Chapter 13 Welcome Home
~Walter
It was just 6:00 a.m., and my head was pounding with a headache.
I heaved a sigh, forcing myself to get a hold of things as I got out of bed.
My entire body ached, and my fingers were sore.
It was probably from all the running yesterday—and the fight I had with Harrington.
I hated that it had come to that. Hated that I had to hit my own friend because of a woman. But sharing Haven with another man was something that had suddenly become impossible.
The thought of someone else laying their hands on her made my stomach twist.
I picked up my phone, rubbing my eyes, but there were still no texts from Haven.
She hadn’t called back, and she hadn’t responded to any of my voicemails.
I called again, but the line only rang.
She still didn’t answer.
Fuck.
I never thought it would come to this… that I would need Haven this much. But here I was. It felt like I couldn’t breathe, like I was suffocating just because she was ignoring me.
No matter how hard I tried to push it away, my heart still ached when I remembered the look in her eyes—the way she looked at me at the club.
Like the very last piece of hope she had in me was gone.
I shouldn’t have been with that bitch.
I placed my phone on the bed before heading into the restroom to clean up.
I barely spent any time there, afraid Haven might call and I wouldn’t be there to answer.
I returned to the room with a towel hanging loosely around my waist, but still… nothing.
No calls. No texts.
Fine then.
I was never a good boy anyway.
I didn’t want it to be this way, but Haven pushed me.
And since she didn’t want to come to me willingly, we’d have to do it the other way.
I knew Mr. Sutherland—better than he thought he knew himself. He loved being in control, yet at the same time, he was easy to manipulate.
And if there was one thing he hated, it was not being able to get his hands on something. And Haven? She had been slipping through everyone’s fingers.
Mine included. And I couldn’t let that happen.
So… I decided to use him against himself.
.. . …..
The Sutherland house was quiet when I arrived, the kind of quiet that carried authority. I was escorted into the study, where Mr. Sutherland sat behind his desk, reading glasses sat on his nose. He looked up, surprise flickering briefly before settling into guarded interest.
“Walter,” he said. “This is unexpected. You didn't tell anyone you'd be coming. Is everything okay?” he asked.
“I apologize for dropping by unannounced,” I replied smoothly. “But I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important. It’s about Haven.”
That did it. His attention sharpened immediately. I saw it in the way his shoulders stiffened.
His eyes widened. He cleared his throat before leaning in to listen.
“What about her? What did she do this time? She didn't do anything stupid, did she? Or …. Did she try to seduce you like she did last time? She hasn't been talking around, has she?”
I sighed, lowering myself into the chair across from him, careful to look concerned. Tired. Responsible. “I’m worried,” I said. “She’s been acting recklessly. Disappearing. Putting herself in situations that could… spiral.”
He frowned. “What situations are you talking about?”
I hesitated, just enough to sell it. “Clubs. Drinking. Being seen with people who don’t have anything to offer but stain the family name. I wouldn’t bring this to you if I didn’t think it was serious. I know Haven. She's reckless. We all do not want that and plus my family is involved now…..I don't want trouble. How do you think my father would react seeing bad news about you, about my marriage with Hannah all because of Haven.”
Silence stretched between us. I let it.
He sighed. “And Hannah? How is she? She isn't worried about this either, is she? Haven is nothing but trouble. I don't want her bothering her sister,” he said finally.
I nodded. “That’s part of why I’m here. With Hannah sick, emotions are already high. The last thing we need is Haven causing trouble out of sight. People talk. You know how quickly rumors spread.”
His lips thinned.
“I think,” I continued gently, “it would be best if Haven stayed with me for a while. Somewhere safe. Somewhere controlled. Where I can keep an eye on her and keep her in place.”
Keep her in place.
Such useful words.
They were perfect.
Mr. Sutherland leaned back, steepling his fingers. I could see the conflict in his eyes. He didn’t fully trust me—but he trusted chaos less. And Haven had always been chaos to him.
“She’s stubborn,” he muttered.
“I know,” I said softly. “But she listens to me. At least more than she listens to anyone else right now.”
That wasn’t entirely a lie.
And of course, it was a perfect card to play. Everyone knows how calm Haven becomes whenever I'm in the picture.
After a long moment, he nodded. “Fine. But this is temporary.”
“Of course,” I agreed immediately.
Temporary was a flexible concept.
When I left the house, my phone buzzed in my hand. Still nothing from Haven. No missed calls. No messages. The silence felt deliberate now, defiant.
I smiled.
She wouldn’t ignore me for long. Not once she realized she didn’t have a choice.
………
By evening, the house was prepared. The guest room cleaned. The staff informed. I moved through the halls with practiced ease, anticipation coiling tight in my chest. I told myself it was concern. That everything I was doing was for her own good.
And maybe part of me even believed it.
The front door opened just after sunset. I stood in the living room, hands in my pockets, heart steady. I heard her steps before I saw her—hesitant, familiar.
Haven stepped inside.
She looked tired. Guarded. Beautiful in that way she always was when she thought she was done with me. Her eyes lifted, met mine, and something flickered there—anger, confusion, fear.
All the things I needed.
I smiled slowly, deliberately.
“Welcome home,” I said.