Fallen 19

Fallen 19 Summary

Alaric Ashford enters the room with a calm, confident demeanor that unsettles Meadow and Nova. His presence commands attention, and his controlled smirk hints at a deeper intensity than the internet photos suggested. Nova is taken aback by Alaric’s aura, while Meadow struggles to interpret his emotions, especially when he fixes his gaze on her. Alaric acknowledges Nova politely, showing a surprising level of civility, but his tension with Meadow is palpable.

 

After Nova leaves to get coffee, the atmosphere between Meadow and Alaric becomes heavy with unspoken conflict. Alaric reassures Meadow that she is safe and promises that those who harmed her won’t touch her again. Meadow is both comforted and confused by his words, especially when she realizes Alaric knew where she was because he monitors his employees closely. The tension escalates when Meadow discovers that Alaric promoted Tyler, the person she wants revenge against, contradicting his earlier promise to help her ruin him.

 

Meadow confronts Alaric about the promotion, feeling betrayed and frustrated. Alaric remains calm and challenges her to admit whether she truly wants revenge. He explains that revenge is a slow, deliberate process and offers to take it down piece by piece if she trusts him. Despite her doubts, Meadow feels a complicated mix of emotions, including a desire to trust him and confusion about his intentions.

 

Before leaving for the office, Alaric reveals troubling news about Meadow’s twin sister, Juniper. He admits to having Juniper evaluated with a psychological test designed for her to fail, resulting in her being admitted for treatment. This revelation shocks Meadow and leaves her fearful and uncertain about what Alaric has done to her sister. Alaric departs without further explanation, leaving Meadow to grapple with the weight of his actions and the mystery surrounding Juniper’s fate.

CHAPTER 0019

Meadow’s Perspective

The doors slid open smoothly, and in stepped Alaric Ashford, moving with an effortless confidence that made my heart stutter. He was dressed in a sleek black suit, so impeccably tailored it could have made anyone’s breath catch—if only my own breath wasn’t so painfully dry.

There was an eerie calmness about him, a controlled stillness that sent chills down my spine. And the smirk tugging at the corner of his lips wasn’t casual—it was deliberate, sharp, and unsettlingly precise.

Nova, who had been gearing up to launch into another tirade, suddenly froze in place, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“Holy shit,” she whispered under her breath, barely audible. “Those damn internet photos didn’t even come close to showing how intense he is.”

I remained silent, my mind too tangled trying to decipher the expression in Alaric’s eyes. He wasn’t smiling—he never did—but there was something there, something that wasn’t quite inscrutable. When his gaze locked onto mine, my stomach twisted painfully.

“Hello, Nova,” he greeted her with a nod, his voice calm but carrying an edge.

Nova blinked, clearly caught off guard, her fascination obvious. “Uh… hi.”

“I appreciate you being here with her,” he said politely, extending his hand toward Nova.

Without hesitation, Nova shook his hand. I found myself watching the gesture closely, wondering what it must feel like for Alaric to touch someone without any emotional response. That detachment had to be maddening.

“And thank you for calling me,” Nova replied sincerely.

I hadn’t mentioned that part about Alaric to Nova—not because I wanted to keep secrets, but because it wasn’t my story to tell.

Alaric’s eyes flicked back to me, his jaw tightening in a way that made it clear he was furious—probably at me.

A heavy silence settled between us. Nova glanced back and forth, sensing the tension but clearly unsure how to break it.

“O…kay,” she finally said, drawing the word out awkwardly. “I’m gonna… get some coffee. Meadow, you want anything?” She looked at me expectantly.

I shook my head, unable to trust my voice.

Nova shot Alaric one last curious look before slipping out through the same doors he had just entered.

And then, it was just the two of us.

The silence thickened, pressing down on the room like a weight.

—

Alaric didn’t move closer right away. He stood with his hands buried deep in his pockets, studying me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.

“I—” I began, but my voice cracked, betraying my nerves.

“Don’t,” he interrupted firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I flinched slightly, and he took a step forward, narrowing his eyes. “They won’t touch you again,” he muttered, voice low and steady. “You’re safe now.”

That… was unexpected.

I hadn’t known Alaric for very long, but I already understood how much he craved control. His very presence demanded it. Leaving the house without telling him must have thrown something off in his carefully ordered world.

Swallowing hard, I asked the question that had been gnawing at me since I woke up. “How did you know where I was?”

He took a few more steps until he stood right beside the bed—close enough to touch, yet somehow still distant.

Was it strange that I wanted him to reach out? To hold me, to reassure me that everything would be okay? That what had happened wasn’t the worst thing in the world? That despite my twin sister nearly beating me senseless, I wasn’t weak?

“I told you, Meadow,” Alaric said, tilting his head slightly. “I make it a point to know everything about my employees. It wasn’t hard to figure out when I saw your phone on the bed and realized you were on a call with him.”

‘It wasn’t Tyler,’ I wanted to say. But then a realization hit me—something that should have clicked earlier when I was at Tyler’s apartment.

“Tyler got a big promotion at work today,” Juniper had told me excitedly. “Isn’t that amazing?”

Tyler worked for Alaric’s company. And if anyone was responsible for handing out promotions, it would be—

“You promoted him?” My voice barely rose above a whisper, thick with disbelief. “Tyler… you gave him a promotion?”

I couldn’t wrap my head around it.

Alaric said nothing, simply observing me with a steady gaze. His silence only fueled my frustration.

I sat up straighter, my heart hammering in my chest. “You said you wanted revenge for me,” I snapped. “You promised to help me ruin him. And then you go ahead and—”

“Meadow.”

“—give him a higher position?” I cut him off, incredulous. “Are you insane?”

He smirked, unfazed. “If anyone should be asking that question, it’s me. Right?”

I scoffed, but Alaric paid no mind. “Besides, you haven’t even told me you want revenge.”

His fingers reached for a strand of my hair, twirling it gently. “All I’ve done is talk, and all you’ve done is listen. You said you didn’t care about revenge, didn’t you?”

My jaw twitched involuntarily, and I looked away.

Did I want revenge? Maybe that part of me was buried deep beneath logic and reason. But right now, the fire inside me was burning hotter than ever.

I stayed silent. Alaric sat down beside me on the bed, close enough to feel the heat radiating from his body.

Then, he reached out and gently turned my chin so I was facing him. A shiver traced down my spine as I caught the flicker of worry in his eyes.

“I never said revenge would be quick, Meadow,” he said softly.

“You made it sound like you’d take him down fast,” I murmured.

He held my gaze without wavering. “That would ruin the entire point of revenge, wouldn’t it?” His hand slid to my neck, warm and steady. “I’ll take him down piece by piece—if you let me.”

I hated how calm he was, how utterly in control. It made me feel irrational, like I was missing some obvious truth.

“I want to trust you,” I whispered, shaking my head slightly.

“That’s the smartest choice you could make, Meadow. That’s all I’m asking.” He exhaled a warm breath, scented faintly with mint, that brushed my cheek. “I’ll take care of you better than anyone ever has. Last night was a mistake on my part, and I’m going to regret not doing more for a long, long time.”

I couldn’t find the words to respond. My mind was spinning too fast.

Alaric stood up. “I have to get to the office. I’d take you home now, but something tells me you and your friend have a lot to catch up on.”

“Thank you… for contacting her,” I said quietly, meaning every word.

Alaric’s mouth twitched briefly. “West will stay here until you’re ready to leave.”

“Wait,” I said suddenly, a thought striking me. “What happened to Juniper? I saw your bodyguard… hit her.”

Alaric smirked. “Your sister won’t be a problem anymore. At least, not for a little while,” he added when I frowned.

My stomach churned. “What do you mean by that?”

What had he done to her?

There was a dangerous glint in Alaric’s eyes that made my curiosity spiral out of control.

“I had her evaluated,” he finally said, voice cold and precise. “Had the test designed for her to fail.”

A shiver ran down my spine.

“What test?” I asked, dread tightening in my chest.

Alaric’s smile was sharp and calculated. “A psychological one. She’s been admitted for treatment… for now.”

Oh my god.

Without another word, Alaric turned and walked out the door, never once looking back.

I sat there, wide-eyed, staring after him.

What the hell had he done to Juniper?