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The Loveless Contractive Marriage 32
Third Person's POVZia and Mira walked out of the apartment together, the soft sunlight casting warm hues over the quiet street. Mira, ever the cheerful one, carried Zia’s bag with a knowing smile. Zia, on the other hand, seemed tense, her mind racing with thoughts she couldn’t share.As they reached the sidewalk, the hum of a car engine pulled their attention. Raymond’s sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of them, the tinted window sliding down to reveal his carefully crafted smile.“Zia,” he greeted smoothly, his sharp eyes scanning her face. “Where are you heading?”Before Zia could respond, Mira stepped in, her voice light and breezy. “She’s just seeing me off. I have a meeting to get to.”Raymond’s gaze shifted to the bag Mira carried, his brows lifting slightly. “A meeting? That sounds important.”Mira grinned. “Always is. You know me.” She turned to Zia and gave her a quick hug, whispering in her ear, “Send me the address. I’ll handle the rest.”Zia nodded subtly, her g
Last Updated : 2024-12-05The Loveless Contractive Marriage 33
Third Person’s POVZia sat stiffly in Raymond’s car, the faint hum of the engine doing little to ease her nerves. She was cornered. It wasn’t just about protecting herself anymore; she had to protect her unborn child. Her fingers tightened on her lap, her gaze fixed out the window as they drove in silence. Raymond’s occasional glance toward her made her uneasy, but she knew she couldn’t afford to show it.Arriving at the hospital, Raymond’s demeanor shifted to that of a professional. His charming smile was back, but Zia saw the faint cracks in it—the barely concealed frustration simmering underneath.“Come,” he said with a motion of his hand, leading her into his office. The room smelled sterile, with neatly arranged equipment on a steel tray and papers stacked on the desk.Raymond began the examination with feigned interest, his hands moving with precision as he checked her vitals and monitored the baby. His gaze lingered on the ultrasound screen longer than necessary, his jaw tighte
Last Updated : 2024-12-05The Loveless Contractive Marriage 34
Zia's head throbbed as she slowly regained consciousness, finding herself wedged in the backseat of a car. On either side of her were strangers—a stern-looking man on her left and a woman with a piercing gaze on her right.In the driver’s seat, another woman gripped the wheel tightly, her knuckles pale, while a man sat beside her, tapping impatiently on the dashboard. “How much farther?” he asked, his voice rough.The driver hummed nonchalantly, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. “Just shut up and drive inside that damn area,” she muttered, her tone sharp and dismissive.The car took a sharp turn, rattling over bumpy dirt roads until they reached a rundown local home with an open gate barely hanging on its hinges.The group moved quickly, dragging Zia from the car. She stumbled, disoriented, as they hauled her through the creaky gate. Inside, the commotion of raised voices filled the air.“Are you crazy?” someone hissed from the shadows. “Do you have any idea how fast the cops are movi
Last Updated : 2024-12-06The Loveless Contractive Marriage 35
Third Person's POVFive Years AgoThe streets were a labyrinth of cracked asphalt, broken glass, and desperate souls. Zia sprinted down a narrow alley, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her feet pounding the ground as if her life depended on it—which it did. She clutched a small packet of snuffed narcotics tightly in her hand, its weight burning into her palm like a brand.Behind her, a chorus of angry shouts echoed through the labyrinth. Junkie girls, lean and fierce, barreled after her like a pack of predators. Their leader, a wiry figure with sharp features and a cruel smile, stood at the entrance of the alley, her arms crossed. She didn’t run; she didn’t need to.“Zia!” the leader’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade. “You really think you can outrun me? Not on my streets.”Zia’s legs burned, but she pushed on, refusing to look back. She knew what awaited her if they caught up, but the hope of escape was quickly fading. The narrow path ended in a pile of garbage and rusted
Last Updated : 2024-12-06The Loveless Contractive Marriage 36
NowThird Person's POVZia’s head pounded as her eyelids fluttered open. The world spun in a haze of cigarette smoke, cheap perfume, and damp walls. Her body felt like dead weight, slumped against a rickety old chair.“Rise and shine, little sis.”The voice was raspy, smug, and painfully familiar. Zia’s head snapped up, and there she was—Nia. Leaning against the wall, dragging on a cigarette like she owned the air in the room.Zia blinked, her throat dry. “Nia?” she croaked, her voice raw.“Surprise,” Nia smirked, flicking ash onto the dusty floor. “Long time, no see, huh?”Six years. Six years since Zia had seen her sister, and she looked as chaotic as ever. Nia’s jet-black hair hung in jagged waves, her eyeliner smeared like war paint. She wore a ripped tank top, jeans that had seen better days, and an expression that screamed, trouble’s here.“What the hell are you doing here?” Zia snapped, her voice shaky but laced with anger.Nia shrugged, taking another drag. “Grandpa called. Sa
Last Updated : 2024-12-06The Loveless Contractive Marriage 37
Third person's POVNia and Zia sat inside the dim, grimy room that reeked of stale smoke and spilled liquor. The cracked walls seemed to sweat secrets no one dared speak aloud. Nia flicked open a battered pack of cigarettes and shoved one toward Zia. “Here, take the damn thing,” Nia muttered, already lighting hers. Zia waved it off, her other hand resting protectively on her rounded belly. “Can’t. You know why.” Before Nia could respond, the door creaked open, and a jittery junkie girl stumbled in, her eyes darting like a trapped animal. “Someone’s askin’ for Zia outside,” she rasped, scratching at her arm like she could dig out her demons. Nia was on her feet instantly, snatching her pistol from under the stained couch cushion. She cocked it with a practiced motion, ready for whatever hell might walk through that door. “Wait,” Zia hissed, eyes narrowing. “What’d they call themselves?” The junkie girl blinked, her lips twitching like she was piecing together half-forgotten wor
Last Updated : 2024-12-09The Loveless Contractive Marriage 38
Third Person's POVOutside the new hospital, the air felt too quiet, like the world held its breath for what was coming. Eight black SUVs roared up the drive like a storm, the engines snarling before they cut off in unison. Doors slammed, heavy boots hit the pavement, and out stepped Grandpa Edward Audrey, leading the pack like a goddamn warlord. His cane tapped the ground with authority as he strolled toward the entrance, his entourage a ripple of dark suits and watchful eyes.The hospital staff froze for a second, then snapped to action, ushering him inside. A medical supervisor, a lanky guy with a clipboard that looked like it weighed more than he did, hustled up to him."Mr. Audrey," the supervisor started, voice trembling just enough to show respect—or fear.Edward nodded but kept walking, his sharp gaze sweeping the hospital like he owned it. Maybe he didn’t on paper, but everyone knew that money and power made the rules, and Edward Audrey had both in spades.The supervisor
Last Updated : 2024-12-09The Loveless Contractive Marriage 39
Third Person’s POVNia’s place was a damn pit—a cramped room with mismatched furniture, ashtrays overflowing with cigarette butts, and the faint stench of spilled booze and stale sweat. The kind of place where the air felt thick with stories no one wanted to tell.Zia sat on a lumpy couch, her knees pulled to her chest, glancing sideways at Nia and Mira. The two hadn’t said much since Mira arrived, their awkward silence heavier than the smoke clouding the room. Mira flipped through an old magazine like it owed her money, while Nia cleaned her nails with the edge of a battered pocketknife, looking bored as hell."You two gonna act like strangers all night?" Zia asked, breaking the quiet.Mira snorted. “Ask your sister. She’s the one with the attitude.”Nia didn’t even look up. “Don’t come in here acting like you know me, princess. This is my space, not your high-rise drama.”“Alright, alright, enough,” Zia said, her voice low but firm. “I didn’t come here to babysit your beef. We’ve
Last Updated : 2024-12-09
Latest chapter
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 43
Outside the state’s judiciary residence, where Mr. Justin, Chief Justice of [State Branch], resided, the street was eerily quiet. Raymond and Henry sat in their car, the engine humming faintly, both smoking in contemplative silence. Raymond flicked his cigarette out of the window, nodding to Henry.“Let’s do this,” Raymond muttered as he stepped out of the car.The two approached the grand yet modest house, its white exterior showing the slight wear of time. Henry knocked sharply, the sound echoing in the silence. After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing a middle-aged woman with tired eyes. Mrs. Juliana, Mr. Justin’s wife, stood there, her face creasing into a slight frown.“Can I help you?” she asked cautiously, her gaze darting between the two men.“We’re here to see Mr. Justin,” Raymond replied, attempting a polite tone.Mrs. Juliana hesitated but eventually stepped aside. “Come in. He’s in his study.”They followed her through a polished hallway, where old photographs and
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 42
At the New HospitalZia stepped out of the cab in front of the new hospital, pulling her hijab closer around her face. She wanted to stay unnoticed. Her eyes scanned the entrance before she walked in, her steps steady but careful.The hospital was big and clean, with shiny floors and the smell of disinfectant in the air. Zia walked through the hallway, keeping her head down. She didn’t want anyone to recognize her.At the reception desk, a nurse looked up from her computer.“Can I help you?” the nurse asked.“I’m here to see Lorenzo,” Zia said, her voice quiet.“Lorenzo who?” the nurse asked, her eyebrows raising slightly.“Lorenzo Audrey,” Zia replied.The nurse paused, her eyes narrowing a little. “And you are?”“I’m… family,” Zia said.The nurse didn’t look convinced. She picked up the phone and made a call. Zia stood there, her hands tucked under her coat, waiting.After a moment, the nurse hung up and turned to her. “I spoke with Mr. Edward Audrey. You’re allowed to visit. Lorenz
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 41
Chapter 41Zia was damned gone from the flips, head fogged as the SUV rattled to a stop in front of Nia's run-down, junkied-out building. The zicky looked worse every time she showed up, like the concrete itself was getting high and crumbling under the weight of its sins. She stumbled out, gripping the SUV door for balance. The stench of piss and rot wafted in the breeze, mixing with the distant sound of someone shouting obscenities. Classic Nia’s territory.She took a deep breath—regret instantly—and headed inside, her boots clunking on the uneven stairs. The door to the apartment was ajar, a faint cloud of smoke seeping out. Zia pushed it open, and there they were.Mira and Nia. Kissing.Zia blinked, the scene in front of her like a twisted fever dream. Nia, her sister who couldn’t keep her shit together long enough to stay clean for a week, and Mira, her so-called best friend, tangled on the couch like teenagers sneaking behind their parents’ backs. Nia broke the kiss, her lips sme
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 40
Third person's POV The man didn’t get far before Grandpa Edward Audrey’s men tackled him to the ground after a wild chase down the hood. A sharp gun butt to the head silenced his struggle, leaving him sprawled on the pavement. Moments later, another SUV screeched to a halt nearby, and the men roughly dragged the intruder into the vehicle before peeling off toward Nia’s place.Back at the scene, Grandpa Edward Audrey stood composed, Zia nervously at his side, while one of his enforcers, a stocky man with a cigar clenched between his teeth, approached. “We’ve got him,” the man said gruffly. “What now?”“Interrogate him,” Grandpa replied coldly. “Make sure he talks. I want everything.”Turning to Zia, he motioned toward a sleek black SUV parked a few steps away. “Get in,” he said. “Let’s get that drink.” Without waiting for a reply, he climbed into the vehicle, and Zia hesitated briefly before following, her mind racing with unease.The bar was dead silent, a hole in the wall that scr
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 39
Third Person’s POVNia’s place was a damn pit—a cramped room with mismatched furniture, ashtrays overflowing with cigarette butts, and the faint stench of spilled booze and stale sweat. The kind of place where the air felt thick with stories no one wanted to tell.Zia sat on a lumpy couch, her knees pulled to her chest, glancing sideways at Nia and Mira. The two hadn’t said much since Mira arrived, their awkward silence heavier than the smoke clouding the room. Mira flipped through an old magazine like it owed her money, while Nia cleaned her nails with the edge of a battered pocketknife, looking bored as hell."You two gonna act like strangers all night?" Zia asked, breaking the quiet.Mira snorted. “Ask your sister. She’s the one with the attitude.”Nia didn’t even look up. “Don’t come in here acting like you know me, princess. This is my space, not your high-rise drama.”“Alright, alright, enough,” Zia said, her voice low but firm. “I didn’t come here to babysit your beef. We’ve
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 38
Third Person's POVOutside the new hospital, the air felt too quiet, like the world held its breath for what was coming. Eight black SUVs roared up the drive like a storm, the engines snarling before they cut off in unison. Doors slammed, heavy boots hit the pavement, and out stepped Grandpa Edward Audrey, leading the pack like a goddamn warlord. His cane tapped the ground with authority as he strolled toward the entrance, his entourage a ripple of dark suits and watchful eyes.The hospital staff froze for a second, then snapped to action, ushering him inside. A medical supervisor, a lanky guy with a clipboard that looked like it weighed more than he did, hustled up to him."Mr. Audrey," the supervisor started, voice trembling just enough to show respect—or fear.Edward nodded but kept walking, his sharp gaze sweeping the hospital like he owned it. Maybe he didn’t on paper, but everyone knew that money and power made the rules, and Edward Audrey had both in spades.The supervisor
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 37
Third person's POVNia and Zia sat inside the dim, grimy room that reeked of stale smoke and spilled liquor. The cracked walls seemed to sweat secrets no one dared speak aloud. Nia flicked open a battered pack of cigarettes and shoved one toward Zia. “Here, take the damn thing,” Nia muttered, already lighting hers. Zia waved it off, her other hand resting protectively on her rounded belly. “Can’t. You know why.” Before Nia could respond, the door creaked open, and a jittery junkie girl stumbled in, her eyes darting like a trapped animal. “Someone’s askin’ for Zia outside,” she rasped, scratching at her arm like she could dig out her demons. Nia was on her feet instantly, snatching her pistol from under the stained couch cushion. She cocked it with a practiced motion, ready for whatever hell might walk through that door. “Wait,” Zia hissed, eyes narrowing. “What’d they call themselves?” The junkie girl blinked, her lips twitching like she was piecing together half-forgotten wor
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 36
NowThird Person's POVZia’s head pounded as her eyelids fluttered open. The world spun in a haze of cigarette smoke, cheap perfume, and damp walls. Her body felt like dead weight, slumped against a rickety old chair.“Rise and shine, little sis.”The voice was raspy, smug, and painfully familiar. Zia’s head snapped up, and there she was—Nia. Leaning against the wall, dragging on a cigarette like she owned the air in the room.Zia blinked, her throat dry. “Nia?” she croaked, her voice raw.“Surprise,” Nia smirked, flicking ash onto the dusty floor. “Long time, no see, huh?”Six years. Six years since Zia had seen her sister, and she looked as chaotic as ever. Nia’s jet-black hair hung in jagged waves, her eyeliner smeared like war paint. She wore a ripped tank top, jeans that had seen better days, and an expression that screamed, trouble’s here.“What the hell are you doing here?” Zia snapped, her voice shaky but laced with anger.Nia shrugged, taking another drag. “Grandpa called. Sa
The Loveless Contractive Marriage 35
Third Person's POVFive Years AgoThe streets were a labyrinth of cracked asphalt, broken glass, and desperate souls. Zia sprinted down a narrow alley, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her feet pounding the ground as if her life depended on it—which it did. She clutched a small packet of snuffed narcotics tightly in her hand, its weight burning into her palm like a brand.Behind her, a chorus of angry shouts echoed through the labyrinth. Junkie girls, lean and fierce, barreled after her like a pack of predators. Their leader, a wiry figure with sharp features and a cruel smile, stood at the entrance of the alley, her arms crossed. She didn’t run; she didn’t need to.“Zia!” the leader’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade. “You really think you can outrun me? Not on my streets.”Zia’s legs burned, but she pushed on, refusing to look back. She knew what awaited her if they caught up, but the hope of escape was quickly fading. The narrow path ended in a pile of garbage and rusted
