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 73Ryan's POV.I could still hear Isabella's sound of her heels ringing in my ears and her perfume scent still lingered in the air.My fingers slipped through my hair in frustration as my heart pounded in my chest due to the frustration . Damn her. Damn that smile in her eyes when she told me that she would never be mine. As if Declan Westwood could offer her anything I couldn't. I grabbed my phone and I checked my reflection in the mirror. My tie was loose and my shirt was half untucked, at that moment I looked at every bit of the wreck I felt inside of me.I needed a drink and something stronger than the wine I had downstairs. “Driver. Rosemont hotel now” I screamed into my phone as I stormed out of the private estate discreetly.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I was in my hotel room and I quickly gulped down the glass of whiskey. I couldn't even count how many glasses I have had but I knew that my vision was starting to become very blurry.I paced back and forth with anger inside of me. How dare Isa
Last Updated: 2025-06-12
Chapter: chapter 72Isabella's POV.Declan pinned me gently but firmly to the wall. His eyes burned into mine with something between suspicion and something deeper I couldn't quite name.“What is your connection with Ryan?” he asked with a low voice.And for a second I thought of playing it safe with him but then the playful side of me emerged and I raised my brow at him with a bright and visible smile on my lips.“Is that jealousy I smell burning here Declan Westwood?” I asked and he cursed under his breath.“Don't play with me Bella. I saw the way he was staring at you down there like you wanted to devour you. And it seemed as though you two clearly know each other very well” he said and I laughed at his words.“I won't lie to you Declan that I don't know Ryan. I do know him but I didn't know that he was your cousin until yesterday”, I replied as Declan's frown deepened at me but he didn't interrupt me.“And about your grandmother's poor grandson whose bride ran away,” I added, smiling at him. “That br
Last Updated: 2025-06-11
Chapter: chapter 71Isabella's POV.The air conditioner was the only sound that filled my room but my mind wasn't quiet. Inside of me, today felt like a storm waiting to break.Ryan.Cairo.Mia.Their faces always haunted my sleep every single fucking time I tried to forget about my worries. They were so fond of opening old wounds that they refused to close but I wasn't that girl anymore, not the one who trembled under their power.I was changing faster than I had imagined. And Declan he was the key to everything now and just immediately I heard a light knock on my door as though my thoughts summoned him.“Come inside Declan” I said, straightening my night dress and he stepped inside.Declan was dressed in a white short and a pink shirt, his sleeves were rolled up to his forearms and he looked effortlessly handsome and dangerous, only if he knew how much.“You are awake,” he said with a low voice.“I guess I couldn't sleep much Declan,” I admitted. “So spill it to me, what is going on?’ He leaned casua
Last Updated: 2025-06-10
Chapter: chapter 70Declan's POV.I woke up earlier than usual. All this while I was restless in bed, because the weight of too many thoughts refused to let me be all on my own.And one of them was Isabella. Even in my deep sleep, she still found a way to invade my mind. Her voice couldn't stop ringing in my ears and especially her eyes that seemed to carry the weight of unshed tears. And that final sentence from last night echoed in my head.“And what if I were to accept your agreement? What will be my own take in it?”She hadn't properly looked at me when she said all of that. I noticed that her gaze was fixed ahead as though she was speaking more to herself than to me, but it stirred something inside of me I couldn't quite name.I rubbed my palm over my face and swung my legs off the bed. My phone vibrated on the bed and I glanced at the screen, the message read that it was an early morning meeting from the investors.I let out a loud sigh because I knew what exactly I was going to do at that moment.
Last Updated: 2025-06-08
Chapter: chapter 69Isabella's POV.The rain started just when I was walking home. I know for a fact that Declan wouldn't be happy with me if he find out I left school all alone but today, I just felt like I needed some time to myself all alone.I didn't care about the rain despite a few drops soaked through my blouse. But I didn't feel any shivers through my body, and that could show anyone that I was already numb from inside.My head was bowed down as I kept on walking. Levi's words still rang in my ears .“Mia left me. She aborted my baby. I'll make her pay” And Ryan..Ryan had dared to show up at my school like he still owned a piece of me. Like I was his to summon. His to question and his to control.And I was ready to burn down that illusion of his to ashes. By the time I reached Declan's apartment, I noticed he wasn't home yet and he hadn't called me either.I was still angry by the fact that Declan was supposed to pick me up from school but he didn't. I checked my phone for the hundredth time, b
Last Updated: 2025-06-07
Chapter: chapter 68Isabella's POV.My phone buzzed for the sixth time in ten minutes and I didn't need to look to know that it was Ryan again. I ignored his call because I wasn't ready to see him or even hear his voice. Not after everything he made me pass through, the pain and the torments. He was so funny that he thought that he could just boss me around and everything could go back to normal because he wanted it to.It doesn't work that way, at least not with me. The ringing stopped and then started again, the ringing tune was just as persistent as him.I stepped out of the studio class before anyone could ask me where I was going. I needed air or maybe fire to quench the anger inside of me.And by the time I stepped out into the hallway. I saw Ryan's black range rover velar car and of course he parked right in front of the steps as though he owned the damn campus.I let out a loud sigh as I rolled my eyes at him. He stepped out of the car and slammed the door so hard that it echoed in the air.“Are
Last Updated: 2025-06-04
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