"I do not know what to say," she conceded, her voice scarcely above a whisper. "I want to accept you, Haven I truly do. But it's been so difficult, with everything that's happened. I've been hurt, and I've felt so alone." Haven gestured, his eyes sparkling with unshed tears. "I know, and I'm so sorry for that. I never needed to make you feel that way. I wish I could go back and settle all the mistakes I've made, but I can't. All I can do is guarantee you that I need to do way better. I need to be better, for you and for us." Alexis took a profound breath, her mind still reeling. She looked into Haven's eyes, looking for any sign of deception, but all she saw was the man she had fallen in love with all those a long time prior. The man who, in spite of all his blemishes and botches, still held a bit of her heart. She held his hand, her hold firm and relentless. "I need us to be happy as well, Haven," she said, her voice filled with assurance. "I need to believe that I am able to make
Alexis gestured, increasing in value her friend’s bolster. She knew she needed to go up against the circumstance, but the thought of harming Haven was overpowering. A couple of days afterward, Alexis found herself alone with Haven in their living room. He was relaxing on the couch, ingested in a book. She took a profound breath, feeling her heart race. “Haven , can we talk for a minute?” she inquired, attempting to keep her voice calm. Haven looked up, his expression softening. “Of course. What’s on your mind?” Alexis sat down another to him, her hands clasped firmly in her lap. “I’ve been thinking a lot recently. About us, and around Matthew.” Haven ’s forehead wrinkled somewhat. “Matthew? What do you mean?” “I’ve been feeling... confused. You’ve been so superb and attentive, and I appreciate it more than you know.” Haven ’s face fell, a blend of harmed and disarray crossing his features. “Are you saying that you’re still... into him?” Alexis gestured, tears welling up
Alexis tried to make sense of Haven’s actions. “Why is he doing this?” she wondered aloud, clutching the bouquet tightly. She had explicitly communicated her emotional struggle and her growing attraction to Matthew. Haven had heard her and yet chose to respond with intensified displays of affection.Every gesture, while heartfelt, seemed to deepen her confusion rather than provide clarity. Haven’s persistence felt like a painful reminder of the gap between their current reality and her emotional needs. She respected Haven but couldn’t ignore her feelings for Matthew, which had evolved into something she wanted to explore.The gifts and dates felt like a distraction from the fundamental issue at hand—her struggle with her feelings and the truth she had shared with Haven. Alexis was left questioning whether Haven's actions were an attempt to patch things up or if he was simply unable to accept the painful reality that she had developed feelings for someone else.Alexis paced the little l
She looked at the clock on the walk. Matthew was due any minute. He had agreed to come over after Alexis called him, her voice temperamental and arguing. She needed to talk, and there was no one else she trusted more to explore the choppy waters of her feelings. Finally, she heard the sound of a car pulling up outside, followed by hurried footsteps on the front porch. Her heart leapt into her throat as the doorbell rang, and she rushed to answer it.The doorbell rang, cutting through the quiet. Alexis’s heart dashed as she rushed to reply to it. Taking one last deep breath, she opened the door to find Matthew standing there, his good looking face a cover of concern. His eyes, ordinarily so certain and shinning, presently held a shadow of stress. “Matthew,” she said, her voice breaking marginally as she ventured aside to let him in. “Thank you for coming.” He gestured, venturing inside and closing the door behind him. “Of course, Alexis. What’s going on?” She driven him to the sofa an
Matthew stood up, his expression still clouded with perplexity. “I gotta go. I have some things to sort out, and I’m sure you are doing as well. We will talk more afterward, okay?” “Okay,” Alexis said, her voice scarcely capable of being heard. “Thank you for coming. I truly needed to talk to you.” Matthew gestured, giving her a reassuring smile before heading for the door. “We’ll get through this. We just ought to give it a few time.” As he left, Alexis observed him go, feeling a profound sense of misfortune and perplexity. The conversation had not given the clarity she had trusted for, and now she was cleared out with more questions than answers. Long haul appeared dubious, and the path ahead was covered in equivocalness. Alone in the calm room, Alexis felt the weight of the choices she had to form. Her heart was torn between the adore she felt for Matthew and the obligation she felt toward Haven . The air with Matthew had left them both more confused than ever, and Alexis knew th
When dessert arrived, Matthew made his move. “So, I know you’re in a complicated spot right now,” he said, his voice gentle but firm, “but I need you to know that I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere.” Alexis gazed at him, her grin blurring into something more genuine. “Matt, I—” “I know, you don’t need to say anything,” he said, pressing her hand. “Just... think about it.” She gestured, looking down at their joined hands. “I will. I promise.” Over the following few days, Matthew made sure Alexis was continuously thinking about him. He arranged astonishing snacks, left small notes in her post box, and sent her texts that extended from clever to sweet to flirty. Each time, Alexis reacted warmly, but Matthew may tell she was still torn. He caught impressions of her at work, now and then smiling at her phone—a sight he couldn’t very decipher—and it chewed at him, pondering on if it was Haven on the other end of the line. Haven on the other hand, was acting as if nothing was wrong.
The park was lively with the tender murmur of early summer. Children’s chuckling blended with the stirring of leaves within the light breeze, and some place within the distance, the ice cream truck played its recognizable jingle. The sun plunged low in the sky, portraying the skyline with streaks of pink and orange, casting a warm gleam over the lines of sprouting blooms. Matthew and Alexis strolled side by side, the sound of their strides mixing with the rock way underneath them. They had walked this way endless times before, but this evening, there was something different within the air, something inferred. Matthew looked at Alexis, noticing the way her hair caught the blurring daylight, turning the strands into a cascade of gold. Her eyes were settled ahead, but her contemplations were clearly somewhere else, some place far off and overwhelming. They had been talking about nothing and everything for the past hour, their airion floating from work inconveniences to irregular recoll
Alexis shot to her feet, smoothing her hair as in spite of the fact that that might eradicate the minute Haven had just seen. "Haven, hello. I didn’t…I didn’t know you’d be here." Matthew stood as well, his hands pushed into his pockets, his expression incoherent. "Haven" Haven gazed at them, his look shifting between Alexis and Matthew as if he was trying to piece together what he had just seen. He took a step closer, his movements moderate and considerate. "What…what was that?" ."It was nothing," Alexis said quickly, too quickly. "We were just—""Just what?" Haven’s voice was sharp, but there was an undercurrent of vulnerability, a plea for honesty. "It didn’t look like nothing."Matthew opened his mouth to speak, but Alexis cut him off, her voice strained. "Haven, it really wasn’t anything. We were just talking."Haven’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, it seemed like he might accept the lie, might let it slide for the sake of whatever fragile balance they all shared. But then
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