Chapter 196
In Chapter 196 of “Dreams Folding Into Broken Time,” Savannah finds herself in an emotionally charged situation as she rides in Dean’s car. The silence between them is heavy and uncomfortable, starkly contrasting with the warm, peaceful silences she once shared with Roman. This oppressive atmosphere is compounded by memories of Dean’s scent, which stirs feelings of nostalgia and pain, reminding her of their tumultuous past. Savannah feels trapped, both physically in the car and emotionally due to the presence of the man who once shattered her heart.
As Dean awkwardly attempts to engage Savannah in conversation, her bitterness and resentment towards him surface. His casual inquiries about her life, including a question about her wedding, ignite her anger. Savannah’s sharp retorts reveal her disdain for Dean’s attempts to act as if everything is normal between them. The tension escalates as she confronts him about his past actions, particularly his betrayal involving her sister, Chloe. This confrontation is laced with sarcasm, serving as Savannah’s defense mechanism against the pain of their shared history.
Dean’s attempts to justify his actions only deepen Savannah’s anger. He tries to portray himself as a victim of Chloe’s manipulations, but Savannah is unyielding in her refusal to forgive him. Their dialogue is a battle of emotions, with Savannah wielding sarcasm as a weapon while Dean struggles to express his remorse. The chapter highlights the complexity of their relationship, marked by betrayal, unresolved feelings, and a lingering sense of hurt.
As the chapter progresses, Dean’s admission of caring for Savannah complicates the emotional landscape. His sincerity clashes with her feelings of betrayal, leaving her in a state of turmoil. The silence that envelops them once again feels suffocating, indicating that their unresolved issues and the weight of their shared past continue to loom large. This chapter effectively captures the raw emotions of anger, regret, and the struggle for closure between two former lovers who are still grappling with the consequences of their choices.
**TITLE: Dreams Folding Into Broken Time p>
**Chapter 196 p>
**Chapter 118: 1 Beg Your Pardon p>
Savannah
Silence has a peculiar weight to it, one that is almost tangible.
It was only when I found myself nestled in the passenger seat of Dean’s car that I truly grasped its heaviness. The leather felt unforgivingly cold against the back of my thighs, and the soft, persistent hum of the engine filled the void between us—a void shaped by a conversation neither of us dared to initiate.
This was no ordinary silence. It was a stark contrast to the tranquil moments I had shared with Roman, where silence wrapped around us like a warm blanket, a comfortable cocoon that made us feel connected even without words. No, this silence was jagged and abrasive, like chewing on shards of glass, each moment stretching out painfully.
Dean’s familiar scent wafted through the air, a blend of his signature cologne and the sharp, minty aroma of peppermint gum. It was the same gum he had always chewed to mask the lingering taste of cigarettes, back in the days when we were together. I wondered if he had finally kicked the habit, as I couldn’t recall seeing him smoke during my time in New Hope. Yet, a nagging thought crept in—perhaps he had succumbed to the stress of everything that had recently unfolded in his life. My stomach twisted at the familiarity of it all, a visceral reminder of a time when I found comfort in his scent.
How utterly pathetic.
I shifted in my seat, pressing myself closer to the window as if it could somehow provide an escape. My arms folded tightly across my chest, I tried to angle my body just right, willing myself to vanish from this steel coffin. I was trapped with the one man who had shattered my heart into countless pieces and now had the audacity to drive me home as if we were nothing more than old friends casually catching up.
He cleared his throat, a sound that felt too loud and far too rehearsed. “So… how have you been p>
A laugh almost escaped my lips, a bitter and hollow sound. Almost. Instead, I rolled my eyes so dramatically I thought I might strain a muscle. Fantastic. Not only did I have to endure his driving, but now he wanted to engage in small talk as if we were nothing more than coworkers bumping into each other in the grocery aisle.
“Good,” I replied, my voice flat and devoid of emotion. I didn’t bother turning to face him; let him gaze at the side of my face. That was all he deserved.
Dean’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles turning white as the tendons in his hands flexed. “Umm, any date for the wedding p>
What the actual hell?
I whipped my head around to face him, anger igniting within me like dry kindling catching fire. “Excuse me p>
Though he kept his gaze fixed on the road ahead, I could see a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth—a smirk that had once charmed me and now made me want to claw it off his face. “Your fiancé just threatened to end my life if I so much as breathe wrong around you. I’m surprised he’s not whisking you away to the altar already p>
“Oh, yeah…” My laugh was sharp, devoid of humor, laced with sarcasm. “Like how you whisked my sister away?” I tapped my forehead lightly, mocking him. “Sorry, I tend to forget that was fake. The only real thing was you sneakily recording us having sex p>
The impact of my words landed squarely. His mouth tightened, but instead of snapping back, he exhaled through his nose, almost as if he were sighing. “I’m sorry, Savannah. I never meant to hurt you. Chloe just p>
“Just drop it,” I interjected, cutting him off. “I don’t care p>
He nodded once, but I could see the tension in his knuckles as they tightened around the wheel. The silence returned, thicker now, almost suffocating, but I knew he wouldn’t be able to hold it for long. Dean had never been one to tolerate silence; he always felt the need to fill it, to explain himself, to twist the narrative until he emerged as the victim.
“Are you two always this… showy p>
I furrowed my brow, confusion and irritation swirling within me. “I beg your pardon p>
“I just meant—you both seemed quite… passionate back there. Your fiancé is very… intense p>
I leaned back against the seat and let out a laugh, one that was dripping with sarcasm. “Lucky me,” I drawled. “I was compensated with an affectionate fiancé for having a boyfriend who broke up with me on my birthday through a text message—only for him to marry my sister and then reveal it was all fake. I guess someone up there really had my back p>
Sarcasm had always been my weapon of choice, and right now, I wielded it like a finely honed blade.
Dean’s jaw tightened, a muscle ticking in response. “Sav… you’re never gonna forgive me for that, are you p>
“You guessed right. Never. Just like how you recorded me and then blackmailed my fiancé with it, you creep p>
“I regret doing that, Sav.” He took a deep breath, as if preparing to launch into a speech. “But I’m just as much a victim in Chloe’s scheme as you are. She tricked me. She and your father—they blackmailed me, threatened me. You know how Chloe’s always been. She’s always been your father’s darling girl. So of course he gave her whatever she wanted. And that was me p>
“Please.” My lip curled in disdain. “You admitted yourself that you always had eyes for Chloe. Did you lie p>
Silence enveloped us again. He gripped the wheel tighter, the veins in his hands standing out starkly against his skin. “Believe it or not, I do care for you, Sav. I always have p>
As the car rolled silently through the familiar streets, the weight of unspoken words hung heavily in the air, binding Savannah and Dean in a shared history that was both painful and unresolved. The tension between them crackled like static electricity, each moment stretching out as they grappled with their past, the betrayals that had once felt insurmountable. Savannah’s heart, once shattered by Dean’s actions, now pulsed with a mix of anger and an unexpected flicker of longing for the connection they once shared. Yet, as she caught glimpses of the man he had become, she realized that the warmth of their past was overshadowed by the jagged edges of betrayal, leaving her to question if forgiveness was even a possibility.
In that car, a fragile truce hung in the balance, the silence a testament to their complicated emotions. Savannah’s sarcasm served as a shield, protecting her from the vulnerability that threatened to surface. But beneath the surface, a flicker of hope ignited—a hope that perhaps healing was not just a far-off dream but a tangible possibility. As they navigated the broken road of their shared history, the journey ahead remained uncertain, but Savannah understood one thing: she was no longer the girl who would allow herself to be defined by someone else’s choices. With each passing moment, she felt the weight of her past begin to lift, making way for the promise of a future that was truly her own.
In the next chapter of *Dreams Folding Into Broken Time*, readers can expect the tension between Savannah and Dean to reach a boiling point. With their car ride serving as a pressure cooker for unresolved feelings and past betrayals, Savannah’s sharp wit and biting sarcasm will be tested against Dean’s attempts at sincerity. As they navigate the treacherous waters of their shared history, the stakes will be raised, forcing Savannah to confront not just her feelings for Dean but also the shadows of her past that loom over her present. The weight of their silence may give way to explosive revelations that could change everything.
Furthermore, the chapter promises to delve deeper into Savannah’s relationship with her fiancé and the complexities that arise from her tumultuous history with Dean. As Dean’s confessions hint at deeper layers of manipulation and deceit involving Chloe and Savannah’s father, readers will be left questioning the true nature of loyalty and betrayal. Will Savannah find the strength to forgive, or will the ghosts of her past continue to haunt her? As the narrative unfolds, the emotional stakes will become increasingly high, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, eager to discover how Savannah will choose to confront the tangled web of love and betrayal that surrounds her.
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.