Novel Full Chapter 1001 Pixel
Chapter 1001: Chapter 1001 Pixel
Karen let out a slow, deliberate breath, trying to steady the fluttering in her chest before she looked at the man seated across from her.
The soft glow of the restaurant lights made his features seem even more familiar and comforting, a face she had loved for years.
Her boyfriend, attentive and charming as always, smiled at her across the table, his hand brushing against hers in that casual, affectionate way they had shared so many times.
And yet... it wasn’t enough. Not like Ross.
Ross had a power over her that she couldn’t explain, a pull that went far beyond words or touch.
Just his eyes—calm, unwavering, impossibly intense—made her body respond in ways that left her breath uneven and her mind teetering on the edge of want.
Her pulse quickened, her core tingling with desire she couldn’t control, and she had to swallow hard to keep from letting it show.
"I’m fine, love," she said softly, forcing a casual smile, though a shiver ran down her spine. "Just... a little tired, I guess. Did you order already?"
Her words were polite, but her mind was daring.
Tonight, she decided, she would let herself push boundaries, explore the boldness she had buried for so long.
Perhaps a subtle touch here, a daring look there—she could be playful, she could tempt him... all while her thoughts lingered on Ross, the man whose mere presence set her senses alight.
The thought both thrilled and terrified her, and she had to bite her lip to hide a tiny shiver of anticipation.
The waiter approached, and she smiled politely, nodding toward the menu.
But inside, Karen’s mind was far from the dishes and wine in front of her.
Her attention, unwillingly and irresistibly, was caught between the familiarity of comfort and the wild, intoxicating pull of desire that only Ross could evoke.
***
The dinner date ended, and the two of them arrived at one of Karen’s city apartments.
The warm glow of the lights inside made the space feel intimate, familiar—safe.
She let out a soft sigh as her boyfriend leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a slow, lingering kiss.
His hands roamed over her body with the tenderness of someone who had loved her for years, tracing lines she had always pulled away from before.
Tonight, though, she didn’t resist.
Tonight, she let him explore, letting a part of herself that had been buried so long awaken, if only slightly.
Minutes later, Karen was down to just her underwear, her heart racing as she felt the heat of their shared closeness.
Her boyfriend’s eyes widened, a mixture of desire and awe reflected in his gaze.
"Oh, Karen... you look incredible," he breathed, his voice a little shaky, betraying how overwhelmed he was.
After all these years together, this was the first time he had seen her like this—so open, so vulnerable, so tempting.
He reached out, hesitating for just a moment before cupping her breasts through the fabric of her bra.
They were soft and full, and his hands lingered, almost reverently, as if afraid to break something delicate.
His touch should have made her melt, should have made her knees weak, but as his hands moved closer to her skin, to the place beneath the fabric where his touch might ignite her, a strange sensation—or rather, a lack of sensation—hit her.
"I’m... sorry," Karen whispered, stepping back and hastily putting her clothes back on.
Confusion twisted in her chest.
She had expected the familiar rush of arousal, the undeniable pull of desire she always felt for him.
But instead... nothing.
Even the kisses she had once loved, that had once made her lose herself entirely, now left her strangely hollow.
Her mind flashed back to the first time she had met Ross, the way his gaze had cut straight through her, touching something deep and secret within her.
She could still feel the memory of that pull, the way it made her body respond even without a single touch.
That moment had changed everything.
And now, with her boyfriend in front of her, all the love and familiarity in the world couldn’t reach the spark that Ross had ignited.
Karen’s chest tightened as a swirl of emotions overcame her: guilt, confusion, longing, and something darker, more dangerous—a recognition that her heart and body had shifted in ways she didn’t fully understand.
She wanted to feel something for her boyfriend, to reclaim the connection they had shared for so many years, but it was impossible.
Not tonight. Not anymore.
For the first time, she realized just how powerless she was against the effect Ross had on her.
And that knowledge both terrified and thrilled her in equal measure.
***
The next day, Karen called her manager as soon as she woke up.
Her voice was steady, but there was an urgency beneath it.
"Book me for the nearest show they’ll have me," she said. "Make it tonight if you can."
Tonight didn’t happen—the soonest available slot was over the weekend—but that was good enough.
When the day arrived, Karen threw herself into her performance with everything she had.
The crowd roared as she sang her most popular songs, her voice soaring through the air, every note charged with an emotion even she couldn’t quite name.
And then, just like before, she saw him. Ross.
He was there again—somehow always there—watching her from the crowd, calm and unreadable, his gaze piercing through the lights and noise as if there were no one else in the world but the two of them.
This time, she told herself, she wouldn’t let him slip away.
After the show, still breathless and glowing with sweat, Karen pulled her manager aside.
"Do me a favor," she said quietly. "I want you to..." Her manager gave her a curious look but nodded.
When Karen finally returned to her dressing room, the lights were dim, the air still heavy with the lingering scent of her perfume and stage makeup.
And when she saw who was waiting for her inside, she didn’t even flinch.
It didn’t surprise her at all. Not this time.