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CHAPTER SIX: THE UNEXPECTED ALLIANCE
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2022-10-26 21:36:13Related chapters
Time to heal CHAPTER SEVEN: THE MISUNDERSTANDING
“Hell, this is ingenious,” Devin inferred ardently, bending over her to have a better look into the laptop monitor, seemingly unaware of the eloquent effect he was having on her. Throat dry with nervousness, she scrolled down the page with a semblance of normality as they searched for the name Alyssa Huntington on the online directory.Dispirited when nothing came up, she grimaced at the screen, resisting the urge to look back in his direction, his male musky scent giving a pretty indication of his closeness. She felt an uncomfortable urge at her nape, striving not to turn her neck in his direction.“Why don’t you try looking only for Huntington?” he suggested, his hot breath blowing against the juncture at her neck, and she gulped heavily as her traitorous heart did a somersault. Maybe he was right; come to think of it, it wasn’t such a good idea after all.If it wasn’t for her half-sister, she would have let Dev carried on with his sordid plan. But how could she, in her full senses
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Time to heal CHAPTER EIGHT: SETTLING THE SCORES
The moment he uttered the last sentence out loud, he willed it back. Damn! He should never have said that. With eyes popping out of their sockets, Ana was looking at him like he’d grown another head, her shock so apparent that her hand flew to her mouth in open dismay. He did not want her pity.He stared fixedly at a spot behind her on the wall, flushing every emotion so as to draw a blank in his mind, the way he’d always done as a child, in an attempt to survive. Like he’d done when he’d entered his mother’s shabby apartment, knowing that something had been wrong even before setting foot inside. At fourteen, he’d lacked enough maturity to understand the enormity of the situation, thinking that his parents had had a lover’s tiff, and his only concern had been that he didn’t want to lose his mother.So, the weekend which had followed, Devin had stealthily visited her against his father’s wishes, to persuade her to come back home. Surely her love for them wouldn’t be so consequential
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Time to heal CHAPTER NINE: THE QUEST CONTINUES
A shoot of pain darted through Ana as she heard his savvy answer, a mere monosyllable with no flowery explanations, no pacification. There was not even an iota of remorse on his face or demeanor to indicate that he’d regretted his vile act, or that he was at least a tiny little bit sorry for having ditched her so heartlessly.She found herself imagining how the alternative would have resulted in, trapped in a loveless marriage with someone who hated her with all his might. While she was doomed to love only one man, there would never have been the merest hope that he would one day reciprocate her feelings. How pathetic was that?It seemed that she’d been spared a worse fate, even if it sounded weird. Hooked to a self-destructive man, one who was ready to trade his life in exchange for retribution, would have been the perfect recipe for total disaster.Except that the situation had not changed, only the victim. Instead of going after her, Dev was going to ruin her sister’s life with his
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Time to heal CHAPTER TEN: THE DILEMNA
Hungry kisses rained between them, lips locking in vehement desperation until the passion started to inevitably steam up several notches too high. Insatiable in their quests, their mouths explored each other with a familiarity which was as scary as exhilarating. It seemed like their instincts recognized what their stubborn hearts were deliberately denying.Dev felt his iron-clad control slip through his hand when she touched him on his chest, the imprint of her palm affecting him like a burning furnace would. Groaning in iniquitous delight, he resisted the urge to rip her nightdress apart – a feeling which had ingrained itself in his mind ever since he’d seen the sexy black number on her. Like a gawky teenager, he fumbled inside needing the feel of her soft skin, and nearly howled when the straps fell from her shoulders granting him copious access.A frenzied excitement caught up with him, like a teenage jubilation awaiting his most precious gift, something he’d never experienced with
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Time to heal CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE SACRIFICE
The week which followed passed so quickly that Ana felt like time was sifting through her hands like sand dust. Thankfully, she was gradually recovering from her ailing predicament, the aftereffects of her medications fading, and her drugged state improving. A condition she couldn’t associate to her deteriorating relationship with Dev.Although he’d regularly been visiting her, sleeping on a chair within confined space, dutifully bringing her flowers and chocolates, Ana could literally feel his withdrawal. It was scary and not to mention eerie that she was so attuned to him that she could read his mental affliction. Not a word had been spoken about their torrid lovemaking, both tiptoeing around the issue, and she knew it was merely the eye before the storm.Feeling like she was walking on eggshells around him, she was stunned when one fine day, without any prior warning or insinuation, he burst into her room with someone in toe. His announcement was even more uncalled for when without
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Time to heal CHAPTER TWELVE: THE REVELATION
With a sense of premonition, Devin held a glass of whisky in hand and stared broodingly at the A4 white envelope lying on his office’s desk, recently being delivered by a peon from Angel Agency. After three weeks of total silence, not even a word from her had been heard, he was facing a new challenge with apprehension, not wanting to know the content of the file.More than once, he’d been sorely tempted to call her under the pretext of informing about the status of her new mission. She’d been so adamant, so determined the last time they’d spoken that he felt like she was literally throwing him out of her life. What sane woman wouldn’t? What woman would want to deal with a monster like him for more than strictly necessary?Had she succeeded in her quest? Had she acquired the properties he would have given his life to possess only one month ago? Was that her final memorandum that she was sending him? A white envelope clearing his dues, with the subtle message to get the hell out of her
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Time to heal CHAPTER THIRTEEN: A PEEK IN THE PAST
Eyes darting furtively across the room, Ana tried not to let it seem too conspicuous that she was searching for Dev who seemed to have vanished into thin air. It was silly that she was trying to avoid him, but any sign of weakness would be a dead giveaway that she cared.Why did she care anyway? She deserved so much better than an asshole carrying around a revenge agenda against some crime she hadn’t committed.Mood spoilt with self-recrimination, she returned back to her apartment, after having succumbed to the temptation of asking around for Dev. The guard had duly informed her that the latter’s car was no longer in the parking lot which had inexorably meant that he was already gone. Puzzled, she tried to figure out the reason for his second reappearance in her life although she had a pretty good idea. It was to thank her for returning back his bloody money.However, she was not in the mood to attach any undue importance to that man that evening. The mention of her mother’s name had
Last Updated : 2022-10-26Time to heal CHAPTER FOURTEEN: THE REALITY CHECK
“There must be some mistake,” Dev announced to the lawyer as he entered his office dumping the files on his table along with his huge body on the chair opposite.Jeremy Miller stared at him for a second, before lifting the documents he’d flung on his table and presenting them towards him. “No mistake, young man. Anastasia specifically sent over the two transfer papers in guise of compensation for your family’s loss.”Her selfless act only served to fuel his anger. How dared she undermine what they had shared by paying him off like a vulgar gigolo? How dared she?“Really? How is she going to pay back for the other things we’ve suffered?” he inquired with sufficient amount of sarcasm to make the lawyer sit back in his chair and give him undivided attention. Trying not to squirm under the scrutiny, Dev frowned furiously to give more credulence to his anger. “You tell Ana that she will never be able to atone what her father did to my family.”Miller still stared at him with fascination,
Last Updated : 2022-10-26
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Time to heal FACTS NOT TO FORGET
FACTS NOT TO FORGETHi. I hope you like my story. I had a really wonderful time writing about it and hope that my next venture will be an equally outstanding experience.I will be really ungrateful brat if I end this without thanking the GoodNovel Team for this wonderful platform. I have been a writer since school days but had never dared shown anyone my story before.It feels really good to be appreciated for your work. I would request other writers not to copy my work as it is a copyright book. I would be ready to help you if ever you are stuck with your own story if it is possible for me to do so of course.Last but not least, I am putting up a table of events throughout the story which had helped me relate to the story every now and then without getting lost. I would definitely recommend other writers to use this tip and it is a key for my readers.THANK YOU AND KEEP POSTING YOUR COMMENTS..1982 Devin bornApril 1986Con man Alastair Forrester had bee
Time to heal EPILOGUE: THE WEDDING BATTLEFIELD
“Aimee, she’s driving me crazy,” Ana complained for the umpteenth time as she joined her friend in the coffee room after one laden session with Jennifer about the wedding plans. Having no wish for a grand wedding, Ana had done the intrinsic mistake of handing the preparations over to her PR, who had suddenly transformed into her worst nightmare.Things were inexorably getting out of hands – what had started as an unpretentious family affair had transmuted to a celebrity wedding, precisely what Ana had been circumventing. Jennifer being her whimsical self was controlling the wedding to the weeniest details, from the color of the flowers to the food which would be served.“I know she can be a pain, honey. The wedding’s only a week ahead. Keep ignoring her,” Aimee responded soothingly, sending her a sympathetic look before frowning back to the ivory mess of fabric in front of her.Even handing Aimee the mission of designing her dress had been like winning a battle – Jennifer had insisted
Time to heal CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: THE TIME TO HEAL
Cuddled in the only place she ever wanted to be, Ana listened to Dev’s ardent declaration with relish, letting him stew for some time before she confessed her feelings. It was true she’d figured out that much that she needed to forgive him to be able to build a life without resentment with him.It was not going to be easy to forget all the past pain, but she was counting on him to build new memories to erase the bad ones. Wasn’t that how forgiveness worked anyway?Even as the positive thoughts surrounded her, she felt herself being freed from some inner shackles, and a genuine grin of complete bliss break on her face as she inhaled his so beloved scent. Thrilled, she hugged him tightly, vowing to herself that she would work hard for their relationship.Looking up at him, waiting for his expression, she searched his face searching for anything which might make her want to back off. There was only a profound anguish, eyes caught in extreme tension as he waited for her response with an a
Time to heal CHAPTER TWENTY: THE PUBLIC DECLARATION
“Aimee, the strategy of making her jealous is not working out. The whole charade's been going on for nearly one month without any reaction from her behalf. Forget about making a scene, she's not even responding to my phone calls,” growled Dev frustratingly on the phone clutching the device so hard that his knuckles turned white.“I know! I never knew she was so indelible,” Aimee responded according, a facsimile of his own resentment for having his plans thwarted. “Can you give me until this afternoon to confirm something before you start using your caveman tactics?”Dev muttered something unintelligible under his breath, only curbing himself just in time from uttering a harsh expletive out of respect for the lady in question. “Do I at least get to know what you’re planning?” he asked gruffly, doubtful that her ploy would function.“Jennifer is planning a conference tonight with the media who claims that Ana’s fans are dying to know about her impromptu love story. Ana’s been stalling t
Time to heal CHAPTER NINETEEN: A LITTLE BIT OF CLICHÉ
Two days later, Ana peeped surreptitiously through her apartment windows for the hundredth time, trying futilely to wait for the phalanx of paparazzi to subside. Her whole building was surrounded by those leeches, like hounds being unleashed on some defenseless prey.Not that she was without armor. Her malevolent cover was protection enough against anyone with baleful intentions. Yet, she was stashed in her apartment, struggling to make herself unobtrusive feeling very reticent to face the media after her disastrous farewell with Dev.As for her career going downhill like Aimee had been so worried, everything was finally sorted out. Jennifer had changed the whole dynamics of the story by masterly transforming it into an epic love story. Photos of their heroic exit had been deliberately provided to serve as ammunitions for backing up the forfeit fairy-tale. Not that she gave a damn. She was no longer concerned about what the world thought of her – she just wished they would leave her a
Time to heal CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: OH NO NO NO!
Dev awoke with a start like he’d been jerked from a profound dreamless sleep, something which had always eluded him in the past. Then, something that he could feel even in his deep subconscious had changed.Ana was gone.For a panicked moment, a feeling of abject desolation gripped him as he fumbled in the empty sheets trying to get his bearings. He felt like that lost teenager once again caught up in indecision and despair, struggling to adjust to the cruel reality of life.What appalled him was that Ana had left despite the beautiful intimacy they’d shared, making a point to turn into something sleazy and cheap. Not because she was aiming for retribution – no, that was not in her nature, but she was most probably trying to protect herself from him.From the monster he was.Completely wretched, he could only stare blankly at the wall, trying to figure out his next move. How could he offer any future to Ana when he could not even forgive himself? Then, her words from the previous migh
Time to heal CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: THE COURTSHIP
“Put me down, DEVIN!” Ana screamed with outrage to the Neanderthal, pounding furiously against his broad back for good measure. Not that it was serving any purpose, she felt like one of the minuscule Lilliputians trying abortively to harm the giant Gulliver with small pins.“Don’t hold your breath baby,” he replied insolently patting her on the butt.Aware that a phalanx of reporters was starting to surround them with their cameras, Ana schooled her expression into an impassible one but for once she felt her mask slip. It was difficult to maintain dignity in the upside position she was it, whenever she turned to address her abductor, it felt like she was talking to her butt.Irascible anger gripped her at the realization that the tabloids were going to have fun at her expense, the images of the scandalous pictures which were going to be splashed in the gossip magazines making her cringe inwardly. Incredible at it might sound, she had managed to dodge a single disgrace throughout her c
Time to heal CHAPTER SIXTEEN: A SECOND CHANCE
Being a man of various devises, Dev came up with several strategies, exploring different scenarios but ultimately realized that things didn’t quite worked systematically in the matters of heart. Finally defeated, Devin found himself doing the only thing he’d promised himself he wouldn’t succumb to – phoning the aggressive Aimee McKenzie.He was adamant to conquer her back. There was no way he would let her slip away from his fingers, he would beg and grovel until she would have no other option than to accept him back. There was no other salvation for him – he was too far gone to ever hope for peace of mind. He was going to be her redemption.It had not been easy to convince that harridan McKenzie of his sincerity; she had railroaded him so much that he had to ultimately beg for her cooperation.“You don’t have to like me,” he abruptly announced the moment she arrived at the restaurant after several persistent calls.“You’ve better come up with a good explanation right now!” she retort
Time to heal CHAPTER FIFTEEN: ONLY YOU
It hadn’t been easy pushing Dev away so heartlessly, but Ana simply couldn’t give him what he was asking for. Forgiveness. She didn’t know if she had it in her to exonerate him for his crimes. It was asking too much of her - she wasn’t that much of a saint.Besides, he must have found out the whole truth from Uncle Jeremy, and that was probably the reason why he’d landed on her doorstep so early in the morning. A guilty conscience had the ability to meddle one’s head. But it was okay – she was okay now. Now that she’d settled that debt, she would find the force to continue her life without any ounce of happiness on horizon, wouldn’t she?Then, why did she feel that horribly heavy burden in her heart? Like someone had taken hold of the organ and wouldn’t let go? Bygones were bygones. Now, they both had to look forward to the future, but whatever life she was envisaging without him seemed bleak.Was she ever going to outlive that jinx? The curse of loving a man who simply didn’t deserve
