Ads for Diet on 2024-11-25
| Id | Vlad | Saved | Scrape Time | Status | Scrape Result | Original Ad | Adarchiveid | Creative Links | Title | Body | Cta Type | Link Url | Pageid | Page Name | Page Profile Uri | Page Like Count | Collationcount | Collationid | Currency | Enddate | Entitytype | Fevinfo | Gatedtype | Hasuserreported | Hiddensafetydata | Hidedatastatus | Impressionstext | Impressionsindex | Isaaaeligible | Isactive | Isprofilepage | Cta Text | Pageinfo | Pageisdeleted | Pagename | Reachestimate | Reportcount | Ad Creative | Byline | Caption | Dynamic Versions | Effective Authorization Category | Display Format | Link Description | Link Url | Page Welcome Message | Creation Time | Page Profile Picture Url | Page Entity Type | Page Is Profile Page | Instagram Actor Name | Instagram Profile Pic Url | Instagram Url | Instagram Handle | Is Reshared | Version | Branded Content | Current Page Name | Disclaimer Label | Page Is Deleted | Root Reshared Post | Additional Info | Ec Certificates | Country Iso Code | Instagram Branded Content | Spend | Startdate | Statemediarunlabel | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,535,540 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
'{"alias":2535538}'
|
Yes | 2024-11-25 19:33 | active | 1922 | 0 |
|
VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE | http://instagram.com/kellygonzalezjr | kellygonzalezjr | https://www.instagram.com/_u/kellygonzalezjr | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Visit Instagram Profile | 0 | instagram.com | CAROUSEL | http://instagram.com/kellygonzalezjr | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/386235455_1067732644388178_6808272199600153570_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s206x206&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=525117&_nc_ohc=LjYM8NUV9BsQ7kNvgEr6w31&_nc_zt=24&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AYBRzWrpkQvjOMn5L-5UyLFPnW39f-h4Pi9gmScos_Bukg&oe=674AF897 | IG_ADS_IDENTITY | 1 | 0 | 0 | kellygonzalezjr | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,529,747 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
'{"alias":2530951}'
|
Yes | 2024-11-25 18:30 | active | 1921 | 0 |
|
๐ธ $10,000 Membership Giveaway | ๐จATTN: Local Residents ๐Weโre giving away over $๐๐,๐๐๐ in memberships! ๐ ๐ต๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ each week! Introducing ๐ Fit Body Boot Camp ๐ โ where transformation begins! We're not just a fitness center; we're a community committed to helping YOU unleash the best version of yourself. ๐ฅ Why Choose Fit Body Boot Camp? ๐ฅ โ Proven weight loss programs tailored for men & women โ Expert trainers who are dedicated to YOUR goals โ Fun, high-energy workouts in a supportive community In celebration of our opening, we're giving away memberships worth over $10,000! Donโt miss this chance to jumpstart your fitness journey FOR FREE! How to Enter: 1๏ธโฃ Click on LEARN MORE 2๏ธโฃ Enter the giveaway 3๏ธโฃ Watch your inbox each week to see if you are a winner ๐ Join the revolution, become the best version of yourself, and be a part of our thriving community! ๐๐ P.S. Anyone who shares this post after they enter, we will get their name entered again, doubling their chances of winning! | LEARN_MORE | http://fb.me/ | Noblesville Fit Body Boot Camp | https://www.facebook.com/61564832588627/ | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | fb.me | DCO | We're giving out $10,000 in FREE Memberships for our Grand Opening! | http://fb.me/ | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/468536550_3524153274550150_5002787648977458087_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7BMLxNTnBrUQ7kNvgGackSz&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AyKtzWiPJ6v75LYsy59mXxQ&oh=00_AYCmphLwSnrbCzVx3nG9UjlIIQg7POlbqBwa6JJXZaN39A&oe=674AE3C8 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Noblesville Fit Body Boot Camp | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,531,148 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
'{"alias":2531145}'
|
Yes | 2024-11-25 18:57 | active | 1923 | 0 | Take a Free Quiz To get your personalized plan | Living a healthy life doesnโt have to be hard. With the help of the fully personalized Lasting Change self-growth book, you will achieve your personal goals, stay healthy, and be well the easy way. Fill in our highly-detailed, easy-to-understand questionnaire and transform your life with Lasting Change forever! | LEARN_MORE | https://thelastingchange.com/start?qz=lc1&locale=E | The Lasting Change | https://www.facebook.com/thelastingchangeofficial/ | 5,779 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | thelastingchange.com | VIDEO | https://thelastingchange.com/start?qz=lc1&locale=EN_US | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/461164922_1054534186130711_5659932619434394052_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ruZjKaR07dkQ7kNvgFi15DG&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A6xgB0lUKkY1Lzp1NkUWNoW&oh=00_AYDngbIVcKeJOp7dcBhuQPjmt_J0KaSIDeNXuUfqKaot2Q&oe=674AD517 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | The Lasting Change | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,529,829 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
'{"is_bh_simple_request":true,"simple_request_ratio":0.589041095890411,"is_bh_selenium":null,"selenium_ratio":null,"ratio_threshold":0.8}'
|
No | 2024-11-25 18:31 | active | 1921 | 0 | GIVEAWAY #2 Win this stunning Gold Plated Rosary Bracelet and make it yours! How to join: 1๏ธโฃ Follow us. 2๏ธโฃ Like this post. 3๏ธโฃ Comment below with your favorite emoji. 3 winners will be chosen randomly! ๐ ๐ Giveaway Ends: 11/30/2024 ๐ฃ Winners Announced: 12/01/2024 Goodย luck!ย ๐ Don't miss outโthere's a giveaway every week until the end of Christmas! Make sure to follow us to stay updated. ๐ | VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE | https://www.instagram.com/_u/mionzajewelry | Mionza | https://www.facebook.com/mionzajewelry/ | 480 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Visit Instagram profile | 0 | www.instagram.com | VIDEO | https://www.instagram.com/_u/mionzajewelry | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/468407152_1758669908013141_1545953911663211727_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8YzcPkkRV5wQ7kNvgEssLIk&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AtCDboCziDqiA3ljCMAUVms&oh=00_AYCyuYa4Jt2Zn2Pw9Ge8h0y73C1KI4DGda2Rr1gZH53YVQ&oe=674AF979 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Mionza | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,535,223 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
null |
No | 2024-11-25 19:31 | active | 1922 | 0 |
|
INSTAGRAM_MESSAGE | http://instagram.com/kellylynnfitness | KellyLynn Fitness | https://www.facebook.com/61552208160392/ | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Send Message | 0 | instagram.com | CAROUSEL | http://instagram.com/kellylynnfitness | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/468399622_557347620410951_5218816402402181008_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D7rD0nXsI8oQ7kNvgFI1Lsv&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AZ2dH2YAdDTmKCiIvL5d5Zx&oh=00_AYDF8P03lL2evQ5O8_PVZSOxjOcDKLfYPskxi29N4mcLdA&oe=674B088F | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | KellyLynn Fitness | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,536,427 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
'{"alias":2536370}'
|
No | 2024-11-25 19:40 | active | 1922 | 0 |
|
Dressage Training Books | A 28-Day Dressage Training Plan & Workbook: Transform Your Riding with Simple, Effective Exercises | ORDER_NOW | https://coachkrystalkellybooks.com/collections/dre | Coach Krystal Kelly | https://www.facebook.com/coachkrystalkelly/ | 4,620 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Order Now | 0 | coachkrystalkellybooks.com | CAROUSEL | A 28-Day Dressage Training Plan & Workbook: Transform Your Riding with Simple, Effective Exercises | https://coachkrystalkellybooks.com/collections/dressage-training-books | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/468326127_9193742167326723_5783337978409449977_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WRq0tvAs1pAQ7kNvgGh-I7W&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=Aitv1Gu58AyRveI1CfbL8Cx&oh=00_AYD8gSMmzUgHcrl-mNAMbVb_Nm601atPT96voHi-AZMlaw&oe=674ADDB8 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Coach Krystal Kelly | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,531,191 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
null |
Yes | 2024-11-25 18:57 | active | 1923 | 0 |
|
Bathtub Splash Guard | ๐ฟ Make bath time fun and mess-free with Splash Guard & Play Shelf! ๐ง Keep water in the tub and your floors dry. ๐ Strong suction cups for secure, slip-free play. ๐งธ Built-in shelf for easy toy storage and drainage. ๐ Sleek design adds a touch of elegance to your bathroom. ๐ Click Below To Get Yours 40% Off Until Midnight! | SHOP_NOW | https://norvure.com/products/splash-guard-play-she | HeartlyLove | https://www.facebook.com/100089641703840/ | 748 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Shop now | 0 | norvure.com | IMAGE | 40% Off Until Midnight | https://norvure.com/products/splash-guard-play-shelf-ultimate-bathtub-fun-cleanliness | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448239213_439354208958474_5496281957341010922_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k7Zha6sqqWcQ7kNvgGNGgao&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A6xgB0lUKkY1Lzp1NkUWNoW&oh=00_AYAWKzsemn6C19uCVUJi6-PaA82TyHbKynp3PLI_o3WUmg&oe=674AFE3D | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | HeartlyLove | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,535,062 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
'{"is_bh_simple_request":true,"simple_request_ratio":0.19121447028423771,"is_bh_selenium":null,"selenium_ratio":null,"ratio_threshold":0.8}'
|
Yes | 2024-11-25 19:29 | active | 1922 | 0 |
|
2016 ford f550 dump truck 6.7 diesel | 2016 ford f550 dump truck 6.7 diesel - $60,000.00 2015 Ford F550 Dump Truck/ Plow/Spreader 6.7 Diesel. - Millage: 117k - Brand New Dump Box ! - Truck Is Excellent Conditions, everything works on it no visible or mechanical issues. - Tuck Starts right on! - The interior is in pretty good conditions. 8/10 - 4x4 - No CDL required. GVWR 19,500 - Champion Brand Hoist - All functions of dump truck work great, very easy to work. Hit the PTO switch and go! - 12ft x 8ft x 4ft brand new custom made dump box. - No Check Engine Light!! - 6.7 Power Stoke Diesel Engine - Really clean truck ! - Power stroke sounds beautiful ! - Cruise control ! - Cold AC ! - PTO equipped. - 6 Speed Automatic Transmission - Hydraulic Brakes - Strobe Lights - Trailer Brake Assist - Tires are in great shape (look at pics) - Clean blue title - Ready to make some money !! - Plow or Swiper attachment equipped - Truck can be viewed and tested at our shop in Houston. I'm Open to offers, let me know!! Make me an offer !! Open to trades ! Hablo espaรฑol ( abierto a cualquier oferta! Acepto cambios !) Electrical equipment, Digger, Communication equipment, F750, f650, f550, f450, Work truck, Utility equipment, Pole installation, Telephone equipment, Cable equipment, Electrical Pole, bucket truck, boom truck, Diesel Engine , Boom, Auger, bits, kelly bar, utility truck, pole truck, digger truck, crane, boom truck, dump truck, dirt work, concrete work, Landscaping Facebook Marketplace | CONTACT_US | https://facebook.com/marketplace/item/356225611073 | Lizeth Flores | https://www.facebook.com/Lizeth-Flores-110160497914216/ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Contact us | 0 | IMAGE | https://facebook.com/marketplace/item/3562256110732768/ | 1969-12-31 18:00 | REGULAR_PAGE | 1 | 0 | 0 | Lizeth Flores | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,531,209 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
'{"alias":2531207}'
|
No | 2024-11-25 18:57 | active | 1923 | 0 |
|
Pursue Your Legal Rights | Legal matters simplified. | LEARN_MORE | https://www.justicepays.com/?utm_campaign=(copy) s | Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh | https://www.facebook.com/GoldmanBabboniFernandezMurphyWalsh/ | 847 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | justicepays.com | CAROUSEL | Legal matters simplified. | https://www.justicepays.com/?utm_campaign=(copy) sr_GBFMW_7_24&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=5014343-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/463396771_503486719347717_2797722979924991362_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wqpDxKswO3sQ7kNvgEULBEB&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=Ap4rA5C-8Mlq5DZgHvIF0TO&oh=00_AYBK3oqLROzggWZ-veFzWs-wRSDHLEHO7aw8cRjFrh3bDg&oe=674AD9C4 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,536,055 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
'{"alias":2536052}'
|
No | 2024-11-25 19:37 | active | 1922 | 0 |
|
VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE | http://instagram.com/persiankellybundy | Persian Kelly Bundy | https://www.facebook.com/61561804795840/ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Visit Instagram Profile | 0 | instagram.com | CAROUSEL | http://instagram.com/persiankellybundy | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/467765698_1841049886431044_5788000271297265767_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vkVYzRuzUFoQ7kNvgE9cp4X&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AAmuZNpWmEjRusDoVd28QaI&oh=00_AYAhBDL5A-3EI03OpMSfhLiDcQurTUqH6BevF4aeo_j83g&oe=674AEA1C | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Persian Kelly Bundy | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,533,021 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
null |
No | 2024-11-25 19:14 | active | 1923 | 0 |
|
Read next chapter | On her wedding anniversary, she dressed up for a date but was drugged and manipulated by her husband's mistress, leading to spend a night with a stranger. To her surprise, he turned out to be her husband's half-brother and business rival! ===== In the dimly lit, opulent private cinema, the most exclusive jewelry auction was being broadcast live. "One million, going once, going twice--" The rich cadence of the auctioneer's voice echoed through the room, the man tightened his grip around Alicia Bennett's waist... With the intensity between them only grew fiercer as time passed... The auctioneer's gavel fell. "Sold for ten million! Let's give a round of applause to Mr. Joshua Yates!" The name struck Alicia like a lightning bolt. Her body instantly went rigid, something that the man couldn't help but notice, flicked lazily toward the screen. The camera zoomed in on Joshua Yates's face, every detail of his familiar features displayed in perfect clarity. "Joshua Yates, the second son of the Yates family... an acquaintance perhaps?" he drawled, the corners of his mouth tugging into a sly smile. Alicia's frown deepened. The last thing she wanted was to discuss it, she didn't respond. The man, upon seeing the situation, chuckled lightly before his movements grew even more relentless... ...... When it was over, Alicia took advantage of the man's time in the shower and quietly made her escape. When Caden Ward finally emerged from the bathroom, not catching sight of the woman's figure, he curled his lips slightly. Moments later, his assistant, Hank Ford, burst into the room, clearly on edge, "Er, apologies, Mr. Ward. I let my guard down. Give me a moment, and I'll have her brought back immediately." They had just returned to the country, taking every precaution. And yet, a woman had managed to slip through the cracks of their security. Caden's features calm, almost indifferent. "No need. I was... a willing participant." Hank's eyes widened in shock. In all the time he'd known Caden, the man had never slept with a woman,even physical contact. There were even rumors that Caden might suffer from some secret ailment. Yet now, those whispers seemed to evaporate in the face of this unexpected turn of events. Before Hank could make sense of it, Caden's deep voice pulled him back to reality. "I want you to look into Joshua's personal life. Have the report on my desk in half an hour." Tonight, Alicia had stumbled into his room, feverish and desperate. It was obvious she'd been framed. And then came the revelation--Alicia was still a pureness. Two years of marriage to Joshua... Yet she was still untouched? Caden's lips curled into a satisfied smile. But as he reflected, one thing became abundantly clear--Alicia had no idea who she'd been with due to the d*ug's effects. ... By the time Alicia returned home, the first light of dawn filtered through the windows. Only then did she realize how long she had been out. But before she could dwell any further, her phone rang. It was her bestie, Monica Flynn, calling. "Alicia!" Monica practically screeched from the other end of the line, her voice high-pitched with worry. "How are you now?" Alicia exhaled deeply, kicking off her shoes carelessly. "I've been better," she murmured. Monica's anger bubbled over, her words sharp and unrelenting. "Joshua's beyond disgusting! If he doesn't want to stay married, he should just grow a spine and divorce you already! What kind of sick man would scheme against his own wife?" The sharp pain of betrayal shot through Alicia's chest. Yesterday was their second anniversary. Joshua had texted her, suggesting they celebrate. Daring to hope he had changed, she had dressed up to the nine's, only to be met with disappointment and a d*ug-laced drink that sent her spiraling into a night of confusion and chaos. Was Joshua really the mastermind behind this? Swallowing the bitterness that tried clawing its way to the surface, Alicia forced herself to climb the stairs, her movements slow and weary. "It's fine, Monica. I'll handle it." Monica, ever protective, wasn't convinced. "'Handle it'? What do you mean you'll handle it? Just say the word, and I'll be over in a heartbeat." Alicia couldn't help the small, tired smile that tugged at her lips, hanging up the phone. But her heart still felt heavy, just as she lost focus, the door to her bedroom creaked open. She lifted her gaze, and almost instantly, her stomach dropped. There, fresh from a shower, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist, stood Joshua. He stared down at her. Chapter 2 Divorce Alicia snapped out of her daze as soon as she met the icy gaze of Joshua, her so-called husband. His expression remained unchanged, cold and indifferent as ever, as though he was looking at a stranger. The only thing out of place was the scars on his lips. A wave of disgust washed over her, she pushed him away and was about to enter. Joshua frowned, his hand shooting out to grab her wrist. "Alicia, what's with the attitude?" He seemed quite unhappy with her this time, which was a rare thing, considering how little he bothered to come home. Normally, Alicia would have welcomed him back with open arms, a flicker of joy lighting up her tired features, but today she looked drained, almost hollow. She didn't resist his grip, meeting his gaze with a calmness that unnerved him. "Haven't I always been like this? Obedient, sensible, making sure the house is in order, ensuring you're comfortable, ready to give your best at work." A small, bitter smile tugged at her lips. "Isn't that what you like most about me? It makes things easier for you, doesn't it? Frees up time for your other... 'special someone'." Joshua's eyes darkened at the veiled accusation. Denial hovered on his lips, but he didn't bother. Why should he? He dropped her hand and said gruffly, "Actually, that's why I'm here. We need to talk." Alicia vigorously rubbed her wrist, as though she was trying to erase his touch. "So, are you planning to finally go public with her?" Joshua's expression twisted instantly, his calm facade cracking. "What do you know? Did you have me stalked by a private investigator or something?" Alicia let out a soft, humorless laugh. "Is that necessary? Last night, you spared no expense to make her happy. Even a blind person could tell you're mad about her." He stared at her, unsettled by her icy tone. It was still her voice, still Alicia, but there was something different about her... For some reason, he felt inexplicably hurt, like a thorn pricking his heart. Perhaps it was the way she looked at him now--her eyes, once warm and filled with love for him, were now completely empty. There was no anger, no pain, just... nothing. It was a stark contrast to the woman who used to look at him as if he were her entire world. For reasons he couldn't explain, the sight of her like this stirred something in him, an unfamiliar dissatisfaction. Annoyed by his own reaction, Joshua decided to hit back, his voice harder now. "She's pregnant. It's a delicate pregnancy, so I bought her a little something to lift her spirits." Alicia's fists clenched before she could stop them. P**gnant? So, the nights she had stayed up waiting for him to come home, he'd been with another woman, working diligently to start a new family? Seeing Alicia wince a little, Joshua felt a flicker of satisfaction. "It's not that I don't want to touch you," he said, voice dripping with condescension. "You're just about as thrilling as watching paint dry. No man would want that." His cruel words pierced through Alicia, yet she managed to remain composed on the surface. It wasn't that she avoided intimacy; she just wasn't the one to initiate it. Did that make her so undesirable? Was it a sin? Taking a slow, steady breath, Alicia willed herself to stay calm. "Fine," she replied quietly. "Let's get a divorce then. You can give her the title she wants." The word "divorce" made Joshua's eyelid twitch involuntarily. He scoffed, eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Is this another one of your games?" Convinced he was right, his voice grew colder, more biting. "Alicia, for two years, you've pulled every childish stunt, begging for my attention. Aren't you tired yet? Because I sure as hell am." He paused, letting his disdain sink in. "You claim to love me so much. Could you really walk away from me?" Alicia couldn't help the bitter laugh that escaped her. Love him? Did he even understand what that meant? When Joshua's business had crumbled, leaving him with nothing but debt and shattered dreams, it had been Alicia who emptied her savings to pull him from the wreckage. Out of gratitude--or maybe obligation--he had married her. For two long years, she had been the dutiful wife, supporting him as he clawed his way to success. And what had Alicia gotten in return? She had been cast aside like a useless relic, while another woman carried his child. Her love, her loyalty, had been ground into the dirt beneath his feet. To care for this man any longer would be masochism. Her voice steady, Alicia said, "Draft the divorce agreement. I'll agree to whatever terms you want." And with that, she turned and disappeared through the door, leaving Joshua standing alone in the hallway. For a moment, he stared after her angrily, but then a cold, mocking smile tugged at his lips. Fine, she can play the martyr. He doubted she could keep it up for long. Storming out of the house, Joshua headed straight to the apartment where his lover, Lilliana Green, awaited him. "Well, that was fast," she teased upon hearing Joshua was getting a divorce, raising a brow. "Seems she wasn't as tough to deal with as you claimed." "She's cunning," Joshua muttered, the edge of suspicion creeping into his voice. "I don't know if she's actually agreeing to the divorce or just playing me." Lilliana's arms draping lazily around his neck, "Relax, Joshua, even if she changes her mind, it's too late." Joshua's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?" Chapter 3 Letting Go Lilliana's eyes flickered with shadowy intent. She wasn't foolish enough to show her cards now, so she waved it off with an effortless excuse. "During your two-year marriage, she has lived quietly in the shadows as a mere housewife, disconnected from your world. When you're assertive, would she dare to say a word?" Joshua pursed his lips into a hard line. During the past two years, Alicia had indeed done everything for him--given him support and solace. She had loved him fiercely, but at the end of it all, what value did love truly hold? Against all odds, he had clawed his way to the top, and he'd finally grasped the power he craved. That success, however, hadn't come easy, and it wasn't love that secured his position--it was alliances with the powerful. The prestige of the Green family daughter, that title alone, was worth far more than Alicia's devoted love. As these thoughts plagued his mind, Lilliana said happily, "Joshua, congratulations on escaping the grind. Shall we celebrate?" For a moment, Joshua's gaze flickered down to her, but Alicia's indifferent face suddenly flashed before his eyes. Since leaving the house earlier, Alicia hadn't once called him to ask for his whereabouts. Before, if he had been upset with her, she would've called him in a panic. A sharp, inexplicable irritation surged within him. Without thinking, he pushed Lilliana back, "You're only a few weeks' pregnant. Be careful." Lilliana, sharp as ever, sensed he was distracted. "Joshua, what's wrong?" she asked gently. "Don't you want to get divorced?" Joshua's response was instant. "Of course I want to divorce her." Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. "Then why don't you seem very happy?" Joshua offered a quick excuse, his voice steady but distant. "My father's condition has worsened. He doesn't have much time left, and Caden returned last night. He's likely here to claim his inheritance. I need to figure out how to handle him." Lilliana blinked, momentarily thrown. "Caden? Your brother from your father's first marriage? He doesn't even carry the Yates name anymore. What right does he have to fight you for the inheritance?" Joshua's expression darkened. It was true--but at the end of the day, he was still the son of a home-wrecker. All these years of relentless effort had not only been to carve out a name for himself in the Yates family, but to push Caden into the shadows where he belonged. One way or another, Joshua was hell-bent on winning. Meanwhile, Alicia stirred from her sleep. Darkness had already fallen, yet she felt even more drained than before. It was because her dreams revolved around that stranger. when her phone buzzed with a call from Monica did she snap out of her daze. "Alicia, I got your bl**d test results. I passed them to a friend of mine with some serious connections. He's digging around to see who bought the stuff." Alicia sat up a little straighter, her mind sharpening. "Thanks, Monica. Appreciate it." "If you really want to thank me, do me a favor: stop obsessing over that j**k. And after the divorce, focus on your career. You owe me that much." Alicia's chest warmed, her head lowering in quiet gratitude. "I know, I know." Now that she thought about it, she had come to the realization that her feelings for Joshua had never been pure love--they were born out of a debt, a sense of obligation. Her family's expectations had always weighed heavily on her, and in that lonely, stifled childhood, it was Joshua who had been there. His companionship had nurtured a vague affection she'd confused for love. "Lucky for me, love's never been something I've held onto tightly," Alicia murmured. "These last two years... I'll just see it as repaying his kindness." Monica paused, her usual boldness tempered with thoughtfulness. She knew better than anyone how, once upon a time, Joshua had indeed loved Alicia. But, it turned out love could be a fleeting thing. "Alicia, I really hope you've let go for good," Monica said with a convicted sigh. A sharp pang hit Alicia's chest, her eyes stinging as she fought back the urge to cry. Quickly, she pressed her hand to her eyelids, refusing to let the tears fall. It was only then she noticed something startling. Stunned, she stared at her hand. The wedding ring--something she had once held onto so tightly--was gone. Gone for a whole day and night, and she hadn't even noticed. Suddenly, her heart felt lighter, the weight of everything she'd been carrying beginning to lift. She whispered, more to herself than anyone, "Yes, I've truly let go." ... It didn't take long for Joshua to notice. He had returned to grab something quickly when his eyes fell on her hand. His brow furrowed as he asked, without thinking, "Where's your wedding ring?" Chapter 4 Her Nemesis Alicia's only concern now was leaving Joshua, so she ignored his question and asked flatly, "Are the divorce papers ready yet?" That word again--"divorce". Irritation flickered across Joshua's eyes. "What's the rush?" he snapped, his voice cold and sharp. "My father's finalizing his will, and if word gets out about my divorce, it'll ruin my standing. Now, pack your things--we're having dinner at the Yates Mansion this afternoon." With Caden's return, the family was throwing a welcome-home dinner for him. They also hoped that by doing so, it'd lift the spirits of Jerald Yates, Joshua's father. However, maintaining the charade of a happy marriage was the last thing on Alicia's mind. "I'm not going," she announced curtly. "Just get the divorce finalized and stop wasting my time." Joshua laughed, a sound that held no warmth. "Oh, come on, Alicia. Stop pretending. You hid the ring because you don't actually want to leave me, right? You can't stand the thought of being without me." He leaned in, smirking, and added, "You've worked hard these past two years. Even if we divorce, I'll still take care of you--as long as you keep me happy." Alicia's eyes widened, disbelief turning into anger. Hid the ring? Couldn't bear to be without him? His arrogant words sounded like nails on a chalkboard to Alicia's ears. With a sharp sneer, she shot back, "Oh, Mr. Yates, how could I possibly make you happy? Don't worry, I'll return the ring--wouldn't want this plain Jane to irk you, right? Once you have it, we're finalizing the divorce immediately." But Joshua wasn't fazed by her venom. He thought he knew her too well, convinced this was just another ploy to get his attention. Without thinking too much, he tossed a bag at her. "We've got guests today. Dress appropriately, and don't make me look bad." Alicia looked down at the bag, her mind flashing back to the countless times she had visited the mansion dressed in modest, unassuming clothes-- doing everything to blend in, to please him and his family. But now, with their divorce looming on the horizon, Alicia no longer cared to play the part of a dutiful wife. After slipping into the outfit, she carefully applied a touch of makeup, just enough to bring out the vibrance in her already flawless complexion. The subtle enhancements accentuated her smooth skin and delicate features, lending her a certain glow. When Joshua saw her descending the staircase, he froze for a brief moment, eyes lingering. Perhaps it was the way the dress hugged Alicia's graceful curves, making her seem more alluring than usual. At the entrance of the Yates Mansion, they both slipped into their familiar roles, masking the tension between them with practiced ease. Alicia casually looped her arm through Joshua's, their movements synchronized as they walked into the courtyard. Though Jerald was too ill to receive anyone, the grand hall bustled with life, relatives filling the space with chatter. The noise hummed around her, but for some reason, as soon as Alicia crossed the threshold, a sharp chill pricked at her skin. She instinctively looked up, her gaze immediately drawn to the figure lounging casually at the far end of the room. Legs crossed, dark shirt unbuttoned just enough to reveal a sliver of his collarbone, the man oozed arrogance, his presence commanding. When Alicia's eyes finally met his-- a familiar, authoritative stare that pinned her in place-- her mind raced as emotions began to surge uncontrollably. Joshua noticed the shift in her demeanor, his brows furrowing as he asked, "What's going on with you?" Alicia's breath caught in her throat. One word escaped her lips, barely audible. "Caden?" Just the mention of his name sent a chill down her spine. To her, Caden was the embodiment of her nightmares. Due to their families' friendship, their paths first crossed at the tender age of ten. Caden, having taken a year off, transferred to her school, and from that moment, Alicia's perfect world began to unravel. She could no longer claim the top spot. No matter how relentless her efforts, no matter how late she stayed up studying, Caden was always a step ahead. He would outscore her by the smallest of margins--a point, maybe two--leaving her perpetually stranded in second place. Anyone else might have accepted defeat, settled into the role of runner-up. But not Alicia. Born into the once prestigious Bennett family, she was raised under the suffocating weight of living up to her family name. Excellence wasn't just a goal--it was the currency by which she could earn her parents' affection. Failure was not an option, yet Caden had the audacity to snatch away everything she'd worked for with what seemed like effortless ease. It was as if he'd set his sights on her from the very beginning, and Alicia, stubborn to a fault, refused to back down. Their rivalry spanned over a decade, a relentless battle fought both openly and in the shadows, and their final showdown took place in college, just before their graduation, at the national competition. Alicia poured her heart and soul into that moment, her focus razor-sharp as she aimed for nothing less than perfection. And she achieved it, having garnered a perfect score. But Caden, ever the serpent, had bribed the judges, twisting the results in his favor. Alicia was forced, once again, into second place. The sting of injustice was deep, but the harshest blow came from her father, Phil Bennett. Over the phone, his voice dripped with disappointment in her ranking. Alicia, having grown accustomed to his tirades, said nothing. She waited for his anger to ebb, then asked quietly, "I'm graduating soon. Will you come back?" Her mother, Donna, had always been her softer solace. She comforted Alicia that day, promising they'd be there for her graduation. But life had other plans. Phil and Donna, rushing back from Itrubisite to attend the graduation, perished in a tragic plane crash. Overnight, Alicia's world crumbled, left an orphan in this cruel world. Since that day, she had never challenged Caden again. Afterward, Caden left Warrington to build his career overseas. ... "He's back for the inheritance," Joshua muttered, his voice barely audible. Alicia cast him a sidelong glance as he continued, "With a family empire as big as ours, an eldest son like him wouldn't give up so easily." Her brow furrowed slightly. It was true--the Yates empire was massive, a legacy most would kill for. But Caden had accumulated his own fortune, surpassing even the family's vast wealth. Did he really care about the inheritance? Then again, this was Caden. Competing was in his blood. Even if he didn't care about the fortune itself, he'd fight tooth and nail just to win, to toy with everyone else. The man had a knack for stirring chaos purely for his own amusement. Alicia had been his rival for as long as she could remember, and even now, the thought of giving him so much as a glance felt like a waste of energy. She turned to walk away. But Joshua caught her wrist, his grip firm yet tense. "I know you two don't get along," he said. "But he's still my elder brother. We need to maintain appearances." Her body stiffened at the touch, and she immediately tried to pull her hand free. Joshua's frown deepened. "Alicia, behave," he hissed. Irritation flared in her chest. "I'm not refusing to go in. Just let go of me first. I don't want your filthy hands touching me." A flicker of something dark passed over Joshua's face, and instead of releasing her, he intertwined their fingers, squeezing them tight. Alicia bit her tongue, silently fuming. As they neared, Caden's gaze slowly lifted, his eyes narrowing in a lazy, almost bored assessment of them. "Caden," Joshua greeted, his tone strained, meeting his brother's gaze with forced cordiality. Caden's eyes flicked to their entwined hands, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Your girlfriend?" he asked indifferently, as though he didn't recognize Alicia. Chapter 5 We Meet Again So Soon Alicia's nerves coiled tight like a spring. That voice... Her messy thoughts blurred into chaos, but one thing broke through the haze--Joshua's calm declaration. "Alicia and I have been married for two years now. She cares about me, so we kept it low-key. Just went straight for the registration; no ceremony. You were busy abroad at the time, so we didn't bother you." Caden arched a brow, his voice laced with venomous mockery. "Oh, so she's my sister-in-law." The way he spat the words "sister-in-law" felt more like a s*ap than a title, leaving no doubt about his contempt for her. Alicia could feel the man's sneer underneath every syllable. And all this was thanks to her so-called husband, Joshua. Her hand trembled as she snatched a tissue, vigorously wiping her hand. "Looks like Alicia's a bit of a germophobe," Caden observed, his tone a casual jab at her disgust. Joshua's expression darkened, the tension between them thickening. He hadn't expected her to humiliate him like this. "It seems I've spoiled her too much," he muttered, his voice low and tight with irritation. Caden's eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint. "If it's a serious condition, she should get treated. It could impact her role as a mother. You know how badly our father has wanted a grandchild." At this, something flickered across Joshua's eyes. Even though Alicia, his wife, was right beside him, he went ahead and lied through his teeth. "Thanks for the concern, Caden, but I already have good news for Dad. I just haven't gotten around to telling him yet." Caden's smirk deepened, his gaze flicking toward Alicia, who was about done with the bullshit of a charade. She quietly excused herself and strode off. "How far along is she?" he asked meaningfully. "Doesn't seem like she's pregnant." Joshua didn't miss a beat. "Just a month." The answer was as much a threat as it was an announcement. Now, the inheritance stakes had just been raised, and Jerald, ever focused on continuing the family line, would certainly take his unborn grandchild into consideration. Caden's smile hardened, and Joshua delivered the final blow with a smug undertone. "You'd better catch up, Caden. I can't always be one step ahead." Caden, unfazed, waved his hand lazily. "No rush." ... Alicia stepped onto the terrace, the cool night breeze washing over her skin. She drank in the fresh air hungrily to steady her nerves. Pulling out her phone, she quickly dialed the manager of the private cinema again. "Have you found the ring?" she asked anxiously. The manager hesitated, sounding troubled. "Ms. Bennett, we've searched thoroughly and questioned all the staff, but... we really couldn't find any ring." "Then..." Alicia clenched her fist, her mind racing. "Do you have the contact details of the guest who booked the room that day?" "I'm sorry, but due to our privacy policy, we can't disclose any information on our clients." Her heart sank. "I see," she sighed with resignation. "Please tell me immediately if anything turns up, okay?" In a perfect world, she could've just bought an identical ring and pass it off for the original. Unfortunately, Joshua had that ring custom-made, and it wasn't easy to replicate. After dinner, it started to rain. The relatives began to trickle out one by one. Joshua stood by her side as they made their way to the car, his eyes trailing down to her bare wrist. "If you liked that bracelet at the auction, then I can buy you something like it," he said coolly. Alicia had to resist the urge to roll her eyes sardonically. She didn't believe for a second that Joshua had a change of heart towards her. "Trying to buy my silence, huh?" Her words were sharp, slicing right through Joshua's tender facade. "No need. I have no desire to be tangled up in your affairs." Joshua hadn't intended to sound like that, but her mocking tone struck a nerve. His jaw clenched, and a bitter smile crossed his lips. "Fine. Don't take it. The money I spend on you is a waste anyway." Alicia bit the inside of her cheek before adding firmly, "Joshua, I already told you. I'm willing to leave this marriage empty-handed. Let's sign the divorce papers tomorrow morning and end this once and for all." His smile twisted into something dark, something dangerous. "What about the ring?" "I lost it." Joshua's eyes narrowed, his tone unrelenting. "I don't care about anything else. I want the ring." She could barely contain her frustration, her breath hitching as he delivered his final blow. "If you can't find it," he said coldly, "I'll assume you're holding onto it because you still care about me." Just then, Joshua's phone rang; it was Lilliana calling. "Joshua." She mewled his name pitifully. "The thunder is so loud. I'm scared to sleep alone... Can you come over?" The car wasn't heading anywhere near Lilliana's and Joshua was furious with Alicia, so without a second thought, he kicked her out into the rain and sped off. He didn't even leave her an umbrella. Alicia stood frozen by the roadside, the downpour quickly soaking through her clothes. The cold rain seeped into her bones, chilling her to the core. Gritting her chattering teeth, she swallowed the bitter taste in her mouth and began trudging along the drenched pavement. Behind her, the soft hum of an engine crept closer. A sleek, low-profile Maybach rolled up beside her, its headlights cutting through the rain. "Mr. Ward," the driver said, glancing back, "I believe that's Ms. Bennett." The car slowed to a stop. Caden glanced out the window, his sharp eyes narrowing on Alicia's lonesome figure. She had just paused, her fingers gathering the fabric of her soaked dress, tying it up to ease her stride. Caden's lips curled into a faint. "Invite her inside," he drawled. The car came to a halt next to Alicia. The driver stepped out, holding a large umbrella over her head, his voice polite. "Ms. Bennett, it's hard to find a cab at this hour. May I offer you a ride home?" Alicia's eyes flicked up, recognizing the man as the Yates family's driver. She hesitated for a moment before nodding, her voice soft but steady. "Thank you. Sorry for the inconvenience." However, as soon as she slipped into the backseat of the car, she locked eyes with its other passenger--Caden. "We meet again so soon, sister-in-law?" His voice, smooth as velvet, carried a hint of mischief. ...... What happens next? Available chapters here are limited, click the button below to install the App and enjoy more exciting chapters (Automatically jump to this novel when you open the app) &3& | LEARN_MORE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/63310322-fb_contact-e | Fun Novel | https://www.facebook.com/100090881055588/ | 1,253 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.moboreader.net | IMAGE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/63310322-fb_contact-ena265_2-1019-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=331118&accid=233925549638247&rawadid=120212864546830604 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/464287285_1033014925237473_4335122245997189197_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dSnT_0lOKOQQ7kNvgESHzEr&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A3HBTTyTesNF3cLlEsQjgMv&oh=00_AYCjKKZF680OFTUCrdPkswsNt-5VbgPqLECaWoSArCXIFA&oe=674AE6BD | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Fun Novel | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,532,029 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
'{"alias":2532023}'
|
No | 2024-11-25 19:07 | active | 1923 | 0 |
|
Free SOLIDWORKS for Startups | Are you interested in the SOLIDWORKS for Startups program that offers free SOLIDWORKS for one year, and then discounts on licenses for the following two years? If: - Your Startup has less than $1M in aggregate lifetime revenue - You have a physical product that can be designed in CAD - Your Start-Up is less than three years old - Youโre currently not a SOLIDWORKS customer Thereโs a chance you can get free SOLIDWORKS. | CONTACT_US | https://plmgroup.eu/campaign/solidworks-startups/? | PLM Group | https://www.facebook.com/PLMGroupEU/ | 2,684 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Contact Us | 0 | plmgroup.eu | DCO | https://plmgroup.eu/campaign/solidworks-startups/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=SOLIDWORKS+for+Startups | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/466743607_1764458394371390_1763513491321951074_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TPIvVVzfDA8Q7kNvgHXtTwu&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AWbXJJambFWrOze_7XU5qtg&oh=00_AYBnMNKtHnI3xy-AYMO5jDp212DIN_9ApUbURXlkpZA-zQ&oe=674AEA20 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | PLM Group | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,534,454 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
null |
Yes | 2024-11-25 19:25 | active | 1922 | 0 | Para ella, casarse con su mejor amigo y quedar embarazada de su hijo fue un sueรฑo hecho realidad. Pero en ese momento feliz, la mujer que amaba su marido regresรณ... ===== ยฟLo habรญa oรญdo bien? ยฟEstoy embarazada? ยกEstoy embarazada de un bebรฉ de Pierce! ยกMi mejor amigo y mi primer amor! --Quรฉ bueno que haya sido cautelosa, pudo haber perdido a su bebรฉ, seรฑorita Monroe --me dijo el ginecรณlogo con seriedad al ver la sorpresa en mis ojos. En ese momento, me toquรฉ el vientre inconscientemente, sin poder creer que hubiera un bebรฉ acostado allรญ. Cuando salรญ del hospital, no podรญa esperar para contarle a Pierce sobre nuestro bebรฉ. Me preguntaba cuรกl serรญa su reacciรณn. ยฟGritarรญa de felicidad? ยฟMe b**arรญa y todo eso? ยกDios! No podรญa contener mi felicidad. Incluso tomรฉ mi cara roja entre mis manos mientras fantaseaba. Pero en el momento en que sentรญ el frรญo del anillo en mi dedo, mi corazรณn que latรญa salvajemente se calmรณ. Casi olvidaba que Pierce no estaba interesado en tener hijos, menos considerando que nuestro matrimonio fue arreglado por su familia. Por supuesto, Pierce era un completo caballero, como amigo y como marido. Cada vez que tenรญamos relaciones s**uales, รฉl era considerado y cauteloso, y decรญa que no era necesario agregar mรกs ataduras si no estรกbamos listos. Este bebรฉ, en cierto modo, estaba fuera de los planes. --Seรฑora, ยฟestรก todo bien? ยฟNecesita que llame al jefe? --preguntรณ mi conductor privado, Luke, preocupado al notar mi ceรฑo fruncido. Luke era confiable como un miembro de la familia, pero no querรญa contarle porque querรญa que Pierce fuera el primero en enterarse de esta noticia. รl era el padre de mi bebรฉ. --No --dije y neguรฉ con la cabeza, dรกndole a Luke una sonrisa tranquilizadora--. Estรก en el vuelo. Hablarรฉ con รฉl mรกs tarde --y asรญ verรญa su respuesta yo misma en sus crudas expresiones. Siempre fui buena en eso. Finalmente, cerrรฉ los ojos y recordรฉ el dรญa en que nos conocimos. Su brillante sonrisa a la luz del sol era tan deslumbrante que parecรญa un prรญncipe. Me enamorรฉ de รฉl a primera vista, mucho antes de que nos convirtiรฉramos en mejores amigos. Pero era sรณlo un amor no correspondido y yo lo sabรญa bien. En ese instante, bajรฉ la ventanilla del auto para tomar un poco de aire fresco y, sin quererlo, vislumbrรฉ nuestra antigua escuela secundaria. Ese sentimiento amargo llenรณ mi pecho una vez mรกs... Pierce fue mi primer amor, pero yo no era el suyo. En la escuela secundaria, yo no era mรกs que una nerd aburrida a los ojos de los demรกs, mientras que Pierce Anderson era el brillante mariscal de campo. Todos se sorprendieron de que pudiรฉramos ser amigos. Aunque las hostilidades hacia mรญ aumentaron, disfrutรฉ estar cerca de รฉl y poco a poco me di cuenta de que no querรญa ser sรณlo su amiga. Sin embargo, justo cuando estaba a punto de confesarle mis sentimientos, otra chica llegรณ a su vida. Sacudรญ la cabeza tratando de deshacerme de esos viejos y tristes recuerdos. Luego toquรฉ el frรญo anillo de bodas en mi dedo y me dije que el pasado ya habรญa pasado. Pierce dijo que habรญan terminado y que ahora yo era su esposa. Sรญ, yo era su esposa y ademรกs estaba embarazada de su bebรฉ. Pronto, me sequรฉ las lรกgrimas de las comisuras de los ojos y abrรญ la puerta de nuestra casa. Mi corazรณn se calmรณ al respirar el aroma de mi hogar, nuestra casa. Pierce y yo la decoramos juntos con nuestras propias manos. Lo disfrutamos. Sรญ, tal vez estaba pensando demasiado. Esa mujer habรญa estado fuera de nuestras vidas durante mucho tiempo y los รบltimos tres aรฑos mi matrimonio con Pierce fueron tan hermosos como un cuento de hadas. Una vez dentro, mirรฉ el reloj de la pared. Para ese entonces, Pierce ya deberรญa haberse bajado del aviรณn. Estuvo mรกs de un mes en viajes de negocios de nuestra empresa familiar. Pierce era el presidente de ADE, la empresa de revistas de moda lรญder en toda Asia, y yo era la vicepresidente de la compaรฑรญa. No sรณlo รฉramos compaรฑeros de vida, sino tambiรฉn buenos socios en el trabajo. En verdad lo extraรฑaba. De inmediato, marquรฉ su nรบmero, pues tenรญa muchas ganas de escuchar su voz y saber cuรกndo llegarรญa a casa. Le prepararรญa una buena comida y รฉl me premiarรญa con un dulce beso. Y luego podrรญamos... Vaya, en ese momento casi olvidรฉ que estaba embarazada. Debรญa contarle eso primero y luego podrรญamos hacer otra cosa. Estaba imaginando felizmente nuestra encantadora reuniรณn, pero mi corazรณn dio un vuelco cuando una voz de mujer cruzรณ la lรญnea. --ยฟHola? Al escuchar esa sola palabra, dejรฉ caer mi telรฉfono, que se rompiรณ al chocar contra el suelo, y mi cuerpo empezรณ a temblar incontrolablemente. ยกNO! ยกNo podรญa ser ella! ยกNo podรญa ser Lexi! ยกElla ya estaba fuera de nuestras vidas! Debรญ haber escuchado mal. De inmediato, corrรญ hacia la nevera en un intento por calmarme con la ayuda de un poco de al**hol. Pero en el momento en que toquรฉ la botella de v**o, recordรฉ las palabras del mรฉdico sobre mi bebรฉ. Debรญa tener cuidado por la salud de mi bebรฉ, asรญ que solo agarrรฉ una caja de leche y caminรฉ hacia el sofรก. En ese entonces, no sabรญa quรฉ me hizo reconocer esa voz como la de Lexi. Nosotras nunca fuimos cercanas. Lexi Gilbert era la tรญpica belleza rubia por la que los hombres se volvรญan locos. Ella era una animadora popular en la escuela secundaria, mientras que Pierce era el mariscal de campo estrella. Encajaba mejor con รฉl que una nerd como yo, ยฟverdad? No me sorprendiรณ que se haya enamorado de ella. Mi orgullo no soportรณ ver al hombre que amaba volverse loco por otra mujer, asรญ que una vez intentรฉ alejarme de ellos en silencio, pero Pierce se negรณ a salirse de mi vida. Cada vez que me ahogaba en un mar de libros y estudios para olvidarlos, Pierce aparecรญa en mi puerta invitรกndome a salir. No podรญa decirle que no a su sonrisa encantadora y tampoco podรญa decirle que no porque afirmaba que era su deber como mi mejor amigo llevarme a disfrutar del mundo real. Para no arruinar nuestra amistad, ocultรฉ mi corazรณn roto y desempeรฑรฉ en silencio el papel de su mejor amiga, siempre a su lado y observando su rostro feliz por otra chica. Finalmente, cuando supe que Pierce planeaba proponerle matrimonio a Lexi, me armรฉ de valor y fui a estudiar al extranjero, sin saber que su abuela me llamarรญa para rogarme que regresara. Por supuesto, volvรญ a toda prisa sรณlo para ver a Pierce sin vida. Lexi le habรญa herido gravemente el corazรณn y el mรญo sufrรญa por mi amado. Empecรฉ a odiar a Lexi desde ese momento. Le habรญa entregado a mi amado hombre, ยกcรณmo se atreviรณ a hacerle tanto daรฑo! ยกEsa bruja! Pierce no le contรณ a nadie lo que pasรณ, excepto que habรญa terminado con Lexi. Luego, la abuela arreglรณ nuestro matrimonio. No entendรญ por quรฉ estuvo de acuerdo hasta que un dรญa lo escuchรฉ decir que casarse con cualquiera que no fuera Lexi serรญa lo mismo para รฉl. Aquello me doliรณ mucho, pero aun asรญ me casรฉ con รฉl sin pensarlo dos veces. Mi amado estaba destrozado y querรญa recomponerlo, sin importarme si eso me arruinaba a mรญ en el proceso. Me quedรฉ dormida sintiรฉndome muy insegura y preocupada. Me despertรฉ en medio de la noche cuando sentรญ que alguien acariciaba mi mejilla. Lentamente abrรญ los ojos y me di cuenta de que me habรญa quedado dormida en la sala de estar. Alguien me levantรณ del sofรก e inmediatamente reconocรญ su olor y tacto mientras lo miraba con los ojos entrecerrados. --Pierceโฆ --Hmm --murmurรณ mientras caminaba hacia las escaleras--. ยฟPor quรฉ te dormiste en el sofรก? Yo solo me quedรฉ mirรกndolo a la cara y luego me dejรณ suavemente sobre la cama, acariciรณ mi cabello y besรณ mi frente. Siempre fue tan gentil y por eso lo amaba tanto. Llevรกbamos mรกs de un mes separados, mi cuerpo lo extraรฑaba y mi corazรณn lo anhelaba. --ยฟDรณnde estabas? Te estuve esperando --dije mientras acariciaba su mejilla. --Acabo de encontrarme con un amigo. Dijiste que me estabas esperando, ยฟes urgente? Al ver su rostro amable, de repente no quise arruinarle el momento, asรญ que cerrรฉ mis labios entreabiertos y traguรฉ la verdad para devolverla a mi estรณmago. Maรฑana, tal vez maรฑana tendrรญa el coraje de afrontar todos los rompecabezas. De modo que solo sacudรญ la cabeza, hice un puchero y le dije que tenรญa sueรฑo. รl se riรณ entre dientes y me dio un beso de buenas noches, pero en el momento en que estuvo a punto de dejarme, por alguna razรณn entrรฉ en pรกnico. Rรกpidamente lo agarrรฉ y lo b*sรฉ con toda mi pasiรณn... Lo extraรฑaba y lo querรญa. --Espera, Kels --dijo y me detuvo, sujetando mis locas manos sobre la cama--. Pensรฉ que habรญas dicho que tenรญas sueรฑo y que necesitabas descansar. --Sรญ, pero te extraรฑo --exclamรฉ y lo mirรฉ con inocencia. Pude captar el deseo brillando en sus ojos, pero se desvaneciรณ de pronto y yo no comprendรญa por quรฉ. Solรญa โโโโponerse feliz cuando yo tomaba la iniciativa. En ese instante, como si notara mi confusiรณn, se riรณ entre dientes y me pellizcรณ juguetonamente la nariz. --Me darรฉ una ducha. Huelo a al**hol --manifestรณ. Yo solo asentรญ y lo mirรฉ mientras caminaba hacia el baรฑo. Pronto la somnolencia volviรณ a atacarme, asรญ que cerrรฉ los ojos para tomar una siesta. Sin embargo, ya era de maรฑana cuando abrรญ los ojos nuevamente y Pierce estaba a mi lado, poniendo una bandeja con comida en la mesita de noche. --ยกEy! --lo saludรฉ y sonreรญ cuando me di cuenta de lo que habรญa hecho. Me habรญa preparado el desayuno para llevรกrmelo a la cama. Era tan dulce. รl sonriรณ y se sentรณ en la cama. --Buen dรญa. Le devolvรญ la sonrisa mientras me sentaba en la cama. En ese momento, agarrรณ la bandeja y la puso a mi lado. Al instante, levantรฉ una ceja e inclinรฉ la cabeza mientras miraba su hermoso rostro. Sus cejas espesas y negras enmarcaban sus hermosos ojos de color marrรณn oscuro. Su nariz era orgullosa y puntiaguda y sus labios eran rojos y finos. Parecรญa un chico malo y s*xy, incluso Damon Salvatore se avergonzarรญa de estar a su lado. Nadie tenรญa posibilidad alguna contra este hombre. --ยฟQuรฉ es esto? ยฟUn soborno? Me dejaste plantada anoche, chico malo --dije. รl no se riรณ. Exhalรณ un suspiro y colocรณ con suavidad mi cabello detrรกs de mis orejas antes de tomar mi mano y mirarme a los ojos. --Tengo algo que decirte. Al instante, sentรญ que mi corazรณn se aceleraba y pensรฉ en nuestro bebรฉ en mi รบtero. Tenรญa algo que decirme, yo tambiรฉn tenรญa algo que contarle. --ยฟQ-Quรฉ cosa? --preguntรฉ con voz temblorosa. De repente, dio un profundo suspiro y comenzรณ: --Sabes que eres importante para mรญ, ยฟverdad? Asentรญ lentamente con los labios entreabiertos. No pude responder, tenรญa miedo de lo que estaba a punto de decir. Tenรญa un mal presentimiento. --Eras mi mejor amiga antes de casarnos. Eres una de las pocas personas que valoroโฆ --prosiguiรณ. Mientras hablaba, escondรญ mis puรฑos cerrados debajo de la sรกbana. No sabรญa por quรฉ me decรญa todo esto, pero ya podรญa sentir las lรกgrimas acumulรกndose en el rabillo de mis ojos. --Kelly... --hizo una pausa y cerrรณ los ojos con fuerza antes de volver a mirarme a los ojos--. Creo que es hora de que nos divorciemos. --P-Pierceโฆ --exclamรฉ y sentรญ que mi corazรณn se apretaba. รl sonriรณ. --Sรฉ que tรบ tampoco sientes nada por mรญ. Te casaste conmigo por mis abuelos, hiciste esto solo porque los amas. Ahora llegรณ el momento de nuestra verdadera felicidad, Kelly. Al oรญrlo, no pude evitar sacudir la cabeza. --ยฟDe quรฉ estรกs hablando, Pierce? --inquirรญ. --Lexi ha vuelto, Kelly. Mi primer amor ha vuelto. Capรญtulo 2 Punto de vista de Kelly--Llueve sobre mojado De inmediato, me levantรฉ de la cama e intentรฉ irme, pero Pierce me agarrรณ la mano. Rรกpidamente me sequรฉ las lรกgrimas que rodaban por mis mejillas antes de que รฉl pudiera verlas. Luego, se parรณ frente a mรญ y me mirรณ a la cara mientras yo intentaba con todas mis fuerzas mirar hacia abajo y evitar verlo a los ojos. Sentรญ que mi corazรณn se rompรญa en pedazos. Pensabaโฆ pensaba que podrรญa hacer que se enamorara de mรญ en esos tres aรฑos que pasamos juntos. Pensaba que sus sentimientos cambiarรญan y me verรญa como una mujer en lugar de solo su mejor amiga. Fui estรบpida por tener esperanzas y soรฑar tan alto. Fallรฉ. Sin importar cuรกnto lo intentara, su corazรณn pertenecรญa sรณlo a su primer amor: Lexi. --Kellyโฆ En ese momento, contuve el aliento y me traguรฉ el dolor mientras lo miraba. Luego fingรญ una sonrisa y dije: --Debo lavarme las manos antes de comer. Pero รฉl me mirรณ a los ojos como si intentara descubrir lo que estaba pensando. Yo sabรญa que รฉl me conocรญa demasiado bien, asรญ que tratรฉ con todas mis fuerzas de ocultar mi dolor y le sonreรญ. Finalmente, suspirรณ y soltรณ mi mano. --Bueno. Te esperarรฉ aquรญ. Comamos y vayamos a trabajar juntos. ยฟJuntos? ยฟPor quรฉ era tan cruel? ยฟQuerรญa que nos siguiรฉramos llevando bien como si no me hubiera pedido el divorcio? ยฟQuerรญa que nos quedรกramos como estรกbamos justo despuรฉs de decirme que su primer amor habรญa regresado y querรญa divorciarse de mรญ? Oh Pierce, ยฟquรฉ estaba pasando por tu cabeza? Antes podรญa obligarme a mรญ misma a quedarme en el puesto de su mejor amiga mientras le deseaba felicidad, pero ya no tenรญa ese coraje despuรฉs de los tres aรฑos que habรญamos compartido. No habรญa manera de que pudiera soportar esa tortura otra vez, en especial ahora que cargaba a su bebรฉ. El bebรฉ... en un principio pensรฉ que era una buena noticia para nosotros, pero ahora... supongo que serรญa mรกs bien una carga para รฉl. Una carga que le impedirรญa conseguir su verdadero amor y su libertad. Yo sabรญa muy bien cรณmo crecรญa un niรฑo no deseado. Mis padres se divorciaron antes de que mi madre muriera y la nueva familia de mi padre me odiaba, lo que me dolรญa muchรญsimo. Por eso no querรญa que mi bebรฉ experimentara lo mismo que yo sentรญ, asรญ que debรญa mantener a mi bebรฉ alejado de รฉl. --No podemos --dije mientras fingรญa una nueva sonrisa--. Debo visitar el estudio para la sesiรณn de fotos de nuestros nuevos modelosโฆ --Irรฉ contigo. --No --contestรฉ y apartรฉ su mano. Sus ojos siguieron mi mano antes de levantar la cara para mirarme de nuevo--. Tienes documentos que firmar. Nuestros horarios ya estรกn organizados, ยฟrecuerdas? --Peroโฆ --Tengo un conductor personal, Pierce. Estarรฉ bien sola --afirmรฉ. Finalmente, suspirรณ y asintiรณ con calma. En ese momento, le di la espalda y entrรฉ al baรฑo. Inmediatamente abrรญ la ducha y me parรฉ bajo el agua frรญa. Las lรกgrimas cayeron en cascada por mis mejillas mientras me cubrรญa la boca para reprimir los sollozos. Mis hombros temblaban mucho y cuando pensรฉ en mi bebรฉ, traguรฉ saliva y tratรฉ de calmarme. Luego me limpiรฉ la cara y acariciรฉ mi vientre. Debรญa ser fuerte y mantener la calma. No podรญa arriesgar la vida de mi bebรฉ sรณlo porque me habรญan roto el corazรณn. Tenรญa que lidiar con esto de forma inteligente. Unos minutos despuรฉs, tomรฉ un respiro profundo y terminรฉ mi ducha. Cuando salรญ del baรฑo, me sorprendiรณ ver que Pierce todavรญa estaba allรญ. Estaba luchando por arreglarse la corbata frente al espejo de cuerpo entero. Tambiรฉn notรฉ un par de zapatos y un vestido mรญos sobre la cama. --ยกEy! Elegรญ tu vestido para hoy --dijo. Como nuestro matrimonio no era pรบblico, Pierce dijo que harรญa pequeรฑas cosas para mรญ como marido. De hecho, lo habรญa hecho bien y yo solรญa disfrutar de estos dulces momentos que me regalaba, pero ahora sentรญa que eso mismo me m**arรญa. Al segundo siguiente, agarrรฉ el vestido y entrรฉ al vestidor, sentiendo que me seguรญa. Volvรญ a guardar el vestido blanco y elegรญ uno rojo. Cuando me di vuelta y lo tuve de frente, lo vi con la frente arrugada. --Hoy prefiero el rojo. Me sentirรฉ hermosa con este vestido --expliquรฉ con una sonrisa. Al instante, sus ojos se dirigieron al vestido que sostenรญa y su rostro inmediatamente se calmรณ. Al final asintiรณ y caminรณ hacia mรญ. --Ya veo. Pero antes ayรบdame a arreglar esto --me pidiรณ. Sin dudarlo, puse mi vestido en su brazo y comencรฉ a arreglarle la corbata. Podรญa sentir sus ojos mirรกndome intensamente y eso hacรญa que mi corazรณn latiera muy rรกpido. Respirรฉ hondo y me mordรญ el labio inferior mientras luchaba por arreglar su corbata. De pronto, mi visiรณn se volviรณ borrosa otra vez. ยกMaldiciรณn! --Kellyโฆ No pude evitar sobresaltarme en shock. --ยฟMmm? --ยฟEstรกs bien? --preguntรณ. Lo mirรฉ y sonreรญ: --Sรญ. --Tengo algo mรกs que decirte. En ese instante, terminรฉ de arreglarle la corbata y le quitรฉ rรกpidamente el vestido del brazo. Lo mirรฉ antes de pasar junto a รฉl y dije: --Hablaremos despuรฉs. Voy a llegar tarde. Lo escuchรฉ suspirar antes de volver a seguirme. Me vestรญ mientras รฉl estaba detrรกs de mรญ. Estuvo en silencio todo el tiempo, como si estuviera pensando en algo. --Deberรญas desayunar antes de irte --comentรณ. Un segundo despuรฉs, me parรฉ frente a รฉl y asentรญ. --Lo harรฉ. Deberรญas irte ahora --respondรญ. --Kelly, estamos en la misma pรกgina, ยฟverdad? --preguntรณ. Lo mirรฉ fijamente. No, Pierce. Nunca estuvimos en la misma pรกgina. Sรณlo fueron mis estรบpidas fantasรญas. Pensaba que sentรญas algo por mรญ, pero estaba muy equivocada. --Si hablas del divorcio, lo entiendo, Pierce. Sรฉ lo que tengo que hacer. Sรณlo dame algo de tiempo porque estoy muy ocupada con la empresa. No huirรฉ. --Kelly, no estoy haciendo esto sรณlo por mรญ. Tambiรฉn lo hago por ti. Has estado encerrada conmigo desde que nos casamos. Sรฉ que no eres feliz porque en el fondo tambiรฉn quieres encontrar al hombre que te mereces. Alguien que realmente te ame, no yo. No alguien indiferente. --Entiendo lo que tratas de decir, Pierce --dije y tratรฉ de darle la espalda, pero antes de poder hacerlo, รฉl me sujetรณ por la cintura y me mantuvo en el lugar. Luego hizo todo lo posible para captar mis ojos hasta que lo consiguiรณ. Su mirada era de preocupaciรณn. --Eres mi mejor amiga. No quiero perderte, Kels. Eres una de las pocas personasโฆ --Lo sรฉ --lo interrumpรญ con frustraciรณn. Parecรญa sorprendido, asรญ que me calmรฉ--. Ya lo sรฉ. No tienes que preocuparte. Simplemente estoy estresada por el trabajo, no es por el divorcio. En ese instante, sus labios se separaron, asintiรณ lentamente y soltรณ un suspiro. Luego, caminรณ hacia mรญ y me congelรฉ cuando besรณ mi frente con dulzuraโฆ --Gracias, Kelly --susurrรณ. Al oรญrlo, mi corazรณn se apretรณ. Habรญan pasado tres aรฑos pero todavรญa era una cobarde. ยซยฟPor quรฉ no puedes simplemente decirle que lo amas, Kelly? ยกรl es tu esposo y estรกs llevando su bebรฉ! ยกDรญselo y tal vez cambie de opiniรณn!ยป pensรฉ. Con eso en mente, traguรฉ saliva y estuve a punto de decรญrselo, pero justo en ese momento su telรฉfono sonรณ. Pude ver el identificador de llamadas. Era Lexi. --Me tengo que ir --afirmรณ y se rascรณ la cabeza a modo de disculpa, mientras las comisuras de su boca se curvaban hacia arriba--. Llamรฉ a Luke. Te espera afuera. Come antes de irte, ยฟsรญ? Con eso, saliรณ de nuestra habitaciรณn. De repente, las lรกgrimas que habรญa logrado reprimir hasta ese momento volvieron a brotar. ยฟPor quรฉ habรญa pensado que podrรญa tener una oportunidad? รl tomรณ su decisiรณn en el momento en que me pidiรณ el divorcio, ยฟverdad? Siempre que se trataba de Lexi me abandonaba. Capรญtulo 3 Punto de vista de Kelly--Mantener la compostura Entrรฉ al estudio con tacones rojos de cinco centรญmetros y un vestido igualmente rojo. Todos miraron en mi direcciรณn cuando entrรฉ caminando por el pasillo y me saludaron con una sonrisa, pero mantuve mi rostro estoico, sin mostrar emociรณn alguna. La conversaciรณn de esa maรฑana con Pierce todavรญa estaba en mi cabeza, pero no podรญa permitir que afectara mi trabajo. No podรญa fallar en mi trabajo despuรฉs de haber fracasado en mi matrimonio. De modo que respirรฉ profundamente para recomponerme. Un momento despuรฉs, cuando entrรฉ a la sala de la sesiรณn de fotos, notรฉ que todos estaban sumidos en el caos. --ยกNo podemos! No responde las llamadas. ยฟQuรฉ debemos hacer? La vicepresidente viene hoy, se enojarรก. --Podemos simplemente decirle la verdad. Ella es amable. --ยกNo lo serรก con esta situaciรณn, Lily! Nos va a regaรฑar... --ยฟQuรฉ estรก pasando aquรญ? --preguntรฉ mientras entraba a la sala. De inmediato, el personal me mirรณ con expresiones preocupadas y entonces supe que habรญa un problema. --B-Buenos dรญas, seรฑorita Monroe. Seรฑorita Monroe. Por supuesto, nadie sabรญa que Pierce y yo estรกbamos casados โโexcepto nuestras familias. Sentรญ como si pellizcaran mi corazรณn con esa verdad. Dolรญa. Rรกpidamente, la mirรฉ sin comprender. --ยฟQuรฉ ocurre? --T-tenemos un problema, seรฑorita Monroe. La seรฑorita Chen, nuestra modelo, no atiende nuestras llamadas. Dijo que escuchรณ que รญbamos a cambiar de modelo asรญ queโฆ no quiere venir. Incluso... amenazรณ con presentar una demanda contra nosotros. Despuรฉs de decir eso, inclinรณ la cabeza. Yo apretรฉ los dientes y recorrรญ el lugar con la mirada. --ยฟDรณnde estรก la directora de marketing? --inquirรญ. --E-Ella todavรญa estรก tratando de convencer a la seรฑorita Chen, seรฑorita Monroe. Luego de escuchar el problema, me masajeรฉ la frente y cerrรฉ los ojos con fuerza. Un segundo despuรฉs, me agarrรฉ del pelo y gritรฉ de ira. Sentรญ que todos a mi alrededor se sobresaltaban sorprendidos. Yo solo suspirรฉ y tomรฉ una gran bocanada de aire antes de mirar a mi alrededor. --Seรฑorita Monroe... --ยฟQuรฉ es todo esto, seรฑorita Hayley? Tรบ eres la directora de marketing, ยฟquรฉ estรก pasando? --Seรฑorita Monroe, no sรฉ cรณmo sucediรณ, pero la seรฑorita Chen escuchรณ que usted cambiarรก de modelo. Estรก a punto de presentar una demanda contra nosotros... ยฟCambiar de modelo? ยฟCรณmo es que yo no sabรญa nada al respecto? La seรฑorita Chen siempre habรญa sido nuestra modelo de confianza y, si no era necesario, cambiar de modelo para una sesiรณn comercial con tan poca antelaciรณn sรณlo causarรญa muchos problemas a la empresa. Nunca permitirรญa un error como este. --Yo no pedรญ eso. Debe ser un error --la interrumpรญ para ahorrar tiempo--. ยกArregla este desastre o tendrรฉ que despedirte! --Seรฑorita Monroe... Fue el presidente quien nos pidiรณ que la cambiรกramos --explicรณ Hayley vacilante--. Lo ordenรณ ayer tan pronto como regresรณ de su viaje de negocios. Aquella verdad me golpeรณ con fuerza. ยฟFue orden de Pierce? ยฟPor quรฉ no me lo dijo? Solรญa โโdiscutir conmigo cada decisiรณn importante antes de tomarla. --No puede ser... --exclamรฉ confundida. Pierce no era un hombre de negocios despistado. Siempre mantuvo una clara distinciรณn entre el trabajo y la vida personal, razรณn por la cual siempre tuvo รฉxito. Y esa fue tambiรฉn la razรณn por la que decidiรณ mantener nuestro matrimonio en secreto. --Sรญ, Kelly. Yo di la orden. --Su voz me hizo retroceder. --S-Seรฑor Presidenteโฆ --saludรณ Hayley y se inclinรณ con respeto al ver al hombre que apareciรณ de repente detrรกs de mรญ. --Pierce, ยกcreo que me debes una explicaciรณn sobre este cambio de modelo! --dije con los dientes apretados mientras me giraba para interrogarlo. รl sabรญa perfectamente cuรกnto esfuerzo puse para ganar este proyecto. Estuve dรญas sin dormir y la seรฑorita Chen era la persona ideal para este trabajo. De hecho, รฉl tambiรฉn estuvo de acuerdo. Pero ahoraโฆ simplemente cambiรณ la modelo a su gusto sin avisarme con antelaciรณn. Eso fue como abofetearme con fuerza en la cara. --Continรบen con el trabajo. Yo se lo aclararรฉ --le indicรณ รฉl al personal para calmarlos, ignorando la ira que estaba a punto de salir de mis ojos. --ยกContรฉstame, Pierce! ยฟPor quรฉ cambias de modelo tan de repente? --No pude contener mi enojo. รl simplemente me tocรณ el hombro y me susurrรณ: --Este no es el lugar para discutir al respecto. Te lo explicarรฉ en el auto. En ese momento, mirรฉ a mi alrededor y notรฉ que los demรกs nos miraban furtivamente. Luego me quitรฉ sus manos de encima y caminรฉ hacia el estacionamiento, pero durante el camino, sentรญa mi corazรณn cada vez mรกs pesado. Tenรญa la sensaciรณn de que su explicaciรณn no iba a gustarme. --Vamos, dรญmelo --exclamรฉ ni bien nos sentamos en su auto. Antes de hablar, me mirรณ a los ojos como si sopesara mis emociones, pero yo apartรฉ la mirada de nuevo. No podรญa soportar sus miradas, no podรญa soportar esos ojos que nunca me miraban como yo querรญa. รl no sentรญa nada por mรญ y eso me dolรญa mucho. --Yo-yoโฆ --hizo una pausa y suspirรณ--. Reemplacรฉ a la seรฑorita Chen porque Lexi quiere ser nuestra modelo. Ella tambiรฉn encaja en el proyecto, asรญ que estuve de acuerdo... --ยฟQuรฉ? --preguntรฉ con incredulidad. De pronto, apretรณ los labios y mirรณ hacia otro lado. Luego se revolviรณ el cabello antes de sacudir la cabeza y tomar mi mano. --Lamento no haberte dicho antes, fue muy repentino. Ella me pidiรณ un favor, no pude decirle que no. Rรกpidamente, retirรฉ mi mano y lo mirรฉ con dolor y enojo. --No pudiste decirle que no, asรญ que preferiste daรฑar a la empresa, a nuestra empresa. Me traicionaste, Pierce. --Kels, vamos. Sabes cuรกnto la amo. Ella es mi primer amor. Al oรญrlo, cerrรฉ los ojos con dolor. ยซOh sรญ, ella es tu primer amor. Siempre la quisiste a ella, sin que te importen los demรกs. Si ella te frunce el ceรฑo un poco, puedes hacer la vista gorda ante el dolor y el esfuerzo de los demรกs. Eres tan cruel, Pierceยป pensรฉ. --Bueno, ya lo has decidido. No tengo voz y voto en esto ya que tรบ eres el presidente. Ahora vete, estarรฉ en la oficina --indiquรฉ con frialdad mientras abrรญa la puerta del auto para salir. --Kellyโฆ En ese instante, lo mirรฉ a los ojos y dije: --Ve a casa temprano. Hablaremos de nuestro divorcio esta noche. Capรญtulo 4 Punto de vista de Kelly--Plantada Me encontraba jugueteando con el anillo de bodas en mi dedo mientras lo esperaba. Le habรญa dicho que volviera temprano a casa, pero todavรญa no regresaba y ni siquiera contestaba mis llamadas. Bueno, ahora que Lexi habรญa vuelto, probablemente ya no veรญa a esta casa como su hogar. De pronto, mis ojos se dirigieron a mi informe de embarazo que estaba sobre la mesa. Quรฉ gracioso. Todavรญa era tan ingenua para albergar un rayo de esperanza de que las cosas podrรญan cambiar si le hablaba del bebรฉ, pero este bebรฉ estaba fuera de sus planes. Me sequรฉ las lรกgrimas que se acumulaban en el rabillo de mis ojos y agarrรฉ el informe. Ya eran las cinco de la maรฑana cuando mirรฉ el reloj de la pared. Intentรฉ marcar su nรบmero nuevamente, pero seguรญa sin responder. ยฟEn quรฉ estaba tan ocupado? ยฟEstaba h**iendo el a**r con Lexi? Debiรณ haberla extraรฑado mucho, ยฟverdad? Pronto, sin saber cuรกndo, me quedรฉ dormida. Cuando sonรณ el despertador, inconscientemente toquรฉ la almohada a mi lado. Frรญo como anoche, no habรญa vuelto a casa todavรญa. Me burlรฉ de mรญ misma al ver mi reflejo en el espejo de la cรณmoda. Los cรญrculos oscuros bajo mis ojos se veรญan a simple vista y mi cabello era un total desastre, parecรญa un fantasma. De repente una oleada de nรกuseas inundรณ mi estรณmago y me di cuenta de que no habรญa comido nada la noche anterior. De pronto, me sentรญ mal otra vez y rรกpidamente corrรญ hacia el lavabo y vomitรฉ. Escupรญ un lรญquido amarillento que sabรญa muy mal. De inmediato, me lavรฉ la boca y mirรฉ mi propio reflejo en el espejo. Al verme, sacudรญ la cabeza y tomรฉ mi frente en cuanto sentรญ ganas de vomitar de nuevo. Volvรญ a escupir el lรญquido amarillento y mientras me lavaba la boca, sentรญ una cรกlida mano acariciando mi espalda. Inmediatamente levantรฉ la cara y me encontrรฉ con un par de ojos marrones que me miraban a travรฉs del espejo. Detrรกs de mรญ con cara de preocupaciรณn estaba mi esposo Pierce. --ยฟEstรกs bien? ยฟTe sientes mal? Debiste haberme dicho. Al instante, lo mirรฉ a travรฉs del espejo. --No respondiste mis llamadas --contestรฉ. Ante aquellas palabras, la culpa apareciรณ en sus ojos. --Lo lamento. Tenรญa cosas que hacer. Me quedรฉ en la oficina toda la noche --afirmรณ. Rรกpidamente, me limpiรฉ la cara y pasรฉ junto a รฉl. Pierce me siguiรณ mientras me sentaba frente al tocador y comenzaba a peinarme. --Kelsโฆ --Me despertรฉ tarde. No pude preparar el desayuno. Mientras hablaba, intentรฉ evitar sus ojos. Sentรญa que iba a perder los estribos y gritarle. En ningรบn momento sentรญ su egoรญsmo tan claramente como ahora. Decรญa que yo era su mejor amiga, pero nunca le habรญan importado mis necesidades, mis sentimientos. --Kels... sabes que no te preguntรฉ eso. Estoy preocupado por tu salud... Kels, ยฟtodavรญa estamos bien? Ante aquella pregunta, dejรฉ de peinarme y lentamente nuestras miradas se encontraron a travรฉs del espejo, otra vez. ยฟDe verdad me estaba preguntando eso? ยฟDespuรฉs de que me pidiรณ el divorcio sin siquiera preguntarme si estaba de acuerdo? รl decidiรณ por su cuenta sรณlo porque su primer amor habรญa vuelto. No podรญa creer lo que hacรญa. Al final, fingรญ una sonrisa y dije: --No me siento bien hoy, Pierce, eso es todo. Un instante despuรฉs, se puso de cuclillas a mi lado, lo cual no me resultรณ sorprendente porque sabรญa que realmente se preocupaba. Pero lo que sรญ me sorprendiรณ fue que hacรญa todo esto despuรฉs de enterrar una daga en mi corazรณn. --ยฟEstรกs bien? --preguntรณ mientras tocaba suavemente mi frente y mi cuello--. ยฟEstรกs enferma? Dime cรณmo te sientes, Kels. --Mis sentimientos no importan --no pude evitar decir y parecรญa sorprendido por mis palabras. En ese instante, intentรฉ evitarlo, pero me agarrรณ de la muรฑeca y me hizo mirarlo. Su rostro ahora reflejaba su ira. Habรญa perdido completamente la paciencia. --ยฟQuรฉ te pasa, Kels? Has estado actuando asรญ desde ayer. ยฟEs por Lexi? ยฟO porque no volvรญ a casa anoche? --inquiriรณ. Yo lo mirรฉ a los ojos, molesta. --ยกTรบ fuiste quien pidiรณ el divorcio! Te pedรญ que regresaras temprano para hablar al respecto, pero me dejaste esperando toda la noche. ยฟPretendรญas que te diera la bienvenida con brazos abiertos despuรฉs de eso, Pierce? --respondรญ. Al escucharme, apretรณ la mandรญbula y sacudiรณ la cabeza. --Kels, yo... --Ya basta. Hablaremos del divorcio despuรฉs del trabajo. --ยกKels! --me llamรณ y me agarrรณ de los hombros. La confusiรณn y el dolor eran visibles en sus ojos--. ยฟEstรกs... enamorada de mรญ? Aquello me desconcertรณ. ยฟEnamorada? ยกSรญ! Desde que estรกbamos en la escuela secundaria, desde que se convirtiรณ en mi mejor amigo. ยฟQuiรฉn no se enamorarรญa de alguien que te ha estado protegiendo desde entonces? Siempre he estado agradecida de tenerlo como mi mejor amigo y esposo, pero ahoraโฆ lo estaba perdiendo. Perdiรฉndolo irremediablemente. Decidรญ darle a nuestro matrimonio una รบltima oportunidad, hacer un esfuerzo final... ...... ==== Casarse con su mejor amigo fue un sueรฑo hecho realidad para Kelly, pero todo tiene realmente una limitaciรณn. Pierce es el primer amor de Kelly, pero como su mejor amiga, sabรญa bien que siempre habรญa otra mujer en lo profundo de su corazรณn. Lexi Gilbert. Kelly finalmente se dio cuenta de que su feliz matrimonio de los รบltimos tres aรฑos era solo un hermoso sueรฑo cuando Pierce pidiรณ el divorcio solo porque Lexi regresรณ. Ella sรณlo podrรญa ser su mejor amiga incluso si estuviera encinta de su bebรฉ. ยฟPor quรฉ no merecรญa ser amada? ยฟQuรฉ sucederรก en adelante? ยฟCรณmo podrรญa Kelly salvar su corazรณn en esta batalla de amor y odio? Los capรญtulos disponibles son limitados aquรญ, haga click el botรณn abajo para instalar APP y disfrutar leyendo mรกs contenidos maravillosos. (Al abrir el APP, directo accederรก a este libro) &3& | LEARN_MORE | https://fbweb.manobook.com/14603375-fb_contact-spc | Fun Novels | https://www.facebook.com/61563251196448/ | 1,922 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.manobook.com | VIDEO | https://fbweb.manobook.com/14603375-fb_contact-spcp25_2-1030-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=157725&accid=860298072104208&rawadid=120215437202030204 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/465473276_1689747998426179_8878505075294696366_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=S5xNb6hmHqkQ7kNvgGQ0eBS&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AiUkykxtzDrZp8yqiDecn1P&oh=00_AYDLcD0EMOl3LaT-uma5mRSOntFiHXxW5VQzE4CHmgFwdQ&oe=674ADCB4 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Fun Novels | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,532,539 |
/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 | 2024-11-25 19:11 | active | 1923 | 0 |
|
Read next chapter๐ | Because of cheating, he divorced her. She left a sentence, "You will regret it." 4 years later, he saw her on TV and introduced her as a top 100 female CEO and a single mother of triplets. The faces of her three children are exactly like his ... ============= Chapter 1 Ex-girlfriend Returns Raegan Hayes was a little absent-minded at the moment. All she could think of since this afternoon was the doctor's words. "Congratulations! You are going to be a mom." Suddenly, Mitchel Dixon pinched her arm. His low voice came the next second. "Come back to earth. What are you thinking about?" Mitchel was her husband. They had been married secretly for two years. He was her superior at work, the president of the Dixon Group. Everything had happened so fast. She was newly employed in the company when they unexpectedly got married. 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. They signed a prenup, agreeing to hide their marriage from the public. Their union could be terminated at any time. It was an unconventional thing to do. However, Raegan only considered herself lucky at that time. 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. After their marriage, Mitchel was very busy. He spent most of his time working. 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. Except for his mild indifference, Mitchel was a perfect husband. Raegan had mixed feelings as she stared at the medical report. In the end, she decided to tell Mitchel this news. 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. Just then, Mitchelโs phone rang. He went to the balcony and answered the phone. Raegan checked the time and found that it was already midnight. She felt a little uneasy. Who would call Mitchel at this hour? 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. He was something to see now. "Don't wait up for me. Good night," he said finally. What? He was on his way out? At this hour? 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." 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." With that, he headed for the door. "Mitchel." Raegan quickly ran and caught up with him. Mitchel turned around and looked at her seriously. "What's the matter?" There was a tinge of coldness to his voice. An icy cloud hung over them as they stared at each other. A little distressed, Raegan asked in a low voice, "I would like to visit my grandma tomorrow. Can you accompany me there?" Her grandmother always wanted to see her. As a result, Raegan wanted to take Mitchel there to assure her grandma they were happy. "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Without agreeing or declining, Mitchel left in a hurry. Several thoughts were threading Raegan's mind. She couldn't sleep a wink. After tossing and turning for a long time, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm glass of milk. A few notifications from some online blogs came into her phone. 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. The news read, "Famous designer, Lauren Murray was spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend earlier today." 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. Raegan zoomed in on the picture. The next second, her heart dropped. Mitchel was the man in the picture! So, he canceled the afternoon meeting just to go pick up his ex-girlfriend from the airport? This realization settled like a boulder in Raegan's gut, rendering her flustered. Her hands trembled. Subconsciously, she dialed Mitchel's number. 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. "Hello!" It was a particularly gentle woman's voice. Raegan froze for a second and then threw the phone away. She suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet bowl. The next morning, Raegan went to work on time. Mitchel had tried to get her to stop working after they got married. Stubbornly, she insisted on making her own money. Mitchel didn't kick against her decision, but he asked her to work as his assistant, helping him with the daily chores. The head assistant, Matteo Jenkins was left to take care of the major affairs Mitchel had. Matteo was the only Dixon Group employee who knew about their marriage. 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. It took a while before they realized that Mitchel never gave Raegan special treatment. Strangely, this made them despise her even more. After all, no one would last long in anything while taking advantage of their looks. At this time, one of Raegan's colleagues handed her a document and ordered her to take it to Mitchel's office. Mitchel didn't return home last night. Raegan was so worried that she didn't sleep at all. All she kept thinking about was the woman who answered his phone when she called. What was her relationship with Mitchel? Raegan already knew the answer to that, but she was still in denial. It was difficult for her to come to terms with that fact. 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? 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. She had arrived at the office, only to see that the door was ajar. A man's voice came. She halted instantly. "Come on, man! Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?" The voice belonged to Luis Stevens, a childhood friend of Mitchel's. "What do you mean exactly?" Mitchel asked in a cold voice. "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?" "Do you want me to hand her over to you?" Mitchel asked carelessly. "You know what, forget it!" The scornful laughter of Luis sounded particularly harsh in Raegan's ears. They were talking about her as if she were an object. Raegan took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the document. Soon, Luis's voice was heard again. "By the way, I saw the gossip news about Lauren's mysterious boyfriend this morning. That was you, right?" "Yes." "Well, well, well! That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. You always want to please her." Luis sighed and continued to tease Mitchel. "As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell me, did you two..." Their conversation was like a thunder exploding over Raegan's head. Her face turned pale and her body was as cold as ice. The woman was indeed Lauren! Absence made the heart grow fonder! Every word drove a knife into her heart. Several whispering voices filled her head at this time. She suddenly felt light-headed. Her vision became blurry. She held the wall and took a step backward. Suddenly, the door was opened from inside. "Raegan?" Chapter 2 One-sided Love Luis was the one who opened the door. It appeared he was on his way out. Raegan balled her hands, turned to him, and nodded. "Hey, Mr. Stevens!" Without waiting for him to respond to her greeting, she walked past him and entered the office with the document. Mitchel was seated behind a large luxurious desk. In an expensive suit and matching tie, he looked particularly handsome. Raegan noticed it wasn't the same suit he had on when he left home last night. How did he get changed? With her eyes lowered, she swallowed that question and said instead, "Mr. Dixon, this is from the Marketing Department. Please sign it." Mitchel was expressionless as he signed the document at a glance. Raegan walked out the door as soon as he handed the document back to her. Luis was still standing at the threshold. 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?" Mitchel's appealing eyes were expressionless at the moment. Obviously, he wasn't paying attention to what Luis was saying. To Mitchel, Raegan had always been docile and never felt jealous of anyone. Her strict obedience was all Mitchel demanded from her in exchange for treating her well. In the elevator. Raegan held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn't work. She had thought two years would be enough for Mitchel to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love. Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream. She realized she would always play second fiddle to Lauren, Mitchel's true love. Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened. She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea. Several employees were chatting inside. "Guys, have you heard? Lauren Murray is back." "And who is that?" "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!" "Why is her return such a big deal? Isn't it rumored that there is something between Mr. Dixon and Raegan?" "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!" Standing at the door, Raegan smiled with self-mockery as she listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her. The love was one-sided. "Ha-ha, have you finally woken up from your wild dream, Raegan?" A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Raegan turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Mitchel's cousin, who had always despised her. Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping. The last thing Raegan wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way. 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?" Raegan said nothing to that. Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule. "Maybe itโs time for you to seek out another man, you pathetic fool." Raegan clenched her fists and said coldly, "Ms. Lloyd, if you are interested in that kind of thing, feel free to pursue it yourself." "You..." Raegan's retort made Tessa's face change. The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of coffee on Raegan. 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. Raegan frowned. "What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?" It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama. Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers. 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..." Tessa was silenced by Raeganโs shove. Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Raegan, who was so quiet and timid, would shove her. Tessa stuttered, "You... You pushed me? How dare you!" Raegan eyed her and replied, "Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness." 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. 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. Tessa charged at Raegan like a raging bull, poised to retaliate. This time, Raegan was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa's wrist so that the latter couldn't move another inch. Tessa was shorter than Raegan. As a result, she struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap. Tessa cursed angrily, "How dare you put your hands on me? Who do you think you are?" These harsh words attracted more people to the break room. "That's enough!" Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Mitchel had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo. The entire room fell silent. "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. But when she remembered that Raegan humiliated her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed. "Mitchel, she bullied me." The sunlight from outside fell on Mitchel's handsome face. Raegan felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to look at her clothes which were soaked with coffee. 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?" His ruthlessness made Raegan's breathing cease. She couldn't believe her ears. No one dared to make a sound at this moment. Raegan just stood straight there with her slender figure. 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. Raegan could understand why he took this stand. 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. Was she truly insignificant to him? 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. Mitchel's cold eyes made Raegan shiver from head to toe. Raegan pinched her palm to suppress her emotions as she looked at Tessa. "I'm sorry, Ms. Lloyd. As an employee of the Dixon Group, it was wrong of me to have offended you." 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..." "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. She then walked past Mitchel without sparing him another look. "You..." Tessa's face turned blue after hearing what Raegan said. Never in her years of being alive had she been so humiliated. She was always the bully, not the victim! The humiliation was so much that scolding Raegan wouldn't appease her anger. 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!" Mitchel, staring at Raegan's thin back, had an ambiguous expression at this moment. "Enough!" he said coldly, raising his hand. 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. Tessa gritted her teeth and said viciously, "Next time, I'll get someone to teach her a lesson." "Tessa!" Mitchel's tone and squint made it a reproof. Tessa trembled at once. With a somber face, Mitchel said, "I'll only say it once. Forget about what happened here today. Leave Raegan alone." The aura he exuded made her tongue go dry. All the vicious ideas she had in store against Raegan disappeared in an instant. She stammered, "Ok... Okay, got it..." Mitchel cast a cold glance at her and spoke to Matteo. "Irrelevant people wouldn't be allowed in here from today onwards." Without catching the drift, Tessa flattered Mitchel. "Nice call. This is a top company. Not everyone gains access in here." Matteo nodded to Mitchel and then walked over to Tessa. He gestured to the exit. "Ms. Lloyd, this way, please." 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. They showed her no mercy. Her struggle was useless. Meanwhile, Raegan got changed when she returned to her office. Her heart was filled with sadness as she thought of how Mitchel looked at her minutes ago. Closing hour soon rolled by. Raegan took her bag and headed for the exit. However, Matteo stopped her. He said, "Mr. Dixon has something urgent to deal with, so he asked me to drive you home." Raegan declined the ride without thinking twice. She was blind before, but now she could see through the situation. In Mitchel's eyes, she was just a nobody. How could Mitchel agree to accompany her to visit her grandmother when he didn't even care about her? 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. 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. Her grandmother wasn't aware of her marriage to Mitchel. Raegan had planned to surprise her today. But as it turned out, that was no longer necessary. Raegan waited for her grandmother to fall asleep before she left. She walked out of the hospital and waited for a taxi. In the distance, a black luxury car pulled into the entrance of the hospital. Raegan's eyes lit up when she saw it. She recognized that car as Mitchel's. Did he come to pick her up? At this moment, she forgot all the pain she had been feeling. Were her thoughts about him all wrong? Did he care for her, contrary to the gossip? The door of the driver's side opened and Mitchel got out. Raegan started walking toward him with her heart brimming with joy. Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. Mitchel had just walked over to the other side and carried a woman out of the car. Worry and compassion were written all over his handsome face. This wiped the smile on Raegan's face. Her heart sank. Chapter 3 Let's Divorce Mitchel's tall and straight figure got closer and closer to Raegan. And then, without saying a word, he strode past Raegan. It was hard to tell if Mitchel saw Raegan or just ignored her. Regardless, Raegan noticed that the woman in his arms was the same one who had been photographed with him yesterday. She was Lauren. Raegan's shoes felt like they were made of lead as she walked away. She lost all awareness of her surroundings. She got into a taxi absentmindedly. Suddenly, the driver uttered, "Ma'am, where to?" Raegan was stunned for a moment. She didn't want to go back to Serenity Villas. It was only a matter of time before that place stopped being her home. After a while, she replied, "Please take me to Crystal Bay." She had purchased an apartment at Crystal Bay after getting married to Mitchel. 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. Mitchel didn't understand why she wanted to buy an apartment. He offered to give her a bigger one, but she declined. Looking back now, she realized that buying that apartment was the only wise decision she had ever made in the last two years. When she arrived at the apartment complex, Raegan sat in the park alone, trying to cool herself down. The memories of the past two years were bittersweet. Two years had passed in the blink of an eye even though it was more than seven hundred days and nights. Love could move mountains, they said. 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. It was already late in the night before Raegan finally decided to go into her apartment. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mitchel standing in front of the door. 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. Raegan froze for a moment. Why was he here? Didn't she see him at the hospital with Lauren? What brought him here? Their eyes met. With his coat draped over his arm and one of his hands in his pocket, Mitchel squinted at her. "Why didn't you answer the phone?" he asked, sounding a little grumpy like someone who hadn't slept in a long time. Raegan took out her phone and saw she had accidentally put it on DND. There were five missed calls from Mitchel. This marked the first time in their two-year marriage. Mitchel blew up her phone because he couldn't find her? Surprising! Before today, she would have been overjoyed by this. People would've thought she won the lottery. 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." Mitchel raised his hand to check the time on the watch, and said impatiently, "I've been looking for you for two hours." 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. He later found out that Raegan went to Crystal Bay without telling him. "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. He meant to go back to Serenity Villas. Raegan didn't move an inch. She just stared at his broad back and pondered reluctantly. Would they have a future? 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?" The light in the corridor illuminated his face, making his side profile almost impeccable. Raegan took a deep breath and said, "Let's divorce." "What do you mean?" Mitchel's voice was cold, and his handsome face changed immediately. "I want to move into my own place. After all, we will be strangers soon." Raegan forced a smile, but her heart was aching as if someone was tearing it apart bit by bit. "We will be strangers?" Mitchel smiled coldly. "Raegan, what do you think our relationship is now?" His questioning left Raegan stunned for a moment. 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. Mitchel was quite the catch in Ardlens. Many young ladies longed for his love and were even willing to throw themselves at him. 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... 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." After saying that, Raegan couldn't help but burst into tears. 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. Regardless of how difficult it was, she knew it was time to let go. It was high time she stopped being a fool. Strangely, the light in the corridor began flickering. The deathly stare Mitchel was giving Raegan right now made the atmosphere seem like the moment before an attack in a horror movie. Although he understood that Raegan sometimes could throw a tantrum, he felt that she had just crossed the line now. 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..." "No, this isn't about her. Mr. Dixon, please leave now." A lot of things happened between them. And the incident with Tessa didn't come close to any. Raegan felt exhausted. She passed by Mitchel and was about to open the door. Yet, Mitchel was displeased with her stubbornness. He loosened his tie irritably. He then took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. "Stop this, will you?" A second later, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. He instantly realized that she was burning up like someone who had been set on fire. "You have a fever?" Raegan felt dizzy. She rested her head on his chest weakly. This made the whole situation complicated. 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. 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?" The light flickered again. Out of the blue, Mitchel lifted her up. He then headed for the elevator. In a daze, Raegan asked softly, "What are you doing?" "What does it look like I am doing?" Mitchel remarked. "Taking you to the hospital, of course." "No way!" Raegan cried out in surprise and seemed to regain more strength. Mitchel might find out about her condition if they went to the hospital. Raegan struggled to get out of Mitchel's arms. However, his tight grip made her efforts fruitless. "Don't be so stubborn. You are sick, so you must see the doctor," Mitchel said firmly. 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. "Put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!" &40& | LEARN_MORE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-e | Loving reading | https://www.facebook.com/61567813351718/ | 421 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.moboreader.net | IMAGE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-enj57-1120-core3.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=124213&accid=2030515880733998&rawadid=120212734785530307 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/467627600_1310942797008471_226914475938015061_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JxNfZLc8_fMQ7kNvgESQUC_&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=ASHvE0ZiEHfNpo1PkHLVJI0&oh=00_AYAj7LrWTxKSM-qWL6QgF-PXRW-4i32T0wTarThYmu75lg&oe=674AEBD9 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Loving reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,531,258 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
'{"alias":2531262}'
|
No | 2024-11-25 18:58 | active | 1923 | 0 |
|
๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | LEARN_MORE | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&u | Galaxy in the Story | https://www.facebook.com/61555427913037/ | 1,562 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | wwwedb.com | DCO | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uVXYPJb12BsQ7kNvgFahx5m&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AC9Y8Jti8naNxlg-K-HVzaT&oh=00_AYBOFFWw0F6ag-JJC25sLfsPaslGjfEUW8ch6U5b8Eqmkw&oe=674AE9F3 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,536,298 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
'{"alias":2534156}'
|
No | 2024-11-25 19:39 | active | 1922 | 0 |
|
Opyum Express East (19528 Kelly RD) 313-458-7795 & Opyum Soul (17425 Telegraph) 313-740-7187 $7 Daily Lunch Specials Specials 12pm-4pm. Call-In or Dine-In | CALL_NOW | Opyum Lounge | https://www.facebook.com/61557910113277/ | 640 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Call now | 0 | MULTI_IMAGES | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/468205605_3830238080625597_717596942283109332_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=e3vxIoyuq-sQ7kNvgHHPtnm&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AvBN0BaC6znN6um09tk9C-b&oh=00_AYC8TNnart68Zrs-w2M0FJ6hKHNdhHs8L_EVJ2R9ZaAjPg&oe=674ADEEB | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Opyum Lounge | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,533,037 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
null |
No | 2024-11-25 19:14 | active | 1923 | 0 | Read next chapter๐ | 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! ============= Chapter 1 Ex-girlfriend Returns Raegan Hayes was a little absent-minded at the moment. All she could think of since this afternoon was the doctor's words. "Congratulations! You are going to be a mom." Suddenly, Mitchel Dixon pinched her arm. His low voice came the next second. "Come back to earth. What are you thinking about?" Mitchel was her husband. They had been married secretly for two years. He was her superior at work, the president of the Dixon Group. Everything had happened so fast. She was newly employed in the company when they unexpectedly got married. 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. They signed a prenup, agreeing to hide their marriage from the public. Their union could be terminated at any time. It was an unconventional thing to do. However, Raegan only considered herself lucky at that time. 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. After their marriage, Mitchel was very busy. He spent most of his time working. 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. Except for his mild indifference, Mitchel was a perfect husband. Raegan had mixed feelings as she stared at the medical report. In the end, she decided to tell Mitchel this news. 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. Just then, Mitchelโs phone rang. He went to the balcony and answered the phone. Raegan checked the time and found that it was already midnight. She felt a little uneasy. Who would call Mitchel at this hour? 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. He was something to see now. "Don't wait up for me. Good night," he said finally. What? He was on his way out? At this hour? 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." 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." With that, he headed for the door. "Mitchel." Raegan quickly ran and caught up with him. Mitchel turned around and looked at her seriously. "What's the matter?" There was a tinge of coldness to his voice. An icy cloud hung over them as they stared at each other. A little distressed, Raegan asked in a low voice, "I would like to visit my grandma tomorrow. Can you accompany me there?" Her grandmother always wanted to see her. As a result, Raegan wanted to take Mitchel there to assure her grandma they were happy. "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Without agreeing or declining, Mitchel left in a hurry. Several thoughts were threading Raegan's mind. She couldn't sleep a wink. After tossing and turning for a long time, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm glass of milk. A few notifications from some online blogs came into her phone. 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. The news read, "Famous designer, Lauren Murray was spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend earlier today." 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. Raegan zoomed in on the picture. The next second, her heart dropped. Mitchel was the man in the picture! So, he canceled the afternoon meeting just to go pick up his ex-girlfriend from the airport? This realization settled like a boulder in Raegan's gut, rendering her flustered. Her hands trembled. Subconsciously, she dialed Mitchel's number. 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. "Hello!" It was a particularly gentle woman's voice. Raegan froze for a second and then threw the phone away. She suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet bowl. The next morning, Raegan went to work on time. Mitchel had tried to get her to stop working after they got married. Stubbornly, she insisted on making her own money. Mitchel didn't kick against her decision, but he asked her to work as his assistant, helping him with the daily chores. The head assistant, Matteo Jenkins was left to take care of the major affairs Mitchel had. Matteo was the only Dixon Group employee who knew about their marriage. 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. It took a while before they realized that Mitchel never gave Raegan special treatment. Strangely, this made them despise her even more. After all, no one would last long in anything while taking advantage of their looks. At this time, one of Raegan's colleagues handed her a document and ordered her to take it to Mitchel's office. Mitchel didn't return home last night. Raegan was so worried that she didn't sleep at all. All she kept thinking about was the woman who answered his phone when she called. What was her relationship with Mitchel? Raegan already knew the answer to that, but she was still in denial. It was difficult for her to come to terms with that fact. 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? 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. She had arrived at the office, only to see that the door was ajar. A man's voice came. She halted instantly. "Come on, man! Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?" The voice belonged to Luis Stevens, a childhood friend of Mitchel's. "What do you mean exactly?" Mitchel asked in a cold voice. "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?" "Do you want me to hand her over to you?" Mitchel asked carelessly. "You know what, forget it!" The scornful laughter of Luis sounded particularly harsh in Raegan's ears. They were talking about her as if she were an object. Raegan took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the document. Soon, Luis's voice was heard again. "By the way, I saw the gossip news about Lauren's mysterious boyfriend this morning. That was you, right?" "Yes." "Well, well, well! That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. You always want to please her." Luis sighed and continued to tease Mitchel. "As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell me, did you two..." Their conversation was like a thunder exploding over Raegan's head. Her face turned pale and her body was as cold as ice. The woman was indeed Lauren! Absence made the heart grow fonder! Every word drove a knife into her heart. Several whispering voices filled her head at this time. She suddenly felt light-headed. Her vision became blurry. She held the wall and took a step backward. Suddenly, the door was opened from inside. "Raegan?" Chapter 2 One-sided Love Luis was the one who opened the door. It appeared he was on his way out. Raegan balled her hands, turned to him, and nodded. "Hey, Mr. Stevens!" Without waiting for him to respond to her greeting, she walked past him and entered the office with the document. Mitchel was seated behind a large luxurious desk. In an expensive suit and matching tie, he looked particularly handsome. Raegan noticed it wasn't the same suit he had on when he left home last night. How did he get changed? With her eyes lowered, she swallowed that question and said instead, "Mr. Dixon, this is from the Marketing Department. Please sign it." Mitchel was expressionless as he signed the document at a glance. Raegan walked out the door as soon as he handed the document back to her. Luis was still standing at the threshold. 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?" Mitchel's appealing eyes were expressionless at the moment. Obviously, he wasn't paying attention to what Luis was saying. To Mitchel, Raegan had always been docile and never felt jealous of anyone. Her strict obedience was all Mitchel demanded from her in exchange for treating her well. In the elevator. Raegan held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn't work. She had thought two years would be enough for Mitchel to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love. Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream. She realized she would always play second fiddle to Lauren, Mitchel's true love. Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened. She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea. Several employees were chatting inside. "Guys, have you heard? Lauren Murray is back." "And who is that?" "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!" "Why is her return such a big deal? Isn't it rumored that there is something between Mr. Dixon and Raegan?" "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!" Standing at the door, Raegan smiled with self-mockery as she listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her. The love was one-sided. "Ha-ha, have you finally woken up from your wild dream, Raegan?" A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Raegan turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Mitchel's cousin, who had always despised her. Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping. The last thing Raegan wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way. 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?" Raegan said nothing to that. Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule. "Maybe itโs time for you to seek out another man, you pathetic fool." Raegan clenched her fists and said coldly, "Ms. Lloyd, if you are interested in that kind of thing, feel free to pursue it yourself." "You..." Raegan's retort made Tessa's face change. The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of coffee on Raegan. 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. Raegan frowned. "What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?" It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama. Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers. 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..." Tessa was silenced by Raeganโs shove. Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Raegan, who was so quiet and timid, would shove her. Tessa stuttered, "You... You pushed me? How dare you!" Raegan eyed her and replied, "Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness." 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. 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. Tessa charged at Raegan like a raging bull, poised to retaliate. This time, Raegan was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa's wrist so that the latter couldn't move another inch. Tessa was shorter than Raegan. As a result, she struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap. Tessa cursed angrily, "How dare you put your hands on me? Who do you think you are?" These harsh words attracted more people to the break room. "That's enough!" Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Mitchel had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo. The entire room fell silent. "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. But when she remembered that Raegan humiliated her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed. "Mitchel, she bullied me." The sunlight from outside fell on Mitchel's handsome face. Raegan felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to look at her clothes which were soaked with coffee. 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?" His ruthlessness made Raegan's breathing cease. She couldn't believe her ears. No one dared to make a sound at this moment. Raegan just stood straight there with her slender figure. 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. Raegan could understand why he took this stand. 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. Was she truly insignificant to him? 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. Mitchel's cold eyes made Raegan shiver from head to toe. Raegan pinched her palm to suppress her emotions as she looked at Tessa. "I'm sorry, Ms. Lloyd. As an employee of the Dixon Group, it was wrong of me to have offended you." 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..." "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. She then walked past Mitchel without sparing him another look. "You..." Tessa's face turned blue after hearing what Raegan said. Never in her years of being alive had she been so humiliated. She was always the bully, not the victim! The humiliation was so much that scolding Raegan wouldn't appease her anger. 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!" Mitchel, staring at Raegan's thin back, had an ambiguous expression at this moment. "Enough!" he said coldly, raising his hand. 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. Tessa gritted her teeth and said viciously, "Next time, I'll get someone to teach her a lesson." "Tessa!" Mitchel's tone and squint made it a reproof. Tessa trembled at once. With a somber face, Mitchel said, "I'll only say it once. Forget about what happened here today. Leave Raegan alone." The aura he exuded made her tongue go dry. All the vicious ideas she had in store against Raegan disappeared in an instant. She stammered, "Ok... Okay, got it..." Mitchel cast a cold glance at her and spoke to Matteo. "Irrelevant people wouldn't be allowed in here from today onwards." Without catching the drift, Tessa flattered Mitchel. "Nice call. This is a top company. Not everyone gains access in here." Matteo nodded to Mitchel and then walked over to Tessa. He gestured to the exit. "Ms. Lloyd, this way, please." 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. They showed her no mercy. Her struggle was useless. Meanwhile, Raegan got changed when she returned to her office. Her heart was filled with sadness as she thought of how Mitchel looked at her minutes ago. Closing hour soon rolled by. Raegan took her bag and headed for the exit. However, Matteo stopped her. He said, "Mr. Dixon has something urgent to deal with, so he asked me to drive you home." Raegan declined the ride without thinking twice. She was blind before, but now she could see through the situation. In Mitchel's eyes, she was just a nobody. How could Mitchel agree to accompany her to visit her grandmother when he didn't even care about her? 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. 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. Her grandmother wasn't aware of her marriage to Mitchel. Raegan had planned to surprise her today. But as it turned out, that was no longer necessary. Raegan waited for her grandmother to fall asleep before she left. She walked out of the hospital and waited for a taxi. In the distance, a black luxury car pulled into the entrance of the hospital. Raegan's eyes lit up when she saw it. She recognized that car as Mitchel's. Did he come to pick her up? At this moment, she forgot all the pain she had been feeling. Were her thoughts about him all wrong? Did he care for her, contrary to the gossip? The door of the driver's side opened and Mitchel got out. Raegan started walking toward him with her heart brimming with joy. Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. Mitchel had just walked over to the other side and carried a woman out of the car. Worry and compassion were written all over his handsome face. This wiped the smile on Raegan's face. Her heart sank. Chapter 3 Let's Divorce Mitchel's tall and straight figure got closer and closer to Raegan. And then, without saying a word, he strode past Raegan. It was hard to tell if Mitchel saw Raegan or just ignored her. Regardless, Raegan noticed that the woman in his arms was the same one who had been photographed with him yesterday. She was Lauren. Raegan's shoes felt like they were made of lead as she walked away. She lost all awareness of her surroundings. She got into a taxi absentmindedly. Suddenly, the driver uttered, "Ma'am, where to?" Raegan was stunned for a moment. She didn't want to go back to Serenity Villas. It was only a matter of time before that place stopped being her home. After a while, she replied, "Please take me to Crystal Bay." She had purchased an apartment at Crystal Bay after getting married to Mitchel. 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. Mitchel didn't understand why she wanted to buy an apartment. He offered to give her a bigger one, but she declined. Looking back now, she realized that buying that apartment was the only wise decision she had ever made in the last two years. When she arrived at the apartment complex, Raegan sat in the park alone, trying to cool herself down. The memories of the past two years were bittersweet. Two years had passed in the blink of an eye even though it was more than seven hundred days and nights. Love could move mountains, they said. 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. It was already late in the night before Raegan finally decided to go into her apartment. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mitchel standing in front of the door. 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. Raegan froze for a moment. Why was he here? Didn't she see him at the hospital with Lauren? What brought him here? Their eyes met. With his coat draped over his arm and one of his hands in his pocket, Mitchel squinted at her. "Why didn't you answer the phone?" he asked, sounding a little grumpy like someone who hadn't slept in a long time. Raegan took out her phone and saw she had accidentally put it on DND. There were five missed calls from Mitchel. This marked the first time in their two-year marriage. Mitchel blew up her phone because he couldn't find her? Surprising! Before today, she would have been overjoyed by this. People would've thought she won the lottery. 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." Mitchel raised his hand to check the time on the watch, and said impatiently, "I've been looking for you for two hours." 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. He later found out that Raegan went to Crystal Bay without telling him. "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. He meant to go back to Serenity Villas. Raegan didn't move an inch. She just stared at his broad back and pondered reluctantly. Would they have a future? 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?" The light in the corridor illuminated his face, making his side profile almost impeccable. Raegan took a deep breath and said, "Let's divorce." "What do you mean?" Mitchel's voice was cold, and his handsome face changed immediately. "I want to move into my own place. After all, we will be strangers soon." Raegan forced a smile, but her heart was aching as if someone was tearing it apart bit by bit. "We will be strangers?" Mitchel smiled coldly. "Raegan, what do you think our relationship is now?" His questioning left Raegan stunned for a moment. 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. Mitchel was quite the catch in Ardlens. Many young ladies longed for his love and were even willing to throw themselves at him. 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... 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." After saying that, Raegan couldn't help but burst into tears. 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. Regardless of how difficult it was, she knew it was time to let go. It was high time she stopped being a fool. Strangely, the light in the corridor began flickering. The deathly stare Mitchel was giving Raegan right now made the atmosphere seem like the moment before an attack in a horror movie. Although he understood that Raegan sometimes could throw a tantrum, he felt that she had just crossed the line now. 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..." "No, this isn't about her. Mr. Dixon, please leave now." A lot of things happened between them. And the incident with Tessa didn't come close to any. Raegan felt exhausted. She passed by Mitchel and was about to open the door. Yet, Mitchel was displeased with her stubbornness. He loosened his tie irritably. He then took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. "Stop this, will you?" A second later, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. He instantly realized that she was burning up like someone who had been set on fire. "You have a fever?" Raegan felt dizzy. She rested her head on his chest weakly. This made the whole situation complicated. 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. 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?" The light flickered again. Out of the blue, Mitchel lifted her up. He then headed for the elevator. In a daze, Raegan asked softly, "What are you doing?" "What does it look like I am doing?" Mitchel remarked. "Taking you to the hospital, of course." "No way!" Raegan cried out in surprise and seemed to regain more strength. Mitchel might find out about her condition if they went to the hospital. Raegan struggled to get out of Mitchel's arms. However, his tight grip made her efforts fruitless. "Don't be so stubborn. You are sick, so you must see the doctor," Mitchel said firmly. 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. "Put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!" &32& | LEARN_MORE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-e | Lime novel | https://www.facebook.com/100090847180115/ | 904 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.moboreader.net | VIDEO | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-enj57-1125-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=124213&accid=791750052879575&rawadid=120213973867950758 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/465269167_1763944651069606_7110328531331988319_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NoaTPJ0qshMQ7kNvgEJxPVC&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A3HBTTyTesNF3cLlEsQjgMv&oh=00_AYCRGPWe8H0reghbKi4WGV4d-9HPnl6LfihNqa33eD53CQ&oe=674AE872 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Lime novel | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,531,308 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
'{"alias":2531238}'
|
No | 2024-11-25 18:59 | active | 1923 | 0 |
|
๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | Every time they broke up, Miranda was always the first to beg to get back together. But she never thought that her boyfriend Hansel would enthusiasitically kiss another woman... โฆโฆ "Oh, my god! Hans, you sure know how to rile things up!" "They're kissing! They're actually kissing!" "I mean, since everyone's so excited, you guys might as well just kiss!" Miranda felt her hand shaking against the door handle. Hansel's lips were firmly pressed against a woman's lips, their saliva thoroughly wetting the thin piece of tissue that was preventing them from properly kissing. Everyone around them was laughing hard. This was the man she'd loved for six years. Now, she felt like nothing but a laughingstock. "Guys, tone it down," someone suddenly whispered, gesturing at the door. Everyone immediately looked toward the entrance. "M-Mimi? You're back. Err, we're all just fooling around, you see. Don't mindโ" "Miranda." Hansel interrupted the person trying to explain the situation and just looked at Miranda with a calm expression on his face. "Since you're here, let me straighten things out with you." "Okay. I'm listening." "It's tiring breaking up and making up with you for so many years. The feelings between us have long died." Miranda tightened her fist and dug her nails into her palm. However, it was as if she couldn't feel any pain at all. They'd been dating for six years, but their relationship had ended with him saying his feelings were long gone. "Ingy is a wonderful person, and I want to make things official with her." Miranda nodded robotically. "Okay." "Even though we've broken up, we can still stay friends. You can still come to me if you run into any problems in Jandersville." "No thanks," Miranda said, forcing a smile on her face. "Since we've broken up, it's better for us not to have any more contact with each other. That would only be fair to your new girlfriend." Hansel raised an eyebrow, looking a little shocked. But he didn't say anything, he was confident that Miranda couldn't leave him. Every time they broke up, she'd come crawling back to him, asking to get back together within three days or less. Hansel looked at the door and smiled coldly. "Don't mind her, let's continue." ... By the time Hansel got back home, it was nearly the crack of dawn. He massaged his temples as he reached for the glass of water on the coffee table. However, there was no glass or water on the table. Hansel froze for a second. Whenever he went back home before, Miranda always waited him and prepared pumpkin soup. But now... Did she really leave? ... | LEARN_MORE | https://okmstudio.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=1570 | LoveNovel Hub | https://www.facebook.com/100088271330703/ | 1,430 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | okmstudio.com | IMAGE | https://okmstudio.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=15704&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/467532368_949203133739528_2976177998270792516_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tupBo73NFuIQ7kNvgE1Shty&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AC9Y8Jti8naNxlg-K-HVzaT&oh=00_AYCZmbA_ycsLBxfjnUEG9RdIB-A3wQZmQPr8qAu3GMYmNQ&oe=674AF288 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | LoveNovel Hub | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,532,081 |
/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 | 2024-11-25 19:08 | active | 1923 | 0 |
|
Read next chapter๐ | Because of cheating, he divorced her. She left a sentence, "You will regret it." 4 years later, he saw her on TV and introduced her as a top 100 female CEO and a single mother of triplets. The faces of her three children are exactly like his ... ============= Chapter 1 Ex-girlfriend Returns Raegan Hayes was a little absent-minded at the moment. All she could think of since this afternoon was the doctor's words. "Congratulations! You are going to be a mom." Suddenly, Mitchel Dixon pinched her arm. His low voice came the next second. "Come back to earth. What are you thinking about?" Mitchel was her husband. They had been married secretly for two years. He was her superior at work, the president of the Dixon Group. Everything had happened so fast. She was newly employed in the company when they unexpectedly got married. 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. They signed a prenup, agreeing to hide their marriage from the public. Their union could be terminated at any time. It was an unconventional thing to do. However, Raegan only considered herself lucky at that time. 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. After their marriage, Mitchel was very busy. He spent most of his time working. 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. Except for his mild indifference, Mitchel was a perfect husband. Raegan had mixed feelings as she stared at the medical report. In the end, she decided to tell Mitchel this news. 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. Just then, Mitchelโs phone rang. He went to the balcony and answered the phone. Raegan checked the time and found that it was already midnight. She felt a little uneasy. Who would call Mitchel at this hour? 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. He was something to see now. "Don't wait up for me. Good night," he said finally. What? He was on his way out? At this hour? 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." 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." With that, he headed for the door. "Mitchel." Raegan quickly ran and caught up with him. Mitchel turned around and looked at her seriously. "What's the matter?" There was a tinge of coldness to his voice. An icy cloud hung over them as they stared at each other. A little distressed, Raegan asked in a low voice, "I would like to visit my grandma tomorrow. Can you accompany me there?" Her grandmother always wanted to see her. As a result, Raegan wanted to take Mitchel there to assure her grandma they were happy. "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Without agreeing or declining, Mitchel left in a hurry. Several thoughts were threading Raegan's mind. She couldn't sleep a wink. After tossing and turning for a long time, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm glass of milk. A few notifications from some online blogs came into her phone. 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. The news read, "Famous designer, Lauren Murray was spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend earlier today." 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. Raegan zoomed in on the picture. The next second, her heart dropped. Mitchel was the man in the picture! So, he canceled the afternoon meeting just to go pick up his ex-girlfriend from the airport? This realization settled like a boulder in Raegan's gut, rendering her flustered. Her hands trembled. Subconsciously, she dialed Mitchel's number. 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. "Hello!" It was a particularly gentle woman's voice. Raegan froze for a second and then threw the phone away. She suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet bowl. The next morning, Raegan went to work on time. Mitchel had tried to get her to stop working after they got married. Stubbornly, she insisted on making her own money. Mitchel didn't kick against her decision, but he asked her to work as his assistant, helping him with the daily chores. The head assistant, Matteo Jenkins was left to take care of the major affairs Mitchel had. Matteo was the only Dixon Group employee who knew about their marriage. 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. It took a while before they realized that Mitchel never gave Raegan special treatment. Strangely, this made them despise her even more. After all, no one would last long in anything while taking advantage of their looks. At this time, one of Raegan's colleagues handed her a document and ordered her to take it to Mitchel's office. Mitchel didn't return home last night. Raegan was so worried that she didn't sleep at all. All she kept thinking about was the woman who answered his phone when she called. What was her relationship with Mitchel? Raegan already knew the answer to that, but she was still in denial. It was difficult for her to come to terms with that fact. 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? 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. She had arrived at the office, only to see that the door was ajar. A man's voice came. She halted instantly. "Come on, man! Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?" The voice belonged to Luis Stevens, a childhood friend of Mitchel's. "What do you mean exactly?" Mitchel asked in a cold voice. "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?" "Do you want me to hand her over to you?" Mitchel asked carelessly. "You know what, forget it!" The scornful laughter of Luis sounded particularly harsh in Raegan's ears. They were talking about her as if she were an object. Raegan took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the document. Soon, Luis's voice was heard again. "By the way, I saw the gossip news about Lauren's mysterious boyfriend this morning. That was you, right?" "Yes." "Well, well, well! That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. You always want to please her." Luis sighed and continued to tease Mitchel. "As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell me, did you two..." Their conversation was like a thunder exploding over Raegan's head. Her face turned pale and her body was as cold as ice. The woman was indeed Lauren! Absence made the heart grow fonder! Every word drove a knife into her heart. Several whispering voices filled her head at this time. She suddenly felt light-headed. Her vision became blurry. She held the wall and took a step backward. Suddenly, the door was opened from inside. "Raegan?" Chapter 2 One-sided Love Luis was the one who opened the door. It appeared he was on his way out. Raegan balled her hands, turned to him, and nodded. "Hey, Mr. Stevens!" Without waiting for him to respond to her greeting, she walked past him and entered the office with the document. Mitchel was seated behind a large luxurious desk. In an expensive suit and matching tie, he looked particularly handsome. Raegan noticed it wasn't the same suit he had on when he left home last night. How did he get changed? With her eyes lowered, she swallowed that question and said instead, "Mr. Dixon, this is from the Marketing Department. Please sign it." Mitchel was expressionless as he signed the document at a glance. Raegan walked out the door as soon as he handed the document back to her. Luis was still standing at the threshold. 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?" Mitchel's appealing eyes were expressionless at the moment. Obviously, he wasn't paying attention to what Luis was saying. To Mitchel, Raegan had always been docile and never felt jealous of anyone. Her strict obedience was all Mitchel demanded from her in exchange for treating her well. In the elevator. Raegan held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn't work. She had thought two years would be enough for Mitchel to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love. Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream. She realized she would always play second fiddle to Lauren, Mitchel's true love. Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened. She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea. Several employees were chatting inside. "Guys, have you heard? Lauren Murray is back." "And who is that?" "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!" "Why is her return such a big deal? Isn't it rumored that there is something between Mr. Dixon and Raegan?" "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!" Standing at the door, Raegan smiled with self-mockery as she listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her. The love was one-sided. "Ha-ha, have you finally woken up from your wild dream, Raegan?" A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Raegan turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Mitchel's cousin, who had always despised her. Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping. The last thing Raegan wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way. 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?" Raegan said nothing to that. Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule. "Maybe itโs time for you to seek out another man, you pathetic fool." Raegan clenched her fists and said coldly, "Ms. Lloyd, if you are interested in that kind of thing, feel free to pursue it yourself." "You..." Raegan's retort made Tessa's face change. The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of coffee on Raegan. 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. Raegan frowned. "What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?" It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama. Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers. 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..." Tessa was silenced by Raeganโs shove. Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Raegan, who was so quiet and timid, would shove her. Tessa stuttered, "You... You pushed me? How dare you!" Raegan eyed her and replied, "Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness." 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. 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. Tessa charged at Raegan like a raging bull, poised to retaliate. This time, Raegan was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa's wrist so that the latter couldn't move another inch. Tessa was shorter than Raegan. As a result, she struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap. Tessa cursed angrily, "How dare you put your hands on me? Who do you think you are?" These harsh words attracted more people to the break room. "That's enough!" Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Mitchel had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo. The entire room fell silent. "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. But when she remembered that Raegan humiliated her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed. "Mitchel, she bullied me." The sunlight from outside fell on Mitchel's handsome face. Raegan felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to look at her clothes which were soaked with coffee. 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?" His ruthlessness made Raegan's breathing cease. She couldn't believe her ears. No one dared to make a sound at this moment. Raegan just stood straight there with her slender figure. 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. Raegan could understand why he took this stand. 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. Was she truly insignificant to him? 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. Mitchel's cold eyes made Raegan shiver from head to toe. Raegan pinched her palm to suppress her emotions as she looked at Tessa. "I'm sorry, Ms. Lloyd. As an employee of the Dixon Group, it was wrong of me to have offended you." 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..." "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. She then walked past Mitchel without sparing him another look. "You..." Tessa's face turned blue after hearing what Raegan said. Never in her years of being alive had she been so humiliated. She was always the bully, not the victim! The humiliation was so much that scolding Raegan wouldn't appease her anger. 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!" Mitchel, staring at Raegan's thin back, had an ambiguous expression at this moment. "Enough!" he said coldly, raising his hand. 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. Tessa gritted her teeth and said viciously, "Next time, I'll get someone to teach her a lesson." "Tessa!" Mitchel's tone and squint made it a reproof. Tessa trembled at once. With a somber face, Mitchel said, "I'll only say it once. Forget about what happened here today. Leave Raegan alone." The aura he exuded made her tongue go dry. All the vicious ideas she had in store against Raegan disappeared in an instant. She stammered, "Ok... Okay, got it..." Mitchel cast a cold glance at her and spoke to Matteo. "Irrelevant people wouldn't be allowed in here from today onwards." Without catching the drift, Tessa flattered Mitchel. "Nice call. This is a top company. Not everyone gains access in here." Matteo nodded to Mitchel and then walked over to Tessa. He gestured to the exit. "Ms. Lloyd, this way, please." 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. They showed her no mercy. Her struggle was useless. Meanwhile, Raegan got changed when she returned to her office. Her heart was filled with sadness as she thought of how Mitchel looked at her minutes ago. Closing hour soon rolled by. Raegan took her bag and headed for the exit. However, Matteo stopped her. He said, "Mr. Dixon has something urgent to deal with, so he asked me to drive you home." Raegan declined the ride without thinking twice. She was blind before, but now she could see through the situation. In Mitchel's eyes, she was just a nobody. How could Mitchel agree to accompany her to visit her grandmother when he didn't even care about her? 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. 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. Her grandmother wasn't aware of her marriage to Mitchel. Raegan had planned to surprise her today. But as it turned out, that was no longer necessary. Raegan waited for her grandmother to fall asleep before she left. She walked out of the hospital and waited for a taxi. In the distance, a black luxury car pulled into the entrance of the hospital. Raegan's eyes lit up when she saw it. She recognized that car as Mitchel's. Did he come to pick her up? At this moment, she forgot all the pain she had been feeling. Were her thoughts about him all wrong? Did he care for her, contrary to the gossip? The door of the driver's side opened and Mitchel got out. Raegan started walking toward him with her heart brimming with joy. Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. Mitchel had just walked over to the other side and carried a woman out of the car. Worry and compassion were written all over his handsome face. This wiped the smile on Raegan's face. Her heart sank. Chapter 3 Let's Divorce Mitchel's tall and straight figure got closer and closer to Raegan. And then, without saying a word, he strode past Raegan. It was hard to tell if Mitchel saw Raegan or just ignored her. Regardless, Raegan noticed that the woman in his arms was the same one who had been photographed with him yesterday. She was Lauren. Raegan's shoes felt like they were made of lead as she walked away. She lost all awareness of her surroundings. She got into a taxi absentmindedly. Suddenly, the driver uttered, "Ma'am, where to?" Raegan was stunned for a moment. She didn't want to go back to Serenity Villas. It was only a matter of time before that place stopped being her home. After a while, she replied, "Please take me to Crystal Bay." She had purchased an apartment at Crystal Bay after getting married to Mitchel. 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. Mitchel didn't understand why she wanted to buy an apartment. He offered to give her a bigger one, but she declined. Looking back now, she realized that buying that apartment was the only wise decision she had ever made in the last two years. When she arrived at the apartment complex, Raegan sat in the park alone, trying to cool herself down. The memories of the past two years were bittersweet. Two years had passed in the blink of an eye even though it was more than seven hundred days and nights. Love could move mountains, they said. 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. It was already late in the night before Raegan finally decided to go into her apartment. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mitchel standing in front of the door. 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. Raegan froze for a moment. Why was he here? Didn't she see him at the hospital with Lauren? What brought him here? Their eyes met. With his coat draped over his arm and one of his hands in his pocket, Mitchel squinted at her. "Why didn't you answer the phone?" he asked, sounding a little grumpy like someone who hadn't slept in a long time. Raegan took out her phone and saw she had accidentally put it on DND. There were five missed calls from Mitchel. This marked the first time in their two-year marriage. Mitchel blew up her phone because he couldn't find her? Surprising! Before today, she would have been overjoyed by this. People would've thought she won the lottery. 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." Mitchel raised his hand to check the time on the watch, and said impatiently, "I've been looking for you for two hours." 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. He later found out that Raegan went to Crystal Bay without telling him. "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. He meant to go back to Serenity Villas. Raegan didn't move an inch. She just stared at his broad back and pondered reluctantly. Would they have a future? 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?" The light in the corridor illuminated his face, making his side profile almost impeccable. Raegan took a deep breath and said, "Let's divorce." "What do you mean?" Mitchel's voice was cold, and his handsome face changed immediately. "I want to move into my own place. After all, we will be strangers soon." Raegan forced a smile, but her heart was aching as if someone was tearing it apart bit by bit. "We will be strangers?" Mitchel smiled coldly. "Raegan, what do you think our relationship is now?" His questioning left Raegan stunned for a moment. 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. Mitchel was quite the catch in Ardlens. Many young ladies longed for his love and were even willing to throw themselves at him. 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... 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." After saying that, Raegan couldn't help but burst into tears. 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. Regardless of how difficult it was, she knew it was time to let go. It was high time she stopped being a fool. Strangely, the light in the corridor began flickering. The deathly stare Mitchel was giving Raegan right now made the atmosphere seem like the moment before an attack in a horror movie. Although he understood that Raegan sometimes could throw a tantrum, he felt that she had just crossed the line now. 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..." "No, this isn't about her. Mr. Dixon, please leave now." A lot of things happened between them. And the incident with Tessa didn't come close to any. Raegan felt exhausted. She passed by Mitchel and was about to open the door. Yet, Mitchel was displeased with her stubbornness. He loosened his tie irritably. He then took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. "Stop this, will you?" A second later, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. He instantly realized that she was burning up like someone who had been set on fire. "You have a fever?" Raegan felt dizzy. She rested her head on his chest weakly. This made the whole situation complicated. 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. 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?" The light flickered again. Out of the blue, Mitchel lifted her up. He then headed for the elevator. In a daze, Raegan asked softly, "What are you doing?" "What does it look like I am doing?" Mitchel remarked. "Taking you to the hospital, of course." "No way!" Raegan cried out in surprise and seemed to regain more strength. Mitchel might find out about her condition if they went to the hospital. Raegan struggled to get out of Mitchel's arms. However, his tight grip made her efforts fruitless. "Don't be so stubborn. You are sick, so you must see the doctor," Mitchel said firmly. 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. "Put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!" &40& | LEARN_MORE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-e | Lera reading | https://www.facebook.com/61550764321146/ | 3,083 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.moboreader.net | IMAGE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-enj57-1125-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=124213&accid=791750052879575&rawadid=120214031195470758 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/465456684_1461211967904615_7161622225289694563_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n1E2V6TsedAQ7kNvgFFOVGf&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A6gNTuiGrTjgmaWNREGEWNA&oh=00_AYBM32BD1X2ypyo1-OQsy90IYb_WZPHf3lXn9nzo0W1Dgw&oe=674AD46A | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Lera reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,532,173 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
null |
Yes | 2024-11-25 19:08 | active | 1923 | 0 |
|
Read next chapter๐ | Because of cheating, he divorced her. She left a sentence, "You will regret it." 4 years later, he saw her on TV and introduced her as a top 100 female CEO and a single mother of triplets. The faces of her three children are exactly like his ... ============= Chapter 1 Ex-girlfriend Returns Raegan Hayes was a little absent-minded at the moment. All she could think of since this afternoon was the doctor's words. "Congratulations! You are going to be a mom." Suddenly, Mitchel Dixon pinched her arm. His low voice came the next second. "Come back to earth. What are you thinking about?" Mitchel was her husband. They had been married secretly for two years. He was her superior at work, the president of the Dixon Group. Everything had happened so fast. She was newly employed in the company when they unexpectedly got married. 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. They signed a prenup, agreeing to hide their marriage from the public. Their union could be terminated at any time. It was an unconventional thing to do. However, Raegan only considered herself lucky at that time. 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. After their marriage, Mitchel was very busy. He spent most of his time working. 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. Except for his mild indifference, Mitchel was a perfect husband. Raegan had mixed feelings as she stared at the medical report. In the end, she decided to tell Mitchel this news. 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. Just then, Mitchelโs phone rang. He went to the balcony and answered the phone. Raegan checked the time and found that it was already midnight. She felt a little uneasy. Who would call Mitchel at this hour? 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. He was something to see now. "Don't wait up for me. Good night," he said finally. What? He was on his way out? At this hour? 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." 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." With that, he headed for the door. "Mitchel." Raegan quickly ran and caught up with him. Mitchel turned around and looked at her seriously. "What's the matter?" There was a tinge of coldness to his voice. An icy cloud hung over them as they stared at each other. A little distressed, Raegan asked in a low voice, "I would like to visit my grandma tomorrow. Can you accompany me there?" Her grandmother always wanted to see her. As a result, Raegan wanted to take Mitchel there to assure her grandma they were happy. "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Without agreeing or declining, Mitchel left in a hurry. Several thoughts were threading Raegan's mind. She couldn't sleep a wink. After tossing and turning for a long time, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm glass of milk. A few notifications from some online blogs came into her phone. 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. The news read, "Famous designer, Lauren Murray was spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend earlier today." 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. Raegan zoomed in on the picture. The next second, her heart dropped. Mitchel was the man in the picture! So, he canceled the afternoon meeting just to go pick up his ex-girlfriend from the airport? This realization settled like a boulder in Raegan's gut, rendering her flustered. Her hands trembled. Subconsciously, she dialed Mitchel's number. 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. "Hello!" It was a particularly gentle woman's voice. Raegan froze for a second and then threw the phone away. She suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet bowl. The next morning, Raegan went to work on time. Mitchel had tried to get her to stop working after they got married. Stubbornly, she insisted on making her own money. Mitchel didn't kick against her decision, but he asked her to work as his assistant, helping him with the daily chores. The head assistant, Matteo Jenkins was left to take care of the major affairs Mitchel had. Matteo was the only Dixon Group employee who knew about their marriage. 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. It took a while before they realized that Mitchel never gave Raegan special treatment. Strangely, this made them despise her even more. After all, no one would last long in anything while taking advantage of their looks. At this time, one of Raegan's colleagues handed her a document and ordered her to take it to Mitchel's office. Mitchel didn't return home last night. Raegan was so worried that she didn't sleep at all. All she kept thinking about was the woman who answered his phone when she called. What was her relationship with Mitchel? Raegan already knew the answer to that, but she was still in denial. It was difficult for her to come to terms with that fact. 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? 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. She had arrived at the office, only to see that the door was ajar. A man's voice came. She halted instantly. "Come on, man! Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?" The voice belonged to Luis Stevens, a childhood friend of Mitchel's. "What do you mean exactly?" Mitchel asked in a cold voice. "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?" "Do you want me to hand her over to you?" Mitchel asked carelessly. "You know what, forget it!" The scornful laughter of Luis sounded particularly harsh in Raegan's ears. They were talking about her as if she were an object. Raegan took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the document. Soon, Luis's voice was heard again. "By the way, I saw the gossip news about Lauren's mysterious boyfriend this morning. That was you, right?" "Yes." "Well, well, well! That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. You always want to please her." Luis sighed and continued to tease Mitchel. "As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell me, did you two..." Their conversation was like a thunder exploding over Raegan's head. Her face turned pale and her body was as cold as ice. The woman was indeed Lauren! Absence made the heart grow fonder! Every word drove a knife into her heart. Several whispering voices filled her head at this time. She suddenly felt light-headed. Her vision became blurry. She held the wall and took a step backward. Suddenly, the door was opened from inside. "Raegan?" Chapter 2 One-sided Love Luis was the one who opened the door. It appeared he was on his way out. Raegan balled her hands, turned to him, and nodded. "Hey, Mr. Stevens!" Without waiting for him to respond to her greeting, she walked past him and entered the office with the document. Mitchel was seated behind a large luxurious desk. In an expensive suit and matching tie, he looked particularly handsome. Raegan noticed it wasn't the same suit he had on when he left home last night. How did he get changed? With her eyes lowered, she swallowed that question and said instead, "Mr. Dixon, this is from the Marketing Department. Please sign it." Mitchel was expressionless as he signed the document at a glance. Raegan walked out the door as soon as he handed the document back to her. Luis was still standing at the threshold. 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?" Mitchel's appealing eyes were expressionless at the moment. Obviously, he wasn't paying attention to what Luis was saying. To Mitchel, Raegan had always been docile and never felt jealous of anyone. Her strict obedience was all Mitchel demanded from her in exchange for treating her well. In the elevator. Raegan held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn't work. She had thought two years would be enough for Mitchel to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love. Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream. She realized she would always play second fiddle to Lauren, Mitchel's true love. Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened. She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea. Several employees were chatting inside. "Guys, have you heard? Lauren Murray is back." "And who is that?" "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!" "Why is her return such a big deal? Isn't it rumored that there is something between Mr. Dixon and Raegan?" "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!" Standing at the door, Raegan smiled with self-mockery as she listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her. The love was one-sided. "Ha-ha, have you finally woken up from your wild dream, Raegan?" A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Raegan turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Mitchel's cousin, who had always despised her. Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping. The last thing Raegan wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way. 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?" Raegan said nothing to that. Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule. "Maybe itโs time for you to seek out another man, you pathetic fool." Raegan clenched her fists and said coldly, "Ms. Lloyd, if you are interested in that kind of thing, feel free to pursue it yourself." "You..." Raegan's retort made Tessa's face change. The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of coffee on Raegan. 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. Raegan frowned. "What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?" It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama. Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers. 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..." Tessa was silenced by Raeganโs shove. Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Raegan, who was so quiet and timid, would shove her. Tessa stuttered, "You... You pushed me? How dare you!" Raegan eyed her and replied, "Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness." 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. 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. Tessa charged at Raegan like a raging bull, poised to retaliate. This time, Raegan was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa's wrist so that the latter couldn't move another inch. Tessa was shorter than Raegan. As a result, she struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap. Tessa cursed angrily, "How dare you put your hands on me? Who do you think you are?" These harsh words attracted more people to the break room. "That's enough!" Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Mitchel had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo. The entire room fell silent. "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. But when she remembered that Raegan humiliated her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed. "Mitchel, she bullied me." The sunlight from outside fell on Mitchel's handsome face. Raegan felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to look at her clothes which were soaked with coffee. 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?" His ruthlessness made Raegan's breathing cease. She couldn't believe her ears. No one dared to make a sound at this moment. Raegan just stood straight there with her slender figure. 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. Raegan could understand why he took this stand. 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. Was she truly insignificant to him? 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. Mitchel's cold eyes made Raegan shiver from head to toe. Raegan pinched her palm to suppress her emotions as she looked at Tessa. "I'm sorry, Ms. Lloyd. As an employee of the Dixon Group, it was wrong of me to have offended you." 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..." "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. She then walked past Mitchel without sparing him another look. "You..." Tessa's face turned blue after hearing what Raegan said. Never in her years of being alive had she been so humiliated. She was always the bully, not the victim! The humiliation was so much that scolding Raegan wouldn't appease her anger. 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!" Mitchel, staring at Raegan's thin back, had an ambiguous expression at this moment. "Enough!" he said coldly, raising his hand. 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. Tessa gritted her teeth and said viciously, "Next time, I'll get someone to teach her a lesson." "Tessa!" Mitchel's tone and squint made it a reproof. Tessa trembled at once. With a somber face, Mitchel said, "I'll only say it once. Forget about what happened here today. Leave Raegan alone." The aura he exuded made her tongue go dry. All the vicious ideas she had in store against Raegan disappeared in an instant. She stammered, "Ok... Okay, got it..." Mitchel cast a cold glance at her and spoke to Matteo. "Irrelevant people wouldn't be allowed in here from today onwards." Without catching the drift, Tessa flattered Mitchel. "Nice call. This is a top company. Not everyone gains access in here." Matteo nodded to Mitchel and then walked over to Tessa. He gestured to the exit. "Ms. Lloyd, this way, please." 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. They showed her no mercy. Her struggle was useless. Meanwhile, Raegan got changed when she returned to her office. Her heart was filled with sadness as she thought of how Mitchel looked at her minutes ago. Closing hour soon rolled by. Raegan took her bag and headed for the exit. However, Matteo stopped her. He said, "Mr. Dixon has something urgent to deal with, so he asked me to drive you home." Raegan declined the ride without thinking twice. She was blind before, but now she could see through the situation. In Mitchel's eyes, she was just a nobody. How could Mitchel agree to accompany her to visit her grandmother when he didn't even care about her? 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. 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. Her grandmother wasn't aware of her marriage to Mitchel. Raegan had planned to surprise her today. But as it turned out, that was no longer necessary. Raegan waited for her grandmother to fall asleep before she left. She walked out of the hospital and waited for a taxi. In the distance, a black luxury car pulled into the entrance of the hospital. Raegan's eyes lit up when she saw it. She recognized that car as Mitchel's. Did he come to pick her up? At this moment, she forgot all the pain she had been feeling. Were her thoughts about him all wrong? Did he care for her, contrary to the gossip? The door of the driver's side opened and Mitchel got out. Raegan started walking toward him with her heart brimming with joy. Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. Mitchel had just walked over to the other side and carried a woman out of the car. Worry and compassion were written all over his handsome face. This wiped the smile on Raegan's face. Her heart sank. Chapter 3 Let's Divorce Mitchel's tall and straight figure got closer and closer to Raegan. And then, without saying a word, he strode past Raegan. It was hard to tell if Mitchel saw Raegan or just ignored her. Regardless, Raegan noticed that the woman in his arms was the same one who had been photographed with him yesterday. She was Lauren. Raegan's shoes felt like they were made of lead as she walked away. She lost all awareness of her surroundings. She got into a taxi absentmindedly. Suddenly, the driver uttered, "Ma'am, where to?" Raegan was stunned for a moment. She didn't want to go back to Serenity Villas. It was only a matter of time before that place stopped being her home. After a while, she replied, "Please take me to Crystal Bay." She had purchased an apartment at Crystal Bay after getting married to Mitchel. 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. Mitchel didn't understand why she wanted to buy an apartment. He offered to give her a bigger one, but she declined. Looking back now, she realized that buying that apartment was the only wise decision she had ever made in the last two years. When she arrived at the apartment complex, Raegan sat in the park alone, trying to cool herself down. The memories of the past two years were bittersweet. Two years had passed in the blink of an eye even though it was more than seven hundred days and nights. Love could move mountains, they said. 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. It was already late in the night before Raegan finally decided to go into her apartment. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mitchel standing in front of the door. 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. Raegan froze for a moment. Why was he here? Didn't she see him at the hospital with Lauren? What brought him here? Their eyes met. With his coat draped over his arm and one of his hands in his pocket, Mitchel squinted at her. "Why didn't you answer the phone?" he asked, sounding a little grumpy like someone who hadn't slept in a long time. Raegan took out her phone and saw she had accidentally put it on DND. There were five missed calls from Mitchel. This marked the first time in their two-year marriage. Mitchel blew up her phone because he couldn't find her? Surprising! Before today, she would have been overjoyed by this. People would've thought she won the lottery. 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." Mitchel raised his hand to check the time on the watch, and said impatiently, "I've been looking for you for two hours." 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. He later found out that Raegan went to Crystal Bay without telling him. "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. He meant to go back to Serenity Villas. Raegan didn't move an inch. She just stared at his broad back and pondered reluctantly. Would they have a future? 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?" The light in the corridor illuminated his face, making his side profile almost impeccable. Raegan took a deep breath and said, "Let's divorce." "What do you mean?" Mitchel's voice was cold, and his handsome face changed immediately. "I want to move into my own place. After all, we will be strangers soon." Raegan forced a smile, but her heart was aching as if someone was tearing it apart bit by bit. "We will be strangers?" Mitchel smiled coldly. "Raegan, what do you think our relationship is now?" His questioning left Raegan stunned for a moment. 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. Mitchel was quite the catch in Ardlens. Many young ladies longed for his love and were even willing to throw themselves at him. 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... 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." After saying that, Raegan couldn't help but burst into tears. 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. Regardless of how difficult it was, she knew it was time to let go. It was high time she stopped being a fool. Strangely, the light in the corridor began flickering. The deathly stare Mitchel was giving Raegan right now made the atmosphere seem like the moment before an attack in a horror movie. Although he understood that Raegan sometimes could throw a tantrum, he felt that she had just crossed the line now. 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..." "No, this isn't about her. Mr. Dixon, please leave now." A lot of things happened between them. And the incident with Tessa didn't come close to any. Raegan felt exhausted. She passed by Mitchel and was about to open the door. Yet, Mitchel was displeased with her stubbornness. He loosened his tie irritably. He then took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. "Stop this, will you?" A second later, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. He instantly realized that she was burning up like someone who had been set on fire. "You have a fever?" Raegan felt dizzy. She rested her head on his chest weakly. This made the whole situation complicated. 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. 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?" The light flickered again. Out of the blue, Mitchel lifted her up. He then headed for the elevator. In a daze, Raegan asked softly, "What are you doing?" "What does it look like I am doing?" Mitchel remarked. "Taking you to the hospital, of course." "No way!" Raegan cried out in surprise and seemed to regain more strength. Mitchel might find out about her condition if they went to the hospital. Raegan struggled to get out of Mitchel's arms. However, his tight grip made her efforts fruitless. "Don't be so stubborn. You are sick, so you must see the doctor," Mitchel said firmly. 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. "Put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!" &40& | LEARN_MORE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-e | Lera reading | https://www.facebook.com/61550764321146/ | 3,083 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.moboreader.net | IMAGE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-enj57-1125-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=124213&accid=791750052879575&rawadid=120214104601660758 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/465732507_810809761058032_6043224000735305634_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=V1yYFgw3QNQQ7kNvgFd2YvU&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A7HCms10EcWqAQG8Yi82jis&oh=00_AYAPTXbD6fjECGPea2OnagBYtXGvre4uifYYtnUVZYIziQ&oe=674ADB8D | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Lera reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete |
Page 17 of 344, showing 20 record(s) out of 6,874 total