Chapter 379

**Chapter 0379**

After a long time, I finally found the courage to return to my room for the night. As soon as I closed the door behind me and realized I was alone, I felt a sense of relief.

I burst into tears and cried until I couldn’t cry anymore.

I heard Nan whispering, “She’s been crying all night. Since we got back from dinner.”

Chester asked, “What do you think happened?” His voice was filled with concern.

He spoke in a quiet voice, as if he thought I was asleep and couldn’t hear what they were saying. At least they were getting along, even if the only thing they had in common was me.

“If I had to guess,” he continued, “I’d say it’s Gavin.”

“She has the final round of the competition today; this isn’t good,” Nan said thoughtfully, shaking his head. “She’s unfocused.”

I sit up in bed and glare at them.

“I can hear you, right?” I ask, looking back and forth between them. “And I promise, my performance today will be just fine.”

I quickly jump out of bed and grab my workout clothes, my mind feeling all jumbled after…

Last night was hard for me. I could still feel the weight of everyone’s gaze on me, and I hated it. It bothered me that I was now someone they were worried about. I didn’t like being the person they saw as unstable, someone they needed to be cautious around.

“We are…”

“Here if you want to tell us what happened,” Nan said softly as she watched me move around the room, gathering my things before I went into the bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror and finally understood why they were so worried.

I looked terrible. My face was red and blotchy, my eyes were puffy, and my nose was bright red. Tear streaks ran down my cheeks, and I had dark bags under my eyes. To top it off, my lower lip was bruised from biting it too hard.

I spent the night crying quietly. I felt so pathetic, and it frustrated me that it was all because of a stupid guy.

I quickly got dressed, pulled my hair back into a ponytail, and splashed some cold water on my face. I tried to shake off the sadness.

I tried to smile, but it felt fake, so I stopped.

Nan and Chester were still watching me as I walked out of the bathroom. When I saw their eyes on me, I froze.

I let out a sigh.

“Glad you two are here,” I said.

“I guess we have common ground,” I said quietly.

“We care about you,” Chester replied with a shrug. “That takes away any tension between us.”

Nan nodded in agreement, her eyes still locked on my face.

I sighed and said, “Gavin was with another woman last night.”

Nan furrowed her brows. “Wait, what?” she asked, looking confused. “Are you sure?”

I nodded.

—

**Chapter 0379**
**+25 BONUS**

“I went to his hotel room last night, and Daisy Baldwin opened the door. She was naked, wearing only a robe, and she looked messy.”

Nan shook her head.

“But Irene…”

Matt and I are staying with him.

“They went out, I think,” I said quietly. “I’m not sure. I was a bit late, so maybe he got them another hotel room for the night. That way, he can sleep with Daisy.”

“Did you actually see him?” Nan asked, looking skeptical.

“I didn’t need to see him,” I replied quietly. “Daisy said he was in the shower.”

“And you believed her?” Nan pressed, clearly not convinced.

“How else would she end up in his room?” I asked. “Naked and looking a mess.”

“Yeah, it’s tough to get a key when you’re not the account holder,” Chester replied, rolling his eyes.

and thought about my own experiences.

“She’s a Baldwin; it wouldn’t be hard for her,” Nan whispered.

I shook my head, feeling tears well up in my eyes. I hated crying, especially in front of others. I wanted to be strong.

“It’s fine,” I said softly. “Oh, and Ethan is here, which is great.”

“What??” Nan gasped. “At the same time as Daisy? This explains everything. This has Ethan…”

I shook my head and wiped my eyes.

“He doesn’t know her, and I doubt Daisy would get involved with Ethan and his foolishness,” I muttered. “Let’s face it, Nan. I was…

“I’ve been made a fool by a Landry. I shouldn’t be surprised,” he said.

“It just doesn’t sound like him,” Nan replied softly. “I don’t understand…”

“You don’t have to understand. It’s just the facts,” Gavin responded.

“played me… he’s with Daisy and now I’m the stupid one with a broken heart.”

I glanced at the time and let out a sigh. I was going to be late, and I had promised to meet Tabby beforehand.

“I have to get going,” I thought to myself.

“First, I need to get through this competition in the arena. After that, I’m quitting my job and moving on,” I told her as I walked by.

“What’s your plan for work?” she asked.

I looked at her with my brows furrowed. “Alpha Levi offered me a job earlier,” I said softly. “I think I’ll take him up on the offer.” With those words hanging in the air, I stepped out of the hotel room.

**Chapter 0380**

As the sun began to set, the sky turned shades of orange and pink. Sarah stood on the porch, watching the colors blend together. She felt a sense of calm wash over her. After a long day, this moment of peace was just what she needed.

Inside the house, her brother Jake was busy in the kitchen, trying to whip up dinner. The smell of something burning drifted through the air. Sarah chuckled to herself, knowing that Jake was not the most skilled cook.

“Hey, you need any help in there?” she called out playfully.

“Maybe!” Jake replied, sounding a bit frantic. “If you can rescue this pasta before it turns to mush!”

Sarah laughed and hurried inside. She loved her brother, even if he sometimes made cooking an adventure. Together, they made a great team, turning simple meals into fun memories.

As they cooked, they shared stories and laughed, forgetting about the stress of the day. In that moment, all that mattered was the bond they shared and the warmth of home.