Chapter 34 Divided
The fight changed everything, and we now start behaving like two strangers who are just getting to know themselves. That seems very difficult for me or maybe for himself too.
That night, Carson slept on the couch although I didn’t ask him to, but he didn’t come into the room either. Maybe he needed the space… or maybe I did.
I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, just like I used to before we met.
I managed to have a small sleep and once it was morning, I got up early. I packed a small bag and I was set to leave so as to clear my head for the main time.
Carson, on the other hand, was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee. He looked tired, like he hadn’t slept at all.
“I’m going out for a while,” I said softly.
He looked up, his eyes unreadable.
“Where?” he asked.
“Just somewhere to clear my head,” I replied.
He didn’t stop me. He just nodded.
“Okay.”he said.
I waited a few seconds. I thought maybe he’d say more. Maybe he’d ask me to stay.
But he didn’t.
So I walked out the door.
And I didn’t look back.
I didn’t go far, just to a small hotel on the edge of town. The place was quiet, with a view of a tiny garden.
I sat by the window, hugging my knees and thinking about everything.
Why did we fight just like that?
Why did it hurt so much?
I thought we were past the pain. But maybe we never really were. Maybe we just paused it.
I picked up my phone to call him…but then in a second thought I dropped it again.
(Back at the house – Carson’s side)
Carson sat alone in the study. The silence in the house was heavy, he kept staring at the door, hoping it would open but It didn’t.
He pulled out a piece of paper from the drawer and started writing.
> “Annabel,
I’m not good with words when I’m angry. I say things I don’t mean. But last night… you hurt me too.
I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you. And maybe that’s why it scares me so much.
I don’t want to fight with you, I want to fight for you.
But I don’t know how to fix this.
— Carson.”
He folded the letter and placed it in his drawer.
But he didn’t send it.
(Back in the hotel)
I sat with my phone again and opened the voice recorder.
I pressed “record.”
“My heart feels heavy,” I whispered. “You’re probably sitting there with that cold look on your face. And I’m here… wishing I could hear you say my name again.”
I paused.
“I’m not angry anymore,” I whispered again. “I’m just hurt. Because I wanted you to understand me. But maybe you never will.”
I stopped the recording.
Then I deleted it.
That night, I couldn’t sleep in the hotel and he also couldn’t sleep in the house.
We were both lost in different places, under the same sky, thinking about the same fight.
(The Next Morning – Fred’s Arrival)
At Carson’s house, Fred knocked on the door. Carson opened it slowly.
Fred looked serious.
“We have a problem,” Fred said.
Carson rubbed his face. “What now?”he asked.
“It’s Clark,” Fred said. “And Fiona. They’re moving again.”he added.
Carson’s face changed.
“What do you mean?"Carson asked.
Fred walked in with his laptop.
“They’ve started shifting money again. New accounts. New people. And Laura Price? She just flew into the country last night,”he said.
“They’re planning something,” Carson said again.
Fred nodded. “And I think they’re getting ready for a final move. They’re cleaning their tracks fast,”he said.
Carson walked to the window. He clenched his jaw.
“Get me everything,” he said. “All the files, all the names. If they think we’ve gone quiet, they’re wrong,”he added.
Fred nodded. “And Annabel?” he asked.
Carson didn’t answer. He looked down at his phone expecting a message from me but still no message but no message.
(Back to Me)
I was packing my bag again. I didn’t want to stay away anymore. Even if things weren’t perfect, I wanted to be near him.
I picked up my phone and saw nothing. No call and no text but I didn’t care. I missed him more than I wanted to admit, so I'll go back to him.
I left the hotel, took a cab, and headed back home. If at all we will still keep being strangers, at least I'll still see his face.
My heart was racing the whole way.
\-(Back at the House)
Carson was in the study when I walked in quietly.
He didn’t hear me at first.
I stood at the doorway, watching him as he stared at his laptop, files open everywhere.
“Hey,” I said.
He turned and our eyes met.
He stood up slowly. But neither of us said anything else.
Fred appeared from the hallway. “Annabel,” he said, surprised. “You’re back,”he said again.
I nodded. “Just for a while,"I replied.
Carson opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t.
I sat on the couch quietly.
Fred cleared his throat. “So… about Clark’s new move. It’s big,”he said.
I looked at Carson. He looked at me. We were still broken… but sitting in the same room again.
“We’ll talk about it later,” Carson said, his voice flat.
And I nodded.
Because for now, we had a storm coming but our hearts are still apart.
We might be forced to reconcile, because there is always a battle for one and there is also a battle for two. This battle is for two, so we need to fight it together.
I took my bag upstairs to a different room, while he watched me leave but couldn't say a word.
On the other hand I wish he would say something.
But until then, we are two strangers living under the same room.