Divorced Dazzling and Desired novel Chapter 10

**Raindrops Kissing Silent Streets – by Aadi Sharma**
**Chapter 10**

Renee rummaged through her bag, fingers brushing against the various items until they landed on a delicate folding fan. As she unfolded it, a glimmer of something caught her eye—a large white candy, meticulously wrapped in shiny paper, nestled among her belongings.

With a playful grin, she unwrapped the candy and extended it toward Jasper. “Here, take a piece of candy. Sugar can work wonders for anxiety and stress, you know?”

Jasper, still grappling with his breath, lifted his eyelids just enough to meet her gaze. His eyes, sharp and piercing, flicked over her face before settling on the candy she offered.

“Are you… trying to suffocate me?” he managed to croak out, his voice barely above a whisper.

Renee paused, her mind racing. He had a valid point. What if she popped the candy into his mouth and it lodged in his throat? The very thought sent a chill down her spine.

With a swift decision, she popped the candy into her own mouth instead.

“See? Your mind’s clear, so you must be okay,” she said, chewing slowly while fanning him with the delicate fabric. “Just breathe. It’s alright, don’t be nervous. I… I’ll tell you a story to take your mind off things.”

Despite the claustrophobic confines of the elevator and her own rising anxiety, she couldn’t ignore the distressed man beside her. How could she focus on her own fears when he seemed so close to breaking down?

With no other choice, she began to weave a tale, hoping to distract him from his panic.

“Once upon a time, there was a little girl who adored her red hood, and so everyone called her Little Red Riding Hood. One day, her mother asked her to take a basket of cake and wine to her ailing grandmother, who lived on the other side of a vast forest. Little Red Riding Hood…”

Renee dug deep into her childhood memories, trying to recall stories that would sound engaging and lively.

“You’re… so noisy!” Jasper interjected, his strained frown evident, as if the effort of speaking was almost too much for him.

Instantly, Renee fell silent, her heart sinking.

He was impossible to please!

Resigned, she obediently fanned him in silence, feeling the intensity of his grip on her hand—a grip that was almost painful, yet she didn’t dare pull away. Fear gripped her heart as she worried he might collapse at any moment. She opened her phone several times, desperate to call for help, but the signal was dead.

The elevator was an eerie tomb, the only sound the harsh rhythm of his labored breathing.

She noticed that every time she ceased her chatter, his grip tightened, and he seemed to worsen.

So, she kept talking, her voice a soothing balm against the tension in the air.

“Help is almost here. Just hang in there a little longer.”

“Would you like to hear a joke? I can tell you a joke. By the way, what’s your name?”

Her incessant babble buzzed in his ears like a persistent fly.

Jasper was drenched in perspiration, looking utterly drained as he leaned against the elevator wall. His gray shirt clung to him, and damp strands of hair clung to his forehead, making him appear both disheveled and vulnerable.

He blinked slowly, the world around him blurring as he opened his eyes a fraction wider.

Through the haze, he saw Renee, her fan fluttering gently, her lips moving as she spoke softly, never pausing.

Time dragged on, and after what felt like an eternity, voices finally broke through the silence from outside the elevator.

Rescue had arrived.

Moments later, the elevator doors slid open with a creak, and a rush of fresh air poured in, reminiscent of the crisp morning mist that dances along winding country paths—invigorating and full of promise.

Outside, Jasper’s driver, Simon Carter, stood anxiously, his brow furrowed with concern. He had been waiting outside the building for over an hour, unable to reach his boss by phone or catch a glimpse of him anywhere.

When news of the elevator malfunction reached him, he immediately feared the worst and contacted property management.

Upon seeing Jasper’s pale face, worry etched itself deeper into Simon’s features. “Sir, I’m taking you to the hospital,” he declared firmly.

Jasper leaned heavily against Simon’s shoulder, utterly spent, and as they began to leave, he turned his head, casting a long, meaningful glance back at Renee, his bloodshot eyes conveying a myriad of unspoken words.

Yet, in the end, he remained silent.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify