Alexis observed as he wrote angrily, his face lit up by the screen. She knew Haven would do anything to keep her safe, and the thought gave her a little degree of consolation. But the fear was still there, prowling just underneath the surface. As Haven worked, Alexis found herself replaying the call in her mind. The sound of the breathing, the ominous silence… It all felt so thick, so individual. She shuddered, pulling the cover on the sofa more tightly around herself. “What if they’re trying to frighten me?” she inquired, her voice scarcely over a whisper. Haven looked up from the tablet, his expression genuine. “Then they’ve succeeded. But we’re not going to let them keep you frightened. We’ll get to the root of this.” He returned his face to the screen, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he explored through distinctive websites and gatherings, searching for any device that may help to trace the call.Hours passed, the night getting darker and calmer, but not one or the othe
Vanessa’s loft was as if it were a ten-minute drive, but it felt like an endlessness as Haven's mind ran through the conceivable outcomes. When he at long last pulled into the park, his heart crashed in his chest. He found her front door somewhat unlatched. "Vanessa?" Haven pushed it open cautiously. Inside, he found her on the floor at the foot of the stairs, jumping in torment as she clutched her lower leg. The scene was chaotic, a chair upside down, her purse spilled over the floor, and one of her shoes lying midway down the stairs. Vanessa’s face was pale, her breathing shallow. "Jesus, Vanessa," Haven murmured, hurrying to her side. "What the hell happened?" She looked up at him with wide, tear-streaked eyes. "Alexis," she whispered. Haven solidified. "What? What around Alexis?" "She was here," Vanessa said, her voice trembling. "She pushed me." Haven gazed at her in incredulity. "Alexis wouldn't, she wouldn’t do that!"Vanessa’s eyes are somewhat limited. "She did, Haven.
His marriage to Alexis had continuously been great, but this minute right now was digging up questions and questions he didn’t know how to reply. Could Vanessa truly be telling the truth? "Haven." Vanessa’s voice was soft, arguing. "I need you, just for a couple of days while I recoup. I don’t have anybody else." When Haven at last came home that night, Alexis was waiting for him in the living room, her arms crossed firmly over her chest. The minute she saw him, she stood up, her face pale and strained. "Well?" Alexis requested. "What did she say?" "She’s hurt, Alexis. Her lower leg is sprained, and the doctor said it could’ve been more awful if she’d landed in an unexpected way.""That’s not what I implied, Haven," Alexis snapped. "Did she say anything else? Is she still accusing me?" Haven’s quiet was quick enough. Alexis tossed her hands up in scepticism. "I can’t believe you! You’re really believing her?" "I’m not saying I believe her," Haven answered, his voice rigid with
As long as they were talking, she lamented it, but it was late. Haven’s expression obscured, and he took a step back, as if her words had physically hit him. “Are you for real right now?” he inquired discreetly. His voice was low, controlled, but Alexis may hear the hurt underneath it. “You think I still have feelings for Vanessa?” Alexis looked away, her throat tight. She didn’t know what to say. She had no proof, no genuine reason to accept that he still loved Vanessa. But the fear, the frailty, had taken root deep in her chest, and it wouldn’t let go. Haven shook his head, letting out a baffled breath. “This isn’t about me having feelings for her. Vanessa is wiped out. She’s frightened. She’s alone in this, and I can’t just turn my back on her.” “You can’t turn your back on her, but you'll turn your back on me?” Alexis inquired, her voice trembling with emotion. “Do you indeed realise what this is doing to us? To me? I’ve been here, holding up, stressing, pondering where you're
Alexis looked at his face, her lips squeezed into a lean line. She needed to accept him. She needed to accept that things may go back to how they were some time ago. But part of her was still afraid…. afraid that this was just the starting of something that might break them. “I don’t know in case I can just believe that,” Alexis said unobtrusively. “I need more than words, Haven.” Haven nodded gradually, pressing her hands. “I know. I’ll show it to you. I’ll make this right.” Alexis looked down at their interlaced hands, her heart throbbing with the weight of everything that had happened. She needed to believe him, to believe that they may settle this. But she moreover knew that it wouldn’t be simple. It wouldn’t be settled overnight.“Okay,” she whispered, her voice faltering. “But don’t make promises you can’t keep.” Haven lifted her hands to his lips, kissing her knuckles softly. “I won’t. I swear.” Alexis closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his touch, the truthfulness in his
For a long, tense minute, none of them moved. Alexis stood at the door, her chest hurling, her eyes bolted on Haven. The air felt thick, charged with feeling, as if time had halted through and through. “Alexis…” Haven at last overseen, his voice breaking marginally as he said her title. He took a little step toward her, but she took a bigger one back. “Don’t.” Alexis’ voice was scarcely over a whisper, but the constraint behind it was unmistakable. She felt numb, but underneath that deadness was an outrage so furious she thought she might detonate if she didn’t say something, anything. “Don’t you dare take another step.” Havensolidified, his face falling. He looked nearly terrible now, standing in the center of the room, caught between his wife and his ex. “Alexis, I—” “What the hell did I just walk in on?” Alexis’ voice broke, and for a minute, she thought she might lose control and collapse into wails right at that point and there. But she bit down hard on her lip, constraining
Alexis sighed heavily as one of the drunken men held her down. She turned to him, ready to slam his face with her purse or maybe her fist. Whichever one worked faster. ‘Going so fast?’’ he asked in a slur, his breath smelling like rotten fruits mixed with herbs.‘I’m not here to keep you company,’ She gritted out.‘I want to take you home with me,’ he purred, his eyes mischievous. It made his hideous looking face look even more hideous.Trying not to gag, she forced a straight face and laughed. ‘You can’t even afford me.’’The man laughed and dug his hand into his pocket to withdraw his credit card. He waved it in her face. Alexis knew this man wasn’t joking. Whipping her head, she looked around the club, wondering where Haven went. He said he had to pee and he’s been gone for five minutes.She turned back to the man. "Get your hands off me," she said, her stomach churning.‘’I know you wanted me over. You’ve been eyeing me since you came in.’’ The man snickered. ‘’Lucky you. Girls l
‘Come again? I didn’t hear you the first time.The blonde haired young man sitting on the other side of the desk stared at his friend in utter disbelief, as though the words that came out were too foreign to understand. He stared for so long he didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, be embarrassed or be confused. Haven Gray rubbed his temples, clearly agitated over his friend's reaction. His hands clenched into fists as he remembered the conversation he had on the phone with his mother a few days ago.“I need to see my grandchildren,” she said.“You're not getting any younger,” she complained.“Do you want me to die a lonely woman,” she whined.Haven wasn't sure how well he'd handled her entire phone conversation without him throwing his phone halfway across his room.And then he'd told her he was already planning to marry someone soon. Which was a big, stupid, lie. But he needed her off his neck. And then she'd ask that he bring this new soon to be wife of his because she was well aware
For a long, tense minute, none of them moved. Alexis stood at the door, her chest hurling, her eyes bolted on Haven. The air felt thick, charged with feeling, as if time had halted through and through. “Alexis…” Haven at last overseen, his voice breaking marginally as he said her title. He took a little step toward her, but she took a bigger one back. “Don’t.” Alexis’ voice was scarcely over a whisper, but the constraint behind it was unmistakable. She felt numb, but underneath that deadness was an outrage so furious she thought she might detonate if she didn’t say something, anything. “Don’t you dare take another step.” Havensolidified, his face falling. He looked nearly terrible now, standing in the center of the room, caught between his wife and his ex. “Alexis, I—” “What the hell did I just walk in on?” Alexis’ voice broke, and for a minute, she thought she might lose control and collapse into wails right at that point and there. But she bit down hard on her lip, constraining
Alexis looked at his face, her lips squeezed into a lean line. She needed to accept him. She needed to accept that things may go back to how they were some time ago. But part of her was still afraid…. afraid that this was just the starting of something that might break them. “I don’t know in case I can just believe that,” Alexis said unobtrusively. “I need more than words, Haven.” Haven nodded gradually, pressing her hands. “I know. I’ll show it to you. I’ll make this right.” Alexis looked down at their interlaced hands, her heart throbbing with the weight of everything that had happened. She needed to believe him, to believe that they may settle this. But she moreover knew that it wouldn’t be simple. It wouldn’t be settled overnight.“Okay,” she whispered, her voice faltering. “But don’t make promises you can’t keep.” Haven lifted her hands to his lips, kissing her knuckles softly. “I won’t. I swear.” Alexis closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his touch, the truthfulness in his
As long as they were talking, she lamented it, but it was late. Haven’s expression obscured, and he took a step back, as if her words had physically hit him. “Are you for real right now?” he inquired discreetly. His voice was low, controlled, but Alexis may hear the hurt underneath it. “You think I still have feelings for Vanessa?” Alexis looked away, her throat tight. She didn’t know what to say. She had no proof, no genuine reason to accept that he still loved Vanessa. But the fear, the frailty, had taken root deep in her chest, and it wouldn’t let go. Haven shook his head, letting out a baffled breath. “This isn’t about me having feelings for her. Vanessa is wiped out. She’s frightened. She’s alone in this, and I can’t just turn my back on her.” “You can’t turn your back on her, but you'll turn your back on me?” Alexis inquired, her voice trembling with emotion. “Do you indeed realise what this is doing to us? To me? I’ve been here, holding up, stressing, pondering where you're
His marriage to Alexis had continuously been great, but this minute right now was digging up questions and questions he didn’t know how to reply. Could Vanessa truly be telling the truth? "Haven." Vanessa’s voice was soft, arguing. "I need you, just for a couple of days while I recoup. I don’t have anybody else." When Haven at last came home that night, Alexis was waiting for him in the living room, her arms crossed firmly over her chest. The minute she saw him, she stood up, her face pale and strained. "Well?" Alexis requested. "What did she say?" "She’s hurt, Alexis. Her lower leg is sprained, and the doctor said it could’ve been more awful if she’d landed in an unexpected way.""That’s not what I implied, Haven," Alexis snapped. "Did she say anything else? Is she still accusing me?" Haven’s quiet was quick enough. Alexis tossed her hands up in scepticism. "I can’t believe you! You’re really believing her?" "I’m not saying I believe her," Haven answered, his voice rigid with
Vanessa’s loft was as if it were a ten-minute drive, but it felt like an endlessness as Haven's mind ran through the conceivable outcomes. When he at long last pulled into the park, his heart crashed in his chest. He found her front door somewhat unlatched. "Vanessa?" Haven pushed it open cautiously. Inside, he found her on the floor at the foot of the stairs, jumping in torment as she clutched her lower leg. The scene was chaotic, a chair upside down, her purse spilled over the floor, and one of her shoes lying midway down the stairs. Vanessa’s face was pale, her breathing shallow. "Jesus, Vanessa," Haven murmured, hurrying to her side. "What the hell happened?" She looked up at him with wide, tear-streaked eyes. "Alexis," she whispered. Haven solidified. "What? What around Alexis?" "She was here," Vanessa said, her voice trembling. "She pushed me." Haven gazed at her in incredulity. "Alexis wouldn't, she wouldn’t do that!"Vanessa’s eyes are somewhat limited. "She did, Haven.
Alexis observed as he wrote angrily, his face lit up by the screen. She knew Haven would do anything to keep her safe, and the thought gave her a little degree of consolation. But the fear was still there, prowling just underneath the surface. As Haven worked, Alexis found herself replaying the call in her mind. The sound of the breathing, the ominous silence… It all felt so thick, so individual. She shuddered, pulling the cover on the sofa more tightly around herself. “What if they’re trying to frighten me?” she inquired, her voice scarcely over a whisper. Haven looked up from the tablet, his expression genuine. “Then they’ve succeeded. But we’re not going to let them keep you frightened. We’ll get to the root of this.” He returned his face to the screen, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he explored through distinctive websites and gatherings, searching for any device that may help to trace the call.Hours passed, the night getting darker and calmer, but not one or the othe
Alexis had continuously been a solid lady, one who didn’t effectively frighten. But this… this was different. It wasn’t just the quiet; it was the feeling that came with it, like somebody was observing her, like she was being chased. She shook her head, trying to expel the thought. She needed to tell Haven. He would know what to do. He always knew what to do. Haven was in the living room, his feet propped up on the coffee table, observing a late-night ball amusement. The soft flash of the tv cast shadows over his face, but he took note of Alexis the minute she entered the room. "Hello angel, you okay?" he inquired, his eyes narrowing with concern as he noticed her pale face and wide eyes. He quieted the TV and turned his full attention to her. Alexis gulped hard, trying to find her voice. “Haven… something bizarre just happened.” He quickly stood up, his huge outline towering over her as he took her hands in his. “What happened, Lex? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” “I… I got
Haven considered her for a minute, clearly not persuaded, but he didn’t thrust it. He walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder, pressing tenderly. “You’ve been working yourself out of late. Come on, let’s get to bed. You should get a few rest.” She gestured, thankful for the pardon to elude the uneasy contemplations whirling in her mind. “Yeah, you’re right. Let me just wrap up here.” Haven kissed her on the chin and headed back upstairs. Alexis observed him go, the warmth of his touch waiting on her skin, but the fear still chewing at her inner parts. She rapidly wrapped up folding the clothing, her hands moving mechanically as her mind began to race. When she was done, she turned off the lights on the ground floor and made her way to the room. Haven was as of now in bed, flipping through the channels on the TV with a sight of boredom on his face. Alexis slipped into the bathroom, sprinkling cold water on her face, trusting it would wash away the unease that clung to her
Alexis was in the centre of folding the final stack of clothing when her phone buzzed on the countertop. She’d had a long day, filled with errands, chores. It was about 11 p.m. She rubbed her chin, feeling the fatigue throb that continuously appeared to crawl up when she was overtired. But the sight of her phone vibrating once more drew her thoughts back to it. She picked up the phone, anticipating it to be one of her friends, likely Trina or Melissa, sending late-night messages about something unimportant. The screen showed an obscure number. A cold shudder ran down her spine, but she dismissed it, considering it could be a robocall. Still, something made her falter. After a minute, she swiped to reply to the call and lifted the phone to her ear. “Hello?”There was a delay, and for a minute, she thought the call might have been a mistake. But at that point, she listened to it, a swoon, nearly subtle breath on the other end of the line. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Sh