Chapter 6%
Third Person’s POV
Elise always seemed carefree on the surface, but beneath her easygoing demeanor, her thoughts were sharper and more meticulous than anyone realized.}
Every evening, she’d greet Hayes with a bright smile, setting down a plate of his favorite food and teasing, “Do you think you’re special or something? I come home and nothing is waiting for me, but the second you walk through that door, there’s a feast. Are we secretly living with a sea princess?”
Hayes would always chuckle at her playful banter, rolling with it effortlessly. “Yeah, I think so too. And our sea princess is the most beautiful and kind one out there.“>
Back then, everything felt so simple. So light. Their world was full of warmth, and there was always laughter between them. But now, those moments seemed like distant echoes, swallowed up by years of misunderstandings and endless arguments.} The woman who once laughed so freely had turned into someone cold, distant–someone whose eyes held emotions Hayes didn’t recognize anymore.“]
As time passed, he found himself growing more irritated than enamored by her presence. His patience had worn thin, and home stopped feeling like home. The late nights at the office stretched longer, and before he knew it, he was avoiding her altogether.”
Now, sitting alone in an empty house that didn’t even feel like his own, Hayes let out a bitter laugh, slapping his palm hard against his face.}
“What the hell have you done, Hayes?”
If only he had kept the same heart–the one that loved Elise purely, completely–would she still be here? Would they still have had a chance?
Tears welled up in his eyes, his voice barely a whisper. “I’m sorry, Elise. I was wrong. Please… come back.”
His plea dissolved into quiet sobs, desperation clawing at his chest.
Then-
His phone vibrated in his pocket.}]
His heart leaped.}
He scrambled to grab it, a flicker of hope sparking in his veins. Elise. It had to be Elise.
But when his eyes landed on the screen, the hope flickered and died, replaced by frustration.“]
Zara.0
His stomach twisted in revulsion, but he answered anyway, his voice cold.“]
“Hayes,” Zara’s voice was sickly sweet. “Why aren’t you home yet? I’m starving over here, waiting for you. soon, your son might start rebelling against you.”
There was a time when Hayes would have found her words charming. Now, they made his skin crawl.
“I’m not coming over today,” he said bluntly. “Eat by yourself.“}]
Before she could respond, he hung up.
Right now, there was only one thing on his mind–finding Elise.
…D
Zara could feel something was off. Hayes had been acting differently lately–colder, distant, unreachable.}]
She felt panic creep in, but instead of calling again, she flooded his phone with messages:
[I miss you, Hayes. Please call me back. Where are you?]}
No reply.”
Her stomach churned with unease. Was he pulling away from her? Was he regretting his choices?
Desperate, she went to his office, but his employees told her he hadn’t been in for days.
That’s when real fear started to settle in.)
Determined not to lose him, she drove straight to his house.”
…B
Hearing a knock, Hayes jumped up, rushing to the door with renewed hope.
“Elise?” He pulled it open, breathless, anticipation written all over his face. “You’re finally ba-”
His words died in his throat.
Standing there wasn’t Elise.
It was Zara.”
His face immediately darkened, and his excitement twisted into fury.
If
you
don’t come back
“What the hell are you doing here?” His voice was sharp, his eyes cold. “Didn’t I tell you never to come back here?”
Zara flinched at the venom in his tone. Her lips trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes as she looked up at him.
“I’ve been trying to reach you,” she murmured, her voice laced with hurt. “I was scared… I thought you didn’t want me and the baby
mumorn Havne alenco don’t be like this Vou’re cooring mo you’ll corn the hahu”
ive been trying to reach you, sne murmured, ner voice laced with nurt. I was scared… I thought you aiant want me and the baby
anymore. Hayes, please don’t be like this. You’re scaring me… you’ll scare the baby”
But instead of softening, her words only ignited his anger
He clenched his jaw, his body rigid with barely restrained rage
“If you were really scared, you wouldn’t have come here.” His voice was ice. “Get out. Now,”
Zara looked at him in disbelief, trying to make sense of his sudden shift in attitude. But then, her gaze flickered past him.
That’s when she noticed the changes inside the house.
The missing photos. The empty spaces. The absence of Elise W
Realization hit her, and her voice trembled as she asked cautiously, “Hayes… isn’t Dr. Montague home?”
Hayes’s expression flickered, his anger momentarily slipping, replaced by something raw and desperate.
He refused to say the words out loud. Instead, he clenched his jaw, forcing out, “She went on a trip. She’ll be back in a few days.”
Zara didn’t buy it. But before she could press him further, Hayes turned to her with a dark, warning glare.
“I told you before,” he said slowly, his voice low and dangerous. “What happened last time better not happen again.”
His meaning was crystal clear
“If you so much as think about doing something you shouldn’t–don’t blame me for being ruthless.“W
And this time, there was no warmth left in his eyes.
