Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 354

Please Come Back, My Love

Chapter 354

Lucas’s POV

:

I carried Sophia into the elevator, her weight almost nothing against my chest, her breath hot and uneven against my neck.

The doors slid shut, and she stirred, mumbling something incoherent, her fingers clutching weakly at my collar.

“Lucas,” she slurred, her voice thick, drugged. “Where… where are we going?”

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“Somewhere safe.” I kept my tone flat, controlled, even as something twisted in my gut at the way she trembled against me.

The elevator descended. Her head lolled against my shoulder, and I could feel the fever radiating off her skin, could hear the shallow,

rapid breaths that told me the drug was still working its way through her system.

First floor. The doors opened.

And there she was.

Claire stood in the lobby, her expression shifting from surprise to something calculating the moment she saw us. She took a step forward,

her voice rising.

“Lucas! Wait–don’t leave–we need to talk about this-”

I didn’t slow down. Didn’t even look at her. Just kept walking, my jaw set, my arms tightening around Sophia.

“Lucas, please–I can explain—”

I pushed through the revolving door and out onto the street, her voice fading behind me. Sophia stirred in my arms, her eyes half-

opening, unfocused.

“Was that… Claire?” she mumbled, her words slurring together.

“Don’t worry about her.”

“She–she did this- Her hand pressed weakly against my chest. “She put something in… in the coffee-”

‘I know.”

“I hate her.” The words came out broken, almost a sob. “I hate you too. Both of you.”

I didn’t answer. Just scanned the street, spotted a small hotel half a block down, and headed for it. Sophia’s head fell back against my

shoulder.

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13:01 Mon, Jul 13

Chapter 354

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“But I… I also…” She trailed off, her fingers curling into my shirt. “Why do I still want you? Even now? It’s not fair.”

“It’s the drug,” I said quietly. “The drugs lowered your self–control.”

She shook her head, the movement sluggish. “Yeah, it’s just the effects of the drugs.”

I pushed through the hotel entrance, ignoring the startled look from the desk clerk. “I need a room. Now.”

He fumbled with the computer, handed me a key card. “Room 304. Third floor.”

The room was small, generic–king bed, single window, bathroom to the left. I kicked the door shut behind me, locked it, and carried

Sophia to the bed. The moment I set her down, she grabbed at me, her fingers tangling in my shirt, pulling me closer even as tears

streaked down her flushed cheeks.

“I hate you,” she whispered, but her hands were already tugging at my collar, pulling me down. “I hate you so much.”

“I know.”

“But I-” She pressed her face against my neck, her breath hot and uneven. “God, Lucas, I can’t stop wanting you. Why can’t I stop?”

“It’s the drug, Sophia. You need to rest-”

“No.” She pulled back, her eyes glassy but fierce. “It’s not just the drug. It’s never just the drug.” Her hands slid up to cup my face, her

touch trembling. “You’re so handsome. How is that fair? How is it fair that I still-”

She cut herself off with a broken sound, and then her mouth was on mine–desperate, messy, tasting of coffee and something bitter. I

kissed her back before I could stop myself, and she whimpered against my lips.

“I’m scared,” she breathed between kisses. “Scared someone’s gonna take you. Scared I’m gonna lose you. Even though I should want to

lose you.”

A memory slammed into me–three years ago, the first night we’d been together, when she’d had too much wine at her parents‘

anniversary party. She’d clung to me just like this, said almost the exact same words.

I’d loved it then. Loved the way she looked at me like I was the only person in the world.

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