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Yes | 2024-11-27 19:40 | active | 1932 | 0 |
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๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | After six years, Stella Richard finally came back this familiar city. She walked out of the airport and hailed a taxi. When the taxi moved, all the memories she had tried to forget over the years began to flood her mind... Stella shook her head, chasing those thoughts away. This time, she hadnโt come back to dwell on old, useless memories. She was back because her boss had asked her to return. He told her that their company was at a dead end, and he wanted her to come back and solve the crisis. At first, Stella didnโt want to come, but after some thought, she decided to return... Six years ago, her boss had helped her during the most difficult time of her life, and she wanted to repay the favor... As for everything else, she no longer cared... At the Company... As Stella arrived, she noticed that most of the employees were engaged in a lively discussion. As she walked by, snippets of conversation reached her ears. "I heard that there are so many companies who want to buy our company." "Really! That means weโll have a new boss." "I just hope that our new boss should be good-looking, like a Korean drama CEO." "Hey! Do you know whoโs going to buy the company?" Stella heard their chatter but didnโt care about the gossip. She knew these people didnโt actually care about who would buy the company or for what price. They just wanted to gossip. But she... She cared... and she was here to secure a good deal for her company. "Of course, itโll be Kingstonโs, the RK Group. Who else in the city is powerful enough to challenge them?" Stella, who had been about to continue walking, stopped in her tracks. A name, both familiar and unfamiliar, reached her ears. "The Kingstons..." "RK Group..." Suddenly, memories Stella had locked away began to surge like a storm. Her mind was filled with those memories like a flood. Stella felt dizzy. It was as if she were still trapped in that RK mansion, surrounded by cold walls. Stella had thought she had long forgotten about him, but it seemed that it was just her illusion. [Flashback] Six Years Ago... In the RK Mansion... Stella walked out of the gate inside the living room. But her expression was somber. She moved as if in a daze. "Madam, what happened to you? Why do you look so pale and weak?" The one who spoke was Mia. She was working for Kingston's for years and always treated Stella like her daughter. Seeing her pale face and weak demeanor, Mia was worried. "Mia... Donโt worry, Iโm fine. Itโs just..." Stella glanced at the reports in her hand and said, "I havenโt had my period for two months, and when I went to the hospital..." She didnโt finish her sentence, looking at Mia with a mix of expectation and worry. They just stared at each other. Mia understood what Stella wanted to say. She was pregnant. But Mia also knew about the relationship between Mr. RK and Stella. She didnโt know what to say. In the end, she just congratulated her. Stella didnโt say anything and kept staring at the reports in her hand. She had been married to Rene Kingston for three years. But theirs was not a marriage of love... It was a contract marriage, with a three-year time limit. Because the woman he loved was her sister. RK had been about to marry her sister, Sophia, but for some reason, Stella had ended up replacing her sister. From the day they married, he had told her that their marriage was just a three-year contract and nothing more. For RK, their marriage was indeed just a contract, but for Stella, it was a beautiful gift from God. Because only she knew how happy she was when she found out she was going to marry RK. The man she had loved throughout her youth. All these years, Stella had given her best in this marriage, hoping that maybe, just maybe, their marriage would work out. Maybe he wouldnโt divorce her. Maybe he would want to stay with her... Maybe he would give their relationship a chance because of the child... Stella was still lost in thought when suddenly, a voice came from the door, shattering all her hopes and illusions. "I donโt want this child." The voice was cold and hard. Stella and Mia both turned to look in the direction of the voice. RK was standing at the door, staring at Stella. His face was cold and expressionless. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking. He had a very handsome face and blue eyes. His blue eyes were like the deep ocean. If you looked into them. Then you would be drowned in it. Chapter 2 RK walked in and stood in front of Stella. He appeared like a king, towering above the world and looking down upon everyone as if they were nothing. With his tall frame and commanding aura, he exuded an undeniable power. Stella sat on the sofa, overwhelmed by his presence. She remained seated, staring at him, shocked by his words. She never expected this man to be so cold-blooded, uttering such harsh words without a second thought. There was no hesitation in his voice when he said he didnโt want the child. Stella looked into his eyes, trying her best to remain calm and hold back her tears. She didnโt want to appear weak in front of this cold man. The two of them just stared at each other in silence. After a while, RK walked over and sat opposite Stella. As he sat down, his assistant, Alex Triston, placed a stack of papers on the table. At the top of the papers were the words "Contract Expired." Alex looked at Stella and said, "Miss Richard, according to your contract with Mr. RK, three years have now been completed. Please sign here and finalize the process." Stella noted the change in how Alex addressed herโfrom Mrs. RK to Miss Richard. Even though she still hadn't signed her name. A mocking smile appeared on her face. She was sure that Alex wouldnโt have dared to take her so lightly, if it hadnโt been ordered by someone, of course, and that someone was none other than her husband. RK took the pen and signed his name without a pause or thought. After finishing, he looked at Stella and said, "You can stay here for a week and look for the house." Stella looked into the man's eyes which are calm as a lake. There was no regret, sadness, or hesitationโnothing. It was as if he felt nothing about their relationship, which had suddenly gone through such a big change. But as this thought crossed her mind, she scolded herself. "Stella, are you a fool? How can you expect any regret or sadness from this stone-hearted man?" But still, she couldnโt control her emotions. Because she had loved this stone-heated man for so many years. Stella didnโt say anything and just looked at the man with whom she had spent the past three years. She had seen his face every day, yet now, as she looked at him, she still found him strikingly handsome. But... he was also the man who had shattered her heart into a thousand pieces. She didnโt want to show her vulnerability in front of him, so she tried her best not to cry. Her hand trembled as she held the pen. She looked at the papers, saw his elegant and strong handwriting, and signed her name. Just like her heart, her handwriting was also broken. Stella was shattered inside, but she didn't show this on her face. After she signed her name, she took a deep breath and said, "I am very grateful to Mr. Kingston that he allowed me to stay here for a week, but after our contract expires I don't think I should stay here. I will leave immediately." After speaking, Stella glanced at Mia and asked, "Mia, can you help me pack my things?" Mia looked at Stella's face and saw how hard she trying not to cry and her heartache. She didn't want to do this, but she had to do it. Stella went upstairs to pack her belongings, while RK watched her retreating figure, his emotions unreadable. Stella looked around the room where she had lived for three years, her eyes turned blurred... She can't hold back her tears. She knew their marriage would end someday, but she hadnโt anticipated such intense pain in her heart. Stella didnโt have many things to pack. She just packed her belongings but left everything RK had bought untouchedโ not even a single piece of clothing. Mia watched her in silence, unsure of what to say. Stella wiped away her tears and said, "Mia, donโt worry about me. Iโm fine. Itโs just that Iโm not his Mrs. Right." With that, she grabbed her bag and headed downstairs. Downstairs... RK was still sitting on the sofa, watching Stella. But Stella didn't want to look at him and was ready to leave... "Where are you going?" Suddenly, his cold voice cut through the silence. Stella paused and turned to look at him. She hadnโt been on good terms with her family from the beginning, and after her marriage, it had been nearly impossible to maintain any connection with them. As for him, they were now divorced, so she felt no reason or obligation to tell him where she was going. "I donโt think my whereabouts has anything to do with Mr. Kingston. Weโre already divorced and have nothing to do with each other. Mr. Kingston must be focused on his future wife, not on his ex-wife..." Stella's tone was cold and it was like she was throwing daggers from her mouth. She couldnโt comprehend his hypocritical behavior. She wondered if it was her imagination or not, but it felt as though, after mentioning his future wife, the temperature in the room had dropped a lot. She felt a chill spread through her body and decided to leave. "Wait a second." His voice was firm and allowed no rebuttal. Chapter 3 Stella heard his voice and stopped. There was a little bit of hope in her heart. The man's eyes were dark and cold, filled with mysterious thoughts, and a layer of fog surrounded him. Suddenly, he spoke, "I don't want this child. Don't forget to take it out." RK looked at the woman in front of him and thought. She seemed like a pure and beautiful woman, and he didn't want her to carry his burden. Stella's hand, which was holding her luggage, trembled, and the little bit of hope in her heart vanished. She felt like someone had stabbed a knife into her heart. He had broken her heart so many times, but... she didnโt know why she still felt hurt every time it happened. "Boooom." His words exploded in her head like a bomb, and the little bit of hope she had left in her heart was also gone. The hands holding the bag tightened. She felt like someone had stabbed her heart, and she could smell the blood. Suddenly, she laughed at herself. She felt like a fool. How could she expect anything from a man who was so cold toward his child? "If you don't want this child, then why did you sleep with me?" She wanted to yell at him, but in the end, she didnโt say anything. He had once told her that he liked children, which was why she hadnโt taken the pills. But... It was as if he liked children but not with her. Stella's heart was in so much pain, but she didnโt want to let him see her tears. She didnโt turn around, keeping her back facing him. Stella took a deep breath and said, "Mr. Kingston, donโt think too much. I also donโt want this child at all. I have already decided to get rid off it." She was about to leave but then stopped and said, "One more thing, I hope we donโt see each other again in this life." After she said, Stella didnโt stop for a minute and left. At first, she didnโt want to leave this place, but now... She felt suffocated. Stella held her bag tightly and left without looking back. RK watched the womanโs back, struggling to keep herself straight and not stumble. His eyes were dark and filled with unreadable emotions. Only after her figure disappeared from his sight did his tense back relax. [Flashback end] "I am sorry, I didnโt see you..." Suddenly, a man bumped into Stella, who was standing in the hallway. Files fell to the ground. But because of this she also came back from the memories from six years ago. "No, I am sorry," she said, helping him pick up the files before going into the elevator. As the elevator door opened, Jack Paul stood outside and greeted her. Jack Paul looked at Stella with a smile and said, "Stella, here you are. How are you? You are new here. If you need anything, please feel free to tell me." Stella looked at him and nodded. "I am fine, thank you." As they talked, they went to his office and sat down. Jack looked at Stella and said, "Stella, I am very happy that you accepted my offer and came back." As he spoke, he handed her a red file and continued, "I am sure you have heard that our company is going to be acquired by someone. This file contains the reports I made; take a look." Stella took the file and nodded. Jack continued, "Many companies want to buy our company, but among all of them, RK Groups is the best. However, the price offered by Mr. RK was too low." He paused and said, "This time, I ask you to come back so that you can turn the situation around." "RK Groups... Rene Kingston..." Stella's hands holding the file trembled. The memories she had locked away deep down in her heart suddenly resurfaced. Stella calmed herself and said, "I will do my best." "Thatโs good," Jack laughed and said. "Now that you have taken on this project, I am not worried anymore." Chapter 4 The next day, at a coffee shop... Stella had already organized all the documents and asked the negotiation director of the RK Group to meet her at the coffee shop. As she was waiting, a man wearing a black suit and gold-rimmed glasses came over. But when he walked over and saw Stella, he looked shocked. Stella also looked at the person in front of her and was shocked, too. Because the one standing in front of her was RK's assistant, Alex Triston. For a moment, both of them stayed quiet. It was Stella who took the initiative and said, "Long time no see." Alex heard her words and quickly regained his composure. He nodded and sat down. Stella didnโt waste much time and went straight to the point. "Mr. Triston, here are the documents. If you find them satisfactory, please sign them." As she spoke, she pushed the documents in front of him. Alex looked at the eye-catching price of 70 million and was shocked. "Miss Richard, the RK Group can only offer 40 million. The price your company is asking for is very high." Stella didnโt want to sign this contract from the beginning. She would never let that man become her boss. She felt like she was wasting her time on the RK Group and should find another company. "It's alright, but we can't sign this contract." She said, packing her things and deciding to leave. Alex saw that she was about to leave and that she wasnโt interested in this deal, and he panicked. He rushed over and stopped her. "Miss Richard, please wait. Let me call and ask about the price again." Stella stopped and nodded. "Of course." Alex stepped to the side and made a call. **** At the RK Group's CEO office... RK was sitting in the head chair, listening to a report from the marketing department, when his phone rang. RK glanced at the phone and hung up. He didnโt like being disturbed at work. But after a few seconds, it rang again. The people standing in the office saw his cold expression and trembled. They felt like the person on the other side was about to die. RK's face didnโt look good, and the people reporting to him felt a chill down their spines. RK picked up the phone and asked, "What is it?" His voice was cold. Alex reported the situation on the other side. "Tell them itโs not going to happen. 70 million is too much; theyโre not worth it." After he finished speaking, he was about to hang up. But Alex said something that made him pause for a while. His fingers tapped on the table, and after a minute, he replied, "Okay, then let's agree to 70 million." After that, he paused for a moment and added, "Tell her Iโm coming to the company, and ask her to personally explain to me how itโs worth 70 million." After he spoke, he hung up the phone. There were some unknown emotions in his deep blue eyes. The people from the marketing department heard his words and were shocked. "The CEO is going to personally sign the contract." "Is that negotiation really worth his visit?" Moreover, they knew that in this negotiation, Mr. Kingston didnโt need to be personally involved. All of them had question marks on their faces. **** Alex wasnโt too far away, so Stella could hear parts of his conversation. She heard Alex directly reporting her name to the person on the other side of the phone. Within just three minutes... "Miss Richard, wait! Mr. Kingston said that they have no problem with your price. The agreement must be set according to your companyโs plan. Let's quickly sign the deal so that no one can back out." After he finished speaking, he took out the documents, signed his name, and handed the pen to Stella. Looking at his arrogant attitude, as if he had already bought her company, Stella was a little shocked. She stared at the pen in a daze. She hadnโt expected the agreement between the two companies to go so smoothly and effortlessly. Stella felt like she had made her stand clear by not lowering her price and being firm in her decision. But who would have thought that RK would be even more determined than she was in the acquisition of the company? He even agreed to sign the contract at her price. "Didnโt he pride himself on never changing his decisions, no matter what? Then why did he change this one?" she thought. "Was it because, after living with the love of his life, he changed?" But no matter what. Now, what could she do? Stella took the pen and signed her name. She didnโt care about him anymore. Anyway, she wasnโt going to stay here. Usually, she didnโt want him to become her boss, but what could she do? She needed to finish this job and leave quickly. Alex put the documents back, shook hands with her, and said, "Miss Richard, from now on, weโre colleagues in the same company. Please take care of us in the future!" Stella just gave him a forced smile. Only she and God knew how much she didnโt want this man to be her boss. Alex looked at her and added, "Miss Richard, please go back to the company quickly. Mr. Kingston will be there in a while. He said he wants you to... personally explain how your company is worth 70 million." Alex also didnโt know why his boss wanted Miss Richard to do it personally, after what happened between them before. But as an assistant, he could only do as he was told. ***** On the way back to the company... Stella was sitting in the car, but her mind was filled with thoughts of how RK would soon become her boss. "Ahhh! Stella, youโre the best. You just signed the contract as soon as you showed up!" The one who speak was the assistant to the director of the company. "Stella, you donโt know, but before you came, Mr. Paul sent many people to negotiate with Mr. Kingston, but he only kept lowering the price." She hugged Stella and said happily, "Stella, youโre our lucky star." Stella just lowered her head and didnโt speak. Because it wasnโt what she wanted. Lily continued, "Stella, you just came back, so you probably donโt know much about the city, right?" As she spoke, she leaned closer to Stellaโs ear and whispered, "Let me tell you, Mr. Kingston is the most handsome man in X City. Heโs not only handsome but also rich and capable. Heโs the dream man of many women in the world." Stella heard her words and felt speechless. "I heard that he had a fiancรฉe before, but he already left her, six years ago," Lily said. "He didnโt marry her sister?" Stella couldnโt believe they hadnโt married yet. Didnโt he give her a divorce because he wanted to marry her sister? She thought that by now, they must be married, have children, and be living happily together. "Stella, here you are." When Jack heard that Stella had reached an agreement with RK Groups, he personally came to welcome her with a big smile on his face. "Stella, you didnโt disappoint me. Quickly, go to the meeting room and sit for a while. Mr. Kingston will be here soon, and you will come with me to welcome him." | LEARN_MORE | https://redtgb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=14852&u | Indulge in story | https://www.facebook.com/61552702618591/ | 847 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | redtgb.com | DCO | https://redtgb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=14852&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-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/463900914_573500055114908_7293454514498053516_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LkSmFY_RXz8Q7kNvgHogNBX&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AMMWvBoSe5XmW65H7LbzbOr&oh=00_AYAODyeRJToW0Lxoa-4maREf1vSYJUytFv3JRybdrR8ZHQ&oe=674D8C5F | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Indulge in story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-11-27 19:46 | active | 1932 | 0 |
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๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | "Mr. Nichols, your wife is experiencing severe postpartum hemorrhage. Please, come and see her for the last time." The doctor anxiously pleaded with the person on the other end of the phone. But Juan Nichols's voice was filled with indifference. "She's still alive? Call me when she's dead." With that, he hung up the phone. All the light disappeared from the eyes of the woman lying on the bed. 'Juan, do you hate me so much? ' The machine emitted a flat, cold beep, indicating Debra's vital signs had disappeared. In Debra's lifetime, she loved Juan dearly. As the only daughter of the Frazier family, she should have enjoyed the best life. But to marry Juan, she sacrificed herself and her family. In the end, she died alone and tragically. Debra slowly closed her eyes. Given another chance, she would never make the same mistakes. ... "Madam, Mr. Nichols wants to take you to the auction. Which outfit would you like to wear?" Sophie asked. Debra gasped and opened her eyes. Everything in front of her was strikingly familiar. This place was Juan and her home. They had been married for a month, but Juan had rarely visited her. She remembered that Juan was attending a land auction, and due to the occasion, he had to bring his family along. But this was all five years ago. 'How could it be? ' she thought, deeply confused, 'Am I reborn?' "Mr. Nichols has never stayed overnight before. You should seize this opportunity." Sophieโs voice brought Debra back to reality. She picked out a white gown, hesitating. "How about this one, Madam?" Looking at it, Debra gave a self-deprecating smile. It was well known that Juan favored Shelia. In the past, she often dressed like Shelia to please Juan Miles. Shelia liked white dresses, so she followed suit, just to earn a little favor from Juan. For this auction, Juan didn't inform her of the change in companion and brought Shelia instead, making her look ridiculous in a white dress similar to Shelia's. The thought of the past made her laugh. "No, I'll wear that one," she said, picking up a red dress she has never tried on before. Debra never liked plain clothes. Shelia was just a poor college student. Debra felt that she must have lost her mind to wear cheap clothes for a man. "But Mr. Nichols likes white dresses," Sophie said hesitantly. Debra simply ignored her hints. "I'll wear this one," she said. "Throw away all those white dresses. I don't like them." Sophie sighed and complied. Debra looked at herself in the mirror, still vibrant and beautiful. But in a few years, she would be worn down by Juan's torment. Before that happened, she would end it all. ... In the evening, the auction venue was filled with celebrities, and Juan walked to the entrance with Shelia. Shelia, in a white dress, held Juan's arm timidly. "I've never been to such an event before. Maybe I should go back." "You'll get used to it. You'll be attending these events frequently in the future," Juan said. Shelia nodded. Juan was about to enter with Shelia when his assistant Joe spoke up. "Sir, won't we wait for Mrs. Nichols?" Juan frowned. "Didn't I ask you to tell her not to come today?" Joe glanced at Shelia, and she quickly said, "It's not Joe's fault. I told him not to inform Debra. With my status, I'm afraid of gossip, so I thought it would be better for Debra to accompany you in." Shelia lowered her head like a scared hare. Juan rubbed his temples. He didn't want Debra to show up at all. "Mr. Nichols," Shelia murmured, biting her lip. "It's alright." Juan patted Shelia's head and said to Joe, "Go intercept her and send her away." In the crowd, there were murmurs of surprise and praise. Joe looked over and was also shocked. "I'm afraid it's too late." | LEARN_MORE | https://thebvhwysgng.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=1 | Random Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61559743679549/ | 320 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | thebvhwysgng.com | DCO | https://thebvhwysgng.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=13914&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/t39.35426-6/462661789_1234587497739090_7609319522996207367_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1a9JHHizTlYQ7kNvgE6-vs9&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AHsWsNnJTuJhI2qvQ8J-O0X&oh=00_AYCqNz4drx6tP1H9fBum_lGXO0qCIZOlVUSk81_ZbQQkKw&oe=674DAB18 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2024-11-27 19:55 | active | 1932 | 0 |
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๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | Haley hadn't seen her husband William for a week and when she finally called him in the evening he seemed annoyed. "I have a meeting now. Excuse me." He brushed hang up the phone before she could say a word. Haley felt a little disappointed since tonight marked their third anniversary. Anyway, she decided to stay awake until he got home. Bored, she picked up her phone, checking into her tiktok to kil-l time. Just then, a piece of news popped up, featuring NK Enterprise, her husband's company. Excited, Haley tapped into the news; "William Nash, Famous CEO of NK Enterprise, Checks Into Hotel With his Mystery Girlfriend, Relationship Revealed" Her William? Haley's eyes glued to her phone's screen, shock and disbelief taking over when she saw the image of her husband entering the Hotel, his arm snaked around a woman's waist. Haley couldnโt believe her husband was with a woman. She must be mistaken. Sinking in confusion was pointless. Haley dialed his number. On her third trial, he finally picked up. โWhat's up?โ he asked coldly. Haley inhaled deeply, controlling her emotions. โLiam, where are you? Today's our 3rd anniversary, remember?โ โSo?โ he said through his careless tone, โNot coming home. Sleep by yourself.โ His voice holding no remorse, a gut-wrenching punch to her pride. Just then, a female voice, soft and seductive, came on the phone. โWilly, I'm thirsty.โ Willy? Even Haley wasn't allowed to call him that. He truly was with a woman! The phone beeped. He hung up the call. Haley sank onto the bed, her thoughts spinning and that voice echoing. It was Leah! Liamโs secretary who looked a lot like his Ex. Dazed, Haley's gaze fell on the decorations; her hard work. Tears blurred Haley's vision. Suddenly, a message notification appeared. [I'm pre-gnant. It's time for me to become the new Mrs. Nash.] Haley gripped the phone, her body trembling. It was from Leah. She'd been having second thoughts whenever she wanted to leave the man, but now she gave up her last hope. Haley stood up and retrieved the document she'd hidden in a corner of the closet and signed her name on it. Tears that reminded her of how weak and helpless she'd reduced herself to all in this marriage. Never again. | LEARN_MORE | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12277&u | Indulge in story | https://www.facebook.com/61552702618591/ | 847 | 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=12277&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/449112626_2219626285038260_1025497497506439918_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=29T70gZYhZYQ7kNvgFqtFXC&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AF4pVYTHvJgVpZhIbhU6fDg&oh=00_AYAT9cMtkonV2Ak53WlUQtlbF-Q2OcdRzt4uqzn736gI7A&oe=674D96EE | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Indulge in story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-11-27 19:48 | active | 1932 | 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/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-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/463430846_3918983931754783_3857163581980999957_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2CYvUGYgUxsQ7kNvgFDE3XE&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AtpEgswe-VmqA1VeMste4cy&oh=00_AYCaMTv9qhX9mZXHBdIpVMx42SFrmJ8ND-RbgYV-_7hNBQ&oe=674D9561 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2024-11-27 19:57 | active | 1932 | 0 |
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Read more FREE chapters๐ | "You'll have the test results in about an hour." The nurse's smile was gentle and reassuring as she took the vial of blood from Madeline Sanders. Madeline held a cotton swab to her arm and settled into a chair in the waiting area. She was a bit pale, but her eyes sparkled with hope. She had a hunch she was conceived, and that hospital visit was just to make sure. Three years ago, Trevon Gibson was involved in a terrible car crash that left him comatose, with doctors saying he would never wake up. Lydia Sanders, Trevon's high school sweetheart and Madeline's half-sister, did not waste any time and jetted off abroad for her studies. Somehow, Trevon's grandmotherโEdith Gibsonโfigured that Madeline was Trevon's lucky charm and insisted she marry him. The Gibson family promised to care for Madeline's mother, who was lost in her own world of madness. Madeline felt trapped but agreed to the marriage. Little did everyone know that Madeline was secretly in love with Trevon for years. To everyone's surprise, Trevon woke up after the wedding. However, Madeline's joy was short-lived. Trevon's first words to her were icy and calculated. "Out of respect for my grandmother, I'll take you as Mrs. Gibson for three years. When Lydia returns in three years, I will marry her." Madeline had braced herself to play along with that deal, ready to step aside when the time came. However, life threw a curveball a month and a half ago. Trevon stumbled home after drowning his sorrows in wine that day, and Madeline single-handedly managed to drag him inside. Supporting a drunken Trevon was like moving a boulderโeach step a battle of strength. Madeline and Trevon could no longer keep themselves upright and crumpled to the floor just inside the front door. Their lips brushed together in the fall, an accidental kiss that sent Madeline's heart racing. Trevon was a notorious germaphobe, avoiding physical contact like the plague. However, that unexpected kiss seemed to unlock something in him, and he leaned in for another. Madeline was caught off guard, but she did not resist. Later, in the quiet aftermath, Madeline could not bear to stay in the bed they shared. She tiptoed around the sleeping Trevon, erasing any trace of what had happened between them. The hospital was a hive of activity, but Madeline felt alone in the crowd. With trembling hands, she opened the lab results. 'Early stage of conceive. Recommend a follow-up ultrasound.' Joy flickered across her face, quickly hidden behind her hand to muffle her giggles. Regardless of the state of her marriage, that baby was a precious gift. She was eager to tell Trevon, her fingers hovering over her phone. However, she hesitated. Trevon's germaphobia was not just about objectsโit extended to people. She had seen him scrub his hands raw after a mere handshake. However, wine had loosened his inhibitions that one night. Would he believe the baby was his? Doubt clouded Madeline's mind, bringing a headache and a wave of nausea. She was jostled as a group of doctors in white coats rushed by, nearly sending her phone flying. "Emergency! Please step aside," a nurse said, flashing Madeline a quick, apologetic smile before dashing off. Madeline took a deep breath, watching the commotion unfold. Her gaze drifted to the emergency room doors without much thought. However, in a heartbeat, her eyes widened in shock. Trevon was there, shielding Lydia as they stepped down from the ambulance. He guided her gently onto a stretcher and, with a team around them, made a beeline for the VIP suite. A chilling shiver sliced through Madeline, her knees buckling as she clung to the nearby railing for support. Lydia was back. In the hospital room, the doctor briefed Trevon. "It seems like a mild concussion, but we'll need the test results to be sure." Trevon's expression was serious. "Speed it up. Use the VIP route." Lydia, stretched out on the gurney, smiled weakly at Trevon. "You're always so kind to me." Lydia pouted as she continued, "I wasn't paying attention. Who would've thought a bike bump could lead to a concussion? In Ameristan, people usually slow down on their own." Trevon gave her a fleeting, detached look. A flicker of worry crossed Lydia's face. "Trevon, with Skylandia's tight deadlines, isn't my accident going to set us back a lot?" Skylandia was the latest venture from Trevon's gaming empire, Xystos Tech, and Lydia had returned to lead the art on it. "I won't stay here. I have to get back to work," she declared, attempting to get out of bed. Trevon was quick to intervene, his hand on her shoulder easing her back down. "Don't be childish." As the tender scene unfolded, Madeline watched them outside the VIP room with gritted teeth. Trevon was notorious for his meticulous ways, but he did have a soft spot. He was not always distant. He just saved all his warmth for Lydia. Madeline felt a wave of emotion as she teared up. She touched her nose and fought the tears. Without really knowing why, she found herself pulling out her phone and calling Trevon. In the sterile silence of the hospital room, Trevon's face froze for a moment as he checked his phone, then casually handed it off to his assistant, Simon Taylors. "Tell her I'm tied up in a meeting." Madeline's heart clenched as Trevon's annoyed expression flickered across his face. Simon, moving to the side, answered Madeline's call softly. "Hello, Mrs. Gibson. Mr. Gibson is busy in a meeting. Is there something you need?" Madeline's lips twitched with a defeated smile. "No, it's nothing. I just hit the wrong button." Simon frowned. "Mr. Gibson's schedule is packed. Please be more careful in the future, Mrs. Gibson." The future? Was there even a future to speak of? Lydia, overhearing Simon, gave Trevon a subtle glance. She casually showed off the pink Hello Kitty bandage on her hand. Trevon's eyes snapped to it, his voice laced with a hint of longing. "You still haven't kicked that old habit, I see." Lydia forced a smile. "Well, you know I've always been fond of Hello Kitty." Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to soften. Madeline could not stand it any longer. Clutching her phone, she turned around and left. She thought one night could change things, but it was just wishful thinking. Despite the autumn season, Redenbaugh City was sweltering, and the hospital's air conditioning was cranked up, sending chills down her spine. She felt light-headed, as if she were floating on air. Suddenly, a little boy darted into her path, bumping into her. Madeline's face went pale as she caught the little boy, but in doing so, she lost her footing and tumbled to the ground. The fall sent a chill up her spine, and she held her belly, too afraid to move. The boy, however, started wailing, drawing curious glances from passersby. His mother rushed over and gave him a quick once-over. When she found him unscathed, she pulled him into a tight embrace before turning to Madeline with fury. "Can't you watch where you're going? You ran into my baby! How will you make this right?" Madeline, her mind on the baby she was carrying, bit back her pain and chose not to retaliate. Instead, she made her way to the maternity ward upstairs. The mother was not having it, yanking on Madeline's arm. "You think you can just hit someone and leave?" Madeline, nearly tripping over, turned slightly and offered calmly, "Should we review the security footage?" The woman, clutching her son, stormed off. Madeline felt her vision darken as she clutched her chest. She leaned against the railing, immobilized. In the VIP ward, Lydia gazed at Trevon longingly and leaned in for a kiss. Trevon, who was aloof, felt a wave of nausea as she got close. His vision blurred, and his chest tightened. He flinched and shoved Lydia away. Chapter 2 "Here's the divorce agreement. Take a look." Trevon, fresh from the hospital, confronted Madeline with a request for divorce. The image of Lydia's hurt look lingered in his mind, leaving him with a sense of resignation. His rejection was not just about his aversion to germs. It was also the sudden sickness and weakness that overtook him. He dismissed it as a one-off, which was not worth worrying about. However, faced with Madeline, the discomfort was undeniable. Madeline, still reeling from her hospital visit, was blindsided by the divorce papers laid out before her. It took a moment for her to find her voice, and when she did, it quivered. "Do we really have to end this?" "Yes." Madeline's grip tightened, and the question she could not suppress spilled out. "Is it because Lydia's back?" Trevon loosened his tie, his face turning to stone. "Didn't I make myself clear three years ago?" He had, and she had accepted it. Howeverโฆ "If... Just if..." Madeline hesitated, biting her lip. Trevon was impatient. "Madeline, you can't always want more." She looked up sharply, disbelief etched on her face. Did he think she was haggling over the divorce terms? With several deliberate taps on the table, Trevon continued, "Indeed, you've done everything required of being a wife these past three years. There's a modest place near Johnsrud. It's yours now. That's the best I can do. Don't make me lose respect for you." Madeline's response was trapped in her throat as she smiled bitterly. Three years of marriage, and her reward was a house. Should she be thankful? He was determined to get the divorce over with, by any means necessary. There was no need to mention the baby. It would only complicate how he saw her. She did not need a man whose heart belonged to another. Madeline felt nauseous, feeling like she needed to purge immediately. She crouched down to clutch the bin and gagged, but nothing came up. Trevon watched, his brow furrowed in disbelief. Why did her sickness stir something in him? Was it a mere coincidence? Seeing her ashen face, it was clear she was unwell. Trevor gave Madeline a questioning look. "Are you sick? When did it start? What's wrong?" Madeline felt the urge to throw up but could not, which only intensified her discomfort. Clinging to the trash can seemed like the only thing she could do. At the sound of his question, her fingers tensed uncontrollably. She forced a casual response. "Maybe it's just a cold. No big deal." "Answer me!" His voice turned sharp, sending a jolt through Madeline, and she murmured almost without thinking. "This afternoon, when you wereโฆ I'm just feeling a bit of chest tightness, weak limbs, and a touch of nausea. Typical cold symptoms." She did not bring up the hospital visit, quickly labeling it a cold to avoid any wild guesses. The timing and the symptoms lined up perfectly. 'So, it's because we caught a cold at the same time?' Trevon wondered. Madeline finally let go of her resistance. She deliberately avoided the divorce papers on the table and fetched the sour orange she had bought earlier from the fridge. Her mouth was unbearably uncomfortable, and she craved the relief of something sour. After all, she would need some strength in her hand to sign those papers. The moment she took out the sour orange, its tangy scent filled the room. Catching a glimpse of Trevon standing to the side, watching her with a frown, she hesitated before offering, "Want one?" Trevon looked away, clearly uninterested. Madeline chuckled awkwardly. "Sorry, it slipped my mind. You're not into sour stuff." However, as she sliced into the vibrant sour orange and its juicy interior burst with a potent tangy aroma, Trevon seemed unable to look away. Madeline was about to take a bite when she noticed Trevon approaching. His towering presence felt like a wall closing in, making the kitchen feel smaller by the second. Instinctively, Madeline stepped back. "If you don't like it, then I'll just..." Before she could finish, Trevon was at the sink, lathering up with soap, washing his hands with deliberate care three times before reaching for a piece of the sour orange. He scrunched his forehead, eyeing the orange for a long moment before popping it into his mouth. Madeline's jaw dropped in astonishment. However, Trevon did not spit it out. He chewed thoughtfully and swallowed before looking at her seriously. "Next time, make sure the knife's washed three times, okay?" The urge to bite into that tangy orange slice was irresistible. Sure enough, the sour kick seemed to soothe his queasy stomach. It was not just some bug. His nausea had kicked in right after Madeline's, as if he was only sick because she was. What was up with that? Trevon made a mental note to get to the bottom of it. Madeline gave a simple "Oh" in response. They finished the orange together, a moment of closeness they had not felt in three years. After washing her hands, Madeline looked up at Trevon. Sharing that sour fruit seemed to have bridged the gap between them, if only a little. However, their journey together was nearing its end. She murmured, "I'll sign the divorce papers." It was like cashing out after three years. A million and five hundred thousand, and a house to her name. She was coming out ahead. When she was about to sign, Trevon snatched the papers away. "We'll add another house to the deal. Wait for the lawyer's final draft." Madeline nodded, still in a daze. Suddenly, Trevon's phone buzzed and Lydia's whiny voice came through as he picked up the call. "Trevon, when are you coming? I'm bored." Madeline gripped her pen so hard her thumb whitened, nearly snapping it. Trevon ended the call, grabbed his jacket, and headed for the door. Madeline stepped forward, her voice tinged with concern. "How am I supposed to explain this to Grandma?" "We'll talk when I'm back," Trevon replied before the door slammed shut behind him. The house, once filled with life, echoed with emptiness. Madeline chuckled at herself, shook off the silence, and went to the kitchen to whip up some noodles. After all, she had to think about the little one growing inside her. A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Expecting Trevon, who might have forgotten something, she swung the door open only to be greeted by unwelcome faces. Madeline's warmth vanished. "What are you two doing here?" Cilix Sanders, her father, smiled and said, "You weren't picking up, so your mom and I thought we'd drop by." Her phone did show a string of missed calls. Ignoring their calls was nothing new, but their sudden visit was unexpected. "My mom's lost her mind, locked up in Sunshine Psychiatric Hospital. Did you forget to visit her, or did you forget she's there?" Skylar Lowe, Madeline's stepmother, stood beside Cilix in her flawless outfit. She looked nothing like someone who had toiled in the fields. However, her sharp and calculative eyes matched her biting tone. "Such disrespect! Where are your manners?" Madeline was furious. If she truly lacked manners, Skylar would have been long gone. It was Skylar's appearance, after all, that had tipped her mother over the edge. However, Madeline had been biding her time, collecting proof. They would all pay, eventually. Pushing down the bile, she asked coolly, "So, what brings you here?" "Let's talk inside," was all they said. Once they were in, Madeline poured water into two glasses, her hands steady as stone. Madeline's calm and compliant facade only fueled Skylar's ego. With an arrogant head tilt, she announced, "Your sister's back in town. It's time you end things with Trevon and give up your title as Mrs. Gibson to her!" Madeline fought the impulse to douse Skylar with water as she gripped the kettle firmly. "Give it up? I'm not following you." Madeline's gaze shifted to Cilix. "You told me when Trevon was in that coma, the company was strapped for cash. Marrying Trevon was the only way to afford my mom's medical bills. I married into the Gibson family for the sake of the Sanders family. How did Lydia end up taking my place as the daughter-in-law of the Gibson family?" Chapter 3 "I was looking out for the Sanders family too," Cilix said as he sipped his water. "The Sanders-Gibson family alliance is crucial. Three years by Trevon's side, and what? No kids, no hold on his heart, no benefits for the Sanders family. Now that Lydia's back, along with her bond with Trevon, these issues will vanish. I can even afford better care for your mother." Cilix's duplicity struck Madeline once more. Madeline countered, "Did you forget why Lydia left the country? Or do you think the Gibsons have forgotten too?" "That's why we're asking you to initiate the divorce with Trevon," Cilix replied. Madeline saw right through their plot. She would step aside, letting Lydia take the lead, and the Sanders family would reap all the rewards. After a tense silence, Madeline broke the ice. "I'm willing to divorce Trevon, but on one condition. I want my mom's sharesโthe ones she's entitled to." Cilix instantly became furious. Once upon a time, the Sanders family was a picture of unity. Cilix, who came from nothing, married Bella ZieglerโMadeline's motherโand quickly turned his fortune around with a garment factory. However, Bella paid a steep price, severing ties with her own family. It was not until Skylarโpreviously 'Jolene', with her kids in towโshowed up that Bella realized the magnitude of her mistake. She battled depression for years, and the strain of the revelation only deepened her illness. That was when Cilix dropped the divorce bomb. He played the bankruptcy card during the split, claiming all assets were tied up. Bella was left with scraps. However, once the divorce papers were signed, Cilix's business miraculously bounced back. Ever the opportunist, Cilix kept footing Bella's medical bills, basking in the glow of his newfound reputation. Madeline only pieced it all together as she grew upโher mother had been played. She had been nursing a plan to set things right ever since. The meeting ended with frosty treatment all around. Madeline shut the door behind them, collapsed onto the couch, and lost herself in the darkness outside the window. โฆ Dawn's light crept into the room. Madeline shielded her eyes and took a moment to adjust before getting up reluctantly. Nausea washed over her in an unforgiving wave. Trevon had not come home all night. Madeline's emotions were a messโresignation laced with a hint of disappointment. However, above all, there was relief. It was as if her decision to let go the day before had freed her from hope. Madeline sank back into the pillows. The click of the electronic lock signaled an arrival at the door. Madeline glanced up, and there was Lydia, swathed in designer elegance, striding in with a smile that could light up the room. "Madeline, it's been ages." Rising slowly, Madeline perched on the edge of the couch, her eyes a storm of loathing. "Who said you could come in? Leave!" Lydia's smile only grew. "Trevon sent me, of course. He spent last night at the hospital with me, then dashed off to work at dawn. He asked me to pick up a suit for him." A shadow crossed Madeline's face. So, Trevon was with Lydia last night. She had waited like a fool on that couch all night long, clinging to his promise. 'We'll talk when I get back.' "You're just like your mother, always the homewrecker," Madeline spat. Lydia's laughter rang out. "Who's the real homewrecker? It's the unloved one. Even the lock's code is my birthday. Trevon's heart is still with me. Madeline, you've been using my birthday to open this door for the past three years. That must sting, doesn't it?" Madeline's eyes flickered, her grip tightening on the blanket. She inhaled sharply before smiling mockingly. "Is technology that archaic where you come from? We've moved on to facial recognition, or fingerprints at the very least. Key codes are a thing of the past." Lydia's smile faltered, her composure slipping for a split second. "Outdated or not, Trevon's word is law." Madeline could not be bothered with petty squabble. Her nausea was getting worse. She gestured toward Trevon's bedroom. "His stuff's in there. Help yourself." With a smug grin, Lydia disappeared into the room and emerged moments later, a bundle of clothes in her arms. Before she took off, she sauntered over to Madeline, flashed her hand, and there it wasโa dazzling diamond ring. There was also that cutesy pink bandage on her finger. "My mom says you're dragging your feet on the divorceโkinda funny, don't you think? Trevon's put a ring on it, so why embarrass yourself? Time to get a clue." She leaned in, whispering to Madeline, "Face it, you've never been able to outdo me in anything since we were kids." Old memories came rushing back. Her favorite things, her mentors, her dad, her very homeโLydia had snatched them all away with just a few words. Madeline squinted and swiftly yanked the bandage off Lydia's hand. "You've always been into taking my stuff, huh?" She eyed Lydia's pristine hand and tossed the bandage into the bin with a look of disgust. "Bandages are disposable. Get a new one, and it's as good as ever. However, you know what's really scary about a guy who's been down the aisle twice?" Madeline rose to her feet, locking eyes with Lydia as she smiled slyly. "It's the lingering lessons from his ex. His style, habits, tastes, thoughtsโthey're all tinged with the ghost of the woman before you. Chew on that. Good luck." "Madeline!" Ignoring her, Madeline grabbed a bag of clothes and thrust it into Lydia's arms. "So long, no need for goodbyes!" Behind the wheel on her way to work, Lydia smacked the steering wheel, Madeline's parting shot replaying in her head. The phone buzzed. Lydia answered with a huff. "What's up with the wake-up call?" Wren Naylor, Lydia's assistant, hesitated before speaking up with caution. "Ms. Sanders, the planning team wants to add an illustrator to the project. They've already picked someone out." "They've what now? Since when does planning get to call the shots on art hires? They really need to stay in their lane." Wren stayed quiet. Lydia bit back her frustration. "Alright, I'm heading to the office soon. I'll sort it out with them." Instead of going to her department when she arrived at the office, Lydia went to the top floor to drop off some clothes for Trevon. Trevon accepted the clothes, but his brow creased in confusion. Lydia felt a twinge of worry. "Something wrong with the clothes?" They were definitely not his usual brand. Madeline would not slip up like that. "Madeline wasn't there when you picked these up?" Realizing the brand mismatch, Lydia understood her mistake. Madeline's earlier words echoed in her head. Lydia bit her lip, looking hurt. "Madeline just handed me these and shooed me out when I arrived. You know she's never been fond of me." She sighed resignedly and continued, "Typical Madeline, knowing you're in a rush and still acting petty with me. Should I run to the store and grab you a new set?" Trevon cut her off. "Don't bother. You've got work to do." Lydia clammed up, stepping back into silence. Trevon let out a quiet sigh. "Don't sweat it. It's not your fault. Clothes are the least of our worries. We've got the Skylandia project to focus on." In just a week, Skylandia would unveil its magical realms to eager eyes, with artistry at its heart. Lydia, fresh from her hiatus, was steering that shipโthe crown jewel of the year for Xystos Tech. She knew the drill, but duty called, and she stepped out with a promise to return for lunch. Madeline, alone then, rinsed a handful of cherry tomatoes, trying to quell the unease bubbling inside her. She scrolled through her phone, the barrage of prenatal check-ups looming large and daunting. Midway through her meticulous note-taking, the doorbell chimed. She opened the door to find Simon pulling a long face. Chapter 4 "Mr. Gibson sent me some clothes." Madeline raised an eyebrow. "Again?" Simon's eyes flickered with annoyance as he asked, "Why'd you send Mrs. Yagle's clothes?" Simon referred to Trevon's mom, Riley Yagleโa woman whose kindness was only matched by her absentmindedness. Madeline recalled the ill-fitting, off-brand clothes that Trevon probably ditched without a second thought. "Mr. Gibson says, 'Don't get snippy and hold things up,'" Simon relayed with a hint of sternness. Madeline could not help but chuckle, amused by his blind trust. "Lydia told Trevon I picked out the clothes?" Did Trevon need to believe everything Lydia said? Simon rushed her along. Madeline handed him a fresh set of clothes, but her grip lingered as she responded steadily. "Simon, you've been Trevon's right-hand man for what, three, four years now? Do you realize why you're still at the bottom rung, just an assistant? You're good at sizing people up by their titles, but that's not really a skill an assistant needs. Why don't you take a page from Mr. Harris's book?" Trevon did have a star assistantโDaniel Harrisโwho was so capable that he was sent overseas to handle big deals. That was when Simon got the call to step in. Simon's face went through a mixture of pale and flushed as he absorbed her criticism. Madeline, who was usually quiet, had just thrown shade in his face. He bit back his retort, finally huffing in annoyance and storming off. Madeline let out a soft laugh, brushing off the encounter. With visiting hours ticking closer, Madeline headed to Sunshine Psychiatric Hospital to see Bella. It was more of a wellness retreat than a hospital, nestled right next to Redenbaugh City's fanciest private clinic. Getting in was not easy, but thanks to the Gibson family pulling strings, Bella got a spot. Madeline wheeled her mom out into the courtyard, catching her up on the week's gossip and happenings. Bella was her usual selfโunresponsive and staring off into space. Madeline sighed and took her mom's hand, resting it gently on her belly. "Mom, right here, there's a little one on the way. Even with Trevon talking about divorce, I'm keeping this baby. You've got to come back to us. Who will help me with this little one if you don't?" She nestled against Bella's legs, craving the comfort of her mother's presence. Unseen by Madeline, Bella's eyes flickeredโa brief, almost missed flutter. "Madeline?" A voice, laced with surprise, called out for her. Madeline looked up to see a man in a lab coat looking her way. The sun was blinding, and Madeline squinted without recognizing the figure before her. There was something oddly familiar about the silhouette. It was not until he was close that she could see it was Caleb Jabs, her old college friend. With a warm smile, Caleb teased, "Madeline, can't you recognize an old friend after just three years?" He opened his arms for a hug, like nothing had changed. Madeline hesitated, then offered a hand for a handshake instead. Caleb's smile faltered, then returned. "Right, we're not on campus anymore." He shook her hand before releasing it, stealing a glance at the wedding ring on her finger. Through their chat, Madeline learned that he had just returned from overseas and that his uncle was running the local private hospital. Caleb nodded toward Bella with a slight smile. "And who is this?" Madeline's smile vanished. "My mom. She's been like this since she had a breakdown three years ago." A breakdown? It looked serious, as if she had lost all touch with the world. What could have caused it? Caleb pushed down his questions, his heart aching for Madeline. "These past three years must've been tough on you." Madeline seemed more grounded than in her college days, but her eyes were shadowed with concern. Madeline shook her head. "It's time for us to head back." She was not one to bare her soul to just anyone. As she rose to leave, she wobbled slightly. Caleb reached out to steady her. "You're looking a bit pale. Maybe you should get checked out." Madeline steadied herself and took a step back. "It's just low blood sugar. I'm fine." Caleb watched Madeline sidestep with a calm smile, not the least bit ruffled. "Back in college, you were always dealing with low blood sugar. Still battling that, huh? Skipped breakfast today?" He was already taking the wheelchair's handles as he spoke, and Madeline allowed it. They got Bella settled and swapped numbers. Then, Caleb pressed a chocolate bar into her hand. "For your sugar levels, have a bite." Madeline's laughter bubbled up. "Caleb, you still keep chocolate on you after all this time?" "Just a habit," he said with a chuckle. That little piece of chocolate seemed to bridge the gap that had grown between them. "How about lunch? It's already noon." Madeline bit her lip, uncertain. However, Caleb was already tugging her along. "There's this great little place I know nearby. You'll love it." Trevon managed to swing by the hospital after his meeting wrapped up. The doctors gave him a clean bill of health. They suggested bringing Madeline in, thinking she might be the key to why he felt off. He left the hospital with that thought, only to see Madeline and Caleb, all smiles, heading into a cozy diner. Madeline's smile was something new, something he had never seen, and it stopped him in his tracks. He took a moment before climbing into his car. From the driver's seat, Simon caught Trevon in the mirror. "Mr. Gibson, wasn't that Mrs. Gibson? Should we pick her up?" Trevon watched them disappear into the diner, a place he would never dream of entering. "No, let's not," he murmured. Simon arched an eyebrow, shot a look of faint scorn at the diner, and sped off. Trevon was reclining in the back seat, eyes closed, soaking in a moment of peace. A few minutes in, a wave of relief washed over him, leaving him feeling surprisingly refreshed. It took him a moment to realize that he was embodying Madeline's happiness. What could possibly be so special about that little shop to make her that cheerful? However, that sour beef and cabbage soup with noodles they served was exceptionalโtangy and invigorating. It had been days since Madeline had enjoyed a meal so thoroughly. She even decided to get an extra serving to go. Caleb chuckled. "Noodles never taste as good reheated. Wait, didn't you love spicy food? What's with the switch?" Madeline smiled. "I haven't really switched. This is just that good." She was known for her love of spicy dishes, and even Trevon, the health nut, had found his tastes swayed by her. It was hard to argue with Madeline's culinary magic. Her cooking was irresistible to most. Back home, Madeline had barely set down her takeout when her phone rang. It was Yeneth Collins, her best friend. "Madeline, I've got some good and bad news." Feeling a bit worn out, Madeline sank into the couch. "Go on." "The good news is that you've been chosen to draw the new character for Skylandia. They've sent the contract over to you already." A spark of excitement flickered across Madeline's face as she reached for her laptop to check her email. "And the bad news?" Yeneth sighed heavily. "Lydia is the new art director for Skylandia. She just got the job today. I wouldn't have pushed you to take this gig if I'd known." Since marrying Trevon right after college, Madeline had not returned to the workforce, finding solace and passion in her art. Her style was distinctive, not exactly mainstream, with a focus on creating captivating illustrations. When Yeneth got involved with Skylandia, she thought Madeline's artwork was a perfect fit and put her name forward. Madeline smiled. "No way. The contract's terms are decent. Can't miss an opportunity of making money just because of her." She was always hustling for cash, especially with Bella's medical bills piling up. It meant biting her tongue whenever the Sanders family got tight-fisted. "Are you sure you're okay with this?" "Totally. I freelance under the name 'Lily Mora'. Who will connect the dots?" Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of a door swinging open as Trevon walked in. Chapter 5 Madeline's instinct was to snap her laptop shut. "Give me a second." She quickly ended the call and turned to face Trevon. "What's got you home at this hour?" Trevon eyed her hurried movements and washed his hands before replying, "Just needed to pick something up." Madeline responded with a noncommittal hum. His gaze landed on a nearby takeaway box. It was the sour beef and cabbage soup with noodles. It looked just like the one she had had for lunch. Was it really that tasty? A jolt of panic hit Madeline, and she blurted out, "It's for Yeneth, not me." Back when they were newlyweds, Madeline had grabbed some street sausages, and Trevon had gone into a tailspin, bombarding her with articles about the filth of street vendors and the dangers of eating out. Since then, she had avoided eating street food around him. However, she had slipped up and forgotten to stash the evidence. Trevon's chuckle was detached as his eyes drifted to a notebook on the table. Madeline's heart was pounding, and she pushed aside the wave of nausea to dash toward the notebookโher secret journal of conceive appointments. The last thing she wanted was for Trevon to find out she was expecting. However, Trevon was quicker. He stretched out his arm and lifted the notebook from Madeline's reach. Without regard for her protests, he calmly flipped it open. The 'Prenatal Appointment Schedule' header stared back at him. He raised an eyebrow, his cool gaze landing on Madeline. Madeline felt her heart jump into her throat. "Is this for Yeneth, too?" Trevon asked. "Huh?" Caught off guard, Madeline quickly nodded. "Yeah, yeah. Yeneth's getting married, thinking about having kids, so I was helping her research." Trevon's suspicion did not wane. "So, why the panic?" Madeline's forehead creased. She let go of the notebook and looked away. "I didn't want you to think I was up to something." Madeline's beauty was marred by her recent illness. Her pale face was then tinged with the flush of sickness, making her look even more vulnerable. Trevon felt a twinge in his chest, and his annoyance grew. Her cold was messing with his work. He tossed the notebook back to Madeline. "I don't have time for this. You should be resting, not running around. If you show up to a divorce proceeding looking like this, people will think I'm the bad guy." Madeline silently clutched the notebook with her head bowed. โฆ At the steakhouse, Lydia stared at her barely touched steak, her mood souring by the minute. When she heard Trevon returned to the Angelic Garden Residence, her annoyance turned to outright anger. "Madeline, that witch!" She whipped out her phone and dialed Skylar's number. Madeline had just reviewed the casting call from Skylandia, wrapped up her draft, and was stretching after a long day when Skylar's call came through. "Get over here tonight. If you don't show up, I'm tossing your mom's stuff." The line went dead. Madeline thought she had taken care of all Bella's things, so what could possibly be left at the Sanders' place? She could not risk it, so she hailed a cab and headed over. The Sanders' mansion was ablaze with lights, screaming new money from every gilded corner. Madeline stood at the entrance, taking in the garish display, and figured Skylar was behind it. Skylar greeted her with a grin, tugging her inside. "I just knew you'd come." Madeline jerked her hand away. "Cut the act, Skylar. There's no one else here. I did what you asked, so where's my mom's stuff?" Chapter 6 Before Skylar could answer, a sharp snap echoed from the side. "Madeline, watch how you talk to my mom!" It was Yale Sanders, Lydia's little brother. With his shoulder-length purple hair and arms sleeved in tattoos, he looked every bit the wannabe gangster. He had been coddled by Skylar all his life, and with the Sanders' wealth, he had gathered a gang of street toughs to back him up. Madeline did not expect him to be there but gave him a cool look and brushed him off. Just then, Cilix descended the stairs, his voice cutting through the air. "Yale!" Yale sulked, his lips puckered as he flopped onto the sofa, clearly annoyed. Cilix motioned for Madeline to take a seat at the dining table. "It's not every day we get your sister back home. I figured a family dinner was in order. Have a seat, will you? I had Mom whip up your favorite fish tacos." Skylar quickly dished some out for her. The oily sheen and the subtle fishy scent made Madeline wrinkle her nose and push the plate away. "I caught a cold and lost my appetite. I'm just here to grab a few things, and I'll be out." Cilix squinted, and Skylar, unable to contain herself, plopped down next to Madeline. "When are you planning on divorcing Trevon, huh? Your dad and I have already scoped out a new guy for you. He's ready to tie the knot and won't wait forever." A resigned feeling washed over Madeline. With a mocking smile, she murmured, "Really? Who's this wonderful match?" Skylar perked up and replied, "He's from a solid family. One of your dad's business partners. The guy owns a string of factories. Marry him, and you'll be the boss. They wouldn't even look twice at a divorcee if it wasn't for your dad's connections." She made it sound like a fairy tale. Madeline cut to the chase. "The owner of these factories? How old?" Skylar hesitated, then chuckled. "Not too old. He's just a bit over forty and in the prime of his life. It'll be your second marriage, so you can't afford to be choosy. Plus, they've promised to cut your dad a deal if you marry in. Consider it a tribute to your mom." Three years had passed, and Madeline's disdain for her family's ways was as strong as ever. She glared at Cilix. "Over forty? You're okay with this, being not much older yourself?" Cilix looked pained as he spoke, "Skylar's just trying to do what's best for you. Remarrying and bringing your mom into the mix, finding someone okay with that wasn't easy. Skylar really went out of her way for you." Skylar nodded earnestly. It had indeed been a challenge. Madeline needed to be married off and kept far away to avoid causing Lydia any more headaches. "Don't worry, the guy doesn't have kids. Everything in the future will be yours and your children's. It's a real stroke of luck." Madeline suddenly chimed in, "It's true. These kinds of terms are hard to come by. You've really outdone yourself, butโฆ" Breaking from her usual composure, Madeline locked eyes with Cilix. "I was clear yesterday. I just want what my mom is entitled toโher shares. Those shares are peanuts compared to being Mrs. Gibson of the Gibson family." Cilix remained expressionless, but his eyes were calculative. "Your mom's shares?" Thinking she had swayed Cilix, Skylar piped up in a shrill tone. "What shares does her mother have? The Sanders family fortune is all thanks to me and Cilix. It's got nothing to do with your loony mom." Madeline's glare whipped towards Skylar, sharp enough to shut her up. "Apologize." "Why should I? Your mom's the crazy one." Without warning, a cup of scalding water splashed across Skylar's face, and she let out a scream. However, before Madeline could react, she was yanked back forcefully. A second later, she was punched in the face. "You owe her an apology!" Chapter 7 Each word Yale spat was accompanied by a punch landing on Madeline. Madeline shielded herself with her purse, narrowly avoiding a serious injury. Blinded by anger, she had not thought things through, never imagining Yale would actually hit her. Conceived had left her weak, and she could only dodge Yale's vicious blows in a clumsy dance of desperation. The Sanders family seemed petrified by the spectacle, each too scared to even twitch. Cilix wanted to speak, but Skylar cut him off. "What's Yale got, a little muscle? Let her take a hit. It might teach her to listen." Cilix's face darkened as he sat back down. She had written her dad off long ago, but the sting of disappointment was as sharp as ever. As Yale moved in again, Madeline knew she was on her own. With a swift kick, she toppled a chair and snatched a fruit knife from the table, aiming it straight at him. "One more step, and I swear I'll stab you!" Yale, thrown off by the chair, nearly slipped. He wiped his mouth and sneered. "You think you've got the guts?" Knife in hand, Madeline's face was ghostly, but her eyes blazed with defiance, "Try me. I'm still Mrs. Gibson of the Gibson family. If I take you down, they'll make sure it never sees the light of day." Her gaze flicked to Cilix. "You think our dad's got the spine to cross the Gibsons for you?" Yale did not budge. Skylar stepped forward with a nervous chuckle. "Come on, we're family. Knives? Really? Madeline, put it down." Madeline looked at Skylar icily and aimed the knife at her. "Stay back." Skylar froze, then looked pleadingly at Cilix. Cilix broke the silence. "Madeline, what's going on?" Madeline stood there with a cold expression, ignoring the blood that had started to drip from the corner of her mouth. She bit her lip, refusing to say a word. The recent scuffle had taken a toll on her, leaving her with a heavy feeling in her chest. She was afraid she would throw up if she opened her mouth. However, she was determined not to let them see her weakness. Amid the tense moment, the nanny burst in with unexpected joy. "Mr. Gibson and Ms. Sanders have arrived!" The pair entered the room. Trevon's face was a mask of seriousness, his lips pressed into a thin line. Lydia, catching sight of the knife in Madeline's grip, let out a sharp cry. "Madeline! Why are you holding a knife? What are you planning to do?" Cilix rose swiftly to welcome Trevon. "Mr. Gibson, please come in. Let's sit and talk. Madeline, put that knife down now." With a glance at Trevon, Madeline reluctantly set the knife aside. Skylar exhaled in relief and grumbled, "This is all Madeline's doing, causing a scene for no reason. Since when do we bring knives into family disputes?" Madeline inhaled deeply, pushing down the wave of nausea, and retorted with a frosty laugh. "So, now it's all my fault, just like that? I'm trying to do the right thing here, and I'm still the one to blame?" "Is this enough for you?" Trevon's voice, frosty and laced with anger, cut through the room. He had been feeling sick to his stomach the whole way there. That sensation had become all too familiar in the last couple of days, and he did not need to guessโit was Madeline's doing again. He had warned her just at lunchtime to take it easy, but what did she do? She ran off to her family's home to pick a fight, knife in hand. She might not be bothered by it, but he was fed up. The room fell silent. Madeline looked at him in disbelief. Was he really going to blame her without even asking why? Trevon had no interest in dragging out the conversation. He grabbed Madeline's hand and led her away with urgency. Madeline stumbled as he pulled her along, a sharp pain throbbing in her heart. Lydia tried to keep up, her voice tinged with concern. "Trevon, you haven't eaten yet." He barely paused, his voice dismissive. "Some other time." With that, he ushered Madeline into the car and shut the door behind her. | LEARN_MORE | https://beokn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=14193&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/goodnovel/1?lpid=14193&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-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/460350278_1658471474952018_3949899282791425892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1oBxYlZSzqkQ7kNvgGsF-16&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A9TXsdXrGBOwICn-AwBfthn&oh=00_AYByxIVbrxq3Quti2Ufy6I2WWQT_jz1hYVIHLuhHGPPi4A&oe=674D986A | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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=120213581744840597 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/465800629_573599691915551_1367486041892760228_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_3jLmxU57KUQ7kNvgFKbGzO&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AS76z34zUrbEUjV0Zlyt9QC&oh=00_AYDGbp9zQx24C_VJKN6LJzDCNC-u6dvmBvtSo-ljCx0Eiw&oe=674DA412 | 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 with Aurora. She will be joining our household. There's no question about it," said Barrett. 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." Carissa smiled mockingly. "Fell in love, huh? Have you forgot what you promised me before you left for war?" On their wedding night a year ago, Barrett was called away to lead reinforcements on an expedition. Before he left, he lifted his wifeโs veil and vowed, "Carrisa Sinclair, you're the only woman I'll ever love in my life. I will never take a concubine!" Embarrassed, Barrett avoided her eye contact. "Just forget what I said. Back then, I only considered you a suitable match for a wife. I knew nothing about love until I met Rory." When he spoke of the woman he loved, his eyes softened with deep affection. Turning back to Carissa, he added, "Sheโs unlike any woman Iโve ever met. I love her deeply, and I hope you'll be generous enough to welcome her." 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 mother liked her a lot upon seeing her." They agreed? Huh... How ironic! Seems like everything Carissa had done for this household had all been for nothing. "Is she currently in the mansion?" Carissa asked, lifting a brow. Barrett carried a softness in his voice, "Yes, sheโs talking to my mother and making her very happy. Even mother's 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." Carissa wasnโt seeking praise. She was just laying out 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 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." As Carissa looked up, the striking beauty mark under her eye became more evident in the light. Calmly, she said, "Itโs fine. If she says anything unpleasant, Iโll ignore it. A true matriarch must understand the bigger picture and act with dignity. Donโt you trust me?" Barrett sighed in frustration. โWhy put yourself through this? The king has approved this marriage, and Aurora will never threaten your control of the household. Carissa, she couldn't care less about those things.โ โOh, you think that's what I fear? Losing the control of this household?โ Carissa countered. 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." Carissa'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 for me?' Soon, Carissa lifted her gaze, determination tightening her grip on the dowry list, โLulu, make preparations. Weโre going to see His Majesty tomorrow.โ Luluโs brow furrowed, as if knowing Carissa's purpose, โBut, my lady, I donโt think His Majesty will revoke his edictโโ Carissa shook her head, โNo, Lulu, Iโm not asking him to change the edict, but to request a new oneโan amicable divorce from Barrett.โ Luluโs eyes widened that instant, โA divorce! My lady, you want a divorce?โ Carissa nodded firmly. She was never someone to pester some man. If Barrett 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/t39.35426-6/464975882_1204712524149205_7926569809786181278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HPJzOTzOUTwQ7kNvgExfhkY&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AtpEgswe-VmqA1VeMste4cy&oh=00_AYCJPc_14tPC18LB6t1fjSxr_sz_KRD_7Oki6d8hO4olRg&oe=674D8B43 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2024-11-27 19:52 | active | 1932 | 0 |
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Una esposa para mi hermano | Una antigua regla familiar prohรญbe a Harry casarse con su novia embarazada. En verdad esos dos estaban muy enamorados. Era una pena que tuvieran que llegar a idear un plan tan descabellado para poder seguir juntos. La propuesta con la que habรญan llegado era simple: para que Harry y Laura pudieran casarse, Daniel que habรญa enviudado 5 aรฑos atrรกs tenรญa que volver a contraer matrimonio. En verdad su hermano lo estaba poniendo en un aprieto. Su esposa habรญa fallecido de una afecciรณn cardiaca poco despuรฉs de dar a luz a su pequeรฑo hijo. Lo dejรณ solo con 3 niรฑos y una profunda tristeza en una casa que de pronto se volviรณ muy grande; creando, con el correr de los aรฑos, una coraza frรญa a su alrededor. Deanna era la mejor amiga de Harry y la รบnica opciรณn que les quedaba. Deanna tiene una vida normal, trabaja medio tiempo y estudia en la Universidad de Artes porque quiere lograr su sueรฑo: cantar en la รณpera. Solo le falta un aรฑo para terminar su carrera cuando su amigo Harry le pide ayuda desesperado. Deanna estaba mรกs que dispuesta a hacer esto por ellos, Laura se convertirรก en madre y se casarรก con el hombre que ama. Para ayudarlo con su problema Daniel y Deanna acceden a fingir una relaciรณn y un matrimonio. A veces el amor aparece de la manera mรกs inesperada y en la forma de la persona menos pensada. Son tan opuestos que la atracciรณn es inevitable. รl encuentra en ella la calidez que faltaba en su vida y Deanna el amor luego de una ruptura desastrosa. Finalmente, Daniel puede volver a tener una familia. Pero hay muchos intereses ocultos que buscan separarlos y alejarlos. El viaje es difรญcil, deben enfrentarse no solo a terceros que les complicaran las cosas, sino tambiรฉn a sus propios miedos e inseguridades. No es sencillo equilibrar 15 aรฑos de diferencia... &6& | LEARN_MORE | https://fbweb.manobook.com/13316375-fb_contact-spy | Best Love Novel | https://www.facebook.com/100083460684692/ | 12,082 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.manobook.com | IMAGE | https://fbweb.manobook.com/13316375-fb_contact-spy4685_2-1022-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=200518&accid=513479024361866&rawadid=120216639348080779 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/465795980_801147898721458_6013137545890661824_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GsUS-UPFb2AQ7kNvgFO0w4D&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AaEpvDHd9GRpxF-5zKXUaIr&oh=00_AYDUOb1u_QoFDOWArYyA9qDmyYs9ScpgEc-Ts1wqEJaDRA&oe=674D81D9 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Best Love Novel | 1 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2024-11-27 19:48 | active | 1932 | 0 |
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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 with Aurora. She will be joining our household. There's no question about it," said Barrett. 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." Carissa smiled mockingly. "Fell in love, huh? Have you forgot what you promised me before you left for war?" On their wedding night a year ago, Barrett was called away to lead reinforcements on an expedition. Before he left, he lifted his wifeโs veil and vowed, "Carrisa Sinclair, you're the only woman I'll ever love in my life. I will never take a concubine!" Embarrassed, Barrett avoided her eye contact. "Just forget what I said. Back then, I only considered you a suitable match for a wife. I knew nothing about love until I met Rory." When he spoke of the woman he loved, his eyes softened with deep affection. Turning back to Carissa, he added, "Sheโs unlike any woman Iโve ever met. I love her deeply, and I hope you'll be generous enough to welcome her." 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 mother liked her a lot upon seeing her." They agreed? Huh... How ironic! Seems like everything Carissa had done for this household had all been for nothing. "Is she currently in the mansion?" Carissa asked, lifting a brow. Barrett carried a softness in his voice, "Yes, sheโs talking to my mother and making her very happy. Even mother's 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." Carissa wasnโt seeking praise. She was just laying out 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 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." As Carissa looked up, the striking beauty mark under her eye became more evident in the light. Calmly, she said, "Itโs fine. If she says anything unpleasant, Iโll ignore it. A true matriarch must understand the bigger picture and act with dignity. Donโt you trust me?" Barrett sighed in frustration. โWhy put yourself through this? The king has approved this marriage, and Aurora will never threaten your control of the household. Carissa, she couldn't care less about those things.โ โOh, you think that's what I fear? Losing the control of this household?โ Carissa countered. 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 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 dowery 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/t39.35426-6/464828830_843144794562317_225584756959474354_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7pvRcIdD-BcQ7kNvgGobwWI&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AtpEgswe-VmqA1VeMste4cy&oh=00_AYAR1brvD3YasOtTuiA8Ks0ocogbRmgeip3quTmgVqcROg&oe=674D9E4A | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2024-11-27 19:51 | active | 1932 | 0 |
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Continuar lendo๐๐๐ | Devido ร s dificuldades da vida, ela tinha que trabalhar como acompanhante. Um dia, ela recebeu um pedido de um cliente misterioso, pedindo que ela fosse sua noiva temporรกria por uma semana. Considerando a alta remuneraรงรฃo, ela aceitou o pedido. Inesperadamente, isso mudou sua vida... ===== Jรก fazia alguns meses que eu entrei para a Red Angel, uma agรชncia de acompanhantes de luxo. Larguei o meu emprego de secretรกria pois com aquele salรกrio eu mal conseguia comprar alimentos. Eu nรฃo conseguia nem mesmo pagar as contas acumuladas, isto sem falar na minha faculdade e no colรฉgio interno de Gabriel. Eu queria muito ter condiรงรตes de pagar tudo, de ter condiรงรตes de pagar alguรฉm para cuidar dele, para todas as noites eu poder estar com ele. Se a falta de nossos pais doรญa em mim, para ele o sofrimento era ainda maior. Eu nรฃo poderia recusar este trabalho, estava cheia de dรญvidas e com o meu irmรฃo pequeno para criar. Apรณs a morte dos nossos pais o que nos restou foi muita tristeza, saudades e muitas contas para pagar. E quitar todas elas com o meu trabalho de secretรกria, era impossรญvel, eu estava ao ponto de desistir dos estudos. Uma amiga da faculdade me ajudou, me apresentou para a dona da agรชncia Red Angel, na qual ela trabalha. No inรญcio eu nรฃo queria, estava fora dos meus princรญpios. Mas tudo caiu por terra, quando o conselho tutelar me ameaรงou. E eu poderia perder a guarda de Gabriel, eu estava deixando-o sozinho para trabalhar. E estรกvamos passando necessidade. E foi assim comecei a trabalhar na Red Angel, nem sempre era fรกcil. Mas comecei a ganhar o suficiente. Consegui pagar a minha faculdade e o colรฉgio interno de Gabriel, uma escola bem cara e conceituada. Eu nรฃo estava extremamente feliz, mas estava conseguindo devagar alcanรงar os meus objetivos. Mas agora estou sofrendo as consequรชncias de uma suspensรฃo por trรชs meses, por ter me envolvido com um dos funcionรกrios da Red Angel. Quebrando assim, uma das regras da Mary. O pior รฉ que eu nem sentia nada por aquele babaca, que fez um drama, dizendo para a Mary, que ele estava indo embora por minha culpa, sendo que ele estava indo para Nova Iorque trabalhar. O telefone tocou me tirando de meus pensamentos. -- Alรด? -- Olรก, Karen. Eu devia te ignorar por mais alguns meses. Mas digamos que a sorte sorriu para vocรช. Entรฃo, nรฃo me decepcione. Mari me explicou que um poderoso empresรกrio estava oferecendo pagar muito por uma semana comigo. E seria em Portofino, na Itรกlia. O meu coraรงรฃo fez um salto. Isto poderia pagar meus รบltimos meses de estudo. Me dando a oportunidade de deixar a Red Angel assim que eu conseguisse outro trabalho, no que vou me formar. O que me chamou a atenรงรฃo, ele queria apenas desfilar comigo. Isso me deixou pensativa. Mas o fato de ganhar todo este dinheiro me fez aceitar. Mary me avisou que nos encontrarรญamos no dia seguinte para comprar tudo o necessรกrio para a viagem. -- Karen. Ele te escolheu entre tantas. Entรฃo espero que nรฃo me decepcione. -- Mary, eu vou dar o meu melhor para nรฃo te decepcionar. -- Ele exigiu algo? -- Na verdade, ele dispensou o nosso contrato habitual da agรชncia, quer sigilo, obviamente. Ele vai pagar tudo, suas roupas, malas, viagem. Ele quer que vocรช leia o contrato e se quiser incluir algo, poderรก. Ele quer que eu envie para ele em seguida. Isto me deixou mais que apreensiva. Mas o dinheiro e a promessa de liberdade deste trabalho valeriam risco. -- Pensei. -- Por favor, me envie a cรณpia dos seus documentos por e-mail. Preciso enviar para ele, para os trรขmites da viagem. Atรฉ amanhรฃ. -- Vou te enviar, atรฉ amanhรฃ e obrigada pela oportunidade. -- Nรฃo agradeรงa a mim, por mais que eu te adore, Karen, regras sรฃo regras, eu te deixaria em puniรงรฃo, mas ele escolheu vocรช. -- Mesmo assim, obrigada. Atรฉ amanhรฃ. Ela desligou o telefone, meu coraรงรฃo ainda estava acelerado. Eu nem mesmo sabia como ele era. Mas tentei nรฃo pensar sobre, afinal no dia seguinte Mary me mostraria uma foto dele e falarรญamos mais sobre ele. Respirei fundo, precisava me acalmar. Eu fui para a cozinha, preparei um chรก e liguei para Gabriel, para contar da viagem. Para ele e outras pessoas prรณximas, eu falava que trabalhava como aeromoรงa em voos particulares de ricos excรชntricos. Peguei o celular e liguei para a escola de Gabriel. Apรณs falar com a secretรกria, eles passaram a chamada para o quarto dele. -- Karen, como estou feliz que vocรช ligou! -- Eu queria ouvir a sua voz. Estou com muitas saudades. -- Hoje eu venci o no campeonato de futebol e no judรด eu estou classificado para as olimpรญadas da escola. Estou feliz, Karen. -- Uau! Meu campeรฃo! Parabรฉns, estou orgulhosa de vocรช. Nรณs nos veremos assim que eu voltar de viagem. -- Para onde vocรช voarรก desta vez? Meu coraรงรฃo apertou, mas ele era muito crianรงa para entender o que eu fazia. E, de certa forma, desta vez eu realmente estava indo voar. -- Vou para Portofino, na Itรกlia. Mas assim que eu voltar, vou correndo te ver e vou trazer presentes. -- Vou ficar contente em te ver. Eu gosto dos presentes, mas gosto muito mais de vocรช. Segurei as lรกgrimas. Eu queria muito poder ter condiรงรตes de pagar alguรฉm para tomar conta dele enquanto eu trabalhava. Mas antes eu precisava pagar todas as nossas contas acumuladas e arrumar outro trabalho. E assim ter condiรงรตes de bancar todas as despesas da casa e dos estudos de Gabriel. Ele dependia de mim. Respirei fundo e tentei mostrar a ele que estava feliz. -- Eu te amo muito, garotinho lindo. Eu tambรฉm fico muito feliz em te ver, em breve estaremos juntos. -- Eu vou esperar! Boa Viagem, irmรฃzinha. Vou jogar com os meus amigos. Te amo. - Obrigada! Se divirta, querido. E lembre-se que eu te amo mais que tudo. Eu te ligarei em breve. Ele fez barulhos de b*ijos no telefone e desligou. Eu enxuguei as lรกgrimas em meu rosto e tentei restar otimista para o amanhรฃ. Era isto, se no contrato, as exigรชncias do cliente fossem suportรกveis a minha partida para a Itรกlia jรก seria amanhรฃ, ao lado de um perfeito desconhecido. Capรญtulo 2 Noiva! No dia seguinte... O meu carro nรฃo funcionou e tive que correr para a estaรงรฃo. Mary marcou comigo na frente de uma loja cara da avenida principal. Eu jรก conseguia ver seus cabelos claros presos em um rabo de cavalo elegante e suas roupas de grife adornando o seu corpo perfeito. Ela se girou lentamente, sorrindo para mim. -- Bom dia, senhorita atrasada. -- Bom dia, me desculpe pelo atraso. Lamento ter feito vocรช me esperar. Meu carro quebrou outra vez. -- Tudo bem, Karen. Consigo ver o quanto estรก abatida e acredite, vai ficar tudo bem. Mas devo te alertar que o nosso cliente, o senhor Dante, nรฃo suporta atrasos. -- Isto nรฃo vai acontecer. Eu respondi, tentando buscar um pouco de ar para os meus pulmรตes. -- Vamos entrar, pois estamos atrasadas. O dia estรก apenas comeรงando. Entrei na loja com ela e por uma hora escolhemos vestidos, sapatos, variados acessรณrios. Mary estava quase todo o tempo no telefone enviando fotos para ele de cada roupa que eu vestia. E ele respondia o que ele gostava ou nรฃo. Quando saรญmos para a rua Mary, finalmente deixou o telefone. -- Eu ainda acho muito estranho tudo isso. Qual o problema deste homem, Mary? Ela sorriu gentilmente, mas nรฃo respondeu. Ela entrou no spa que ficava a poucos metros da loja em que estรกvamos. Apรณs sermos acomodadas em uma sala de estar, ela se virou para mim. -- Ele deixou claro no contrato, ele sรณ quer que sua presenรงa ao lado dele, sempre bem-vestida e maquiada. -- Tudo bem, eu prefiro assim. Ela sorriu e abaixou a voz. --Um lugar maravilhoso... O telefone dela interrompeu sua frase, ela se afastou e eu entrei para a sala de massagem. E pelas horas seguintes, eu fui preparada, unhas, cabelos, maquiagem, roupas. O meu coraรงรฃo estava em angรบstia, mas eu sabia que era tarde demais para desistir. Horas depois, estรกvamos na frente do grande espelho da recepรงรฃo da Red Angel. Eu usava um vestido chique com um toque sensual na dose justa. Na bolsa, estava todos os meus pertences e o principal, o meu passaporte. Mary repassava as exigรชncias do contrato que eu tinha acabado de assinar. -- Vocรช tem apenas que sorrir e concordar com tudo o que ele disser quando estiverem em pรบblico. Praticamente, vocรช terรก que fingir um relacionamento emotivo com ele. Dormirรก no mesmo quarto que ele, mas ele nรฃo te tocarรก. Mary tinha mandado que todas as roupas fossem preparadas nas malas caras que ela tinha comprado para mim. E quando o carro que ele enviou chegou na frente da Red Angel, o motorista as carregou no porta-malas. Me despedi de Mary e segui para o meu destino. Apesar de ter me dado um boa noite amigรกvel, o motorista restou em silรชncio todo o trajeto. No aeroporto, entramos na รกrea vip de voos privados, um aviรฃo estava pronto na pista. O motorista me conduziu atรฉ um comissรกrio que estava esperando na escada, ele me cumprimentou e me acompanhou atรฉ o meu assento no aviรฃo, me oferecendo tudo o possรญvel para o meu conforto. Eu estava terminando de fazer uma mensagem para o meu irmรฃo, quando escutei a sua voz pela primeira vez. -- Boa noite, Karen. Seja bem-vinda. Eu levantei o meu olhar para encontrar Dante Montallegro com seu corpo perfeito e seu olhar intenso buscando os meus. -- Boa noite, senhor Montallegro... -- Retire o Senhor, por favor, vocรช deve me chamar de Dante, nada mais. --Disse enquanto dobrava lentamente a manga de sua camisa. Eu observei os seus movimentos, seus braรงos definidos eram evidentes sobre o tecido caro de sua camisa. -- Me desculpe, eu estou um pouco nervosa. -- Entendo suas dรบvidas depois do contrato que enviei. Entรฃo, estou disposto a discutir com vocรช durante o voo. Vou comeรงar te explicando o meu motivo por contratar sua agรชncia. Estamos indo para uma grande conferรชncia, onde entrarei em contato com alguns clientes importantes. Mas o fato de sua presenรงa รฉ porque minha noiva me deixou. E ela estarรก nessas reuniรตes. Ela terminou comigo e duas semanas depois, ficou noiva de outro. Eu sei que ela ainda me ama. Ela estรก fazendo isso de pirraรงa. Preciso jogar do mesmo jeito que ela, para tirรก-la da zona de conforto. E fazer ela ver, que eu sou o homem certo para ela! Ele disse tudo de forma tรฃo natural que eu encontrei dificuldades para dizer que isto era mais louco do que eu poderia pensar. Mas, enfim, ele estava me pagando bem para ser sua namorada. -- Entendi Dante, eu serei sua namorada para passar ciรบmes. -- Na verdade, noiva. Vocรช serรก minha noiva. Ficamos noivos em uma romรขntica viagem para a Grรฉcia. -- Noiva?? Eu falei um pouco mais alto do que eu deveria, e ele seriamente me respondeu. -- Sim. Eu e Vivian terminamos faz dois meses e ela estava viajando para outra parte do mundo, e eu tambรฉm. Entรฃo a mentira que nรณs dois contaremos serรก plausรญvel. -- Tudo bem. -- รtimo, eu preciso que vocรช apenas concorde com tudo o que eu disser e saiba evitar responder perguntas, eu as responderei. -- Claro, vocรช tem fotos da sua noiva? -- Apenas as do site. -- Bom saber que vocรช escolheu sua atual noiva se baseando naquelas fotos. -- Na verdade, nรฃo foi pelas fotos, foi por sua descriรงรฃo no perfil. E depois conversando com a Mary, ela me disse que vocรช estรก na faculdade. E que, ao contrรกrio das outras que ali estรฃo, vocรช busca um futuro fora de tudo isto. -- Bom de certa forma, acho fofo o seu esforรงo para, de alguma forma reconquistar sua amada. Ele apenas sorriu, mas nรฃo disse mais nada, e nas horas seguintes de voo ele nรฃo tocou mais no assunto do contrato ou sua relaรงรฃo. Falamos de tudo um pouco e encontramos muitas afinidades e o voo foi tranquilo. Quando o aviรฃo pousou, ele se virou para mim e puxou uma caixa de dentro de sua pequena mala. -- Precisamos contar bem esta mentira... Ele abre a caixa e duas alianรงas brilharam diante dos meus olhos. Ele pegou o solitรกrio e deslizou em meu dedo. Ele mesmo pegou a outra alianรงa e deslizou em seu dedo. -- Parece que estamos noivos, querido. Ele sorriu e me ajudou a levantar da poltrona. -- Aqui comeรงa nossa histรณria, querida. Capรญtulo 3 Dante Montallegro Ao entrar no carro que estava a nossa espera na pista, ele voltou a sua atenรงรฃo para mim. -- Karen, vocรช pode me dizer o seu nome real? -- Este รฉ o meu nome real. A Mary deve ter enviado todos os meus documentos para vocรช, incluindo todos os exames... -- Sim, claro, ela enviou, mas foi tudo para a minha secretรกria. Os exames sรฃo sempre enviados para os clientes? -- Isto faz parte da exigรชncia da Mary, provar para todos os clientes que nos contratam a longo prazo, que somos saudรกveis. -- Eu entendidos. O telefone dele tocou, eu tentei nรฃo prestar atenรงรฃo na sua conversa. Eu respirei fundo e me concentrei na paisagem de Portofino. Meu telefone comeรงou a tocar insistentemente. E eu nรฃo consegui desligar. Levantei o meu olhar para Dante e ele olhou meu celular com certo ar de reprovaรงรฃo. Enfim, consegui desligar a chamada. Ele seguiu falando por alguns segundos e depois desligou. Ele pegou uma grande caixa que estava entre nรณs e me entregou. -- Isto รฉ para vocรช. E seu telefone deve permanecer apenas no modo vibraรงรฃo. Atenda, apenas se for algo de urgรชncia. Espero que nรฃo atenda os seus clientes enquanto estiver comigo. As minhas mรฃos trรชmulas abriram a caixa, enquanto o amargo descia na minha garganta. O que estรก acontecendo? Ele consegue me deixar sem jeito e extremamente irritada. Poucas horas juntos, e ele jรก estava me deixando desconfortรกvel, mas do que qualquer outra pessoa jรก foi capaz. --Pensei. Fiquei um tempo olhando o celular de รบltima geraรงรฃo dentro da caixa. Provavelmente eu deveria devolver no final do contrato. Parecendo ler os meus pensamentos, ele falou. -- Considere um presente meu. Por vocรช ter aceitado o meu contrato. -- Desculpe, Dante, eu nรฃo posso aceitar. -- Nรฃo gosto de ser contrariado, Karen. Alรฉm do mais, nรฃo estamos quebrando nenhuma das regras por nรณs estabelecidas. E vocรช, como minha noiva, nรฃo pode usar qualquer telefone barato na frente dos meus investidores e clientes. Eu respirei fundo novamente e tentei me acalmar. Este homem me enlouqueceria em uma semana ao seu lado. Parecia impossรญvel isto nรฃo acontecer. -- Tudo bem, obrigada, Dante. Ele apenas sorriu, convencido. Quando eu terminei de transferir os meus dados para o telefone, o carro parou na frente do hotel "A Belmond." Antes que eu pudesse organizar as minhas coisas da bolsa para sair, ele jรก tinha saรญdo e estava abrindo a porta para mim. A sua mรฃo segurou a minha e me guiou porta adentro. Fomos recepcionados e nos levaram para a Suรญte Dolce Vita. Eu tentava prestar atenรงรฃo em tudo a minha volta, no estilo antigo, mas luxuoso do hotel cinco estrelas. Quando finalmente estรกvamos sozinhos, eu me via sem graรงa, um pouco perdida. Eu observava a cama King size coberta os Lenรงรณis brancos, eu jamais tinha dormido em algo do gรชnero. -- Gostou da nossa cama? A sua proximidade me fez dar um passo para trรกs e seu olhar se estreitou enquanto ele sorria e me observava. -- Eu...eu pensei que teria duas camas. A suรญte รฉ enorme, tem outros cรดmodos e nรฃo tem outra cama. Ele se aproximou lentamente, mas desta vez nรฃo me afastei e nem desviei o meu olhar do seu. -- Eu te disse que nรฃo passaremos dos b*ijos e em pรบblico... Claro. No contrato, ele tinha deixado claro que eu deveria ser carinhosa e aceitar seus carinhos publicamente. E eu jรก temia por isto. Eu me lembrava de cada linha do contrato. Meu coraรงรฃo parecia descontrolado quando ele se aproximava ainda mais. -- Respira, Karen. Cretino provocador! -- Pensei comigo. Eu apertei as minhas unhas na palma da mรฃo e tentei disfarรงar. -- Bom, eu vou arrumar as minhas coisas no armรกrio, se vocรช assim me permitir. -- Eu tenho uma proposta melhor. Vou chamar a recepรงรฃo e eles enviarรฃo alguรฉm para organizar tudo. Basta deixarmos as malas do lado que preferimos do closet. E descemos para o restaurante do hotel. Quero muito falar com vocรช e obviamente te exibir, querida noiva. -- Tudo bem, vocรช รฉ quem manda. Os olhos deles se estreitam, e ele sorriu. -- Palavras perigosas estas. Mas enfim, tomamos um banho e saรญmos daqui trinta minutos, tudo bem? -- Tudo bem, perfeito para mim, eu vou separar o que preciso agora, enquanto vocรช usa o banheiro. -- Perfeito. Karen, eu quero te dizer, beba e coma o que quiser a qualquer momento. Se nรฃo encontrar no frigobar ou na pequena cozinha do quarto, ordene para que a recepรงรฃo te satisfaรงa. Nรฃo quero que fique me esperando para pedir algo para vocรช. Se sentir vontade de algo, apenas ordene. Vocรช รฉ a minha noiva, lembre-se disto. Quero vocรช saciada e satisfeita. Entendido? Ele realmente parecia ter optado por seguir me provocando. Mas eu nรฃo revidaria. -- Sim, obrigada. Ele sorriu e caminhou com a sua mala de mรฃo para o grande banheiro. Quando ele fechou a porta, eu decidi sair para o terraรงo. Capรญtulo 4 A ex noiva A vista para o mar era extremamente magnรญfica. Eu tinha que ligar para o Gabriel, peguei meu celular e disquei o nรบmero do colรฉgio. Neste momento, agradeci por estar usando um chip Internacional. Aguardei ansiosa enquanto o telefone tocava. Apรณs ser atendida, transferiram a chamada para o quarto do Gabriel. E logo a voz doce e familiar me respondeu. --Karen.... -- Oi, Gabriel, meu amor, que saudades. -- Karen, que bom que vocรช ligou, eu sei que vocรช estรก viajando, mas estou com muita saudade. Eu senti o meu coraรงรฃo apertar, imaginando o quanto era difรญcil para um garoto de dez anos ficar longe da sua รบnica famรญlia. Perdemos o papai em acidente quando o Gabriel tinha apenas quatro anos. E jรก fazia dois anos que perdemos a mamรฃe para uma doenรงa fatal. Foi aรญ que eu assumi todas as responsabilidades. E, no inรญcio, consegui manter a casa e nossos estudos. Mas as contas foram aumentando, me deixando desesperada ao ponto de assumir a vida obscura que eu levava. Eu fiz poucos programas, mas desde o primeiro sempre desejei sair desta vida. Para o Gabriel eu dizia trabalhar como aeromoรงa de companhias particulares. E isto funcionava. Afinal eu tinha trabalhado com isto no passado. Ao menos o contrato com Dante, me permitiria sair da Red Angel e eu poderia ir visitรก-lo com mais frequรชncia. E depois conseguir manter ele em casa comigo, pagando alguรฉm para ajudar a cuidar dele. -- Sinto muito, querido, eu tambรฉm estou morrendo de saudades, prometo que vou ligar mais vezes e logo estarei de volta. -- Eu estou indo muito bem, minhas notas sรฃo boas. Eu quero muito te ver, Karen. Podemos fazer uma chamada de vรญdeo com o Skype qualquer dia desses? -- Vamos nos organizar. Sim, estou muito orgulhosa de vocรช. Isto que estamos vivendo รฉ uma fase, se concentre nisto. Eu te amo muito, nunca se esqueรงa disto. -- Eu tambรฉm te amo, Karen. Eu falei um pouco mais com o Gabriel. Minutos depois, eu desliguei o telefone e quando voltei para dentro, percebi que a porta estava entre aberta. Eu tinha certeza de que a tinha deixado aberta antes de ir para o terraรงo. Eu caminhei lentamente, a porta do quarto estava aberta. Dante estava enrolado na toalha, jogado na cama, mexendo em seu celular. E eu me peguei pensando se ele tinha ouvido toda a minha conversa. Ele levantou seu olhar e me disse. -- Vocรช tem vinte minutos. A sua voz era fria, e ele voltou novamente seu olhar para o celular. Eu tentei fingir que nรฃo estava babando no seu corpo perfeito. E muito menos que estava desconfiada que ele tenha ouvido minha conversa com o Gabriel. -- Tudo bem, estarei pronta. Eu corri contra o tempo, agarrei a minha mala de mรฃo com as coisas que eu tinha deixado separado. Fui para o banheiro, tomei banho, fiz maquiagem e sai de lรก vestindo o roupรฃo do hotel. Eu me vesti e me dei por satisfeita com o meu reflexo no espelho. -- Venha atรฉ aqui. Eu dei passos lentos, com meu coraรงรฃo acelerado, seus olhos estavam calmos, me olhando. Ele me analisava de cima abaixo. Ele nรฃo disse uma palavra, ele foi atรฉ a sua mala e voltou se aproximando de mim. Percebi que ele tinha algo nas mรฃos, mas nรฃo tive tempo de identificar o que era, pois ele tirou a minha atenรงรฃo falando comigo. -- Vire-se de costas. Eu queria discutir, rebater. Mas manter um contato visual com ele era ainda mais difรญcil. Obedeci, me virando e percebi que eu estava na frente do espelho, onde antes trocamos olhares. Ele se aproximou e seus dedos alisaram lentamente os meus cabelos, colocando-os de lado sobre o meu ombro. Sรณ entรฃo vi o colar delicado em suas mรฃos deslizando para o meu pescoรงo. -- Vamos, estamos atrasados. -- Ele sussurrou. -- Eu achei que queria apenas conversar. Nรฃo pensei que teria um compromisso com hora marcada. -- Faremos isto apรณs o jantar. Pois tรชm um grande cliente que se juntarรก a nรณs. Ele me ligou alguns minutos atrรกs. Eu senti um frio na barriga, fingir ser a noiva de um homem como ele nรฃo seria algo fรกcil. Ele caminhou atรฉ a porta enquanto peguei a minha bolsa. Quando saรญmos para o corredor, ele posicionou a sua mรฃo nas minhas costas e de maneira gentil. -- Tudo bem, Karen? -- Eu estou um pouco nervosa. Na verdade, nunca fiz algo assim antes. -- Fique calma, apenas seja carinhosa, fale o mรญnimo possรญvel. Nos conhecemos em uma das minhas viagens. Nos encontramos algumas vezes e foi amor ร primeira vista. Entรฃo, ficamos noivos em uma viagem para a Grรฉcia. -- Tudo bem, vou me lembrar disto, fique tranquilo. -- Eu sei que vocรช se sairรก muito bem sendo minha noiva. -- Ele sorriu e piscou para mim. Enquanto caminhรกvamos para o restaurante, eu fiquei pensando em como esta semana seria. Eu teria que fingir ser a sua noiva, teria que receber e dar todo o carinho para ele. Meu coraรงรฃo estava acelerado, mas com certeza isto era porque o jogo agora era para valer. E quando chegamos ร mesa, um homem elegante se levantou e sorriu, estendendo a mรฃo para Dante e olhando para mim. -- Boa noite, senhor Dante. Peรงo desculpas por interromper a sua noite. -- Ele apertou a mรฃo de Dante enquanto falava. -- Senhor Gilbert, esta รฉ a minha noiva, Karen. -- Prazer em conhecรช-la, senhorita Karen. -- Ele apertou a minha mรฃo e sorriu. -- Prazer, senhor Gilbert. -- ร um homem de sorte, Dante, sua noiva รฉ lindรญssima. Ele disse para o Dante, enquanto se sentava. -- Eu sei disso, tive sorte em encontrรก-la. Dante disse enquanto e afastava a cadeira para que eu me sentasse. O garรงom se aproximou e, enquanto Gilbert fez seu pedido, Dante sussurrou para mim. -- Vocรช quer olhar o cardรกpio? Vocรช fala italiano? -- Eu falo um pouco, mas ficarei confortรกvel se vocรช escolher para mim. Ele apenas sorriu e se virou para o garรงom, expressando-se em um italiano perfeito. Ele escolheu risoto com funghi porcini e tagliata de carne. Quando o garรงom se afastou, ele comeรงou a falar com o seu cliente sobre negรณcios. E eu apenas fiquei ali, olhando o ambiente ร nossa volta e apreciando a vista para o mar. Mas depois de um tempo ali, percebi dois casais em uma mesa ao fundo. Uma das mulheres nรฃo parava de nos encarar. Uma loira muito bem-vestida e maquiada. O meu instinto me alertou no mesmo momento que aquela mulher teria alguma relaรงรฃo com o Dante. Eu me aproximei de Dante, ele parou de falar com o seu cliente e se girou para me b*ijar o rosto. Enquanto eu sussurrei em seu ouvido. -- A sua ex รฉ loira? -- Sim, como vocรช sabe? Eu pisquei para ele. Logo ele entendeu a situaรงรฃo. Apรณs assinar o contrato com o cliente, ele pegou minha mรฃo e caminhou em direรงรฃo ao loiro. -- Aqui estรก sua chance de se exibir! Dante apertou ligeiramente a minha cintura. E eu me movi automaticamente para mais perto dele, que sorriu satisfeito... ...... O que acontecerรก a seguir? O nรบmero de capรญtulos exibidos aqui รฉ limitado. Por favor, clique no botรฃo abaixo para baixar nosso aplicativo e ler mais capรญtulos. (Ao abrir o aplicativo, vocรช irรก automaticamente para este livro.) &9& | LEARN_MORE | https://fbweb.lera.mobi/6436409-fb_contact-pt01_2- | Loving reading | https://www.facebook.com/61567813351718/ | 430 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.lera.mobi | IMAGE | https://fbweb.lera.mobi/6436409-fb_contact-pt01_2-0906-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=124213&accid=241242718481731&jump=1&rawadid=120215745245680663 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/467332767_9698491563511189_5394793111793266733_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9hizXlhG8x4Q7kNvgHv-_nz&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A7NfNRITBURv6bEBZ3fbvjb&oh=00_AYAaWZPUoOAGFEKPeEwiozQG3m9E5ihaEpbA9OnkNsQHwQ&oe=674D880A | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Loving reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/464681484_532171326224549_7177859630690723278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kEIxgnrTHM0Q7kNvgGiOqGN&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AHsWsNnJTuJhI2qvQ8J-O0X&oh=00_AYAKx8_Qooy7nx9uOIHnJJi8laRe_CK9K21oMqXPOCLfcg&oe=674D91B7 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2024-11-27 19:55 | active | 1932 | 0 |
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๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | Neah "Where is she?" I hear the Beta scream. I groan and rise to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket before heading over. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I don't make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times. "Alpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office." Beta Kyle spits at me. I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If only I could find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. But I didn't need another week locked up with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. "We are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Don't you understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!" I don't answer, It's a trap, a ploy to provoke me into saying something that would justify punishment. I keep my eyes lowered, avoiding his gaze. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. He was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didn't mess around and he had the largest pack. "He is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!" We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He grabs my shoulders, his nails digging into my skin as he turns me around and kicks me into the office. "Useless Wolf." He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean against it, observing the already clean office. It looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that don't quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. "Is this the way you greet all Alphas?" His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. "I'm sorry." I whisper, getting to my feet. "I...I thought I was alone." I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. "Come forward." He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey wil kill me. I step around the corner, doing as I'm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. "You smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?" I nod, though I couldn't tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. "I would prefer it if you spoke to me." He growls, "I'm not in the mood to play games." "Yes." I whisper. I couldn't help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? "Why do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me." "I..." I hated the question. "You should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. It's rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?" His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact."My Wolf abilities were bound," I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasn't interested in that part. He leans forward, I could feel him staring at me, "Why would someone do that?" If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. "It was a punishment." I whisper. It wasn't far from the entire truth. There's a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldn't tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me "Neah, what are you doing in my office?" He turns to the crimson eyed man. "I am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane." Crap, it's him. My brother spins around, hand poised to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He is taller than my brother, more muscly too. "Neah," My name rolls off of his tongue, "was kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested." What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. "Go and get Beta Kyle." Alpha Trey seethes. "Tell him our guest is here." I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. "Beta Kyle," I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. "Alpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you." He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. "You're lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't see sunlight for a few days." Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesn't speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesn't last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. "Neah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating." I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. "Neah is your sister, correct?" Alpha Dane questions my brother. "She is." Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. "Why do you treat her like trash?" Straight to the point, my brother wouldn't like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. "Neah was responsible for our parents' death." Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. "Responsible how?" Alpha Dane's voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. "She served them Wolfsbane." Don't make a sound. Don't make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. "You poisoned your parents?" "I was six." I splutter. "I just made them lemonade." My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. "Hardly seems fair to blame a six year old." "A six year old should know the difference between plants." Alpha Trey snaps "Sounds to me like she was set up." Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of me. "You weren't there, Alpha Dane." My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. "I didn't ask you here to talk about my slave!" Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alpha's he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alpha's, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. "You're right and now I have a few things to mull over." "I thought we agreed." My brother exclaims "Nothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out." The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. "What the heck did you say to him?" My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. "N...nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny." "Did you tell him?" Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. "WELL?" My brother yells when I don't immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. "But I didn't say it was you." I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. "If you have ruined this, you won't see daylight again." He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. "Pleaseโฆ." I beg. "He was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him." My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull... "Alpha Dane, I thought you had left." Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. "I said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?" "As I said," my brother holds his ground, "She is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves." "You should keep your nose out of other packs' business!" Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. "If I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?" Both Alpha Trey and Beta Kyle hold their tongues. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. I see those crimson eyes land on my swollen face. "I have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey." Alpha Dane speaks up again. "We have already agreed on terms." "Well, I'm adding one. And if you don't agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you don't want that." "I take it that your new terms have something to do with her?" Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. "You would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal." Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? "Deal." Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesn't take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. "I will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow." He reaches a hand out and cups my face, "Ensure you have everything packed." He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. "If I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about." He struts out, slamming the door behind him. After Dane leaves, my brother grabs me by the collar. "You think you're going to have a good life if you follow Alpha Dane out of here? Don't be naive!" He continues in a vicious voice. "He's the coldest man in the world, he's killed nine of his mates, I'm waiting to see what happens to you!" | LEARN_MORE | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783& | New world publications | https://www.facebook.com/100090352943774/ | 3,762 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | wwwedb.com | DCO | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&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-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/461300334_1147718953597347_4619507324730441281_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F39HdY2EQaEQ7kNvgGbTO2B&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=Azhoa2hinK_65hNHNqhnwzg&oh=00_AYDbzQcPKg4G-m3stLLYWMy3cflVqHJM2IzY2VmgkzhFIg&oe=674D8B60 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | New world publications | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2024-11-27 19:57 | active | 1932 | 0 |
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๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | Debra gasped and opened her eyes. Everything in front of her was strikingly familiar. This place was Juan and her home. They had been married for a month, but Juan had rarely visited her. She remembered that Juan was attending a land auction, and due to the occasion, he had to bring her along. But this was all five years ago. 'How could it be? ' she thought, deeply confused, 'Am I reborn?' " Mr. Nichols has never stayed overnight before. You should seize this opportunity." a maidโs voice brought Debra back to reality. She picked out a white gown, hesitating. "How about this one, Madam?" Looking at it, Debra gave a self-deprecating smile. It was well known that Juan favored Shelia. Shelia liked white dresses. In the past, she often dressed like Shelia to please Juan. For this auction, Juan didn't inform her of the change in companion and brought Shelia instead, making her look ridiculous in a white dress similar to Shelia's. The thought of the past made her laugh. "No, I'll wear that one," she said, picking up a red dress. Debra never liked plain clothes. Shelia was just a poor college student. Debra felt that she must have lost her mind to dress like that for a man. "But Mr. Nichols likes white dresses," the maid said hesitantly. Debra simply ignored her hints. "I'll wear this one," she said. "Throw away all those white dresses. I don't like them." The maid sighed and complied. Debra looked at herself in the mirror, still vibrant and beautiful. But in a few years, she would be worn down by Juan's torment. Before that happened, she would end it all. In the evening, Debra appeared in a burgundy dress that accentuated her curves. Her delicate makeup, curls, and a mole under her eye made her mesmerizing. She looked like a painting, untouchable. Not far away, a man in a white shirt and black leather combat boots saw her. Marion Houston asked, "Who is she?" "You don't know her? She's Debra, the daughter of the Frazier family and Juan's wife," said his friend, Randy Osborne. "I just saw Juan entering with another woman. Maybe we'll witness a showdown between the mistress and the wife. It will be fun." | LEARN_MORE | https://thebvhwysgng.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=1 | Random Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61559743679549/ | 320 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | thebvhwysgng.com | DCO | https://thebvhwysgng.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=13914&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/t39.35426-6/459135153_832140905375376_807093524481295487_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xg3Oe1dlDZgQ7kNvgEz8glT&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A9TXsdXrGBOwICn-AwBfthn&oh=00_AYDH7mCzWqHriNwA0X3CD8iPCKtKGs26_PpKbuO7AiJV1Q&oe=674D884C | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2024-11-27 19:53 | active | 1932 | 0 |
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๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | My husband Elijah wanted to do some sweet things with me again, however, he suddenly brought up his ex-girlfriend. This caused my emotions to explode. I hadnโt realized Iโd already fallen asleep when I heard the bedroom door open. Something made a loud, clattering noise. I quickly sat up and saw Elijah staggering toward me. I hastily moved backward, giving him a look of disbelief. He reeked of alcohol and was obviously drunk. If he wasnโt, he would have just ignored me and gone straight to bed. โHey, playing hard to get, arenโt you?โ he said in a slurred manner, his bloodshot eyes becoming more intense. Then without warning, he leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. I didnโt have time to react, though, because he suddenly started unbuttoning my oversized nightshirt. โWhen did Serena start working at your company?โ I asked him coldly. He shrugged, but didnโt stop what he was doing. โNot sure. Probably recruited by HR.โ He traveled down and then his tongue followed. Finally, the last button on my sleep pajama surrendered. โSerena is such a talented addition to our team,โ he remarked with admiration. As I reminisced about the scene I witnessed at the company, my husband and his ex-girlfriend Serena were closely nestled together, sharing laughter and conversation. But I couldn't muster the courage to confront her and ask her to keep her distance from him. Jealousy and pain gripped my chest. I couldnโt believe he was saying all this while undressing me! I knew then that he still had feelings for her. "You know," he said, oblivious to my disappointment, "she's even outperforming many of the senior colleagues who've been with the company for years." Even as we locked eyes, there was something in his gazeโa kind of infatuationโthat he never seemed to exhibit when it came to me. Heโs probably picturing me as her! I thought with disgust. I was so disappointed in him, and didnโt want him anywhere near me. Iโve been obedient, helpful, and hardworkingโฆ But no one cares. Not even my own husband. Iโm nothing to him. He doesnโt love me and he never learned to. Thatโs the most painful of all. A sudden surge of clarity and calmness washed over me. โI want to divorce you.โ | LEARN_MORE | https://thebvhwysgng.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=1 | Indulge in story | https://www.facebook.com/61552702618591/ | 847 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | thebvhwysgng.com | DCO | https://thebvhwysgng.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=13552&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/456447136_513011344615331_1497297673340256615_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=miUg-MmIjkgQ7kNvgHFdmIF&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AdFMiPhMSOdiBz_im8a_fXm&oh=00_AYBrM2pEVokeKgAo_bhbpLnRqPKtMFwjkgHJ4cFtxkgYMQ&oe=674D7E14 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Indulge in story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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๐Read the next chapters๐ | Chapter 1 Lottieโs POV "So, who is coming tomorrow?" I asked my best friend Lilly, who was twirling in the mirror, the expensive satin of her wedding dress swishing around her ankles. Tomorrow was her big day, and ever the perfectionist, she just had to check everything still fit perfectly. "Umm, the usual: our pack, Daddy's business partner, bordering packs, and their alphas. It's only a small gathering." She mumbled, brushing her hands over her tiny waist. "Small." I nodded sarcastically; we clearly had a very different understanding of what small meant, but as the daughter of the ruthless Alpha of the Crimson Moon packs, I guess this was small. "You know your mating ceremony will be just like this!" Sage chuckled, watching Lilly through my eyes. "Not a chance!" I barked, looking over at Lilly and her lavish dress, fake lashes and tan. I loved her and her confidence, but I was definitely more subtle than Lilly, never one to bask in the limelight but hide in the back! So this sort of opulence wasn't for me. "Your dad and Alpha Leigh won't accept any less than an extravagant ceremony! You are screwed, as they won't allow you a low-key event! You are the Beta's daughter. You must represent the pack; you know Mike will want all this too! Frills and all!" Sage teased, making me groa-n, shutting her out. I looked at Lilly warmly, smiling at her; she was truly beautiful! "You look beautiful, Lilly, very skinny," I added, knowing it was what she wanted to hear, but the truth was she did! She was the kind of girl that would look beautiful in a garbage bag. โYou think? โ her li-p twisted into a smile, I knew she was satisfied with my answer. โYes!โ I stated firmly. Clapping giddily, she gasped, running to the dressing table; she returned with a box, placing it in my lap. "I got you a gift to thank you; I know I have been a bridzillar the last few months preparing for the wedding." Taken back, I glanced between her and the beautifully box in my lap. I look at her, remembering why I love her so much! She may be spoiled, a danmed princess and an insane drama queen, but she never ceased to make me feel special and appreciated! "You shouldn't have." A polite smile painted my li-ps. "Go try it on; Mike will die when he sees you in it!" She laughed, pulling me to my feet, nodding for me to open the box. Rolling her eyes, she ushered me into one of the fitting rooms to try it on. "Wait, what?" I asked nervously as she pushed me into the fitting room, winking at me as she closed the door. "Lilly, what have you done?" I asked, but curiosity was getting the better of me. "You will thank me later when he can't keep his hands off you!" She laughed. Biting my li-p, I pulled the ribbon, svcking in a breath, seeing the racy lingerie staring back at me challengingly, silently daring me to be bold. "Oh, My God!" I moaned, shaking my head! "I can't wear this!" I laughed, feeling the blush spread across my cheeks. Fifteen minutes later, I stood up on the podium, Lilly staring at me proudly. "Fck! I'd totally do you if I weren't getting married tomorrow!" Lilly winked, circling me. "I don't understand why you don't see how hot you are!" She groa-ned. Looking in the mirror finally, I svcked in a breath; my slim figure was encased in an icy blue crot-chless cami suspender set that left nothing to the imagination. A lace embroidered halter neck with mesh panels barely covering my booobs ran down my body in a slim V. "Seriously, it's like wearing a piece of dental floss!" I shouted, ignoring Lilly's giggles. "No pain, no gain, Lottie! Go, show Mike!"she grinned knowingly. "You can tell me all about it later!" She giggled mischievously. With a final look in the mirror, I admitted she was right. It did look good! Sexy even! Rolling my li-p between my teeth, I blushed, deciding to take her advice; Mike and I had not had much alone time lately; he was always working, Alpha Leigh had been keeping him busy with safety preparations for tomorrow. "Well, this was an excellent way to get his attention." My wolf Sage cackled as I slipped my dress over Lillyโs gift. Getting to the apartment I shared with Mike didn't take long; my father had insisted we stay close to the pack house; being the Crimson Moons beta, he, like Lilly, was used to getting his way. Seizing my keys from my bag, I froze, hearing the muffled sound of talking from behind our apartment door. Mike was home! "Is he watching por-n?" My wolf Sage laughed, hearing the barely audible moans from within the apartment walls. Concentrating on the sounds coming from the other side of the door, I laughed, hearing the distinct sound of mattress springs, breathy moans and... "Mike ! Don't stop! Oh my god, Mike harder!" A female panted as the familiar sound of a headboard pounding a wall fluttered up to my ears. MY headboard! Swallowing the bile that assaulted my throat, I quietly walked into the apartment, numbly stumbling to our bedroom; the closer I got, the more I understood. "As you wish, baby girl!" MY boyfriend moaned as the squeaking got quicker, more desperate. "The fvck you are!" I roared, opening the door with a bang. "Shiiit!" Mikeโs panicked voice spluttered as I flicked the light on. "Hey honey, I'm home!" I mocked, locking eyes with the guy I loved, who was balls deep in a female... a female who wasn't me! Chapter 2 "I didn't think you would be back till later?" Mike dares to say, looking at me like I had grown two heads and was somehow in the wrong. "Clearly!" I mutter, walking over to the closet, grabbing my overnight bag and aggressively shoving things into it. "Baby girl...Come on..." He has the audacity to sound hurt; glancing into the mirror, I lock my eyes on him. "I am sorry, who are you talking to ... Me? Or Her?" Seeing the puzzled look on his face, I continued. "Just two seconds ago, I heard you call her 'baby girl'." I spat, knowing I was being petty over the pet name, but given that I had just walked in on him banging some chick in our bed, I felt I had earned the right to be a little childish! "No, you are mistaken." He shakes off. Spinning around, I glare at him. Is he seriously trying to make ME feel like I am going insane! "As you wish, BABY GIRL!" I yelled, repeating what I had heard him say not two minutes ago, to the who-re in his bed... Our bed! "It's not what it looks like, I promise." "Oh?" I roll my blue eyes and look at the she-wolf pulling the sheet around herself sheepishly. "Did he slip and accidentally land in your vargina?" Seeing her try to slip from the bed, I shook my head. "Stay! He is ALL yours!" I dismissed, returning to throwing the first things I could grab into my travel bag. "Charlotte, come on." Mike pushed, getting from the bed. "Work has been tough lately, and well..." Before he finished the sentence, I knew he would make this my fault somehow, just like I knew I would punch him in the face in the next thirty seconds. "You have put a little weight on, and you never dress up for me anymore." His body was flush against my back. My body tightened at the irony, given the blue lace I had on under my dress, grabbing my make-up and ramming it brutally with my other things. Zipping my bag with shaky hands, I tried to remain calm as he continued. "You could try a little harder to entice me. I wouldn't have to look elsewhere then." Spinning around in his hold, I pulled my fist back and, with no warning, plunged it into his eye; satisfaction washed over me hearing the fragile bone in his nose break, blood splattered my dress; looking down at it in astonishment, I laughed in disbelief. Mike's curses were barely audible over the sound of my blood rushing through my body. "Yeah, we are done." I declare my mind made up as Mike tried to pull my elbow. โBabygirl..." He uttered, regretting it the second my eyes glared with the cold blue of Sage, who seized control and, before I could gasp, had delivered her own source of justice. Knocking Mike out cold, his body hurtled back and dropped to the floor, his limp body resembling a pretzel all limbs and bruised ego. "When he wakes up, you tell him to stay away from Lottie!" Sage growled at the quivering she-wolf, who was nodding, frozen by fear. ******* "Another?" I requested, tapping the rim of my empty glass; the handsome bartender looked between Lilly and I, concern washing over his face. Apparently, our father's made him nervous. "I just caught my boyfriend shagging someone else; I think another drink is needed, don't you!" I asked, arching a brow, ignoring Lilly's sigh. Seeing him reluctantly fill my glass, a smirk pulled at the corners of my li-ps. I had spent the last few hours getting a little tipsy, dancing and trying to forget my heartbreak. But seeing Lilly look down at her phone with a frown, I knew the night was over. "Charlotte, I have to sleep." She only used my full name when she was trying to be serious, "I have to look my best tomorrow." She grinned, pulling me up from my chair. "Come on, let's go home." "I can't... I .. Can't go.. back there... HE.. is there!" I slurred, spinning around on wobbly legs; I eyed her helplessly, dramatically throwing my hands in the air. "Can I stay at yours, please!" Laughing, she nodded, pushing me towards the door. "Yeah, but I swear if you snore, I will kil-l you!" She laughed. Twenty minutes later, we pulled up at the pack house. "I will grab water; you go on up!" She laughed, waving me up the stairs as she disappeared into the kitchen. I felt like it took forever to get to her bedroom; pushing the door open, I paused, looking around the room. "I don't think I have ever seen this room THIS tidy." I laughed, pulling my dress over my head. I threw my dress aside, picking up a photo frame with a picture of Lilly's older brother standing proudly with his arm around his dad, smiling into the camera, without a care. It was his graduation day. I remember it well. He made me call him master all day. "Jackass!" I cursed, turning the frame around, not wanting his eyes on me while I slept, or at all! "Looks like this lingerie will be getting some action tonight!" I laughed bitterly while looking in the full-length mirror, thinking about how different this night could have been. Mike's cruel words about my weight were eating at what little confidence I had. Lilly's brothers had made my life hel-l growing up until they left for training a few years back, so I was used to being the but of jokes, taunted and teased, but coming from Mike, it hurt. Svcking in a breath, I froze, the sound of running water finally hitting my ears. I had left Lilly downstairs, had she slipped in while I walked around her room? Pushing the door to the ensuite open, I froze, my feet rooted to the spot; through the glass panel of the shower, Lilly's brother stood, hand pressed up against the marbled tiled wall, his knuckles turning white from the pressure, his body ripped with even more muscles then he left with. Tattoos wound the whole of his body, trailing my eyes across them giddily; I tensed seeing his tattooed hand gripping his thick steeled rod, easily 9 inches of heaven. My eyes locked on his diick as he pumped his hand around it, pleasuring himself in what I knew was meant to be a private moment. "Either join me or get out!" He rasped, looking over his shoulders at me; the second our eyes met, I felt like I had been punched, knocking me to my knees, the floor disappearing from under me; somewhere in the distance, I heard Knox's panicked scream, it was genuine concern, not laughter, I was hearing from him. Why? Confusion bled through me wildly, just before everything went black. Chapter 3 Distant memories of the annual pack ball danced across my vision; Lilly and I were expected to go as we had come of age; we had both expected the twins to try to sabotage the whole evening! But they hadn't! Lilly and I had assumed it was because our fathers had insisted we attend, and they outranked the twins! Something we knew grated on the boys! The guy I had been crushing on at school had asked me to be his date; I was beyond excited! I had gone all out and had my hair, nails and make-up done. I had worked overtime to save up for a dress, I had spent a small fortune, and for once, I felt beautiful! He treated me like royalty, something I was not used to, given how the twins liked to control everything Lilly I did behind the walls of the pack house, but the twins had not said anything about me going with the young male wolf; I thought they had finally allowed me some freedom. We danced and laughed, and I thought he would kiss me! I never wanted the night to end; it had been perfect until I found the twins laughing about how desperate and pathetic I was and how they couldn't believe I had actually thought HE would like ME! Unable to watch anymore, I turned to leave only to see other classmates recording me, laughing at me and my tears. It didn't take long for it to be uploaded to social media and sent around school, making me a laughingstock! I had never understood why they were so obsessed with what I did! I got that they protected Lilly, but I was not kin! And this behavior was unwarranted! I tried to speak to my father about it, but since my mother had died, he had checked out, leaving Luna Louise to raise me; his only care was the pack and keeping it safe! And I could hardly go to her and moan that her precious sons were making my life hel-l! So I had no choice but to put up and shut up! Only when they left at 16 did things get easier; I finally knew peace, friendship, and fun! And somewhere in between, I met Mike. Opening my eyes slowly, the memories faded only to be replaced by the concerned face of Knox, staring down at me with such warmth my stomach flipped. His fingers traced my cheek as relief spread over his features. "Get. Your. Hand. Off. Me!" I seethed, slapping it away aggressively, my eyes narrowing on the ice blue hues of Knox, forcing myself to ignore the flicker of hurt that slipped across his face. "Hush, baby, let me check you over. You hit your head hard." He cooed, and my eyes widened in disbelief at the sincerity in his tone. "Get your STI-riddled hand off of me before I break it the fck off!" Snapping my mouth closed, feeling the light touch of his fingers on my li-ps. "You have a filthy mouth, do you know that!" His brows knitted together as he looked my face over, his gaze locking on my li-ps, making me uncomfortable. "I should teach you a lesson!" He mused a smirk split his face, seeing the shock wash over mine. "You're disgusting!" I spat, pushing myself up, looking around confused, seeing I was not on the floor but instead laid out carefully on the bed, Knox beside me. He had apparently swept me up and taken care of me, but I could not think why for the life of me. Shoving him aside, I attempted to climb over him. But his hands gripped my waist, locking me mid-stride over his torso. "I have to admit, you have changed a lot!" A grin slowly slipped across his face, his fingers trailing up the soft fabric of my new lingerie. Lingerie meant for Mike. "Not the whiny brat I left behind, huh" Shoving his che-st hard, framing my face in a wall of glowing white. I didn't want to admit that he had changed, too; he had grown into a gorgeous male. "And buffed up!" Sage added to my inner thoughts, bringing me back to reality. Ignoring her lude comment with a groa-n, my hands covered his that were rubbing up my sides. "Seriously, stop touching me!" Pushing his hands off me with a snort, "Dicck!" I grunted. "Hmmm, yeah, I have one... wanna see?" He taunted, his hands returning to my waist with supernatural speed. "YES, I wanna see!" Sage purred excitedly. "Seriously! Do you remember all the shiit he put us through" I snapped, trying to pull away from his grasp. "God's", A gasp escaped my li-ps, feeling his solid length rub against my core. "Crotc-hless!" He smirked up at me. "Not so innocent, it seems!" "UGH!" I growled, trying to lift off of him, but he forced me along him again, making me cry out as my pusssy clenched needily, loving the sensation of pain mixing with pleasure. "Let me make this crystal clear for you, Knox! I do not want you!" "Really? Sage seems game!" He grinned slyly. "She's a sluut!" I announced, angry at Sage's betrayal! "Mmm, My sluut?" He beamed, his hands sliding up my back;his solid length was millimeters from my core, but he was waiting for me to give him the green light. "Beg me, Knox!" I challenged! Chapter 4 "Beg?" He scoffed, eyes narrowing on me; I could see the inner fight between Knox and his wolf. He was a son of an Alpha. He had probably never begged for anything, let alone a female! But if he wanted me like he claimed to, he would beg! "Yes, Beg! Or let go of me." I declared with a newfound boldness. I was so over being weak and vulnerable, done being pushed around by those around me, and that included Mike and the danm twins! His hands released my hi-ps. Evidently, he refused to dance to my tune. "You are so danm perfect, but I won't beg!" He maintained. For once, he looked weak! The desire in his gaze filled me with a new sense of power; it had been such a long time since I felt this heat, and it was scrambling my brain. "There, that wasn't so hard, was it!" I laughed, rising onto my knees, an idea quickly springing to my mind. Years I had put up with his taunts, teasing and humiliation. It was time to return that favor. "Do it, I dare ya!" Sage encouraged. I slipped the straps off my shoulders, letting the delicate lace slide down, my booobs bouncing fre-e. "Please, Charlotte. Let me taste your pretty body; let me make you feel every inch the Queen you are!" Shiit! โ I will beg too! Let him do it! Please!" Sage wailed in my head, but she needn't! I hated myself for it, but I wanted it. I wanted him, and given the look on his face, he bloody well knew it! Nodding, I watched as he did just that, his li-ps pressed to my body in turn. Gripping his hand in mine, I tutted at him; even when drowning in lust, I refused to let him take control of the situation! "Char??" I heard Lilly call from the hallway. "Where the fck did she go?" She moaned as she walked past Knox's room; the fact she didn't even think to check in here told me everything and brought me back to the startling realisation that I had fcked up! I was lying on my best friend's brother's bed, between his legs! "Get off!" I growled, pushing Knox off; my lust turned to hate quickly. "This shouldn't have happened!" I spat accusingly at him, but I knew I had been a willing participant, and if Lilly hadn't interrupted, I hate to think just how willing of a participant I would have been! "Come on, it's fine!" He laughed as I scrambled out from under him, pulling my straps back in place while searching for my dress and pulling it on. "Where is that blood from?" Knox growled, making me jump; looking down at my blood-stained dress, I frowned- I liked this dress! How had I not noticed Mike's blood all over it? "None of your danm business!" I huffed, grabbing my shoes and glaring at him one last time. "THIS never happened!" I snapped, slipping from the room as quietly as I can, tiptoeing down the hall to Lilly's room. Seeing she was still roaming the corridors looking for me, I took the opportunity to slip into the shower. Desperate to wash the embarrassment off me. "You smell of him... Of Knox!"Sage announced as she rubbed up against the walls of my mind. "What?" I gasped, inhaling sharply, hoping the smell of the shower gel would erase not just his smell but the memories too!However, all I could smell was the heavenly scent of Knox and his danm arousal! "Fck!" I cursed, scrubbing myself raw, until I heard Lilly return. "Where the fck have you been?" She snapped as she pulled herself up on the counter in the bathroom, watching me skeptically. Making a split-second decision, I decided to lie! "I got lost and ended up in your brother Knox's room! I didn't realize he was back!" I started sxcking down a breath, groa-ning, smelling Knox STILL. "A little heads up would have been good!" I moaned, giving her an irritated half-smile. "You thought they would miss my big day?" She laughed, rolling her eyes! "They got back this evening." "No shiiit!" I sighed, giving her a 'you think' look as I bull shited her with another lie; Sage and I were both disappointed at how easily the lie left my li-ps. Giggling with my best friend on the night of her mating ceremony should have been the highlight of my night, but instead, I was left with an uneasy feeling eating at my stomach, something telling me my life was about to get a he-ll of a lot more complicated! And there was nothing I could do about it! Chapter 5 "Get your lazy as-s up!" Lilly demanded, her shrill voice making me sigh; flopping onto my stomach, I pulled her pillow over my head, hoping to silence her. "No!" I grumbled, images of Knox and I last night still floating around my head, making my thi-ghs ache. "Char! Come on!" Lilly said, pulling the sheet off me; the cold air assaulting my body. "It's my big day! I need my best friend at my side!" She complained, but the edge to her tone told me she was not about to give up any time soon. "Fine! I am up!" I grumbled, throwing the pillow in the direction Lilly's voice came from while pulling myself up. Smelling strong coffee, I smiled sleepily over at Lilly, the last remnants of my dream and her sexy brother slowly fading from my mind as I took the coffee she handed me. "I can't get sick today, Char!" Lilly moaned, watching me as she handed me a mirror to show me how red-faced I was, dropping it on the bed, not needing to look to know I was blushing. "Charlotte! Are you ok? You're shaking?" Lilly inhaled, taking the coffee cup from my hands before I dropped it. Her hand pressed to my forehead sympathetically. "Charlotte?" "Do you think he will be as skilled with his tongue as you imagine him to be?" Sage added, making me blush further. "Enough!" I screamed at my wolf, cutting our link off so I could focus and calm my trembling hands and racing heart. The concern on Lilly's face startled me back to reality. "I am ok! Honestly!"I muttered, shaking my head at the images Sage had interjected into my mind on a loop. "I should tell her! In the 18 years we have been friends, I have never lied to her! I don't feel right doing so now!" I stated guiltily to Sage. It seemed since we left Knox's room, it was all she could think of! And a certain male's dicck in particular. Sxcking down my breath, seeing Lilly's frantic eyes searching my face needily. Today was her big day! She had been dreaming of this day for as long as I had known her, finding her mate, making it official and making her family and pack proud. I, on the other hand, needed more! I needed the rawest form of love, trust and security, all of which was something Knox could not offer me! The thought cemented what I already knew; It was a one-off! Sighing, I softened my features, ignoring the aching between my thi-ghs. "I think the last 24 hours have caught up with me, seeing Mike and that trollop in my bed! That's all!" I expressed lying to her face for the second time in a few hours. "I'm sorry, Char; he really is a piece of shiit! Want me to ask Knox and Kane to give him a good hiding." Shaking my head dramatically with a nervous laugh, I gripped her hands and pulled her onto the bed, ignoring her protests. "NO!" It's embarrassing enough that I caught them having sax in my bed; I don't want the whole pack talking about it." I sighed, grabbing the pillow and throwing it at her with an arched brow. "Hmmm, yeah, I understand that!" She chuckled, throwing the pillow back at me as she got back off the bed, holding her hand out to pull me up. "But if he becomes a bother! I will tell them! I know you think they don't care about you, Charlotte, but they see you as a little sister! They won't stand for his bullshiit!" She expressed, looking at me in the mirror as she fixed her hair. "Lord, I hope they don't see you as a sister! Not sure how I feel about ince-st!" Sage grunted, working her way through the barrier I had put up. "Although... I am up for calling Knox Daddy if you are?" She added with a wiggle. "Way to lower the tone, sage!" I huffed, ignoring her like before as I helped Lilly prepare for her big day! Two hours later, we were making our way through an empty pack house; Alpha Leigh had seen to it that no one would see his daughter until the ceremony, so not a single person remained in the pack house but Lilly and I. "Are you not nervous?" I asked; standing at the back doors, I squeezed her hand. "No, just excited!" She whispered, pushing the doors open to peek out at the beautifully decorated garden with its subtle nod to the pack's colours. "Wow, it's stunning." I gushed as the door heaved open, and Alpha Leigh stepped in, his eyes falling on his daughter and blurring with tears instantly in a way only a proud father could. "Told you, you looked beautiful!" I grinned, nudging Lilly's waist with mine seeing him try not to cry at the sight of his daughter in her ceremonial dress. "You like Daddy?" She screeched, turning slowly to show him what his money had brought. It was an exquisite dress, floor length, made with the softest of silk. "You look like a princess!" He gushed, straightening no doubt in an attempt to control his emotions; his eyes scanned me with a warm smile, looking at my dress with a chuckle. "I half expected you to turn up in yoga pants and a hoodie Charlotte!" He teased with an affectionate wink. He was right, of course; I lived in training and gym clothes. When your Father was the Beta, you tended to spend the majority of your time training. "Daddy!" Lilly scolded, "Don't encourage her! It took me weeks to bribe her into the dress!" She scoffed, giving me a firm stare. "Charlotte, can you excuse us a moment, I would like a minute with my baby before...." He whispered, his voice cutting off as his eyes locked on his daughter with such love. "She will always be your baby girl!" I whispered, leaning up on my tiptoes to press a soft kiss to my alphas cheek; he was like a second father to me and seeing him so overwhelmed at the sight of Lilly was very out of character for him, even behind closed doors he always seemed to favour the twins. Winking at my best friend before slipping out the doors and into a solid form and familiar scent, I groa-ned audibly; even Sage was finally waking up, sensing the danger. Chapter 6 "What are you doing here!" I questioned, trying to keep my tone neutral, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing my upset. Allowing my eyes to roam over a dark blue pin-stripped tailored suit that barely fit the muscular form of Mike. His dark eyes trained on me, his li-ps pulled into a scowl as he looked down my body. "Nice to see you too, baby girl!" He sighed, having just referred to Lilly as 'baby girl' to her father; hearing it slip from Mike's li-ps felt wrong, but I couldn't be bothered to argue with him about his pet name for me now, not when Alpha and Lilly are on the other side of the door. "Lottie?" He huffed, waiting for me to say something, but I had nothing to say, trying to hide his frustration by running a hand through his dark hair. "I missed you last night." He tried again, clearly trying to engage me in conversation. "I wish I could say the same!" I grunted, annoyed at myself for acknowledging him, I crossed my hands across my che-st. A part of me wished he would turn and leave me alone, go back to the she-wolf he had allowed to keep him company last night, but the stu-pid, naive part of me wanted to cling to him and ask him to fight for me! "Your father sent me to find you!" He grinned a pearly smile that had my stomach fluttering; I hadn't told my father about the breakup, so he meant well, I assured myself. "I can make my own way to the ceremony." I snapped, lowering my eyes from Mike's face; the displeasure washing across his face made me feel self-conscious enough. "Lottie!" He tried as I pulled my elbows closer, hugging them around myself, his cruel remark about my weight last night still raw, even if I hadn't let him know it had hurt me. "You took forever!" He stated. "Probably putting all that slap on your face!" Pulling on my elbow, he half dragged me down the beautifully styled pathway towards the old church grounds at the back of the property. "You're hurting me!" I winced, a burn rising to my cheeks at the mention of my make-up! "Yes!" He sneered, not even looking at me. "No! You look beautiful!" Sage interjected, lending me some of her strength to try and pull my arm back from his iron-tight grip. "You don't even have time to change! The guests have all arrived!" He grumbled, ignoring me and shoving me forward so hard I slipped on one of the petals lining the old cobbled path. "Fck sake, Lottie, you always have to show me up!" He hissed, looking down at me with contempt. "Get up then!" He snarled, his eyes lingering on the deep V neckline that barely held my booobs in place. Left speechless, I sat on the floor, looking up at my so-called mate, feeling the cold stone through the thin fabric. "I can't believe you, today is an important day for the pack, and you turn up dressed like... that! Representing me! Are you trying to destroy my reputation?" He snarled, shoving his hand out and grabbing my elbow again, yanking me up by it painfully and shoving me forward. "You look like a who=re!" He growled from behind me, shaking his head angrily; I could feel Sage's anger rising, and as much as I was grateful she had my back, now wasn't the time to cause a scene. It was Lilly's big day and an important day for the pack. "Well, you'd know all about whor-es!" I seethed quietly, spinning to face my so-called mate, "How many of them have you had in our bed?" I scoffed, looking at him with pity but unable to stop. "Tell me did they fake it like I did? They must have because there is no way your .. little.. friend could have satisfied them! Lord knows it never did me!" I blurted out angrily, narrowing my eyes at him challengingly. The darkening in his iris had my heart skipping a beat, and not for the right reason. He was angry! "That's your problem, Charlotte; you have never known your danm place." He grinned manically, taking a step toward me before I had a chance to react; he pulled me non to gently into an alcove of the garden, hidden by the white Jasmine vines. "But that's ok; I will teach you now!" He breathed into my ear as he slammed my che-st against the stone wall, knocking the air from my lungs and leaving me unable to cry out even if I wanted to. Gripping my hands again, he yanked them above my head, holding them together with one of his large hands. "I can smell your arousal!" He moaned into my ear huskily. Despite my compromising position, my body was throbbing, desperate for attention! I wanted to scream at Mike, to tell him the wetness between my thi-ghs wasn't for him but leftover remnants of my time with Knox last night. "I know that you, Lottie, will always be MY who-re!" Hearing the familiar sound of his zipper, I knew what was coming and as much as I hated to admit it! I wanted it! | LEARN_MORE | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12849&u | Galaxy in the Story | https://www.facebook.com/61555427913037/ | 1,562 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | befant.com | IMAGE | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12849&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/452845758_1029113008782635_4565859678254719478_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NcHQ2fbqAPMQ7kNvgF0qJJe&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AXZKORq44AlaepNT8st17rC&oh=00_AYA6ZxBoDFwyCbZjSiBnaOvn4JtnuF6OgQPTsO3gyGzryw&oe=674D903F | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2024-11-27 19:45 | active | 1932 | 0 |
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๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | "You'd be willing to be my mistress?" I took a deep breath. "Yes." He'd got rid of me as his wife, to replace me with his sweetheart, but he still wanted to keep me as his mistress. The shame was almost too much to bear. The next day, my father told us that our debts had all been repaid. Suddenly, Joseph had become an angel in my mother's eyes. How he must love me to help us so much. All I could do was force a smile and bite my tongue. As far as my parents knew, I was still his wife. To them, I was on my way to spend a happy evening with my husband, not to be used as his toy. But what other choice did I have? I was well aware that I was giving up my dignity. Joseph's room was the very same bedroom we had shared while we were married. Yet now, it felt very different. I had no idea when Joseph would return. When I awoke, there seemed to be a great weight pressing down on me. As my senses gradually returned, I realized that Joseph was on top of me. What's more, his hands were moving underneath my clothes. "How ... How dare you!" Without thinking, I raised my hands to push him off. But before I knew it, he had grabbed hold of my wrists and forced them down. "Even now, your pampered temper's still intact." He jeered at me. I gazed around at the familiar room and then at the familiar man before me. It took me a while to fully remember where I was. This bedroom we were in was now his, and I was nothing more than his mistress. My arms went limp, I meekly let out a soft apology, "I'm sorry". He laughed, standing up and heading towards the bathroom. As he cleaned himself, I wrung my hands nervously. Before all this, once I had begun to have feelings for him, the thought of his touch had not been an unpleasant one. But this was different. There was nothing mutual or respectful about our current situation. This was simply possession and revenge. In such circumstances, the thought of what was to come was horrifying, but I had nowhere to run. After what seemed like an age, he finally emerged from the bathroom. The sound of the door opening once more was almost more than my frayed nerves could take. | LEARN_MORE | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=15053&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=15053&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/t39.35426-6/464446123_872410864981319_4606585567578669790_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hg_KoP-gJAYQ7kNvgGX7N2T&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AHsWsNnJTuJhI2qvQ8J-O0X&oh=00_AYDAl7a07cq7_4TzVquuiOSdJk8e4wfW85u6UF7eV_VnPg&oe=674DA453 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-11-27 19:56 | active | 1932 | 0 |
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๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | Lily POV After my mother slapped me and pushed me down the stairs on the morning of my sister Stephanie's death memorial, I fell unconscious, but the moment I woke up, I was in Stepahnie's memorial while my fated mate Alpha James mind-linked me, "Little Mate, don't you want to know who spent the night in my bedroom last night?" James smirked at me. This is his revenge for Stephanie, his late girlfriend. "You deserve this. Vile murderer! That's how you pay for causing my girlfriend's death!" He roared at me the other day by the waterfall when we found each other to be fated mates. My dead sister's boyfriend and I. What a joke the Moon Goddess plays. But I will not sit idly when the betrayal pains were about to rip my heart apart. "I, Lily Borgen, reject you Alpha James!" I snarled back. ... James POV It's been a few months since I accepted Lily rejection and she ran away from the pack. Regrets are the only thing I ever feel these days. I love her, she is my fated mate! For god's sake. Dr. Hyden from the neighboring pack brought me the information of Lily. Thank godness, she is alive! But she won't come back to the pack that has tortured her for years. "Son, I am sorry for what happened between you and Lily. But you need to move on." My mother comforted me,"Maybe it's a good idea to have another woman to be by your side." I know what she meant. "Mom, I couldn't forget Lily. Please stop this. I was so wrong to her." Thinking back how I bullied her and punished her by sleeping with othe women, my heart ached. "Actually, I have a question for you." Suddenly, I became suspicious of why my mother was so keen on my moving on. "Did you know how Stephanie really die?" An unprecedented terror appeared on her face. | LEARN_MORE | https://getokn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10745&u | Indulge in story | https://www.facebook.com/61552702618591/ | 847 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | getokn.com | DCO | https://getokn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10745&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/454354541_1623250035121587_2159191077544399873_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZuhfOt_tTq0Q7kNvgFXYIrk&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=Af23-rKL631B8dzdaqSIXfz&oh=00_AYD-FbYMM3e55MuLXcgcm3WJUZYt1mSu9NUrR081E8HgPg&oe=674D8840 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Indulge in story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2024-11-27 19:52 | active | 1932 | 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/ | 430 | 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=120211454136130284 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/467395688_8631840723570154_7534386158767766472_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=y9tCaUex6zIQ7kNvgFTaRjq&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AXsspl1JNcsF_vhv4MuRlw4&oh=00_AYDVqyqW5PXY2zIWO7YVzfJWIBTxxczJwtDopqz1S949dw&oe=674D82A7 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Loving reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,549,614 |
/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281)
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Yes | 2024-11-27 19:59 | active | 1932 | 0 |
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๐Read the next chapters๐ | Lexi could sense the man was staring at her swollen right cheek. It didn't seem like he would take his eyes off her anytime. "I know I'm so pretty that people can't help but gawk at me." Claude's lips curved up. "You look very familiar." Lexi's eyes remained on the climbing numbers on the elevator's digital display. "That's a tacky way to hit on someone." "I've never needed to hit on anyone." Claude flashed a reticent smile. "I'm only stating the truth. There was a laziness and silkiness to his voice. Lexi looked ahead at the elevator's mirrored walls and took in Claude, who stood to her left. She didn't recall ever interacting with him, much less meeting him. To her surprise, Claude suddenly approached her. His intimidating presence overwhelmed her so much that she took a few steps back. "Can I help you?" she questioned with a stiff voice. Lexi held her breath. They were so close to each other that she could smell the faint pine scent from his body. "Do you really not recognize me?" Claude asked. "I don't." Claude straightened his back and peered down at her. When the elevator door opened on the tenth floor, he stepped aside. Doubt gnawed at her heart. She could have sworn she didn't know the man, but why did he seem to know her? โฆ That night, Lexi had a dream. She dreamt of the night from two months ago. The wild night left her all sweaty. Zachary held her waist and tried out several positions with her. It left Lexi limp with barely any energy left. Not to mention, she was so drunk that she was in a daze. When Lexi woke, she massaged her forehead. The dream she had turned out to be a tad frightening. The man she slept with two months ago was Zachary. Yet, for some reason, he got replaced by the man from the elevator in her dream. | LEARN_MORE | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11845&ut | Random Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61560831098071/ | 21 | 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=11845&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/449727403_366939126055861_4561971539420395674_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=365stjHdTa8Q7kNvgExe8rb&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AZv114rxFEapF0Q_pdrsvqQ&oh=00_AYBHgvNSd1sYny3JPyyyBpmS_zgLFRGMIDQj_xvQe9y3lg&oe=674D9DDA | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,549,693 |
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Yes | 2024-11-27 19:59 | active | 1932 | 0 |
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๐Read the next chapters๐ | Itโs not the first time I received photos of my husband, Owen, cheating on me. After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I grew up with him. We were inexplicably attracted to each other but we dared not to admit it. Until that one crazy night... anyway we got married when we were both 22. Now, itโs been three years. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain why... I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didn't answer. Owen was on the phone with his friend. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ Owenโs words gave me icy chills. โHow could he say that?!โ My heart was broken. Owen left without any explanation that night. When Owen came back he was very drunk. He started kissing me and called me Josie. I couldnโt believe what I heardโฆ โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. Life passed, I became more and more painful. I finally got divorced with Owen. I thought there would be no relationship between us. But the appearance of Raymond gave me fresh hope for love. Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, handsome and rich. He was one of the most attractive men I knew. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. I couldnโt believe such a wonderful man would confess to me. I didnโt know why he would fall in love with such an ordinary woman like me? Heโs always there when I was in danger and even got injured when protecting me. But I can not accept him as his relationship with my ex-husband. Then the unexpected thing happened. My best friend set me up. When I woke up, I found myself under Raymond's sheet. โDonโt be scared, Noah.โ โIโll protect you.โ โIโm willing to take responsibility.โ โNoah, I love you.โ His magnetic voice always lingered in my ears. Could I trust him? What will happen if I get involved in this forbidden relationship? | LEARN_MORE | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&u | Random Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61560831098071/ | 21 | 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=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448761212_999988184491714_8141244835199273968_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mjhKjJ5AqSAQ7kNvgG0Qmm1&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AOiwW-Ti-eFEKHKfUlz0E5T&oh=00_AYB4IlFm95Pym_IqU_jLgD1yzIKXzoq4UAIWRDW_SFH0Nw&oe=674DB3AD | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete |
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