hapter 147: Magnets, Teddy Bears, and Chaos-1
Claun
Across the table, Damien caught it-the flicker in Ashcroft’s eyes, the muscle ticking in his jaw, the faint, involuntary clench of his fists against his knees. He knew him too well to miss it; beneath that cool exterior, Ashcroft was seething.
Damien cleared his throat lightly, slicing through the charged silence.
“Why are you so worked up, Nick?” he asked, his tone smooth but laced with quiet amusement. “I thought you wanted to avoid her as much as possible. Shouldn’t you be thrilled she’ll be gone for a
week?”
He paused, watching the faint twitch in Ashcroft’s jaw before adding, almost lazily,
“Maybe even longer?”
A faint smirk tugged at his lips,
“No one to butt heads with, right?”
The jab caught Ashcroft off guard. For a split second, something flickered across his face-guilt, unease, maybe even panic-but he buried it fast, forcing a dry, dismissive laugh.
“Who says I’m worked up? Of course not,” he said, leaning back with feigned ease, though his voice came a touch too quick. “I was just curious, that’s all. And you’re right-nice to get a break from
that woman.”
But the words tasted wrong. Heavy.
Because the truth was, the thought of her being gone didn’t feel like relief at all. It felt like something sharp and restless gnawing at his chest, and he hated it.
For a long moment, he simply stared at the empty chairs around the breakfast table, his thoughts a storm he couldn’t quiet. Her absence-sudden, unannounced-scraped at him, a hollow ache he
couldn’t reason away.
He exhaled slowly, forcing his posture back into its usual calm, controlled lines. But even as he straightened, his mind refused to settle.
The vacant seats seemed to mock him-a silent testament to the void she’d left behind. The thought of her tending to Hiro, of her attention elsewhere, sparked a flare of something he loathed to name: jealousy.
Every instinct screamed to move, to call, to find her.
But he stayed rooted, letting the tension coil tighter inside him.
Chapter 147 Magnets, Teddy Bears, and Chaos 1
Control-always control-yet the gears in his mind spun relentlessly, threatening to crack the composed mask he wore so carefully.
Claim
Damien, Maya, and Dahlia exchanged a quick glance-the kind that spoke louder than words. A few steps away, James and Kim shared the same look of quiet realization.
Everyone saw it now. The storm beneath Ashcroft’s calm was no longer subtle; it was cracking through the surface.
The silence was broken by a sharp vibration on the table. Maya blinked down at her phone-the screen flashing ‘Harper Video Call.’
She smiled faintly and answered.
“Bestie!!!” Harper’s voice exploded through the speaker, bright and effervescent. Her face filled the screen, eyes sparkling before she squinted playfully. “Oh! You’re still there? Great!”
Ashcroft suddenly stiffened at the sound of her voice. His eyes narrowed, a faint crease forming between his brows, and his jaw tightened as his fingers drummed against the table. Every note of Harper’s bubbly tone seemed to cut at the raw edge of his frustration-the way she had shut him out last night, the way she’d left this morning without a word while he sat in his room with a bottle of whiskey, trying to burn away the unease she had stirred.
And now, here she was-bright, energetic, all her usual spark-while he was left behind, stripped of control, his chest twisting with emotions he couldn’t name. He forced himself to maintain a calm façade, but the restlessness inside him coiled tighter with every word that spilled from the phone.
Maya laughed, shaking her head. “Hey, Harper! Yeah, we’re still here. Having breakfast. How about
you?”
The screen shifted as Harper swung the camera around, revealing the plush interior of a private jet, sunlight spilling through the windows. She flopped back into her seat dramatically. “Still in the sky,” she sighed, exaggerating the distance. “Twelve more hours before we land. But hey-can I ask
a favor?”
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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.