本棚
検索
ホーム / Romance / The contracted heart / The space between us

共有

The space between us

作者: Valia Vaceia
last update 公開日: 2026-04-14 07:00:00

The drive home was silent.

Not the comfortable kind of silence that had once wrapped around them like a blanket.

This one sat heavy in the car, pressing against the windows, thick with everything neither of them knew how to say.

Vanessa stared out at the city lights streaking past the glass.

Alive. Bright. Untouched.

It felt strange that the world kept moving like nothing had happened.

Like a man hadn’t just stood in front of them and calmly adm

この本を無料で読み続ける
コードをスキャンしてアプリをダウンロード
前のチャプター 次のチャプター
ロックされたチャプター

最新チャプター

  • The contracted heart    Distance

    The knock came at 7:12 a.m.Vanessa froze mid-step, toothbrush still in her hand, heart leaping instantly into her throat.No one knew where she was.No one except, her stomach dropped.Another knock. Firm. Measured.Not aggressive. Not hesitant.Just certain.Vanessa rinsed quickly and wiped her hands on a towel, forcing her breathing to slow as she moved toward the door.“Who is it?”Silence lingered for half a second.Then "It’s me.”Alexander.Her chest tightened painfully.Of course it was.She unlocked the door before she could second-guess herself.He stood there in a dark coat, hair slightly disheveled like he’d run his hands through it too many times, eyes scanning her face in one quick sweep.Relief flashed across his expression before he could hide it.“You’re okay.”Vanessa crossed her arms instincti

  • The contracted heart    The distance we choose

    Alexander didn’t sleep.He lay in the darkness of the penthouse bedroom long after the city quieted, staring at the ceiling as Vanessa’s words replayed on a relentless loop.I think I need some time.It hadn’t been loud.It hadn’t been angry.It had been worse.It had been calm.And calm meant she meant it.Beside him, the other half of the bed remained untouched.The silence of it felt louder than any argument they’d ever had.By sunrise, he gave up pretending rest would come.Vanessa watched the city wake from the back seat of the car.No security convoy.No driver she didn’t recognize.Just the quiet hum of morning traffic and the weight of the overnight bag at her feet.She hadn’t told Alexander where she was going.Not because she wanted to hurt him.Because she needed one decision that was hers alone.

  • The contracted heart    The space between us

    The drive home was silent.Not the comfortable kind of silence that had once wrapped around them like a blanket.This one sat heavy in the car, pressing against the windows, thick with everything neither of them knew how to say.Vanessa stared out at the city lights streaking past the glass.Alive. Bright. Untouched.It felt strange that the world kept moving like nothing had happened.Like a man hadn’t just stood in front of them and calmly admitted he was planning to tear their lives apart.Alexander’s hands stayed fixed on the steering wheel, knuckles pale beneath the soft glow of the dashboard.His jaw hadn’t unclenched since they left the gala.Vanessa noticed.Of course she noticed.She noticed everything about him.That had always been the problem.“You didn’t tell me,” she said quietly.The words slipped into the silence like a stone into stil

  • The contracted heart    The trigger

    "Very good.”The voice didn’t echo.It settled.Smooth. Controlled. Almost… impressed.Vanessa turned first.Alexander followed a fraction of a second later.Instinct.Always just behind her now not ahead.Not shielding.Watching.Adjusting.The man stepped forward from the shadows.Not rushed.Not nervous.Like he had all the time in the world.Tall.Sharp suit.Face finally visible under the dim emergency lighting.Vanessa’s eyes narrowed slightly.She didn’t recognize him.But something about him felt wrong.Too calm.Too prepared.“You’re not security,” she said.The man smiled faintly.“No.”Alexander stepped slightly in front of her again.Subtle.But still there.“And you’re not here by accident.”

  • The contracted heart    In the dark

    Darkness didn’t fall gently.It swallowed everything.One second light, control, elegance.The next, nothing hing.Gasps rippled through the room.Sharp.Uneven.Followed quickly by movement.Too much movement.Chairs scraping.Voices rising.Confusion breaking through the polished surface of the gala.Vanessa didn’t move.Didn’t panic.Didn’t even turn.Because she could still feel him.Close.Too close.The man.Right behind her.“You just made this easier.”His voice was low.Almost amused.Vanessa let out a quiet breath.“Did I?”Her heart was beating fast.But steady.Focused.Not fear.Not anymore.“You should’ve stayed out of this,” he said.Vanessa tilted her head slightly.Even in the dark he could feel the shift in her.“I was already in it.”

  • The contracted heart    The gala

    The venue was already glowing when they arrived.Lights spilled across the entrance in soft gold, reflecting off polished marble and glass like something out of a dream.Elegant.Controlled.Perfect.Vanessa stepped out of the car first.The night air was cool against her skin, but she barely felt it.Her focus sharpened instantly.Every movement.Every face.Every detail.Security was present but not overwhelming.Carefully balanced.Just enough to appear safe…Not enough to stop anything serious.Alexander stepped out beside her.His presence shifted the atmosphere immediately.Heads turned.Whispers followed.Power walked into the room and everyone felt it.But tonight Vanessa noticed something else.They weren’t just being admired.They were being watched.“Stay close.”His voice was low.Barely above a whisper.Vanessa didn’t look at him.“I said I would.”He offered his arm.She took it.Not because she needed to but because tonight, appearances mattered.And right now…They nee

  • The contracted heart    The profile

    For several seconds, no one in the room moved.Vanessa stood frozen beside Collins’ desk, staring at the psychological report glowing on the laptop screen. The words blurred together, but certain lines burned clearly in her mind.Name: Vanessa EtohPsychological Assessm

  • The contracted heart    The hidden debt

    The room felt unnaturally quiet.Vanessa stared at the hospital document glowing on Collins’ laptop screen, the numbers and signatures blurring together as her mind struggled to process what she had just seen.Her mother’s name.The treatment dates.The pay

  • The contracted heart    The truth before the lie

    The digital clock on Alexander’s office wall read 7:32 PM.Twenty eight minutes.Vanessa stared at the screen showing the preview of the leaked video, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. The few seconds Collins had played were enough to twist the truth into something

  • The contracted heart    Eight o'clock

    The hours leading to eight o’clock felt strangely distorted, as though time itself had slowed inside Cole Tower.Vanessa sat in Alexander’s office, surrounded by documents, screens, and the quiet tension of a war room. Collins had gathered every piece of information they could

続きを読む

あなたも気に入るかもしれません

無料で面白い小説を探して読んでみましょう
GoodNovel アプリで人気小説に無料で！お好きな本をダウンロードして、いつでもどこでも読みましょう！
アプリで無料で本を読む
コードをスキャンしてアプリで読む
DMCA.com Protection Status