Semua Bab The ice reaper and His blonde obsession : Bab 41 - Bab 50

Chapter 41 VALENTINA I stood in the center of the room, surrounded by ten different dresses, but the silence felt heavier than the clothes. I wanted Zuria here. I needed her to tell me which outfit made my skin glow and which cut was too much. She was the only person who felt like family, the one I could share secrets with or fall asleep beside after a long night. Since my mother and father were gone, and my stepmother had vanished into the shadows of the past, Zuria was my anchor. Now, she was away on business, and the loneliness was a physical ache. Horace was providing for me, sure, but we were just mates waiting for the clock to run out. I wondered how the day of our parting would actually feel. I shoved the thought aside and unzipped the final bag. Deep down, the idea of this award party terrified me. I was exhausted, haunted by those anonymous threats, and part of me wanted to hide under the covers until the world forgot I existed. But Horace needed me. If I was the

VALENTINA The hall erupted. The sound was a physical weight, a roar of cheers and clapping that drowned out everything else. Horace didn't move. He didn't jump up or cheer. He sat perfectly still, savoring the moment while Harold sat frozen, looking like a ghost under the bright stage lights. "You did it," I whispered, leaning toward him." He looked at me then, and for the first time, the mask slipped. I saw the pure, unfiltered joy in his eyes, even as he fought to keep his expression cool for the cameras. He leaned in, his hand moving to the nape of my neck, and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to my lips. It felt like a victory lap. "Go get your trophy, Champ," I teased as he pulled away. He stood up slowly, the picture of unbothered confidence. He shook hands with his coach and gave his teammates quick, firm nods. He walked toward the podium with a relaxed stride, looking like he’d known this was his destiny all along. As he reached the stage and took the heavy award, he

VALENTINAGrillll you better text me now.I exhaled a hard breath, my lungs finally expanding. My heart rate slowed to a dull thud the moment I saw the sender. It was Zuria. I swiped the screen open.The terrifying threat from a second ago vanished, replaced by her familiar, chaotic energy."You’re dead Valentina."I muttered the words to myself as I typed back. I was still vibrating from the adrenaline. "You didn’t even send pictures of yourself to me. Now I’m wondering if you’re even a good friend."I felt a wave of relief, my thumb hovering over the screen. My pulse was still loud in my ears. How had I missed her name? I looked at the previous message again. My fear had been so thick that I hadn't even processed the contact header. I was so wound up, so paranoid about the threats and the pressure, that a simple text from my bestie felt like a death warrant."Gods, help me. This fear is turning into a fever."I sent her another quick message. "I’ll reach out and send a hundred photo

HAROLDI punched the wall, and the shock shot up my arm. The wall cracked, and I didn't stop until I saw red staining the wall. I pulled back, my knuckles shredded and dripping."Fuck!"I paced the balcony, the night air failing to cool the rage filled in my gut. I was going to destroy them both. Valentina had finally crossed the line. I had given her a dozen chances to come back, to fix this, but she chose to humiliate me instead. She made her choice. Now I would make mine.I fumbled for the pack in my pocket and pulled out a cigarette. My hands shook so much I nearly dropped the lighter. I sparked the flame and inhaled, the smoke filling my lungs. It was the only thing keeping me from screaming again.Behind me, the door creaked open. I didn't turn around. I knew the heavy, confident stride.Jacob stepped onto the balcony, looking like a Greek god in a tailored suit that barely contained his frame. His hair was perfectly slicked back, and his shirt was unbuttoned just enough to show

VALENTINA My breath hitched, my eyes dilated with desire. Horace was ready to show me just how sorry he was.His movements were slow and deliberate, like a man savoring every second of his control. I watched him from where I was on his shoulders, naked, my skin already flushed with anticipation. He walked toward the high windows of the penthouse, the night sky sprawling beyond the glass, full of stars. Then he turned, and stopped at the edge of the big sofa positioned inches from the windows. He set me down on the cushions, my bare back pressing into the soft leather, my legs dangling over the edge. I glanced past him at the glass, the lights of the city glittering below, and a shiver ran through me."People can see us," I whispered, my cheeks flushing.Horace didn't break stride. He just looked down at me, his eyes dark with hunger. "Don't worry," he said, his voice a low rumble. "The glass is mirrored from the outside. No one will see a thing. We're alone, Valentina. We're invisib