Before I can deny his accusations, Kian returns and I just take a step back from his grandfather. “Is everything okay?” Kian asks, looking from me to his grandfather. “I was just wishing him a safe trip back.” I say and then to grandfather, I add, “I hope you stay in good health.” He merely nods
TRAVIS’ POVI have kept my distance from Leslie. I’ve stopped answering her calls at the speed of light, stopped texting her every chance I get, buried myself in work so I don’t even have a second to spare for thoughts of her, and lied about leaving the country for a business trip. I won’t deny how
Fuck, I wasn’t there for Leslie. I was so busy nursing the wounds from seeing her run to Kian for help that I totally neglected her. I should have been there for her. I should have done better. I shouldn’t have let my jealousy get the best of me. I should have told her on the phone that day that I
LESLIE’S POVI can’t tell how long it’s been since I laid down in my bed. I have no knowledge of time and day and I don't even care for those things, I don't even care for anything. I just lay in bed on my side as day bleeds into night and night bleeds back into day. I just lay and stare at the wall
“After you came home that day, I found myself wondering about all of the other times in the past when you must have broken down like that. When you must have needed comforting so badly. Times when you must have wanted someone to hold you and tell you everything would be alright,“I don’t even know i
KIAN’S POV Things are back to normal. Except that I do not exactly know what normal means anymore. Now that grandfather is gone, everything has returned to the way they used to be after Leslie left–dull and lifeless. In her absence, nothing interests me, not even work that has been my solace for
Then she places her palm on her belly, rubbing it gently, “You’re helping us create a good life for our son and I am grateful for that. Please accept my gifts, take as many as you want. It’s on me.” When she notices that everyone isn’t looking at her anymore, she turns her head to look behind her.
“I already told you that I will not let you treat me the way you see fit, Kian. I am carrying your—” “You are carrying my child! Yes! I know that! I can see it Beverly, you don’t have to remind me every goddamn time. And just like I have also said countless times, I am not denying you or our child
LESLIE’S POV I join Kian’s mother outside the room, closing the door behind me. She is still stewing in anger, face red with rage that’s waiting to be unleashed. Usually, I would do anything to pacify her so I wouldn't be at the receiving end of that unbridled rage. Now? Irritation is all I feel at
LESLIE’S POV (One Week Later) “If the police show up again, spray them in the face with the fire extinguisher or something.” Cole’s irritated voice filters through my phone’s speaker and it makes me crack a smile for the first time in a week. “Pretty sure I would get arrested for that.” “Not
LESLIE’S POV My reflexes work faster than they ever have. Fast enough to help me roll away, and bump into Beverly in the process. Mike relentlessly stalks towards me and that’s when I get a good look at his affected leg. I time his movement and before he can take another angry swing of his weapon
LESLIE’S POV Seconds after Beverly crumples to the ground, my breath is still caught in my throat. I’m still trembling as I watch her sprawled on the floor, body jerking uncontrollably. I’m amazed at my strength to still remain standing despite the traumatising scene in front of me. To still grip t
LESLIE’S POV Our hearts are already in our mouths before we see what jumped at us—a ginormous rat, every bit as scared as us. It runs at full speed and scurries into the nearby bush. “All clear.” She mutters and we both step into the shed using her phone’s flashlight. It’s a full shed; a bunch of
LESLIE’S POV We’re barely two minutes away from the abandoned school gate when the engine starts to sputter, the entire truck shaking with the intensity. “No…no…no…no, not now!” Beverly lets out a panicked groan. I am preoccupied with looking behind us to make sure we’re not being followed but at
LESLIE’S POV Kian doesn’t know it—the name of Mike’s sister. I can tell from the way his entire face has gone even paler than it was before. Earlier, it had been pale from the pain of the injuries from the accident that I still don’t know the extent of. Now, he has turned ashen from something m
LESLIE’S POV The sound of my name reaches me from somewhere distant. The sound is repeated just like the throbbing ache in my head. When I finally manage to pry open my eyes, the feeling of deja vu washes over me. My hands and legs are bound tightly just like three years ago in that warehouse.
BEVERLY’S POV The familiar beeping sound that comes from my phone causes me to jerk upright. My eyes train on the screen, following the movement of a blinking red dot on the map. He’s on the move. I slam a couple of bills on the coffee table before hurrying out of the cafe where I had been havi