Echoes Of A Shattered Heart のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 41 - チャプター 50

Zina's POVThe house was too quiet. It was the kind of silence that didn't soothe, that settled into the cracks of your mind and festered. Asher had gone to his room, Jared close on his heels, ensuring he wasn't left alone with his thoughts. I was grateful for that—Jared had a way of reaching Asher that even I couldn't replicate.But now, as I stood in the living room, the emptiness of the space felt suffocating. The echo of Xaden's slap reverberated in my mind, a constant reminder of my failure to shield Asher from his father's anger. I had thought I was prepared for anything, but that single act had shattered my illusions.I walked to the kitchen, needing something to keep my hands busy. The kettle hissed softly as I set it on the stove, the sound grounding me in the present. My fingers trembled as I reached for the tea canister, spilling loose leaves across the counter."Zina."Jared's voice broke through my haze, gentle but firm. I turned to find him leaning against the doorway, h

Jared POVThe sun shone gently, and the air smelled like freshly cut grass as Asher held my hand tightly. His grip was firm, like he was afraid I'd let go. We walked through the park, the sound of our footsteps on the paved path the only noise between us. Zina wasn't here, and her absence was noticeable, but today wasn't about her or me. Today was about Asher.He needed a break, something to distract him from the heavy cloud hanging over his world since Xaden had shown up again.Asher kicked a small rock down the path, his head hanging low, his shoulders slumped. It hurt to see him like this—a kid carrying worries too big for someone his age. I stopped walking, crouched down in front of him, and held his small hand firmly."Hey, buddy," I said softly. "What do you think about heading to the duck pond? We could race sticks down the water or feed the ducks. What do you think?"He glanced up at me, his brown eyes—so much like his mom's—filled with doubt. "Do you think Mom is okay? What i

Asher's POV"Don't forget your water bottle," Mom said as we pulled up to the gym. Her voice was soft, but I could hear the tension behind it, the same tension that had been there since Dad left. She smiled, trying to act normal, but I wasn't fooled.I grabbed my bag from the back seat, avoiding her eyes. "Yeah, I got it."She reached over and touched my arm lightly. "Asher, have a good practice, okay? I'll be here to pick you up when you're done."I nodded, mumbling, "Okay," before hopping out of the car and shutting the door behind me.I didn't turn around as she drove away, but I could feel the weight of her gaze lingering for a moment before she disappeared down the street.The truth was, I didn't want to be at practice today—or anywhere, really. But staying home meant hearing Mom's worried questions or Jared's attempts to cheer me up, and I didn't have the energy for either.******Practice dragged. My passes were sloppy, and I missed more shots than I made. Coach Marcus noticed,

Zina POVThe car slowly rolled up the driveway, its engine quietly turning off as we stopped. I glanced at Asher in the rearview mirror. His face was turned to the window, staring out with a blank look. The sunlight streamed in through the glass, casting a soft glow on his face, but he didn't seem to notice. I could feel the silence between us, thick and heavy, like something was wrong but neither of us knew how to fix it."We're home," I said softly, trying to sound normal. My voice felt shaky, but I hoped Asher wouldn't notice. I didn't want him to feel like something was off, but the truth was, everything felt wrong.Asher didn't respond. He just stared outside, his small shoulders slumped forward. I knew he wasn't upset with me—at least, I didn't think he was. But something had changed. I wasn't sure what it was, but I could see it in the way he held himself, the way he was becoming quieter each day. I wanted to fix it, but I didn't know how.I got out of the car and walked around

Zina POVI was heading into the staff break room, hoping for a moment of peace before I dove back into my duties. But as soon as I turned the corner, I heard her voice—a venomous, sharp tone that sent a wave of anger crawling up my spine."You know, Zina," Clara sneered from the hallway, her voice practically dripping with disdain, "you really are a piece of work. You think you can intimidate everyone with your little doctor persona, but you don't fool me."I froze, feeling my heart race, the blood in my veins suddenly cold. I didn't have to look at her to know what was coming. It was her usual game—always picking at me, always trying to find some way to drag me down.I didn't want to deal with it. I didn't have time for it. But I couldn't ignore her either. The tension in my chest flared, and I took a slow, controlled breath."Clara," I said, my voice steady despite the heat rising inside me. "Stay out of my business.""Oh, I'm sorry," she scoffed, stepping forward, a malicious grin