Chapter 193 Cracks

Chapter 193 Cracks
Chapter 193: Cracks 

Alex stood by the kitchen counter, absently stirring a cup of coffee that had long gone cold.

It was early evening, the sky held onto the last streaks of sunlight before slipping into darkness.

She had been home for over an hour, but she had not moved much. Her thoughts were scattered, unsettled, circling around things she could not quite name.

The front door opened.

Alex did not turn immediately, but she heard the familiar sound of Varney’s footsteps as he walked in, keys dropping onto the console table by the entrance.

“You’re home,” he said casually, his voice carrying into the kitchen.

Alex took a slow sip of her coffee before responding. “Obviously. This is when I usually come back home.”

There was a pause.

Varney walked in, loosening his tie slightly, his sleeves rolled halfway up his arms. He looked tired and distracted.

He leaned against the kitchen island, studying her for a moment.

“How’s Golden?” he asked. 

Alex let out a small, humorless laugh.

She set the cup down and finally turned to face him.

“Did you even ask how I am?” she replied.

The question hung in the air.

Varney blinked, caught off guard.

“I…” he started, then stopped. “Alex, I didn’t mean—”

“No, you didn’t mean anything,” she cut in, her tone calm but firm. “That’s the problem.”

Varney straightened slightly. “Come on, don’t start this.”

“I’m not starting anything,” Alex said, folding her arms across her chest. “I’m just pointing out what’s already there.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Okay. I’m sorry. How are you?”

Alex held his gaze for a second, then shook her head.

“I’m fine,” she said, though her expression suggested otherwise.

There was another brief silence.

Then she stepped closer, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“Why did you move the wedding date?”

Varney’s posture stiffened almost immediately.

“What?” he asked, though he had heard her clearly.

“The wedding,” Alex repeated. “Why did you postpone it?”

Varney looked away, suddenly interested in something on the counter.

“It’s not a big deal,” he said. “Just some adjustments. Work has been hectic. I figured we should…”

“Stop,” Alex interrupted.

Her voice was sharper now.

“Don’t give me that,” she said. “You didn’t even discuss it with me properly. You just… moved it.”

Varney exhaled slowly. “I told you, it’s just timing. We need more time to…”

“To what?” Alex pressed. “To think? To reconsider? To decide if you actually want this?”

Varney’s jaw tightened. “That’s not what I said.”

“But that’s what it feels like,” she shot back.

He opened his mouth, but no words came out immediately.

Alex watched him, her expression unreadable now.

“Varney,” she said quietly, “if there’s something you’re not saying, just say it.”

He hesitated.

For a split second, something flickered across his face. Doubt. Uncertainty. Fear.

Then it was gone.

“You’re overthinking it,” he said finally.

Alex stared at him for a long moment.

Then she nodded slowly, though there was no agreement in the gesture.

“Right,” she murmured.

She turned and walked toward the door.

“Alex,” Varney called after her.

But she didn’t stop.

She grabbed her bag and walked out without looking back, leaving the door to close softly behind her.

Varney remained where he stood, staring at the empty space she had left behind.



The gas station was busy.

Cars lined up at the pumps, engines humming. 

Linda Miller stepped out of her car, adjusting her jacket as she walked toward the pump. 

At the next pump, Fabulous Lawerence was already there.

He glanced up briefly as a car pulled in beside him, his eyes landing on Linda for half a second.

Fabulous inserted the nozzle into his tank, Linda mirrored the same action at her own pump.

Cars came and went. The distant sound of a radio played from somewhere nearby. The world moved around them, but between the two of them, there was nothing.

When his tank was full, Fabulous removed the nozzle and returned it to its holder. He walked back to his car without another glance.

Linda finished shortly after.

She got into her car, started the engine, and drove off.

Neither of them looked back.



Golden turned into the driveway slowly, her grip on the steering wheel tightening slightly as the gates opened.

As she drove in, her headlights briefly caught a figure walking out of the front entrance.

Golden slowed the car instinctively.

A woman stepped into view.

She was dressed in a mini skirt and a crop top, her heels clicking against the pavement as she walked with casual confidence. Her hair fell perfectly around her shoulders, her lips curved into a knowing smile.

Golden’s brows pulled together. For a second, Golden simply stared.

Hannah looked up at the same moment, their eyes meeting across the distance.

Then, as if they were old friends, Hannah lifted her hand and waved.

A bright, almost mocking smile spread across her face.

Golden did not wave back.

She watched as Hannah turned and walked toward the neighboring house. 

Golden’s jaw tightened.

She parked the car, turned off the engine, and stepped out.

The air felt cooler than usual, brushing against her skin as she walked toward the entrance.

Her mind was already racing.

By the time she got upstairs, her expression had hardened.

She pushed the bedroom door open.

Xander was inside, loosening his tie, his back partially turned to her.

Golden didn’t bother with greetings.

“Who is that girl?” she asked immediately.

Xander glanced over his shoulder. “What girl?”

“The one that just left here,” Golden said, dropping her bag onto the chair. “Dressed like a harlot.”

Xander turned fully now, his expression calm.

“That’s Hannah,” he said. “My high school ex.”

Golden let out a short, incredulous laugh.

“And she just casually walks out of our house dressed like that?”

“She lives next door,” Xander replied, as if that explained everything.

Golden stared at him.

“Wait,” she said slowly. “Isn’t she the same one who suddenly became your neighbor in Northbridge?”

Xander’s gaze sharpened slightly.

“Yes,” he said.

Golden’s eyes widened slightly.

“So she just… follows you around?” she asked, disbelief creeping into her voice. “From Northbridge to here?”

Xander tilted his head slightly.

“Interesting,” he said.

Golden frowned. “What does that mean?”

He took a step closer, his expression unreadable now.

“Didn’t you travel all the way to London,” he said, his voice calm but pointed, “to see your own ex?”

Golden’s breath caught slightly.

“That’s not…”

“And now he’s here too,” Xander continued, nodding once. “So I guess people just… follow each other around the globe.”

The words landed heavier than they sounded.

Golden’s lips parted, but no immediate response came.

Xander held her gaze for a second longer.

Then he turned away.

He picked up his jacket from the chair and walked toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Golden asked.

He paused briefly, but didn’t turn.

“Out,” he said simply.

And then he walked out, leaving the door to close behind him.

Golden stood in the middle of the room, her chest rising and falling slowly as the silence settled around her again.