All Chapters of How To Love A Murderer.: Chapter 131 - Chapter 140

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty One: In Our Home. Morning light filtered through the bedroom window, soft and golden, the kind of light that was supposed to feel peaceful. Ian stood before the mirror, struggling with his tie, his movements jerky and unfocused like his mind was somewhere else entirely. Zhedya appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame, watching. He always watched…it was what he did. He walked up behind Ian and gently took the tie from his fumbling hands. Looped it around Ian's neck and started tying it with practiced ease, his fingers moving slow and deliberate. "You're going to strangle yourself before you even get to work." Zhedya's voice was quiet against Ian's ear. Ian didn't respond…just stared at their reflection in the mirror. Two men. One tie. Seven years of history in a single moment. "Is it Elena?" Zhedya's hands kept moving, steady. "Did she say something else after the party?" "Don't worry about it." Ian's voice came out too quick, too sha

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Three: My Devil is Bulletproof Zhedya stood at the back of the car, hand on the boot latch. The officer waited, flashlight still glowing. Ian stood frozen a few feet away, phone still in his hand, Elena's voice still echoing in his ears, his heart slamming against his ribs like it wanted out. Zhedya's fingers curled around the latch. He didn't hesitate or look at Ian, he just pulled it open. The officer leaned forward, flashlight cutting into the darkness of the boot. Two large sandbags sat inside. Heavy. Solid. Innocent. The kind used for gym workouts, for weight training, for a hundred normal things. Camping gear was packed around them…a tent rolled tight, sleeping bags stuffed into sacks, cooking supplies in a plastic bin. The officer blinked, looked closer. The flashlight swept over everything. Zhedya shook his head with just the right amount of tired frustration, his words coming out smooth and unapologetic. "We were supposed to go campin

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Five: Secrets Meant To Be Found Afternoon light streamed through the windows of Ian's apartment, warm and golden, the kind of light that was supposed to feel peaceful. It didn't. The door opened and Elena walked in confidently, keys in hand. She moved like she still owned the place, like nothing had changed, like seven years of marriage and one divorce hadn't happened. Ian came around the corner and stopped immediately when he saw her. "Elena." His voice was careful, measured. "You're early." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. The smile of someone who had come with an agenda. "I wanted to spend some time with Lily. Just us girls." She looked around the apartment, taking it in. "Where is she?" "Zhedya picked her up from school. They'll be here any minute." Ian walked past her toward the kitchen, trying to seem casual. At the name, Elena's expression flickered. Just for a second, but Ian saw it and decided not to wait. "Elena." He steppe

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Seven: Radio Silence It was evening. The kind of quiet that feels wrong, heavy, like the silence before something bad happens. Ian sat on the couch, phone in hand, staring at a blank screen. Days had passed…No calls…No texts..but silence from Zhedya. Five days since Zhedya got in that taxi. Five days has passed since he promised to call every day. Ian's phone had stayed silent. He had called dozens of times, all sent straight to voicemail every single time. Texted and still nothing. He even checked the news from Sweden, scrolling through articles he couldn't read, looking for anything that might explain the silence. Nothing. It was like Zhedya had vanished into thin air. Lily asked every morning. "When is Zhedya coming back?" Ian lied every time. "Soon, bug. He calls when you're asleep. He says he misses you." Lily believed him. Children always believe which made it worse. Ian couldn't do it anymore, he dialed Elijah. Elijah picked up on

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Nine: Being Better For Love The kiss turned deeper, hungrier, like they were trying to crawl inside each other’s skin. Ian’s hands shook as he shoved at Zhedya’s shirt, desperate to feel warm skin under his palms again. Zhedya helped him, yanking the fabric over his head and tossing it somewhere in the dark. Then his big hands were on Ian…pulling him closer, sliding under the thin tank top Ian slept in, rough fingertips dragging up his spine.Ian broke the kiss just long enough to rip his own shirt off, throwing it away like it offended him. Their bare chests crashed together, skin on skin, and Ian let out this broken little sound he couldn’t hold back.Zhedya flipped them in one smooth move so Ian was straddling his hips, knees sinking into the mattress on either side. The sheets were already twisted from earlier, but now they were a mess under them. Moonlight slipped through the half-open curtains, painting silver stripes across Zhedya’s che