All Chapters of Pause, Rewind, Play: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

45 Chapters

20. Breakfast

September 2026,Scars Bay, USA KaterinaI operated this past week on auto-pilot mode. I woke up, got ready for the day, went to work, dealt with problems all day, went home, and then slept.For the first time in my entire life, work didn't have a therapeutic effect on me. At the end of a long day, I didn't feel like I accomplished something. I didn't feel good about myself. In fact, I felt glad to be done with work for the day because it meant that the day was almost over. And I was one day closer to Alyanna coming back home.I had talked to her a few times over the phone during the last week but something felt off. Her mind was occupied elsewhere. And no, it wasn't work. That, I was sure of. Jayden and I had known immediately that she was lying when she said that work was the reason she couldn't come home with us right away. She wasn't that good of a liar and we knew

Last Updated : 2023-08-04

21. Video Call

September 2026,Scars Bay, USA Jayden"Thank you." I smiled. "Thank you so much!""Of course. That was the best dinner we have had in a really long time!" the elderly couple raved on with wide smiles on their faces. "Bless your hands.""Thank you so much!" I said once again. "I will send out a few tarts - on the house, of course. I'm sure you will love them as well." Their faces lit up. "Now please excuse me, I must get back to the kitchen.""Of course." They smiled and nodded."Enjoy the rest of your evening." I gave them a smile.My restaurant manager was waiting in the kitchen with a wide grin on his face. "That was the seventh table to compliment your cooking tonight.""Just doing my job," I told him as I took off my apron and toque."Looks like you miss working at the restaurant," he started and I knew what he was hinting at."What make

Last Updated : 2023-08-05

22. Marilyn

September 2026,Scars Bay, USA JaydenI need to clear my head.I grabbed a joint from my stash and a lighter and walked out into the balcony. It was chilly but I embraced the cold night. It matched the cold, empty feeling in my heart.I placed the joint in between my lips and lit it before I took a long drag, and looked up at the moon. It looked achingly beautiful and all alone in this starless night sky.I took in another long drag. I had a million thoughts running through my mind and yet, I couldn't grasp even one of them.I took another drag and shut my eyes, an old memory replaying in my mind's eye.***March 2021,Los Angeles, USA I squeezed some lemon over the sauteed veggies in the pan, gave it a good toss, and then turned off the stove.I heard keys jingle and a moment later, A

Last Updated : 2023-08-06

23. Storm

September 2026,Scars Bay, USA Alyanna"I have a surprise for you!" Jayden grinned."What is it?" I asked, excited."It's someone you've wanted to meet for the longest time..." He couldn't stop smiling as he stood up and walked somewhere, carrying his laptop, and by extension me, with him."Is it Usain Bolt?" I joked."Unfortunately, no, not this time." He chuckled and then set the laptop down somewhere and then backed up a bit.It looked like he was now in the living room."Come 'ere buddy." Jay patted his thigh a couple of times and a moment later, Storm came into view."Oh my God, it's Stormy! He's back!" I pressed a hand against my heart. He was all grown up now and still had all of his cuteness.Storm's head tilted to the side in confusion before he let out a low whine.Jayden looked surprised before his features softened. "I thi

Last Updated : 2023-08-07

24. Sunday Family Brunch

October 2026, Scars Bay, USA Dimitri Darkness. Nothingness. A boundless void. I was stuck here for what felt like the billionth time. But I couldn't figure a way out for the life of me. 'Murderer,' a high-pitched voice whispered. 'Murderer.' Oh no. Please no. 'Heartless murderer.' I covered my ears. I didn't want to hear it. 'I deserved better than you.' I heard a familiar voice shriek. The voice was loud. Too fucking loud. There was no source in sight but I didn't need to see her to know who she was. I could recognize that voice anywhere. 'Cold, heartless murderer,' the high-pitched voice kept murmuring in the background. 'I was supposed to be the Queen,' she sneered. 'I was supposed to rule the world.' I ran. I nee

Last Updated : 2023-08-08

25. First Date

October 2026, Scars Bay, USA Katerina I laughed. "How are you doing?" I shouldn't be laughing. I really shouldn't. Not after he was there for me in a way no one had been in a long time. Maybe he was right. I did judge him too quickly. Not only did he comfort me when I was upset, but he also went out of his way to improve my mood. He suggested we go for a ride. When I asked him to take his pick, he asked for Thunder, Alya's stallion. Apparently, he had heard a lot about the horse from Alya and knew that only she and the stablemaster could control him. Alya had told him that he wouldn't be able to do it. Dimitri was determined to prove her wrong. And watching him trying to make it happen was hilarious. He had been trying to get close to a saddled Thunder for the past fifteen minutes without getting his head kicked off. I even went and changed into my riding gear but as e

Last Updated : 2023-08-09

26. Dream State and Reality

October 2026,Scars Bay, USA KaterinaI traced a finger along the edge of the glass, looking at the rich, decadent amber-colored liquid that could be the answer to all my problems.I knew I was teetering on a dangerous line. One step over and I'd be done for.The tips of my fingers twitched. I had a fire in me. And I wanted that fire to consume me. I wanted it to burn me so that I could forget the hurt today brought me.There was a certain kind of relief in giving in to destruction.I lifted the glass with a trembling hand and watched the whiskey swoosh around. Lifting it to my lips, I closed my eyes and let go of all my thoughts and worries.But before the alcohol even touched my lips, the glass was ripped out of my hands."What are you doing here?"I looked at the owner of the voice. "Leave me alone."He placed my glass away and took a sea

Last Updated : 2023-08-10

27. Multidimensional

October 2026,Scars Bay, USA Katerina"You look ready for war," Dimitri said once I stepped out into the living room, his appreciative gaze slowly sliding down my entire body.I was ready for war. I was wearing my favorite white blazer dress that I had paired with blood-red Louboutins. My makeup was dramatic and dark and my lip was colored a bold red. I had my armor on and I was ready to draw blood."I've realized that knights in shining armor don't exist in the real world," I said pointedly, referring to our very first conversation. "If you want something, you need to go get it yourself."A slight frown touched his forehead. "And what is it that you want?""Nothing you can afford," I told him as I crossed the living room, heading for the door.Dimitri grabbed my wrist. I wanted to murder all the goddamn butterflies in my stomach that dared to

Last Updated : 2023-08-11

28. Cliffhanger

October 2026,Scars Bay, USA KaterinaMy phone ring startled me awake. It was the middle of the freaking night! Who the hell was it?"Ugh." I rolled to my side and grabbed my phone. The bright screen of the phone made me squint and I had difficulty reading the name on the screen. It took a moment for me to catch the name. Samuelson. I instantly picked up. "Open your apartment door. I'm on my way up," he said without greeting. It took another moment for me to register what he was saying. When I did, my eyes snapped open. This was odd. What the hell was he doing here in the middle of the night? A cold shiver trickled down my spine. Something was off. It didn't feel right. Something had to be very wrong for him to be here without any prior notice, especially in the middle of the night. "Is everything okay?" I sat up, slid m

Last Updated : 2023-08-12

29. Leverage

October 2026,Scars Bay, USA AlyannaDimitri's call had stressed out all of us. Andrei and Mikhail seemed relieved to find out that the PI that had been worrying them was hired by Kate. But they were still stressed about having to tell Kate the entire truth. They were worried about what she would do once she found out. But a part of me was glad. I would finally be able to tell Kate the truth. Maybe then, she would hate me a little less. When we walked into her apartment, Kate was already sitting on the couch with her arms crossed. Samuelson was sitting on an armchair and he looked at me like he was relieved. I gave him a small smile. Or what I hoped looked like a smile. He gave me a short nod. I looked at Dimitri. He tore his gaze away from Kate to look at me. His face remained neutral but his eyes were giving me much-needed encouragement.

Last Updated : 2023-08-13

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