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Chapter 13
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Her Strength, Her Bane Chapter 14
As was typical of a day such as this one, Joslyn woke up with a sense of anticipation tinged with dread. It was the day she visited her twin brother, Josh, at the hospital—a ritual she and her father, Timothy, maintained weekly. But as she rolled over to check the time on her phone, she was greeted by a message notification from her father. Her heart sank to her stomach as she read the words.Dad: I'm sorry, sweetheart, can't make it today. Something really urgent came up at work. Will make it up to you next time. Pure anger and disappointment surged through Joslyn in equal measure at her father's text. She knew him well enough to tell that he was lying to her, especially because work had never been a hindrance to him visiting Josh before. In fact, his coworkers were already really familiar with his routine on this particular day and lastly, his workplace was close enough such that he could spare at least an hour’s visit before returning.Therefore, her father had absolutely no excus
Her Strength, Her Bane Chapter 15
Gabriel found himself revisiting the scene in his mind as he roamed his apartment, unable to shake the vivid memory of what had happened earlier. After a long day at work with countless meetings running into one another, Gabriel had been about ready to go to bed when he'd heard the loud bang from outside. Worried and cautious, he'd quickly stepped out of his apartment—only to be met with a sight that had caught him by surprise. There, seated before her door, was Joslyn, surrounded by her scattered belongings, resembling fallen leaves in disarray.However, it hadn't quite been the disorderliness of her belongings that had captured Gabriel's attention initially. It’d been the tears streaming down her face, her shoulders shaking with each sob. The contrast between her usual composed demeanor and her current state of vulnerability had been so stark and had struck him deeply.The image of Joslyn in such a state of distress had stirred within Gabriel an overwhelming yet inexplicable sense
Her Strength, Her Bane Chapter 16
The next morning, a slight headache greeted a dazed Joslyn as she woke up, her surroundings unfamiliar to her for a minute before the events of the previous night came flooding back. She was in Gabriel's guest room where the soft rays from the morning sunlight filtered through the diaphanous curtains, casting a warm glow over the room.Letting out a heavy sigh, Joslyn sat up on the bed with her back against the headboard as she carefully massaged her temples, her mind still reeling from the emotional turmoil from the previous day.She rubbed her eyes next, feeling their dry and puffy state, then suddenly Joslyn was reminded of how she'd broken down in front of Gabriel the night before and how, being so intoxicated by the much-needed comfort he provided with, she'd tried to kiss him. Joslyn’s eyes immediately widened, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment as she recalled her actions and how Gabriel had delicately rejected her, not wanting to take advantage of her when she’d been in su
Her Strength, Her Bane Excerpt
“You are my best friend's boyfriend, Gabriel.”“Ex–boyfriend,” he corrected.“Whatever. It still changes everything,” she wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling tiny underneath his scorching gaze.“It changes nothing, Joslyn,” he took a step closer to her. “Nothing at all.”She looked up into his eyes, sweet honey orbs colliding with the coral combinations of greens and blues. The colour harmony couldn't be more explosive.Clearing her throat, she looked away from his captivating imprisonment of a gaze before straightening her posture to match one of confidence and determination, a total contrast to the tornado of feelings overwhelming her insides. His proximate presence was making her feel weak in the knees.“No matter what, I refuse to betray Sigourney. It is an unspoken rule between best friends to not have anything to do with each other's exes. You're off limits, Gabriel.”“Fuck such rules! Whether they're ‘unspoken’,” he gestured in an air-quote, “or in the fucking con
Her Strength, Her Bane Chapter 1
|| Three Years Prior To The Present ||Being an air stewardess was very thrilling and exhilarating for someone as adventurous as Joslyn Patel, but unfortunately, as exciting as it was, it also bagged a lot of stress, lots of legwork, i.e. standing and walking around, lots of sweet smiles (whether faux or genuine, but mostly, faux) and lastly, lots and lots of jet lags.The belief that if you continued to do something perpetually, you would eventually grow accustomed to it, was a lie. A big one at that and Joslyn was a living witness. No one ever grows accustomed to jet lags. So, imagine the magnitude of irritation she truly felt when her best friend, Sigourney Lapointe, had tenaciously dragged her jaded and jet-lagged body down to the clubhouse, two hours after she had landed from a 50hr+ flight to and from Kathmandu, Nepal.Joslyn groaned loudly when the words, The Airliner, illuminated in neon lights at the entrance of the club blared in her line of sight. She had had enough of air
Her Strength, Her Bane Chapter 2
Sulking alone while seated at the bar, Joslyn sipped from a glass of water as she scrolled through her phone; precisely through the international dates and times application.Oddly, Joslyn sometimes liked to see how different countries in different regions and varied hemispheres had distinct times from one another. She didn't know if it was as a result of always traveling around, but the idea of the dissimilar time zones between countries always intrigued her.She had just finished informing her parents and twin brother, Joshua who was serving in the Canadian Marines but was currently on one of his rare military leave, of her arrival in their resident city, Vancouver, when the air suddenly shifted and she vaguely noticed someone settling two barstools away from her.From her peripheral vision, she could make out the person's figure; it was a guy or perhaps, a woman who had spent way too much time in the gym to possess such bulging muscles and towering physique even while seated.Befor
Her Strength, Her Bane Chapter 3
|| One Year Prior To The Present || Feeling the uncomfortable and seemingly neverending strain in his pants, Gabriel Nicholas Reid stood stiffly in front of the bulletproof, two-way floor to ceiling mirror glass doors standing between him and his personal office balcony, which overlooked the entire city of Vancouver, British Columbia. Trying awfully hard, but to no avail, he struggled to divert his attention from his carnal thoughts and on to the beautiful and vast view of the city displaying right before his very eyes. With the mountains to the North, the Pacific Oceans to the West and the huge Stanley Park right downtown, Vancouver was well known for its jaw-droppingly beauteous landscapes. And from where Gabriel currently stood, he could see the boundless space of the blue ocean lined with different sizes of ferryboats and yachts mooring by the docks. He could also see the lines and lines of smaller buildings stretching across the city as well as the bridge that connected his si
Her Strength, Her Bane Chapter 4
Silence settled heavily within the confines of the BMW sitting idly by the sidewalk, save for the occasional taps emanating from fingers flying across the Gorilla-glassed screen of his phone and the hullabaloo of the outside world.Gabriel sat in the driver's seat of his car, busy with his mobile as he waited for his girlfriend to emerge from her apartment complex. He was dressed casually, yet with an intention to impress, in a pair of fitted jeans snug against his manly thighs, a black undershirt and a similarly black leather jacket with a pair of Dr. Martens boots adorning his feet. A minute passed and Gabriel shifted his attention from his phone to his wristwatch, checking the time. An exasperated sigh escaped his lips as he looked toward the apartment building he was currently parked in front of. For over a half hour now, he had been waiting for Sigourney to come out but when she'd been busy taking her sweet time getting ready, he'd resorted to busying himself with sorting throu
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Her Strength, Her Bane Chapter 16
The next morning, a slight headache greeted a dazed Joslyn as she woke up, her surroundings unfamiliar to her for a minute before the events of the previous night came flooding back. She was in Gabriel's guest room where the soft rays from the morning sunlight filtered through the diaphanous curtains, casting a warm glow over the room.Letting out a heavy sigh, Joslyn sat up on the bed with her back against the headboard as she carefully massaged her temples, her mind still reeling from the emotional turmoil from the previous day.She rubbed her eyes next, feeling their dry and puffy state, then suddenly Joslyn was reminded of how she'd broken down in front of Gabriel the night before and how, being so intoxicated by the much-needed comfort he provided with, she'd tried to kiss him. Joslyn’s eyes immediately widened, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment as she recalled her actions and how Gabriel had delicately rejected her, not wanting to take advantage of her when she’d been in su
Her Strength, Her Bane Chapter 15
Gabriel found himself revisiting the scene in his mind as he roamed his apartment, unable to shake the vivid memory of what had happened earlier. After a long day at work with countless meetings running into one another, Gabriel had been about ready to go to bed when he'd heard the loud bang from outside. Worried and cautious, he'd quickly stepped out of his apartment—only to be met with a sight that had caught him by surprise. There, seated before her door, was Joslyn, surrounded by her scattered belongings, resembling fallen leaves in disarray.However, it hadn't quite been the disorderliness of her belongings that had captured Gabriel's attention initially. It’d been the tears streaming down her face, her shoulders shaking with each sob. The contrast between her usual composed demeanor and her current state of vulnerability had been so stark and had struck him deeply.The image of Joslyn in such a state of distress had stirred within Gabriel an overwhelming yet inexplicable sense
Her Strength, Her Bane Chapter 14
As was typical of a day such as this one, Joslyn woke up with a sense of anticipation tinged with dread. It was the day she visited her twin brother, Josh, at the hospital—a ritual she and her father, Timothy, maintained weekly. But as she rolled over to check the time on her phone, she was greeted by a message notification from her father. Her heart sank to her stomach as she read the words.Dad: I'm sorry, sweetheart, can't make it today. Something really urgent came up at work. Will make it up to you next time. Pure anger and disappointment surged through Joslyn in equal measure at her father's text. She knew him well enough to tell that he was lying to her, especially because work had never been a hindrance to him visiting Josh before. In fact, his coworkers were already really familiar with his routine on this particular day and lastly, his workplace was close enough such that he could spare at least an hour’s visit before returning.Therefore, her father had absolutely no excus
Her Strength, Her Bane Chapter 13
Joslyn woke up to the morning sun streaming through her window, casting a warm glow over her room. With a groan, she reached out to silence the blaring alarm that had jolted her from sleep. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up on the edge of her bed, staring blankly into space. Despite feeling reluctant to leave the comfort of her bed, she knew she had to start her day.After a moment of blankly staring into space, Joslyn pushed herself to her feet and made her way to her dresser. With a sigh, she rummaged through her clothes for a suitable outfit for her morning gym session. Eventually, she settled on a comfortable set of workout clothes and made her way to the bathroom for a quick shower, even though she knew she'd be taking another one when she got back.After gathering her resolve, Joslyn headed to the gym just around the corner of their block for her morning workout routine. Upon arrival, she exchanged pleasantries with familiar faces, exchanging nods and smiles with fellow gym-goers and
Her Strength, Her Bane Chapter 12
Gabriel arrived at his mother’s house, feeling a wave of comfort as he stepped through the familiar doorway. The scent of his childhood lingered in the air, mingling with the aroma of his mother's cooking. Despite his demanding role as a CEO, he never missed their biweekly dinners—a sacred tradition he cherished dearly.“Hey, Mom,” he greeted warmly, presenting her with the strawberry and banana trifle, one of her favorites.Nora's face lit up at the sight of the dessert, and she enveloped Gabriel in a warm hug. “Gabriel, dear, it’s so good to see you. Come on in.”After exchanging pleasantries, they set the table together, the rhythmic clinking of dishes a familiar melody of their routine.As they settled, Nora gently broached the topic. "Why haven’t you been picking up your calls, Gabriel? I've been trying the home phone. You know I worry when I can't reach you."Gabriel sighed inwardly. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’ve been preoccupied with work, and I moved out of the mansion for a change of
Her Strength, Her Bane Chapter 11
Joslyn stepped into the lobby of her apartment building, her mind still swarming with thoughts from her earlier visit to the hospital. She let out a sigh, offering a weak smile to the receptionist, Eunice, who returned it with an equally tired smile of her own."Hey," Eunice greeted her, presenting a brightly wrapped box of chocolates and a bottle of sparkling wine."Good evening, Eunice. What's this?" Joslyn questioned, peering curiously at the box."The new building owner asked to share these gifts with each resident to celebrate his acquisition of the building and foster a cordial relationship between residents and the landlord," Eunice explained, her voice tinged with rehearsed politeness.Joslyn accepted the gifts with a polite thank you, but couldn't shake off the feeling of uncertainty. She glanced around the lobby, noticing that the other residents didn't seem to be receiving similar packages. With her brows furrowed, she decided to inquire further."Have all the residents bee
Her Strength, Her Bane Chapter 10
Joslyn couldn't seem to rid herself of that same immovable lump that remained ever present in her throat any time she visited the hospital. No matter how much she tried to swallow it down, it remained ever lodged there, choking her with the familiar heaviness in her chest.For a moment, Joslyn sat completely still in the cab parked on the curb, staring out the window at the building that seemed to loom over her; a building that held the last thread of her sanity. If that thread were to snap, she wouldn't know what to do with herself.A sudden honk caused Joslyn to jerk in the seat as her head snapped towards the front, her gaze clashing with that of the cab driver through the rear-view mirror. He shot her a meaningful look as he spoke, “I haven't got all day, Miss.”“Right. Sorry.” She quickly rummaged through her purse, handing him some money. “Keep the change. Thank you.”“Will do,” he replied and zoomed right off the curb immediately she alighted from the car and shut the door.Wit
Her Strength, Her Bane Chapter 9
Joslyn trudged up the stairs leading to her apartment complex, having stepped out of the elevator a floor below hers so she could round up her morning exercises with a stair climb.Panting lightly, she stomped her way up the last few steps, groaning in relief when she finally reached the top and made her way into the corridor where her room was located. Uncapping her water bottle, she tilted her head backward and brought it to her mouth to take large gulps of the water rather quickly in order to quench her thirst, thereby allowing a few drops to escape the corners of her lips, trail down her exposed neck, mixing with the accumulated sweat there and continuing their paths into the sports bra she was wearing. Still gulping down the water, Joslyn pinched the fabric of her sports bra between her index finger and thumb, lifting the now wet material off the skin of her chest. Her action brought a bit of her cleavage into view and the man who, at that exact time, walked out of his own apart
Her Strength, Her Bane Chapter 8
|| A Year Later (The Present) ||“Ladies and gentlemen, we have begun our final descent to Vancouver, British Columbia. In preparation for landing, please return to your seats, fasten your seatbelts, raise your tray tables and ensure your seat backs are in the upright and locked positions. Any personal belongings which may have been used during flight, please make sure they are secured in the overhead bin or underneath the seat in front of you.” Joslyn said as she stood on the aisle in the middle, her eyes scanning the passengers.When she looked satisfied with the fact that they were paying attention to her and already making adjustments, she continued.“Also, please make sure to pass any remaining service items and unwanted reading materials to the flight attendants as they will be making one last trip through the aisles to collect them. We will be landing soon. Thank you.”She smiled, earning a few ‘thank you’s and ‘you're welcome’s as she headed towards the jump seat stationed be
