3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Twenty mutinn dollars\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
Twenty million dollars\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet\u00a0<\/p>\n
The car ride was silent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alec didn\u2019t say anything, and I was grateful for that. I didn\u2019t 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\u2013four hours had even happened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I leaned my head against the glass, staring out at the blur of people moving along the sidewalks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a moment, my eyelids were starting to slip shut.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If I closed my eyes for a few seconds, Alec probably wasn\u2019t going to kidnap me. He looked sane enough, but then again, was anyone close to Hades actually sane? Still, if he tried anything, I\u2019d fight back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was just about to drift off when my phone rang, the vibration startling me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I opened my eyes and glanced at the caller ID.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Penelope.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Oh, right. She\u2019d called me so many times last night. I\u2019d 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I answered the phone. \u201cHello-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cViolet!\u201d Penelope\u2019s loud voice nearly blew out my eardrum.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I flinched, pulling the phone slightly away. \u201cWhy are you screaming? Is everything alright?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI should be the one asking you!\u201d she shot back. \u201cAre you alright? Where were you last night? I\u2019ve been trying to get to you all night long.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My throat went dry. I licked my lips, glancing at the time she\u2019d called.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ah, she called when I was busy with Hades in the restroom.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was no way in hell could I say that, especially with Alec sitting in front of me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was\u2026 busy with something important,\u201d I muttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was a pause, then Penelope said, \u201cWait a minute. Let me switch it to video call so I can see your face.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I raised an eyebrow. She was acting weirder than usual, but I still accepted. The screen flickered to her frantic face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked stressed, her brows drawn tight. Behind her, Kai and Tiger were visible, and I instantly felt my body ease a little.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They were safe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou almost gave me a heart attack,\u201d I said, shaking my head. \u201cDid something happen?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Penelope leaned closer to her camera. \u201cI have something to tell you, but first, promise me you won\u2019t freak out. And tell me where you are.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
my\u00a0<\/p>\n
I narrowed my eyes. Penelope was always dramatic, but this was different. Something in her tone made skin prickle,\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Twenty million dollars.\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going home,\u201d I answered. \u201cSo just tell me. Whatever it is, I\u2019m sure I can handle it. Honestly, it can\u2019t be worse than the shock I got yesterday.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
From the front seat, Alec\u2019s lips twitched faintly. I caught the movement in the rearview mirror and frowned. What the hell was he amused about?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Penelope\u2019s voice snapped me back. \u201cOh, this would be so much, if it\u2019s true.\u201d She exhaled, biting her lip. \u201cI really hope I\u2019m wrong, Violet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stomach knotted. \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sending you a picture now. Check it, and tell me if I\u2019m right.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A ping vibrated through my phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A picture had just entered our chat. I swallowed and clicked it, waiting for it to load. And when it did, my body froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hades.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But how did Penelope have this picture?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked, trying to process what I was seeing, when Penelope gasped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat look-\u201d her voice shot through the speaker. \u201cIs it fucking true? Is that guy your ex\u2019s father?!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Against my better judgment, I glanced at the rearview mirror again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This time Alec wasn\u2019t 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
God. Kill me now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I lowered my voice, whispering, \u201cReduce your voice, Penelope.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, 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?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPenelope\u2026\u201d I warned, but she kept going.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t 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\u2019s the best sex of your life, plus he brought you a truckload of flowers. Who wouldn\u2019t want that? But now that I know he\u2019s the dangerous Hades Sinclair, I\u2019m not so sure anymore.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling my soul leave my body.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd yet-\u201d she went on, smiling now. \u201cI\u2019m kind of happy. This could be the perfect revenge for that asshole! Violet, you literally took the phrase \u2018if you cheat on me, I\u2019ll sleep with your dad\u2018 to a whole new level.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPenelope!\u201d I practically shouted, heat rushing to my face. I was so dead. All of this was definitely going to get\u00a0<\/p>\n
back to Hades.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pressed my lips together, glancing nervously at Alec again, then muttered, \u201cCan we talk about this later? This is not the perfect time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Twenty million dollars\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
Penelope blinked, then slapped a hand over her mouth. \u201cOh, right. Sorry. I\u2019m just so shocked. But you\u2019re taking this calmly though. I thought you\u2019d freak out by now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked down, a humorless laugh bubbling inside me. Yeah. I would have freaked out, if I hadn\u2019t already found out yesterday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Behind her, Kai\u2019s voice cut in. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I lifted my eyes and nodded. \u201cYeah, I\u2019m just tired.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Penelope leaned closer to her camera. \u201cCome here then. Crash at our place. I\u2019ll make sure you can actually rest without those vultures circling your back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The offer tempted me, but I shook my head. \u201cNo, I can\u2019t. I have a student to tutor in an hour, and my notes are at home.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Penelope sighed. \u201cAlright. But if you need anything, call me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Penelope. I know you were worried.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou deserve to be happy, Violet. I swear, the next person you let in, I\u2019ll make sure he loves you and doesn\u2019t hurt you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled at Penelope\u2019s 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\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I parted my lips, about to say something, when my phone buzzed with a notification. I frowned and glanced down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A credit alert.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026Huh?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tapped the screen again just to be sure I wasn\u2019t imagining things. No, it was real, money had been credited into my account.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I raised an eyebrow, a little baffled. Maybe it was a mistake? Or a glitch?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPenelope, I think I\u2019ll call you later,\u201d 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The number stared back at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There were so many zeros lined up it made my head spin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My hand slipped, and my phone fell onto my lap like it had burned me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEh?\u201d My voice cracked out, my heart slamming against my ribs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This had to be wrong. Maybe I needed my glasses, my eyes were betraying me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I rubbed my eyes furiously, took a shaky breath, and picked the phone up again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The number hadn\u2019t changed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was still there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Twenty million dollars.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What the fuck?\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Twenty million dollars\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why the hell was twenty million dollars credited into my account?!\u00a0<\/p>\n
BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nights Burn With Regret \u2014 by Nathan Perez 71 3\/3\u00a0 Twenty mutinn dollars\u00a0 +25 Bonus\u00a0 Twenty million dollars\u00a0 Violet\u00a0 The […]<\/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-27987","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\/27987","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=27987"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27987\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}