PART 4-CHAPTER 175 JESS
I pulled on my oversized sweatshirt, the fabric hanging off my shoulders like a protective cocoon. It felt heavy
and comforting, but underneath, my heart raced like a trapped animal. | barely had both my boots on when the
door creaked open, and | froze.
Eric stood in the doorway, his silhouette framed by the dim light of the hallway. He was still without a shirt, and |
could see his erection straining against his sweat. His eyes scanned the room, and for a moment, | thought | saw
something like curiosity flicker across his face. "Hey, Jess," he said, his voice smooth like honey, but there was an
edge to it. "What are you doing up here? Now that I think. about it, up here might be better anyway," Eric winked
and stepped into the room. | had to think fast before he reached me.
"Uh, I'm just packing. This is such bad timing, but | need to get home," | mumbled, forcing a frown. | had to put
on the best show now, but inside, my nerves were fraying. "My mom fell and hurt herself."
His brow furrowed slightly, but the grin returned. "That sounds serious. You okay?"
"Yeah, | just... | need to get there to find out what happened." My heart pounded as | walked toward him,
stepping lightly on the carpet as if any noise would alert him to my anxiety. "Could you 0.00%
284 Wouchers drive me?"
"Of course," he said, moving over to the dresser while | threw things in a bag. "Mind if | leave a few things here?
We will probably cback... | hope," | smiled at him, and Eric pulledto him and kissed me. "Of course we
will," Eric purred, lettinggo. | brushed past h | wanted to scream, to run, but my feet felt glued to the floor. |
forced myself to stay calm and to breathe, but my thoughts swirled like a storm.
"I'm happy you got a signal up here. Otherwise, you wouldn't have known about your mother," Eric said,
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtwatchingfinish packing.
"I know," | replied, biting my lip. She just called and said she fell, and then the signal cut out." | prayed it
sounded convincing, but as I-spoke, | felt the truth slip away from me. | wasn't sure what | was saying, only that |
needed to get out of here.
As we reached the door, my phone buzzed violently on the dresser. The sound shattered the fragile silence. |
froze, and so did Eric, his eyes darting to my phone as if it held the answers to a puzzle | didn't know | was
solving. "Shouldn't you get that?" he asked, his voice teasing, but | sensed an edge beneath it, a warning.
"Uh, it can wait," | said quickly, but he stepped closer, his playful grin shifting into something sharper and
predatory.
He leaned over, and | felt my breath hitch in my throat. He was
OR:52
PART 4-CHAPTER 176
standing next to my phone, peering down at the screen, curiosity etched across his features.
"Let's see who it is," he said, the words a smooth drawl that sent chills racing through me. | fought the urge to
reach for it, to snatch it away, but I felt frozen in place. My stomach churned, and panic clawed at my insides.
Eric's grin widened as he read the non the screen, the glow illuminating his features. "Oh, Jess," he said, his
tone teasing yet filled with something darker. "You spoiled all of it now."
"What do you mean?" | asked, forcing my voice to stay steady despite the tremor threatening to break free. "It's
just a-
"It's just a text from your little friend, Laura." He looked up at me, amusement dancing in his eyes, but it felt
menacing. "Didn't she tell you to get the hell out of here?"
My heart raced as his words sunk in, a cold wave of dread crashing over me. Laura knew something was wrong.
She was trying to warn me.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about," | replied, trying to sound casual, but the quiver in my voice betrayed
me. "She's just being tic."
"tic?" He laughed, the sound low and almost musical, but it sent ice coursing through my veins. "You really
think so?"
| didn't respond, my throat tightening as his gaze locked onto mine. The air felt thick, suffocating, and all | could
think was how close | was to the door, how easy it would be to bolt if | could just muster the courage. 35.731
PART 4 CHAPTER 175
I" 1 . n o
Here's the thing, Jess," he said,
stepping back slightly but. Keeping
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his eyes fig ore: (dont like
2 nM]
when people lie. And | really don't like
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being lied to." The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
| forced myself to breathe, to stay
calm, but every instinct Sereamediior
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bit the remaor in my voice was
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undeniable. "I just want to go home.
"Home?" he echoed, tilting his head, studyinglike a piece of art. "You think you can just walk out of here like
nothing happened?"
Before | could respond, the phone
buzzed again, and his e Me
the sorsengpeeTiot ay eart
pbuhbed in my chest, but | refused to
let fear paralyze me. The content is
on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
"Well, now I guess you know. Just give us a try, Jess. | know we can be good together," Eric said, hope plastered
across his face.
Shit.
| needed to get the fuck out of here.