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Sixty-Two
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2023-06-27 23:30:52Related chapters
Fallen Apart Sixty-Three
ARIA'S POVDave's car pulled up in the parking lot of his father's mansion. My fingers clasped together on my lips and my heart thudded in my chest loudly. I closed my eyes and took sharp intakes of breath to calm my racing heart but it did nothing to help."Hey, look at me." I felt Dave's hand on my cheeks, making me open my eyes to meet his beautiful amber eyes that were filled with concern. "I've told you there's nothing to worry about. I've got you." "Okay." I nodded as his words of assurance made my heartbeat slowly return to normal. "Are you ready?" he asked."Yeah." I smiled.He opened the door and climbed down from the car before coming to my side to open the door for me. I took his outstretched arm to climb out of the car and we walked into the house with our fingers intertwined.Mrs. Johnson, the Mendez housekeeper was the first to spot us when we stepped into the living room. "Dave, you finally graced us with your presence." A smile formed on her lips as she came closer t
Last Updated : 2023-06-30Fallen Apart Sixty-Four
DAVE'S POVThat beautiful Monday morning, I sat in my office, staring at the red velvet box sitting on my desk. Inside the box was a diamond-studded ring that I had been carrying around for the past three weeks.I had been waiting for her to officially meet my parents before I proceeded with my plans. But when I think about what Aria would do if she finds out about why I was doing all that, I found myself holding back and reconsidering my decision.Taking the box in my hand, I opened it and stared at the ring, thinking about the consequences of not going through with my plans. After giving it much thought, I decided to go ahead with my plans. Everything will be fine as long she doesn't find out what my motives are. "Hey." Nixon pushed the door open. "Can you give me..." He paused and I glanced up at him to see him staring at the box in my hand with wide eyes. The shocked expression on his face morphed into a smile. "Are you planning to propose to Aria?" "Yeah." I closed the box and
Last Updated : 2023-07-09Fallen Apart Sixty-Five
ARIA'S POVI stretched on my seat as work hour ended and began to pack my stuff in my bag. My teammates exited the office and I moved to follow behind them but I was stopped by Celestine."Aria, can I see you for a minute?" she requested with her eyes focused on the computer in front of her. "Sure." I made my way to her desk.She glanced up at me and stretched a flash drive to me. "It contains the record of all our designs since the beginning of this year, I want you to arrange according to the date and put that of each month in a different folder." "Okay." I took the flash drive and was about to put it in my bag when she stopped me. "What are you doing?" She raised her eyebrows at me. "I'm taking it home so I can finish it before tomorrow," I answered with a confused look on my face."You have to finish it here before you leave." "Like right now?" My eyes widened in disbelief and she nodded. "But work hours are over and...""Aria, are you complaining?" she cut me off while givin
Last Updated : 2023-07-11Fallen Apart Sixty Six
ARIA'S POVHave you ever had a feeling that an important event in your life was happening at the wrong time? That was how I felt when Mrs. Mendez invited me to her house two days after Dave's surprise proposal to discuss the wedding plans. Dave and I had only been together for three months and we were already planning our wedding. If that doesn't seem rushed, then I didn't know what is. I was thinking twice about voicing my opinion to Dave because I didn't want him to think I was having second thoughts about marrying him. Being Dave's wife would be a massive dream come true for me because I couldn't imagine myself being with someone else.Mrs. Mendez had also been ecstatic about the whole wedding preparation and I would feel bad if I ask them to postpone the wedding that was scheduled for the next weekend, bringing an end to her happiness.A sigh escaped my lips as I sat on the bed next to my suitcase. The whole wedding thing was taking a toll on me, leaving me in a sea of confusion.
Last Updated : 2023-07-12Fallen Apart Sixty-Seven
DAVE'S POV"What do I have left on my schedule today?" I asked my secretary as I made my way toward my office."You have a meeting with the branch managers in Pittsburgh this evening," he read from his Ipad. "I've arranged a car for you." I stopped in my tracks as memories of what happened the last time flashed through my mind. "I won't be going. Tell the managing director to send someone in my place.""Okay, sir." Pushing the door to my office open, I was greeted by a familiar figure sitting on my chair. I sighed as I walked closer to her. "You didn't tell me you were coming.""I thought I give you a surprise." Jenny stood from my chair and walked to me. She stopped in front of me with a seductive smile on her face.Just by looking at her, I could tell why she was here but I knew one thing for sure that she wouldn't get it from me. "What do you want?" She placed her hands on my chest, sliding them up to lock behind my neck. Bringing her lips closer to mine, she whispered, "You kno
Last Updated : 2023-07-15Fallen Apart Sixty-Eight
ARIA'S POVThe days ran by so fast and it was already two days to my wedding. Everything starting from the hall to the wedding dress down to the cake was ready. All I needed was for my family to be there so that the day could be a joyous one for me.One problem I had was Dave, he had been off lately. He was closer to me these past few days but yet so distant. I could tell that a lot was going through his head and it was disturbing him but every time I asked, he said it was nothing. Out of concern, I went to Nixon to ask if he knew what was going on but he claimed it was the stress of the company and all the wedding plans that was affecting him. I wanted to believe that too but I couldn't. Dave was hiding something from me and I couldn't guess what it was.Feeling frustrated about the whole thing, I sighed and stepped out of the shower before wrapping a towel around my body and head. I walked into the room just in time for my phone to light up with a notification. I checked it and a sm
Last Updated : 2023-08-07Fallen Apart Sixty-Nine
ARIA'S POVThe ringing tune was all I could hear as I tried to call Xavier. I had been calling him since that morning but he didn't answer nor did he see the need to call me back. That night I tossed around the bed because the next day was my wedding day and I couldn't reach my brother. One part of me was pissed that he might miss my wedding and the other part was scared something might have happened to him, and there was no way of finding out because I couldn't reach him. I had already lost my parents to the cold hands of death, I wouldn't be able to survive it if anything happens to my brother too.I gave up on calling him and threw the phone on the bed. Climbing down from the bed, I made my way out of the room toward the kitchen. When I got there, I went straight to the fridge and opened it to take a bottle of water. I rested my back on the counter as I opened the bottle and downed the entire content in one go.A sigh escaped my lips as I trashed the bottle. I was about to walk ou
Last Updated : 2023-08-09Fallen Apart Seventy
ARIA'S POV"Do you want to do this?" Savannah asked as the car moved closer to the cathedral where the ceremony would be taking place."It's the only way." I sighed and leaned into the car seat with my eyes closed. Dave and his family deserved what I was planning to do to them. They took me and my family for fools and thought they could pay off their wrongdoings with money. I knew I couldn't do much harm to them but I would do what I can do maybe that way I could get a little sense of satisfaction.The car stopped at the cathedral and guards opened the door for me to climb down as Savannah helped me with my gown. My heart thudded in my chest as I stared at the entrance of the cathedral. "It's time." The wedding planner said to me as she led me to the entrance of the cathedral with my bridesmaids which consisted of Lena, Summer and Michelle standing in front of me. When the doors were pushed open, they walked in one after the other as their entry song began to play. The door was clo
Last Updated : 2023-08-10
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
