Lahat ng Kabanata ng ENTANGLED WITH MY CONTRACTED HUSBAND : Kabanata 221 - Kabanata 230

"Good morning," she said softly. Matthew looked at her, speechless. "Coffee. If you want.” She poured herself a cup, leaned against the counter, and watched him put down his plate. "Look, almost last night." Matthew cut her off. "No. I've thought about it, and honestly, I don't know what you want from me. You say I remind you of your father, but I'm not him. And if you don't see, maybe we're wasting time here." The words hit harder than Alexis expected. A part of her knew he was right, they couldn't keep dancing for the same argument. But the other part that she can't ignore is how this relationship seems to follow the toxic environment that she grew up with. "I just need space," she said. "Space to think, think about what I really want." Matthew lowered the plate with more force than was necessary. "And where does that leave me?" Alexis looked at him, really looked at him, seeing the chaos she saw before her father's eyes, the desire to control, to bend her to his will because

He'd known Alexis quite well, watching her transform from the confident woman who first started working on various discoveries to this diminished version of herself. Haven's fingers drummed against his leg, a nervous habit he'd developed since noticing the pattern.What troubled him most wasn't the way Matthew checked her phone when she wasn't looking, or how he'd stationed himself at the counter under the guise of being a devoted boyfriend. It was the light that had gradually dimmed in Alexis's eyes, the same light that still sparked when she managed to share a genuine laugh with friends during those rare moments when Matthew was absent.Haven shifted in his seat, fighting the urge to talk to her and make her feel better. He couldn't be her knight in shining armor. She hadn't asked for one. But he'd seen the bruise on her wrist, poorly concealed by her watch, and the way she'd pulled her sleeve down when she caught him looking.If only she could see herself through his eyes, see the

Setting her coffee down. His "protective" nature, as Alexis used to call it, had morphed into something ugly and controlling. He monitored her social media, questioned her about male coworkers, and had somehow convinced her that his jealousy was a sign of love.Tasha rubbed her temples, frustrated by her own helplessness. She'd tried dropping hints, sharing articles about healthy relationships, even directly pointing out Matthew's controlling behavior. But each attempt had only made Alexis withdraw further, defended by the walls Matthew had carefully constructed around her. All Tasha could do now was wait, stay present, and hope that someday Alexis would find the strength to see her situation clearly and choose freedom over fear. Until then, her coffee would remain bitter with worry for her friend.As Alexis rested on the balcony of her apartment, the sun sank lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the city. Below her the streets were full of life, but she felt a deep silence in

Matthew's behavior had continuously floated just outside the domain of normal, but recently, it had developed progressively whimsical. What began as little quirks, like over-checking her messages or fixating over inconsequential details, soon aggravated into minutes that made Alexis explain everything. She sat over from him presently, the engagement ring overwhelming on her finger, and observed him tap his foot with an apprehensive vitality that appeared unending. "Matthew," she started, her voice calm but cautious. "We ought to talk." He shook, his look snapping to her with a sharpness that felt off. "Talk about what? The wedding?" Alexis looked down at the coffee table between them, centering on some neatness to dodge the concentration of his gaze. "Yes and other things." Matthew leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "The wedding is in two weeks, Alexis. What could you conceivably get to talk about now?" She collapsed her hands in her lap, feeling the weight of each word she

Matthew clenched his jaw, his fists curling at his sides. "So this is my fault. It’s always my fault."Alexis exhaled, pressing a hand to her temple. "That’s not what I’m saying. But we can’t ignore this anymore. We need to deal with it, or this marriage won’t stand a chance."For a moment, Matthew said nothing. His chest rose and fell with quick breaths, and his gaze flickered to the engagement ring on her hand. "Is there someone else?" he asked suddenly, his voice low and dangerous.Alexis frowned, startled. "What? No, of course not!""Then why do you need space?!" Matthew shouted, slamming his hand on the wall. Alexis flinched at the sound, and Matthew immediately regretted it. His face crumpled into something like shame, but it was gone as quickly as it came."I can’t do this," Alexis whispered, standing up. "Not like this, Matthew.""Wait," he said, grabbing her arm—not hard, but firm enough to stop her. "Please don’t leave.""I’m not leaving," she said quietly, freeing herself f