LOGINShare
Chapter 56
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 57
Willows povThere she stood, my mother, a glass of red wine clutched in her hand. Her eyes narrowed, scrutinising me with a mixture of disdain and curiosity.I swallowed hard, my mind racing to find an excuse. "I was just... looking for some paper for a school assignment." My voice sounded weak, even to my own ears. My heart pounded so loudly that I was sure she could hear it.She took a step closer, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "Really, Willow? You think I’m that stupid?" Her tone was mocking, dripping with hostility.I tried to maintain a calm facade. "Yes, Mum. I... I just needed some paper." I moved to walk past her, hoping to escape her grip, but her hand shot out, grabbing my arm and stopping me."I know you're lying. Now tell me the truth." Her grip tightened, nails digging into my skin. Her face loomed close, the smell of alcohol heavy on her breath."Let go of me and mind your own business," I shot back, the fear in my voice replaced with defiance.Her eyes widened fo
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 58
Brax's POV I stared at Willow's text, a mixture of relief and trepidation flooding through me. She had agreed to come to the party, and that meant I had a chance to make things right. I couldn't screw this up. Pulling myself together, I decided to head out and make sure everything would be perfect for tonight. I hopped into my car, my mind racing with thoughts of how to apologise, how to explain my anger, how to reassure her that she could trust me. Driving through the city, I stopped by a florist and grabbed a bouquet of her favourite flowers—white lilies. As I headed to a nearby store, I picked up a new suit, something sharp enough to impress yet simple enough to take a backseat to her beauty. My heart was pounding as I arrived back home, laying out the flowers and suit in my room. Tonight had to be perfect; it just had to be. As the clock ticked closer to seven, I found myself fidgeting more, checking and rechecking the suit I had laid out. My phone buzzed once more, and I gra
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 59
Willow's POVI heard a bang at the door, followed by Nat's unmistakable voice."Willow! Let me in!"Before I could react, Nat burst into the room, her arms overflowing with an assortment of dresses. Her excitement was palpable as she dropped the load on the couch and yanked a suitcase into the flat."Oh my gosh, Willow! I'm so excited that you're coming tonight!" Nat beamed. "I brought so many dresses for you to try. Tonight’s going to be magical!"I raised an eyebrow, unable to resist her infectious enthusiasm despite my roiling emotions. "I don't know, Nat. I’ve got a lot on my mind."Nat waved her hand dismissively. "Not tonight, you don’t. Tonight, you’re going to be the belle of the ball."She opened the suitcase, and we spent the afternoon sifting through dresses. Each one was beautiful, but none of them felt right. The more we went through, the more my anxiety grew.Nat handed me the last dress with a triumphant smile. "Trust me, you’re going to fall in love with this one."It
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 60
Brax’s povThe rhythmic ticking of my watch grated on my nerves like steel on stone—9:45 PM. I needed to be at the party with Willow, yet here I was, in a grimy warehouse, staring down a defiant man bound to a chair. Blood stained my knuckles and dripped onto the cold concrete floor, mixing with the dim light that barely illuminated the cavernous space."I told you, I don't have the money," the man spat, his voice trembling yet resolute.I clenched my fists, the acrid smell of sweat and fear hanging heavy in the air. "That's not good enough," I growled, glancing at the digital face of my watch again. I needed to be out of this hellhole and with Willow, not dealing with my father's dirty work."Please," he continued, his eyes pleading. "Give me a week. I'll get the money."I stared him down, my mind flashing to images of Willow—her laughter, her strength—and the stark contrast to my current situation. Willow deserved someone better, someone free from a world where violence was whispere
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 61
Brax's povMy phone blared through the heavy night air, and I grabbed it immediately, seeing the caller ID: one of my father’s men. I stepped away from Willow, my heart pounding in my chest. “Yeah?” I answered, my voice sharp and tense. “boss,” the voice crackled on the other end. “He got away. The man you were handling—he escaped without paying up.” A cold wave of panic surged through me. This was bad—very bad. If my father found out, there would be hell to pay for everyone involved. My hands shook slightly as I held the phone closer. “Put a tracker on him. I’ll be there soon,” I ordered, trying to keep the dread from creeping into my tone. I hung up swiftly and turned back to Willow, who was watching me with those wide, anxious eyes. "Is everything okay?" Willow asked, her voice soft but worried. I composed myself, masking my anxiety. “I need to go. But I’ll drop you off at my place first; it’s safer there.” “Brax, what’s going on?” She took a step closer, a mixture of conce
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 62
Willow’s POV Standing on the curb as Dillon and Brax drove away, a wave of dread washed over me. My heart ached, a twisted knot of fear and worry for both of them. They each held a piece of my heart, and the thought of anything happening to them was unbearable.I didn’t realise how long I’d been staring after their car until Nat called my name. “Willow! Are you coming?”“Yeah,” I replied, pulling myself together. I climbed into Kasey’s car, feeling oppressed by the silence of the ride back. I had hoped we’d go to Brax's parents’ place, but Kasey drove us to Brax’s house instead. The chance to inform Brax’s father of what I’d discovered would have to wait. I'll call him later, I promised myself.As we pulled up, I got out of the car and waited for Nat to say goodbye to Kasey. Their budding romance was a flicker of light in the darkness I found myself navigating. The way Nat's eyes sparkled whenever she looked at him made me envy her carefree existence, even if just for a moment.“God.
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 63
Brax's POV The muffled cry that sliced through the darkness shattered the stillness of the house. Panic gripped me as I slowly turned to the hallway, eyes wide, and breath caught in my throat. Standing in a doorway clutching a battered teddy bear was a young boy, no older than six. His eyes locked onto mine, filled with an innocent terror that cracked my hardened exterior. My heart sank into a pit of sorrow, matched only by the weight of the loaded Beretta in my hand. The boy's small frame trembled as he stared at the scene before him—the lifeless body of his father sprawled on the floor. Memories flooded back, unbidden and violent. A younger version of myself, staring at my uncle's lifeless form. The same crushing heartbreak and confusion in his eyes now mirrored my own then. My arms shook, the gun slipping from my grip as I lowered it to my side. I took an involuntary step forward, my voice barely a whisper. "I'm—I'm so sorry," I choked out, but words felt futile. From somewhere
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 64
Willow's POV I sat in Brax's room, my nerves fraying with every passing second. The air felt thick, suffused with the heavy silence that comes only when you're stuck in your thoughts. I clenched my hands together, my knuckles turning white as I stared at the doorway, praying that Brax would walk in and everything would be okay. But the more time that passed, the more my hope started to wane. Suddenly, I heard the front door swing open. My heart leapt in my chest. Finally, I thought, rushing to the doorway and peeking out. I saw Brax storming through the house, his footsteps echoing with each furious step. Kasey and Dillon entered shortly after, their expressions solemn. They exchanged a look that did nothing to alleviate my fears. "What happened?" I asked, rushing towards them. Dillon sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know, Willow. He won't tell me." I could see the pain etched into Dillon’s face, and that only deepened my concern. Without another word, I w
Latest chapter
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 92: Lost in Shadows
Brax’s POVThe stairs creaked beneath my feet, snapping me out of the daze that clouded my mind. The room I was leaving behind still held traces of my last distraction, yet there was only emptiness echoing in my heart. I passed by a mirror in the hallway and caught a glimpse of myself—a mess of unkept hair and a face that seemed older than its years. Even the girl up there, with her long black hair similar to Willow’s, didn’t fill the void.Descending the stairs, I grabbed a drink from the makeshift bar on the kitchen counter. The cool liquid burned, a somber reminder of how far I’d fallen since Willow left. A chorus of familiar voices floated in from the living room where the guys were gathered. I moved over and dropped onto the couch, positioning myself where I could observe quietly.“Hey, man, you good?” Dillion asked, glancing at me over his shoulder.“Yeah, just tired,” I said, feigning a lightness in my tone that I didn’t feel. My eyes followed Dillon’s line of sight, noticing h
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 91: A Knock at the Door
Willow's POVThe echo of the knock startled me, piercing through the silence like a knife. For days, I had waded through the murky waters of my thoughts, lost in the whirlwind of emotions that defined my existence. The flat was my sanctuary, yet it also felt like a cage, confining me in its walls while I waited for the chaos to unfold around me.Steve was away, and although his absence lifted a heavy weight, the uncertainty that loomed was almost worse than his presence. Marco had not called on me since I last saw him, which was a relief but also a worry at the same time. And Brax's image danced through my mind—haunting and unattainable.Bracing myself, I tiptoed toward the door and peeked hesitantly through the small window. Relief and confusion swept over me at the same time when I recognised Brody, David's son, standing on the other side, shuffling his feet nervously.I hesitated for a moment before opening the door, expecting anything but this. "Brody? What are you doing here?" My
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 90
The moonlight cast long shadows on the dimly lit alleyways as I ran, each breath a reality crashing down on me as tears streamed from my eyes. My feet pounded the pavement, echoing the decisions I couldn’t walk away from. There was no time for hesitation or second-guessing. The stakes were too high, and Brax’s life was on the line. Once home, I threw on a pair of jeans and a hoodie before grabbing all the things I had stolen. Every part of me screamed to stop, to breathe, but all I could think of was making my way to David’s. The pounding dread surged through me as I pushed past the front door, launching myself into the night.David’s house loomed before me, a beacon of what little hope I had left. I banged relentlessly on the door, my impatience punctuating each knock until finally, Brody, his son, swung it open.“Is your dad home?” I blurted out.“No, he's at work. What’s going on?” he asked, concern furrowing his brow.I thrust the bag into his arms, urgency lacing my voice. "Give
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 89: The Party
Brax's POVThe taste of whiskey burned like fire, numbing every part of me that still felt pain. It was my armour of choice tonight—a shield against memories that refused to stay buried. Dylan and Kasey watched with eyes full of quiet concern, but they understood. Sometimes, all you could do was let the liquor drown the ghosts before they drowned you.Stumbling through the party, the music pounded around me, a relentless rhythm that shook the ground. It promised a temporary escape, a distraction from Willow's haunting presence. But tonight wasn't about peace; it was about surrendering to something primal, something that roared inside me at the sight of Lana across the room.Lana had been an escape before—a fleeting, physical release. As I staggered towards her, the rage inside me simmered. Her friends barely blinked when I grabbed her wrist, pulling her away. We lived in a world where such bold moves were neither new nor shocking."Brax," she breathed, a sultry promise layered in ever
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 88
: Brax's POVSilence enveloped the room after Willow's departure, a vacuum so absolute it felt almost tangible. I stood in the chaos we had created—the shattered dish on the floor, the imprint of my fist on the wall, and the lingering echo of her defiant words. Anger, confusion, and an aching sadness twisted inside me, each emotion wrestling for dominance. I ran my hand through my hair, tugging at the roots in frustration.How had we gotten here? I wanted to hate her for pushing me away, for labelling me as not enough. Yet, underneath the fiery surface, I knew the truth—my heart had chosen her long before I was ready to admit it, and now I was stuck in limbo, unable to move forward without her.Disgusted with the state of things, I left the room, forcing my leaden feet down the stairs. Kasey and Dillon were still in the foyer, their faces reflecting concern and questions they dared not voice aloud. I couldn't deal with their probing eyes or the pity masked as sympathy."Brax…" Dillon
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 87: Unravelling
Willow's POVWatching Brax leave the room felt like watching safety slip through my fingers. The clatter of the lock was a reminder of the mess my life had become. It was ironic being locked in a room that felt more like a sanctuary than a trap.My mind was a mess of worry; Brax could have just wrecked everything I had been working so hard towards. However, Macro had already been useful in getting me into places that I would have never been able to do on my own. But now it all might have been for nothing, all because Brax couldn’t do as I asked and leave me alone.As I sat there trying to work out how I was going to get out of this mess, I felt the pills I had taken before going into the room with Marco take effect, which wasn’t a good thing. I needed a clear mind to talk my way out of this with Brax and get back to Marco before he went to Steve and everything that I had done was worked out.Getting up, I headed for the bathroom, not because I was obeying Brax but because I hoped a co
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 86
Brax's POVMy hands shook as I clutched the doorframe, the sight in front of me branding itself into my mind. Willow—my Willow—entwined with another man. Her naked body pressed against him. I couldn't believe it. Anger exploded, every rational thought igniting in a blaze of betrayal.My voice came out like a low growl, a thunderous roar that reverberated off the walls. "Willow!"She spun around, her eyes wide with desperation, her body scrambling for cover. Panic painted her features as she grabbed a bedsheet, clutching it to her skin. The man beside her had the audacity to open his mouth, likely to threaten me or beg for mercy. I didn't care.Before he could utter a word, I crossed the room and grabbed him by the collar. My fists flew, driven by a vengeful fire. Each punch landed with a satisfying crunch, a symphony of anger echoing within the confines of the room."Brax, stop!" Willow's scream pierced through my fury, her voice laced with panic and something else, something I couldn
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 85
Brax’s POVMy mind was an unending loop of worry that circled around Willow. Weeks had passed since I last saw her face or heard her voice, and her absence carved a hollow ache in me that I couldn't ignore. The reports from the men I had watching her became increasingly sparse, as though she had somehow worked out that they were following her and had found a way to avoid them. She wasn’t at school, avoided parties, and anywhere I expected her to be.Work from my father kept me preoccupied, but it brought no peace. Meetings filled with strained respect and unspoken threats blurred together with each assignment he gave me. This life, the one paved for me before I was even born, was all I had known. But since Willow, all I ever did was wish for an escape. My father’s expectations loomed over me like a persistent shadow, whispering of future obligations I didn’t want, but I would take if it meant keeping her safe.I stood at my front door, the day’s stress weighing on me heavily. The fami
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 84: Into the Darkness
Willow's POVThe fight with Nat replayed in my head, and guilt ate away at me. My phone hadn't stopped buzzing for hours with calls and messages from both Brax and Dillion. I knew that Nat would go back to them and tell them everything. Looking down at my phone, Brax’s name flashed across the screen. I picked it up, holding it for a second. Rage bubbled within me. Why couldn’t they just leave me alone? I couldn’t take it anymore. I threw my phone as hard as I could at a tree, watching it smash into pieces.Standing up, I left the park. If I was going to get things done, I had to turn off all my emotions. I needed to be stronger and smarter. And then the idea came to me. Turning around, I made my way to one of Steve's houses, where I hoped Marco would be.The house wasn’t far from the park. I had been here a few times, and I knew Marco spent a lot of his time there. As the house came into view, my heart began to race in my chest. I stopped pulling the pill bottle out of my pocket and
