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chapter 185
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๋ฐ์ดํธ:
2025-01-02 00:33:44
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ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 186
Haven leaned against the windowpane, looking out at the cold morning light breaking through the gray clouds. It had been months since Alexis left, however the space in his heart hadnโt reduced. He still woke up some evenings coming out for her, as if to feel the empty space in his bed, a void as deep as the one she left in his life. Now, the torment felt fresher, more lively, as news of Alexis's engagement to Matthew had spread like fierce blaze. He recoiled at the thought of them together, the thoughts of their battles, their cold hushes now supplanted by pictures of her snickering with another man. But it wasnโt just the smiles; it was the wedding. Alexis was arranging her wedding to Matthew, and each step forward she took was like a nail driven into Havenโs heart. โHaven, man, youโve need to move on,โ his friend Malik had told him over drinks the night before. โItโs not like you didnโt see this coming. Youโve been holding onto something thatโs long gone. Sheโs not coming back.โ
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-02ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 187
Haven didnโt know why he chose to go to the coffee shop that evening. Maybe it was propensity, or possibly he was just trying to elude the limits of his house and the perpetual thoughts swirling in his mind. He requested a dark coffee, found a seat in the corner, and tried to lose himself in a book. But as he sat there, flipping through pages without pursuing a single word, he listened to a recognizable voice. His heart stilled. Alexis. She was sitting just a number of tables away, snickering softly with her friends and talking about wedding plans. And next to her, Matthew, tall, the man who had taken his place in her life. Havenโs breath caught in his throat. He hadnโt seen her since sheโd left him, and hadn't talked to her since the breakup. Seeing her now, gleaming with joy, felt like a punch to his intestine. Without thinking, he stood up, expecting to leave. He couldnโt handle this, not nowadays. But as he turned, his eyes met Alexisโs. She solidified, her smile disappearing,
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-02ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 188
Haven gazed at the coffee glass before him, the steam rising gradually, disseminating into the cool air. His fingers followed the edge of the ceramic edge, but his mind was far away, lost in an ocean of tangled thoughts and feelings. Alexisโ snicker reverberated in his head, frequenting him. He could nearly see her, the way she used to sit over from him at the cafรฉ, her hands wrapped around her own face, eyes filled with the warmth of shared minutes. That was a year back. Now, Alexis was planning to wed somebody else, Matthew. His chest fixed as he thought of it. It wasnโt the reality that she left. It was the suddenness of it, the way their once-perfect life had come slamming down in a matter of months. He hadnโt seen it coming, hadnโt been ready for the hurricane that had turned his world upside down. One minute, they were arranging their future together, and the next, she was gone. Haven pulled himself back to the show, shaking his head as if to clear the cobwebs. He looked up jus
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-02ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 189
"Iโm sorry, Haven. I trust you to find peace." Peace. He sneered. How could he find peace when everything still felt so unsettled? He placed his phone away and stood up, choosing that staying in the cafรฉ wasnโt going to help. He needed to clear his head.Afterward that evening, Haven found himself standing outside the old loft he and Alexis had shared. It was interesting being here once more. The place had been empty since Alexis moved out, and now someone else lived there. But the memories waited, as new as ever. He didnโt know why heโd come. Perhaps it was to discover closure, or perhaps he was just tormenting himself. Either way, standing here felt like confronting his past head-on. He had to make a choice. All of a sudden, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, seeing a message from Vanessa. "Hello, Iโm back home. Let me know if you need to come over and talk." Haven gazed at the message for a minute, his mind hustling. He cared about Vanessa, but he couldnโt shake t
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-02ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 190
Alexis felt a chill creep up her spine. It wasnโt the first time heโd acted like this, his words wrapped in sweetness but with a suggestion of something unsettling. Still, she smiles, pushing away the questions inching into her mind. Heโs just defensive, she told herself. Nothing wrong with that. โSorry, Matthew,โ she mumbled, constraining a little snicker. โNext time, Iโll keep my phone on me.โ He came over to the table and put his hand over hers, pressing a bit as well firmly. โI donโt like feeling disregarded. You get it, right?โ She gestured, indeed in spite of the fact that her intestine bent. โOf course. It wonโt happen again.โ Satisfied, Matthew leaned back in his chair, the pressure in his pose facilitating. โGood. I just care about you, Alexis. Thatโs all.โ But something about the way he said it made the words feel like a caution. Later that evening, Alexis sat on her bed, looking over through old pictures on her phone. Most of the photographs were from the early days of
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-02ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 191
โI did,โ Alexis answered, assembling his look. โI needed to see Fiona.โ Matthewโs jaw clenched. โWe had things to do, Alexis. You chose her over me.โ โThatโs not fair,โ she said, her voice trembling. โIโm permitted to spend time with my friends. This wedding doesnโt mean I need to give up everything else.โ He took a step toward her, his eyes dim and difficult. โWhen you wed somebody, they ended your need. I thought you caught on to that.โ โI do,โ she whispered. โBut I need space as well, Matthew. I canโt live like this, constantly stressed about annoying you.โ Matthewโs expression flickered with something unreadable, hurt, outrage, or possibly fear. โIโm trying to protect you, Alexis. I just donโt want to lose you.โ โIโm not going anywhere,โ she said softly. โBut I need you to believe me. If you canโt do that... possibly we shouldnโt get married.โ The words hung between them, overwhelming and last. For a minute, Matthew just gazed at her, as if trying to choose whether to fight
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-02ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 192
โIโve been through that before. Iโm not going to let it happen again.โ Haven mollified marginally, detecting the helplessness underneath her words. โI get that, Vanessa. I do. But Iโm not him. Iโm not going anywhere.โ She was calm for a moment. โPromise?โ Haven murmured, rubbing the back of his neck. โYeah, I promise.โ Vanessaโs quiet settled like a cover over the discussion. At that point, unexpectedly, she said, โIโm coming over.โ Haven scowled. โNow? Itโs late.โ โI donโt care. I ought to see you.โ Before he could dissent, the line went dead. Haven gazed at his phone in skepticism. โDamn it.โ He reviled beneath his breath. Forty minutes later, a knock shook his front door. Haven dragged himself off the couch and opened it to discover Vanessa standing there. She wore tight pants and an larger than average hoodie, her dark hair pulled into a tall bun. Her eyes looked at his face the moment the door swung open. โYou didnโt seem that tired,โ she said with a black out smile, vent
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-02ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 193
He then hugged her and gave her a kiss on her forehead. Vanessa felt so secured and relaxed almost immediately but Haven knew there was more adventure to come from here with Vanessa over-commitment. He couldnโt say no to her anymore, he loved her and he just wanted her to stay and be with him always but he respected boundaries over everything.Haven stood in front of the windows of his house and saw the first sign of sunrise in the city skyline. The distant rumble of the morning traffic was faint, but a sense of life returned to the town with him. Haven's name hasn't been associated with anything good for months. His reputation, solid in the business world, has been thrown into the dirt since his wife left him for another man, Matthew, his former best friend. The tragedy sent waves through his personal and professional life, leaving Haven struggling to recover from the tragedy. Now he has a chance to change everything. Today he is about to sign a major business deal, one that could
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-06
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ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 246
"I actually believed that we would eventually have to take sides.โ 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
ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 245
The 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. Heโd 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 hadnโt experienced in a long time. Havenโs gaze was steady and kind, a stark contrast to the chaos that often surrounded her. In his eyes, she saw acceptance, understanding, and
ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 244
Haven's throat was fixed. He knew precisely what she meantโhow they had both lost themselves in the splits and cleft of their fizzled marriage, getting to be individuals they didnโt 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
ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 243
Alexis let out a little, severe giggle. โI never stopped caring, Haven. Thatโs the problem.โ 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. โIf you never stopped caring, why did you leave?โ She hesitated, her expression tormented. โBecause I was tired of waiting for you to choose me.โ Haven felt the air leaving his lungs as if she had punched him. โWhat are you talking about? I was continuously there.โ โYou were physically there,โ Alexis whispered, โbut your heart was someplace else. Continuously working, continuously building. I needed more than that.โ 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 thingโher. โI thought I was doing it for us,โ he said, his voice overwhelming with lament.
ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 242
A minute, the walls around her heart trembling but not very falling. Perhaps, just perhaps, she might take another step. โYeah,โ she said unobtrusively. โI think I do.โ 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 wasnโt 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
ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 241
She moved awkwardly in her seat, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. โItโs easier that way. In case you donโt expect anything, you canโt get hurt.โ Dr. Patel inclined forward marginally, her hands resting on the armrests of her chair. โIt sounds like youโve built walls around yourself to secure against dissatisfaction. But those walls also make it difficult for people to associate with you, don't they?โ Alexis collapsed her arms firmly over her chest. โYeah, well. itโs not like anyoneโs trying that hard, anyway.โ โDo you think thatโs true?โ Dr. Patel inquired tenderly. โOr is that something you tell yourself since it feels safer?โ Alexis looked absent, jaw fixing. โWhat difference does it make? They give up inevitably. Friends, boyfriends. everybody. It continuously happens.โ Dr. Patel let a minute of hush hang between them before she spoke. โTell me about your last relationship.โ Alexis moaned, rubbing her sanctuaries. โDo we have to?โ โI think it could help us learn mor
ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 240
Alexis giggled, the sound light and free. For the first time in a long time, she felt confident. โMaybe,โ she said, looking at him, โbut possibly itโs worth the risk.โ Havenโs grin mollified, and in that minute, something moved between themโsomething inconspicuous but irrefutable. As the night wore on and the wine vanished, they found themselves closer than ever before, their chuckling blending within the warm glow of the room. And for the first time since her engagement ended, Alexis allowed herself to accept the plausibility of love againโnot the perfect, fairy-tale kind, but the chaotic, complicated, genuine kind. And sitting there with Haven, she realized that perhaps, just perhaps, she was precisely where she was meant to be.The cool night air brushed against Alexisโs skin as she strolled down the quiet street. Sheโd left Havenโs place a little later than sheโd planned, but the lingering warmth of the evening was a welcome change from the usual rush.A sense of peace washed
ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 239
Alexis didnโt drag her hand away, but she looked down at the ring once more, her lips squeezing into a lean line. โWhy does it feel like Iโve been left with nothing?โ โBecause shock could be a thief,โ Haven said delicately. โIt takes more than just the person, it takes your sense of worth with it. But thatโs a lie. You still have all of you, Alexis.โ For a long minute, neither of them talked. The hum of discussion and clinking glasses filled the hush between them, a foundation clamour to the turmoil whirling in Alexisโs mind. Haven gave her hand a soft touch. โLetโs get out of here. This place isnโt precisely built for healing.โ Alexis wavered but at that point nodded, thankful for the life saver he was proposed to. They ended up at Havenโs flat, the air thick with the comforting fragrance of coffee and cinnamon candles. Alexis twisted up on the couch, holding a warm mug between her hands while Haven sat over from her, his expression open and understanding. โItโs not just Mat
ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND ย ย ย chapter 238
Alexis yanked her arm free, dazzling at him. โNo, Matthew. You had your chance, and you blew it. I deserve way better than this.โ Matthewโs shoulders dropped back. For a moment, the sound between them was the murmur of the TV. โWhere did you indeed meet Deborah?โ Alexis inquired intensely, incapable of stopping herself. Matthew moaned intensely. โSheโs an old friend from college. She got into a few financial inconveniences, and I thought I might help.โ His voice trailed off, as if indeed he realized how lamentable the pardon sounded. Alexis shook her head in disbelief. โUnbelievable. You bet with our future for some lady from your past.โ She turned and walked toward the door, her heart overwhelming but unfaltering. She had gone through for so long disregarding the signs, trusting Matthew would be the man he imagined to be. But presently, she saw the truth clearly, he had never been that man. โAlexis, please!โ Matthew called after her, his voice splitting with edginess. โDonโt le
