\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 135\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 135\u00a0<\/p>\n
Riley\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was scared.\u00a0<\/p>\n
$5 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
No, more than scared. I was terrified. My whole body was shaking so badly that at one point I couldn\u2019t even breathe. My chest tightened, my throat squeezed shut, and every inch of my skin felt like it was crawling as I stared at the woman standing across the cafeteria.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knew this day would come.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even when everything was normal, even when Nora and I were laughing, even when the world felt like it was settling back into its proper order, at the back of my mind, I knew Violet would eventually come for me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tried to ignore it, tried to pretend it didn\u2019t matter, tried to convince myself that Violet was too soft, and harmless to actually retaliate. But after Sebastian fell and went into a coma, something in Violet snapped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The once timid girl we pushed around like trash had disappeared overnight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And when she came to our house with Silas, the world-famous lawyer who made actual CEOs and politicians sweat, when she walked into our living room and made wealthy women kneel like they were dirt under her shoes, that was when I realized Violet wasn\u2019t Violet anymore. She had someone powerful behind her, someone scarier than anything I had ever imagined.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The boys who pushed Sebastian out the window were punished. To make it worse, Julian committed suicide. Even now, whenever I thought about it, my stomach twisted. It didn\u2019t make sense. Julian would never kill himself. He was too much of a coward to die. And I knew Violet, no matter how much she had changed, no matter how angry she was, she would never kill someone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So if it wasn\u2019t her, then someone else did it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Someone who wanted revenge for her. Someone who was willing to kill without hesitation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yes, I was scared of Violet, but I was more scared of the man strong enough to snap Julian\u2019s life like it was nothing and still make it look like a clean suicide. If he could do that so easily, then what else could he do? What could he do to me?\u00a0<\/p>\n
My throat went dry. I swallowed, the sound loud in my ears, before turning toward Nora. She was eyeing Violet from head to toe, her expression twisted with confusion and irritation, still trying to understand how the nerd she looked down on had suddenly turned into someone people couldn\u2019t stop staring at.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet\u2019s transformation had startled me too, but it didn\u2019t matter. Whatever was happening to her wasn\u2019t my concern right now. Getting out of here was far more important.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I grabbed her wrist. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nora turned to me sharply. \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go now, Nora.\u201d My voice cracked. I tightened my grip, desperate. \u201cLet\u2019s just go before she comes here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nora paused, raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow at me like I was the one losing my mind. \u201cWhat on earth are you talking about, Riley? And why are you so scared of her? You\u2019re acting so strange.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Strange?\u00a0<\/p>\n
If only she knew.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnswer me, Riley. Why are you so afraid of her? What did she do? Did she threaten you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Im\u00a0<\/p>\n
III\u00a0<\/p>\n
O\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:59 Fri, Jan 9\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 135\u00a0<\/p>\n
MJ\u00a0<\/p>\n
39\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at her, trying to find the words to explain something no one would ever believe. How was I supposed to tell her that Violet wasn\u2019t someone we could touch anymore? That with a single word she could ruin us? That she was protected by someone far more dangerous, someone who would kill for her, someone who could destroy our families without hesitation?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nobody understood the danger except me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My father brushed off my fear, too busy with the hospital. My mother just insulted Violet every chance she got, too blind and arrogant to see the cliff edge she was dancing on.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t ask unnecessary questions, Nora. Let\u2019s just go home,\u201d I hissed under my breath. My hands were shaking so badly I had to grip the edge of the table to steady myself. \u201cYou don\u2019t have any more classes today. Let\u2019s just leave, okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course, Nora wouldn\u2019t listen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She never listened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I could already see her irritation building, twisting her pretty features into something sharp and ugly. And I knew my behavior was setting her off even more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nora crossed her arms, glaring at me. \u201cYou\u2019re being dramatic, Riley. Seriously. You\u2019re not the Riley I know.\u201d She leaned closer, voice dripping with annoyance. \u201cWhere\u2019s the Riley who made Violet\u2019s life a living hell? Hm? Where\u2019s the Riley who told me to lie about having a heart problem so Matthew would pay attention to me? Where is she?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her words sliced through me, and I bit my lip until I tasted blood.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was still the same person. I still hated Violet. I still wanted her ruined. I still wanted everything she had. I hadn\u2019t suddenly become a saint, I was just terrified. I didn\u2019t want to die. I didn\u2019t want my family to be destroyed. I didn\u2019t want to end up like Julian.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nora smirked at my silence, flipping her perfect hair over her shoulder with a confidence that made my stomach twist. \u201cDon\u2019t worry so much, Riley. Really. No matter what Violet does now, don\u2019t forget, I\u2019m going to marry Matthew.\u201d She smiled proudly. \u201cAnd the Sinclairs are the most powerful family in the world. So no matter what happens or who\u2019s backing her, Matthew\u2019s family is still more important. She wouldn\u2019t dare mess with me. I\u2019ll be the Sinclair daughter-in-law.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at her, heart pounding. Nora was right, nobody dared cross the Sinclairs Their influence was terrifying. But still\u2026 something was wrong. The fear inside me wasn\u2019t disappearing. It felt like we were missing the real danger entirely, like we were blind while Violet was steps ahead of us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nora stood up suddenly. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Riley. I\u2019ll prove it to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My breath hitched. \u201cWait-where are you going?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She turned, smirking at me as if this was all a game. \u201cJust watch,\u201d she said confidently. \u201cI\u2019ll show you who\u2019s in charge.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could grab her or stop her, she picked up a glass of water and strutted across the cafeteria. My entire body froze, and my palms felt slick.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no, Nora, what are you doing?\u201d I whispered, but she was already halfway there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The cafeteria fell silent, like someone had pressed mute. Every pair of eyes locked onto her as she walked toward Violet\u2019s table. Nora looked as if she planned to walk past, but then she suddenly let out a soft gasp and pretended to stumble, sending an entire glass of water splashing across Violet\u2019s shirt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Oh my god. This crazy bitch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet didn\u2019t even flinch or give Nora the satisfaction of a single reaction. She simply lowered her gaze to the water soaking- through her shirt, studying it in complete silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
20: Fri, Jan\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 135\u00a0<\/p>\n
39\u00a0<\/p>\n
65 youchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Penelope reacted instantly, her chair scraping loudly across the floor. She stood up, eyes blazing, and shouted, \u201cWhat are you doing?! Are you fucking crazy?!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone in the cafeteria held their breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart stopped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nora had just made the biggest mistake of her life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Nights Burn With Regret \u2014 by Nathan Perez 135 \u00a0 Chapter 135\u00a0 Chapter 135\u00a0 Riley\u00a0 I was scared.\u00a0 $5 vouchers\u00a0 […]<\/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-28051","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\/28051","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=28051"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28051\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28051"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28051"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}