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Part 2: Chapter Twenty Five
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2024-08-16 06:38:53Related chapters
Fallen Apart Prologue
The large doors of the Cathedral opened as the bridal march began to play which was my cue. I walked down the red carpet that extended from the entrance to the altar in a white flowing wedding gown. On each side of me were seats filled up with the friends and family of the Mendez family from all over the world with a few of my friends and family scattered around in the seats on my right-hand side. Every girl's wedding day, she was supposed to have thousands of butterflies erupting in her stomach and excited to be trying the knot with the man of her dreams, but it wasn't the case for me.All I could feel was anger, hatred, and despair toward the man smiling at me from the end of the aisle because he was the man of my nightmares. A man I still used to love with all my heart a few hours ago but he repaid all my love with lies and deceit and expected me to spend the rest of my life with him.If I could have my way, I would stab him to death on our wedding night and flee far away from th
Last Updated : 2023-04-10Fallen Apart One
FIVE MONTHS AGOARIA'S POV"Mom, Dad, I got the job," I yelled, running downstairs with my phone in my hand as the wooden floor made creaking sounds under my feet."Ari, slow down. You're going hurt yourself," My dad who was sitting in our portable living room shouted.I jumped on the maroon couch he was sitting on, shoving my phone to his face. "Dad, I did it." He took the phone from my hand and read the message I got from Styles Company, one of the biggest Fashion Companies in Chicago. Ever since I graduated from Fashion school earlier that year, I had hoped to get employed in a big company in Chicago. I applied to different companies over the months and sent them some of my ideas as an interview but I got rejected by two companies already.When I woke up that morning, my phone lit up with a message from Style Company, another company I applied in. At first, I ignored it thinking it was another rejection message, only for me to decide to check it out and got the shock of my life."
Last Updated : 2023-04-11Fallen Apart Two
ARIA'S POVAs I parked my clothes in the wardrobe inside my bag, footsteps approached my room followed by a series of knocks. Savannah was the only person in the house with me, so it had to be her."Come in," I said as I continued to fold my clothes inside the suitcase.The door opened and I didn't bother looking up because I already knew who it was. "Do you need some help?" she asked."No," I replied without looking at her."You're leaving this week, right? Have you arranged for an apartment yet?" she continued."Yes." "Don't you think we should talk before you leave?" She walked further into the room to stand beside me, but I ignored her. "Since I moved in here, you avoided me like a plague. Whenever I tried to talk to you, you either give me one-word answers or give some hurtful remark."Refusing to look at her, I muttered under my breath, "I wonder why?" "How long do you plan to keep hating me?" She asked but I ignored her as I left her side to fetch my fashion magazines piled un
Last Updated : 2023-04-12Fallen Apart Three
ARIA'S POVTaking a deep breath, I knock on the door of Savannah's room. "Come in," she called from inside.I pushed the door open to see her on the bed lying on her back. "Hey." She sat up on the bed with wide eyes. "Aria? Do you need something?"Since she moved in with us, I had never knocked on her door not to talk of stepping into her room. I had always avoided any reason of going there, so I get why she was surprised upon seeing me."I need to talk to you about something." I fiddled with my finger, unable to meet her eyes."If it's about what you said earlier, you're right. I made a terrible mistake, disappointed my parents, and ruined the future we had planned together. You have every right to be mad at me and I can't blame you for hating me for what I did. It's all my fault, I'm sorry Ari." She wiped her tears."No, Anna. I should be the one apologizing." I gathered the courage to look her in the eyes."Why should you apologize to me? You did nothing wrong." She gave me a con
Last Updated : 2023-04-16Fallen Apart Four
DAVE'S POVThe sun was down and the moon was slowly making its appearance when I stepped out of the plane and walked into the airport. My amber eyes scanned through the waiting crowd and I noticed a man in a black suit holding a banner that says Dave Mendez. I covered my head with the hood of my jacket and blended into the crowd till I was able to get out of the airport without them noticing me.When I got outside, I breathed in the fresh air of Chicago that was brightened by different lights from a different buildings. The city was a sight to see at night which was why I chose to arrive late. It has been two years since I left the city just to avoid my parents. No, I didn't hate my parent for any reason they were the people I loved the most but I had to leave when they were trying to make me shoulder a responsibility I wasn't ready for. I wished to live my life doing whatever I want and going wherever I want without anything holding me down. Our clash of interest was why I left the c
Last Updated : 2023-04-18Fallen Apart Five
DAVE'S POVThroughout the journey, I was preparing myself for the argument I was going to be having with my parents over the same topic for the last three years.The car stopped in front of Styles Company, the Fashion company owned by my parents. I stepped out to see that the white-colored concrete building has been replaced with royal blue glass with the company's name calligraphed boldly at the top. The men in suits ushered me inside and I covered my head with my hood as the door opened. I walked toward the elevator with five men surrounding me and I could hear the whispers of people asking who I was. Over the years, I had managed to keep myself away from anything related to the company except the money I get from it though. My parents didn't mind because my brother was ready to take up the responsibility of succeeding after them which made me relax but little did I know that things would take a different turn and I would be pressured to take the responsibility I have been running
Last Updated : 2023-04-20Fallen Apart Six
ARIA'S POVThat Saturday morning, Xavier dragged my suitcase down the stairs as Savannah and I walked behind him."The place won't be the same without you but we can't stop you from leaving." Savannah sighed for the tenth time that morning. "I will miss you guys too except Xavier though." Xavier scoffed. "We both know that's a big lie." I rolled my eyes but I knew he was right. There was no way I wouldn't miss his bossiness and his annoying personality."I can't believe my baby is finally going out to the city." My mom sniffed when we got to the bottom of the stairs. She pulled me into a hug. "I'm going to miss you." "I'll miss you too, Mom." I wrapped my hands around her. "Always remember that I'm just a phone call away." I pulled away and wiped her tears. "Be careful out there, dear." Dad caressed my hair. "As much as it bothers me to let you go into that big city alone, I know I can't keep you under my wings forever. You need to go out there and find your path."It was expecte
Last Updated : 2023-04-22Fallen Apart Seven
ARIA'S POVMy first day in Chicago was pretty adventurous. Lena and I spent the entire day sightseeing, eating different food and snacks, and watching movies. She took me to places that I needed to know, so I would be able to find my around whenever she wasn't around. Lena took me to Styles company and my jaw dropped to the ground at the sight of the magnificent building that was covered in Royal blue glass. The place was closed since it was Sunday, so she promised to show me around the company the next day when I resume work.I rose from bed earlier that morning as I couldn't sleep out of nervousness. As I took my bath and got ready, millions of butterflies were having a party in my stomach and I kept doing the breathing exercise to calm down."Breakfast is ready," Lena said in front of my door followed by her footsteps walking toward the living room.Lena's apartment was spacious with a living room and two bedrooms which were directly opposite each other. The kitchen and dining roo
Last Updated : 2023-04-23
Latest chapter
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Twenty Five
I took her view and entered the room. The view that my eyes chanced upon, a woman sitting at the brink of the bed and burying her face in her hands, had revved up my heartbeat; she lifted her head and looked at me. There was surprise as well as confusion in Aria's gaze."Dave…what are you doing here?" she asked, tremulous her voice.I stepped closer to her, and my heart went out to her. "Aria, please, don't do that. We have to talk. You had to know how much I love you, and we have got to do this together. Please don't make this mistake. Don't decide without you talking to me," she said.She stared into mine, her own already welling with water. "I don't know if I can do this, Dave. I'm scared… so scared."."I know you are," I said, my voice cracking as the emotions spun their way inside of me. "But I'm scared too, Aria, scared to death of letting go of you and our child. We can face this together. I love you and will be with you no matter what. Please just allow us a chance."She tremb
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Twenty Four
DAVE'S POVThe reports lay on the desk as my eyes looked at them without really seeing. It was two weeks ago—the night that had unleashed all my emotions with Aria. She hadn't been returning my calls or texts, and every time I tried to find her, the doors closed in front of me.It was as if that had been such a welcome distraction from the growing pit of dread deep in my stomach—one which it was easy to leave my focus on. Therefore, I just thought that probably Aria needed some space and time to think, and I gave it to her. But the days were beginning to slip into weeks; the chasm between us began to feel impossible to cross.I was just about to get into the other useless read-through of the reports when the shaking of my door broke with a knock. Before I could get a chance to answer, Nixon walked in, a sad look across his face."Dave, we have got to talk," he said, shutting the door.I rose to my feet; missed a beat in my heart. Nixon never did drama so whatever his news was, it had
Fallen Apart part 2: Chapter Twenty Three
Returning to Chicago was very much like stepping into the storm all over again. The city was the same—booming and ruthless; only I was different now. The sojourn at Pittsburgh had poured in a new perspective and a brief sabbatical from the storm that life was getting transformed into. Onwards, as I pushed open the doors and jumped into the office of the magazine, all my lugging from the past came back and sat on my shoulders again.I virtually wore the broadest smile ever as I greeted colleagues around, with their eyes to my back, and whispers trailing down the hall. News about Jax did travel fast, and however much I wanted to act like I did not hear the murmurs, they were impossible to ignore."'Did you see him? Jax is still in prison…Isn't she the one who used to go out with him?"Yeah, apparently she's trying to steer clear of any more drama. Who can blame her?"The two prattled on, voices droning in my ears as I looked down, burying myself in my work. I had the art of evasion of
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Twenty Two
Xavier had spent most of the next fortnight within the confines of the house with his baby daughter, little Aurora; mankind could attribute getting associated with the atmosphere of normality amidst these crazed minds in and around people. They made one feel slightly better, anyways. The bright spot in my life was Aurora, Xavier's baby. Her laughter and innocence diverted my mind from that hurricane inside my guts.And Xavier, he never stopped showing up. Either waiting to hold me with all of my words, many, or sitting wordless with me when my words failed. He had wars of his own, his own aches: waiting for Savannah to return, raising Aurora on his own. But it never crossed him from how he was acted at that it was of much miracle to be noble, he quared each new day with that kind of fortitude. I saw and wished I could find it in myself.And suddenly it was one of those evenings where one sat in the porch with the sunset overhead, and this very question was coming alive inside me since
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Twenty one
ARIA'S POVAnd there was the sun, first off, up close, shining warmly but in an absolutely singular, discreet design, wringing and bright out through the blinds and all over my bed. For one moment all was also right in my world; this was just some stupid nightmare. For a brief second, there was a sense that everything in the world was also just fine; it was all just some ridiculous nightmare. But as the fog of sleep thinned, I could see the face of reality coming creaking down upon me.There was the weight of a body beside me and the familiar scent of Dave's cologne in the air. Dread consumed me as my head turned to his, slowly, heart in the throat, lying beside me, still asleep. His face really looked peaceful, quite unlike the trouble that I knew was dwelling underneath.Panic surged through me at the full force of what I had done. As soon as I lay in Dave's bed, in full nudity and all the sheets, it all came back, the way that I kissed him. I had let myself fall into the biggest t
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Twenty
DAVE'S POVDarkness had passed as I finally drove the old Civic through the winding city streets, my brain swirling with thoughts that snaked into a cocktail of feelings, triumph and unease. The news of Jax spread like a wildfire through the grapevine, and much as I loathed to admit, somewhere deep inside me, the thought of his downfall came with a bit of joy. That definitely had to be said: he had it coming. Not half of me, though—there was another that couldn't see past Aria's face in my head when she discovered all that she had been told. What would she do? Didn't she see this as a way to get rid of him and finally turn back to me? Or would she retreat into herself as she had retreated before, only this time even more broken?It was with all that running through my head that I pulled up outside Aria's apartment. I parked the car, opened the door, and let the cool night air do little to settle the restlessness in my chest. I came to her front door and knocked, waiting for her to an
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Nineteen
ARIA'S POV Long before the fallout hit. My phone started going off and never stopped, vibrating out of its cradle the second the story broke. Friends, colleagues, reporters—everyone wanted a piece of the madness. I ignored them all as my heart raced, scrolling through the headlines; each one landed in my gut like a gut punch: “Jax Grayson's Secret Life Exposed!" “Exposé in the Fashion World: The Unimaginable Reality of a Fashion Giant!" "Jax Grayson Probed for Money Laundering!" I felt like throwing up. My stomach somersaulted with the words of the allegations. They had to be wrong. Simply wrong. Jax was one of the good guys, sweet …How in the world could he have held something like this secret from me? From everyone? My hands were shaking as I fumbled with that bar of digits to call Jax, hoping against all odds that there was some kind of explanation; a way that maybe this could all just be a horrible, horrible mistake. But when he picked up, his voice came flat, resigned.
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Eighteen
DAVE'S POV I crossed through the doorway into my office, started pacing, and wondered how to deliver this piece of dynamite to Nixon. My office was quiet except for the humming of air conditioning. Inside my head was a no-man's-land. What I was doing, I felt, was walking a tightrope. One wrong step and everything could come crashing down. But at that moment, thinking of her in Jax's arms, of her being able to smile again the way she used to smile at me, made it resolute, and somehow, I knew I had to go through it. This morning, Nixon was extremely caught up. He had one meeting and call after another, so he was active. Still, I knew that at least I had to try and speak to him before going any further with the plan. He wasn't just a friend; he was my brother-in-law, partner in crime, the one man who could talk me out of any crazy idea I came up with. I inhaled slowly, then walked into his office. The door swung a bit wide, and behind the desk, I could see him buried in some paper
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
