Novel & Cerita I Keep Breathing Love

"Xav, you're clever. Surely you've figured it out by now? I used to have your love to hold onto you. Now that I don't, I've had to find other ways." "I know how you are. You'd never keep someone around who didn't love you," I said. "But I'd make an exception for you." She stared at me intently, and when I stayed silent, she pushed further. "You know how much influence the Steeles have in Jasserton, Xav. Quit your job. I don't want you doing livestreams. Don't make me go after your company." I stared at Helga—the woman I'd once loved so deeply, who used to curl up in my arms, sweet and gentle, all charm and tenderness.

Rosa, draped across him, had her arms wrapped around his neck, leaning in to kiss him with the kind of intimate abandon that left no room for others. Byron's eyes shifted toward the door as I entered, his dark gaze flickering with something that resembled satisfaction. He patted Rosa's arm, and she immediately slid off him, sitting on the side with an air of practiced indifference. "It's 11:10 PM. You're ten minutes late." Byron extended his hand, glancing at his wristwatch. I lowered my head, muttering quietly, "Bibi had a fever. I went to get her some ice cream."

"If no one else wants to be your friend, I'll be your friend. From now on, I've got your back." She scratched her head bashfully when he stared at her. Upon second thought, she unhooked the keychain from her backpack and handed it to him with a dimpled grin. "Here. This is a friendship gift," she said. At that moment, the seed of love took root in Carter's heart. He had treasured that gift for many years. Now, staring at the keychain for what felt like an eternity, Carter finally placed it into a box. Sealing the box felt like he was storing away the love he had harbored for Misty over the past decade.

Selene asked quietly. When her emerald beads touched Jamie's blue irises, they looked watery—almost crying. Jamie's beautiful face lit up with a smile. "You can call me daddy, baby girl."

It makes me really sad. [3.6 Failed at suicide. Why can't I even choose to die? Life is unbearably painful. I can't go on.] [If there's a next life...] The black ink had blurred from my tears, and the words beyond it had become unreadable. I muttered, "Even though you already know, I still want to tell you that I really love you. I love you so much that I wish for another life with you." For a moment, it felt as if Samuel were standing right beside me again—still the lively, confident young man I remembered. I couldn't look away, mesmerized, unwilling to wake from the illusion.

I questioned him, he took hold of my nape. "Aise" he said before his lips captured mine knocking the wind out of me. My eyes widened in damn shock. Did he just tricked me? He was chewing and nibbling my lips with his. After some time I was out of the breath he pulled away. As soon as he left, I sucked in a deep breath. "Karthik is this breath holding exercise?" I asked. "It's true love you are holding your breath right? That's why I addressed it as breath holding exercise" I looked at him dumbfounded. From where did he get this crazy ideas?

Right now, his arms feel like the only place where I can still breathe. I nod against his chest and listen to the steady thud of his heart. The sound is slow and strong, almost enough to quiet the panic still fluttering inside me. His lips brush over my hair, then my forehead, soft and lingering, as if he is trying to soothe every trace of fear out of me. “Baby, I love you.” His voice is so quiet that it almost breaks me. “Love you too,” I whisper, pressing a small kiss to his chest.

“You think this will mαke me love you?” I didn’t αnswer. I couldn’t. My voice wαs gone while my heαrt screαmed in silence. The only sound wαs his rαgged breαthing αnd the sick rhythm of it αll until finαlly‚ mercifully‚ he stopped. His weight lifted off me‚ αnd for α moment‚ I thought I could finαlly breαthe αgαin. My fingers clutched the sheets tightly‚ my whole body trembling αs the αir rushed bαck into my lungs. I couldn’t move‚ not until I heαrd the rustle of fαbric behind me‚ the coldness of his presence leαving the room.

"Breathe." He soothes slowly. ‘Breathe’? As if I have ever stopped breathing. I have been breathing since I was born, since I fell in love, since I first got slapped by his mother, since I walked down the aisle anyway, and since I signed those papers. I have been breathing so... “That’s it, in…and out.” He repeats rhythmically, over and over, until the tears flooding my eyes slow, and my lungs take in the air following his pattern.

With all my love, Aria ❤️