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Chapter 14
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How We End II Chapter 15
Chapter 15I was quiet for a moment.I definitely didn't expect to be ambushed like that. But the tone in which he asked the question caused the edge of my lip to tug up a bit. He had used this childlike and playful tone, like his question didn't hold that much seriousness, but at the same time, it did."Grace?" I heard his voice again. "Are you there?"I chuckled softly, "I haven’t been ignoring you, Dean.""Oh, yeah?" He made this thinking sound. "I don't think so.""Really, I'm not." I lied, taking off my coat and just dumping it on my couch. "I've just been, uh, I've just been really busy.""Oh, okay. I totally get it." His voice sounded like he knew I was bullshitting. "You know, I just wanted to, uh, make sure cause your energy's been kind of off for a while.""Oh." Was all I said. "Yeah, it's nothing. I've just been busy.""Are you sure?" He asked. "Are you okay?""Yeah, I am." I aimlessly kicked on the foot of my couch. "And, I don't know-"I couldn't see him but the silence o
Last Updated : 2024-07-16How We End II Chapter 16
Chapter 16"Hey bestie!" Chris' voice blared through the phone immediately he accepted my FaceTime.I smiled at the sight of him, "Can you get your big head out of my screen? I wanna say hi to the birthday boy."It was Tuesday, the next day and I had arrived at work pretty early this morning. I slept off last night immediately I showered and had something to eat. I woke up around 3AM and completed the work I had brought home with me and by the time I was done, it was 5:00 AM.So, I just started getting ready and drove to work. I stopped by my favourite coffee shop on my way to get breakfast and was eating said breakfast in my office when I remembered that it was Julian's birthday. It was currently around 12 AM in Santa Clara, meaning I was right on time."Hey Grace!" Julian's face appeared on the screen, a sheepish smile playing across his face. "Waddup?"They both looked like they were lying on their bed. Chris held the phone in his hand while Julian pushed his face in.I made a fac
Last Updated : 2024-10-02How We End II Chapter 17
Chapter 17"Wait, just like that?" I could make out the furrow in Lydia's brows from my peripheral vision while my eyes remained fixed on the road. "He just went full-on 'stay away from me, it hurts too much' on you?"I was driving Lydia and I to our favourite fast food restaurant to get lunch while I filled her in on what occurred with Connor shortly before I asked her to come with me."Yup." I replied, popping the 'p'.Honestly, I couldn't pinpoint a particular way I felt about what Connor said to me. I kind of felt bad when he said it because I believed it didn't have to come to that. But then again, I couldn't invalidate how he was feeling and tell him the way he was acting was unnecessary.But I guess Lydia didn't care much about that."He's acting totally unnecessary." She said flatly. "Honestly, it seems childish to behave like this because you rejected the offer of a relationship with him. I mean, he's a grown man, he should be able to handle rejection better.""I don't know,
Last Updated : 2024-10-04How We End II Chapter 18
Chapter 18I stayed with Lydia and tried my best to make her feel better.She spent quite some time crying until she finally stopped and started to talk about how everything made her feel. Her voice was quiet as she spoke; laced with this hint of hurt and at the same time, tranquility.I listened to her carefully. I watched her talk about Carlton and their relationship like she was the only one that saw him that way. She had a lot to say and when she was done, I offered my advice.I said kind things to her while trying to stay honest. I put my personal dislike for Carlton aside and tried so stay as neutral as I could. She seemed to have appreciated it because after some time, she appeared better.I wasn't still sure if it was okay to leave her like that so I just microwaved what I could from her fridge and served it to her while we sat on her living room couch watching a dumb reality tv show.I noticed that she had fallen asleep after some time so I decided to clear up. I stood up fro
Last Updated : 2024-10-16How We End II Chapter 19
Chapter 19It had been close to two weeks.The time had gone by as it normally would; my alarm would wake me up by 6AM and I'd spend a few minutes staring into space, letting my thoughts flood in. I'd finally get up and get into the bathroom. I'd brush my teeth and have a warm shower while listening to music or some podcast on Spotify. When I'm done, I'd get out and get ready. I'd either have a light breakfast at home or get breakfast at my favourite coffee shop on my way to work.Time at work would pass by with me in my office. Sometimes, Lydia would stop by and chat or I'd stop by at Kendra's and chat. There was also the awkward moments when Connor and I would run into each other and avoid any form of interaction immediately. I think I had gotten kind of used to the routine that it didn't really upset me when it happened anymore.I also spoke to Dean at least once everyday for the past two weeks. Some days, we'd have long conversations but some days it could just be a brief exchange
Last Updated : 2024-10-17How We End II Chapter 20
Chapter 20He looked good.Better than the last time I saw him, if that was possible.His hair was the first thing that I noticed; it looked shiny and lustre, like he had started using a new product on it. He looked clean shaved and well groomed. He was dressed formally. A three piece cobalt coloured suit with a patterned tie that was a shade darker to match. He held a briefcase in his left hand and his phone on his right.Dean also looked like he was using a few seconds to take the moment in. He gave a broad smile and said, "You look good. I like your scrunchy."My hands unconsciously went up to the scrunchy which packed my hair up in a ponytail, "Thank you."For a second, I forgot I was even putting a scrunchy on in the first place."You're welcome.""You look good too." I told him with a smile. "Very professional.""Thank you." He ran a hand down his suit jacket. "I wanted to make a good first impression.""How was the meeting anyways?" I asked him, my smile still on my face. "I'
Last Updated : 2024-10-18How We End II Chapter 21
Chapter 21I was at work the next day.When I got back to my apartment yesterday, I felt really tired and slept off immediately I stepped out of the shower and threw a big tee on. I ended up waking up earlier than usual by 4 AM and couldn't bring myself to sleep back so I just watched a Netflix show on my phone until it was time to start getting ready for the day.My mind was also occupied with thoughts of Dean and how his mood changed after his phone call with his girlfriend, Amber. He looked really downcast and upset. I didn't want to be that girl, but their relationship was very difficult to read in my opinion. I mean, it was obvious they both shared feelings for each other but other than that, they seemed pretty stiff. Careful around each other, if you know what I mean.Perhaps I didn't have the right to be making so much assumptions regarding their relationship when I didn't know much about it to begin with but the few times I'd seen them together, they rubbed me off that way. I
Last Updated : 2024-10-19How We End II Chapter 22
Chapter 22Lydia and Carlton did eventually get back together that day.She seemed happy when they both returned from their long conversation wherever they disappeared to. I could only be happy for her and hope that Carlton wouldn't mess it up again.The rest of the week went by in a blur. Dean seemed to be really busy with work because between one to three texts each day, we barely spoke. But he did call me last night to ask what we were doing today and it kind of made me happy that he remembered and actually wanted to do something.I don't know why I sort of thought that he'd be busy today still so I hadn't really planned on anything much. Although I did make a list of nice places we could visit, none of them were scheduled for today. So I just decided to wing it.I drove to the hotel he was staying to pick him up, seeing as I was the one driving us to where we were going. When I got to the hotel, I sent him a text informing him that I was in the lobby waiting for him. It wasn't lon
Last Updated : 2024-10-20
Latest chapter
How We End II Chapter 63
Chapter 63"I still can't believe you went through all that and you didn't tell any of us." My mom said over the phone."I know." I sighed, scratching the edge of my eyebrow. "I should've talked to you. But honestly, I didn't want to make you guys worry when there wasn't really much you could do over there. I didn't want you to feel powerless."Mom let out a sigh, "You are so strong and I am so proud of you, Gracie."I blinked back emotional tears, "Thanks, mom.""Are you at the airport already?" She asked me."No, but we're about to head out." I told her, adjusting my phone between my face and my shoulder so I could zip my purse. "Our flight isn't for another two hours.""Okay baby." She said softly. "Text me immediately you land, okay?""Okay mom, I will." I told her. "Bye. I love you.""I love you too." She said before she hung up.Placing the phone in my pocket, I looked to Dean who just stepped out of the passageway and smiled."Are we all set?" He asked, standing beside me.I to
How We End II Chapter 62
Chapter 62It had been three days since Connor got arrested.And I couldn't express in words how happy I felt now that, that striking pain that seemed like it was crested in my chest had gone. I honestly felt myself take the first step in healing when I witnessed Connor being dragged out of Spring in handcuffs.The police had called me and a few of Connor's assistants in the past to make several statements. It felt a bit triggering but it was helpful.It was needed.Connor would never get the chance to hurt any woman in the manner that he did, ever again.There was a particular calm that had settled in now and it was a calm that I loved.Now that the whole Connor issue had blown over, Dean's father had already started talking traveling arrangements again. Which was only natural, Dean had spent more time in Bath than he was supposed to, leaving a lot of work suspended. And I would remain eternally grateful for the time his father permitted us to have with each other.Dean was set to le
How We End II Chapter 61
Chapter 61"Oh my God." Lydia said in disbelief immediately I finished speaking. "Are you fucking serious?"I nodded, wishing I wasn't as well, "I am.""And then just Connor showed up at your front door?" She asked, shock still in her tone."He did." I nodded. "Turns out he knew that we broke into his house.""Jesus." She expressed, leaning back in her office chair.The next day, I had to be at work.Yesterday was a lot to take in in general and I honestly did not know what to make of all of it. I was still in shock.After I tended to Dean's wound last night, we simply had dinner and went to bed. I was up early to get ready for work and had a brief conversation with Dean before stepping out.I was currently in Lydia's office, filling her in on everything that happened yesterday and she wasn't taking it better than I did.Lydia reached out to place her hand on mine and asked with an empathetic look on her face, "How do you feel?""To be honest, Lydia," I said, my voice breaking, "I fee
How We End II Chapter 60
Chapter 60“Remind me why you two need to break into Connor’s house again?” Lydia asked, throwing confused stares at Dean and I.“Well, it’s not really breaking in if I have a key.” I shrugged lightly.It had been four days since we spoke to Audrey.And frankly, we hadn’t made much progress since.The background check Dean had carried out on Connor came back and it wasn’t really much help. It didn’t give us any information other than what we already knew. And if we found any thing a little bit suspicious, we still didn’t have much more to act on it.Getting the CCTV footage seemed more and more impossible by the day. At this point, it was obvious they were toying with us and had no intention whatsoever of letting us take a look at it. And the more we requested for it, the more we stood at risk of Connor finding out that we were on to him.And I didn’t want that to happen.Getting fed up with sitting on our hands and doing nothing, Dean and I decided it would probably be a good idea to
How We End II Chapter 59
Chapter 59Audrey had agreed to come over to talk.And I gave Lydia a call immediately our conversation over the phone ended. And it wasn’t long before she showed up at my front door.We all waited eagerly for Audrey to arrive.Honestly, it felt surreal that she finally responded to us. It felt like there was so much mystery surrounding what happened with her and Connor and where she had been this entire time and why she completely ghosted everyone.I had a lot of questions for her, to be honest.Because we had a real friendship, regardless of anything.While we waited, Lydia filled Dean and I on how the conversation with her friends turned out, which kind of went south at the end if you ask me. We also told her about our conversation with Mr Flores and everything that led up to him quitting his job.Lydia was just highlighting how much of a terrible person Connor was when the doorbell rang. I sprung up my seat immediately and headed for the front door.I wasted no time in unlocking a
How We End II Chapter 58
Chapter 58“I don’t know,” I gave a light shrug. “I’m not sure exactly what I expected but I was kind of hoping she’d have something more reasonable to say. But her views on the entire thing haven’t changed. She still thinks I should suck it up and forget about justice.”“Damn, I’m sorry my love.” Dean said, stealing a quick glance at me in the passenger seat before focusing his attention back on the road. “If she still thinks like that, then she obviously doesn’t believe you. Because it’s impossible to not feel angry about this situation, especially when it involves someone you claim to care about so much.”Dean kept to his word and was at my workplace to pick me up by 5pm sharp.We waited with Lydia for a while before Carlton came to pick her up. Carlton was kind to me, as he has been since the whole thing happened. I could tell what happened to me really made him upset. I mean, apart from the fact that his girlfriend was completely affected by it.He genuinely wanted to help in wha
How We End II Chapter 57
Chapter 57My ‘suspension’ went by in a blur.And before I knew it, I was ready to get back to work.Not much had happened in the past week, really. There wasn’t much I could do while I was cramped up in my apartment.But having Dean around certainly did make it better.Kendra and I had still not spoken. Connor had still not reached out about his car; I hadn’t heard a word from him since the entire scene at the boardroom.Dean, Lydia and I tried to play detectives the best ways we could. We started small by texting Audrey on literally all social media platforms and hoping for a response. Which hadn’t still come, by the way.Lydia spent everyday trying to get in touch with Mr Flores, but every time they just told her the same thing, that he didn’t show up at work that day.Although it was starting to feel like we weren’t making any progress, I had a much more confident attitude today, knowing I was going back to do hands on investigation.Dean insisted on driving me to work.Lydia’s ca
How We End II Chapter 56
Chapter 56“Hold on, so she just texted you?” Lydia asked, raising one questioning brow. “Out of nowhere?”I nodded, “Yeah.”“And she’s on her way here right now?” She asked again, her eyes going from mine to Dean’s continually.Dean and I both nodded.As Lydia had promised, she stopped by that night.It wasn’t long after she arrived that we filled her in on what had happened, which was the texts I received from Greta. It seemed like she was still trying to wrap her head around the whole thing.Lydia read through the texts again with my phone in her hand, “But what exactly do you think she wants to say to you? She didn’t particularly give enough context before you invited her over.”I moved over to where Lydia stood and looked at the conversation again.Me: why?Greta: can we meet somewhere private & talk?Me: how does my apartment sound?Greta: that’s okay.Me: I’ll send a pin rn.“Look,” I said again, “I just feel that it’s fantastic that the one person that believes me, aside you g
How We End II Chapter 55
Chapter 55My head was spinning.There was a loud ringing in my head and it was difficult to breathe. A lot had happened to me in the past 72 hours and I just needed the ache I was feeling in my chest to go away.I simply wanted to feel okay again.But that wasn’t my reality.This was.While Kendra was leading me to her office, Lydia jumped in, confused as to what was going on. Kendra left me with her and instructed Lydia to get me to her office while she headed back for the boardroom.It was hard for people not to stare and murmur when I was having what was a possible mental breakdown. I bet it was fucking easy for them to stand there and make assumptions and come up with theories for my pain.The world we live in, I swear.Immediately we were in Kendra’s office, Lydia sat me down on the sofa and tried to get me to breathe.She rubbed her palm up and down my back in a soothing manner and whispered softly to me, “Just breathe, baby. You’re gonna be fine.”I tried to do as she said but
