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Part 31
publish date:
2026-03-19 12:21:25
Latest chapter
Blunt Pain Part 34
MeritNeither Aspen nor Axl had seen her in the hallway. She was jealous, and she hated it. She couldn’t help it, though—Aspen was living with her boyfriend, and she’d known Axl longer, too. Now that North was out of the picture, how long would it be before something sparked between them?She took a deep breath and waited nearly twenty minutes before she walked out of the alcove and headed to her car. The narrow space smelled faintly of cleaning solution and old paint, and her legs ached from standing still for so long. The drive home wasn’t one she relished, but she wasn’t sure she could be around Aspen and Axl right now. He never hesitated to be there for Aspen, never hesitated to protect her or shield her. He didn’t hesitate to help you either, the voice in her head said.She parked her car in front of the guest house and clenched her jaw when she saw Jackson through the windows of the main house. He had a strip of bandage over his nose, and both of his eyes were tinged dark purple
Blunt Pain Part 33
Aspen“Shit, Aspen. I don’t even know how to respond to all that,” Merit said.Aspen had told her the whole sordid story over lunch. The words had spilled out faster than she could filter them, each ugly detail piling on top of the next, until even she could hear how unreal her own life sounded. She caught Axl’s ice-cold gaze when she mentioned things she’d omitted the previous night. A sharp, fleeting look that told her he had noticed the gaps in her story and filed them away quietly. She wondered briefly if this was how Atlas had felt, the world resting on his shoulders. “Count yourself lucky to be in the guest house,” Aspen said softly.“It’s only because I threatened to call my dad. They’ll leave me alone because I have some leverage. Maybe we should try to find some leverage for you, as well,” Merit said.“Even if we did, I’m never going back to that house. My dad told me that he had two more daughters who could make him proud, like I’m useless or something.”She felt Axl’s hand
Blunt Pain Part 32
NorthHe could feel Charlotte breathing down his neck. She was everywhere, and he felt claustrophobic. She went home with him, and ate dinner with him. Francine had just given him a look, one he understood all too well. His father had left right after his meeting with Charlotte’s parents, not even saying goodbye to him.He looked at all the texts he’d sent Axl, but all of them remained unread, each grey tick pressing harder against his chest than the last. He couldn’t even call Aspen to find out if she was okay.He knew he couldn’t hide out in the bathroom forever, so he splashed cold water on his face before he opened the door. Charlotte was still in his room, making herself comfortable on his bed.“It’s getting late,” he said, hoping she’d get the message, and leave him alone.“You know, North, things will be so much easier if you would just cooperate,” she said.“I’ve done everything you asked. I’m still my own person, and I’m still going to do my own thing. I don’t care if you lik
Blunt Pain Part 31
AxlThe moment he closed his car door, the scowl returned to his face, and he sighed. Once again, he’d put everyone else first, and nobody even noticed that he wasn’t fine. Merit hadn’t noticed, and that didn’t sit well with him.His life had gone up in flames the previous night, and today he had to smile and keep standing so he could keep the rest of them upright. He was pissed off and tired of pretending. At least he didn’t have to pretend in his car, and he didn’t have to pretend at his trailer.He parked his car and felt a heaviness settle in his chest when he unlocked his front door and surveyed the damage in his living room. The coffee table was in two pieces, the blinds ripped from their railings. He hadn’t broken the television, so that was good. He’d lost his temper like never before in his life. He’d always prided himself on being in control of his emotions, but not last night.He picked up the pieces of the coffee table and carried them outside to the garbage cans. He’d hav
Blunt Pain Part 30
AxlThe stick’s locker was right next to his, and he could feel her eyes on him. He ignored it and exchanged his books for his third period class. When he closed his locker, she slid in front of him and leaned back against the metal. The move was deliberate, practiced, and confident—like she was used to people stopping when she stepped into their space.“We haven’t been introduced properly,” she said, twirling a lock of hair around her finger. “I’m Charlotte.”“I’m not interested,” he said, and headed down the hall. He didn’t slow, didn’t soften his tone, and didn’t bother to glance back.He heard her sharp intake of breath and he grinned. It was petty, and he knew it—but he was tired of being polite to people who thought proximity to power made them untouchable.North leaned against the wall near the janitor’s closet, and when he saw Axl, he opened the door and slipped inside. The movement was quick and familiar, the way they’d learned to steal privacy wherever they could find it.He
Blunt Pain Part 29
MeritShe’d struggled to fall asleep, every sound and scrape of a tree branch had her sitting upright, fearing the worst. The guest house felt too quiet, too separate from the main house, the walls unfamiliar and thin, as if danger could seep through them without warning. She knew Jackson was still in the hospital, but it didn’t take away her unease. Axl hadn’t returned any of her texts, and he’d been silent from seven p.m. onwards.When she woke up that morning, there was still nothing from him. As she showered and dressed, she wondered if Jackson’s father got to him. That couldn’t be possible. Axl wasn’t easily swayed and he couldn’t be bought, right? Every person had a price though. How much would it take for Axl to bend the knee? The thought twisted uncomfortably through her stomach, unwelcome and sharp.She shook the thoughts from her head as she drove to school. The air felt different and she shuddered. The sky hung low and gray over Esperton, heavy with a dull promise of rain,
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