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THE SUNSET
Last Updated:
2023-06-19 19:38:23
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Xavier's Surrogate SIMON'S STATE
Everything that came after was like a haze to Halle. They had come down from the carousel after at least twenty minutes getting lost in each other’s eyes and lips, forgetting everything else around them and Halle fighting the dread that slowly crept up her chest. When she opened her eyes, the sun had gone down completely and the lights in the booth had been turned on automatically. “Let’s go home,” He had told her giving her a dimpled smile that made her sink deeper into the dread she felt. He had given her so much bliss and in return, Halle’s head was a mess and so many invading thoughts bombarded her mind. They had walked out hand in hand to Xavier’s sports car, the rude security guard from the morning waving stiffly at them as they left but even that wasn’t enough to snap Anna out of her dazed state. She could vaguely remember hearing his voice after they were both seated in the car and the engines started. He was telling her a story about how Monty has been in love with Mart
Last Updated : 2023-06-20Xavier's Surrogate THE BASEMENT
“Xavier!” Halle gasped in horror, “Do you still have Simon?!”He cocked up a brow, and the corners of his lips twitched as he looked on in mirth like he had expected the question, he didn’t look surprised rather his sly grin widened and he rested his chin on his palm.“I was beginning to wonder when you’d think about it,” He chuckled humorously, sipped on the red wine Tabitha had poured for him before leaving, and then set the glass down leisurely.Halle’s heart thundered in her chest and as much as she tried she couldn’t help but feel guilty for not feeling guilty.She couldn’t believe she had forgotten all about him...She could expect such a thing from Greta because Greta hated the man but her?She loved him at some point in their relationship or at least she thought she did.Still, it was very wrong of her to—“Yes, he’s still in my basement,” Xavier replied nonchalantly and went back to eating his food like they were discussing the weather.“Oh my God,” Halle’s palms cov
Last Updated : 2023-06-20Xavier's Surrogate NO
It was cold. So cold that Halle’s teeth almost began to chatter, Xavier noticed right away and he looked down at her, lips pulled down with worry.He rubbed his palm up and down her skin to generate warmth while they walked and Halle’s skin broke out in goosebumps and not from the cold.The basement had dim lighting and a hallway that stretched for miles. It was practically a whole new building down here, designed like those hidden science facilities she often saw in movies.She could barely keep her jaw from dropping to the floor as Xavier led her deeper and deeper into the hallway.His expression was passive as the walked but he glanced at her face at intervals and continued to rub her arms while mumbling something along the lines of, “Should’ve brought a fucking jacket!”After a whole minute of walking, Hale began to notice doors on each side of the hallway, long and black metal doors with outdated doorknobs.“What...” She was awed by the structural design alone, how did they
Last Updated : 2023-06-21Xavier's Surrogate LEAVE HIS LIFE
“No,” He simply said. Halle’s “Please,” This time it wasn’t Simon’s voice but hers that echoed in the room, “Let him go,” She pleaded to Xavier who still stood by the door, unmoving. eyes widened with shock. Did he just— “It is obvious he has suffered enough, Xavier!” No. There wasn’t even the slightest chink in his armor or a crack on his mask. He just stared. “Not enough,” He replied coldly, “Not until I say it is enough,” Halle’s heart chilled…She took a subconscious step back. “Not even the worse of men deserve this sort of punishment, Xavier...this is cruel!” She vociferated. Her clenched fists shook at her sides. “This is my life,” He voiced out, “If you are going to be with me, then you’re going to have to get used to sights like this!” He pointed at Simon, “Don’t get all soft on me now, Halle,” His voice was low and sounded so calm but the chill she felt from his tone was enough to let her know that this conversation wouldn’t get anywhere. Yet, she felt struck by hi
Last Updated : 2023-06-21Xavier's Surrogate PROCEDURE
“After the procedure is done, we’ll wait for about two to four weeks before doing a test to know if it was successful or not. It won’t hurt and it won’t affect your health in anyway,”A week later, Halle was in Horacio’s office in a loose fitting hospital gown. She could hear her heart pounding so loud in her ears and his words didn’t do much to calm her down.She felt a hand squeeze hers.Greta had come from where she was following a story in Mexico the second Halle had told her she would be having a procedure today.Halle was scared out of her wits the second a date was official ad she began rethinking everything but her best friend reassured her and told her she’d be there every step of the way.What surprised Halle was that Martha was in Horacio’s office as well, sitting on the waiting seat on the other side of the room.Halle had to admit, she never expected Martha to be there seeing as everyone seemed to make it obvious that they knew Halle and Xavier had a falling out a
Last Updated : 2023-06-23Xavier's Surrogate RELATIONSHIP
Xavier had asked for her to be protected? Now that was information Halle wished she could ignore. “Oh...” She looked down from Monty’s eyes, somehow trying her best to make sure he would see the hurt she felt just at the sound of Xavier giving out such orders just because of her. He kept people on her tail for the past three years and even now, he was still trying to protect her, even after how complicated everything had gotten between them. “I have come to check up on you,” Monty announced his expression almost a soft one which surprised Halle just as his words did. “Check up on me?” Halle pointed at herself. She heard the girl’s loud giggles behind her, not sure what it was they were talking about, it made her lips twitch and her cheeks heat up slightly when she saw Monty’s bashed expression. He looked almost awkward just standing there, he cleared his throat and adjusted his gaze. “Yes, I haven’t seen you in a few days and…” He looked into her eyes with a rather serious expr
Last Updated : 2023-07-02Xavier's Surrogate DID YOU MISS ME?
A week after Halle’s and Martha’s talk which ended on quite an awkward note, Xavier returned from Italy. Halle didn’t realize it at first. She spent all morning in her room after breakfast, studying for her final exams and trying to wrap her head around how she had ended up in such a situation in the first place. Right, firstly she had let a murderer into her home and then let him stay with her for three days, then she agreed to be the surrogate of the world’s most powerful family because of her desperation for money, now Halle was here, being told to be with a man she was attracted to. Sure it didn’t seem complicated on the outside, it was actually such an easy decision, just be with him since he made her happy but doing that would also be going against the morals she had grown up with. He was a killer. A man whose actions were so cruel but he still did not see them as such. What was worse was that Halle was running out of reasonable reasons why she shouldn’t accept Martha’s fa
Last Updated : 2023-07-03Xavier's Surrogate MIND
He was here.Halle’s back stiffened up and her fists clenched. Halle’s heart raced in her chest as Xavier’s warm breath tickled her earlobe. Her body tingled with anticipation, caught between the desire to pull away and the longing to lean into his touch. She couldn’t deny that she missed him, but she had also been wrestling with her conflicted feelings about him.Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions, and she struggled to find her voice. “I… I don’t know,” she finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. She was being honest, at least she thought she was. The truth was, she missed him more than she wanted to admit. Despite everything, there was an undeniable connection between them, something she knew had been there since the first time they had both met.Despite how many times Greta had told her how much of a bad idea it was to keep feeling the way she did for him, she let the feelings get deeper even as she told herself that she had to hate him and create distance
Last Updated : 2023-07-04
Latest chapter
Xavier's Surrogate FIRST TIME
“Do I really need to be blindfolded for this?” Halle asked with a warm chuckle. Xavier just grinned mysteriously in response, guiding her by the shoulders through what sounded like a set of heavy doors given the echo. “Patience, Flower. I promise, it’s worth the surprise,” he assured her, amusement and excitement dancing in his tone. Halle smiled and cooperated as he led her slowly ahead a few more steps. Her heart swelled, trusting Xavier so completely even when she couldn’t see. After everything they had endured, Halle knew without doubt he would never lead her anywhere dangerous again. “Just a little further,” Xavier coached. “Watch your step.” His sturdy hands on her waist aided Halle in navigating what felt like a small staircase. A few more shuffling paces forward and they finally halted. Halle quivered in anticipation. “Can I look now?” “One moment…” She heard the smile in Xavier’s voice just before he moved behind her and untied the blindfold at last. “Now you can open your
Xavier's Surrogate REVENGE
When Halle awoke late one night from another vivid episode of panic, Xavier recognized a shift had finally occurred. He gathered her quaking frame close while she wept, exhausted and heart sore. “Shh I have you, just breathe,” he soothed until the tension slowly left her muscles. Halle clung to him like an anchor amidst stormy waters even once fully awake. “I’m scared, Xavier,” she admitted in a small voice once sufficiently calmed. “Scared she’ll find us again.” Xavier steeled himself before answering gently. “Then it’s time I put real end to this. For your peace of mind, and our son’s future.” Halle’s arms tightened around him briefly at the implication. But she simply nodded bravely when she pulled back. “Just promise me you’ll come back safely. I can’t lose you.” Her palm cupped his bearded cheek with profound tenderness. Turning his head, Xavier pressed a kiss into her open palm. “I will always come back to you Halle,” he avowed passionately. His piercing gaze bore into hers,
Xavier's Surrogate THE THREAT
Xavier paused in the open doorway, gazing at the scene before him – Halle curled protectively around their three week old son as he nursed, her expression tired but content, Damien was at the edge of the bed, curiously watching and asking questions, his wide eyes innocent and childlike, just like it ought to be. Xavier’s heart swelled at the simple domestic sight, still scarcely able to believe he had nearly lost them forever.Halle had begged for Damien to be close, so the second they left Halle’s birth country in Africa, he had Monty bring the young boy out from hiding and back with them, where he belonged. After Halle had been safely recovered and gave birth, Xavier wasted no time whisking her away to a secluded estate where they could focus solely on healing without fear of Martha’s lingering reach. And healing was no small feat after the trauma Halle had endured. Though her physical wounds were minimal, the psychological toll left lasting scars.She was plagued regularly by v
Xavier's Surrogate PEACE
Halle drifted slowly up towards consciousness, clinging to the last visages of a dream where she was enveloped in tender warmth and comforting strength. Even semi-conscious, she instinctively recognized the sensations cocooning her now were real, not imagined. But after endless days and nights of torment, believing rescue could only manifest as a fantasy, Halle desperately avoided opening her eyes fully. What if this beautiful illusion shattered the instant she woke up? The possibility made her heart seize with renewed panic.No - the arms cradling her were solid, the scent of juniper and fresh rain surrounding her unmistakably Xavier’s. This precious peace was real, it had to be. Halle focused on steadying her breaths, mentally grasping for fragments of memory through the haze still clouding her thoughts. Flashes filtered back now – the frantic escape attempt, searing contractions hitting, Xavier appearing through her delirium of pain like a saving vision…the sweet sound of her chi
Xavier's Surrogate COUNTRY
A FEW HOURS EARLIER… The scorching sun beat down as Xavier surveyed the sprawling, dusty streets from the backseat of the nondescript sedan. It had taken tremendous resources and calling in more favors than he could count to get boots on the ground in this remote country so quickly. But nothing could deter him from his mission – finding Martha and making her pay for taking Halle.Taking the woman he loved and then sending him papers to sign while at it. Xavier gritted his testy as he thought about the phone call he had gotten from his aunt, she’d sent papers to his mail…asking him to sign over everything to her, that was her endgame. If she couldn’t get it from Damien as she’d originally intended, she’d get it directly from the man himself. Xavier had agreed to her deal but…he wasn’t really going to sign those paper. Stone was his legacy and he’ll be damned if he let’s and overly ambitious bitch take over and ruin everything he’s built. His mind wandered inevitably to images of h
Xavier's Surrogate SOMEWHERE SAFE
Too spent to argue, Halle permitted him to gently help her ease down onto the padded nest now warming her chilled legs. Though hardly ideal accommodations, at least she was off the frigid concrete floor. Monty seemed satisfied with his efforts.“I must inform the Don that you have been found before he burns the brothel down,” he announced. Before Halle could wrap her mind around the significance of his deliberate phrasing, Monty had disappeared back down the cellar corridor with a final instruction tossed over his shoulder – “Try to focus your energies, I will be back as fast as I can.”Xavier…was here, for her. Halle couldn’t hold back her relieve tears but of course that feeling was short lived. Then Halle was alone again with her body’s urgent demands. She closed her eyes, trying futilely to center her wild thoughts through the intensifying contractions. But it was impossible to find any inner calm or fortitude. Not with her heart pounding anew wondering how much longer until
Xavier's Surrogate THE BIRTH
Halle’s heart hammered violently in her chest as the first contraction seized her swollen belly. There was no denying it now – the terror and physical exertion of her escape attempt had triggered full blown labor. Her child was coming, ready or not, even as Martha’s henchmen battered viciously to break in.“Shit!” Halle cursed under her breath as she held her belly, the pain hitting her unexpectedly and making her whole body sway and her legs shake. Leaning heavily on the dusty desk, Halle fought to stay upright and quiet through the painful tightening. But despite clenching her jaw, a low moan still escaped through her gritted teeth. The dampness soaking her dress kept spreading. “Why are you so impatient…” Halle cursed through gritted teeth, trying her best to stay up right so as to prevent any complications. From down the cellar corridor came another resounding crack – the stubborn old door’s hinges were splintering rapidly under the men’s force. In mere minutes they would be
Xavier's Surrogate THE BABY
Halle awoke with a gasp, her heart already racing. Today was the day – the day she would finally attempt her escape from this nightmare. She lay still for a moment, focusing on slowing her breathing and gathering her courage. The gloom shrouded the cramped room, but Halle’s eyes discerned the packed bag hidden beneath her cot containing the supplies she had managed to secretly squirrel away over the past week. The last week had been utter torment, forcing herself to endure her mother’s assaults and the groping hands of repulsive men trying to lay claim to her while pretending total resignation. More than once she had nearly faltered, the will to fight slowly being crushed out of her. But she would gently caress the swell of her belly. She could not – would not – let this place and its monsters claim another child if there was any hope of escape.Moving slowly to avoid any sounds of creaking, Halle eased herself up to sit on the edge of the mattress. Her heavy, cumbersome belly m
Xavier's Surrogate SILENCE
The days dragged by in agonizing torture as Halle remained trapped in her personal hell. Time ceased to hold meaning within the dingy confines of the small room that had been hers as a teenager under her mother’s cruel control. The peeling walls oozed with memories of past suffering, the very air thick with hopelessness.And now, heavy with her unborn child, Halle felt more trapped than ever. Her mother’s daily visits always ended with fresh bruises blossoming on her skin, dark reminders of her powerlessness. When not enduring her mother’s rage, Halle spent the empty hours curled miserably on the cot, arms wrapped around her belly as if to shield the precious life within from the darkness pressing in around them.On the fifth night, Halle lay tense and sleepless, every creak of the old brothel putting her nerves on edge. She stared dry-eyed into the gloom, too weary even for tears. The baby’s steady kicks were her only comfort.When the familiar scrape of the main door opening reached
