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Fallen Apart Thirty One
ARIA'S POVThe new week started great for me, most especially for Lena though. She was over the moon when Dave announced the termination of the 'No Dating' rule that Monday morning but she didn't show her excitement to Nixon because for some reason she was playing hard to get.We also had our probation test that week and it turned out well for aSummer and I as well as the few designers who got to keep their jobs. I wouldn't want to take all the credit for passing that test with ease because Summer and I wouldn't have been able to do it without the support of our teammates. Their advice and correction were of great help which made the test a walk in the park for us. Seven designers from Teams 1, 2, and 3 were fired, so the company put out a vacancy for designers.When work hours were over on Saturday, Lena and I left immediately because she had to go visit her sick Grandmother in the South side of Chicago. It was an impromptu visit that made her cancel her date with Nixon. As we stepp
Last Updated : 2023-05-13Fallen Apart Thirty-Two
DAVE'S POVThroughout the movie, Aria clung to me with her head buried in my chest as she whimpered in fear. Sometimes she would peep at the screen and end up screaming before hiding her face back in my chest. I rubbed her back as I chuckled at her cuteness.The movie ended much to Aria's joy and she wasted no time in bolting out of the theatre room. I followed after her until she stepped out of the Cinema building. "I'm never going through that again." She turned to me with a glare. "I think the movie was interesting especially the part where they found her murderer." I shrugged."Whose murderer?" She folded her arms as she raised her eyebrows."Oh, sorry."I just remembered she was too busy screaming into my chest to pay attention to the movie. "There's no way I'm getting any sleep tonight." She sighed."How about I make it up to you?" I offered. "How? By taking me to a haunted house?" She cocked an eyebrow."That's a nice idea too, why didn't I think of that?" I asked with a smi
Last Updated : 2023-05-14Fallen Apart Thirty-Three
ARIA'S POVAs expected, I couldn't get any sleep that night as I kept seeing the faces of those scary ghosts from the movie whenever I closed my eyes. I held Dave to his words and called him in the middle of the night. He told me some funny stories about him and Nixon which took my mind off the scary movie, then he sang me a lullaby that helped me to fall asleep. The first thing the following morning, Lena called me asking how my 'date' with Dave went. I explained everything to her and told her I wasn't sure if it was a date or not since he didn't mention anything about it being a date. She hung up the call to attend to her Grandma when she got the gist she wanted to hear while I did some house chores before relaxing for the rest of the day. The sun was setting, giving the sky a golden glow and I was on the couch, chatting with Savannah on my phone. A call from Dave came in, and I changed his name from Master to Dave. At first, I stared at the phone wondering why he was calling me
Last Updated : 2023-05-15Fallen Apart Thirty -Four
ARIA'S POVThe next morning, I woke up to a cold space beside me and I checked the time to see that it was six in the morning. I moved to climb from the bed which earned me a sharp pain between my legs, reminding me of the event that occurred the last night.I took in a deep breath as I waited for the pain to suppress before I slowly climbed down from the bed. I checked the bathroom to see if Dave was there but he wasn't, then I went to the living room but he was nowhere to be found. All traces of him being in my house last night was gone. 'Why did he leave without letting me know?' I asked myself. 'Maybe something urgent came up and he didn't want to disturb me,' I answered the question, providing an excuse for him.Making my way back to my room, I picked up my phone from the bed and dialed his phone number. The phone rang for a while but he didn't pick up. I tried again and again but still no response. I assumed he might be busy with something else and unable to answer my call at t
Last Updated : 2023-05-16Fallen Apart Thirty-Five
DAVE'S POVThe moment Aria walked out of my office, I leaned into my seat and ran my fingers through my hair. I had no idea how to react to her after what happened last which was why I left her place early that morning. When I woke up to her naked body beside me, I expected to feel disgusted and lose all my attraction for her like I used to feel with other girls but it was different. Instead, I want to pull her into my arms and feel her body against mine. I thought having my way with her would help me get over the mixed feelings I had for her but instead, it got worse. I had never felt this way toward any girl before and it was scaring the shit out of me. Staring at the cup of coffee in front of me, my mind flashed back to the first day we met. I smiled at the image of her angry face when she shouted at me for breaking her phone. 'What is wrong with you, Dave?' I shook my head to dismiss the memory before I called upon my secretary to away the coffee.Throughout that day, I couldn
Last Updated : 2023-05-17Fallen Apart Thirty-Six
NIXON'S POVThe ray of the beautiful morning sun hit my face as I stepped out of my Lamborghini, making my way into the Styles building."Good morning, Mr. Garret," the staff on the first floor greeted me as I made my way toward the elevator.From a distance, I spotted Aria going into the elevator with Lena beside her. A sigh escaped my lips when I recalled what happened between her and Dave. A sense of guilt washed through me because I had a hint about what Dave was planning all along.But then, it wasn't my business. Aria was mature enough to make certain decisions for herself, I shouldn't hold myself responsible for something that was out of my control. It was all on her that she fell for Dave's Playboy charms and ended up getting hurt.Don't get me wrong, I wasn't in support of Dave's action. Playing girls was something I was never fond of, and I'd tried to talk to Dave to change his ways but he wasn't ready to listen to me. I knew he would come to his senses when he meets someone
Last Updated : 2023-05-18Fallen Apart Thirty-Seven
DAVE'S POVNixon was right, pushing her away didn't help my situation at all. It has been four days and the thoughts of her were still occupying my mind. Her beautiful smile, her sweet voice, how her hand fit perfectly in mine when we held hands, and the feeling of her soft delicate body against mine, those thoughts of her were driving me crazy.Those past four days, I went to work hoping to catch a glimpse of her even if it was just for a second that would do a lot to help me. I stopped her from bringing me coffee because I knew things would be awkward between us after what happened but I was beginning to regret that. It also didn't help that Nixon was no longer talking to me because of what Lena did to him. I couldn't blame him though, I might have done the same if I were in his shoes. It hurts sometimes when people regarded you as someone you are not because of the people you associate yourself with. It was something he had been going through since we were in high school. I was
Last Updated : 2023-05-19Fallen Apart Thirty-Eight
ARIA'S POVAfter begging Lena to let the matter go, she still went ahead and confronted Nixon about it. I couldn't get mad at her because I knew she was trying to fight for me but It didn't sit well with me that they were not on talking terms because of me, and if proper care was not taken, it might be the end of the relationship they haven't even started.Hearing what Nixon when she confronted him, made me realize how stupid I was to have fallen for Dave's trap like that. If only I had a bit more common sense and self-control, I wouldn't have gotten hurt.Regretting my decision every day wouldn't turn back the time and undo what happened, so I decided to let it go and keep it as a lesson for another day. A lesson not to fall for a handsome billionaire with beautiful eyes that can hypnotize you. Above everything, it comforted me a bit that I didn't get to see him anymore, thanks to him. Seeing him every day would have only aided in me remembering how much he hurt me and kept the pain
Last Updated : 2023-05-20
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
