“By the way, I talked to the location manager. We’re going with the country club. It’s classy and neighborhood, so it’s perfect.” Alexis rectified. “Wait... I thought we were still considering the garden setting? I preferred how open it felt.” “Too much hassle,” he replied without looking up. “And it’s costly. We don’t need all that.” “But—” she began, at that point ceased. Matthew at last looked at her, a shadow of restlessness crossing his confront. “What?” Alexis wavered. “I just... I really liked the plant. It was the first place we looked at, keep in mind? It felt special.” Matthew gave a tight-lipped smile, the kind that didn’t reach his eyes. “Lex, you’re aswell wistful. The country club is better for everybody. Believe me.” She forced a grin, but inside, her dissatisfaction stewed. “Right. Sure.” The conversation finished there, because it regularly did. He continuously had a way of brushing past her concerns with the ease of a wave slamming over a little pebble, sweep
The words stung, indeed in spite of the fact that they were said with a smile. Alexis felt her heart sink advance into question. Later that night, as she lay in bed gazing at the ceiling, she thought of Fiona’s words. Was this truly how she wanted her marriage to be? Continuously compromising, continuously collapsing beneath Matthew’s will? The next morning, Alexis chose to stand up to him once more. As they sat over from each other at breakfast, the weight of implicit words squeezed between them. “Matthew,” she began cautiously, “we got to talk.” He looked up from his phone, scowling. “About what?” “About how things have been,” Alexis said, constraining herself to meet his look. “I feel like I don’t have a voice in any of this. You’re making all the decisions.” Matthew inclined back in his chair, arms crossed. “What are you saying? That I shouldn’t help?” “I’m saying I want us to create these choices together,” Alexis said. “It’s our wedding, not just yours.” Matthew’s expres
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
She raised a brow. ‘’Why is he being so shy?’’ she muttered to herself and turned to meet the next table. She noticed that there were two men seated on it. One had hair the color of midnight and the other had blonde hair. They seemed to be discussing business, seeing as they were clothed in designer suits. One wore a black shirt with a gray tie, while the other wore a brown coat over his black turtle-neck inner. She couldn’t help but notice the one with dark hair and how gorgeous he looked. She thought she was used to seeing attractive men come and go every day, but his was different. She was irritated by how different it was. What was the deal with handsome people and their alluring aura?''Hello,'' she said. ‘’My name is Alexis. Can I get your order?’’The blonde looked up at her. ‘’Alexis? Beautiful name.’’Now, he was flirting with her? She noticed the dark haired one gave him a look before returning his attention back to his phone. The blonde studied her face, his blue eyes squin
‘’Well, you see…’’ Matt trailed off. Sam rose a brow, suddenly catching up. The only friend who would do something like this was the one who always came to the cafe with him. The one who had- ‘’Gotten into that scandal?’’ she voiced out. ‘’That friend of yours? Haven Gray?’’Matt’s nervous smile was the answer she needed.She gapped, nearly tipping the vase behind her in surprise. ‘’That really handsome friend of yours?’’ She repeated. Matt met her eyes. ‘’You don’t have to put it that way.’’Sam had heard about the scandal between Catherine Hales and THE Haven Gray. Their news had circulated around the internet like wide-fire. She was surprised to find out that these two who rocked the world with their relationship suddenly called it off. Haven had claimed they decided to go their mutual ways due to some complicated reasons, but Sam knew that wasn’t the case. Well, she was one of the few who knew what really happened, thanks to her amazing investigative skills. Catherine had cheate
‘’A week from now, sir,’’ Johnson replied with a big smile.One of the workers seated beside him, pointed to the desk. Haven shifted uncomfortably, staring down at the paperwork in front of him. For some reason, he couldn’t concentrate well today. He sighed. It was all Matt’s fault, telling him he had found someone and had planned a meet up today. Every few seconds, he would glance down at his phone wondering if it was time yet. What was taking Matt so long?‘’Mr. Gray?’’His head snapped up. ‘’Can we reschedule this meeting?’’ he said. The others in the meeting talked amongst themselves, but they agreed nonetheless. After the meeting, he made his way back to his office and found Matt waiting for him by the front door. He held up a hand in greeting. ‘’How was the meeting?’’Haven reached for the door handle, pressing it down. ‘’Boring,’’ Haven said as he walked in. Sighing, he plopped down on his chair and dug out his phone. ‘’Isn’t it time yet?’’ He pinched the bridge of his nose.‘’
She had tried to have one at a time, but it didn’t go so well. And so, she decided to indulge herself into work rather than one filled with fake love and commitment.What an irony it was now, that she was indulging herself in said fake love and commitment.‘’Yeah.’’The driver nodded and started the engine, driving off to the cafe she was meant to meet her new husband.Well, fake husband.The cafe they chose was a famous one. Not only was it famous, it looked like those fancy restaurants only rich and elite people went to. Alexis suddenly felt out of place.‘’Should have worn a skirt instead,’’ she muttered to herself. Well, there was no need to think about it now. She thought, taking a deep breath before walking through the pull-in doors. When she entered, the sight that greeted her was surprising to say the least. The ceiling was elaborately decorated and a grand staircase led to a finely lavished second story of the building. The walls were a semi-white pallor with hints of lavend
The words stung, indeed in spite of the fact that they were said with a smile. Alexis felt her heart sink advance into question. Later that night, as she lay in bed gazing at the ceiling, she thought of Fiona’s words. Was this truly how she wanted her marriage to be? Continuously compromising, continuously collapsing beneath Matthew’s will? The next morning, Alexis chose to stand up to him once more. As they sat over from each other at breakfast, the weight of implicit words squeezed between them. “Matthew,” she began cautiously, “we got to talk.” He looked up from his phone, scowling. “About what?” “About how things have been,” Alexis said, constraining herself to meet his look. “I feel like I don’t have a voice in any of this. You’re making all the decisions.” Matthew inclined back in his chair, arms crossed. “What are you saying? That I shouldn’t help?” “I’m saying I want us to create these choices together,” Alexis said. “It’s our wedding, not just yours.” Matthew’s expres
“By the way, I talked to the location manager. We’re going with the country club. It’s classy and neighborhood, so it’s perfect.” Alexis rectified. “Wait... I thought we were still considering the garden setting? I preferred how open it felt.” “Too much hassle,” he replied without looking up. “And it’s costly. We don’t need all that.” “But—” she began, at that point ceased. Matthew at last looked at her, a shadow of restlessness crossing his confront. “What?” Alexis wavered. “I just... I really liked the plant. It was the first place we looked at, keep in mind? It felt special.” Matthew gave a tight-lipped smile, the kind that didn’t reach his eyes. “Lex, you’re aswell wistful. The country club is better for everybody. Believe me.” She forced a grin, but inside, her dissatisfaction stewed. “Right. Sure.” The conversation finished there, because it regularly did. He continuously had a way of brushing past her concerns with the ease of a wave slamming over a little pebble, sweep
Haven looked down, incapable of meeting her look. “I know,” he mumbled. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be what you needed.” She stood there for a minute longer, at that point gesturing, as if coming to a choice. “I think you ought to leave.” The irrevocability in her voice smashed something inside him, but he knew she was right. He had no right to ask her to stay in a relationship built on broken promises and unhealed wounds. Haven snatched his coat from the chair, his hands trembling marginally. “I wish things were different,” he said softly. Vanessa gave him a pitiful grin, her eyes tired but steadfast. “Me too.” He wavered at the door, as if trusting for some last-minute respite, some way to make everything right. But there were no more words left to say. With an overwhelming heart, Haven opened the door and walked out into the cool night air. The city buzzed around him, detached to his torment. He stood there for a minute, feeling the weight of his choices settle on his shoulders. A
Vanessa opened her eyes, languid but alarm enough to capture the pressure in his voice. “Haven, what’s going on?” She propped herself up on one elbow, looking at him in the dim light. “You’ve been acting odd lately.” He gave her a tight smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s nothing, Vee. Just work stuff.” She didn’t buy it. Vanessa knew when he was lying, he’d continuously been an appalling liar. She reached out to touch his arm, but he winced, scarcely recognizable, but enough for her to feel it. “That’s not just work.” She sat up completely now, her dim twists tumbling over her shoulders. “You’ve been pulling away for weeks. Talk to me, Haven Please.” The truthfulness in her voice made his throat fix. He needed to give her a reply that would make things better, but he wasn’t even sure what he felt himself. How do you explain to somebody that they’ve gotten to be a placeholder, that their love is alleviating but not enough to fill the void inside you? “I don’t know, Vanessa,”
Vanessa brought down her look for a moment, rubbing her chin as in case the discussion itself was depleting her. “Haven,” she said softly, her voice presently tinged with pity. “I love you. I truly do. But love isn’t enough if you’re not willing to build something with me. I need soundness. I got to know you’re genuine about us.” Haven’s throat was fixed. The helplessness in her voice cut more deep than her disappointment had. He hated seeing her hurt because of him, but the fear of making the wrong choice still lingered expansive in his mind. “What if I can’t be what you need?” he inquired discreetly. Vanessa’s lips squeezed into a lean line. “Then at least be fair about it. Don’t string me along, trusting you’ll feel prepared one day. If you can’t commit, just say it.” Her words hung in the air like a challenge. Haven gulped hard, feeling the weight to reply. But what could he say? He wasn’t prepared to let her go, however he wasn’t sure he might allow her what she needed. “Van
He replayed their conversations, searching for clues and meaning, trying to decipher Vanessa’s mixed signals. Was she pulling away or just scared? The lack of clarity was maddening, and each day spent overthinking only deepened his frustration. Haven wanted to resolve things, to find a way back to the easy connection they once had, but the weight of the situation felt too much to bear. He sighed, wishing for a simple solution in a world that had become far too complicated. His feelings were a mess, anticipation tangled with an unpretentious fear he couldn’t shake off. He loved Vanessa, or at least he thought he did. But recently, things between them had been... complicated. She had developed a new form of energy, her persistence diminishing, and this evening promised to be another “talk.” The front door squeaked open, and Vanessa walked in without knocking, carrying a sharp vitality with her. Haven looked up, shocked by her brisk entrance. She wore a fitted leather coat and dark pan
One evening, Matthew chose to go up against Haven specifically. He knew it was trivial, but the thought of Alexis still caring about Haven chewed at him like a chip beneath his skin. Haven was at work when Matthew showed up, his arms crossed and a frown carved on his face. Haven spotted him from a distance and strolled over, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Matthew?" Haven said, shocked. "What are you doing here?" Matthew didn’t bother with little conversation. "We need to talk." Haven raised a forehead but gestured, driving him to a quiet corner away from the crowd. "Okay. What’s this about?" "It’s about Alexis," Matthew said, his voice tight. "I know she’s been talking about you. I need to know what’s going on between you two." Haven crossed his arms, his expression calm but watched. "There’s nothing going on, man. Anything she’s saying, that’s on her. I haven’t come out to her, and I don’t want to." Matthew took a step closer, his jaw tight. "Then why is she still so curious
“Did you hear that Haven got a huge contract deal? I continuously knew he’d arrive on his feet,” Alexis commented one day over brunch with friends. Her voice was casual, but there was a glimmer in her eyes, one that hadn’t been there in a long time. Matthew took note of it as well, and it chewed at him. To begin with, it appeared harmless, just sitting still in conversation, about an ex. Everybody does it, right? But as Haven’s name crawled up more habitually, a shadow of envy started to cloud Matthew’s mind. He tried brushing it off. "Why do you care what he’s doing?" Matthew inquired one evening, casually mixing his drink. Alexis looked up from her phone, her expression garbled. "I don’t. It’s just... curiosity, that’s all. I thought he'd separate after the divorce, but it looks like he’s doing better than ever." Matthew gritted his teeth but constrained a grin. "Great for him, I guess." Haven hadn’t expected Alexis to take note of his success, or care. But it didn’t take long
Alexis's voice calmed down. "Take care of Haven." He stopped talking, emotions swirling through him. A part of him wanted to scream, to let go of the anger and pain that stuck with him like a second skin. But another part - the part that has already started to be built - will be released.Two days later he called. "Mrs, Rennie's voice is clear and professional. Altheon has decided to proceed with your request. Thank you." Haven was silent for a moment, relief washing over him like a tidal wave, almost knocking him off balance. "Thank you, Mrs. Chambers," he managed to say. "I won't let you down." "I hope not," Reni replied. "Our team will contact you to complete the paperwork." Haven hung up and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He has done it. That night, Haven found him in a small village near his house, milking whiskey on the rocks. The site was quiet, with the faint hum of conversation settling in the background. His phone buzzed with a text from Darnell: You d