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CHAPTER FOURTY-TWO: THE RIFT WITHIN.
Last Updated:
2024-12-17 19:55:20
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Jerry stood up slowly, his expression filled with disappointment as he turned to Laura. “What’s she saying, Laura?” There was an edge of concern and frustration in his voice. Laura was caught off guard by the sudden confrontation. She stammered, her words caught in her throat.She could only glance at Fred with growing disgust, unable to process the situation. She squirmed in her mind, thinking of all that had just transpired, but the tension of the room made clear thoughts impossible."Laura!" He was getting louder almost by the second, the patience in Jerry's voice was running out. He needed an answer, and fast.Laura flinched at the sharpness of his tone. She wanted to explain, to make sense of everything, but the words seemed to escape her. Her gaze shifted back to Fred, whose calm demeanor only added to the confusion.Fred, noticing Jerry’s growing anger, quickly jumped in to deflect the blame. “Relax, man! I was just helping her with the washing machine and that’s all,” Fred sa
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“You! Fred! It’s you!” the woman screamed, her voice sharp with fury as she swung at him with small, frantic punches.Fred stepped back in astonishment as he swung his arms to dodge her fists. "What is the matter with you? Who are you?” He yelled, his voice growing louder amidst the turmoil.Her attacks didn’t slow, her anger unwavering. Each blow seemed fueled by something deeper, something unresolved. Fred’s heart pounded as adrenaline kicked in, his movements desperate to avoid her. He couldn’t make sense of it, her rage, her accusations, or why she knew his name.“Stop it! What’s your problem? Who are you?” Fred yelled, his voice cracking with frustration as he struggled to fend off the furious woman. Raging like fire, her continuous aggressiveness pumped up his heart and made him move frantically.Maggie quickly threw herself in between them, grasping the woman by her arms and hauling her away from him. But the woman, preoccupied by rage and fire, resisted, but her grip did not l
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Laura and Sarah walked to the table, the atmosphere between them tense and filled with uncertainty. As they sat down, Laura’s gaze remained fixed on Sarah, her mind racing with questions. What could Sarah possibly want to talk about? The last time they spoke, it was all about hostility in the air. Laura wondered whether this sudden change of behavior really meant anything or was just another game of Sarah's manipulation. All she could do now was wait for Sarah to speak, the silence between the two leaving Laura high and dry on what to expect.Fred shot Sarah a warning stare from across the room, his eyes cold and intense. Sarah met his gaze, understanding the silent threat instantly. She couldn’t help but laugh softly, the sound carrying through the air with an almost mocking undertone.Laura, sensing the tension between them, turned to Sarah, a hint of confusion in her voice. “What’s funny?” She asked, her brows furrowing slightly. The question hung in the air, but Sarah just smirke
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Fred came to a halt, frozen by Jerry’s penetrating stare, his pulse raced as he considered his next move.Jerry’s question hung in the air, accusatory. Fred looked back and forth at Sarah and Jerry, resolving that he would not let the secret out about Jack.“Listen… there’s nothing,” Fred finally said, not quite with his clipped voice but calm, a cover for the tension wrapping itself around him. He wanted to get out of this before it went south. “And I have to go. We have to go now.”Not waiting for an answer, Fred yanked Sarah’s arm as they walked out of the cafe.Fred couldn’t leave Sarah behind with Jerry; he knew her to be unpredictable, an opportunist who flourished on blackmail. The last thing he wanted was for her to play him in order to profit off his secret.Fred and Sarah left and Jerry stood there watching them go, his head filled with confusion. He had tried to fit it all together, and none of it had made sense.Jerry felt that Fred was concealing something, especially wit
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Jerry hesitated, feeling his heart race as he saw the woman in front of him. Her presence was unexpected and almost surreal. "Linda?" He whispered, barely audible, as he cautiously stepped closer. She gazed at him, calm and confident, her expression inscrutable, but oddly familiar. Her dark eyes gleamed with curiosity of knowing, and her lips formed a small smile that didn’t seem to reach her eyes. "Yes, Jerry, it's me," Linda said, her tone steady as she extended her hand towards him. There was no hesitation in her gesture, only a subtle firmness that showed her self-assurance. Jerry reached out carefully and briefly shook her cool, deliberate hand. He pulled back quickly, his mind racing. Why was she here, of all places? "You seem surprised," Linda observed, tilting her head slightly, her soft smile unchanged. "I can see it written all over your face." Jerry tried to compose himself, but questions flooded his mind. He couldn't shake the unease creeping up his spine. Why now? W
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Fred and Maggie rushed into the car, their hearts pounding with fear as if the walls of their reality were closing in.“Go… please go!” Maggie sobbed, her voice quaking as she kept hitting Fred's arm, urging him to drive faster. She cried out in agony, tears flowing down her cheeks almost as if every drop was tearing at her very flesh. Fred's palms quivered as he held onto the steering wheel.The car sped off, leaving the company and its cold, indifferent walls behind. His focus remained locked on the road ahead, though his mind raced with dark possibilities.“Maggie, relax, please,” Fred pleaded, his voice cracking under the weight of his own rising panic.But Maggie couldn’t be calmed. She wept uncontrollably, her mind echoing the haunting words of her neighbor. “Fred… they said something happened. Is my son dead?” She choked out, her body shaking as she buried her face in her hands.Fred glanced at her briefly, his chest tightening. He had never seen her this broken. He fought bac
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As Fred continued to pace nervously, his eyes once again met Daniel’s. The young boy was still standing at a distance, his gaze locked on Fred with an intensity that seemed unusual for someone his age. Daniel’s concern was visible, his eyes filled with worry as he watched the unfolding drama.Fred paused mid-step, instinctively sensing that the child was more invested in the situation than he should be. He stared back at Daniel, feeling a strange weight in the boy’s gaze, as though he recognized something about him. The feeling was unsettling, as if he had seen Daniel somewhere before, but Fred couldn’t quite place it. His mind raced, but the connection remained elusive.Shaking off the nagging thought, Fred looked away and resumed his restless pacing. Each intense step he took made his heart pump faster, squeezing tighter in anxiety. He could hardly concentrate on anything with the indescribable fear of Jack's well-being attached to it.He glanced toward the doctor’s office, waiting
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Fred was frozen and stared at Jerry and Laura. The air became strangling. His throat felt as dry as sand and beat feverishly in his chest. Despite the coldness of the air, trickling sweat began to run down his face."What are you doing here?" The voice of Jerry swooped through the silence and cut like a knife, sharp and accusing.The question made Fred flinch, his hands trembling a bit as he tried to keep his cool. His gaze flickered at Laura, who stood rooted, expression-free.Jerry took a step closer before him, moving slowly and narrowing his eyes as they locked on Fred. He leaned forward, scanning Fred’s face with a look that was both probing and unnerving.“You’re sweating,” Jerry observed coldly, his brows furrowing deeper. “Nervous, are we?”.Fred opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. The room seemed to shrink around him, the weight of Jerry’s gaze pressing down on him like a storm about to break.Laura’s gaze flickered between the two men, tension etched into her
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He squeezed Laura's hand as a source of reassurance. His warmth calmed her, keeping her grounded as she struggled with the mention of Maggie and Thomas. The interference of the past rested heavily upon her, and Fred leaned in, low and soothing, whispering, "It is our day, Laura. Let's not let the past ruin it." With a measured exhalation, Laura let his words sink into her thoughts. True, they were right. This moment was for them, their future, their happiness. She held his gaze, the depth of his confidence calming the storm brewing inside her. A slight nod of acceptance from her and a tightening of her fingers around him, told Fred everything she was thinking. "You are right. This will be about us." Mrs. Charlotte watched through the closed-up atmosphere and witnessed Laura's choice. A small, agreeable nod from her gave Laura the reassurance that she had made the right decision. Of course, these events left Jerry and Helen unimpressed and were thrown into silent opposition against
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Dr. Hayes broke through the thick silence in the room, his calm but authoritative presence demandingly freezing the mounting tension. It was not his role to mediate personal conflicts, nor was he, in this instance, in a position to deal with their personal matters. His only concern was with Laura and the child. "Come along with me," he said; his voice lacked any intonation to permit debate about this demand. Before they could say anything, he turned to walk down the hall toward his office.For a moment, Fred and Laura hesitated, thoughts of what this meant for them flashing through the airless space between them. But they had to follow. Their soft footsteps barely made a sound against the stark hospital floor once again. Each crunching sound blasted forth their uncertainty. The hallway stretched before them, a quiet course that led toward solutions, or perhaps more questions.Having arrived at his office, Dr. Hayes swung open the door for them to enter. "Please," he said, his hand rai
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Pulling her closer with all that he had, Fred lured Laura against him in a deep, lingering kiss. His touch was airy but strong, and the surrounding warmth of his body felt almost like a protective shield. Laura sighed against his mouth as her fingers wove into his hair, drifting into his embrace.The two hearts thumped in time, erasing the space between them and moving together so precisely that it was almost magical. Every word they whispered, every lingering caress, seemed to carry a meaning beyond mere language. With a gentle caress, Fred traced down her neck, dizzied by the glowing warmth of her kiss, while his hands flooded over the lines of her body, reaching, memorizing, and claiming every inch as if terrified it would escape his grasp. Across the muscles of his back, Laura kept sweeping her hands, fingertips teasing his skin while she drew him toward her. No guidance was ever needed as their bodies fit effortlessly together like instinct and desire, with a natural rhythm of t
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Laura’s breath snagged in the middle, shallow, and so uneven to the point of being expelled out somewhere between the lungs and lips. A strange ringing noise buzzed in her ears, but along with it, she could still hear the wild erratic beating of her heart; it thumped louder and louder in contrast to the stillness of that room.She blinked once, twice, and her mind was trying to catch up with the unfolding moment before her eyes. In the middle of the beautifully elegant apartment stood Fred on one knee: a sight that shot bolts through her, anchoring her to the spot. His saturated gaze couldn't leave her face, his expression filled with so much expectancy and hope. He had a small velvet box open in his hand, with an engagement ring resting inside. The diamond sparkled at every angle it received light, projecting tiny luminous reflections into the room, as if the very moment had been sealed in some surreal glow. Right next to him, Jerry stood watch with crossed arms and a grin on his
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The dull echoes of her heels striking the polished floor preceded Laura's swift breeze through the front door. Each thrum of her heart spoke her excitement; her mind lingered solely on the evening that lay ahead. She had just one hour left to get ready for dinner at Fred's place. All had to be well.Mrs. Charlotte was sitting on her usual couch, a book thrusting outward from her lap, while Daniel lounged next to her, scrolling lazily on his phone. As Laura stormed in without a word, both looked up, surprise mixed with confusion overtaking their faces as she brushed past them."Where are you rushing to Laura?" Her mother quipped, rather amused.Laura didn't slow down; she didn't answer. There was no time for mockery; all thoughts were on one thing: winning Fred's admiration. Laura opened the door to her bedroom and forcefully swung it shut after entering. Once inside, she took a deep breath and quickly surveyed her room, as if just figuring out how to start. Everything about the dress,
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Laura's heart raced as she ran behind Fred, her heels clicking sharply against the polished office floor. Something in the way he'd called her had unsettled her. Fred never sounded like that unless it was really important. Now, her mind raced with worrisome possibilities, most of them terrible. She threw the door of his office wide, walked in, and froze. There was little air left to breathe. Across from Fred's desk, an attractive woman was sitting there. She imparted an eerie, calm self-confidence. Posture upright. Expression blank.Laura's belly twisted. It was a sinking feeling spreading through her chest.Who was she?The silence felt utterly unbearable in the room, extending and amplifying each beat of Laura's heart. The intrusion of the woman felt not only unexpected but also slightly illicit. Fred hadn't said anything about meeting someone. If it had to do with work, why had he called her so urgently?Her eyes jumped at Fred, looking for answers, but his face gave nothing away
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Jerry just stared at the message on his cell phone and grinned widely. His fingers wrapped firmly around the device, completely fixated on the words running through his eyes over and over again as if relishing each letter. He was so glued to his phone that he could not hear Laura shouting his name over and over again. Her voice, growing more impatient with each repeated call, could hardly reach his ears. She stood near him, arms folded and brows knitted in disappointment. "Jerry," she called a little more loudly now.Still no response.She pressed her lips into a line and strolled very close, watching as reality disappeared for Jerry, leaving him glued to that screen. She was hurting below the surface, and the fury had curled her fingers tightly at her sides. It was so unusual of him to ignore her when she was right there.No response. The sharp breath escaped her lungs as she changed positions from one foot to another. Was he intentionally ignoring her? Her face clouded over as s
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Laura's voice startled the silence, and Fred was pulled out of his thought process. "Fred?".His eyes darted in her direction before he said anything. His jaw tightly set and shoulders stiff, something unreadable lingering in his eyes. Anger, perhaps? Jealousy? Laura could not quite tell. She sighed and inched closer. "Fred, what's wrong?".He didn't answer for a moment. His face was well-guarded, fingers twitching at his side, and then he muttered with a slow shake of his head, “Nothing, you can go,” then quickly added, “just be back before customers come in.”Her breath caught something in his tone. It wasn't casual dismissal but colder, serrated with something he couldn't quite place. Still, she agreed not to push it. "Alright". "I won't take long."Fred didn't reply but gave her a curt nod and turned toward his office, his back rigid as he disappeared inside.Laura stood there for a second, watching the closed door as the unease settled in her chest. Fred was not one to act all
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY-FOUR: A FUTURE WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
Fred lifted his eyes at the very mention of his name. Tension entailed in every part of his body under the pressure of conflicting emotions pressing down upon him. His heart was heavy from an image of Maggie, Thomas, and Jack driving away from him when he stood there amidst revelations he was not ready to face; things like betrayal, painful years of deception, and a son he felt he had. And just when he expected to grab a moment of breath, another person from his past showed before him. Helen was standing a few feet away, observing him with an expression marked by sadness and some fuzzy emotion he could not place, pity perhaps. Her appearance was unexpected, as he had been expecting her to be busy in the kitchen, or with house chores, but somehow he was not startled. Maybe he was too worn out to be surprised anymore. With warm and knowing eyes, Helen moved closer, her slow and steady tread bridging the gap between their two worlds. The world around them felt muted, and time itself s
