Chapter 71

Tara made a hurried attempt to pass Soren, but barely had she taken a step when his hand caught hold of her right arm. The grip was firm but restrained, a sudden act that halted her escape. He remained otherwise still, his stance unchanged, except for the hand that had emerged from his pocket to seize her. His expression darkened as he clicked his tongue in clear dissatisfaction. "Tara, I want to be your boyfriend." The words struck her like a bolt out of nowhere. Tara froze, panic coursing through her veins. Her body stiffened, and even her heartbeat seemed deafening in the tense silence. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment as she instinctively tried to free her arm from his hold. Her voice quivered as she stammered, "That's not possible." Everything felt surreal, too abrupt for her mind to process. She couldn't comprehend why Soren had chosen this moment, why he was saying these things so suddenly. It was clear he had been bothered by her frequent presence behind Shawn, and