Chapter 198 You need a break

Chapter 198 You need a break
Chapter 198: You need a break 

The knock came again.

Xander moved immediately, almost too fast, his chest tightening with expectation. For a brief second, he believed it was Golden. Maybe calmer. Maybe regretting everything that had happened earlier.

He pulled the door open. “Hannah?”

His face hardened instantly.

Hannah stood there under the porch light, looking entirely sexy and dressed inappropriately. He could see her boobs. She was putting on only a short net dress that displayed everything. He was tempted to look down but he didn’t. 

“Why are you here?” Xander said immediately, stepping forward to block the entrance. “Leave.” 

Hannah tilted her head slightly. “I know she isn’t home.”

“I mean it,” he said, firmer now. “Go home.”

But Hannah didn’t step back. Instead, she moved forward, slipping past his attempt to close the door on her. It was quick, as if she had already decided she wasn’t leaving without making her point.

“Xander,” she said softly.

He turned sharply. “What are you doing?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she reached for him. Before he could fully react, she pulled him into a sudden kiss.

Xander stiffened immediately, his hands catching her shoulders as he pushed her back with controlled force, breaking the contact.

“Hannah,” he snapped, stepping away from her completely now. “Are you out of your mind?”

Hannah didn’t look embarrassed. She simply exhaled, as though she had expected that exact reaction.

“I never got over you, I want you,” she said calmly. “I still love you, Xander.”

“What we had is in the past now,” Xander replied, voice sharp. “I have a family now. This isn’t right.”

Hannah gave a small shrug. “There’s never a right time for things like this.”

“Leave,” he said, pointing toward the door.

Hannah looked at him for a long second, then nodded slightly.

“Fine,” she said simply. “But I’ll be around.”

She turned and walked out without another word.

Xander stood still for a moment after she left, jaw tight, breathing uneven. Then he closed the door slowly. 

He stayed there for a few seconds longer before exhaling sharply and walking away.



Golden parked her car outside the club.

The music thumped faintly even from outside, the neon lights flashing across the street in restless colors. People moved in and out, laughing, drunk, careless with the night.

She didn’t get out immediately.

Her hands rested on the steering wheel as she stared ahead, expression unreadable.

She didn’t even know why she had stopped there. Movement caught her eye, she turned slightly.

Eleanor was walking out of the club, her posture relaxed, laughing lightly beside Aj. They looked like a happily married couple. 

Golden exhaled quietly. “Of course,” she muttered under her breath.

A knock hit her window. She turned sharply.

Linda Miller stood outside.

Golden’s brows pulled together in confusion for a second. She lowered the window slightly.

Linda leaned in just enough to speak. “Open the door.”

Golden hesitated, then she unlocked it.

Linda opened the passenger door and slipped inside.

The air between them was awkward. Linda glanced around the interior briefly before settling back into the seat. Then her eyes returned to Golden.

“You look sad,” she said plainly.

Golden blinked. “I’m fine.”

Linda shook her head once. “No, you’re not.”

Golden’s grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel. “What do you want?”

“We could club…” Linda said simply. “Tonight.”

Golden stared at her for a moment, then gave a short, dry laugh.

“No.”

Linda raised a brow. “Why not?”

“I’m not a teenager or college girl,” Golden replied. “I don’t jump from club to club to escape my life.”

Linda laughed softly at that, like the idea itself amused her.

“When we were in university,” she said, “were you ever the type to jump from club to club?”

Golden paused then answered. “More reason you shouldn’t ask why.”

Linda watched her carefully.

“Give yourself a break, Gigi,” Linda continued. “You only live once.”

Golden looked away briefly through the windshield, the flashing lights of the club reflecting faintly in her eyes.

“You live everyday, but you only die once. I don’t need distractions,” she said.

Linda tilted her head slightly. “It’s not a distraction.”

Golden turned back to her. “Then what is it?”

“A break,” Linda replied simply.

Silence settled between them again. Linda leaned back slightly in her seat.

“And Allan isn’t in the club,” she added casually. “If that’s what you’re thinking. I know you probably saw his personal assistant out here…but it’s just him. Allan isn’t here.”

Golden’s expression tightened slightly at the mention of his name. She didn’t respond.

Linda noticed.

A small pause followed before Golden finally spoke again.

“No club,” she said firmly. “Late night dinner instead. I think I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten all day.”

Linda studied her for a moment, then nodded once.

“Okay,” she said. “I can work with that.”

Golden started the engine. The sound filled the quiet space between them as the car came to life.

She shifted into drive, her eyes fixed forward now.

Linda adjusted in her seat, glancing once at the street outside before settling back. The car rolled forward, away from the club.