& Chapter 75 Lines We Don’t Cross-2
Chapter 75: Lines We Don’t Cross-2
Damien didn’t move. But his voice came low and clear.
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“There are lines we don’t cross, Miller. I’d think someone in your business would know that.”
Ethan’s brows lifted slightly. “I’m not here to cross any lines.’”
Ashcroft leaned back with an amused smirk. Damien didn’t even blink, but the muscle in his
jaw twitched again.
Maya’s breath hitched. The heat crawled up her neck, tension coiling tight across her chest. It felt like the table had vanished, and she stood between two cliffs-both dangerous, both looking at her like a prize to be won.
She opened her mouth-to say what? To stop them? To lighten the mood? But her voice caught before it came.
“Aww…” Harper’s voice rang out, lilting and sweet like a bell dipped in sarcasm. “That’s definitely a good memory, Ethan. Touching, really.”
The men turned toward her. She batted her lashes innocently, then leaned forward with
smirk that said watch this.
“Just funny though… how Jamie doesn’t seem to remember you.”
A beat passed.
Then Harper lifted her hand and comically intertwined two fingers in front of her chest. “I mean, I talked to the boy-we’re close. Like this close. Tight, even.”
Maya’s lips parted in alarm-oh no.
Harper kept going.
“He told me all kinds of things. Maya’s suitors from the coffee shop, the university-this one guy who kept leaving poems on a napkin-adorable stuff, really. But never once mentioned a supermodel who brought cake and noodles and saved his birthday.”
She tilted her head, voice honey-sweet with a blade beneath. “And Jamie’s sharp, too. That kid remembers everything. So if you really made such a mark… I’m sure he’d at least mention you, don’t you think?”
A slow silence followed.
Maya blinked. Did she just-?
Chapter 75 Lines We Don’t Cross-2
Damien’s jaw relaxed ever so slightly.
Ethan’s smile faded for real this time.
But only for a second.
Then he chuckled. Low, easy, like he’d just heard the punchline to a joke only he found
amusing.
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“Well,” he said, glancing at Harper, “you know how it is. He was young… not feeling well, too. Kids that age-especially when they’re sick-memories get hazy.”
He turned to Maya, gaze lingering just a bit too long. “But I know some things stick. Even if they don’t talk about them out loud.”
He leaned back, exuding practiced ease. “Besides… I wasn’t there to make an impression. I was just trying to help. That’s all.”
The words were casual. But the way he said trying to help-as if that elevated him above the rest-left a faint trace of something smug in the air.
Ashcroft set down his glass with a faint clink, the ghost of a smile playing on his lips.
“Curious, though…” he said, voice smooth as silk. “Did Maya ask for your help, Mr. Miller? Or was it one of those moments where you mistook a private, intimate family memory for an open invitation?”
“Because from where I’m sitting, it sounds less like generosity and more like you shoved yourself into the spotlight-uninvited, unrehearsed-then called it noble.” He smiled thinly. But I suppose it tracks. You became an actor, after all. Manufacturing emotion. Delivering lines no one asked for. Always auditioning-even off-screen.”
He swirled his drink once, slow and deliberate.
“Some people confuse presence with importance. But not everyone’s applause means they want an encore.”
Ethan chuckled softly, the sound light but tight at the edges. He ran a hand through his sun-dried hair, fingers raking back the strands like the motion might steady him.
“Well… I guess that’s fair,” he said, flashing that signature, camera-ready grin. “Acting does teach you how to read a room. Feel the moment. Step in when no one else will.”
His gaze shifted to Maya-lingering just a little too long.
“And that night? I didn’t need a script to see something real. A sister who’d do anything for
”
Chapter 75 Lines We Don’t Cross-2
her brother. A boy who deserved more than one melting cupcake.”
He turned back to Ashcroft, voice still cool but firmer now.
“Maybe I wasn’t invited. But sometimes, showing up matters more than waiting for permission.”
Then he smiled wider, leaning back in his seat like the blow hadn’t landed at all.
“Besides… seems to me the only people bothered by that night… weren’t even there.”
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Harper leaned forward, eyes glinting with mischief as she clasped her hands dramatically on the table. “Well, I guess there’s only one way to settle this,” she said, voice syrupy sweet but laced with trouble.
She pulled out her phone with a flourish. “Let’s ask the lead himself!”
Maya’s eyes widened. “Harper-”
But it was too late. Harper had already tapped the screen, lifting the phone high like she was presenting a grand finale.
‘Calling: Jamie’ blinked across the screen.
“Wait, you’re really calling him right now?” Ethan asked, clearly thrown off.
“Of course,” Harper replied innocently, though her grin said otherwise. “We’re tight, remember? Like this.” She wiggled her intertwined fingers again for effect. “I’m sure he’d love to join this little beachside reunion. Maybe he can settle who really made an impact.”
Ashcroft leaned back with an amused smirk. Damien didn’t even blink, but the muscle in his jaw twitched again.
Maya, meanwhile, was trying very hard not to slide under the table and disappear entirely.
The room settled into a quiet that felt heavier than before-as if everyone was waiting, but no one knew exactly for what.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.