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Penulis: Dark Pen
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-12-12 23:11:29

FESTUS POV

Timone opened the door before I even started to knock. He wasn't talking. He just looked at me with his arms crossed like he was waiting for me to get there in this exact condition. I felt my chest constrict in response. My back stiffened. I puffed air through my teeth.

“You look like shit,” he said, his voice flat. I jerked my jaw shut. My shoulders slid back. I had a tight stomach.

“Yeah. I know.” I sounded like a five-year-old, even to my own ears. He moved aside without a word.

“Get in here.” I went in, trying to make sure everything was all right when everything inside of me felt like it was all wrong. My hands wouldn’t stay in one place. My palms were slick. The back of my throat was raw, like I’d been drinking sand. My mind was spinning with Aiden’s name, Devin’s name, Stella’s. Everything that I’d screwed up on my own.

Timone closed it firmly behind me. “Alright,” he grunted, entering the living room.

“Now, tell me what’s with all the pacing. Either someone’s goi
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  • Appealing To His Gaze    65

    DEVINS P.O.VI woke up before my eyes opened.There was a tightness in my chest, like the kind that didn't come from a bad dream but from something real and waiting. My body felt coiled, restless, the way it feels when it's been bracing itself all night for impact. When the phone on the nightstand started vibrating again, I didn't jump. I already knew it was there. I already knew it wasn't going to stop.I cracked my eyes open and stared at the ceiling for a second, breathing slow, trying to convince myself I was still half-asleep. The early morning light barely filtered through the curtains, soft and pale; the world outside was still quiet. Inside my chest, though, everything was loud.I reached for the phone.The screen flickered on, and my stomach dropped so hard it felt like I might actually be sick.My father had called a lot.Not one missed call. Not two. A long list, stacked on top of each other, like he'd been calling all night and only stopped when exhaustion or rage finally wo

  • Appealing To His Gaze    64

    FESTUS POVTimone opened the door before I even started to knock. He wasn't talking. He just looked at me with his arms crossed like he was waiting for me to get there in this exact condition. I felt my chest constrict in response. My back stiffened. I puffed air through my teeth.“You look like shit,” he said, his voice flat. I jerked my jaw shut. My shoulders slid back. I had a tight stomach. “Yeah. I know.” I sounded like a five-year-old, even to my own ears. He moved aside without a word. “Get in here.” I went in, trying to make sure everything was all right when everything inside of me felt like it was all wrong. My hands wouldn’t stay in one place. My palms were slick. The back of my throat was raw, like I’d been drinking sand. My mind was spinning with Aiden’s name, Devin’s name, Stella’s. Everything that I’d screwed up on my own.Timone closed it firmly behind me. “Alright,” he grunted, entering the living room. “Now, tell me what’s with all the pacing. Either someone’s goi

  • Appealing To His Gaze    63

    DEVIN'S POVThe second Stella's expression changed, I knew. She snatched her phone so fast she almost dropped it, and the way her eyes shot over the screen told me everything. I didn't need to ask, didn't need to wonder. I just watched her panic. And instead of feeling punched in the chest or sick or dizzy like I used to, all I felt was something loosening deep inside me. Something quiet. Something real.My shoulders actually dropped. It felt weird, because I didn't remember the last time my body wasn't tense around her. I even let out this breath I didn't know I'd been holding for years. And the smile came before I could hide it. A real smile. Not the polite one I force when she drags me to her parents' dinners. Not the tired one I put on when she starts crying to avoid accountability. This was real, and I let it sit there.She looked terrified of the smile."D-Devin," she whispered, voice cracking, "I can explain. Please. Just let me talk. It's not-it wasn't-just listen to me for tw

  • Appealing To His Gaze    62

    DEVIN'S P.O.V.I stayed by the window until Aiden's car finally turned out of the driveway and went far enough down the road that I couldn't see the taillights anymore. I didn't move for a few seconds after that. I just kept staring at the empty spot where he'd been, feeling this tight pressure building in my chest because watching him leave didn't sit right with me. He didn't deserve to be the one walking out. He didn't cause any of this mess. And the fact that he left without looking back made my throat feel tight with frustration I didn't know how to swallow down.By the time I actually closed the front door and turned around, Stella was already standing in the middle of the living room. Arms crossed. Chin lifted. Like she'd been waiting for me. Like she was expecting an apology from me instead of the other way around. The second her eyes met mine, I knew she wanted a fight. I did not want to give her one, but I could not hold it anymore."Why did you ask him to leave?" I asked, st

  • Appealing To His Gaze    61

    AIDEN.I felt good. Relaxed in a way I hadn't felt in a long time. My back was against the couch, my legs spread just enough for Devin to settle between them. His hands were on my thighs, warm and steady, and his head was lowering. I had one hand in his hair, holding him close, guiding him slowly because I wanted to enjoy the moment without thinking about anything else. My breathing kept getting heavier, and my jaw was tight because the tension felt too good to control.I let out a rough sound low in my throat, and Devin looked up at me before continuing. My fingers convulsed in his hair without meaning to, and he took it like he always did, quiet and focused. My chest rose and fell hard as I let my head fall back for a second, just to breathe because it felt too good to stay still.Then the doorbell rang. The sound struck the room so suddenly that Devin was stock-still in a matter of a second. His mouth stopped, his hands stilled, and the sudden absence of warmth chafed me. I blew ou

  • Appealing To His Gaze    60

    STELLAWhen I stepped off the plane, the weight of the air hit me first, heavy and warm, and I didn’t even bother letting myself settle before reaching for my phone. I already had Devin’s message typed out halfway through the descent because there was no point in pretending. I always sent the same thing every time I came back from any trip, whether it was two days or two weeks. It didn’t matter. Nothing about this marriage felt real enough to change routine.I hit send on the text.“Just landed. I’ll be home tomorrow. I hope you missed me.”I didn’t pause. I didn’t wait for the little “delivered” symbol. I didn’t check whether he opened it or not. I didn’t expect anything back because Devin never replied immediately, and even if he did, I wouldn’t have believed whatever he said. I knew he didn’t miss me, not in any way that mattered, and I didn’t miss him either. We both existed in this agreement that wasn’t born from choice or affection. It was part of Festus’ plan, part of what he w

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