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Part 2: Chapter Nine
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Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Ten
Aria's POV I ironed the dress fabric for the tenth time in front of the full-length mirror. It had been in such a deep sapphire shade that it wasn't black but a very dark blue colour, truly befitting me. Subtle shimmering clung to my figure under the dress, catching every movement of mine. I selected something simple, yet elegant, not too loud to be conspicuous. My hair was pulled back into a loose chignon, a few ends left free to swing about my face. I'd wanted to look sure and unshakeable, if nothing else, unflappable in the face of whatever the night might throw at me.My concentration finally was broken when I heard a soft knock at my door. I turned to see Lena peering through the half-opened door. Her face broke out into a wide grin as she took in my appearance."Wow, Aria. You look pretty Jax is going to flip all over the place when he sees you."I tried to smile, but my stomach was all in knots as I said, "Thanks, Lena. I'm just… I don't know. I'm a little nervous about tonig
Fallen Apart Part 2 : Chapter Eleven
Dave's POVI was seated at my desk in my office, the pen drumming on the smooth wood, the hard gaze set on the pile of papers before me. Contracts, proposals, and another sort of very important document to do with Styles but my mind strayed—again. It always did where she was concerned these past few days.It was a few days after the meeting with the investors, and though I felt much more confident about the prospects of my business, my mind kept reverting to her. What a look she gave me in that restaurant, all mixed up with one of both surprise and something else, which I could not quite lay my finger on. And then there was that very undeniable spark that flew between the two of us, prompted by Aranne, no doubt.I exhaled noisily, and I shoved the papers aside, facing instead my phone. It was then that I began to scroll through the usual deluge of work mail, updates, and messages of assorted mundanity—until something did catch my eye. Written in scarlet red across the middle of some e
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Twelve
Aria's POVIt deflated my insides, almost like I'd been socked in the gut, seeing him sitting in my living room. My hand unconsciously clutched the strap of my bag as I stood frozen in the doorway, and the world seemed to shrink down until it was just him, Dave, the man I once loved with every fibre of my being, staring back now with an intensity that sent my heart racing."Aria," he murmured this time, softer. "We have to talk."Part of me wanted to turn and run, away from this moment—but something held me in the gaze he pinned on me, so desperate and raw. I stepped inside and shut the door behind me with a soft click, throwing my bag onto the nearest chair."What are you doing here, Dave?" My voice was laced with sharpness, for effect only, influenced by a long day and the emotional pressure of seeing him again."I've come to see you. I needed to talk to you," he explained, rising from the couch.I crossed my arms over my chest; my body language was protective under this emotional t
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Thirteen
Dave's POVLeaving Aria's apartment was like treading away from a piece of my heart. Sometimes that quiet click of the door closing behind me did feel very much like an echo in my mind, marking an end to something I wasn't ready to let go. That was a very cool night—much of a contrast to the raging fire in my chest. I stuffed my hands into the front pockets of my jeans and wrestled with frustration, hurt, and loss, almost palpable at the base of my throat.I needed a drink. Something to wash away the image of Aria's tear-stained face, her quaking voice when she said we were through. This was more than one should have to take sober. Half-consciously, I wandered into the nearest bar—well, then, a tiny, dimly lit, hole-in-the-wall that used to be a regular when things got tough. It wasn't classy, but it did the trick: a place to lose myself for a few hours.It was all but empty until I came in except for a couple of regulars nursing their drinks at the bar. I took the stool at the very e
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Fourteen
It was a very quiet day until I walked into my office after lunch. As usual, I was surrounded by hums of activity: phones ringing, keyboards clicking, colleagues murmuring about deadlines and stories. As I went in, lost in thought and mentally planning for the rest of the day, something strange caught my eyes on my desk.There, centred, stood a grand, nice, and laid-out gift basket, covering most of the area where my laptop usually rests. Beside it was a bouquet of fresh and vibrant flowers: roses, tulips, and some stalks of baby's breath, all tied together with a silk ribbon.I stopped, momentarily blinking at what lay before me. Who'd done this? I walked closer to where the basket and flowers were set, putting my bag down on the chair so that I could examine things more closely. Inside, I found some gourmet treats: chocolates, artisanal cheese, wine, and even a few luxury skincare products.It was quite the lavish production, the little certificate, but what threw me right off was t
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Fifteen
That morning of Lena and Nixon's wedding was soft. My window lace curtains dyed the light, which coloured the walls. I lay back with a stretch, and a mix of excitement and nerves fluttered around my stomach. Well, today was going to be a big day, in just a few hours, Lena and Nixon would finally take that plunge, and I felt so elated at the charge given to me to be Lena's maid of honour. It all seemed surreal, the distance they had come since those early days of their relationship and all that had built up to this momentous day of their lives. But amidst all of the joy was this little knot of tension that had been building all week, sitting heavy in my chest. It was anonymous, much like the others. Every day, I open the doors to my office, and something new is laid there, flowers, chocolates, even a piece of jewelry. It was flattering but also bewildering. And today, of all days, I couldn't afford to be distracted.I shoved those thoughts from my mind as I threw back the covers to g
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Sixteen
DAVE'S POV The wedding lights gave the garden a warm, golden look one could breathe. With the hum of conversation and glasses, everything was too distant and hazy for me. I stood on the edge with my drink in my hand, watching the guests mix and intermingle, celebrating around me. I had been keeping to myself for most of the evening, lost in my thoughts and desperate to push the gnawing feeling from taking root in my chest after the ceremony.Aria looked breathtakingly beautiful. The sight of her walking down the aisle hit me like a punch in the gut. It wasn't just the looks, but the memories that came rushing to repossess my mind: how we used to be. How she used to laugh at my jokes and the way she used to look at me, like I was the only person in the room, all came flooding back to haunt me. Now, with Jax never far from her side, she felt those memories slipping closer and closer, just out of her reach.I knew I needed to tell her how I felt. With every day that passed, the feeling
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Seventeen
ARIA'S POVMy phone buzzed, it must have been for the hundredth time that morning. I didn't need to look, though all texts and notifications seemed to come down to the same thing. Well, the rumour mill hadn't stopped since Jax and I got together, but today… Today felt different. You could feel it in your bones, like a storm about to hit just out of sight."I rather reluctantly opened my phone again to scroll through the scores of messages, tweets, and posts flooding my feed. I looked up sheepishly to see what adorned every major gossip website: "New Power Couple: Aria Stephenson and Jax Grayson Romance Heat Up!" with pictures of him and me leaving that wedding together last night.". The photos had captured everything—how Jax used to hold me close and how I'd look at him.But the captions only distorted everything, making what was such close, personal time between the two of us into a public spectacle.The anxiety mixed with impatience surged, upped by apprehension in my chest. This
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Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Seventeen
