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chapter 219
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2025-01-13 21:33:05
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ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 220
"Good morning," she said softly. Matthew looked at her, speechless. "Coffee. If you want.” She poured herself a cup, leaned against the counter, and watched him put down his plate. "Look, almost last night." Matthew cut her off. "No. I've thought about it, and honestly, I don't know what you want from me. You say I remind you of your father, but I'm not him. And if you don't see, maybe we're wasting time here." The words hit harder than Alexis expected. A part of her knew he was right, they couldn't keep dancing for the same argument. But the other part that she can't ignore is how this relationship seems to follow the toxic environment that she grew up with. "I just need space," she said. "Space to think, think about what I really want." Matthew lowered the plate with more force than was necessary. "And where does that leave me?" Alexis looked at him, really looked at him, seeing the chaos she saw before her father's eyes, the desire to control, to bend her to his will because
Last Updated : 2025-01-13ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 221
Haven Leaned forward and braced his elbows on his knees. neck, but he looked at her with skeptical eyes. Haven sat back and felt a lump in his chest. He wanted to tell her that he had seen it happen and he had warned her about Matthew's manipulation. But this is no time for "I told you so." "I was worried about you," Haven Admitted after a moment of silence. Alexis laughed. "Matthew says you want me." Haven Chuckled a little and continued. "I'm thinking of you, Alexis. It's different."She wiped her eyes with her shirt sleeve. “He controls who I talk to and every movement.” Haven's jaw tightened, anger bubbling beneath his calm breath. He knew it was Matthew's fault, but hearing Alexis' confirmation made his blood boil. "You don't deserve it," he said in a steady but strong voice. "You know you can just leave him, right?" "I tried." Her voice broke. "But he always finds a way to drag me in. He says he loves me, and then when I try to leave, he's weird." Haven took her hands and
Last Updated : 2025-01-13ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 222
He'd known Alexis quite well, watching her transform from the confident woman who first started working on various discoveries to this diminished version of herself. Haven's fingers drummed against his leg, a nervous habit he'd developed since noticing the pattern.What troubled him most wasn't the way Matthew checked her phone when she wasn't looking, or how he'd stationed himself at the counter under the guise of being a devoted boyfriend. It was the light that had gradually dimmed in Alexis's eyes, the same light that still sparked when she managed to share a genuine laugh with friends during those rare moments when Matthew was absent.Haven shifted in his seat, fighting the urge to talk to her and make her feel better. He couldn't be her knight in shining armor. She hadn't asked for one. But he'd seen the bruise on her wrist, poorly concealed by her watch, and the way she'd pulled her sleeve down when she caught him looking.If only she could see herself through his eyes, see the
Last Updated : 2025-01-13ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 223
Fiona starts walking towards her, easy but uneventful. "Do you remember Jasmine's party night?" Alexis blinked and her mind flashed back to that night Matthew had arrived, dead with a smile on his face. "You went drinking," Jasmine said calmly, “and Matthew disappeared for a few moments.” Alexis clenched her jaw. “He said he was just gasping for air.” April looked at Jasmine sadly. "Lex, he was not outside. I saw him in the guest room, with someone else.”The words hit Alexis like a stab in the stomach. "You're lying." "It’s fine," Fiona said softly. Alexis's legs were weak and she sank down on the sofa. "What are you talking about? Why haven’t you told me this before?" "We tried," said Tasha, her voice dark. "But you weren't ready to hear that." Alexis buried her face in her hands, gasping for breath. "I can't believe this. " Tasha knelt beside her and rubbed his back. "I know it's hard, Lex. But you're better than the person who did this to you." Tears welled up in Alexis' e
Last Updated : 2025-01-14ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 224
Setting her coffee down. His "protective" nature, as Alexis used to call it, had morphed into something ugly and controlling. He monitored her social media, questioned her about male coworkers, and had somehow convinced her that his jealousy was a sign of love.Tasha rubbed her temples, frustrated by her own helplessness. She'd tried dropping hints, sharing articles about healthy relationships, even directly pointing out Matthew's controlling behavior. But each attempt had only made Alexis withdraw further, defended by the walls Matthew had carefully constructed around her. All Tasha could do now was wait, stay present, and hope that someday Alexis would find the strength to see her situation clearly and choose freedom over fear. Until then, her coffee would remain bitter with worry for her friend.As Alexis rested on the balcony of her apartment, the sun sank lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the city. Below her the streets were full of life, but she felt a deep silence in
Last Updated : 2025-01-14ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 225
They sat down on the bed, hardly a good place to calm her anxiety. Alexis turned and pumped up her courage. "Matthew, I want to talk to you about something. " "Really, what's on your mind?" he asked, his expression changing to one of curiosity."“I was thinking about our relationship. and I noticed something about our past." She met his gaze, searching for signs of deception. Matthew looks a little different. "What do you mean?" “Claire warned me about your controlling behavior in past relationships. She showed me some messages where you talked about women.” His face hardened and Alexis felt a shiver down her spine. "Claire is bitter. She’s justtrying to cause trouble. These messages are out of context.""Out of context?" Alexis replied, raising her voice. “It seems too simple for me. If you're not that person, why didn't you tell me?” Matthew's eyes narrowed. "Will you believe her over me? I thought it was trust between us.” "I believe you, but I must listen to your explanatio
Last Updated : 2025-01-14ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 226
Matthew's behavior had continuously floated just outside the domain of normal, but recently, it had developed progressively whimsical. What began as little quirks, like over-checking her messages or fixating over inconsequential details, soon aggravated into minutes that made Alexis explain everything. She sat over from him presently, the engagement ring overwhelming on her finger, and observed him tap his foot with an apprehensive vitality that appeared unending. "Matthew," she started, her voice calm but cautious. "We ought to talk." He shook, his look snapping to her with a sharpness that felt off. "Talk about what? The wedding?" Alexis looked down at the coffee table between them, centering on some neatness to dodge the concentration of his gaze. "Yes and other things." Matthew leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "The wedding is in two weeks, Alexis. What could you conceivably get to talk about now?" She collapsed her hands in her lap, feeling the weight of each word she
Last Updated : 2025-01-14ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 227
"We take a step back," she said. "We talk, we work through things, separately, if we have to. And if we’re still sure about this we go ahead with the wedding." Matthew looked at her, his eyes red and tired. "And if we’re not sure?" Alexis gulped hard. "Then we do what’s best for both of us. Anything that is " He shook his head gradually, as if trying to shake off a terrible dream. "I don’t know how to do this without you, Alexis." "You won’t need to," she said tenderly. "I’m not disappearing. I just require space." Matthew closed his eyes, breathing out through his nose. "I hate this," he mumbled. "I know," Alexis said softly. "But it’s the right thing to do." The room fell into an overwhelming quiet, broken as if by the black out ticking of the wall clock. Alexis looked at it, realizing how late it had gotten. "I ought to go," she said, standing. Matthew didn’t move. He sat on the couch, gazing vacantly at the floor. "Will I see you tomorrow?" he inquired, his voice scarcely
Last Updated : 2025-01-14
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ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 246
"I actually believed that we would eventually have to take sides.” Marcus could vividly recall the memories. He had been friends with Haven since high school, witnessing his journey through a painful breakup with his college girlfriend, who had betrayed him by getting involved with his roommate. Smoothly flowing friendship marked by shared experiences and challenges. The betrayal had caused Haven to build walls so high that they appeared insurmountable. His innate warmth and optimism were buried beneath layers of protective cynicism. When Fiona first re-introduced Alexis to their friend group few months ago, Marcus noticed the same wounded walls in her. Fresh from calling off her engagement to a man who had gradually tried to suppress her sparkle, in an effort to control her better, Alexis was portraying a demeanor characterized by sharp edges and cautious aloofness. Haven and Alexis moved around each other cautiously, like two wary cats, drawn to each other yet filled with insecuri
ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 237
The park seemed hushed, only the little giggles from the children playing and the jogging steps from around the park seemed to be the only sound apart from the heartbeat of both Haven and Alexis. Haven and Alexis sat across from each other, their gazes locked. Time seemed to stand still as they simply were, their presence filling the space with a quiet intensity.Haven's heart pounded in his chest. He’d never felt this way about anyone before. It was as if he was seeing her for the first time, every detail, every nuance, striking him with a fresh sense of wonder. Her eyes, a deep, captivating brown, held a universe of emotions. He could get lost in them for hours, exploring the depths of her soul.Alexis, too, was lost in the moment. She felt a warmth spreading through her, a comforting familiarity that she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Haven’s gaze was steady and kind, a stark contrast to the chaos that often surrounded her. In his eyes, she saw acceptance, understanding, and a
ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 236
Haven's throat was fixed. He knew precisely what she meant—how they had both lost themselves in the splits and cleft of their fizzled marriage, getting to be individuals they didn’t recognize. "Do you ever think," he said, his voice scarcely capable of being heard, "about what us?" Alexis gave him a sidelong look, her expression softening. "All the time." They fell into a pensive quiet, the kind that comes as it were when two individuals share a history as well complicated for words. "I think," Alexis began gradually, "we were trying so hard to be what we thought the other needed that we overlooked to be ourselves." Haven gestured, her words resounding deeply. "No doubt. I thought I had to be this culminating supplier, continuously solid, continuously in control. But I wasn't truly letting you in. I see that now." "And I kept trying to be this perfect spouse," Alexis included with a little, self-deprecating snicker. "I needed to demonstrate that I was enough, that I could handle
ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 235
Alexis let out a little, severe giggle. “I never stopped caring, Haven. That’s the problem.” The genuineness in her voice cut through him like a knife, more sharp than any offended she may have tossed his way. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “If you never stopped caring, why did you leave?” She hesitated, her expression tormented. “Because I was tired of waiting for you to choose me.” Haven felt the air leaving his lungs as if she had punched him. “What are you talking about? I was continuously there.” “You were physically there,” Alexis whispered, “but your heart was someplace else. Continuously working, continuously building. I needed more than that.” He closed his eyes, blaming wrapping around him like chains. He had worked himself to the bone to donate them both a great life, believing it would be enough. But in the process, he had missed the foremost vital thing—her. “I thought I was doing it for us,” he said, his voice overwhelming with lament. “I though
ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 242
A minute, the walls around her heart trembling but not very falling. Perhaps, just perhaps, she might take another step. “Yeah,” she said unobtrusively. “I think I do.” Haven leaned back in his leather chair, checking the numbers on his laptop screen with a tired but fulfilled smile. Business was good, better than ever, in reality. Growing his firm had been one of the most risky choices of his life, but the payoff had surpassed his expectations. However, even in the midst of his proficient victory, a gloomy hurt remained underneath the surface, one that wasn’t so effortlessly relieved by benefits and development charts. He tapped a number of keys to distract himself and ran a hand down his face. He had a whole lot to do on his plate for the upcoming investors meeting that could serve as a major boost for the future of his company. His company that suffered a downgrade after the divorce with Alexis was slowly getting recognized and becoming a better version of itself.Outside the wide
ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 241
She moved awkwardly in her seat, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s easier that way. In case you don’t expect anything, you can’t get hurt.” Dr. Patel inclined forward marginally, her hands resting on the armrests of her chair. “It sounds like you’ve built walls around yourself to secure against dissatisfaction. But those walls also make it difficult for people to associate with you, don't they?” Alexis collapsed her arms firmly over her chest. “Yeah, well. it’s not like anyone’s trying that hard, anyway.” “Do you think that’s true?” Dr. Patel inquired tenderly. “Or is that something you tell yourself since it feels safer?” Alexis looked absent, jaw fixing. “What difference does it make? They give up inevitably. Friends, boyfriends. everybody. It continuously happens.” Dr. Patel let a minute of hush hang between them before she spoke. “Tell me about your last relationship.” Alexis moaned, rubbing her sanctuaries. “Do we have to?” “I think it could help us learn mor
ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 240
Alexis giggled, the sound light and free. For the first time in a long time, she felt confident. “Maybe,” she said, looking at him, “but possibly it’s worth the risk.” Haven’s grin mollified, and in that minute, something moved between them—something inconspicuous but irrefutable. As the night wore on and the wine vanished, they found themselves closer than ever before, their chuckling blending within the warm glow of the room. And for the first time since her engagement ended, Alexis allowed herself to accept the plausibility of love again—not the perfect, fairy-tale kind, but the chaotic, complicated, genuine kind. And sitting there with Haven, she realized that perhaps, just perhaps, she was precisely where she was meant to be.The cool night air brushed against Alexis’s skin as she strolled down the quiet street. She’d left Haven’s place a little later than she’d planned, but the lingering warmth of the evening was a welcome change from the usual rush.A sense of peace washed
ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 239
Alexis didn’t drag her hand away, but she looked down at the ring once more, her lips squeezing into a lean line. “Why does it feel like I’ve been left with nothing?” “Because shock could be a thief,” Haven said delicately. “It takes more than just the person, it takes your sense of worth with it. But that’s a lie. You still have all of you, Alexis.” For a long minute, neither of them talked. The hum of discussion and clinking glasses filled the hush between them, a foundation clamour to the turmoil whirling in Alexis’s mind. Haven gave her hand a soft touch. “Let’s get out of here. This place isn’t precisely built for healing.” Alexis wavered but at that point nodded, thankful for the life saver he was proposed to. They ended up at Haven’s flat, the air thick with the comforting fragrance of coffee and cinnamon candles. Alexis twisted up on the couch, holding a warm mug between her hands while Haven sat over from her, his expression open and understanding. “It’s not just Mat
ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND chapter 238
Alexis yanked her arm free, dazzling at him. “No, Matthew. You had your chance, and you blew it. I deserve way better than this.” Matthew’s shoulders dropped back. For a moment, the sound between them was the murmur of the TV. “Where did you indeed meet Deborah?” Alexis inquired intensely, incapable of stopping herself. Matthew moaned intensely. “She’s an old friend from college. She got into a few financial inconveniences, and I thought I might help.” His voice trailed off, as if indeed he realized how lamentable the pardon sounded. Alexis shook her head in disbelief. “Unbelievable. You bet with our future for some lady from your past.” She turned and walked toward the door, her heart overwhelming but unfaltering. She had gone through for so long disregarding the signs, trusting Matthew would be the man he imagined to be. But presently, she saw the truth clearly, he had never been that man. “Alexis, please!” Matthew called after her, his voice splitting with edginess. “Don’t le
