Chapter Forty-Four. Annabelle pov I was lounging on my couch, binge-watching my favorite show and indulging in a lazy thursday afternoon. The sun was shining through the windows, casting a warm glow over my cozy apartment. I had just grabbed a bag of popcorn from the kitchen and was settling in for a marathon viewing session when my phone rang. I groaned, not wanting to be disturbed from my relaxing afternoon, but I got up to answer it anyway. It was Henry. "Hey, I'm on my way over, are you good?," he said, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine. I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my chest whenever he called. We had been friends and things hadn't been the same for a while now, but there was something about his commanding presence that always left me a little breathless. "What's up?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant and hide the curiosity from my voice. I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much I looked forward to seeing him after everything tha
Chapter Forty-five Travis pov The clock on the wall seemed to mock me as its hands moved slowly, marking the passing minutes of another mundane day at the office. I sat at my desk, surrounded by a sea of legal documents and unfinished tasks, but my mind was far from the work in front of me. Thoughts of Annabelle clouded my every waking moment, her absence a constant ache in my heart that refused to fade. It had been weeks since I last saw her, weeks since her infectious laughter filled the room and her bright smile lit up my world. The memory of her lingered in the air, a bittersweet reminder of what I was missing. The weight of her absence bore down on me, making it hard to focus on anything else, especially work. As I stared at the papers in front of me, my mind drifted to the recent news that had shaken us both to the core. Annabelle's friend had been kidnapped, and the thought of her in distress tore at my soul. I couldn't bear to see her suffer, couldn't stand idly by w
Chapter Forty six. Travis. As the night wore on, Annabelle's anxiety grew. She paced back and forth in Alex's workspace at his house, her eyes fixed on me as he typed on the laptop non-stop. I stood by, and watched as his phone buzzed with updates from one of his colleagues at work. Flashback to a few hours ago. “You can't be serious.” I said, looking away from the paper. “I am in.” Annabelle said, I looked at her in disbelief. “No, you can't do that…it is not safe.” I said. “How else am I going to get my friend back? Huh? I thought she was dead, I thought she was gone and now I have an opportunity to bring her back. Am I just gonna let it slip away?.... (She scoffed.) No Trav, I can't and I am willing to do everything and anything to get my best friend back…. You can step off if you don't wanna help, I won't hold you to it but stopping me from helping isn't an option.” She said, having a fierce look on her face. I looked at her then drifted to Alex who opened his arm in a way
Chapter Forty Eight.Travis pov I couldn't shake off Henry's words from my mind. "Our engagement is in two days, you can't keep shutting me out of your life and the phase with him is over already." ‘Was he right? Was I just a phase for Annabelle? And has it ended?’ I thought to myself for a while.I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the issue at hand. Annabelle's engagement was in two days, and I have to do everything to stop it. She belongs to me and me alone but what could I possibly do to make her see how much I need her in my life again.As I worked on my laptop, trying to create a business proposal letter, my mind wandered back to Henry's statement. ‘Why did he say that? Was he trying to provoke me or genuinely concerned for Annabelle's well-being?’ I thought yet again.The knock on the door broke my train of thought. It opened and to find out who was by the door, it was Samantha, my wife, whom I have no iota of feelings for, standing in the hallway. She looked furious."W
Chapter Fourty nine. Annabelle pov I sat there in the chilling confines of the hospital ER, my heart pounding with worry, waiting for Travis to return. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as each passing moment felt like an eternity without his presence. I tried calling his number but it kept directing me to voicemail. “Where the hell are you Travis?” I said, feeling concerned and worried as I stamped my feet on the floor continuously. Then, suddenly, the door opened and the doctor emerged. As soon as I saw him, I rushed down to meet him. “Doctor, what is the situation on ground?” I questioned. His eyes were filled with concerns but his mouth was shut. “Can I see you in my office? Are you the patient’s guardian.” He asked. “Yes, I am…just tell me everything that I need to know, we don't necessarily have to go to your office.” I said, my hands were shaking a little bit. ‘going to the office doesn't always turn out good, I'd rather hear the news here than go over to the office.’ I
Chapter Fifty. Travis pov As I sat in that hospital waiting room, my thoughts were consumed by the what-ifs surrounding Samantha's condition and the potential impact on Norah if her mom's health took a turn for the worse. ‘What do I tell Norah if Samantha doesn't make it? How do I—(the thoughts of seeing my daughter crying pierced deeply into my heart but I pushed the thoughts away)’ I stood up, pacing back and forth saying my prayers. “Hey Big guy up there, this is a time for you to help me out please, save my wife and don't make Norah cry, please.” I said, joining my hands together and my heart beating faster than normal. The weight of responsibility and guilt pressed down on me as I replayed every moment that led us to this point, wondering how I could have been more careful, more attentive. ‘I wish I could retrace my steps and fix my actions, all this won't have happened.’ I thought again, I was very restless and unsettled. The weight of my actions really weighed in on me
Chapter Fifty one. Travis pov “What would I do now that I have sent Annabelle away in anger? How do I account for that?” I thought and said out loud before proceeding to enter the ward. I entered the room and the sight of Samantha sleeping peacefully warmed my heart and I was washed with relief then I remembered I had to give honor to whom honor is due. Annabelle. Leaving Samantha's room momentarily, I tried to contact Annabelle, hoping to convey the depth of my emotions. Yet, my calls went unanswered, my texts left hanging in the void of silence. “Please leave a message.” The lady at the end of the call said. “Please call me back, and thank you for saying Samantha's life.” I said then hit the end button and the message got delivered. I let out a sign, step into the room, sat on the sofa and closed my eyes to sleep, with so many thoughts in my head I was still able to sleep as I pushed the thoughts aside and focused on one thing, which is the fact that Samantha was doing fine.
Chapter Fifty-Two. Annabelle pov The hospital walls were a cold, sterile white that seemed to suck the warmth out of the air. I sat on an uncomfortable plastic chair, my back stiff from hours of waiting, my mind far from the engagement ceremony preparations that were underway and the constant ringing of my phone. The sterile smell of disinfectant mixed with the sharp, metallic scent of fear that seemed to permeate the air around us. Travis sat beside me, his shoulders hunched, staring at the floor as if searching for answers in the speckled tiles. His wife, Samantha, was lying unconscious in the room, and I could feel the guilt radiating off him in waves. He hadn’t spoken much, but his eyes said everything….. angry at himself, fear for Samantha, confusion about why I was here instead of at home preparing for my engagement. “Travis, it’s not your fault,” I whispered, my hand reaching out to touch his, but stopping just short. The years we had spent apart hadn’t erased the ins