Chapter 142 

Lucy’s POV 

“By the way,” Jackson said as he sat beside me on the edge of the bed, careful not to let the mattress bounce too much. His tone was casual, but his eyes flicked to mine, checking the temperature of my silence. “Ru is fine.” 

I didn’t respond right away. 

“She’s fine,” he repeated with a shrug, “Just saying… in case you’re worried.” 

“No, I’m not ” The words came too fast, too flat. But as soon as I said them, the sound of her groan–sharp and pained–ripped through my memory like a rewinded clip I couldn’t pause. 

“Not…” I tried again, softer this time. But the sentence never quite made it out. 

I wanted to act indifferent. Untouched. Unbothered. But the truth was, anger and disappointment had already started to pack their bags and leave, making room for a new visitor. 

Guilt. 

Uninvited, yes. But not undeserved. 

Rubina… 

I hurt her. Even if I hadn’t meant to, I had. 

My lips pressed into a thin line as I turned to Jackson. “Is she really okay?” I asked quietly, like the answer might shift something in my chest. “You’re not just saying that to make me feel less guilty, are you?” 

Jackson chuckled under his breath, the sound light but not mocking. “Oh, come on, Little Grumps,” he said, reaching over to ruffle my hair like an annoying older brother. “We’re not close enough for me to start lying for your emotional benefit.” 

I scrunched my nose and ducked away from his hand, swatting it half–heartedly. “Yeah. We’re not that close,” I muttered, making a face that was part cringe, part reluctant amusement. 

He gave me a crooked smile. “And just so you know,” he added after a pause, “you don’t have to worry about Kaiden either. He’s already regretting how he reacted. Trust me.” 

I glanced at him, eyes narrowing. “Stop advocating for him.” 

“He’s my best friend. I kinda have to,” he replied with a shrug that was more fond than defensive. 

I looked away, folding my arms over my knees again. “Wish I had a best friend like you,” I murmured under my breath, not even realizing I’d said it out loud until the silence that followed stretched just a second too long. 

Jackson cleared his throat in an obviously exaggerated way which made me look back at him. Tilting his chin up with mock pride, he said, “Just for your information, I happen to be excellent at multitasking So,” he leaned in a little, his voice a playful whisper, “I can totally handle multiple best friends.” 

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it–real, soft, and short–lived. But still, it felt good. 

Just a couple of seconds later someone knocked at the door. 

Knock Knock. 

Jackson smiled and tilted his head toward the sound. “Guess who?“. 

I didn’t answer though I knew who it must be. 

1/3 

20.04 Sal, 20 JUN 

Chapter 142 

My heart started racing. 

Kaiden. 

88% 

+28 

It had to be Kaiden. 

Please be Kaiden. 

I took a breath–shaky, hopeful, ridiculous–and approached the door, every step tightening the knot in my chest. My fingers trembled slightly as they wrapped around the handle, and the moment it creaked open, I exhaled. 

I was right. 

It was Kaiden. 

His eyes met mine immediately, and for the briefest moment, something soft flickered in them–regret, maybe. A tender shadow of a smile tugged at his lips. “Introvert,” he said gently, using my nickname like a balm, his voice almost too soft for the storm brewing behind his eyes, 

But that smile vanished the moment Jackson appeared behind me. 

Kaiden’s gaze darkened. 

His body tensed like someone had just yanked a wire inside him taut. “What is he doing here?” he asked, the softness gone, replaced by a guarded firmness. Suspicion. Possessiveness. And a flicker of jealousy that wasn’t subtle in the slightest. 

I blinked, thrown off. “He just came to…” I turned toward Jackson with a frown. I was so caught up in my emotions that I didn’t even ask him the real reason for his visit. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “Maybe to console me? Because that’s what he just did.” 

Kaiden’s jaw clenched, ticking like a bomb counting down. 

“Console?” he repeated, the word falling off his tongue like it tasted bitter. “With doors closed?” 

I stared at him. “This is a hotel room, Kaiden,” I replied slowly, my tone already shifting. “What do you want me to do? Keep my door wide open so any random person in the hallway can peek in and get a show?” 

His brows dipped further, his fists curled tighter. 

“Did he hug you?” he asked, his voice low, dark–and laced with possessiveness so thick it made the air feel heavier between us. 

“No… he didn’t-“I was simply going to answer him, but the way his eyes questioned my friendship with Jackson made me want to rebel. “Yes, he did. Very tightly. So what?” I snapped back. 

His entire face stiffened. 

“Oookay. I’m gonna leave,” Jackson said quickly, sensing the shift in atmosphere. He brushed past Kaiden through the narrow doorway, clearly trying not to get caught in the middle of something explosive. After a few steps, he stopped–but didn’t turn around. With his back to us, he called out, “FYI, Bud. We didn’t hug. She’s just messing with you.” 

Then he walked away. 

I rolled my eyes and turned my back on Kaiden, moving toward the bed without another word. My steps were casual, nonchalant. But inside? 

My heart was pacing a marathon. 

Kaiden followed me, and the door clicked shut behind him with a quiet finality that made my skin prickle. 

“What was that?” he asked, his voice low and tense, making me halt in my tracks. 

“What?” I turned to face him and shrugged, feigning ignorance. “As Jackson said–I was just messing with you.” 

2/3 

Chapter 142 

The pause 

that followed was thick 

and 

dangerous. 

1 heard 

him 

inhale–slow and deep–the kind of breath people take when they’re clinging 

to 

control, trying 

not to 

explode. 

“Never…” His voice cracked around the word like it physically 

hurt to say. 

He stopped, 

stepped closer, 

tried again, 

quieter 

this time—deadly 

calm. 

“Never.” 

His hand wrapped around my bicep–gentle, yet 

firm enough to draw me warmth seeping into mine, his presence utterly overwhelming. 

toward 

him. My 

breath hitched 

as 

I felt his proximity–his body so close, his 

Now we were 

close I could feel his breath brushing against my skin. 

So close, 

could hear the restraint tin 

every 

wword he forced out next. 

“Mess with me like that,” he warned, 

his voice a quiet growl against 

the shell 

of 

my 

ear. 

“Ever.” 

To 

be continued… 

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