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1,778,978	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778977}'	No	2024-05-08 18:44	active	760	1495937444608799		She was full of anticipation to introduce him to her grandmother, but she bumped into him hugging his first love...<br /> =============<br /> <br /> Chapter 1 Ex-girlfriend Returns<br /> <br /> Raegan Hayes was a little absent-minded at the moment. <br /> <br /> All she could think of since this afternoon was the doctor's words. "Congratulations! You are going to be a mom."<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Mitchel Dixon pinched her arm. His low voice came the next second. "Come back to earth. What are you thinking about?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel was her husband. They had been married secretly for two years. He was her superior at work, the president of the Dixon Group. <br /> <br /> Everything had happened so fast. She was newly employed in the company when they unexpectedly got married. <br /> <br /> At that time, Mitchel's grandfather fell seriously ill. It was then he proposed a fake marriage just to fulfill his grandfather's dying wish. <br /> <br /> They signed a prenup, agreeing to hide their marriage from the public. Their union could be terminated at any time. <br /> <br /> It was an unconventional thing to do. However, Raegan only considered herself lucky at that time. <br /> <br /> Never in a million years did she think she would ever get married to the man she had a crush on for eight years. She delightfully agreed. <br /> <br /> After their marriage, Mitchel was very busy. He spent most of his time working. <br /> <br /> Raegan wished she could spend more time with him at home. However, she was rest assured because there hadn't been any rumors or scandals about him with women in the past two years. <br /> <br /> Except for his mild indifference, Mitchel was a perfect husband. <br /> <br /> Raegan had mixed feelings as she stared at the medical report. <br /> <br /> In the end, she decided to tell Mitchel this news. <br /> <br /> She also wanted to tell him that she hadn't learned about him for the first time two years ago and that she had been crushing on him for many years before then. <br /> <br /> Just then, Mitchel’s phone rang. He went to the balcony and answered the phone. <br /> <br /> Raegan checked the time and found that it was already midnight. <br /> <br /> She felt a little uneasy. Who would call Mitchel at this hour? <br /> <br /> Mitchel spent a few minutes on the balcony. Thereafter, he returned and changed into formal attire. His handsome face which had a clear outline made him look dignified. <br /> <br /> He was something to see now. <br /> <br /> "Don't wait up for me. Good night," he said finally. <br /> <br /> What? He was on his way out? At this hour? <br /> <br /> Raegan's grip on the report tightened as she stared at him in disappointment. Unconsciously, she withdrew slightly. After thinking for a while, she blurted out, "It's already so late."<br /> <br /> Mitchel's fingers froze on his tie. With a faint smile, he pinched her earlobe and said, "Be good, okay? There's something I have to do. Don't wait up."<br /> <br /> With that, he headed for the door. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel."<br /> <br /> Raegan quickly ran and caught up with him. <br /> <br /> Mitchel turned around and looked at her seriously. <br /> <br /> "What's the matter?"<br /> <br /> There was a tinge of coldness to his voice. An icy cloud hung over them as they stared at each other. <br /> <br /> A little distressed, Raegan asked in a low voice, "I would like to visit my grandma tomorrow. Can you accompany me there?"<br /> <br /> Her grandmother always wanted to see her. As a result, Raegan wanted to take Mitchel there to assure her grandma they were happy. <br /> <br /> "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Without agreeing or declining, Mitchel left in a hurry. <br /> <br /> Several thoughts were threading Raegan's mind. She couldn't sleep a wink. <br /> <br /> After tossing and turning for a long time, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm glass of milk. <br /> <br /> A few notifications from some online blogs came into her phone. <br /> <br /> However, she wasn't interested in them. She was about to swipe them away when one of them caught her attention. The familiar name made her click on it. <br /> <br /> The news read, "Famous designer, Lauren Murray was spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend earlier today."<br /> <br /> Lauren was wearing a bucket hat. The man's figure was vague, but the outline of his body was enough to show that he was dashing. <br /> <br /> Raegan zoomed in on the picture. The next second, her heart dropped. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was the man in the picture! <br /> <br /> So, he canceled the afternoon meeting just to go pick up his ex-girlfriend from the airport? <br /> <br /> This realization settled like a boulder in Raegan's gut, rendering her flustered. <br /> <br /> Her hands trembled. Subconsciously, she dialed Mitchel's number. <br /> <br /> The dial tone brought her back to her senses. Just as she was about to hang up, the line connected, and a voice came from the other end. <br /> <br /> "Hello!"<br /> <br /> It was a particularly gentle woman's voice. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a second and then threw the phone away. <br /> <br /> She suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet bowl. <br /> <br /> The next morning, Raegan went to work on time. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had tried to get her to stop working after they got married. Stubbornly, she insisted on making her own money. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't kick against her decision, but he asked her to work as his assistant, helping him with the daily chores. <br /> <br /> The head assistant, Matteo Jenkins was left to take care of the major affairs Mitchel had. <br /> <br /> Matteo was the only Dixon Group employee who knew about their marriage. <br /> <br /> Since inception, only male assistants were hired for the president's office. Reagan was the first and only female. Her employment broke the protocol. As a result, other workers couldn't help but wonder if she was involved with Mitchel. <br /> <br /> It took a while before they realized that Mitchel never gave Raegan special treatment. Strangely, this made them despise her even more. <br /> <br /> After all, no one would last long in anything while taking advantage of their looks.<br /> <br /> At this time, one of Raegan's colleagues handed her a document and ordered her to take it to Mitchel's office. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't return home last night. Raegan was so worried that she didn't sleep at all. <br /> <br /> All she kept thinking about was the woman who answered his phone when she called. What was her relationship with Mitchel?<br /> <br /> Raegan already knew the answer to that, but she was still in denial. <br /> <br /> It was difficult for her to come to terms with that fact. <br /> <br /> Raegan tried to remain calm now. She reasoned that no matter what happened, she deserved a result that would be rewarding for all the years she spent loving Mitchel. This couldn't be all for nothing, right? <br /> <br /> She pressed the elevator button calmly and went up to the president's office. Before she walked out of the elevator, she smoothed her hair to make sure she looked good. <br /> <br /> She had arrived at the office, only to see that the door was ajar. A man's voice came. She halted instantly. <br /> <br /> "Come on, man! Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?"<br /> <br /> The voice belonged to Luis Stevens, a childhood friend of Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> "What do you mean exactly?" Mitchel asked in a cold voice. <br /> <br /> "You know exactly what I mean!" Luis clicked his tongue impatiently and added, "I think Raegan is a good girl. Isn't she your type?"<br /> <br /> "Do you want me to hand her over to you?" Mitchel asked carelessly. <br /> <br /> "You know what, forget it!"<br /> <br /> The scornful laughter of Luis sounded particularly harsh in Raegan's ears. <br /> <br /> They were talking about her as if she were an object. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the document. <br /> <br /> Soon, Luis's voice was heard again. <br /> <br /> "By the way, I saw the gossip news about Lauren's mysterious boyfriend this morning. That was you, right?"<br /> <br /> "Yes."<br /> <br /> "Well, well, well! That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. You always want to please her."<br /> <br /> Luis sighed and continued to tease Mitchel. "As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell me, did you two..."<br /> <br /> Their conversation was like a thunder exploding over Raegan's head. <br /> <br /> Her face turned pale and her body was as cold as ice. <br /> <br /> The woman was indeed Lauren! <br /> <br /> Absence made the heart grow fonder! <br /> <br /> Every word drove a knife into her heart. <br /> <br /> Several whispering voices filled her head at this time. She suddenly felt light-headed. Her vision became blurry. <br /> <br /> She held the wall and took a step backward. Suddenly, the door was opened from inside. <br /> <br /> "Raegan?"<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 2 One-sided Love<br /> <br /> Luis was the one who opened the door. It appeared he was on his way out. <br /> <br /> Raegan balled her hands, turned to him, and nodded. "Hey, Mr. Stevens!"<br /> <br /> Without waiting for him to respond to her greeting, she walked past him and entered the office with the document. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was seated behind a large luxurious desk. In an expensive suit and matching tie, he looked particularly handsome. <br /> <br /> Raegan noticed it wasn't the same suit he had on when he left home last night. How did he get changed? <br /> <br /> With her eyes lowered, she swallowed that question and said instead, "Mr. Dixon, this is from the Marketing Department. Please sign it."<br /> <br /> Mitchel was expressionless as he signed the document at a glance. <br /> <br /> Raegan walked out the door as soon as he handed the document back to her. Luis was still standing at the threshold. <br /> <br /> It wasn't until she went out of sight that Luis turned to Mitchel and said in a hushed tone, "Do you think she heard us?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's appealing eyes were expressionless at the moment. Obviously, he wasn't paying attention to what Luis was saying. <br /> <br /> To Mitchel, Raegan had always been docile and never felt jealous of anyone. <br /> <br /> Her strict obedience was all Mitchel demanded from her in exchange for treating her well. <br /> <br /> In the elevator. <br /> <br /> Raegan held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn't work. <br /> <br /> She had thought two years would be enough for Mitchel to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love. <br /> <br /> Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream. <br /> <br /> She realized she would always play second fiddle to Lauren, Mitchel's true love. <br /> <br /> Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened. <br /> <br /> She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea. <br /> <br /> Several employees were chatting inside. <br /> <br /> "Guys, have you heard? Lauren Murray is back."<br /> <br /> "And who is that?"<br /> <br /> "Oh, my! You don't know her? Lauren is the heiress of the Murray Group as well as a world-class designer. Most importantly, she's the only girlfriend Mr. Dixon has ever shown off in public. She's his first love!"<br /> <br /> "Why is her return such a big deal? Isn't it rumored that there is something between Mr. Dixon and Raegan?"<br /> <br /> "Raegan? She's nothing to Mr. Dixon. Mr. Dixon never admitted that he was dating her. And that is no surprise to me. After all, look at her. She's not even that beautiful. Yet, she behaves as if she's already Mrs. Dixon. What a fool!"<br /> <br /> Standing at the door, Raegan smiled with self-mockery as she listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her. <br /> <br /> The love was one-sided. <br /> <br /> "Ha-ha, have you finally woken up from your wild dream, Raegan?"<br /> <br /> A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Raegan turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Mitchel's cousin, who had always despised her. <br /> <br /> Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping. <br /> <br /> The last thing Raegan wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way. <br /> <br /> With a cup of coffee in her hand, Tessa uttered sarcastically, "Lauren is back now. Do you think Mitchel will still give you any attention?"<br /> <br /> Raegan said nothing to that. <br /> <br /> Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule. "Maybe it’s time for you to seek out another man, you pathetic fool."<br /> <br /> Raegan clenched her fists and said coldly, "Ms. Lloyd, if you are interested in that kind of thing, feel free to pursue it yourself."<br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Raegan's retort made Tessa's face change. <br /> <br /> The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of coffee on Raegan. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't think for a second that Tessa would do something so crazy. She held up her arms just to block the liquid from her face. In no time, the coffee drenched her clothes. <br /> <br /> Raegan frowned. "What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?"<br /> <br /> It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama. Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers. <br /> <br /> She put on a mean-girl look as she said, "What makes you so smug every day, huh? Do you seriously think that others don't know you are just an orphan? The nerve of..."<br /> <br /> Tessa was silenced by Raegan’s shove. <br /> <br /> Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Raegan, who was so quiet and timid, would shove her. <br /> <br /> Tessa stuttered, "You... You pushed me? How dare you!"<br /> <br /> Raegan eyed her and replied, "Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness."<br /> <br /> Indeed, she lost her parents when she was a child. But that didn't mean she would allow someone to walk over her for it. <br /> <br /> Wrinkles appeared on Tessa's face as she frowned in anger. As Mitchel's cousin, she was used to being fawned over and respected. This was the first time she had been treated like this. <br /> <br /> Tessa charged at Raegan like a raging bull, poised to retaliate. <br /> <br /> This time, Raegan was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa's wrist so that the latter couldn't move another inch. <br /> <br /> Tessa was shorter than Raegan. As a result, she struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap. <br /> <br /> Tessa cursed angrily, "How dare you put your hands on me? Who do you think you are?"<br /> <br /> These harsh words attracted more people to the break room. <br /> <br /> "That's enough!"<br /> <br /> Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Mitchel had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo. <br /> <br /> The entire room fell silent. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel?" Tessa's blood ran cold at the sight of Mitchel. She had always been scared of him. Her mother also warned her against provoking him. <br /> <br /> But when she remembered that Raegan humiliated her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed. "Mitchel, she bullied me."<br /> <br /> The sunlight from outside fell on Mitchel's handsome face. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to look at her clothes which were soaked with coffee. <br /> <br /> Their gaze met in the air. With a deep frown, Mitchel looked at Raegan and said, "Raegan, have you forgotten the rules of the company?"<br /> <br /> His ruthlessness made Raegan's breathing cease. She couldn't believe her ears. <br /> <br /> No one dared to make a sound at this moment. <br /> <br /> Raegan just stood straight there with her slender figure. <br /> <br /> When she got employed here, Mitchel had told her that the Dixon Group wasn't a place for her to mess around and that he would not tolerate her making any mistakes. <br /> <br /> Raegan could understand why he took this stand. <br /> <br /> However, at this moment, she was desperate to know whether Mitchel had heard those hard words Tessa scolded her or he was just pretending not to have heard because he agreed to those words. <br /> <br /> Was she truly insignificant to him?<br /> <br /> Scared to death by Mitchel's rage, the crowd soon dispersed. A few employees were bold enough to peep from a distance, unwilling to miss the good show. <br /> <br /> Mitchel's cold eyes made Raegan shiver from head to toe. <br /> <br /> Raegan pinched her palm to suppress her emotions as she looked at Tessa. <br /> <br /> "I'm sorry, Ms. Lloyd. As an employee of the Dixon Group, it was wrong of me to have offended you."<br /> <br /> Eyeing Raegan, Tessa raised her chin complacently. "Humph! Don't think you'll be let off the hook just by making a simple apology. I don't buy..."<br /> <br /> "The offence has nothing to do with the company. Personally, I refuse to apologize to you. Now, if you'd excuse me," Raegan chimed in. <br /> <br /> She then walked past Mitchel without sparing him another look. <br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Tessa's face turned blue after hearing what Raegan said. <br /> <br /> Never in her years of being alive had she been so humiliated. She was always the bully, not the victim! <br /> <br /> The humiliation was so much that scolding Raegan wouldn't appease her anger. <br /> <br /> Pointing in Raegan's direction, Tessa shouted, "Mitchel, did you hear what that woman just said? She humiliated me, yet she's still so arrogant. Call her back. I have to teach her some manners!"<br /> <br /> Mitchel, staring at Raegan's thin back, had an ambiguous expression at this moment. <br /> <br /> "Enough!" he said coldly, raising his hand. <br /> <br /> As someone who lived and breathed drama and cruelty, Tessa didn't think Mitchel was partial to Raegan just now. She assumed that Mitchel didn't care about Raegan at all. <br /> <br /> Tessa gritted her teeth and said viciously, "Next time, I'll get someone to teach her a lesson."<br /> <br /> "Tessa!" Mitchel's tone and squint made it a reproof. <br /> <br /> Tessa trembled at once. <br /> <br /> With a somber face, Mitchel said, "I'll only say it once. Forget about what happened here today. Leave Raegan alone."<br /> <br /> The aura he exuded made her tongue go dry. All the vicious ideas she had in store against Raegan disappeared in an instant. <br /> <br /> She stammered, "Ok... Okay, got it..."<br /> <br /> Mitchel cast a cold glance at her and spoke to Matteo. "Irrelevant people wouldn't be allowed in here from today onwards."<br /> <br /> Without catching the drift, Tessa flattered Mitchel. "Nice call. This is a top company. Not everyone gains access in here."<br /> <br /> Matteo nodded to Mitchel and then walked over to Tessa. He gestured to the exit. "Ms. Lloyd, this way, please."<br /> <br /> It wasn't until this moment that Tessa realized that she was the irrelevant person Mitchel just mentioned. She tried to speak to him, but Matteo blocked her way. The security guards then escorted her out. <br /> <br /> They showed her no mercy. Her struggle was useless. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Raegan got changed when she returned to her office. <br /> <br /> Her heart was filled with sadness as she thought of how Mitchel looked at her minutes ago. <br /> <br /> Closing hour soon rolled by. <br /> <br /> Raegan took her bag and headed for the exit. However, Matteo stopped her. <br /> <br /> He said, "Mr. Dixon has something urgent to deal with, so he asked me to drive you home."<br /> <br /> Raegan declined the ride without thinking twice. <br /> <br /> She was blind before, but now she could see through the situation. <br /> <br /> In Mitchel's eyes, she was just a nobody. <br /> <br /> How could Mitchel agree to accompany her to visit her grandmother when he didn't even care about her? <br /> <br /> Upon arriving at the hospital, Raegan saw that the nurse was about to feed her grandmother dinner. Raegan took the job over and did it by herself. <br /> <br /> All her life, her grandmother had been living in the countryside, enjoying a quiet life. Everything changed last month when her routine medical checkup showed that she was in need of medical care. Raegan insisted on bringing her to the city for better treatment. <br /> <br /> Her grandmother wasn't aware of her marriage to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> Raegan had planned to surprise her today. But as it turned out, that was no longer necessary. <br /> <br /> Raegan waited for her grandmother to fall asleep before she left. She walked out of the hospital and waited for a taxi. <br /> <br /> In the distance, a black luxury car pulled into the entrance of the hospital. <br /> <br /> Raegan's eyes lit up when she saw it. She recognized that car as Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> Did he come to pick her up? <br /> <br /> At this moment, she forgot all the pain she had been feeling. <br /> <br /> Were her thoughts about him all wrong? Did he care for her, contrary to the gossip? <br /> <br /> The door of the driver's side opened and Mitchel got out. <br /> <br /> Raegan started walking toward him with her heart brimming with joy. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had just walked over to the other side and carried a woman out of the car. <br /> <br /> Worry and compassion were written all over his handsome face. <br /> <br /> This wiped the smile on Raegan's face. Her heart sank. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 3 Let's Divorce<br /> <br /> Mitchel's tall and straight figure got closer and closer to Raegan. And then, without saying a word, he strode past Raegan. <br /> <br /> It was hard to tell if Mitchel saw Raegan or just ignored her. <br /> <br /> Regardless, Raegan noticed that the woman in his arms was the same one who had been photographed with him yesterday. <br /> <br /> She was Lauren. <br /> <br /> Raegan's shoes felt like they were made of lead as she walked away. <br /> <br /> She lost all awareness of her surroundings. She got into a taxi absentmindedly. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, the driver uttered, "Ma'am, where to?"<br /> <br /> Raegan was stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> She didn't want to go back to Serenity Villas. It was only a matter of time before that place stopped being her home. <br /> <br /> After a while, she replied, "Please take me to Crystal Bay."<br /> <br /> She had purchased an apartment at Crystal Bay after getting married to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> At the time, she had hopes of bringing her grandmother to the city, so she bought the apartment on mortgage. It wasn't that big, but it had more than enough space for two people. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't understand why she wanted to buy an apartment. He offered to give her a bigger one, but she declined. <br /> <br /> Looking back now, she realized that buying that apartment was the only wise decision she had ever made in the last two years. <br /> <br /> When she arrived at the apartment complex, Raegan sat in the park alone, trying to cool herself down. <br /> <br /> The memories of the past two years were bittersweet. <br /> <br /> Two years had passed in the blink of an eye even though it was more than seven hundred days and nights. <br /> <br /> Love could move mountains, they said. <br /> <br /> Yet, her love didn't move that stone of a man. She finally realized what a fool she had been. She had been making herself a laughingstock in front of everyone. <br /> <br /> It was already late in the night before Raegan finally decided to go into her apartment. <br /> <br /> As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mitchel standing in front of the door. <br /> <br /> His sleeves were rolled up casually, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone, which revealed his long neck and part of his collarbone. He was leaning on the wall by the door, his handsome face straight. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a moment. <br /> <br /> Why was he here? Didn't she see him at the hospital with Lauren? What brought him here? <br /> <br /> Their eyes met. With his coat draped over his arm and one of his hands in his pocket, Mitchel squinted at her. <br /> <br /> "Why didn't you answer the phone?" he asked, sounding a little grumpy like someone who hadn't slept in a long time. <br /> <br /> Raegan took out her phone and saw she had accidentally put it on DND. <br /> <br /> There were five missed calls from Mitchel. <br /> <br /> This marked the first time in their two-year marriage. <br /> <br /> Mitchel blew up her phone because he couldn't find her? Surprising! <br /> <br /> Before today, she would have been overjoyed by this. People would've thought she won the lottery. <br /> <br /> But now, she just threw her phone back into her bag, folded her arms, and said in a hoarse voice, "I didn't hear it ring."<br /> <br /> Mitchel raised his hand to check the time on the watch, and said impatiently, "I've been looking for you for two hours."<br /> <br /> After arranging everything for Lauren, he returned home to find an empty house. He looked for Raegan everywhere. When he couldn't find her, he asked Matteo to check the surveillance footage of all the roads that led away from the company. <br /> <br /> He later found out that Raegan went to Crystal Bay without telling him. <br /> <br /> "Next time, tell me when you are coming here, okay? Let's go home now." After that, Mitchel walked toward the elevator without sparing her another glance. <br /> <br /> He meant to go back to Serenity Villas. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't move an inch. She just stared at his broad back and pondered reluctantly. <br /> <br /> Would they have a future? <br /> <br /> Mitchell turned around, only to see that Raegan hadn't taken a single step. He frowned and asked, "Can't you walk? Do you want me to carry you instead?"<br /> <br /> The light in the corridor illuminated his face, making his side profile almost impeccable. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and said, "Let's divorce."<br /> <br /> "What do you mean?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's voice was cold, and his handsome face changed immediately. <br /> <br /> "I want to move into my own place. After all, we will be strangers soon."<br /> <br /> Raegan forced a smile, but her heart was aching as if someone was tearing it apart bit by bit. <br /> <br /> "We will be strangers?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel smiled coldly. "Raegan, what do you think our relationship is now?"<br /> <br /> His questioning left Raegan stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had made it very clear to her from the very beginning. This facade of their marriage had happened by mutual agreement. There was no love. In the eyes of others, they were nothing more than just a superior and a subordinate. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was quite the catch in Ardlens. Many young ladies longed for his love and were even willing to throw themselves at him. <br /> <br /> His question just now reminded her of that fact. Was he afraid that she wouldn't let him go that easily? If that was the case, he couldn't be more wrong... <br /> <br /> After biting her lower lip to conceal her bitterness, Raegan said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Dixon. I was giving it too much thought. Anyway, please leave me alone from now on. You don't have to come here again."<br /> <br /> After saying that, Raegan couldn't help but burst into tears. <br /> <br /> How could she not be sad when she was cutting ties with the man she had loved for a decade? It was such a long time. <br /> <br /> Regardless of how difficult it was, she knew it was time to let go. <br /> <br /> It was high time she stopped being a fool. <br /> <br /> Strangely, the light in the corridor began flickering. <br /> <br /> The deathly stare Mitchel was giving Raegan right now made the atmosphere seem like the moment before an attack in a horror movie. <br /> <br /> Although he understood that Raegan sometimes could throw a tantrum, he felt that she had just crossed the line now. <br /> <br /> His eyes shone like blazing torches at this moment. But when he saw the tears in her eyes, the rage inside him extinguished in an instant. He said in a low voice, "If this is about what happened between you and Tessa, I..."<br /> <br /> "No, this isn't about her. Mr. Dixon, please leave now."<br /> <br /> A lot of things happened between them. And the incident with Tessa didn't come close to any. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt exhausted. She passed by Mitchel and was about to open the door. <br /> <br /> Yet, Mitchel was displeased with her stubbornness. <br /> <br /> He loosened his tie irritably. He then took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. <br /> <br /> "Stop this, will you?"<br /> <br /> A second later, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. <br /> <br /> He instantly realized that she was burning up like someone who had been set on fire. <br /> <br /> "You have a fever?"<br /> <br /> Raegan felt dizzy. She rested her head on his chest weakly. <br /> <br /> This made the whole situation complicated. <br /> <br /> Reagan was slow to catch that. When she finally realized that her body was too close to his, she put her hands against his chest and tried to pull back. <br /> <br /> Before she could escape, Mitchel pulled her back and held her by the waist. With a cold face, he said in a low voice, "Where do you think you are going?"<br /> <br /> The light flickered again. Out of the blue, Mitchel lifted her up. <br /> <br /> He then headed for the elevator. <br /> <br /> In a daze, Raegan asked softly, "What are you doing?"<br /> <br /> "What does it look like I am doing?" Mitchel remarked. "Taking you to the hospital, of course."<br /> <br /> "No way!" Raegan cried out in surprise and seemed to regain more strength. <br /> <br /> Mitchel might find out about her condition if they went to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Raegan struggled to get out of Mitchel's arms. However, his tight grip made her efforts fruitless. <br /> <br /> "Don't be so stubborn. You are sick, so you must see the doctor," Mitchel said firmly. <br /> <br /> He walked to the elevator with her in his arms. At this moment, Raegan's heart was thumping so hard that it could jump out of her chest. She flailed in protest. <br /> <br /> "Put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!"<br /> &5&	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-FB_CONTACT-E	240971372424182	Lovestory-ljw	https://facebook.com/61555864238939	6,855	1	1,607,134,643,417,236	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Install now	Lovestory-ljw	120209591477050687	fbweb.moboreader.net	NONE	video		https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-FB_CONTACT-ENJ57_8-Core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=223013&accid=1600823597386213	2024-05-06 23:04	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441492846_968331691333556_8908740676987400789_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WDgQALFFq7YQ7kNvgHdlAQs&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBT1IoQDplH0-RniOo9oyI4FFNFifmhtvPNIADlXLeXPw&oe=6641C927	person_profile	Lovestory-ljw	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441462773_312714171859773_1237870219306037619_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-ix3psD51lUQ7kNvgGogedF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCKYw1gnjLQt8B0S2ibyoUifCr_B_BPeeU1LedRYzKv8g&oe=6641DB2D	3	Lovestory-ljw	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,374	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778108}'	No	2024-05-08 18:37	active	760	3615085338756582	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	"Is it yours?" I blurted out the question that had been hovering on the edge of my lips. My fingers clutched at the sheets in a death grip as I braced for the answer.<br /> "Don't change the subject !" He growled, glaring at me.<br /> "Elisa's baby, is it yours?" I asked, feeling my own anger and frustration rise. I hated being accused of being a manipulator when I had no idea what it even was that I was supposedly manipulating. I was angry that Aiden could so blatantly cheat on me, could hold Elisa's hand while she was pregnant while I was all but starved of the tiniest form of affection from my husband. <br /> —<br /> I sagged against the wall of the clinic, not trusting my legs to carry me any further without collapsing in a heap on the floor.<br /> Slowly, as though in a slow motion video, I lifted the picture clutched tight in my left hand and stared at the black and white mass that the nurse had handed over to me after the doctor had pronounced the four words that I had not been expecting at all.<br /> Disbelief and shock and a dozen other thoughts waged a battle in my head. Most prominent thought was 'how?' How could I have gotten pregnant?<br /> Which was a silly question, really. After all I knew all about how babies were made, I wasn't that naive. Still, it had been just the one time, my first time. One time.<br /> A headache bloomed in my temples and I sighed and let my eyes drift shut. Unconsciously, I crumpled the paper in a tight fist, fighting the surge of tears that stung my lids. This was not the time to give in to bouts of self pity, I had to figure out what to do, how to break the news to Aiden and brace myself for what comes after.<br /> I caught sight of the gleaming Mercedes already idling at the front entrance to the hospital, drawing admiring and envious gazes. Thanks to the heavily tinted windows, none of them could see the occupants of the car, but I knew Aiden would be in the back seat, watching me approach. Feeling self conscious at all the attention, I walked up to the car just as the driver's door opened and our chauffeur, Martin, came around to open the back door.<br /> "Afternoon Ma'am." Martin intoned in crisp, professional tones as he held the door open.<br /> "Hello Martin," I murmured, distractedly.<br /> The cause of my distraction sat at the other end of the seat, narrowed dark brown eyes, set in a face that many women and men had described as drop dead gorgeous, were trained on me as he watched me almost lose balance and topple head first into the car.<br /> Disapproval oozed from him in waves as he watched my blunder and my cheeks heated from embarrassment, but I managed to right myself just in time to avoid disaster, mumbling an apology that was ignored.<br /> "Did you get the signed contract?" He asked, his voice deep, sliding over my ears like hot chocolate on a cold winter's morning and I had to suppress the thrilling shiver that ran through me. It wouldn't do to let him see how much everything about him affected me. Yes, I was hopelessly in love with him, but I didn't need a fortune teller to tell me my love was neither wanted nor reciprocated.<br /> I bit the inside of my cheek and nodded. "Yes, everything's all set. We should be able to deliver the first batch of lab equipment by the end of month." I fished out my tablet and switched it on, quickly bringing up the signed contract for him to see. "Dr. Mason sends his regards as well."<br /> Aiden merely spared one glance at the screen and nodded. "It's your project. You'll be the main liaison with Vincent at the hospital. Handle it well."<br /> "Of course." I murmured and slid the tablet back in my purse. My fingers brushed the edge of the picture that would either be the final nail in the coffin of our marriage, or the start of a new beginning.<br /> "Aiden..." My palms began to sweat and I could literally hear my heart pounding in my ears. I swallowed nervously and wiped my sweaty palms on my pants.<br /> Rip off the bandaid.<br /> He looked at me, expression devoid of any emotion. It had always been hard to get a read on Aiden and I usually prided myself on being able to read people with some measure of accuracy. Not Aiden though. He was a block of marble - cold, impenetrable.<br /> "What is it?" There was a hint of impatience in his voice and that made me lose what little nerve I had managed to muster.<br /> "I..." I hated myself for stuttering, because I could see how much it irritated him, if the narrowed eyes and wry twist of his lips was any indication. My hands formed tight fists, nails digging into the soft flesh of my palms, the pain helping to ground me a little. "While I was at the hospital, I stopped by..."<br /> His phone went off, the sound shattering the tense moment and drowning out my words. I fell silent as Aiden cursed under his breath and slid the phone from his inner suit pocket to glance at the screen. In the dim interior of the car, I could easily see the lit up screen and the name of the caller displayed.<br /> Elisa.<br /> A tinge of bile filled my throat at the sight of the name. My shoulders sagged and I looked away, my chest feeling like a vise had clamped down on it, squeezing tight.<br /> "Can it wait?" I heard Aiden ask and I glanced up at him. He was looking at me with that same impatient look, head turned to one side as he waited for my answer. "I need to take this call, we can talk afterwards."<br /> "Yeah, sure." I said, forcing a lightness to my voice that I didn't feel. I watched as Aiden accepted the call, my throat tight as I noticed the way his voice got softer, the way his tense shoulders relaxed as he listened to the reply on the other end, the hint of a smile that lifted his stern mouth and felt the vice tighten until I could barely breathe.<br /> Unable to bear the sight, I looked away, swallowing down the lump of bitter emotions that threatened to spill over. I let my mind wander again, unwilling to listen to whatever conversation they were having, knowing it would only hurt me more.<br /> <br /> With a small sign, I stood up and headed towards my room, carrying the box. As I passed one of the rooms, I heard familiar voices coming from inside and without meaning to, I stopped to listen.<br /> "Do you feel better now?" I heard Aiden say. His voice was gentle and filled with concern. I peeked into the room to see who he was talking to. Elisa lay on a daybed by the window with Aiden crouched in front of her, holding onto her hand.<br /> "Yes," She replied and smiled weakly at him. "I'm sorry to be so much trouble."<br /> "It's fine. Vincent will be up to check on you soon."<br /> "I really don't need a doctor." Elisa whispered. "I'll be fine, really."<br /> "You may be, but we don't want to risk anything, especially with the baby."<br /> Shock reverberated through my entire body as I stood rooted to the spot, my head swimming from what I'd just heard. I must have made a sound because they both looked at me, Aiden with a dark expression and Elisa with what I could only describe as a guilty flush.<br /> "What do you want?" Aiden straightened, his eyes flashing in impatience. Through the fog in my mind, I noticed that he hadn't let go of Elisa's hand even while talking to me.<br /> I opened my mouth several times in an attempt to reply but no words came out, my brian seemingly having turned to mush. Several thoughts were swimming through my mind but most prominent were two big questions.<br /> Elisa was pregnant and was Aiden the father?<br /> My gaze landed on their clasped hands and a despair so deep started at the pit of my stomach.<br /> "Jessica!" Aiden's bark pulled me from the jumble of my thoughts. I stared at him blankly, my eyes welling with unshed tears then I looked at Elisa.<br /> "You're pregnant?" I asked stupidly. My voice was a low whisper, broken and hoarse.<br /> At her nod, my knees threatened to give way and I gripped the door for support. I wanted to ask my second question, but I couldn't bring myself to utter the words, I didn't want to know the truth because I wasn't sure I would survive it.<br /> The box slipped from my numb hand and tumbled to the floor with a dull thud. Aiden's eyes fell on the box and if it were possible for his expression to get any colder, it did.<br /> "What are you doing with that?" He demanded in a tone filled with frost.<br /> Still shocked I glanced down at the box then bent down to pick it up. The metal felt cold in my hand as I clasped it to my chest, while fighting the sting of tears.<br /> "Who gave that to you?" Aiden asked. He let go of Elisa's hand and stalked towards me, eyes shooting sparks of blue ice.<br /> "Jodie gave it to me." I replied, taking a step back as he approached, feeling a bit frightened by his ferocity.<br /> He stopped in front of me, mouth set in a thin line. "We need to talk. Now."<br /> Without waiting for my response, his hand closed over my wrist and he towed me along as he strode out of the room, pausing only to reassure Elisa that he would be right back. I stumbled behind him, struggling to match his long strides, clutching the box to my chest like a lifeline. We entered his room and he let go of me to slam the door shut.<br /> The curtains were drawn, casting the room in darkness but I could make out some of the furnishings. Not trusting my legs to hold me up any longer, I perched on the edge of the bed, rubbing my sweaty palms over my dress as I watched Aiden pace round the room, my pulse fluttering in anxiety.<br /> Finally, with a brusque laugh that held bitterness, Aiden stopped in front of me, arms folded. "You really are something else, Jessica." his tone dripped with frost. "Even after two years in this marriage, you're still so determined to manipulate me to get what you want right?"<br /> "Is it yours?" I blurted out the question that had been hovering on the edge of my lips. My fingers clutched at the sheets in a death grip as I braced for the answer.<br /> "Don't change the subject !" He growled, glaring at me.<br /> "Elisa's baby, is it yours?" I asked, feeling my own anger and frustration rise. I hated being accused of being a manipulator when I had no idea what it even was that I was supposedly manipulating. I was angry that Aiden could so blatantly cheat on me, could hold Elisa's hand while she was pregnant while I was all but starved of the tiniest form of affection from my husband.<br /> Something flashed across his expression but was gone too quickly for me to identify what it was. Then his lips thinned, his eyes flashing with mockery. "And what if it is?" He drawled. "Surely you did not expect me to live like a monk when I have a cold fish for a wife?"<br /> Each word hit me with the force of a thousand bricks. "That's not fair, Aiden."<br /> "Fair? You want to talk to me about what's fair?" Aiden leaned over me, one hand on each side, effectively caging me in. "Don't make this into a pity party for yourself, Jessica, you don't get to feel sorry for any misery you brought on yourself the day you plotted with my father to force me to marry you."<br /> I shut my eyes so he wouldn't see my despair. "For the last time, I had nothing to do with Julian's decision."<br /> "Yes, well he's not here to defend himself, is he?" Aiden sneered. He gestured at the box which was on the bed. "Do you really think what's in that box can stop me from ending this marriage?"<br /> "I don't know." I whispered, each pulse like a thousand needles piercing through my skin. I didn't know what was in the box, but what I did know was that I could no longer lie to myself. My marriage was beyond saving and even if Aiden chose to stay with me, we would just continue to hurt each other.<br /> I drew in a shaky breath and gathered my thoughts. "You're right, there's no use trying to save this marriage anymore. We should get a divorce, I'm willing to sign anything, let's just go our separate ways."<br /> He stared at me, his gaze roving over my face as though he was trying to gauge the depth of my emotions. "Why?"<br /> "You said it yourself, our marriage is a sham and it's making us both miserable so we might as well end it." I couldn't resist adding bitterly. "And you can finally be with the one you've always wanted."<br /> He straightened, folded his arms, still watching me intently. "What do you want in the divorce?"<br /> "I really don't care. I just want this to be over." I pushed to my feet, wanting to be alone, where I could feel sorry for myself in peace. "I have a flight to catch in two hours, you can send over the divorce papers when I get to Winsconsin. I'll move my things out of the house when I get back from my trip. Excuse me."<br /> I pushed past him, but he stopped me. "About Elisa..." he began but I stopped him with a cold glare.<br /> "I don't care anymore, Aiden. You can marry her tomorrow for all I care. Have a nice life."<br /> I stormed out of the room and almost collided into Vincent who was just entering the room. He steadied me, his brow furrowing when he saw the state I was in.<br /> "Jess, what's wrong?" He asked, eyes darting from me to Aiden.<br /> "Nothing's wrong, I just have a flight to catch. Please excuse me." I broke free from his grip and hurried away. Let Aiden be the one to explain, let him say whatever he wanted, I didn't care anymore. I just wanted to leave Skye manor and everything it meant.<br /> Needing to avoid the people milling about, I headed for the west side where there was a set of stairs that led to the lake and from there I could get to the parking lot. My bags were still in the car and I could only hope that Martin was closeby.<br /> "Jess! Wait a moment." Elisa called out from behind me. I hastened my steps, I didn't want to talk to her, didn't trust myself to not lose my cool and lash out at her. Right now, I hated her for everything she represented.<br /> "Jessica!" she called out again but I kept moving. I could see the stairs just ahead and hurried towards it. Just as I reached the first step, I felt my arm being wrenched from behind.<br /> I turned towards her defensively, intending to yank my arm away. The next seconds happened in slow motion as I watched, the horrified look on Elisa's face as she stumbled forward from the force, tripped over my foot and plunged headfirst down the steep flight of stairs.<br /> I heard a piercing scream and realized it was coming from me, as I stood frozen as Elisa tumbled down the stairs to land in a broken heap at the base. My heart hammered in my chest, fingers stiff and cold as I forced myself to move, eyes glued on the gruesome sight below. Someone shoved past me, pushing me aside so hard my shoulder hit the guardrail and I gasped as pain bloomed from the spot.<br /> "What did you do to her?" Aiden had reached Elisa, he kneeled down beside her, his expression a picture of panic and fear. He gathered her carefully in his arms and I felt my head swim at the sight of the blood pooling beneath her. I slid down and sat on a step, my legs having turned to jelly.<br /> "Aiden, don't move her, she may have a spinal injury." Vincent yelled as he brushed past me. Aiden set her back down on the ground, her face pale and lifeless.<br /> "Call nine one one." Vincent instructed as he began emergency procedures on Elisa. With trembling fingers, Aiden pulled out his cell phone and dialed.<br /> The next hour passed in a blur. The ambulance came and went, Aiden and Vincent going along with them, but not before Aiden had paused by me to say harshly.<br /> "If anything happens to Elisa or her baby, you'll wish you were never born."<br /> I stood gazing in the distance long after the tail lights of the ambulance had disappeared, unaware of anything, my mind blank of any thought save the sight of Elisa lying helpless and bleeding.<br /> Someone draped a large jacket over my shoulders and I finally tore my eyes away from the treeline to see Logan standing beside me.<br /> "It's freezing out here, come inside." He gently steered me towards the house and my feet followed, still numb.<br /> "I need to go to the hospital," I mumbled, clutching at the lapels of the coat. "Need to make sure she's okay."<br /> "I'll take you there." Logan assured me as he led me to a chair. "But first, let's get you warmed up and out of shock."<br /> I shook my head and attempted to stand up. "No, I need to go now. Elisa could be..." I choked off with a sob, unwilling to complete my sentence.<br /> Logan pulled me into a hug. "She'll be alright, Jess. Don't worry."<br /> I pulled away and turned towards the door. "Please, Logan. Let's go now."<br /> He saw the desperation on my face and nodded. "Okay, let's go."<br /> We got into his car, a sleek black ferrari convertible just as Jodie caught up to us.<br /> "Mom, we're heading to the hospital," I heard him say to her. I was still too numb to do much more than sit there, tense and worried because I was scared to death.<br /> She leaned down to my window and took my hands in hers, giving me a comforting squeeze. "Are you alright, hun?"<br /> Tears filled my eyes and I shook my head. I wasn't sure if I would ever be alright again. She gently pushed back strands of my hair that had come loose from my face. "I...I didn't mean to hurt her...I would never try to..."<br /> "I know, dear. Don't beat yourself up. It was an accident, and those happen sometimes. Remember not to push yourself too hard, there's someone who depends on your well being, okay?"<br /> I nodded and she smiled, let go of my hands and turned to her son. "Drive carefully and give me a call when you get to the hospital."<br /> "Yeah mom. I'll do that." Logan turned on the ignition and the engines responded with a loud roar.<br /> "What happened, Jess?" Logan asked once we were on the road to the hospital which was thankfully not too far. "How did Elisa fall down those stairs?"<br /> I sighed and told him everything. From Elisa's pregnancy with Aiden to our impending divorce and finally, with a throat tight with emotion, the scene at the stairs. I told him about my pregnancy as well. Logan listened with growing incredulity, his knuckles in a death grip on the wheel, jaw set in fury.<br /> "I'm going to kill him." He gritted out once I had finished. "That cheating prick had the balls to threaten you because of his side chick? I'm going to cut off his balls and stuff them in his mouth. He cheated on you while you're carrying his child?"<br /> "He doesn't know about the baby." I rubbed at my belly distractedly. "I was going to tell him after my trip."<br /> "That doesn't excuse him at all. He shouldn't have cheated on you."<br /> I hummed in response, grateful that we were approaching the hospital parking lot. We hurried into the building, my anxiety at critical levels as we neared the front desk, then followed directions to the trauma ward.<br /> "What are you doing here?" Aiden growled at me when we entered the surgery waiting room. He and Vincent were the only ones inside, their clothing rumpled and stained with blood. "Get out, right now."<br /> "Don't order her around." Logan snapped, coming to stand in front of me, his eyes glaring daggers at Aiden. "Unless this room is in your name, you don't get to decide who stays or leaves."<br /> "Logan," Aiden took several steps forward, tone low and deadly. "Do not test me right now. Take her and get out of here before I do something that'll land us both in prison."<br /> "Logan, let's leave. Please." I tugged at his sleeve, scared that the two men would actually come to blows.<br /> "We're not leaving. I'd like to see what he can do."<br /> At this time, both men were literally nose to nose and the air was thick with so much tension, you could slice it with a blunt knife.<br /> Aiden's jaw worked, his knuckles white and I could see he was trying his best not to swing at Logan. Both men were tall, though Aiden had several inches on Logan, his shoulders were broader, muscles more well defined. Still, I'd seen Logan fight before, he'd broken more than his share of noses in highschool and college. The guy could hold his own against a bigger opponent.<br /> "Okay, the both of you need to calm down." Vincent inserted himself between the two men, arms out on either side. "This is neither the time nor place for this, not while Elisa is in surgery."<br /> When neither man still moved, Vincent gently pushed Aiden back and he moved away reluctantly, his gaze still pinned on Logan.<br /> Vincent turned to me, his eyes devoid of actual warmth for the first time since I'd known him. "Jess, you two can stay."<br /> "How is Elisa?" I asked.<br /> "She's still in surgery for internal bleeding, but the ER doctor said she didn't have any spinal injuries, so that's good, but with the baby, she's not out of the woods yet."<br /> "I'm so sorry." I whispered. "This is my fault." If only I had stopped to talk to her, if only I hadn't tried to pull away when she grabbed my arm...<br /> So many if onlys.<br /> Aiden scoffed and pinned me with a glare. "Of course it's your fault. You pushed her, didn't you?"<br /> "No!" I cried out, shaking my head frantically. "I didn't push her, I swear. I would never do that."<br /> He looked like he didn't believe me. "Of course, you didn't."<br /> "She didn't push her, prick." Logan snapped at Aiden. "Your girlfriend was the one who came running after Jess, probably to gloat over the divorce."<br /> "Watch your mouth or I swear I'll..."<br /> "Guys, cool it." Vincent raised his voice in exasperation. "We're going to get thrown out of the hospital if you keep this up."<br /> We retreated to opposite sides of the room, Logan and I on one end, Aiden and Vincent at the other. Aiden sat down and took out his phone and proceeded to ignore us.<br /> An hour passed before a doctor clad in purple scrubs came over to inform us that Elisa was out of surgery and in recovery. She had ruptured her spleen in the fall and sustained some injuries, including a broken arm, but otherwise would be expected to make a full recovery.<br /> We all breathed out a collective sigh of relief until Aiden asked tersely. "And the baby? Will it be okay?"	LEARN_MORE	https://a.vampirefictions.com/ad/dmFtcGlyZW5vdmVsc	111461702053888	Vam005	https://facebook.com/61550884130918	31	1	414,159,418,134,439	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	Vam005	120207692327460122	a.vampirefictions.com	NONE	video		https://a.vampirefictions.com/ad/dmFtcGlyZW5vdmVscy8xNzE4MzgvMjAyNDA1MDgxMDU4MTkvcGFnZQ==?adid={{ad.id}}	2024-05-07 22:03	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440424970_1798710663984921_7129493529324425112_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cGIYRbGZg_8Q7kNvgGr0Hu4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDmfs_0TgmFnyO9nXwZoUwc_0SVbpqqM7ju7TdPXo6Utg&oe=6641E0F6	person_profile	Vam005	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440403530_858868735994109_1107873477369640055_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YjHNcs9ItL8Q7kNvgEnASDc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAEs56QcPv149CoF4pzoNNE943uuETz_cLt3rfjLRITNw&oe=6641EB77	3	Vam005	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,916	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778979}'	No	2024-05-08 18:44	active	760	289147194274092	Enjoy Romance🥰Read More 👉	She signed the divorce papers and left without taking her phone. He checked her phone and got floored at the message: Please come tomorrow for another prenatal care checkup!<br /> =============<br /> <br /> Chapter 1 Ex-girlfriend Returns<br /> <br /> Raegan Hayes was a little absent-minded at the moment. <br /> <br /> All she could think of since this afternoon was the doctor's words. "Congratulations! You are going to be a mom."<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Mitchel Dixon pinched her arm. His low voice came the next second. "Come back to earth. What are you thinking about?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel was her husband. They had been married secretly for two years. He was her superior at work, the president of the Dixon Group. <br /> <br /> Everything had happened so fast. She was newly employed in the company when they unexpectedly got married. <br /> <br /> At that time, Mitchel's grandfather fell seriously ill. It was then he proposed a fake marriage just to fulfill his grandfather's dying wish. <br /> <br /> They signed a prenup, agreeing to hide their marriage from the public. Their union could be terminated at any time. <br /> <br /> It was an unconventional thing to do. However, Raegan only considered herself lucky at that time. <br /> <br /> Never in a million years did she think she would ever get married to the man she had a crush on for eight years. She delightfully agreed. <br /> <br /> After their marriage, Mitchel was very busy. He spent most of his time working. <br /> <br /> Raegan wished she could spend more time with him at home. However, she was rest assured because there hadn't been any rumors or scandals about him with women in the past two years. <br /> <br /> Except for his mild indifference, Mitchel was a perfect husband. <br /> <br /> Raegan had mixed feelings as she stared at the medical report. <br /> <br /> In the end, she decided to tell Mitchel this news. <br /> <br /> She also wanted to tell him that she hadn't learned about him for the first time two years ago and that she had been crushing on him for many years before then. <br /> <br /> Just then, Mitchel’s phone rang. He went to the balcony and answered the phone. <br /> <br /> Raegan checked the time and found that it was already midnight. <br /> <br /> She felt a little uneasy. Who would call Mitchel at this hour? <br /> <br /> Mitchel spent a few minutes on the balcony. Thereafter, he returned and changed into formal attire. His handsome face which had a clear outline made him look dignified. <br /> <br /> He was something to see now. <br /> <br /> "Don't wait up for me. Good night," he said finally. <br /> <br /> What? He was on his way out? At this hour? <br /> <br /> Raegan's grip on the report tightened as she stared at him in disappointment. Unconsciously, she withdrew slightly. After thinking for a while, she blurted out, "It's already so late."<br /> <br /> Mitchel's fingers froze on his tie. With a faint smile, he pinched her earlobe and said, "Be good, okay? There's something I have to do. Don't wait up."<br /> <br /> With that, he headed for the door. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel."<br /> <br /> Raegan quickly ran and caught up with him. <br /> <br /> Mitchel turned around and looked at her seriously. <br /> <br /> "What's the matter?"<br /> <br /> There was a tinge of coldness to his voice. An icy cloud hung over them as they stared at each other. <br /> <br /> A little distressed, Raegan asked in a low voice, "I would like to visit my grandma tomorrow. Can you accompany me there?"<br /> <br /> Her grandmother always wanted to see her. As a result, Raegan wanted to take Mitchel there to assure her grandma they were happy. <br /> <br /> "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Without agreeing or declining, Mitchel left in a hurry. <br /> <br /> Several thoughts were threading Raegan's mind. She couldn't sleep a wink. <br /> <br /> After tossing and turning for a long time, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm glass of milk. <br /> <br /> A few notifications from some online blogs came into her phone. <br /> <br /> However, she wasn't interested in them. She was about to swipe them away when one of them caught her attention. The familiar name made her click on it. <br /> <br /> The news read, "Famous designer, Lauren Murray was spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend earlier today."<br /> <br /> Lauren was wearing a bucket hat. The man's figure was vague, but the outline of his body was enough to show that he was dashing. <br /> <br /> Raegan zoomed in on the picture. The next second, her heart dropped. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was the man in the picture! <br /> <br /> So, he canceled the afternoon meeting just to go pick up his ex-girlfriend from the airport? <br /> <br /> This realization settled like a boulder in Raegan's gut, rendering her flustered. <br /> <br /> Her hands trembled. Subconsciously, she dialed Mitchel's number. <br /> <br /> The dial tone brought her back to her senses. Just as she was about to hang up, the line connected, and a voice came from the other end. <br /> <br /> "Hello!"<br /> <br /> It was a particularly gentle woman's voice. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a second and then threw the phone away. <br /> <br /> She suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet bowl. <br /> <br /> The next morning, Raegan went to work on time. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had tried to get her to stop working after they got married. Stubbornly, she insisted on making her own money. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't kick against her decision, but he asked her to work as his assistant, helping him with the daily chores. <br /> <br /> The head assistant, Matteo Jenkins was left to take care of the major affairs Mitchel had. <br /> <br /> Matteo was the only Dixon Group employee who knew about their marriage. <br /> <br /> Since inception, only male assistants were hired for the president's office. Reagan was the first and only female. Her employment broke the protocol. As a result, other workers couldn't help but wonder if she was involved with Mitchel. <br /> <br /> It took a while before they realized that Mitchel never gave Raegan special treatment. Strangely, this made them despise her even more. <br /> <br /> After all, no one would last long in anything while taking advantage of their looks.<br /> <br /> At this time, one of Raegan's colleagues handed her a document and ordered her to take it to Mitchel's office. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't return home last night. Raegan was so worried that she didn't sleep at all. <br /> <br /> All she kept thinking about was the woman who answered his phone when she called. What was her relationship with Mitchel?<br /> <br /> Raegan already knew the answer to that, but she was still in denial. <br /> <br /> It was difficult for her to come to terms with that fact. <br /> <br /> Raegan tried to remain calm now. She reasoned that no matter what happened, she deserved a result that would be rewarding for all the years she spent loving Mitchel. This couldn't be all for nothing, right? <br /> <br /> She pressed the elevator button calmly and went up to the president's office. Before she walked out of the elevator, she smoothed her hair to make sure she looked good. <br /> <br /> She had arrived at the office, only to see that the door was ajar. A man's voice came. She halted instantly. <br /> <br /> "Come on, man! Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?"<br /> <br /> The voice belonged to Luis Stevens, a childhood friend of Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> "What do you mean exactly?" Mitchel asked in a cold voice. <br /> <br /> "You know exactly what I mean!" Luis clicked his tongue impatiently and added, "I think Raegan is a good girl. Isn't she your type?"<br /> <br /> "Do you want me to hand her over to you?" Mitchel asked carelessly. <br /> <br /> "You know what, forget it!"<br /> <br /> The scornful laughter of Luis sounded particularly harsh in Raegan's ears. <br /> <br /> They were talking about her as if she were an object. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the document. <br /> <br /> Soon, Luis's voice was heard again. <br /> <br /> "By the way, I saw the gossip news about Lauren's mysterious boyfriend this morning. That was you, right?"<br /> <br /> "Yes."<br /> <br /> "Well, well, well! That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. You always want to please her."<br /> <br /> Luis sighed and continued to tease Mitchel. "As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell me, did you two..."<br /> <br /> Their conversation was like a thunder exploding over Raegan's head. <br /> <br /> Her face turned pale and her body was as cold as ice. <br /> <br /> The woman was indeed Lauren! <br /> <br /> Absence made the heart grow fonder! <br /> <br /> Every word drove a knife into her heart. <br /> <br /> Several whispering voices filled her head at this time. She suddenly felt light-headed. Her vision became blurry. <br /> <br /> She held the wall and took a step backward. Suddenly, the door was opened from inside. <br /> <br /> "Raegan?"<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 2 One-sided Love<br /> <br /> Luis was the one who opened the door. It appeared he was on his way out. <br /> <br /> Raegan balled her hands, turned to him, and nodded. "Hey, Mr. Stevens!"<br /> <br /> Without waiting for him to respond to her greeting, she walked past him and entered the office with the document. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was seated behind a large luxurious desk. In an expensive suit and matching tie, he looked particularly handsome. <br /> <br /> Raegan noticed it wasn't the same suit he had on when he left home last night. How did he get changed? <br /> <br /> With her eyes lowered, she swallowed that question and said instead, "Mr. Dixon, this is from the Marketing Department. Please sign it."<br /> <br /> Mitchel was expressionless as he signed the document at a glance. <br /> <br /> Raegan walked out the door as soon as he handed the document back to her. Luis was still standing at the threshold. <br /> <br /> It wasn't until she went out of sight that Luis turned to Mitchel and said in a hushed tone, "Do you think she heard us?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's appealing eyes were expressionless at the moment. Obviously, he wasn't paying attention to what Luis was saying. <br /> <br /> To Mitchel, Raegan had always been docile and never felt jealous of anyone. <br /> <br /> Her strict obedience was all Mitchel demanded from her in exchange for treating her well. <br /> <br /> In the elevator. <br /> <br /> Raegan held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn't work. <br /> <br /> She had thought two years would be enough for Mitchel to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love. <br /> <br /> Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream. <br /> <br /> She realized she would always play second fiddle to Lauren, Mitchel's true love. <br /> <br /> Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened. <br /> <br /> She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea. <br /> <br /> Several employees were chatting inside. <br /> <br /> "Guys, have you heard? Lauren Murray is back."<br /> <br /> "And who is that?"<br /> <br /> "Oh, my! You don't know her? Lauren is the heiress of the Murray Group as well as a world-class designer. Most importantly, she's the only girlfriend Mr. Dixon has ever shown off in public. She's his first love!"<br /> <br /> "Why is her return such a big deal? Isn't it rumored that there is something between Mr. Dixon and Raegan?"<br /> <br /> "Raegan? She's nothing to Mr. Dixon. Mr. Dixon never admitted that he was dating her. And that is no surprise to me. After all, look at her. She's not even that beautiful. Yet, she behaves as if she's already Mrs. Dixon. What a fool!"<br /> <br /> Standing at the door, Raegan smiled with self-mockery as she listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her. <br /> <br /> The love was one-sided. <br /> <br /> "Ha-ha, have you finally woken up from your wild dream, Raegan?"<br /> <br /> A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Raegan turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Mitchel's cousin, who had always despised her. <br /> <br /> Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping. <br /> <br /> The last thing Raegan wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way. <br /> <br /> With a cup of coffee in her hand, Tessa uttered sarcastically, "Lauren is back now. Do you think Mitchel will still give you any attention?"<br /> <br /> Raegan said nothing to that. <br /> <br /> Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule. "Maybe it’s time for you to seek out another man, you pathetic fool."<br /> <br /> Raegan clenched her fists and said coldly, "Ms. Lloyd, if you are interested in that kind of thing, feel free to pursue it yourself."<br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Raegan's retort made Tessa's face change. <br /> <br /> The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of coffee on Raegan. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't think for a second that Tessa would do something so crazy. She held up her arms just to block the liquid from her face. In no time, the coffee drenched her clothes. <br /> <br /> Raegan frowned. "What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?"<br /> <br /> It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama. Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers. <br /> <br /> She put on a mean-girl look as she said, "What makes you so smug every day, huh? Do you seriously think that others don't know you are just an orphan? The nerve of..."<br /> <br /> Tessa was silenced by Raegan’s shove. <br /> <br /> Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Raegan, who was so quiet and timid, would shove her. <br /> <br /> Tessa stuttered, "You... You pushed me? How dare you!"<br /> <br /> Raegan eyed her and replied, "Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness."<br /> <br /> Indeed, she lost her parents when she was a child. But that didn't mean she would allow someone to walk over her for it. <br /> <br /> Wrinkles appeared on Tessa's face as she frowned in anger. As Mitchel's cousin, she was used to being fawned over and respected. This was the first time she had been treated like this. <br /> <br /> Tessa charged at Raegan like a raging bull, poised to retaliate. <br /> <br /> This time, Raegan was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa's wrist so that the latter couldn't move another inch. <br /> <br /> Tessa was shorter than Raegan. As a result, she struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap. <br /> <br /> Tessa cursed angrily, "How dare you put your hands on me? Who do you think you are?"<br /> <br /> These harsh words attracted more people to the break room. <br /> <br /> "That's enough!"<br /> <br /> Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Mitchel had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo. <br /> <br /> The entire room fell silent. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel?" Tessa's blood ran cold at the sight of Mitchel. She had always been scared of him. Her mother also warned her against provoking him. <br /> <br /> But when she remembered that Raegan humiliated her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed. "Mitchel, she bullied me."<br /> <br /> The sunlight from outside fell on Mitchel's handsome face. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to look at her clothes which were soaked with coffee. <br /> <br /> Their gaze met in the air. With a deep frown, Mitchel looked at Raegan and said, "Raegan, have you forgotten the rules of the company?"<br /> <br /> His ruthlessness made Raegan's breathing cease. She couldn't believe her ears. <br /> <br /> No one dared to make a sound at this moment. <br /> <br /> Raegan just stood straight there with her slender figure. <br /> <br /> When she got employed here, Mitchel had told her that the Dixon Group wasn't a place for her to mess around and that he would not tolerate her making any mistakes. <br /> <br /> Raegan could understand why he took this stand. <br /> <br /> However, at this moment, she was desperate to know whether Mitchel had heard those hard words Tessa scolded her or he was just pretending not to have heard because he agreed to those words. <br /> <br /> Was she truly insignificant to him?<br /> <br /> Scared to death by Mitchel's rage, the crowd soon dispersed. A few employees were bold enough to peep from a distance, unwilling to miss the good show. <br /> <br /> Mitchel's cold eyes made Raegan shiver from head to toe. <br /> <br /> Raegan pinched her palm to suppress her emotions as she looked at Tessa. <br /> <br /> "I'm sorry, Ms. Lloyd. As an employee of the Dixon Group, it was wrong of me to have offended you."<br /> <br /> Eyeing Raegan, Tessa raised her chin complacently. "Humph! Don't think you'll be let off the hook just by making a simple apology. I don't buy..."<br /> <br /> "The offence has nothing to do with the company. Personally, I refuse to apologize to you. Now, if you'd excuse me," Raegan chimed in. <br /> <br /> She then walked past Mitchel without sparing him another look. <br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Tessa's face turned blue after hearing what Raegan said. <br /> <br /> Never in her years of being alive had she been so humiliated. She was always the bully, not the victim! <br /> <br /> The humiliation was so much that scolding Raegan wouldn't appease her anger. <br /> <br /> Pointing in Raegan's direction, Tessa shouted, "Mitchel, did you hear what that woman just said? She humiliated me, yet she's still so arrogant. Call her back. I have to teach her some manners!"<br /> <br /> Mitchel, staring at Raegan's thin back, had an ambiguous expression at this moment. <br /> <br /> "Enough!" he said coldly, raising his hand. <br /> <br /> As someone who lived and breathed drama and cruelty, Tessa didn't think Mitchel was partial to Raegan just now. She assumed that Mitchel didn't care about Raegan at all. <br /> <br /> Tessa gritted her teeth and said viciously, "Next time, I'll get someone to teach her a lesson."<br /> <br /> "Tessa!" Mitchel's tone and squint made it a reproof. <br /> <br /> Tessa trembled at once. <br /> <br /> With a somber face, Mitchel said, "I'll only say it once. Forget about what happened here today. Leave Raegan alone."<br /> <br /> The aura he exuded made her tongue go dry. All the vicious ideas she had in store against Raegan disappeared in an instant. <br /> <br /> She stammered, "Ok... Okay, got it..."<br /> <br /> Mitchel cast a cold glance at her and spoke to Matteo. "Irrelevant people wouldn't be allowed in here from today onwards."<br /> <br /> Without catching the drift, Tessa flattered Mitchel. "Nice call. This is a top company. Not everyone gains access in here."<br /> <br /> Matteo nodded to Mitchel and then walked over to Tessa. He gestured to the exit. "Ms. Lloyd, this way, please."<br /> <br /> It wasn't until this moment that Tessa realized that she was the irrelevant person Mitchel just mentioned. She tried to speak to him, but Matteo blocked her way. The security guards then escorted her out. <br /> <br /> They showed her no mercy. Her struggle was useless. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Raegan got changed when she returned to her office. <br /> <br /> Her heart was filled with sadness as she thought of how Mitchel looked at her minutes ago. <br /> <br /> Closing hour soon rolled by. <br /> <br /> Raegan took her bag and headed for the exit. However, Matteo stopped her. <br /> <br /> He said, "Mr. Dixon has something urgent to deal with, so he asked me to drive you home."<br /> <br /> Raegan declined the ride without thinking twice. <br /> <br /> She was blind before, but now she could see through the situation. <br /> <br /> In Mitchel's eyes, she was just a nobody. <br /> <br /> How could Mitchel agree to accompany her to visit her grandmother when he didn't even care about her? <br /> <br /> Upon arriving at the hospital, Raegan saw that the nurse was about to feed her grandmother dinner. Raegan took the job over and did it by herself. <br /> <br /> All her life, her grandmother had been living in the countryside, enjoying a quiet life. Everything changed last month when her routine medical checkup showed that she was in need of medical care. Raegan insisted on bringing her to the city for better treatment. <br /> <br /> Her grandmother wasn't aware of her marriage to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> Raegan had planned to surprise her today. But as it turned out, that was no longer necessary. <br /> <br /> Raegan waited for her grandmother to fall asleep before she left. She walked out of the hospital and waited for a taxi. <br /> <br /> In the distance, a black luxury car pulled into the entrance of the hospital. <br /> <br /> Raegan's eyes lit up when she saw it. She recognized that car as Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> Did he come to pick her up? <br /> <br /> At this moment, she forgot all the pain she had been feeling. <br /> <br /> Were her thoughts about him all wrong? Did he care for her, contrary to the gossip? <br /> <br /> The door of the driver's side opened and Mitchel got out. <br /> <br /> Raegan started walking toward him with her heart brimming with joy. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had just walked over to the other side and carried a woman out of the car. <br /> <br /> Worry and compassion were written all over his handsome face. <br /> <br /> This wiped the smile on Raegan's face. Her heart sank. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 3 Let's Divorce<br /> <br /> Mitchel's tall and straight figure got closer and closer to Raegan. And then, without saying a word, he strode past Raegan. <br /> <br /> It was hard to tell if Mitchel saw Raegan or just ignored her. <br /> <br /> Regardless, Raegan noticed that the woman in his arms was the same one who had been photographed with him yesterday. <br /> <br /> She was Lauren. <br /> <br /> Raegan's shoes felt like they were made of lead as she walked away. <br /> <br /> She lost all awareness of her surroundings. She got into a taxi absentmindedly. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, the driver uttered, "Ma'am, where to?"<br /> <br /> Raegan was stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> She didn't want to go back to Serenity Villas. It was only a matter of time before that place stopped being her home. <br /> <br /> After a while, she replied, "Please take me to Crystal Bay."<br /> <br /> She had purchased an apartment at Crystal Bay after getting married to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> At the time, she had hopes of bringing her grandmother to the city, so she bought the apartment on mortgage. It wasn't that big, but it had more than enough space for two people. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't understand why she wanted to buy an apartment. He offered to give her a bigger one, but she declined. <br /> <br /> Looking back now, she realized that buying that apartment was the only wise decision she had ever made in the last two years. <br /> <br /> When she arrived at the apartment complex, Raegan sat in the park alone, trying to cool herself down. <br /> <br /> The memories of the past two years were bittersweet. <br /> <br /> Two years had passed in the blink of an eye even though it was more than seven hundred days and nights. <br /> <br /> Love could move mountains, they said. <br /> <br /> Yet, her love didn't move that stone of a man. She finally realized what a fool she had been. She had been making herself a laughingstock in front of everyone. <br /> <br /> It was already late in the night before Raegan finally decided to go into her apartment. <br /> <br /> As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mitchel standing in front of the door. <br /> <br /> His sleeves were rolled up casually, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone, which revealed his long neck and part of his collarbone. He was leaning on the wall by the door, his handsome face straight. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a moment. <br /> <br /> Why was he here? Didn't she see him at the hospital with Lauren? What brought him here? <br /> <br /> Their eyes met. With his coat draped over his arm and one of his hands in his pocket, Mitchel squinted at her. <br /> <br /> "Why didn't you answer the phone?" he asked, sounding a little grumpy like someone who hadn't slept in a long time. <br /> <br /> Raegan took out her phone and saw she had accidentally put it on DND. <br /> <br /> There were five missed calls from Mitchel. <br /> <br /> This marked the first time in their two-year marriage. <br /> <br /> Mitchel blew up her phone because he couldn't find her? Surprising! <br /> <br /> Before today, she would have been overjoyed by this. People would've thought she won the lottery. <br /> <br /> But now, she just threw her phone back into her bag, folded her arms, and said in a hoarse voice, "I didn't hear it ring."<br /> <br /> Mitchel raised his hand to check the time on the watch, and said impatiently, "I've been looking for you for two hours."<br /> <br /> After arranging everything for Lauren, he returned home to find an empty house. He looked for Raegan everywhere. When he couldn't find her, he asked Matteo to check the surveillance footage of all the roads that led away from the company. <br /> <br /> He later found out that Raegan went to Crystal Bay without telling him. <br /> <br /> "Next time, tell me when you are coming here, okay? Let's go home now." After that, Mitchel walked toward the elevator without sparing her another glance. <br /> <br /> He meant to go back to Serenity Villas. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't move an inch. She just stared at his broad back and pondered reluctantly. <br /> <br /> Would they have a future? <br /> <br /> Mitchell turned around, only to see that Raegan hadn't taken a single step. He frowned and asked, "Can't you walk? Do you want me to carry you instead?"<br /> <br /> The light in the corridor illuminated his face, making his side profile almost impeccable. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and said, "Let's divorce."<br /> <br /> "What do you mean?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's voice was cold, and his handsome face changed immediately. <br /> <br /> "I want to move into my own place. After all, we will be strangers soon."<br /> <br /> Raegan forced a smile, but her heart was aching as if someone was tearing it apart bit by bit. <br /> <br /> "We will be strangers?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel smiled coldly. "Raegan, what do you think our relationship is now?"<br /> <br /> His questioning left Raegan stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had made it very clear to her from the very beginning. This facade of their marriage had happened by mutual agreement. There was no love. In the eyes of others, they were nothing more than just a superior and a subordinate. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was quite the catch in Ardlens. Many young ladies longed for his love and were even willing to throw themselves at him. <br /> <br /> His question just now reminded her of that fact. Was he afraid that she wouldn't let him go that easily? If that was the case, he couldn't be more wrong... <br /> <br /> After biting her lower lip to conceal her bitterness, Raegan said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Dixon. I was giving it too much thought. Anyway, please leave me alone from now on. You don't have to come here again."<br /> <br /> After saying that, Raegan couldn't help but burst into tears. <br /> <br /> How could she not be sad when she was cutting ties with the man she had loved for a decade? It was such a long time. <br /> <br /> Regardless of how difficult it was, she knew it was time to let go. <br /> <br /> It was high time she stopped being a fool. <br /> <br /> Strangely, the light in the corridor began flickering. <br /> <br /> The deathly stare Mitchel was giving Raegan right now made the atmosphere seem like the moment before an attack in a horror movie. <br /> <br /> Although he understood that Raegan sometimes could throw a tantrum, he felt that she had just crossed the line now. <br /> <br /> His eyes shone like blazing torches at this moment. But when he saw the tears in her eyes, the rage inside him extinguished in an instant. He said in a low voice, "If this is about what happened between you and Tessa, I..."<br /> <br /> "No, this isn't about her. Mr. Dixon, please leave now."<br /> <br /> A lot of things happened between them. And the incident with Tessa didn't come close to any. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt exhausted. She passed by Mitchel and was about to open the door. <br /> <br /> Yet, Mitchel was displeased with her stubbornness. <br /> <br /> He loosened his tie irritably. He then took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. <br /> <br /> "Stop this, will you?"<br /> <br /> A second later, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. <br /> <br /> He instantly realized that she was burning up like someone who had been set on fire. <br /> <br /> "You have a fever?"<br /> <br /> Raegan felt dizzy. She rested her head on his chest weakly. <br /> <br /> This made the whole situation complicated. <br /> <br /> Reagan was slow to catch that. When she finally realized that her body was too close to his, she put her hands against his chest and tried to pull back. <br /> <br /> Before she could escape, Mitchel pulled her back and held her by the waist. With a cold face, he said in a low voice, "Where do you think you are going?"<br /> <br /> The light flickered again. Out of the blue, Mitchel lifted her up. <br /> <br /> He then headed for the elevator. <br /> <br /> In a daze, Raegan asked softly, "What are you doing?"<br /> <br /> "What does it look like I am doing?" Mitchel remarked. "Taking you to the hospital, of course."<br /> <br /> "No way!" Raegan cried out in surprise and seemed to regain more strength. <br /> <br /> Mitchel might find out about her condition if they went to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Raegan struggled to get out of Mitchel's arms. However, his tight grip made her efforts fruitless. <br /> <br /> "Don't be so stubborn. You are sick, so you must see the doctor," Mitchel said firmly. <br /> <br /> He walked to the elevator with her in his arms. At this moment, Raegan's heart was thumping so hard that it could jump out of her chest. She flailed in protest. <br /> <br /> "Put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!"<br /> <br /> &13&	LEARN_MORE	https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-e	108744435202789	Novellove read	https://facebook.com/100083283215376	4,076	1	1,456,443,781,650,705	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Learn more	Novellove read	120208491351880660	fbweb.moboreader.net	NONE	image		https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-enj57-1125-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=216543&accid=1910509592737470	2024-05-06 05:05	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441281653_751130286866282_3220537036149756479_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6EH86HNBYrMQ7kNvgExQWTA&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBfeSoO34zyUxzC75Jtv4fZWR5rrDJ5lzYSZCy4hUwqkw&oe=6641E325	person_profile	moboreader	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441340118_1845159709293829_4818464246625735338_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ktrskIA71osQ7kNvgGWf4PU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfByhteac6nMxmnq95dXC5o_QPrYDhI0cFg4Zpq_xvFS7g&oe=6641EC6F	3	Novellove read	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,122	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778296}'	No	2024-05-08 18:34	active	760	414481761442665	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	"Xavier, you’d better get this straight: it's me who's dumping you, not the other way round." It took all her willpower not to lash out at the cheating couple. <br /> "I hope you two have a long, 'happy' life together," she spat.<br /> Her boyfriend of three years, the one she had been with through thick and thin, was now engaged to her elder sister.<br /> "It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that I’m here to help." Charles tapped his cufflink, his gaze steady and serene as he watched Noelle.<br /> He was her guardian angel in her darkest hour. "Marry me. I'll bring you unimaginable happiness!"<br /> ————————<br /> <br /> Autumn had painted Brookville in shades of gold and crimson when Noelle Shaw stepped off the plane. She grabbed her suitcase and walked out into the crisp air, a familiar sense of home wrapping around her.<br /> A whole year had passed since she left to pursue a corporate training program overseas, and now, she was back just in time.<br /> Her third anniversary with her boyfriend Xavier Harris was just days away, and she had been working nonstop to make it back early enough to surprise him.<br /> She hailed a cab and headed straight for Xavier's office. The moment she walked through the front doors, Alice, the receptionist, gave her a look of total shock. "Ms. Shaw? You’re back? Are you here for the CEO's engagement party?"<br /> Noelle's brow creased in confusion. "The CEO's engagement party? What are you talking about, Alice?"<br /> "It's Mr. Harris's engagement party with your sister!"<br /> "What?" Noelle's heart skipped a beat, and the happiness drained from her face. "Whose engagement party?"<br /> Alice seemed to realize she had dropped a bombshell and nervously swallowed. "The CEO... and your sister..."<br /> "Where is it happening?"<br /> "The... Golden Oasis Hotel."<br /> It felt like a punch to the gut. Noelle spun on her heel and rushed out. "Driver, take me to the Golden Oasis Hotel, please."<br /> She had not even made it inside the hotel when she saw a huge photo by the entrance. There Xavier was with his arm around Winter Shaw, who looked stunning in her elegant dress. They were gazing into each other's eyes, lost in a world of love.<br /> On her way over, Noelle was psyching herself up. Xavier was her boyfriend. He was hers! The idea of him getting engaged to her sister was just too bizarre. As she arrived, however, reality hit her like a ton of bricks.<br /> She walked in just in time to catch Xavier whispering sweet nothings into Winter's ear, making her cheeks turn a rosy pink.<br /> Noelle felt a surge of anger, her eyes blazing with fury.<br /> How ludicrous it was. Her boyfriend of three years, the one she had been with through thick and thin, was now cozying up to her elder sister while she had been miles away.<br /> Winter Shaw was mingling and toasting with the guests arm in arm with Xavier when she spotted Noelle. Her face drained of color, and her grip on Xavier's hand tightened without her even realizing it.<br /> Xavier's eyes met Noelle's. He paused for a split second, then flashed Winter a comforting smile before walking over to Noelle. "Hey Noelle, did you come to celebrate me and your sister's big day?"<br /> His voice, which was usually so warm and gentle, felt like a knife twisting in her heart. Noelle clenched her jaw. "Celebrate? Celebrate you stabbing me in the back? And Winter, really? Are you that desperate for a man? You knew he was mine, and you... you both..."<br /> Before she could finish, a slap snapped her head to the side, leaving her cheek throbbing.<br /> Holding her face, tears brimming in her eyes, she looked up in disbelief. "Mom!"<br /> "Don't you dare call me 'mom' right now! What kind of daughter or sister acts the way you're acting? It's your sister's engagement, and you can't even be happy for her? Instead, you show up here to make a scene. You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" Jade Jones was fuming, her eyes shooting daggers at Noelle.<br /> Noelle's heart clenched. "Mom, what are you even saying? Xavier's my boyfriend."<br /> "Your boyfriend? Xavier is your sister's husband. Why do you have to challenge your sister for everything? I’m so disappointed in you."<br /> Noelle could not help but laugh. She stared at her mother, Jade, who had the nerve to twist the truth so blatantly. She turned to Xavier. "Xavier, come on. Tell us who you're really dating."<br /> His brow creased, his gaze on Noelle filled with uncertainty. The firm grip he felt, however, brought him back to the moment. "Noelle, I'm sorry, but there's only ever been one person for me, and that's your sister."<br /> Noelle's heart felt like it was being sliced open as she listened to Xavier's emotionless confession.<br /> What a joke! What bitter irony!<br /> "Xavier, you’d better get this straight: it's me who's dumping you, not the other way round." It took all her willpower not to lash out at the cheating couple. "I hope you two have a long, 'happy' life together," she spat.<br /> <br /> Noelle bolted from the hotel, her previously defiant face now streaked with tears.<br /> Out of nowhere, a black Cayenne screeched to a halt, its tires screaming against the pavement. Caught off guard, she tumbled to the ground.<br /> The driver gulped, his eyes darting to the man in the back seat, "Sir... Sir?"<br /> The man in the back, unfazed by the nearby accident, merely glanced at the passenger seat beside him. "Ronald, go see what happened."<br /> "Right away, sir." Ronald was out of the car in a flash, checking the front for any damage.<br /> About six feet ahead of the car, a woman sat on the ground with her eyes wide open, looking totally freaked out. Her cheeks were streaked with tears, and she had obviously been crying. "Miss? Are you okay? Do you need a ride to the hospital?"<br /> Noelle was scared out of her wits. She just gazed at Ronald, lost in shock, until she finally managed to pull herself together and stand up. Without a word, she tried to sidestep him, eager to get away.<br /> Ronald was puzzled by her reaction. "Are you sure you're alright? Do you need any..."<br /> "I... I'm fine, really, I'm okay." Noelle's eyes darted to the black Cayenne. She could not shake off the feeling that someone was watching her, and it sent shivers down her spine. She scowled, hating the feeling, and hobbled away as fast as she could.<br /> Ronald watched her go, confused. He wanted to stop her, but she was dodging him like he was bad news, leaving him speechless.<br /> Back in the car, Ronald noticed the man in the backseat craning his neck to watch the woman through the window. "Sir, we're at the hotel. Do you want to head straight in, or would you like to get out here?"<br /> The man, Charles Hoffman, did not say a word, and Ronald did not dare to make a move.<br /> Watching the petite figure disappear into the distance, Charles let out a slight smirk and tapped his finger against his knee in a steady beat. "Let's head back!"<br /> Ronald was taken aback. "But sir, isn't today..."<br /> Before he could finish, Charles cut him off with a piercing look. "The show's over. There's nothing left to see," Charles said, his words heavy with implication. "Ronald, you seem to be losing your touch."<br /> The Majestic Lounge was Brookville's hotspot, its lights blazing and music pumping every night. Noelle's friend, Rowena Smith, always said it was the prime spot for a wild time after dark.<br /> Noelle was not one for these scenes, but tonight, she was hunched over the bar, downing drinks as if there was no tomorrow. She peered at the sea of unfamiliar faces swirling around her through half-closed eyes.<br /> "Hey there. Did you come here alone?"<br /> A hand clamped onto Noelle's shoulder, the stranger's touch lingering a bit too long. Noelle jerked away, revulsion coursing through her. "Back off."<br /> The guy shot a knowing look at his buddy and smirked at Noelle. "Feisty, aren't you? Back off? Ladies like you just play hard to get, secretly hoping for some attention."<br /> He moved in as if to plant a buss on her, but Noelle shoved him back and stood up, her stance unsteady and her heart racing. She shook her head, trying to clear the fog. "I said back off! Is that so hard to understand?"<br /> She stumbled, nearly toppling over, but the man caught her, his arm snaking around her waist. "See, you’re saying no, but your body's telling a different story."<br /> <br /> Trapped in the man's grip, Noelle struggled to break free, her body refusing to cooperate. Her vision was blurry as she glared at him. "What are you trying to do?"<br /> "Just having a bit of fun..." He chuckled, his voice dripping with sleaze as he steadied her. "Let's go somewhere more entertaining, shall we?"<br /> Noelle might have been out of it, but she could still sense the danger in the man's tone. However, her whole body ached, and she knew she was no match for them. She scanned the area for anyone who could help her, but she was invisible to the passersby.<br /> She spotted a figure approaching through her haze. Acting instinctively, she shoved the two men aside and bolted, slamming right into the newcomer. "Save me!" she gasped.<br /> Her fingers dug into the fabric of the man's shirt, and she inhaled a sharp, clean scent. "Please, save me," she pleaded.<br /> Charles squinted, taking in the woman who had just collided with him. There was a flicker of something sharp in his gaze.<br /> Noelle did not let go, pressing herself against him. Her lips, tainted with the strong smell of booze, were inches from his face, and her cheeks were unnaturally rosy.<br /> "Sir..." Ronald, who was standing a few steps back, watched in disbelief. She had the nerve to approach Charles, yet he was not pushing her away?<br /> Charles shot a cold look at the two men harassing Noelle. "Time to leave, don't you think?"<br /> "You… Who do you think you are? Do you even know who I am? I had my eye on that girl," one of the men blurted out.<br /> Charles smirked and let out a soft laugh. "You laid a hand on her? Which hand was it? Show me!"<br /> The courage of the other man drained away when he met Charles's icy stare. "Uh... Mr. Hoffman, we didn't realize who you were. We... we haven't touched her, not at all," he stammered, realizing they were in deep trouble.<br /> "Ronald," Charles shot him a look before scooping Noelle into his arms like she was the heroine in some epic romance, “give these guys a lesson they won't forget. Make it clear that The Majestic Lounge isn't for scum like them."<br /> With Noelle in his arms, Charles spun on his heel and left. Ronald gave a curt nod. "Understood." A sly grin spread across his face as he faced the two troublemakers. "So, which one of you was it that touched the lady?"<br /> The two guys exchanged panicked glances, too scared to utter a word. Ronald let out a mocking scoff. "What, did both of you touch her? Mr. Hoffman wants to let you keep a little bit of your offending hand as a souvenir."<br /> They dropped to their knees with a thud, as pale as ghosts, begging, "Please, have mercy! You can't do this. My dad is a big shot at Evergreen Group..."<br /> Meanwhile, Charles, with Noelle in his arms, was like a walking iceberg.<br /> Noelle felt she was being drained of blood and eaten alive by a swarm of ants. She whimpered, overcome by a wave of dizziness, "It's so hot..."<br /> Charles glanced down at his shirt, which was now a mess thanks to Noelle, and his gaze frosted over. He held her tighter and picked up the pace to the elevator.<br /> Though she was barely conscious, she caught a glimpse of the man's strong profile. The chill from his body was oddly soothing, and she snuggled closer without thinking. Charles's eyes darkened just as the elevator doors slid open, and he stepped out into the unknown.<br /> <br /> At the top of The Majestic Lounge was a room that belonged to Charles alone. He swung the door open and carried Noelle in. She was feeling so awful that she hung onto Charles like she was trying to meld into him, her limbs all over the place with nary a hint of elegance.<br /> He managed to detach Noelle from himself with a bit of a struggle and gently placed her in the bathroom. Taking a deep breath, he dialed Ronald’s number. "I need ice, and make it quick."<br /> Once he ended the call, he saw Noelle trying to get out of the tub. He gently but firmly pushed her back down and turned on the cold tap. "Stay still!"<br /> His voice was firm and grew even more intense as he noticed how the water in the tub accentuated her figure. His gaze sharpened.<br /> Ronald was fast, arriving shortly with two buckets of ice. "Here's the ice, sir."<br /> "Hold on," Charles instructed Ronald. "Just set them down and leave, thanks." His tone was cool and detached.<br /> Ronald raised an eyebrow at Charles's unusual sternness. However, he kept his thoughts to himself and left as told.<br /> Once alone, Charles brought the ice buckets into the bathroom.<br /> Noelle was submerged in the icy water, her body shaking uncontrollably. Her mind was still foggy, and Charles's expression was grim.<br /> Noelle was burning up inside, feeling like she was on the brink of collapse. The icy water was a harsh contrast to that, enveloping her in a torturous chill. She squirmed in agony, but Charles's hands kept her steady, and his voice cut through the haze. "Hang in there. It'll pass soon."<br /> ...<br /> Noelle's eyes fluttered open, her body feeling sore and like it had forgotten how to function. She lay still, gazing up at the stark white ceiling. As the fog in her brain slowly lifted, the memories of last night started to play like a movie in her head.<br /> Her face drained of color as panic flickered across her features. She flung off the covers and was relieved to find herself in pajamas, untouched. Still, that aching... where did it come from?<br /> "You're awake?" A chilly voice cut through the silence, and Noelle's head whipped toward the door. There she saw a man clad in cool elegance and fancy threads who was obviously not your average Joe. His face was so drop-dead gorgeous that even a beauty queen would swoon at him.<br /> Noelle's brow creased in confusion. She did not know this man. As the reality of her situation hit her, she blurted out, "Who are you?" Her voice sounded so harsh and grating that it scared her. The words came out as a dry, quacking mess.<br /> Charles arched an eyebrow, not bothering with an answer. He strolled over, poured her a glass of water, and handed it to her with smooth and elegant hands.<br /> Noelle was taken aback for a second but then grabbed the glass, downing the water with an eagerness that bordered on uncouth. Once the glass was empty, she eyed Charles suspiciously. "Are you the one who rescued me?"<br /> He did not say yes or no, but Noelle let out a relieved breath. "Okay. Thanks for whatever you did last night." She glanced down at her clothes, a silent question hanging in the air, and her expression turned to one of confusion. However, her gratitude remained evident despite the puzzlement.<br /> Charles's gaze landed softly on Noelle's face, his mind replaying her stunning presence from the night before and stirring something within him. "It’s all good, Ms. Shaw. Don’t worry about it," he said, sidestepping the potential embarrassment with a smooth deflection.<br /> Noelle bit her lip, fighting the urge to say more. She would have to deal with the fallout and act like this whole mess never happened. Then, it hit her. "How did you find out my last name is Shaw?"<br /> "Surprised? There's been a lot of buzz about a Ms. Shaw today. Have you not heard?" Charles said, casually fiddling with his cufflinks, looking the picture of cool.<br /> Noelle's face drained of color. "What... What are you talking about?"<br /> "There are many versions of your story. Which one do you want to hear?"<br /> "Who are you, really? And what do you want from me?"	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1,778,979	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778938}'	No	2024-05-08 18:44	active	760	1541760926556024	Enjoy Romance🥰Read More 👉	She signed the divorce papers and left without taking her phone. He checked her phone and got floored at the message: Please come tomorrow for another prenatal care checkup!<br /> =============<br /> <br /> Chapter 1 Ex-girlfriend Returns<br /> <br /> Raegan Hayes was a little absent-minded at the moment. <br /> <br /> All she could think of since this afternoon was the doctor's words. "Congratulations! You are going to be a mom."<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Mitchel Dixon pinched her arm. His low voice came the next second. "Come back to earth. What are you thinking about?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel was her husband. They had been married secretly for two years. He was her superior at work, the president of the Dixon Group. <br /> <br /> Everything had happened so fast. She was newly employed in the company when they unexpectedly got married. <br /> <br /> At that time, Mitchel's grandfather fell seriously ill. It was then he proposed a fake marriage just to fulfill his grandfather's dying wish. <br /> <br /> They signed a prenup, agreeing to hide their marriage from the public. Their union could be terminated at any time. <br /> <br /> It was an unconventional thing to do. However, Raegan only considered herself lucky at that time. <br /> <br /> Never in a million years did she think she would ever get married to the man she had a crush on for eight years. She delightfully agreed. <br /> <br /> After their marriage, Mitchel was very busy. He spent most of his time working. <br /> <br /> Raegan wished she could spend more time with him at home. However, she was rest assured because there hadn't been any rumors or scandals about him with women in the past two years. <br /> <br /> Except for his mild indifference, Mitchel was a perfect husband. <br /> <br /> Raegan had mixed feelings as she stared at the medical report. <br /> <br /> In the end, she decided to tell Mitchel this news. <br /> <br /> She also wanted to tell him that she hadn't learned about him for the first time two years ago and that she had been crushing on him for many years before then. <br /> <br /> Just then, Mitchel’s phone rang. He went to the balcony and answered the phone. <br /> <br /> Raegan checked the time and found that it was already midnight. <br /> <br /> She felt a little uneasy. Who would call Mitchel at this hour? <br /> <br /> Mitchel spent a few minutes on the balcony. Thereafter, he returned and changed into formal attire. His handsome face which had a clear outline made him look dignified. <br /> <br /> He was something to see now. <br /> <br /> "Don't wait up for me. Good night," he said finally. <br /> <br /> What? He was on his way out? At this hour? <br /> <br /> Raegan's grip on the report tightened as she stared at him in disappointment. Unconsciously, she withdrew slightly. After thinking for a while, she blurted out, "It's already so late."<br /> <br /> Mitchel's fingers froze on his tie. With a faint smile, he pinched her earlobe and said, "Be good, okay? There's something I have to do. Don't wait up."<br /> <br /> With that, he headed for the door. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel."<br /> <br /> Raegan quickly ran and caught up with him. <br /> <br /> Mitchel turned around and looked at her seriously. <br /> <br /> "What's the matter?"<br /> <br /> There was a tinge of coldness to his voice. An icy cloud hung over them as they stared at each other. <br /> <br /> A little distressed, Raegan asked in a low voice, "I would like to visit my grandma tomorrow. Can you accompany me there?"<br /> <br /> Her grandmother always wanted to see her. As a result, Raegan wanted to take Mitchel there to assure her grandma they were happy. <br /> <br /> "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Without agreeing or declining, Mitchel left in a hurry. <br /> <br /> Several thoughts were threading Raegan's mind. She couldn't sleep a wink. <br /> <br /> After tossing and turning for a long time, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm glass of milk. <br /> <br /> A few notifications from some online blogs came into her phone. <br /> <br /> However, she wasn't interested in them. She was about to swipe them away when one of them caught her attention. The familiar name made her click on it. <br /> <br /> The news read, "Famous designer, Lauren Murray was spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend earlier today."<br /> <br /> Lauren was wearing a bucket hat. The man's figure was vague, but the outline of his body was enough to show that he was dashing. <br /> <br /> Raegan zoomed in on the picture. The next second, her heart dropped. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was the man in the picture! <br /> <br /> So, he canceled the afternoon meeting just to go pick up his ex-girlfriend from the airport? <br /> <br /> This realization settled like a boulder in Raegan's gut, rendering her flustered. <br /> <br /> Her hands trembled. Subconsciously, she dialed Mitchel's number. <br /> <br /> The dial tone brought her back to her senses. Just as she was about to hang up, the line connected, and a voice came from the other end. <br /> <br /> "Hello!"<br /> <br /> It was a particularly gentle woman's voice. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a second and then threw the phone away. <br /> <br /> She suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet bowl. <br /> <br /> The next morning, Raegan went to work on time. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had tried to get her to stop working after they got married. Stubbornly, she insisted on making her own money. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't kick against her decision, but he asked her to work as his assistant, helping him with the daily chores. <br /> <br /> The head assistant, Matteo Jenkins was left to take care of the major affairs Mitchel had. <br /> <br /> Matteo was the only Dixon Group employee who knew about their marriage. <br /> <br /> Since inception, only male assistants were hired for the president's office. Reagan was the first and only female. Her employment broke the protocol. As a result, other workers couldn't help but wonder if she was involved with Mitchel. <br /> <br /> It took a while before they realized that Mitchel never gave Raegan special treatment. Strangely, this made them despise her even more. <br /> <br /> After all, no one would last long in anything while taking advantage of their looks.<br /> <br /> At this time, one of Raegan's colleagues handed her a document and ordered her to take it to Mitchel's office. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't return home last night. Raegan was so worried that she didn't sleep at all. <br /> <br /> All she kept thinking about was the woman who answered his phone when she called. What was her relationship with Mitchel?<br /> <br /> Raegan already knew the answer to that, but she was still in denial. <br /> <br /> It was difficult for her to come to terms with that fact. <br /> <br /> Raegan tried to remain calm now. She reasoned that no matter what happened, she deserved a result that would be rewarding for all the years she spent loving Mitchel. This couldn't be all for nothing, right? <br /> <br /> She pressed the elevator button calmly and went up to the president's office. Before she walked out of the elevator, she smoothed her hair to make sure she looked good. <br /> <br /> She had arrived at the office, only to see that the door was ajar. A man's voice came. She halted instantly. <br /> <br /> "Come on, man! Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?"<br /> <br /> The voice belonged to Luis Stevens, a childhood friend of Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> "What do you mean exactly?" Mitchel asked in a cold voice. <br /> <br /> "You know exactly what I mean!" Luis clicked his tongue impatiently and added, "I think Raegan is a good girl. Isn't she your type?"<br /> <br /> "Do you want me to hand her over to you?" Mitchel asked carelessly. <br /> <br /> "You know what, forget it!"<br /> <br /> The scornful laughter of Luis sounded particularly harsh in Raegan's ears. <br /> <br /> They were talking about her as if she were an object. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the document. <br /> <br /> Soon, Luis's voice was heard again. <br /> <br /> "By the way, I saw the gossip news about Lauren's mysterious boyfriend this morning. That was you, right?"<br /> <br /> "Yes."<br /> <br /> "Well, well, well! That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. You always want to please her."<br /> <br /> Luis sighed and continued to tease Mitchel. "As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell me, did you two..."<br /> <br /> Their conversation was like a thunder exploding over Raegan's head. <br /> <br /> Her face turned pale and her body was as cold as ice. <br /> <br /> The woman was indeed Lauren! <br /> <br /> Absence made the heart grow fonder! <br /> <br /> Every word drove a knife into her heart. <br /> <br /> Several whispering voices filled her head at this time. She suddenly felt light-headed. Her vision became blurry. <br /> <br /> She held the wall and took a step backward. Suddenly, the door was opened from inside. <br /> <br /> "Raegan?"<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 2 One-sided Love<br /> <br /> Luis was the one who opened the door. It appeared he was on his way out. <br /> <br /> Raegan balled her hands, turned to him, and nodded. "Hey, Mr. Stevens!"<br /> <br /> Without waiting for him to respond to her greeting, she walked past him and entered the office with the document. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was seated behind a large luxurious desk. In an expensive suit and matching tie, he looked particularly handsome. <br /> <br /> Raegan noticed it wasn't the same suit he had on when he left home last night. How did he get changed? <br /> <br /> With her eyes lowered, she swallowed that question and said instead, "Mr. Dixon, this is from the Marketing Department. Please sign it."<br /> <br /> Mitchel was expressionless as he signed the document at a glance. <br /> <br /> Raegan walked out the door as soon as he handed the document back to her. Luis was still standing at the threshold. <br /> <br /> It wasn't until she went out of sight that Luis turned to Mitchel and said in a hushed tone, "Do you think she heard us?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's appealing eyes were expressionless at the moment. Obviously, he wasn't paying attention to what Luis was saying. <br /> <br /> To Mitchel, Raegan had always been docile and never felt jealous of anyone. <br /> <br /> Her strict obedience was all Mitchel demanded from her in exchange for treating her well. <br /> <br /> In the elevator. <br /> <br /> Raegan held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn't work. <br /> <br /> She had thought two years would be enough for Mitchel to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love. <br /> <br /> Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream. <br /> <br /> She realized she would always play second fiddle to Lauren, Mitchel's true love. <br /> <br /> Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened. <br /> <br /> She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea. <br /> <br /> Several employees were chatting inside. <br /> <br /> "Guys, have you heard? Lauren Murray is back."<br /> <br /> "And who is that?"<br /> <br /> "Oh, my! You don't know her? Lauren is the heiress of the Murray Group as well as a world-class designer. Most importantly, she's the only girlfriend Mr. Dixon has ever shown off in public. She's his first love!"<br /> <br /> "Why is her return such a big deal? Isn't it rumored that there is something between Mr. Dixon and Raegan?"<br /> <br /> "Raegan? She's nothing to Mr. Dixon. Mr. Dixon never admitted that he was dating her. And that is no surprise to me. After all, look at her. She's not even that beautiful. Yet, she behaves as if she's already Mrs. Dixon. What a fool!"<br /> <br /> Standing at the door, Raegan smiled with self-mockery as she listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her. <br /> <br /> The love was one-sided. <br /> <br /> "Ha-ha, have you finally woken up from your wild dream, Raegan?"<br /> <br /> A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Raegan turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Mitchel's cousin, who had always despised her. <br /> <br /> Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping. <br /> <br /> The last thing Raegan wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way. <br /> <br /> With a cup of coffee in her hand, Tessa uttered sarcastically, "Lauren is back now. Do you think Mitchel will still give you any attention?"<br /> <br /> Raegan said nothing to that. <br /> <br /> Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule. "Maybe it’s time for you to seek out another man, you pathetic fool."<br /> <br /> Raegan clenched her fists and said coldly, "Ms. Lloyd, if you are interested in that kind of thing, feel free to pursue it yourself."<br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Raegan's retort made Tessa's face change. <br /> <br /> The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of coffee on Raegan. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't think for a second that Tessa would do something so crazy. She held up her arms just to block the liquid from her face. In no time, the coffee drenched her clothes. <br /> <br /> Raegan frowned. "What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?"<br /> <br /> It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama. Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers. <br /> <br /> She put on a mean-girl look as she said, "What makes you so smug every day, huh? Do you seriously think that others don't know you are just an orphan? The nerve of..."<br /> <br /> Tessa was silenced by Raegan’s shove. <br /> <br /> Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Raegan, who was so quiet and timid, would shove her. <br /> <br /> Tessa stuttered, "You... You pushed me? How dare you!"<br /> <br /> Raegan eyed her and replied, "Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness."<br /> <br /> Indeed, she lost her parents when she was a child. But that didn't mean she would allow someone to walk over her for it. <br /> <br /> Wrinkles appeared on Tessa's face as she frowned in anger. As Mitchel's cousin, she was used to being fawned over and respected. This was the first time she had been treated like this. <br /> <br /> Tessa charged at Raegan like a raging bull, poised to retaliate. <br /> <br /> This time, Raegan was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa's wrist so that the latter couldn't move another inch. <br /> <br /> Tessa was shorter than Raegan. As a result, she struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap. <br /> <br /> Tessa cursed angrily, "How dare you put your hands on me? Who do you think you are?"<br /> <br /> These harsh words attracted more people to the break room. <br /> <br /> "That's enough!"<br /> <br /> Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Mitchel had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo. <br /> <br /> The entire room fell silent. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel?" Tessa's blood ran cold at the sight of Mitchel. She had always been scared of him. Her mother also warned her against provoking him. <br /> <br /> But when she remembered that Raegan humiliated her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed. "Mitchel, she bullied me."<br /> <br /> The sunlight from outside fell on Mitchel's handsome face. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to look at her clothes which were soaked with coffee. <br /> <br /> Their gaze met in the air. With a deep frown, Mitchel looked at Raegan and said, "Raegan, have you forgotten the rules of the company?"<br /> <br /> His ruthlessness made Raegan's breathing cease. She couldn't believe her ears. <br /> <br /> No one dared to make a sound at this moment. <br /> <br /> Raegan just stood straight there with her slender figure. <br /> <br /> When she got employed here, Mitchel had told her that the Dixon Group wasn't a place for her to mess around and that he would not tolerate her making any mistakes. <br /> <br /> Raegan could understand why he took this stand. <br /> <br /> However, at this moment, she was desperate to know whether Mitchel had heard those hard words Tessa scolded her or he was just pretending not to have heard because he agreed to those words. <br /> <br /> Was she truly insignificant to him?<br /> <br /> Scared to death by Mitchel's rage, the crowd soon dispersed. A few employees were bold enough to peep from a distance, unwilling to miss the good show. <br /> <br /> Mitchel's cold eyes made Raegan shiver from head to toe. <br /> <br /> Raegan pinched her palm to suppress her emotions as she looked at Tessa. <br /> <br /> "I'm sorry, Ms. Lloyd. As an employee of the Dixon Group, it was wrong of me to have offended you."<br /> <br /> Eyeing Raegan, Tessa raised her chin complacently. "Humph! Don't think you'll be let off the hook just by making a simple apology. I don't buy..."<br /> <br /> "The offence has nothing to do with the company. Personally, I refuse to apologize to you. Now, if you'd excuse me," Raegan chimed in. <br /> <br /> She then walked past Mitchel without sparing him another look. <br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Tessa's face turned blue after hearing what Raegan said. <br /> <br /> Never in her years of being alive had she been so humiliated. She was always the bully, not the victim! <br /> <br /> The humiliation was so much that scolding Raegan wouldn't appease her anger. <br /> <br /> Pointing in Raegan's direction, Tessa shouted, "Mitchel, did you hear what that woman just said? She humiliated me, yet she's still so arrogant. Call her back. I have to teach her some manners!"<br /> <br /> Mitchel, staring at Raegan's thin back, had an ambiguous expression at this moment. <br /> <br /> "Enough!" he said coldly, raising his hand. <br /> <br /> As someone who lived and breathed drama and cruelty, Tessa didn't think Mitchel was partial to Raegan just now. She assumed that Mitchel didn't care about Raegan at all. <br /> <br /> Tessa gritted her teeth and said viciously, "Next time, I'll get someone to teach her a lesson."<br /> <br /> "Tessa!" Mitchel's tone and squint made it a reproof. <br /> <br /> Tessa trembled at once. <br /> <br /> With a somber face, Mitchel said, "I'll only say it once. Forget about what happened here today. Leave Raegan alone."<br /> <br /> The aura he exuded made her tongue go dry. All the vicious ideas she had in store against Raegan disappeared in an instant. <br /> <br /> She stammered, "Ok... Okay, got it..."<br /> <br /> Mitchel cast a cold glance at her and spoke to Matteo. "Irrelevant people wouldn't be allowed in here from today onwards."<br /> <br /> Without catching the drift, Tessa flattered Mitchel. "Nice call. This is a top company. Not everyone gains access in here."<br /> <br /> Matteo nodded to Mitchel and then walked over to Tessa. He gestured to the exit. "Ms. Lloyd, this way, please."<br /> <br /> It wasn't until this moment that Tessa realized that she was the irrelevant person Mitchel just mentioned. She tried to speak to him, but Matteo blocked her way. The security guards then escorted her out. <br /> <br /> They showed her no mercy. Her struggle was useless. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Raegan got changed when she returned to her office. <br /> <br /> Her heart was filled with sadness as she thought of how Mitchel looked at her minutes ago. <br /> <br /> Closing hour soon rolled by. <br /> <br /> Raegan took her bag and headed for the exit. However, Matteo stopped her. <br /> <br /> He said, "Mr. Dixon has something urgent to deal with, so he asked me to drive you home."<br /> <br /> Raegan declined the ride without thinking twice. <br /> <br /> She was blind before, but now she could see through the situation. <br /> <br /> In Mitchel's eyes, she was just a nobody. <br /> <br /> How could Mitchel agree to accompany her to visit her grandmother when he didn't even care about her? <br /> <br /> Upon arriving at the hospital, Raegan saw that the nurse was about to feed her grandmother dinner. Raegan took the job over and did it by herself. <br /> <br /> All her life, her grandmother had been living in the countryside, enjoying a quiet life. Everything changed last month when her routine medical checkup showed that she was in need of medical care. Raegan insisted on bringing her to the city for better treatment. <br /> <br /> Her grandmother wasn't aware of her marriage to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> Raegan had planned to surprise her today. But as it turned out, that was no longer necessary. <br /> <br /> Raegan waited for her grandmother to fall asleep before she left. She walked out of the hospital and waited for a taxi. <br /> <br /> In the distance, a black luxury car pulled into the entrance of the hospital. <br /> <br /> Raegan's eyes lit up when she saw it. She recognized that car as Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> Did he come to pick her up? <br /> <br /> At this moment, she forgot all the pain she had been feeling. <br /> <br /> Were her thoughts about him all wrong? Did he care for her, contrary to the gossip? <br /> <br /> The door of the driver's side opened and Mitchel got out. <br /> <br /> Raegan started walking toward him with her heart brimming with joy. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had just walked over to the other side and carried a woman out of the car. <br /> <br /> Worry and compassion were written all over his handsome face. <br /> <br /> This wiped the smile on Raegan's face. Her heart sank. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 3 Let's Divorce<br /> <br /> Mitchel's tall and straight figure got closer and closer to Raegan. And then, without saying a word, he strode past Raegan. <br /> <br /> It was hard to tell if Mitchel saw Raegan or just ignored her. <br /> <br /> Regardless, Raegan noticed that the woman in his arms was the same one who had been photographed with him yesterday. <br /> <br /> She was Lauren. <br /> <br /> Raegan's shoes felt like they were made of lead as she walked away. <br /> <br /> She lost all awareness of her surroundings. She got into a taxi absentmindedly. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, the driver uttered, "Ma'am, where to?"<br /> <br /> Raegan was stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> She didn't want to go back to Serenity Villas. It was only a matter of time before that place stopped being her home. <br /> <br /> After a while, she replied, "Please take me to Crystal Bay."<br /> <br /> She had purchased an apartment at Crystal Bay after getting married to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> At the time, she had hopes of bringing her grandmother to the city, so she bought the apartment on mortgage. It wasn't that big, but it had more than enough space for two people. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't understand why she wanted to buy an apartment. He offered to give her a bigger one, but she declined. <br /> <br /> Looking back now, she realized that buying that apartment was the only wise decision she had ever made in the last two years. <br /> <br /> When she arrived at the apartment complex, Raegan sat in the park alone, trying to cool herself down. <br /> <br /> The memories of the past two years were bittersweet. <br /> <br /> Two years had passed in the blink of an eye even though it was more than seven hundred days and nights. <br /> <br /> Love could move mountains, they said. <br /> <br /> Yet, her love didn't move that stone of a man. She finally realized what a fool she had been. She had been making herself a laughingstock in front of everyone. <br /> <br /> It was already late in the night before Raegan finally decided to go into her apartment. <br /> <br /> As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mitchel standing in front of the door. <br /> <br /> His sleeves were rolled up casually, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone, which revealed his long neck and part of his collarbone. He was leaning on the wall by the door, his handsome face straight. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a moment. <br /> <br /> Why was he here? Didn't she see him at the hospital with Lauren? What brought him here? <br /> <br /> Their eyes met. With his coat draped over his arm and one of his hands in his pocket, Mitchel squinted at her. <br /> <br /> "Why didn't you answer the phone?" he asked, sounding a little grumpy like someone who hadn't slept in a long time. <br /> <br /> Raegan took out her phone and saw she had accidentally put it on DND. <br /> <br /> There were five missed calls from Mitchel. <br /> <br /> This marked the first time in their two-year marriage. <br /> <br /> Mitchel blew up her phone because he couldn't find her? Surprising! <br /> <br /> Before today, she would have been overjoyed by this. People would've thought she won the lottery. <br /> <br /> But now, she just threw her phone back into her bag, folded her arms, and said in a hoarse voice, "I didn't hear it ring."<br /> <br /> Mitchel raised his hand to check the time on the watch, and said impatiently, "I've been looking for you for two hours."<br /> <br /> After arranging everything for Lauren, he returned home to find an empty house. He looked for Raegan everywhere. When he couldn't find her, he asked Matteo to check the surveillance footage of all the roads that led away from the company. <br /> <br /> He later found out that Raegan went to Crystal Bay without telling him. <br /> <br /> "Next time, tell me when you are coming here, okay? Let's go home now." After that, Mitchel walked toward the elevator without sparing her another glance. <br /> <br /> He meant to go back to Serenity Villas. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't move an inch. She just stared at his broad back and pondered reluctantly. <br /> <br /> Would they have a future? <br /> <br /> Mitchell turned around, only to see that Raegan hadn't taken a single step. He frowned and asked, "Can't you walk? Do you want me to carry you instead?"<br /> <br /> The light in the corridor illuminated his face, making his side profile almost impeccable. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and said, "Let's divorce."<br /> <br /> "What do you mean?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's voice was cold, and his handsome face changed immediately. <br /> <br /> "I want to move into my own place. After all, we will be strangers soon."<br /> <br /> Raegan forced a smile, but her heart was aching as if someone was tearing it apart bit by bit. <br /> <br /> "We will be strangers?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel smiled coldly. "Raegan, what do you think our relationship is now?"<br /> <br /> His questioning left Raegan stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had made it very clear to her from the very beginning. This facade of their marriage had happened by mutual agreement. There was no love. In the eyes of others, they were nothing more than just a superior and a subordinate. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was quite the catch in Ardlens. Many young ladies longed for his love and were even willing to throw themselves at him. <br /> <br /> His question just now reminded her of that fact. Was he afraid that she wouldn't let him go that easily? If that was the case, he couldn't be more wrong... <br /> <br /> After biting her lower lip to conceal her bitterness, Raegan said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Dixon. I was giving it too much thought. Anyway, please leave me alone from now on. You don't have to come here again."<br /> <br /> After saying that, Raegan couldn't help but burst into tears. <br /> <br /> How could she not be sad when she was cutting ties with the man she had loved for a decade? It was such a long time. <br /> <br /> Regardless of how difficult it was, she knew it was time to let go. <br /> <br /> It was high time she stopped being a fool. <br /> <br /> Strangely, the light in the corridor began flickering. <br /> <br /> The deathly stare Mitchel was giving Raegan right now made the atmosphere seem like the moment before an attack in a horror movie. <br /> <br /> Although he understood that Raegan sometimes could throw a tantrum, he felt that she had just crossed the line now. <br /> <br /> His eyes shone like blazing torches at this moment. But when he saw the tears in her eyes, the rage inside him extinguished in an instant. He said in a low voice, "If this is about what happened between you and Tessa, I..."<br /> <br /> "No, this isn't about her. Mr. Dixon, please leave now."<br /> <br /> A lot of things happened between them. And the incident with Tessa didn't come close to any. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt exhausted. She passed by Mitchel and was about to open the door. <br /> <br /> Yet, Mitchel was displeased with her stubbornness. <br /> <br /> He loosened his tie irritably. He then took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. <br /> <br /> "Stop this, will you?"<br /> <br /> A second later, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. <br /> <br /> He instantly realized that she was burning up like someone who had been set on fire. <br /> <br /> "You have a fever?"<br /> <br /> Raegan felt dizzy. She rested her head on his chest weakly. <br /> <br /> This made the whole situation complicated. <br /> <br /> Reagan was slow to catch that. When she finally realized that her body was too close to his, she put her hands against his chest and tried to pull back. <br /> <br /> Before she could escape, Mitchel pulled her back and held her by the waist. With a cold face, he said in a low voice, "Where do you think you are going?"<br /> <br /> The light flickered again. Out of the blue, Mitchel lifted her up. <br /> <br /> He then headed for the elevator. <br /> <br /> In a daze, Raegan asked softly, "What are you doing?"<br /> <br /> "What does it look like I am doing?" Mitchel remarked. "Taking you to the hospital, of course."<br /> <br /> "No way!" Raegan cried out in surprise and seemed to regain more strength. <br /> <br /> Mitchel might find out about her condition if they went to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Raegan struggled to get out of Mitchel's arms. However, his tight grip made her efforts fruitless. <br /> <br /> "Don't be so stubborn. You are sick, so you must see the doctor," Mitchel said firmly. <br /> <br /> He walked to the elevator with her in his arms. At this moment, Raegan's heart was thumping so hard that it could jump out of her chest. She flailed in protest. <br /> <br /> "Put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!"<br /> <br /> &13&	LEARN_MORE	https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-e	108744435202789	Novellove read	https://facebook.com/100083283215376	4,076	1	1,388,590,975,191,362	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Learn more	Novellove read	120208491374660660	fbweb.moboreader.net	NONE	video		https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-enj57-1125-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=216543&accid=1910509592737470	2024-05-06 05:05	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441458610_2130672233940007_689031028095478080_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W0v9Ai_gerMQ7kNvgFvHkT3&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8R4Md7N6hNNYO0U0ByLdjxNiFIte4ga-soiSyiPv5nQ&oe=6641D390	person_profile	moboreader	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441457758_452479980519191_71916943621339723_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bZMZ148Yv-kQ7kNvgEXGRTa&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCL6BAAbVS3w8uLh7PteBOwp3Fo_oL2ISnHu-kwm7pSeA&oe=6641CD6B	3	Novellove read	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,929	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778977}'	No	2024-05-08 18:44	active	760	431562756239864		She was full of anticipation to introduce him to her grandmother, but she bumped into him hugging his first love...<br /> =============<br /> <br /> Chapter 1 Ex-girlfriend Returns<br /> <br /> Raegan Hayes was a little absent-minded at the moment. <br /> <br /> All she could think of since this afternoon was the doctor's words. "Congratulations! You are going to be a mom."<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Mitchel Dixon pinched her arm. His low voice came the next second. "Come back to earth. What are you thinking about?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel was her husband. They had been married secretly for two years. He was her superior at work, the president of the Dixon Group. <br /> <br /> Everything had happened so fast. She was newly employed in the company when they unexpectedly got married. <br /> <br /> At that time, Mitchel's grandfather fell seriously ill. It was then he proposed a fake marriage just to fulfill his grandfather's dying wish. <br /> <br /> They signed a prenup, agreeing to hide their marriage from the public. Their union could be terminated at any time. <br /> <br /> It was an unconventional thing to do. However, Raegan only considered herself lucky at that time. <br /> <br /> Never in a million years did she think she would ever get married to the man she had a crush on for eight years. She delightfully agreed. <br /> <br /> After their marriage, Mitchel was very busy. He spent most of his time working. <br /> <br /> Raegan wished she could spend more time with him at home. However, she was rest assured because there hadn't been any rumors or scandals about him with women in the past two years. <br /> <br /> Except for his mild indifference, Mitchel was a perfect husband. <br /> <br /> Raegan had mixed feelings as she stared at the medical report. <br /> <br /> In the end, she decided to tell Mitchel this news. <br /> <br /> She also wanted to tell him that she hadn't learned about him for the first time two years ago and that she had been crushing on him for many years before then. <br /> <br /> Just then, Mitchel’s phone rang. He went to the balcony and answered the phone. <br /> <br /> Raegan checked the time and found that it was already midnight. <br /> <br /> She felt a little uneasy. Who would call Mitchel at this hour? <br /> <br /> Mitchel spent a few minutes on the balcony. Thereafter, he returned and changed into formal attire. His handsome face which had a clear outline made him look dignified. <br /> <br /> He was something to see now. <br /> <br /> "Don't wait up for me. Good night," he said finally. <br /> <br /> What? He was on his way out? At this hour? <br /> <br /> Raegan's grip on the report tightened as she stared at him in disappointment. Unconsciously, she withdrew slightly. After thinking for a while, she blurted out, "It's already so late."<br /> <br /> Mitchel's fingers froze on his tie. With a faint smile, he pinched her earlobe and said, "Be good, okay? There's something I have to do. Don't wait up."<br /> <br /> With that, he headed for the door. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel."<br /> <br /> Raegan quickly ran and caught up with him. <br /> <br /> Mitchel turned around and looked at her seriously. <br /> <br /> "What's the matter?"<br /> <br /> There was a tinge of coldness to his voice. An icy cloud hung over them as they stared at each other. <br /> <br /> A little distressed, Raegan asked in a low voice, "I would like to visit my grandma tomorrow. Can you accompany me there?"<br /> <br /> Her grandmother always wanted to see her. As a result, Raegan wanted to take Mitchel there to assure her grandma they were happy. <br /> <br /> "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Without agreeing or declining, Mitchel left in a hurry. <br /> <br /> Several thoughts were threading Raegan's mind. She couldn't sleep a wink. <br /> <br /> After tossing and turning for a long time, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm glass of milk. <br /> <br /> A few notifications from some online blogs came into her phone. <br /> <br /> However, she wasn't interested in them. She was about to swipe them away when one of them caught her attention. The familiar name made her click on it. <br /> <br /> The news read, "Famous designer, Lauren Murray was spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend earlier today."<br /> <br /> Lauren was wearing a bucket hat. The man's figure was vague, but the outline of his body was enough to show that he was dashing. <br /> <br /> Raegan zoomed in on the picture. The next second, her heart dropped. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was the man in the picture! <br /> <br /> So, he canceled the afternoon meeting just to go pick up his ex-girlfriend from the airport? <br /> <br /> This realization settled like a boulder in Raegan's gut, rendering her flustered. <br /> <br /> Her hands trembled. Subconsciously, she dialed Mitchel's number. <br /> <br /> The dial tone brought her back to her senses. Just as she was about to hang up, the line connected, and a voice came from the other end. <br /> <br /> "Hello!"<br /> <br /> It was a particularly gentle woman's voice. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a second and then threw the phone away. <br /> <br /> She suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet bowl. <br /> <br /> The next morning, Raegan went to work on time. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had tried to get her to stop working after they got married. Stubbornly, she insisted on making her own money. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't kick against her decision, but he asked her to work as his assistant, helping him with the daily chores. <br /> <br /> The head assistant, Matteo Jenkins was left to take care of the major affairs Mitchel had. <br /> <br /> Matteo was the only Dixon Group employee who knew about their marriage. <br /> <br /> Since inception, only male assistants were hired for the president's office. Reagan was the first and only female. Her employment broke the protocol. As a result, other workers couldn't help but wonder if she was involved with Mitchel. <br /> <br /> It took a while before they realized that Mitchel never gave Raegan special treatment. Strangely, this made them despise her even more. <br /> <br /> After all, no one would last long in anything while taking advantage of their looks.<br /> <br /> At this time, one of Raegan's colleagues handed her a document and ordered her to take it to Mitchel's office. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't return home last night. Raegan was so worried that she didn't sleep at all. <br /> <br /> All she kept thinking about was the woman who answered his phone when she called. What was her relationship with Mitchel?<br /> <br /> Raegan already knew the answer to that, but she was still in denial. <br /> <br /> It was difficult for her to come to terms with that fact. <br /> <br /> Raegan tried to remain calm now. She reasoned that no matter what happened, she deserved a result that would be rewarding for all the years she spent loving Mitchel. This couldn't be all for nothing, right? <br /> <br /> She pressed the elevator button calmly and went up to the president's office. Before she walked out of the elevator, she smoothed her hair to make sure she looked good. <br /> <br /> She had arrived at the office, only to see that the door was ajar. A man's voice came. She halted instantly. <br /> <br /> "Come on, man! Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?"<br /> <br /> The voice belonged to Luis Stevens, a childhood friend of Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> "What do you mean exactly?" Mitchel asked in a cold voice. <br /> <br /> "You know exactly what I mean!" Luis clicked his tongue impatiently and added, "I think Raegan is a good girl. Isn't she your type?"<br /> <br /> "Do you want me to hand her over to you?" Mitchel asked carelessly. <br /> <br /> "You know what, forget it!"<br /> <br /> The scornful laughter of Luis sounded particularly harsh in Raegan's ears. <br /> <br /> They were talking about her as if she were an object. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the document. <br /> <br /> Soon, Luis's voice was heard again. <br /> <br /> "By the way, I saw the gossip news about Lauren's mysterious boyfriend this morning. That was you, right?"<br /> <br /> "Yes."<br /> <br /> "Well, well, well! That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. You always want to please her."<br /> <br /> Luis sighed and continued to tease Mitchel. "As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell me, did you two..."<br /> <br /> Their conversation was like a thunder exploding over Raegan's head. <br /> <br /> Her face turned pale and her body was as cold as ice. <br /> <br /> The woman was indeed Lauren! <br /> <br /> Absence made the heart grow fonder! <br /> <br /> Every word drove a knife into her heart. <br /> <br /> Several whispering voices filled her head at this time. She suddenly felt light-headed. Her vision became blurry. <br /> <br /> She held the wall and took a step backward. Suddenly, the door was opened from inside. <br /> <br /> "Raegan?"<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 2 One-sided Love<br /> <br /> Luis was the one who opened the door. It appeared he was on his way out. <br /> <br /> Raegan balled her hands, turned to him, and nodded. "Hey, Mr. Stevens!"<br /> <br /> Without waiting for him to respond to her greeting, she walked past him and entered the office with the document. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was seated behind a large luxurious desk. In an expensive suit and matching tie, he looked particularly handsome. <br /> <br /> Raegan noticed it wasn't the same suit he had on when he left home last night. How did he get changed? <br /> <br /> With her eyes lowered, she swallowed that question and said instead, "Mr. Dixon, this is from the Marketing Department. Please sign it."<br /> <br /> Mitchel was expressionless as he signed the document at a glance. <br /> <br /> Raegan walked out the door as soon as he handed the document back to her. Luis was still standing at the threshold. <br /> <br /> It wasn't until she went out of sight that Luis turned to Mitchel and said in a hushed tone, "Do you think she heard us?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's appealing eyes were expressionless at the moment. Obviously, he wasn't paying attention to what Luis was saying. <br /> <br /> To Mitchel, Raegan had always been docile and never felt jealous of anyone. <br /> <br /> Her strict obedience was all Mitchel demanded from her in exchange for treating her well. <br /> <br /> In the elevator. <br /> <br /> Raegan held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn't work. <br /> <br /> She had thought two years would be enough for Mitchel to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love. <br /> <br /> Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream. <br /> <br /> She realized she would always play second fiddle to Lauren, Mitchel's true love. <br /> <br /> Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened. <br /> <br /> She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea. <br /> <br /> Several employees were chatting inside. <br /> <br /> "Guys, have you heard? Lauren Murray is back."<br /> <br /> "And who is that?"<br /> <br /> "Oh, my! You don't know her? Lauren is the heiress of the Murray Group as well as a world-class designer. Most importantly, she's the only girlfriend Mr. Dixon has ever shown off in public. She's his first love!"<br /> <br /> "Why is her return such a big deal? Isn't it rumored that there is something between Mr. Dixon and Raegan?"<br /> <br /> "Raegan? She's nothing to Mr. Dixon. Mr. Dixon never admitted that he was dating her. And that is no surprise to me. After all, look at her. She's not even that beautiful. Yet, she behaves as if she's already Mrs. Dixon. What a fool!"<br /> <br /> Standing at the door, Raegan smiled with self-mockery as she listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her. <br /> <br /> The love was one-sided. <br /> <br /> "Ha-ha, have you finally woken up from your wild dream, Raegan?"<br /> <br /> A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Raegan turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Mitchel's cousin, who had always despised her. <br /> <br /> Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping. <br /> <br /> The last thing Raegan wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way. <br /> <br /> With a cup of coffee in her hand, Tessa uttered sarcastically, "Lauren is back now. Do you think Mitchel will still give you any attention?"<br /> <br /> Raegan said nothing to that. <br /> <br /> Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule. "Maybe it’s time for you to seek out another man, you pathetic fool."<br /> <br /> Raegan clenched her fists and said coldly, "Ms. Lloyd, if you are interested in that kind of thing, feel free to pursue it yourself."<br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Raegan's retort made Tessa's face change. <br /> <br /> The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of coffee on Raegan. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't think for a second that Tessa would do something so crazy. She held up her arms just to block the liquid from her face. In no time, the coffee drenched her clothes. <br /> <br /> Raegan frowned. "What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?"<br /> <br /> It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama. Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers. <br /> <br /> She put on a mean-girl look as she said, "What makes you so smug every day, huh? Do you seriously think that others don't know you are just an orphan? The nerve of..."<br /> <br /> Tessa was silenced by Raegan’s shove. <br /> <br /> Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Raegan, who was so quiet and timid, would shove her. <br /> <br /> Tessa stuttered, "You... You pushed me? How dare you!"<br /> <br /> Raegan eyed her and replied, "Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness."<br /> <br /> Indeed, she lost her parents when she was a child. But that didn't mean she would allow someone to walk over her for it. <br /> <br /> Wrinkles appeared on Tessa's face as she frowned in anger. As Mitchel's cousin, she was used to being fawned over and respected. This was the first time she had been treated like this. <br /> <br /> Tessa charged at Raegan like a raging bull, poised to retaliate. <br /> <br /> This time, Raegan was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa's wrist so that the latter couldn't move another inch. <br /> <br /> Tessa was shorter than Raegan. As a result, she struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap. <br /> <br /> Tessa cursed angrily, "How dare you put your hands on me? Who do you think you are?"<br /> <br /> These harsh words attracted more people to the break room. <br /> <br /> "That's enough!"<br /> <br /> Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Mitchel had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo. <br /> <br /> The entire room fell silent. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel?" Tessa's blood ran cold at the sight of Mitchel. She had always been scared of him. Her mother also warned her against provoking him. <br /> <br /> But when she remembered that Raegan humiliated her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed. "Mitchel, she bullied me."<br /> <br /> The sunlight from outside fell on Mitchel's handsome face. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to look at her clothes which were soaked with coffee. <br /> <br /> Their gaze met in the air. With a deep frown, Mitchel looked at Raegan and said, "Raegan, have you forgotten the rules of the company?"<br /> <br /> His ruthlessness made Raegan's breathing cease. She couldn't believe her ears. <br /> <br /> No one dared to make a sound at this moment. <br /> <br /> Raegan just stood straight there with her slender figure. <br /> <br /> When she got employed here, Mitchel had told her that the Dixon Group wasn't a place for her to mess around and that he would not tolerate her making any mistakes. <br /> <br /> Raegan could understand why he took this stand. <br /> <br /> However, at this moment, she was desperate to know whether Mitchel had heard those hard words Tessa scolded her or he was just pretending not to have heard because he agreed to those words. <br /> <br /> Was she truly insignificant to him?<br /> <br /> Scared to death by Mitchel's rage, the crowd soon dispersed. A few employees were bold enough to peep from a distance, unwilling to miss the good show. <br /> <br /> Mitchel's cold eyes made Raegan shiver from head to toe. <br /> <br /> Raegan pinched her palm to suppress her emotions as she looked at Tessa. <br /> <br /> "I'm sorry, Ms. Lloyd. As an employee of the Dixon Group, it was wrong of me to have offended you."<br /> <br /> Eyeing Raegan, Tessa raised her chin complacently. "Humph! Don't think you'll be let off the hook just by making a simple apology. I don't buy..."<br /> <br /> "The offence has nothing to do with the company. Personally, I refuse to apologize to you. Now, if you'd excuse me," Raegan chimed in. <br /> <br /> She then walked past Mitchel without sparing him another look. <br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Tessa's face turned blue after hearing what Raegan said. <br /> <br /> Never in her years of being alive had she been so humiliated. She was always the bully, not the victim! <br /> <br /> The humiliation was so much that scolding Raegan wouldn't appease her anger. <br /> <br /> Pointing in Raegan's direction, Tessa shouted, "Mitchel, did you hear what that woman just said? She humiliated me, yet she's still so arrogant. Call her back. I have to teach her some manners!"<br /> <br /> Mitchel, staring at Raegan's thin back, had an ambiguous expression at this moment. <br /> <br /> "Enough!" he said coldly, raising his hand. <br /> <br /> As someone who lived and breathed drama and cruelty, Tessa didn't think Mitchel was partial to Raegan just now. She assumed that Mitchel didn't care about Raegan at all. <br /> <br /> Tessa gritted her teeth and said viciously, "Next time, I'll get someone to teach her a lesson."<br /> <br /> "Tessa!" Mitchel's tone and squint made it a reproof. <br /> <br /> Tessa trembled at once. <br /> <br /> With a somber face, Mitchel said, "I'll only say it once. Forget about what happened here today. Leave Raegan alone."<br /> <br /> The aura he exuded made her tongue go dry. All the vicious ideas she had in store against Raegan disappeared in an instant. <br /> <br /> She stammered, "Ok... Okay, got it..."<br /> <br /> Mitchel cast a cold glance at her and spoke to Matteo. "Irrelevant people wouldn't be allowed in here from today onwards."<br /> <br /> Without catching the drift, Tessa flattered Mitchel. "Nice call. This is a top company. Not everyone gains access in here."<br /> <br /> Matteo nodded to Mitchel and then walked over to Tessa. He gestured to the exit. "Ms. Lloyd, this way, please."<br /> <br /> It wasn't until this moment that Tessa realized that she was the irrelevant person Mitchel just mentioned. She tried to speak to him, but Matteo blocked her way. The security guards then escorted her out. <br /> <br /> They showed her no mercy. Her struggle was useless. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Raegan got changed when she returned to her office. <br /> <br /> Her heart was filled with sadness as she thought of how Mitchel looked at her minutes ago. <br /> <br /> Closing hour soon rolled by. <br /> <br /> Raegan took her bag and headed for the exit. However, Matteo stopped her. <br /> <br /> He said, "Mr. Dixon has something urgent to deal with, so he asked me to drive you home."<br /> <br /> Raegan declined the ride without thinking twice. <br /> <br /> She was blind before, but now she could see through the situation. <br /> <br /> In Mitchel's eyes, she was just a nobody. <br /> <br /> How could Mitchel agree to accompany her to visit her grandmother when he didn't even care about her? <br /> <br /> Upon arriving at the hospital, Raegan saw that the nurse was about to feed her grandmother dinner. Raegan took the job over and did it by herself. <br /> <br /> All her life, her grandmother had been living in the countryside, enjoying a quiet life. Everything changed last month when her routine medical checkup showed that she was in need of medical care. Raegan insisted on bringing her to the city for better treatment. <br /> <br /> Her grandmother wasn't aware of her marriage to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> Raegan had planned to surprise her today. But as it turned out, that was no longer necessary. <br /> <br /> Raegan waited for her grandmother to fall asleep before she left. She walked out of the hospital and waited for a taxi. <br /> <br /> In the distance, a black luxury car pulled into the entrance of the hospital. <br /> <br /> Raegan's eyes lit up when she saw it. She recognized that car as Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> Did he come to pick her up? <br /> <br /> At this moment, she forgot all the pain she had been feeling. <br /> <br /> Were her thoughts about him all wrong? Did he care for her, contrary to the gossip? <br /> <br /> The door of the driver's side opened and Mitchel got out. <br /> <br /> Raegan started walking toward him with her heart brimming with joy. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had just walked over to the other side and carried a woman out of the car. <br /> <br /> Worry and compassion were written all over his handsome face. <br /> <br /> This wiped the smile on Raegan's face. Her heart sank. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 3 Let's Divorce<br /> <br /> Mitchel's tall and straight figure got closer and closer to Raegan. And then, without saying a word, he strode past Raegan. <br /> <br /> It was hard to tell if Mitchel saw Raegan or just ignored her. <br /> <br /> Regardless, Raegan noticed that the woman in his arms was the same one who had been photographed with him yesterday. <br /> <br /> She was Lauren. <br /> <br /> Raegan's shoes felt like they were made of lead as she walked away. <br /> <br /> She lost all awareness of her surroundings. She got into a taxi absentmindedly. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, the driver uttered, "Ma'am, where to?"<br /> <br /> Raegan was stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> She didn't want to go back to Serenity Villas. It was only a matter of time before that place stopped being her home. <br /> <br /> After a while, she replied, "Please take me to Crystal Bay."<br /> <br /> She had purchased an apartment at Crystal Bay after getting married to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> At the time, she had hopes of bringing her grandmother to the city, so she bought the apartment on mortgage. It wasn't that big, but it had more than enough space for two people. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't understand why she wanted to buy an apartment. He offered to give her a bigger one, but she declined. <br /> <br /> Looking back now, she realized that buying that apartment was the only wise decision she had ever made in the last two years. <br /> <br /> When she arrived at the apartment complex, Raegan sat in the park alone, trying to cool herself down. <br /> <br /> The memories of the past two years were bittersweet. <br /> <br /> Two years had passed in the blink of an eye even though it was more than seven hundred days and nights. <br /> <br /> Love could move mountains, they said. <br /> <br /> Yet, her love didn't move that stone of a man. She finally realized what a fool she had been. She had been making herself a laughingstock in front of everyone. <br /> <br /> It was already late in the night before Raegan finally decided to go into her apartment. <br /> <br /> As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mitchel standing in front of the door. <br /> <br /> His sleeves were rolled up casually, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone, which revealed his long neck and part of his collarbone. He was leaning on the wall by the door, his handsome face straight. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a moment. <br /> <br /> Why was he here? Didn't she see him at the hospital with Lauren? What brought him here? <br /> <br /> Their eyes met. With his coat draped over his arm and one of his hands in his pocket, Mitchel squinted at her. <br /> <br /> "Why didn't you answer the phone?" he asked, sounding a little grumpy like someone who hadn't slept in a long time. <br /> <br /> Raegan took out her phone and saw she had accidentally put it on DND. <br /> <br /> There were five missed calls from Mitchel. <br /> <br /> This marked the first time in their two-year marriage. <br /> <br /> Mitchel blew up her phone because he couldn't find her? Surprising! <br /> <br /> Before today, she would have been overjoyed by this. People would've thought she won the lottery. <br /> <br /> But now, she just threw her phone back into her bag, folded her arms, and said in a hoarse voice, "I didn't hear it ring."<br /> <br /> Mitchel raised his hand to check the time on the watch, and said impatiently, "I've been looking for you for two hours."<br /> <br /> After arranging everything for Lauren, he returned home to find an empty house. He looked for Raegan everywhere. When he couldn't find her, he asked Matteo to check the surveillance footage of all the roads that led away from the company. <br /> <br /> He later found out that Raegan went to Crystal Bay without telling him. <br /> <br /> "Next time, tell me when you are coming here, okay? Let's go home now." After that, Mitchel walked toward the elevator without sparing her another glance. <br /> <br /> He meant to go back to Serenity Villas. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't move an inch. She just stared at his broad back and pondered reluctantly. <br /> <br /> Would they have a future? <br /> <br /> Mitchell turned around, only to see that Raegan hadn't taken a single step. He frowned and asked, "Can't you walk? Do you want me to carry you instead?"<br /> <br /> The light in the corridor illuminated his face, making his side profile almost impeccable. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and said, "Let's divorce."<br /> <br /> "What do you mean?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's voice was cold, and his handsome face changed immediately. <br /> <br /> "I want to move into my own place. After all, we will be strangers soon."<br /> <br /> Raegan forced a smile, but her heart was aching as if someone was tearing it apart bit by bit. <br /> <br /> "We will be strangers?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel smiled coldly. "Raegan, what do you think our relationship is now?"<br /> <br /> His questioning left Raegan stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had made it very clear to her from the very beginning. This facade of their marriage had happened by mutual agreement. There was no love. In the eyes of others, they were nothing more than just a superior and a subordinate. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was quite the catch in Ardlens. Many young ladies longed for his love and were even willing to throw themselves at him. <br /> <br /> His question just now reminded her of that fact. Was he afraid that she wouldn't let him go that easily? If that was the case, he couldn't be more wrong... <br /> <br /> After biting her lower lip to conceal her bitterness, Raegan said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Dixon. I was giving it too much thought. Anyway, please leave me alone from now on. You don't have to come here again."<br /> <br /> After saying that, Raegan couldn't help but burst into tears. <br /> <br /> How could she not be sad when she was cutting ties with the man she had loved for a decade? It was such a long time. <br /> <br /> Regardless of how difficult it was, she knew it was time to let go. <br /> <br /> It was high time she stopped being a fool. <br /> <br /> Strangely, the light in the corridor began flickering. <br /> <br /> The deathly stare Mitchel was giving Raegan right now made the atmosphere seem like the moment before an attack in a horror movie. <br /> <br /> Although he understood that Raegan sometimes could throw a tantrum, he felt that she had just crossed the line now. <br /> <br /> His eyes shone like blazing torches at this moment. But when he saw the tears in her eyes, the rage inside him extinguished in an instant. He said in a low voice, "If this is about what happened between you and Tessa, I..."<br /> <br /> "No, this isn't about her. Mr. Dixon, please leave now."<br /> <br /> A lot of things happened between them. And the incident with Tessa didn't come close to any. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt exhausted. She passed by Mitchel and was about to open the door. <br /> <br /> Yet, Mitchel was displeased with her stubbornness. <br /> <br /> He loosened his tie irritably. He then took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. <br /> <br /> "Stop this, will you?"<br /> <br /> A second later, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. <br /> <br /> He instantly realized that she was burning up like someone who had been set on fire. <br /> <br /> "You have a fever?"<br /> <br /> Raegan felt dizzy. She rested her head on his chest weakly. <br /> <br /> This made the whole situation complicated. <br /> <br /> Reagan was slow to catch that. When she finally realized that her body was too close to his, she put her hands against his chest and tried to pull back. <br /> <br /> Before she could escape, Mitchel pulled her back and held her by the waist. With a cold face, he said in a low voice, "Where do you think you are going?"<br /> <br /> The light flickered again. Out of the blue, Mitchel lifted her up. <br /> <br /> He then headed for the elevator. <br /> <br /> In a daze, Raegan asked softly, "What are you doing?"<br /> <br /> "What does it look like I am doing?" Mitchel remarked. "Taking you to the hospital, of course."<br /> <br /> "No way!" Raegan cried out in surprise and seemed to regain more strength. <br /> <br /> Mitchel might find out about her condition if they went to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Raegan struggled to get out of Mitchel's arms. However, his tight grip made her efforts fruitless. <br /> <br /> "Don't be so stubborn. You are sick, so you must see the doctor," Mitchel said firmly. <br /> <br /> He walked to the elevator with her in his arms. At this moment, Raegan's heart was thumping so hard that it could jump out of her chest. She flailed in protest. <br /> <br /> "Put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!"<br /> &5&	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-FB_CONTACT-E	240971372424182	Lovestory-ljw	https://facebook.com/61555864238939	6,855	1	1,220,369,522,705,511	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Install now	Lovestory-ljw	120209591511970687	fbweb.moboreader.net	NONE	video		https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-FB_CONTACT-ENJ57_8-Core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=223013&accid=1600823597386213	2024-05-06 23:07	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441492283_1264212898319936_8117843163494614744_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=83thWr5_WcMQ7kNvgF8aAye&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAOb7-vwVtOoszBsI2plmfcUUrVwRNAOu4Tp2ekIWOO7A&oe=6641CFB3	person_profile	Lovestory-ljw	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441499312_963986094999303_8679819147992395877_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6lY171pkb7QQ7kNvgGhRcKA&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC9PLWdWXpJZ7Sqhbzep6f8KASokJU5ODfb25Q8JOLIfg&oe=6641D41C	3	Lovestory-ljw	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,516	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778520}'	No	2024-05-08 18:39	active	760	338090425631854	No More Shoulder Pain	Top physical therapists have developed a breakthrough Compression Shoulder Brace designed to provide support precisely where it's required to ease frozen shoulder pain, rotator cuff pain, arthritic shoulder, and general shoulder pain.<br /> <br /> Get your first time customers discount today -> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsecure.healthylabco.com%2Fshoulder-brace-visual-advertorial&h=AT0YGsAziCH09Ph85SlM2u3aPhwOne6CUMok7Ay7bXgN6wxz8La0Y2_9c7YYAU-spZwim0HjNGdUXSPtTDhS5JxeBKJEEzE1mKebSD-BLPEU7L4lFm2z6HzI2PVmAeciNveuoZ9VmWA0gw" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://secure.healthylabco.com/shoulder-brace-visual-advertorial</a>	LEARN_MORE	https://secure.healthylabco.com/shoulder-brace-vis	102542762731233	Shoulder Pain Relief Compression Brace	https://facebook.com/100089123592491	4,101	1	280,992,685,084,990	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Learn more	Shoulder Pain Relief Compression Brace	120209317289490364	secure.healthylabco.com	NONE	video	Guaranteed Shoulder Pain Relief Or Your Money Back	https://secure.healthylabco.com/shoulder-brace-visual-advertorial?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium={{campaign.name}}&utm_campaign={{adset.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}	2024-05-08 04:54	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438305306_315315974791999_4645249037541291827_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bipMdLxPQ8UQ7kNvgGA0I88&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCngY2LcTbjphRpsImYFzL3DY62Uf6CUF_Nt4nlckHwTg&oe=6641EA5A	person_profile	Shoulder Pain Relief Compressi	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440408066_374290394977667_5830931640434884774_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J7_6uijpNiEQ7kNvgEXW5qz&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCYdvSzGxsGcnMnaPegtGsFLyaTD-DEavxoWe_-6X1rkQ&oe=6641D132	3	Shoulder Pain Relief Compression Brace	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,313	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778130}'	No	2024-05-08 18:37	active	760	1560758237803238	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	I hear deep grunts and moans on the other side of the room.<br /> I open the door and the sight before me sends chills to my spine.<br /> My own husband, balls deep in my best friend Chrissy.<br /> "Fine, if that's what you want, so be it. I just hope it was worth destroying our marriage. I'll get my clothes in the morning."<br /> I turned around to leave, not looking back. <br /> ————————<br /> Flashback :<br /> I drove back home in a hurry to make dinner for me and Scott. Today was our second year anniversary, and I can't believe I get to spend the rest of my life with my high school sweetheart, Scott. Scott was the captain of the football team, earning the attention of most girls in our school, not to mention being adored by our teachers. I was the girl who was considered the wallflower, shy and awkward. I never played any sports cause, I was never interested honestly. I was however, an A student, always aced my exams, and made sure to stay out of trouble. Until one day me and Scott partnered up on a history project, and sure enough, we had chemistry and decided to try it out. We decided to go to the same college, with me majoring in Business Management, and him majoring in Engineering.<br /> He proposed on my 19th birthday, of course I was nervous. But why not, I said Yes. Our parents were extremely shocked to say the least. But they were supportive of our decision, and we got married 8 months later. We were happy, at least I thought we were.<br /> End of Flashback.<br /> **<br /> Do you ever get that feeling when you feel like everything you have worked hard for comes crumbling down?<br /> Yup, me too.<br /> I never thought I would ever find myself in this situation but, here we are. We're currently in my lawyer's office finalising our divorce.<br /> 22 years old, and a divorcee. Now this is funny.<br /> "Alright, Mrs Cruise, my client Mr Cruise is willing to give you $500 000 as part of the divorce settlement, as well as leaving the house to you. What do you say?" Said his lawyer, Mr Smith.<br /> " I don't want anything that belongs to him, all I'll take is my clothes and my car."<br /> He's sick in the head if he thinks I'll take any of his flithy money.<br /> " Are you sure? Half a million is a lot to start over Mrs - "<br /> "- I'm sure. I'll be fine. And it's Ms Campbell."<br /> Scott looked at me with an unreadable expression. As if he expected me to accept the settlement.<br /> Ha. Suck on that Cheater.<br /> "Alright then...Ms Campbell. All that's left for you to do is to sign on the dotted line on the first, third, and fourth page."<br /> Mr Smith passed over the papers to me.<br /> I dried down my sweaty hands on my skirt and took the pen that was handed to me. With a shaky breath, I signed on the dotted line. It was happening. I am officially a divorced woman. It's over.<br /> But I couldn't help but feel hurt, hurt that the man who was supposed to love me for all eternity would betray me. With MY BEST FRIEND?!?! Bimbo never saw this coming, not by a long shot, that's for sure.<br /> I'm standing outside the courtyard when in my peripheral vision, Scott comes into view.<br /> "So....This is it huh?" Scott drawls out.<br /> "This is. I hope you're happy now. I hope she treats you much better than I could've." I look in the opposite direction to wipe the tears running down my face.<br /> "I'm sad that it had to come to this. I'm sorry that I wasn't faithful to you, and I hope we can move forward on a good note " he said with a faint smile on his lips.<br /> I couldn't take it anymore, so I ignored his last comment and rushed to my car.<br /> As soon as I put on my seatbelt, I could not stop the tears falling down like a waterfall. I loved him, and I still do. But no more. I'm done crying over him who broke my heart. No more Mr Nice Guy.<br /> I drove home with a promise to make sure I come out bigger and better.<br /> "Baby, I'm home!!!" No answer.<br /> That's strange, I've never had to call him more than once before.<br /> "Scott, are you there babe??"<br /> Hmm, weird. His car is in the driveway. Where could he be? Oh well, maybe he's busy with work.<br /> I put the groceries down on the kitchen counter, and quickly made my way upstairs. <br /> As I start my way upstairs, I come across his dress shirt and red stilettos. I feel my heart beat faster with every step I took. He couldn't possibly be with another woman, right?? He promised he would never ever betray me.<br /> Gulping down my nerves, I proceed to the top of the stairs, where I see even more clothes sprawled messily on the first floor. I start feeling light headed and grab on to the banister for support. I take a deep breath, and reach our bedroom door.<br /> I hear deep grunts and moans on the other side of the room. it's now or never. <br /> I open the door and the sight before me sends chills to my spine.<br /> My own husband, balls deep in my best friend Chrissy.<br /> Chrissy Mathews, has....well, had been my friend ever since we were 10 years old. We've told each other all our deepest darkest secrets and always been there for one another. <br /> It was always evident that she was secretly jealous of me, making snide remarks about me on the low, I mean sure, I look very attractive if I do say so myself, but I never took it seriously because she was my best friend.<br /> She never approved of me and Scott's relationship, she always said I deserved better, and we were not compatible for one another. I didn't know why until I found out that she wanted him for herself. Just my luck huh?<br /> "WHAT THE IS GOING ON HERE?!?!" I.Was.Livid. And I didn't give a flying that I was screaming like a madman.<br /> He turned his head around so fast I thought it would snap at that very moment.<br /> "Zara baby... uhh....Baby, please, it's not what you think it is. Please Zara." He pleaded with those beautiful chocolate coloured eyes that once made me turn to jelly.<br /> "Then what is it Scott?! Please make me understand how you're sleeping my best friend?!"<br /> I turned to my best friend. The bimbo who promised to be by my side forever.<br /> "And YOU!!! You're such a bimbo Chrissy, I don't understand how you would do this to me!!"<br /> She looked pleased with herself. Almost like she planned on getting caught. The nerve.<br /> "Zara please, this is not how I wanted this to go down but... I'm sorry you had to find out like this. We can't change anything now." He said, with a blank look on his face.<br /> "Wha-<br /> What are you talking about Scott? We were supposed to be happy Baby, just me and you, living our best lives together, why are you doing this to me?"<br /> "I just can't live this double life anymore Zara, I love Chrissy. I'm in love with her and -"<br /> "No No No No No!!!!!! How are you saying this to me?? You married ME!!!! YOU said for better, for worse till DEATH do US part Scott, surely you don't mean that!!!"<br /> Scott was losing patience fast. " Zara, I cannot ignore the feelings I have for Her" he said, gesturing to Chrissy, who was clearly enjoying the scene unfolding before her.<br /> "We haven't been spending enough time together, I'm always working and you're busy with starting your business. We hardly ever have time for one another. She was always there to lift my mood. She brought back the spark that I thought had disappeared forever. I'm sorry but.....it's over."<br /> My walls were breaking down fast. I'm not about to let them see me weak. I took a deep breath closing my eyes.<br /> "Fine, if that's what you want, so be it. I just hope it was worth destroying our marriage. I'll get my clothes in the morning."<br /> I turned around to leave, not looking back. A part of me wanted him to run after me and tell me he didn't mean all that he said to me. But he didn't. He never did. I grabbed my car keys and left.<br /> t's been 2 years since my divorce, and I am doing so much better than I thought. Scott broke me in ways that I didn't believe were possible. I didn't take his money because I didn't want anything to do with him, or anything that would remind me of him.<br /> I heard through the grapevine that him and Chrissy got engaged a year ago, and to say I was broken would be an understatement. Deep down I always hoped he'd come back to me, and tell me he was foolish to ever leave me, and we would fix things and live out the rest of our days together.<br /> After the divorce I never bothered on trying to date again, it just never felt right.<br /> I was brought out of my daydream by Alex snapping his fingers in my face.<br /> snap snap snap snap*<br /> "Hey!!!! Earth to Zara.... You okay babe?"<br /> "Huh....yeah, yeah. Just thinking is all." He looked at me with a 'are you kidding right now' look.<br /> He took a deep sigh. " Sweetie, he's gone. You have to accept that he's moved on with that hag, and you have to move on too."<br /> I pulled the ends of my long curly hair frustratedly<br /> " I know, I know. You're right. It's his loss and he's not my problem anymore" I said trying to put on a strong face.<br /> " Let's go out tonight babe. It's a Friday , and you haven't been out the house in a million years!!!"<br /> I was apprehensive on going. Clubs aren't even my thing. I don't even drink that much. But then again, I'm single, and I need to let off some steam from the past week.<br /> "let's go to a club!!!!" I said with enthusiasm.<br /> He looked at me and displayed his million dollar smile. "That's my girl!!!! I'll fetch you at uhm.....7?"<br /> "Works for me. Thanks again Alex, for being here for me and helping me move on from that " I told him with a grateful smile on my face.<br /> He waved me off, rolling his eyes with a smirk<br /> " Ugh, it's fine sweetie, he doesn't deserve you, and if anything, you missed a man with that piece of trash. Think of it like this: this is basically your second chance at actually having something real with a person who'll actually put you first. You'll see."<br /> I arrived at my house at 5pm, giving me 2 hours to get ready before Alex comes over.<br /> I came to and the water had turned cold. With a deep sigh I quickly washed up and wrapped myself in a big, fluffy white towel and glanced at the clock.<br /> " one hour left " I thought.<br /> Wiping off the steam on my mirror, I inspected my face and smiled to myself. I ran my hands through my long black, curly hair, and my fair caramel skin.<br /> After my divorce I would have never thought I would be able to move on from Scott. He was my everything, first love, first relationship, and my world seemed to revolve around him. I felt....lost, without him. Tall, Dark, Handsome, Loving. I really thought I had it all.<br /> Leaving my bathroom, I took off my towel and left it on my chair, and went into my walk-in closet to find something to wear.<br /> "since it's a club I have to find something modest, since I'm not much of a clubber"<br /> I chose a orange one shoulder mini-dress that shows my mid-section , paired with orange webbed heels.<br /> I walked over to my vanity and applied a smokey eye and some blush with some lip gloss, with my hair in a high ponytail.<br /> As promised, Alex pulled up and sent a text telling me he was outside.<br /> Doing one final look over in my full length mirror, I walked out of the house, not forgetting to lock and walked down my driveway.<br /> "Girl, you look suh-moking hot sweets!!!" Alex said with a bright smile.<br /> "Aw, thank you. I try." I responded with a laugh.<br /> "Now, are we getting drunk or what?!?!"You know that feeling whereby you have second thoughts on doing, but then it's too late to turn back? Yup, me too.<br /> Sweaty, icky, drunk, swaying bodies surrounding us with the faint smell of spirit and somehwhat intercourse in the air. Thank God this place had air conditioning, otherwise I would have gotten sick.<br /> We're blinded by red, blue and green streak lights from the high ceilings . This is actually a really upscale place if I do say so myself.<br /> We FIGHT our way through the swarms of drunk people and find our way to our table where our friends are already seated.<br /> "ZARA WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!?! WE THOUGHT YOU'D DIED IN THAT MASSIVE HOUSE OF YOURS!!!!" , my childhood friend Sammie said to me.<br /> "Seriously though Alex, how did you get this bimbo out of the house?" Nicole adding dramatically.<br /> "Guys please!! I can still have Fun, alright? With that being said....WHO WANTS DRINKS???"<br /> My friends let out screams of approval and gave me their drink orders. I walked over to the bartender on the other side of the floor and gave him our orders, leaving him to do his work. I think back to what Alex said and actually agree that it's not my fault my marriage didn't work out. And I should stop crucifying myself for waste I couldn't control. Maybe there is someone else for me out there, that will truly love me, just...maybe.<br /> For some reason, I felt chills in the back of my spine. As if someone is watching me. I turned around to see no one in particular. Shrugging my shoulders I looked forward and slightly moved my body to the music playing in the background.<br /> The bartender gave me my drinks and I walked back to my table.<br /> { "Who's that girl, the one in the orange dress?"}<br /> { " I dunno, I've never seen her here before. Must be a first timer." }<br /> The mysterious man went back to sipping on his whisky, his eyes still on the beautiful girl.<br /> "Ugh, finally Zara!! We thought you got lost on your way back" said Nicole. "Oh, and did you see how the hawwwwt, guy sitting in the back was looking at you?!?!"<br /> A frown appeared between my eyebrows, "Who, I didn't see anyone at all."<br /> "Look behind you."<br /> I looked behind me and my breath hitched.<br /> Oh. My. Gosh.<br /> Grey eyes, slight stubble along his chiselled jaw, with a tabacco in between his plump, cherry coloured lips, 3 piece black and grey suit, and a watch that probably costs more than my entire life. <br /> Staring Right. At. Me.<br /> He noticed I was looking at him and showcased his million dollar smile. What was this man doing to me?<br /> I returned the smile, just showing politeness, and turned back to the table to see the 3 musketeers looking right at me with wide smiles, ready to pop any minute now.<br /> "The are you looking at, he's just being polite." I felt slightly uncomfortable under his and their gaze. Like I was under a microscope.<br /> "Uhm...what was that Zara? He clearly likes you and all you're gonna offer him is a smile and a wave? What's wrong with you?!?!"<br /> "Hey Hey Hey!!! Not everyone is a horndog like you Taylor, chill out. And besides....you don't chase the man, the man has to chase you."<br /> We took our conversation to the dance floor and started swaying our bodies to the music. The DJ sure does know how to make the party happen, kudos to him.<br /> I drank more and lost myself in the music, until I felt hands hold onto my waist firmly. <br /> Grey eyes was staring down on me. I didn't realise how tall he was since he was sitting down.<br /> He's about 6'7 while I'm a cool 5'7.<br /> "Hey."<br /> I had to tilt my head in order to see him. He looks so much hotter in person.<br /> I took a deep breath trying to not stutter.<br /> "Uh..Hi." <br /> He leaned down to my ear.<br /> "What's a beautiful lady like you doing alone in a place like this?"<br /> His minty breath mixed with whiskey and cigarettes got me real hot and heavy.<br /> "I didn't come here alone. I actually came here with my 4 friends. I'm surprised you didn't see me sitting with them."<br /> He completely ignored my response and looked at me with an indescribable expression.<br /> "Let me take you home. I insist."<br /> "No thank you, I don't want to worry my friends."<br /> "I don't think they'll mind, besides, they're too occupied with ....𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬." He gestured behind me where Taylor was grinding on a random guy, while the other 3 where no where to be seen.<br /> I pondered over it for a while. Leaving with a complete stranger was a completely good idea, no matter how hot, dreamy he may be. But then again....what do I have to lose?<br /> "Let's go." I said feeling confident.<br /> He replied with a lopsided grin and took my hand, leading me to the parking lot, he opened my door for me and I thanked him while getting in.<br /> He jogged over to the driver's side and got in.<br /> Soon enough we were racing down the highway going further and further away from the busy night life.<br /> "Nice car you got." I tried to start a conversation.<br /> "Thanks. Where do you live?" I quickly gave him the coordinates and he continued along the road to my house. I actually took this time to actually look at this mystery man. He's actually more handsome in person, with tattoos peeking out of the collar and sleeves of his white dress shirt.<br /> "Don't you know it's rude to stare, Sweetheart?" With a smile on his face, still focusing on the road.<br /> "Sorry, I didn't realize I was staring that long." I muttered embarrassed. Thank God for my skin tone otherwise he would've noticed the slight blush on my cheeks.<br /> "Ahh, so you 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 staring at me?" His smile getting wider by each word he said.<br /> "I can't help it, I like what I see." Shrugging my shoulders and looking out my window, I realised we had already arrived.<br /> "Thanks again...you know....for not trying to kill me or anything -"<br /> "-wait. I didn't get your name" He turned fully to look at me, awaiting my answer.<br /> "Zara. Zara Campbell. And...you are?"<br /> "Mason Anderson. At your service, Madam." He said with a British accent.<br /> We shared a laugh and exchanged numbers, with him not letting me leave his car until he made sure I gave him the right number.<br /> "I'll give you a call sometime, yeah?"<br /> My heart fluttered at his words.<br /> ".....ERM, sure."<br /> He waited until I got in the house before driving off.<br /> I made a Greek salad to eat before changing into my red nightie and drifting off to sleep.<br /> Maybe I do have a chance to be happy, after all.	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1,778,976	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778959}'	No	2024-05-08 18:44	active	760	1405800287481015	Read More	She signed the divorce papers and left without taking her phone. He checked her phone and got floored at the message: Please come tomorrow for another prenatal care checkup!<br /> =============<br /> <br /> Chapter 1 Ex-girlfriend Returns<br /> <br /> Raegan Hayes was a little absent-minded at the moment. <br /> <br /> All she could think of since this afternoon was the doctor's words. "Congratulations! You are going to be a mom."<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Mitchel Dixon pinched her arm. His low voice came the next second. "Come back to earth. What are you thinking about?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel was her husband. They had been married secretly for two years. He was her superior at work, the president of the Dixon Group. <br /> <br /> Everything had happened so fast. She was newly employed in the company when they unexpectedly got married. <br /> <br /> At that time, Mitchel's grandfather fell seriously ill. It was then he proposed a fake marriage just to fulfill his grandfather's dying wish. <br /> <br /> They signed a prenup, agreeing to hide their marriage from the public. Their union could be terminated at any time. <br /> <br /> It was an unconventional thing to do. However, Raegan only considered herself lucky at that time. <br /> <br /> Never in a million years did she think she would ever get married to the man she had a crush on for eight years. She delightfully agreed. <br /> <br /> After their marriage, Mitchel was very busy. He spent most of his time working. <br /> <br /> Raegan wished she could spend more time with him at home. However, she was rest assured because there hadn't been any rumors or scandals about him with women in the past two years. <br /> <br /> Except for his mild indifference, Mitchel was a perfect husband. <br /> <br /> Raegan had mixed feelings as she stared at the medical report. <br /> <br /> In the end, she decided to tell Mitchel this news. <br /> <br /> She also wanted to tell him that she hadn't learned about him for the first time two years ago and that she had been crushing on him for many years before then. <br /> <br /> Just then, Mitchel’s phone rang. He went to the balcony and answered the phone. <br /> <br /> Raegan checked the time and found that it was already midnight. <br /> <br /> She felt a little uneasy. Who would call Mitchel at this hour? <br /> <br /> Mitchel spent a few minutes on the balcony. Thereafter, he returned and changed into formal attire. His handsome face which had a clear outline made him look dignified. <br /> <br /> He was something to see now. <br /> <br /> "Don't wait up for me. Good night," he said finally. <br /> <br /> What? He was on his way out? At this hour? <br /> <br /> Raegan's grip on the report tightened as she stared at him in disappointment. Unconsciously, she withdrew slightly. After thinking for a while, she blurted out, "It's already so late."<br /> <br /> Mitchel's fingers froze on his tie. With a faint smile, he pinched her earlobe and said, "Be good, okay? There's something I have to do. Don't wait up."<br /> <br /> With that, he headed for the door. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel."<br /> <br /> Raegan quickly ran and caught up with him. <br /> <br /> Mitchel turned around and looked at her seriously. <br /> <br /> "What's the matter?"<br /> <br /> There was a tinge of coldness to his voice. An icy cloud hung over them as they stared at each other. <br /> <br /> A little distressed, Raegan asked in a low voice, "I would like to visit my grandma tomorrow. Can you accompany me there?"<br /> <br /> Her grandmother always wanted to see her. As a result, Raegan wanted to take Mitchel there to assure her grandma they were happy. <br /> <br /> "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Without agreeing or declining, Mitchel left in a hurry. <br /> <br /> Several thoughts were threading Raegan's mind. She couldn't sleep a wink. <br /> <br /> After tossing and turning for a long time, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm glass of milk. <br /> <br /> A few notifications from some online blogs came into her phone. <br /> <br /> However, she wasn't interested in them. She was about to swipe them away when one of them caught her attention. The familiar name made her click on it. <br /> <br /> The news read, "Famous designer, Lauren Murray was spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend earlier today."<br /> <br /> Lauren was wearing a bucket hat. The man's figure was vague, but the outline of his body was enough to show that he was dashing. <br /> <br /> Raegan zoomed in on the picture. The next second, her heart dropped. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was the man in the picture! <br /> <br /> So, he canceled the afternoon meeting just to go pick up his ex-girlfriend from the airport? <br /> <br /> This realization settled like a boulder in Raegan's gut, rendering her flustered. <br /> <br /> Her hands trembled. Subconsciously, she dialed Mitchel's number. <br /> <br /> The dial tone brought her back to her senses. Just as she was about to hang up, the line connected, and a voice came from the other end. <br /> <br /> "Hello!"<br /> <br /> It was a particularly gentle woman's voice. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a second and then threw the phone away. <br /> <br /> She suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet bowl. <br /> <br /> The next morning, Raegan went to work on time. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had tried to get her to stop working after they got married. Stubbornly, she insisted on making her own money. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't kick against her decision, but he asked her to work as his assistant, helping him with the daily chores. <br /> <br /> The head assistant, Matteo Jenkins was left to take care of the major affairs Mitchel had. <br /> <br /> Matteo was the only Dixon Group employee who knew about their marriage. <br /> <br /> Since inception, only male assistants were hired for the president's office. Reagan was the first and only female. Her employment broke the protocol. As a result, other workers couldn't help but wonder if she was involved with Mitchel. <br /> <br /> It took a while before they realized that Mitchel never gave Raegan special treatment. Strangely, this made them despise her even more. <br /> <br /> After all, no one would last long in anything while taking advantage of their looks.<br /> <br /> At this time, one of Raegan's colleagues handed her a document and ordered her to take it to Mitchel's office. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't return home last night. Raegan was so worried that she didn't sleep at all. <br /> <br /> All she kept thinking about was the woman who answered his phone when she called. What was her relationship with Mitchel?<br /> <br /> Raegan already knew the answer to that, but she was still in denial. <br /> <br /> It was difficult for her to come to terms with that fact. <br /> <br /> Raegan tried to remain calm now. She reasoned that no matter what happened, she deserved a result that would be rewarding for all the years she spent loving Mitchel. This couldn't be all for nothing, right? <br /> <br /> She pressed the elevator button calmly and went up to the president's office. Before she walked out of the elevator, she smoothed her hair to make sure she looked good. <br /> <br /> She had arrived at the office, only to see that the door was ajar. A man's voice came. She halted instantly. <br /> <br /> "Come on, man! Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?"<br /> <br /> The voice belonged to Luis Stevens, a childhood friend of Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> "What do you mean exactly?" Mitchel asked in a cold voice. <br /> <br /> "You know exactly what I mean!" Luis clicked his tongue impatiently and added, "I think Raegan is a good girl. Isn't she your type?"<br /> <br /> "Do you want me to hand her over to you?" Mitchel asked carelessly. <br /> <br /> "You know what, forget it!"<br /> <br /> The scornful laughter of Luis sounded particularly harsh in Raegan's ears. <br /> <br /> They were talking about her as if she were an object. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the document. <br /> <br /> Soon, Luis's voice was heard again. <br /> <br /> "By the way, I saw the gossip news about Lauren's mysterious boyfriend this morning. That was you, right?"<br /> <br /> "Yes."<br /> <br /> "Well, well, well! That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. You always want to please her."<br /> <br /> Luis sighed and continued to tease Mitchel. "As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell me, did you two..."<br /> <br /> Their conversation was like a thunder exploding over Raegan's head. <br /> <br /> Her face turned pale and her body was as cold as ice. <br /> <br /> The woman was indeed Lauren! <br /> <br /> Absence made the heart grow fonder! <br /> <br /> Every word drove a knife into her heart. <br /> <br /> Several whispering voices filled her head at this time. She suddenly felt light-headed. Her vision became blurry. <br /> <br /> She held the wall and took a step backward. Suddenly, the door was opened from inside. <br /> <br /> "Raegan?"<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 2 One-sided Love<br /> <br /> Luis was the one who opened the door. It appeared he was on his way out. <br /> <br /> Raegan balled her hands, turned to him, and nodded. "Hey, Mr. Stevens!"<br /> <br /> Without waiting for him to respond to her greeting, she walked past him and entered the office with the document. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was seated behind a large luxurious desk. In an expensive suit and matching tie, he looked particularly handsome. <br /> <br /> Raegan noticed it wasn't the same suit he had on when he left home last night. How did he get changed? <br /> <br /> With her eyes lowered, she swallowed that question and said instead, "Mr. Dixon, this is from the Marketing Department. Please sign it."<br /> <br /> Mitchel was expressionless as he signed the document at a glance. <br /> <br /> Raegan walked out the door as soon as he handed the document back to her. Luis was still standing at the threshold. <br /> <br /> It wasn't until she went out of sight that Luis turned to Mitchel and said in a hushed tone, "Do you think she heard us?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's appealing eyes were expressionless at the moment. Obviously, he wasn't paying attention to what Luis was saying. <br /> <br /> To Mitchel, Raegan had always been docile and never felt jealous of anyone. <br /> <br /> Her strict obedience was all Mitchel demanded from her in exchange for treating her well. <br /> <br /> In the elevator. <br /> <br /> Raegan held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn't work. <br /> <br /> She had thought two years would be enough for Mitchel to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love. <br /> <br /> Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream. <br /> <br /> She realized she would always play second fiddle to Lauren, Mitchel's true love. <br /> <br /> Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened. <br /> <br /> She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea. <br /> <br /> Several employees were chatting inside. <br /> <br /> "Guys, have you heard? Lauren Murray is back."<br /> <br /> "And who is that?"<br /> <br /> "Oh, my! You don't know her? Lauren is the heiress of the Murray Group as well as a world-class designer. Most importantly, she's the only girlfriend Mr. Dixon has ever shown off in public. She's his first love!"<br /> <br /> "Why is her return such a big deal? Isn't it rumored that there is something between Mr. Dixon and Raegan?"<br /> <br /> "Raegan? She's nothing to Mr. Dixon. Mr. Dixon never admitted that he was dating her. And that is no surprise to me. After all, look at her. She's not even that beautiful. Yet, she behaves as if she's already Mrs. Dixon. What a fool!"<br /> <br /> Standing at the door, Raegan smiled with self-mockery as she listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her. <br /> <br /> The love was one-sided. <br /> <br /> "Ha-ha, have you finally woken up from your wild dream, Raegan?"<br /> <br /> A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Raegan turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Mitchel's cousin, who had always despised her. <br /> <br /> Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping. <br /> <br /> The last thing Raegan wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way. <br /> <br /> With a cup of coffee in her hand, Tessa uttered sarcastically, "Lauren is back now. Do you think Mitchel will still give you any attention?"<br /> <br /> Raegan said nothing to that. <br /> <br /> Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule. "Maybe it’s time for you to seek out another man, you pathetic fool."<br /> <br /> Raegan clenched her fists and said coldly, "Ms. Lloyd, if you are interested in that kind of thing, feel free to pursue it yourself."<br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Raegan's retort made Tessa's face change. <br /> <br /> The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of coffee on Raegan. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't think for a second that Tessa would do something so crazy. She held up her arms just to block the liquid from her face. In no time, the coffee drenched her clothes. <br /> <br /> Raegan frowned. "What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?"<br /> <br /> It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama. Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers. <br /> <br /> She put on a mean-girl look as she said, "What makes you so smug every day, huh? Do you seriously think that others don't know you are just an orphan? The nerve of..."<br /> <br /> Tessa was silenced by Raegan’s shove. <br /> <br /> Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Raegan, who was so quiet and timid, would shove her. <br /> <br /> Tessa stuttered, "You... You pushed me? How dare you!"<br /> <br /> Raegan eyed her and replied, "Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness."<br /> <br /> Indeed, she lost her parents when she was a child. But that didn't mean she would allow someone to walk over her for it. <br /> <br /> Wrinkles appeared on Tessa's face as she frowned in anger. As Mitchel's cousin, she was used to being fawned over and respected. This was the first time she had been treated like this. <br /> <br /> Tessa charged at Raegan like a raging bull, poised to retaliate. <br /> <br /> This time, Raegan was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa's wrist so that the latter couldn't move another inch. <br /> <br /> Tessa was shorter than Raegan. As a result, she struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap. <br /> <br /> Tessa cursed angrily, "How dare you put your hands on me? Who do you think you are?"<br /> <br /> These harsh words attracted more people to the break room. <br /> <br /> "That's enough!"<br /> <br /> Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Mitchel had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo. <br /> <br /> The entire room fell silent. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel?" Tessa's blood ran cold at the sight of Mitchel. She had always been scared of him. Her mother also warned her against provoking him. <br /> <br /> But when she remembered that Raegan humiliated her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed. "Mitchel, she bullied me."<br /> <br /> The sunlight from outside fell on Mitchel's handsome face. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to look at her clothes which were soaked with coffee. <br /> <br /> Their gaze met in the air. With a deep frown, Mitchel looked at Raegan and said, "Raegan, have you forgotten the rules of the company?"<br /> <br /> His ruthlessness made Raegan's breathing cease. She couldn't believe her ears. <br /> <br /> No one dared to make a sound at this moment. <br /> <br /> Raegan just stood straight there with her slender figure. <br /> <br /> When she got employed here, Mitchel had told her that the Dixon Group wasn't a place for her to mess around and that he would not tolerate her making any mistakes. <br /> <br /> Raegan could understand why he took this stand. <br /> <br /> However, at this moment, she was desperate to know whether Mitchel had heard those hard words Tessa scolded her or he was just pretending not to have heard because he agreed to those words. <br /> <br /> Was she truly insignificant to him?<br /> <br /> Scared to death by Mitchel's rage, the crowd soon dispersed. A few employees were bold enough to peep from a distance, unwilling to miss the good show. <br /> <br /> Mitchel's cold eyes made Raegan shiver from head to toe. <br /> <br /> Raegan pinched her palm to suppress her emotions as she looked at Tessa. <br /> <br /> "I'm sorry, Ms. Lloyd. As an employee of the Dixon Group, it was wrong of me to have offended you."<br /> <br /> Eyeing Raegan, Tessa raised her chin complacently. "Humph! Don't think you'll be let off the hook just by making a simple apology. I don't buy..."<br /> <br /> "The offence has nothing to do with the company. Personally, I refuse to apologize to you. Now, if you'd excuse me," Raegan chimed in. <br /> <br /> She then walked past Mitchel without sparing him another look. <br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Tessa's face turned blue after hearing what Raegan said. <br /> <br /> Never in her years of being alive had she been so humiliated. She was always the bully, not the victim! <br /> <br /> The humiliation was so much that scolding Raegan wouldn't appease her anger. <br /> <br /> Pointing in Raegan's direction, Tessa shouted, "Mitchel, did you hear what that woman just said? She humiliated me, yet she's still so arrogant. Call her back. I have to teach her some manners!"<br /> <br /> Mitchel, staring at Raegan's thin back, had an ambiguous expression at this moment. <br /> <br /> "Enough!" he said coldly, raising his hand. <br /> <br /> As someone who lived and breathed drama and cruelty, Tessa didn't think Mitchel was partial to Raegan just now. She assumed that Mitchel didn't care about Raegan at all. <br /> <br /> Tessa gritted her teeth and said viciously, "Next time, I'll get someone to teach her a lesson."<br /> <br /> "Tessa!" Mitchel's tone and squint made it a reproof. <br /> <br /> Tessa trembled at once. <br /> <br /> With a somber face, Mitchel said, "I'll only say it once. Forget about what happened here today. Leave Raegan alone."<br /> <br /> The aura he exuded made her tongue go dry. All the vicious ideas she had in store against Raegan disappeared in an instant. <br /> <br /> She stammered, "Ok... Okay, got it..."<br /> <br /> Mitchel cast a cold glance at her and spoke to Matteo. "Irrelevant people wouldn't be allowed in here from today onwards."<br /> <br /> Without catching the drift, Tessa flattered Mitchel. "Nice call. This is a top company. Not everyone gains access in here."<br /> <br /> Matteo nodded to Mitchel and then walked over to Tessa. He gestured to the exit. "Ms. Lloyd, this way, please."<br /> <br /> It wasn't until this moment that Tessa realized that she was the irrelevant person Mitchel just mentioned. She tried to speak to him, but Matteo blocked her way. The security guards then escorted her out. <br /> <br /> They showed her no mercy. Her struggle was useless. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Raegan got changed when she returned to her office. <br /> <br /> Her heart was filled with sadness as she thought of how Mitchel looked at her minutes ago. <br /> <br /> Closing hour soon rolled by. <br /> <br /> Raegan took her bag and headed for the exit. However, Matteo stopped her. <br /> <br /> He said, "Mr. Dixon has something urgent to deal with, so he asked me to drive you home."<br /> <br /> Raegan declined the ride without thinking twice. <br /> <br /> She was blind before, but now she could see through the situation. <br /> <br /> In Mitchel's eyes, she was just a nobody. <br /> <br /> How could Mitchel agree to accompany her to visit her grandmother when he didn't even care about her? <br /> <br /> Upon arriving at the hospital, Raegan saw that the nurse was about to feed her grandmother dinner. Raegan took the job over and did it by herself. <br /> <br /> All her life, her grandmother had been living in the countryside, enjoying a quiet life. Everything changed last month when her routine medical checkup showed that she was in need of medical care. Raegan insisted on bringing her to the city for better treatment. <br /> <br /> Her grandmother wasn't aware of her marriage to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> Raegan had planned to surprise her today. But as it turned out, that was no longer necessary. <br /> <br /> Raegan waited for her grandmother to fall asleep before she left. She walked out of the hospital and waited for a taxi. <br /> <br /> In the distance, a black luxury car pulled into the entrance of the hospital. <br /> <br /> Raegan's eyes lit up when she saw it. She recognized that car as Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> Did he come to pick her up? <br /> <br /> At this moment, she forgot all the pain she had been feeling. <br /> <br /> Were her thoughts about him all wrong? Did he care for her, contrary to the gossip? <br /> <br /> The door of the driver's side opened and Mitchel got out. <br /> <br /> Raegan started walking toward him with her heart brimming with joy. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had just walked over to the other side and carried a woman out of the car. <br /> <br /> Worry and compassion were written all over his handsome face. <br /> <br /> This wiped the smile on Raegan's face. Her heart sank. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 3 Let's Divorce<br /> <br /> Mitchel's tall and straight figure got closer and closer to Raegan. And then, without saying a word, he strode past Raegan. <br /> <br /> It was hard to tell if Mitchel saw Raegan or just ignored her. <br /> <br /> Regardless, Raegan noticed that the woman in his arms was the same one who had been photographed with him yesterday. <br /> <br /> She was Lauren. <br /> <br /> Raegan's shoes felt like they were made of lead as she walked away. <br /> <br /> She lost all awareness of her surroundings. She got into a taxi absentmindedly. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, the driver uttered, "Ma'am, where to?"<br /> <br /> Raegan was stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> She didn't want to go back to Serenity Villas. It was only a matter of time before that place stopped being her home. <br /> <br /> After a while, she replied, "Please take me to Crystal Bay."<br /> <br /> She had purchased an apartment at Crystal Bay after getting married to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> At the time, she had hopes of bringing her grandmother to the city, so she bought the apartment on mortgage. It wasn't that big, but it had more than enough space for two people. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't understand why she wanted to buy an apartment. He offered to give her a bigger one, but she declined. <br /> <br /> Looking back now, she realized that buying that apartment was the only wise decision she had ever made in the last two years. <br /> <br /> When she arrived at the apartment complex, Raegan sat in the park alone, trying to cool herself down. <br /> <br /> The memories of the past two years were bittersweet. <br /> <br /> Two years had passed in the blink of an eye even though it was more than seven hundred days and nights. <br /> <br /> Love could move mountains, they said. <br /> <br /> Yet, her love didn't move that stone of a man. She finally realized what a fool she had been. She had been making herself a laughingstock in front of everyone. <br /> <br /> It was already late in the night before Raegan finally decided to go into her apartment. <br /> <br /> As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mitchel standing in front of the door. <br /> <br /> His sleeves were rolled up casually, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone, which revealed his long neck and part of his collarbone. He was leaning on the wall by the door, his handsome face straight. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a moment. <br /> <br /> Why was he here? Didn't she see him at the hospital with Lauren? What brought him here? <br /> <br /> Their eyes met. With his coat draped over his arm and one of his hands in his pocket, Mitchel squinted at her. <br /> <br /> "Why didn't you answer the phone?" he asked, sounding a little grumpy like someone who hadn't slept in a long time. <br /> <br /> Raegan took out her phone and saw she had accidentally put it on DND. <br /> <br /> There were five missed calls from Mitchel. <br /> <br /> This marked the first time in their two-year marriage. <br /> <br /> Mitchel blew up her phone because he couldn't find her? Surprising! <br /> <br /> Before today, she would have been overjoyed by this. People would've thought she won the lottery. <br /> <br /> But now, she just threw her phone back into her bag, folded her arms, and said in a hoarse voice, "I didn't hear it ring."<br /> <br /> Mitchel raised his hand to check the time on the watch, and said impatiently, "I've been looking for you for two hours."<br /> <br /> After arranging everything for Lauren, he returned home to find an empty house. He looked for Raegan everywhere. When he couldn't find her, he asked Matteo to check the surveillance footage of all the roads that led away from the company. <br /> <br /> He later found out that Raegan went to Crystal Bay without telling him. <br /> <br /> "Next time, tell me when you are coming here, okay? Let's go home now." After that, Mitchel walked toward the elevator without sparing her another glance. <br /> <br /> He meant to go back to Serenity Villas. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't move an inch. She just stared at his broad back and pondered reluctantly. <br /> <br /> Would they have a future? <br /> <br /> Mitchell turned around, only to see that Raegan hadn't taken a single step. He frowned and asked, "Can't you walk? Do you want me to carry you instead?"<br /> <br /> The light in the corridor illuminated his face, making his side profile almost impeccable. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and said, "Let's divorce."<br /> <br /> "What do you mean?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's voice was cold, and his handsome face changed immediately. <br /> <br /> "I want to move into my own place. After all, we will be strangers soon."<br /> <br /> Raegan forced a smile, but her heart was aching as if someone was tearing it apart bit by bit. <br /> <br /> "We will be strangers?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel smiled coldly. "Raegan, what do you think our relationship is now?"<br /> <br /> His questioning left Raegan stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had made it very clear to her from the very beginning. This facade of their marriage had happened by mutual agreement. There was no love. In the eyes of others, they were nothing more than just a superior and a subordinate. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was quite the catch in Ardlens. Many young ladies longed for his love and were even willing to throw themselves at him. <br /> <br /> His question just now reminded her of that fact. Was he afraid that she wouldn't let him go that easily? If that was the case, he couldn't be more wrong... <br /> <br /> After biting her lower lip to conceal her bitterness, Raegan said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Dixon. I was giving it too much thought. Anyway, please leave me alone from now on. You don't have to come here again."<br /> <br /> After saying that, Raegan couldn't help but burst into tears. <br /> <br /> How could she not be sad when she was cutting ties with the man she had loved for a decade? It was such a long time. <br /> <br /> Regardless of how difficult it was, she knew it was time to let go. <br /> <br /> It was high time she stopped being a fool. <br /> <br /> Strangely, the light in the corridor began flickering. <br /> <br /> The deathly stare Mitchel was giving Raegan right now made the atmosphere seem like the moment before an attack in a horror movie. <br /> <br /> Although he understood that Raegan sometimes could throw a tantrum, he felt that she had just crossed the line now. <br /> <br /> His eyes shone like blazing torches at this moment. But when he saw the tears in her eyes, the rage inside him extinguished in an instant. He said in a low voice, "If this is about what happened between you and Tessa, I..."<br /> <br /> "No, this isn't about her. Mr. Dixon, please leave now."<br /> <br /> A lot of things happened between them. And the incident with Tessa didn't come close to any. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt exhausted. She passed by Mitchel and was about to open the door. <br /> <br /> Yet, Mitchel was displeased with her stubbornness. <br /> <br /> He loosened his tie irritably. He then took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. <br /> <br /> "Stop this, will you?"<br /> <br /> A second later, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. <br /> <br /> He instantly realized that she was burning up like someone who had been set on fire. <br /> <br /> "You have a fever?"<br /> <br /> Raegan felt dizzy. She rested her head on his chest weakly. <br /> <br /> This made the whole situation complicated. <br /> <br /> Reagan was slow to catch that. When she finally realized that her body was too close to his, she put her hands against his chest and tried to pull back. <br /> <br /> Before she could escape, Mitchel pulled her back and held her by the waist. With a cold face, he said in a low voice, "Where do you think you are going?"<br /> <br /> The light flickered again. Out of the blue, Mitchel lifted her up. <br /> <br /> He then headed for the elevator. <br /> <br /> In a daze, Raegan asked softly, "What are you doing?"<br /> <br /> "What does it look like I am doing?" Mitchel remarked. "Taking you to the hospital, of course."<br /> <br /> "No way!" Raegan cried out in surprise and seemed to regain more strength. <br /> <br /> Mitchel might find out about her condition if they went to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Raegan struggled to get out of Mitchel's arms. However, his tight grip made her efforts fruitless. <br /> <br /> "Don't be so stubborn. You are sick, so you must see the doctor," Mitchel said firmly. <br /> <br /> He walked to the elevator with her in his arms. At this moment, Raegan's heart was thumping so hard that it could jump out of her chest. She flailed in protest. <br /> <br /> "Put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!"<br /> <br /> &13&	LEARN_MORE	https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-FB_CONTACT-E	106206892171576	Love Story City	https://facebook.com/100083614308933	17,592	3	2,453,355,638,207,392	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Learn more	Love Story City	120206717904590147	fbweb.moboreader.net	NONE	video		https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-FB_CONTACT-ENJ57_9-C2-Core2.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=961225&accid=412379061191874&jump=1	2024-05-07 22:05	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441953499_1937788960074242_8877953941007862787_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HC-RZZ4sLCsQ7kNvgH1gIRu&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB9QXCbsEmYxPVAV-LD1GlZJ34-w3VmlQJ4ewGVCRs3pg&oe=6641D18B	person_profile	ReadNow	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439227099_800398038821193_540702367422621423_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hKriXJU9n9MQ7kNvgHccZFA&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA8IzZtEUcINsLPmgx24w8xhIJJuVfrwfqTKN1QhCi_Cw&oe=6641CE7D	3	Love Story City	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,771	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778474}'	No	2024-05-08 18:42	active	760	1497154337604548					166642593192496	Skin Beauty	https://facebook.com/61552546874437	0	2	1,172,255,430,461,334	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	logged_out	NONE	1	1		Skin Beauty							1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435093058_961964715326197_498976576376534425_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=30FNiMb8rTUQ7kNvgHvRs2_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBETZq4mZf3bj0dmbY0KVRdmlvWBLdosES8KipjheotJw&oe=6641DE48	person_profile			0		2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,456	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"is_bh_simple_request":false,"simple_request_ratio":1,"is_bh_selenium":false,"selenium_ratio":1,"ratio_threshold":0.8}'	Yes	2024-05-08 18:38	active	760	1630549824426962	¡Deshazte de la gabapentina! Haga clic para aprender cómo.	Por qué las personas con neuropatía están abandonando la gabapentina y otros medicamentos por este tratamiento seguro y accesible para aliviar el dolor Ya sea que su neuropatía sea diabética, inducida por quimioterapia, autoinmune o idiopática... la neuropatía por hormigueo puede causar estragos en su vida. Es importante hacer algo ahora antes de que sea demasiado tarde... Revivo utiliza tecnología innovadora que ofrece alivio del dolor neuropático del pie, la rigidez y la hinchazón casi instantáneamente al promover la circulación sanguínea y curar el tejido dañado del pie. Experimente el único tratamiento de neuropatía no farmacológico que sea eficaz y esté aprobado por la FDA. Está diseñado específicamente para aliviar rápidamente la incomodidad de las sensaciones de ardor y hormigueo, transformando su vida en una vida de comodidad y movilidad. 🌱 Nuestro enfoque no solo alivia su dolor sino que también ataca la causa fundamental de la neuropatía. Diga adiós a las soluciones temporales y hola al alivio duradero. Qué está incluido: ✅ Consulta ✅ Exploración termográfica ✅ Informe de gravedad 🎉 Entre al 2024 con nueva energía y libertad. No más noches inquietas ni días ensombrecidos por el dolor de pies. ⬇️ Haga clic en Más información Tu camino hacia una vida sin dolor está a sólo un clic de distancia. Hagamos de la neuropatía una cosa del pasado.	LEARN_MORE	https://www.getdallasoffer.com/neuropatia	105369135939277	Revivo Neuropathy	https://facebook.com/REVIVOWELL	329	1	461,488,619,648,501	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn More	Revivo Neuropathy	120208410901990490	getdallasoffer.com	NONE	dco	Alivio del dolor seguro y accesible.	https://www.getdallasoffer.com/neuropatia	2024-05-08 09:25	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438275114_7732007013486602_6814407714297849434_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0rkrB5oZBwIQ7kNvgFTgaH8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDOlBRd8iPXmY09X367B6lI-5jiJsbtXGh80Lz_f6AWrw&oe=6641ECF4	person_profile	Revivo	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440410486_667474978845545_1001573328970783488_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=abZy1-33-T4Q7kNvgHYsDpj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAZazVX-xWvGFUmzpDaGNpRsFIrxh-o38KYwdG3ZLlVeA&oe=6641CAAD	3	Revivo Neuropathy	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
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1,778,318	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778128}'	No	2024-05-08 18:37	active	760	1619929898831613	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	What’s more embarrassing than a butt dial? Butt dialing your boss… And leaving a dirty voicemail when you’re uhh… “thinking” about them.<br /> Just had a sexual fantasy with my boss. I stand on legs that are just as shaky as he said they’d be. My throat hurts from moaning and I’m sore as all get-out. As I stand, my phone clatters to the floor.<br /> I reach down to pick it up—<br /> And freeze in horror.<br /> Ruslan’s name is lighting up my screen.<br /> And the call is active.<br /> For seven minutes and thirty-two seconds, I’ve been masturbating to the absolute filthiest fantasy I’ve ever had, starring Ruslan Oryolov.<br /> ————————<br /> Emma<br /> If anyone has a reason to cry, it’s me. My boss is an arrogant prick and my sister is dead and her husband is more of a burden than a help and I have three innocent kids I’m doing my best to raise right but I can’t seem to catch a break and I need sleep and food and more coffee and a vacation and a fresh start and—the list just goes on. One reason for each of my thousand tears.<br /> “Auntie Em! Auntie Em, wake up.”<br /> I come to with a start. The sun is slanting in through the blinds and I have absolutely no freaking idea what planet I’m on. I feel a sharp line of pain on my cheek. It takes me a long moment to realize that it’s because I have a shoelace plastered to my skin. I peel it off with a wince and look up to see Josh standing over me.<br /> “Auntie Em, it’s 7:45. We’re late for school.”<br /> The next fifteen minutes are a blur. I get the girls up and dressed in the least coordinated outfits in the history of terrible parenting. I hurl random food into their lunchboxes with no regard for nutritional value. And then we’re all sprinting out the door.<br /> Ben, needless to say, doesn’t so much as lift a finger to help.<br /> I get the evil eye from the receptionist at the kids’ school when I drop them off well into first period. I just pop a peck on each of their foreheads and then turn to Bane.<br /> I get another evil eye from the lobby receptionist there, too, but I don’t quite realize why until I’m in the elevator up to the thirtieth floor and I catch sight of my reflection in the polished bronze.<br /> I look like an absolute shitshow. My hair is a rat’s nest on my head and my blouse is on backwards. The fashionable one-shoulder cutout is framing my frayed bra strap instead of a tasteful slice of arm.<br /> Wet street dogs are more put-together than I am.<br /> It’s way too late to go back now, though. I can already imagine Ruslan’s eyebrow. It’s probably halfway up his scalp by now. His voice is going to be absolutely frigid when he hears me come stumbling in. Something like:<br /> “You have got to be kidding me.”<br /> Wait. That wasn’t my imagination. That was actually his voice.<br /> I open my eyes and turn around to realize that the elevator doors have opened—and who should be standing there but my beloved, benevolent boss?<br /> Sure enough, his eyebrow is locked and loaded and that cruelly sharp jaw of his clenched so tight that I wonder idly if he has a good dentist on speed dial.<br /> I open my mouth to defend myself, but what is there even to say? “I’m sorry,” I blurt. “I fell asleep after—It was a long night and—I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”<br /> He doesn’t so much as blink. “I expect you to dress appropriately for your job, Ms. Carson,” he growls. “Not do the walk of shame through my building.”<br /> I frown. “The walk of—? Hold on. No, that’s not what this is. I didn’t—”<br /> “You’re wearing yesterday’s skirt and flaunting your undergarments like you think you can seduce your way out of being—” He checks his watch. “—two and a half hours late. I’m not sure if you think I’m stupid or easy. I’m also not sure which of those two would offend me more.”<br /> One word snags my attention. “Seduce?” I parrot stupidly.<br /> Out of nowhere, thoughts of what it would look like to seduce Ruslan Oryolov come prancing through my head.<br /> Wrapping his tie around my fist and bringing that smirking snarl down to my lips for a taste.<br /> Lying back on his desk, pencil skirt hiked above my hips, while he shoves my panties to the side and devours me like his last meal.<br /> On my knees on his office carpet as he stands over me and—<br /> “Ms. Carson, I’m not interested in your explanations. Go do your job. Before I find someone else to do it for you.”<br /> With that, he brushes past me and gets on the elevator. I turn and look dumbly at him as the doors close on his face. The last thing I see is the arrogant slant of his mouth.<br /> Then that, too, disappears.<br /> My cheeks are burning red for the rest of the day. Luckily, I have an extra cardigan at my desk, so I’m able to cover up the worst of my wardrobe malfunction.<br /> But my phone keeps pinging all day long with messages from Ruslan. Do this. Send that. Fax this. Email that. He’s as unbearable as ever. Everything from the expiration date on his coffee creamer to the status of the conference room chairs he’s so anal about merits yet another scathing comment from him. And after yesterday’s nightmare, I’m running on fumes.<br /> My only saving grace is that he has a gala tonight, so he’s scheduled to leave the office at 5:00 P.M. sharp. I’m counting down the last ten seconds until the clock strikes five like I’m a Times Square partier on New Year’s Eve.<br /> “Seven… Six… Five… Four… Three… Two… One…”<br /> Ping. Another text. I moan and look down to see the devil’s name pop up on my phone.<br /> RUSLAN: My office. Now.<br /> Goddammit. I was so close.<br /> Sighing, I get up and slink inside.<br /> “Shut the door,” he orders. It’s dark in here. The curtains are sealed tight and the temperature is Arctic. He’s a mass of shadows behind his desk, huge and fragrant. The only thing I can see is the sharp light of his amber eyes.<br /> “Sit.” A shadowy hand points at the chair across from his desk.<br /> I perch at the edge of the seat in question. My nerves are buzzing and frayed. I’m so, so tired. But I can’t show him that. Matter of fact, I refuse to show him that.<br /> I won’t give the smug prick the satisfaction of thinking he’s outlasted me.<br /> “I asked you yesterday if I had your full attention,” he begins. “I’m not so sure I do. So let me say this: if your priorities lie anywhere other than this company, then I will find a new assistant. I’m not a nice man, Ms. Carson. So believe me when I tell you that this is not the kind of place where you get three strikes before something bad happens. You mess up once—you’re gone. Am I making myself clear?”<br /> I swallow. “Yes, sir.”<br /> He nods. “Good. Be here on time tomorrow. Dress like you intend to keep your job. Now, if you’ll excuse me… there’s the door.”<br /> He looks down at his phone and poof, it’s like I don’t exist anymore.<br /> But I. Am. Pissed.<br /> He doesn’t know what I’m going through. He doesn’t know Ben is snoring and farting in my living room, or that three little kids are waiting on me to pick them up from after-school care. He doesn’t know that I buried my sister or that I’m barely keeping my head above water. He doesn’t know anything.<br /> “No.” I blurt it before I can think better of it. “No. No. I’m not some little worm under your shoe, Mr. Oryolov. I’m a—I mean, screw you, I’m a person! I have a life and hobbies and people who depend on me. I’m real! So I’d appreciate it very much if you’d pull your smug head out of your smug prick and treat me with some respect for once.”<br /> Ruslan blinks.<br /> Blinks.<br /> Blinks.<br /> “Is there something else, Ms. Carson?”<br /> That’s when I realize that my whole little tirade took place entirely in my head. It wasn’t real. All imagined. Just a pleasant little detour to a fantasy land where I give him my two cents and then some.<br /> I swallow past the nasty taste in my throat and stand. “No, sir,” I say quietly. “Nothing at all.”<br /> -<br /> I ended the call with my best friend, Phoebe.<br /> Then a face pops up on the black screen of my mind’s eye.<br /> It’s Ruslan because, like I told Pheebs, he haunts me even when I’m off the clock. He’s smiling that smile she described. That come-to-bed-and-let-me-show-you-what-I-can-do-to-you smile. The camera of my imagination pulls back and floats down.<br /> Imaginary Ruslan is wearing an ivory white button-down shirt with the top two buttons undone. Enough to see a dusting of dark chest hair and the edge of a tattoo I can’t quite make out. He flexes his forearms in front of him. Those knuckles crack, louder than I expected, and I let out a surprised little gasp.<br /> I like when you make that noise, he croons. Shall I see if I can make you do it again?<br /> I’m nodding before I’m even realizing what I’m doing. “Make me moan,” I plead.<br /> I’m also touching the inside of my knee before I realize what I’m doing. But it’s not my hands that are doing it—or at least, it doesn’t feel like it’s my hands. It’s Ruslan’s hands, huge and powerful, palming my thigh and drifting up under the edge of my pencil skirt.<br /> You’ve been a naughty assistant, he growls, breath minty in my face where it mingles with the woodsy spice of his cologne. There’s a faint laugh on the edge of his voice, like he knows that this whole thing is crazy but he’s just going with it because it’s hotter than it is ridiculous. You’ve been so very, very bad. Step into my office and shut the door.<br /> The rest of the world disappears like I just followed his orders. Gone is my messy apartment and the lingering smell of burrito cheese. Ruslan is all I smell now.<br /> That cologne.<br /> That breath.<br /> Beneath it, that musk that sets my nerve endings on fire.<br /> “Are you going to punish me, Ruslan?” I whisper.<br /> I’m on the literal edge of my seat, grinding and bucking against my fingers. Imaginary Ruslan has me eating out of the palm of his hand. I’d do anything for him. Say anything. Be anything.<br /> Imaginary Ruslan is every bit the cruel prick that real Ruslan is. He said he’d keep my orgasms to himself, but I feel like I stole this one from him. The euphoria of it rips through me in one endless lightning bolt after the next, until finally, what feels like an hour later, I come back to something like normal consciousness with drool on my lips and my fingers wet and sticky with my own desire.<br /> I stand on legs that are just as shaky as he said they’d be. My throat hurts from moaning and I’m sore as all get-out. As I stand, my phone clatters to the floor.<br /> I reach down to pick it up—<br /> And freeze in horror.<br /> Ruslan’s name is lighting up my screen.<br /> And the call is active.<br /> The reality of what is happening clicks in my gut immediately, but it takes a few delayed moments before my head comes to terms with it.<br /> For seven minutes and thirty-two seconds, I’ve been on a call with Ruslan Oryolov.<br /> For seven minutes and thirty-two seconds, I’ve been masturbating to the absolute filthiest fantasy I’ve ever had, starring Ruslan Oryolov.<br /> For seven minutes and thirty-two seconds, my phone has been recording every last moan and gasp and breath and twitch I made while I begged for his mercy and pleaded for him to make me come.<br /> Did Ruslan hear the whole thing?<br /> -<br /> “It’s over. My life as I know it is over. R.I.P. to me.”<br /> “I’m sorry, who is this?”<br /> “Pheebs!”<br /> She chuckles while I stare at my reflection in the mirror and try not to throw up. My phone is lying on the bathroom counter on speakerphone, mostly because my palms have been sweating since I saw the meeting invite in my calendar for today.<br /> 9:00 A.M. – 09:07:32 A.M.: Emma Carson 1-on-1 with Ruslan Oryolov.<br /> “Sorry. Couldn’t resist. Anyway, rewind, take a deep breath, then tell me what’s going on in your big girl voice. Unburden yourself. Take all the time you need. Just make it quick because I have a 9 o’clock appointment.”<br /> I’m bouncing on the balls of my feet now, the same way that Reagan does when she needs to pee really bad. “Yeah, so do I. With him.”<br /> “Ah. Oh, wait—oh.”<br /> I first called Phoebe last night right after realizing what I’d done. Her reaction was a dizzying mixture of pride and horror. I believe her exact words were, “Sure, it’s mortifying, but I’m glad you got your rocks off. Knew you had it in you.”<br /> She’s a little more reassuring now that things are escalating out of control. “That doesn’t necessarily mean he heard the voicemail, Em. Maybe this is just a standard, no-big-deal, super-boring-business-stuff Thursday morning meeting.”<br /> “It’s scheduled for seven minutes and thirty-two seconds. Precisely.”<br /> “Hm.” There’s a beat of silence. “Doesn’t look good, does it?”<br /> “Seriously? That’s all you’ve got for me? I’m gonna lose my job, Phoebe!”<br /> “You don’t know that for sure. Just take a deep breath and go in there, see what he wants. Play it cool, y’know?”<br /> “And what if what he wants is to kick my arse to the curb with a recommendation letter that claims I’m a dirty bimbo?”<br /> “I mean, there’s probably a market for that.” I moan as Phoebe’s laughter fades into a serious tone. “Listen, boo: whatever happens, you’re a strong, smart, confident woman and you’re gonna land on your feet. And until you do, I’ve got your back.”<br /> Her words mean everything to me, but I know that Phoebe doesn’t have much margin for error in her life, either. She struggles just as hard as I do. If she is able to help, it still wouldn’t put a dent in all the bills and loans looming over me.<br /> “Thanks for the pep talk. I’ve gotta go to my doom now.”<br /> “Keep your pecker up!”<br /> I blink. “Huh?”<br /> “Oklahoma talk. It means, like, ‘break a leg,’ but for Midwesterners.”<br /> If I weren’t worried about losing my job and ending up homeless on the street with three kids, I’d laugh. Instead, I say one more miserable goodbye, then spend a solid three minutes dry-heaving into one of the empty bathroom stalls.<br /> Once I’ve sufficiently bruised my stomach lining, I slink out of the bathroom and waste the remaining two minutes before the meeting standing outside of Ruslan’s door, watching the clock steal my life away one second at a time.<br /> “You okay, Emma?” asks Katie Miller, another of the executive assistants on this floor, as she passes by.<br /> “Dandy,” I mumble. “Just waiting for the noose.”<br /> “What was that?”<br /> “Nothing. I like your earrings. Have a good day.”<br /> She raises her brow a smidge. I’m not usually so dismissive, but I can’t concentrate on small talk right now. Not when I’m T-minus thirty seconds away from the end of my career.<br /> Dear God, I know I don’t pray to you often. Or, well, ever. But please help me out today and I’ll definitely consider starting on a more semi-regular basis.<br /> Great. Now, I’m bargaining with God. New low, Emma. New low.<br /> I take a deep breath and walk into his office. The shades are tight, snuffing out all the light of the Manhattan morning beyond. It’s like a bear cave in here—and the grizzly in question is sitting at his desk, scrolling through his phone. He doesn’t acknowledge me until I’m standing in front of his desk.<br /> “Sit.”<br /> The moment my rear end is parked, he puts his phone down and looks at me. Just looks at me.<br /> In the eighteen months that I’ve worked for him, he’s never once given me the benefit of his full attention. Even during our morning meetings, he’s either on his phone, flipping through files, or typing away on his laptop. I used to be annoyed about it. I’m only now realizing I should have been grateful.<br /> Should I say something?<br /> Maybe he wants me to break the silence. Maybe I’m supposed to give him an explanation, an apology, something. But the more the silence stretches on, the less I’m capable of breaking it.<br /> I decide once again that those amber eyes of his should be outlawed.<br /> “I heard the voicemail,” he says at last.<br /> I can’t place his tone. Amusement? Anger? Disbelief?<br /> “Do you have anything to say, Ms. Carson?”<br /> I launch into the apology I spent most of last night practicing in the mirror. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am, Mr. Oryolov. I have no idea what I was thinking. The whole thing was an accident; I didn’t realize I’d dialed you. I was so tired and out of it and… I can assure you that it will never happen again. I swear.”<br /> My cheeks are flushed with embarrassment, but I try to keep my voice steady. I can’t sound too desperate, although that’s exactly what I am.<br /> “Tell me, Ms. Carson: what would you do in my place?”<br /> “I would give the plucky, hard-working assistant another chance, maybe?” It’s a long shot, but I figure, what the heck? I just wish I’d asked it without my voice rising to an Alvin and the Chipmunks pipsqueak at the end.<br /> His mouth twitches with the promise of a smile, but it’s gone as quick as it came. “I know what you sound like when you climax, Emma. Is that the soundtrack you want running through all our interactions from now on?”<br /> Flushing the brightest of reds, I shake my head. “If we could maybe just forget this whole thing—”<br /> “The way I see it, there are only two options here.”<br /> I hold my breath.<br /> “One, I fire you.”<br /> There it is. I knew it. I’m done for. I’m going to need to call the welfare office and see what—<br /> “Or two… I give you exactly what you want.”<br /> I almost choke on my own saliva. What little is left in my gaping mouth. “W-what?”<br /> Silently, Ruslan offers me the blue folder lying in front of him. I pick it up with shaky hands and open the cover. It takes me a few long moments to figure out what on earth I’m looking at.<br /> A… contract?<br /> I read through the first page, feeling a strange sensation bubble up in my chest.Then, since I’m clearly misunderstanding something, I read through the first page again. And again. And again.<br /> Only then do I look up. “Is this a joke?”<br /> He doesn’t blink. “I never joke.”<br /> “It’s just that, it seems like, from what I read, um—”<br /> “I will offer you money and security in exchange for live encores of the little performance you sent me last night. In addition to meeting my other needs.”<br /> “And by ‘needs,’ you mean…intercourse?”<br /> He tilts his chin down and regards me solemnly. “How explicit would you like me to be, Ms. Carson?”<br /> What.<br /> “So this—” I raise the blue folder in my hand. “—is a sugar daddy contract?”<br /> His brow furrows. “I’d prefer to call it a ‘Friend With Benefits’ contract.”<br /> “But we’re not friends.”<br /> He smirks. “Fair enough. No, we’re not.”<br /> There’s a throbbing in my head that reminds me of the first time I got drunk. Sienna and I had snuck into Dad’s study the eve of my sixteenth birthday and stolen a 1984 Chateau Latour. We passed it back and forth, taking turns sipping from the bottle like it was cheap bagged drink until the whole thing was gone.<br /> For a moment, I think about what Sienna would say if she were here. Would she be outraged or intrigued? Would she slap the smug prick and storm out?<br /> Or would she grin and say, Double the price and I’m in.<br /> What would you do, Si?<br /> And then it hits me, a bolt of lightning straight to the chest, almost like she’s speaking to me herself. I miss her so much, it hurts. But she left little bits of herself behind, in all three of her children. The same kids I’m working off to protect.<br /> That right there is the answer.<br /> Sienna would have done whatever was best for her children.<br /> So I don’t slap him. I don’t storm out. I sit there and stare at my arrogant, prick boss who always gets exactly what he wants.<br /> And what he wants… is me.<br /> I meet Ruslan’s steely gaze. “What happens if I say no?”	LEARN_MORE	https://b.ficsworld.com/ad/Ym9va3ZpbGxlLzE3MjUzMC8	178740541994567	Fics101	https://facebook.com/61554382746013	138	1	456,288,163,466,932	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	Fics101	120211979638250460	b.ficsworld.com	NONE	video		https://b.ficsworld.com/ad/Ym9va3ZpbGxlLzE3MjUzMC8yMDI0MDUwODE2MTEyNi9wYWdl?adid={{ad.id}}	2024-05-08 03:18	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441321954_815377917313943_8639502501216230111_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CLfiR6yhKP0Q7kNvgFpz8ur&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAQAhKVRsm_j_EcXg7nEQ4Myqb9fwvj5JcCCn7ePsljGw&oe=6641C7A5	person_profile	Fics101	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441373351_25663135936633913_6638098203044082530_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Bq4q3-HDsT0Q7kNvgE1jt6M&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDhtcGPlpIO6OAaFCAgTnxRQGk69Ye8NJW6RKWW7diSuw&oe=6641C5DC	3	Fics101	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,591	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778590}'	No	2024-05-08 18:40	active	760	1625138348299794	When neuropathy hits, try this...	At 53 y.o I Managed To Relieve My Achy Feet Without expensive Medical Bills	LEARN_MORE	https://getsoothrelieve.com/articles/s-footaches-a	113992290011420	Naturry	https://facebook.com/naturry1	33,029	2	1,110,638,576,911,411	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	Naturry	120207118432860534	getsoothrelieve.com	NONE	image	SoothRelieve \| Foot Compression Socks. Get The Relief You Deserve.	https://getsoothrelieve.com/articles/s-footaches-aj23/	2024-04-29 03:49	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440368225_399863246273213_2266286069027957357_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeKLHMuOOIwQ7kNvgFC2hc4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBSPffiYwK-4ZD4paFuWhsFBFVol0Amzs9b2OQiGZOhRw&oe=6641E708	person_profile	Naturry	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439943070_958225102971407_383512246014644136_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4eRK2IHH4IsQ7kNvgFLA5Ho&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQDgfFIm6HkxKkwfVYm4G3w7C99pXqZZMlzJ0YLNqiyQ&oe=6641D0E0	3	Naturry	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,778,729	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"is_bh_simple_request":false,"simple_request_ratio":1,"is_bh_selenium":false,"selenium_ratio":1,"ratio_threshold":0.8}'	No	2024-05-08 18:42	active	760	363049346748949	I slept with my bf's bestfriend	I decided to sleep with my boyfriend Vincent's best friend after I found out that Vincent was cheating on me .<br /> I’d met his friend two or three times before, but I didn’t even know his name. I’d only ever heard Vincent call him a “tomcat.”<br /> <br /> Nothing popped up for Tom, and he wasn’t a furry… Or at least, he didn’t look like one. Fortunately, it wasn’t hard to find him through my social media recommendations.<br /> Aaron Morris.<br /> His username was simple: “Amorris”, which was a combination of his first initial and his last name. <br /> There wasn’t a status set on his homepage either.<br /> His avatar was a picture of himself at what looked like a nightclub: a glass of w1ne in hand, head tilted in a wicked smile. Medium-length brown curls were accented by striking blue eyes. The black button-down shirt he was wearing had its bottom half opened, slightly exposing his abs.<br /> Did he have a six-pack? That would definitely make this revenge so much sweeter.<br /> He was undeniably sexy—enough to make most men simmer with jealousy. Sure, Vincent was attractive, but next to Aaron? He really wasn’t much to look at. How could Vincent be friends with someone so gorgeous? Did it not make him feel insecure?<br /> But that didn’t matter. Not anymore.<br /> Aaron accepted my friend request later that afternoon, and it wasn’t long before a notification popped up on my messenger.<br /> Amorris: ?<br /> heyOlive: Busy?<br /> Amorris: No, it’s cool. What’s up?<br /> I began to suspect that Aaron didn’t remember who I was at all. My own homepage had no pictures, and my avatar was just black. Looking back, it’s funny to think that after being together for two years, I’d only hung out with Vincent and his friends a handful of times. He was definitely trying to keep me away from his circle so that he could cheat on me. <br /> heyOlive: A u sing1e?<br /> . . .<br /> Amorris: What do you think?<br /> heyOlive: I booked a hotel room. Do you wanna come over…?<br /> Amorris: Oh darling<br /> Amorris: I don’t sleep with my brother’s girl:)<br /> My face flushed. I did not think he’d recognize my name.<br /> heyOlive: I won’t be his girl soon.<br /> Amorris: :)<br /> That stupid, smug little face made me think that he might’ve known this whole time that Vincent had been unfaithful. The realization brought my anger to a boil. All men really were the same. I wanted to believe that Vincent's cheating was just a one-time mistake, but Aaron’s response led me to believe that it was a regular occurrence. I couldn't imagine the picturethat every time Vincent left for a party, he’d have another woman wrapped up in his arms.<br /> My trust to Vincent was just like a joke. And now Aaron must think that I’d cheated on Vincent before all of this! <br /> The more I thought about it, the more nauseous I felt. I quickly sent a message to my best friend Cinder, desperately looking for an outlet.<br /> heyOlive: Come to the Beast Pub, tonight<br /> heyOlive: Gonna get wasted lol<br /> Cinderss: I can’t tonight :( I have to stay late to work on this stupid landscape plan. The homeowner’s throwing a fit over the water section <br /> heyOlive: Vincent is cheating<br /> Not even two seconds passed.<br /> Cinderss: ill meet you there xx<br /> We met up at Beast Pub, the bar near Cinder’s office. Before she even showed up, I already had a beer in my hand. I usually hated the taste, but today it felt like the only way to douse my anger.<br /> Around 9 o’clock, Cinder finally arrived. She was a blonde beauty, and not even her conservative office uniform could hide her lithe figure. If the clacking of her designer heels didn’t give it away, she came from a family that was a little more than “well off.” The girl had all the money she could ask for but still insisted on working, devoted to her career in landscaping.<br /> “Olive! I’m so, so sorry I’m late, babe! Oh! Yes, one cocktail special, please.” Cinder made her way to my table. She sat herself down across from me and took my hands in hers, “You look so good! Oh my god!” Then she dropped her voice to a hushed tone, “Are you trying to get laid?”<br /> “Apologized for the wait, ordered a drink, and got straight to it, huh?” I waved the glass in my hand and gave her a lazy grin. “Not bad for the heiress of the Swann Group.”<br /> “Ugh… quit it! I’m serious! What is going on with you and Vincent?”<br /> I sipped the foam off my drink and then pulled out my phone, passing it to Cinder.<br /> “Remember when I said Vincent was gonna see his friend Emily? From college? She posted this the day after their class reunion last week.”<br /> “Ooh! Let’s see here… Hotel room window—That’s a nice angle. School shirt. No pants. Probably no underwear. Sleepy eyes.” Cinder clicked her tongue, eyes scanning over the photo’s caption. “Hmm… ‘Throwback to grad night…’ Oh, this is so a morning-after pic.”<br /> “Right? I thought so, too.” I sighed, shoulders slumping as I relived the realization. “That’s Vincent’s shirt she’s wearing.”<br /> Her eyes widened and she held the phone closer to her face. “Wha—How do you know? I’m sure they all have the school shirt.”<br /> “Well, yeah, but Vincent couldn’t find his own before he left. Mine’s oversized so I just let him borrow it. It has some faint paint splatters on the sleeve.” I leaned forward and pointed at the picture. “Right there. She’s wearing the evidence, Cinder. How do you explain that any other way?”<br /> She handed my phone back to me, brow furrowed. "I… don’t know. I mean, I can’t. You’re right.”<br /> A waiter stopped at our table, setting Cinder’s cocktail down. She ignored it, grabbing my glass and taking a long drink. She shot the waiter a dazzling smile, “Can I get one of these, too?”<br /> After he left, I continued, "I didn't mention it to him at first, but then I found out they did share a room. Then I found their texts and—God, I’m such an idiot…”<br /> "He’s such a trash," Cinder corrected.<br /> "Such a trash!" I cried, swallowing another mouthful of beer.<br /> “ yeah!” We clinked glasses. My anger was washed away, just like I’d hoped it would.<br /> Cinder giggled and sat back, “So what’s next?”<br /> “Well…” I smirked over the rim of my drink. “I texted one of his buddies earlier. Said I had a hotel room to myself if he wanted to join me.”<br /> “Ooh! So you’re gonna cheat right back at him!” She was clearly excited, “I love that! So you were with him at the hotel before coming here? Was he handsome? <br /> “No! I mean, I don’t know. Vincent calls him a tomcat,” I said, winking at her. “He turned me down, though.”<br /> “Turned you down?! For what?!” She scowled at me and reached over the table to give my shoulder a shove. “You should’ve sent a bikin1 pic! I bet he wouldn’t have been able to resist something like that.”<br /> “It doesn’t matter. I could easily find someone else…” I set my glass down. “It’s just gonna be hard to find such a perfect-looking guy. I really wanna stick it to Vincent, you know?”<br /> “Oh, totally. I mean look at the guys here,” Cinder scanned over the men in the room, some of whom threw her a wink when saw her looking. She ignored them with a blank expression and turned back to me, wagging a finger in disgust. “You can’t sleep with someone who isn’t at least as handsome as Vincent.”<br /> I nodded. The whole appeal of my revenge was to sleep with a better man to make Vincent feel pathetic. Otherwise, what’s the point?<br /> While I was agonizing over having to find another dreamboat like Aaron, my phone buzzed.<br /> Amorris: Come over?<br /> Before I even had a chance to reply, Aaron sent an address.<br /> “Is that Vincent?” asked Cinder.<br /> I shook my head, “No. It’s the tomcat. Seems like he’s changed his mind…”<br /> She gasped and snatched my phone away. “Aaron Morris… Oh my god. That’s Vincent’s friend?!” <br /> “Yeah? You know him?”<br /> “Know him? My old man tried to set me up with him. Aaron’s the second son of the Morris Group. Not only is his family loaded, but he started his own business in college.” She shook her head and passed my phone back. “He was offered three million dollars for his patents, but he said no. His company’s thriving now.” She paused to sip her drink. “Trust me. Go see him. Vincent is no match.”<br /> She’s right. Aaron was easily my best choice at the moment. I can already imagine Vincent’s seething jealousy and crushed ego if I could make this work with Aaron.<br /> Cinder took a second to map the address Aaron sent me. “He’s at… oh! Tribeca. That’s right by my place.” She nodded at me excitedly, “You can go to my house to change into something better. Fix up your makeup. He’ll be totally blindsided!<br /> “I don’t think that’s necessary,” I said. “We are not dating. I don’t need to go all out.”<br /> She pouted, “Alright, fine. Don’t. But if you go there looking like a tramp, security might not even let you inside.”<br /> “Okay!” I gave in, finishing my beer. “Your place it is. Let’s go.”<br /> An hour later, I was dolled up and Cinder had gone back to her office for the night. At this point, my rage had boiled away, leaving behind a numbness. I didn’t even have it in me to feel ashamed.<br /> I realized I hadn’t eaten anything all day, so I stopped by a local burger joint on the way to his house. While I waited for my order, I pulled out my phone.<br /> heyOlive: Have you eaten yet? I’m grabbing food from Joey’s by your house. I could get you something…?<br /> Amorris: ?<br /> Amorris: I don’t even have pants on, and you’re asking if I want burgers? lol<br /> I laughed at the absurdity of it all.<br /> What was I thinking?<br /> Amorris: Go ahead and pick something for me.<br /> Amorris: Thanks darling<br /> As I held the paper to-go bag in my hand, I glanced between the map on my phone and the cars speeding by. After a few minutes of this, he sent another message.<br /> Amorris: 2 out of 5 stars. Delivery came super late. Will not be ordering again.<br /> I scowled. Just who the did he think I was?<br /> heyOlive: Lost :(<br /> Amorris: Great.<br /> Amorris: Where are you now?<br /> I quickly sent him a picture of my location. Three minutes later, he was suddenly in front of me. It took me a moment to even recognize him.<br /> Most of the times I’d ever seen Aaron were at dim and foggy nightclubs. He’d wear either black or white shirts and always had a beautiful woman at his side. Between Vincent calling him Tomcat and Emily always complimenting his style, my mental image of Aaron was similar to a classy and flirtatious boss.<br /> But today? He was dressed for home: a black sweatshirt and washed-out jeans. He seemed like a wholly different person than the one I met at nightclubs in the past.<br /> He grinned as soon as he saw me. “Hi.”<br /> God, he was so handsome. His Facebook avatar did not do him justice.<br /> It’s said that men are creatures of sight, that they judge by looks. But women can be the same, right? The fact that my notion to “toss the burger to him and leave” had disappeared was enough proof. I knew that Aaron was handsome, just not really my type… <br /> Except that the man in front of me now was exactly the kind of knockout I wanted.<br /> I smiled back, “Hi.”<br /> He reached for the paper bag in my hand, frowning. “Ooh. And the food’s cold.”<br /> If he treats me like a god delivery girl one more time…<br /> He walked me back to his building, leading the way up to his penthouse. The view was breathtaking, showcasing the bustling nightlife of Manhattan.<br /> To be honest, I expected it to be somewhat awkward, but Aaron went straight to the kitchen as soon as we entered, grabbing utensils out of a drawer and putting his burger on a plate. He was really going to eat it with a knife and a fork. Classy.<br /> He looked up at me and asked, “Do you want ketchup?”<br /> I had to remind myself: I am here for a date. I have to at least try having dinner with him before I leave.<br /> God, even his ketchup tasted amazing. It was some ritzy brand I’d never heard of.<br /> After a bit, Aaron stepped into another room to take a phone call. I finished eating and brought the dishes to the kitchen, absentmindedly washing my hands when I felt one of his land on my shoulder, startling me.<br /> He grabbed the plates and put them in the dishwasher, smiling. “You can just leave ‘em in there.”<br /> Then he leaned in a little closer. Granted, it was a safe, platonic distance, but I couldn’t even call myself friends with him yet. I shook the water off my hands and turned to look at him.<br /> His expression was innocent. “Something came up. I have to go.”<br /> What? Was this date already a failure?<br /> “Wait for me, okay? I’ll get changed real quick and take you home,” he said, lifting a hand to brush my hair out of my face. I immediately took a step back to avoid him, and his hand stopped awkwardly in mid-air. He paused for a few seconds before putting it down, still wearing that seductive smile.<br /> “Huh? You were the one who invited me over,” I said, incredulous. How could he just leave like that? I borrowed Cinder’s clothes and redid my makeup for this!<br /> “Alright…” He started slowly. He looked almost confused. “So you wanna wait for me? I’ll be back in soon.”<br /> I bit my lower lip and cursed him internally, but tried my best to stay polite.<br /> “No, it’s alright. I can call a cab,” I gave him a cordial smile, turning to leave. In an instant, he caught me by the wrist and pulled me back. I didn’t resist, letting him bring me to stand in front of him.<br /> He stared at me, brows lowered. Staring into those beautiful blue eyes of his, I felt like I won the lottery.<br /> “Kitchen, living room, or bedroom,” he asked, voice low.<br /> “Bedroom,” I said, suddenly breathless. “The bedroom’s fine.”<br /> Aaron let out a deep laugh. “Perfect.”<br /> I got a good look at his penthouse as he led me upstairs. I’d expected the rest of his home to be gaudy, typical of a young and reckless millionaire, but he surprised me. It reminded me of an elegant hotel suite, decorated with gorgeous vintage furniture, expensive paintings, and marble sculptures.<br /> His bedroom itself was unexpectedly light and simple in comparison. It had a mature black and white color scheme to it. The windowsill was set with w1ne and scented candles and dimmed gallery lights hung from the ceiling. The space was free of furniture aside from the king-sized bed and nightstand in the middle of the room.<br /> I was suddenly disgusted, thinking about how many women he must have had in this bed.<br /> The smell of the candles became almost overpowering, and I hesitated at the doorway. “Can we take a step back?” I asked.<br /> “Back?” He frowned, puzzled. “To what?”<br /> “The living room? Or the kitchen? Someplace else…” I rubbed my nose with one hand, resting the other on my chest.<br /> Aaron cocked an eyebrow at this, walking across the room to open the window and blowing out the candles in the process. He made his way back to me, took my hand, and shot me another award-winning smile. “Darling. Going back isn’t an option.”<br /> And then, I was pulled inside.<br /> The bed was incredibly soft.<br /> Aaron, on the other hand, incredibly uneasy.<br /> He sat over me with his knees at my sides, looking down into my eyes while he slowly undressed. Just a glimpse at the waistband of his underwear was enough to send me into a haze.<br /> He was so charming.<br /> He didn’t have much body hair, giving a clear view of his toned chest, well-defined muscles, and—I knew it!—six-pack abs. His body would put male models everywhere to shame.<br /> Aaron leaned down to stare at me. One hand rested on the side of my face, while the other got to work skillfully unbuttoning my top. The slowed pace made me deeply regret my choice of clothes.<br /> Once it was finally undone, he glanced down at my body and paused. When his eyes met mine again, they were filled with desire.<br /> Underneath my shirt-dress, I was only wearing a skin-tight camisole. I’d borrowed Cinder’s brand new silk halter top. It was white with black lace trim, with an extremely low neckline to accentuate my bust. Through the thin material, you could clearly make out the pink of my teat. The hem was barely long enough to cover my panties.<br /> I watched his Adam’s apple bob and felt a hand slide around my waist, gently tickling through the fabric. He asked in a hoarse voice, “Is this alright?”<br /> I held my tongue, biting my bottom lip. My hand was weakly pressed against his chest. My heart pounded in my chest, and when I felt Aaron’s racing under my fingertips, I couldn’t help but moan.<br /> He didn’t bother lifting my skirt, instead slipping his hand under the fabric. It came to a tantalizing stop at my chest, his long index finger tracing my curves, sending a shiver down my spine.<br /> I caught his hand, my breath unsteady. “Stop teasing me. Please.”<br /> Aaron raised his eyebrows slightly. Then he took my wrist in his free hand, dragged it up his leg and along his inner thigh, and held it to his hardened length through his jeans.<br /> “You don’t want to rush this, do you?” He lowered his head, and I felt his hot breath as he whispered in my ear. “No, I think I need to warm you up for this first.”<br /> Any protest I had died in my throat.<br /> He gave a soft chuckle and slid his fingers down to my thighs, squeezing roughly. My breathing became even more labored.<br /> He moved to kiss my neck, and I reflexively shied away. <br /> But Aaron didn’t seem to notice, his tongue trailing down to lick at my collarbone, then further down to my chest. He seemed to be loving the foreplay as much as I was. I felt him hook a finger into my panties and pull them away, only to return in seconds to trace the outside of my flower.<br /> There was a sensitive twitch in my belly and slick heat coated his fingers. I saw him lift his hand, smiling gently. His gorgeous blue eyes looked at me as if I were the most precious gem in the world. I was so lost in his gaze that I almost missed him speaking.<br /> “You’re already soaked, hmm? I haven’t even had a chance to play with your 'petal', darling.” And with that, his thumb finally made its way to my pistil.<br /> I clenched my legs almost instantly, my back arching. He took that opportunity to slide his other hand up the curve of my bare back. I wanted to scream at how well he worked my body.<br /> “Mmm,” he hummed. “You’re squeezing my fingers so tightly… Loosen up.” His tone was seductive and steady, a stark contrast to my uncontrollable gasps of pleasure. “You can squeeze all you want once my member is in you.”<br /> I could only whisper as I begged, “Please… Please give it to me.”<br /> He laughed softly and leaned down again, his teeth lightly catching my teat through the thin silk of my chemise. Gentle nibbling and teasing with the tip of his tongue left behind a damp stain.<br /> “Your teat are different, darling.” His voice began to tremble with excitement. “All for me…”<br /> “Sh–Shut up,” I managed. I didn’t want to hear the filth spilling out of his mouth, especially when it was the truth, but the intense stimulation and thrill of my revenge aroused me beyond anything I’d felt before.<br /> My flower throbbed and ached, twitching at his wicked words. I shuddered again as his finger had worked its way in, and I felt it exploring and massaging all the right places. Feeling my wetness, he gently withdrew his finger and looked playfully at the glossy sheen left behind. The sudden emptiness made the aching even worse as my insides clenched around nothing.<br /> “Shut up? That’s not what your body’s telling me…” He cocked his head and smiled innocently. “In fact, it looks like it wants even more.”<br /> He stuck out his tongue and dragged it slowly over his fingers, silver threads pulling at the edges of his mouth. The clear blue of his eyes began to darken, growing dangerous and feral.<br /> I felt every nerve in my body screaming for his member. I don’t know why—I used to feel so neutral about intercourse in past relationships. Even with Vincent, I was never so desperate for it. Yet right now, I could only focus on Aaron’s length nestled between my legs, grinding against me through his pants, and all I wanted was to have him.<br /> Aaron tore the camisole off of me, his lips trailing down from my chest to my stomach. I was finally undressed underneath him, and I could hear him suck in a breath.<br /> “I wish I could keep you here forever,” he muttered. I heard him swallow and felt him through his jeans as he ground his hips into mine. “Right here in my bed…” He panted, pulling down his pants and finally freeing his member. <br /> Despite his thorough foreplay and preparation with his fingers, there was still that initial painful stretching. This tomcat was absolutely living up to his reputation as a lady-killer.<br /> He sighed almost dreamily, desire-filled eyes glazed over. His comfortable expression was actually kind of adorable.<br /> “Relax,” he reminded me as he stilled himself.<br /> My voice came out broken, “I am.”<br /> He smiled a little, pushing even deeper, and I couldn’t hold back my groan.<br /> “Hey.” He held my chin, softly running his thumb over my lips. “Tell me if you’re uncomfortable… and let me know what feels good, okay?” Everything about him was sending goosebumps down my body.<br /> What kind of feedback did he want exactly?<br /> Before I got a chance to ask, he gave an experimental thrust, and I couldn’t bite back my moan in time.<br /> “Just like that, darling,” he gave a breathy laugh.<br /> He was going to be the death of me.<br /> Aaron couldn’t help himself at this point. He rammed his member into me, tangling his fingers in my hair and tilting my head back. I felt his Adam’s apple tickling my neck while he moaned and whispered sweet nothings in my ear. When he’d pull back, he’d gaze into my eyes as if mesmerized by the dazed, half-focused way I looked up at him.<br /> He slurred, “Let me taste those sounds you’re making, baby.” And with that, his mouth traced my jawline until he found my lips.<br /> I turned my head away, avoiding the kiss. That was a little too intimate for us.<br /> This didn’t seem to put him off and he kept up his rhythm. I listened to the honeyed words that fell from him—how charming, how lovely, how perfect I was—and I listened to the filthy words as well. Filthy words about my body, my lips, and my eyes.<br /> Just as my thoughts were drifting, he brought me back to the moment with a deep, delicious thrust. “You still with me, darling?”<br /> I felt like I could die like this, lost in the feeling of him. I didn’t even have the words to describe it. It was carnal and passionate in a way that transcended each of my senses. I was overwhelmed by the sounds of skin slapping against skin, the vulgar wetness as he drove himself into me again and again, my own shameless screams of euphoria, and his fervent gasps.<br /> My phone rang. I knew it must be Vincent.	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1,778,347	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1778132}'	No	2024-05-08 18:37	active	760	2103470426689040	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	He is not the male I thought he was. I refuse to fight for someone who can spit on all the effort I put into making him great.<br /> "Don't walk away from me, Zell," Kosta yelled.<br /> "Why not? You don't need me. You have Khalis here to take care of all your needs. She is welcome to you. I hope you all will be very happy together. As for me, I'm done. Good luck to you and this pack. I hope you can handle the fallout for you and your bimbo's actions."<br /> ____________<br /> <br /> "So Kay, what did you want to talk to me about?" I ask.<br /> Sapphire sits up. She is really interested in what Khalis has to say. I can feel her unease. Whatever this is about is not going to be good. Sapphire has been a little jumpy lately and is very protective. We just found out that we are pregnant after trying for the past 6 months. Kosta and I finally feel like we were in a good place since our pack is now ranked number 3 in the nation. I guess I should give Khalis my undivided attention and hear whatever it is she is pressed to talk to me about.<br /> "Well Zel, I just wanted to let you know that I plan on being the Luna of this pack, and your days as Kosta's mate and luna are numbered. I have decided that I deserve to be luna of the third strongest pack in the nation. I mean why should you get everything and I get stuck with nothing?" Khalis says.<br /> Is this bimbo serious? I just sat there staring at her for a few seconds. Not much shocks me, but this is something else. I knew Khalis was selfish, but this is on a whole other level. There have been rumors about Khalis sleeping with mated males, but I always gave her the benefit of the doubt. I never thought we would be having this kind of conversation. We have been friends since elementary school. Her father and brothers are elite warriors in my father's pack. <br /> She was with me when Kosta declared we were mates. She even encouraged me to go with him when he begged me and my father to let me come to his pack with him before I turned 18. She moved to this pack with me, hoping to meet her own mate. She knows Kosta is my fated mate. The moon goddess chose for him me. We both have known Kosta for most of our lives. <br /> Kosta is one of my brother's best friends. I keep thinking about everything we have done together and now this bimbo is sitting in my office telling me she plans to take my mate. I'm really speechless. This is a new low, even for her.<br /> "Just so that I am clear, what exactly do you mean that you want my goddess-given mate and title," I asked.<br /> "I mean exactly what I said. I want Kosta. I want to be his luna and I am going to make that happen. I've already started the process. I deserve to be a luna."<br /> "So you just want to come in here and tell me that you want my mate? What about your own mate? Have you thought about that? If the goddess meant for you to be a luna, you would have been fated to an alpha."<br /> "I waited for my mate. I gave the goddess a chance to do right by me. She gave everyone around me an Alpha. My sister got one, my little ugly cousin got one and even you got one, but what did I get? I got a lowly elite warrior as a mate." She spat.<br /> "How can you speak like that about elite warriors? Your father and your brother are elite warriors."<br /> "I know, and I deserve better than that. I deserve to be a luna. I deserve to have people respect me and cater to me."<br /> "Well, obviously the goddess did not agree with you," I said. "Just to clarify, you're saying that even though you found your destined mate, the one that was made specifically for you by the goddess, you're still interested in my mate? You are unbelievable. What is wrong with you?"<br /> "It's simple. I'm not meant to be the mate of a warrior. I am meant to be a luna. The moon goddess got it wrong and I am correcting her mistake. As soon as I scented my fated mate and realized he was a warrior, I rejected him and he accepted my rejection. Good riddance."<br /> "So you think you know better than the goddess?" I asked.<br /> I am still somewhat shocked. I have a hard time reconciling this cold-blooded bimbo to the person that has been my best friend for over a decade.<br /> "Zell, I told you a long time ago not to trust her. She has always been this person. She just pretended with you." Sapphire said.<br /> "This isn't personal, Zell. It's simple since the moon goddess did not give me an alpha, I'm going to take one."<br /> This bimbo is sitting here calmly telling me she is going to take my mate from me like we are talking about going shopping. She actually thinks this is ok. How could I have been so blind for so long? Everyone tried to warn me about her, but she was my only friend and I just didn't want to believe that about her. I convinced myself that the others were just jealous of her.<br /> "Do you really think it is ok to try to break your best friend's mate bond?" I say.<br /> "Oh Honey, I'm not going to try. I'm going to do it. He will be mine. I'm just giving you the courtesy of walking away with your dignity. You might as well start making arrangements for yourself because once I am the luna, there is no way that I will let you remain in my pack. He may keep some tender feelings for you. After all, you are fated."<br /> "You got one thing right; Kosta and I are fated. You are not the first she-wolf to try to break our mate bond and since he is an alpha, I'm sure you won't be the last. I will tell you what I tell them all, If you can get Kosta to cheat on our bond, you can have him. If he can do that, then he is not the man I have believed him to be and wouldn't deserve me. You would be welcome to him. Just remember, it is because of me and my family that this pack is ranked third. All of that goes with me, but you would be more than welcome to whatever is left." I say.<br /> "It's not an if, it's a when it happens. And when you leave, Kosta will still be the alpha of this pack. You will just be the ex-luna of the pack. I will be the luna."<br /> "That's where you are wrong. I am alpha born; a pure-blooded alpha. If I leave, I will still be an alpha and you will still be that bimbo on the side. Some males may be dumb enough to sleep with you, but I have not seen any of the mate men you've been accused of leaving their mates for you. Even the ones who got rejected didn't choose to be with you. Now I suggest you leave my office while I am still being nice or else you will find out why I am feared by others. And if you are successful, don't think for a minute that my family will let either of you go."<br /> "I will leave for now. Enjoy this office while it is still yours. Your arrogance will be your downfall. Why should I fear you or your family? They have not even been around since your luna ceremony. I'll give you 1 week to make arrangements for yourself. In 7 days, all of this will be mine and you will be out. I will break you and completely disgrace you.<br /> I have to thank you for working so hard to build this pack up for me to take over. I will be sure to enjoy the fruit of your labor. I and my children will enjoy this. I am glad he listened to me early on when I told him to wait to have children so you could live your life first. I had to set the groundwork just in case. Now it's time for you to go before you give him an heir." Khalis says and walks out of my office like nothing happened.<br /> "What do you think, Sapphi? Do you think she really will get Kosta to cheat on our mate bond? Do you think Emil will let it happen?"<br /> "I honestly don't know Zell. Last year I would have said that our bond was solid, but Kosta has been acting funny lately. Emil has been a little distant as well. Khalis is a little too confident. She is definitely up to something and Kosta isn't acting like our mate right now. Also, Jen, Khalis' wolf is mad at her about something that she won't tell me about."<br /> "I'm sorry I didn't listen to all the warnings you were giving me about her. I should have never moved her with us. I invited that snake into our home. I open the door for her to get her paws on Kosta, but if he allows it, he does not deserve us."<br /> "I Feel sorry for her mate and her wolf. They did not deserve what she did to them. But at least her fated mate will get a second chance mate. One much better."<br /> "Zell, I think we should wait and see what happens before will tell Kosta about our pup. I would burn this whole pack if something happened to our pup."<br /> "I agree Sapphy. We will do whatever we have to do to protect our pup."<br /> Kosta has been questioning me a lot lately. It's like he woke up a different person one day. He suddenly lost trust in me, but I have never given him a reason to doubt me. I have found him outside of my door listening to business phone calls, which is crazy because he could just walk in at any time and join the conversation. I have never hidden anything I was doing from him.<br /> The worse thing is that our sexual life is now nonexistent. Kosta is always too busy or too tired. His behavior has led me to believe that he is not attracted to me anymore. He had the nerve to ask me why I have been trying so hard to seduce him lately. Like he didn't just stop making love to me cold turkey all of a sudden. We went from making love every day, sometime multiple times a day, to nothing in over a month. <br /> Seems like he should have been worried if I didn't try to seduce him. I don't know any mated pair that has gone this long without being intimate with each other. I don't know what the issue is. If we were not marked, I would wonder if he was cheating, but I know he is not. I would have felt it. Why did all of this suddenly become so hard? <br /> Why do I even need to seduce my goddess-given mate? It was never supposed to be this way. At least not yet. I'm only 20 years old. Much too young to be going through a dry spell while mated.<br /> I got so desperate at one time I asked our friends what was going on with him. Kosta tells his beta and gamma everything. I figured if there was a problem, they would tell me and I could fix it, but they just said that he was under a lot of stress. What exactly does he have to stress about?<br /> The pack is doing better than it has been in years. In half a year, the pack will be self-sufficient again and won't need to depend on my finances to keep it afloat. I have everything set in motion for the pack to have more disposable cash and residual income. I have a feeling this has Khalis written all over it. Kosta appears to have fallen in line with her already.<br /> Maybe this was their plan all along. Kosta needed me to get his pack back on track and now that they are almost completely independent, they don't need me anymore. If that's the case, they are in for a rude awakening. My six-month plan depends on me closing several more deals. All of these deals are allies with my father, uncle, and grandfather. They will not work with Kosta if our bond falls apart. He would erase everything that I have done over the past three years. Well, that would be his problem.<br /> Since he has not been showing me any care, they are not either. That really hurts. I sacrificed a lot for this pack. I thought they cared more than this for me. I should just go back to my room. I don't know if I want to be around this pack right now, especially if they could turn their backs on me this quickly. Were they all just using me for my family's wealth?<br /> "We need to eat Zell. Remember, we are eating for our pup as well. Don't let them win. We are better than this. If they show us they don't want us here, we will leave. Remember, we are alpha born. We will rise above this. We will go back to where we are celebrated. If they turn against us, they don't deserve us. We will sit back and let them destroy themselves."<br /> "You are right Sapphire. Let's go eat. Our pup needs sustenance."<br /> I went and cleaned myself up and walked to the dining room. As soon as I walked through the door, all the talking stopped. The whole place went silent. As I walked all the way in, I saw why everyone went silent. <br /> Khalis was sitting in my seat, putting food on Kosta's plate like she is the luna. When she saw me, she just smirked and kept doing what she was doing. Kosta just keep eating like I was not standing there. Sapphire stared, pushing forward. She wanted blood. I did too, but I have to think about our pup.<br /> "What is going on, Kosta? Why is she sitting in my seat feeding you?" I growled.<br /> "I meant no harm, Zell. You were busy, so I decided to take care of Kosta for you. Someone needs to care for him while you are caring for other things. "<br /> "I was speaking to my mate, not his bimbo on the side."<br /> "You were not here for your mate, so I have been taking care of his needs."<br /> Sapphire pushed forward and growled loudly. Everyone in the room bowed their neck to her.<br /> "I could kill you in less than 30 seconds, Khalis. I would advise you not to keep crossing my line and you will find yourself very dead. You obviously have forgotten who I am. Don't make me remind you what my family name is," Sapphire said.<br /> I regained control and looked at Kosta. He didn't even appear to be concerned. He didn't show an ounce of regret or remorse. That took a little of the fight out of me. Khalis can only do what Kosta allows her to do.<br /> "Kosta, I asked you a question. What is going on?"<br /> "As Khalis said, you were busy, so she came to do your job for you. If you spent more time catering to me, your mate, and less time working or whatever you are doing, Khalis wouldn't have to step in and take care of my needs." Kosta said.<br /> I and every pack member gasped. I could not believe he openly disrespected me like that after everything I have done for him and this pack. I did all of that for him. This ungrateful prick.<br /> "So now I'm working too much, making your pack financially secure? You were not complaining when the pack was bankrupted and I worked day and night just so you could feed the pack another day. I was working too hard then.<br /> It's only now that you think the pack is out of the woods that I am working too hard. Now that everyone is comfortable and not at risk of starving, you want to change. <br /> Ok, I see who you are now. So instead of appreciating the sacrifices I made for us and the pack, you are sitting here with your bimbo, enjoying the feast that my hard work made possible. I am glad I finally understand where your priorities lie. Trust me, I will never make the same mistake twice." I said and walked away.<br /> I need to get out of here before I wolf out and kill one of them. After tonight, Khalis can have him. He is not the male I thought he was. I refuse to fight for someone who can spit on all the effort I put into making him great.<br /> "Don't walk away from me, Zell," Kosta yelled.<br /> "Why not? You don't need me. You have Khalis here to take care of all your needs. She is welcome to you. I hope you all will be very happy together. As for me, I'm done. Good luck to you and this pack. I hope you can handle the fallout for you and your bimbo's actions."<br /> "Mind how you talk to me, Zell. I may be your mate, but I am still the alpha. As a matter of fact, as of right now, I am stripping you of all of your luna privileges."<br /> "Alpha, what are you doing?" Beta James asked<br /> "Mind your business Beta. This is my pack." Kosta says.<br /> "Yes, and as your beta and friend, it is my job to tell you when you are making a mistake. Alpha, you are dangerously close to crossing the line of no return. Let's all calm down and discuss this later." Beta James said.<br /> "Beta, my word stands. Zel, until you learn to respect me as your alpha, you can forget about representing this pack in any aspect. I will be instructing the security team to restrict all of your access. You are no longer the COO of our businesses. As of now, you are just a regular pact member with no power."<br /> "First of all Alpha." I spat. "Respect is earned. While you are trying to throw your weight around, you can have the luna title back. I no longer want it. As for the business, have you forgotten that I own 51% of every business we have? I also provide 60% of the pack budget from my personal accounts. So while you can restrict my duties as Luna, you cannot touch the business, but I'll do you a solid. You can buy me out of the business and I will withdraw all of my personal finances from the pack."<br /> I can see that he had forgotten how dependent his pack was on me, but oh well. He made his bed. Now he and his bimbo can lie in it.<br /> "Oh, and Alpha, if you try to strong-arm me, I will have to call in the full loan that I gave this pack when we mated. Remember, we signed a contract for the loan. You have only paid me a small portion of the loan and I have not pushed the issue, but the contract is legal and binding. Don't push me, Kosta. You, of all people, know how ruthless I can be if pushed."<br /> I walked off again and made it as far as the stairs. I realized that I could not stay in my current room anymore. There is no way on this goddess-green earth that I want to be in a room with Kosta. Not that he has really shared it with me lately. Now I know why. Khalis has been feeding him and he has been eating it up. They both miscalculated. They thought I would be leaving here with nothing. The jokes on them. I may have been in love, but there is no love in business. I may have put my all into saving this pack and making it independently wealthy, but my parents did not raise a fool and I protected my finances. I invested millions in this company and pack. Did he really think I would protect my money? Does he not remember the prenup my father made him sign since I was a minor when he brought me to this pack? He never gained control over my finances.<br /> Khalis just showed her hand. After what I just saw, she has a right to be confident. Kosta has completely changed. He is not the man that I mated. He is not the boy that I followed around when I was younger. I don't know what happened or when he changed. Maybe this is who he really is and, like with Khalis, I just never saw his true self. He must have hidden it from my father and brother as well. There is no way they would have let me come here when I was 17 if they knew this was how he would end up treating me. I can see now that it is over between Kosta and me. I need to start planning my exit. I pulled up my computer and moved all of my finances from the pack accounts. I closed all the joint accounts I had with Kosta. It was mostly my money that financed them. I left the ones that he financed in his name. I don't want anything from him at all. After I handle business, I call my brother. I will need his help to leave here safely. Now that Kosta knows that all the money is still tied up with me, I doubt he will let me leave easily. I'm sure he and the bimbo are plotting up something.<br /> I have all of my stuff moved to a guest room. Once I get settled, I pick up my phone and call my brother.<br /> 'Hi, baby sister." My brother says.<br /> That's all it takes for the dam to finally break. I start crying my heart out. Zach keeps trying to ask me what is wrong, but I can't stop crying. After a few minutes, my crying finally slows down.<br /> "What's wrong Zell? Who do I need to kill? I can call Uncle Jerry and we can be to you in 30 minutes. No one makes my baby sister cry. Where is Kosta?"<br /> I pull myself together so that I can actually talk to Zach and let him know what I need from him.<br /> "Sorry, big brother. It just hurts so much. Don't come right now. I'm ok. I just had to get that out. I have been holding it in for a while. Kosta stripped me of all my Luna privileges tonight after I walked into the dining room and saw Khalis sitting in the Luna chair feeding him. She apparently is taking care of all of his needs because I have been working too much and neglecting him."<br /> "What the heck." Zach yelled, "I will kill them both!"<br /> "Not yet Zach. I want to see how this plays out. Khalis told me that she wants Kosta and the luna position. She and Kosta are planning something to discredit me in the eyes of the pack. Zach, I'm pregnant and I have to think about my pup's future. I need to see this through and expose them for the low lives they are. I recorded my conversation with Khalis. The recording is on the private server you installed for me. I am keeping the camera's in my office even though I have been stripped. I need to gather as much evidence as I can get so that when this blows up, I can take my case to the council. He will either try to use my pup to get back at me or use him or her for personal gain, and I can't let any of that happen."<br /> "So what's the plan, baby sis?"<br /> "Well, I have already moved all of my personal money from the pack accounts. They are now responsible for themselves. I'm not sure how that is going to go over. I was covering most of the pack's budget. Tomorrow, I will contact my attorneys to protect all of my other assets. I also plan to call our allies and let them know that I am no longer associated with the pack. I am erasing everything I've done over the past three years. They will need to start over from scratch and rebuild it all on their own. There is no way they will get to enjoy my hard work. No, sir."<br /> "Very smart Zell. What do you need me to do?"<br /> "I'm going to need you, Uncle Jerry, and a few elite warriors here to help me leave safely. Khalis said she will have him in seven days. I don't know if I will be able to stay here for the whole seven days, but I need to stay for now. I want to give Kosta the benefit of the doubt. I want to know if there is any hope of us working it out in the future. Don't get me wrong, I am leaving no matter what because he completely disrespected me, but as of now, he has not broken our bond. As long as he doesn't, the door will be open for us to work through this in the future, but if she gets him to cheat on me, it is 100% over."<br /> "Ok Zell, I will get with Uncle Jerry and we will have everything ready. You need to be ready to move at a moment's notice. I'm going to send a few of my elite warriors close to that pack in case something happens. They can keep you safe until I can get to you. I can promise you Kosta will regret hurting my baby sister. He has known me long enough to know that I will kill anything that hurts you. He better hope mom does not get to him before I do."<br /> "I have already had all of my things moved to a guest room. All of the things I want are packed and ready to go. I may ship a few things ahead. Sapphire and I are both ready to leave.'<br /> "I'm surprised Sapphire does not want to fight for her mate. Is she ready to leave Emil?"<br /> "We are giving both of them a chance by still being here. Honestly, Zach, we have not had a relationship in over a month. Emil has not connected with Sapphire in just as long. Our bond is weakened already. If I wasn't with pup, I wouldn't even try."<br /> "I understand, sis. I am so disappointed in Kosta. He was one of my closest friends. I entrusted my baby sister to him and he greatly let me down. I thought you were safe with him. He will pay for every tear that you shed. I promise you that. I'm going to call Uncle Jerry and get everything set up. I have six warriors already on their way to you. They will keep an eye on things and let me know what's happening."<br /> "Ok. Love you, big brother."<br /> "Love you muffin. Get some rest."<br /> We get off the phone, and I finish doing all my business transactions. I need to make sure that my finances and shares are protected. I feel sorry for the pack members who will have to suffer because of a selfish she-wolf and a prick alpha. I wonder if Kosta knows how close the pack is to being bankrupt without the support of my family and my personal finances? I'm just glad that they showed their hands now before I had completely gotten them out of the hole. I guess since they were living better and had more luxuries; they thought the pack was in the black. Jokes on them.	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1,778,624	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2024-05-08 18:40	active	760	434675779258876	Click To Read on 👉The Dark King: the Wealthiest Man in the Country	Chapter 1: Get This Straight, I Am Billionaire<br /> <br /> The Wilson family reunited on Thanksgiving Day every year. Now, the Wilson Villa's garage was full of luxury cars. In the Villa, A group of young people vied with each other to please Ladyship Wilson.<br /> "Grandma, I am interested in a villa on the Gold Coast. The price is less than one million dollars."<br /> <br /> "Grandma, I want a limited-edition Hermès bag."<br /> <br /> "Grandma, I want a Porsche."<br /> <br /> "Grandma, I want a Patek Philippe watch."<br /> <br /> ...<br /> "Fine! If we round off tonight's investment party, I will buy you whatever you want!" While Ladyship Wilson heartily laughed, and the whole Wilson family looked cheerful.<br /> <br /> <br /> Suddenly, Flores Ford, the poor son-in-law of the Wilson family, stepped forward and timidly said, "Grandma, can you buy me an E-scooter so I can deliver food faster?"<br /> <br /> As soon as he finished speaking, all the other members of the Wilson family gaped at him in silence, thinking he had rocks in his head. He was a loser who had never made any contribution to the family. How could he have the nerve to ask for a gift? Moreover, what he wanted was an E-scooter. He was deliberately embarrassing Grandma!<br /> <br /> Ladyship Wilson's smile instantly disappeared. She slammed her cane on the dining table, pointed at Flores, and said, "You piece of trash! Are you here to party or cause trouble?"<br /> <br /> Flores's wife, Stella Wilson, quickly stepped forward and explained, "Grandma, Flores is ignorant. Today is Thanksgiving Day. Please don't blame him."<br /> <br /> <br /> When she was about to pull Flores away, a member of the Wilson family sarcastically said, "Stella, your poor husband is a loser! Today is Thanksgiving Day. It is OK that he came without a gift to Grandma. But how could he have the nerve to ask her for a gift? What a rude man!"<br /> <br /> Ethan Wilson, Ladyship Wilson's favorite grandson, echoed, "I cannot agree with you more. Flores, be aware of your humble status. Fortunately, the business partners we invited have not arrived yet. Otherwise, you will disgrace the Wilson family!"<br /> <br /> Ethan and Stella were the most outstanding young people in the Wilson family, so they were the popular candidates to inherit the Wilson Group. Therefore, Ethan regarded Stella as a vigorous opponent and never missed any opportunity to suppress her.<br /> <br /> At the same time, several luxury cars went into the villa one after another.<br /> <br /> "Who is that man? Why is he wearing an Uber Eats uniform?"<br /> <br /> "Does anyone in the Wilson family make a living by delivering food? It is embarrassing!"<br /> <br /> "I guess he is Stella's good-for-nothing husband!"<br /> <br /> When Stella heard the sarcastic words, her face was ashamed and angry. And she wished the ground would swallow her up right now.<br /> <br /> "You good-for-nothing! Get out of here! Do you want to disgrace the Wilson family in front of outsiders?" While speaking, Ladyship Wilson raised the cane to poke Flores in the chest.<br /> <br /> <br /> "Hurry up and get out!" Ethan raised his foot and kicked Flores. Flores fell to the ground and clenched his fists, feeling humiliated. But Ethan didn't let him go. He pointed at the sign outside the villa and stepped on Flores's face, saying, "Are you blind? Didn't you see the sign outside the villa when you came? It says dogs are not allowed in. You ugly dog, disgraceful piece of sht!"<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "Ethan, Grandma, You are going too far! Flores just wants an E-scooter. Why are you bullying him like this?" Stella was so angry that she trembled with red eyes. After all, Flores was her husband. They had been married for three years and had a great relationship. Today was a family gathering. How could they beat and scold him?<br /> <br /> <br /> Ladyship Wilson said with dignity, "This loser has been a member of the Wilson family for three years. It is a shame that we cannot wash away. Now, I give you two options. If you divorce him and marry Mr. Hill, I will give him an E-scooter and $1,000,000. If you refuse, the Wilson family will confiscate all your property and disown you and the trash!"<br /> Mr. Hill was Tomas Hill, the heir to Matte Mala Inc. Its business spanned catering services, supermarkets, and real estate. Moreover, it ran Sebria's most prominent investment company! The Wilson family had encountered financial difficulties recently, so they needed help from Matte Mala Inc.<br /> <br /> <br /> Suddenly, a tall and handsome young man walked into the villa. He loudly said, "I am Tomas Hill. I will invest US$8,000,000 in Wilson Group. Please check it, Ladyship Wilson!" While speaking, he took out a check and glanced at Flores disdainfully. Then, he looked at Stella and licked his lips. 'She deserved to be called the most beautiful woman in Sebria. I would sleep with her tonight.'<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Soon, dozens of elites and celebrities in Sebria walked in with their female companions.<br /> <br /> Ladyship Wilson hurried forward, took the check, and happily said, "Mr. Hill, thank you! I always dreamt of you becoming my grandson-in-law!" Then, she turned to look at Stella and asked, "Have you thought about it carefully? Which option will you choose?"<br /> <br /> <br /> Stella shook her head and firmly said, "Grandma, I will not divorce Flores."<br /> <br /> Ladyship Wilson instantly raged and cursed, "You are ungrateful! Drag Flores out! This loser is not allowed to attend tonight's party!"<br /> <br /> Ethan quickly walked over, grabbed Flores, and said, "You trash, the Wilson family will expel you tonight!"<br /> <br /> "Get away from me! I will leave on my own!" Flores had been a pushover for three years. Unexpectedly, he heavily pushed Ethan away with his shoulder this time.<br /> <br /> <br /> Ethan almost fell and felt humiliated. But when he was about to teach Flores a lesson, Flores had strode out of the villa.<br /> <br /> "Flores! I will leave with you!" Stella quickly chased after him.<br /> <br /> <br /> Ladyship Wilson shouted, "If you leave now, I will disown you! You, your parents, and that loser will be kicked out of the Wilson family together!"<br /> <br /> Stella was stunned because she had not expected her grandma to say such ruthless words.<br /> <br /> Flores said outside the villa, "You stay here. Don't worry about me."<br /> <br /> Then, he took out his phone, dialed a number, and coldly said, "Three years have passed. I have passed the test, right?"<br /> <br /> A man respectfully replied, "Yes. King of Malia Palace, you have passed the test! From now on, you are the leader of Malia Palace. We are the world's top force and control more than half of the world's power and wealth. They are at your disposal now! By the way, Andrew Cooper, the richest man in Langel Ykre City, has arrived in Sebria. He will contact you later!"<br /> <br /> "OK!" Flores hung up the phone in a daze. <br /> <br /> <br /> Five years ago, he had been exiled and hunted by his family. When he almost died in an unknown land, a mysterious older man saved his life and spent two years teaching him everything he knew. Then, the older man appointed him the next King of Malia Palace. But there was one condition. Flores must be the son-in-law of the Wilson family for three years! <br /> <br /> The assessment period was finally over! Flores had suffered humiliation for three years! He swore to make them pay a heavy price!<br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 2: The Pain of Being Rich<br /> <br /> When Flores left five minutes later, everyone laughed at him.<br /> <br /> Soon, the party started in the Wilson family's living room.<br /> <br /> Ladyship Wilson stood in the center of the living room with a her cane. She glanced around and grinned, "Wilson Group would not have gotten where it is now without the help of our friends in Sebria. Now everyone, please introduce the friends you invited here tonight to us!"<br /> <br /> Her words caused a sensation in the living room. According to tradition, whoever invited the most distinguished guest to the Thanksgiving Day party and made an investment would obtain the largest share of resources this year.<br /> <br /> "Grandma, I luckily invited Tesla's regional manager and got an investment of US$1,000,000."<br /> <br /> "Grandma, I invited the vice president of Google's branch and got an investment of US$1,500,000."<br /> <br /> ...<br /> While the members of the Wilson family vied to introduce their guests, Ladyship Wilson shook hands with the investors one by one. Soon, there were only two people left.<br /> <br /> They were Ethan and Stella!<br /> <br /> Stella stood in a corner because she didn't want to socialize with Tomas. Ethan was satisfied to see this. He stepped forward and said, "Grandma, the guest I invited is Mr. Hill."<br /> <br /> "Good job. Mr. Hill, thank you for investing US$8,000,000 in Wilson Group." After Ladyship Wilson thanked Tomas again, she felt more disgusted with Stella, who was unwilling to get a divorce.<br /> <br /> <br /> Seeing Ladyship Wilson's disgusted expression, Ethan exaggeratedly said with a sneer, "Stella, it's time for your grand finale. With your beauty, I believe you can build up many connections." He was insinuating she sold her body to build up connections, and so she had good performances and could compete with him.<br /> <br /> <br /> "You!" Stella ground her teeth with hatred. And her face blushed scarlet. Her father was a gambler, so Ladyship Wilson did not take him seriously. Stella had no resources or power, so she could not invite big shots. Therefore, although she had worked hard and performed well over the years, she had received few resources from the Wilson family.<br /> <br /> <br /> Ethan loudly asked, "What's wrong? Didn't you invite guests this year?" He wanted Stella to be humiliated in front of the investors so she could no longer fight against him in the company.<br /> <br /> <br /> Stella lowered her head and clenched her fists. When she saw Ladyship Wilson and the investors shake their heads in disappointment, she felt like a dagger in her heart. Suddenly, the door opened. Then, two men appeared.<br /> <br /> <br /> One was Flores, who had just been kicked out of the Wilson family. The other was an decent and aristocratic older man.<br /> <br /> Andrew stood with his hands behind his back and imperially said in a resonant voice, "I am Andrew Cooper from Langel Ykre City. Flores and I are good friends. I will invest 10 million dollars in the Wilson Group!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 3: The Richest Man Is My Servant<br /> <br /> After giving Flores a check for $10 million, Andrew turned around and left.<br /> <br /> "Langel Ykre City...the most developed city！ Could it be Andrew Cooper, the head of the first family of Langel Ykre City!"<br /> <br /> "It's him! I've seen him on TV!"<br /> <br /> "Oh my gosh! I did not expect Andrew to come to the Wilson Group's party. No other companies in Sebria could have such an honor!"<br /> <br /> Everyone in Wilson Villa was in shock.<br /> <br /> Ethan loudly said, "Stop talking nonsense! Andrew is such a big shot, while Flores is a loser. How can they be good friends? Flores, tell us the truth! Where did you hire the actor to pretend to be Andrew? Do you know the Wilson Group will get in big trouble if you offend the Cooper family?" He would never believe the loser had anything to do with the most powerful family in Langel Ykre City!<br /> <br /> <br /> Everyone instantly turned to look at Flores, including Stella. Her beautiful eyes were full of surprise. Flores had been kicked out of the Wilson family. How could he connect with the wealthiest man in Langel Ykre City within less than half an hour?<br /> <br /> Flores aggressively retorted, "It is OK that you suspect he is an imposter. But can't you see the check for $10 million? Are you blind?" As the King of Malia Palace, almost half the world's wealthiest men were his servants. Andrew was inconspicuous among them. He temporarily served as Flores's liaison between Sebria and Malia Palace.<br /> <br /> <br /> Ethan rushed forward and grabbed the check, saying, "Bah! Don't bullsht me! I know it's a fake check!" When he was about to tear it, Ladyship Wilson hit the cane to the ground, saying, "Stop!"<br /> Then, she reached out to take the check from Ethan and carefully examined it.<br /> <br /> <br /> As the head of the Wilson family and the president of the Wilson Group, she could tell whether a check was fake or not by eyes.<br /> <br /> After a long time, <br /> <br /> she took a deep breath and said, "This check is real! I have the honor to meet Mr. Cooper at a cocktail party before. The man just now is him! Stella, well done!" Ladyship Wilson gave Stella a rare smile. As far as Ladyship Wilson knew, Flores could not invite such a big shot to their party.<br /> <br /> <br /> "Grandma..." When Stella was about to explain that Flores should take the credit, he stopped her and smiled, "There is no need to explain." It did not matter what others thought of him. He had done it to make his wife happy.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Stella looked at Flores in confusion. She somehow felt there was something different about him today.<br /> <br /> The party lasted until late at night.<br /> <br /> *<br /> <br /> Late at night, at the Wilson Villa.<br /> Ladyship Wilson sat in the main seat of Wilson Villa and solemnly said, "Today's party was successful. Ethan and Stella, you both did a good job! However, everyone should know although we got 30 million dollars tonight, we need another 100 million to get through our current crisis."<br /> <br /> The members of the Wilson family all looked worried. Some of them couldn't help sighing softly. The Wilson Group had heavily invested in the Century Garden project. Nearly two-thirds of the construction had been completed. But it had failed to pass the quality inspection. It meant the 500 million dollars investment might go down the drain! The only way to save the Wilson Group was to inject much money to revitalize their assets.<br /> <br /> Ladyship Wilson rubbed her forehead and asked deeply, "Who can get more investments or loans?"<br /> <br /> Hearing this, everyone looked at each other and shook their heads with wry smiles. More investments? They had used all their connections tonight. As for loans, most people in the Wilson family only wanted to get dividends every year. So, they were unwilling to let the company have huge liabilities.<br /> <br /> Seeing everyone keep silent, Ladyship instantly got angry. She said, "Why? You are proactive when you get the dividends. But what it is now? We are in big trouble. You only got 30 million dollars tonight and want me to believe you've tried your best?"<br /> <br /> Ethan comforted her, saying, "Grandma, please calm down. Your health is the most important. I will figure out a way!" After he quickly glanced around, his gaze fell on Stella.<br /> <br /> <br /> He looked at her mockingly and said, "Stella is capable. She knows the head of the Cooper family. Maybe she can solve our financial problem!"<br /> <br /> "Yeah! Stella knows Andrew! He is a big shot!"<br /> <br /> "200 or 300 million dollars is a small amount to him!"<br /> <br /> "Stella, the Wilson family has treated you well. It's time for you to repay!"<br /> <br /> After hearing Ethan's words, everyone seemed to have gotten a straw to clutch at and couldn't wait to persuade Stella.<br /> <br /> After silence, Ladyship Wilson expectantly asked, "Stella, can you do it?"<br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 4: A Hundred-Million-Dollar Bet<br /> <br /> Fearing Stella would reject, Ladyship Wilson added, "Don't worry. The Wilson family will reward you if you get a huge investment from Andrew. And I will never force you to divorce Flores again!"<br /> <br /> "Me?" Stella found herself in a woeful predicament. After all, she didn't know Andrew.<br /> <br /> <br /> At the thought of this, she couldn't help glancing at Flores, wondering if he could solve the problem. But he was dozing off! 'I should not have had hope for him! I am stupid.' She felt bitter in her heart.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> She had no choice but to tell the truth, saying, "Grandma, to tell you the truth, I don't know Andrew! It is Flores who brought him here! So, I can't get the investment."<br /> <br /> Ladyship Wilson's smile instantly disappeared. Seeing her pull a long face, Ethan loudly mocked, "Stella, I did not expect you to be so heartless. You are unwilling to help your family! Your lie is lame. How could that loser know Andrew? Why don't you say Flores is the richest man in the world and Andrew is his henchman?"<br /> He wanted Stella to lose the qualification to compete with him for the position of head of the family today.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Suddenly, he loudly snapped, "Do you hold grudges against Grandma because she has neglected you these years? You feel wronged, so you want to take the opportunity to seek revenge, right?"<br /> <br /> Stella denied with a pale face, "No! You misunderstood." Once Ethan successfully framed her, she would lose Grandma's trust. And her family might be expelled from the Wilson family.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Ethan turned to look at Ladyship Wilson and said, "Grandma, I have a suggestion. Whoever gets a 100-million-dollar investment within a week will be the heir of the Wilson family. Do you think it's feasible?"<br /> <br /> Ladyship Wilson looked between Ethan and Stella. Seeing him so confident, she made up her mind. 'Ethan will take over the Wilson Group sooner or later. He and Tomas are good friends. They might have already reached an agreement about the 100-million-dollar investment. I should take the opportunity to decide on the heir!'<br /> <br /> <br /> Thinking of this, Ladyship Wilson agreed, "OK!"<br /> <br /> "Thank you, Grandma!" Ethan had a barrel of fun to hear this. He turned to look at Stella and said, "Stella, do you dare to bet? I don't think you should blame me for bullying you. I will give up the inheritance to you if you get an investment of 50 million dollars! But if you lose, you will be expelled from the Wilson family with nothing! Do you dare to take the bet?"<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "You!" Stella clenched her fists and resentfully looked at Ethan because he took no prisoners! 'What should I do? The position of the heir proves an irresistible temptation to me! But if I lose the bet, they will confiscate our property and kick my parents, sister, and me out of the Wilson family! Ethan is evil. He will make me suffer more. He may even play dirty tricks to force me to sleep with Tomas.'<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Ethan loudly asked, "Why? Don't you dare to bet?" Stella was his strongest competitor. He must seize this opportunity to destroy her!<br /> <br /> <br /> Hearing his words, Flores slowly opened his eyes and said, "Honey, bet with him. Believe me." The position of the heir to the Wilson family meant nothing to Flores. But since his wife liked it, he would give it to her.<br /> <br /> <br /> Stella's mind was a mess. She did want to compete for the position of the heir. After hearing Flores's words, she suddenly decided to bet!<br /> <br /> When he and Andrew suddenly appeared during the day, she was shocked. It was probably what made her feel his words magically convincing. After making up her mind, she ground her white teeth, stood up, and replied, "As you wish, I will bet with you!"<br /> <br /> Seeing her step into his trap, Ethan suppressed the excitement in his heart and said, "Great! Grandma and everyone present witness our bet. You can't get back on your words!" Stella quickly replied, "Don't worry. I am not as shameless as you!”<br /> <br /> She would not back down. Since she had decided to fight, she would go all out!<br /> <br /> "Grandma, I feel a little unwell. I'm going back!" Stella's mind was a mess. She could no longer sit still, so she made an excuse to leave. Seeing this, Flores quickly got up and followed her out.<br /> <br /> <br /> Seeing them leaving, Ethan made a plan in his mind. <br /> "Hmph! A good-for-nothing man and an unfavored woman! I will drive you out of the Wilson family! Wait and see!"<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Stella nervously asked in the car, "Flores, tell me the truth. How did you know Andrew?"<br /> 'If Flores and Andrew have a good relationship for real, maybe I can get the investment!' She thought.<br /> <br /> <br /> Flores made up a story with a serious face, saying, "It is a coincidence. Andrew is my old school friend's father. When I was driven out, I came across him at the door. He said he wanted to invest in the Wilson Group, so I led him to the banquet." He did not want to reveal his identity, fearing it would scare Stella.<br /> <br /> <br /> "What? So, you are not close friends." Stella felt more depressed. And her mind became messier.<br /> <br /> <br /> She did not want to give up, so she asked, "Do you know anyone from banks or Investment Firms?"<br /> <br /> Flores shook his head and honestly replied, "No. I don't know such people!" Indeed, He had just taken over Malia Palace and had no connections in Sebria.<br /> <br /> <br /> Squeak! Stella slammed on the brakes and stared at Flores, saying, "Flores, why did you do this to me? Since you don't have any connections, you should not have confidently asked me to bet with Ethan. They will kick us out of the Wilson family if we lose!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 5: What's It Like to Spend Ten Billion in Ten Minutes?<br /> "You're my wife. How could I let you lose this bet?" Flores said confidently.<br /> "You... are hopeless!" Stella was completely disappointed in Flores. "Looks like I'll have to go from bank to bank, hoping to secure some loans." At this point, Stella had no other choice.<br /> "Don't worry, Stella. You have to believe in yourself!" Flores looked at Stella's anxiety and couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing. The king of Malia Palace, worrying about money?<br /> "Heh, I'll believe you when pigs fly!" Stella glared at Flores bitterly. Indeed, this man was completely unreliable!<br /> <br /> The next morning, after preparing breakfast, Flores went out alone.<br /> Shortly after, Flores stood in front of the Global Investment and strode in.<br /> "Sir, do you have an appointment?" the pretty receptionist asked politely, standing up.<br /> "I'm here to see Samuel Phillips. He should know I'm coming," Flores said casually. Before coming, he had instructed Andrew Cooper and Global Investment over the phone, but he didn't reveal his true identity.<br /> "Alright, please wait a moment!" The receptionist, hearing Flores directly mention the company's general manager, figured he was an important guest and promptly called the general manager's office to inquire.<br /> Five minutes later, Flores was sitting in Samuel Phillips's luxurious office.<br /> "I'm Samuel Phillips. Mr. Cooper has already spoken to me over the phone. What can I do for you? And how should I address you?" Samuel Phillips leaned back on the sofa, crossing his hands in front of him and scrutinizing Flores.<br /> Samuel Phillips wondered what the relationship was between this young man and the Cooper family. Andrew Cooper didn't clarify it on the phone yesterday, only saying that no matter what Flores requested, it must be fully satisfied. However, he wasn't going to help just anyone. It depended on the person's qualifications!<br /> "I'm Flores Ford. I'm here today to discuss investing in the Wilson Group with you," Flores truthfully stated his purpose.<br /> "Flores Ford? Wilson Group?" Samuel Phillips frowned, feeling that the name of Flores Ford sounded very familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.<br /> The next moment, he slapped his thigh, unable to believe it, and asked incredulously, "You're that useless son-in-law of the Wilson family, Flores Ford?"<br /> The Wilson family was famous in Sebria City, and Stella was a rare beauty. So, the fact that Stella married and brought in a freeloading son-in-law was well-known throughout the city!<br /> "Yes, I'm the one you're talking about," Flores frowned slightly, feeling dissatisfied. It seemed that the general manager of Global Investment didn't value him at all!<br /> "Heh, I was wondering who it was. Turns out it's you, a useless man. You're here today to get us to invest in the Wilson Group, right? Sorry, I can't help you, and I don't want to help a waste!" Samuel Phillips lost interest as soon as he learned about Flores's status as a freeloading son-in-law to a rich family. ‘I will never believe that a failure like him has any special relationship with Andrew Cooper. Besides, if the upper class found out I was afraid of a well-known failure, I'd probably become the laughingstock of the city!’<br /> "Are you sure?! Can I hear the reason?" Flores sneered, his face turning cold. If someone wasn’t smart enough, he didn't need to give them any respect!<br /> "The reason? Look at you, a shameless, useless son-in-law like you thinks you're qualified to talk to me? And I know about the Wilson Group's situation. The financial chain is broken, and there's no way out! Get lost! Don't let the door hit you on the way out!" Samuel Phillips stood up, brushed off his clothes, and rudely drove Flores out.<br /> "If you apologize right now and invest in the Wilson Group, I can pretend nothing happened. Otherwise, you won't be able to handle my wrath!" Flores said coldly.<br /> "Hahaha! You... are you kidding me?! Let me apologize to you and fear your wrath? You're truly ridiculous!" Samuel Phillips laughed loudly, looking at Flores as if he were looking at a fool.<br /> "Don't worry, I'll show you what real fear is!" Flores said with a cold smile, then took out his phone and dialed a number, calling Andrew Cooper. "No matter what means you use! In ten minutes, I'll make Global Investment mine!"<br /> After saying this, Flores hung up the phone and closed his eyes to relax. Samuel Phillips's fate was sealed from the moment he insulted him!<br /> "Hahaha! Acquire Global Investment in ten minutes? Do you know how much Global Investment is worth now? Five billion! Do you understand the concept of five billion? Fine, I'll wait for you for ten minutes. After ten minutes, I'll have security strip you naked and throw you out!" Samuel Phillips said fiercely. Could anyone come up with five billion in ten minutes? Maybe someone could! But definitely not this useless son-in-law standing before him!<br /> Soon, ten minutes passed!<br /> "You useless fool, now I'll show you how miserable it is to offend me!" Samuel Phillips sneered, but just as he was about to call in security to take Flores away, his phone rang.<br /> "Hello, boss!" Samuel Phillips immediately straightened up and greeted respectfully, his face filled with a flattering smile. But this smile quickly disappeared.<br /> "W... what? Boss, are you kidding me? You're actually selling Global Investment? It’s doing so well! What? Sold for ten billion?!" Samuel Phillips's face turned extremely pale in an instant, his eyeballs almost popping out of their sockets! The person who bought Global Investment for ten billion, the person he had just mocked as a useless fool... he was dumbstruck on the spot!<br /> Samuel Phillips's phone dropped to the ground, his face ashen. Samuel Phillips knew he was finished, utterly finished!<br /> "I'm sorry! Ten billion is just pocket change to me!" Flores stood up and said lightly.<br /> Samuel Phillips was so frightened that he fell off his chair. Ten billion! And it was just pocket change? He dared not think about how terrifying of a person he had offended?<br /> "Mr. Ford, I was wrong! I was really wrong! Please spare me!" Samuel Phillips got up and knelt down again, begging for forgiveness while banging his head hard against the floor.<br /> Chapter 6: The Ten Billion Acquisition<br /> Samuel Phillips thought, ‘At this point, losing my position is a small matter. The real issue is, he can easily produce a ten billion, so he can dispose of me as if I were a waste.’<br /> "Sorry? It’s too late!" Flores smirked and sat directly in Samuel Phillips's chair.<br /> Just then, the office door swung open, and nearly ten people rushed in, lining up obediently on both sides, their faces filled with fear. They were all executives of Global Investment, and upon receiving the notice, they rushed over immediately.<br /> "Old Andrew moves fast!" Flores looked at the trembling people around him, knowing well that Andrew Cooper had arranged this.<br /> "No need for extra words. Investigate Samuel Phillips thoroughly! I want to see satisfactory results in a week!" Flores, high and mighty, looked down at everyone and gave the order.<br /> "Got it! We'll get the job done!" The executive in charge of the task responded without hesitation.<br /> In an instant, Samuel Phillips felt like he'd been struck by lightning, almost fainting on the spot. During his tenure as general manager, he had nearly complete control, engaging in all sorts of illegal activities. With this investigation, he'd likely spend the rest of his life in prison!<br /> "By the way, what's your name? How long have you been working at the company?" Flores ignored the collapsed Samuel Phillips and turned to the beautiful woman pouring tea for him. This woman was the receptionist who had just led Flores into the office.<br /> "Sir, my name is Mila Robinson. I've been with the company for five years!" Mila's heart was pounding nervously, relieved that she hadn't offended Flores earlier.<br /> "Good! From now on, Mila is the new General Manager of the company, and your salaries will be doubled. But if anyone dares to question the GM or cause trouble, you'll be fired on the spot!" Flores said sternly, commanding respect with both kindness and toughness. The goal was to have everyone completely convinced. As for why he appointed Mila as General Manager, it was partly because of appreciation and partly for future convenience in communicating and cooperating with Stella.<br /> "Thank you, Sir!" Mila's eyes were moist with excitement. She graduated from a prestigious university and was capable. But because she refused to sleep with Samuel Phillips, she had been gradually demoted to receptionist over the past five years. Now, she finally had a chance to shine.<br /> Flores nodded lightly. After everyone else left the office, he stayed behind to instruct Mila on investing in the Wilson Group.<br /> "Remember! In this investment, you can only deal with Stella, and you must not let her know that I am the owner of Global Investment. Understood?" Flores emphasized the important points repeatedly.<br /> "Understood!" Mila nodded heavily, feeling even more envious of Stella. Stella had such an outstanding husband; what a lucky woman!<br /> With everything arranged, Flores left Global Investment.<br /> <br /> "Hey, honey, over here!" Flores stood beneath the Wilson Group building, one hand holding onto his bike, the other waving high in the air.<br /> "What are you up to? I was just about to head to the bank to see if I could secure a loan! Now the whole company is ready to laugh at me, but no matter what, I'm going to give it my all!" Stella gritted her teeth, though she looked fragile on the outside, she was incredibly strong-willed.<br /> "Huh, who dares laugh at my wife? Come on, hop on, honey, I’m taking you for a ride to negotiate a big investment!" Flores chuckled, patting the back seat of his bike.<br /> "Silly man!" Stella couldn't contain her frustration at Flores's carefree attitude. Just as she turned to leave, Flores lifted her up with one hand and placed her on the bike.<br /> "You!" Stella's face flushed pink. Since they got married, this was the first time Flores had been so intimately physical with her.<br /> <br /> Half an hour later.<br /> "Babe, get off, we're here!" Flores set Stella down and found a spot to park his bike.<br /> "Flores! You're not suggesting we go to Global Investment to discuss business, are you?" Stella asked through gritted teeth, staring at the gleaming golden letters in front of the building. Global Investment, worth billions, was definitely a behemoth in Sebria City. It ranked in the top ten in the entire Sottish State.<br /> "Yeah, I've already had Andrew Cooper set up a meeting with their General Manager. Come on, let's go! I'll wait here for good news!" Worried that Stella might continue to question him, Flores hurried her along.<br /> "Andrew Cooper... fine!" Stella wasn't going to believe it at all, but at the mention of Andrew Cooper's name, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope.<br /> "Flores, if you're lying to me, you're in big trouble!" With a deep breath, Stella walked into the gates of Global Investment with a nervous heart.<br /> The next moment, a soft, pleasant voice greeted her. "Hello! Are you Miss Stella Wilson?"<br /> <br /> Chapter 7: The Lucky Star Investing 500 Million<br /> "I... I am!" Stella was already nervous, and the sudden voice startled her. She looked up and saw a young woman in professional attire standing nearby with a smile.<br /> "Hello! Esteemed guest, please follow me. Our GM is waiting for you in the office!" The young woman, now confirmed to be the new receptionist, seemed very reserved, as if she were hosting someone important. The GM personally instructed her to ensure she greeted a woman named Stella Wilson at the door, and she couldn't afford to be negligent!<br /> "Oh, alright!" Stella was a bit dazed; her mind seemed insufficient. An esteemed guest? The GM of Global Investment waiting for her? It felt like she was dreaming!<br /> A moment later, Stella arrived at Mila's office.<br /> "Miss Wilson, hello! I'm Mila Robinson, the GM of Global Investment. It's a pleasure to finally meet you!" Mila rushed forward to greet Stella, inwardly marveling at Stella's beauty, which seemed capable to make everyone fall for her.<br /> "Miss Robinson, hello!" Stella was slightly surprised. She hadn't expected the GM of Global Investment to be so young and beautiful!<br /> After a brief chat, the conversation between the two got to the point.<br /> "Miss Robinson, I actually came to your company mainly for Wilson Group..." Stella straightened up, feeling a bit nervous.<br /> "Miss Wilson, I think... there's no need to waste any more time on this matter!" Mila waved her hand, cutting off Stella's words directly.<br /> "What... what?" Stella couldn't believe her ears. From the moment she walked in until now, Mila's words seemed to be trying to please her. But why was she so straightforwardly refusing to discuss the crucial issue? What was she really thinking?<br /> "What I mean is, Global Investment won't invest in Wilson Group! Because it is pretty sure that this deal is a loss!" Mila explained with a faint smile.<br /> "Oh, I see. Then I'll... just go. Sorry for disturbing!" Stella's hopes were shattered. She felt a bit powerless as she prepared to leave. It seemed that Mila's warm reception earlier was just a formality because of Andrew Cooper.<br /> "Wait, Miss Wilson, I think you've misunderstood me!" Mila saw Stella about to leave the office and hurriedly got up to stop her, feeling a cold sweat on her back. ‘If Miss Wilson leaves and I can’t complete the boss's task, my position as CEO would likely be in jeopardy!’<br /> "Let me explain further. Global Investment won't invest in Wilson Group, but we can invest in you!" Mila was afraid of any more misunderstandings and quickly finished her sentence.<br /> "Invest in me?" Stella's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't understand why.<br /> "Yes! We at Global Investment have decided to invest 500 million in you! The contract is ready, and once you sign it, the project will be completely finalized!" Mila took out a contract from her desk and handed it to Stella.<br /> "Five... five hundred million?" Stella's eyes widened, finding it hard to believe! Her goal was only fifty million, so how did she suddenly end up with five hundred million for no reason?<br /> "Miss Robinson, you're... not joking, are you?" Stella asked suspiciously.<br /> "You can carefully read the contract." Mila smiled, sipping her coffee. She couldn't help but feel even more envious of Stella. Why couldn't she encounter such a wealthy husband who could effortlessly invest five hundred million!?<br /> Stella sat down still with doubt, and began to scrutinize the contract word by word. The more she read, the wider her eyes became. ‘500 million! It’s really a five-hundred-million-dollar investment! Moreover, Global Investment has already signed and stamped the contract; all that is left is my signature!’<br /> "May I ask why?" Stella sighed deeply, suppressing her excitement and asked. Not investing in Wilson Group, but investing in herself?! She wasn't naive enough to think she was worth more than Wilson Group!<br /> "Because... you have a lucky star!" Mila smiled mysteriously and answered playfully.<br /> "A Lucky star?! Who is it!?" Stella slightly furrowed her brows. Was it Andrew Cooper?! But even he might not have such great power, right?!<br /> "Miss Wilson, if you still doubt our investment, I don't think we need to cooperate anymore!" Mila immediately dropped her smile and replied sternly. She hadn't expected to slip up almost revealing Flores's identity! Suddenly, her back was drenched in cold sweat.<br /> "Okay, I won't ask anymore." With that, Stella swiftly signed her name on the contract.<br /> "Looking forward to cooperating with you!" After signing the contract, Mila personally escorted Stella to the door.<br /> Along the way, Stella seemed a bit absent-minded. ‘Who is the lucky star that the GM mentioned?! Why would he help me?! That is f500 million dollars!’<br /> "Take care, Miss Wilson. The investment funds will be transferred to your designated account tomorrow," Mila said, feeling relaxed as she had perfectly completed the first task assigned by her boss.<br /> Just then, Stella seemed to suddenly remember something, her pretty face full of surprise. She slowly turned around and asked, "Miss Robinson, I noticed on the contract just now, your boss seems to be called Mr. Ford?!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 8: Hotel Meeting<br /> At this moment, the name Ford, signed on the contract, felt like it was etched into Stella's mind. ‘Ford? Not investing in Wilson Group but willing to invest in me? And it's a whopping five hundred million! Could it be... Flores? Who else would go to such lengths for me? So Flores confidently urged me to accept the bet during the meeting, then brought me to Global Investment with such assurance? Everything is within his control!’ The more Stella thought about it, the faster her heart pounded, as if it might burst out of her chest!<br /> "Yes! Our boss is from the Ford family of Capital Eriaru! Miss Wilson, please keep this confidential. Our boss prefers to keep their identity private," Mila replied calmly after a momentary lapse in her expression. As for the Capital Eriaru Ford family, it was just a cover story Mila concocted to dispel Stella's doubts.<br /> "Capital Eriaru? I must have been imagining things!" Stella chuckled self-deprecatingly. ‘The scion of the Capital Eriaru's prominent family coming to the humble Wilson family as a freeloading son-in-law for three years and enduring humiliation? No way!’ Soon, Stella completely dismissed her absurd speculation.<br /> <br /> Moments later.<br /> "Honey, everything went smoothly, right?" Flores rode the bike to take Stella towards home.<br /> "Yeah! I got the contract!" Stella waved the contract, smiling. With the investment settled, she felt much lighter.<br /> "Haha! You're amazing! Remember to bring me to the meeting tomorrow. I want to see how Ethan cries after losing the bet!" Flores said.<br /> "Yeah! By the way, Flores, do you know... the Ford family from Capital Eriaru?" Stella bit her lip, unable to resist asking.<br /> "Not really," Flores shook his head, his smile fading, replaced by a glint of severity in his eyes.<br /> "Well... thank you, anyway!" Stella watched Flores's retreating figure, whispering softly. She knew that even if Flores wasn't the boss of Global Investment, without him, she wouldn't have secured the 500 million investment!<br /> "Haha, you're my wife! It's only right! Besides, now that you're the future head of the family, I can spend your money even more!" Flores quickly regained his composure, teasing half-seriously.<br /> Stella was left wordless.<br /> <br /> Late at night, in a luxurious suite at a hotel.<br /> "How's it going? Did that worthless woman run around looking for banks today?" Ethan mocked, swirling his wine. The thought of Stella being rejected time and again brought him immense satisfaction!<br /> "Uh... no! She just went to Global Investment, then left half an hour later!" his lackey respectfully replied. He had followed Stella all day.<br /> "Global Investment? With whom?" Tomas sitting beside him asked curiously. Samuel Phillips, the general manager of Global Investment, was his uncle, and it was through this relationship that the financial business of Matte Mala Inc. continued to thrive.<br /> "She went with Flores on a bike!" the subordinate reported truthfully.<br /> "Hahaha! On a bike?! Idiot! Do they even know what Global Investment is?! She probably didn't even get to see my uncle's face and was kicked out!" Tomas said confidently. Since Samuel Phillips's investigation was being conducted in secret, he was unaware that his uncle had been fired.<br /> “Haha, Mr. Hill, you are right! By the way, I wonder when we'll be able to sign the loan contract between Matte Mala Inc. and Wilson Group?' Ethan asked excitedly. Signing this contract would make him the sole heir of the Wilson family.<br /> “'I've already discussed it with my father. Matte Mala Inc. currently has fifty million in liquid assets, and my uncle has agreed to invest one hundred million in our company, which should arrive in the next two days. So, without any unexpected developments, I'll be able to deliver the contract to you tomorrow morning!' Tomas declared confidently, patting his chest."<br /> "Alright! Mr. Hill, you are so reliable! Once I become the head of the Wilson family, you'll definitely get your share of benefits! Come on, let's toast to our collaboration!" Ethan exclaimed with joy, raising his glass and inviting Mr. Hill to join him.<br /> "Heh, Mr. Wilson, you know me. Money doesn't matter to me. As long as you remember your promise to let Stella accompany me for a night!" Tomas smirked, his eyes gleaming with lust. He had been craving Stella's beauty for a long time and couldn't wait to have her.<br /> "I always keep my word! Once I win the bet, Stella and her family will be completely ousted from the Wilsons. By then, she'll probably have trouble even putting food on the table. Just give her some money, and Mr. Hill can have your way with her however you wish!" Ethan said with a sinister grin, his eyes filled with malice.<br /> *<br /> The next day, all members of the Wilson family gathered in the meeting room early.<br /> "Heh, Stella still hasn't shown up. Did she give up just like her useless husband?" Ethan looked around with disdain, his face full of contempt.<br /> <br /> Chapter 9: Earn 100 Million<br /> "I don't think we need to wait any longer, it's a waste of time!"<br /> "If Stella can bring in money, I'll eat my hat!"<br /> "Ethan, you're still too kind! What's the use of giving her a chance? Useless people have no hopes!"<br /> The peripheral members of the Wilson family chimed in one after another, trying to please Ethan.<br /> "Quiet down! No need to wait. Ethan, just tell everyone about your accomplishments!" Ladyship Wilson said impatiently with her eyes half-closed. She had never held any hope for Stella. Agreeing to their bet was merely a pretext to secure Ethan's position as heir.<br /> "Yes, Grandma!" Ethan suppressed his excitement. He knew the game was won!<br /> "Everyone, look, this morning Mr. Hill personally delivered this contract to me! Matte Mala Inc. has signed and sealed it! The loan amount is 100 million!" Ethan took out a contract from his briefcase and respectfully handed it to Ladyship Wilson.<br /> "100 million?! Ethan, you're truly amazing!"<br /> "You're the best! Wilson Group is saved!"<br /> "Yeah! Thinking back, it's really laughable how Stella thought she could compete with Ethan!"<br /> As soon as everyone heard that Ethan had secured a 100-million investment, they were ecstatic.<br /> "Well done!" Ladyship Wilson smiled and looked at the contract, excitedly repeating "well done" three times. With this investment, Wilson Group was saved!<br /> "Ethan's contributions are obvious to everyone. Now, I announce that the next heir of Wilson Group will be..." Ladyship Wilson surveyed the room, loudly announcing.<br /> "Here it comes! Here it comes!" Ethan clenched his fists, his body trembling with excitement.<br /> "Hold on!" Just then, a voice sounded from the doorway, it was Flores!<br /> "You useless waste! What qualifications do you have to attend this meeting? Get out of here!" Ethan was so angry. He was just about to be declared the heir!<br /> "Oh? Then do I have qualifications?" Ethan, don't forget our bet! Now I'm not even here yet, and you're eager to announce the result. Are you afraid?" Stella followed Flores in, unceremoniously questioning Ethan. She had already won this bet!<br /> "Oh, who do we have here? Turns out it's the coward Stella. I thought you'd be hiding in your room forever!" Ethan sneered. He was confident that Stella had not been able to secure any investment in just half an hour at Global Investment and no visits to any banks, not a chance!<br /> "Oh? What if I told you I already secured an investment?" Stella looked at Ethan playfully, a sly smile on her lips. She couldn't wait to see Ethan's expression after he found out the result!<br /> "Impossible!" Ethan denied categorically. How could she have get the money with just 30 minutes in Global Investment? Unless pigs could fly!<br /> "Stella, stop playing around! Ethan managed to secure a 100-million-dollar loan this time! The contract has been signed!"<br /> "Even if you really secured 50 million, so what? Can it compare to 100 million?"<br /> "I think you'd better apologize to Ethan right away and let him arrange a position for you in the company!"<br /> Everyone chimed in with mockery and sarcasm towards Stella, afraid of offending Ethan if they missed the chance.<br /> "Wait a minute, Ethan. Yesterday, you swore that if my wife secured fifty million in investment, even if she won, how about it? Changing your tune now? And, whether or not my wife secured investment, isn't it clear from the contract she's holding? Do you all lack the courage to even take a look?" Flores couldn't stand the vulgar faces of the people around him and couldn't help but speak up.<br /> "You! You trash! What right do you have to speak?!" Ethan felt something was off seeing Stella and Flores so calm. Could something have gone wrong?<br /> "Grandma, please take a look!" Stella glanced at Ethan and handed the contract to Ladyship Wilson. Just one look at the contract, and everything would be clear!<br /> "Stella, did you really get at least fifty million?" Ladyship Wilson slowly took the contract, but instead of immediately opening it, she looked up at Stella and asked.<br /> "Yes, Grandma!" Stella nodded excitedly. ‘Once Grandma sees that it's not just fifty million, but five hundred million, she'll surely look at me with newfound respect!’<br /> "Oh!" Ladyship Wilson's eyes twinkled, but she set the contract aside without a word. She stroked her cane. "Stella, you've done well. From today onwards, We will take special care of your family! Also, I hope you can be content with what you have!" Ladyship Wilson said calmly, with a hint of warning in her tone.<br /> "Grandma..." Stella's heart suddenly sank heavily. She never expected Grandma's favoritism to be this extreme, not even bothering to glance at the contract! It was a five-hundred-million-dollar investment! Her hard work and effort only brought her 'be content'? Why should she be content!<br /> "Hahaha! Stella, don't you see the situation? Do you have to force Grandma to be so definitive? Your fifty million investment, can it save the Wilson family? Compared to mine, it's nothing! Besides, I am the eldest grandson of the Wilson family. What qualifications do you have to compete with me for the position of heir?!" Ethan looked down on Stella and Flores, his voice low.<br /> "Wife, I think we should leave. These people are fools. Five hundred million is worth more than fifty million! With the money, we can go out and do some business, hmm, let's earn ourselves another 100 million!" Flores looked at Ethan as if he were an idiot, then at Ladyship Wilson. One hand held the tearful Stella, the other reached across the table to grab the contract.<br /> "Hold it!" Ladyship Wilson dropped her cane, grabbing Flores's hand tightly, her eyes gleaming with desire, "What did you say?! 500 million?!"<br /> "Yes! 500 million! And it's not a loan, it's an investment with no interest!" Flores slowly withdrew his hand, his goal achieved.<br /> The only sound in the silent hall was the swallowing of saliva. 500 million! Enough to invest in another Century Garden project!<br /> "Let me see!" Ladyship Wilson quickly picked up the contract again, carefully examining it page by page. The more she looked, the redder her face became. Especially seeing that Global Investment had already signed and sealed it, her heart seemed to be about to jump out of her chest!<br /> <br /> Chapter 10: Contract Forgery Controversy<br /> "No way! How could Global Investment give you money? This must be a fake contract!" Ethan snatched the contract like a madman, veins bulging on his face, looking almost monstrous.<br /> A few minutes later...<br /> "Hahaha! Stella, you've really got some nerve! Daring to forge a contract, that's illegal! You could go to jail!" Ethan slammed the contract on the table, loudly accusing Stella!<br /> <br /> "I didn't forge it. This was handed to me personally by Mila Robinson, the General Manager of Global Investment!" Stella gathered her courage to argue back.<br /> "Still denying it? Didn't do your homework before forging? The legal representative of Global Investment isn't surnamed Ford, it's Carden! And their manager is Samuel Phillips, not Mila Robinson! I didn't expect you to stoop so low just for the position of heir. You dare to fake it! This is a disgrace to the Wilson family! Grandma, I suggest calling the police immediately to avoid Global Investment filing a complaint against us!" Ethan fervently advised Grandma. He never thought that Stella, usually so smart and capable, would make such a rookie mistake! It was a godsend opportunity!<br /> "Stella, you’d better explain!" Ladyship Wilson's face darkened considerably. She also know about Global Investment and, after calming down, quickly decided that all the loopholes Ethan pointed out were true!<br /> "I... I didn't... lie. This contract... is real!" Stella clenched her hands tightly, tears welling up in her eyes. She had no idea why both the legal representative and general manager of Global Investment suddenly changed!<br /> "Grandma, Mr. Hill's uncle is Samuel Phillips, and he's in my office right now. I can have him come over immediately to confront Stella, and everything will be clear!" Ethan smirked at Stella and Flores, feeling triumphant.<br /> "Good!" Ladyship Wilson responded coldly. She thought Stella was just incompetent, but she never imagined she would resort to illegal activities! This had to be addressed!<br /> "Stella, I'm going out for a smoke," Flores whispered to Stella before leaving the office without looking back.<br /> "Hahaha! Look at it! Your useless husband is scared! Planning to run away without you! You let a waste of space sleep by you for three years, truly a disgrace to the Wilson family!" Ethan thought Flores had left and took the opportunity to mock Stella loudly.<br /> "I thought you had changed, but you're still spineless, lacking integrity!" Stella watched Flores's retreating figure, feeling bitter, tears swirling in her eyes. She never expected Flores to leave her at her most difficult moment.<br /> A moment later...<br /> "Hahaha! This is hilarious! Global Investment giving Stella an investment of 500 million?!" Mr. Hill strode into the office. When he heard Ethan's account of the situation, he nearly choked with laughter! He greedily eyed Stella's tearful yet beautiful appearance and then added, "Almost everyone in Sebria knows that my uncle, Samuel Phillips, is the manager of Global Investment! That Mila person is a nobody!"<br /> "Who dares to call me a nobody?!" Bang! The door was violently pushed open. Then, a gorgeous figure stepped in gracefully, it was none other than the hastily arrived Mila!<br /> Following behind was Flores. He had just used the excuse of going out for a smoke to call Mila and instruct her to come immediately to clarify the situation.<br /> "Flores, you waste! How dare you bring someone to barge into the office?! Where are the security guards? Get them here to throw these two out!" Ethan roared angrily.<br /> "Who dares to touch me?! I'm the general manager of Global Investment!" Mila remained composed, even emitting an aura of authority.<br /> Flores nodded approvingly from the side. ‘Mila is good, I definitely chose the right person!’<br /> "Bullshit! Where did you come from, you bitch?! How dare you impersonate my uncle's position? Kneel down and apologize right now, and I might let my uncle spare you! Otherwise, you'll know the extent of Samuel Phillips's power in Sebria!" Tomas Hill immediately jumped out to intimidate upon seeing someone impersonating the manager of Global Investment.<br /> "You are Tomas Hill? Isn't Matte Mala Inc. your family's business? I've checked the records, and Samuel Phillips and your family have some major murky transactions!" Mila looked at Mr. Hill coldly. With the investigation into Samuel Phillips deepening, more and more cases were gradually coming to light.<br /> "You're talking nonsense!" Tomas<br /> Hill was getting frustrated. He couldn't understand why this woman named Mila knew so much!<br /> "Hehe! Nonsense? Your Matte Mala Inc. has just declared bankruptcy. If you don't believe me, you can call your dad to confirm!" Mila smirked coldly, then turned to Ladyship Wilson and said calmly, "Moreover, you can check the cooperation between Global Investment and Miss Wilson on our group's official website. There's no need for sarcasm and ridicule here, right?!"<br /> Before long, a wave of gasps erupted from the crowd, "I found it!"	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.r	112553363820902	Ringdom Promotion-2	https://facebook.com/100064072600823	171	1	1,097,192,861,545,729	2024-05-08 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Install now	Ringdom Promotion-2	120208863253290172	play.google.com	NONE	image	Ringdom – Your Legend on Click	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ringdom.reader&referrer=utm_source%3Dapps.facebook.com%26utm_campaign%3Dfb4a%26utm_content%3D%257B%2522app%2522%253A0%252C%2522t%2522%253A1715076654%252C%2522source%2522%253Anull%257D	2024-05-08 06:39	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440353387_1340317323317411_3341689303156065254_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Xfni_IyA0lcQ7kNvgFZVSdh&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCBgt0wOUjepdxHnDeSD1zAdBwvNCTHELBJDsuoZLIq0w&oe=6641D935	person_profile	Ringdom Promotion-2	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440343325_432921049347409_8832469505194252683_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Kl_6Afj1zYQ7kNvgHu2L2L&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA-UvSEwRmP4QbcGIFMnzQ_JqfCoB2tz1QRzl2Dyfk3nQ&oe=6641E0C1	3	Ringdom Promotion-2	2024-05-08 02:00	View Edit Delete

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