LOGINChapter 136Brenda For the first time in so long, my heart didnât feel heavy. It didnât hurt as much as it used to. There was still sadness, yes, but underneath it, there was also calmness â a gentle calmness that made me feel like everything was slowly falling back into place.When I finally opened my eyes, the first person I saw was Kaden.He was sitting by the window, half-turned toward me, a cup of coffee in his hand. The sunlight touched his face, making his hair glow softly. His expression was calm, his eyes distant â like he was lost in his thoughts.For a few seconds, I just watched him quietly. He looked peaceful, but I could still see traces of tiredness around his eyes.I sat up slowly, the bedsheet falling around me. The soft sound of movement made him turn his head.âGood morning,â he said gently.His voice was low and rough, like he hadnât spoken in hours.âGood morning,â I replied softly.He gave a small smile â not wide, but real. It was the kind of smile that warmed
Chapter 135BrendaThe silence between us stretched â long, quiet, and heavy. Yet somehow, it didnât feel as sharp as before. It felt⌠fragile. Like a glass that could shatter with one wrong word.âI never stopped thinking about you,â I said suddenly. âEven when it hurts to remember. Even when I told myself I shouldnât.âHis eyes flickered, and for the first time, I saw his lips tremble just slightly. He took a step closer, slow, careful, like he didnât want to scare me away.âI tried to hate you,â he said softly. âBut I couldnât.âMy heart ached at his words. âYou had every right to.âHe shook his head faintly. âMaybe. But I didnât want to. I just wanted to understand.âI wanted to reach out to him, to touch his arm, to tell him how sorry I truly was â but I didnât move. I was afraid he would step back again. Afraid the space between us would return.Then he took another small step forward, closing the distance between us until I could feel his breath â warm and steady.My chest tigh
Chapter 134BrendaâTo before all this happened. To when Kaden and I could talk without fear or anger.âShe smiled softly. âYou canât go back, Brenda. But you can start again.âHer words hung in the air, reassuring me in the most unimaginable way. I stole a glance at her, and she nodded, like she was confirming what she had said.My lips pressed together, a new surge of hope burning inside me as I stood to my feet. âThank you Kira for your kind words. I have to take my leave now.â***Later that evening, I found myself walking down the building, near Kaden's block. I didnât plan to â my feet just sort of led me there. The sun was setting, burning through my skin.I stopped across the building, staring at the small block with the dim light coming from the window. I could see a shadow move inside â his shadow.For a long moment, I just stood there, my hands in my pockets, my heart pounding.I wanted to walk up to the door and knock. I wanted to tell him how sorry I was. But Kiraâs words
Chapter 133BrendaIt had been three days since I last saw Kaden. Three long, quiet, and heavy days.The first day, I thought it didnât matter. I thought maybe it was better this way â that after everything that happened, maybe we both needed space. But as each hour passed, the silence started to bother me more than I expected.Now, sitting alone in my room, I couldnât stop thinking about him.The rain had stopped outside, leaving the sky dull. I sat by the window, watching little drops of water slide down the glass. My chest felt tight, like something inside was twisting slowly and wouldnât stop.Kaden hadnât called. He hadnât texted. He hadnât even looked my way since that night.And I couldnât blame him.I pressed my palms against my eyes, trying to stop the tears that were already forming. âWhy did I do that?â I whispered to myself.The sound of my own voice made the room feel even emptier.When I called the police on him, I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought he was da
Chapter 132Kaden The next morning, I woke up early. The light coming through the curtains was soft and warm. I stretched and sat up, feeling something I hadnât felt in a long time â calm.When I stepped out into the living room, Kira was already there, sitting at the table with a cup of coffee. She looked up and smiled. âMorning.ââMorning,â I said quietly.She studied my face for a moment. âYou look better.ââYeah,â I said. âA little.âShe nodded, her smile widening. âThatâs good. You deserve some peace.âI sat down across from her. âThank you, Kira. For everything.âShe waved it off. âYou donât have to thank me. I just did what was right.ââStill,â I said, looking down at the cup sheâd poured for me. âNot everyone wouldâve believed me.ââI did,â she said softly. âAnd I always will.âSomething in my chest eased even more as she said those words.And then, just like it came, Kiraâs smile faded a little when she saw how serious I looked. I could feel the world pressing inside my ches
Chapter 131KarenWhen Kira and I got home, the air in the house felt strange⌠everywhere was quiet and it felt a bit strange.The drive back had been silent. Kira sat beside me, her hands on her lap, her eyes fixed on the road. Every now and then, sheâd glance my way, as if to make sure I was really there.I didnât blame her for the silence. What could she even say? What could I say?When we walked into the house, everything looked the same, but it didnât feel the same. Kira turned to me gently. âYou should rest, Karen. Youâve been through a lot.âI nodded without a word. My body was tired, but my mind wouldnât stop running.As I made my way down the hallway towards my room, I passed by Brendaâs door. It was closed. For a moment, I stopped there, listening. I thought I heard movement â maybe she was pacing, maybe crying. I didnât know.But I didnât knock.Not because I was angry, but because I wasn't ready for any drama⌠not yet.I just⌠didnât know what to say.After what happened,







