All Chapters of REJECTED BY LOVE: Chapter 91 - Chapter 100

On the morning of the opening night of her off-Broadway show, Mary Lou wakes to the soft light filtering through the curtains of her apartment. The excitement and nerves of the day's impending performance buzz through her as she gets out of bed. She has rehearsed tirelessly, determined to make her mark despite the setbacks at the Actors Studio. As she makes her way to the kitchen to brew her morning coffee, she notices an envelope slipped under her door. Her heart skips a beat, a familiar sense of dread washing over her. She hesitates before picking it up, hoping it is just a routine letter or a note of encouragement from a neighbor. But the feeling in her gut tells her otherwise. She tears open the envelope with trembling hands, and there it is—a single sheet of paper with the now-familiar scrawl: "You think you're safe on stage, but I'm always watching. Don't get too comfortable. Tonight might be your last." Mary Lou's breath catches in her throat, and her hands clench the pa

Eloise arrives at Mary Lou’s apartment, her concern mounting with each step she takes. Ever since she saw that actress at Mary Lou’s play, she has not been able to stop thinking about her. She knows exactly what her mind is telling her but she needs a confirmation she knows she can only get through Mary Lou. She knocks on the door, expecting Mary Lou to greet her with her usual warm smile. But there’s no answer. “Mary Lou?” Eloise calls out, knocking again, this time more urgently. Silence. Inside the apartment, Mary Lou sits on the couch, her face pale and eyes wide with terror. Logan stands behind her, knife pressed against her neck. He glares at the door and tightens his grip.. "Don't say a word," Logan whispers harshly into Mary Lou's ear. "If you make a sound, I won't hesitate." Mary Lou’s heart races. It is almost impossible to breathe but when she does, it comes out in shallow gasps. She can feel the cold steel of the blade against her skin, and she forces herself to rem

While Logan paces around the room like a pendulum, Mary Lou’s heart races at the same speed. With each passing minute, his agitation grows so that there is no hint in him of the Logan she was mildly attracted to. All that is left is a shell of a man who is as angry as he is terrified. His voice is sharp and shaky in an almost desperate manner, as he recounts every moment he had been "watching over her" from the shadows. He talks about following her to rehearsals at the actors’ studio, stalking her on dates and spying on her when she spent time with friends. Mary Lou is equal parts appalled and petrified, and her mind is racing with thoughts of escape but she nods, trying to keep him calm. As Mary Lou considers her options - running as fast as she can, screaming and hoping a neighbor hears, jumping through the fire escape - Logan pauses to light a cigarette. When he works the lighter, his hands shake slightly. The flicker of the lighter illuminates his face, casting shadows on the wal

The streets of New York City are just as busy and lively as they usually are but to Stanley, they feel distant and muted. The crisp air bites at his skin, a stark reminder of the approaching winter. The sky is a heavy gray, threatening snow that hasn't yet begun to fall. The wind whistles through the tall buildings, carrying the scent of roasted chestnuts from a vendor just a few feet away and the sharp, metallic tang of cold concrete. Stanley pulls his coat tighter around himself. As he walks, his breath is visible in the cold. The city's sounds—the honking of cars, the chatter of pedestrians, the distant wail of a siren—blend into a background hum that he barely registers. His mind is elsewhere, consumed by the revelations of the past few days. He thinks about the pieces that have fallen into place, the clues that led him to understand who is responsible for the turmoil that has gripped their lives. The manipulation, the threats, the orchestrated events—all designed to destabiliz

The next few weeks fly by quickly but they bring a welcome period of peace for Eloise and Stanley, something they both now know is a rare find. Their home is a sanctuary of calm, filled with the gentle and seamless progress of daily life. The newborn's soft coos and the rhythmic ticking of the clock create a soothing backdrop to their newfound tranquility. For the first time in a while, they both experience what it feels to have a truly serene domestic life. Eloise, whose belly is no longer swollen with a pregnancy that weighs her down, moves gracefully around the house. She tends to their child’s every need and settles fully into her role as a mother. She accepts this role like an expert. Her face which was once marked by worry and tension now radiates a contentment. She often pauses to gaze out of the window, and in those moments, her eyes relect a quiet sort of happiness, one of contentment and fulfillment, as she watches the leaves which had previously turned into the rich hues o