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justimagineitblog · 3 months

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“You Used To Love Me” Michael Gray Fan Fiction - Chapter 13

Well hi *I wave sheepishly from behind the computer screen*

Let me start by saying I am so so sorry that the conclusion of this story took so long - I have barely been writing for a really long time.

But this story and doing it justice has always been in the back of my mind, and I finally got myself to finish it for all of you who have been so loyal and patient.

Here is the final Chapter of You Used To Love Me.

All my love, I hope you enjoy x

Besides the obvious shock at seeing him at such a fucking inopportune time, his presence sends an immediate chill down my spine.

I have to physically close my eyes to try and rid my mind of the thoughts and flashbacks to the other night, when he kissed me. When we kissed each other.

The room collectively falls silent. No one tries to stutter over their words. No one tries to save the moment with some excuse. Just pure silence. All of us processing what has just unfolded. That is until Gina finally speaks.

“Well, I guess the gig is up” she says, almost laughing.

I don’t even look at her. My eyes are just glued to Michael. I watch his face contort into 100 different shades of confusion.

When no one else speaks, when nothing is elaborated, he looks back and forth between all of us, searching desperately for an answer.

“Izzy?” He says my name, his tone just begging me for an answer.

“This isn’t on her…” Gina begins, standing up slowly from the floor and straightening her dress “I’m pregnant, Michael”

And just like that, the bomb is dropped. But that’s not even the worst of it. My heart aches inside my chest, knowing that it’s about to get so much worse for Michael.

I didn’t think it was possible, but somehow the air in the room grows heavier.

My whole body tenses at I wait to see Michael’s reaction.

He doesn’t know it’s not his yet.

He runs his eyes over her, covering his mouth in shock when he finally notices the small baby bump just beginning to show through her dress.

“Oh my god” he runs a hand through his hair, his hands trembling.

He doesn’t speak, he just shakes his head in disbelief. No excitement. No joy at the thought of having his own child. And that says it all. He isn’t happy. This is not the life he wanted for himself.

Part of me want’s to tell him about Gina’s infidelity. To tell him that he is not having a child. That he is not going to be stuck raising a child with a woman he doesn’t love. But before I can even find the words, his head stops shaking and his brows furrow. Like a lightbulb switched on in his mind. Like something clicked. It’s like I can see him mind doing back flips as he realises that something doesn’t add up.

He looks back up at Gina, who is chewing at her bottom lip nervously. She is also waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Like she said, Michael is smart. It won’t be long before it dawns on him, and I know she does not want that moment to unfold before all of us, here in this room.

“I would like a moment alone with my husband” Gina says quickly, as she looks over at Polly and I. She knows Michael is starting to catch on to what he knows deep down inside. This is not his baby.

I take her queue to leave immediately, reaching for Polly’s hand. “Come on Pol, let’s go make some tea yeah?” I say, locking eyes with her and nodding towards the doorway.

Polly’s catches on, and she takes my hand as we both make our way out of the room. As we exit I quickly glance back over my shoulder to find Michael looking at me gravely, before Gina closes the door behind us.

Polly and I walk downstairs and into the kitchen in complete silence. I start making tea, but Polly touches my arm.

“This is not a time for tea… I’ll get the whisky”

I nod. I’m like a soldier with shell shock. I can barely speak. I can barely move as I lower my body stiffly into a chair at the dining table.

I’m straining with all my might to hear the conversation going on upstairs between Gina and Michael, but it’s eerily quiet.

I know what she is telling him now is being said in hushed voices.

Polly slides a hefty glass of Whiskey in my direction, and tasting the bitter drink is the only thing that brings me out of my frozen trance.

“Michael’s not going to be a father” she says out of the blue, with her face all knowing, as though she has read the room and understands the situation.

“No” I affirm her suspicions, although she already knows without me needing to “No he’s not”

“One day” Polly responds, holding eye contact with me.

I’ve always known Polly has senses. Everyone in the Shelby family knows. Hell, everyone in fucking town knows. She see’s things. Feels them. She know’s Michael will one day be a father. I’m not psychic and even I knew that. He has a way with children. He’s wonderful with them. And in this moment, I know exactly who she thinks he will be having children with. I know what she’s insinuating.

I almost jump straight out of my seat when I few minutes later, I hear footsteps coming down the staircase.

I quickly sink the rest of my whiskey, as Gina and Michael enter the dining room.

“I’m taking Gina to the hospital, I’ll be back later. Tell Tommy we have to reschedule our meeting to another day”

Michael is holding his cap in his hands, gripping it so tight that his knuckles have gone white. But they’re not as white as his face. I can’t tell if he looks like he’s seen a ghost, or if he is the ghost.

Gina looks down at the floor, then up at the ceiling. Basically anywhere but at our faces.

Polly nods, knowing that now is not the time to have words with either of them. I’m actually impressed with how civil she is being towards Gina in this moment. In light of the severity of the situation.

Michael ushers Gina out the front door, and moments later the cars wheels turn on the gravel and make their way out of the street.

Polly and I sit in silence, drinking for a little bit longer, until everything catches up with me. The whiskey, the sleeplessness, the bomb that was just dropped.

Without saying much, Polly and I hug goodbye. She holds on a little longer than usual, and before we depart she gives me a knowing smile.

I know what she’s thinking. I know she can tell something happened between Michael and I.

But I can’t let my brain run off with the possibilities. I don’t know what is going to happen between us.

Even with Gina now possibly out of the picture, there’s a lot that has gone on between Michael and I. I still carry the pain, nursing it in my arms every day since he left for America, and came back with another woman. I don’t know what he could ever say to fix that.

And then there’s the possibility that he stays with her, despite the news. Which might just send me over the edge. Truly into a place of no return.

I wander the streets in the short walk back to my apartment, where I pour myself another drink when I arrive.

I don’t know why, but I sit by the window. Waiting, I guess. Hoping that he might show up. Maybe even part of me is hoping that he doesn’t. But still, I can’t pull myself away.

I have so many errands, so many jobs to do. But I can’t move on. I spend the rest of the day worrying about him. Picturing him at the hospital, sitting by Gina’s bedside. Supporting her on what might be the worst day of this life thus far. I picture his face when he found out she was pregnant. The horror and fear that he was trying to disguise.

He didn’t have the glow of someone who just found out their wife is having a baby.

By the time night falls, and dusk gives way, I have bitten my nails down to the quick without even noticing.

Feeling horrid and heavy with anxiety, I decide to drag my sleep deprived body into the shower. It’s a peaceful moment, and I start to feel like I could finally settle into bed when someone knocks at my door as I’m getting changed into my night gown.

I catch myself in the mirror for a moment, willing myself to be strong, because I already know who it is standing at my door without even having to open it.

As I make my way to my visitor, I run over 100 speeches that I have planned in my head. But once I grab that handle and pull it open, the chatter in my head falls silent.

Michael Grey.

He stands in the door way, a look of relief washing over his face as though he didn’t think I would actually answer him.

Of course I would.

He opens his mouth to speak, inhaling deeply, but the words never follow. With this much history between two people, it’s impossible to know where to begin.

He looks like he’s been to hell and back.

“Sorry” he stammers, snapping himself out of his trance “Your door was unlocked, but I didn’t want to just walk in-”

“It’s always been unlocked” I breathe, knowing that I’ve kept a lot of parts of me unlocked, incase there was a moment where Michael Grey decided to wander back in. Just like he has right now.

He nods, understanding what I meant immediately.

“Can I come in?” He begins “I can go if you want, I just…”

He looks so small in this moment. He’s the most timid and sheepish I have ever seen him.

“Of course” I nod, stepping aside to let him in.

We move about my apartment in silence, as we both take a seat at my dining table. When he does, he places his elbows on the table and rests his head in his hands.

Without even needing to ask, I pour us both a drink.

“I figured if I need one of these you probably do too”

I looks up at me gratefully as I place the glass in front of him and he takes a swig.

“How is she?” I ask, nervous to actually address the situation at hand. But I know there’s no way around it. We’re not going to talk about the fucking weather.

“They’re uh, they’re going to keep her overnight until she’s got her hydration back”

There’s silence for a moment before he continues, and he looks as if he’s not able to believe what he’s about to say.

“Then she’s going home”

My heart jumps and skips over a few beats, making me feel unsteady as I realise what he just said.

Gina is leaving.

“We’re done” he says, and I suddenly take note of the fact that he’s not wearing his wedding ring.

“Michael I’m sorry-” I begin, but falter when it comes to finishing my sentence.

I am sorry. But the truth is that I’m fucking relieved. Relieved for Michael. Relieved for myself. Relieved that I don’t have to watch him raise a child with someone else right in front of my eyes when it was supposed to be me.

“It’s okay” he nods “Her and I we weren’t… I didn’t love her Izzy”

I knew this whole time. I want to scream it from the rooftops. I want to scream it at him. I want to ask what possessed him to act that way for so long.

I want to ask him who he loves. I want to ask him if it’s still me.

“It still hurts though” I say instead, trying to keep my wits about me. And that is the truth. He is still in pain.

“Yeah well I had that coming didn’t I” he almost laughs to himself, shaking his head.

He looks up at me, bearing himself. He knows what he did was wrong. And he knows as far as karma goes, he was now getting his.

“I’ve done so many things wrong… Everything got so out of control Iz” I notice his knee is bouncing rapidly beneath the table.

I hold my breath, so much so that I begin to feel light headed and my chest begins to burn.

“We don’t have to talk about this if you don’t want to” he says once he notices my speechlessness, “I just owe you an explanation. I owe you that much”

I nod, giving him the go ahead. The green light of redemption.

We’re on the edge of the moment. The moment I’ve been waiting for for months.

“You know I don’t even know why you let me in, you’re always so kind, so good. Too fucking good. After everything”

His chest rises and falls beneath his shirt and vest, growing faster with every second as he gets himself more and more worked up over the train wreck of his life.

“You know I can’t get the look on your face out of my head, from the day that you saw me and Gina. The day I came back and told you to leave me alone. It fucking haunts me Izzy. Because I didn’t want it. But when you’re in too deep…” He shakes his head, as his words just keep pouring out frantically “I thought it was the only way… the only way to deal with what I had done. I couldn’t even look at Gina. I couldn’t even touch her. So I thought if I forgot about you, that I could move on”

“Did you?” Are the only words I can utter, as the lump in my throat swells, almost cutting off my voice completely.

“Never. Fucking never”

I had built this moment up in my head for so long.

What I would say to him.

How I would teach him a lesson.

How I would show him what he had done to me.

That he can’t get away with doing that to a person.

I had rehearsed how I would make him get on his knees and beg for my forgiveness.

Make him explain himself until he was blue in the face.

Until I was satisfied.

I wait for that feeling to come, the rage, but it never does.

Instead, I stay silent as he takes a deep breath to steady himself. His eyes are welling up, threatening to spill over as he continues to explain.

“I lost my way over there. I was losing my fucking mind without you. I got drunk, Gina was forceful. One thing led to another and I woke up next to her one morning. Then I couldn’t get rid of her. I was doing business with her family, and it’s like she saw something she wanted and would stop at nothing to get it. That’s when I stopped contact with you… I couldn’t bring myself to talk to you. To face what I had done”

The first tear falls onto his freckled cheeks, but he wipes it quickly.

“I was going to cut her off before I came back home, but she threatened that she would cut off the deal between Shelby Limited and her Uncles if I left her. She threatened fucking horrible things to the people I loved Izzy, you have no idea” His voice is panicked as he recalls every last detail, and I can see the flashbacks taking their toll on him.

“Her family and her people, they’re something we’ve never dealt with before…She begged me to let her come with me. I was in way over my fucking head. And so I had to pretend. I didn’t want her to sink her claws into you too. I didn’t want anything to happen to you. I didn’t want you involved. So I had to pretend like I fucking hated you when all I wanted was to come crawling home to you”

By now, one tear had led to another, and he was no longer wiping them away. His eyes red, his cheeks drowning.

Unable to keep swallowing the lump in my own throat, I abandon all control over my own emotions, and my own eyes spill over with tears.

“You could have told me” my voice scrapes out of my throat “You could have told me what was happening”

He shakes his head “I wanted to protect you, and I had to break you in order to do that. And I’m so fucking sorry”

The feeling comes again, where I’m certain I should be screaming at him right now. Cursing him for everything he put me through.

But I can’t. After all this time, after everything. I just can’t.

I still love him.

My small, shaking hand glides across the top of the dining table, and lays gently over the top of his.

Of course it did. We’re like magnets, him and I. We’ve never been able to keep away from each other.

My touch has an immediate effect on him, as his breathing begins to calm.

But in an unexpected turn, he holds my hand and brings it up to his lips. His eyes close as he places a kiss on the back of my hand, and then another one on the soft, sensitive skin of my inner wrist.

This is something we used to do all the time, and right now, it’s like he doesn’t realise what he’s doing. Muscle memory takes over.

“You’re fucking stupid Michael Grey” I sniffle “I should hate you. I should fucking hate you”

“Do you?” He asks, still holding onto my hand like it’s his only lifeline.

I stare back at him for a moment, before I feel my head start to shake in response.

“Never”

I feel a pull on my arm, as I realise he’s pulling my closer to him.

And I don’t resist.

Our bodies creep closer, slowly then all at once as we collide. His arms wrap around me fiercely, engulfing me. My arms wrap around his torso, and I make no mistakes about holding him tight.

It’s almost crushing, suffocating, the way we are clinging onto one another.

I can’t breathe, or cry, or laugh. I can’t move. And I don’t want to.

His hand holds the back of my head, and I bury it into the crook of his neck.

“I’m so sorry” he apologises, his voice muffled as his face presses into my skin “I’m so fucking sorry”

I could have stayed like that forever, but he pulls back holding my face in his hands as he looks down at me.

“I love you” he begins, his breath tickling my face “I don’t know if that’s okay with you, but I still love you. Izzy. I never stopped”

I look up at him, our breaths slowing and steadying, until we’re breathing in synchronicity.

“I still love you the same as the day I met you” I shake my head, but I can feel the smallest of smiles begin to creep onto my lips “I love you Michael”

“Yeah?” He asks one more time, as if he doesn’t believe it yet.

“Yes, you fucking idiot” I exhale a laugh, unable to stop the smile now “I love you”

He beams back down at me, his head lowering until his lips meet mine.

He’s slow, this time. Unsure. Gentle. As if this moment might fall away and escape him if he makes one wrong move.

But I can’t hold back any longer.

I kiss him back, pressing my body even harder against his, which I hadn’t thought was possible.

I expect a ravenous kiss to follow, for clothes to start falling off our bodies and to gravitate our way towards my bedroom.

But after he returns a tender kiss, he pulls away.

“Wait” he breathes

“You okay?” I pant, biting down on my lip.

“Can we wait…” he whispers nervously “I don’t want you to think this is all I want. I just want to talk to you. Stay up all night talking like we used to. God I missed you so much”

My chest warms up, as I realise he really means it. That he doesn’t want me to get the wrong impression. That he missed my body, but more than that, he missed me.

“Of course” I coo “I would like that”

He presses his lips to mine one last time, then plants a few soft kisses across my nose and cheeks. Just like he used to.

We lead each other to the bedroom, and flop down next to each other, taking in the days events. And how the hell we ended up here.

It doesn’t take long for the conversation to start, as we turn to face each other.

He caresses my face the whole time, stroking my cheek with his thumb gently.

It’s all so familiar, and right now in our little bubble, it’s like no time has passed between us at all. Like no hearts were ever broken.

We talk for hours, neither of us ever feeling tired for a moment. We laugh, getting carried away and wrapped up in each others. Sometimes we cry. He apologises more times than I can keep count. We hold each other. Sometimes I want to ask him to pinch me, to make sure I’m not still concussed from earlier in the week and imagining all of this. That I’m not going to wake up and realise it wasn’t real. That he won’t be taken away from me again.

We talk about how things used to be.

We talk about the future.

Eventually at some point in the early hours of the morning, once our voices are tired and we can’t keep our eyes open any longer, we fall asleep.

When I wake, I’m alone, but next to me I can see the indent of where Michael had been next to me the night before.

My heart starts to race as I become more aware.

He’s left. He’s gone again.

I’m almost carried away into a full panic attack, when something snaps me out of it. The sound of the radio coming from somewhere in the house.

Wondering if someone is here, or if I just left it on, I wrap myself in a robe and make my way into the heart of my apartment.

And there he is.

Fixing up breakfast, still in his clothes from the night before. Humming along to the radio.

He doesn’t even realise I’m there for a few moments, and I’m glad I have some time to process this all to myself.

I had thought I’d never see this scene again. Maybe in my memories, but never in real life.

Michael, in my kitchen, making us breakfast on a cold morning.

My chest floods with warmth.

I didn’t realise how I felt like I had been holding my breath up until this moment, and how now I can finally exhale.

“Morning” he greets me when I he catches me standing there out of the corner of his eye “Sorry, I just thought I’d make you some breakfast, or at least coffee”

“Thank you” I smile, as I force myself to hurry up and adjust to the moment.

“You still like your eggs the same?”

“Absolutely” I smile, endeared by him asking.

He holds out a hand, and I take it, as he reels me in towards his body.

“If this is too much just tell me” he says softly, checking in with where I’m at right now “Is this okay?”

I can tell he’s still unsure. Unsure of whether I’m going to tell him to leave. To get out. That the mistakes are unforgivable and that we can never get it back.

But the truth, that I can feel in my core, is that what we had never really left.

I run a hand through his hair, and he closes his eyes briefly, taking in the sensation.

“I think so” I nod, and he perks up, his eyes look hopeful and bright again “I thought you had left” I admit, revealing why I looked so startled just now.

“No chance” he shakes his head “I’m here. I’m yours”

And I believe him.

It’s a pivotal moment.

Standing on the edge and letting yourself jump.

I know it will take time. And I know he will work every day to prove it to me.

But I choose to trust him.

In whatever way that means right now.

I am his.

I always have been. And I always will.

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cassiesbookishcorner · 2 years

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•July 13, 2022•

What is your reading goal for this year?

▪︎

Mine is 60 books.

I doubt I'll ever change that goal. Sometimes I make it to 60, sometimes I don't and that's okay.

▪︎

•

▪︎

#bookish #bookstagram #bibliophile #bookworm #read #books #tbr #bookaddict #currentlyreading #candle #booklr #bookblr #chapter13 #hungergames

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solomonyau · 1 year

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what it's like inside my mind - Chapter 13 : 'a letter titled : I Hope You've Been Doing Well.'

I hope you’ve been doing well.

This may not seem like the most conventional way to send my letters, but I figured you’d never open them anyways so I thought I’d let you know that -

If I could nail my hands to the closest things that reminded me of you, I’d nail them to your smile

Your scent still lingers on the hoodie that you often times deliberately stole & wore to every single time we met

The pictures, still littered on my wall felt as though as if they were glued with the strongest glue in the entire universe

Funny enough, I never really believed in the thought of love until I met you

But now I understand that loving you was the best thing that I’ve ever done

& maybe it’ll never be the biggest mistake that I’ll ever do

But if the law of love was timing & chemistry - then maybe according to physics I’d be off exactly the amount of spaces between calloused hands

This empty squared-foot of a structure would be broken down, rebuilt with constant defence’s known as heartbreak

Shattered glass - impending ambulances with the sirens on

Whaling at the footsteps of heavens gates, structuring procedures to stitch this torn up vessel

Doctors yelling ‘He needs a love transfusion, we need a donor!’

Watching you walk out that heavy door only known to lovers

So, I hope he’s been treating you well

I hope he loves the way you smile as it grins across your face

I hope he wears your colours, as I’ve only known to wear black

I hope he holds your hands, when they get cold & lets you pull away when you are embarrassed for your sweaty palms

I hope he gives you hugs, when the darkness gets so unbearably cold

I hope he fills your void, for I was never enough to eclipse the moons that were covering your star signs

But lastly, I hope he kisses you, in the small doses that you ever so love

So, I hope you’ve been doing well

I hope you’re achieving the happiness that ever so eluded you,

& just know that this will be the last ever letter I’ll ever send to you.

#words #emotions #expression #what its like inside my mind #place of thought #chapter13 #a letter titled : I Hope You've Been Doing Well

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capricorn-0mnikorn · 2 years

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📖Persuasion📖 Listen- and Read-Along, Chapters Thirteen, Fourteen, and Fifteen.

(I haven’t forgotten this - just dealing with insomnia, migraines, and brain fog these last couple of weeks. I hope to get back into the rhythm going forward. At least this hit right at the “Intermission,” eh?)

Discussion of Chapter Twelve Starts here.

Audio of Karen Savage’s LibriVox Reading on YouTube, starting at Chapter 13, Part One (Chapters 13, 14, and 15 together ~ 43 minutes at normal speed)

Moira Fogarty’s reading at LibriVox (Chapters 13, 14, and 15 together ~ 50 minutes)

Text of Chapters Thirteen, Fourteen, and Fifteen at Project Gutenberg.

Synopses:

Chapter 13:

Anne has two days at Uppercross Hall, and is satisfied that she can be of some help.

When Lady Russell returns to Kellynch village, and it comes time for Anne to leave to go stay with her, the others are upset, so Anne suggests they all take lodgings in Lyme, to be closer to Louisa, and helps send them off. Lady Russell and Anne fulfill their social duty (which, for Anne is a pleasure, but she doesn’t want to say it out loud to her friend) of paying a visit to the Crofts. Anne is relieved to learn that the Crofts plan to do some traveling in the north of the country, shortly after this visit, and that there was no danger of Captain Wentworth and Lady Russell meeting.

Chapter 14:

Charles and Mary finally come home from Lyme after Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove get there to be with Louisa. Charles Musgrove is convinced that Captain Benwick is in love with Anne, and is bound to come visit any day. Without any prompting, Anne is given news of Captain Wentworth: his spirits are improving as Louisa’s health is improving, but he’s worried that talking with her will be too upsetting before she is fully well, so he’s gone to see his brother in Shropshire for a week or so. Captain Benwick does not come to visit.

Chapter 15:

Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove return to Uppercross, since their boys are home for the Christmas holidays, and they bring the Harville’s daughters with them, to give Captain and Mrs. Harville a break. Anne loves the Christmas atmosphere at Uppercross Hall, but Lady Russell does not. And then, it’s time to go to Bath to live with her father and sister, and Mrs. Clay is still there. Anne is surprised that Sir Walter and Elizabeth are happy to see her (although it’s mostly so they can boast about how nice it is in Bath), and she’s also surprised that Mr. Elliot is there, too, and apparently fully reconciled with the family. Late in the evening on her first day, Mr. Elliot stops by to visit, and recognizes her from Lyme, and actually engages her in conversation. Anne thinks this first day in Bath was actually rather pleasant.

Favorite Quotes:

Chapter 13:

In speaking of the Harvilles, [Charles Musgrove] seemed unable to satisfy his own sense of their kindness, especially of Mrs Harville’s exertions as a nurse. “She really left nothing for Mary to do. He and Mary had been persuaded to go early to their inn last night. Mary had been hysterical again this morning. When he came away, she was going to walk out with Captain Benwick, which, he hoped, would do her good. He almost wished she had been prevailed on to come home the day before; but the truth was, that Mrs Harville left nothing for anybody to do.”

Charles, with all due respect, sir, I think it’s that Mrs. Harville recognizes that none of you lot are very competent in this case, and just wants you all out of the way.

An hour’s complete leisure for such reflections as these, on a dark November day, a small thick rain almost blotting out the very few objects ever to be discerned from the windows, was enough to make the sound of Lady Russell’s carriage exceedingly welcome; and yet, though desirous to be gone, she could not quit the Mansion House, or look an adieu to the Cottage, with its black, dripping and comfortless veranda, or even notice through the misty glasses the last humble tenements of the village, without a saddened heart. Scenes had passed in Uppercross which made it precious. It stood the record of many sensations of pain, once severe, but now softened; and of some instances of relenting feeling, some breathings of friendship and reconciliation, which could never be looked for again, and which could never cease to be dear. She left it all behind her, all but the recollection that such things had been.

Jane Austen is most known for her characters and dialog. But this little tidbit of atmospheric prose is just *chef’s kiss.* Also, this is a reminder that Anne expects to spend the next seven years in Bath -- a city she dislikes -- and has no reason to believe she’ll see the Harvilles or Captain Benwick again, except maybe at Captain Wentworth’s marriage to Louisa.

Lady Russell had only to listen composedly, and wish them happy, but internally her heart revelled in angry pleasure, in pleased contempt, that the man who at twenty-three had seemed to understand somewhat of the value of an Anne Elliot, should, eight years afterwards, be charmed by a Louisa Musgrove.

Lady Russell, Ma’am! Need I remind you that six years ago, you thought Charles Musgrove was good enough for Anne Elliot. But now his younger sister is not good enough for Captain Wentworth? You can’t have it both ways.

[The detail of the Crofts fixing the laundry door at Kellynch Hall]

So telling of character! That Sir Walter has spent all of his family fortune, but none of it on basic maintenance like fixing a faulty door.

Chapter 14:

“No,” admitted Charles, “I do not know that [Captain Benwick[ ever does, in a general way; but however, it is a very clear thing that he admires you exceedingly. His head is full of some books that he is reading upon your recommendation, and he wants to talk to you about them; he has found out something or other in one of them which he thinks—oh! I cannot pretend to remember it, but it was something very fine—I overheard him telling Henrietta all about it; and then ‘Miss Elliot’ was spoken of in the highest terms! Now Mary, I declare it was so, I heard it myself, and you were in the other room. ‘Elegance, sweetness, beauty.’ Oh! there was no end of Miss Elliot’s charms.”

“And I am sure,” cried Mary, warmly, “it was a very little to his credit, if he did. Miss Harville only died last June. Such a heart is very little worth having; is it, Lady Russell? I am sure you will agree with me.”

“I must see Captain Benwick before I decide,” said Lady Russell, smiling.

And here’s a bit more of what would later become a standard trope of the mystery novel format (without the murder-y bits) -- namely: a potential red herring. Anne, at least, is still convinced that Captain Wentworth has not forgiven her. But is it possible that another man is falling in love with her? How much you are convinced of that possibility depends a great deal on how much you trust Anne’s perception of the truth. Or do you see clues to a different truth that our protagonist is overlooking?

Immediately surrounding Mrs Musgrove were the little Harvilles, whom she was sedulously guarding from the tyranny of the two children from the Cottage, expressly arrived to amuse them. On one side was a table occupied by some chattering girls, cutting up silk and gold paper; and on the other were tressels and trays, bending under the weight of brawn and cold pies, where riotous boys were holding high revel; the whole completed by a roaring Christmas fire, which seemed determined to be heard, in spite of all the noise of the others. Charles and Mary also came in, of course, during their visit, and Mr Musgrove made a point of paying his respects to Lady Russell, and sat down close to her for ten minutes, talking with a very raised voice, but from the clamour of the children on his knees, generally in vain. It was a fine family-piece.

Now, this, I find fascinating, just from a cultural point of view. Here is a description of a family Christmas celebration that we modern folk would recognize. But just 30-ish years later, when Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol (1843), the majority of that novel’s audience would have agreed with Scrooge that Christmas was a cultural relic that it was right and proper to forget. Of course, thanks to the Ghost of Christmas Past, we see that Christmas was celebrated in Ebenezer’s youth (which would have been around the same time that Persuasion is set), but it’s fascinating to see the confirmation of that through a contemporary description, rather than a dream-like memory.

Chapter 15:

Could Anne wonder that her father and sister were happy? She might not wonder, but she must sigh that her father should feel no degradation in his change, should see nothing to regret in the duties and dignity of the resident landholder, should find so much to be vain of in the littlenesses of a town;

Contrast this with Anne’s noticing an almost instant change in her own outlook with a change of society and scenery, when she was welcomed into the Musgrove household. Granted, when Anne moved into the Uppercross circles, she was mixing with people who have a different philosophy of life from her father and sister. And Sir Walter and Miss Elizabeth Elliot have moved to a neighborhood in Bath where everyone has the same obsessions with status that they do.

This is where I’ve seen reviewers on YouTube complain that the novel gets a bit boring. I suspect most of them have been reading this book with going in with the expectations of a modern “Romance Novel.” But that’s not what Jane Austen was writing -- even though it is, arguably, Austen’s most romantic surviving work* -- because she’s also examining a major social shift in her world’s order, between the old hierarchy of the aristocracy of birth and inherited titles, and the new hierarchy based on the merit of action (represented by the Baronetage Book on one side, and the Navy on the other).

So the full conflict of the novel isn’t just “Will Anne’s broken heart be mended?” but also: “Which of these two worlds will ultimately be her home?” We saw the new world have its influence on Anne in the first half. Now, it’s the old world’s turn to have a try. Therefore, it’s time for Captain Wentworth to leave the stage for a breather, and let another suitor step into the spotlight.

The circumstances of his marriage, too, were found to admit of much extenuation. This was an article not to be entered on by himself; but a very intimate friend of his, a Colonel Wallis, a highly respectable man, perfectly the gentleman, (and not an ill-looking man, Sir Walter added), who was living in very good style in Marlborough Buildings, and had, at his own particular request, been admitted to their acquaintance through Mr Elliot, had mentioned one or two things relative to the marriage, which made a material difference in the discredit of it.

Keep your eyes peeled for “Wallis;” he’s rather glossed over in the filmed adaptations (at least, the two versions I’ve watched all the way through), because we don’t ever hear him speak directly, but only through reports people give of conversations they’ve had with him (Such as Sir Walter and Elizabeth, here, telling Anne all about why they’ve forgiven Mr. Elliot). But over the course of this half of the novel, Austen hints that the two are working together at whatever scheme they have brewing.

*With Austen writing so feelingly about her protagonist’s feelings

#📖Persuasion📖 Read-Along #Chapter13 #Chapter 14 #Chapter 15

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3schia · 13 days

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CHAPTER 13

“ENTER THE COMPANY”

[JANUARY 2015]

“Yes, you must be his favorite employee...

Once you get accepted, you will leave my home.

I’ll find you a solo apartment in Madrid.

Steven is aware that I’m living here in Barcelona.

He should never have any idea that we know each other.

You must live in Madrid, so he won’t find you suspicious when you start approaching him.”

“I know, right.”

“These coming weeks, I’ll teach you to drive. We’ll buy your own car tomorrow.”

“Really? Yey!”

“Well, it’s part of the plan... And hey, prepare yourself today, we’ll buy your office attire, and all the other things you’ll need. You must look more formal. I also bought you a perfume.”

“I don’t wear perfume, actually.”

“I also noticed that, but you must...

Then, I’ll give you tips to pass the interviews.”

---

[MARCH 2015]

Welcome, self, to VenZon Corporación!

Isla, the financial analyst.

The coworkers are just fine.

It’s good to meet people with different personalities.

Introverts, extroverts, and ambiverts.

There are also weirdos, serious, comedians, etc.

Here I met a very friendly and sweet girl, Jasmine, who became a friend of mine.

We’re the ones who eat lunch together.

We became closer as time passed.

Then, here’s a project of the company that’s about maximizing profitability. Our group is composed of six members: me, Charlotte, Emma, Zoe, Toby, and Rey.

We started thinking about it...

Everyone contributed their ideas, especially Emma, Zoe, Rey, and me.

Then, here’s a sudden request by Steven and Jazon to present the output to them, though it’s still ongoing.

I thought it would be among the four of us who contributed most that would present, but guess what?

This bratty Charlotte insisted on presenting it to Steven and Jazon when we had the meeting, making the impression that most ideas came from her. LOL.

Another toxic trait I discovered about them was that when I put a wrong question in the file wherein, we have individual tasks of the same aspect, two other coworkers expressed their concern to me by telling me that they heard conversations about it, saying that it's wrong.

To me, what is the point of saying it out loud when I'm not around and my other coworkers who were not part of the project are hearing it?

Why not just send me a private message so I can correct it myself?

Besides, it’s just one mistake out of five questions I constructed there.

But the funny thing is, when I opened the file, all the other questions they put in their respective tabs were like the questions I put in there.

It's just that each of them just revised the sentence.

????? O_o ?????

So, I was like, “Ha?” XD

Is this a normal attitude in the corporate world?

For the desire of proving to others that they are wiser than me (if that’s their belief in being wise, LOL), they failed at considering this so-called “empathy”.

What kind of world do we live in?

We failed again as humans XD

ISLA: So, yeah. That’s what happened. Steven and Jazon are not noticing me that much.

GRAY: Well, you must find ways for them to notice you more, especially Steven. You have no choice but to outpower them.

ISLA: I’m making ways.

GRAY: We came this far, Isla. Do better.

---

One day, we have this examination, which is an important part of promotion.

Jasmine was just beside me. The questions are being reflected on our laptops all at the same time. I heard Jasmine whisper answers to some questions, making me think that those were her answers, so I just copied them since she’s more experienced than me.

After the exam, the results just reflected on our screen with our original answers and the correct ones...

I got 8/15

Jasmine got 12/15

“I thought C was your answer to question number 4?” I asked.

“I also thought of that, but I had a change of mind.” Jasmine answered.

Then, I sneaked a look to her answers in the questions in which she whispered answers.

And guess what?

She got the correct answers to those certain questions, while I got the wrong ones.

Instead of questioning her again,

I just ignored it even if I was obviously misled by her!

Maybe her head got hit by a rock that made her a psychotic bch?

Or maybe she had a seizure before?

Hmmm.

Well, it doesn’t matter.

But one thing is for sure, she’s a toxic manipulative bch!

---

One day, Jasmine invited me to her 28th birthday celebration.

I didn’t want to come, but she insisted, so I came.

I just said to myself that after this, I would make a move to distance myself from her.

So, here we are at their home, and I met her dad, Victor.

A lot of her friends came to her birthday party, as well as his dad’s neighbor friends.

Then, I roamed outside their house to see their plants.

They have plenty of it.

And then I heard their two neighbors gossiping at the back of their house...

NEIGHBOR 1: I heard Jasmine’s mom finally has a new husband.

NEIGHBOR 2: Yeah, good for her.

NEIGHBOR 1: Why do you think they broke up?

NEIGHBOR 2: We don’t know the real reason why. But we know Victor has an attitude. He’s full of himself. A narcissist. Like... He can’t accept being outshined by others, he always competes, and he always wants to be the favorite.

NEIGHBOR 1: No wonder Jasmine is with him when she’s supposed to be with her mother.

NEIGHBOR 2: We’re not sure, but that may be a reason. Do you think he’s just gay?

NEIGHBOR 1: I don’t think so.

The saying, “Fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree,” is damn so real.

That dark side of Jasmine has finally made sense to me. >_<

Like f*ck?

What a toxic gene? XD

You can run, but you can’t hide, Jasmine XD

Then I finally made the move to distance myself from her by joining other close coworkers I am working with. And guess what?

Since I’m the one who looked for new friends, some coworkers expressed that they are on the side of Jasmine by limiting their interaction with me, without knowing what truly happened in the past.

Besides, she’s more approachable and friendly compared to me.

So, yeah! I’m the villain of the story in the eyes of people who don’t know the full story!

What kind of world do we live in?!

Full of f*ckng playing the victim!

Jasmine, the $htty psycho bch, you know what you did –,^

You will continuously deny it to others,

but you can never deny it to yourself –,^

---

[AUGUST 2015]

And then here’s an individual project given by Steven to propose ideas that will boost sales, which we will individually execute.

I came up with the idea of establishing a stronger digital presence.

Other coworkers came up with ideas such as making new cups’ designs,

reusable cups for a 5% discount, gifting more rewards, etc.

This will be observed in the coming months to see which idea will yield the most profit.

“Happy 33rd Birthday, Gray!”

Chess – work – chess – work.

That’s been my life for a couple of months.

“Merry Christmas!”

“Happy New Year!”

“What happened? ” “Well, based on the survey, the best idea generated a 10% increase in profit.”

“How much increase has your idea generated?”

“Ten!”

So, what’s the 6th ordinance, Master Libra?

#TheFifthOrdinance

#JasmineTheSilentKillerTheGaslighter

#FruitDoesn’tFallFarFromTheTree

#YouKnowWhatYouDid

#TheFeelingWiseCoworkers

#IslaTheFavoriteEmployee

CHAPTER 14

“MAKE THEM SECRETLY HATE EACH OTHER”

[FEBRUARY 2016]

“First, make the two of them fall for you.”

>>> Executed! <<<

ISLA: They are both showing motives.

But, you know, Steven has too much pride.

GRAY: Just act like you don't feel it. Make it a bit obvious to Steven that you and Jazon are dating secretly. With that, he will find more ways to be closer to you. Remember, he’s a Scorpio. Scorpios are known as jealous, possessive, and overly emotional in love.

ISLA: How?

GRAY: Jazon likes giving purple dresses to his ex-girlfriends.

ISLA: He gave me three just this Valentine’s Day.

GRAY: Wear it in your office.

ISLA: Okay, I will.

GRAY: Have movie dates with Jazon.

ISLA: Then?

GRAY: Just continue doing it. Make them secretly hate each other.

ISLA: Alright.

~ dates, dates, dates ~

---

“Nice dress!” Steven said.

“Thanks, Sir!”

ISLA: Steven gave me an individual project. He told me to keep it to myself.

GRAY: Oh! That’s just his technique, so you can have an exclusive meeting.

ISLA: Yeah. That’s what I also feel. He often looks at my purple dresses. He’s approaching me more than the other coworkers.

GRAY: Just do your best on that project. I’ll help you.

~ work, date, work, date, work, date ~

STEVEN: Isla, come to this address on Sunday. Present to me your project.

ISLA: Esperanza Librería? Is it yours?

STEVEN: Yeah.

ISLA: Oh, nice.

And then it’s Sunday...

I simply presented my project to him, and he praised me for it.

After this, we had our lunch just in his library.

“What do you usually do on weekends?” Steven asked.

“Hmm. Just hanging out sometimes and watching movies.” I answered.

“With?”

“Hmm. Friends!”

“Oh. What kind of movies do you watch?” “Love stories. How about you?”

“Sci-Fi movies.”

“Oh. You really are a serious type.” I said. “Not really.” “Wews!” “Why do you say so?” Steven asked.

“Hmm. I just feel.” I replied.

“That’s how most people see me.”

“Because that’s how you usually appear. Well, of course you have sides that you can only show to certain people.” I said.

“Right!” Steven replied.

“Well, you can show me that side.”

Steven laughed. ~

“Are you free this coming weekend?” He asked.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“Where do you want?”

“Anywhere you want.”

“Really?”

“Yeah!”

“Aren’t you dating anyone?” He asked.

“I’m not.”

“See you this weekend. Come to this address.”

“Is it your home?”

“It’s not.”

ISLA: I'm getting Steven slowly. How can I finally make him mine?

GRAY: I know one of his weaknesses.

ISLA: What?

GRAY: Every man's weakness.

ISLA: Sex?

GRAY: Is there anything else?

ISLA: Fine.

GRAY: Are you sure about this? Aren't you afraid?

ISLA: I have nothing to be afraid of. MY FAITH IS DEAD, AND SO AM I.

GRAY: Why do you say so?

ISLA: I felt tired living this way, in so much pain.

My old self was gone.

I'm just existing in this body.

I don’t even know who I am.

They say...

Pisces people are forgiving. But I guess... I am an exception.

---

ISLA: I’m tired.

GRAY: You can’t be tired until we make it.

ISLA: Are you a blessing from Above? Or a curse in disguise?

GRAY: It’s up to you how you’ll see me. To me, you are my ally in this mission.

ISLA: Why would I be good if the world was bad?

GRAY: You're not bad, Isla. You're just put in this situation. I'm the one who's bad.

ISLA: No, you're not, and I feel it. There were just people not worthy of your kindness, but you know? They are not the only people in this world.

GRAY: You're also not bad, and I feel it. There were just people not worthy of your kindness, but you know? They are not the only people in this world.

I'm older than you, but I keep learning from you.

ISLA: Me, too...

GRAY: Do you sometimes wonder why some righteous people live shorter lives than the bad ones?

ISLA: Yeah, of course.

GRAY: Do you think it’s unfair?

ISLA: Yap. But this life is mysterious. Everything really happens for a reason. The righteous may live shorter, maybe because they are finally worthy of seeing the light. While the others may live longer since they are not yet worthy of it.

GRAY: But that’s not always the case.

ISLA: I know. I’m just giving you a different perception. What’s one lesson from me that you’ll never forget?

GRAY: It’s to set aside principles when it’s a matter of life and death. Is it inspired by your life’s experiences?

ISLA: I once lost someone when I chose religion over money.

GRAY: Can you tell me exactly?

ISLA: Well, that’s a happening in my life that I don’t want to remember anymore. That’s one reason why I want to become rich. That’s when I realized that there really is a deeper reason why the brain was placed higher than the heart... I am not like this before. But pain really changes people.

ISLA: What if let's just forgive them?

GRAY: How about justice for Faith?

ISLA: I don't know. Auntie Mercedes seems fine now anyway.

GRAY: She is. But we are not. This is the only way to get justice, and I will work like a slave until the grudge fades away. I'm the one who's supposed to be in a coma, not Faith.

ISLA: When can we visit Faith again?

GRAY: Let’s try tomorrow.

---

ISLA: That head trauma is a $ht.

Do you sometimes feel tired?

GRAY: Of course.

Can I really trust you?

ISLA: Of course.

GRAY: Of course, what?

ISLA: Of course, yes. You can trust me.

GRAY: Won't you betray me?

ISLA: Why would I?

GRAY: It seems like you don't want to continue it.

ISLA: I want to.

GRAY: Then why did you tell me to just forgive them?

ISLA: I just wandered... Never mind.

~~~

[SEPTEMBER 2016]

“Ready to play?”

“Of course.”

“Triple kill!... I mean...”

“Check!”

“Congrats, Miss Pisces, the Chess Master.”

So, what’s the 7th ordinance, Master Libra?

#TheSixthOrdinance

#IslaTheTwoTimer

CHAPTER 15

“BE HIS GIRLFRIEND”

“To someone like Steven, sex is not enough. He has a standard...

The first four ordinances are the ultimate keys for you to finally be his girlfriend.

Steven is actually a chess master;

He’s a gambler;

His two ex-girlfriends are both ballroom dancers;

and he’s a professional skydiver.”

ISLA: It’s finally making sense now.

GRAY: That’s why you just have to follow me...

In the office, let him notice that you are watching online chess tournaments. With that, he will invite you to play. And no matter what happens, the Pisces should win the game...

He has so much pride in it, so he will surely invite you again... and again... just to win...

Just expect that among these four, this will be the hardest.

That’s why I made you focus on mastering the game.

He’s also good at gambling, though not as good as me. They go to casinos occasionally. So, if he knows that you also gamble, he’ll be more interested in you.

At every year-end party, everyone performs.

Find a coworker who can perform tango with you. Wear red.

And last, Steven is a professional skydiver. For now, upload this video to your social media.

ISLA: What’s that?

GRAY: A compilation of all your skydiving videos. Upload it so that it starts getting a lot of views. And he will soon see that when he gets interested in knowing you more. When it happens that you get closer, he will surely invite you for a tandem skydiving. And don’t forget to upload photos at Casino Millionario!

ISLA: So, what should I do first?

GRAY: Are you willing to take a risk? ISLA: Yeah...

GRAY: Then, do the first ordinance.

---

And here I am watching online chess tournaments every day during lunch breaks.

I’m wearing earphones so that I look busier.

In just a few days of doing it, I got the attention of Steven.

And I know he notices me watching chess tournaments.

Other days passed, and he finally approached me about it.

“Do you play chess?” Steven asked.

“Yeah”

---

GRAY: Have you found a coworker whom you’ll perform tango with?

ISLA: Yeah! We’re practicing already. It’s just a few days left before the year-end party. It will be on 17th, Saturday.

GRAY: I hope you get the best performer award so Steven will admire you more.

ISLA: We’ll try our best.

And hey! While watching chess tournaments earlier, Steven asked me if I’m playing chess. So, yeah. He’s getting curious about it now.

GRAY: Good!

----

Then here’s the day of the year-end party...

I put a lot of makeup on, and I am wearing my red tango dress.

And then we’re about to perform.

I feel a little bit nervous. But I must do my best for it.

I’m trying my best not to look into the eyes of people, so I won’t get distracted.

And then we’re done!

People are clapping, as well as Steven.

I have a good feeling about it.

“And the best performance award goes to...

Isla and Bryan!”

YAY!!!

“Congratulations!”

“Congrats, Isla!”

“Congrats, Bryan!”

People greet us.

Then I suddenly texted Gray...

“Hey! We got the best performance award!”

“Wooooooooooooooooo!”

---

A day after the party, Gray asked me to go to his home.

So, I suddenly took a bath and prepared myself to travel.

When I’m about to enter my car, I receive a message from Steven.

“Hey. Can we meet today?”

“Why?”

“I want us to play chess.”

“Where are we going to meet?”

“Here at my office.”

“Okay, I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

So, I messaged Gray...

“Hey! Steven is inviting me to play chess in his office today!”

“Oh. Meet him. Let’s just meet after. Good luck, Miss Pisces!”

“I got this!”

“Yeah! No matter what happens, the Pisces should win the game. Always remember that Isla.”

“I know...”

---

This is one of the most-awaited parts of vengeance.

I know this will be one of the hardest.

But yeah, at least I did my best to master the game.

Tok.. Tok.. Tok..

Then Steven opened the door.

“Ready to play?” Steven asked.

“Of course!” I answered.

Instead of flipping a coin to know who would have the white pieces, Steven told me that I could have them. So, I accepted it.

And yeah... I am doing my best to relax so I can focus.

“No matter what happens, the Pisces should win the game.”

I got a lot of deep sighs...

Steven looks so relaxed.

He’s using a lot of strategies...

And he turns quicker than me.

Nevertheless, I’m trying my best not to feel too pressured

so I can make wiser moves...

With the kind of strategies he’s using against me... I really can’t deny that...

He’s really great in this game...

And then here we are at a point where he seems to have more possibility of winning the game, but...

Yeah... “No matter what happens, the Pisces should win the game.”

I feel like I still have hope.

So, I continued using strategies.

I should not give up.

“We came this far, Isla.” I told myself...

After almost two hours of the game...

Steven asked for a draw.

Yeah! I was able to make it a draw.

[a phone call]

Trrt trrt.. Trrt trrt... trrt trrt... trrt trrt.

“Where are you?”

“In the office.”

“Can you go here?”

“Why?”

“You’re not visiting me... Christmas is approaching. Come here.”

“Okay, I will.”

“Your mom?” I asked.

“Yeah.” Steven answered.

“Let’s play the other time. Your mom is asking you to visit her.”

“Okay, let’s play tomorrow after work.”

---

And then we separate ways. I made sure that he wouldn’t see me going somewhere else.

I went to the nearest mall to park my car for a couple of minutes. And then I texted Gray...

“Hey! We ended up with a draw.”

“Oh. Who asked for it?” Gray asked.

“Steven!”

“Nice. It’s still good! Come here!”

“Coming!”

And then here I am at Gray’s home.

ISLA: Wow! Did you cook all this?

GRAY: Yeah!

ISLA: Yum!

GRAY Tell me about your game. Was it intense?

ISLA: Really intense! I almost gave up.

GRAY But it’s a tie.

ISLA: Yeah. In the first hour of the game, he seemed to be closer to winning, but I managed to outwit him.

GRAY: You’re doing really good.

ISLA: It’s tasty! You really have a talent for cooking ha.

GRAY: Thanks!

---

And then it’s Monday...

After working hours, I went to Steven’s office.

“Let’s start.” Steven said

And here we are again.

The energy is still almost the same, but Steven looks more focused this time.

But if I was able to make it a draw in our first game, what more this time?

Besides, I have known a lot of his strategies.

Yeah.

“No matter what happens, the Pisces should win the game.”

I must admit. It’s hard to totally outwit him.

After almost two hours...

“Check!”

I really can’t believe this.

F*ck!

I won.

“Congrats!” Steven said.

“Thanks!” I replied.

“Let’s play again on Saturday morning, at my home. I’ll message you the address.

Will it be fine for you?” Steven asked.

“Oh... Yeah.” I answered.

“Bye for now?”

“Yeah! Bye.”

Then I went to the comfort room just to text Gray...

“Hey!!!”

“What?!”

“I won!!!”

“F*CK!!! Let’s celebrate!”

“He’s inviting me to another game on Saturday morning. And guess what?” “WHAT?”

“We’ll be playing at his home. He will message me the address!”

“Can we meet now?”

“Where? I’m a little bit exhausted. It’s intense, you know?!”

“I’ll go to your apartment! I’ll just book a car.” “Okay. See you!”

---

And here is Gray...

“The best Pisces in the world!” “I know, right!”

“Barbeques for you!”

“Thanks!”

“So, tell me about your game.” “As usual, it was intense. Steven looked more focused this time. But yeah, I won!”

“Yown!”

“It was tiring, you know?”

“I know that’s why I bought you barbeques”

“Sweet!”

“So, tomorrow after work. Continue learning, okay?”

“Yeah, I will!”

“You’re finally getting his admiration, Isla.”

“I also feel that”

“You have to be stronger this time. You always have me.”

---

And then it’s Saturday...

I feel a bit nervous while driving to Steven’s mansion...

But I came this far...

And here I am...

Before leaving my car, I ate a lot of nuts.

“Have a seat.” Steven said.

We had our breakfast first, though I already ate at my apartment.

And we went to a room that seemed to be designed for playing chess and card games.

And...

Let the battle begin!

As usual, it was intense... I know Steven prepared a lot...

But I also prepared tho

“We came this far, Isla. We came this far...” I told myself.

His moves this time are a bit unexpected.

It’s like I’m battling with a different person.

Maybe he figured out my moves and strategies...

So that he could outwit me.

F*ck

It’s hard.

I feel like I could lose anytime...

“Will he still be interested in me if I lose this time?” I asked myself.

“Focus, Isla. Focus...”

And...

F*ck...

The Pisces lost this time.

“Congrats...” I told him.

“Thanks... It was intense ha... You seem to know a lot, Isla... So, I’ll just tell you when we can have another game.”

“Okay!”

“Thanks for today. Please get that wine. I bought that for you.”

“Oh. Thanks!”

When I got home, I scrolled to my social media and received a follow request from Steven. I followed him back so I could also see his posts.

“Hey! Do you gamble?” He asked.

“Sometimes! Just for fun!”

“You also do skydiving?!” “Yeah! Why?”

“I gamble a lot, and I’m actually a professional skydiver.”

“Oh. Nice! You do a lot!”

“You, too! It’s so nice to know more about you. You’re amazing tho!”

“Thanks! You, too!”

“Can we have a tandem skydiving this coming 24?”

“Yeah!”

I texted Gray...

“Hey! Steven followed me, and he saw my casino photos and skydiving video.”

“Nice! Hey... You’re not answering me about your game!”

“Well, I lost this time. I’m sorry! But he’s inviting me for a skydiving trip this coming 24!”

“Yes! This is it! We came this far, Isla.”

---

“Let’s have some fun today!” Steven said. “What are we going to do?” I asked.

“Wanna go to Casino Billionario?”

“Oh. Let’s go!”

Then, we gamble a lot...

“That was fun! See you tomorrow?”

“Yeah!”

And here’s the day of our skydiving.

I did this a lot, but I still feel nervous.

Is it because I’m with a demon? LOL.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Yeah! XD

That’s the shout when there’s a demon skydiver at your back XD

After this, we had our lunch at a fine dining resto.

---

“Merry Christmas!”

“Can we celebrate the new year together? Steven asked.

“Yes, of course!”

“Happy New Year!”

Then...

We eat... eat... and eat.

And we had a lot of drinks.

Steven then asked me...

“Can you be my girlfriend?”

“Oh. Yeah!”

This is it...

Then, here I am now, not just his employee, but a girlfriend.

Since Steven is a very private person, he asked me to keep our relationship private.

Yeah. That’s another mission accomplished!

---

“So, what’s the 8th ordinance, Master Libra?”

---

“Will you marry me?” Steven asked.

“Yes!” I answered.

#TheSeventhOrdinance

#IslaTheGirlfriend

#IslaThe Fiancée?

#The10thOrdinance #LibravsPisces #Chapter13 #Chapter14 #Chapter15

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kentuckybats · 6 months

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(via Can you get a Kentucky mortgage loan while in a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy:)

#fhaloan #bankruptcy #chapter13 #homeloan #kentuckymortgage louisvillemortgage #usdaloan #valoan

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mscudilove · 1 year

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Ultimately, the word "beyond" captures the true meaning of spirituality. In its most basic sense, going beyond means going past where you are. It means not staying in your current state. When you constantly go beyond yourself, there are no more limitations. There are no more boundaries. Limitations and boundaries only exist at the places where you stop going beyond. If you never stop, then you go beyond boundaries, beyond limitations, beyond the sense of a restricted self.

Beyond is infinite in all directions...It would only cease to be infinite if you created an artificial boundary...Boundaries create the appearance of finiteness in infinite space. Things seem finite because your perception hits mental boundaries. In truth everything is infinite...There are no limits. There is just the infinite universe.

#farfarbeyond #the untethered soul #the journey beyond yourself #chapter13 #michael singer

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mindoverjohn · 1 year

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Tonight's the Night! Chapter 13 will drop

I thought i was spoiled doing my editing on my phone, that was until I discovered Capcut Desktop and Plotagon Desktop. That said, tonight I will be uploading Chapter 13 finally. You have no idea how long this has taken, the challenges that had to be resolved and the sleep lost. On the brighter side, this allowed me to really look into alternative solutions and make the experience better for all. I'm confident going forward it will be a limited delay as we move along this season.

#chapter13 #podcast #MindOverJohn #CapcutDesktop #PlotagonDesktop

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sillyqueenmaker · 2 years

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Proseguo con Ikemen Vampire, Leonardo, Intimacy Check passed! Continuo con il Chapter 13❤️😍 #otomegames #videogames #mobilegames #ikemenvampire #cybird #cybirdikemen #ikemenseries #leonardoikemenvampire #intimacycheck #chapter13 #love #instagood https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf15gIlLpnk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#otomegames #videogames #mobilegames #ikemenvampire #cybird #cybirdikemen #ikemenseries #leonardoikemenvampire #intimacycheck #chapter13 #love #instagood

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sturvn · 2 years

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#chapter13 I’m in pieces @coltonlhaynes #missmemorylane https://www.instagram.com/p/CeS4qiYjaGo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#chapter13 #missmemorylane

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becausesomething · 2 months

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Chapter 13 - Jealousy

just a jealous Kid 🥲 and handsome Law is back in town!

Narrator POV

It's been three weeks since the confrontation with Shanks. Victoria Punk's crew was starting to get back into their routine. Kid was still recovering but due to his stubbornness, he insisted on carrying out his duties as captain, which left Eriss and Killer on the verge of nervousness. Eriss and Kid's relationship was quickly discovered because they were both terrible at hiding it, especially being heard by the entire boat. Eriss had returned to being the woman she was a few months ago, letting down the walls she carried. Kid couldn't stop smiling whenever he saw her, but this was fuel for Killer and Heat to start stinging him and ended up in meaningless disputes that had to be stopped by Eriss or Wire.

Kid enters the kitchen and his crew is crestfallen in the corners, including Eriss.

-If I had known that this was going to be your reaction, you might as well have let me die. - He sits next to her but continues to be ignored.

-Idiots, don't ignore me!

-We're bored - says Eriss, leaning on his back.

-We miss women - says Killer

-And robbing - says Heat, letting a small flame come out of his mouth

-I miss breaking everything - says Kid who joins that depressive environment.

-You should cheer us up, not join us Kid - says Killer

-What are the plans Captain? Eriss says he has practically recovered. - asks Wire coming out of the shadows.

-Damn Wire, stop hiding in the shadows. - Kid makes Eriss get off his back and sit against him.

-On the next island we find, we will return to the usual program, robbing, drinking, and having fun. And of course, gather information to defeat Kaido. - Everyone looks at him in amazement.

-Are you sure Kid? Just a few weeks ago you were more there than here. - Says Killer

-It's not because I was defeated once that I'm going to give up on being the Pirate King. There are 3 more yonkos on the list, don't lose hope, and trust me.

-Redhead, I think you should wait a little longer. We are talking about a yonkou! - Says Eriss trying to get away from him.

-Where is your sense of adventure? Stop worrying, I'm fine, and since when did the Victoria Punk crew give up so easily? I am Eutass "Captain" Kid, and I will continue to fight for my dreams!

-ihihih, we missed you Kid!

-So inspiring coming from such a cruel person - says Eriss, showing her tongue.

-I should send you to sea, now go do something and unblock the store for me!

-Won't you stay with me tigress?

-Didn't you tell me to go for a walk? I'm just following orders Captain - he gives him a light kiss and leaves.

...

-Tigress, do you need that many clothes? - Kid complains.

-I didn't volunteer for this. You're a witch Eriss! - Killer also complains and sits on the floor throwing a tantrum.

-Stop complaining. I gave you choices, it was your decision.

-Between being a slave or staying on the ship doing inventory, they are both terrible. - says Kid who joins Killer on the floor.

Eriss stops and walks back to them. She bends over showing her well-defined and prominent cleavage thanks to the bodice and her hair flowing over her shoulders.

-It's your fault, you never let a woman go shopping for so long. Besides, only half of it is clothes, the rest are necessary things because you are constantly getting into trouble.

-If I have to have this vision, I don't mind - says Killer, completely engrossed in Eriss's breasts.

Once Kid realizes, he uses the Punk Gibson causing Killer to fly and crash into a wall.

-KID!

-He deserved it, only I can look at that cleavage of yours that makes me crazy with lust.

-ugh, I only put up with children. - She turns her back and hides her smile.

Kid gets up and grabs her by the waist, stealing a kiss from her.

-I knew you were smiling and you couldn't resist my tough guy image.

-Convinced. Now go help your friend, but without getting into a fight. - she rests her hands on his chest - and since you're so upset you can go back, I just need to go to one more store.

-But he was the one who crossed the line, I don't want to leave you alone.

-Redhead, I know how to protect myself. Come on, your boyfriend is having trouble getting up. - says Eriss laughing.

Kid throws a pat on his face and goes to help Kid, insulting him and punching him for a few minutes.

Eriss POV

It wasn't worth separating them, basically, it was the way they showed the friendship they had. She was finally alone, so she could do the last shopping and eat something sweet as a reward. But with a pastry shop already around the corner, it was impossible to resist. My eyes come across a red velvet cake, one of my favorites and I don't waste time ordering it. That first bite was heaven in the mouth, completely surrendering that sweet flavor that melted away in the mouth. In less than 5 minutes I had already devoured everything.

-I see you made your decision. - I looked in the direction of that voice and Law was coming towards me with his cap pulled down making it impossible to see his face, but I didn't need to guess the cold expression he had.

-Tral - I wanted to hug him, but his cold aura made me unable to react

- I, so much happened, I tried to write to you but...

-Eriss-ya, it's okay, I'm not upset or hurt. - he approaches and raises his face and can see his serene gaze

-Now I know what you look like when you're really happy.

I continued to look without knowing what to say, I wasn't expecting to find him so soon. Inside I was still trying to find words to explain everything that had happened and how much he still means to me.

-I saw you with Kid-ya, he seems to treat you well despite being even more deformed. I'm relieved to see you weren't hurt fighting Shanks.

I can't help but let out a short laugh, even in this situation their rivalry continued.

-Yes I am and I found my place without needing to hide who I am.

-I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you. - I grab one of his hands and with the other, I lift his chin to look me in the eyes.

-I missed you too, Law.

I pull myself towards him and hug him tightly. He resists the first few seconds but then hugs me back.

-You will always be special to me. No one can erase what we experienced. Thank you, I can imagine how difficult it must have been for you.

He squeezes me tighter, not many more words are needed. Now I understood his words, he always knew that because he was so close to Kid he would end up choosing him, and the life we chose didn't help either, but he still always listened and supported me.

-Eriss-ya I'm proud and happy for you.

We stayed in that hug for a few more moments until I broke it.

-It was good to see you again, now I better go, Bepo must already be looking for me.

-Wait! .... Still friends?

He takes a strand of hair and puts it behind my ear.

- Our friendship is something that no one will ever steal from me.

Those words warmed my heart, being with him in front of me makes me feel even fuller, my heart beats in a tender way like when I came back and saw Kimi.

-Can I accompany you? I was already finishing up shopping anyway.

-If you want, your company is always welcome. - He smiles slightly and starts walking in front of me.

That cloud between us quickly disappears and the friendship between us speaks louder. We talk all the time, both of us talking about our adventures since the Sabaody archipelago. When we arrived at the beach, Bepo was sleeping against a tree and Law made that expressionless expression when looking at something cute.-Hello Bepo, how long has it been.

-Erisssssss! - he comes running towards me and hugs me and I disappear in that white fur.

-Bepo, be careful, you're going to suffocate her. - says Law, getting irritated.

-ahah, don't worry, because you're so cute it's always worth it. - he lets me go and gives us a little privacy.

-Thank you for your company, it's always good to see you again. - says Law with an expression that emanated such a deep calm in me.

-I just wish we had more time, there's still so much I want to talk to you about. But I believe we will meet again.

-Do you know that you can always call or write to me?! Don't become a strange Eriss-ya.

I smile and he smiles back. I see him walking away and looking back a few times until he disappears from my sight.

I stay there on the beach for a while longer, lost in my thoughts. A lot had changed and I was happy, but there was still a part of me that I couldn't express. I arrive at Victoria Punk, I go to pack the bags that Kid and Killer had left in my room and I lose track of time, it is already past dinner time, but no one has come to call me either.

-Why didn't anyone call me? - I say as soon as I enter the kitchen with them having dinner.

Nobody says anything, Killer discreetly points to Kid who is still in his world.

-Okay, silence game. - I was too tired to try to understand what was happening.

I take the plate that Killer gives me and go to sit next to Kid and at that moment he gets up.

-I have things to do, don't bother me. - he says looking down on me and slamming the door on his way out.

-What animal bit him?

-Who knows! - Killer says, changing the conversation.

Kid POV

Eriss should already be here. I knew I should have stayed with her. Better go look for her.

About to reach the passage that led to the city, I felt her presence, but she wasn't alone. As soon as I see Trafalgar, anger starts to take over me. They were talking, both with smiles, distracted, and didn't even notice my presence. I followed them for a while, but something stopped me from continuing, I was feeling too angry. All he wanted at that moment was to run to Eriss and take her away from that Dalmatian.

I came back in a state of anger and jealousy, as much as it was difficult to admit. Seeing Eriss with him brought up the idea of her going back to bed with him, of choosing someone other than me again, of not being what she needs. We're doing so well, why does that thing always have to show up?!

-Kid, dinner is already here. - Killer enters the room without slamming the door.

-KILLLERRRRR, LEARN TO KNOCK ON DOORS! - I order him with a chair but he avoids it and immediately closes the door.

Another who only knows how to be inconvenient and never learns. I'll just get a bottle of sake and drown my sorrows before confronting Eriss.

After listening to a lecture and fighting with Killer for not giving me a bottle, I end up having dinner. Eriss still didn't show up, but I knew she was already in her room and probably got distracted by the hours. I could have gone to her, but I wasn't the one talking to others, she was the one who had to come to me. She walks into the kitchen as if she hadn't done anything, which makes me even more frustrated. I avoid looking at her, even though it's hard to resist those curves and the long, loose hair that falls across her breasts. When she comes to sit next to me, I take the bottle and leave to hide in the room. Why was she acting like this? I trust her, but not him. Seeing them together brought back memories of when I discovered that I confirmed that she had some kind of relationship with him by the hickeys on her body or when she was kissed by another woman and once again the other knew. It hurts her and she just wanted it to stop.

-Kid, can I come in?

-No, I'm busy!

Eriss ignores it and opens the door.

-Listen, what's wrong with you? You completely ignored me during dinner and now you act with contempt!

-I saw you all smile with Trafalgar.

She closes the door behind her and sits on the desk next to me and I move a little further away with the chair.

-Jealous redhead?

-Have you already exchanged me for him?

-Kid, Law, and I will always be friends. We met by chance, that's all. You don't need to be jealous. - he tries to give me grab me but I hit him on the arm.

-But I do, you're just mine. I don't want you to be with him.

-Now you're already stepping on the Eutass Kid line! If it hadn't been for Law teaching me medicine right now you could be dead. And I still have the freedom to do what I want, I'm yours but you don't rule me!

Maybe I crossed the line a little, I shouldn't have said that without thinking first. She takes a deep breath and drinks from the sake bottle she had placed on the desk.

-Ugh, you don't need to be insecure. I know I gave you reasons for this in the past, but I'm here and with you.

-Sorry, being in a relationship is still new for me.-It's not just for you! But you don't see me acting constantly jealous. Do you still remember the proposal from that night? What will it be like if we don't learn to trust each other?

We remained silent for a few moments. She was right and I wasn't able to look at her, now that she had her I thought things would be simple, but everything that involves this woman has a lot of loose strings attached.

-It's my night on watch, I better go. - she takes the bottle and I grab his arm.

-You stay, you need to think about what and how you want to be in a relationship with me.

She lets go of my arm, gives me a soft kiss on the lips, and leaves.

#one piece x reader #one piece x y/n #kid x reader #eutasskid #fanfiction #trafalgar law #law x reader #whipintheheart-chapter13

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