All Chapters of When Love and Hate Rise Like the Tide: Chapter 21 - Chapter 25

"Do you have any idea how much it hurt when I found out about the first time you kissed Lily? The first time you slept with her?"I tried so hard to forgive you, to understand you, to find our way back to what we once had. But you kept hurting me. I was in so much pain, Xavier. My heart hurt so badly. How could you not see that?"And now you want me to forgive you? How am I supposed to do that?"She pressed her slender fingers against his chest, but the gentle touch felt like an enormous weight bearing down on his heart.Xavier's eyes filled with sorrow, and the pain was so overwhelming he could barely breathe."I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."In this second life, their positions had been completely reversed. Only now did Xavier truly understand what Riley had felt all those times she'd begged him for mercy.Her tears fell into his palm, each drop making his heart ache. Yet beyond apologizing, he had no idea what else to say.Everything that had happened between him and Lily in their pre

Xavier was so weak that even breathing pulled at the countless wounds covering his body, sending pain through him. Blood loss had left his vision fading in and out, and he barely had the strength to speak. He didn't bother trying.Surrounded by the familiar scent that was uniquely Riley's, he felt a rare sense of peace.It had been so long since they'd shared such a peaceful, happy moment.As Riley busied herself tending to his wounds, a faint smile crept across Xavier's lips, and the tension gradually left his face.Only after making sure his injuries weren't life-threatening did Riley finally relax. By then, Xavier had closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. His exhaustion seemed to rub off on her, and before long, she curled up beside him and fell asleep too, forgetting even to clean the blood off herself.Some habits were so deeply ingrained that they never truly disappeared. Despite all the love and hatred they'd shared in their previous lives, their sleeping bodies still instin

At the hospital, the examination results confirmed that although Lily and Yates had suffered serious injuries, both would survive. They would also be facing prison time.Neither the Quinns nor the Parkers had any intention of letting them off the hook.When the police arrived to take them away, Lily became hysterical, struggling violently against the officers."Do you have any idea who I am? I'm Mrs. Parker! Xavier Parker's wife! You can't arrest me!"Xavier, I'm the one you're supposed to love! I finally got a second chance! I finally made it back to a time when you and Riley weren't together, when you hadn't married her! Why are you doing this to me?"You're going to regret treating me like this for the rest of your life! If Riley dies, there'll be nothing standing between us anymore! I'm the one you really love!"She screamed until her voice was raw, repeatedly trying to throw herself at Xavier.He dodged her without hesitation, wrapped an arm around Riley, and led her away."No mat