Chapter: chapter 246"I actually believed that we would eventually have to take sides.” Marcus could vividly recall the memories. He had been friends with Haven since high school, witnessing his journey through a painful breakup with his college girlfriend, who had betrayed him by getting involved with his roommate. Smoothly flowing friendship marked by shared experiences and challenges. The betrayal had caused Haven to build walls so high that they appeared insurmountable. His innate warmth and optimism were buried beneath layers of protective cynicism. When Fiona first re-introduced Alexis to their friend group few months ago, Marcus noticed the same wounded walls in her. Fresh from calling off her engagement to a man who had gradually tried to suppress her sparkle, in an effort to control her better, Alexis was portraying a demeanor characterized by sharp edges and cautious aloofness. Haven and Alexis moved around each other cautiously, like two wary cats, drawn to each other yet filled with insecurit
Last Updated: 2025-01-14
Chapter: chapter 245The park seemed hushed, only the little giggles from the children playing and the jogging steps from around the park seemed to be the only sound apart from the heartbeat of both Haven and Alexis. Haven and Alexis sat across from each other, their gazes locked. Time seemed to stand still as they simply were, their presence filling the space with a quiet intensity. Haven's heart pounded in his chest. He’d never felt this way about anyone before. It was as if he was seeing her for the first time, every detail, every nuance, striking him with a fresh sense of wonder. Her eyes, a deep, captivating brown, held a universe of emotions. He could get lost in them for hours, exploring the depths of her soul. Alexis, too, was lost in the moment. She felt a warmth spreading through her, a comforting familiarity that she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Haven’s gaze was steady and kind, a stark contrast to the chaos that often surrounded her. In his eyes, she saw acceptance, understanding, and
Last Updated: 2025-01-14
Chapter: chapter 244Haven's throat was fixed. He knew precisely what she meant—how they had both lost themselves in the splits and cleft of their fizzled marriage, getting to be individuals they didn’t recognize. "Do you ever think," he said, his voice scarcely capable of being heard, "about what us?" Alexis gave him a sidelong look, her expression softening. "All the time." They fell into a pensive quiet, the kind that comes as it were when two individuals share a history as well complicated for words. "I think," Alexis began gradually, "we were trying so hard to be what we thought the other needed that we overlooked to be ourselves." Haven gestured, her words resounding deeply. "No doubt. I thought I had to be this culminating supplier, continuously solid, continuously in control. But I wasn't truly letting you in. I see that now." "And I kept trying to be this perfect spouse," Alexis included with a little, self-deprecating snicker. "I needed to demonstrate that I was enough, that I coul
Last Updated: 2025-01-14
Chapter: chapter 243Alexis let out a little, severe giggle. “I never stopped caring, Haven. That’s the problem.” The genuineness in her voice cut through him like a knife, more sharp than any offended she may have tossed his way. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “If you never stopped caring, why did you leave?” She hesitated, her expression tormented. “Because I was tired of waiting for you to choose me.” Haven felt the air leaving his lungs as if she had punched him. “What are you talking about? I was continuously there.” “You were physically there,” Alexis whispered, “but your heart was someplace else. Continuously working, continuously building. I needed more than that.” He closed his eyes, blaming wrapping around him like chains. He had worked himself to the bone to donate them both a great life, believing it would be enough. But in the process, he had missed the foremost vital thing—her. “I thought I was doing it for us,” he said, his voice overwhelming with lament.
Last Updated: 2025-01-14
Chapter: chapter 242A minute, the walls around her heart trembling but not very falling. Perhaps, just perhaps, she might take another step. “Yeah,” she said unobtrusively. “I think I do.” Haven leaned back in his leather chair, checking the numbers on his laptop screen with a tired but fulfilled smile. Business was good, better than ever, in reality. Growing his firm had been one of the most risky choices of his life, but the payoff had surpassed his expectations. However, even in the midst of his proficient victory, a gloomy hurt remained underneath the surface, one that wasn’t so effortlessly relieved by benefits and development charts. He tapped a number of keys to distract himself and ran a hand down his face. He had a whole lot to do on his plate for the upcoming investors meeting that could serve as a major boost for the future of his company. His company that suffered a downgrade after the divorce with Alexis was slowly getting recognized and becoming a better version of itself.Outside the wide
Last Updated: 2025-01-14
Chapter: chapter 241She moved awkwardly in her seat, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s easier that way. In case you don’t expect anything, you can’t get hurt.” Dr. Patel inclined forward marginally, her hands resting on the armrests of her chair. “It sounds like you’ve built walls around yourself to secure against dissatisfaction. But those walls also make it difficult for people to associate with you, don't they?” Alexis collapsed her arms firmly over her chest. “Yeah, well. it’s not like anyone’s trying that hard, anyway.” “Do you think that’s true?” Dr. Patel inquired tenderly. “Or is that something you tell yourself since it feels safer?” Alexis looked absent, jaw fixing. “What difference does it make? They give up inevitably. Friends, boyfriends. everybody. It continuously happens.” Dr. Patel let a minute of hush hang between them before she spoke. “Tell me about your last relationship.” Alexis moaned, rubbing her sanctuaries. “Do we have to?” “I think it could help us learn mor
Last Updated: 2025-01-14
Chapter: chapter 144Isabella's POV.NINE MONTHS LATER.The first cry filled the room and I felt a rush of emotions. It was my baby's cry as my daughter's voice claimed her space in the world.My chest heaved as I held on to Declan's hand. His fingers were tight around mine and his eyes were wet and unblinking.“She is here. Declan our baby is here.” I whispered as tears streaked down my face.The doctor smiled warmly at us as he placed my tiny bundle against my chest. My baby girl was so small and so perfect. Skin was warm and her little fists were clenched tightly as if she was already ready to fight the world. The moment had my cheek pressed against me. I knew that I was never going to be the same again.“She is beautiful Isabella. She looks just like you.” Declan said as he leaned in closer. And I let out a shaky laugh because I was overwhelmed by everything.“No, there is no way she definitely looks like me throughout. From what I'm seeing here she has your mouth, I mean look at the shape of her lip
Last Updated: 2025-09-20
Chapter: chapter 143Isabella's POV.One month later, the pregnancy test strip sat on the bathroom counter like it held the whole world inside it.It showed me two pink lines and it was clear and unmistakable. My hands shook as I grabbed the pregnancy strip tighter than ever. My breath got trapped in my chest and for a moment I couldn't move. The sound of Aria's laughter sounded faintly in my ears despite the fact that I was in the bathroom. She was in the living room where she was watching cartoons with her brother. And the ordinary noise of home life suddenly felt surreal. But inside of me something extraordinary was happening again. I was pregnant again. My eyes welled up with tears because after everything Declan and I had gone through. The betrayals, the lies, the separation, the wars we fought just to find each other again. This felt like the universe handing us a miracle. But along with the joy I had I felt scared. Or should I rather say I felt fear inside of me? What if Declan wasn't ready for
Last Updated: 2025-09-20
Chapter: chapter 142Isabella's POV.The police car flashing lights still glowed faintly through the curtains as I stood frozen in the spot I was in as I tried to catch my breath. Sabrina screams echoed in my ears and it was sharp and desperate. Even though she was already gone.She had already been arrested for fraud manipulation. There was no better way to punish her for her sins and Declan made sure to get her arrested. She was punished for every cruel lie she had built her life upon.I pressed my hand against my chest, steadying the fast beating of my heart. Declan stood beside me and his face was still pale.We had returned back to the same house that I left and for the first time in so many years , everything looked very clean to me. Like the poison had been drawn out of it but yet there was still no celebration in his eyes, only sorrow.He looked at Ethan who was so small as he stood by the door, clutching the sleeve of his biological father.I wanted to cry as Ethan looked at us and heartbreak wa
Last Updated: 2025-09-20
Chapter: chapter 141Declan's POV.I held the envelope in my hand like it was poison. My chest burned and my throat was tight but yet I couldn't let it go.The DNA reports felt heavier than any deal I had ever signed. It was heavier than all of the years I had worked to build my empire. Sabrina was standing in the living room and her arms were folded across her chest. She looked defensive and scared at the same time. Isabella was beside me but she was very quiet and I could feel her steady presence at my side. She was calm in the storm, though I knew fire burned in her too.“Do you have anything to say for yourself?” I asked with a cracked voice as I threw the envelope on the coffee table.“I was prepared for all of these because you already gave me the information over the phone but I want you to know that, whatever that paper says then it is a very big lie. Isabella is behind all of these and I'm sure she's the one who told you to run the DNA test right? Isn't she? She's just a jealous woman and she's
Last Updated: 2025-09-20
Chapter: chapter 140Isabella's POV.I never thought I would find myself bonding with Declan again. Not to even think about walking into a hospital with him beside me.The hospital smelled like antiseptic, obviously it would because it was a hospital so I had no complaints about it. I could see the tension in Declan's face and the way he kept on breaking his knuckles because we were about to uncover the truth.The truth he had silently feared for and the truth I had ignored for years.“Are you sure that you want to do this? I want to know if you are mentally ready for this?” I asked softly as we stood outside the doctor's office.Decline turned to look at me and I could see tiredness in his eyes.“I have to do this because I want to know the truth. I want to know if I'm living in the truth or if I'm living in lies.” he said and my heart twisted at his words. The only thing Sabrina had ever been able to do was tell lies. I fully believed that Ethan did not biologically belong to Declan and I wasn't saying
Last Updated: 2025-09-20
Chapter: chapter 139Sabrina's POV.I had seen and heard everything and I knew where the problem was coming from.I had always known that Isabella was the problem in my life even when she disappeared years ago. I still felt her shadow hovering around with me as though she was present but she wasn't.She always reminded me that Declan never really belonged to me. But then, I thought that if I stayed long enough in his life and played my cards correctly by offering him loyalty, comfort, and obviously giving him his son Ethan. Then one day you would stop looking at the ghost of her and probably look at me.But tonight, I realized how wrong I was all this while. I sat in my car outside Declan’s penthouse and my engine was off. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles felt bruised.I had noticed him for quite a day and then I decided to follow him only for me to realize that he was in the same hotel room with Isabella. I found out about Isabella's kids and then I realized Declan was bio
Last Updated: 2025-09-20
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