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InactiveJun 27, 26
When Love Comes Late

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When Love Comes Late

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Feeling betrayed by his impulsive marriage, he wanted a divorce from his wife, unaware that she was the very same talented new employee he admired! ============ ========== Chapter 1 Unknown Husband At Seamarsh Airport, Stella Anderson stood restlessly at the waiting area with a large suitcase at her feet. She glanced at her watch again. It had been thirty minutes since she got off the plane. And yet, her husband whom she had gotten married to a year ago was nowhere in sight. Furrowing her brow, she fanned herself with her fingers and already had a bad impression of someone she had never met. This was supposed to be their first meeting. How could he be so late? As she watched people come and go, she couldn't help but recall her hasty marriage. It had happened a year ago after her grandfather came down with a serious illness. Stella, who was abroad at the time, rushed home to see him. It was then he made it known that he hoped to see her get married soon. She wanted to say no. But when she remembered how her grandfather adopted her from an orphanage and raised her into the adult she had become, she didn't have the heart to disappoint him. And so, she got married to the man her grandfather picked for her; a man she had never met. The groom wasn't present on their wedding day. Someone else stepped in to handle the registration of the marriage. She didn't know her husband at all. All she knew was his name and that he was a businessman. To this day, Stella wasn't sure if her compromise was the right choice. Her so-called husband wasn't particularly giving her something to like about him. She glanced at her watch for like the hundredth time. An additional ten minutes had passed. She sighed exasperatedly. Just as she took out her phone to call her grandfather, a screeching sound pierced the air and almost burst her eardrums. A silver Aston Martin came to a screeching halt in front of her. The driver's seat window rolled down. Stella took a step back. Once she saw a familiar face, she blurted out, "Why are you here?" Behind the wheel was the last person she expected to see now—her cousin, Oliver Palmer. "Ouch! You really hurt me!" Oliver clutched his chest as though he was really hurt. After getting out of the car, he pouted. "Your return is so important. We haven't seen each other for a long time. As your cousin, I couldn't resist the urge to come pick you up. But you are so mean to me. It's not fair!" Stella wasn't surprised or deceived by his poor acting. She rolled her eyes, refusing to speak. "Hop in, Stella. You must be tired and hungry. I'll treat you to lunch." After grabbing her suitcase with one hand, Oliver placed his other hand on her shoulder and shoved her to the car. "Wait! I can't go with you." Stella stopped him. "Why?" Oliver stopped. He scoffed when something occurred to him a moment later. "Is it because of your husband? You still want to wait for him?" Stella didn't utter a word, but her look said it all. Oliver snorted. "Don't wait for him anymore. Need I remind you that he has never contacted you since you guys got married? Doesn't that tell you enough?" Stella was lost for words. "If he wanted to come pick you up, he would have shown up before I did. How can you trust a man that has ignored your existence for one year?" Oliver added in a more sarcastic tone. After it sank in, Stella retorted defensively, "But Grandpa said Maverick will come to pick me up." She thought her husband would keep his word since he promised her grandfather. Oliver held the bridge of his nose and sighed helplessly. "Even if you still want to wait for him, you don't have to stand in the sun. Get into the car. It's hot outside." While the two of them were arguing, a tall figure appeared in the crowd and was heading for them. Matthew Clark was talking on the phone. "I'm already at the airport. Take your medicine now." A soft female voice came from the other end of the line. "Remember, Ella is wearing a red dress today. She has long curly hair. Also, her suitcase is black..." "I have already seen her, Grandma. Now, can you stop worrying?" Matthew's eyes were fixed on the duo meters away. He frowned. There was a woman who fitted the description his grandmother gave, down to the color of her suitcase. But she just got into a man's car while he held the door for her. Matthew's tone suddenly turned cold. "Got to go, Grandma. I'll talk to you later." His face darkened. At the same time, an icy glint leaped into his deep-set eyes. He put away his phone, turned around, and left. Back in his car, Matthew's grip on the steering wheel grew tighter as he watched the two people in the sports car. The man handed the woman a bottle of water. As she drank from it, he smoothened her hair dotingly. Although Matthew couldn't see her face, that didn't matter to him anymore. He was boiling on the inside. Suddenly, he laughed at himself. Why did he even find this surprising? He should have known this a long time ago. His so-called wife had been away from the city for a whole year after their marriage. They had never met or gotten to know each other over the phone. It was understandable for her to get herself a boyfriend. Matthew set his lips into a grim line. He took out his phone and typed a message. As soon as he hit send, he started his car and zoomed off at a high speed. ———— Later that afternoon, Stella got dressed in a simple and elegant light-colored business suit and went to Prosperity Group. It was one of the leading companies in Seamarsh City. The employees were, in one way or the other, elites in the city. Stella walked into the magnificent building that housed the headquarters of the group. With her excellent resume, she had gotten a job as the senior private PR professional to the CEO, Matthew. The director of the public relations department, Luna James, led Stella to meet Matthew. Unbeknown to Stella, the man she was going to be working for was actually her husband, Maverick. Matthew had zero trust in people. He used his real name when his marriage was being signed. Only those closest to him knew his real name—Maverick Clark. Chapter 2 Her New Job Stella and Luna took the elevator to the top floor. On the way, Luna was very enthusiastic. She kept telling Stella about the company. "The CEO's office takes up the entire top floor. It's out of bounds for most of the employees. Only those who report directly to him or have something extremely important can go there." Stella listened quietly. She wanted to learn all she could about her new boss, so she appreciated this new lecture. Luna suddenly paused. Then, she turned to Stella and asked casually, "I heard you previously worked in one of the group's branches overseas. Why did you suddenly get transferred to the headquarters? Did you know Mr. Clark before?" Curiosity shone in Luna's eyes. It was crystal clear she wanted to find this out for gossip's sake. Never in the history of Prosperity Group had anyone been employed or transferred without undergoing any interview. In fact, the process of becoming an employee here was longer than most. Stella broke that record. There had been speculations among the other employees that Stella wasn't an ordinary person. As a result, Luna wanted to know why the CEO himself got Stella transferred. It was no news that most of those who tried to gain this job failed at the resume submission stage. This was because Matthew had strict requirements. At this moment, Luna's prying question drew a frown from Stella. She disliked anyone who tried to stick their nose into other people's business. She glanced at Luna's work ID and said coldly, "Last I checked, PR professionals are supposed to have a high EQ. They usually have their head in the game at work." She just said that Luna was stepping out of line. As soon as Stella finished speaking, the elevator came to a halt on the top floor. Stella walked out without looking at her companion. Luna's face darkened at this. Gritting her teeth, she glared at Stella's back as she walked out of the elevator. Who did this newcomer think she was? How dare she use such a tone when talking to her? The two of them waited outside the office. Luna took a look at her watch and went to a corner to make a phone call. When she returned, she told Stella, "Mr. Clark is still on the way. We need to wait a little longer." Stella nodded in understanding. No one said a word for a few seconds. Suddenly, Luna piped up in a casual tone, "Wanna know why Mr. Clark is running late?" Still mad at Stella for shutting her up, Luna wanted to set the records straight. She intended to make Stella get down from her high horse. Stella didn't give a hoot about what her boss did outside of the office. As a result, she responded with only silence. Refusing to take the hint, Luna said in an annoying voice, "You see, his wife just got back today. He put aside all his work for today just so he could go pick her up at the airport. He's such a sweet husband!" With dreamy eyes, Luna crossed her arms and added with regret and admiration, "It's such a pity that he got married so early. His wife is one lucky lady. I really wonder what she's like." These words suddenly reminded Stella of what happened to her earlier today. It appeared that some women were lucky to have good husbands. Her boss, Mathew, seemed better than Maverick. After she waited at the airport for almost an hour, Maverick sent her a short message saying that he couldn't make it because he was busy. What a ridiculous excuse! Could he be busier than the CEO of Prosperity Group? Suddenly, the elevator tinkled. Luna quickly smoothened her clothes and ran her fingers through her hair. After putting on a smile, she pulled Stella. The elevator doors opened slowly. A man who was clad in a bespoke suit walked to them with one hand in his pocket. He had long legs which made him take giant strides. His shoulders were broad, but his waist was slightly narrow. His angular features were like those of a muscular model. Stella estimated that he was more than six inches tall. The noble aura that he exuded was very strong. Stella was unable to take her eyes off him. "Good day, Mr. Clark." Luna's voice interrupted Stella's observation. With a little bow, Stella introduced herself. "Hello, Mr. Clark. I'm the PR professional transferred from the overseas branch company. My name is Stella Anderson." At that name, Matthew raised his eyebrows in surprise. The name rang a bell. However, he couldn't tell where he had heard it from. His eyebrows furrowed with subtle confusion. The next second, he gestured to a door. "Let's talk in my office." With that, he walked into the office. Stella followed him in without hesitation. —— Sitting at his desk, Matthew scanned through the file in his hand. He had specifically chosen Stella to be his personal PR officer because she had achieved great feats in the branch company last year. Her records showed that she helped the company get out of several situations that could have harmed its reputation. More importantly... Matthew turned to the last page of her resume and narrowed his eyes. "You can design?" His deep voice broke the weighty silence in the office. This was the last thing Stella thought he would ask her. After getting over the surprise, she nodded. "A little." Matthew raised his eyes, glanced at her calm face, and continued to inquire, "You are a PR professional. What has design got to do with your work? Why did you feel the need to put design drafts in your resume?" Stella came well-prepared for this question. She sat up straight and replied confidently, "Prosperity Group is trying to occupy the clothing industry. As a PR professional, my job includes marketing the brand image. That's why I made a few design drafts that could be put to good use." Matthew nodded thoughtfully. He closed the file and dumped it in a corner of his desk. Afterward, he turned to Luna and ordered, "Get her settled in. Then assign a task to her." Luna was surprised. Was that all Matthew had to say? Although Luna wasn't pleased at all, she replied politely, "Yes, Mr. Clark." Stella heaved a sigh of relief as she walked out of the office. She loosened her clenched fists, and her palms were already sweating. At the thought of the CEO's cold and stern face, Stella grew nervous again. She had a gut feeling that working under him would be harder than she thought. Chapter 3 A Difficult Client Luna led Stella to the public relations department. She then introduced her to the other employees. "Listen up, guys! This is Stella Anderson, your new colleague." With a polite smile, Stella said, "Nice to meet you all. It's an honor to be part of this department. I hope we can get along well." The others were shocked by Stella's rapid onboarding. They whispered to each other. "Is she the PR officer who was transferred here to work for Mr. Clark personally? She looks pretty. I wonder if she's a beauty with brains or just an empty skull." "Come on. You should know that Mr. Clark has an eye for the best talents. I bet she's good at what she does." "I'm so jealous of her. She gets to work closely with Mr. Clark. What a lucky girl!" Stella heard it all. However, her smile remained the same and she didn't say anything. On the other hand, Luna's face became a shade redder. She frowned at Stella. These comments fanned the flames of her dissatisfaction. It was widely known that Matthew put potential employees through a vigorous interview process. But earlier, she had witnessed how lenient he was with Stella. Luna eyed Stella from head to toe. She was certain that this newcomer was just a numbskull. Out of spite, she vowed to make Stella suffer. Luna's conniving mind got to work immediately. She decided to give Stella the most difficult task on ground. "Here you go. This is your first task as ordered by Mr. Clark. Currently, everyone is on the verge of completing the projects they have been working on. The only task left is concerning the choice of background music for the company's upcoming anniversary party." As Luna held the necessary document, her tone was natural. "Your job is to communicate with the other party and make sure the background music is confirmed ASAP." Stella frowned and asked, "Is there anything else I must know?" The choice of background music was one of the simplest aspects that went into a banquet preparation. As such, it was odd that it was still not done. Luna was determined to make Stella suffer, so she didn't bother explaining. She just threw the document to Stella and said, "The client involved will come later. You'll know all about it when you guys meet." With that, she went straight to her desk. Stella shrugged instead of asking any more questions. For some peace and quiet, she went into the meeting room while flipping through the document. The second the door was shut, a discussion broke out in the office again. "This newcomer is doomed. Henry is not an easy person to work with. Not only is he picky, he's got wandering hands. I shudder at the thought of what he would do to her." "You are not alone. Anyway, I wish her good luck." —— In the meeting room, Stella studied all there was to know about the task and the client she would be meeting. The client was a pianist named Henry Scott. The company's management was interested in using his piano piece at the 30th anniversary party which was just around the corner. For some unknown reason, they were yet to reach an agreement. She had just finished the last page of the document when the door of the meeting room was pushed open. A man wearing a pair of jeans and a casual shirt with rolled-up sleeves came in. Stella stood up immediately and smiled. "Hello, Mr. Scott. Thanks for coming. I'm Stella Anderson and I will be responsible for discussing the cooperation concerning the use of your piece for the upcoming anniversary banquet. Please, have a seat." "Okay," Henry replied and pulled out the chair beside Stella. With his arms folded, he reclined in the chair and stared at her. Stella avoided his gaze. As she sat down, she moved the chair away a little bit. Then, she began in a professional tone. "You are yet to reach an agreement with us for the use of your piano piece. Is there a reason for that? If you have any reservations about it, do tell. I assure you that we will satisfy you as long as it's within our power." Henry remained mute as he eyed her up and down. An icy warning trickled up Stella's spine. She felt uncomfortable under his stare, but she still smiled. "I'm aware that you are currently preparing to go on a nationwide tour soon. I promise that this won't affect your preparations. On the contrary, we will spare some time to publicize your tour at the banquet as a token of our appreciation. What do you think?" Henry rubbed his chin for a while before saying, "I have to say that you make quite an attractive offer." He gave her a side look and then smiled. Stella held out the prepared contract. "Please read through the contract. If you have a problem with any of the clauses, I can have it modified immediately." Without taking the document, Henry leaned back and put his hands at the back of his head. "Reading is so much work. Worse yet, the contract looks so bulky. I don't want to go through it." Hearing this, Stella was in a dilemma. "How about you move closer and read it to me?" Henry's eyes glistened with interest as he looked at her. Stella pursed her lips and took a deep breath. Having worked in the PR industry for many years, she had come across all kinds of clients who requested strange things. Reading a contract aloud didn't seem that much of a big deal. With that in mind, Stella moved a little closer while still making sure she was a safe distance from him. She then cleared her throat and began reading. Her eyes were on the document, but she could feel his stare fixed on her. It gave her the heebie-jeebies. Nonetheless, Stella straightened up and tried to concentrate on what she was reading. Suddenly, Henry leaned over sharply. Stella ducked out of instinct. Smiling smugly, he leaned even closer. "What a beautiful necklace you have got there. It goes well with your radiant skin." As he spoke, he reached out with the intention of touching her neck. It took Stella great restraint not to slap his hand away. Instead, she leaned back further and glared at him as her disgust grew stronger. "If you like this necklace, I will help you order one and send it to your company after the meeting. Can we get back to the agenda now?" Henry's hand froze in the air and he sneered, "I thought Prosperity Group wanted to work with me. But it turns out I was wrong. I'm a very busy man, so I shouldn't be wasting my precious time talking with insincere people." He raised his eyebrows and looked at her with a hint of threat. All of a sudden, the door was pushed open. "The cooperation is canceled!" With an expressionless face, Matthew walked in. He stood in front of Stella and faced Henry. Chapter 4 Blatant PDA Henry's face darkened. "What did you just say?" "You heard me right!" Matthew said indifferently. "You are disrespectful to the female employees in this company. And we will no longer cooperate with you. There are thousands of piano pieces in the world. It should be easy to get another pianist." As Stella stared at Matthew's broad back, her eyes sparkled with gratitude. He was such a gentleman. His wife was a lucky woman. Henry's mouth dropped open and he looked utterly embarrassed. The next second, he lost his cool. He sprang to his feet, stormed out, and slammed the door behind him. The other employees left their desks and craned their necks to look at the door of the meeting room. The moment Matthew walked out, he gave Luna an earful in front of the others. "Didn't you know you were supposed to do a background check on Henry Scott before offering to work with him? As a PR professional, you should know that every wrong move can lead to a disaster and it can backfire on this company." Lowering her head, Luna apologized repeatedly. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Clark. I promise that this will never repeat itself. Next time, I'll make sure to carry out a thorough investigation." The last thing Luna expected was her nasty little trick to backfire. She was on the brink of tears as she wondered how Stella was able to wriggle out of this. After glaring at her for a long time, Matthew scanned all the faces in the office and said, "Let this serve as a warning to all of you. Your job is to better the brand image and solve crises, not cause a mess. If you can't do your job well, tender your resignation and go to the financial department for your severance pay!" His voice wasn't loud, but it was firm and intimidating. It made everyone shudder. No one dared to look up or speak. Luna couldn't help feeling that Matthew's warning was directed at her. She clenched her fists and murdered Stella with her eyes. Matthew had never scolded her before, let alone in public. Things only changed after Stella resumed work here. Luna believed Stella must have badmouthed her in the meeting room. At the thought of this, Luna's hatred for Stella quadrupled and her anger surged through her veins. Matthew left after giving them a piece of his mind. In his wake, a heavy silence fell in the office. All the employees were shaken up and went about their day on pins and needles. Hours later, it was a few minutes to closing hour. Stella took out her phone and clicked on the chat box between her and Maverick. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she pondered. Finally, she decided to invite him to dinner. Although their marriage wasn't that of love and she hadn't wanted to marry him, she figured that she might as well get to know him since there was no turning back. She was just about to hit send when her phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Oliver. Stella answered it. As soon as she pressed the phone to her ear, Oliver rambled about his plans. "Ella, I have booked us a table at Joyful Restaurant. See you at half past seven tonight." "But I already—" Oliver interrupted her, "No buts, Stella. You have been away for a long time. We have to celebrate your return. Lest I forget, Juliette will be there too. Don't stand us up. If you refuse, I'll drive down to your company and drag you there myself!" Oliver wasn't one to bluff. His tone indicated that he was going to make good his threat. Stella agreed. "Okay, I'll bring Maverick along." Oliver didn't like Stella's husband, and he never hid it. "Soothe yourself." After getting off the phone, Stella cleared the typed text and made a new one. She read the message a couple of times. After making sure she made no errors in the location and time, she hit the send icon. A reply came moments later. "Okay, see you there." Stella checked the time after she received that message. It was time to get off work. She headed straight to the restaurant. —— In Joyful Restaurant, Stella saw someone waving at her as soon as she walked in. It was Oliver. He was seated with his girlfriend, Juliette Davis, at a large table. Oliver was leaning in so close to Juliette and staring at her lovingly. Stella wasn't even surprised by that. As she got seated opposite them, she placed her bag on the table and joked, "Can you two stop making everyone else jealous with your intense PDA?" Juliette shyly fiddled with her long curls which were similar to Stella's. She raised her eyebrows and teased, "Two can play the game, so do this with your husband." After saying that, she looked behind Stella and asked, "Weren't you supposed to come along with your hubby? Where is he? Is he shy because he will be meeting us for the first time?" Stella picked up the menu and said, "He's on his way." "He'd better be!" Oliver snorted. "He seems to have a thing for standing people up." His dissatisfaction with Maverick was obvious and undisguised. Stella gave him a murderous glare and placed her index finger over her lips. "Shush!" She set down the menu and gave him a harder look. "You'd better be on your best behavior when he gets here. Don't start a fight, okay?" Oliver pursed his lips and said nothing. —— It was already half past seven when Matthew arrived at Joyful Restaurant. Earlier, his wife had texted him saying that they needed to talk face-to-face. Thinking of how she was with another man at the airport, he typed a big no. But he cleared it up after thinking that it was best to hear an explanation from her first. Matthew walked into the restaurant with mixed feelings. He located the table his wife had mentioned in her text to him. To his greatest surprise, he saw the same man he had seen at the airport this morning. The man was kissing a woman. The woman's face wasn't visible from where Matthew stood because of her long curly hair. Color crept to his face and the veins on his forehead throbbed. Did his wife plan this? She wanted to show off her lover to enrage him, didn't she? Heat surged through Matthew's veins as he balled his hands into fists, and almost crushed his phone. Just as he was about to confront those two lovebirds, he heard the voice of his newest employee from behind. "What a coincidence, Mr. Clark! What are you doing here?" Chapter 5 Grandma's Advice Stella returned from the bathroom to find that her husband, Maverick, still hadn't arrived. She was on her way back to the table when she spotted her boss. She greeted him, only to find that he had a long face. Matthew replied simply, "I'm here to meet a business partner." "Oh, okay." Sensing that he wasn't in the mood to talk, Stella didn't bother to say anything else. Matthew turned around and left without looking back. Stella returned to the table and looked at her watch. It was already seven forty. Maverick was thirty minutes late already. Frowning, she took her phone and read the message she had sent him earlier. There was no error in the address and time. Why wasn't he here yet after agreeing to come? Was he standing her up yet again? What was his deal? Didn't he want to meet the woman he was married to? Did he already hate her even before they met? As her mind was filled with several questions, Stella felt a little depressed. The steak she was eating tasted bland in her mouth. After swallowing a mouthful forcefully, she set down her knife and fork, and then texted Maverick again. "Hey, why aren't you here yet? What's keeping you? If tonight isn't convenient for you, let's agree on another day and time." Oliver's heart ached a little when he saw Stella's mood dampen. It made him hate Maverick even more. Slamming his glass on the table, he cursed angrily, "How dare he stand you up twice on the same day? You deserve so much better, Stella. I say that you divorce him!" "Shhh! Stop adding fuel to the fire!" Juliette hushed him with a glare. Oliver shook his head with disappointment and zipped up his lips even though he wanted to continue chewing that man out so badly. Juliette turned to Stella and comforted her in a soft voice, "Don't look so sad, Stella. Maybe something is keeping him." Since she and Oliver had fallen in love at first sight, she believed that true love could happen to Stella and her husband. But she also acknowledged that it wouldn't be easy at first. Stella nodded without saying anything. She looked at her phone again. Maverick still hadn't replied her last message. Was it that he hadn't seen it or that he was ignoring her now? —— Matthew's intention to confront his wife and her boyfriend had been halted by Stella's sudden appearance. It appeared she was also there for dinner. For some reason, he didn't want Stella to know that he had marriage problems. Matthew marched to the parking lot, looking like he would explode at any moment. He had just gotten into his car when the phone in his pocket buzzed. He whipped it out and saw that his wife just texted him. His eyebrows furrowed as soon as he read the message. Was she out of her mind? He had just seen her kissing another man in public, but she still dared to text him as if she couldn't wait to see him. What a pretentious woman! Matthew had lived long enough to encounter all kinds of women. A lot had done outrageous things, but none of them came close to what his wife just did. She had gotten him real good to the extent that he almost lost his cool in public. He was so irritated. He threw his phone aside, started the ignition, and zoomed off. Seething with rage, Matthew went on a long drive around the city. It was already very late when he arrived home. The first person he saw when he walked into his mansion was his grandmother, Lucia Clark. She was sitting on the sofa with a deep frown. "Where have you been? Look at the time! Why did you stay out so late?" With his suit jacket slung over his shoulder, Matthew glanced at the clock his grandmother pointed to and then sighed. "Grandma, why are you here? Isn't it time for you to retire for the night?" "You dare ask me such questions?" Lucia slapped the armrest of the leather sofa and shot him a searing glare. "Stella's grandfather told me that you didn't pick her up from the airport. Where the hell have you been? And why did you lie to me? You are a married man now. How can you be so irresponsible?' A touch of helplessness flashed through Matthew's eyes. "Grandma." Matthew casually put his coat on the sofa and sat next to her. After a mild hesitation, he told her everything he saw at the airport today. At last, he sighed and added in a sincere tone. "Grandma, my father had many mistresses when he was alive. His philandering led to my birth. Even if everyone sees me as the heir of the family, I'm still an illegitimate son." "Matthew..." Lucia called out in a soft tone, feeling regretful. She knew what he had been through. As always, she felt pity for him. Matthew squeezed his knees as he continued, "That's why I have vowed to be nothing like my father. I intend to stay faithful to my wife, and I expect her to do the same. I can't take it if we are not on the same page." There was a moment of silence after he finished speaking. After thinking for a while, Lucia said, "You know me. I don't do things without properly investigating. I did that before I got you to marry Stella. If anything, she's prim and proper. There must be some kind of misunderstanding." Matthew pursed his lips and said nothing. "Please don't give up just yet. You both need to talk things out face to face," Lucia suggested. "Since you two never dated, you should spend more time trying to create a bond first. Take things slow, okay?" Matthew didn't know what to say to that, so he changed the topic. "It's getting pretty late. I'll ask the driver to take you home. You don't have to worry about me." Lucia wanted to apply pressure, but when she saw his sunken eyes and tired lines on his forehead, she swallowed her words. After sending his grandmother home, Matthew lay on his king-sized bed. He closed his eyes. But the image of the loving couple at the restaurant kept popping into his mind. He couldn't shake it off no matter how he tried. At this moment, he felt empty and numb. This marriage didn't seem like it was going to work out. Maybe it was time to get divorced. &4&

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InactiveJun 27, 26
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🔞💔💔“He chose her. I chose freedom.” Chapter 1 On our fifth wedding anniversary, the first thing I got wasn’t a gift. It was a video. My husband, Hudson Hayes, was in some expensive hotel room, laughing and sleeping with another woman like I didn’t even exist. And it wasn’t just any woman. It was Amber Fenwick, his first love. I watched the whole thing without blinking while waiting for him at the restaurant. I just sat there, ate my food, and smiled. When I got home, I didn’t cry either. I picked up my phone and called my lawyer. “Attorney, I sent you the divorce papers. The one Hudson and I signed on our wedding day five years ago. Did you see anything wrong with it?” I stood by the window when I said it, staring at my own reflection instead of the city outside. My fingers kept rubbing the edge of my phone like I was trying to peel something off it. Maybe I was just trying to feel something. “Ms. Hereford, I’ve reviewed everything,” the lawyer said, calm and distant. “There’s no issue. You’ve got one month left before the five year term ends. Once it’s up, the agreement takes effect automatically. You can go down to the county clerk’s office and file for the divorce.” One month. Just one more month. “…Okay. Thank you.” I hung up and didn’t move for a while. Then my eyes drifted up. The wedding photo was still hanging there, right where it had always been. Like nothing had changed. Like everything hadn’t already rotted from the inside. I walked closer without thinking. In the picture, I was smiling so brightly. God, I looked stupid. My dress was pure white, my eyes curved like I believed in forever. And Hudson… He stood beside me in that perfect suit, tall and untouchable. Handsome like something carved out of stone. But his face was cold. No smile. Not even a fake one. Anyone could see it. He never loved me. “…It’s almost over,” I whispered, my fingers brushing against his face in the photo. Cold glass. That was all he’d ever been to me. “You must be happy, huh?” Or was that just me trying to convince myself? The sound of the door unlocking snapped me out of it. I pulled my hand back like I’d been caught doing something wrong and turned around quickly. “You’re back.” My voice came out softer than I wanted. He walked in like he owned the world. Like the air itself moved out of his way. Hudson always had that presence. Heavy. Dangerous. The kind of man people lowered their eyes around. A mafia boss. A king in the dark. I took his suit jacket as he shrugged it off and hung it up carefully. Then I knelt in front of him and helped him change into his slippers. My hands moved on their own. I didn’t even have to think. I’d done this too many times. Hudson loosened his tie, irritation already written all over his face. “Next month’s the Hayes Global anniversary banquet,” he said. “You’re coming with me.” My hands paused for a second. Then I finished adjusting his slippers and stood up slowly. “I can’t go.” His head snapped toward me. “What the hell do you mean you can’t go?” I opened my mouth but nothing came out at first. Should I tell him? That his woman send their videos to me? Would it even matter? Before I could say anything, his expression darkened like he already had his own answer. “…Don’t tell me this is about Amber again.” His voice dropped, colder now, sharper. “I told you from day one I had someone else. You said you wouldn’t interfere. Or were you just talking shit back then?” The words hit like they always did. Clean. Precise. Like a blade he knew exactly how to use. My chest tightened and it hurt so bad I almost laughed. Yeah. What kind of husband said that on his wedding day? What kind of wife agreed? “I’m not…” I stopped, swallowing hard. “It’s not that.” But wasn’t it? Or was I just too tired to fight anymore? He scoffed, running a hand through his hair. “Then what’s your problem? It’s just a damn banquet. You’ve done it before. Stand there, smile, play the part. That’s all I’m asking.” Just stand there. Just smile. Just pretend like I wasn’t slowly breaking apart inside. I looked at him and for a second, I wanted to ask. Did you ever feel even a little guilty? Did you ever look at me and think I was your wife? But the words died before they could leave my mouth. Because I already knew the answer. Five years ago, when our families announced the marriage, I thought I’d been given everything. I’d liked him for so long. Longer than I wanted to admit. So when I heard I was going to marry Hudson Hayes, I thought… maybe this was fate. Maybe he’d learn to love me. I was so stupid. That night, in that same house, still in my wedding dress, he handed me a contract instead of touching me. “I’ve got someone I like,” he said, like he was talking about the weather. Cold. Detached. “She’s not from the right background, and my family won’t accept her. But give me five years.” I remember just staring at him, my hands shaking as I held the paper. Five years? “For these five years, you stay as my wife in name,” he continued. “I’ll take control of the Hayes family, and when I do, no one will dare say shit about who I choose. After that…” He looked at me like I was nothing more than a business deal. “We divorce. Clean. Simple.” That night, I signed the papers like he wanted. My hands didn’t even feel like mine when I wrote my name. It was just… done. Like I’d already lost before anything even started. Then I locked myself in the bathroom and cried until morning. No sound, just shaking and choking on it, biting my sleeve so no one would hear. Like that would change anything. Less than three months into the marriage, Amber disappeared. Just… gone. I heard they had a huge fight before that, but no one told me details. I didn’t need them. I saw what it did to him. Hudson went crazy. He used every connection he had, every man under him, every dirty favor. A mafia boss like him, someone who could find anyone in this world… and still, he couldn’t find her. I watched him break. He stopped coming home most nights. And when he did, he smelled like alcohol and smoke and something darker. His eyes were always heavy, like he hadn’t slept in days. I wanted to ask if he was okay. I never did. What right did I have? Then one night, he came back drunk. Really drunk. The kind where he could barely stand straight but still walked like he owned everything. Before I could even say anything, he grabbed me. “Hudson…” I tried, my voice shaking. He didn’t answer. He pushed me onto the bed like I weighed nothing. My heart was beating so fast I thought it would tear out of my chest. Was this… happening? Did he finally…? But then his lips crashed onto mine and I froze. It tasted like alcohol. Bitter. Suffocating. “…Amber…” his voice broke, rough and desperate against my skin. “Why the hell did you leave me, huh? Why’d you run off with that guy? You think I wouldn’t come for you? You don’t trust me that much?” Everything inside me just stopped. My body went stiff under him. So he found her. But she left him anyway. And I was just, here. A substitute. A shadow. Something he could hold when the real one was gone. Chapter 2 That night was my first time. I didn’t even know if I should cry or laugh. He held me the whole night, his grip tight like he was afraid someone would take me away too. But every word that came out of his mouth… was her name. Over and over again. Not mine. Never mine. I stared at the ceiling until my eyes burned, wondering… was this what being a wife meant? Or was I just something he used to survive her absence? The next morning, he woke up first. There were bloodstains on the sheets. He noticed. I saw it in the way his eyes paused for a second. Just a second. Then he looked away. Didn’t say anything. Not even one word. Not even… sorry. I smiled like nothing happened. I got his clothes ready, laid them out neatly like I always did. “You’ve got an important meeting today,” I told him softly. “Don’t be late.” Like I wasn’t the one who bled all night. Like my heart wasn’t already torn open. ... From that day on, I tried harder. Pathetic, right? I knew he didn’t love me. I knew I was just filling space. But I still tried. He had a bad stomach, so I woke up early every morning and made him chicken soup. The kind that wouldn’t hurt him. He was always under pressure, dealing with things I didn’t even want to imagine, so I learned how to massage his shoulders and his back, careful and quiet. I liked silence anyway. Or maybe I just got used to it. I stopped making noise, stopped asking for anything. Even my footsteps became softer. If I stayed small enough… maybe I wouldn’t bother him. And somehow, he started changing. A little. When he came back from business trips, he’d sometimes bring me small things. Nothing big. Just… something. When I got sick, he’d make me medicine himself and hand it to me without looking at me. “Drink it,” he’d say. “Don’t be stubborn.” And at night, sometimes he held me. His arm around my waist, his body warm against mine. Those moments felt so real it scared me. Like maybe… maybe he was starting to see me. Maybe I wasn’t just nothing to him anymore. He never mentioned the divorce again. Not once. Like that paper we signed never existed. And I… I actually believed it. I thought maybe if I just held on a little longer, he’d fall in love with me. Stupid, right? Three months ago, Amber came back. She broke up with her boyfriend and returned from the US like nothing happened. And Hudson? He went back to her without hesitation. No explanation. No guilt. Nothing. He took her out to eat, went shopping with her, stayed by her side like she was the only thing that mattered in the world. He even canceled meetings, important ones, the kind he used to say could never be moved. All because she said she was in a bad mood. I stood by the window one night and watched his car drive away again. Same direction. Same place. Her place. I didn’t cry this time. I just watched. And finally understood. Love was love. Real love didn’t change. No matter how much I gave, how much I tried, how much I broke myself into something smaller and quieter and easier to keep… it would never compare to one look from her. Not even close. Five years. It was almost over. “Why aren’t you saying anything?” His voice snapped me out of it. I blinked and looked at him, my throat tightening like something was stuck there. He didn’t remember? For five years, I’d been counting down every single day, scared that when the time came, he’d just walk away without even looking back. But now he stood there like none of it existed. Like that agreement meant nothing. Did it ever mean anything to him? I parted my lips, about to remind him, to say it out loud before I lost the courage again but his phone rang. He picked it up right away. I couldn’t hear clearly, but I knew that voice. Amber. She was crying, choking on her words, panicking about something. Hudson’s expression changed instantly. His whole body tensed, like nothing else in the world mattered anymore. “Hey, hey… don’t panic,” his voice dropped, low and urgent. “I’m coming right now. Stay there. Don’t move, you hear me?” He didn’t even wait for a reply. The call ended and he grabbed his keys, already moving. “Hudson, I—” I didn’t even finish. He rushed past me and his shoulder slammed into mine so hard I lost my balance. My back hit the door frame and a sharp pain shot through me. I let out a small sound, something between a gasp and a groan. But he didn’t stop. Didn’t look back. Didn’t even notice. The door closed and he was gone. Just like that. I stayed there for a few seconds, leaning against the wall, trying to breathe through the pain. Then I slowly pushed myself up and walked back to the bedroom. I took off my coat and saw the bruise already forming on my shoulder. Dark. Ugly. I opened the first aid kit and cleaned it quietly, pressing the cotton against my skin. It stung, but it was nothing compared to what was inside my chest. That felt like something dull was slicing through it… slowly, over and over again. I sat on the edge of the bed and stared out the window. The sky was getting darker, the city lights coming on one by one. I don’t even know how long I stayed like that. Until my phone rang. Hudson. I hesitated for a second then picked up. “Come to the Favilla hospital,” he said, straight to the point. My heart skipped. “What happened?” “We’ll talk when you get here.” The line went dead. ... When I arrived, I saw him right away. He was standing outside the operating room. And Amber… she was pressed against him, crying like her whole world was falling apart. My steps slowed. Something tightened in my chest again, like a hand squeezing too hard. I still walked over. “What happened?” I asked softly. Hudson looked at me, his expression serious. “Amber’s mother collapsed earlier. It’s a severe blood disorder. Her body’s failing fast. She needs a bone marrow transplant immediately.” I froze. “And…?” “We checked everywhere,” he continued, calm like he was talking about business. “No match. So I had them run a test on you secretly.” Something inside me dropped. “And?” My voice barely came out. “You’re a match.” Chapter 3 For a second, I just stared at him. “Y-you want me to donate?” I asked, my fingers curling slightly. “Hudson… I can’t. I’m scared of needles, I don’t even… this is surgery, it’s risky, I—” “I didn’t call you here to complain,” he cut me off, his tone turning cold. “Don’t start that shit with me.” “I’m not complaining, I just… I’m scared, okay?” My voice shook and I hated it. “Can’t you find someone else? Please, I really can’t do this—” Before I could step back, two of his men moved. They grabbed my arms. Hard. I flinched, panic rising in my chest. “Let go! What are you doing?” Hudson stepped closer, his shadow falling over me. His eyes were dark, unreadable, like there was no room for refusal. “I’m your husband,” he said, voice low and dangerous. “And you’ll do exactly what I say.” My heart dropped. “Your life is mine,” he continued, his grip tightening on my chin, forcing me to look at him. “So you’re donating. Don’t make me repeat myself.” For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Was I even a person to him? Or just something he owned? My eyes burned but I forced it back, swallowing everything down like I always did. “…Okay,” I whispered. The men let go of me. “I’ll sign.” The nurse handed me the form. My hands were shaking, but I still took the pen. Stroke by stroke, I wrote my name. Each line felt heavy. Like I was carving something into my own heart. And I smiled a little, just enough so no one would notice the tears I was trying so hard to hide. Just before they pushed me in, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Hudson!” My voice came out weaker than I wanted. He stopped and turned his head slightly, eyes cold, like I’d just interrupted something unimportant. For a second, I forgot everything I wanted to say. My lips trembled. Then I forced out the only thing I could. “…Nothing.” His eyes flickered, just a little. I thought maybe, just maybe… But he didn’t say anything. He turned and walked outside. The doors closed right in front of me. And that was it. The moment they shut, my vision blurred and the tears I’d been holding back just fell. Quiet. Helpless. So this was how deep his love went. Deep enough to throw me onto an operating table without hesitation. Deep enough that even if it was my life, he wouldn’t care. — When I woke up, everything felt heavy. My body, my head, even my breathing. It was like I was floating somewhere between awake and not. The lights were too bright. My throat felt dry. “…You’re awake?” a nurse’s voice came gently beside me. I blinked slowly, turning my head. “Mm… yeah…” “How are you feeling? Dizzy? Pain anywhere?” “A little,” I whispered. “I-is the surgery done?” She smiled. “Yes. It went well. The patient is stable now and recovering.” Good. That meant she was okay. I swallowed, my chest feeling strangely empty. “Hudson, where is he?” The nurse paused for a second, then said casually, “Mr. Hayes? He’s with his wife and her mother right now.” My heart stopped. His wife? Oh. Right. I stared at the ceiling, not saying anything. The nurse didn’t notice. She just kept talking, even giggling a little. “Honestly, I was watching them earlier and I got so jealous,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “They look like such a perfect couple!” I didn’t move. “Mr. Hayes was so attentive,” she continued, almost dreamy. “He kept holding his wife’s hand and talking to her softly. You wouldn’t even guess he’s someone so powerful.” Each word felt like something pressing deeper into me. “And the way he looked at her,” she added, smiling. “Gosh, it was so sweet. I mean, you can really tell he loves her a lot.” I closed my eyes slowly. “Even when the doctor came out, he didn’t leave her side,” she said again, laughing quietly. “He kept comforting her, like she was the one who just went through surgery. If I had a husband like that, I’d never let him go.” I let out a small breath. So that was how it looked from the outside. A loving husband. A devoted man. And me? What was I? I forced a small smile, even though no one was looking. “…That’s good,” I murmured. “As long as she’s okay.” … I lay there staring at the ceiling, my hand hooked to the IV, the slow drip the only thing keeping time. My body still felt heavy and numb, like it didn’t belong to me anymore. The nurse had just left when the door opened again. I thought it's Hudson but it wasn't. Amber walked in. She looked soft, fragile, eyes still a little red like she’d been crying for hours. In her hands was a basket of fruit, neatly wrapped like this was some kind of polite visit. “Ms. Hereford…” she said gently, stepping closer. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to trouble you like this again.” I looked at her but didn’t say anything. She placed the basket down and gave me a small smile. “Thank you. Really… if it wasn’t for you, my mom wouldn’t have made it. You saved her.” Her voice softened, almost sweet but it's fake. “Thank you for being such a devoted slave to my husband— I mean… devoted wife to Hudson.” My fingers twitched slightly on the blanket. Slave? “Do you want some apples?” she asked, already reaching for one. “I’ll peel it for you.” “I’m fine,” I said quietly. She didn’t stop. The knife slid against the apple skin in slow, careful strokes. The sound was soft, almost soothing. Almost. “I really didn’t expect…” she continued, her voice turning distant, like she was drifting somewhere else. “After all these years, he’s still like that with me.” My chest tightened. “What do you mean?” I asked, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear it. She let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “He just never changed.” The peel fell in one long strip as she spoke. “Last year, I mentioned once that I liked this limited edition watch,” she said casually. “I didn’t even remember saying it. But a week later, he flew overseas just to get it for me. It wasn’t even available locally.” My fingers slowly curled. “He showed up at my place in the middle of the night,” she added, smiling faintly. “But I was still mad at him back then, so I didn’t even let him in. I told him to leave and threw the box back at him.” Her tone was light. Like it was nothing. Like his effort was something she could just throw away. My mind went blank for a second. Because I remembered. That same time. He told me he had a business trip abroad. Three days. When he came back, he handed me a watch. Just like that. No explanation. No emotion. “Take it,” he said. “Saw it. Thought it suited you.” I’d been so happy. I didn’t even wear it. I kept it safe, tucked away like something precious I didn’t deserve to ruin. And now? It was just something she didn’t want. I didn’t realize my nails were digging into my palm until it started to hurt. Chapter 4 Amber didn’t notice. Or maybe she did and just didn’t care. “And there was this one time,” she continued, peeling another strip, her voice softening again. “I got into a fight with my ex. It was really bad. I blocked everyone, and disappeared for a few days.” She glanced at me, like she was about to share something intimate. “Hudson went crazy trying to find me. When he did, he dragged me out of that place himself. He was so angry, I thought he was going to kill someone.” She laughed lightly. “He kept cursing, saying, ‘You think you can just disappear on me like that? I’ll tear this whole city apart if I have to.’” My heart twisted. I remembered that night too. New Year's Eve. He came home late. Different. Rough. Like something inside him had snapped. He didn’t say much. Just claimed me in, over and over again, like he couldn’t stop. I thought… I thought maybe he finally wanted me. That maybe, he was starting to feel something. I was so stupid. The next morning, when I woke up, the bed beside me was already cold. I told myself he had urgent business. That was normal, right? But now? Now I know. He wasn’t busy. He was running to her. Always her. Amber finished peeling the apple and finally handed it to me. “Here.” I didn’t take it. She didn’t mind. She just set it down beside me and looked at me with that same soft, harmless expression. “You’re really kind, Ms. Hereford,” she said gently. “Staying by his side all these years, taking care of him like that.” Her eyes lingered on me, something unreadable passing through them. “But some things…” she added quietly, “no matter how hard you try, they just don’t belong to you.” I lowered my gaze to my hand, the IV needle still buried in my skin. Yeah. I think I finally understood that. … After I got discharged, I went home and packed everything quietly. Clothes. Jewelry. Things I barely touched. Things I once thought mattered. I didn’t take much. What was the point? I was just waiting. Waiting for the divorce to finalize. Waiting for it all to end. During those days, Amber kept sending me messages. Not even hiding it. Videos. Photos. One after another. At first I didn’t open them. Then I did. I don’t even know why. Maybe I wanted to hurt myself properly. Maybe I just needed to see it with my own eyes. Hudson stayed by her side the whole time. Not for a moment did he leave. In one video, he was sitting beside her hospital bed, carefully feeding her fruit, peeling everything clean like it was something precious. In another, he was adjusting her blanket, his movements slow, patient… gentle. Gentle. I stared at the screen for a long time. Was this the same man? The same man who never even looked at me twice? Then another message came. A video. “Look, Miss Hereford,” Amber said, her face filling the screen as she turned the camera. Hudson was there, talking to a doctor, his expression serious, controlled. That same cold aura. That same power. “He sent my mom abroad for treatment,” she continued casually. “Paid for everything. Even bought her a house there. There’s a maid, a private doctor… everything’s arranged.” She laughed a little. “He’s really something, right?” My fingers tightened around my phone. “Miss Hereford, I’m sorry for taking your husband for now, okay?” she added, voice soft, almost teasing. “He just missed me too much. He loves me so much, I can’t even push him away.” Her smile didn’t change. “You can’t really compete with that, can you?” The screen went dark. I didn’t realize I was crying until the tears hit my hand. Drop by drop. I wiped them away quickly, taking a shaky breath. Over the years, I did all those things too. He had a bad stomach, so I woke up early every day to cook for him. I waited for him with the lights on, no matter how late it got. I peeled his fruit, cut everything into small pieces so he wouldn’t even have to think. I gave him everything. And now… he was doing all of that for someone else. I closed my eyes and let out a slow breath. “It’s fine,” I whispered to myself. “It’ll be over soon.” Right? Once I stop loving him, I’ll be okay. I’ll take care of myself. I have to. ... A week later, he suddenly came home. I was surprised when I saw him. Shouldn’t he be with her? “Get changed,” he said, already loosening his tie. “We’re having dinner at home tonight.” “…Okay.” I didn’t ask anything. I just went upstairs and changed. At the dinner, everything felt normal. Too normal. People were laughing, talking, raising their glasses like this was just another gathering. Then the topic shifted. “You’ve been married five years now. It’s about time you had a child.” “Yeah, Hudson’s the head of the family now. There needs to be an heir.” “Mika, you should hurry up.” I kept my head down, fingers brushing against the rim of my glass. A child? With him? Did I even have that right? “No rush,” Hudson said. His voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through everything. The whole room went silent. Everyone exchanged looks but no one dared say anything else. Not to him. Not anymore. The atmosphere turned stiff after that and the dinner ended quickly. “Mika,” Mrs. Hayes said sharply as we stood. “Come with me to the study.” I knew what that meant. Anyone could see it. A warning. About children. About my place. “If you’ve got something to say, say it in front of me,” Hudson said, frowning. Before she could respond, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and his expression changed immediately. “…Amber?” he answered, already stepping aside. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?” His voice… it wasn’t the same voice he used with me. Not even close. Mrs. Hayes let out a cold snort. “Come with me.” I pressed my lips together and followed her without a word. As soon as the study door closed, her face changed. All that fake calm from dinner disappeared. “Kneel.” I didn’t argue. I just went down slowly, my knees hitting the cold marble. It stung, but I was already used to that kind of pain. “Do you know where you went wrong?” she asked, looking down at me like I was something dirty. I lowered my eyes and stayed quiet. A loud bang hit the table. “You stupid girl!” she snapped, her voice sharp and cold. “Hudson said he’s not in a hurry to have a child and you just sat there? You didn’t even try to change his mind?” My fingers curled slightly. Was I supposed to beg him? Force him? Didn’t he already make it clear… I meant nothing? She opened a drawer and took out a small bottle, then slammed it in front of me. “Drink this. It’s a fertility tonic. Starting today, you take it every day and you sleep with him until you get pregnant. I don’t care what it takes.” I stared at the bottle. In the past, I would’ve taken it without a word. But now… “I won’t take it,” I said quietly. The room went still. “What did you just say?” her voice dropped, dangerous. “I won’t take it,” I repeated, lifting my head slightly. “He doesn’t want a child right now. I’m respecting that.” That was the truth. Every time we were together, he made sure there were precautions, and if something slipped, he’d make me take pills right after. I used to think that maybe he just wasn’t ready yet. Now I knew. He just didn’t want one with me. And if I was leaving, why would I tie myself to him forever? “You’ve got some nerve?!" she said slowly, eyes narrowing. “Say that again.” “I won’t take it.” Her expression twisted. “You’ve gone too far!” she shouted. “As his wife, you can’t even do your duty? You can’t even give him a child? And you let him waste himself on that woman. All that effort, all that time, all for her and her damn family. You didn’t stop him once.” My chest tightened. Stop him? When had I ever had that power? She turned her head slightly. “Bring it.” A servant stepped forward and handed her a thick leather strap. Dark. Heavy. The kind they used for punishment. My body tensed. “I’ll ask you one last time,” she said, gripping it tightly. “Are you going to take the medicine or not?” I shook my head. The sound came before the pain. CRACK! A sharp crack filled the room, then it hit. My back arched as the pain exploded across my skin, burning and tearing at the same time. I bit my lip hard to stop myself from crying out. Chapter 5 “Answer me. Are you taking it or not?” I shook my head again. Another strike. And another. Each one landed harder than the last. My body trembled, my hands pressing against the floor as I tried to stay upright. Through the glass window, I could see outside. Hudson was there. Standing in the garden. His back facing this room. One hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone. His posture relaxed, like nothing in the world could touch him. Then he laughed. Low, soft. “…Amber,” I heard faintly through the glass. Of course. Who else? “Since you don’t understand,” Mrs. Hayes said coldly behind me, raising the strap again, “then I’ll beat it into you.” The leather cut through the air and landed again. My vision started to blur. Pain spread everywhere, hot and overwhelming. I could feel something wet soaking through my clothes but I didn’t look. “I w-won't,” my voice came out weak, barely there. “I won’t take it…” Another strike. My body gave out and I collapsed forward, barely able to hold myself up. Through my fading vision, I saw him again. Still standing there. Still talking. Still not turning around. Not even once. A small, broken thought crossed my mind. Was I ever anything to him? Or was I just… someone he could lose without noticing? Everything started going dark. And just before I lost consciousness, I felt something strange. Relief. Maybe… this was good. Maybe after this, I wouldn’t feel anything for him anymore. … When I woke up, I was already in a hospital bed. Everything felt heavy, and my back burned the moment I tried to breathe a little deeper. “Mr. Hayes, the injuries are quite severe,” someone beside me said. “The leather strikes cut deep. Some areas reached the dermis. It’ll take time to heal.” “Then use the best damn medicine,” Hudson’s voice came, low and cold. “I don’t care what it costs. Get the best doctors and make sure she doesn’t get scared.” “Yes, of course.” Footsteps faded, and the room went quiet. I slowly opened my eyes. He was there. Standing beside the bed, looking down at me. When he realized I was awake, he moved closer, his brows slightly furrowed. “You awake? How are you feeling?” I tried to shift, but the pain hit instantly, sharp and burning. I sucked in a breath and forced a small voice out. “I’m fine, there are people here to take care of things. If you’ve got something to do, you should go.” I expected him to leave. He didn’t. Instead, he sat down beside the bed, his gaze staying on me like he was thinking about something he couldn’t say. “Why didn’t you call me?” he asked after a moment. “When she was doing that to you… why didn’t you call me?” My fingers tightened slightly under the blanket. I remembered him outside. Back turned. Laughing softly into his phone. “I saw you were busy,” I said quietly, a small bitter smile slipping out. Then I looked at him. “If I called you, would you really come right away?” “Of course I would,” he said without hesitation. I froze. That wasn’t what I expected. Not at all. “I’ve already handled it,” he continued, his tone calmer now. “No one’s going to bother you about having a child again. That shit’s over.” “…I understand.” I lowered my eyes. “Then you should go. You don’t have to stay.” He frowned slightly. “Why do you keep pushing me away?” I blinked, a little confused. “Aren’t you busy?” Busy with everything. Busy with her. “I’m not busy lately,” he said. Then he reached out and adjusted the blanket around me, his movements careful, almost gentle. “I’ll stay here for a few days. Take care of you.” I didn’t know what to say to that. It felt wrong. Like something that didn’t belong to me. But he really stayed. ... The next few days, he didn’t leave the hospital. He adjusted my bed when I couldn’t move, fed me when my hands felt too weak, even helped with my dressings like it didn’t bother him at all. A man like him… doing this? Sometimes I caught myself just staring at him. Was this real? Or was I dreaming again? One night, the pain got so bad I couldn’t sleep. It kept spreading across my back, making every breath feel heavy. He noticed. “Can’t sleep?” he asked quietly. I didn’t answer, just closed my eyes tighter. Then I felt it. His hand, slow and steady, lightly patting my back. Careful. Gentle. Like he was afraid to hurt me more. “It’s alright,” he murmured. “Just sleep.” Again and again, the same rhythm. That kind of warmth, it felt so familiar. Like those rare moments before everything broke. For a second, I almost wanted to believe it again. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. I already decided. I was leaving. And this time, I wouldn’t look back. A week passed, and the marks on my back finally started to fade. Not gone, but lighter. When he was applying the medicine that day, his fingers brushed too close and I let out a small sound before I could stop it. He froze. I turned, confused, and saw his eyes on me, dark and heavy, his throat moving slowly like he was holding something back. “Did I hurt you?” he asked, but his voice sounded rough, not like before. “No… I just—” I tried to speak but he moved closer. Too close. His hand settled on my waist, firm, like he wasn’t even thinking anymore. “Hudson…” I whispered, my heart starting to race. He didn’t answer. His breathing got heavier, his gaze dropping to my lips. His face leaned closer, slow, like he was about to cross a line— “Smack!” We both turned. Amber stood at the door, her eyes red, the fruit basket already on the floor, everything scattered. Her lips trembled. “Did I come at the wrong time? I didn’t know you two were…” She bit her lip, like she couldn’t even finish. Hudson pulled away from me instantly. “Amber, stop thinking nonsense! It’s not what it looks like. I was just helping her with the medicine, that’s it.” Before I could react, he shoved me away. Hard. I lost balance and fell straight off the bed, the back of my head hitting the sharp edge of the table with a dull crack. Pain exploded and something warm started running down. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to ruin your moment.” Amber’s voice broke as she turned. “I’ll go, you don’t have to explain…” “Amber!” Hudson didn’t even hesitate. “Wait, listen to me. Don’t run off like this.” His voice turned urgent, almost angry. “Damn it, stop right there.” He ran after her. Didn’t look at me. Not once. The door slammed and everything went quiet again. I stayed on the floor, my vision slowly blurring. Blood slid down past my temple, warm and sticky. I stared at the ceiling and suddenly laughed, soft and broken. Why did I even hope? Tears slipped into my hair. Wasn’t I used to this already? By the time the nurse found me, everything was fading. Voices sounded far away. “Head injury! She’s bleeding a lot, call the doctor now!” Then darkness. Chapter 6 When I woke up again, my head hurt and everything felt heavy. Because of the injury, I had to stay longer. Hudson never came back. Not once. But I knew why. He was with her. Of course he was. I didn’t call him. Didn’t text. What was the point? On the day I was getting discharged, the housekeeper called. “Miss Mika, about Mr. Hayes’ birthday banquet this year, how would you like to arrange it?” I held the phone and stayed quiet for a while. Birthday. I used to handle it every year. His family never cared about things like that. Power, money, business… that’s all they saw. Not him. I remembered the first birthday I attended. Everything looked perfect, but there was food he couldn’t eat. Something that could trigger a reaction. I saw him later, alone, taking medicine quietly. “Why didn’t you just tell them?” I asked back then, my chest tight. “What for?” he said, not even looking at me. “They don’t give a shit about that. As long as the company’s running, that’s enough for them.” From then on, I took over. Every dish, every detail, everything he liked and avoided. I made sure he never had to deal with that again. “Miss Mika?” the housekeeper called again. I closed my eyes for a second. “I’ll handle it.” This was the last time. After the divorce… someone else would do it. Not me anymore. … I prepared everything the same way I always did. Careful. Quiet. Like it still mattered. But this time, I made the housekeeper follow me the whole day, step by step, making her remember everything. “The cake should be a vanilla berry one. He doesn’t like anything too heavy and sweet, it makes him sick after a few bites.” “And listen, decorations should be white lilies, not red. He hates anything too loud, says it looks cheap.” “Don’t put whiskey on the main table. He drinks it, yeah, but it gives him headaches if he hasn’t eaten properly.” I paused, then added softly, “You need to remember all of this. Next time, you’ll be the one handling it. Don’t mess it up.” The housekeeper looked confused. “Madam… won’t you still be the one arranging it next year?” I didn’t answer. Next time… I won’t even be here. How could I? On the day of the banquet, everything looked perfect. Lights everywhere, soft music, people laughing like this house actually had warmth in it. I stood at the entrance in a light blue dress, greeting guests one by one, smiling like I always did. Like I wasn’t already gone inside. Then he walked in. Hudson. And beside him was Amber. Her arm hooked around his, leaning into him like she belonged there. She wore something soft and pretty, pale pink, light like she was fragile. She looked up at him, smiling. And he looked back. God… he looked back. That was when I understood. He already fixed everything with her. Of course he did. His eyes never left her the whole night. When her glass got empty, he noticed right away. “Don’t give her that,” he said, voice low but firm. “Get her something lighter. She doesn’t drink much.” When her dress shifted a little, he frowned and called someone over. “Fix it properly. Don’t let it drag.” She laughed at something, eyes curved, soft… and he actually smiled. Not that cold, distant smile. A real one. I stood there watching for a second too long. Then I looked away. What was I even expecting? He never looked at me. Not once. I moved to the side, greeting people like I was just part of the staff. When it was time to open gifts, people brought out all kinds of expensive things. Jewelry, rare pieces, things worth more than most people’s lives. Then mine was brought out. A custom-made fountain pen. Simple, elegant, something I chose carefully because he once said he preferred things like that. Quiet. Useful. The butler placed it on a tray. “Mrs. Hayes really understands Mr. Hayes’ taste,” someone said with a smile. “This kind of piece isn’t flashy but it fits him perfectly.” “Yeah, it’s refined. Just like him.” Hudson glanced at it, then at me. For a second, I thought… “Thanks,” he said casually. That was it. Then Amber’s gift was brought out. A small box. Inside was a handmade leather bracelet. The stitching was uneven, rough in some places, like it wasn’t done by a professional. The room went quiet. Then someone laughed softly. “…Seriously? People still give things like this?” “Looks cheap. I don’t think Mr. Hayes would even touch that.” “Who even let her in here dressed like that, bringing something like this?” Amber’s face went pale. She stepped back slightly, like she wanted to disappear. Hudson’s expression darkened instantly. He picked up the bracelet and the room went silent. Without hesitation, he slipped it onto his wrist. “I like this,” he said, his voice low but sharp enough to cut through everyone. “At least this one means something. Someone actually put time into it.” No one spoke. Then his gaze shifted to the pen. He picked it up, looked at it for a second, then let out a quiet scoff. “This kind of thing…” he said coldly, “you can buy it anywhere. There’s nothing special about it.” My chest tightened. Before I could even react, he tossed it straight into the trash. The sound echoed louder than it should have. The whole hall went quiet for a second, then suddenly everyone started agreeing. “Mr. Hayes is right, handmade things actually mean something.” “Yeah, expensive stuff is nothing if there’s no heart behind it.” “This is way more special, you can tell she put effort into it.” I just stood there. It felt like all the blood in my body turned cold. I spent three months on that gift. Flying around, checking stores, comparing designs, choosing something I thought… he’d actually like. And now? Thrown away like it was nothing. Just to make her look good. But wasn’t this always how it went? He could drop everything for her, cancel meetings like they didn’t matter. But my birthday? He couldn’t even remember the date. She got sick and he stayed up all night taking care of her. I had a fever once, burning for hours… and he didn’t even call. She said one word and he’d fly across the world. I asked him to have dinner once… and he said he was busy. Every time… he chose her. Every single time. Just like tonight. I pressed a hand lightly to my chest. It used to hurt so much here. So much I thought I couldn’t breathe. But now… It was quiet. Empty. So this was what it felt like when you finally stopped loving someone? All that pain, all that waiting… it just disappeared like it never mattered. Then everyone gathered around Amber. The same people who mocked her earlier were now smiling, praising her, trying to get close. I stood in the corner and smiled a little. That’s how it works here. One look from him… and everyone follows. It didn’t matter. After the divorce, he’d probably bring her into the family properly anyway. This was just the beginning. The banquet ended slowly. Guests left one by one. I stood at the door, smiling, saying goodbye like I always did. Perfect. Polite. Like I was still Mrs. Hayes. Only when the last guest left did I finally breathe out a little. When I turned around, they were still there. Hudson and Amber. It was raining hard outside. Cold wind rushed in, damp and sharp. Amber shivered suddenly and sneezed. Hudson frowned right away. “You’re cold?” “I’m fine… just a little,” she said softly, but her voice sounded weak. “Fine my ass,” he muttered, already taking off his suit jacket and placing it over her shoulders. “You’re shaking. Don’t act tough.” She held it close, still trembling a little. “It’s still cold…” His eyes moved. Then they landed on me. On the scarf wrapped around my neck. A soft wool scarf. The last thing my grandmother made before she passed. “Give that to her,” he said. My fingers tightened instantly. “T-this was made by my grandma,” I said quietly, my voice barely steady. “It’s not something I can just—” “I know exactly what it is,” he cut me off, his tone turning colder. “She’s just borrowing it. Why are you making it such a big deal?” Chapter 7 My throat felt tight. I held the scarf for a second longer and slowly, I took it off. My hands felt cold the moment it left my skin. I stepped forward and handed it over. Amber took it, her expression soft, almost guilty. “Thank you… I’ll clean it and give it back to you.” “No,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “Don’t wash it yourself. It can’t be soaked. It needs special care. I’ll have someone pick it up tomorrow.” “Oh okay,” she nodded gently. The car pulled up outside. Hudson glanced at her again, noticing her pale face. Then he looked at me. “Amber’s not feeling well,” he said, already opening the car door for her. “I’m taking her home first. It’s not on the way for you, so just go back yourself.” I didn’t even get the chance to answer. He helped her into the car, careful, like she might break. The car door shut, the engine started, and the black sedan disappeared into the rain like I was never there. I stood at the entrance, my dress getting soaked, the cold wind cutting straight through me. The streets were empty, rain pouring so hard it blurred everything. I waited… and waited. Forty minutes before I could even get a cab. By the time I got home, I was shaking, completely drenched, my head spinning. My forehead burned but I still forced myself to take some medicine, then I just dropped onto the bed and passed out. Sometime in the night, my phone kept vibrating. Again and again. I heard it but I couldn’t move. My head hurt too much, my body too heavy. I just let it ring until it finally stopped. The next morning, the fever went down a little, but my throat felt like sandpaper. I sat up slowly, took a sip of water, then reached for my phone. There were more than a dozen messages. All from Amber. My fingers paused… then I opened it. The first photo hit me like a slap. My scarf. The soft wool scarf my grandma made was completely soaked, twisted, ruined. The texture looked wrong, clumped and stretched like it was destroyed. More messages popped up. “Oh my god I’m so sorry, I forgot wool can’t be soaked so I just left it in water when I got home.” “I feel really bad… how much was it? I’ll pay you back. The material’s nice though, maybe I can reuse it and turn it into something else.” “If you’re not replying I’ll just assume it’s fine, okay? I’ll send you 2 dollars. Since you said your grandma made it, it shouldn’t be that expensive right?” The last photo loaded. My hands started shaking. The scarf was cut. Not just ruined but cut into pieces. Strips. Like someone took their time destroying it. My chest tightened and something snapped inside me. I threw the covers off and got up, not caring that my body still felt weak. I grabbed my coat and walked out. When I got to her place, I didn’t even hesitate. I rang the doorbell hard, my fingers cold but steady. The door opened. Amber stood there, wearing something simple, her face soft and surprised. “Ms. Hereford? You came all the way here? Is something wrong?” “Where’s my scarf?” I asked, my voice flat. She blinked, then turned casually and picked something up from the couch. The pieces. “You mean this? I already paid you for it, didn’t I?” She glanced at her phone. “Oh, you didn’t accept the transfer? Was it too little? I can add more. I mean it was handmade by an elderly person, it shouldn’t be that expensive, right? I’ll send you another 2 dollars, okay? It's not really worth it by way.” Something burned in my chest. Before I even thought— My hand moved. “Smack!” The sound was loud in the quiet room. She stumbled back, holding her face, eyes wide. “You… you hit me?” “You did it on purpose, didn’t you?” I said, my voice shaking but sharp. “You soaked it, you cut it, you sent those messages like you didn’t know. You think I’m stupid?” Her eyes filled with tears instantly. “What are you talking about? I really didn’t mean to, I was just careless…” “Careless?” I laughed, but it sounded wrong. “You came back on purpose. You called him at the exact time your mom needed surgery and forced him to make me donate. You stood outside that room and said all those things. You walked in at that exact moment. And now this?” I stepped closer. “How many things did you plan? How many times did you think I wouldn’t fight back?” “I didn’t…” she shook her head, tears falling faster. “I really don’t understand why you’re saying all this…” “I see through you,” I said quietly. “I just didn’t bother saying it before. But that doesn’t mean you get to keep stepping on me like this.” Her expression flickered for a second, just a second. Then— A voice cut through the room. Cold. Low. Dangerous. “Mikayla… what the hell are you doing?” My body went stiff. I turned around. Hudson stood at the door, his eyes dark and terrifying. But when he looked at her… His voice changed. “Amber,” he said, stepping forward quickly, his tone softening. “What happened? Why are you crying?” Amber sniffed, tears falling as she spoke, her voice shaking like she was about to break. She twisted the story just enough, soft and pitiful, and I watched his face grow colder with every word. Then he turned to me. “It’s just a scarf,” he said, his voice flat, sharp. “Why the hell did you have to hit her over something like that?” My chest tightened. “Just a scarf?” My voice shook before I could stop it. “Hudson! That’s the only thing my grandma left me. The only one.” He paused. Just for a second. Like he didn’t expect that. In five years… I never raised my voice at him. Not once. But now my hands were shaking, my eyes burning, and I didn't even recognize myself. “Amber didn’t do it on purpose,” he said, his tone softening when he looked back at her. “She already paid you, didn’t she? What more do you want? If the money’s not enough, I’ll handle it.” Handle it. Like everything could be fixed with money. He pulled out his checkbook, wrote something fast, then held it out to me. “Take it. That should cover it.” I stared at the check. My chest felt tight, like something was squeezing it slowly, making it hard to breathe. I didn’t move. He frowned, annoyed, then tore another check and wrote a bigger number, his jaw tightening. “Not enough? Fine. Then take this. Stop making a scene over something so small.” One after another. More numbers. More money. Like he was buying silence. Buying me. My fingers finally moved. I took the last check, my hand trembling. “That’s enough,” I said quietly. More than enough. Hudson… this is enough to end everything between us. I turned to leave. But I barely took two steps. “Stop.” His voice cut through me like a blade. Chapter 8 I froze. “You took the money,” he said slowly, dangerously calm. “That slap isn’t settled yet. Apologize to her.” My body stiffened. I turned back, my eyes burning. “What did you say?” “I said, apologize,” he repeated, his gaze cold. “Don’t make me say it twice.” “What if I don’t?” My voice shook, but I still asked. His expression didn’t change. “Then maybe the cooperation between your family and mine… needs to be reconsidered. You understand what I mean, right?” My heart dropped. So this was it? He was using my family now. Everything they worked for… he could crush it with one word. The room went silent. For a few seconds, I couldn’t hear anything. Then slowly, I lowered my head. “…I’m sorry,” I said, my voice hoarse. Amber covered her cheek, looking at me through tears. “Ms. Hereford… are you really apologizing? Or is this just how people like you say sorry? It doesn’t feel real…” My fists clenched. My nails dug into my palms. Then I bent down. Deep. “I’m sorry,” I said again, my voice breaking but clear. “I shouldn’t have hit you. It was my fault. Please forgive me.” Hudson didn’t say anything. Amber sniffed softly. “I still… don’t feel sincerity…” “Mikayla,” Hudson said, his voice colder now. “Don’t even think about leaving until you apologize properly.” My lips trembled. “I’m sorry,” I said again, biting down hard so I wouldn’t cry. “It won’t happen again. I swear.” I straightened slowly and looked at him. “Is this enough?” For a second… he just stared at me. Something flickered in his eyes. Like he remembered something. Maybe the past. But it disappeared just as fast. “That’s enough,” he said coldly. I nodded once. Then I turned and walked out. Didn’t look back. Behind me, I heard his voice again… but it wasn’t for me. “Does it still hurt?” he said softly. “Come here, I’ll put some medicine on it. Don’t move.” Amber’s voice came, quiet and weak. “It does… be gentle, okay…” I kept walking. Tears fell, but I wiped them away fast. Like they never existed. … The next few days, he didn’t come home. And I didn’t call. Not once. On the day everything became official, I went alone. Signed the papers, took the document, listened to the clerk say it was finalized. When they handed it to me, I just stared at it for a second, my fingers brushing over the words. Divorce. That was it. No tears. No pain. Nothing. It was still early when I left. I got a cab and went back to the house, just to grab the last of my things. But the moment I opened the door, I froze. He was there. Standing in the living room like he owned the air. “Where the hell did you go?” Hudson asked, his voice low, eyes locking on me the second I stepped in. I opened my mouth. Did I tell him? Did I just say it now? Before I could speak, he let out a short breath, like he figured it out already. “You went out to get something, didn’t you? For today.” I blinked. “Today…?” He frowned slightly. “Don’t tell me you forgot. It’s our anniversary.” My chest tightened. Anniversary. Huh! Our anniversary already happened last month. Five years ago… same day. We stood in front of everyone, exchanged rings, smiled like it meant something. That night… he handed me divorce papers. Told me not to take anything seriously. Five years. Then it ends. And now… the day I got my divorce papers… was the same day. Funny. “Yeah,” I said quietly, gripping my bag tighter. “I went out to prepare something.” I did. A divorce certificate. That counted, right? He nodded like it was nothing. “Good. At least you didn’t forget this year.” This year. Did he know… this was also the day everything ended? My thoughts felt messy, tangled, but I didn’t say anything. “I’m flying to Paris tomrrow," he continued, adjusting his cuff like he was talking about business. “Taking Amber with me. She’s been wanting to go for a while.” Of course she did. “So I cleared today,” he added, glancing at his watch. “I booked a place. Rooftop, private, no bullshit interruptions. We’ll celebrate properly this time.” Properly. Now? After everything? “I’ll give you your gift later,” he said, already grabbing his jacket. “Get ready. We’re leaving.” He walked toward the door like it was already decided. Like I would follow. I didn’t move. Not even a step. He stopped when he realized, then turned back, his brows pulling together. “What are you doing? Don’t just stand there.” I looked at him. This man. The one I waited for, loved, endured for five years. Should I tell him now? Should I just say… it’s over? My lips parted. But nothing came out. After a few seconds, I lowered my gaze. “I… have something to finish. You go ahead. I’ll follow later.” He stared at me for a moment, like he was trying to read something. Then he gave a short nod. “Fine. Don’t take too long.” And just like that, he left. The door closed. His car started outside. I walked to the window and watched as it drove away, slowly disappearing past the gate. First time in five years… he remembered our anniversary but one month late. And the first time, I didn’t care anymore. I took the document out of my bag. Brand new. Clean. Final. I placed it on the table. Then I picked up my suitcase. Everything I had left. I walked to the door, paused for a second then opened it and stepped out. This time, I didn’t look back. "#Goodnovel #wattpad #Dreame #library #novel #booktok #bookish #bookrecommendations #romance #romancebook 📚Only a limited number of chapters can be displayed here. Click ""Read More"" to open the application and continue reading (it will automatically navigate to the corresponding book page).👇👇👇"

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InactiveJun 27, 26
💔Widow Woman Reveals: 10-Second Song That Changed Her Life Forever

thebrainsong.com

💔Widow Woman Reveals: 10-Second Song That Changed Her Life Forever

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At 68, I lost everything. I had been married to Oliver for 31 years. Three decades of shared holidays, inside jokes, coffee rituals, vacations, late-night grocery runs, and the kind of deep partnership that makes you believe in forever. He was my best friend. My anchor. And she? She was my secretary. And my closest friend. Or so I thought. I wasn’t snooping. I wasn’t suspicious. I was just trying to order takeout from our shared tablet. That’s when I saw it. An open email. Dozens of them. The messages were long… intimate… layered with history. There were photos. Hotel receipts. Vacation plans. Inside jokes and secret names. And the time stamps? It had been going on for over a year. Maybe more. I dropped the tablet. It cracked against the hardwood floor, but the sound barely registered. My ears were ringing. My heart was thundering in my chest. 💔 When I confronted him, he didn’t lie. Didn’t apologize. Didn’t even look surprised. “I didn’t think you’d find out this way,” he said, like it was the discovery that was wrong — not the betrayal itself. I moved out the next week. He took everything… The house was in his name. The savings had been drained. Most of the furniture stayed with him. I left with my clothes, a few keepsakes… and the hollow ache of a woman whose entire foundation had just been ripped out from beneath her feet. The following months were a blur of survival. I couch-surfed. Ate cereal for dinner. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t think. I’d open the fridge and forget why I was there. I stopped trusting people. Stopped trusting my own judgment. Even my reflection felt like a stranger’s. One night, I sat on the bathroom floor, knees to my chest, whispering, “Is this really it? Is this how my life ends — small, alone, and invisible?” And then, on a rainy Thursday afternoon, my phone rang. It was Julia — an old childhood friend I hadn't spoken to in years. She had heard what happened. I don't know how. But the first thing she said was, "I've got you." She told me about a family she knew — a couple looking for a live-in nanny for their six-year-old son. "They're kind. Generous. The job pays well. And more than anything… I think you need somewhere safe to land." I hesitated. I had co-owned a design firm. I was used to making decisions, managing projects, leading teams. Now I was being offered a nanny job? But when you have $68 in your bank account and your soul is fractured — pride takes a backseat. I said yes. The moment I stepped into Claire and Andrew's home, I felt like I'd walked into another universe. The ceilings soared. The light filtered in like something out of a magazine. The kitchen was filled with marble and quiet music and the smell of bergamot candles. It was peaceful. Precise. Effortless. I got a close-up look at a reality that felt like it belonged to another planet — designer clothes casually draped over chairs, rare perfumes lined up on bathroom counters, jewelry left carelessly on nightstands. I couldn’t help but wonder—how can some people have so much, while others have so little? Their son, Leo, was bright and gentle. Genius. The parents were warm, but distant — always working, always traveling. But Claire… she noticed things. She was graceful, warm, and sharp as a tack. Her mind was firing on all cylinders — the energy, the intelligence, the memory. She had this presence… this self-assured glow… an aura of wisdom and quiet power that completely caught me off guard. 😳 She wasn't just wealthy. She was brilliant. And unlike anyone else in that world, she was always respectful and kind to me. One night, after dinner, I was sitting at the kitchen island, staring into a cold cup of tea. I hadn't said much all week. I felt heavy. Like I was floating through my own life in a fog I couldn't break through. Claire walked in wearing a robe, hair up, barefoot. She poured herself tea, then sat across from me in silence. "I see the way your hands tremble," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know that kind of pain. I've lived it." I looked up. Startled. Embarrassed. She smiled. Not pity. Recognition. "Loss doesn't just hurt. It fractures you," she said. "It scrambles your thoughts. Makes everything foggy and sharp at the same time." I nodded. Swallowed. Words wouldn't come. My life was already a mess, and I was an emotional wreck. I couldn't hold it in and broke down in tears… 😭 I let it all out — about my husband, the bills piling up, the stress, the sleepless nights. And I finally told her what I'd been silently suffering with: brain fog, constant forgetfulness, struggling to focus even on simple tasks, losing track of time, dates, even conversations… It all felt like too much to handle. Claire listened to every word. Then she said: "I see you're searching for answers. Let me see if I can help." She disappeared into the study. I heard a drawer open. Close. Footsteps returning. She came back with a serious face and extended her hand — holding a small, seemingly insignificant piece of paper. A few words meticulously written in her distinct handwriting. She placed it on the counter between us. With a gentle tone laced with a hint of mystery, she said: "Like Shakespeare once wrote, 'Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we might win, by fearing to attempt.' I hope you have the courage to try this." 😳 She looked at me with a knowing smile and, in a firm yet gentle voice, said: "Good luck." 🍀🍀🍀 Those simple words held so much weight, echoing in my mind. On the paper was a web link and a short line: "NASA's 7-Second BrainSong." I blinked. "Is this a joke?" She chuckled. "No. It's real. Not music, exactly. It's a sound pattern. We learned about it years ago from a scientist connected to a NASA-led cognitive project. It was developed to protect astronauts from cognitive decline during long missions in space." She leaned in, eyes steady. "They never released it to the public. Not officially. But I've seen what it does." I said nothing. She continued, "After my miscarriage, I went through hell. I couldn't function. Couldn't remember basic things. My marriage was cracking. My business was failing. Then someone gave me this exact piece of paper." She placed her hand on mine. "I listened for seven minutes a day. That's all. Within two weeks, my mind felt like mine again. I started sleeping. Creating. Selling. That year, my company made its first million. That year… I met Andrew." My throat tightened. "The science is there," she said. "Harvard. Stanford. Even the CIA and DARPA ran tests on similar frequencies. The government knows. But they keep these tools quiet… because what would happen if everyday people actually had access to this kind of clarity?" I laughed once. Bitterly. "Sounds too good to be true." "Try it anyway," she said. "You've got nothing to lose." Later that night, alone in the guest room, heart pounding, I sat on the edge of the bed holding that small paper. Little did I know — that piece of paper was about to change everything. 🌟 I typed the link. The page was simple. I watched the video and listened to the secret song. I will never forget that day… I didn't feel anything dramatic. No lightning bolt. No revelation. But I slept. All the way through the night. I will never forget that day… That was the first time I experienced the NASA 7-Second BrainSong. 😍 I started that same night. Right from the guest room. The next morning, I woke up with a strange sense of stillness. I made my bed. Made coffee. Washed my face. I didn't cry. I didn't freeze. I just… moved. And I did it again that night. And again. Later that week, I got a call from the bank. A refund from a closed account I’d forgotten existed — nearly $1,952. I noticed my thoughts slowing down — but in a good way. No more racing. No more spiraling. Just calm, grounded presence. I stopped losing my keys. I remembered names. I could focus. Design ideas started coming back. I even laughed — genuinely — at something Leo said. Claire noticed. "You're glowing," she said with a wink. "Told you." Three weeks later, they offered me a full-time position — double the pay. WAIT… WHAT? 🤩 I was in shock — happy and euphoric. I started freelancing again. Rebuilding my client list. Within six months, I had my own place. Within a year, I was back on my feet — financially, emotionally, mentally. All I can say is — it changed my life! ❤️ And then came James. Not a whirlwind romance. Not a rebound. Just kindness. Steady, honest, warm. The kind of love that feels like a home you forgot existed. A few months later, I visited Claire to express my gratitude. She greeted my thanks with a warm laugh, then shared something I'll never forget: "This extraordinary life I have now was once a mere dream. I built it using the same NASA 7-Second BrainSong. Thomas Edison… even Einstein… they knew about this. The government knows. NASA knows. The CIA has been trying to bury it for years." She paused. "It's been hidden from regular people — kept as a guarded secret among the elite. Why do you think the top 1% keep pulling ahead while everyone else stays stuck? It's not just money. It's access." 😔 She looked me in the eyes. "You have it now. Don't waste it. And if you share it — make sure people understand: this is not a gimmick. It's a tool. A powerful one. And it won't stay online forever." So here I am. Telling you — stranger to stranger — if you're stuck, lost, foggy, shattered… there's something you can try. No hype. No pills. Just a 7-second rhythm that changed everything for me. It brought my brain back online. It brought my life back into color. It opened the door I didn't know I needed. And maybe… it will do the same for you. ✨ If the video is still online, I highly recommend watching it. There's a tiny—but incredibly powerful—area in our brain that needs to be activated. 🧠 Once unlocked, it has the power to turn all your thoughts into reality. ⏳ “Everything you need to change your reality is already within you.” Last time, it disappeared within hours. If you close this page now… you may never find it again. God bless. 🙏 👇 Tap below to see if the NASA 7-Second BrainSong is still available.

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InactiveJun 27, 26
✨2027 DIY Diamond Painting Calendar Kits
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My wedding day. Caught my husband in bed with mistress. Blake didn't even blink. "Play Mrs. Hartley. Stay quiet." Then came his three rules: Don't ask. Don't cry. Don't fight. Obey? Get one thing back. Round one: She wanted my wedding dress. I said nothing. Round two: She took our bed. I held it together. Her ultrasound on the fridge. "Hartley baby sounds nice, right?" I smiled. He returned Mom's bracelet. "Good girl." I locked it away—next to the deed, stocks, debt papers. And the divorce papers he signed twenty-nine days ago. Today's day thirty. The waiting period's over. I meet his eyes. "Blake Hartley. Your rules are done. Mine start now." Living room. Bridget was in my wedding dress, phone propped up, streaming. "Blake! Baby, get over here! Chat's dying to see you!" Blake glanced my way, didn't even pause. Walked straight to her, arm sliding around her waist. He leaned into the camera and grinned. "Some chicks overstay their welcome as Mrs. Hartley. Time to clear out." I walked over. Reached down. Click. Ring light went dark. Slapped the divorce decree on the coffee table. Blake stared. Blinked twice. Then—laughed. "Nice Photoshop job, Dee." I smiled right back. Thirty days ago he'd scribbled his signature at the courthouse just to shut me up. "Fine. Whatever. Just stop being dramatic, okay?" These thirty days? I'd played the perfect little wife. He figured I'd chickened out. Thought I'd already withdrawn it. The room went dead quiet. Livestream chat was going nuclear. Bridget snapped out of it first, hand flying to her ch//est. She shrank into Blake's side. "Blake... did I—did I make her mad? I swear I just wanted to try it on. I wasn't trying to—" That dress. Mom had stayed up three months altering it by hand, embroidered a ring of crabapple blossoms on the hem. Mom said crabapples bloom strong, marriage stays strong—stitched every single petal herself. After the wedding, I wouldn't even trust the dry cleaners. Folded it into the garment bag with my own hands. Now? Bridget was stepping all over the train, red wine splatter on the lace. Blake followed my stare. His jaw tightened. "She's pregnant, Dee. Standing hurts. What's the big deal?" I picked up the scissors from the side table. Rrrrip. Fabric split clean through the waist. Bridget shrieked. Stumbled backward. "Oh my GOD you psycho!" I crouched. Snipped out the crabapple circle. Held it in my palm. Everything else? Straight into the garbage. Blake's face hardened. "Delilah. You done throwing your tantrum?" I met his eyes. "My dress. Can't I cut it up?" He went still. Guess he didn't expect me to snap back so calm. Then—cold laugh. "Look at that. You grew a spine. Here I thought you were actually sick or something." I didn't say anything. I used to explain. He never listened. To some people, your pain just sounds like whining. Bridget's eyes went glossy. Voice cracked. "Blake... I shouldn't have come over. She's still upset I'm having your baby." Blake pulled her behind him immediately. "Dee. Leave the kid out of this." I nodded. "Right. So let's do a paternity test." Bridget's face drained white. Blake's eyes frosted over. "Who the he11 are you accusing?" Monotone: "Whoever's guilty knows who." He snatched up the divorce decree. Flipped through it rough. "Dee. Faking legal documents is a felony." I said: "So call the cops." Blake stared at me like he'd never seen me before in his life. Long silence. Then he hurled the decree on the floor. "You think I won't?" I crouched. Picked it up. Brushed the dust off the seal. "Sure you will. You already blew Mom's surgery fund on Bridget's luxury maternity suite." The air turned to ice. Bridget stopped sniffling. Blake's eyes flickered. Then he rolled them. "That was hospital billing cr@p. Stop pinning everything on me." Hospital billing cr@p. So casual. That year—Mom's brain tumor had come back. She was waiting on imported chemo drvgs to keep her breathing. Drvgs were allocated. Her name was on the list. Bridget whined once: "Blake, your mom-in-law scares me. My heart races when I see her." He yanked the drvgs. Gave them to some business partner's wife instead. I dropped to my knees in the hospital hallway. Begging. He looked down at me. "Dee. Say sorry to Bridget. I'll fix it right away." I said sorry. The drvgs never came. What came was a critical condition notice. And a six-figure surgery bill. Doctor told me Blake had redirected all the funds to Bridget. Booked her the $2,000-a-night VIP maternity wing. Blake had probably forgotten that by now. He remembered if I bowed my head. Not why I was on my knees. I zipped the divorce decree into my purse. "Ten AM tomorrow. Movers are coming. Starting now—this place isn't my home." Room went quiet. Then Bridget—"So... the house." Bit her lip. All innocent. "Blake says—I mean, once the baby's here—we're gonna need somewhere quiet, right? So maybe—maybe we could just..." Blake cut in. "Deed's got your name. Sure. But I've been covering the mortgage, so let's not—let's not make this into a whole thing." I just looked at him. "Mom sold her place. Down payment. Every month the mortgage pulls straight from my paycheck." "Your 'payments'? That's you dropping twenty grand on Bridget's stream, then throwing me eight hundred for groceries like—" "Dee." Blake's jaw went tight. "Come on. What's even the point of—" "The point?" I cut across him. "Every single thing. You owe me." "I'm done letting it slide." Bridget's fingers twisted in her skirt. Something mean flashed behind her eyes. Blake laughed—sharp. "Yeah? Good luck with that. You think you can—without me you can't even get past—" "Past Hartley Corp's lobby?" I finished for him. "We'll see." Turned. Headed upstairs. Phone buzzed. Derek. Got everything. Also—call logs. Night your mom went critical. Derek—my old mentor's favorite. Mom trusted him more than anyone. Thirty days ago I called him. He asked one thing: You absolutely sure about this? I stopped mid-step. Fingers went numb. Thirty days ago—right after filing—I stood on this same staircase watching Blake pull Bridget close, laughing at me like I was pathetic for thinking I could actually leave. He thought the waiting period was me caving. Tantrum. Games. Nope. From that second I was counting down—waiting for him to hand-deliver every piece of his own dirt. Got handwriting tests done. Downloaded cloud recordings. Lined up bank statements in perfect little rows. Derek filed evidence preservation—dragged up every detail they figured nobody'd bother checking. Texted back two words. Do it. Next morning. Movers hadn't shown yet. Bridget went live first. Camera dead-aimed at my closet. Grabbed one of my bags, smiling like butter wouldn't melt. "Okay guys—don't freak! I'm not—this isn't me flexing or whatever. Delilah doesn't want this old stuff anymore so I'm just—helping clean up!" Comments rolling: 【wait who's delilah】 【THE WIFE???】 【pregnant sidechick in the wife's house I CANNOT】 Bridget ducked her head. Playing dumb. Blake right there clipping a necklace on her—Mom's last birthday gift to me. Walked in. Viewer count just hit six figures. Bridget yelped. Hands flying to cover the camera. "Delilah! Oh my god you—can you knock? Please?" Glanced at the door. "My room. So... why?" Blake's voice dropped. "Dee. Not—don't do this on camera." Walked straight up. Unhooked the necklace off her throat. Her eyes went wet instantly. "I was just—it's just trying it on—you don't have to be such a—" Pulled out my phone. Hit play. Bridget's voice. Crystal clear. "Blake babe—that necklace? From Delilah's mom? It's gorgeous." "I mean she's dead anyway so keeping it around is like—bad juju right? Just let me have it." Chat exploded. Bridget went white. Blake grabbed for my phone. "You—did you—you recorded—" Met his eyes. Calm. "Yup. Learned from you." Used to tell me I was paranoid. So he stuck cameras everywhere—living room, kitchen, hallways. Even outside Mom's old room. Told me: I've got nothing to hide. I'm cool with it. So what's your problem? Then Bridget smashed Mom's photo. Right in the camera blind spot. He shrugged. No video? No proof. Stop blaming her. After that I swapped every single camera for cloud backup. He never knew. Bridget killed the stream, bawling. Too late. Already screen-recorded. Clips everywhere. Trending locally in seconds. #PregnantMistressRaidsWifesDead MomsStuff #SideChickStealsWidowsJewelry Blake's face went stone. "Real proud of yourself, huh?" I tucked the necklace back in its case. "Not even close. We're just getting started." He stared me down. "What the he11 is this?" I looked at Bridget's belly. "You keep saying that's your kid. So prove it." Bridget's hands shot to her stomach. "Oh my god—are you serious right now? You're really gonna—" Blake cut in sharp. "It's mine." I shrugged. "Cool. Test it." Bridget stumbled back. "I can't—the doctor said—my pregnancy's high-risk, I can't—stress is bad for—" Blake caught her, shooting me a look that could freeze he11 over. "You really gonna go after an unborn baby?" Almost laughed in his face. Go after the baby? Three years back, I was pregnant too. Puking my guts out all day. Called Blake seventeen times. Seventeen. Not one answer. Turns out he was at some influencer party getting wasted with Bridget. I passed out in the bathroom. Woke up in a pool of blood. ER doc asking where's my husband. I couldn't even scream through the pain. Lost the baby. Blake finally rolled in hours later—Bridget right behind him. Wearing his jacket. Playing shy by the doorway. He goes: "Look, I feel bad, okay? But don't—don't pull this guilt trip thing. We'll have another one." Except we won't. Ever. Doc told me my uterus was wrecked. Basically infertile now. I showed Blake the report. He didn't even glance at it. Chucked it in a drawer. "Doctors love scaring people. Worst case you do IVF or whatever. Yeah it'll svck, but—" Now here he is. Babying Bridget's stomach like it's the crown jewels. I pulled my eyes away. "Fine. Skip it. Court'll order it anyway." Blake's head snapped up. "Court?" I yanked the legal papers from my purse. "Splitting assets. Emotional distress. Slander. Theft of personal property." "Oh—and that three mil debt you dumped on me." "Blake. I'll see you there." Color drained from his face. Bridget went pale but kept the waterworks going. "Delilah... c'mon... Blake was just trying to save the business... why are you being like this? We're family—" I locked eyes with her. "Wait—you knew?" She went rigid. Hit play. Her voice filled the room again. "Blake, babe—Delilah's a total doormat. Just shove some papers at her, she'll sign." "If the money thing blows up, whatever—make her sell. Didn't her dead mom leave that little house?" Blake exploded. "DELILAH!" Charged at me. Movers walked in right then. Lead guy stepped between us. Black suit. Dead-eyed stare. "Mr. Hartley. Careful." Blake froze. Recognized him. "...Derek Wilder?" Derek—my old mentor's protégé. Hardest commercial lawyer to hire in the state. Blake used to garbage-talk him nonstop. Called him a broke ambulance chaser who only handled messy divorces. Now Derek's standing there with legal docs, voice flat as glass. "Blake. Been a while. I'm repping Delilah." Blake laughed—ug1y sound. "You can't touch this." Derek smiled. "Guess we'll find out." Movers started hauling stuff downstairs. Books. Laptop. Contracts. Mom's things. Box after box disappearing. Bridget suddenly dove at one wooden box. "NO! You can't—that's not—" Mom's deed to the courtyard property. Bridget's eyes went wild. "Blake said—we're gonna use it for—for the baby's party—it's ours—" I walked over. Peeled her hands off. She threw herself backward. "AHHH—the baby—oh god—" Blake whipped around. Slammed me aside. My back cracked into the glass cabinet edge. White-hot pain shot through my ribs. Bridget crumpled on the floor, sobbing like her lungs were collapsing. "Blake—it hurts—I'm bleeding—the baby—" Blake scooped her up, turned on me with murder in his eyes. "If she loses this kid, Dee—I swear to god—you're going to jail." I gripped the cabinet to stay upright. "Sounds good. Make sure you file that police report." He stopped. I tilted my chin toward the corner camera. "That one? Got the whole show in 4K." Bridget's sobs cut off like someone hit mute. Blake's face twisted. Thirty minutes later—ambulance took Bridget. Before he left, Blake leaned in close. "You're gonna regret every second of this." I looked down. Blood dripping from my palm. Derek grabbed my arm. "Hospital. Right now." Shook my head. "Bank first." He stared at me. Then sighed. "You're different." "How?" "You used to wear your heart on your sleeve. Now it's like—like someone cut it out and you didn't even notice. You're ice-cold." I let my face go blank. "Maybe that's 'cause..." "I don't love him anymore." Bank VIP lounge. Manager saw me, went pale. "Mrs. Hartley... this guarantee—your signature's on file." I slid the forensic report across. "It's forged." He opened it, sweat beading on his forehead. Derek pushed over another stack. "Loan approval's got three major violations. Already filed with regulators." Manager shot up. "Mr. Wilder—we'll—we'll review everything—" I cut him off. "Freeze the debt collection. And pull all security footage from when Blake submitted those docs." Manager didn't dare argue. Left the bank. Sky already dark, phone full of Blake's missed calls. Ignored them. He switched to texts. [Bridget's spotting because of you.] [Get to the hospital. Apologize. Maybe I'll drop the debt thing.] Stared at those words for a long time. Then blocked him. Derek drove me to the hospital for my injuries. Doc lifted my shirt, frowned hard. "How'd you get all these old marks?" Looked down. Bruises along my ribs, finger-shaped marks on my arms. And the frostbite scars from last winter—when Blake locked me on the balcony all night. That night Bridget said: "Delilah looks at me scary. I'm scared." Blake shoved me out. "Stay there till you figure out what you did wrong." Five degrees below freezing. Stood there till dawn, fingers split open. Spiked a fever the next day. While I was swallowing pills alone, Blake posted ski trip pics with Bridget. Doctor asked gently, "Want me to call the police?" Before I could answer—familiar voice from the hall. "Call them for what?" Blake barged in with two bodyguards behind him. Saw Derek, face went colder. "Already shopping for my replacement, Dee?" Derek stepped in front of me. "Mr. Hartley. Show some respect." Blake's fist slammed the wall. "This is between me and my wife." I buttoned my shirt, voice calm. "We're divorced." His eyes locked on mine. "I didn't agree to it." Almost laughed. "City hall did. That's enough." Hit a nerve. He lunged, grabbed my wrist hard. "Dee—how long—Bridget's in a hospital bed defending you right now." "You're coming with me. Apologize to her." I yanked free. "Tell her to shut her mouth." His expression went dead. "You didn't used to be like this." I looked at him. Used to? Used to, I'd cook him soup when he came home drunk, stay up all night nursing him. I'd hand-wash his clothes, keep everything perfect. I'd cry and beg him why after every one of Bridget's stunts. I'd kneel by Mom's hospital bed, begging him to just look at me once. All those "used to's"—he carved them out of me, piece by piece. I looked away. "Blake. The old Delilah's dead." Panic flashed across his face. Next second—bodyguards pinned Derek. Blake dragged me toward the door. "Dead or not—I decide that. You're seeing Bridget. Now." I couldn't break free. End of the hallway—Bridget in a wheelchair, face ghostly pale. She saw me, tears rolled instantly. "Delilah... don't—don't be mad at Blake. He just—the baby—he cares so much—" Blake shoved me in front of her. "Apologize." I didn't move. He clenched his jaw. "Dee. Don't push me." Bridget suddenly pulled something from her lap. My breath stopped. Mom's ashes pendant. After Mom died, I sealed a bit of her ashes inside, wore it for two years straight. Then Bridget said pregnant women can't be near dead people's things. Blake had it ripped off me. Bridget smiled—soft, poisonous. "Delilah... just—just apologize. I'll give it back. Otherwise..." She dangled it over the open window. My throat tightened. "Give it back." Blake froze. First time I'd shown real emotion in weeks. Something smug flickered in his eyes. "So you do have a weak spot after all." Bridget held the pouch out the window. Below—medical waste truck idling. "Delilah. Get on your knees. Beg me. Then I'll—then I'll give it back." Blake frowned but didn't stop her. I looked at him. "You want this too?" He avoided my eyes. "It's just—bending a little. You're too stubborn. Not like you haven't done it before." Slowly, I dropped to my knees. Derek shouted behind me. "DELILAH!" Didn't look back. The second my knees hit the ground—Bridget laughed. "See? You should've—you should've just done this from the start." She held the pouch out. I reached for it. Her fingers opened. The pouch dropped. "MOM—" I screamed, lunged for the window.

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InactiveJun 27, 26
He Abandoned Our Daughter, So I Made Him Believe She Died
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At the party Julian threw to welcome his “son,” I had a gift delivered. Inside were the final divorce decree, a restraining order, and a box. The box held my daughter’s cut-off NICU bracelet and a bloodstained baby blanket. He probably thought I’d lost my mind. But he had forced my hand. In the third year of our marriage, I was pregnant with our daughter. And he turned around and legally acknowledged another woman’s child as his own. When I caught him, all he said was, “It’s temporary. For the insurance.” I believed him. My reward was watching him carry another woman’s son into an ambulance, leaving me—his bleeding wife—to be questioned by the police. In that moment, I knew we were over. I gave birth to our daughter alone. She fought for her life in the NICU while her father ran himself ragged for someone else's child. He even sent me a voice message: if anything happened to that other child, he would never forgive me. Fine. He’d cost me ......

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🔞💔💔“He chose her. I chose freedom.” Chapter 1 On our fifth wedding anniversary, the first thing I got wasn’t a gift. It was a video. My husband, Hudson Hayes, was in some expensive hotel room, laughing and sleeping with another woman like I didn’t even exist. And it wasn’t just any woman. It was Amber Fenwick, his first love. I watched the whole thing without blinking while waiting for him at the restaurant. I just sat there, ate my food, and smiled. When I got home, I didn’t cry either. I picked up my phone and called my lawyer. “Attorney, I sent you the divorce papers. The one Hudson and I signed on our wedding day five years ago. Did you see anything wrong with it?” I stood by the window when I said it, staring at my own reflection instead of the city outside. My fingers kept rubbing the edge of my phone like I was trying to peel something off it. Maybe I was just trying to feel something. “Ms. Hereford, I’ve reviewed everything,” the lawyer said, calm and distant. “There’s no issue. You’ve got one month left before the five year term ends. Once it’s up, the agreement takes effect automatically. You can go down to the county clerk’s office and file for the divorce.” One month. Just one more month. “…Okay. Thank you.” I hung up and didn’t move for a while. Then my eyes drifted up. The wedding photo was still hanging there, right where it had always been. Like nothing had changed. Like everything hadn’t already rotted from the inside. I walked closer without thinking. In the picture, I was smiling so brightly. God, I looked stupid. My dress was pure white, my eyes curved like I believed in forever. And Hudson… He stood beside me in that perfect suit, tall and untouchable. Handsome like something carved out of stone. But his face was cold. No smile. Not even a fake one. Anyone could see it. He never loved me. “…It’s almost over,” I whispered, my fingers brushing against his face in the photo. Cold glass. That was all he’d ever been to me. “You must be happy, huh?” Or was that just me trying to convince myself? The sound of the door unlocking snapped me out of it. I pulled my hand back like I’d been caught doing something wrong and turned around quickly. “You’re back.” My voice came out softer than I wanted. He walked in like he owned the world. Like the air itself moved out of his way. Hudson always had that presence. Heavy. Dangerous. The kind of man people lowered their eyes around. A mafia boss. A king in the dark. I took his suit jacket as he shrugged it off and hung it up carefully. Then I knelt in front of him and helped him change into his slippers. My hands moved on their own. I didn’t even have to think. I’d done this too many times. Hudson loosened his tie, irritation already written all over his face. “Next month’s the Hayes Global anniversary banquet,” he said. “You’re coming with me.” My hands paused for a second. Then I finished adjusting his slippers and stood up slowly. “I can’t go.” His head snapped toward me. “What the hell do you mean you can’t go?” I opened my mouth but nothing came out at first. Should I tell him? That his woman send their videos to me? Would it even matter? Before I could say anything, his expression darkened like he already had his own answer. “…Don’t tell me this is about Amber again.” His voice dropped, colder now, sharper. “I told you from day one I had someone else. You said you wouldn’t interfere. Or were you just talking shit back then?” The words hit like they always did. Clean. Precise. Like a blade he knew exactly how to use. My chest tightened and it hurt so bad I almost laughed. Yeah. What kind of husband said that on his wedding day? What kind of wife agreed? “I’m not…” I stopped, swallowing hard. “It’s not that.” But wasn’t it? Or was I just too tired to fight anymore? He scoffed, running a hand through his hair. “Then what’s your problem? It’s just a damn banquet. You’ve done it before. Stand there, smile, play the part. That’s all I’m asking.” Just stand there. Just smile. Just pretend like I wasn’t slowly breaking apart inside. I looked at him and for a second, I wanted to ask. Did you ever feel even a little guilty? Did you ever look at me and think I was your wife? But the words died before they could leave my mouth. Because I already knew the answer. Five years ago, when our families announced the marriage, I thought I’d been given everything. I’d liked him for so long. Longer than I wanted to admit. So when I heard I was going to marry Hudson Hayes, I thought… maybe this was fate. Maybe he’d learn to love me. I was so stupid. That night, in that same house, still in my wedding dress, he handed me a contract instead of touching me. “I’ve got someone I like,” he said, like he was talking about the weather. Cold. Detached. “She’s not from the right background, and my family won’t accept her. But give me five years.” I remember just staring at him, my hands shaking as I held the paper. Five years? “For these five years, you stay as my wife in name,” he continued. “I’ll take control of the Hayes family, and when I do, no one will dare say shit about who I choose. After that…” He looked at me like I was nothing more than a business deal. “We divorce. Clean. Simple.” That night, I signed the papers like he wanted. My hands didn’t even feel like mine when I wrote my name. It was just… done. Like I’d already lost before anything even started. Then I locked myself in the bathroom and cried until morning. No sound, just shaking and choking on it, biting my sleeve so no one would hear. Like that would change anything. Less than three months into the marriage, Amber disappeared. Just… gone. I heard they had a huge fight before that, but no one told me details. I didn’t need them. I saw what it did to him. Hudson went crazy. He used every connection he had, every man under him, every dirty favor. A mafia boss like him, someone who could find anyone in this world… and still, he couldn’t find her. I watched him break. He stopped coming home most nights. And when he did, he smelled like alcohol and smoke and something darker. His eyes were always heavy, like he hadn’t slept in days. I wanted to ask if he was okay. I never did. What right did I have? Then one night, he came back drunk. Really drunk. The kind where he could barely stand straight but still walked like he owned everything. Before I could even say anything, he grabbed me. “Hudson…” I tried, my voice shaking. He didn’t answer. He pushed me onto the bed like I weighed nothing. My heart was beating so fast I thought it would tear out of my chest. Was this… happening? Did he finally…? But then his lips crashed onto mine and I froze. It tasted like alcohol. Bitter. Suffocating. “…Amber…” his voice broke, rough and desperate against my skin. “Why the hell did you leave me, huh? Why’d you run off with that guy? You think I wouldn’t come for you? You don’t trust me that much?” Everything inside me just stopped. My body went stiff under him. So he found her. But she left him anyway. And I was just, here. A substitute. A shadow. Something he could hold when the real one was gone. Chapter 2 That night was my first time. I didn’t even know if I should cry or laugh. He held me the whole night, his grip tight like he was afraid someone would take me away too. But every word that came out of his mouth… was her name. Over and over again. Not mine. Never mine. I stared at the ceiling until my eyes burned, wondering… was this what being a wife meant? Or was I just something he used to survive her absence? The next morning, he woke up first. There were bloodstains on the sheets. He noticed. I saw it in the way his eyes paused for a second. Just a second. Then he looked away. Didn’t say anything. Not even one word. Not even… sorry. I smiled like nothing happened. I got his clothes ready, laid them out neatly like I always did. “You’ve got an important meeting today,” I told him softly. “Don’t be late.” Like I wasn’t the one who bled all night. Like my heart wasn’t already torn open. ... From that day on, I tried harder. Pathetic, right? I knew he didn’t love me. I knew I was just filling space. But I still tried. He had a bad stomach, so I woke up early every morning and made him chicken soup. The kind that wouldn’t hurt him. He was always under pressure, dealing with things I didn’t even want to imagine, so I learned how to massage his shoulders and his back, careful and quiet. I liked silence anyway. Or maybe I just got used to it. I stopped making noise, stopped asking for anything. Even my footsteps became softer. If I stayed small enough… maybe I wouldn’t bother him. And somehow, he started changing. A little. When he came back from business trips, he’d sometimes bring me small things. Nothing big. Just… something. When I got sick, he’d make me medicine himself and hand it to me without looking at me. “Drink it,” he’d say. “Don’t be stubborn.” And at night, sometimes he held me. His arm around my waist, his body warm against mine. Those moments felt so real it scared me. Like maybe… maybe he was starting to see me. Maybe I wasn’t just nothing to him anymore. He never mentioned the divorce again. Not once. Like that paper we signed never existed. And I… I actually believed it. I thought maybe if I just held on a little longer, he’d fall in love with me. Stupid, right? Three months ago, Amber came back. She broke up with her boyfriend and returned from the US like nothing happened. And Hudson? He went back to her without hesitation. No explanation. No guilt. Nothing. He took her out to eat, went shopping with her, stayed by her side like she was the only thing that mattered in the world. He even canceled meetings, important ones, the kind he used to say could never be moved. All because she said she was in a bad mood. I stood by the window one night and watched his car drive away again. Same direction. Same place. Her place. I didn’t cry this time. I just watched. And finally understood. Love was love. Real love didn’t change. No matter how much I gave, how much I tried, how much I broke myself into something smaller and quieter and easier to keep… it would never compare to one look from her. Not even close. Five years. It was almost over. “Why aren’t you saying anything?” His voice snapped me out of it. I blinked and looked at him, my throat tightening like something was stuck there. He didn’t remember? For five years, I’d been counting down every single day, scared that when the time came, he’d just walk away without even looking back. But now he stood there like none of it existed. Like that agreement meant nothing. Did it ever mean anything to him? I parted my lips, about to remind him, to say it out loud before I lost the courage again but his phone rang. He picked it up right away. I couldn’t hear clearly, but I knew that voice. Amber. She was crying, choking on her words, panicking about something. Hudson’s expression changed instantly. His whole body tensed, like nothing else in the world mattered anymore. “Hey, hey… don’t panic,” his voice dropped, low and urgent. “I’m coming right now. Stay there. Don’t move, you hear me?” He didn’t even wait for a reply. The call ended and he grabbed his keys, already moving. “Hudson, I—” I didn’t even finish. He rushed past me and his shoulder slammed into mine so hard I lost my balance. My back hit the door frame and a sharp pain shot through me. I let out a small sound, something between a gasp and a groan. But he didn’t stop. Didn’t look back. Didn’t even notice. The door closed and he was gone. Just like that. I stayed there for a few seconds, leaning against the wall, trying to breathe through the pain. Then I slowly pushed myself up and walked back to the bedroom. I took off my coat and saw the bruise already forming on my shoulder. Dark. Ugly. I opened the first aid kit and cleaned it quietly, pressing the cotton against my skin. It stung, but it was nothing compared to what was inside my chest. That felt like something dull was slicing through it… slowly, over and over again. I sat on the edge of the bed and stared out the window. The sky was getting darker, the city lights coming on one by one. I don’t even know how long I stayed like that. Until my phone rang. Hudson. I hesitated for a second then picked up. “Come to the Favilla hospital,” he said, straight to the point. My heart skipped. “What happened?” “We’ll talk when you get here.” The line went dead. ... When I arrived, I saw him right away. He was standing outside the operating room. And Amber… she was pressed against him, crying like her whole world was falling apart. My steps slowed. Something tightened in my chest again, like a hand squeezing too hard. I still walked over. “What happened?” I asked softly. Hudson looked at me, his expression serious. “Amber’s mother collapsed earlier. It’s a severe blood disorder. Her body’s failing fast. She needs a bone marrow transplant immediately.” I froze. “And…?” “We checked everywhere,” he continued, calm like he was talking about business. “No match. So I had them run a test on you secretly.” Something inside me dropped. “And?” My voice barely came out. “You’re a match.” Chapter 3 For a second, I just stared at him. “Y-you want me to donate?” I asked, my fingers curling slightly. “Hudson… I can’t. I’m scared of needles, I don’t even… this is surgery, it’s risky, I—” “I didn’t call you here to complain,” he cut me off, his tone turning cold. “Don’t start that shit with me.” “I’m not complaining, I just… I’m scared, okay?” My voice shook and I hated it. “Can’t you find someone else? Please, I really can’t do this—” Before I could step back, two of his men moved. They grabbed my arms. Hard. I flinched, panic rising in my chest. “Let go! What are you doing?” Hudson stepped closer, his shadow falling over me. His eyes were dark, unreadable, like there was no room for refusal. “I’m your husband,” he said, voice low and dangerous. “And you’ll do exactly what I say.” My heart dropped. “Your life is mine,” he continued, his grip tightening on my chin, forcing me to look at him. “So you’re donating. Don’t make me repeat myself.” For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Was I even a person to him? Or just something he owned? My eyes burned but I forced it back, swallowing everything down like I always did. “…Okay,” I whispered. The men let go of me. “I’ll sign.” The nurse handed me the form. My hands were shaking, but I still took the pen. Stroke by stroke, I wrote my name. Each line felt heavy. Like I was carving something into my own heart. And I smiled a little, just enough so no one would notice the tears I was trying so hard to hide. Just before they pushed me in, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Hudson!” My voice came out weaker than I wanted. He stopped and turned his head slightly, eyes cold, like I’d just interrupted something unimportant. For a second, I forgot everything I wanted to say. My lips trembled. Then I forced out the only thing I could. “…Nothing.” His eyes flickered, just a little. I thought maybe, just maybe… But he didn’t say anything. He turned and walked outside. The doors closed right in front of me. And that was it. The moment they shut, my vision blurred and the tears I’d been holding back just fell. Quiet. Helpless. So this was how deep his love went. Deep enough to throw me onto an operating table without hesitation. Deep enough that even if it was my life, he wouldn’t care. — When I woke up, everything felt heavy. My body, my head, even my breathing. It was like I was floating somewhere between awake and not. The lights were too bright. My throat felt dry. “…You’re awake?” a nurse’s voice came gently beside me. I blinked slowly, turning my head. “Mm… yeah…” “How are you feeling? Dizzy? Pain anywhere?” “A little,” I whispered. “I-is the surgery done?” She smiled. “Yes. It went well. The patient is stable now and recovering.” Good. That meant she was okay. I swallowed, my chest feeling strangely empty. “Hudson, where is he?” The nurse paused for a second, then said casually, “Mr. Hayes? He’s with his wife and her mother right now.” My heart stopped. His wife? Oh. Right. I stared at the ceiling, not saying anything. The nurse didn’t notice. She just kept talking, even giggling a little. “Honestly, I was watching them earlier and I got so jealous,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “They look like such a perfect couple!” I didn’t move. “Mr. Hayes was so attentive,” she continued, almost dreamy. “He kept holding his wife’s hand and talking to her softly. You wouldn’t even guess he’s someone so powerful.” Each word felt like something pressing deeper into me. “And the way he looked at her,” she added, smiling. “Gosh, it was so sweet. I mean, you can really tell he loves her a lot.” I closed my eyes slowly. “Even when the doctor came out, he didn’t leave her side,” she said again, laughing quietly. “He kept comforting her, like she was the one who just went through surgery. If I had a husband like that, I’d never let him go.” I let out a small breath. So that was how it looked from the outside. A loving husband. A devoted man. And me? What was I? I forced a small smile, even though no one was looking. “…That’s good,” I murmured. “As long as she’s okay.” … I lay there staring at the ceiling, my hand hooked to the IV, the slow drip the only thing keeping time. My body still felt heavy and numb, like it didn’t belong to me anymore. The nurse had just left when the door opened again. I thought it's Hudson but it wasn't. Amber walked in. She looked soft, fragile, eyes still a little red like she’d been crying for hours. In her hands was a basket of fruit, neatly wrapped like this was some kind of polite visit. “Ms. Hereford…” she said gently, stepping closer. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to trouble you like this again.” I looked at her but didn’t say anything. She placed the basket down and gave me a small smile. “Thank you. Really… if it wasn’t for you, my mom wouldn’t have made it. You saved her.” Her voice softened, almost sweet but it's fake. “Thank you for being such a devoted slave to my husband— I mean… devoted wife to Hudson.” My fingers twitched slightly on the blanket. Slave? “Do you want some apples?” she asked, already reaching for one. “I’ll peel it for you.” “I’m fine,” I said quietly. She didn’t stop. The knife slid against the apple skin in slow, careful strokes. The sound was soft, almost soothing. Almost. “I really didn’t expect…” she continued, her voice turning distant, like she was drifting somewhere else. “After all these years, he’s still like that with me.” My chest tightened. “What do you mean?” I asked, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear it. She let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “He just never changed.” The peel fell in one long strip as she spoke. “Last year, I mentioned once that I liked this limited edition watch,” she said casually. “I didn’t even remember saying it. But a week later, he flew overseas just to get it for me. It wasn’t even available locally.” My fingers slowly curled. “He showed up at my place in the middle of the night,” she added, smiling faintly. “But I was still mad at him back then, so I didn’t even let him in. I told him to leave and threw the box back at him.” Her tone was light. Like it was nothing. Like his effort was something she could just throw away. My mind went blank for a second. Because I remembered. That same time. He told me he had a business trip abroad. Three days. When he came back, he handed me a watch. Just like that. No explanation. No emotion. “Take it,” he said. “Saw it. Thought it suited you.” I’d been so happy. I didn’t even wear it. I kept it safe, tucked away like something precious I didn’t deserve to ruin. And now? It was just something she didn’t want. I didn’t realize my nails were digging into my palm until it started to hurt. Chapter 4 Amber didn’t notice. Or maybe she did and just didn’t care. “And there was this one time,” she continued, peeling another strip, her voice softening again. “I got into a fight with my ex. It was really bad. I blocked everyone, and disappeared for a few days.” She glanced at me, like she was about to share something intimate. “Hudson went crazy trying to find me. When he did, he dragged me out of that place himself. He was so angry, I thought he was going to kill someone.” She laughed lightly. “He kept cursing, saying, ‘You think you can just disappear on me like that? I’ll tear this whole city apart if I have to.’” My heart twisted. I remembered that night too. New Year's Eve. He came home late. Different. Rough. Like something inside him had snapped. He didn’t say much. Just claimed me in, over and over again, like he couldn’t stop. I thought… I thought maybe he finally wanted me. That maybe, he was starting to feel something. I was so stupid. The next morning, when I woke up, the bed beside me was already cold. I told myself he had urgent business. That was normal, right? But now? Now I know. He wasn’t busy. He was running to her. Always her. Amber finished peeling the apple and finally handed it to me. “Here.” I didn’t take it. She didn’t mind. She just set it down beside me and looked at me with that same soft, harmless expression. “You’re really kind, Ms. Hereford,” she said gently. “Staying by his side all these years, taking care of him like that.” Her eyes lingered on me, something unreadable passing through them. “But some things…” she added quietly, “no matter how hard you try, they just don’t belong to you.” I lowered my gaze to my hand, the IV needle still buried in my skin. Yeah. I think I finally understood that. … After I got discharged, I went home and packed everything quietly. Clothes. Jewelry. Things I barely touched. Things I once thought mattered. I didn’t take much. What was the point? I was just waiting. Waiting for the divorce to finalize. Waiting for it all to end. During those days, Amber kept sending me messages. Not even hiding it. Videos. Photos. One after another. At first I didn’t open them. Then I did. I don’t even know why. Maybe I wanted to hurt myself properly. Maybe I just needed to see it with my own eyes. Hudson stayed by her side the whole time. Not for a moment did he leave. In one video, he was sitting beside her hospital bed, carefully feeding her fruit, peeling everything clean like it was something precious. In another, he was adjusting her blanket, his movements slow, patient… gentle. Gentle. I stared at the screen for a long time. Was this the same man? The same man who never even looked at me twice? Then another message came. A video. “Look, Miss Hereford,” Amber said, her face filling the screen as she turned the camera. Hudson was there, talking to a doctor, his expression serious, controlled. That same cold aura. That same power. “He sent my mom abroad for treatment,” she continued casually. “Paid for everything. Even bought her a house there. There’s a maid, a private doctor… everything’s arranged.” She laughed a little. “He’s really something, right?” My fingers tightened around my phone. “Miss Hereford, I’m sorry for taking your husband for now, okay?” she added, voice soft, almost teasing. “He just missed me too much. He loves me so much, I can’t even push him away.” Her smile didn’t change. “You can’t really compete with that, can you?” The screen went dark. I didn’t realize I was crying until the tears hit my hand. Drop by drop. I wiped them away quickly, taking a shaky breath. Over the years, I did all those things too. He had a bad stomach, so I woke up early every day to cook for him. I waited for him with the lights on, no matter how late it got. I peeled his fruit, cut everything into small pieces so he wouldn’t even have to think. I gave him everything. And now… he was doing all of that for someone else. I closed my eyes and let out a slow breath. “It’s fine,” I whispered to myself. “It’ll be over soon.” Right? Once I stop loving him, I’ll be okay. I’ll take care of myself. I have to. ... A week later, he suddenly came home. I was surprised when I saw him. Shouldn’t he be with her? “Get changed,” he said, already loosening his tie. “We’re having dinner at home tonight.” “…Okay.” I didn’t ask anything. I just went upstairs and changed. At the dinner, everything felt normal. Too normal. People were laughing, talking, raising their glasses like this was just another gathering. Then the topic shifted. “You’ve been married five years now. It’s about time you had a child.” “Yeah, Hudson’s the head of the family now. There needs to be an heir.” “Mika, you should hurry up.” I kept my head down, fingers brushing against the rim of my glass. A child? With him? Did I even have that right? “No rush,” Hudson said. His voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through everything. The whole room went silent. Everyone exchanged looks but no one dared say anything else. Not to him. Not anymore. The atmosphere turned stiff after that and the dinner ended quickly. “Mika,” Mrs. Hayes said sharply as we stood. “Come with me to the study.” I knew what that meant. Anyone could see it. A warning. About children. About my place. “If you’ve got something to say, say it in front of me,” Hudson said, frowning. Before she could respond, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and his expression changed immediately. “…Amber?” he answered, already stepping aside. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?” His voice… it wasn’t the same voice he used with me. Not even close. Mrs. Hayes let out a cold snort. “Come with me.” I pressed my lips together and followed her without a word. As soon as the study door closed, her face changed. All that fake calm from dinner disappeared. “Kneel.” I didn’t argue. I just went down slowly, my knees hitting the cold marble. It stung, but I was already used to that kind of pain. “Do you know where you went wrong?” she asked, looking down at me like I was something dirty. I lowered my eyes and stayed quiet. A loud bang hit the table. “You stupid girl!” she snapped, her voice sharp and cold. “Hudson said he’s not in a hurry to have a child and you just sat there? You didn’t even try to change his mind?” My fingers curled slightly. Was I supposed to beg him? Force him? Didn’t he already make it clear… I meant nothing? She opened a drawer and took out a small bottle, then slammed it in front of me. “Drink this. It’s a fertility tonic. Starting today, you take it every day and you sleep with him until you get pregnant. I don’t care what it takes.” I stared at the bottle. In the past, I would’ve taken it without a word. But now… “I won’t take it,” I said quietly. The room went still. “What did you just say?” her voice dropped, dangerous. “I won’t take it,” I repeated, lifting my head slightly. “He doesn’t want a child right now. I’m respecting that.” That was the truth. Every time we were together, he made sure there were precautions, and if something slipped, he’d make me take pills right after. I used to think that maybe he just wasn’t ready yet. Now I knew. He just didn’t want one with me. And if I was leaving, why would I tie myself to him forever? “You’ve got some nerve?!" she said slowly, eyes narrowing. “Say that again.” “I won’t take it.” Her expression twisted. “You’ve gone too far!” she shouted. “As his wife, you can’t even do your duty? You can’t even give him a child? And you let him waste himself on that woman. All that effort, all that time, all for her and her damn family. You didn’t stop him once.” My chest tightened. Stop him? When had I ever had that power? She turned her head slightly. “Bring it.” A servant stepped forward and handed her a thick leather strap. Dark. Heavy. The kind they used for punishment. My body tensed. “I’ll ask you one last time,” she said, gripping it tightly. “Are you going to take the medicine or not?” I shook my head. The sound came before the pain. CRACK! A sharp crack filled the room, then it hit. My back arched as the pain exploded across my skin, burning and tearing at the same time. I bit my lip hard to stop myself from crying out. Chapter 5 “Answer me. Are you taking it or not?” I shook my head again. Another strike. And another. Each one landed harder than the last. My body trembled, my hands pressing against the floor as I tried to stay upright. Through the glass window, I could see outside. Hudson was there. Standing in the garden. His back facing this room. One hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone. His posture relaxed, like nothing in the world could touch him. Then he laughed. Low, soft. “…Amber,” I heard faintly through the glass. Of course. Who else? “Since you don’t understand,” Mrs. Hayes said coldly behind me, raising the strap again, “then I’ll beat it into you.” The leather cut through the air and landed again. My vision started to blur. Pain spread everywhere, hot and overwhelming. I could feel something wet soaking through my clothes but I didn’t look. “I w-won't,” my voice came out weak, barely there. “I won’t take it…” Another strike. My body gave out and I collapsed forward, barely able to hold myself up. Through my fading vision, I saw him again. Still standing there. Still talking. Still not turning around. Not even once. A small, broken thought crossed my mind. Was I ever anything to him? Or was I just… someone he could lose without noticing? Everything started going dark. And just before I lost consciousness, I felt something strange. Relief. Maybe… this was good. Maybe after this, I wouldn’t feel anything for him anymore. … When I woke up, I was already in a hospital bed. Everything felt heavy, and my back burned the moment I tried to breathe a little deeper. “Mr. Hayes, the injuries are quite severe,” someone beside me said. “The leather strikes cut deep. Some areas reached the dermis. It’ll take time to heal.” “Then use the best damn medicine,” Hudson’s voice came, low and cold. “I don’t care what it costs. Get the best doctors and make sure she doesn’t get scared.” “Yes, of course.” Footsteps faded, and the room went quiet. I slowly opened my eyes. He was there. Standing beside the bed, looking down at me. When he realized I was awake, he moved closer, his brows slightly furrowed. “You awake? How are you feeling?” I tried to shift, but the pain hit instantly, sharp and burning. I sucked in a breath and forced a small voice out. “I’m fine, there are people here to take care of things. If you’ve got something to do, you should go.” I expected him to leave. He didn’t. Instead, he sat down beside the bed, his gaze staying on me like he was thinking about something he couldn’t say. “Why didn’t you call me?” he asked after a moment. “When she was doing that to you… why didn’t you call me?” My fingers tightened slightly under the blanket. I remembered him outside. Back turned. Laughing softly into his phone. “I saw you were busy,” I said quietly, a small bitter smile slipping out. Then I looked at him. “If I called you, would you really come right away?” “Of course I would,” he said without hesitation. I froze. That wasn’t what I expected. Not at all. “I’ve already handled it,” he continued, his tone calmer now. “No one’s going to bother you about having a child again. That shit’s over.” “…I understand.” I lowered my eyes. “Then you should go. You don’t have to stay.” He frowned slightly. “Why do you keep pushing me away?” I blinked, a little confused. “Aren’t you busy?” Busy with everything. Busy with her. “I’m not busy lately,” he said. Then he reached out and adjusted the blanket around me, his movements careful, almost gentle. “I’ll stay here for a few days. Take care of you.” I didn’t know what to say to that. It felt wrong. Like something that didn’t belong to me. But he really stayed. ... The next few days, he didn’t leave the hospital. He adjusted my bed when I couldn’t move, fed me when my hands felt too weak, even helped with my dressings like it didn’t bother him at all. A man like him… doing this? Sometimes I caught myself just staring at him. Was this real? Or was I dreaming again? One night, the pain got so bad I couldn’t sleep. It kept spreading across my back, making every breath feel heavy. He noticed. “Can’t sleep?” he asked quietly. I didn’t answer, just closed my eyes tighter. Then I felt it. His hand, slow and steady, lightly patting my back. Careful. Gentle. Like he was afraid to hurt me more. “It’s alright,” he murmured. “Just sleep.” Again and again, the same rhythm. That kind of warmth, it felt so familiar. Like those rare moments before everything broke. For a second, I almost wanted to believe it again. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. I already decided. I was leaving. And this time, I wouldn’t look back. A week passed, and the marks on my back finally started to fade. Not gone, but lighter. When he was applying the medicine that day, his fingers brushed too close and I let out a small sound before I could stop it. He froze. I turned, confused, and saw his eyes on me, dark and heavy, his throat moving slowly like he was holding something back. “Did I hurt you?” he asked, but his voice sounded rough, not like before. “No… I just—” I tried to speak but he moved closer. Too close. His hand settled on my waist, firm, like he wasn’t even thinking anymore. “Hudson…” I whispered, my heart starting to race. He didn’t answer. His breathing got heavier, his gaze dropping to my lips. His face leaned closer, slow, like he was about to cross a line— “Smack!” We both turned. Amber stood at the door, her eyes red, the fruit basket already on the floor, everything scattered. Her lips trembled. “Did I come at the wrong time? I didn’t know you two were…” She bit her lip, like she couldn’t even finish. Hudson pulled away from me instantly. “Amber, stop thinking nonsense! It’s not what it looks like. I was just helping her with the medicine, that’s it.” Before I could react, he shoved me away. Hard. I lost balance and fell straight off the bed, the back of my head hitting the sharp edge of the table with a dull crack. Pain exploded and something warm started running down. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to ruin your moment.” Amber’s voice broke as she turned. “I’ll go, you don’t have to explain…” “Amber!” Hudson didn’t even hesitate. “Wait, listen to me. Don’t run off like this.” His voice turned urgent, almost angry. “Damn it, stop right there.” He ran after her. Didn’t look at me. Not once. The door slammed and everything went quiet again. I stayed on the floor, my vision slowly blurring. Blood slid down past my temple, warm and sticky. I stared at the ceiling and suddenly laughed, soft and broken. Why did I even hope? Tears slipped into my hair. Wasn’t I used to this already? By the time the nurse found me, everything was fading. Voices sounded far away. “Head injury! She’s bleeding a lot, call the doctor now!” Then darkness. Chapter 6 When I woke up again, my head hurt and everything felt heavy. Because of the injury, I had to stay longer. Hudson never came back. Not once. But I knew why. He was with her. Of course he was. I didn’t call him. Didn’t text. What was the point? On the day I was getting discharged, the housekeeper called. “Miss Mika, about Mr. Hayes’ birthday banquet this year, how would you like to arrange it?” I held the phone and stayed quiet for a while. Birthday. I used to handle it every year. His family never cared about things like that. Power, money, business… that’s all they saw. Not him. I remembered the first birthday I attended. Everything looked perfect, but there was food he couldn’t eat. Something that could trigger a reaction. I saw him later, alone, taking medicine quietly. “Why didn’t you just tell them?” I asked back then, my chest tight. “What for?” he said, not even looking at me. “They don’t give a shit about that. As long as the company’s running, that’s enough for them.” From then on, I took over. Every dish, every detail, everything he liked and avoided. I made sure he never had to deal with that again. “Miss Mika?” the housekeeper called again. I closed my eyes for a second. “I’ll handle it.” This was the last time. After the divorce… someone else would do it. Not me anymore. … I prepared everything the same way I always did. Careful. Quiet. Like it still mattered. But this time, I made the housekeeper follow me the whole day, step by step, making her remember everything. “The cake should be a vanilla berry one. He doesn’t like anything too heavy and sweet, it makes him sick after a few bites.” “And listen, decorations should be white lilies, not red. He hates anything too loud, says it looks cheap.” “Don’t put whiskey on the main table. He drinks it, yeah, but it gives him headaches if he hasn’t eaten properly.” I paused, then added softly, “You need to remember all of this. Next time, you’ll be the one handling it. Don’t mess it up.” The housekeeper looked confused. “Madam… won’t you still be the one arranging it next year?” I didn’t answer. Next time… I won’t even be here. How could I? On the day of the banquet, everything looked perfect. Lights everywhere, soft music, people laughing like this house actually had warmth in it. I stood at the entrance in a light blue dress, greeting guests one by one, smiling like I always did. Like I wasn’t already gone inside. Then he walked in. Hudson. And beside him was Amber. Her arm hooked around his, leaning into him like she belonged there. She wore something soft and pretty, pale pink, light like she was fragile. She looked up at him, smiling. And he looked back. God… he looked back. That was when I understood. He already fixed everything with her. Of course he did. His eyes never left her the whole night. When her glass got empty, he noticed right away. “Don’t give her that,” he said, voice low but firm. “Get her something lighter. She doesn’t drink much.” When her dress shifted a little, he frowned and called someone over. “Fix it properly. Don’t let it drag.” She laughed at something, eyes curved, soft… and he actually smiled. Not that cold, distant smile. A real one. I stood there watching for a second too long. Then I looked away. What was I even expecting? He never looked at me. Not once. I moved to the side, greeting people like I was just part of the staff. When it was time to open gifts, people brought out all kinds of expensive things. Jewelry, rare pieces, things worth more than most people’s lives. Then mine was brought out. A custom-made fountain pen. Simple, elegant, something I chose carefully because he once said he preferred things like that. Quiet. Useful. The butler placed it on a tray. “Mrs. Hayes really understands Mr. Hayes’ taste,” someone said with a smile. “This kind of piece isn’t flashy but it fits him perfectly.” “Yeah, it’s refined. Just like him.” Hudson glanced at it, then at me. For a second, I thought… “Thanks,” he said casually. That was it. Then Amber’s gift was brought out. A small box. Inside was a handmade leather bracelet. The stitching was uneven, rough in some places, like it wasn’t done by a professional. The room went quiet. Then someone laughed softly. “…Seriously? People still give things like this?” “Looks cheap. I don’t think Mr. Hayes would even touch that.” “Who even let her in here dressed like that, bringing something like this?” Amber’s face went pale. She stepped back slightly, like she wanted to disappear. Hudson’s expression darkened instantly. He picked up the bracelet and the room went silent. Without hesitation, he slipped it onto his wrist. “I like this,” he said, his voice low but sharp enough to cut through everyone. “At least this one means something. Someone actually put time into it.” No one spoke. Then his gaze shifted to the pen. He picked it up, looked at it for a second, then let out a quiet scoff. “This kind of thing…” he said coldly, “you can buy it anywhere. There’s nothing special about it.” My chest tightened. Before I could even react, he tossed it straight into the trash. The sound echoed louder than it should have. The whole hall went quiet for a second, then suddenly everyone started agreeing. “Mr. Hayes is right, handmade things actually mean something.” “Yeah, expensive stuff is nothing if there’s no heart behind it.” “This is way more special, you can tell she put effort into it.” I just stood there. It felt like all the blood in my body turned cold. I spent three months on that gift. Flying around, checking stores, comparing designs, choosing something I thought… he’d actually like. And now? Thrown away like it was nothing. Just to make her look good. But wasn’t this always how it went? He could drop everything for her, cancel meetings like they didn’t matter. But my birthday? He couldn’t even remember the date. She got sick and he stayed up all night taking care of her. I had a fever once, burning for hours… and he didn’t even call. She said one word and he’d fly across the world. I asked him to have dinner once… and he said he was busy. Every time… he chose her. Every single time. Just like tonight. I pressed a hand lightly to my chest. It used to hurt so much here. So much I thought I couldn’t breathe. But now… It was quiet. Empty. So this was what it felt like when you finally stopped loving someone? All that pain, all that waiting… it just disappeared like it never mattered. Then everyone gathered around Amber. The same people who mocked her earlier were now smiling, praising her, trying to get close. I stood in the corner and smiled a little. That’s how it works here. One look from him… and everyone follows. It didn’t matter. After the divorce, he’d probably bring her into the family properly anyway. This was just the beginning. The banquet ended slowly. Guests left one by one. I stood at the door, smiling, saying goodbye like I always did. Perfect. Polite. Like I was still Mrs. Hayes. Only when the last guest left did I finally breathe out a little. When I turned around, they were still there. Hudson and Amber. It was raining hard outside. Cold wind rushed in, damp and sharp. Amber shivered suddenly and sneezed. Hudson frowned right away. “You’re cold?” “I’m fine… just a little,” she said softly, but her voice sounded weak. “Fine my ass,” he muttered, already taking off his suit jacket and placing it over her shoulders. “You’re shaking. Don’t act tough.” She held it close, still trembling a little. “It’s still cold…” His eyes moved. Then they landed on me. On the scarf wrapped around my neck. A soft wool scarf. The last thing my grandmother made before she passed. “Give that to her,” he said. My fingers tightened instantly. “T-this was made by my grandma,” I said quietly, my voice barely steady. “It’s not something I can just—” “I know exactly what it is,” he cut me off, his tone turning colder. “She’s just borrowing it. Why are you making it such a big deal?” Chapter 7 My throat felt tight. I held the scarf for a second longer and slowly, I took it off. My hands felt cold the moment it left my skin. I stepped forward and handed it over. Amber took it, her expression soft, almost guilty. “Thank you… I’ll clean it and give it back to you.” “No,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “Don’t wash it yourself. It can’t be soaked. It needs special care. I’ll have someone pick it up tomorrow.” “Oh okay,” she nodded gently. The car pulled up outside. Hudson glanced at her again, noticing her pale face. Then he looked at me. “Amber’s not feeling well,” he said, already opening the car door for her. “I’m taking her home first. It’s not on the way for you, so just go back yourself.” I didn’t even get the chance to answer. He helped her into the car, careful, like she might break. The car door shut, the engine started, and the black sedan disappeared into the rain like I was never there. I stood at the entrance, my dress getting soaked, the cold wind cutting straight through me. The streets were empty, rain pouring so hard it blurred everything. I waited… and waited. Forty minutes before I could even get a cab. By the time I got home, I was shaking, completely drenched, my head spinning. My forehead burned but I still forced myself to take some medicine, then I just dropped onto the bed and passed out. Sometime in the night, my phone kept vibrating. Again and again. I heard it but I couldn’t move. My head hurt too much, my body too heavy. I just let it ring until it finally stopped. The next morning, the fever went down a little, but my throat felt like sandpaper. I sat up slowly, took a sip of water, then reached for my phone. There were more than a dozen messages. All from Amber. My fingers paused… then I opened it. The first photo hit me like a slap. My scarf. The soft wool scarf my grandma made was completely soaked, twisted, ruined. The texture looked wrong, clumped and stretched like it was destroyed. More messages popped up. “Oh my god I’m so sorry, I forgot wool can’t be soaked so I just left it in water when I got home.” “I feel really bad… how much was it? I’ll pay you back. The material’s nice though, maybe I can reuse it and turn it into something else.” “If you’re not replying I’ll just assume it’s fine, okay? I’ll send you 2 dollars. Since you said your grandma made it, it shouldn’t be that expensive right?” The last photo loaded. My hands started shaking. The scarf was cut. Not just ruined but cut into pieces. Strips. Like someone took their time destroying it. My chest tightened and something snapped inside me. I threw the covers off and got up, not caring that my body still felt weak. I grabbed my coat and walked out. When I got to her place, I didn’t even hesitate. I rang the doorbell hard, my fingers cold but steady. The door opened. Amber stood there, wearing something simple, her face soft and surprised. “Ms. Hereford? You came all the way here? Is something wrong?” “Where’s my scarf?” I asked, my voice flat. She blinked, then turned casually and picked something up from the couch. The pieces. “You mean this? I already paid you for it, didn’t I?” She glanced at her phone. “Oh, you didn’t accept the transfer? Was it too little? I can add more. I mean it was handmade by an elderly person, it shouldn’t be that expensive, right? I’ll send you another 2 dollars, okay? It's not really worth it by way.” Something burned in my chest. Before I even thought— My hand moved. “Smack!” The sound was loud in the quiet room. She stumbled back, holding her face, eyes wide. “You… you hit me?” “You did it on purpose, didn’t you?” I said, my voice shaking but sharp. “You soaked it, you cut it, you sent those messages like you didn’t know. You think I’m stupid?” Her eyes filled with tears instantly. “What are you talking about? I really didn’t mean to, I was just careless…” “Careless?” I laughed, but it sounded wrong. “You came back on purpose. You called him at the exact time your mom needed surgery and forced him to make me donate. You stood outside that room and said all those things. You walked in at that exact moment. And now this?” I stepped closer. “How many things did you plan? How many times did you think I wouldn’t fight back?” “I didn’t…” she shook her head, tears falling faster. “I really don’t understand why you’re saying all this…” “I see through you,” I said quietly. “I just didn’t bother saying it before. But that doesn’t mean you get to keep stepping on me like this.” Her expression flickered for a second, just a second. Then— A voice cut through the room. Cold. Low. Dangerous. “Mikayla… what the hell are you doing?” My body went stiff. I turned around. Hudson stood at the door, his eyes dark and terrifying. But when he looked at her… His voice changed. “Amber,” he said, stepping forward quickly, his tone softening. “What happened? Why are you crying?” Amber sniffed, tears falling as she spoke, her voice shaking like she was about to break. She twisted the story just enough, soft and pitiful, and I watched his face grow colder with every word. Then he turned to me. “It’s just a scarf,” he said, his voice flat, sharp. “Why the hell did you have to hit her over something like that?” My chest tightened. “Just a scarf?” My voice shook before I could stop it. “Hudson! That’s the only thing my grandma left me. The only one.” He paused. Just for a second. Like he didn’t expect that. In five years… I never raised my voice at him. Not once. But now my hands were shaking, my eyes burning, and I didn't even recognize myself. “Amber didn’t do it on purpose,” he said, his tone softening when he looked back at her. “She already paid you, didn’t she? What more do you want? If the money’s not enough, I’ll handle it.” Handle it. Like everything could be fixed with money. He pulled out his checkbook, wrote something fast, then held it out to me. “Take it. That should cover it.” I stared at the check. My chest felt tight, like something was squeezing it slowly, making it hard to breathe. I didn’t move. He frowned, annoyed, then tore another check and wrote a bigger number, his jaw tightening. “Not enough? Fine. Then take this. Stop making a scene over something so small.” One after another. More numbers. More money. Like he was buying silence. Buying me. My fingers finally moved. I took the last check, my hand trembling. “That’s enough,” I said quietly. More than enough. Hudson… this is enough to end everything between us. I turned to leave. But I barely took two steps. “Stop.” His voice cut through me like a blade. Chapter 8 I froze. “You took the money,” he said slowly, dangerously calm. “That slap isn’t settled yet. Apologize to her.” My body stiffened. I turned back, my eyes burning. “What did you say?” “I said, apologize,” he repeated, his gaze cold. “Don’t make me say it twice.” “What if I don’t?” My voice shook, but I still asked. His expression didn’t change. “Then maybe the cooperation between your family and mine… needs to be reconsidered. You understand what I mean, right?” My heart dropped. So this was it? He was using my family now. Everything they worked for… he could crush it with one word. The room went silent. For a few seconds, I couldn’t hear anything. Then slowly, I lowered my head. “…I’m sorry,” I said, my voice hoarse. Amber covered her cheek, looking at me through tears. “Ms. Hereford… are you really apologizing? Or is this just how people like you say sorry? It doesn’t feel real…” My fists clenched. My nails dug into my palms. Then I bent down. Deep. “I’m sorry,” I said again, my voice breaking but clear. “I shouldn’t have hit you. It was my fault. Please forgive me.” Hudson didn’t say anything. Amber sniffed softly. “I still… don’t feel sincerity…” “Mikayla,” Hudson said, his voice colder now. “Don’t even think about leaving until you apologize properly.” My lips trembled. “I’m sorry,” I said again, biting down hard so I wouldn’t cry. “It won’t happen again. I swear.” I straightened slowly and looked at him. “Is this enough?” For a second… he just stared at me. Something flickered in his eyes. Like he remembered something. Maybe the past. But it disappeared just as fast. “That’s enough,” he said coldly. I nodded once. Then I turned and walked out. Didn’t look back. Behind me, I heard his voice again… but it wasn’t for me. “Does it still hurt?” he said softly. “Come here, I’ll put some medicine on it. Don’t move.” Amber’s voice came, quiet and weak. “It does… be gentle, okay…” I kept walking. Tears fell, but I wiped them away fast. Like they never existed. … The next few days, he didn’t come home. And I didn’t call. Not once. On the day everything became official, I went alone. Signed the papers, took the document, listened to the clerk say it was finalized. When they handed it to me, I just stared at it for a second, my fingers brushing over the words. Divorce. That was it. No tears. No pain. Nothing. It was still early when I left. I got a cab and went back to the house, just to grab the last of my things. But the moment I opened the door, I froze. He was there. Standing in the living room like he owned the air. “Where the hell did you go?” Hudson asked, his voice low, eyes locking on me the second I stepped in. I opened my mouth. Did I tell him? Did I just say it now? Before I could speak, he let out a short breath, like he figured it out already. “You went out to get something, didn’t you? For today.” I blinked. “Today…?” He frowned slightly. “Don’t tell me you forgot. It’s our anniversary.” My chest tightened. Anniversary. Huh! Our anniversary already happened last month. Five years ago… same day. We stood in front of everyone, exchanged rings, smiled like it meant something. That night… he handed me divorce papers. Told me not to take anything seriously. Five years. Then it ends. And now… the day I got my divorce papers… was the same day. Funny. “Yeah,” I said quietly, gripping my bag tighter. “I went out to prepare something.” I did. A divorce certificate. That counted, right? He nodded like it was nothing. “Good. At least you didn’t forget this year.” This year. Did he know… this was also the day everything ended? My thoughts felt messy, tangled, but I didn’t say anything. “I’m flying to Paris tomrrow," he continued, adjusting his cuff like he was talking about business. “Taking Amber with me. She’s been wanting to go for a while.” Of course she did. “So I cleared today,” he added, glancing at his watch. “I booked a place. Rooftop, private, no bullshit interruptions. We’ll celebrate properly this time.” Properly. Now? After everything? “I’ll give you your gift later,” he said, already grabbing his jacket. “Get ready. We’re leaving.” He walked toward the door like it was already decided. Like I would follow. I didn’t move. Not even a step. He stopped when he realized, then turned back, his brows pulling together. “What are you doing? Don’t just stand there.” I looked at him. This man. The one I waited for, loved, endured for five years. Should I tell him now? Should I just say… it’s over? My lips parted. But nothing came out. After a few seconds, I lowered my gaze. “I… have something to finish. You go ahead. I’ll follow later.” He stared at me for a moment, like he was trying to read something. Then he gave a short nod. “Fine. Don’t take too long.” And just like that, he left. The door closed. His car started outside. I walked to the window and watched as it drove away, slowly disappearing past the gate. First time in five years… he remembered our anniversary but one month late. And the first time, I didn’t care anymore. I took the document out of my bag. Brand new. Clean. Final. I placed it on the table. Then I picked up my suitcase. Everything I had left. I walked to the door, paused for a second then opened it and stepped out. This time, I didn’t look back. "#Goodnovel #wattpad #Dreame #library #novel #booktok #bookish #bookrecommendations #romance #romancebook 📚Only a limited number of chapters can be displayed here. Click ""Read More"" to open the application and continue reading (it will automatically navigate to the corresponding book page).👇👇👇"

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InactiveJun 27, 26
When Love Comes Late

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When Love Comes Late

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Feeling betrayed by his impulsive marriage, he wanted a divorce from his wife, unaware that she was the very same talented new employee he admired! ============ ========== Chapter 1 Unknown Husband At Seamarsh Airport, Stella Anderson stood restlessly at the waiting area with a large suitcase at her feet. She glanced at her watch again. It had been thirty minutes since she got off the plane. And yet, her husband whom she had gotten married to a year ago was nowhere in sight. Furrowing her brow, she fanned herself with her fingers and already had a bad impression of someone she had never met. This was supposed to be their first meeting. How could he be so late? As she watched people come and go, she couldn't help but recall her hasty marriage. It had happened a year ago after her grandfather came down with a serious illness. Stella, who was abroad at the time, rushed home to see him. It was then he made it known that he hoped to see her get married soon. She wanted to say no. But when she remembered how her grandfather adopted her from an orphanage and raised her into the adult she had become, she didn't have the heart to disappoint him. And so, she got married to the man her grandfather picked for her; a man she had never met. The groom wasn't present on their wedding day. Someone else stepped in to handle the registration of the marriage. She didn't know her husband at all. All she knew was his name and that he was a businessman. To this day, Stella wasn't sure if her compromise was the right choice. Her so-called husband wasn't particularly giving her something to like about him. She glanced at her watch for like the hundredth time. An additional ten minutes had passed. She sighed exasperatedly. Just as she took out her phone to call her grandfather, a screeching sound pierced the air and almost burst her eardrums. A silver Aston Martin came to a screeching halt in front of her. The driver's seat window rolled down. Stella took a step back. Once she saw a familiar face, she blurted out, "Why are you here?" Behind the wheel was the last person she expected to see now—her cousin, Oliver Palmer. "Ouch! You really hurt me!" Oliver clutched his chest as though he was really hurt. After getting out of the car, he pouted. "Your return is so important. We haven't seen each other for a long time. As your cousin, I couldn't resist the urge to come pick you up. But you are so mean to me. It's not fair!" Stella wasn't surprised or deceived by his poor acting. She rolled her eyes, refusing to speak. "Hop in, Stella. You must be tired and hungry. I'll treat you to lunch." After grabbing her suitcase with one hand, Oliver placed his other hand on her shoulder and shoved her to the car. "Wait! I can't go with you." Stella stopped him. "Why?" Oliver stopped. He scoffed when something occurred to him a moment later. "Is it because of your husband? You still want to wait for him?" Stella didn't utter a word, but her look said it all. Oliver snorted. "Don't wait for him anymore. Need I remind you that he has never contacted you since you guys got married? Doesn't that tell you enough?" Stella was lost for words. "If he wanted to come pick you up, he would have shown up before I did. How can you trust a man that has ignored your existence for one year?" Oliver added in a more sarcastic tone. After it sank in, Stella retorted defensively, "But Grandpa said Maverick will come to pick me up." She thought her husband would keep his word since he promised her grandfather. Oliver held the bridge of his nose and sighed helplessly. "Even if you still want to wait for him, you don't have to stand in the sun. Get into the car. It's hot outside." While the two of them were arguing, a tall figure appeared in the crowd and was heading for them. Matthew Clark was talking on the phone. "I'm already at the airport. Take your medicine now." A soft female voice came from the other end of the line. "Remember, Ella is wearing a red dress today. She has long curly hair. Also, her suitcase is black..." "I have already seen her, Grandma. Now, can you stop worrying?" Matthew's eyes were fixed on the duo meters away. He frowned. There was a woman who fitted the description his grandmother gave, down to the color of her suitcase. But she just got into a man's car while he held the door for her. Matthew's tone suddenly turned cold. "Got to go, Grandma. I'll talk to you later." His face darkened. At the same time, an icy glint leaped into his deep-set eyes. He put away his phone, turned around, and left. Back in his car, Matthew's grip on the steering wheel grew tighter as he watched the two people in the sports car. The man handed the woman a bottle of water. As she drank from it, he smoothened her hair dotingly. Although Matthew couldn't see her face, that didn't matter to him anymore. He was boiling on the inside. Suddenly, he laughed at himself. Why did he even find this surprising? He should have known this a long time ago. His so-called wife had been away from the city for a whole year after their marriage. They had never met or gotten to know each other over the phone. It was understandable for her to get herself a boyfriend. Matthew set his lips into a grim line. He took out his phone and typed a message. As soon as he hit send, he started his car and zoomed off at a high speed. ———— Later that afternoon, Stella got dressed in a simple and elegant light-colored business suit and went to Prosperity Group. It was one of the leading companies in Seamarsh City. The employees were, in one way or the other, elites in the city. Stella walked into the magnificent building that housed the headquarters of the group. With her excellent resume, she had gotten a job as the senior private PR professional to the CEO, Matthew. The director of the public relations department, Luna James, led Stella to meet Matthew. Unbeknown to Stella, the man she was going to be working for was actually her husband, Maverick. Matthew had zero trust in people. He used his real name when his marriage was being signed. Only those closest to him knew his real name—Maverick Clark. Chapter 2 Her New Job Stella and Luna took the elevator to the top floor. On the way, Luna was very enthusiastic. She kept telling Stella about the company. "The CEO's office takes up the entire top floor. It's out of bounds for most of the employees. Only those who report directly to him or have something extremely important can go there." Stella listened quietly. She wanted to learn all she could about her new boss, so she appreciated this new lecture. Luna suddenly paused. Then, she turned to Stella and asked casually, "I heard you previously worked in one of the group's branches overseas. Why did you suddenly get transferred to the headquarters? Did you know Mr. Clark before?" Curiosity shone in Luna's eyes. It was crystal clear she wanted to find this out for gossip's sake. Never in the history of Prosperity Group had anyone been employed or transferred without undergoing any interview. In fact, the process of becoming an employee here was longer than most. Stella broke that record. There had been speculations among the other employees that Stella wasn't an ordinary person. As a result, Luna wanted to know why the CEO himself got Stella transferred. It was no news that most of those who tried to gain this job failed at the resume submission stage. This was because Matthew had strict requirements. At this moment, Luna's prying question drew a frown from Stella. She disliked anyone who tried to stick their nose into other people's business. She glanced at Luna's work ID and said coldly, "Last I checked, PR professionals are supposed to have a high EQ. They usually have their head in the game at work." She just said that Luna was stepping out of line. As soon as Stella finished speaking, the elevator came to a halt on the top floor. Stella walked out without looking at her companion. Luna's face darkened at this. Gritting her teeth, she glared at Stella's back as she walked out of the elevator. Who did this newcomer think she was? How dare she use such a tone when talking to her? The two of them waited outside the office. Luna took a look at her watch and went to a corner to make a phone call. When she returned, she told Stella, "Mr. Clark is still on the way. We need to wait a little longer." Stella nodded in understanding. No one said a word for a few seconds. Suddenly, Luna piped up in a casual tone, "Wanna know why Mr. Clark is running late?" Still mad at Stella for shutting her up, Luna wanted to set the records straight. She intended to make Stella get down from her high horse. Stella didn't give a hoot about what her boss did outside of the office. As a result, she responded with only silence. Refusing to take the hint, Luna said in an annoying voice, "You see, his wife just got back today. He put aside all his work for today just so he could go pick her up at the airport. He's such a sweet husband!" With dreamy eyes, Luna crossed her arms and added with regret and admiration, "It's such a pity that he got married so early. His wife is one lucky lady. I really wonder what she's like." These words suddenly reminded Stella of what happened to her earlier today. It appeared that some women were lucky to have good husbands. Her boss, Mathew, seemed better than Maverick. After she waited at the airport for almost an hour, Maverick sent her a short message saying that he couldn't make it because he was busy. What a ridiculous excuse! Could he be busier than the CEO of Prosperity Group? Suddenly, the elevator tinkled. Luna quickly smoothened her clothes and ran her fingers through her hair. After putting on a smile, she pulled Stella. The elevator doors opened slowly. A man who was clad in a bespoke suit walked to them with one hand in his pocket. He had long legs which made him take giant strides. His shoulders were broad, but his waist was slightly narrow. His angular features were like those of a muscular model. Stella estimated that he was more than six inches tall. The noble aura that he exuded was very strong. Stella was unable to take her eyes off him. "Good day, Mr. Clark." Luna's voice interrupted Stella's observation. With a little bow, Stella introduced herself. "Hello, Mr. Clark. I'm the PR professional transferred from the overseas branch company. My name is Stella Anderson." At that name, Matthew raised his eyebrows in surprise. The name rang a bell. However, he couldn't tell where he had heard it from. His eyebrows furrowed with subtle confusion. The next second, he gestured to a door. "Let's talk in my office." With that, he walked into the office. Stella followed him in without hesitation. —— Sitting at his desk, Matthew scanned through the file in his hand. He had specifically chosen Stella to be his personal PR officer because she had achieved great feats in the branch company last year. Her records showed that she helped the company get out of several situations that could have harmed its reputation. More importantly... Matthew turned to the last page of her resume and narrowed his eyes. "You can design?" His deep voice broke the weighty silence in the office. This was the last thing Stella thought he would ask her. After getting over the surprise, she nodded. "A little." Matthew raised his eyes, glanced at her calm face, and continued to inquire, "You are a PR professional. What has design got to do with your work? Why did you feel the need to put design drafts in your resume?" Stella came well-prepared for this question. She sat up straight and replied confidently, "Prosperity Group is trying to occupy the clothing industry. As a PR professional, my job includes marketing the brand image. That's why I made a few design drafts that could be put to good use." Matthew nodded thoughtfully. He closed the file and dumped it in a corner of his desk. Afterward, he turned to Luna and ordered, "Get her settled in. Then assign a task to her." Luna was surprised. Was that all Matthew had to say? Although Luna wasn't pleased at all, she replied politely, "Yes, Mr. Clark." Stella heaved a sigh of relief as she walked out of the office. She loosened her clenched fists, and her palms were already sweating. At the thought of the CEO's cold and stern face, Stella grew nervous again. She had a gut feeling that working under him would be harder than she thought. Chapter 3 A Difficult Client Luna led Stella to the public relations department. She then introduced her to the other employees. "Listen up, guys! This is Stella Anderson, your new colleague." With a polite smile, Stella said, "Nice to meet you all. It's an honor to be part of this department. I hope we can get along well." The others were shocked by Stella's rapid onboarding. They whispered to each other. "Is she the PR officer who was transferred here to work for Mr. Clark personally? She looks pretty. I wonder if she's a beauty with brains or just an empty skull." "Come on. You should know that Mr. Clark has an eye for the best talents. I bet she's good at what she does." "I'm so jealous of her. She gets to work closely with Mr. Clark. What a lucky girl!" Stella heard it all. However, her smile remained the same and she didn't say anything. On the other hand, Luna's face became a shade redder. She frowned at Stella. These comments fanned the flames of her dissatisfaction. It was widely known that Matthew put potential employees through a vigorous interview process. But earlier, she had witnessed how lenient he was with Stella. Luna eyed Stella from head to toe. She was certain that this newcomer was just a numbskull. Out of spite, she vowed to make Stella suffer. Luna's conniving mind got to work immediately. She decided to give Stella the most difficult task on ground. "Here you go. This is your first task as ordered by Mr. Clark. Currently, everyone is on the verge of completing the projects they have been working on. The only task left is concerning the choice of background music for the company's upcoming anniversary party." As Luna held the necessary document, her tone was natural. "Your job is to communicate with the other party and make sure the background music is confirmed ASAP." Stella frowned and asked, "Is there anything else I must know?" The choice of background music was one of the simplest aspects that went into a banquet preparation. As such, it was odd that it was still not done. Luna was determined to make Stella suffer, so she didn't bother explaining. She just threw the document to Stella and said, "The client involved will come later. You'll know all about it when you guys meet." With that, she went straight to her desk. Stella shrugged instead of asking any more questions. For some peace and quiet, she went into the meeting room while flipping through the document. The second the door was shut, a discussion broke out in the office again. "This newcomer is doomed. Henry is not an easy person to work with. Not only is he picky, he's got wandering hands. I shudder at the thought of what he would do to her." "You are not alone. Anyway, I wish her good luck." —— In the meeting room, Stella studied all there was to know about the task and the client she would be meeting. The client was a pianist named Henry Scott. The company's management was interested in using his piano piece at the 30th anniversary party which was just around the corner. For some unknown reason, they were yet to reach an agreement. She had just finished the last page of the document when the door of the meeting room was pushed open. A man wearing a pair of jeans and a casual shirt with rolled-up sleeves came in. Stella stood up immediately and smiled. "Hello, Mr. Scott. Thanks for coming. I'm Stella Anderson and I will be responsible for discussing the cooperation concerning the use of your piece for the upcoming anniversary banquet. Please, have a seat." "Okay," Henry replied and pulled out the chair beside Stella. With his arms folded, he reclined in the chair and stared at her. Stella avoided his gaze. As she sat down, she moved the chair away a little bit. Then, she began in a professional tone. "You are yet to reach an agreement with us for the use of your piano piece. Is there a reason for that? If you have any reservations about it, do tell. I assure you that we will satisfy you as long as it's within our power." Henry remained mute as he eyed her up and down. An icy warning trickled up Stella's spine. She felt uncomfortable under his stare, but she still smiled. "I'm aware that you are currently preparing to go on a nationwide tour soon. I promise that this won't affect your preparations. On the contrary, we will spare some time to publicize your tour at the banquet as a token of our appreciation. What do you think?" Henry rubbed his chin for a while before saying, "I have to say that you make quite an attractive offer." He gave her a side look and then smiled. Stella held out the prepared contract. "Please read through the contract. If you have a problem with any of the clauses, I can have it modified immediately." Without taking the document, Henry leaned back and put his hands at the back of his head. "Reading is so much work. Worse yet, the contract looks so bulky. I don't want to go through it." Hearing this, Stella was in a dilemma. "How about you move closer and read it to me?" Henry's eyes glistened with interest as he looked at her. Stella pursed her lips and took a deep breath. Having worked in the PR industry for many years, she had come across all kinds of clients who requested strange things. Reading a contract aloud didn't seem that much of a big deal. With that in mind, Stella moved a little closer while still making sure she was a safe distance from him. She then cleared her throat and began reading. Her eyes were on the document, but she could feel his stare fixed on her. It gave her the heebie-jeebies. Nonetheless, Stella straightened up and tried to concentrate on what she was reading. Suddenly, Henry leaned over sharply. Stella ducked out of instinct. Smiling smugly, he leaned even closer. "What a beautiful necklace you have got there. It goes well with your radiant skin." As he spoke, he reached out with the intention of touching her neck. It took Stella great restraint not to slap his hand away. Instead, she leaned back further and glared at him as her disgust grew stronger. "If you like this necklace, I will help you order one and send it to your company after the meeting. Can we get back to the agenda now?" Henry's hand froze in the air and he sneered, "I thought Prosperity Group wanted to work with me. But it turns out I was wrong. I'm a very busy man, so I shouldn't be wasting my precious time talking with insincere people." He raised his eyebrows and looked at her with a hint of threat. All of a sudden, the door was pushed open. "The cooperation is canceled!" With an expressionless face, Matthew walked in. He stood in front of Stella and faced Henry. Chapter 4 Blatant PDA Henry's face darkened. "What did you just say?" "You heard me right!" Matthew said indifferently. "You are disrespectful to the female employees in this company. And we will no longer cooperate with you. There are thousands of piano pieces in the world. It should be easy to get another pianist." As Stella stared at Matthew's broad back, her eyes sparkled with gratitude. He was such a gentleman. His wife was a lucky woman. Henry's mouth dropped open and he looked utterly embarrassed. The next second, he lost his cool. He sprang to his feet, stormed out, and slammed the door behind him. The other employees left their desks and craned their necks to look at the door of the meeting room. The moment Matthew walked out, he gave Luna an earful in front of the others. "Didn't you know you were supposed to do a background check on Henry Scott before offering to work with him? As a PR professional, you should know that every wrong move can lead to a disaster and it can backfire on this company." Lowering her head, Luna apologized repeatedly. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Clark. I promise that this will never repeat itself. Next time, I'll make sure to carry out a thorough investigation." The last thing Luna expected was her nasty little trick to backfire. She was on the brink of tears as she wondered how Stella was able to wriggle out of this. After glaring at her for a long time, Matthew scanned all the faces in the office and said, "Let this serve as a warning to all of you. Your job is to better the brand image and solve crises, not cause a mess. If you can't do your job well, tender your resignation and go to the financial department for your severance pay!" His voice wasn't loud, but it was firm and intimidating. It made everyone shudder. No one dared to look up or speak. Luna couldn't help feeling that Matthew's warning was directed at her. She clenched her fists and murdered Stella with her eyes. Matthew had never scolded her before, let alone in public. Things only changed after Stella resumed work here. Luna believed Stella must have badmouthed her in the meeting room. At the thought of this, Luna's hatred for Stella quadrupled and her anger surged through her veins. Matthew left after giving them a piece of his mind. In his wake, a heavy silence fell in the office. All the employees were shaken up and went about their day on pins and needles. Hours later, it was a few minutes to closing hour. Stella took out her phone and clicked on the chat box between her and Maverick. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she pondered. Finally, she decided to invite him to dinner. Although their marriage wasn't that of love and she hadn't wanted to marry him, she figured that she might as well get to know him since there was no turning back. She was just about to hit send when her phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Oliver. Stella answered it. As soon as she pressed the phone to her ear, Oliver rambled about his plans. "Ella, I have booked us a table at Joyful Restaurant. See you at half past seven tonight." "But I already—" Oliver interrupted her, "No buts, Stella. You have been away for a long time. We have to celebrate your return. Lest I forget, Juliette will be there too. Don't stand us up. If you refuse, I'll drive down to your company and drag you there myself!" Oliver wasn't one to bluff. His tone indicated that he was going to make good his threat. Stella agreed. "Okay, I'll bring Maverick along." Oliver didn't like Stella's husband, and he never hid it. "Soothe yourself." After getting off the phone, Stella cleared the typed text and made a new one. She read the message a couple of times. After making sure she made no errors in the location and time, she hit the send icon. A reply came moments later. "Okay, see you there." Stella checked the time after she received that message. It was time to get off work. She headed straight to the restaurant. —— In Joyful Restaurant, Stella saw someone waving at her as soon as she walked in. It was Oliver. He was seated with his girlfriend, Juliette Davis, at a large table. Oliver was leaning in so close to Juliette and staring at her lovingly. Stella wasn't even surprised by that. As she got seated opposite them, she placed her bag on the table and joked, "Can you two stop making everyone else jealous with your intense PDA?" Juliette shyly fiddled with her long curls which were similar to Stella's. She raised her eyebrows and teased, "Two can play the game, so do this with your husband." After saying that, she looked behind Stella and asked, "Weren't you supposed to come along with your hubby? Where is he? Is he shy because he will be meeting us for the first time?" Stella picked up the menu and said, "He's on his way." "He'd better be!" Oliver snorted. "He seems to have a thing for standing people up." His dissatisfaction with Maverick was obvious and undisguised. Stella gave him a murderous glare and placed her index finger over her lips. "Shush!" She set down the menu and gave him a harder look. "You'd better be on your best behavior when he gets here. Don't start a fight, okay?" Oliver pursed his lips and said nothing. —— It was already half past seven when Matthew arrived at Joyful Restaurant. Earlier, his wife had texted him saying that they needed to talk face-to-face. Thinking of how she was with another man at the airport, he typed a big no. But he cleared it up after thinking that it was best to hear an explanation from her first. Matthew walked into the restaurant with mixed feelings. He located the table his wife had mentioned in her text to him. To his greatest surprise, he saw the same man he had seen at the airport this morning. The man was kissing a woman. The woman's face wasn't visible from where Matthew stood because of her long curly hair. Color crept to his face and the veins on his forehead throbbed. Did his wife plan this? She wanted to show off her lover to enrage him, didn't she? Heat surged through Matthew's veins as he balled his hands into fists, and almost crushed his phone. Just as he was about to confront those two lovebirds, he heard the voice of his newest employee from behind. "What a coincidence, Mr. Clark! What are you doing here?" Chapter 5 Grandma's Advice Stella returned from the bathroom to find that her husband, Maverick, still hadn't arrived. She was on her way back to the table when she spotted her boss. She greeted him, only to find that he had a long face. Matthew replied simply, "I'm here to meet a business partner." "Oh, okay." Sensing that he wasn't in the mood to talk, Stella didn't bother to say anything else. Matthew turned around and left without looking back. Stella returned to the table and looked at her watch. It was already seven forty. Maverick was thirty minutes late already. Frowning, she took her phone and read the message she had sent him earlier. There was no error in the address and time. Why wasn't he here yet after agreeing to come? Was he standing her up yet again? What was his deal? Didn't he want to meet the woman he was married to? Did he already hate her even before they met? As her mind was filled with several questions, Stella felt a little depressed. The steak she was eating tasted bland in her mouth. After swallowing a mouthful forcefully, she set down her knife and fork, and then texted Maverick again. "Hey, why aren't you here yet? What's keeping you? If tonight isn't convenient for you, let's agree on another day and time." Oliver's heart ached a little when he saw Stella's mood dampen. It made him hate Maverick even more. Slamming his glass on the table, he cursed angrily, "How dare he stand you up twice on the same day? You deserve so much better, Stella. I say that you divorce him!" "Shhh! Stop adding fuel to the fire!" Juliette hushed him with a glare. Oliver shook his head with disappointment and zipped up his lips even though he wanted to continue chewing that man out so badly. Juliette turned to Stella and comforted her in a soft voice, "Don't look so sad, Stella. Maybe something is keeping him." Since she and Oliver had fallen in love at first sight, she believed that true love could happen to Stella and her husband. But she also acknowledged that it wouldn't be easy at first. Stella nodded without saying anything. She looked at her phone again. Maverick still hadn't replied her last message. Was it that he hadn't seen it or that he was ignoring her now? —— Matthew's intention to confront his wife and her boyfriend had been halted by Stella's sudden appearance. It appeared she was also there for dinner. For some reason, he didn't want Stella to know that he had marriage problems. Matthew marched to the parking lot, looking like he would explode at any moment. He had just gotten into his car when the phone in his pocket buzzed. He whipped it out and saw that his wife just texted him. His eyebrows furrowed as soon as he read the message. Was she out of her mind? He had just seen her kissing another man in public, but she still dared to text him as if she couldn't wait to see him. What a pretentious woman! Matthew had lived long enough to encounter all kinds of women. A lot had done outrageous things, but none of them came close to what his wife just did. She had gotten him real good to the extent that he almost lost his cool in public. He was so irritated. He threw his phone aside, started the ignition, and zoomed off. Seething with rage, Matthew went on a long drive around the city. It was already very late when he arrived home. The first person he saw when he walked into his mansion was his grandmother, Lucia Clark. She was sitting on the sofa with a deep frown. "Where have you been? Look at the time! Why did you stay out so late?" With his suit jacket slung over his shoulder, Matthew glanced at the clock his grandmother pointed to and then sighed. "Grandma, why are you here? Isn't it time for you to retire for the night?" "You dare ask me such questions?" Lucia slapped the armrest of the leather sofa and shot him a searing glare. "Stella's grandfather told me that you didn't pick her up from the airport. Where the hell have you been? And why did you lie to me? You are a married man now. How can you be so irresponsible?' A touch of helplessness flashed through Matthew's eyes. "Grandma." Matthew casually put his coat on the sofa and sat next to her. After a mild hesitation, he told her everything he saw at the airport today. At last, he sighed and added in a sincere tone. "Grandma, my father had many mistresses when he was alive. His philandering led to my birth. Even if everyone sees me as the heir of the family, I'm still an illegitimate son." "Matthew..." Lucia called out in a soft tone, feeling regretful. She knew what he had been through. As always, she felt pity for him. Matthew squeezed his knees as he continued, "That's why I have vowed to be nothing like my father. I intend to stay faithful to my wife, and I expect her to do the same. I can't take it if we are not on the same page." There was a moment of silence after he finished speaking. After thinking for a while, Lucia said, "You know me. I don't do things without properly investigating. I did that before I got you to marry Stella. If anything, she's prim and proper. There must be some kind of misunderstanding." Matthew pursed his lips and said nothing. "Please don't give up just yet. You both need to talk things out face to face," Lucia suggested. "Since you two never dated, you should spend more time trying to create a bond first. Take things slow, okay?" Matthew didn't know what to say to that, so he changed the topic. "It's getting pretty late. I'll ask the driver to take you home. You don't have to worry about me." Lucia wanted to apply pressure, but when she saw his sunken eyes and tired lines on his forehead, she swallowed her words. After sending his grandmother home, Matthew lay on his king-sized bed. He closed his eyes. But the image of the loving couple at the restaurant kept popping into his mind. He couldn't shake it off no matter how he tried. At this moment, he felt empty and numb. This marriage didn't seem like it was going to work out. Maybe it was time to get divorced. &4&

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The Night He Chose Her, I Chose My Revenge
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“Congratulations.” I said it to Penelope Hayes, my husband’s latest favorite. She froze. The relatives gathered around to watch the spectacle fell silent. Today was a family gathering at the Croft estate. In front of everyone, my husband, Julian, had just announced that the hostess of this year’s Founders’ Gala would, once again, not be me—his wife of five years—but Penelope. All of Charleston society was waiting for my fifth annual breakdown. Waiting for me to scream and claw at my husband like a madwoman over the empty title of “Mrs. Croft.” But I only smiled. Because I had been waiting for this day, too. For five years. My brother, Liam, ever the pragmatist, had made a deal with me long ago. If Julian humiliated me like this for five years in a row, I had to pack my bags and go home with him. Tonight was the deadline. … My composure clearly stung Julian. He personally removed the sapphire earrings from my ears, then turned and fastened......

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"Harder, Dominic… right there…" The voice coming through the baby monitor wasn't mine. I stood in the nursery, holding our six-month-old daughter, frozen solid. The monitor on the shelf—the one connected to the master bedroom—was picking up every sound. Skin against skin. Breathless moans. The rhythmic creak of our bed. Our bed. The bed where I'd given birth to complications. The bed I hadn't been able to share with him for months because my body was still healing. "You're so much better than her…" the woman's voice purred. I recognized it instantly. Sloane. The nanny. The nanny my husband hired to "help me recover." My daughter stirred in my arms, making a soft sound. I pressed her closer, covering her tiny ear against my chest, as if I could protect her from what I was hearing. "Dominic, when are you going to tell her?" "Shh. Not now." That was my husband's voice. Low. Intimate. The same voice that had whispered vows to me at the altar fourteen months ago. The same voice that told me last week: "Viv, I hired Sloane so you can rest. You've been through so much. Let someone help." Help. I almost laughed. The monitor crackled, then went silent. I stood in the dark nursery, my daughter's heartbeat against mine, and felt something inside me snap cleanly in two. Not crack. Not bend. Snap. Six months ago, I nearly died bringing Lily into this world. Forty-one hours of labor, an emergency C-section, a hemorrhage that required two transfusions. Dominic held my hand through all of it. He cried when they placed Lily on my chest. "You're my whole world," he said. "Both of you." That was six months ago. Sloane arrived eight weeks later. She came with impeccable references, a warm smile, and legs that went on forever. "You need rest, Mrs. Ashford," she told me on her first day, her hand lingering on Dominic's arm. "I'll take care of everything." And she did. She took care of the baby's night feedings so I could sleep. She took care of the grocery shopping, the meal prep, the laundry. She took care of my husband. I should have seen it sooner. The way she always changed into something tighter after I went to bed. The way Dominic started "working late in his study" every night. The way he stopped touching me. Stopped looking at me. Stopped asking how I was healing. But I was so tired. So broken. So desperate to believe the man I loved wouldn't betray me while I was still bleeding from bringing his child into the world. I looked down at Lily, her tiny fist curled around my finger. "It's just us now, baby girl," I whispered. I carried her to the guest room—my room now, the room I'd been sleeping in for weeks because the stairs to the master bedroom were too painful for my still-healing body. I laid Lily in her bassinet, then pulled out my phone. One text. To the only person who never let me down. My older brother, Rhys. "I need to come home. Don't tell Mom and Dad yet. I'll explain everything." His reply came in eleven seconds. "Car's on the way. ETA two hours. Pack light. I'm handling the rest." I set the phone down and opened the closet. I didn't take the designer dresses Dominic bought me. I didn't take the jewelry. I didn't take the cashmere, the silk, any of it. I took Lily's things. Diapers, formula, her favorite blanket, the stuffed rabbit my mother made. And one thing of my own. The custody document I'd had drawn up three weeks ago. Because here's the thing about Vivienne Laurent. I may have been a fool in love. But I was never stupid. The sounds from that monitor? Tonight wasn't the first time. It was just the first time I had the strength to stop pretending. I zipped the bag, picked up my daughter, and walked toward the front door. As I passed the staircase, I heard it again—muffled laughter from upstairs. Sloane's giggle. The low rumble of Dominic's voice. I didn't look up. I opened the door, stepped into the cold night air, and pulled it shut behind me. No slam. No scene. No satisfaction for anyone who might be listening. Just a soft click. The sound of a woman leaving. And a man who wouldn't notice until it was far too late.

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I spent eighteen years raising a false cub, while my own cub was sold by my younger sister, and even my husband knew the truth from beginning to the end.At that day, I was cleaning my son’s room when I found a document he had brought home from school. Shifter Bureau — Pre‑Coronation Lineage Profile. I flipped to the section marked *Predicted Species Manifestation*. *Felidae - Panthera onca (Jaguar) dominant traits detected.* I stared at those words. I stopped breathing. I am a snow leopard. My father was a snow leopard. My mother was a jaguar. My husband Caelan was a Cheetah. There is no way our genes could produce a pure jaguar dominant trait. In our entire family, the only one with jaguar dominant blood is my younger sister. Mirabel. I took the file to Caelan. My polite, soft-spoken husband took one look at the page and exploded. “Our son is about to have his Coronation Shift. What else do you want, Sylvana? You’re always suspicious of everything. Are you losing your mind again?” "Caelan." I kept my voice level. "School predictions aren't always accurate. I want a formal bloodline test at the Shifter Medical Center." "Absolutely not." He slapped me twice. Hard. Then he slammed the door and locked it from the outside. I listened to the lock turn. Then I laughed. Eighteen years of marriage. Eighteen years of devotion. All of it, wasted on a man who'd lock his wife inside her own house. I picked up my phone. I called my husband's biggest competitor. “I agree to transfer my patents to your company.” ...... I hung up. A bitter cold settled in my chest. There shouldn't be any problems with the school's documents. The school tracked their half-shifts for ten years — ears, tails, eye color changes, partial markings — then sent the data to the Bureau. The Bureau used it to predict what species the kid would manifest at their Coronation Shift. Every Shifter kid got one before their eighteenth birthday. And Hayden was coming home next week for his. His first full transformation. Not a public ceremony—like a human signing for their first ID card — just official paperwork confirming you'd become an adult Shifter citizen. But now, what should i do? What a fool I had been. For years, big companies had tried to recruit me. I said no to all of them. For Caelan. For Hayden. I stayed in the shadows behind Vicksmore Group. That patent was worth a trillion. I'd never taken a cent of dividends. I sat on the couch until three in the morning. Caelan came home late. We sat in the dark. Neither of us spoke. We had good years once. When he first started the company, I stayed up with him through the nights, rewriting his pitch decks. When I got tired, I'd lean on his shoulder and doze. He used to say, “Sylvana, when the company is big, I’ll give you everything.” The company made it. Then he was never home. When he came back, he was too tired to talk. I said the house felt empty. He said, “You have Hayden.” I'd say I wanted to go to the Shifter Reserve to shift, get some air. He'd say, "Have my assistant take you. I'm swamped." I stopped asking. I told myself this was what marriage looked like. Passion fading into companionship. Romance into family. Now I realized only one of us had made that shift. And he had turned into something else. ...... At dawn, I went to the kitchen. Caelan was already there. He hadn’t cooked in a long time. “You’re up?” He looked back at me. Dark circles under his eyes. “I made breakfast.” Milk. Toast. Fried eggs, slightly burnt. He sat down. Neither of us mentioned yesterday. “Hayden comes home next week.” I paused with my cup halfway to my lips. “I know.” His voice dropped. “Sylvana, don’t overthink this. I promise I’ll spend more time with you and Hayden.” I looked up at him. I'd looked at this face for eighteen years. Watched it grow from boyish to lined. I used to know when he was lying. The slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. The way his eyes softened before he told the truth. Now I couldn’t read him at all. I looked down. “So when are we doing the bloodline test?" The warmth on his face froze. Then it disappeared. “You’re really doing this?” His fork clattered onto the plate. Then he looked at me with what seemed like disappointment and walked out of the house. I remembered when Hayden was small. Everyone said he looked like Caelan. No one ever said he looked like me. Not once. From age seven, his half-shifts had always shown pale fur and faint scattered spots. Classic Cheetah cub. Caelan was wealthy. He hired private doctors to run all of Hayden's checkups. Every report came back the same. **Cheetah dominant.** And me? I wasn't a geneticist. I was an engineer. So I'd believed it. For eighteen years. Chapter2 I walked to the balcony and watched his car leave the garage. Then I went to his study. A divorce petition and an asset division agreement sat on the desk. I'd drafted them a year ago. Just in case. The patent that built Vexmoor Corporation — I owned a hundred percent of it. But Caelan had forgotten that. He'd started treating it like his own. My phone rang. My mother. “Sylvana, feeling better?” Her voice was light. "Your sister is coming back next week. Caelan knew you weren't feeling well, so he booked her ticket himself that she could come back and help you. So He's giving her a director's position at Vexmoor." A director's position. I worked for the company for years. No title. No recognition. She comes back and gets a office. A few scattered memories surfaced. Caelan and Mirabel — when had they gotten so close? And she was coming back. Caelan arranged it. Mirabel. The name made my eye twitch. "It's been so long since you two saw each other," my mother went on. "We're all coming over for dinner next week. One family together." I kept my voice steady. “What time? I’ll get food ready.” "Don't worry about it! We'll bring the food. You just rest." She paused. "Sylvana, listen to me. Be warm with Caelan tonight. Men have their pride." I couldn’t listen anymore. I made a few sounds and hung up. Then I booked a rush appointment at the Shifter Medical Center. The Bureau-affiliated facility. The only one whose results were legally binding. No private doctors. No forged reports. I went into Hayden's room and pulled hair from his comb. After I sent them to the center, I messaged a private investigator. Check Caelan’s financial records. Everything. Twelve hours later, the lab report came to my inbox. I sat in the study and stared at the file for a long time. Then I opened it. I skipped to the last page. “By official determination of the Shifter Medical Center, Ms. Sylvana is not the biological mother of Mr. Hayden. Tested subject shows Cheetah × Jaguar hybrid (F1) bloodline. Complete conflict with registered maternal snow leopard lineage.” In my gut, I'd known. But seeing it written down was something else. My hands started shaking and couldn’t breathe. I stood up and walked to the window. Eighteen years. I closed the file. I walked to the window. I tried to breathe. Outside, autumn had come to the city. The plane trees were turning gold. Far in the distance, the dome of the Shifter Bureau caught the afternoon light. I'd had a happy family once. And I thought they would be the two people I protected for the rest of my life. My phone buzzed. From the investigator. A few screenshots- Bank transfers. Caelan’s personal account had been sending fixed monthly transfers to an overseas account for at least ten years. The overseas account belonged to Mirabel. Not a small amount. But enough to keep one person living comfortably abroad. The last line of the report said: **Ms. Mirabel owns a property overseas. Purchased nineteen years ago. Paid in full. ** Nineteen years ago. The year I was told I was pregnant. The same year Mirabel went abroad. A dark thought formed in my mind. ...... On the weekend, my parents arrived with bags of food. Mirabel came behind them. Cream suit. A gift box in her hand. “Sylvana.” She smiled and stepped forward to hug me. I turned slightly. She missed. Her smile froze for a second, then went back to normal. “Long time no see. I brought you a present.” The dining table filled up fast. My mother bustled around the kitchen. My father and Caelan settled into the living room, talking shop. Mirabel sat naturally in the chair next to Caelan. I frowned but said nothing. At dinner, Mirabel reached for a dish. A sapphire bracelet slid down her wrist. I stopped chewing. I had seen that bracelet at an auction two years ago. Stunning blue. Rare clarity. I wanted it, but the price was too high. Caelan had said, “If you like it, just get it. Money's not a problem." I said, “Too expensive. Forget it.” Later, I asked him about it. He said someone else had bought it. Now it was on Mirabel’s wrist. “Sylvana, what are you looking at?” Mirabel noticed my stare. She turned her wrist playfully. “Pretty, isn’t it? Caelan gave it to me. He said it suits me.” Caelan choked on his soup. He looked up at me. “A welcome gift. For Mirabel’s new job.” “Right,” my mother jumped in. "We're family. What's wrong with a gift between family? Sylvana, don't be petty." I didn’t say anything. I just looked at Caelan. He avoided my eyes. Mirabel smiled again, her voice soft. “Don’t misunderstand, Sylvana. I just think some things look better on the right person. Like this bracelet. Doesn't it shine more on me than it did in that auction case?" She was watching Caelan when she said it. I knew that look. It was smug. Possession. The way a woman looks at a man she thinks belongs to her. After dinner, Mirabel volunteered to wash the dishes. Caelan stood up and said he would help. They walked into the kitchen together. I sat in the living room. I heard water running. Low voices. Mirabel’s soft laugh now and then. I glanced toward the living room. My parents were watching television, unaware of anything. I stood up slowly. And walked toward the kitchen quietly. The closer I got, the hotter the mark burned—until it felt like my skin was no longer mine. I stopped at the doorway. Just looked through the narrow gap. Mirabel stood at the sink, sleeves pushed up, humming softly as she washed dishes. And behind her— Caelan. They were too close together. Suddenly, Kaylan began to move, his lower body gently and repeatedly bumping against her hips. His hands were placed at her waist like it belonged there. Mirabel let out a series of ambiguous laughs. Then I saw Caelan gradually reach forward with both hands from behind her, cupping Mirabel's full breasts and gently kneading them. Caelan's breath brushed against Mirabel's neck, licking her marks softly. Mirabel tilted her head back slightly, laughing at something when he near her ear again. My breath stopped. Caelan leaned in closer. Their movements seemed to be getting more and more intense. The mark on my neck burned so violently I almost grabbed the doorframe to stay upright. My body understood before my mind did. This wasn’t new. I had felt this for eighteen years. Every time I mentioned it to Caelan, he smiled and said I was just sensitive. “Some shifters are more aware of their marks. Nothing serious.” “But I never felt this before…” "You haven't shifted in forever. Your body's out of practice." He always said that. I always believed him. Now I knew the truth. The resonance wasn’t mine. It was hers. And every time I told him something was wrong, he called me sensitive. Every single time. I took a step forward without thinking— “Sylvana?” My mother’s voice came from the living room. “Can you bring me some water?” I froze. The sound shattered whatever courage I had gathered. When I looked back toward the kitchen again— Caelan had already turned slightly. Mirabel’s smile was still there. As if nothing had happened. As if I had imagined all of it. I stepped back slowly and walked away from the door. My mother called again. “Sylvana?” “Yes,” I answered softly. My voice didn’t sound like mine anymore. Then I went into the living room and sat on the sofa. My mother slid onto the sofa next to me. "Sylvana, look at how helpful she's being. She came back to support Caelan. You could be a little warmer to her. You're her sister." My father weighed in too. "Caelan built that company from nothing. Having family on the inside is good for him. You're the older sister. Have some grace." I turned to look at my father. "Dad. Caelan is my husband. Mirabel is your other daughter. Don't you think they're too close?" His face darkened. “What are you implying?” "What if I told you," I said quietly, "that Hayden might not be mine?" Both of them froze. My mother recovered first. She grabbed my wrist. "Sylvana! Don't say things like that! Of course Hayden is your son. What's gotten into you?" My father slammed his hand on the table. “Enough! You really do need to see a doctor. Caelan was right.” That was the last thing I needed to hear. Their reactions killed the last bit of hope I had. They only cared about Caelan. About what he gave them. Theynever knew that Vexmoor only existed because of me. Chapter3 After everyone left that night, I turned to Caelan. "I'm going to stay at the old house for a few days. Sort through some things." He didn't ask questions. "Want me to drive you?" "No." The old house is where my parents, Mirabel, and I used to live. My parents moved away after I got married, but many of our old belongings are still there. I went up to the attic and searched through somthing old. In a leather suitcase, I found things Mirabel had left behind. Diaries. Photos. A small metal box. I opened the box. Inside were letters. The top envelope was yellowed. But the handwriting was neat and careful. **To Caelan.** I pulled out the page inside. *Caelan, you came over again today to see my sister. The way you looked at her made my heart hurt. I know I shouldn't feel this way. I'm sorry. I love you.* Another one. *Caelan, I heard you and my sister are getting married. She's so lucky. If I had met you first — would things be different?* My hands started shaking. I kept reading. The last one was not a letter. It was a photo. Mirabel and Caelan standing under a cherry tree. Her head on his shoulder. Her hand on her belly. On the back, in her handwriting: The one not loved is the mistress. I held the photo. My fingers were ice cold. It had started so early. And I'd been like the fool, I had been too blind to see. So where was my real child? I pulled out my phone. I drew in one long breath. I texted the investigator. *Check the records at the Shifter Maternity Center. June 21, 3:00 to 5:00 PM. * *Also — check Mirabel's full overseas history. Focus on any birth records.* Then my home security app sent an alert. Motion detected in living room. I frowned. Caelan should be at work. The housekeeper was off. I opened the live feed. The camera pointed at the sofa. Caelan sat at one end, his tie loose, his head tipped back against the cushions. He looked exhausted. At first, everything looked ordinary. Then the door opened. Mirabel stepped into the frame. And I stopped breathing. She wasn't in the cream silk suit she'd worn to my dinner table. She wore a black silk nightdress. The straps were as thin as threads, and the hemline barely covered her hips—the kind of dress one would only wear when alone at home. She walked to Caelan's side, then lowered herself onto his lap, rubbing her ample breasts against his chest. Her hand gently caressed his face, then slid down into his hair. Like she had done it before. Caelan didn’t stop her. I watched the screen and gripped my phone with both hands, watching her thread her fingers into his hair—the way I hadn't done in six years. Then I tapped the small red button at the bottom of the screen. And I could see him react. My Bonding Mark flared hot. Like something inside me had been dragged open. His breathing changed. His hands moved first. Mirabel leaned into him. "Mirabel," he said—loud enough for the microphone to catch. "Not here." But he didn't stop her. Then her fingers found the top button of his shirt and worked it open. She tilted her face up. "Caelan." Her voice came through the speaker, thin and tinny. "When Cal calls me *Auntie*, I—you don't know how much it hurts." "Mirabel." Julian's voice was hoarse, as if suppressing a strong desire. "He should be calling me *Mom.*" Caelan’s jaw tightened. Then his hand slid down her back, one hand supporting her buttocks, pulling Mirabel closer. Mirabel leaned closer to his face, and kissed Caelan's lips earnestly, then slowly began to exchange saliva with abandon. When the two people's mouths parted, a trace of silvery saliva was pulled out. She laughed softly and lowly, and kept unbuttoning his shirt. Caelan seemed unable to hold back any longer. He rolled over, pinning Mirabel beneath him, and pulled out his large penis, gesturing for Mirabel to come over and give him oral sex. She crawled between my husband's legs and began to suckle vigorously. I saw him raise his hand and slap her buttocks hard, each slap was forceful and provocative. I watched my husband enjoying himself immensely as he thrust in and out of Mirabel's mouth. My stomach turned. My Bonding Mark burned so hard I had to press my back against the wall just to stay standing. I couldn’t tell anymore where the pain ended and awareness began. The camera caught it clearly. I watched the screen until I couldn’t anymore. Then I turned it off. I ran to the bathroom and threw up. Nothing came out. Just acid burning all the way up my throat. My phone vibrated again. And again. And again. The investigator. “Ms. Shaw. I found it.” “Mirabel entered Country M in July. In August, she gave birth to a full‑term baby boy at a private shifter clinic in Country M. Registered species: Cheetah × Jaguar hybrid (F1).” “I also retrieved the records from the Shifter Maternity Center for your delivery date. One snow leopard female infants were born that afternoon. The hospital has since closed. Original records lost.” “But in november of that same year, when Mirabel returned to Country M, she had a baby girl with her. Approximately five months old." “The girl’s registered name is Una. Underground Shift Market are illegal in Country M Chinatown. Minors will forced to shift for spectators. When they grow up, they are made to fight each other there for gambling purposes." “Due to her rare species (snow leopard), Una has been forced to shift three to four times a week since she was eight. Her body shows extensive scarring, both from combat and from human-form beatings. ” “Mirabel collects most of her wages through an intermediary every month.” Photos came with the messages. A dimly lit corner of a back alley. A small silver leopard curled in a cage. Ribs showing. Fur dull. An unhealed scar over its left eye. Next photo. A close‑up of an arm. Bruises layered over older bruises. I stared at the screen. My daughter had been out there. Forced to shift. Forced to fight. Forced to be beaten. Forced to give her money to the woman who stole her. Hate flooded through me. I stood up. My vision went dark for a few seconds. I caught the wall. Dug my nails into my palm until the pain brought me back. I cried for a long time until my eyes were dry. Then I sent everything to my lawyer. Then I called AF Group. Vexmoor's biggest competitor. “I’ll sign the patent transfer tomorrow. But I have one condition. Vicksmore Group must go bankrupt.” A low laugh came from the other end. A calm male voice. "Done." I hung up and looked at all the evidence on my phone. Caelan. I made you. And I will break you.

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Nine months pregnant, I ran into my husband, Dante Morano, and his mistress at the Ravenna clinic. The moment I picked up my report, I saw the two of them celebrating the upcoming arrival of their own child. Nicoletta pretended to be concerned. "Dante, you really shouldn't be here with me. If Seraphina finds out, she'll be upset. She's pregnant too. Aren't you worried she'd be upset?" Dante let out a cold chuckle. "If she causes a scene, I'll dissolve the alliance." Since Dante didn't want us anymore, I'd rather raise the child without a father than stay in this farce of a marriage. I called my dad, who was living in Valmoria. "Dad, I've made up my mind. I'm getting out of this. I'm taking the baby and coming to be with you." After I hung up, I booked the earliest flight available. Two weeks. That's all I needed. Two weeks and I'd be out of Dante's life for good. But then why... did that man show up at my wedding with red eyes, begging me to take him back? Nine months pregnant and the moment I received my prenatal report, I saw my husband attending an appointment at the private Ravenna clinic — with his first love, Nicoletta Ferraro. "Dante, you coming with me to this appointment… if Seraphina finds out, she'll be really upset. She's due soon, too. Aren't you worried?" Nicoletta said with a voice full of pretend concern, but I caught the smugness in her eyes. Dante kissed her belly gently and replied with chilling indifference, "She doesn't know about this and I'm not planning on telling her. Maybe it's the hormones, but her mood's been all over the place lately. I don't want her making things difficult for you." "But we can't keep sneaking around like this. Seraphina's heavily pregnant, too. If she finds out, I'm afraid she—" "There's nothing to be afraid of. It's my duty to be here with you for this appointment — after all, the baby is mine, too. If Seraphina wants to cause trouble, I'll just end the marriage." The coldness in Dante's voice when he spoke about me made my blood run cold. If Dante had already decided to toss us aside, then I would beat him to it. I would leave him and raise this child on my own. I let out a bitter smile as my heart finally gave up. I pulled out my phone and called my father in Valmoria. "Dad, I've made up my mind. I'm dissolving the alliance. I'll bring the baby and come live with you." "I'm glad you finally came to your senses," came his voice through the line. "The Moranos might run a powerful syndicate, but the Valente name doesn't bow to anyone. If staying there only brings you pain, then yes — leave him and raise the child on your own." "You're right, Dad." After hanging up, I immediately booked the next flight out. I thought back to this morning, when I asked Dante to come to my appointment with me. He said he had Family business — turns out he was just accompanying Nicoletta to hers. Nine months of pregnancy and not once had Dante ever come with me to the clinic. Nicoletta had her engagement called off three months ago and ever since she came back to the country, Dante had been meeting her over and over again. From the moment she returned, Dante and I had barely shared any time alone. Whenever Nicoletta called — even if it was just a message — Dante would drop everything and rush to her. He'd walk out of a sit-down with his capos mid-sentence if her name lit up his phone. He even held her affectionately right in front of me. It wasn't like I hadn't confronted him about it. But every time I did, he brushed me off with the same excuse — that Nicoletta was going through a hard time and needed support. According to him, everything he did was to help Nicoletta back on her feet. She was pregnant, he said, and he had a moral obligation to be there for her. But Dante seemed to forget one crucial fact: Nicoletta wasn't the only pregnant woman in his life. I was, too. And I was even further along than she was. If anything, I was the one who needed care the most. For the longest time, I thought the baby Nicoletta was carrying was Dante's. I tried to ask indirectly. I even told him that if he no longer loved me, he needed to tell me outright. But every single time, he'd shut me down — impatient, dismissive, evasive. And the one time I dared question whose child Nicoletta was really carrying, he got furious. He kept reassuring me, over and over again, until I finally chose to trust him. I told myself he was just being kind. That he hadn't fallen out of love with me. But now, it's all so clear — Nicoletta's baby has always been his. They'd been sneaking around behind my back for God knows how long and I was nothing more than their cover story. The loyal Valente wife, heavy with child, keeping the household respectable while the Don ran to his comare. When Dante mentioned dissolving our marriage, I caught the way Nicoletta's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of satisfaction slipping through her carefully composed expression. Her fingertips drifted to the hollow of her throat, a gesture so delicate it looked like nerves. It wasn't. "I never meant to take you from Seraphina," she said, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "It's just… if my fiancé hadn't broken things off, none of this would've happened. I needed to protect my dignity. And thank God you were there, Dante. I honestly don't know what I would've done — where I would've gone — after coming back to this country without you." Her eyes filled with tears. And Dante, full of tenderness and concern, gently wrapped her in his arms. "I told you — I'll take care of you, Nicoletta. If it weren't for you back then, I would've…" He trailed off. "Anyway, it's only right that I look after you," he continued. "Seraphina is my wife, so she should understand why I'm doing this. And so what if she finds out? I'll still be here for you, no matter what." Dante patted Nicoletta gently, comforting her. As the doctor came out of the exam room, she glanced at them and said with envy, "You're one lucky woman, Mrs. Morano. Your husband never misses a single check-up and he treats you with such care and affection." Nicoletta blushed, smiling bashfully and Dante nodded like it was only natural. I stared at the sickening scene in front of me, nails digging into my palms. My fingers found the inside of my left wrist without thinking, pressing against the ridged skin there. The scars he'd never asked about. The scars from a fire he didn't remember. Two more weeks and I would be gone from Dante's life forever. Chapter 2 Dante followed the doctor into the office to collect the prenatal report. Nicoletta, however, made an excuse about needing the restroom and lingered in the corridor instead. Once they were both inside, she finally spoke, her voice low and unhurried. "You can come out now. You've been standing there watching long enough. Haven't had your fill yet?" I stepped out without a word, my expression blank. Seeing that I stayed silent, Nicoletta grew impatient. Her gaze sharpened with mockery. "What, no shame left at all? You knew Dante never loved you, yet you still insist on holding on to the Morano name?" I let out a cold laugh. "And you don't find it shameful to be the other woman, fully aware he's married?" Nicoletta's lips curled into a smile. Her fingers drifted to the hollow of her throat, pressing there lightly, as if steadying herself before she delivered the next line. "I knew Dante long before you did. If I hadn't been sent away, you'd never have had the chance to marry into his Family." She patted her belly, then added smugly, "But I'm back now. And I'm carrying his child. So I'd say it's time for you to step aside." From the moment I married Dante, I knew he had a woman he considered his one true love. The one who had supposedly saved him from the fire, the one the entire Morano household spoke of in reverent whispers. But I never thought she'd hold such an unshakable place in his heart. The pain that shot through my chest nearly brought me to my knees. My grip tightened instinctively on the report in my hand. And that's when Nicoletta saw it and snatched it from me. She scanned the conclusion and burst into wild, gleeful laughter. The sound bounced off the clinic's marble floors, filling the private corridor the Ravenna network kept quiet for Family visits. "Cancer, huh?" she said. "So, what do you think? Will you live long enough to give birth to that bastard baby, or are you both going to die together?" Her laughter rang in my ears like sirens and something in me snapped. I stepped forward and slapped her, hard. She staggered back dramatically, then fell to the ground with a wail. "Seraphina, I didn't mean to keep this from you! But I'm pregnant! How could you hit me like that?" Huge, dramatic tears rolled down her cheeks. And before I could even process her performance, I felt a violent shove from behind. I lost my balance and my belly slammed into the cold, hard floor. Dante grabbed my arm and yanked me up. I was still dazed, still trying to process the shock, when he yelled in my face. "Are you out of your mind? How could you push Nicoletta? She's pregnant!" I stared at him, stunned. Before I could speak, Nicoletta cried out, "Dante, please don't fight with Seraphina because of me. I shouldn't have asked you to come to the appointment with me. This is my fault. As long as the baby's okay, she can slap me." She looked like a tragic heroine. Eyes glassy, lower lip trembling. The perfect performance for a man who had been raised to protect what was his and destroy what threatened it. Dante's face twisted with anger. His voice was low and sharp when he turned to me. "You've crossed the line, Seraphina," he said coldly. "Apologize to Nicoletta." The sound of it shocked even me. I laughed. Bitterly. "You want me to apologize?" I said, my voice hoarse. "Dante, do you know what this is?" I shoved the cancer report into his chest, my hands shaking. My throat tightened with emotion. The Don of the Morano Family, the man whose word moved men and money across three territories, and he couldn't be bothered to look at a single piece of paper his wife held against his heart. He didn't even look at it. He tore the paper in half and glared at me like I was the problem. "I don't care what that says! All I know is you've gone too far. God, you're pregnant, Seraphina! How could you be cruel to another woman?" Tears finally slipped down my cheeks, hot and silent. My whole body trembled. Not from pain, but from sheer fury. My fingers found the inside of my left wrist without thinking, pressing against the raised skin there, the scars he had never once asked about. Dante saw me crying and for a moment, his expression softened. His tone shifted to something gentler. "Alright… can you just apologize? I know I haven't been giving you attention these past few months. But I promise I'll make it up to you once the baby's born." Then, without a trace of shame, he pushed me toward Nicoletta. She looked back at me, eyes glinting with smug triumph. I looked hard at Dante, wondering how the man who once swore he loved me could change so drastically the moment Nicoletta came back. Had he forgotten every promise he made the day we stood before the altar at Saint Jerome's, with both Families watching, with the old code binding us together in blood and name? He had kissed my hand. He had called me his. The Commission had raised their glasses. I drew in a long, steadying breath. "No," I said quietly. "I won't apologize. And Dante… you've truly disappointed me." Then I turned and walked away. My footsteps echoed down the private corridor of the Ravenna clinic, past the stationed soldier who wouldn't meet my eyes, past the heavy doors that sealed this world from the one outside. No one followed me. Chapter 3 As I walked away, Dante's face darkened. For a brief moment, panic flashed through his eyes. He started to take a step toward me, but then Nicoletta clutched her stomach and groaned. "Dante, it hurts," she gasped, then forced out a teary plea. "But Seraphina's more important. Go after her." Dante hesitated only a second before shaking his head. "No. Don't worry about her. Right now, your condition is what matters most." He glanced down the corridor where I'd disappeared, and I heard him mutter, "Seraphina's just throwing a tantrum. She's eight months pregnant. She'll be terrified if I dissolve the alliance. I'll talk to her later." Then he scooped Nicoletta up and carried her into the hospital room. When I got back to the compound, I stood outside for a long moment, staring at the house that was supposed to be ours. The iron gates were lit by low amber lamps. Two of Dante's soldiers stood at the perimeter, their eyes tracking me with the careful blankness of men who'd been told not to ask questions. Since Nicoletta returned from overseas, Dante had barely been home. I could no longer feel the warmth this house once held. I walked to the wall, took down our wedding photo and tossed it straight into the trash. I didn't want to leave a single trace of myself here. Not one reminder of what used to be. I packed up all our couple items and stuffed them into a trash bag. I was heading down the stairs with it when the front door suddenly swung open. Dante walked in, carrying Nicoletta in his arms. When he saw me standing silently by the door, a flicker of guilt flashed across his face. "She's not feeling well after what you did," he said, like that explained everything. "Not feeling well, huh?" I scoffed. "Then why isn't she in a clinic? Why the hell would you bring her here? Do you think this house is some kind of recovery center for your comare?" "Watch your words, Seraphina," he snapped. "I'm trying to fix things here. Whether you like it or not, Nicoletta is staying in this house." Nicoletta chimed in, her hand moving to gently rub her belly. "It's true, Seraphina. There's nothing going on between Dante and me. I'm only staying for the baby." She said it just to provoke me. Her fingers drifted to the hollow of her throat, touching it lightly, and her voice came out soft as silk. Calibrated. I could feel the anger rising in my chest, bubbling and hot. I looked at Dante and said, firm and loud, "This is our house, Dante. I don't want her living here." Dante paused. His face twisted like he was conflicted. But then Nicoletta grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly. Dante's heart melted instantly. When he turned back to me, his voice was full of irritation. "That's enough! You're pregnant too. How can you have zero empathy?" "You pushed Nicoletta. I'm just trying to take care of her. If you don't want her here, then maybe you should leave." His words hit like a slap. The room went very still. Even the soldier stationed near the hallway entrance seemed to stop breathing. I stared at him, the blood draining from my face. My whole body trembled. And then I said, as clearly as I could, "As you wish." Tonight would be my last night in this house. After this, I'd be gone, and Dante Morano would be a closed chapter in my life. A Don who couldn't tell loyalty from a lie. A husband who chose the performance of a stranger's grief over the silence of his own wife's breaking. With my decision made, I grabbed the trash bag in my hand and marched out the door. My fingers brushed the inside of my left wrist without thinking, pressing against the ridged skin there. The night air hit my face like a verdict. Nicoletta's voice followed behind me, laced with mock pity. "Don't fight because of me, Dante. Look, she's so angry she even took down your wedding photo." Dante's voice rumbled low with frustration. "She's just being dramatic. Once she realizes I'm not playing her game, she'll come crawling back." A tear slid down my cheek. I walked into the cold night and threw the trash away along with the very last shred of love I had left for him. Chapter 4 The second I opened the door, I heard a noise coming from the nursery, and my anger flared white-hot. Dante had renovated that room the moment he found out I was pregnant. He'd filled it with only the best. Every piece of furniture, every stuffed animal, every blanket. He picked them all out himself. For our baby. And now he wanted to give that to Nicoletta? Fury surged through me. I stormed down the hallway and swung the door open, only to find Nicoletta lying in the crib. I yanked her up without thinking, rage burning in my chest. But before I could get a word out, Dante grabbed my wrist and pulled me away from her. "What is wrong with you? You act like a lunatic the second you walk in," he snapped. But when he saw the tears in my eyes, he hesitated, his grip loosening just a little. "Are you really giving her this room?" I asked, my voice raw and broken. Dante frowned. "Nicoletta said she likes it. It's not a big deal if she stays here for a while." "Do you remember…" "Enough, Seraphina!" he cut me off, irritated. "Everything you've done these past few days has been disappointing. If you keep acting like this, I'll have to reconsider whether this alliance should even continue." He paused, eyes cold. "You don't want the baby inside you to be born without a father, do you?" He was threatening me. Not with lawyers, not with paperwork. With dissolution. In this world, that meant exile. It meant my child growing up outside the protection of any Family name. It meant nothing. Looking at his face, the side he always turned away when he was done with an argument, I felt the memories unravel. The promises, the whispered sweet nothings, all turning to ash in a matter of months. He once said this room would always belong to our baby. He said he would treasure both of us for the rest of his life. And yet here we were. I didn't say anything else. I turned around and walked out, numb. My hand instinctively cradled my belly, feeling the faint flutter of life inside me. "Don't worry, baby. We don't need that room. I'll make you a better one." Behind me, Dante stood frozen, watching me walk away. That same flicker of guilt from the clinic flashed across his face again, sharp and quick, then buried. But as Nicoletta called out to him from the nursery, he turned and walked back to her. Later, when I was back in the master bedroom, my phone buzzed. I got a string of voice messages from Nicoletta. I opened them one by one, and hearing Dante's doting tone in the recordings, I realized all their past affection was just practice for Dante. He was practicing on me and our baby, all for the sake of Nicoletta's child. Every nourishing soup I drank, every gift I received for the baby, every parenting tip Dante shared with me. It was all just practice for Nicoletta's baby. Even the nursery itself was prepared by Dante for the child in Nicoletta's womb. I and the baby were just tools for Dante's rehearsal. He didn't want Nicoletta to suffer through his learning curve, so I became the sacrifice. I listened to the messages over and over, the pain swelling inside me until I laughed. Not because it was funny, because it hurt so much it pushed me over the edge. Everything I had been so proud of since the moment I got pregnant had been nothing but a lie. Dante's tenderness toward my child? It didn't even come close to what he showed Nicoletta and hers. I clenched my phone so tightly my hand shook. It hurt to breathe. All I could do was whisper over and over to myself that it was okay. It was okay. Because soon, we'd be free of him. Free of the Morano compound, the enforcer at the gate, the locked rooms and the silence that passed for loyalty in this house. My fingers drifted to the inside of my left wrist, tracing the ridged skin there without thinking. Just me and the baby. And we'd be just fine. The baby kicked, like he could hear me. Like he understood. I wrapped my arms around my belly and held it close. I stayed that way for a long time, until I could finally breathe again. Chapter 5 After Nicoletta moved into the compound, Dante practically glued himself to her side. And me? I stopped expecting anything from him the moment I saw the truth. One night, as I walked downstairs to get some water, I heard her voice through the slightly open door of the guest room. "Dante," she cooed, "I heard the Morano crest medallion really works wonders. The baby's been keeping me up at night... could I borrow it for a while?" The medallion wasn't just a piece of jewelry. It was a Morano Family heirloom, centuries old, passed down through every generation. A symbol that whoever wore it was the rightful wife of the Don. Dante had given it to me on the day our alliance was sealed, fastened the chain around my neck himself. He said it would be mine forever. Because there would never be another Donna Morano. His voice pulled me out of the memory. Through the gap in the door, I saw him press a gentle kiss to her cheek and smile. "Of course. I'll ask her for it. You can wear it as long as you want. At least until the baby's born." A sharp pain stabbed through my chest. I couldn't even remember his exact promise anymore. But it didn't matter. Because clearly, neither could he. I took a step back, but the floor creaked under my foot. Dante opened the door and found me standing there. He looked startled. Guilty, even. He stepped outside, pulled the door shut behind him and led me to a corner of the hallway. The house was quiet. Down the corridor, one of the soldiers stationed at the back entrance shifted his weight, then went still again, pretending he hadn't seen a thing. "Seraphina... you heard that, didn't you?" he asked hesitantly. I didn't say anything. He hesitated again before speaking. "Nicoletta's been having trouble sleeping. Do you think you could let her borrow the medallion for a bit?" I nodded slowly, but at that moment, a sharp pain twisted through my side. I winced and swallowed it down. "I'll give it to her, but on one condition." Dante's face lit up like I'd just handed him the moon. He stepped toward me, ready to wrap me in a hug, but I took a step back before he could touch me. Nicoletta's scent was all over him. It made me want to gag. "I'm glad you're finally coming around," he said with a relieved smile. "Once Nicoletta has the baby, I'll give it back. Don't worry. Your place in this family isn't going anywhere." So he did remember what the medallion stood for. "I don't care if she never gives it back," I said quietly. "I just need you to sign this." I turned and walked upstairs. A minute later, I came back down with the dissolution papers in hand, already flipped to the page where his signature was needed. The documents that would sever the blood-bound alliance between the Valente and Morano families. Every clause had been drawn up by my father's consigliere weeks ago. All it needed was the Don's name at the bottom. "There's no need to be upset," he said softly, like he was trying to soothe me. "Nicoletta's not going to keep it forever. Like I said, I'll return it once she has the baby." He signed the papers without even glancing at them. As soon as I held the signed dissolution in my hands, the storm inside me quieted. I never expected it would be this easy. The Don of the Morano Family had just signed away his alliance with the Valentes. And he didn't even know it. Dante gave me a small smile. "I know I haven't been there for you these past few months. Go ahead and buy whatever you want. I'll take care of the bill." So that's why he was so quick to sign. He thought this was just me angling for a shopping spree. I unclasped the medallion from around my neck and handed it to him, expressionless. For a moment, he hesitated. His thumb traced the crest, the old silver warm from where it had rested against my skin. But eventually, he took it and held it tight. "Don't worry. Once the baby's born, it'll be yours again," he repeated, like he needed to convince himself. But I didn't care anymore. "She can wear it for as long as she wants," I said flatly. Overcome with emotion, Dante pulled me into a hug. I pushed him off immediately, but he didn't seem to mind. He turned and walked straight back into Nicoletta's room. A second later, I heard her squealing with joy. I just stood there, staring out the window. My fingers found the inside of my left wrist without thinking, pressing against the ridged skin where the burn scars began. Tomorrow was the day I'd leave. And this time, I wouldn't hesitate.

🇬🇧

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