All Chapters of ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND : Chapter 191 - Chapter 200

“I did,” Alexis answered, assembling his look. “I needed to see Fiona.” Matthew’s jaw clenched. “We had things to do, Alexis. You chose her over me.” “That’s not fair,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’m permitted to spend time with my friends. This wedding doesn’t mean I need to give up everything else.” He took a step toward her, his eyes dim and difficult. “When you wed somebody, they ended your need. I thought you caught on to that.” “I do,” she whispered. “But I need space as well, Matthew. I can’t live like this, constantly stressed about annoying you.” Matthew’s expression flickered with something unreadable, hurt, outrage, or possibly fear. “I’m trying to protect you, Alexis. I just don’t want to lose you.” “I’m not going anywhere,” she said softly. “But I need you to believe me. If you can’t do that... possibly we shouldn’t get married.” The words hung between them, overwhelming and last. For a minute, Matthew just gazed at her, as if trying to choose whether to fight

He then hugged her and gave her a kiss on her forehead. Vanessa felt so secured and relaxed almost immediately but Haven knew there was more adventure to come from here with Vanessa over-commitment. He couldn’t say no to her anymore, he loved her and he just wanted her to stay and be with him always but he respected boundaries over everything.Haven stood in front of the windows of his house and saw the first sign of sunrise in the city skyline. The distant rumble of the morning traffic was faint, but a sense of life returned to the town with him. Haven's name hasn't been associated with anything good for months. His reputation, solid in the business world, has been thrown into the dirt since his wife left him for another man, Matthew, his former best friend. The tragedy sent waves through his personal and professional life, leaving Haven struggling to recover from the tragedy. Now he has a chance to change everything. Today he is about to sign a major business deal, one that could

“Did you hear that Haven got a huge contract deal? I continuously knew he’d arrive on his feet,” Alexis commented one day over brunch with friends. Her voice was casual, but there was a glimmer in her eyes, one that hadn’t been there in a long time. Matthew took note of it as well, and it chewed at him. To begin with, it appeared harmless, just sitting still in conversation, about an ex. Everybody does it, right? But as Haven’s name crawled up more habitually, a shadow of envy started to cloud Matthew’s mind. He tried brushing it off. "Why do you care what he’s doing?" Matthew inquired one evening, casually mixing his drink. Alexis looked up from her phone, her expression garbled. "I don’t. It’s just... curiosity, that’s all. I thought he'd separate after the divorce, but it looks like he’s doing better than ever." Matthew gritted his teeth but constrained a grin. "Great for him, I guess." Haven hadn’t expected Alexis to take note of his success, or care. But it didn’t take long

He replayed their conversations, searching for clues and meaning, trying to decipher Vanessa’s mixed signals. Was she pulling away or just scared? The lack of clarity was maddening, and each day spent overthinking only deepened his frustration. Haven wanted to resolve things, to find a way back to the easy connection they once had, but the weight of the situation felt too much to bear. He sighed, wishing for a simple solution in a world that had become far too complicated. His feelings were a mess, anticipation tangled with an unpretentious fear he couldn’t shake off. He loved Vanessa, or at least he thought he did. But recently, things between them had been... complicated. She had developed a new form of energy, her persistence diminishing, and this evening promised to be another “talk.” The front door squeaked open, and Vanessa walked in without knocking, carrying a sharp vitality with her. Haven looked up, shocked by her brisk entrance. She wore a fitted leather coat and dark pan

Vanessa opened her eyes, languid but alarm enough to capture the pressure in his voice. “Haven, what’s going on?” She propped herself up on one elbow, looking at him in the dim light. “You’ve been acting odd lately.” He gave her a tight smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s nothing, Vee. Just work stuff.” She didn’t buy it. Vanessa knew when he was lying, he’d continuously been an appalling liar. She reached out to touch his arm, but he winced, scarcely recognizable, but enough for her to feel it. “That’s not just work.” She sat up completely now, her dim twists tumbling over her shoulders. “You’ve been pulling away for weeks. Talk to me, Haven Please.” The truthfulness in her voice made his throat fix. He needed to give her a reply that would make things better, but he wasn’t even sure what he felt himself. How do you explain to somebody that they’ve gotten to be a placeholder, that their love is alleviating but not enough to fill the void inside you? “I don’t know, Vanessa,”