Page 49 of Tempting My Nemesis

I hang up without waiting for a reply, adrenaline surging through me, and sprint toward the door. All I can think of is Zoe—the way she always manages to draw me in with that fierce spirit of hers, and how desperately I want to be there for her.

The road to her isn’t just a path; it’s a quest to mend the cracks in both our hearts, and I’ll be damned if I don’t get there in time.

CHAPTER TWENTY

ZOE

I'm sitting on the floor of my apartment, surrounded by a sea of papers and files from Archer Innovations. My hands are trembling as I try to make sense of the chaos.

Tears stream down my face, blurring my vision. Every file I pick up feels like a reminder of how everything is falling apart. I called Caleb because I didn't know what else to do, but now that he's coming, the reality of my vulnerability hits me hard.

A knock at the door makes my heart race—a mix of hope and dread. I hastily wipe my tears, but the redness in my eyes and the shakiness in my voice can't be hidden.

"Come in," I call out, barely holding it together.

Caleb steps inside, and his eyes immediately lock onto mine. He takes in the mess—the scattered papers, my tear-streaked face—and I see something shift in his expression. It's like he's seeing me for the first time.

"Zoe…" he says softly, kneeling beside me.

I don't look at him. My hands fumble with the papers, trying to organize them through my tears. The frustration boils over, and I drop them all.

"Everything's falling apart, Caleb," I whisper. "Everything… I called you because… because I didn't know what else to do."

He reaches out, gently taking the papers from my hands and setting them aside. His touch is warm, grounding me for a moment.

"I'm so sorry, Zoe," he says, his voice filled with regret. "I should have been here sooner. I never should have let it get this far."

Finally, I look up at him, my eyes filled with hurt. "You pushed me away when I needed you most. How am I supposed to trust you again?"

The accusation hangs in the air between us. He narrows his eyes, and for a moment, I can't tell if he's going to pull me closer or push me away for good.

Caleb takes a deep breath. "I know I've made mistakes—huge ones—but I'm here now. And I'm not leaving."

His words hang heavy with promise and desperation.

I shake my head slowly. "It’s not that simple."

He looks at me with those piercing gray eyes that seem to cut through everything else. "It can be if we let it."

My heart aches hope fighting against the walls I've built around my heart. Can we really get past this? Can we rebuild what’s been shattered?

"I want to believe you," I say quietly.

Caleb's jaw clenches as he fights to keep control over his emotions. He takes another deep breath and then speaks with a rawness I've never heard from him.

"I'll do whatever it takes to earn your trust again."

For a moment, there's silence between us—just the sound of our breathing and the distant noise of the city outside.

"You really mean that?" My voice is soft but insistent.

He nods firmly. "With every fiber of my being."

The sincerity in his eyes almost breaks me all over again.

"Then show me," I say simply.

His hand moves to cover mine, warm and reassuring against my trembling fingers.

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