All Chapters of Ties That Bind: Chapter 141 - Chapter 150

PIPER’S POVAfter Rowan told me he had an urgent trip to go for, I didn’t say anything. I just laid back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, pretending to be calm. But inside, I wasn’t. My thoughts were spiraling in every possible direction.He sat quietly for a moment too, the room heavy with silence. The air between us felt charged …not with anger, but with everything that had gone unsaid. I could feel his gaze on me, steady and intense, as though he was searching my face for answers I wasn’t ready to give.That silence grew louder with every passing second until his voice cut through it.“I won’t go.”I blinked, thinking I had heard wrong. Slowly, I turned to him, my heart skipping a beat. “What… Did you just say?”He met my eyes without hesitation, his tone firmer this time. “I said I won’t go.”I pushed myself up on my elbows, staring at him, confused, knitting my brows together. “Why?” I asked quietly, my voice softer than I intended.Rowan’s expression shifted, the usual steel

PIPER’S POVThe drive was quiet but peaceful, the kind of silence that didn’t hurt anymore. My hand was in Rowan’s, our fingers laced together, and for the first time in weeks I didn’t want to pull away. The road lights glowed softly against the windshield, washing everything in gold. His thumb traced lazy circles over my skin, and it felt strange how something so small could make me feel… safe.I’d forgotten what this felt like. The calm. The warmth. The gentleness that used to live between us before life and secrets got in the way.I was tired of the fights, the tension, the constant tiptoeing around each other. Tonight felt like a pause from all that.When we finally pulled up at the resort, I actually gasped. It was a water resort—broad pools spreading into the distance, strings of lights dancing on the surface, the faint sound of music floating in the air. It looked like something out of a dream.Rowan parked and came around to open my door. “We’re here,” he said, smiling a littl

THAMES’ POVI didn’t know what else to do anymore.Every single day felt like I was walking on eggshells around Lia. She barely spoke to me unless it was necessary. When she did, her words were sharp enough to cut through my chest.I’d been trying..God knows I had..but nothing was working.“Lia,” I called softly from the couch, watching her move around the room, folding the same blanket for the third time.She didn’t even look at me. “Hmm?”“Can we talk?”“There’s nothing to talk about, Thames,” she said without meeting my eyes.“Yes, there is.” I stood up, taking a small step closer. “You’ve barely said a word to me in days. You keep avoiding me, like I’ve done something unforgivable.”She turned to me suddenly, her face tight with anger. “You really don’t get it, do you?”“Then help me get it,” I said quietly. “I’m trying, Lia. I’m trying so hard to fix this.”Her laugh was humorless. “Fix what, Thames? The fact that there’s still another woman in the picture? The fact that you keep

LIA’S POVThe apartment was too quiet after Thames left. The air still felt heavy with all the things we hadn’t said. I sat on the edge of the couch, staring at the door as if he might come back through it and decide we could fix everything.But he didn’t.I rubbed my hands together, fighting the hollow ache that filled the room. I told myself this was what I wanted..space, distance, silence. Yet the silence pressed on my chest until I could hardly breathe.A soft knock broke through my thoughts. I groaned. “Not again,” I muttered, already preparing another speech for Thames about how space meant staying away.I opened the door…and froze.“Steven?”He smiled a little, his eyes scanning my face. “You look like you’ve been crying.”I wiped my cheek quickly, forcing a small laugh. “I was about to call you.”He leaned one shoulder against the frame. “Yeah? I figured you might need company.”Something in his calm voice made the tension ease a bit. I stepped aside. “Come in.”He did, moving

PIPER’S POVWhen my phone rang and I saw Dad flashing on the screen, I froze.For a second, I just stared at it, unsure whether to pick up or let it ring out. It had been months since he called..months since we’d even exchanged proper words. The last few times we spoke, it was about money… or rather, about the lack of it. So naturally, I expected this call to be about that too.With a quiet sigh, I answered, trying not to sound irritated. “Hello, Dad.”His voice came through the line immediately…hoarse, shaky, and surprisingly soft.“Piper… I’m sorry.”That wasn’t what I expected to hear. I blinked, momentarily speechless. “Sorry? For what?”“For everything,” he said quietly. “For not calling, for not checking on you. I know I’ve been a terrible father lately.”I frowned, my irritation fading just a little. “Okay… what’s going on?”He sighed again, and I could hear the sound of people murmuring in the background, nurses maybe, or the echo of a hospital hallway. “It’s complicated. Thin