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New 2025 Kia Telluride $52,170 - 5XYP5DGC6SG578480 | Click for Details | SHOP_NOW | https://autos.lotlinx.com/?pubId=89000&ad=5XYP5DGC | Car Savvy 15 | https://www.facebook.com/100083663793922/ | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Shop Now | 0 | www.kellygrimsleykia.com | CAROUSEL | Click for Details | https://autos.lotlinx.com/?pubId=89000&ad=5XYP5DGC6SG578480&channelid=55933_Kelly_Grimsley_Kia_429566_co241101_conversion_autop&contractid=429566&type=FC&confirm=true&lp=https://www.kellygrimsleykia.com/new/Kia/2025-Kia-Telluride-9fd9bf12ac184c7e7f8735613518d418.htm | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/468508712_950314326957572_7457772172873779763_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pjec7Lli1b0Q7kNvgFaQWbt&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=ADUmITBRMWeS8I7cHN2Pm0I&oh=00_AYDSPLYsR4gXzko-Nr109pvOkrc1-Ww8a-pfNn0VOMDoPQ&oe=674EDBF5 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Car Savvy 15 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-11-28 19:46 | active | 1936 | 0 |
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๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | "I, Barrett Warren, vow with my life that I'll take no concubine! Carissa Sinclair shall be my one and only!" These were the words that convinced Carissa Sinclair, the daughter of general, to hide her martial talents and forsake her promising future to marry into the crumbling Warren family. Even on their wedding night, when Barrett was abruptly summoned to the battlefield, Carissa never complained. She used her dowry to support the struggling Warren household, waiting faithfully for his return. But she never imagined that when Barrett finally returned, the first thing he would do was marrying his new love... --- At Grace Mansion, Carissa Sinclair stared at the man before herโher husband she had waited for a whole year. Barrett Warren, still in his battle armor, wore an expression of both determination and guilt. "Carissa, the king has issued a royal edict for my marriage to Aurora." he said, his voice steady, " She will be joining our household. There's no question about it." Carissa's eyes clouded with confusion. "The queen dowager has praised General Yates as a model for all women in the kingdom. Would she be willing to be a concubine?" Barrett's eyes flashed with a hint of annoyance. "No, she wonโt be a concubine. Sheโll be my legal wife, equal to you." "But calling her equal doesn't change the fact that sheโs still just a concubine," Carissa said, a soft smile playing on her lips. Barrett frowned. "Why can't you face the reality? Aurora and I fell in love with each other on the battlefield, and we earned this marriage with our glorified victory. In fact, I donโt really need your approval on it." Fell in love? Huh, looks like he is determined in breaking the vow he made a year ago... Carissa's soft smile wiped off by a mocking one, she had once believed Barrettโs victory would earn him a higher rank, freeing her from the burden of supporting the Warren household with her dowry. Yet instead, in exchange for his victory, he only asked the king for another woman's hand, and now he even dared to silence her with his so-called 'glorified victory'... Carissa felt a lump in her throat. Despite her disgust and reluctance, she asked, "What about your parents? Do they agree?" "They do. It was a royal edict, and Aurora is amicable. Mother liked her a lot upon seeing her, even her health seems to be improving." "Improving?" Carissa felt a whirlwind of emotions. "When you went to war, your mother was already gravely ill. I brought in the best physician, managed the estateโs affairs by day, and stayed up nights caring for her. That's how her condition started to improve." "But seeing Aurora has made my mother feel even better," Barrett said earnestly. "I know this is unfair to you, but for the greater good, please be generous enough to welcome Aurora." Carissa lowered her eyes, as if blinking away the tears. But inspected closely, that's actually her sharpened gaze. "Invite General Yates over. I have a few things to ask her." "There's no need," Barrett refused instantly. "Carissa, sheโs different from any woman you know. As a general, sheโs above household squabbles and wouldnโt want to meet you." Carissa retorted, "What are women I know like? Or tell me, what kind of woman am I to you? Have you forgotten? I'm also the daughter of the Marquis's family. My father and my six brothers sacrificed on the Southern Frontier three years ago-" "Thatโs them." Barrett interrupted, "You're still a delicate woman suited only for home comforts, while Aurora has no respect for that. Besides, she never holds back her true thoughts. Trust me, you won't want to hear it from her. Also rest assured. Mother has promised me that Aurora will never threaten your control of the household. Carissa, she couldn't care less about those things." โOh, that's what you and mother think I fear? Losing the control of this household?โ Carissa couldn't help but laughing. Little did Barrett know his household had been reduced to a hollow shell - managing it was a hot potato no one else would bear. Over the past year, it was Carissa's dowry alone that kept the Warren familyโs life respectable, and this was her reward. โEnough,โ Barrett snapped, his patience running thin. โIโve done my duty by informing you. Your opinion wonโt change anything.โ As Carissa watched hum storm out, her bitterness deepened. โMy lady, my lord has really crossed the line!โ Lulu, Carissaโs maid, said, wiping her tears. โDonโt call him that!โ Carissa gave her a stern look. โWe never consummated the marriage. Heโs not your lord. Now go fetch my dowry list.โ โWhy the dowry list?โ Lulu asked, puzzled. Carissa tapped her on the forehead. โSilly girl, we need to reckon everything before we leave.โ Lulu gasped. โLeave? But where can we go? To the Northwatch Estate?โ Suddenly Lulu held her tongue, aware that she had touched the sensitive subject. She spared Carissa a guilty look, "I'll get the list now, my lady." Upon the mention of Northwatch Estate, the always restrained Carissa finally let her tears fall. When she was fifteen, her father, the Marquis of Northwatch, had sacrificed his life on the battlefield. Then, just six months ago, her entire family at the Northwatch Estate was brutally slaughtered โ assassins rumored to be spies from the enemy nation, Westhaven. She rushed back after getting the news, only to find the dismembered bodies of her mother and grandmother. Even her youngest nephew, two years old, didn't escape death, neither. Now, she was the lone survivor of the marquis' family, the idea of restoring her familyโs former glory seemed impossibleโat least to outsiders. After all, she was presented mostly as a delicate, fragile woman, while Aurora Taytes had just made herself the first female general in history. It's only natural that the Warren family was more than happy to agree to the marriage. Yet, unbeknownst to the world, Carissa's martial talent was never beneath her father and brothers. If given a chance on the battlefield, she would definitely outshine Aurora Taytes, perhaps a million times more... Just then, Lulu had brought over the dowry list, "My lady, this year alone, you've spent over six thousand silver coins supporting the household. However, the shops, houses, and estates remain untouched. All the bank savings, along with the property deeds and land titles your mother left, are locked up in the chest." "I see." Carisse's gaze lingered on the list with melancholy. Her mother had given her such a substantial dowry, fearing she might face hardship in her husband's home. Yet now here she was. The Warren family had disregarded all her effort, and Barrett had even broken his vow to take no concubine - the very promise that led her mother to choose him over more eligible suitors, despite the Warren familyโs fall from grace. 'Was this really the life mother wanted me to have?' It took Carissa no time to made up her mind. โLulu, get prepared. There's somewhere we need to go tomorrow.โ ... Early the next morning, Carissa and Lulu boarded a carriage, heading straight for the royal palace. It was noon by the time they arrived. Under the scorching autumn sun, Carissa and Lulu stood like statues in front of the palace gates. They waited for a full hour, but no one came to let them in. In the palace's study, Derek Walker had already reported Carissaโs arrival to the king three times. โYour Majesty, Mrs. Warren is still waiting outside the palace gates,โ he repeated. The king, Salvador Quinton, set aside the document he was reading and rubbed his temples. โI canโt summon her in. The edict has been issued, and can't be taken back. Tell her to go home.โ โThe guards tried to persuade her, but she refused to leave. Sheโs been standing there for over an hour without moving.โ Salvador felt a pang of guilt. โBarrett requested the marriage as a reward for his military service. I didnโt want to agree, either, but not granting it would embarrass both him and General Yates. They have after all won a big war.โ โYour Majesty, when it comes to military achievements, no one can compare to the Marquis of Northwatch,โ Derek countered. Salvador thought of Hector Sinclair, the Marquis of Northwatch. When Salvador was a crown prince who had recently joined the military, it was Hector who had guided him. Back then, he had also known Carissa when she was only a cute kid. Salvador himself had fought a bloody path to the throne, paved with death. He understood the struggles of military officers, so when Barrett requested marriage as a reward, Salvador had hesitated but eventually agreed. But Derek was right. In terms of military merit, Barrett and Aurora were far inferior to Hector Sinclair. โAlright, let her in. If she agrees to this marriage, Iโll grant her whatever she wants, even if it's a noble title or an official rank,โ said Salvador. Derek breathed a sigh of relief. โAs always, you're wise, Your Majesty!โ ... Carissa knelt in the study with her head bowed. Recalling that Carissa was now the only one left in the Sinclair family, Salvador felt nothing but pity for her. "Rise and speak," he commanded. Carissa bowed deeply with her hands clasped. "Your Majesty, I know it's presumptuous of me to seek an audience today. But I also wish to implore for your grace." "Carissa Sinclair, I have already issued the edict of marriage. It's impossible to revoke it," Salvador said. Carissa shook her head gently. "Your Majesty, I'm not imploring you to reverse that edict, but imploring you for another edict - an amicable divorce with General Warren." The young king was taken aback. "Divorce? You want a divorce?" Carissa nodded her head firmly. She was never someone to pester some man. If Barret Warren loved Aurora Yates so much, then she would let him go. What she needed now was a single edict for an amicable divorce, so she could take away all her dowry and get rid of the despicable Warren family for good, dignified and head high... | LEARN_MORE | https://shgjfh.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=13853&u | Random Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61559743679549/ | 320 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | shgjfh.com | DCO | https://shgjfh.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=13853&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&placement={{placement}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/465007860_556303920324636_9012944690241824242_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pv42WQNpEPcQ7kNvgE3zgU5&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A7Lk9ksHhmRwuQAWkFItxS3&oh=00_AYAznu8qR7qkuliS9xfpaUe62-bJjDziA3muhPzbJFgTOg&oe=674EDBC2 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-11-28 19:20 | active | 1935 | 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? 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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 | Hello reading | 0 | 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=798859118295947&rawadid=120216695286800091 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/465370534_943693964266132_1105661839044186164_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=l_yf1XjzcoMQ7kNvgGeETxP&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=ABwujTZhx44Lk8MEikJPQg9&oh=00_AYA4jux0JeQ9DNVuNfwIdg24JMNKfKFsLrOKhww1auYMvw&oe=674EDEDA | REGULAR_PAGE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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๐Read the next chapters๐ | At Grace Mansion, the lanterns in the corridors cast intricate shadows on the window frames, resembling beasts looming on the walls. Carissa Sinclair sat on a chair with her hands folded in her lap, her slender body hidden beneath plain clothes. She looked at the man before herโher husband whom she had spent a year waiting for. Barrett Warren was still wearing his slightly-worn battle armor. Standing under the dim light, he looked commanding and handsome. His face showed a mix of determination and a touch of regret. "Carissa, the king has issued a royal edict for this marriage. Aurora will be joining our household. There's no question about it," said Barrett. Carissa's eyes clouded with confusion. "The queen dowager has said that General Yates is a model for all women in the kingdom. Would she be willing to be a concubine?" Barrett's eyes flashed with a hint of annoyance. "No, she wonโt be a concubine. Sheโll be my legal wife and equal to you." "Calling her that doesn't change anything. Ultimately, sheโs really just a concubine in disguise," Carissa replied, remaining indifferent. Barrett frowned. "What does it matter? Aurora and I developed feelings for each other on the battlefield. We earned this marriage through our achievements. I donโt need your approval." Carissa smiled mockingly. "Developed feelings, huh? Do you remember what you said to me before you left for war?" On their wedding night a year ago, Barrett had left to lead reinforcements on an expedition. Before leaving, he had lifted his wifeโs veil and promised her, "Carrisa Sinclair, you're the only woman I'll ever love in my life. I will never take a concubine!" Feeling awkward, Barrett turned away. "Forget what I said. When I married you, I didnโt understand love. I thought you were a suitable match for a wife until I met Rory." Talking about the woman he loved, his eyes softened and filled with deep affection. He turned back to Carissa and added, "Sheโs unlike any woman Iโve ever met. I love her deeply. I hope you'll agree to this." Carissa felt a lump in her throat. Despite feeling a mix of disgust and unwillingness, she still asked, "What about your parents? Do they agree?" "They do. It was a royal edict. Besides, Aurora is straightforward, cheerful, and lovable. She visited my mother a while ago." They agreed? Hah... How ironic! Everything Carissa had done over the past year had all been for nothing. "Is she currently in the mansion?" Carissa asked, lifting her brow. Barrett spoke of Aurora Yates with a softness in his voice, "Yes, sheโs talking to my mother. Sheโs made her very happy. Even her health seems to be improving." "Improving?" Carissa felt a whirlwind of emotions. "When you went to war, your mother was seriously ill. I brought in the best physician to treat her. I managed the estateโs affairs by day and stayed up nights by her bedside. It was only because of this that her condition started to improve." Carissa wasnโt seeking praise. She was stating the facts of her exhausting year. "But seeing Aurora has made my mother feel even better," Barrett said earnestly. "I know this is unfair to you, but for the greater good, please support Aurora and me." Carissa pressed her lips into a thin line as she blinked away the tears in her eyes and sharpened her gaze. "Invite General Yates over. I have a few things to ask her." "There's no need for that. Carissa, sheโs different from any woman you know. Sheโs a general, and she's above the usual household squabbles. She wouldnโt want to meet you," Barrett refused instantly. Carissa retorted, "What kind of women do I know? What kind of woman am I to you? Have you forgotten? I'm also the daughter of a noble family. My father and my six brothers died on the Southern Frontier three years ago-" "Thatโs them," Barrett interrupted. "But you're a delicate woman suited for the comforts of home. Aurora has no respect for such women. Sheโs straightforward and unrestrained. If she meets you, she might say things you wonโt like. Why put yourself through that?" As Carissa looked up, the striking beauty mark under the corner of her eye became more evident in the light. She calmly said, "Itโs fine. If she says anything unpleasant, Iโll ignore it. Understanding the bigger picture and acting with dignity are essential virtues for any matriarch. Don't you trust me?" Chapter 2 Barrett sighed in frustration. โWhy put yourself through this? There was a royal edict for this marriage. Even when Aurora moves in, youโll be in separate wings. She wonโt compete with you for control of the household. She doesnโt care about those things.โ โDo you really think Iโm attached to managing this household?โ Carissa countered. Running this mansion was no easy task. Just the monthly medicine for Barrettโs mother cost dozens of silver coins. Then, there was food, clothing, and social obligationsโall these things required money. This household was practically a hollow shell. Over the past year, Carissa had used much of her dowry to keep things running. And this was her reward. โEnough, I wonโt argue with you. I just needed to inform you. Whether you agree or not changes nothing,โ said Barrett, his patience wearing thin. As Carissa watched him leave in a huff, she felt even more bitter. โMy lady, my lord was too much!โ said Lulu, Carissaโs maid, wiping her tears away. โDonโt call him that!โ Carissa gave her a stern look. โWe never consummated the marriage. Heโs not your lord. Go fetch my dowry list.โ โWhy the dowry list?โ Lulu asked, puzzled. Carissa tapped her on the forehead. โSilly girl, why would we stay in this house any longer?โ Lulu held her forehead and gasped. โBut your mother arranged this marriage, and your father wanted you to marry and have children.โ Tears finally welled up in Carissaโs eyes at the mention of her parents. Her father had stayed loyal to her mother, never taking a concubine. They had six sons and one daughter. All her brothers followed her father to the battlefield. Three years ago, none returned from the Southern Frontier. Though she was a girl, Carissa came from a family of warriors and started training as a child. At the age of seven, she was sent to study under a master, where she also learned military strategy. When she returned home at fifteen, she learned her father and brothers had died a year earlier. Her mother, who had gone blind from crying too much, held Carissa close and said, "You must live like the noble girls in the kingdom. Find a good husband, marry, have children, and lead a peaceful life. Youโre the only child I have left.โ Carissa felt like someone had gouged her heart out. The pain she felt was so intense she couldn't even bring herself to cry. Determined to please her mother, she spent a year mastering the traditional values and duties expected of a noblewoman. She also learned accounting and how to manage a household. Not only was Carissa the Marquis of Northwatch's daughter, but she was also known for her beauty. So, suitors flooded their doorstep. Her mother had chosen Barrett because he had sworn he would never take another wife if he married Carissa. But six months ago, tragedy struck. All the residents of Northwatch Estate were murdered. No one was spared, not even the children or servants. Each victim suffered numerous knife wounds, and their bodies were brutally dismembered. Carissaโs youngest nephew had been only two and a half years old, born after the death of her third brother. The local authorities and garrison unit captured a few of the assailants. After further investigation, they were discovered to be spies from an enemy kingdom, Westhaven. The war at the front line was raging, yet these spies didn't hesitate to reveal themselves just to annihilate her family. The manner of the murder suggested it was more of a personal vengeance than anything else. When Carissa received the news, she rushed home, only to find her grandmotherโs and motherโs gruesomely dismembered bodies. Blood stained every corner of the residence, and the dead were left in agonizing states. Now, Carissa was the lone survivor of the marquis' family. The idea of restoring her familyโs former glory seemed impossibleโat least to outsiders. They saw her merely as a delicate, fragile woman. However, Aurora was different. She had earned military merits for her contribution to the war and became the first female general in history. Even the queen dowager had high praise for her. With Aurora supporting Barrett, his future would be more secure. That was the reason the Warren family readily agreed to the marriage. Chapter 3 Lulu brought over the dowry list and explained, "This year alone, you've spent over six thousand silver coins to support the household. However, the shops, houses, and estates remain untouched. All the bank savings, along with the property deeds and land titles your mother left, are locked up in the chest." Carissa glanced at the list. "Alright." Just looking at the list put her in a melancholy mood. Her mother had given her such a substantial dowry, fearing she would suffer hardships in her husband's home. "My lady, where can we go? Are we returning to Northwatch Estate? Or should we go back to Meadow Ridge?" Lulu asked, looking distressed. Images of the bloodstained estate and the tragic deaths of her family members flashed through Carissaโs mind, causing a sudden pang of pain in her heart. "Anywhere is better than staying here." "If you leave, youโll be giving them exactly what they want." "So be it. If I stay, Iโll spend my whole life suffering as I watch those two be affectionate. Lulu, I must live well to give my parents and brothers peace in the afterlife," Carissa replied calmly. "My lady!" Lulu wept bitterly. She had been born and raised in Northwatch Estate. The murder had claimed the lives of everyone, including her own family. The images still haunted her, and returning there seemed unthinkable. "Is there no other way?" Lulu asked desperately. Carissaโs eyes grew cold. "There is. I could confront the king and use my familyโs achievements to force him to reverse his edict. If he refuses, Iโll take my own life in protest." Lulu was terrified and immediately protested, "My lady, you can't!" Carissaโs expression softened, and a sly smile appeared on her face. "Do you think Iโm that silly? If I manage to reach the king, Iโll only request an edict for an amicable divorce." Barrett was able to marry Aurora because of a royal edict. So, Carissa should also be issued an official edict to leave. She shouldn't have to sneak away like she was being cast out. The wealth from Northwatch Estate was more than enough for her to live comfortably for the rest of her life. She wouldn't degrade herself unnecessarily. Just then, someone called from outside, "Madam Carissa, the matriarch has requested your presence!" "Itโs Jade, Madam Rebecca's maid. It seems like Madam Rebecca wants to try and persuade you," Lulu whispered. Carissa straightened up, her expression serious. "Then, letโs go." The evening sun glowed like blood, and the autumn wind was chilly. The late king had bestowed the Warren family's current residence, Valor Estate, upon Barrett's grandfather. Though once prestigious, it had fallen into decline. Most of the Warren family's men were warriors who fought on battlefields. Only a few were civil servants who worked in the palace. Barrettโs father, Jonathan, didnโt fare well in his official career. His second uncle, Gregory, only held a minor post in the Royal Citadel. Barrett and his eldest brother, Benjamin, were somewhat successful in the military. But before their recent victory, they were only fourth-ranked majors. Both families still lived together in Valor Estate. Splitting the family would only hasten their decline. Accompanied by Lulu, Carissa arrived at Rebeccaโs room. Rebecca's complexion looked a bit better, and she was sitting up in bed. She smiled warmly when she saw Carissa. "Youโre here." Benjamin and his wife, Amelia Morgan, were also in the room. Barrett's sister, Serena, and the other children of the concubines were present as well. Barrett's second aunt, Charlotte Lewis, was also seated nearby. However, her expression was cold and somewhat disdainful. "Hello, Mother. Aunt Charlotte, Benjamin, Amelia," Carissa greeted them politely. "Carissa, come here." Rebecca gestured for her daughter-in-law to sit by her bedside. The older woman held Carissa's hand affectionately and happily said, "Now that Barrett is back, you have someone to rely on. This year has been so hard on you, especially with what happened to your family. Youโre the only one left of the marquis' family. Fortunately, all of that is behind you now." Rebecca was shrewd. She made it clear that Carissa would need to depend on the Warren family in the future, since her family was gone. Carissa pulled her hand away and calmly said, "Mother, I heard you met General Yates today." Rebecca hadnโt expected Carissa to be so straightforward. Her smile froze for a moment before she replied, "Yes, I did. Sheโs rather rough around the edges and doesnโt compare to you in terms of looks." Carissa gazed at her mother-in-law steadily. "So, are you saying you don't like her?" Chapter 4 Rebecca forced a smile. "How can I decide that after meeting her only once? But since the king has arranged the marriage, itโs a done deal. In the future, she and Barrett will earn military merits together, while you manage the household and enjoy the benefits of their hard work. Isnโt that nice?" "Yes, I'm sure," Carissa replied with a smile. "But itโs quite unfair to make General Yates a concubine." Rebecca laughed. "You silly child, how could she be a concubine? The kingโs edict makes her Barrett's legal wife. Also, sheโs a military officer who holds an official rank. Officials canโt be concubines. She'll be a legal wife like you. There won't be any distinction between ranks for the two of you." "No distinction? Is there such a custom in our kingdom?" Carissa asked. Rebeccaโs expression grew a bit colder. "Carissa, youโve always been sensible. Now that youโve married into our family, you should prioritize us. According to the Defense Minister, Auroraโs contributions in this battle were greater than Barrettโs. With you managing the household, they'll be able to work together as husband and wife and focus on their military service. In the future, they'll surely become famous generals like his grandfather." Carissaโs tone remained chilly as she said, "If theyโre husband and wife, then I have no role here." "How can you say that? Arenโt you still in charge of the household?" countered Rebecca, displeased. "I only managed the household because Amelia was unwell. Now that she has recovered, she should resume her duties. Iโll go over the accounts tomorrow and hand everything back to her," Carissa replied. Amelia quickly interjected, "Iโm still not fully recovered. Besides, everyone is satisfied with how youโve been managing things. You should continue doing it." Carissa smiled mockingly. Everyone was satisfied because she had spent her own money to support them. Most of it went towards Rebeccaโs medical expenses. Sebastian Dalton was a renowned physician, and his medicine was costly. Only a few could afford his services. Rebeccaโs medicine cost over a hundred coins a month, amounting to more than a thousand coins a year. As for the other household expenses, Carissa occasionally subsidized them. For example, she would sometimes use fabrics and silks from her familyโs business to make new clothes for everyone throughout the year. She didnโt mind it before, as she had really wished to spend her life with Barrett. However, circumstances had changed. She no longer wanted to be a fool. Carissa stood up and said, "Thatโs settled, then. Iโll hand over the accounts tomorrow and wonโt be involved in household matters anymore." "Stop right there!" Rebecca's face darkened with anger. "Carissa, youโre being unreasonable. Men having multiple wives and concubines is normal. If you can't accept that, people will say you're narrow-minded and jealous." Carissaโs compliance over the past year had made the Warren family think she was easy to manipulate. They believed a few harsh words would always keep her in line. Carissaโs expression was calm, a stark contrast to her usual docility. "People can say whatever they want. I'm not concerned about their opinions." Rebecca was so angry that she struggled to breathe and coughed harshly for a long while. In the past, Carissa would have rushed to help her. She would pat the older woman's back and try to soothe her. But now, Carissa remained where she was. The soft evening light from the doorway highlighted her delicate, almost ethereal beauty. "Carissa, look how badly you've upset Mom," Serena said as she stepped forward. Her round, youthful face puffed with anger as she glared at Carissa. "This isnโt even about you. Do you think your family is still as prestigious as it once was? Your parents and brothers are gone; you're the only one left. Aren't you afraid that Barrett will divorce you if you keep putting on airs like you're a young lady from a prestigious family?" Carissa looked at her sister-in-law, who was dressed in a pale yellow outfit that Carissa had procured for her in early autumn. Now, wearing the clothes Carissa had provided, Serena dared to question her authority. How utterlyโฆ unsensible of her. "Take off that dress youโre wearing before you try to lecture me," Carissa said coolly. Serenaโs cheeks flushed with anger. "I didnโt beg you to get this dress for me. You can have it back if you donโt want me to have it." "Fine. And donโt forget the jewelry youโre wearing. I expect it all to be returned to me." After Carissa said that, her gaze swept across the room. The only one who seemed pleased with the situation was Charlotte. Everyone else looked grim. "If thereโs nothing else, Iโll be leaving." With that, Carissa turned and walked out decisively. Chapter 5 The Warren family members exchanged puzzled glances. None expected the usually agreeable Carissa to stand her ground so firmly this time. She even defied Rebecca, the matriarch of the family! โSheโll come around. She doesnโt have any other choice,โ Rebecca said coldly. That was true. With Carissa's family gone, she had no one to rely on except the Warren family. Besides, she was still Barrett's rightful wife, and it wasnโt like she had been mistreated. - Early the next morning, Carissa and Lulu returned to Northwatch Estate. The estate was bleak and covered in fallen leaves. After just half a year of neglect, the courtyard was overgrown with weeds that were taller than a person. Stepping back into the estate, Carissaโs heart ached fiercely. Six months ago, she had collapsed upon hearing that her family had been murdered. She had wept when she saw the lifeless bodies of her grandmother and motherโtheir corpses cold and devoid of warmth. Every corner of the estate had been stained with blood. Memorial plaques for her ancestors and mother had been placed at the estateโs family chapel. Carissa and Lulu prepared flowers to place on the plaques, their tears unceasing. Carissa knelt before her parentsโ memorials. Though her eyes were swollen from crying, they held a determined gaze. โDad, Mom, if you can hear me from heaven, please forgive your daughter for what she is about to do. Itโs not that I donโt want a peaceful life with a husband and children, but Barrett is not someone I can trust with my life. Rest assured, I promise Lulu and I will live well.โ Lulu knelt beside her, sobbing uncontrollably. After they were done, they boarded a carriage and headed straight for the palace. It was noon by the time they arrived. Under the scorching autumn sun, Carissa and Lulu stood like statues in front of the palace gates. They waited for a full hour, but no one came to let them in. Lulu was distressed and said, โMy lady, the king might not see you. Maybe he thinks youโre here to oppose his edict about the marriage. You didnโt eat last night or have breakfast today. Are you holding up okay? Should I go get you something to eat?โ โIโm not hungry.โ The only thing Carissa felt was the unwavering resolve to dissolve her marriage and return home. โPlease donโt be so hard on yourself. Itโs not worth getting sick over. Why donโt we just let it go? After all, youโre still the rightful wife and the lady of the Warren family. Even if General Yates is to be a legal wife, sheโll just be a glorified concubine at best. Maybe we should just endure it?โ Lulu pleaded. Carissaโs gaze was cold. โLulu, if youโre going to talk like that, donโt speak at all.โ Lulu sighed, feeling lost and unsure of what else to do. She had hoped that once Barrett returned, Carissa would find some peace. But the situation had only worsened. - In the palace's study, Derek Walker had already reported Carissaโs arrival to the king three times. โYour Majesty, Mrs. Warren is still waiting outside the palace gates,โ he repeated. The king, Salvador Quinton, set aside the document he was reading and rubbed his temples. โI canโt see her. The edict has been issued, and I canโt take it back. Tell her to go home.โ โThe guards tried to persuade her, but she refused to leave. Sheโs been standing there for over an hour without moving.โ Salvador felt a pang of guilt. โBarrett requested the marriage as a reward for his military service. I didnโt want to agree, but not granting it would embarrass both him and General Yates. They have made significant contributions.โ โIf we speak of military achievements, the Marquis of Northwatch and General Sullivanโs contributions surpass all others,โ Derek countered. Salvador remembered the Marquis of Northwatch, Hector Sinclair. When Salvador was a crown prince who had recently joined the military, it was Hector who had guided him. Carissa was a familiar face from those days, though she had been a delicate child. He still remembered her fair skin and endearing looks. Salvador had fought a bloody path to the throne, paved with death. He understood the struggles of military officers. When Barrett requested marriage as a reward, Salvador had hesitated but eventually agreed. Apart from his brother who was known as the Devil Monarch on the battlefield, the kingdom had no other capable generals. In the recent war with Westhaven, Dominic Sullivanโs third son had lost an arm. Dominic's seventh son had been murdered, though this had been kept secret. But Derek was right. In terms of military merit, Barrett and Aurora were far inferior to Hector. โAlright, let her in. If she agrees to this marriage, Iโll grant her whatever she wants. I'll even give her a noble title or an official rank,โ said Salvador. Derek breathed a sigh of relief. โAs always, you're wise, Your Majesty!โ Chapter 6 Carissa knelt in the study with her head bowed. Salvador remembered the Sinclair family. Knowing that Carissa was now the only one left stirred a feeling of pity in him. "Rise and speak," he commanded. Carissa bowed deeply with her hands clasped. "Your Majesty, I know it's presumptuous of me to seek an audience today. But I also wish to implore for your grace." "I have already issued the edict. It's impossible to revoke it," Salvador said. Carissa shook her head gently. "Your Majesty, I implore you to issue another edict. I want to divorce General Warren." The young king was taken aback. "What? You want a divorce?" Salvador thought she had come to ask him to rescind the marriage edict. He never expected a plea for a divorce. Holding back tears, Carissa pleaded, "Your Majesty, General Warren and General Yates sought the marriage edict with their military achievements. "Today is the death anniversary of my father and brothers. I wish to seek an edict to divorce my husband based on my late family's military merits. Please, Your Majesty, I'm begging you." "Carissa, do you know what you'll face after the divorce?" Salvador asked, a complicated expression on his face. Carissa hadn't heard Salvador call her by name in a long time. When he was still the crown prince, he used to occasionally visit Northwatch Estate. He would always find some interesting little gifts to give her when he did. After Carissa later went to Meadow Ridge to study under her master, they never saw each other again. "I do," she affirmed. There was a hint of a smile on Carissa's stunning face. But no matter how one looked at it, the smile seemed tinged with irony. "I'm sure you know the saying that a true gentleman appreciates and helps others to fulfill their aspirations, right? Even though I'm not a gentleman, I don't want to hinder General Warren and General Yates from being together," Carissa added. "Carissa, there's no one left at Northwatch Estate. Are you really going to go back there? Have you thought about your future?" Salvador asked. "I returned to the estate today to visit my family's memorial plaques. Seeing how the estate has fallen into disrepair made me want to live there again. I'll adopt a son for my father's sake, so there will still be someone to honor his memory," Carissa explained. Salvador had thought she was being impulsive; he hadn't expected her to be so considerate. "You're Barrett's legal wife. Aurora can't undermine your position. You really don't need a divorce." Carissa looked up with tear-filled eyes that were firm with resolve. "Your Majesty, that's meaningless. I don't want to waste my life like this. I'm the only one left from the Marquis of Northwatch's' family. My father and brothers lived honorably and bravely throughout their lives. I don't want to settle for a life of mediocrity." "I know you have feelings for Barrett. Are you willing to let go?" Salvador asked. Feelings? Not really. Carissa simply admired military men, and her mother had wanted her to marry and lead a stable life. That was why she had agreed to the marriage. Carissa smiled. At this moment, she looked like a strong woman who would be able to flourish even in the most challenging circumstances. "If he can let go of me, then I can let go of him," she declared. Beneath her delicate appearance, she possessed an unyielding backbone. This stunned Salvador. He had never seen such a woman before. He felt a pang of confusion, remembering the carefree little girl who used to smile all day long. Now, she was married and soon to be abandoned. To the world, divorce still meant abandonment. This was especially true in Carissaโs situation, as Barrett had publicly sought the marriage edict. Being a woman was already difficult, and she would have it even harder. How would she negotiate future marriages? There was no one left in her family to do it for her. Thinking of this, Salvador recalled Hector's merits, especially how they had saved each other on the battlefield, and his heart softened towards Carissa. "Alright, I agree. You may leave now. In a few days, the edict of divorce will be sent to the general's residence," Salvador said. Carissa breathed a sigh of relief and bowed her head. "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" As Salvador watched her, he was suddenly reminded of when she was a little girl, and his heart softened further. "Carissa, if anyone mistreats you in the future, come to the palace and see me." "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Carissa bowed once again. | LEARN_MORE | https://shgjfh.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=13853&u | Random Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61559743679549/ | 320 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | shgjfh.com | DCO | https://shgjfh.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=13853&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&placement={{placement}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/458293998_1696356974464897_6574490535769686259_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9tnOyGqw0HwQ7kNvgE__tMc&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A4yAB9vVGYX7zdmohVWvwfC&oh=00_AYDYQwPpQVPPsSCv9H4YjJhvFto0TQaFD9vHyAieLJjVzg&oe=674EE01F | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-11-28 18:52 | active | 1934 | 0 | Read next chapter | For her, marrying her best friend and carrying his child was a dream come true. However, just at this joyful moment, the man's beloved returned... ===== "It's a good thing you're cautious. You could've lost your baby, Miss Monroe," the GYN told me seriously as she could see the shock in my eyes. Had I heard it right? I was pregnant? I was pregnant with a baby for Pierce--my best friend and my first crush! On the way out of the hospital, I couldn't wait to tell Pierce about our baby. I wondered what his reaction would be. Would he scream in happiness? God! I couldn't contain my happiness. I cupped my flushed face as I fantasized, but the moment I felt the cold of the simple ring on my finger, my wildly beating heart calmed down. I almost forgot that Pierce wasn't the type to be keen on having children, especially since our marriage was arranged by his family. Pierce was a complete gentleman, both as a friend and a husband. Every time we did intimate thing, he was considerate yet cautious, saying there was no need to add extra shackles when we weren't ready. This baby, in a way, was out of the plan. "Ma'am, is everything okay? Do you need to call the boss?" my private driver, Luke, asked worriedly as he noticed my frown. Luke was reliable, like family, but if I chose to share, I still wanted Pierce to be the first to know this news. He was my baby's father. "No," I shook my head, giving Luke a reassuring smile. "He's on a flight. I'll talk to him later myself." I wanted to sense his answer directly from his raw expressions. I was always good at that. I closed my eyes, recalling the first day we met. His bright smile in the sunlight was so dazzling; he was a Prince. Long before we became best friends, I fell in love with him at first sight. But it was only unrequited love; I knew that well. I slid down the car window to get some fresh air but accidentally caught a glimpse of our old high school. That bitter feeling filled my chest once again. Pierce was my first love, but I wasn't his. In high school, I was just a boring nerd in others' eyes while Pierce Anderson was the shining quarterback. Everyone was surprised that we could be friends. Though envy arose, I enjoyed being around him. I slowly realized that I didn't just want to be his friend. However, right when I was about to confess my feelings to him, another girl came into his life. I shook my head, trying to rid myself of those sad memories. I gripped the cold wedding ring on my finger, telling myself the past was the past. Pierce said they were over, and I was his wife now. I was his wife who was carrying his baby. I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes and opened the door to our house. My heart calmed as I breathed in the scent of home. Our home. Pierce and I decorated it together with our own hands. We enjoyed it. Yes, I must have been overthinking. That woman had been out of our lives for a long time, and my marriage with Pierce had been as beautiful as a fairy tale for the past three years. I glanced at the clock on the wall. At this point, Pierce should have gotten off the plane. He had been traveling for over a month for the sake of our family's business. Pierce was the President of ADE, the leading fashion magazine company in Asia, and I was actually the Vice President. We were not only life partners but also good partners at work. I really missed him. I dialed his number immediately. I wanted to hear his voice now, to know when he would arrive home. I would prepare a good meal for him, and he would reward me with a sweet k*ss. Then we might do intimate thing... Oops, I almost forgot I was pregnant now. I needed to tell him this first before we could do anything else. I was happily envisioning our lovely reunion when my heart dropped as a woman's voice came over the line. [Hello?] I snapped the phone as just one word came out. My phone fell to the floor, and my body started shaking uncontrollably. NO! It couldn't be her! It couldn't be Lexi! She was already out of our lives! I must have misheard. I rushed to the fridge, attempting to calm myself with some al**hol. But the moment I was reminded of the doctor's words and my baby. I needed to be cautious for my baby's sake. I turned to grab a box of milk and walked toward the sofa. I didn't know what made me recognize that as Lexi's voice at that moment. I meant Lexi and I were never close. Lexi Gilbert was a typical blonde beauty that men would go crazy for. She was the popular cheerleader in high school while Pierce was the star quarterback. A better match than he and a nerd like me, right? It wasn't surprising that he had fallen for her. My pride couldn't stand watching the man I loved go crazy for another woman. So I had once tried to stay away from them silently, but Pierce refused to quit my life. Every time I drowned myself in a sea of books and studies to forget them, Pierce would appear at my doorstep asking me out. I couldn't say no to his charming smile; I couldn't refuse when he claimed it was his duty as my best friend to take me out to enjoy the real world. To avoid ruining our friendship, I could only hide my broken heart, silently playing the role of his best friend while watching his happy face as he pursued another girl. I finally mustered the courage to study abroad when I learned that Pierce was planning to propose to Lexi. However, I never expected Grams would call to beg me to return. I hurried back only to see a lifeless Pierce. His heart was shattered, thanks to Lexi. My beloved sunshine boy was nowhere to be seen, and my heart b*ed for him. I started to hate Lexi from that moment. I gave up my cherished man for her, and how dared she harm him so badly! Pierce didn't tell anyone what happened except that he was done with Lexi. Grams arranged our marriage. I didn't understand why he agreed until the day I heard him say that marrying anyone but Lexi would be the same for him. It hurt like hell, but I still walked into this marriage without a second thought. My cherished boy was broken, and I wanted to fix him, not caring if I ruined myself in the process. I fell asleep at home, feeling insecure and worried. I woke up in the middle of the night when I felt someone caressing my cheek. Slowly, I opened my eyes and realized I had fallen asleep in the living room. Someone lifted me from the couch. I immediately recognized his scent and touch as I looked at him with heavy-lidded eyes. "Pierce..." "Hmm," he hummed as he walked toward the stairs. "Why did you sleep on the couch?" I stared at his face as he gently placed me down on the bed. He caressed my hair and k*ssed my forehead. He was always so gentle, and that was why I loved him so much. "Where have you been? I've been waiting for you," I said as I caressed his cheek. "Just met a friend. You said you were waiting for me; is it something urgent?" Looking at his gentle face, I suddenly didn't want to ruin the moment, so I closed my parted lips and swallowed the truth back down. Tomorrow, maybe tomorrow, I would have the courage to face all the puzzles. I shook my head and pouted, signaling that I was sleepy. He chuckled and carefully carried me to the bed. Just as he was about to leave me after giving me a goodnight k*ss, I panicked for some reason. I quickly grabbed him... I missed him. I wanted him. "Wait, Kels," he said, stopping me by pinning my hands to the bed. "I thought you said you were sleepy and needed to rest." "But I think I miss you more now." I looked at him with innocence and caught the d**ire flashing in his eyes, but I didn't know why it faded so quickly. He used to be happy when I took the initiative. As if noticing my confusion, he chuckled and playfully pinched my nose. "I'll just take a shower." I nodded and watched him as he walked toward the bathroom. But drowsiness struck again, so I closed my eyes to take a nap. However, it was already morning when I opened my eyes again, and Pierce was beside me, putting a tray of food on the bedside table. "Hey!" I greeted, smiling when I realized what he'd done. He had prepared breakfast for me. In bed. The sweetest. He smiled and sat on the edge of the bed. "Good morning." I grinned as I sat up. He carried the tray and put it beside me. I shot an eyebrow up, tilting my head as I stared at his handsome face. His deep brown eyes and thick, black eyebrows complemented his striking features. "What is this? Is this a bribe? You stood me up last night, bad boy." He didn't laugh. Instead, he heaved a sigh, gently tucking my hair behind my ear before taking my hand and staring into my eyes. "I have something to tell you." My heart raced. I thought about our baby. He had something to say, and I did too. "W-What is it?" I asked, feeling my voice tremble. He took a deep breath. "You know you're important to me, right?" I slowly nodded, my lips parted. I couldn't speak; I was scared of what he was about to say. I had a bad feeling about this. "You were my best friend before we got married. You're one of the few people I treasure..." I hid my clenched fists under the sheets. I didn't understand why he was telling me this, but I felt tears pooling in the corner of my eyes already. "Kelly..." He paused, squeezing his eyes shut before looking into mine again. "I-I think it's time for us to divorce." "P-Pierce..." My heart clenched. He smiled sadly. "I know you don't have feelings for me either. You only married me because of my grandparents. You just did this because you love them. Now it's time for our real happiness, Kelly." I shook my head. "W-What are you talking about, Pierce?" "Lexi is back, Kelly. My first love is back." Chapter 2 Kelly's POV--It Never Rains but It Pours I got off the bed and tried to leave, but Pierce grabbed my hand. I quickly wiped the tears rolling down my cheeks before he could see them. He stood in front of me, searching my face as I struggled to look down and avoid his gaze. My heart felt like it was breaking into pieces. I thought... I thought I could make him fall in love with me during those three years together. I believed his feelings would deepen, that he would see me as a woman rather than just a best friend. I was foolish to hope and dream so high. I had failed. No matter how hard I tried, his heart belonged only to his first love, Lexi. "Kelly..." I sucked in a breath and swallowed the pain as I looked at him. I forced a smile. "I need to wash up before eating." He stared into my eyes, trying to figure out what I was thinking. I knew he understood me too well, so I made a concerted effort to hide my pain and smiled back at him. He sighed and let go of my hand. "Okay. I'll wait for you here. Let's eat and go to work together." Together? How cruel could he be? He still wanted us to get along as if he hadn't just asked for a divorce? He wanted us to stay the same right after telling me that his first love was back and he wanted to divorce me? Oh, Pierce, what's going on in your head? If I used to be able to force myself to remain in the role of his best friend, wishing him happiness, I no longer had that courage after the three years we'd shared. There was no way I could endure that kind of torture again, especially now that I was carrying his baby. The baby... I had thought it was good news for us, but now... it felt more like a burden to him, I guess. A burden that would prevent him from pursuing his true love and freedom. I knew how an unwanted child could grow up. My parents divorced even before my mother died, and my father's new family hated me. It hurt like hell. I didn't want my baby to experience that same pain. I needed to keep my child away from it. I forced another smile. "We can't. I need to visit the studio for the photoshoot of our new models..." "I'll go with you--" "No." I pushed his hand away. His eyes followed my hand before he looked up at me again. "You have some documents to sign. Our schedules are already organized, remember?" "But..." "I have a personal driver, Pierce. I'll be fine going alone." He sighed and slowly nodded. I turned my back on him and entered the bathroom. I immediately opened the shower and stood under the cold water. Tears cascaded down my cheeks as I covered my mouth to suppress my sobs. My shoulders trembled violently, and when I thought about my baby, I swallowed hard, trying to calm myself down. I wiped my face and caressed my belly. I needed to be strong. I had to stay calm. I shouldn't put my baby's life at risk just because I got my heart broken. I had to handle this wisely. I took a deep breath and finished my shower. When I got out of the bathroom, I was shocked to see Pierce still there. He was struggling to fix his tie in front of the full-length mirror. I also noticed my pair of heels and dress on the bed. "Hey! I picked your dress for today." Since our marriage wasn't public, Pierce had said he would try to do little things for me as a husband. He did it well, and I used to enjoy these sweet moments, but now, they felt like d**gers to my heart. I grabbed the dress and went into the walk-in closet. I felt him following me. I put the white dress back and picked a red one. When I turned to face him, his forehead was creased. "I prefer red today. I'd feel beautiful in this dress." His eyes landed on the dress I was holding, and his face immediately relaxed. He nodded and walked toward me. "I see. Help me fix this first." I placed my dress on his arm and started adjusting his tie. I could feel his eyes staring intently and it was making my heart beat so fast. I took a deep breath and chewed my bottom lip as I struggled to fix the tie. My vision started to blur again. D**n! "Kelly..." I jumped in shock. "Hmm?" "Are you okay?" I looked at him and smiled. "Yeah." "I have something else to say." I finished fixing his tie, then immediately grabbed the dress from him. I glanced at him before walking past him and said, "Let's just talk some other time. I'm going to be late." I heard him sigh as he followed me again. He's silent the whole time as if he's thinking about something. "You should eat before you leave." I turned to him and nodded. "I will. You should go now." "Kelly, we're on the same page, right?" I stared at him. No, Pierce. We're never on the same page. All of this was just my stupid fantasy. I thought you had feelings for me, and I was so wrong. "If it's about the divorce, I understand everything, Pierce. I know what I have to do. Just give me some time because I'm really busy with the company. I won't run away." "Kelly, I'm not just doing this for myself. I'm doing this for you too. You've been caged with me ever since we got married. I know you're not happy because deep down, you want to find the man you deserve. Someone who will truly love you. Not me. Not someone who's half-hearted." "I understand what you're trying to say, Pierce," I said, trying to turn away, but he held me by the waist, keeping me in place. He did everything he could to capture my gaze, and he succeeded. He looked at me worriedly. "You are my best friend. I don't want to lose you, Kels. You're one of the few people I..." "I know," I said out of frustration. He looked shocked, so I took a breath to calm myself. "I-I know. You don't have to worry. I'm just stressed about work. It's not about our divorce." His lips parted, and he slowly nodded, as if he could finally breathe properly. He walked toward me, and I froze when he gently k*ssed my forehead... "Thank you, Kelly," he whispered. My heart clenched. It had been three years, but I was still such a coward. Why couldn't I just tell him that I loved him? He's my husband, and I'm carrying his baby! If I told him, he might change his mind! I swallowed hard, ready to speak, but his phone rang. I didn't miss the caller ID. Again, it was Lexi. "I gotta go." He scratched his head in apology, and I didn't miss the upturned corners of his mouth. "I called Luke, and he's waiting outside. Eat before you go, okay?" With that, he left our room. The tears I had managed to hold back burst forth again. Why did I think I could have a chance? He had made his choice the moment he asked for a divorce, hadn't he? Whenever it came to Lexi, I was always the one he would abandon. Chapter 3 Kelly's POV--Stiff Upper Lip I entered the studio wearing two-inch red heels and a red dress. Everyone turned to look as I walked down the hallway, greeting me with smiles, but my face remained stoic, not showing any emotions at all. The conversation with Pierce this morning lingered in my mind, but I couldn't let it affect my work. I couldn't fail my work after I had failed my marriage. I took a deep breath to steady myself. However, when I entered the photoshoot room, I could notice everyone was in chaos. "We can't! She's not answering her calls. What should we do? The Vice President is coming today. She'll be furious." "We can just tell her the truth. She's nice." "Not in this situation, Lily! She'll scold us--" "What's happening here?" I asked, stepping further into the room. The staff turned to me with worried expressions, and I knew then that something was wrong. "G-Good morning, Miss Monroe." Miss Monroe. Of course, no one knew that Pierce and I were married except for our families. I felt a pinch in my heart because of that truth. It hurt. I stared at her blankly, "What? "W-We have a problem, Miss Monroe. Miss Chen, our model, has been refusing our calls. She said she heard that we're changing the model, so...she doesn't want to come here. She's even threatening to file a case against us." She bowed her head, and I gritted my teeth, scanning the room. "Where's the marketing manager?" "S-She's still trying to convince Miss Chen, Miss Monroe." I massaged my forehead, squeezing my eyes closed. I grabbed my hair and screamed in so much anger, causing everyone around me to jump in shock. I g**aned, sucking in a breath before looking around. "Miss Monroe..." "What is this, Miss Hayley? You're the marketing manager. What's happening?" "Miss Monroe, I don't know how it happened, but Miss Chen heard that you're changing our model. She's about to file a case against us--" Changing the model? How had I not known about this? Miss Chen had always been a trusted partner, and if not necessary, changing models for a commercial shoot on short notice would only create chaos for the company. I would never allow such a costly mistake. "I never asked for that. You must be mistaken." I cut her off to save the time, "Fix this mess, or I'll have to fire you!" "Miss Monroe... It's Mr. President who ordered the change." Hayley spoke hesitantly. "He instructed us as soon as he returned from his business trip yesterday." The truth hit me hard. Pierce's order? Why hadn't he told me? He used to discuss every major decision with me first. "It shouldn't be..." Confusion clouded my mind. Pierce was not a clueless businessman; he maintained a clear distinction between work and personal matters, which was why he always succeeded. And that was also why he chose to keep our marriage a secret. "Yes, Kelly. I gave the order." The voice pulled me back. "M-Mr. President..." Hayley bowed in respect as the man suddenly appeared behind me. "I think you owe me an explanation, Pierce. About changing the model!" I snapped as I turned to face him. He knew how much effort I had put into securing this project. I hadn't slept well for days, and Miss Chen was the perfect fit for us. He had agreed too. But now... he just changed the model as he liked without informing me in advance. It felt like a hard s**p in the face. "Go ahead with the work. I'll explain it to her." He pacified the staff first, ignoring the anger simmering in my eyes. "Answer me, Pierce! Why did you change the model so suddenly?" I couldn't contain my fury. He touched my shoulder and whispered, "This isn't the place to talk. Let me explain in the car." I glanced around, noticing others sneaking glances at us. I shook off his hand and walked toward the parking lot, my heart growing heavier with each step. I had a sinking feeling I wouldn't like his explanation. "Now, say it," I blurted once we were seated in his car. He stared into my eyes as if weighing my emotions. I looked away again.; I couldn't bear his gaze. I couldn't withstand his eyes that never looked at me the way I wanted him to. He had no feelings for me and it hurt so much. "I-I..." he paused, sighing. "I replaced Miss Chen because Lexi wants to be our model. She's also a good fit, so I agreed--" "What?" I asked in disbelief. He pressed his lips together and looked away, ruffling his hair in frustration before shaking his head and holding my hand. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. It was just so sudden. She asked for a favor, and I couldn't say no." I pulled my hand away, looking at him with a mix of pain and anger. "You can't say no to her, so you'd rather harm the company--our company. You've betrayed me, Pierce." "Kels, come on. You know how much I love her. She's my first love." Painfully, I closed my eyes. Oh yes, she was your first love. She's always the one you want, no matter the cost. As long as she frowns a bit, you turn a blind eye to the pain and effort of others. You're so heartless, Pierce. "Well, you've made your decision. I don't have a say in this since you're the President. Just go. I'll be in the office." I said coldly, opening the car door to leave. "Kelly..." I looked him in the eyes. "Go home early. Let's talk about our divorce at home tonight." Chapter 4 Kelly's POV--Left High and Dry I was playing with the wedding ring on my finger. I told him to go home early, but he didn't come home at all. He wasn't even answering my calls. Well, now Lexi was back; this house was probably not home in his eyes anymore. My eyes turned to my pregnancy report on the table. What a mockery. I was still naive to hold a glimmer of hope that things would be different if I told him about the baby. But forget this baby thing was out of his plan. I wiped away the tears collecting at the corners of my eyes and picked up the report. It was 5 a.m. already when I looked at the clock on the wall. I tried to dial his number again, but it was still busy. What was he busy with? Was he busy staying with Lexi? He must have missed her a lot, didn't he? I didn't remember how I fell asleep. When the alarm clock went off, he didn't come home yet. I sneered at myself as I caught my reflection in the dresser mirror. The dark circles under my eyes were so clear, and my hair was a total mess, looking like a ghost. Suddenly, a wave of nausea flooded my stomach, and I realized I hadn't eaten anything last night. Feeling sick again, I ran to the sink and puked. I spat yellowish liquid, and while I was washing my mouth, I felt a warm hand caressing my back. I immediately lifted my face and met a pair of brown eyes looking at me through the mirror. Standing behind me with a worried expression was my husband, Pierce. I had always been thankful to have him as my best friend and husband, but now... I'm losing him. Hopelessly losing him. "Are you okay? Are you not feeling well? You should've told me." I stared at him through the mirror. "You didn't answer my calls." Guilt flickered in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I had some things to do. I stayed in the office all night." I wiped my face and walked past him. He followed me as I sat in front of the vanity and started combing my hair. "Kels..." "I woke up late. I failed to prepare breakfast." I tried to avoid his eyes. I felt like I would lose my temper and snap at him. There was no moment when I felt his selfishness so clearly as now. He called me his best friend, yet he had never seriously confronted my needs. My feelings. "Kels... you know I'm not asking about this. I'm just worried about your condition..." "Kels, are we still okay?" I stopped combing my hair and slowly met his eyes. Through the mirror, again. Really? He's asking me that? After he offered me a divorce without even asking if I was okay with it? He decided on his own, just because his first love is back. I couldn't believe him. I faked a smile. "I just don't feel well today, Pierce." He immediately squatted beside me, which was not surprising because I knew he truly cared. What surprised me was why he was still doing this after he buried a dagger in my heart. "Are you okay?" He gently touched my forehead and neck. "Are you sick? Tell me how you feel, Kels." "My feelings don't matter," I couldn't help but blurt out. He looked shocked by what I said. When I attempted to avoid him, he grabbed my wrist and made me face him. His face was mirroring his anger now. He was completely lost his patience. "What's wrong with you, Kels? You've been acting like this since yesterday. Is this about Lexi? Or was it because I didn't come home last night?" I looked him in the eyes, annoyed. "You're the one who asked for a divorce! I told you to come back earlier, but you just let me wait the whole night. How do you want me to greet you this morning, Pierce?" He clenched his jaws and shook his head. "Kels, I..." "Enough. We can talk about the divorce after work today." "Kels!" He called and grabbed my shoulders. Confusion and pain were visible in his eyes. "Are you... in love with me?" I was taken aback. In love? Yes! Ever since we were in high school. Ever since he became my best friend. Who wouldn't fall for someone who had been protecting you ever since? But of course, I couldn't tell him. It would only complicate things more. I didn't even want him to pity me. I shook my head and pushed his arms away. "Are you on d**gs? I'm not in love with you." I turned my back on him and entered the bathroom again. I locked it before going to the bathtub. I should focus on myself. I can't let my emotions affect me, but... why are my tears falling again? "You are so pathetic, Kelly! You can't even tell him how you truly feel," I whispered to myself as I wiped my tears angrily. It took me almost an hour to bathe. When I was done, I realized Pierce had already left. I shook my head in disbelief. He's been constantly abandoning me. I can't believe we've reached this point. I thought we were okay. I was so stupid. *** "Good morning, Miss Monroe..." "Good morning, Vice President..." I did not greet anyone back, just like how I used to greet them. I still felt pissed, and my mood seemed off. Irritation could easily take over me, and I couldn't control it. Probably because of Pierce's divorce proposal or because of my pregnancy. I was about to enter my office when I heard two girls talking. "Did you see her? I bet she's Mr. Anderson's girlfriend. They seemed close." My forehead creased. Pierce's girlfriend? "Ah! It's a waste that I didn't see her face, but I feel like it's Miss Lexi." "Lexi? Lexi Gilbert? The model?" "Yes! I bet my whole month's salary on this. They look good together." "Come on! Miss Monroe and Mr. Anderson look better together." "Are you serious? They're best friends. You know, some people are better off just friends. It's Mr. Anderson and Miss Monroe." I squeezed my eyes closed and pushed the door of my office. I slowly closed it and rested my back against it. This is harder than I expected. I took a deep breath and sat in my swivel chair. I opened the computer at the same time a notification popped up on the screen of my phone. My hands started shaking as soon as I saw the notification. It was Pierce's social media update. He uploaded a photo of him and Lexi together, eating in a fancy restaurant. I balled my fists and gritted my teeth. See, Kelly? That's what happens when you step into such a loveless marriage without a second thought. You would only break yourself if you continued on the wrong path. Just get a divorce. Spare him and yourself. Your baby needs a strong mommy... ...... ==== Marrying her best friend was a dream come true for Kelly, but everything truly has a limitation. Pierce is Kelly's first love, but as his best friend, she knew well there was always another woman deep in his heart, Lexi Gilbert. Kelly finally realized their happy marriage of the last three years was just a beautiful dream when Pierce asked for a divorce just because Lexi returned. She could only be his best friend even if she was carrying his baby. Since their friendship had become a cage, Kelly chose to set him free, as well as the miserable herself. But why then, it was Pierce who became the one who refused to move on? To make matters worse, her devil stepbrother also domineeringly stepped in at the same time, asking her to be his. What happens next? How could Kelly save her heart in this battle of love and hate? 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/61818322-fb_contact-e | Lucky Reading | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.moboreader.net | VIDEO | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/61818322-fb_contact-encp25_2-1025-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=157725&accid=304554039400649&rawadid=120213711012440238 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/465893416_1312332820126466_3749937197597455851_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9nvAbyCXfsIQ7kNvgESHNaD&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=Aibls3gi14OvSGslPiawJno&oh=00_AYBYHUyUTJXvqy7gCIRFJAnW2u5WubQ37qp4jFNGzuJx4Q&oe=674EF8A1 | REGULAR_PAGE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | In Merika State, the two of them lay close together on the hotel bed. As their passion grew, Justin Yatesโs husky voice, filled with allure, murmured, โEm, how about having a child with me?โ Caught up in the moment, Emily Yates replied without thinking. It wasnโt until they were lying together afterward that she remembered what he had said. โA child?โ she repeated, a trace of intimacy lingering in her eyes. The look stirred Justinโs desire again. She was a constant temptation to him. Pushing those thoughts aside, he pulled out a ring and slipped it onto her left hand. โAre you proposing to me?โ she asked. โYes.โ โCan I finally have your child now?โ Justin asked, smiling. His eyes were warm, but there was no love in them, as if he were gazing past her, waiting for someone elseโs answer. โIโll give you plenty,โ she replied, momentarily surprised. Proposing in bed wasnโt exactly romantic or formal, but she didnโt mind. She had waited three years for this moment, and it was worth it. Three years ago, she had been injured near the beach, hitting her head on a rock. When she woke up, she had no memory. Justin had saved her. The first thing she saw when she woke was his face, and one look left her captivated. Later, she learned that Justin had paid her hospital bills. She also learned of his identity. He was the CEO of RC Corporation. He proposed that she be his contract lover, and without hesitation, she agreed. They signed an agreement, defining their relationship, and he gave her the name Emily Yates. Yes, she was drawn to his looks. Despite their arrangement, the past three years felt like any other relationship. In the first year, she was a hidden lover. In the second, he introduced her as his girlfriend to his circle. Now, with three years approaching, he was proposing. Once she was part of his social circle, she heard whispers about a woman who had been his first love, someone he cherished deeply in college. She had disappeared without a trace, and he had been searching for her ever since. Over the years, Justin had lost hope she was still alive. That was why he finally proposed. Emily didnโt mind. Everyone has a past. Looking at the diamond ring on her left ring finger, she felt like it had all been worth it. The sound of running water came from the bathroom. Justin was showering. Calming down, Emily wrapped a towel around herself and got out of bed to pick up their scattered clothes. A soft *clink* echoed as something hit the floor. It was Justinโs cardholder. She bent down to pick it up, and a photo slipped out. It was old, with frayed edges, as if it had been looked at countless times. The woman in the photo looked like her but younger, just how she would have looked three years ago. Emily didnโt remember ever taking this photo, but she had lost her memory. Maybe she had forgotten. She was just about to put the cardholder back when a large, slender hand appeared, taking it from her. Justin emerged from the bathroom, his hair still damp and falling over his eyes, now tinged with a hint of displeasure. โDonโt touch my things,โ he said coldly, his tone a sharp contrast to the intimacy they had just shared. Turning away from her, he put the cardholder back in his briefcase, his whole demeanor suddenly distant and guarded. Emily froze. Was he really getting defensive over a photo? She looked at him, confused. Wasnโt that her old picture? Before she could ask, Justin seemed to realize that his reaction had been out of line. He turned back and grasped her chin. With a playful glint in his eye, he ran his thumb over her still-swollen lips, toying with them. His voice was cool, devoid of warmth, but his words were deeply suggestive, clearly aiming to change the subject. โWeโre going to be late for the art exhibit. If you rather stay here, I wouldnโt mind going another round.โ Her cheeks flushed at his teasing, and she gently pushed him away. Her thoughts were scattered, and she quickly forgot about the photo. Justin had come to Merika State on business and had received an invitation to an art exhibition by Haley Quinn. He brought Emily along, planning to take her to the show once his work was done. Haley, a painter who had withdrawn from the public eye three years ago, rarely held exhibitions, making this one a rare event. Emily dressed quickly, while Justin had already changed into a fresh suit. The gallery was close to the hotel, so they walked there. Arm in arm, they strolled down the street, enjoying the perfect atmosphere. Just as Emily felt an overwhelming sense of happiness, Justin suddenly stopped. โJustin, whatโs wrong?โ She followed his gaze. Across the street, a disheveled woman, her clothes too dirty to recognize their original color, was recklessly crossing the traffic, oblivious to the danger. The woman pushed Emily aside and wrapped her arms tightly around Justinโs waist. She sobbed uncontrollably, gasping for air. โJustin, I finally found you. You came looking for me, didnโt you?โ Emily stumbled from the shove, the bright sunlight momentarily blinding her. The woman looked eerily familiar. She resembled the one in the photo from the cardholder and, in a way, even looked like Emily herself. โEmma? Is that really you?โ Justinโs voice trembled, his eyes locked onto the woman in his arms, as if afraid she might disappear again. Just moments ago, he had proposed to Emily. Now, right there in the street, he held another woman. He gently wiped away the womanโs tears with a tenderness so delicate, as if afraid of breaking something precious. โYes, itโs me,โ the woman sobbed, nodding desperately. Frail as she was, she clung to him. Justin was known for his fastidiousness and love of cleanliness, but he now held her tightly. He was soothing her with gentle words, as if she were a lost treasure he had finally recovered. He was afraid that even the slightest rough movement might hurt her. They seemed oblivious to everything around them, including Emily. Justin seemed to have forgotten Emily was still there. The woman in his arms had cried herself into unconsciousness. He took off his expensive jacket and draped it over her. He then slipped his arms under her knees and held her tightly as he carried her back toward the hotel. Emily stood there, feeling like an outsider. Her arm still ached from where she had been shoved, and she could still feel the warmth of Justinโs touch lingering around her waist. Just minutes ago, he had been tangled up with her in bed, proposing marriage. Now, he was leaving her in the middle of the street, carrying a woman who seemed to come out of nowhere. He had tossed aside his usual grace, holding this woman, who looked like a beggar, and rushed back to the hotel. The people around them pointed and whispered, like they were watching some sort of spectacle. Emily wanted to follow him, but her first step faltered. She steadied herself against a nearby building, catching a glimpse of her reflection in the window. Her flawless makeup now showed a hint of disarray. Chapter 2 Tears had fallen without her noticing, smudging the fresh makeup around her eyes. Emily glanced down at the diamond ring on her left hand, a sense of foreboding spreading through her. The sudden appearance of this woman might shatter the happiness she had been waiting for. She couldnโt just stand here. She had to know who this woman was. After a moment to gather herself, she headed back to the hotel. The plane flew from Merika State back to Haven State. At Lichfield Hospital, Emily stood at the door of a hospital room, arms crossed, trying to see inside through the window. Justinโs friend, Zac White, the director of Lichfield Hospital, along with other doctors, were examining the restless woman on the hospital bed. Two female nurses held her steady as they conducted their checks. On the plane, her face had already been cleaned, and she had been given fresh clothes. โEmma Xander? Hasnโt she... disappeared for the past four years?โ Zac was shocked. Where had Justin found her? The Yates and White families had pulled every string they could to find Emma, but after four years with no trace, they had finally given up. And now, here she was. After completing their examination, the doctors and nurses left the room. A heavy silence fell over the space. A moment later, Justinโs voice seemed to echo from a distance as he gazed at the woman, now sound asleep after a sedative. โHow is she doing?โ โSheโs malnourished, traumatized, and a bit disoriented, but otherwise fine. She just needs some time to recover.โ Justin stood by her bedside, clearly prepared to stay with her. Zac hesitated, wanting to say something, but thought better of it and left the room. He opened the door to find Emily waiting outside. Feeling awkward for his friend, Zac adjusted his silver-framed glasses and greeted her with a polite smile. โHi, Miss Yates.โ Emily nodded in acknowledgment. โDr. White, whatโs her name? And what is her relationship with Justin?โ she asked bluntly, desperate to know who this woman was. Zac hesitated, uncertain how to explain that Emma was Justinโs long-lost first love. This was his friendโs private matter, after all, and not his to reveal. Before he could find the words, Justin opened the door and saw them standing outside. He frowned, clearly displeased. โDidnโt I tell you to go home? Why are you still here?โ Justinโs voice dripped with disdain and impatience, as if his irritation had taken on a life of its own. Emily stood her ground, unafraid. She needed answers. โYou proposed to me in Merika State just 16 hours ago, but now youโre holding another woman and completely ignoring me. And youโre not even coming home? Staying out all night?โ โStop being unreasonable. Leave. Now,โ he ordered, his voice cold and commanding, his gaze on her as though she were an unruly employee who had crossed the line. Seeing Justinโs dark expression, Zac stepped in, concerned that Emily might end up on the losing side of this argument. When Justin was angry, it rarely boded well for anyone. โItโs late. Let me arrange a car to take Miss Yates home,โ Zac offered, trying to ease the tension. Emily, however, refused Zacโs offer. She wasnโt leaving without answers. โYou think Iโm being unreasonable? Iโm your fiancรฉe. You left me on the street in a foreign country to carry another woman away without a second thought. Did you ever consider how I felt? โIโll go, but only if you leave the hospital with me. There are doctors and nurses here to care for that woman. Right now, youโre coming home with me.โ Desperate, Emily reached out to grab Justinโs arm. But before she could make contact, her arm was blocked by Justinโs personal bodyguard, William Carter. Emily was stunned, unable to believe what she was seeing. It felt as though her heart was being torn in two. Justin had always been there for her, always caring, always the first to pick up her calls, no matter if he was in a meeting or on a business trip. If she ever needed him, he would show up immediately. If she couldnโt be reached, he would search the whole city until he found her. But now, with this woman in the hospital room, he wouldnโt even let her near him? โWhat do you mean by this?โ Emilyโs voice trembled, mirroring the unease in her heart. Justin didnโt respond. He stared at her with cold, detached eyes, as if she were a stranger and not the fiancรฉe he had just proposed to. Time seemed to stretch, each second feeling like an eternity. Finally, he spoke, his words sharp and emotionless. โDonโt be childish.โ Childish? Once, he had said he loved how she depended on him, how she claimed him for herself. And now he was calling her childish? โIf you want to stay here with her, then what about our marriage? You proposed to me just today!โ Emilyโs heart ached, squeezing painfully in her chest. She knew it wasnโt the right moment to bring this up, but she couldnโt accept the idea that her future husband would spend the night in the hospital with another woman. Zac stood nearby, listening in shock. Marriage? Had Justin really proposed to Emily? And what about Emma in the hospital room? Justin glanced over his shoulder, worried that the woman asleep in the hospital bed might hear them and wake up. Emily noticed the concern in his eyes. It was an expression she had seen many times when he had worried about her. But now, that look was for someone else. He turned back to Emily, his voice still icy. โIf you donโt want to get married, we can call it off. This isnโt the place for your drama. William, have the driver take her home.โ He didnโt like being threatened, especially when it came to his marriage. Without another glance at her, he opened the door to the hospital room and went back inside. William stepped forward, maintaining his respectful tone. โMiss Yates, please donโt make this difficult for me. Itโs time for you to go home.โ Zac looked at Emily with sympathy. โMiss Yates, itโs late. Maybe itโs best to talk things over with Justin another time.โ But how could they ever discuss this again? Her fiancรฉ had just left her humiliated, choosing to stay with another woman without a care for her dignity. The hospital hallway lights felt harsh, blinding her with their brightness. Realizing that staying there made her look like a fool, Emily decided she wouldnโt let herself be a spectacle for others to watch. Clenching her purse tightly, Emily turned to leave. As she took a step, her vision blurred, and she nearly collapsed. Both Zac and William rushed to steady her, their grip gentlemanly but firm. โIโll walk you to the car,โ Zac offered. Leaning against the wall, Emily took a moment to steady herself, then shook her head. โIโm fine. I can get back on my own.โ Her footsteps wobbled as she walked down the hallway, but she managed to keep her head high until she was out of their sight. After returning to the hospital room, Justin glanced down at Emma, who lay pale and frail on the bed. A strange weight settled in his chest, and the pervasive smell of antiseptic only added to his irritation. He tugged at his shirt collar, unbuttoning the top two buttons, but the air still felt suffocating. He stepped back out into the hallway, finding Zac and William waiting there. Emily was gone. โShe left?โ he asked, visibly more at ease now that she was no longer around. He didnโt want her disturbing Emmaโs rest. โYes, sheโs gone,โ Zac replied, hands in the pockets of his lab coat, nodding. With both of them standing there, Justin didnโt bother asking how Emily had left. โIโm stepping out for a break,โ he said. Chapter 3 โSo, Emma Xanderโs back. What are you going to do?โ Zac asked, breaking the silence. He didnโt mention Emily, but they both knew what he meant. One woman was the college sweetheart, the first love who had once saved Justinโs life. The other was the girlfriend who had been with him for three years, sharing his most intimate moments, and now, his fiancรฉe. After a long pause, Justin replied, his voice cold and detached. โShe was just a stand-in. She could never compare to Emma.โ He went on, his tone utterly indifferent, as if he hadnโt been the one to propose to Emily in Merika State. โThe role of Mrs. Yates will never be hers. It can only belong to Emma.โ In a way, Emily had saved him the trouble of saying it himself when she had brought up their marriage in the hallway. Zac and Justin had been close friends since childhood, both growing up in privileged families, each carrying a bit of that self-centered mindset typical of their social circle. But this time, Zac couldnโt help feeling sorry for Emily. Emily, though an orphan with no family or wealth, was straightforward and honest. Over the past three years, she had complemented Justin perfectly, and in Zacโs eyes, they had seemed genuinely happy together. On the other hand, considering how long Emma had been abroad, it wasnโt hard to guess what she might have gone through. Zac didnโt care about things like V-card or a womanโs past, but he had always found Emma to be somewhat pretentious. Even back in college, she often disregarded Justinโs concerns, running off on her own without a second thought. After graduation, she mysteriously vanished during an overseas reunion party organized by a close group of alumni. Despite mobilizing every possible connection, they never found her. Even the police suggested they give up, implying that a young woman disappearing overseas was likely gone for good. At that time, Justin hadnโt fully taken over the company and wasnโt yet experienced in handling crises like these. Around the same time, his father, Henry Yates, was in a car accident and died despite emergency treatment. After the funeral, Justin was suddenly thrust into the dual responsibilities of inheriting the company and fending off his uncle, Harry Yates, who was trying to seize control. Thanks to his grandfatherโs intervention, Justin managed to stabilize the corporation. By then, the critical window to find Emma had long passed, and any chance of finding her had all but disappeared. Zac clearly remembered how Justin had been consumed with frustration and self-blame during those days. And then Emily had come into his life, bringing him some peace. For that, Zac was truly grateful to her. โEmilyโs been with you for three years,โ Zac said, trying to speak up for her. โSheโs an orphan, with no one else in the world. Isnโt it a bit cruel to treat her like this?โ โThen Iโll keep her around,โ Justin replied casually, brushing it off like it was no big deal. โBut marriage? Thatโs not going to happen.โ His tone was so offhanded, as if having another woman around didnโt matter at all. He didnโt see a problem with it. Keep her around? Really? Was he expecting her to stay hidden away as his stand-in lover, someone he kept out of sight? A mistress? A side piece? Emily didnโt leave the hospital right away. She sat on a bench behind the flower bed, letting the cold night air wash over her. She hadnโt expected to find out the truth like this. It turned out she was only here because she happened to look almost exactly like his lost one true love. And since she had lost her memory, he saw the perfect opportunity to mold her into the image of the woman he truly missed, hiding the truth from her and using her as a substitute. All the affection and indulgence he had shown her, it was never really for her. It was for the woman he had lost. Emma Xander. So that was her name, the one he had loved all his life. That was why he named her Emily, a name that allowed him to keep calling out for the one he had always loved. Even in their most intimate moments, he would call her โEm.โ Whenever he whispered โEmโ in that deep, seductive voice, full of passion, she would lose herself completely, sinking further into him. It turned out he was simply looking at her face and calling out another womanโs name all along. It dawned on her that the photo in Justinโs wallet must have been of Emma, not her. She had foolishly assumed the woman in that picture was herself. What a joke. From start to finish, Justin had shaped her into the image of his hidden love, his one true love. And she had naively believed that she had won him over, making him fall in love with her. In truth, she was nothing more than a piece in their story. Emily felt her heart plunge from a mountaintop to the depths of despair. She had gone from being a proud fiancรฉe to a hidden stand-in, a shadow. She had liked, maybe even loved Justin. But her pride couldnโt accept that she had been someone elseโs replacement all along, or that she was now the secret other woman. Resolved to leave, she felt a small sense of relief that Justin had only proposed. They werenโt married yet, and breaking up would be far easier than going through a divorce. For a moment, she felt grateful for Emmaโs sudden appearance. โMiss Yates, where are you?โ the driver called, stepping out of the car after waiting a while. โIโm here.โ Emily pulled herself from her thoughts, putting on her usual calm expression. โIs it just you? Whereโs Mr. Yates?โ he asked. โHeโs not coming back.โ Emily rose from the bench by the flower bed and walked back to the car with the driver. She wore a cream-colored, knee-length dress in a sweet, innocent style. As an artist, she was open to trying any look, but it was Justin who had said he liked this style. So, for the past three years, she had dressed this way for him. The spring breeze brushed her bare calves, sending a chill through her. Zac looked a bit uncomfortable, โEmily didnโt leave?โ So, she had heard everything they had said. Justinโs tone was just as indifferent, cold, and unfeeling. โGood. Let her hear it. She needs to know her place and avoid causing any more scenes like tonight.โ With that, he turned and walked away from the garden, completely unfazed by the fact that Emily had overheard him. Emily sat quietly during the ride back to Villa One. Mrs. Zimmer greeted her at the door, her face lighting up warmly after a few days apart. โYouโre back! It mustโve been tiring, traveling with Mr. Yates.โ Emily nodded wearily, barely acknowledging her. โYes.โ โWhereโs Mr. Yates?โ Mrs. Zimmer glanced behind her, looking for Justin. โHe wonโt be back tonight.โ Emilyโs voice was detached, as if his return made no difference to her. Mrs. Zimmer looked slightly disappointed at first, but then her face lit up with a knowing smile, the kind that came from having seen a lot in life. She took Emilyโs suitcase and gently urged her to go get some rest in the bedroom. Once inside, Emily understood Mrs. Zimmerโs smile. The room was dimly lit, with candles arranged at various heights, casting a soft, romantic glow. Flowers and scented candles adorned the surfaces, and a bottle of champagne sat open on the table. Even the usual heavy gray curtains had been replaced with delicate lace, adding an air of intimacy. The bed was covered in thick rose petals, the entire room transformed into a romantic setting. Clearly, this had been Justinโs arrangement before their trip. Exhausted, Emily didnโt have the energy to clean up, and it was too late to bother Mrs. Zimmer. Chapter 4 Emily found the remote to turn on the lights, then looked for something handy to snuff out each candle one by one. Afterward, she retrieved her nightgown from the closet and headed for a shower. As she walked into the bathroom, she noticed the ring still on her left hand. She slipped it off and tossed it into the corner of her jewelry box. When she returned to the bedroom, she brushed all the rose petals off the bed and settled under the covers, pulling them over her head. She instinctively lay on the left side of the bed, where she was used to sleeping. Justin would always hold her close, gradually shifting over to the left with her until they were practically glued together. Now, the right side of the bed was glaringly empty. To fill the space, she scooted to the center, tossing the extra pillow onto the floor, finally feeling comfortable. She turned off the lights and went to sleep. Two days passed without any word from Justin. He was likely at the hospital with Emma or busy with work. Emily didnโt care and hadnโt reached out, maintaining a complete radio silence. The morning sun was bright, and the spring breeze was warm as she lounged on a deck chair in the villaโs garden, enjoying a face mask. Her mind wandered to practical matters. She had spent some time reviewing the contract she signed three years ago to be Justinโs โcontract lover.โ It was set to expire automatically after three years, which was now less than four months away. When it ended, she would receive a payout of twenty million. Between that, and the allowance and holiday bonuses he had given her over the years, she had saved nearly six million. She had barely spent any of it, so it was all tucked away. It seemed she would be in decent shape financially, and finding a job after leaving wouldnโt be too hard. As for a place to live, she could buy a similarly sized home, and maybe invite Helen to move in as a roommate. It would be nice to have company. She did regret not being able to take Mrs. Zimmer with her. If she could, it would be perfect. The phone on the coffee table buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. Emily picked it up, unlocked it with her fingerprint, and a new message notification popped up at the top of the screen. She tapped to open it. It was from her friend, Helen Walker. They had met a year ago while shopping, when Helen insisted on becoming friends after seeing her just once. With no memory of any past friendships, Emily had found Helen easy to talk to, and they had gradually become close. โHow was your time in Merika State? When are you coming back?โ Helen had attached a mischievous emoji with a smirk. โIโm already back.โ โAlready? That was quick.โ โI thought Justin looked strong. Guess he didnโt last long? Not up to it?โ โNot just โnot up to itโ. He canโt even get started.โ Emily replied, seizing the chance to curse him. On the other end, Helen raised an eyebrow. It looked like Justin had managed to tick off her friend. But she wasnโt too concerned as they had argued before. Couples fought, and it usually blew over. โPerfect timing then. Iโm heading to the TC Mall in a bit to stock up on some new clothes. Letโs hit the mall together and grab some food afterward. Get ready and meet me there.โ โSounds good. Iโll see you at the mall.โ Emily agreed readily. She had spent the past couple of days clearing out the sweet, youthful clothes she didnโt like. Her wardrobe could use a refresh. She put down the phone and washed off her face mask. Glancing at the nearly empty wardrobe, she picked out a casual athletic outfit and did a quick, simple makeup look. Fresh and tidy, she got ready to head out. โMrs. Zimmer, Iโm meeting a friend to go shopping. Iโll have lunch out,โ Emily said, slinging her bag over her shoulder. โAlright, Miss Yates. Will you be back for dinner?โ Mrs. Zimmer, who was supervising the housekeeperโs cleaning, looked up to ask. Emily paused while slipping on her shoes, thinking about how unpredictable Helen could be and that they hadnโt seen each other in a while. She might not be back for dinner. โNot sure yet. Iโll text you later if Iโll be back in time.โ โUnderstood.โ As Emily opened the door, she found Justinโs assistant, Sam Spencer, just about to knock. โHi, Sam,โ she greeted him coolly, planning to step around him to leave. โHi, Miss Yates. Mr. Yates has a flight out of town this afternoon for a business trip. Could I trouble you to help pack his things before you go?โ Samโs tone was respectful, as usual. Emily didnโt move. โMrs. Zimmer, Justinโs going on a trip. Could you please help with his packing?โ โMiss Yates, thisโฆ?โ Samโs face showed confusion. โWhat? Before I came along, didnโt Justin have someone to handle his luggage?โ Her expression was calm, her tone light. โOf course. Youโre absolutely right, Miss Yates,โ Sam replied, beads of sweat forming as he carefully balanced his response, not daring to offend either side. In the past, Emily had always packed for Justinโs business trips. She had done it so many times that she knew exactly what he would need for any occasion. But now, she had no desire to continue. He had used her as a stand-in, and every time he watched her pack his bags, he must have thought she looked foolish. Three years. Now that she thought back, there had been plenty of strange looks and behaviors from Justin that she hadnโt picked up on. She had been utterly blind. But she wouldnโt be foolish anymore. Emily was ready to leave, but Sam was blocking the door, preventing her from going. She urged Mrs. Zimmer to hurry with the packing. Mrs. Zimmer quickly filled the suitcase and handed it to Sam, who was waiting in the living room. He glanced at his watch. Ten minutes had barely passed. That was fast. "Mrs. Zimmer, are you sure itโs all packed? Should we check to make sure nothingโs missing?" he asked cautiously. Emily replied without emotion, โIsnโt the flight at noon? If you keep dragging your feet, heโll miss it. Besides, anything he needs can be bought over there.โ She checked her watch, starting to feel a bit pressed for time. If she delayed much longer, Helen would end up waiting impatiently, and they would miss out on shopping before lunch. And who wanted to try on clothes with a full stomach? โOf course, Miss Yates. Iโll head over to the office to pick up Mr. Yates,โ Sam said with a polite smile, making his way out. Emily nodded and headed down to the garage. She chose a white luxury car and drove off. Meanwhile, Sam took the suitcase to the sleek black car parked discreetly by the curb. He placed it in the trunk, then settled into the front passenger seat. The driver, Justinโs bodyguard, William, started the car. But instead of heading to the airport, they were bound for Lichfield Hospital. โHow much longer until Emilyโs contract is up?โ Justinโs voice was calm and emotionless, as if he were discussing a routine business matter. Sam immediately understood that the question was directed at him. He quickly recalled the contract details. โLess than four months, Mr. Yates.โ โDraft a new agreement and deliver it to her when the time comes,โ Justin instructed. Keeping her around for three years had cost him little, and continuing to support her wasnโt an issue. But he was done with her. He wouldnโt touch her again or return to Villa One. Recalling the scene from the hospital hallway two nights ago, he added without hesitation, โInclude a clause that ensures she never shows up in front of Emma again.โ Sam was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained his professional composure. โUnderstood, Mr. Yates.โ Chapter 5 People said billionaires were cold and indifferent in their personal lives, switching women as easily as they changed clothes. For the past three years, Mr. Yates had only been with Miss Yates, making him seem like a devoted man. But it looked like he could move on in an instant. Who knew how long Miss Xander would last by his side? Sam had joined the company three years ago, right when Justin took over RC Corporation, so he wasnโt familiar with the complicated history between Emma and Justin. Inside TC Mall, Emily was browsing through clothes, each piece a far cry from her usual sweet and innocent style. โBabe, switching things up?โ Helen asked, watching as Emily picked up a long black dress with a slitted hem. It would look stunning on Emilyโs curves. Emily held the dress up to herself in the mirror, unfazed. โYep, time for a change. Do you think this would look better with a shawl or a jacket?โ She turned to give Helen a look. โA shawl, definitely. Itโll highlight your figure beautifully,โ Helen replied with her usual style advice. โThatโs what I thought too.โ Helen eyed the dress. โThat dress is so feminine. Will your guy even let you wear it out? Doesnโt Justin only let you wear those sweet, innocent schoolgirl outfits?โ Helen couldnโt help but mentally criticize Justinโs taste. What kind of fashion sense did he have anyway? A multinational CEO, a man with a grip on the Haven State economy, yet he liked her to dress like a schoolgirl. โHis taste doesnโt matter anymore. Itโs not something Iโm concerned about,โ Emily replied casually, completely indifferent. She handed the dress to a fitting assistant with a similar build, having her try it on for her. High-end stores like this one often had staff who modeled the clothes for clients, so she didnโt have to try them on herself. Emily picked out a few more items in different styles for the assistant to model. If she liked them, she would buy them. When she was satisfied with her choices, she scanned her card and paid, then filled out the delivery details for Villa One. The clothes would be sent straight there. After they had finished shopping, they went for lunch. With no one else around, Emily finally shared her situation with Helen that she had been Justinโs stand-in for his one true love. Now that his true love had returned, she was planning to leave him. โThat despicable man!โ Helen burst out, her emotions flaring. โKeep it down.โ Emily quickly covered Helenโs mouth and glanced around to see if anyone at nearby tables was paying attention to them. Helen lowered her voice but was still fuming. โJustin might look put-together, but heโs not even half a man. His first love disappears, so he goes and finds a stand-in? โWhy didnโt he just get plastic surgery to look like her? Then he could see her every time he looked in the mirror. โGood for you for walking away. You should break up with him. No! Just breaking up is too good for that pompous human garbage! You need to dump him into the sewers!โ LMAO, where did Helen even learn these insults from? Just then, the server brought out a tray with seasoned meats, fresh vegetables, and a variety of salsas. Emily began assembling her own tacos, adding the toppings she liked best. โThe contractโs up in four months. Iโm planning to buy a place.โ โWhat for? Just stay with me. Iโve got a room for you.โ โMy address is still tied to Justinโs place. Since Iโve decided to leave, I need a clean break. Iโll need my own place to change everything over,โ Emily explained, outlining her plan. Her heart felt numb now, no longer as raw as it had been the night sheโd learned the truth in the hospital garden. โThen you can cancel your lease and move in with me! Weโll be family!" Emily suggested excitedly. Helen suppressed the impulse to tell Emily that they were already family. Given Emily's amnesia, she didnโt want to overwhelm her with too much information all at once. Instead, she nodded. โAlright, Iโll move in with you. Iโll start looking around for a place for you. Actually the place I rent now is quite nice. The location and neighborhood are perfect. Iโll check if the landlordโs interested in selling, though itโs a resale property.โ โI donโt care if itโs new or used. As long as itโs clean and ready to go, Iโm good.โ Emily didnโt need much. After leaving the cushy life she had been used to, she was perfectly fine doing things on her own. She found the independence kind of refreshing. After lunch, they picked up some accessories to go with the new outfits, light enough to carry back on her own. Emily said goodbye to Helen and drove back to Villa One. By the time she got back, the clothes she had bought that morning had already been delivered, ironed, and neatly hung in the walk-in closet by the house staff. She hadnโt bought much, just enough to last the next few months and to keep the move as hassle-free as possible. The womenโs side of the closet was nearly empty, with only a few of her favorite pieces hanging. She grabbed a new loungewear set to change into and happened to glance over at the menโs side, packed with Justinโs clothes. Emily didnโt linger. She strode past it without a second thought. As she was heading to the bathroom, her phone rang from the sofa. She put down the clothes and picked up the call. โHello, is this Miss Yates?โ โYes, this is.โ โIโm a nurse from Lichfield Hospital. Your health screening results are in. When would be a convenient time for you to come pick them up?โ Emily remembered that Justin had taken her for a checkup just before their trip to Merika State. She had forgotten all about it until this call. โIโll come by tomorrow morning.โ โVery well. Have a nice day.โ The next day, Emily went to Lichfield Hospital. โPlan to have a baby?โ โThatโs right. Mr. Yates specifically requested it during his screening. Your health is excellent, Miss Yates. Your ovulation cycle is regular, so we recommend folic acid, Vitamin B1, and plenty of protein. With the right timing and frequency, you should be expecting good news soon.โ The doctor adjusted his glasses and smiled warmly. Emilyโs fingers tightened around the report, a heavy feeling settling in her chest. She had been trying hard not to think about Justin lately, but this report hit her unexpectedly hard. โMiss Yates, Iโll prescribe you two boxes of folic acid and Vitamin B1. Be sure to take them regularly.โ Emily interrupted him, finding an excuse to refuse. โThanks, doctor, but that wonโt be necessary. Iโll get them on my own.โ The doctor wasnโt surprised. Wealthy women like her often had access to premium brands from various sources, so declining hospital-prescribed supplements wasnโt unusual. Emily left the hospital in a daze, only coming to her senses when she reached a sunny spot outside. She tossed the health report into the trash bin. With Emma back, Justin clearly had no intention of having children with her. And she certainly didnโt want to give him one, either. It was easier to pretend she didnโt know what the checkup had really been for. Meanwhile, in the hospitalโs garden, the spring sunlight was warm and gentle. Justin was pushing Emmaโs wheelchair, letting her enjoy the sunshine. โJustin, youโre busy with work. You donโt have to be here with me all the time. I can manage on my own,โ Emma said, her voice soft and considerate. โFocus on getting better. Donโt worry about anything else.โ Justin felt a deep guilt about Emmaโs disappearance, blaming himself for not protecting her better. He believed his negligence had allowed her to be taken and vanish without a trace. Over the past few days, he had tried to gather clues from her about what happened, but whenever he brought it up, she would break down, unable to share any details. Emily hadnโt expected to see Justin at the hospital. Hadnโt Sam said Justin was out of town on a business trip? | LEARN_MORE | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=15056&ut | Random Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61559743679549/ | 320 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | beokn.com | DCO | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=15056&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&placement={{placement}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/464723278_576913171576763_7148095104279416368_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jR2URntd_9gQ7kNvgGkVO8L&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AraYCWYwKh04mAL8uXF5m1b&oh=00_AYBlDscvmYo1Xn6hpasMEILYV2iZ28NqVQPSgZwxyaY51w&oe=674F0088 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-11-28 18:51 | active | 1934 | 0 | Download Now๐๐๐ | The Vampire And His Blood Wife ONLY on Drama Time.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | WATCH_MORE | Romantic Love | https://www.facebook.com/61557838064349/ | 345 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Watch More | 0 | DCO | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/459420534_1028491418966118_6401726771713912672_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=q2q8qzdNN8wQ7kNvgG3mVdD&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AVeFVEM2a-8K-58uFJbWHqD&oh=00_AYDcM6m0TLHCOSkc7eY9c8pkWfrQFH_kxAj8xyWVrugs1Q&oe=674ED597 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Romantic Love | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-11-28 18:51 | active | 1934 | 0 |
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Best Friend Divorced Me When I Carried His Baby | For her, marrying her best friend and carrying his child was a dream come true. However, just at this joyful moment, the man's beloved returned... ===== "It's a good thing you're cautious. You could've lost your baby, Miss Monroe," the GYN told me seriously as she could see the shock in my eyes. Had I heard it right? I was pregnant? I was pregnant with a baby for Pierce--my best friend and my first crush! On the way out of the hospital, I couldn't wait to tell Pierce about our baby. I wondered what his reaction would be. Would he scream in happiness? God! I couldn't contain my happiness. I cupped my flushed face as I fantasized, but the moment I felt the cold of the simple ring on my finger, my wildly beating heart calmed down. I almost forgot that Pierce wasn't the type to be keen on having children, especially since our marriage was arranged by his family. Pierce was a complete gentleman, both as a friend and a husband. Every time we did intimate thing, he was considerate yet cautious, saying there was no need to add extra shackles when we weren't ready. This baby, in a way, was out of the plan. "Ma'am, is everything okay? Do you need to call the boss?" my private driver, Luke, asked worriedly as he noticed my frown. Luke was reliable, like family, but if I chose to share, I still wanted Pierce to be the first to know this news. He was my baby's father. "No," I shook my head, giving Luke a reassuring smile. "He's on a flight. I'll talk to him later myself." I wanted to sense his answer directly from his raw expressions. I was always good at that. I closed my eyes, recalling the first day we met. His bright smile in the sunlight was so dazzling; he was a Prince. Long before we became best friends, I fell in love with him at first sight. But it was only unrequited love; I knew that well. I slid down the car window to get some fresh air but accidentally caught a glimpse of our old high school. That bitter feeling filled my chest once again. Pierce was my first love, but I wasn't his. In high school, I was just a boring nerd in others' eyes while Pierce Anderson was the shining quarterback. Everyone was surprised that we could be friends. Though envy arose, I enjoyed being around him. I slowly realized that I didn't just want to be his friend. However, right when I was about to confess my feelings to him, another girl came into his life. I shook my head, trying to rid myself of those sad memories. I gripped the cold wedding ring on my finger, telling myself the past was the past. Pierce said they were over, and I was his wife now. I was his wife who was carrying his baby. I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes and opened the door to our house. My heart calmed as I breathed in the scent of home. Our home. Pierce and I decorated it together with our own hands. We enjoyed it. Yes, I must have been overthinking. That woman had been out of our lives for a long time, and my marriage with Pierce had been as beautiful as a fairy tale for the past three years. I glanced at the clock on the wall. At this point, Pierce should have gotten off the plane. He had been traveling for over a month for the sake of our family's business. Pierce was the President of ADE, the leading fashion magazine company in Asia, and I was actually the Vice President. We were not only life partners but also good partners at work. I really missed him. I dialed his number immediately. I wanted to hear his voice now, to know when he would arrive home. I would prepare a good meal for him, and he would reward me with a sweet k*ss. Then we might do intimate thing... Oops, I almost forgot I was pregnant now. I needed to tell him this first before we could do anything else. I was happily envisioning our lovely reunion when my heart dropped as a woman's voice came over the line. [Hello?] I snapped the phone as just one word came out. My phone fell to the floor, and my body started shaking uncontrollably. NO! It couldn't be her! It couldn't be Lexi! She was already out of our lives! I must have misheard. I rushed to the fridge, attempting to calm myself with some al**hol. But the moment I was reminded of the doctor's words and my baby. I needed to be cautious for my baby's sake. I turned to grab a box of milk and walked toward the sofa. I didn't know what made me recognize that as Lexi's voice at that moment. I meant Lexi and I were never close. Lexi Gilbert was a typical blonde beauty that men would go crazy for. She was the popular cheerleader in high school while Pierce was the star quarterback. A better match than he and a nerd like me, right? It wasn't surprising that he had fallen for her. My pride couldn't stand watching the man I loved go crazy for another woman. So I had once tried to stay away from them silently, but Pierce refused to quit my life. Every time I drowned myself in a sea of books and studies to forget them, Pierce would appear at my doorstep asking me out. I couldn't say no to his charming smile; I couldn't refuse when he claimed it was his duty as my best friend to take me out to enjoy the real world. To avoid ruining our friendship, I could only hide my broken heart, silently playing the role of his best friend while watching his happy face as he pursued another girl. I finally mustered the courage to study abroad when I learned that Pierce was planning to propose to Lexi. However, I never expected Grams would call to beg me to return. I hurried back only to see a lifeless Pierce. His heart was shattered, thanks to Lexi. My beloved sunshine boy was nowhere to be seen, and my heart b*ed for him. I started to hate Lexi from that moment. I gave up my cherished man for her, and how dared she harm him so badly! Pierce didn't tell anyone what happened except that he was done with Lexi. Grams arranged our marriage. I didn't understand why he agreed until the day I heard him say that marrying anyone but Lexi would be the same for him. It hurt like hell, but I still walked into this marriage without a second thought. My cherished boy was broken, and I wanted to fix him, not caring if I ruined myself in the process. I fell asleep at home, feeling insecure and worried. I woke up in the middle of the night when I felt someone caressing my cheek. Slowly, I opened my eyes and realized I had fallen asleep in the living room. Someone lifted me from the couch. I immediately recognized his scent and touch as I looked at him with heavy-lidded eyes. "Pierce..." "Hmm," he hummed as he walked toward the stairs. "Why did you sleep on the couch?" I stared at his face as he gently placed me down on the bed. He caressed my hair and k*ssed my forehead. He was always so gentle, and that was why I loved him so much. "Where have you been? I've been waiting for you," I said as I caressed his cheek. "Just met a friend. You said you were waiting for me; is it something urgent?" Looking at his gentle face, I suddenly didn't want to ruin the moment, so I closed my parted lips and swallowed the truth back down. Tomorrow, maybe tomorrow, I would have the courage to face all the puzzles. I shook my head and pouted, signaling that I was sleepy. He chuckled and carefully carried me to the bed. Just as he was about to leave me after giving me a goodnight k*ss, I panicked for some reason. I quickly grabbed him... I missed him. I wanted him. "Wait, Kels," he said, stopping me by pinning my hands to the bed. "I thought you said you were sleepy and needed to rest." "But I think I miss you more now." I looked at him with innocence and caught the d**ire flashing in his eyes, but I didn't know why it faded so quickly. He used to be happy when I took the initiative. As if noticing my confusion, he chuckled and playfully pinched my nose. "I'll just take a shower." I nodded and watched him as he walked toward the bathroom. But drowsiness struck again, so I closed my eyes to take a nap. However, it was already morning when I opened my eyes again, and Pierce was beside me, putting a tray of food on the bedside table. "Hey!" I greeted, smiling when I realized what he'd done. He had prepared breakfast for me. In bed. The sweetest. He smiled and sat on the edge of the bed. "Good morning." I grinned as I sat up. He carried the tray and put it beside me. I shot an eyebrow up, tilting my head as I stared at his handsome face. His deep brown eyes and thick, black eyebrows complemented his striking features. "What is this? Is this a bribe? You stood me up last night, bad boy." He didn't laugh. Instead, he heaved a sigh, gently tucking my hair behind my ear before taking my hand and staring into my eyes. "I have something to tell you." My heart raced. I thought about our baby. He had something to say, and I did too. "W-What is it?" I asked, feeling my voice tremble. He took a deep breath. "You know you're important to me, right?" I slowly nodded, my lips parted. I couldn't speak; I was scared of what he was about to say. I had a bad feeling about this. "You were my best friend before we got married. You're one of the few people I treasure..." I hid my clenched fists under the sheets. I didn't understand why he was telling me this, but I felt tears pooling in the corner of my eyes already. "Kelly..." He paused, squeezing his eyes shut before looking into mine again. "I-I think it's time for us to divorce." "P-Pierce..." My heart clenched. He smiled sadly. "I know you don't have feelings for me either. You only married me because of my grandparents. You just did this because you love them. Now it's time for our real happiness, Kelly." I shook my head. "W-What are you talking about, Pierce?" "Lexi is back, Kelly. My first love is back." Chapter 2 Kelly's POV--It Never Rains but It Pours I got off the bed and tried to leave, but Pierce grabbed my hand. I quickly wiped the tears rolling down my cheeks before he could see them. He stood in front of me, searching my face as I struggled to look down and avoid his gaze. My heart felt like it was breaking into pieces. I thought... I thought I could make him fall in love with me during those three years together. I believed his feelings would deepen, that he would see me as a woman rather than just a best friend. I was foolish to hope and dream so high. I had failed. No matter how hard I tried, his heart belonged only to his first love, Lexi. "Kelly..." I sucked in a breath and swallowed the pain as I looked at him. I forced a smile. "I need to wash up before eating." He stared into my eyes, trying to figure out what I was thinking. I knew he understood me too well, so I made a concerted effort to hide my pain and smiled back at him. He sighed and let go of my hand. "Okay. I'll wait for you here. Let's eat and go to work together." Together? How cruel could he be? He still wanted us to get along as if he hadn't just asked for a divorce? He wanted us to stay the same right after telling me that his first love was back and he wanted to divorce me? Oh, Pierce, what's going on in your head? If I used to be able to force myself to remain in the role of his best friend, wishing him happiness, I no longer had that courage after the three years we'd shared. There was no way I could endure that kind of torture again, especially now that I was carrying his baby. The baby... I had thought it was good news for us, but now... it felt more like a burden to him, I guess. A burden that would prevent him from pursuing his true love and freedom. I knew how an unwanted child could grow up. My parents divorced even before my mother died, and my father's new family hated me. It hurt like hell. I didn't want my baby to experience that same pain. I needed to keep my child away from it. I forced another smile. "We can't. I need to visit the studio for the photoshoot of our new models..." "I'll go with you--" "No." I pushed his hand away. His eyes followed my hand before he looked up at me again. "You have some documents to sign. Our schedules are already organized, remember?" "But..." "I have a personal driver, Pierce. I'll be fine going alone." He sighed and slowly nodded. I turned my back on him and entered the bathroom. I immediately opened the shower and stood under the cold water. Tears cascaded down my cheeks as I covered my mouth to suppress my sobs. My shoulders trembled violently, and when I thought about my baby, I swallowed hard, trying to calm myself down. I wiped my face and caressed my belly. I needed to be strong. I had to stay calm. I shouldn't put my baby's life at risk just because I got my heart broken. I had to handle this wisely. I took a deep breath and finished my shower. When I got out of the bathroom, I was shocked to see Pierce still there. He was struggling to fix his tie in front of the full-length mirror. I also noticed my pair of heels and dress on the bed. "Hey! I picked your dress for today." Since our marriage wasn't public, Pierce had said he would try to do little things for me as a husband. He did it well, and I used to enjoy these sweet moments, but now, they felt like d**gers to my heart. I grabbed the dress and went into the walk-in closet. I felt him following me. I put the white dress back and picked a red one. When I turned to face him, his forehead was creased. "I prefer red today. I'd feel beautiful in this dress." His eyes landed on the dress I was holding, and his face immediately relaxed. He nodded and walked toward me. "I see. Help me fix this first." I placed my dress on his arm and started adjusting his tie. I could feel his eyes staring intently and it was making my heart beat so fast. I took a deep breath and chewed my bottom lip as I struggled to fix the tie. My vision started to blur again. D**n! "Kelly..." I jumped in shock. "Hmm?" "Are you okay?" I looked at him and smiled. "Yeah." "I have something else to say." I finished fixing his tie, then immediately grabbed the dress from him. I glanced at him before walking past him and said, "Let's just talk some other time. I'm going to be late." I heard him sigh as he followed me again. He's silent the whole time as if he's thinking about something. "You should eat before you leave." I turned to him and nodded. "I will. You should go now." "Kelly, we're on the same page, right?" I stared at him. No, Pierce. We're never on the same page. All of this was just my stupid fantasy. I thought you had feelings for me, and I was so wrong. "If it's about the divorce, I understand everything, Pierce. I know what I have to do. Just give me some time because I'm really busy with the company. I won't run away." "Kelly, I'm not just doing this for myself. I'm doing this for you too. You've been caged with me ever since we got married. I know you're not happy because deep down, you want to find the man you deserve. Someone who will truly love you. Not me. Not someone who's half-hearted." "I understand what you're trying to say, Pierce," I said, trying to turn away, but he held me by the waist, keeping me in place. He did everything he could to capture my gaze, and he succeeded. He looked at me worriedly. "You are my best friend. I don't want to lose you, Kels. You're one of the few people I..." "I know," I said out of frustration. He looked shocked, so I took a breath to calm myself. "I-I know. You don't have to worry. I'm just stressed about work. It's not about our divorce." His lips parted, and he slowly nodded, as if he could finally breathe properly. He walked toward me, and I froze when he gently k*ssed my forehead... "Thank you, Kelly," he whispered. My heart clenched. It had been three years, but I was still such a coward. Why couldn't I just tell him that I loved him? He's my husband, and I'm carrying his baby! If I told him, he might change his mind! I swallowed hard, ready to speak, but his phone rang. I didn't miss the caller ID. Again, it was Lexi. "I gotta go." He scratched his head in apology, and I didn't miss the upturned corners of his mouth. "I called Luke, and he's waiting outside. Eat before you go, okay?" With that, he left our room. The tears I had managed to hold back burst forth again. Why did I think I could have a chance? He had made his choice the moment he asked for a divorce, hadn't he? Whenever it came to Lexi, I was always the one he would abandon. Chapter 3 Kelly's POV--Stiff Upper Lip I entered the studio wearing two-inch red heels and a red dress. Everyone turned to look as I walked down the hallway, greeting me with smiles, but my face remained stoic, not showing any emotions at all. The conversation with Pierce this morning lingered in my mind, but I couldn't let it affect my work. I couldn't fail my work after I had failed my marriage. I took a deep breath to steady myself. However, when I entered the photoshoot room, I could notice everyone was in chaos. "We can't! She's not answering her calls. What should we do? The Vice President is coming today. She'll be furious." "We can just tell her the truth. She's nice." "Not in this situation, Lily! She'll scold us--" "What's happening here?" I asked, stepping further into the room. The staff turned to me with worried expressions, and I knew then that something was wrong. "G-Good morning, Miss Monroe." Miss Monroe. Of course, no one knew that Pierce and I were married except for our families. I felt a pinch in my heart because of that truth. It hurt. I stared at her blankly, "What? "W-We have a problem, Miss Monroe. Miss Chen, our model, has been refusing our calls. She said she heard that we're changing the model, so...she doesn't want to come here. She's even threatening to file a case against us." She bowed her head, and I gritted my teeth, scanning the room. "Where's the marketing manager?" "S-She's still trying to convince Miss Chen, Miss Monroe." I massaged my forehead, squeezing my eyes closed. I grabbed my hair and screamed in so much anger, causing everyone around me to jump in shock. I g**aned, sucking in a breath before looking around. "Miss Monroe..." "What is this, Miss Hayley? You're the marketing manager. What's happening?" "Miss Monroe, I don't know how it happened, but Miss Chen heard that you're changing our model. She's about to file a case against us--" Changing the model? How had I not known about this? Miss Chen had always been a trusted partner, and if not necessary, changing models for a commercial shoot on short notice would only create chaos for the company. I would never allow such a costly mistake. "I never asked for that. You must be mistaken." I cut her off to save the time, "Fix this mess, or I'll have to fire you!" "Miss Monroe... It's Mr. President who ordered the change." Hayley spoke hesitantly. "He instructed us as soon as he returned from his business trip yesterday." The truth hit me hard. Pierce's order? Why hadn't he told me? He used to discuss every major decision with me first. "It shouldn't be..." Confusion clouded my mind. Pierce was not a clueless businessman; he maintained a clear distinction between work and personal matters, which was why he always succeeded. And that was also why he chose to keep our marriage a secret. "Yes, Kelly. I gave the order." The voice pulled me back. "M-Mr. President..." Hayley bowed in respect as the man suddenly appeared behind me. "I think you owe me an explanation, Pierce. About changing the model!" I snapped as I turned to face him. He knew how much effort I had put into securing this project. I hadn't slept well for days, and Miss Chen was the perfect fit for us. He had agreed too. But now... he just changed the model as he liked without informing me in advance. It felt like a hard s**p in the face. "Go ahead with the work. I'll explain it to her." He pacified the staff first, ignoring the anger simmering in my eyes. "Answer me, Pierce! Why did you change the model so suddenly?" I couldn't contain my fury. He touched my shoulder and whispered, "This isn't the place to talk. Let me explain in the car." I glanced around, noticing others sneaking glances at us. I shook off his hand and walked toward the parking lot, my heart growing heavier with each step. I had a sinking feeling I wouldn't like his explanation. "Now, say it," I blurted once we were seated in his car. He stared into my eyes as if weighing my emotions. I looked away again.; I couldn't bear his gaze. I couldn't withstand his eyes that never looked at me the way I wanted him to. He had no feelings for me and it hurt so much. "I-I..." he paused, sighing. "I replaced Miss Chen because Lexi wants to be our model. She's also a good fit, so I agreed--" "What?" I asked in disbelief. He pressed his lips together and looked away, ruffling his hair in frustration before shaking his head and holding my hand. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. It was just so sudden. She asked for a favor, and I couldn't say no." I pulled my hand away, looking at him with a mix of pain and anger. "You can't say no to her, so you'd rather harm the company--our company. You've betrayed me, Pierce." "Kels, come on. You know how much I love her. She's my first love." Painfully, I closed my eyes. Oh yes, she was your first love. She's always the one you want, no matter the cost. As long as she frowns a bit, you turn a blind eye to the pain and effort of others. You're so heartless, Pierce. "Well, you've made your decision. I don't have a say in this since you're the President. Just go. I'll be in the office." I said coldly, opening the car door to leave. "Kelly..." I looked him in the eyes. "Go home early. Let's talk about our divorce at home tonight." Chapter 4 Kelly's POV--Left High and Dry I was playing with the wedding ring on my finger. I told him to go home early, but he didn't come home at all. He wasn't even answering my calls. Well, now Lexi was back; this house was probably not home in his eyes anymore. My eyes turned to my pregnancy report on the table. What a mockery. I was still naive to hold a glimmer of hope that things would be different if I told him about the baby. But forget this baby thing was out of his plan. I wiped away the tears collecting at the corners of my eyes and picked up the report. It was 5 a.m. already when I looked at the clock on the wall. I tried to dial his number again, but it was still busy. What was he busy with? Was he busy staying with Lexi? He must have missed her a lot, didn't he? I didn't remember how I fell asleep. When the alarm clock went off, he didn't come home yet. I sneered at myself as I caught my reflection in the dresser mirror. The dark circles under my eyes were so clear, and my hair was a total mess, looking like a ghost. Suddenly, a wave of nausea flooded my stomach, and I realized I hadn't eaten anything last night. Feeling sick again, I ran to the sink and puked. I spat yellowish liquid, and while I was washing my mouth, I felt a warm hand caressing my back. I immediately lifted my face and met a pair of brown eyes looking at me through the mirror. Standing behind me with a worried expression was my husband, Pierce. I had always been thankful to have him as my best friend and husband, but now... I'm losing him. Hopelessly losing him. "Are you okay? Are you not feeling well? You should've told me." I stared at him through the mirror. "You didn't answer my calls." Guilt flickered in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I had some things to do. I stayed in the office all night." I wiped my face and walked past him. He followed me as I sat in front of the vanity and started combing my hair. "Kels..." "I woke up late. I failed to prepare breakfast." I tried to avoid his eyes. I felt like I would lose my temper and snap at him. There was no moment when I felt his selfishness so clearly as now. He called me his best friend, yet he had never seriously confronted my needs. My feelings. "Kels... you know I'm not asking about this. I'm just worried about your condition..." "Kels, are we still okay?" I stopped combing my hair and slowly met his eyes. Through the mirror, again. Really? He's asking me that? After he offered me a divorce without even asking if I was okay with it? He decided on his own, just because his first love is back. I couldn't believe him. I faked a smile. "I just don't feel well today, Pierce." He immediately squatted beside me, which was not surprising because I knew he truly cared. What surprised me was why he was still doing this after he buried a dagger in my heart. "Are you okay?" He gently touched my forehead and neck. "Are you sick? Tell me how you feel, Kels." "My feelings don't matter," I couldn't help but blurt out. He looked shocked by what I said. When I attempted to avoid him, he grabbed my wrist and made me face him. His face was mirroring his anger now. He was completely lost his patience. "What's wrong with you, Kels? You've been acting like this since yesterday. Is this about Lexi? Or was it because I didn't come home last night?" I looked him in the eyes, annoyed. "You're the one who asked for a divorce! I told you to come back earlier, but you just let me wait the whole night. How do you want me to greet you this morning, Pierce?" He clenched his jaws and shook his head. "Kels, I..." "Enough. We can talk about the divorce after work today." "Kels!" He called and grabbed my shoulders. Confusion and pain were visible in his eyes. "Are you... in love with me?" I was taken aback. In love? Yes! Ever since we were in high school. Ever since he became my best friend. Who wouldn't fall for someone who had been protecting you ever since? But of course, I couldn't tell him. It would only complicate things more. I didn't even want him to pity me. I shook my head and pushed his arms away. "Are you on d**gs? I'm not in love with you." I turned my back on him and entered the bathroom again. I locked it before going to the bathtub. I should focus on myself. I can't let my emotions affect me, but... why are my tears falling again? "You are so pathetic, Kelly! You can't even tell him how you truly feel," I whispered to myself as I wiped my tears angrily. It took me almost an hour to bathe. When I was done, I realized Pierce had already left. I shook my head in disbelief. He's been constantly abandoning me. I can't believe we've reached this point. I thought we were okay. I was so stupid. *** "Good morning, Miss Monroe..." "Good morning, Vice President..." I did not greet anyone back, just like how I used to greet them. I still felt pissed, and my mood seemed off. Irritation could easily take over me, and I couldn't control it. Probably because of Pierce's divorce proposal or because of my pregnancy. I was about to enter my office when I heard two girls talking. "Did you see her? I bet she's Mr. Anderson's girlfriend. They seemed close." My forehead creased. Pierce's girlfriend? "Ah! It's a waste that I didn't see her face, but I feel like it's Miss Lexi." "Lexi? Lexi Gilbert? The model?" "Yes! I bet my whole month's salary on this. They look good together." "Come on! Miss Monroe and Mr. Anderson look better together." "Are you serious? They're best friends. You know, some people are better off just friends. It's Mr. Anderson and Miss Monroe." I squeezed my eyes closed and pushed the door of my office. I slowly closed it and rested my back against it. This is harder than I expected. I took a deep breath and sat in my swivel chair. I opened the computer at the same time a notification popped up on the screen of my phone. My hands started shaking as soon as I saw the notification. It was Pierce's social media update. He uploaded a photo of him and Lexi together, eating in a fancy restaurant. I balled my fists and gritted my teeth. See, Kelly? That's what happens when you step into such a loveless marriage without a second thought. You would only break yourself if you continued on the wrong path. Just get a divorce. Spare him and yourself. Your baby needs a strong mommy... ...... ==== Marrying her best friend was a dream come true for Kelly, but everything truly has a limitation. Pierce is Kelly's first love, but as his best friend, she knew well there was always another woman deep in his heart, Lexi Gilbert. Kelly finally realized their happy marriage of the last three years was just a beautiful dream when Pierce asked for a divorce just because Lexi returned. She could only be his best friend even if she was carrying his baby. Since their friendship had become a cage, Kelly chose to set him free, as well as the miserable herself. But why then, it was Pierce who became the one who refused to move on? To make matters worse, her devil stepbrother also domineeringly stepped in at the same time, asking her to be his. What happens next? How could Kelly save her heart in this battle of love and hate? 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/61818322-fb_contact-e | Heat stories | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.moboreader.net | IMAGE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/61818322-fb_contact-encp25_2-1103-core3.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=331118&accid=1435595577085911&rawadid=120213581488580597 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/466034571_907950391342388_362086711241360079_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lbJnJjr3myMQ7kNvgGDGv-f&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AJa7L9AHEM6Mu4515PHJRfq&oh=00_AYDVPgXIZzAKUleRw3remPwRKJyoNc1YXTLLZw59JeOvLA&oe=674ED84A | REGULAR_PAGE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | At Grace Mansion, Carissa Sinclair stared at the man before herโher husband she had waited for a whole year. Barrett Warren, still in his battle armor, wore an expression of both determination and guilt. "Carissa, the king has issued a royal edict for my marriage to Aurora." he said, his voice steady, " She will be joining our household. There's no question about it." Carissa's eyes clouded with confusion. "The queen dowager has praised General Yates as a model for all women in the kingdom. Would she be willing to be a concubine?" Barrett's eyes flashed with a hint of annoyance. "No, she wonโt be a concubine. Sheโll be my legal wife, equal to you." "But calling her equal doesn't change the fact that sheโs still just a concubine," Carissa said, a soft smile playing on her lips. Barrett frowned. "Why can't you face the reality? Aurora and I fell in love with each other on the battlefield, and we earned this marriage with our glorified victory. In fact, I donโt really need your approval on it." Fell in love? Huh, looks like he is determined in breaking the vow he made a year ago... Carissa's soft smile wiped off by a mocking one, she had once believed Barrettโs victory would earn him a higher rank, freeing her from the burden of supporting the Warren household with her dowry. Yet instead, in exchange for his victory, he only asked the king for another woman's hand, and now he even dared to silence her with his so-called 'glorified victory'... Carissa felt a lump in her throat. Despite her disgust and reluctance, she asked, "What about your parents? Do they agree?" "They do. It was a royal edict, and Aurora is amicable. Mother liked her a lot upon seeing her, even her health seems to be improving." "Improving?" Carissa felt a whirlwind of emotions. "When you went to war, your mother was already gravely ill. I brought in the best physician, managed the estateโs affairs by day, and stayed up nights caring for her. That's how her condition started to improve." "But seeing Aurora has made my mother feel even better," Barrett said earnestly. "I know this is unfair to you, but for the greater good, please be generous enough to welcome Aurora." Carissa lowered her eyes, as if blinking away the tears. But inspected closely, that's actually her sharpened gaze. "Invite General Yates over. I have a few things to ask her." "There's no need," Barrett refused instantly. "Carissa, sheโs different from any woman you know. As a general, sheโs above household squabbles and wouldnโt want to meet you." Carissa retorted, "What are women I know like? Or tell me, what kind of woman am I to you? Have you forgotten? I'm also the daughter of the Marquis's family. My father and my six brothers sacrificed on the Southern Frontier three years ago-" "Thatโs them." Barrett interrupted, "You're still a delicate woman suited only for home comforts, while Aurora has no respect for that. Besides, she never holds back her true thoughts. Trust me, you won't want to hear it from her. Also rest assured. Mother has promised me that Aurora will never threaten your control of the household. Carissa, she couldn't care less about those things." โOh, that's what you and mother think I fear? Losing the control of this household?โ Carissa couldn't help but laughing. Little did Barrett know his household had been reduced to a hollow shell - managing it was a hot potato no one else would bear. Over the past year, it was Carissa's dowry alone that kept the Warren familyโs life respectable, and this was her reward. โEnough,โ Barrett snapped, his patience running thin. โIโve done my duty by informing you. Your opinion wonโt change anything.โ As Carissa watched hum storm out, her bitterness deepened. โMy lady, my lord has really crossed the line!โ Lulu, Carissaโs maid, said, wiping her tears. โDonโt call him that!โ Carissa gave her a stern look. โWe never consummated the marriage. Heโs not your lord. Now go fetch my dowry list.โ โWhy the dowry list?โ Lulu asked, puzzled. Carissa tapped her on the forehead. โSilly girl, we need to reckon everything before we leave.โ Lulu gasped. โLeave? But where can we go? To the Northwatch Estate?โ Suddenly Lulu held her tongue, aware that she had touched the sensitive subject. She spared Carissa a guilty look, "I'll get the list now, my lady." Upon the mention of Northwatch Estate, the always restrained Carissa finally let her tears fall. When she was fifteen, her father, the Marquis of Northwatch, had sacrificed his life on the battlefield. Then, just six months ago, her entire family at the Northwatch Estate was brutally slaughtered โ assassins rumored to be spies from the enemy nation, Westhaven. She rushed back after getting the news, only to find the dismembered bodies of her mother and grandmother. Even her youngest nephew, two years old, didn't escape death, neither. Now, she was the lone survivor of the marquis' family, the idea of restoring her familyโs former glory seemed impossibleโat least to outsiders. After all, she was presented mostly as a delicate, fragile woman, while Aurora Taytes had just made herself the first female general in history. It's only natural that the Warren family was more than happy to agree to the marriage. Yet, unbeknownst to the world, Carissa's martial talent was never beneath her father and brothers. If given a chance on the battlefield, she would definitely outshine Aurora Taytes, perhaps a million times more... Just then, Lulu had brought over the dowry list, "My lady, this year alone, you've spent over six thousand silver coins supporting the household. However, the shops, houses, and estates remain untouched. All the bank savings, along with the property deeds and land titles your mother left, are locked up in the chest." "I see." Carisse's gaze lingered on the list with melancholy. Her mother had given her such a substantial dowry, fearing she might face hardship in her husband's home. Yet now here she was. The Warren family had disregarded all her effort, and Barrett had even broken his vow to take no concubine - the very promise that led her mother to choose him over more eligible suitors, despite the Warren familyโs fall from grace. 'Was this really the life mother wanted me to have?' It took Carissa no time to made up her mind. โLulu, get prepared. There's somewhere we need to go tomorrow.โ ... Early the next morning, Carissa and Lulu boarded a carriage, heading straight for the royal palace. It was noon by the time they arrived. Under the scorching autumn sun, Carissa and Lulu stood like statues in front of the palace gates. They waited for a full hour, but no one came to let them in. In the palace's study, Derek Walker had already reported Carissaโs arrival to the king three times. โYour Majesty, Mrs. Warren is still waiting outside the palace gates,โ he repeated. The king, Salvador Quinton, set aside the document he was reading and rubbed his temples. โI canโt summon her in. The edict has been issued, and can't be taken back. Tell her to go home.โ โThe guards tried to persuade her, but she refused to leave. Sheโs been standing there for over an hour without moving.โ Salvador felt a pang of guilt. โBarrett requested the marriage as a reward for his military service. I didnโt want to agree, either, but not granting it would embarrass both him and General Yates. They have after all won a big war.โ โYour Majesty, when it comes to military achievements, no one can compare to the Marquis of Northwatch,โ Derek countered. Salvador thought of Hector Sinclair, the Marquis of Northwatch. When Salvador was a crown prince who had recently joined the military, it was Hector who had guided him. Back then, he had also known Carissa when she was only a cute kid. Salvador himself had fought a bloody path to the throne, paved with death. He understood the struggles of military officers, so when Barrett requested marriage as a reward, Salvador had hesitated but eventually agreed. But Derek was right. In terms of military merit, Barrett and Aurora were far inferior to Hector Sinclair. โAlright, let her in. If she agrees to this marriage, Iโll grant her whatever she wants, even if it's a noble title or an official rank,โ said Salvador. Derek breathed a sigh of relief. โAs always, you're wise, Your Majesty!โ ... Carissa knelt in the study with her head bowed. Recalling that Carissa was now the only one left in the Sinclair family, Salvador felt nothing but pity for her. "Rise and speak," he commanded. Carissa bowed deeply with her hands clasped. "Your Majesty, I know it's presumptuous of me to seek an audience today. But I also wish to implore for your grace." "Carissa Sinclair, I have already issued the edict of marriage. It's impossible to revoke it," Salvador said. Carissa shook her head gently. "Your Majesty, I'm not imploring you to reverse that edict, but imploring you for another edict - an amicable divorce with General Warren." The young king was taken aback. "Divorce? You want a divorce?" Carissa nodded her head firmly. She was never someone to pester some man. If Barret Warren loved Aurora Yates so much, then she would let him go. What she needed now was a single edict for an amicable divorce, so she could take away all her dowry and get rid of the despicable Warren family for good, dignified and head high... | LEARN_MORE | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=13831& | Random Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61559743679549/ | 320 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | shgjfh.com | DCO | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=13831&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&placement={{placement}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/465264232_561529746461680_3453754793134507972_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=V5lB_gYvGlYQ7kNvgGegaMm&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AcSez5ZsEsnVY6eiUkM0aig&oh=00_AYBlfuWyDGLBPcHEtTFJtuPd3AIuEhC3I52Mq-rRuVrlyQ&oe=674EF2F2 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-11-28 19:46 | active | 1936 | 0 |
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๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | โStrip.โ The one who commanded me was the very man I had loved. โDidn't you hear me? I said strip.โ My husband, Caleb repeated, a smirk on his li-ps. I lowered my head, my hands trembling. Tears gathered at the corner of my eyes as I gingerly stepped backwards, subconsciously trying to run away. โStop her and help her remove her clothes if she doesn't want to do it herself.โ Caleb said to the security guards who stood behind me. They came forward and held me by my arms, twisting it to my back and forcing me to kneeel down. โWhy?โ I asked, โWhy are you doing this to me?โ My throat constricted. โWhy?โ Caleb tilted his head, โYou were the one who forced my grandfather to make me get married to you. If it was for you, I would have gotten married to Emily. Now, you have to face the consequences of what you did!โ Caleb said hatefully and forcefully raised my chin up, motioning for a man to bring over a bottle of wine. My eyes widened as I realized what he wanted to do. โCaleb, please, you know I can't drink that. I beg you, please let me go. Please.โ I begged, but it was to no avail. My vision blurred as I choked, gasping for air in between sobs. โWasn't that good enough?โ Caleb questioned, โNow that wasn't so bad after all.โ โCalebโฆ Youโฆโ I began coughing, my eyes were getting blurry, it was hard to see their faces. A sharp pain went through my stomach and I gasped. My baby... โCโฆ Calebโฆ Myโฆ my stomach. It hurts.โ I gasped again as the pain spread to my spine. I thought I saw a flicker of panic in his eyes, but I was deluding myself. Caleb didn't care, he had never cared. But I still needed help, the pain was almost unbearable now. โNo. No!โ I cried out as I realized exactly what was happening. I looked back at Caleb who knew that I was having a miscar-riage, I thought he would help me even upon seeing that. But once again, I was wrong. He stepped back, looking at the blood in disgust. Then the world turned black. --------- โAh!โ I gasped, shaking awake. โYou shouldn't move like that, you'll open your stitches.โThe one with shorter hair and gold rimmed glasses said to me. โItโs...you..โ I stammered, all the cells in my body were screaming. Zade Silver, my ex boyfriend. | LEARN_MORE | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=15016&u | Random Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61559743679549/ | 320 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | redtgb.com | DCO | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=15016&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&placement={{placement}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/464456042_1979851562482664_990634671024687959_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zrx2_-jkVtAQ7kNvgFBsF9e&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A52joVpbNb7sJ9JTGyMXMLi&oh=00_AYDL2ffYdnavw4F3U_sr1QxwiitEKp7FXQzdZRIDLS4dJQ&oe=674EE4B7 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2024-11-28 19:48 | active | 1936 | 0 | ๊ณ์ ์ฝ๊ธฐ๐ | ๊ทธ๋ ๋ CEO์ ์ ์ธ์ผ๋ก 3๋ ๋์ ์ง๋ด๋ฉฐ ๊ทธ์ ๊ฒฐํผํ๊ณ ์ถ์์ผ๋ ๊ฑฐ์ ๋นํ๊ณ ๊ดด๋ก์์ ๊ฒช์๋ค. ๋ค์ ๋ง๋ฌ์ ๋ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฌด๋ฆ์ ๊ฟ๊ณ ์๋น๋ฅผ ๊ตฌํ๊ณ , ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ๋ฌดํ์ ํ๊ฒ "์์ ์ ์กด์คํด์ฃผ์ธ์." ==== "๋ชป ์ฐธ๊ฒ ์ด?" ๋จ์๋ ์ผ์ฃผ์ผ ์ถ์ฅ์ ๋ค๋ ์ค๋ ๋์ ์ฐธ์๋ ์์ ์ ๋ชจ๋ ์์ ๋ถ๊ณ ์๋ ๊ฒ ๊ฐ์๋ค. "์ ๋ด์ผ ์ ๋ณด๋ฌ ๊ฐ์." ์ผ๋ฆฟํ ํต์ฆ์ ๋ชธ์ ๋๋ฆฐ ํ์ธํฌ๊ฐ. ์ญ์, ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์์๋๋ก ๋จ์๋ ์กฐ๊ธ๋ ์ ๊ฒฝ ์ฐ์ง ์์๋ค. "์ ๋ง์์ ๋๋ ์๋๊ฐ ๋์ค๋ฉด ๋ฐ๋ก ๋์ํ๋ ค๊ณ ์." ํ์ธํฌ์ ์ ๊ฐ์ ์ธ์ธํ ๋ฏธ์๊ฐ ๋ฒ์ก๋ค. "๊ฒฐํผํ ์๊ฐ์ด๋ ๋ง์ด์ผ?" ๋จ์๊ฐ ์ผ์ด๋ถ์ ๋ฏ ์์ ์์ง์ด์ง ์์๊ณ ์ด๋์ด ๋๋์๊ฐ ์์ ์ ํ์ ๊ฐํ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฅผ ๋ซ์ด์ง๊ฒ ๋ด๋ ค๋ค๋ดค๋ค. ๊น์ด๋ฅผ ์ ์ ์๋ ๊ทธ ๋๋์์ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๋น์ฅ์ด๋ผ๊ณ ๋ง๋ ค๋ค์ด ๊ฐ ๊ฒ ๊ฐ์๋ค. ๊ฒฐ๊ตญ ๋จผ์ ์์ ์ ํผํ ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฐ ์ฐ๋ฌผ์ญ๋ฌผ ์ ์ ์ด์๋ค. "์ ์ด์ 27์ด์์. ๋ง๋ฅ ๊ธฐ๋ค๋ฆด ์๋ฐ์ ์์ผ๋๊น์..." ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๋จ์์ ์ ๊ฐ์ ๋ฒ์ง ๋์๋ฅผ ๋ฏธ์ฒ ๋ฐ๊ฒฌํ์ง ๋ชปํ๋ค. ๋จ์๋ ์นจ๋ ๊ฐ์ฅ์๋ฆฌ์ ๊ฑธํฐ์์ ๋ด๋ฐฐ์ ๋ถ์ ๋ถ์๋ค. ๊ฒ์์ ์ ์ฅ ๋ฐ์ง๋ ์ฌ์ ํ ํ ์ก์ ๋ฐ ์์ด ์ ๋ค๋ ค์ ธ ์์๊ณ , ๊ฒ์์ ์ ์ธ ๋ ๋จ์ถ 3๊ฐ๊ฐ ํ๋ ค์ ธ ์์ด ๋จ์์ ์น์ํ๊ณ ๋ ๋งคํน์ ์ธ ๋งค๋ ฅ์ ๊ทน๋ํํ๋ค. ๋จ์์ ์๋์ ์ํํ๊ฒ ๋งค๋ฌ๋ ค ์๋ ๋ด๋ฐฐ๋ฅผ ๋ฌด์ฌ์ฝ ์ณ๋ค๋ณธ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ทธ์ ์๊ฐ๋ฝ์ ๋ผ์์ ธ ์๋ ์ฝํผ๋ฐ์ง์ ์์ ์ ๊ณ ์ ํ๋ค. ๊ทธ ๋ฐ์ง๋ ์ค๋๋ฐ๋ผ ๋์ฑ ๋์ด ๋ถ์ จ๊ณ , ์ค๋์ ํ์ธํฌ๋ฅผ ๋น์๊ณ ์๋ ๊ฒ ๊ฐ์๋ค. 3๋ ์ , ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๋จ์์ ๋น์ ์ ๋ถ์ผ๋ก ๊ฐ์จ ๊ทธ๋ฃน์ ์ ์ฌํ๋ค. ์ผ๋ง ํ, ์์ฌ์ธ ๊ฐ์งํ๊ณผ ํจ๊ป ์ถ์ฅ์ ๋ ๋์ผ ํ๋ ์๋ฌด๋ฅผ ์ํํด์ผ ํ๊ณ , ๊ทธ ํ ๊ทธ๋ค์ ๋งค์ฐ ์น๋ฐํด์ก๋ค. ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๋ฐํญํ์ง ์์๋ค. ์๊ณ ๋จ๊ฑฐ์ด ๋ฐค์ ๋ณด๋ธ ํ, ํ ๊ฐ์ง ์ผ์ด ๋ค๋ฅธ ์ผ๋ก ์ด์ด์ก๊ณ , ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฒ ๋ ์ฌ๋์ 3๋ ์ด๋ผ๋ ์๊ฐ ๋์ ๋น๋ฐ์ค๋ฌ์ด ๋ง๋จ์. ๊ฐ์ก๊ณ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๋ฎ์๋ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๋น์์๊ณ , ๋ฐค์๋ ๊ทธ์ ๋ฐฐ๋ ํํธ๋์๋ค. ๋ง์ฝ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฐค, ํ์ธํฌ๊ฐ ์ด๋ฆฌ์์ ์ ํ๋ง ํ์ง ์์๋ค๋ฉด ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ์ฌ์ ํ ์์ง ๋ญ๋งํ๊ณ ์์ ๋ง์ ๋ฐฑ๋ง ํ ์์๋ฅผ ๊ธฐ๋ค๋ฆฌ๋ ์๋ ์์ ๊ฒ์ด๋ค. ์ผ๋ง ์์ง ์์ผ๋ฉด ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๊ฒฐํผ์ ํ๊ฒ ๋ ๊ฒ์ด๊ณ , ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ์ด ๊ด๊ณ๋ฅผ ๋ ์ด์ ์ด์ด๊ฐ๊ณ ์ถ์ง ์์๋ค. ํ๋ณตํ ๊ฒฐํผ ์ํ์ ๋ผ์ด๋๋ ์ 3์๊ฐ ๋๊ณ ์ถ์ง ์์์ ๋ฟ๋๋ฌ, ์ฌ๋๋ค์ ์๊ฐ๋ฝ์ง์ ๋ฐ๋ ์ ๋ถ๋ ๋๋์ฑ ์ซ์๋ค. ๋ ์ด์ ์ด์ด๊ฐ ๊ด๊ณ๊ฐ ์๋๋ผ๊ณ ํ๋จํ์ผ๋, ๊ทธ๋ ์์ผ๋ก ์ง์ ์ด ๊ด๊ณ๋ฅผ ๋์ด ๋ด์ผ๋ง ํ๋ค. ์๋ฌด ์ธ๋ชจ ์๋ ์ฌ๋์ฒ๋ผ ๋น์ฐธํ๊ฒ ๋ฒ๋ ค์ง๋ ๊ฒ๋ณด๋ค ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฐ ๋จผ์ ๋ ๋๋ ๊ฒ์ด ๋ ๋์ ๊ฑด ์ฌ์ค์ด๋. ์์ ์ ๊ฑฐ๋์ด๋ค์ธ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ฐ๋ฐฉ์ ์ฑ๊ธฐ๊ณ ๋ฏธ๋ฆฌ ์ค๋นํ ์ฌ๋ฒ ์ท์ผ๋ก ๊ฐ์์ ์๋ค. ๊ฐ์งํ๊ณผ ๋ง๋ ๋๋ง๋ค ํ์ธํฌ๋ ์ฌ๋ถ์ ์ท์ ์ค๋นํ๊ณค ํ๋ค. ๊ฐ๋ฐฉ์ ์์ ๋ป์ ํ์ธํฌ๊ฐ ์ฌ๋ถ์ ์ท์ ๊บผ๋ด๊ธฐ๋ ์ ์ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์๋ชฉ์ ์ธ๊ฒ ์์ผ์ก์๋ค. ํ์ธํฌ๋ ์ฌ์ฅ์ด ๋น ๋ฅด๊ฒ ๋ฐ๋ ๊ฒ์ ๋๊ผ๋ค. ""๋ด์ผ ๋ง์ ์ทจ์ํด."" ๊ทธ๊ฐ ์ ๋ฐ์ผ๋ก ๊บผ๋ธ ๊ฑด ๋ถํ์ด ์๋๋ผ ๋ช ๋ น์ด์๋ค. ์๋ฌด ํ๋ ๋จ์ง ์์ ํ์ธํฌ๊ฐ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์์ ๊ฝ ๋ถ์ก๊ณ ์ง๋ 3๋ ๋์ ํ ๋ง ์ค ๊ฐ์ฅ ์ฉ๊ธฐ ์๋ ๋ง์ ๋ด๋ฑ์๋ค. "๊ฒฐํผ... ์ทจ์ํ ๊ฑด๊ฐ์?" ๊ฐ์งํ๋ง ํ๋ฝํ๋ค๋ฉด, ํ์ธํฌ๋ ํ์ ๊ทธ์ ๊ณ์ ๋จธ๋ฌผ๊ณ ์ถ์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ด ์๋ง ์๋ค๋ฉด ์ผ๋ง๋ ํ๋ณตํ ๊น. ๋จ, ์ ๋ถ์ ์๋ฆฌ๋ ์ ๋ ์ฉ๋ฉํ์ง ๋ชปํ๋ค. ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์ผ๊ตด์ด ์์ฃผ ์ ๊น ์ผ์ด๋ถ์ ๊ฒ ๊ฐ๋๋ ๋ฎ๊ฒ ์ค์๋ฅผ ํฐ๋จ๋ ธ๋ค. ๊ทธ ์์์๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ์ด์ฐ๋ ์์๋ง์๋์ง, ๋ ๋ ๊ฐ๋ ์์ด ๋์ค๋ ํ๊ธฐ์ ๋น์ฅ์ด๋ผ๋ ์คํ์ด ๋ค ์ ๋์๋ค. "์ ๋์์ด." ๊ณง์ด์ด ์์ญ์ด๋ฏ์ด ๋ค๋ ค์ค๋ ๊ทธ์ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ์ ๋ชจ๋ ํฌ๋ง์ด ์์ฅ์ฐฝ ๋ถ์์ก๋ค. ๋ฌผ๋ก , ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ์์ ์ ์ฌ๋ํ์ง ์์ ๊ฒ์ด๋ผ๋ ์ฌ์ค์ ๋๊ตฌ๋ณด๋ค ์ ์๊ณ ์์ผ๋ฉด์๋ ๋ง์ด๋ค. ๋๋ค์ ๊ทธ์ ๋๊ธธ์ ํผํ ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฐ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๋ฐ๋ผ ์์์ง๋ง, ๊ทธ ์์์๋ฆฌ๋ง์ ์์ ์ ๋น์๊ณ ์๋ ๊ฒ ๊ฐ์ ๋๋์ด ๋ค์๋ค. "๋ํ๋, ์ ๋ ๋ด์ผ ์ฐ์ฐจ ์ฌ์ฉํ ์์ ์ด๋ ์ ๊ฐ ์ ์ฒญํ ์ฐ์ฐจ ๊ฑฐ์ ํ์ง ๋ง์๊ธฐ ๋ฐ๋๋๋ค. ๋ฒ์ ์ผ๋ก ์ ํ ์ฐ์ฐจ๋ฅผ ์ฌ์ฉํ๋ ๊ฑฐ๋๊น ๊ฑฐ์ ํ ์ด์ ๋ ์๊ฒ ์ฃ ?" ๊ฑฐ์น ๊ฒ ์ผ๊ทธ๋ฌ์ง ๊ทธ์ ์ด๋ชฉ๊ตฌ๋น๊ฐ ํ๋ฌ๋ค๋ ๊ฒ์ ์ฆ๋ช ํ์ง๋ง ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๊ทธ๋๋ก ๊พน ์ต๋๋ ๋ค. ๋จ์์ ์ฃผ์์๋ ๊ทธ์ ๋ง ํ๋ง๋์ ์์ํ๊ณ ํํธ๋๋ก ์ง๋ผ ์ฌ์๋ค์ด ๋์น๊ณ ๋ ๋จ์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ฌ๋ ๊ทธ์ ์ง์๋ฅผ ๋ฐ๋ฅด์ง ์๋ ์ฌ๋์ ํ์ ์์ ๊ฒ์ด๋ค. ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ํ์ธํฌ์ ํฑ์ ๋์์ฃผ๊ณ ์์ค๋ก ํฅํ๋ค. ์ ์ ํ, ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ์ค์๋ฅผ ๋ง์น๊ณ ๋์ค์ ๋ฐฉ์ ์ด๋ฏธ ๊น๋ํ๊ฒ ์ ๋ฆฌ๋์ด ์์๋ค. ์นจ๋์๋ 3๋ ์ , ์์ ์ด ํ์ธํฌ์๊ฒ ๊ฑด๋จ ์ํ ์นด๋๊ฐ ๋์ฌ ์์๋ค. ์ด ์นด๋๋ ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ์์ ์ ํํธ๋๋ก ์ง๋ด๋ ํ์ธํฌ์๊ฒ ์ง์ํ ์นด๋์๋ค. ํ์ง๋ง ์ง๋ 3๋ ๋์, ํ์ธํฌ๋ ์นด๋์ ์๋ ๋ ํ ํผ๋ ๋ค์น์ง ์์๋ค. ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์ด์ ๋ชจ๋ฅผ ์ง์ฆ๊ณผ ๋ต๋ตํจ์ด ๊ฐ์ด ๊น์ํ ๊ณณ์์ ์น๋ฐ์ด ์ค๋ฅด๋ ๊ฒ์ ๋๊ผ๋ค. ์ 2ํ ๋ง์ ํ ๋ฐ๋ก ์์ (์ 2๋ถ๋ถ) ๋ค์ ๋ ์์นจ 9์, ์นดํ. ์ด๋ฒ ๋ง์ ์ด ์ฒซ ๋ง์ ์ ์๋์์ง๋ง, ํ์ธํฌ๊ฐ ์ดํ ๋ก ์ง์งํ ํ๋๋ก ์ํ๋ ๊ฑด ์ฒ์์ด์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ์ ๋ง์ํธ์ ์์ ๋จ์๋ 36์ด์ ๋์ด์ ํ๋ฒํ ์๊น์์ ์ด์ ๋ง ๊ท๊ตญํ์ฌ ์ง๊ธ์ ๋ชจ ์ ์ ํ์ฌ์ ์์ ์์ง๋์ด๋ก ๊ทผ๋ฌดํ๊ณ ์๋ค๊ณ ํ๋ค. ์ง์ ์ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ง์๊ฐ ์ ๊ณ ๋ด์ฑ์ ์ธ ์ฑ๊ฒฉ์ด๋ผ๊ณ ํ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ฐ ์ด์ ๋๋ฌธ์ธ์ง, ๋ ์ฌ๋์ด ๋ง๋์๋ถํฐ ์ง๊ธ๊น์ง ํ์ธํฌ๊ฐ ๋ํ์ ์ฃผ๋๊ถ์ ์ฅ์ ํ๊ณ ์์๋ค. ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์ด๋จธ๋์ธ ์ ๋ฏธ์์ ์๊ตฌ๋๋ก ์๋จ๊ณผ ์๋ฌผ์ ๋น๋กฏํด, ์ ํผ ์ง๊ณผ ์๋์ฐจ๋ฅผ ์๊ตฌํ๊ณ ๋จ์๋ ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์๊ตฌ๋ฅผ ๋ชจ๋ ๋ง์กฑ์์ผ ์ค ์ ์๋ค๊ณ ๋๋ตํ๋ค. ๋ ์ด์ ๊ฑฐ์ ํ ์ด์ ๋ฅผ ์ฐพ์ง ๋ชปํ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๋ง์์ด ๊ณตํํด์ง๋ฉฐ ์ฌ์ฅ์ด ๋ป๊ทผํด์ง๋ ๊ฒ์ ๋๊ผ๋ค. ์์นจ ์ผ์ฐ ์ง์ ๋์ค ๋, ์ ๋ฏธ์์ด ์์ํ๊ณ ๋ ์๋ฅํ ๋ชจ์ต์ผ๋ก ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฅผ ๋ฐฐ์ ํด ์ฃผ๋ ๋ชจ์ต์ ๋ ์ฌ๋ ธ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์ด๋จธ๋๋ ์ด์ ์ด๋ฑํ๊ต 5ํ๋ ๋จ๋์์ ๋ฑ๊ต ์ค๋น๋ฅผ ๋์์ฃผ๋ฉด์ ํ์ธํฌ์๊ฒ ๋ง์ ์์ ์ฃผ์ํด์ผ ํ ๋ง๊ณผ ๋ฐ๋์ ์ ๊ธฐํด์ผ ํ ์๊ตฌ๋ฅผ ์๊ธฐ์์ผ ์ฃผ๋ฉฐ ๊ฒฐํผ์ ์ข์ ์ ์ ๋ํ์ฌ ๊ฐ์กฐํ๊ณ ๋ ๊ฐ์กฐํ๋ค. ๋ฌด์๋ณด๋ค๋ ํ์ธํฌ์๊ฒ ์๋จ ์๋ฌผ์ ๋ ๋ง์ด ์๊ตฌํ๋๋ก ์ง์ํ๊ณ , ๋จ๋์์ ๋ํ ๋ฑ๋ก๊ธ๊ณผ ์์ผ๋ก ์์ ์ ๋ ธํ์๊ธ๊น์ง ์๊ตฌํ๋ฉฐ ์์๋ฆฌ๋ฅผ ๋์ด๋์๋ค. ๊ทธ ์๊ฐ์ ํ์ธํฌ์ ์ ๊ผฌ๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ๋น์ค๋ฌํ ์ฌ๋ผ๊ฐ๋ฉฐ ์ด์์์ ์ง์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์ด๋จธ๋ ์ ๋ฏธ์์ 6๋ฒ์ ๊ฒฐํผ์ ๋ชจ๋ ์คํจํ๋ค๋ ์ฌ์ค์ ๊น๋งฃ๊ฒ ์์ด๋ฒ๋ฆฐ ๊ฒ ๊ฐ์๋ค. 2๋ ์ , ์ ๋ฏธ์์ ๊ฐ์๊ธฐ 10์ด ๋จ์งํ ๋จ์์์ด์ ์์ ์ก๊ณ ๋ํ๋ ๊ทธ๋ ์ ํ ๋จธ๋๊ฐ ์ ์ผํ๊ฒ ๋จ๊ฒจ๋ ๋ก์ ์ง ์์์ ํต๊ณกํ๋ฉฐ 10๋ ๋์ ์ฐ๋ฝ ํ ๋ฒ ํ์ง ์์ ๋ธ์๊ฒ ๋จ์์์ด๋ฅผ ํค์ฐ๋ผ๊ณ ๊ฐ์ํ๋ค. ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ฐ๋ ์ด๋ฐ ์๊ฐ์ ํ๋ค. ๋ง์ฝ, ์ ๋ฏธ์์ด ์ด๋ป๊ฒ ์๊ฒผ๋์ง ๊ธฐ์ตํ์ง ๋ชปํ๋ค๋ฉด ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฅผ ์ด๋จธ๋๋ก ์ธ์ ํ์ง ์์๋ ๋ ๊น? ํ์ง๋ง ํ์ค์ ๋ ์๊ฐ๋๋ก ํ๋ฌ๊ฐ์ง ์์๊ณ ์๋ฆ๋ค์ด ๋ฏธ๋๋ฅผ ๊ทธ๋ฆฌ๋ ๊ทธ๋ ์ ๋ฐ์นํ ์์๊น์ง ๋ฐํํ๋ค. ํ ์์ ๋ฅผ ๋ฌผ๊ณ ํ์ด๋ ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฐ ๋ค์ด์๋ชฌ๋ ์์ ๋ฅผ ๋ฌผ๊ณ ํ์ด๋ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๊ณ์ ์๊ฒ ๋ค๋ ์์ฌ๋ ํจ๊ป ๋ง์ด๋ค. ์ด๋, ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ฐ์๊ธฐ ์๋ฆฌ์์ ๋ฒ๋ก ์ผ์ด๋๋ ์ด์ ํ์ ์์ง์ ์๋ฆฌ์ ๋ฒ์ฉ ์ ์ ์ด ๋ค์๋ค. ์ด์ ํ๋ ๊ทธ๋ ์ ๋ค์ ์๋ ๋๊ตฐ๊ฐ๋ฅผ ๋ฐ๊ฒฌํ๊ณ ๊ณต์ํ ์์ธ๋ฅผ ์ทจํ๋ฉฐ ํ๋ฆฌ๊น์ง ์์ฌ๊ฐ๋ฉฐ ์ธ์ฌ๋ฅผ ๊ฑด๋ค๋ ๊ฒ์ด์๋ค. "๊ฐ ๋ํ๋. ์ฐ์ฐํ ๋ง๋๋ ๋ ๋ฐ๊ฐ์ด ๊ฒ ๊ฐ์ต๋๋ค." ๊ทธ๋ ์ ๋ฐ๋ก ๋ค์์ ํ๊ฒจ์ค๋ ์ต์ํ ํฅ์ ๋์๊ฐ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฅผ ๋ฎ์ณค๊ณ , ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ธด์ฅํ ๋ฏ ์์ฒด๋ฅผ ๊ผฟ๊ผฟ์ด ์ธ์ ๋ค. ๊ณ ๊ฐ๋ฅผ ๋ค์ ๋ธ๋ํ์ด๋ผ๋ ์จ๊ฒจ ๋์ ๊ฒ ๊ฐ์ ์ด๋์ด ๋๋์๊ฐ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฅผ ์ฃผ์ํ๊ณ ์์๊ณ ๊ธด์ฅ๊ฐ์ ๋น์ฅ์ด๋ผ๋ ์ฌ์ฅ์ด ์ ๋ฐ์ ํ์ด๋์ฌ ๊ฒ ๊ฐ์๋ค. ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ์ ์ด ์๊ฐ์ ์ด๊ณณ์ ์๋ ๊ฑธ๊น? ์นดํ์์ ํ๋งคํ๋ ์ปคํผ๋ ์ ์ ๋์ง๋ ์์ ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ๋ง์๋ ๋ชจ๋ ์ปคํผ๋ ๋ค ํ์ธํฌ๊ฐ ์ง์ ๋ง๋ ๊ฒ์ด๋ค. "๋ค, ์๋ ํ์ธ์." ํ์ธํฌ์๊ฒ์ ์์ ์ ๊ฑฐ๋์ด๋ค์ธ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์ด์ ํ๋ฅผ ํฅํด ์๊ฒ ๊ณ ๊ฐ๋ฅผ ๋๋์ธ ๋ค์ ์นด์ดํฐ๋ก ํฅํ๋ค. ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์ด์ ํ๊ฐ ๋๊ตฌ์ธ์ง ์ ํ ๋ชจ๋ฅด๋ ๋์น์์ง๋ง, ์ด์ ํ๋ ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ์๊ธฐ ์ธ์ฌ๋ฅผ ๋ฐ์์คฌ๋ค๋ ์ฌ์ค์ ๋ง์กฑํ๊ณ ์์๋ค. ๊ณง๋ฐ๋ก ์ด์ ํ๋ ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ํด์ธ์์ ์ ํ ๊ธฐ๊ฐ ๋์ ์ถ๊ฐํ๋ ๋ ผ๋ฌธ์ ๋ํด ๊ทน์ฐฌํ๋ค. ์ด์ ํ๊ฐ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๋ํ ์กด๊ฒฝ์ฌ์ ํ๋๋ก ์น์์ ๊ฒ ๊ฐ์๊ณ , ๋ค์ผ๋ฉด ๋ค์์๋ก ํ์ธํฌ๋ ์์น์ฌ์ด ๋ค์๋ค. ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ์ด์ ํ๊ฐ ํ๋ ๋ง์ ๋ฃ์ง ์๊ธธ ๋ฐ๋ผ๋ฉฐ ์นด์ดํฐ ๋ฐฉํฅ์ ๋์๋ณด์ ๋คํํ๋ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ํตํ ์ค์ด์๋ค. "๊ทธ๋." ๊ฐ์งํ์ ํ์๋ต์ง ์๊ฒ ๋ถ๋๋ฌ์ด ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๋ก ํตํ๋ฅผ ํ๊ณ ์์๋ค. "๋๋ง ์ข์ผ๋ฉด ๋ผ. ์ด๋ฐ ๋ด." ํตํ๋ฅผ ๋ง์น ๊ทธ๋ ์ฝ์ฝ๋ ๋ฐํฌ๋ฅผ ํฌ์ฅํ๊ณ ์นดํ๋ฅผ ๋น ์ ธ๋๊ฐ๋ค. ์ฝ์ฝ๋ ๋ฐํฌ๋ฅผ ๋ง์๋ ์ฌ๋๋ค์ ์ฃผ๋ก ์ฌ์ ๊ณ ๊ฐ์ผ๋ก ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์ฝํผ์๋ฅผ ์ํด ์ง์ ์นดํ๊น์ง ์จ ๊ฒ์ด๋ค. ๊ฐ์ด์ด ์๋ ค์ค๋ ๋๋์ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๋ ์ด์ ์ด์ ํ๊ฐ ํ๋ ๋ง์ ์ง์คํ ์ ์์๋ค. ๋ง์ ์ด ๋๋ ๋ฌด๋ ต, ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๋ค์์ ๊ธฐ์ฝํ๋ ์ด์ ํ์ ๋ง์ ์ ์ง ์๊ฒ ๋๋๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฒ ๋ ์ฌ๋์ ํ ๋ฒ ๋ ๋ง๋๋ณด๊ธฐ๋ก ๊ฒฐ์ ํ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ฌ๋ ์ค, ์ด์ ํ๊ฐ ๊ฐ์๊ธฐ ์ ํ๋ฅผ ๋ฐ๋๋ ํ์ฌ์ ๊ธํ ์ผ์ด ์๊ฒจ ์ง๊ธ ๋น์ฅ ๋์๊ฐ ๋ด์ผ ํ๋ค๊ณ ํ๋ค. ์ด์ ํ๋ ํ์ธํฌ์๊ฒ ์ฐ์ ์ฌ๊ณผ๋ฅผ ๊ฑด๋ค๊ณ ๋ค์์ ๋ง๋ ์ฝ์๊น์ง ๋ฏธ๋ฆฌ ์ก์ ํ ์นดํ๋ฅผ ๋์ฐ๋ค. ์ ์ ํ, ์นดํ๋ฅผ ๋์ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ํ์์ ์ฌ๋ผํ๊ณ ์ง์ผ๋ก ํฅํ ์ค๋น๋ฅผ ํ๋ค. ์์นจ์ ๋จน์ง ์์ ์์ธ์ผ๊น, ์๋๋ฉด ๋น์์ ์ปคํผ๋ฅผ ๋๋ฌด ๋ง์ด ๋ง์ ํ์ผ๊น. ํ์ธํฌ๋ ์ฐจ์ ์ค๋ฅด์๋ง์ ์์ด ๋ฉ์ฅ๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๊ธฐ ์์ํ๊ณ ์ฐธ์ผ๋ ค๊ณ ์ ๋ฅผ ์ผ์ง๋ง, ๊ฒฐ๊ตญ ์คํจํ๊ณ ๋ง์๋ค. "๊ธฐ์ฌ๋, ์ฐจ ์ข ์ธ์์ฃผ์ธ์..." ๋ง์ ๋ง์น๊ธฐ๋ ์ ์ ํ๊ตฌ์ญ์ง์ด ๋จผ์ ๋์ค์ ์ฐจ์ ๋ง๋ จ๋์ด ์๋ ์ฐ๋ ๊ธฐ๋ดํฌ๋ฅผ ์ง์ด ๋จธ๋ฆฌ๋ฅผ ์์๋ค. ๊ธธ๊ฐ์ ์ฐจ๋ฅผ ์ธ์ด ํ์ ๊ธฐ์ฌ๋์ ์๋ ํ ๋ด์ง๋ฅผ ๊ฑด๋ค๋ฉฐ ๋งํ๋ค. "๊ธ๋ฐฉ ์์ ํ๋ฉด ๋ค๋ค ๊ทธ๋์. ์ฐ๋ฆฌ ์๋ด๋ ์๊ฐ์จ๋ ์ฆ์์ด ๋๊ฐ์์ด์. ์ ๋ง์ด ๊ฐํ๊ฒ ๋๋ ๊ณผ์ผ์ ๋จน์ผ๋ฉด ์กฐ๊ธ ๊ด์ฐฎ์์ง ์๋ ์์ด์. ์ฒซ 4๊ฐ์ ๋์์ ์ด๋ ๊ฒ ํ๋ค ๊ฑฐ์์. ๊ทธ ์๊ธฐ๋ง ์ง๋๋ฉด ์ ๋ ์ ์๊ณ ๋ฐฅ๋ ์์ ์ฒ๋ผ ๋จน์ ์ ์์ ๊ฑฐ์์." ํ์ ๊ธฐ์ฌ๋์ ๋ง์ ๋ฃ๊ณ ๋์์ผ ์๋ฆฌ ์ฃผ๊ธฐ๋ฅผ ๊ณ์ฐํ๋ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊น์ง ๋๋๋ค. ์๋ฆฌ ์์ ์ผ์ด ์ด๋ฏธ ์ผ์ฃผ์ผ์ด๋ ์ง๋ ์ํฉ์ด์๋ค. ์๋์ผ, ๊ทธ๋ด ๋ฆฌ ์์ด... ์ฝ์ ๋น ์ง์์ด ์ ์ฑ๊ฒจ ๋จน์๋๋ฐ... ๊ฐ์๊ธฐ ์ฐ๋ฌผ์ฒ๋ผ ๋ฐ๋ ค์ค๋ ๊ธฐ์ต์ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ๋ค์ ์๋ฆฌ์ ์ผ์ด๋ถ๊ณ ๋ง์๋ค. ์ ํํ 3์ฃผ์ผ ์ , ๋ค์ ๋ , ์์นจ ์ผ์ฐ ์ฝ๊ตญ์ ๋ค๋ฌ ํผ์์ฝ์ ์ฌ๋ ค ํ์ผ๋ ์ ๋ฏธ์์ด ๋๋ฐ ํ์๋ก ์ฒดํฌ๋์๋ค๋ ์ ํ๋ฅผ ๋ฐ๊ณ ๋๋ฌด ํ๊ฐ ์น๋ฐ์๋ ๋๋จธ์ง ํผ์์ฝ์ ๊น๋งฃ๊ฒ ์๊ณ ์์๋ ๊ฒ์ด๋ค. ๋ค์ ๊ธฐ์ต๋ฌ์ ๋, ์ด๋ฏธ ์ฝ์ ๋ณต์ฉํด์ผ ํ๋ ๊ธฐํ์ด ํ์ฉ ์ง๋๋ฒ๋ฆฐ ํ์๋ค. ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ฐ๋งํ ์์ ์ฌ๋ ค ๋ณต๋ถ๋ฅผ ์ฐ๋ค๋ฌ์๋ค. ๋ง์ ์ ๋ณด์๋ง์ ๋ค๋ฅธ ๋จ์์ ์์ด๋ฅผ ์์ ํ๋ค๋ ์ฌ์ค์ ์๊ฒ ๋ ํ๋ฅ ์ ์ผ๋ง๋ ๋ ๊น? ์ 3ํ ์์ ํ์ด ์๋ด ํ ๋ณ์, ์ ์์ฆ์ ์์ ์ฅ ํ์ธํฌ๊ฐ ์ฐ๋ถ์ธ๊ณผ ๋ณต๋์์ ์ค์ ์๊ธฐ ์ํด ๋ฐ๊ฑธ์์ ์ฎ๊ธฐ๊ณ ์์๋ค. ๋ชจํ์ด๋ฅผ ๋์ ๋ถ๊ณผ ๋ช ๋ฏธํฐ๋ฐ์ ๋จ์ด์ง์ง ์์ ๊ณณ์์ ์ต์ํ ๊ทธ๋ฆผ์๋ฅผ ๋ฐ๊ฒฌํ๋ค. ๋ง์ ์ฌ๋๋ค์ด ์ค๊ฐ๋ ๋ณ์ ๋ก๋น์์ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ํ์ฒด๋ง ๋ณด๊ณ ๋ ๋จ๋ฒ์ ์ ์ ์์๋ค. ์ญ์ผ๊ฐํ ๋ชธ๋งค์ ์ด์ธ๋ฆฌ๋ ๋ง์ถค ์ ์ฅ์ ๋จ์์ ์๋ฒฝํ๊ฒ ๋งค์น๋์๋ค. ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์กฐ๊ธ ์ ์นดํ์์ ํฌ์ฅํ ์ฝ์ฝ๋ ๋ฐํฌ๋ฅผ ๊ณ์ ์ ์ฌ์์๊ฒ ๊ฑด๋ธ๋ค. ๊ทธ์ ์์ ๋ผ์์ง ๋ฐ์ง๊ฐ ๋ณ์ ์ฐฝ๋ฌธ์ ๋ฐ์ฌ๋๋ ํ์ด์ ๋ง์ ์ ๋ํ ๋๋ถ์๊ฒ ๋น๋ฌ๋ค. ๊ฐ์ด์ด ์๋ ค์ค๋ ๋๋์ ์ ์จ ๋๋ฅธ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ์์ ์ ํผํ์ง ์๊ฒ ๋ค๊ณ ์ค์ค๋ก ๋ค์งํ๋ฉฐ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๊ณ์ ๋น๋นํ๊ฒ ์ ์ฌ์์ ์ผ๊ตด์ ํ์ธํ๊ธฐ ์ํด ๋์ ๋๋ฐ๋ก ๋ด๋ค. ๋ฐ๋ก ์ด๋, ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ๊ฐ์๊ธฐ ๊ณ ๊ฐ๋ฅผ ๋๋ฆฌ๊ณ ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฐ ์๋ ๋ฐฉํฅ์ ์ณ๋ค๋ณด๋ ๊ฒ์ด์๋ค. ๋ง์ฃผ์น ๋ ๋ ์ฌ์ด๋ก ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์ผ๊ตด์ ๋ถ์พํ ๊ธฐ์์ด ์ค์ณ ์ง๋๊ฐ๋ค. ํ์ธํฌ๋ ์ ์จ ๋ฏธ์ ์ง์ ์ผ๊ตด๋ก ๊ณ ๊ฐ๋ฅผ ๋๋์๋ค. ์ง๊ธ ์ด ์๊ฐ์ ๋ง๋จ์ด ๋จ์ํ ์ฐ์ฐ์ด๋ผ๊ณ ์น๋ถํ๊ณ ์ถ์๋ค. ํ์ง๋ง ๋๋ค์ ๋ฐ๋ ค์ค๋ ํ๊ตฌ์ญ์ง์ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ํฉ๊ธํ ํ์ฅ์ค๋ก ๋ฌ๋ ค๊ฐ๊ณ ์์ ๋ชจ๋ ๋น์๋ด๊ณ ๋์์ผ ์จ์ ๊ณ ๋ฅด๊ฒ ์ด ์ ์์๋ค. ํ์ฅ์ค๋ก ๋ฌ๋ ค์ฌ ๋, ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ฐ์งํ๊ณผ ๊ทธ์ ์ฝํผ๋ ๋ค์ ๋์ธ ํ์งํ์ ์ ํ ๊ธ์จ๋ฅผ ๋๋ํ ๋ณด์๋ค. ๋ ์ฌ๋์ด ๋์จ ๊ณณ์ ๋ฐ๋ก ์ฐ์ ๊ฒ์ฌ๋ฅผ ๋ฐ๋ ๊ณณ์ด์๋ค. ๋ ์ฌ๋์ ์๋ง ๊ฒฐํผ ์ ๋ถํฐ ๊ณํํ ์์ด๋ฅผ ์ํด ๊ฒ์ฌ๋ฅผ ๋ฐ์ผ๋ฌ ์จ ๊ฒ์ด๊ฒ ์ง. ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ์ผ๋ถ๋ฌ ์๊ฐ์ ๋ด์ด ๋ณ์์ ๋ฐฉ๋ฌธํ๋ค๋ ์ฌ์ค๊ณผ ์นดํ์ ๋ค๋ฌ ์ง์ ์ฝ์ฝ๋ ๋ฐํฌ๋ฅผ ํฌ์ฅํ ๊ฒ๊น์ง ์๊ฐํ์ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๋๋ค์ ๋ง์์ด ์ธ์ธํด ๋๋ ๊ฒ์ ๋๊ผ๋ค. ๋ฌผ๋ก ๊ทธ์ ์๋ด๊ฐ ๋ ์ฌ๋์๊ฒ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๋ชจ๋ ์ ์ ๊ณผ ์๊ฐ์ ์์๋ถ์ ๊ฒ์ด๋ค. ๊ทธ์ ์ผ๊ฑฐ์์ผํฌ์กฑ์ด ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฅผ ๋ํ๋ ๋ฐฉ์๊ณผ๋ ๋๋ฌด ๋น๊ต๊ฐ ๋์๋ค. ํ์ธํฌ์ ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ๋ฐฐ๋ ํํธ๋๋ก ์ง๋๋ ์ง๋ 3๋ ๋์, ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฐ ๋ฌด์จ ์์์ ์ฆ๊ฒจ ๋จน๊ณ ๋ฌด์์ ์ข์ํ๋์ง ์๊ณ ์๋์ง๋ ์์ฌ์ด ๋ค์๋ค. ์ด์ ๋ ์ด์ ์ ๊ฒฝ ์ฐ์ง ์์๋ ๋ ๋ฌธ์ ์ ๋ํด ๊น์ด ์๊ฐํ ์๊ฐ๋ ์๋์ง๋ ์์๋ค. ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ฑฐ์ธ ์์ ๋น์น ์ด์ทํ ์ผ๊ตด์ ๋ซ์ด์ง๊ฒ ์ณ๋ค๋ณด๊ณ ์ฌํธํก์ ํ๋๋ ํฐ์๋ก ์ ์ฃผ์๋ฅผ ๋ฆ๊ณ ๋์์ผ ํ์ฅ์ค ๋ฌธ์ ์ด๊ณ ๋์๋ค. ๋ฌธ์ ์ด์๋ง์ ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ์ธ๋ฉด๋ ์์ ๊ธฐ๋์ด ์๋ ๊ฒ์ ๋ฐ๊ฒฌํ๊ณ ๋ฏธ๊ฐ์ ๊น๊ฒ ์ฐํธ๋ฆฐ ๊ทธ์ ์๊ฐ๋ฝ ์ฌ์ด์ ๋ถ์ ๋ถ์ธ ๋ด๋ฐฐ๊ฐ ์์๋ค. ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์ด ๊ณณ์ ๋์๊ฐ ๋ง์์ ๋ค์ง ์์๋ค. ์ค๋ง, ๊ทธ์ ์ฝํผ๋ ๋ ํ์ฅ์ค์ ์๋ ๊ฑธ๊น? ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ณ ๊ฐ๋ฅผ ํน ์์ด๊ณ ์๋ฌด๊ฒ๋ ๋ณด์ง ๋ชปํ ์ฒ ์ฐ๊ธฐํ๋ค. ํ์ง๋ง ๋ณ์ ํ์ฅ์ค์ ์ธ๋ฉด๋๋ ํ ์ค๋ก ๋์ฌ ์์๊ณ ์์ ์ป์ผ๋ ค๋ฉด ๋ฐ๋์ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๊ณ์ ์ง๋๊ฐ์ผ๋ง ํ๋ค. ์์ ์ป์์ง ๋ง์ง ๊ณ ๋ฏผํ๊ณ ์์ ๋, ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์ฐจ๊ฐ์ด ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ๋ค๋ ค์๋ค. "์์ ํ์ด?" ์งง์ ๊ทธ์ ๋ฌผ์ ํ ๋ง๋์ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ฐ์ด์ด ์ ๋ฉํ๊ฒ ๋ด๋ ค์์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ์ ๋ฐ์์ ์ ์ฌํ ๊ด์ฐฐํ๋ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๋๋ต์ ๋ฃ์ง ์์๋ ์ ์ ์์๋ค. "๋๋ตํด!" ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฅผ ํฅํด ํ ๊ฑธ์ ํ ๊ฑธ์ ๋ค๊ฐ์๊ณ , ๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ์ข์์ง์๋ก ํ์ธํฌ๋ ์ฌ์ฅ์ด ๋์ฑ ๋น ๋ฅด๊ฒ ๋ฐ๋ ๊ฒ์ ๋๋ ์ ์์๋ค. ๋น์ฅ์ด๋ผ๋ ๊ทธ๋ ์ ๋ชฉ์ ์์ผ์ฅ ๊ฒ ๊ฐ์ ๊ธฐ์ธ์ ํ๋ ๋๋น. ๋ง์ฝ ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฐ ์์ ํ ๊ฒ์ด ์ฌ์ค์ด๋ผ๋ฉด, ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๋ฐ๋ก ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฅผ ์์ ์ค๋ก. "์๋์." ํ์ธํฌ๋ ํ๋ฆฌ๋ฅผ ๊ผฟ๊ผฟ์ด ํด๊ณ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๋ ๋์ ๋๋ฐ๋ก ์ณ๋ค๋ณด๋ฉฐ ๋๋ตํ๋ค. "๋ฐฐํ ๋๋ฌธ์ ์ฝ ๋ฐ์ผ๋ฌ ์์ด์." "๊ทธ๋? ํ์ง๋ง ์ํ ๋ด๊ณผ๋ ์ฌ๊ธฐ ์๋๋ฐ?" ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฐ ํ๋ ๋ง์ ๋ฏฟ์ง ์๋๋ค๋ ๋ฏ ๋์ ๊ฐ๋๊ฒ ๋จ๊ณ ์ถ๊ถํ๋ค. ํ์ธํฌ์ ์ผ๊ตด์๋ ์ธ์ธํ ๋ฏธ์๋ง ๋ฒ์ง ๋ฟ์ด์๋ค. ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์์ ์ด ๋์ฒด ์ผ๋ง๋ ์ซ์ ๊ฑธ๊น? "์ด๊ณณ ์๋ฆฌ๋ฒ ์ดํฐ์๋ ์ฌ๋์ด ์ ์ผ๋๊น์. ์ ๊ฐ ํ๋ ๋ง์ ๋ฏฟ๊ณ ์ถ์ง ์๋ ๊ฑฐ๋ผ๋ฉด, ๋ํ๋๊ป์ ์ ์ ํจ๊ป ์ฐ๋ถ์ธ๊ณผ ์ง์ฐฐ์ ๋ฐ์ผ๋ฉด ๋๊ฒ ๋ค์." ํ์ธํฌ๋ ํ์ ํ ์ ์์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์กด์ฌ๋ฅผ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์ ๋ ์ฝํผ๋ ์๊ฒ ์๋ฆฌ์ง ์์ ๊ฒ์ด๋ค. ํ์ธํฌ์ ์์๋๋ก ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์ค์๋ฅผ ํฐ๋จ๋ฆฌ๋๋ ๋ด๋ฐฐ๋ฅผ ์ฅ ์์ผ๋ก ๊ทธ๋ ์ ํฑ์ ์์ผ์ก์๋ค. ๊ทธ์ ์์ง์๊ฐ๋ฝ์ด ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์ ์ ์ ํ์ ๋ ๋จ๊ฑฐ์ด ๋ด๋ฐฐ๊ฐ ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์ผ๊ตด ๋ฐ๋ก ์์ผ๋ก ๋ค๊ฐ์๊ณ , ์๋ฆฌ์ ์ผ์ด๋ถ์ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ์ผ๊ตด์ ํ์ด ์ง๊น ๋๋ ค์ ๋ค. "๋ง์ฝ ์ง๊ธ ๋ด ์์์ ํ ๋ง์ด ๊ฑฐ์ง๋ง์ด๋ผ๋ฉด, ๊ทธ ์์ํ ๋๊ฐ๋ฅผ ์น๋ฅด๊ฒ ๋ ๊ฑฐ์ผ. ์ฐฉํ๊ฒ ๊ตด์ด์ผ์ง. ๋ด์ผ ์ถ๊ทผํด." ๊ทธ๋ฆฌ๊ณ ๋ ๊ฑฐ์น ๊ฒ ํ์ธํฌ์ ํฑ์ ๋์ ์ฃผ์๋ค. ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์์ด ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์ผ๊ตด์ ์ค์ณ ์ง๋๊ฐ ๋, ํฌ๋ฏธํ ํฅ์ ๋์๊ฐ ํ์ธํฌ์ ์ฝ๋ฅผ ์ฐ๋ ๋ค. ๋ฏ์ ํฅ์ ๋์์ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ์๋ ค์ค๋ ๊ฐ์ด์ ์์ผ์ก์๋ค. 3๋ ์ด๋ผ๋ ์๊ฐ ๋์, ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ๋ฌด์์ ์ซ์ดํ๋์ง ๋๊ตฌ๋ณด๋ค ์ ํ์ ํ๊ณ ์์๋ค. ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์ฌ์ ํฅ์ ๋์๋ฅผ ์ ์ผ ์ซ์ดํ๋ค. ํ์ง๋ง ์ง๊ธ์... ํ์ธํฌ๋ ์ฃผ๋จน์ ์์ผ์ฅ๊ณ ์ ์ ์ ๊ผญ ๊นจ๋ฌผ์๋ค. ๊ฒฐ๊ตญ ๋ถ๊ฐ๋ฅํ ๊ฑด ์์๋ค. ๋จ์ง ๊ทธ ๊ท์น์ ์ด๊ธธ ์ ์๋ ์ฌ๋๋ค๋ง ๊ฐ๋ฅํ ๊ฒ์ผ ๋ฟ. ๋ฉ์ด์ง๋ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๋ท๋ชจ์ต์ ์ณ๋ค๋ณด๋ฉฐ ํ์ธํฌ๊ฐ ๊ฒฐ์ฌํ ๋ฏ ์ ์ ์ด์๋ค. "๋ํ๋, ์ ํด์ฌํ๊ฒ ์ต๋๋ค." ๋ช ๋ฐ์ง ๋ผ์ง ๋ชปํ ๋จ์๊ฐ ๋ค์ ์๋ฆฌ์ ๋ฉ์ถฐ ์๋๋ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฅผ ๋์๋ณด๋ฉฐ ๋๋ฌผ์๋ค. "๋ฐฉ๊ธ ๋ญ๋ผ๊ณ ?" "ํด์ฌํ๊ฒ ์ต๋๋ค." ํ์ธํฌ๋ ์ด๋ฒ์ ์ข ๋ ์ฐจ๋ถํ๊ณ ํ๊ณ ํ ํ๋๋ก ๊ฐ์ ๋ง์ ๋ฐ๋ณตํ๋ค. ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๊ทธ์ ์ผ ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์ผ๊ตด์ ๋๋ฐ๋ก ์ณ๋ค๋ดค๊ณ ์ ์ ์๋ ๋น์๋ฅ๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๋ ๋ฏํ ๋ฏธ์๊ฐ ๊ฑธ๋ ค ์์๋ค. "ํ๋ชจ์์ฒ๊ฐ ๋ ์๊ฐ์ด์ผ?" ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๋ด๋ดํ๊ฒ ์ค๋ช ํ๋ค. "ํ๋ชจ์์ฒ๋ ๋์์ง ์๋ค์. ๋ง์ ์๋๊ฐ ์ค๋ ์ ์ ๊ฒฐํผ๊น์ง ์ฝ์ํ์ด์." "๊ทธ ๋จ์๊ฐ ๋ง์์ ๋ค์์ด?" ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๋ ์๋ฐ์ ์ด์๊ณ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ์ฌ์ฅ์ด ์ผ์ด๋ถ๋ ๊ฒ ๊ฐ์๋ค. ์์ฃผ ์ ๊น์ด๋๋ง ์์ ์ด ๋ค๋ฅธ ์ฌ๋๊ณผ ๊ฒฐํผํ๋ค๋ ์ฌ์ค์ ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ํ๋ฅผ ๋ด๊ณ ์๋ ๊ฒ์ด๋ผ๊ณ ๋ฏฟ์ ๋ปํ์ผ๋๊น. "๊ทธ ๋จ์๊ฐ ๋ ๋ง์กฑํ๊ฒ ํ ์ ์์ ๊ฒ ๊ฐ์?" ํ์ง๋ง ๋ง์ ํ๋ฉด ํ ์๋ก ๊ทธ์ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ์๋ ๋น์์์ด ํ๊ฐ๋ ๋ฌป์ด๋ฌ๋ค. "๊ทธ ๋จ์, ๋๋ ์ ์๋ ์ฌ๋์ด์ผ. ๋๋์ ์ด์ธ๋ฆฌ์ง ์์. ๊ทธ๋ฌ๋๊น ์ต๋ํ ๋นจ๋ฆฌ ๋๋ด." ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ์๋ฌด๋ ์ง ์๊ฒ ๋ด๋ฐฐ๋ฅผ ์ฌ๋จ์ด์ ๋ฒ๋ฆฌ๋ ๋ชจ์ต์ ๊ฐ๋งํ ์ง์ผ๋ดค๋ค. ๊ทธ์ ๋งํฌ๋ ํ์ฌ์์ ์ ๋ฌด๋ฅผ ๋งก๊ธธ ๋์ ๋ค๋ฆ์์ด ๋ด๋ดํ๊ณ ๋ ํ์จํ๋ค. ์์ ์ ๊ทธ๋ ์๋ค๋ฉด ๊ทธ์ ๋ฌต๋ฌตํ ๊ทธ์ ์ง์๋ฅผ ๋ฐ๋์ ๊ฒ์ด๋ค. ํ์ง๋ง, ์ง๊ธ์ ๋ ์ด์ ๊ทธ๋ฌ๊ณ ์ถ์ง ์์๋ค. ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์์กด์ฌ๋ ๋ฌต์ดํ๋ ๋จ์์ ๋ฐ์ ์ง๋ฐํ ํ์ฒด๋ ์์๋ณผ ์ ์๊ฒ ๋ณํ๋ ์์ ์ด ์ซ์๋ค. ์ฉ๊ธฐ๋ฅผ ๋ธ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ทธ์ ๋งํฌ๋ฅผ ํ๋ด ๋ด๋ฉฐ ๋น์๋ฅ๊ฑฐ๋ ธ๋ค. ์ฌ์ง์ด ์ ์ ๋ฏธ์๊น์ง ์ง์ผ๋ฉฐ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๋ ๋์ ๋๋ฐ๋ก ์ณ๋ค๋ดค๋ค. "ํ๋ฒ ๋์ ํด ๋ณด๊ณ ์ถ์ด์. ๋๊ฐ ์์์? ์์ธ๋ก ์๊ถํฉ์ด ์ ๋ง์์ง." ๊ทธ๋ฆฌ๊ณ ์ธ๋ฉด๋์์ ๋์ถฉ ์์ ์ป์ ๋ค, ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๊ฑฐ๋ค๋ ๋ณด์ง๋ ์๊ณ ๋ฉ์ด์ ธ ๊ฐ๋ค. ๋ณ์ ๊ฑด๋ฌผ์ ๋์๋ ์๊ฐ๊น์ง ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๋จ๋ฆฌ๋ ์์ ์ฃผ์ฒดํ ์ ์์๋ค. ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ๋๋ฌด ๋๋ ค์ ๋ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ์ฐ๋ถ์ธ๊ณผ ๊ฒ์ฌ๋ ๋ฐ์ง ๋ชปํ๋ค. ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๋น์๊ฐ ๋ ์๊ฐ๋ถํฐ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๋จ ํ ๋ฒ๋ ๊ทธ์ ๋ง์ ๋ฐ๋ฐํ๊ฑฐ๋ ๋ง๋๊พธํ ์ ์ด ์์๋ค. ์ค๋์ด ์ฒ์์ด์๋ค. ์์ ์ ์ด๋ฐ ํ๋์ด ์ด๋ค ํ๊ณผ๋ฅผ ์ด๋ํ ์ง ๋ชฐ๋๋ค. ํ์ง๋ง ํ ๊ฐ์ง๋ง์ ํ์คํ๋ค. ์ง๊ธ ๋น์ฅ ํ์ฌ๋ฅผ ๊ทธ๋ง๋๊ณ ๊ฐ์งํ๊ณผ ์ต๋ํ ๋ฉ๋ฆฌ ๋จ์ด์ ธ ์ง๋ด์ผ ํ๋ค. ์์ํ ์ง๋ ๊ฒ ๊ฐ์ง ์์๋ ์๊ฐ์ด ์ง๋๊ณ ๋ค์ ๋ ์์นจ์ด ์ฐพ์์๋ค. ํ์ธํฌ๋ ์์ค ๊ฑฐ์ธ ์์์ ์ถ๊ทผํ ์ง ๋ง์ง ํ์ฐธ์ ๋ง์ค์๋ค. 2์๊ฐ ํ, ์์ ์ฌ์ง์๋ฅผ ๋ ํ์ธํฌ๊ฐ ๊ฐ์งํ ์ฌ๋ฌด์ค ๋ฌธ์ ์กฐ์ฌ์ค๋ฝ๊ฒ ๋ ธํฌํ๊ณ ๋ค์ด๊ฐ ์ง๋ฌด์ฑ ์ ์์ ๊ณต์ํ๊ฒ ๋ด๋ ค๋์๋ค. "๋ํ๋, ์ฌ์ธํด ์ฃผ์ธ์." ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ทธ๊ฐ ์๋ ์ชฝ์ผ๋ก ์ฌ์ง์๋ฅผ ๋ด๋ฐ๋ฉฐ ์ ์คํ๊ฒ ๋งํ๋ค. ํ์ธํฌ๊ฐ ๊ทธ์ ์์ ๋ฉ์ถฐ ์ค ๋๊น์ง ์๋ฅ์์ ๋์ ๋ผ์ง ์์๋ ๊ทธ๊ฐ ์ฌ์ง์๋ผ๋ ๋ง์ ์์ฐ๊ฑฐ๋ ธ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฐ ์ง์ง ์ฌ์ง์๋ฅผ ์ ์ถํ ์ค ๋ชฐ๋๋ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๋ฏฟ์ ์ ์๋ค๋ ํ์ ์ผ๋ก ํ์ธํฌ๋ฅผ ๋ ธ๋ ค๋ดค๋ค. ์์ ์ ๋ซ์ด์ง๊ฒ ๋ฐ๋ผ๋ณด๋ ๊น๊ณ ๊ฒ์ ๋๋์์ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ์ฌ์ฅ์ด ๋นจ๋ฆฌ ๋ฐ๋ฉฐ ๋ชธ์ด ์์ฐ์์ฐํด ๋๋ ๊ฒ์ ๋๊ผ๋ค. "๊ฒฐ์ ํ์ด?" ๊ทธ์ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๋ ๋ฌด๊ฒ์ง๋ ๊ฐ๋ณ์ง๋ ์๊ฒ ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์จ๋ชธ์ ๊ฐ์๋ค. "๋ค. ๊ฒฐ์ ํ์ต๋๋ค." ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๋จ๋ฆฌ๋ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๋ฅผ ๊ฐ์ถ๋ฉฐ ์ต๋ํ ์นจ์ฐฉํ๊ฒ ๋๋ตํ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ฌ์ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ํผ์ ์์์ ํฐ๋จ๋ฆฌ๊ณ ๊ฒ์ง๋ก ๊ฐ๋ณ๊ฒ ์ฑ ์์ ๋๋๋ ธ๋ค. "์ด๋ฆฌ ์." ์ ์ ์ ๊ผญ ๊นจ๋ฌธ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ์๋ฆฌ์์ ๊ฟ์ ๋ ํ์ง ์์๋ค. "ํด์ฌํ๊ณ ์ถ์ง ์์?" ๋์์ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์ํ์ ์ธ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ์ฌ๋ฌด์ค์ ์ธ๋ ธ๊ณ ์์ผ๋ก ๊น์ ํ์จ์ ๋ด์ฐ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๊ฒฝ๊ณ ๊ฐ๋ํ ๋ชจ์ต์ผ๋ก ๊ทธ์๊ฒ ๊ฐ๊น์ด ๋ค๊ฐ๊ฐ๋ค. ์ต์ํ๊ณ ๋ ํฌ๊ทผํ ๊ทธ์ ํฅ์๊ฐ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฅผ ๊ฐ์์ง๋ง ์จ ๋งํ๋ ๋๋์ ์ง์ธ ์ ์์๋ค. ํ์ธํฌ์ ์กฐ์ฌ์ค๋ฌ์ด ๋ชจ์ต์ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์ฐธ์ง ๋ชปํ๊ณ ์์์ ํฐ๋จ๋ ธ๋ค. ๊ฐ์งํ์ ํ์์๋ ์๋ฆฌ๋ฅผ ๋ด์ด ์์ง ์๋ ํธ์ด์๋ค. ๊ธฐ๊ปํด์ผ ์ ๊ผฌ๋ฆฌ๋ง ๋น์ค๋ฌํ ์ฌ๋ฆฌ๊ณ ๋ฏธ์๋ง ์ง์ ๋ฟ. ๊ทธ๋ฌ๋ ๊ทธ์ ์ผ๊ตด์ ๋ฒ์ง ๋ฏธ์๋ ๊ทธ์ ์ธ์งข์ ๊ธฐ๋ถ์ ์ค๋ช ํ๊ณ ๊ทธ๊ฒ์ ๊ณง ๋ค๊ฐ์ฌ ํญํ์ ์ ์ผ์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์๋ชฉ์ ์์ผ์ก์ ๊ฐ์งํ์ด ๋ ๊น๋ฐํ ์ฌ์ด์ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฅผ ์ง๋ฌด์ฑ ์ ์์ ๋๋ฅด๊ณ ๊ฐ๋งํ ๋ด๋ ค๋ค๋ดค๋ค. ์๋ฐฑ ์์ฒ์ต ๊ท๋ชจ์ ๊ณ์ฝ ์๋ฅ๊ฐ ๋ฐ๋ฅ์ ๋จ์ด์ก์ง๋ง ์๋ฌด๋ ์ ๊ฒฝ ์ฐ์ง ์์๋ค...... ...... ==== 3๋ ๋์ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๋น์๋ก, ๋น๋ฐ ์ ์ธ์ผ๋ก ๊ณ์ ์์ด์๋ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ๋จ์๊ฐ ๊ฒฐํผํ๋ค๋ ์์๊ณผ ํจ๊ป ์ด ๊ด๊ณ๋ ๋๋ด๊ณ ์ถ์๋ค. ํ์ง๋ง... ์ ๊ณ์ ๋ถ์ก๊ณ ๋์์ฃผ์ง ์๋ ๊ฑธ๊น? ์ด์ด์ง๋ ๊ฐ์งํ์ ๋ถ๋๋ฌ์๊ณผ ์ ๋งค ๊ฐ๋ํ ๋๊ธธ์ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ํท๊ฐ๋ฆฌ๊ธฐ ์์ํ๋ฉฐ ์ ์ ์์ ์ ์ ํ๊ณผ ๋ง์์ ์ ์ ์๊ฒ ๋์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ฐ๋ฐ ๊ทธ ๋. ํ์ธํฌ๊ฐ ์์ ์ ํ๋ค. ์ฌํด์ง๋ ์ ๋ง์, ๊ฐ์งํ์ ์ง์ฐฉ์, ๊ทธ๋ฆฌ๊ณ ํ์์ค๋ฌ์ด ์๋ง์ ์๋ฐ์ ํ์ธํฌ๋ ์ ์ ์ ๋ง์์ผ๋ก ๋น ์ ธ๋ค๊ฒ ๋์๊ณ ๊ฒฐ๊ตญ ๊ณ ํต์์์ ์ฌ๋ผ์ก๋ค...... ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ์ด๋ป๊ฒ ์ค์ค๋ก๋ฅผ ๊ตฌ์ํ๊ณ ๋ฐ๊ฒฉํ ๊ฒ์ธ๊ฐ์? ์์ผ๋ก๋ ์ด๋ค ์ ๊ฐ๊ฐ ํผ์ณ์ง๊น์? ์์ ํ ์คํ ๋ฆฌ๋ฅผ ์ฆ๊ธฐ๊ณ ์ถ์ผ์๋ค๋ฉด ์๋์ ๋ฒํผ์ ๋๋ฌ App์ ๋ค์ด๋ก๋ ๋ฐ์ผ์ธ์. (App์ ์คํ ์ ์๋์ผ๋ก ์ด๋ ์ค์ธ ์ด ์ํ์ผ๋ก ์คํตํฉ๋๋ค) &9& | LEARN_MORE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/56913436-fb_contact-k | Loving reading | https://www.facebook.com/61567813351718/ | 431 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.moboreader.net | VIDEO | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/56913436-fb_contact-kra168_2-1115-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=124213&accid=1129349344803415&rawadid=120211454152460284 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/467402451_452285087888828_5498465010457693605_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EEbkY-RiIhkQ7kNvgESYLY7&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=APVOU2jsZdBCWkjInTjK42Y&oh=00_AYC6Gg8tCgGWAY8K2GBh6lkzAHakvmIvSmXXLPz67CApZQ&oe=674F014D | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Loving reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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๐ Act Now to Stop the Damage | โจ Tired of Knee Pain Holding You Back? โจ ๐Experience the first step to a pain-free life with our comprehensive Knee Pain Assessment! โจ Whatโs included: โ Thorough Examination โ X-Rays โ Personalized Treatment Plan โ Trial Treatment Session ๐ก Find out if our cutting-edge knee pain therapy is right for YOU. ๐ก No more masking the pain with medications or considering surgery. Let us show you a safe, non-invasive solution with a proven track record of success! | LEARN_MORE | https://landing.calldrkelly.com/m/knee-pain | Kelly Chiropractic Knee & Neuropathy Center | https://www.facebook.com/CallDrKelly/ | 779 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | calldrkelly.com/knee-pain | DCO | {{product.description}} | https://landing.calldrkelly.com/m/knee-pain | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/468615896_545525685041162_5455256522583283688_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=M1Z2-dXZRnQQ7kNvgH7Xr-u&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AWla7RR-uelt21bBaaEbr7o&oh=00_AYDn17YhKGaisFlESuh3UHID9KD_aP7uvlfIOWUnff9nwg&oe=674ECEF6 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Kelly Chiropractic Knee & Neuropathy Center | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-11-28 19:45 | active | 1936 | 0 |
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๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | February in Sureton City was wet. It had been drizzling throughout the day, leaving the roads damp. The cold wind brought with it the rain, making Freya Somner shiver. She held an umbrella and curled up while crouching before the entrance to the city hall. It was already 5:00 pm. Would that person come? She was worried as she thought about her grandfather, Neil Somner, who lay sick in bed. Had he finished his IV drip? Would he need to use the restroom? Had Thomas Talbot already gone home? She looked up and scanned the empty streets. The city hall would close for the day at 5:30 pm. She would just grit her teeth and wait for another half an hour, then. If that person didn't show up, she could blame him and tell Neil and Thomas that he'd stood her up. It wasn't because she didn't want to marry him or anything. Neil was sick. As a traditional medicine practitioner, he knew his time was running out. Freya was his only concernโshe would be alone in the world once he passed. He'd contacted Thomas, whom he'd saved many years ago. Thomas had promised Neil that he would do everything in his power to help if Neil ever needed it. All Neil had to do was make the call. Years had passed since then, but the call had miraculously gone through. Thomas had shown up the very next day. Neil had explained the situation to him and asked Thomas to help care for Freya in the future. Thomas had generously said, "It's only natural for me to care for her. How about thisโI have many grandsons, so I'll have one of them marry Fae as a way of repaying you. That way, she won't be alone." Neil had agreed, leaving Freya with no room to object. She didn't want to marryโshe could take care of herself and was fine alone. She was currently staying at the dormitory her university had prepared for graduate students. She even had 2,300 a month as financial aid. Eating at the hospital's and university's cafeterias was cheapโshe only needed to spend 15 a day on food. However, Neil had insisted. He felt that it was hard to predict the future, and he would only be able to rest in peace once he saw that marriage certificate. That way, he'd be able to face Freya's parents in the afterlife with no regrets. Freya's parents had died after falling off a cliff. They'd been searching for a herbal catalyst to save Thomas back in the day. It had rained that day, just as it had on this day. Freya had seen her parents' corpses entwined with one another, their hands still clutching the herbal catalyst. After her parents passed away, she and Neil depended on each other for survival. It was on that day that she'd suddenly grown up. She'd studied hard and skipped grades, sitting for her SATs at 17 years old. Then, she'd gotten into Sureton University's medical faculty, joining the seven-year integrated bachelor's and master's program. She only had two years to go before she could graduate and officially start working. Things were starting to look good. Then, Neil had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. It was taking his life away. The screeching of brakes pulled Freya out of her reverie. She looked up at the offroad vehicle before her. It was painted a military green and covered in mud, and the tires were soiled. It was clear the car had ventured through the mountains. The door opened, blocking the man's face from her view. Still, she'd gotten a glimpse of his chiseled features. His bushy brows, tall nose, and deep-set eyes formed a handsome, honest face. With the door open, all Freya could see was the army pants enveloping his long legs and the leather boots he wore. It was a cold day, yet he only wore an olive green T-shirt. He stepped away from the car. Before Freya could take a closer look at his face, he approached her, stopping before her so his boots were level with her eyes. "Are you Freya Somner?" he asked, his voice deep and somewhat daunting. "Yeah." "Let's get married, then." He turned and headed into the city hall. Chapter 2 Freya wanted to stand up, but she'd been crouching for so long that her legs had gone numb. "What's wrong?" the man asked. "My legs have gone numb." She was lifted off her feet as soon as the words were out of her mouth. An unfamiliar scent enveloped her, and she felt her face burn. The man placed her on the seat before the counter. "Get your identification." She kept her head lowered as she obediently placed the things on the counter. "Daniel Talbot," the staff said. "That's me," the man said. "Freya Somner." "Here," Freya said. She looked up at the staff. The staff looked at the identification she held, then at Freya. The latter's eyes were spirited but also carried a hint of naivety. Freya was only 22, but Daniel was already 28. He'd even carried her in. That made the staff suspect whether Freya had been forced into this. She asked, "Are you here to get married at your own will?" "Yes, I am," Freya said. "Alright, then. Fill up these forms, please." At 5:30 pm, Freya and Daniel walked out of the city hall. Freya looked down at her marriage certificate. She'd gone from being single to married once the staff stamped the certificate. She'd married a man she'd met for the first time without even dating him. The whole thing had only taken a matter of minutes. Daniel stopped and looked at her. "Where are you headed now?" She had kept her head down and hadn't been paying attention to the distance between them. She walked right into his chest. Pain spread through her, starting from her nose. Tears welled in Freya's eyes. How could his chest be as hard as a wall? She clamped a hand over her nose and looked at him tearily. "I'm going back to the hospital." He was so tall that her eyes were only level with his chest. It was incredibly muscular and looked just like the diagrams she'd seen in her medical texts. "Get in the car," he said. Freya struggled to open the door. She tugged it with all her strength, but it didn't budge. Daniel saw her from the driver's seat. He waved at her, gesturing for her to back up. Then, he opened the door from inside. "Which hospital are you going to?" he asked. "The county tumor hospital, the one at Percat Street. Thanks." Freya obediently settled in her seat. "Your seatbelt," he said. She put it on, and he started the car. She noticed that his hands and arms were tanned, with protruding veins. He oozed strength and power. Suddenly, Freya's stomach rumbled. The sound was magnified in the silent car. She instinctively held her stomach, her face turning beet red. What was wrong with her? Why did she keep embarrassing herself? Was there something about her that made her incompatible with Daniel? Her stomach continued to rumble for a while. Finally, the car stopped. Freya thought they'd arrived at the hospital and moved to open the door. Then, she looked out and said, "We're not at the hospital." Daniel had already gotten out of the car, though. He headed to a fruit store without looking back at her. Soon, he returned with a bag full of fruits. "I don't know what your grandfather likes, so I bought a little of everything." "He can't eat anything. Doctor's orders." Daniel looked at her, perhaps because she sounded too calm. Only then did Freya notice how deep-set his eyes were. There was a hint of dominance in them. "You have them, then." He placed the bag on her lap. "Have some to tide the hunger. I'm in a rush." Freya wondered whether he was showing his concern for her. A wave of warmth surged in her as she peeled a banana. It was sweet. โฆ The nurse had just removed Neil's IV drip when Freya and Daniel arrived at the ward. Thomas took the marriage certificates from Daniel and Freya and held them before Neil. He said happily, "Look at this, Neil. They're official marriage certificates with the stamps and all. They're genuine!" Neil smiled and nodded weakly. "That's great. I won't have anything to worry about anymore." "Come closer so Neil can see you, Dan," Thomas said. Daniel stepped forward. "Hi, Grandpa." Neil's smile widened. "Hiโฆ" He held Daniel's hand and said, "I'll leave Freya in your hands from now on. She's a softie but is stubborn on the inside. I hope you'll be more tolerant of her and take the time to explain your thoughts to her if you two ever get into an argument." Tears streamed down Freya's face when she heard this. Daniel said, "I will, Grandpa." "Don't worry, Neil. We won't mistreat Freya. Daniel has property and a carโI'll have him show Freya around his place right now. She can move in when she's free," Thomas said. Freya forgot about crying and stared at Thomas in shock when she heard that. Didn't she and Daniel only have to get married? Why did they even have to live together? "Go on, then. It's still light out, so you can see what the place is like," Neil said. Daniel and Freya headed to his place under Thomas' urging. Chapter 3 Daniel's apartment was in Sureton City's central commercial area. It was an expensive area with good infrastructureโthe medical and education systems were well-established. The residential area was right next to Sureton City's largest park. Freya looked at the minimalist, almost stark apartment. The marble coffee table was covered in a layer of dust. "This is your home?" "Yeah." Daniel also saw the dust. "I don't usually stay here." That didn't make sense at all. Why would anyone not live in their own home? Freya couldn't understand it. "There's a card here that you can use to pay for the utilities." He opened a drawer in the TV cabinet to show her. "If anything needs fixing, you can speak to the management office. "I'll have someone clean up the place later. There are two rooms, so you can pick whichever one you want. Feel free to use the study as wellโฆ" Freya observed the place. It was well renovated but showed no signs of being lived in. There weren't even any plates or utensils around. "What am I to you?" she suddenly asked. "My wife." "But I feel like your mistress," she said boldly. She didn't know whether Daniel had a girlfriend or anythingโperhaps he'd only married her due to Thomas' pressure. Otherwise, he wouldn't have made her wait a whole afternoon for him, only arriving right before the city hall closed for the day. "What are you getting at?" Daniel asked. "I'm fine with getting a divorce if you already have a partnerโour grandfathers have seen the marriage certificates, anyway. I don't want to inadvertently end up as a homewrecker." She respected the elderly but wouldn't do anything immoral just to comply with Neil's and Thomas' wishes. Daniel understood now. "I'm single. I usually stay at the military camp in the mountains." Freya recalled his offroad vehicle and the mud on it. That, coupled with his outfit, made her realize just who he was. "I'm sorry for misunderstanding you." "It's fine. I'll take you back to the hospital nowโyou can move in here whenever it's convenient for you." "What about you?" she blurted. Then, she disdained herself for asking. What did his matters have to do with her? "I need to head back after this. There's an urgent mission I need to handle." That was the last thing Daniel said to her. โฆ Shortly after Daniel left, Neil's condition took a turn for the worse, and a new semester started. Freya bustled back and forth between the university and the hospital daily. On days when Neil felt better, he could even hold Freya's hand and reminisce with her. Neither of them mentioned that rainy night, though. He kept telling her that life was long and that she had to live well independently. However, he also told her she couldn't expect to do everything herself. She had to give in occasionally. Daniel looked like a good man, and they had to communicate with each other. They had to understand each otherโฆ Neil said many things. Freya wanted to object to everything and tell him that none of that mattered. She wanted him to know that she only wanted to spend her life with him in a small town called Floriver Town. She wanted to read medical texts and pick herbs with him. However, as a doctor, she was rational enough to know there was no chance of them ever returning to that life. The reports and data she saw every day were enough to tell her that Neil's condition was deteriorating. She cried almost daily throughout that month but hid it well. Neil never noticed. One day, white clouds floated in the blue sky. Freya drew the curtains, allowing the sunlight to stream into the room. Neil was in good spirits. "The weather is so nice today, Fae. Maybe you should take me off my oxygen tube now." He sounded calm, but Freya faltered while clipping his nails. She acted like she hadn't heard him and moved on to the next finger. "I can't take it anymore, Fae. I'm on drug every day, but it still hurts so bad. I'm begging you, okay?" His plea made Freya's nose prickle. Tears rolled down her face and landed on the floor, fading within seconds. Neil was a proud and strong man who'd never begged anyone in his life. Nowโฆ It looked like she really had to let him go. She slowly shut her eyes, sounding choked up as she said, "Okay. I'll get a doctor after I'm done clipping your nails." "The weather is so nice today that I feel so much more relaxed," Neil said. He lifted a hand with difficulty to caress her head one last time. It reminded her of how he'd praised her whenever she could memorize the things she'd read in the medical texts. After Freya signed the necessary documents, the doctor removed Neil's oxygen tube. She stood by his bedside and held his hand until his body became devoid of warmth. Thomas helped her with Neil's funeral, after which he urged her to move into Daniel's apartment. Chapter 4 Two years passed in the blink of an eye. "There's no time to eat, Dr. Somner. We're being dispatched for a house call." Freya was in a hospital's emergency room. When she heard the nurse, Jade Winton, call her, she put a folder over her unfinished instant mac and cheese and left the doctor's lounge. "Where's Dr. Wood?" she asked while wearing a mask. She hurried to catch up with Jade. "He's accompanying Lena for a prenatal check. I've called him, and he's on his way." Jade grabbed a first-aid kit and an extra bag of gauze and bandages. She handed them to Freya. "What's the situation? Why do we need so many bandages and gauze?" "A luxury jewelry store was robbed. The store's staff called the police, but the robbers discovered them and took ten staff hostage. We're being dispatched to provide medical assistance," Jade said. She told Freya everything she knew, then added, "Don't be rash later. Leave everything to Dr. Wood." "Got it. Thanks, Jade." Freya's mentor, Jason Wood, arrived at the same time as Freya and Jade. He was a tall, skinny man whose hairline was receding. He'd come from a prenatal check with his wife, Lena Johnson, and had already changed into his uniform. It made him look particularly spirited. "What's the situation?" he asked as he got into the car. "A jewelry store's been robbed. The robbers are armed," Jade said. Silence descended upon the car. They didn't know what they were facing but had to go at it regardless. Medicine knew no borders, and all lives were equal in worth. They had to save lives as long as they were at risk. When Freya and the others arrived, the police had already secured the scene. A crowd consisting of spectators and staff from various media outlets gathered behind the police line, surrounding the place and making it hard for anyone to get through. Police cars and vehicles belonging to a SWAT team were parked outside the jewelry store. There were also three buses with the windows tinted black. Freya followed Jason out of the car. A man who looked like an administrator hurried over to them, looking anxious. "The robbers need a doctor in there to save their comrade. Which one of you two will go in?" Freya looked at the jewelry store. It had three floors and was a corner lot with an expansive view. A mall was behind it, which meant it probably had more than one exit. "I'll go," Jason said, dragging Freya out of her reverie. She gave him a disagreeable look. "No way. I'll go, Dr. Wood. You have parents and children to care for, and Lena's conceived with your second child. You can't go in there." "You can't, either. You're inexperienced." Jason's attitude was firm. "The situation is complicated. I'm the only one who can head in there." Freya didn't argue with him. She turned to the administrator and volunteered. "I'll go, sir. I've passed the medical board exam and can practice independently. I don't have any dependents or relatives to care for." He looked at her. She was young and so nervous that she clenched her fists, but her expression was calm. She was bold, but her courage needed some training. "You can go, then. We don't know the situation inside, so we can only act when the Falcon Strike Unit arrives. All you need to do when you get in there is to save whoever is injured. Drag things out for as long as possible while ensuring your safety and wait for help." "Understood, sir." Freya wore her medical cap and gave herself a mental pep talk. "Freyaโฆ" Jason started. "I have to gain experience since I don't have it, Dr. Wood. You have to give me a chance," she said. That was what medicine was like. One had to be bold and careful while constantly defeating one's old self. That way, one would only become a better version of oneself. Jason knew what Freya was like. She'd met various people when treating patients. When some of them criticized or insulted her, she wouldn't take it lying down. Her retorts left much to be desired, though. For instance, if a patient said she was incapable and that a doctor online had told them this and that, she would say, "I'll leave, then. You can ask your online doctor to treat you." Once, someone had shouted at her, saying she was useless. She'd clapped back, calling that person the useless one. "Do you guys have a bulletproof vest or something? Give one to her." Jason knew nothing he said would change Freya's mind. The administrator gave one of his subordinates a look. A member of the SWAT team brought a bulletproof vest over. Freya took her doctor's coat off and put the bulletproof vest on over her T-shirt. Then, she put her uniform on. Chapter 5 Jade handed Freya the first-aid kit before hanging the stethoscope from her neck. "You're just going to ignore everything I told you before we came here, aren't you? You're bound to get into trouble if you continue like this." "No one is more suitable than me, Jade," Freya said calmly. "It's not like the military region's general hospital lacks doctors. If you turn them down, they'll arrange for someone else to come." "But it's too far away. They'll take at least 30 minutes to arrive. That doesn't conform to the principles of pre-hospitalization emergency care." Jade was one of the emergency room's most experienced nurses, so she knew Freya was right. It was the only thing they could do under the circumstances. The administrator held a loudspeaker and shouted toward the store, "The doctor is coming. Open the door." A hoarse voice rang out as soon as the words were out of his mouth. "Put the first-aid kit on the ground and turn in a circle. Then, take everything out of the first-aid kit and lay them on the ground." Freya did as told. She'd just placed the final tool on the ground when the hoarse voice rang out again. "Put the things back in and come inside." Freya packed everything back. She was about to enter the store when she felt a cool breeze. Curious, she looked in the direction it had come. A helicopter was hovering in midair in one of the jewelry store's blind spots. A tall figure in camouflage slid down the rope and made a smooth landing. It happened in seconds. Freya stared at the man, finding his figure incredibly familiar. He wore a black mask, and his sharp eyes flitted past her. Then, he hid behind the wall. Another team member landed behind him. "Come in," the hoarse voice urged loudly. He sounded impatient. Freya knew she had to enter the store since these people had yet to infiltrate it. Once she understood that, she didn't hesitate to head inside. As soon as she pushed open the door, she smelled the metallic scent of blood. Suddenly, someone grabbed her by the neck and roughly dragged her inside. Then, he flung her onto the floor and commanded, "Save him." She looked at the man on the floor. His mask, shaped like a pig's head, had been thrown aside. He looked ashen while struggling to breathe and had cyanosis of the nail bed. These were all signs of a lack of oxygen. Freya checked him and concluded that he was having an asthma attack. His throat had swelled up, leading to breathing difficulties. She searched his bag while muttering, "Where's the inhaler?" Asthma patients would bring their inhalers when they were out, but she didn't find one in his bag. "What are you looking for?" a man in a mask shaped like a dog's head asked. "His inhaler," she said. "He doesn't have one. Do a cricothyrotomy on him right now." Freya was taken aback. "How are you related to him? You know how to save him?" Suddenly, he pressed a gun to her forehead. "Shut up if you don't want to die. Just do as I say!" The iciness of the metal made Freya's heart clench. Her mind went blank for a second, and she couldn't think. "Hurry up!" He kicked her shoulder. The pain made her snap to her senses. She forced herself to calm down and took a deep breath before commencing anatomical positioning and sterilization. Then, she inserted a thick injection needle into the cricothyroid membrane. The process didn't take long, and the man gradually started looking better. Suddenly, a black thing landed not far from Freya. Before she realized what it was, a few more followed. The inside of the store was quickly filled with smoke, and people started yelling. The alarm went off. Freya wanted to take advantage of the chaos to hide, but a hand wrapped around her neck. A gun was pressed to her forehead, and someone snarled, "You're coming with me." Chapter 6 The man dragged Freya to a secluded corner to hide. The cold feeling against her temple made her compliant. Her palms grew sweaty as she stood there, and she could hear her heart racing. No matter how nervous or scared she was, she could only place her faith in the Falcon Strike Unit and tightly hold the needle in her hand. A few minutes later, red lights flashed at them. The man dragged Freya out of their hiding spot. Before she could even see what was happening, she heard a muffled groan behind her. Then, there was a thump, and the robber's hand fell before her. She was still lost when a team of three surrounded her. A familiar voice said, "Take her out, Rabbit." "Roger, Falcon." This voice belonged to a woman. Rabbit, or Loren Smith, turned to Freya. "Come with me." Freya turned to look at the familiar man while following Loren out. He glanced at her while walking up the stairs, and his sharp eyes matched the ones in her memory. She asked Loren, "Is the person you called Falcon Daniel Talbot?" Loren faltered. Then, she continued walking out while observing their surroundings. She didn't respond to Freya's question, but Freya knew she was right. After leaving the jewelry store, the situation outside left no room for Freya to be pensive. She threw herself into workโthe jewelry store's staff had more or less been injured. Jason was rescuing the most critically injured ones, so she had to handle those who were only bruised or scraped. The injured staff came and went as she stopped the bleeding, cleaned wounds, and bandaged them. "Freya." She looked up in the middle of stopping a patient's bleeding to see black leather boots before her. Then, she raised her head to find Daniel standing before her. She looked away and continued with her work. "Yes?" "Help me clean this up." He'd taken his mask off, his tanned face unreadable. It had been two years since they'd last seen each other. Now that they were reunited, Freya still couldn't help feeling a little scared of him. Based on what she remembered, he was a little domineering, and he spoke and acted brusquely. "I'm almost done here." She picked up the pace and recorded the time. Then, she called out to Jade, who was somewhere behind her, "I'm done with the last one, Jade. They can be sent to the hospital now." She turned back to Daniel. "Have a seat." She sterilized her hands and scanned him. There didn't seem to be any wounds on him, so she asked, "Where's your injury?" "The side of my abdomen." He lifted his shirt, revealing the bandage around his waist. Freya crouched before him, finding that the bandage had already been stained with blood. She removed it and looked at the stitches on the neat woundโit was a knife wound. He asked, "How have you been for the past two years?" "Not too bad." "I was on a mission abroad when your grandfather passed. I've only just returned." Freya faltered. Daniel was explaining why he had missed Neil's funeral. Her voice remained calm as she said, "I understand." They didn't speak anymore after that. Freya didn't ask about the wound, merely cleaning it and bandaging it again. She stood up and took off her gloves, throwing them into the medical waste bin. "You'll have to be careful with your wound for some time. It'll take longer for you to recover if you keep reopening it." "Thanks," he said. "You're welcome." Their conversation was polite and distant. "This is yours, right?" Daniel suddenly held out a sandalwood bracelet with an emerald pendant in the middle. Freya's face was carved on itโit didn't look much like her, though. It was a bracelet her father had made for her. "Yes, it is. Thanks." She reached out for it. Her fingers brushed against his palm as she took the bracelet from him, making her heart skip a beat. She immediately retracted her hand. "I'm leaving." Daniel stood up. He straightened his shirt and returned to his unit. Freya watched as the helicopter started up. The blades spun, lifting the aircraft into the air. Then, it flew away. "Let's go, Dr. Somner. We're taking a police car back," Jade called. Freya snapped to her senses. The helicopter was no longer in sight. All that was left was a vortex cloud left from its tail. She tightened her grip on the bracelet and packed everything up. Then, she ran to Jade with the first-aid kit and medical waste bag in hand. โฆ After the incident, Jason requested that she be placed under counseling and given a month off. Freya returned to work after only three days at home, though. "Go home and rest," he said. "I need to do something with my hands, Dr. Wood." Jason pressed a hand to his forehead and threw her a pair of gloves. "Go to the debridement room and change the dressing for the patients there. You're not allowed to go on house calls or dispatches in the future." "Why?" 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