The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 39

**TITLE: Terms Were Unspoken by Mark Twain**
**Chapter 39: Xavier Dorian**

Xavier Dorian.

Four days ago, everything changed.

Xavier Dorian had just returned to Rexam from a business trip that felt interminable. The moment he stepped into his office, the receptionist informed him that a woman named Serena Kline had called, asking for him.

Serena. The name echoed in his mind, stirring memories from a time when he, Alice, and Serena were inseparable. They had shared laughter, dreams, and the carefree joys of youth. But that was before life took its course, and he had left Velmon City shortly after Serena’s marriage to Nathaniel Thorne. Two years had passed since then, and in that time, they had drifted apart, lost in the currents of their respective lives.

Curiosity piqued, Xavier attempted to call her back, but frustration washed over him when he realized that the receptionist had transcribed Serena’s number incorrectly, omitting a crucial digit.

Determined, he scrolled through his social messages, his heart racing as he read the news. Serena and Nathaniel were in the midst of a divorce. Her father was imprisoned, and her mother had passed away.

A wave of emotions crashed over him, but the most potent was the deep-seated desire to reach out and support his old friend in her time of need.

Then came a message from Alice, and dread settled in the pit of his stomach as he read her words.

In a whirlwind, he found himself unloading his luggage in the office, but within moments, he was back in his car, racing toward the airport. He needed to get to Velmon City—fast.

Upon arriving at Velmon City Airport, fortune smiled upon him.

As he navigated through the bustling departure hall, something caught his eye. There, beyond the expansive glass wall that separated the public area from the secure boarding zone, he spotted her.

Serena.

She was making her way toward Gate 12, her movements slow and weary, as if the weight of the world rested heavily upon her shoulders.

“Serena!” he called out, his voice straining against the barrier that kept them apart.

But she did not turn, her focus seemingly locked on the ground ahead of her.

Without a second thought, Xavier rushed to the nearest ticket counter, urgency coursing through his veins.

“I need the next available flight out. Anywhere,” he implored the agent, desperation lacing his words.

Minutes later, with a boarding pass clutched tightly in his hand, he navigated through security like any other anxious traveler. At last, he was allowed into the boarding area.

Once at Gate 12, he spotted her again. Serena was in line to board the plane, and without hesitation, he reached out and grasped her wrist.

“Serena,” he panted, breathless from the rush. “Where are you going?”

Her hazel eyes widened in shock at the sight of him, and before he could process the moment, she broke down in tears, enveloping him in a tight embrace. “Xavier,” she cried, her voice trembling.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, gently pulling her away from the throng of passengers. “I’m sorry I took so long.”

“The pregnancy is fine… but barely,” Xavier said, his voice laced with concern. “The doctor said you were on the verge of a miscarriage.”

Serena gasped, the gravity of her emotional turmoil hitting her hard. She realized that her intense reaction to the news about Alice had taken a toll on her body.

“Xavier, we need to lay everything out before we make any drastic changes,” he suggested, his tone firm yet gentle. “I think it will help us move forward.”

“What is it?” she asked faintly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Xavier scrolled through his phone, pulling up the news about Eastwind Air 1061. “Serena, if I hadn’t pulled you away from boarding that flight, you—”

He hesitated, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air.

Serena’s eyes widened in shock, the reality of her near-miss sinking in. How fortunate she was to have escaped such a tragedy.

“But there’s more,” Xavier continued, his expression grave. He showed her another article, the headline striking like a lightning bolt: [Authorities Assume Alice Hartley to Be Deceased After Eight Days of Search.]

“Oh, God.” Serena covered her face, tears spilling over as the ache in her chest returned with a vengeance.

“The news reports say the authorities have downgraded their search operations,” Xavier explained. “Most of the teams have been redirected to search for the Eastwind Air passengers. As of now, they haven’t located the rest of the aircraft or its passengers. Serena… your name is on the list. No one knew you didn’t board that flight.”

The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the bonds that tethered them together.