954","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-craving-the-guardian-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27954","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=27954"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27954\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27954"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27954"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}