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No | 2024-12-22 23:48 | active | 2067 | 0 | Read next chapter๐ | As the real heiress returns, onlookers mock at how the fake heiress will end. She, however, comes back as the daughter of a top billionaire, taking on the role of a judge in the real heiress competition, terminating her foster parents'contract, backed by business tycoons, and stunning everyone! ===== "Madisyn, for years, we've raised you, never imagining you capable of such cruelty. This house can no longer bear your presence. You must leave immediately." Declared the imposing woman before Madisyn Chapman, her gaze laden with disdain and a bitter chill, her elegant attire contrasting sharply with the harshness of her words. "Mom, please, it was an accident. I lost my footing and tumbled down the stairs on my own. Madisyn had no part in this," said a young girl from her seat on the sofa. Just half an hour prior, Jenna Chapman, the biological daughter of the Chapmans, had suffered a fall on the staircase. At that time, Madisyn had been alone on the upper floor. Everyone believed Madisyn had pushed Jenna... Now, the looks that the Chapmans shot at Madisyn were filled with venom and disgust, a stark contrast to their attitude just a week prior, when they had professed their reluctance to ever part with her. Madisyn looked down at the floor, a fleeting shadow of irony passing through her eyes. Once, Madisyn was the sole daughter of the Chapmans. Though she never basked in parental favoritism, she lacked for nothing, her basic needs always met. The facade shattered when Jeffry Chapman, whom she had known as her father, met with a grave accident necessitating an urgent bl**d transfusion. The subsequent tests unveiled a startling truth--Madisyn was not his biological child. Jeffry then harnessed his extensive network to uncover the whereabouts of his true daughter, Jenna. The Chapman family was a prestigious household in Gemond, and news like this naturally spread quickly. To manage the public narrative and preserve their esteemed reputation, they declared an unwavering commitment to Madisyn, the girl they had raised, asserting their intention to treat her as their own for a while longer before she returned to her biological family. Behind closed doors, however, their plans were starkly different. They wanted to quickly send Madisyn away at once. Upon Jenna's arrival, the Chapman family blamed Madisyn for Jenna's years of hardship, relegating Madisyn from her room to a mere storage space, diminishing her status drastically. She was tasked with menial chores, her status far beneath even those of the household servants. Jenna, however, still wanted Madisyn gone. She had crafted several schemes against Madisyn, yet her parents turned a blind eye, their disdain for Madisyn thinly veiled. These tribulations stripped away any illusions Madisyn had about her former family, fueling a resolve to confront the injustices imposed upon her. As the tensions reached a boiling point, she faced Jenna, her voice resolute as she said, "I'll leave, but not before setting the record straight, Jenna!" Jenna's composure wavered under the intensity of Madisyn's icy stare, her body trembling slightly. Was this the same Madisyn who had once submitted quietly to every slight? A dark glint flickered in Jenna's eyes. She was the rightful heiress to the Chapman family assets, not this usurper, Madisyn, who had been living in luxury undeserved. She had to drive this impostor out! "Madisyn, I have no idea what you're going on about!" Jenna's voice dripped with feigned confusion. "Ever since I reclaimed my rightful place, receiving the affection rightfully owed to me by our parents, I've sensed your discontent. Despite your actions, I've remained tolerant. But my legs... how could you? Dancing is my soul's expression. Had I known you coveted the national competition spot so desperately, I would not have contested it." Her insinuation was clear: Madisyn had sabotaged her out of it. The gaze of Jenna's mother, Phyllis Chapman, hardened at Jenna's words, her voice laced with disdain. "Jenna, you possesses a remarkable talent that Madisyn could never hope to match. That competition spot was yours by right. And you, Madisyn!" She turned sharply towards Madisyn, adding, "Pack your belongings and leave immediately!" Madisyn's usually somber expression seemed only to fuel her contempt. Meanwhile, Jenna, ever the docile and talented daughter, shone brightly in her eyes--a true Chapman. Amidst the unfolding drama, Jeffry finally broke his silence, his voice heavy with disappointment. "Madisyn, our agreement was to keep you until the public scrutiny waned, yet here we are, facing your deep-seated resentment towards Jenna. We have no choice but to return you to your true family today." Jenna's eyes glittered with a triumphant gleam as her father pronounced Madisyn's imminent departure. In stark contrast, Madisyn's face remained an unreadable mask as she went up the stairs to gather her possessions. Her prolonged stay on the upper floor kindled a flicker of anxiety in Jenna. "What if she attempts to take everything with her?" After all, everything of value in the house rightfully belonged to her--how could she allow a fake to leave with any part of her wealth? Eventually, Madisyn reappeared, descending the staircase slowly, her movements deliberate. She carried a small, unassuming black bag. As her gaze swept coolly across the living room, it unsettled Jeffry enough for him to divert his eyes. Phyllis's eyebrows knitted together at the sight of Madisyn's minimal luggage. "Is that all you've packed? What's in there? Show me," she demanded, suspicion lacing her tone. Jeffry, however, raised a hand to halt his wife's interrogation. "Let her be." It was probably just the bank card he gave her, which had a mere hundred thousand dollars left on it. Unfazed, Madisyn placed her bag squarely on the table, her expression stoic. "Inspect it if you must." Phyllis, unable to mask her distrust, scoffed. "Maybe she has packed something valuable," she muttered as she unzipped the bag. Peering inside, she found nothing more than a notebook, a few seeds, and a small stack of cash--hardly the valuables she had feared. Phyllis, her face flushed with embarrassment from her baseless accusation, straightened up. "I'll let the driver take you there," she said crisply. Jeffry, the weight of the situation bearing down on him, reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. "Madisyn, when you return, listen to your parents. They're farmers, yes... but they are good, simple people. You should help them." Madisyn looked at the offered card with her beautiful eyes, her expression calm. "Everyone has their own destiny to fulfill," she replied quietly, pushing the card back towards Jeffry. "But before I leave, there needs to be clarity. Jenna, how did you truly fall down those stairs? This is your last chance to tell the truth." Jenna seethed internally, infuriated by Madisyn's serene composure, which seemed to elevate her above everyone else despite her humble origins. Madisyn was not from a wealthy family! She was just two farmers' daughter! "Madisyn, what are you implying? That I threw myself down the stairs?" Jenna retorted. "My legs are my life; they are essential for my dancing. Why would I ever get them injured?" As she spoke, Jenna's emotions crescendoed, and she dissolved into theatrical tears, collapsing into Phyllis's arms. Suddenly, Jennainstinctively leaped to her feet because of a shattered vase. Silence enveloped the room as everyone, including Phyllis and Jeffry, turned their shocked gazes towards her. Jenna's sudden agility was startling--didn't she say she couldn't stand up because of her injuries? &9& | LEARN_MORE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/60743322-fb_contact-e | Hello reading-A | https://www.facebook.com/61570065204033/ | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.moboreader.net | VIDEO | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/60743322-fb_contact-enp65_2-c2-0827-core2.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=124213&accid=1983022462166766&rawadid=120214135114390250 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/469619279_1272953007238828_7154149976793232676_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Pvn8eWMox0QQ7kNvgFhUq2R&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AsFVJHE_jDgmguPysldv5zL&oh=00_AYAzDET1jc3D4EEImAeUi3bZOrLWk1qHtUM4IqHWF0LOjQ&oe=676EB30A | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Hello reading-A | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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๊ณ์ ์ฝ๊ธฐ๐ | ๋จํธ์ ๋ฐฐ์ ์ ๋ฐ๊ฒ ๋์๋ค. ๋ชจ๋ ์ฌ๋๋ค์ด ๊ทธ๋ ์ ๋ถํ์ ๋น์์์ง๋ง ๋๊ฐ ์์์ผ๋ด. ๊ณ ์กธ๋ ํ์ง ๋ชปํ ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์ ์ฒด๋ ์ต๊ณ ์ ํด์ปค์ด์ ์ผ๋ฅ ๋ ์ด์์ ์ธ๊ณ์ ์ผ๋ก ์ ๋ช ํ ์ํ๊ต์์์ผ๋ฉฐ ์ ๋ช ํ ๋ณด์ ๋์์ด๋์ธ ๊ฒ์ด๋ค. ===== "์ผ๋ฅธ ์ดํผ ์๋ฅ์ ์๋ช ํ๊ณ ๊ณ ์จ ๊ฐ๋ฌธ์์ ๋๊ฐ! ์์ฐ๋ ํ์ฌ ์ผ ๋๋ฌธ์ ๋ฐ๋น . ๋ํํ ๋ญ๋นํ ์๊ฐ์ด ์๋ ์ ๋ผ๊ณ !" ๊ณ ์์๊ฐ ์ง์ฆ์ ๋๋ค. ์๋จ์ ๋ฐ์น์ ์๋ฅ ํ๋๊ฐ ํญ ๋จ์ด์ก๋ค. ์๋ฅ ์๋์ชฝ์ ์๋ช ์ด ํ๋์ ๋ค์ด์๋ค. ๊ณ ์์ฐ. "์์ฐ ์จ๋ ์ด๋ ์์ฃ ? ์ ์์ฐ ์จ๊ฐ ์ง์ ์์ ๋งํ์ง๋ ์๋ ๊ฑฐ์์?" ์๋จ์ด ๋ฌผ์๋ค. ๊ณ ์์๋ ๋ง์น ์๋จ์ด ํฐ๋ฌด๋์๋ ์ง๋ฌธ์ ํ๋ค๋ ๋ฏ์ด ์ฝ์์์ ์ณค๋ค. "๋ด ๋์์ด ๋ ๊ฐ์ ์ ํํ ์ ๊ฒฝ ์ธ ์๊ฐ์ด ์๋ ์ค ์์?" ๊ณ ์์๋ ์๋จ์ ๋จธ๋ฆฌ๋ถํฐ ๋ฐ๋๊น์ง ํ์ด๋ดค๋ค. ์๋จ์ ์๋ฆ๋ค์ด ์ธ๋ชจ๋ ๋ถ์ ํ ์ ์์๋ค. ๊ณ ์์์กฐ์ฐจ๋ ์๋จ์ ์ฒ์์ ๋ณด๊ณ ๊ฐํํ ์ ๋์์ผ๋ ๋ง์ด๋ค. ํ์ง๋ง ์๋จ์ ์๋ฆ๋ค์ด ์ธ๋ชจ๋ ์ธ์ ๋ ๊ฐ๋ ค์ ธ ์์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์ฑ ๋ง์ ์๋จธ๋ฆฌ์ ํฐ ๊ฒ์ ๋ฟํ ์๊ฒฝ์ ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์กฐ๊ทธ๋งํ ์ผ๊ตด์ด ๊ฑฐ์ ๊ฐ๋ ค์ก๊ณ , ๋ ํ๋ ํ ์ด๋๋ณต์ ์ ๊ณ ์์ด์ ๊ท ํ ์กํ ๋ชธ๋งค๋ฅผ ์์ ํ ๊ฐ์ถฐ ๋ฒ๋ ธ๋ค. ๊ณ ์์๋ ์๋จ์ ์ง์์ผ ๋ฐ์ ํ ์ค ๋ชจ๋ฅด๋ ์ฃผ๋ถ์ผ ๋ฟ์ด๋ผ๊ณ ์๊ฐํ๋ค. ์๋จ์ ์ ์ ์ ๊นจ๋ฌผ๋๋ ๊ฐ์๊ธฐ ์์์ ํฐ๋๋ ธ๋ค. "์ผ ํ๋๋ผ ๋ฐ์ ๊ฑฐ์์? ์๋๋ฉด ํ์ง์ฐ ์จ์ ์๊ฐ ๋ณด๋ด๋๋ผ ๋ฐ์ ๊ฑฐ์์?" ์๋จ์ด ์์ธํ๊ฒ ๋งํ๋ค. ๊ณ ์์ฐ๊ฐ 10๋ ๋์ ์ฌ๋ํ ์ฌ์ ํ์ง์ฐ! 3๋ ๊ฐ์ ์ํ๋ก์ด ๊ฒฐํผ ์ํ ๋์ ๋จน๊ตฌ๋ฆ๋ง๋ฅ ๊ทธ๋ฆผ์๋ฅผ ๋๋ฆฌ์ฐ๊ณ ์์๋ค. ๊ทธ ๋น์, ํ์ง์ฐ๊ฐ ๊ฒฐํผ์ ์๋๊ณ ์ฌ๋ผ์ ธ๋ฒ๋ฆฐ ํ์, ๊ณ ์จ ๊ฐ๋ฌธ์ A์์ ์์๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ๋ ๋ปํ๋ค. ์๋จ์ ๊ณ ์์ฐ์ ํ ์๋ฒ์ง ๊ณ ํ๋์ ํ๋ ์ฝ์์ ์งํค๊ณ , ์ด๋ฆฐ ์์ ๊ณ ์์ฐ์๊ฒ ์ง ๋น์ ๊ฐ๊ธฐ ์ํด ๋ง์ค์ ์์ด ๊ณ ์์ฐ์ ๊ฒฐํผํ๋ค. ์๋จ์ ์ํ๋ฅผ ๊ฐ๊ธฐ ์ํด ์์ ์ ์ ์ฒด๋ฅผ ์จ๊ธฐ๊ณ ์์ ์ ๋ชจ๋ ๊ฒ์ ๋จํธ๊ณผ ๊ณ ์จ ์ง์์ ํ์ ํ๋ค. ๊ณ ์จ ๊ฐ๋ฌธ์ ์์ง์จ ์ดํ, ์๋จ์ ์๋ถ๋ชจ๋์ ์ ๋ชจ์ จ๊ณ , ๊ณ ์์๋ฅผ ์ด์ฌํ ๋์๋ค. ๋์ ํฅ์ ๋ง์ ์ฐ๋ ๊ณ ์์๋ ๋์ด ๋ถ์กฑํ ๋๋ง๋ค ์๋จ์๊ฒ ๋์์ ์์ฒญํ๊ณค ํ๋ค. ๊ณ ์์๊ฐ ๋จํธ์๊ฒ ํญํ ๋นํ ๋๋ง๋ค ๊ณ ์จ ๊ฐ๋ฌธ ์ฌ๋๋ค์ ์์ ๋ค์๊ฒ ๋ถ์ ์ ์ธ ์ํฅ์ ๋ฏธ์น ๊น ๋ด ๋ ๋ชจ๋ฅด๋ ์ฒํ๋ค. ์๋จ์ด ๋์์ฃผ์ง ์์๋ค๋ฉด ๊ณ ์์๋ ์ด๋ค ํํ ์ผ์ ๋นํ์์ง ๋ชฐ๋๊ณ , ์์กฐ๋กญ๊ฒ ์ดํผํ ์๋ ์์์ ๊ฒ์ด๋ค. '์ด์ ์์ ๋ ๋ฌด์ํ๊ณ ์๋ ์ฒ์ ํด!' ์ดํผ ํฉ์์์ ์กฐ๊ฑด์ ์ดํด๋ณด๋ ์๋จ์ ๊ฐ์๊ธฐ ์๋ฅ๋ฅผ ๋ซ๊ณ ํ ์ด๋ธ ์์ ๋ด๋ ค๋์๋ค. "์ดํผ์ ๋์ํ๊ฒ ์ง๋ง, ์์ฐ ์จ ์ฌ์ฐ์ ์ ๋ฐ์ ๋์๊ฒ ์ค์ผ ํด์." ๋๋ผ ๋์ ํฌ๊ฒ ๋ฌ ๊ณ ์์๋ ํ ์ด๋ธ์ ๋ด๋ฆฌ์น๋ฉฐ ๋ฒ๋ก ์ผ์ด์ฐ๋ค. "๊ฟ ๊นจ! ๊ณ ์จ ๊ฐ๋ฌธ์ ์์ง ์ค๋ฉด ๋ค ํ์๊ฐ ํ ๊ฑฐ๋ผ๊ณ ์๊ฐํ๋ ๋ณด์ง? ๋ ํ ํผ๋ ๋ชป ๋ฐ๊ณ ๋๊ฐ๊ฒ ๋ ๊ฑฐ์ผ!" ์๋จ์ ์ฐจ๋ถํ๊ฒ ์์น๋ง๋ฅผ ๋ฒ๊ณ ํ๋ ํ ํ์จ์ด์ ์งํผ๋ฅผ ๋ด๋ ธ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ฌ์ ๋ชธ๋งค๊ฐ ๋๋ณด์ด๋ ๋งค๋ํ ์์์ ์ฒญ๋ฐ์ง๊ฐ ๋๋ฌ๋ฌ๋ค. ์๋จ์ ์๊ฒฝ์ ๋ฒ๊ณ ๋ฏธ์๋ฅผ ์ง์ผ๋ฉฐ ๊ณ ์์๋ฅผ ๋ฐ๋ผ๋ดค๋ค. "๊ฒฐ์ ์ ํ๋์ด ๋ด๋ฆฌ๋ ๊ฒ ์๋์ฃ . ์์ฐ ์จ์ ์ง์ ์๊ธฐํด ๋ณผ๊ฒ์." ๊ณ ์์๋ ์ด์ค๋ฝ๊ธฐ๋ง ํ๋ ์๋จ์ด ๋๊น์งํ ์ฌ์ด์ ๋ถ์๊ธฐ๊ฐ ํ ๋ค๋ฅธ ์ฌ๋์ผ๋ก ๋ณ์ ํ์ ๊น์ง ๋๋ผ ์ ์ ๋ง๋ฌธ์ด ๋งํ๋ค. ๊ณ ์์๊ฐ ์ ์ ์ ์ฐจ๋ ธ์ ๋, ์๋จ์ ์ด๋ฏธ ์ ๊ตฌ๋ก ๊ฑธ์ด๊ฐ๊ณ ์์๋ค. "์ด๋ ๊ฐ? ๋น์ฅ ์ด๋ฆฌ ์์ ์๋ฅ์ ์๋ช ํ์ง ๋ชปํด!" ๊ณ ์์๊ฐ ์๋ฆฌ์ณค๋ค. ๋ถ๋ ธ์ ์ฌ๋ก์กํ ๊ณ ์์๋ ์๋ฅ๋ฅผ ์์ผ์ฅ๊ณ ๋ฉ์ด์ ธ๊ฐ๋ ์๋จ์๊ฒ ๋์ก๋ค. ์ข ์ด๊ฐ ๊ณต์ค์ ํ๋ญ์ด๋ฉฐ ์๋จ์ ์์ฌ์์ฌํ๊ฒ ์ง๋์ณค๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ฆฌ๊ณ ๋ฐ์ผ๋ก ๋๊ฐ์๋ง์ ์ฌ๋นจ๋ฆฌ ์ ํ๋ฅผ ๊ฑธ์๋ค. "๊ณ ์์ฐ๊ฐ ์ด๋ ์๋์ง ์๋ ค์ค." ์คํ 4์๊ฐ ๋์ ์ฝ๋์ธ๊ทธ ํ ๋๊ฐ ๋ฅ์ํ๊ฒ ๊ตํต์ฒด์ฆ์ ํค์น๊ณ ๋๊ฐ๋ฉฐ ๊ณ ์๋๋ก๋ฅผ ์ง์ฃผํ๋ค. "์ฐพ์์ด. ์ฑ์ฌ ๋๊ทน์ฅ์ ์๋ค. GPS ์ค์ ํด ๋จ์ด." ๋ธ๋ฃจํฌ์ค ์คํผ์ปค์์ ์ฝ๊ฐ ๋ถ์ํ ๋ฏํ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ํ๋ฌ ๋์๋ค. "๋จ์, ์ฑ๊ธํ๊ฒ ํ๋ํ์ง ๋ง. ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ ๊ทธ๋ด ๊ฐ์น๊ฐ ์๋ ์ฌ๋์ด์ผ..." ์ง์ฆ๋๊ธฐ๋ ํ๊ณ ์ฐ์ต๊ธฐ๋ ํ ์๋จ์ ๋์น์ ์ฐํธ๋ฆฌ๋ฉฐ ๋งํ๋ค. "๊ฑฑ์ ๋ง. ๋ด๊ฐ ์ ๊ทธ๋ฌ๊ฒ ์ด." "๊ทธ์ผ..." ์ ํ ๋ฐ๋ํธ์์ ์ํฌ์ฐ์ด ๋ฐ๋ฐํ๋ค. "๋๋ ํ์์๋ ์นจ์ฐฉํ ์ ์ง๋ง, ์ด ์ด ๋ ๋๋ฅผ ๊ตฌํด์ค ์ฌ๋์ด ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ผ๋ ๊ฑธ ์๊ฒ ๋ ์ดํ๋ก ์์ ํ ๋ฌ๋ผ์ก์์. ๋ค ๊ฐ์น๋ฅผ ์์๋ณด์ง ๋ชปํ๋ ์ฌ๋ ๋๋ฌธ์ ์ ์์ ์ ํฌ์ํ๋ ค๋ ๊ฑฐ์ผ? ๊ทธ ์ฌ๋์ ์ํด ์ง์ง ์ ๋ถ๊ณผ ๋ฅ๋ ฅ๊น์ง ์จ๊ธฐ๊ณ ... ๋์ฒด ์ ๊ทธ๋ฌ๋ ๊ฑด๋ฐ?" "๊ทธ๋งํด!" ์๋จ์ด ์๋ฆฌ์ณค๋ค. "๊ทธ ์ฌ๋ ๋๋ฌธ์ ๊ทธ๋ฌ๋ ๊ฑฐ ์๋์ผ. ๋, ์ฐ๋ฆฌ ์ง์ ์ํฉ์ด ์ง๊ธ ์ผ๋ง๋ ๋ณต์กํ์ง ์์์." ์ํฌ์ฐ์ด ๋จ์ง ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฐ ๊ฑฑ์ ๋ผ์ ํ๋ ๋ง์ด๋ผ๋ ๊ฑธ ๊นจ๋ซ๊ณ ์๋จ์ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๋ฅผ ๋ฎ์ท๋ค. "๊ฑฑ์ ๋ง. ๊ทธ๋ฅ ์ดํผํ๋ ค๊ณ ๊ทธ๋ฌ๋ ๊ฑฐ๋๊น." "๋ญ? ๋ง์์ฌ..." ์ํฌ์ฐ์ด ํ ์๋ฆฌ๋ฅผ ๋๋ค. ์ํฌ์ฐ์ด ํฐ ์๋ฆฌ๋ฅผ ๋ด๊ธฐ ์ ์ ์๋จ์ ์ฌ๋นจ๋ฆฌ ์ ํ๋ฅผ ๋์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ์์ ์ ์ธ๊ฒ ๋ฐ์ผ๋ฉฐ ๋ฏธ์๋ฅผ ์ง์๋ค. ์๋จ์ ์์ ๊ฐ๋ก๋ง๊ณ ์๋ ๋ถ๊ฐํฐ๋ฅผ ๋ฅ์ํ๊ฒ ํผํ ๋ค์ ๋น ๋ฅธ ์๋๋ก ๋ฌ๋ ค๋๊ฐ๊ธฐ ์์ํ๋ค. ํํธ, ๊ฒ์์ ๋ถ๊ฐํฐ์ ๋ท์ข์์ ์์ ๋จ์๊ฐ ์ฐจ๊ฐ์ด ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๋ก ๋งํ๋ค. "์ฝ๋์ธ๊ทธ๋ฅผ ๋ฐ๋ผ๊ฐ. ๋ฐ์ฒ์ฃผ์๊ฒ ๋ค์ ๊ต์ฐจ๋ก์์ ์ ์ฐจ๋ฅผ ๋ง์ผ๋ผ๊ณ ์๋ ค." ๋น์๋ ์ฐจ ์๋๋ฅผ ๋์ด๋ฉฐ ๋จ๋ฆฌ๋ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๋ก ๋ฌผ์๋ค. "๋ํ๋, ์ ์ฐจ๊ฐ ๋ฌด์จ ๋ฌธ์ ๋ผ๋ ์์ต๋๊น?" ๋จ์๋ ๋ฑ์ ๊ธฐ๋๊ณ ์ ์ ์ ์ด์ง ๋ฒ๋ฆฌ๋๋ ์ค์ผ๊ฑฐ๋ ธ๋ค. "์ค๋๋ง์ด์ผ, ํธ๋ผ์ด์ธํธ." ์ 2ํ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ํธ๋ผ์ด์ธํธ ํธ๋ผ์ด์ธํธ? ์ด์ ์์ ์์ ์๋ ์จ์งํ์ ๋๋ผ ์์ฐํ๋ค. ์๋ ๊ฐ ์ธ๋๊ทธ๋ผ์ด๋ ๋ ์ด์ฑ ๋ญํน ์์๋ฅผ ์ฅ์ ํ๋ฉฐ ์ฑํผ์ธ์ผ๋ก ํ์ฝํ๋ ์ ์ค์ ์ธ ๊ทธ ํธ๋ผ์ด์ธํธ๊ฐ ์ ์ฌ๋์ด๋ผ๊ณ ? ํธ๋ผ์ด์ธํธ๋ 3๋ ์ ์ ํ์ ๋ ์์ด ์ฌ๋ผ์ง์ง ์์์๋? ํธ๋ผ์ด์ธํธ๊ฐ ์ ์ง๊ธ ๊ฐ์๊ธฐ A์์ ๋ํ๋ ๊ฑธ๊น? ๊ฒ๋ค๊ฐ ์ธ๋ จ๋ ์ฝ๋์ธ๊ทธ์ ์ด์ ์๋ ์ฌ์ฑ์ธ ๊ฒ ๊ฐ์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ฌ๋ ๋ท์ข์์ ์์ ๋จ์๊ฐ ํ์ ์ ๋ด์ ๋งํ์ ์จ์งํ์ ์๋ฌด ๋ง๋ ํ์ง ์์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ์์ ๊ฐ๋ ์ฐจ์ ์จ์ ํ ์ง์คํ๋ฉฐ ์ ๋ ๋์น์ง ์์ ๊ฑฐ๋ผ ๊ฒฐ์ฌํ๋ค. ์๋จ์ ๋ถ๊ฐํฐ๋ฅผ ์ถ์ํ๋ฉด์ ์ผ์ชฝ ์ฌ์ด๋ ๋ฏธ๋ฌ๋ฅผ ํ๊น ๋ณด๋ฉฐ ๋์ด์ ์ฐํธ๋ ธ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ๋ธ๋ฃจํฌ์ค ์ด์ดํฐ์ ๋๋๋ฆฌ๋ฉฐ ์ฐจ๋ถํ๋ฉด์๋ ๋จํธํ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๋ก ๋งํ๋ค. "ํฌ์ฐ์, ์์ฑ์ ์ ์ํด. 8์ ๋ฐฉํฅ์ ๋ถ๊ฐํฐ๊ฐ ๋ฐ๋ผ์ค๊ณ ์์ด. ์ฐจ์ฃผ๋ฅผ ํ์ธํด์ค." ์ํฌ์ฐ์ ๋นํฉํ์ง๋ง ์ฌ๋นจ๋ฆฌ ๊ทธ๋ ์ ๋ง์ ๋ฐ๋๋ค. ์ฐจ์ฃผ๋ฅผ ์์๋ธ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ํ์จ์ ์ฌ๋ฉฐ ์ด์ดํฐ์ ๋๊ณ ๋งํ๋ค. "๋ฐฐ์จ ๊ฐ๋ฌธ์ ์ฐจ์ผ. ์ด ์ฐจ ์ฃผ์ธ์... ๋ฐฐ๋ํค์ด์ผ!" ์๋จ์ ๋์๋ ๋๋ ๊ธฐ์์ด ์ญ๋ ฅํ๋ค. "๋ง๋ ์ ๋ผ. ์ด๋ป๊ฒ ์๋ ์ฌ์ด์ผ?" ์ํฌ์ฐ์ด ๋นํฉํ ๋ฏ ๋งํ๋ค. "์ง๋๋ฌ ํด์ธ ๊ธ์ต ์ค์ฌ์ง ์ธ ์คํธ๋ฆฌํธ์์ ๋์์๋ค๋ ์์์ ๋ค์์ด. ์ด๋ฏธ A์๋ฅผ ๋ค์ง์ด ๋์๊ณ ์ค๋๋ ๊ฐ๋ฌธ๋ค ์ฌ์ด์ ๊ถ๋ ฅ ๊ตฌ๋๊น์ง ๋ฐ๊ฟ๋์๋." ์ํฌ์ฐ์ด ๋ง์ค์ด๋ค๊ฐ ์์ฌ์ค๋ฌ์ด ๋ฏ์ด ๋ฌผ์๋ค. "๋, ๋ฐฐ์จ ๊ทธ๋ฃน ์ฌ๋์ด๋ ๋ญ... ์์์ด?" "์ผ!" ์๋จ์ด ๋ธ๋ฃจํฌ์ค ์ด์ดํฐ์ ๋๋๋ฆฌ๋ฉฐ ์ฒด๋ ํ ๋ฏ ๋งํ๋ค. "์๋ฌด๋ฆฌ ๋๋ผ๋ ๊ทธ ์ ๋๋ก ์์ฌ์ด ๋ง์ง๋ ์์. ๊ฒ๋ค๊ฐ ์ง๋ 3๋ ๋์ ๋๋ A์์ ์์๋ค๊ณ . ํด์ธ๋ก ์ฌํ์ ๊ฐ ๋๋ง๋ค ํ์ ์ด ๋จ๊ธฐ์ง ์์ผ๋ ค๊ณ , ์ ๋ถ ์์กฐ๊น์ง ํ๋ฉด์ ๋ค๋ ์ด. ์ผ๋ง๋ ๋ฒ๊ฑฐ๋ก์ด๋ฐ. ๋ด๊ฐ ๋ฐฐ์จ ๊ทธ๋ฃน ์ฌ๋๋ค์ ๊ฑด๋๋ฆด ์๊ฐ์ด๋ ์์์ ๊ฒ ๊ฐ์?" ์ํฌ์ฐ์ ์์ ์ ์ค์๋ฅผ ๊นจ๋ซ๊ณ ์๋๋ฌ ๋งํ๋ค. "๋ง์, ์ด๊ฒ ๋ค ๊ณ ์์ฐ ๋๋ฌธ์ด์ผ. ๊ทธ ์ฌ๋๋ง ์๋์์ด๋ ๋๋..." "๋์ด. ๋ถ๊ฐํฐ์ ์ค๋งํธ ์์คํ ์ ์๊ฒฉ์ผ๋ก ํดํนํ ์ ์์๊น? ์ง๊ธ ๋น์ฅ ํด๊ฒฐํ์ง ์์ผ๋ฉด ๋ฐฐ๋ํค์ ๋ด๊ฐ ํ์ฅ์์ ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ฅผ ์ก๋ ๊ฑธ ๋ณด๊ฒ ๋ ๊ฑฐ์ผ." ์๋จ์ ๋ค์ ๋ฐฑ๋ฏธ๋ฌ๋ฅผ ํ๋ ์ณ๋ค๋ดค๋ค. ๋ถ๊ฐํฐ๊ฐ ์ ์ ๋ ๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๋ฅผ ์ขํ๋ฉฐ ๋ค๊ฐ์ค๊ณ ์์๋ค. "์ ๋ผ!" ์ํฌ์ฐ์ด ๊ธด๋ฐํ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๋ก ๋งํ๋ค. "์๋ ์๋ ๋ชจ๋ ๋ ๋ค ๋ฌ๋ ค์๋ ์ฐจ์ผ. ๋จ์ํ ์์คํ ์ ์ค๋จํ๋ ๊ฒ๋ง์ผ๋ก๋ ํจ๊ณผ๊ฐ ์๋ค๊ณ !" ์๋จ์ ์ด๋ง๋ฅผ ๋์ฑ ์ธ๊ฒ ์ฐํธ๋ฆฌ๋ฉฐ ์ ์ ์ด๋ ค๋ ์๊ฐ ์ํฌ์ฐ์ด ๊ฐ์๊ธฐ ๋ค๊ธํ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๋ก ๋งํ๋ค. "๋จ์, ์๋ ๋ฆ์ถฐ! 2ํฌ๋ก๋ฏธํฐ ์ ๊ต์ฐจ๋ก์์ ๋ฐ๋ฆฌ์ผ์ด๋๊ฐ ์ณ์ ธ ์์ด!" ๋จผ์ง์ ์ํด๋ก ๋ค์์ธ ์๊ฐ๊ฐ ๊ฑทํ๊ณ ์๊ธธ์ด ๋๋ฌ๋์, ์๋จ์ ์ง์ฆ์ ๋ด๋ฉฐ ๋งํ๋ค. "์ ๋ง ๋ฉ์ง ๊ด๊ฒฝ์ด๋ค." ๋น ๋ฅธ ์๋๋ก ๋ฌ๋ฆฌ๋ ์ฝ๋์ธ๊ทธ๋ ๊ณง ์์์ ๋ค๊น์ง ๋ป์ ๋ฐ๋ฆฌ์ผ์ด๋์ ๊ฐํ ๋ฉ์ถ ์๋ฐ์ ์์๋ค. ์๋จ์ ์์คํํธ ๋๋ก ์์์ ์์ ํ ๊ถ์ง์ ๋ชฐ๋ฆฌ๊ณ ๋ง์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ์ ์์๋ ์คํฌ์ธ ์นด 6๋๊ฐ, ๊ทธ๋ ๋ค์๋ ๋ถ๊ฐํฐ๊ฐ ์ํ๋น๋นํ๊ฒ ๊ฐ๋ก๋ง๊ณ ์ ์์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ์ข์์ ๊ธฐ๋์์ ํฅ๋ฏธ๋กญ๋ค๋ ๋ฏ์ด ๋์น์ ์น์ผ์ฌ๋ ธ๋ค. ์ ๋์ ์๋ ํ๋ผ๋ฆฌ์ ์ด์ ์๊ฐ ๋ฌด๋ฆฌ์ ์ฐ๋๋จธ๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ๋ถ๋ช ํ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ์๋จ์๊ฒ ์ฐจ์์ ๋ด๋ ค ๋ํ๋ฅผ ๋๋์๊ณ ์์งํ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ผ์๋ ๋ถ๊ตฌํ๊ณ ์๋จ์ ์์ ์ ๋ฐฑ๋ฏธ๋ฌ์ ๋น์น ๋ถ๊ฐํฐ์ ๊ณ ์ ๋์ด ์์๋ค. ๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ๋ฉ์ด์ ์ด์ ์์ ์ผ๊ตด์ด ๊ฒจ์ฐ ๋ณด์๋ค. ๋ท์ข์์ ์์ ๋ฐฐ๋ํค์ ๋ชจ์ต์ ์ฝ๊ฐ ๊ฐ๋ ค์ ธ ์์์ง๋ง, ์ด์ง ๋ณด์ด๋ ๊ฒ์ ์ ์ฅ์ ์ฌ์ ํ ์์์ ์ธ ์์ฐ๋ผ๋ฅผ ๋ด๋ฟ๊ณ ์์๋ค. ์จ์งํ์ ์ฝ๋์ธ๊ทธ๊ฐ ํ์ฐธ ๋์ ์์ง์ด์ง ์๋ ๊ฒ์ ๋ณด๊ณ ๋ท์ข์์ ํ๋ ๋ณด๋ฉฐ ๋งํ๋ค. "๋ํ๋, ๋ฐ์ฒ์ฃผ๋ฅผ ์์ผ์ ์ต์ง๋ก ๋์ด๋ด๋ฆฌ๋ผ๊ณ ํ ๊น์?" ๋ฐฐ๋ํค์ ๋ค๋ฆฌ๋ฅผ ๊ผฌ๊ณ ์์ ์ค์ง ์๊ฐ๋ฝ์ ๋ผ์์ง ํฌ๋ฅด๋ง๋ฆฐ ๋ฐ์ง๋ฅผ ๋ฌด์ฌํ๊ฒ ๋๋ฆฌ๋ฉฐ ๋งํ๋ค. "๊ธฐ๋ค๋ ค." ๋ฐฐ๋ํค์ ๋๊บผ์ด ์ฐจ์ฐฝ ๋๋จธ๋ก ์์ฐจ์ ํ ์๋จ๊ณผ ์์ ์ ๋ง์ฃผ์น๋ ๋ฏํ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ์๊ฒ ์์์ ํฐ๋จ๋ ธ๋ค. "์ด๋ ๊ฒ ์ฝ๊ฒ ์กํ๋ฉด ํธ๋ผ์ด์ธํธ๊ฐ ์๋์ง." ์๋จ์ ์ธ๋ด์ฌ์ด ํ๊ณ์ ๋ค๋ค๋๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ์์ชฝ์ ๊ตํต ์ํฉ์ ์ดํด๋ณด์๋ค. ์๋ ๋ฌด๋ฆฌ๋ ์ฃผ์ ํ๋ ๋ฏํด ๋ณด์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฅผ ์ฐจ์์ ๋์ด๋ด๋ฆฌ๋ ค๊ณ ํ๋ ๋์ ์๋ก ์ ํธ๋ง ์ฃผ๊ณ ๋ฐ์ ๋ฟ์ด์๋ค. "ํฌ์ฐ์, ์ฑ์ฌ ๋๊ทน์ฅ์ผ๋ก ๊ฐ๋ ๋ค๋ฅธ ๊ธธ์ด ์์ด? ์ฐพ์์ค." ์๋จ์ด ๋ฌผ์๋ค. ์ํฌ์ฐ์ด ์๊ฐ๋ฝ์ผ๋ก ํ๋ฉด ์์์ ๋ฐ์๊ฒ ์์ง์ด๋ ๊ฑฑ์ ์ด๋ฆฐ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๋ก ๋งํ๋ค. "ํ๋ ์๊ธด ํ๋ฐ, ์ด ๊ต์ฐจ๋ก๋ฅผ ์ง๋์ผ ํด. ๋์น ์ํฉ์์๋ ๋ถ๊ฐ๋ฅํ ๊ฑฐ๋ ๋ค๋ฆ ์์ด!" '๋ต, ๊ฒฝ๋ก๊ฐ ๋ณ๊ฒฝ๋์์ต๋๋ค. ์์ ์๊ฐ 5๋ถ ๋จ์ถ๋ฉ๋๋ค...' ์๋จ์ ๋ด๋น๊ฒ์ด์ ์์คํ ์ ์๋์ํจ ํ, ๋ชธ์ ๋๋ฐ๋ก ์ธ์ฐ๊ณ ํธ๋๋ธ๋ ์ดํฌ๋ฅผ ์กฐ์ ํ๋ฉฐ ์์ ์ ๋ฐ์๋ค. ์์ง์ ์ฐ๋ ์ฐฌ ์์์ ๊ทธ ๋ฌด๋ฆฌ์ ํ์ ์ด ๋ฐ๋์๋ค. ์ฐ๋๋จธ๋ฆฌ๋ ๋ค์ ์๋ ๋ถ๊ฐํฐ๋ก๋ถํฐ ์ ํธ๋ฅผ ๋ฐ์ ๋ฏ ํต์ ์๋๋ฅผ ์ค๋จํ๊ณ ๋ถํ๋ค์ ์๋จ ์ชฝ์ผ๋ก ๋ณด๋๋ค. ๋ชธ์ธ์๊น์ง ๊ฐ์คํ ๋ฏ ๋น์ฅํด ๋ณด์๋ค. ์๋จ์ ์ผ๊ตด์ ๋ฏธ์๊ฐ ๋ฒ์ก๋ค. ๋จ์๋ค์ด ํ ํ ๋ผ ๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๊น์ง ๋ค๊ฐ์จ ์๊ฐ, ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ํธ๋ค์ ํ ๋๋ฆฌ๋ฉฐ ์์ ์ ๋ฐ์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ๊ตฌ๊ฒฝ๊พผ๋ค์ ๋๋ ์์ ์ ๋ฐ์ผ๋ฉฐ ์ฐจ๋ ์ฌ์ด๋ก ๊ธ๊ฒฉํ๊ฒ ๋ฌ๋ ค๋๊ฐ๋ค. "๋ด๊ฐ ์ง๋๊ฐ ์ ์๋ ๊ธธ์ ์์ง!" ์ ํ ๋ฐ๋ํธ์์ ์ํฌ์ฐ์ด ๊ธฐ๋ปํ๋ฉฐ ์๋ฆฌ์ณค์ง๋ง, ๊ทธ๋ ์ ํฅ๋ถ์ ๊ณง ๊ฑฑ์ ์ผ๋ก ๋ฐ๋์๋ค. "๋ฐฐ๋ํค์ ๋ฐ๋ฆฌ์ผ์ด๋๋ฅผ ๋ซ์์ผ๋, ์ด์ ์ ์ชฝ๊ณผ๋ ์์๊ฐ ๋ ๊ฑด๊ฐ?" ์๋จ์ด ๋น์์๋ค. "์ ์ชฝ์์ ๋จผ์ ์๋น ๊ฑธ์์์. ๊ทธ๋ฆฌ๊ณ ์ ํ๋ ๋ ์๊ธด๋ค๊ณ ๋ฌ๋ผ์ง ๊ฒ ๋ญ์ผ?" ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฐ ๋ ๋ ๋ค์๋ ์๋์ฐจ ๋ฐํด๊ฐ ๊ธ๊ฒฉํ๊ฒ ํด์ ํ๋ ๋ ์นด๋ก์ด ์๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ํ์ฐธ ๋์ ๊ณต์ค์ ๋งด๋์๋ค. ์ฌ๋ฌด์ค๋ก ๋์์จ ๋ฐ์ฒ์ฃผ๋ ๊ฒ์ ์ง๋ฆฌ ์ผ๊ตด๋ก ๋ฐฐ๋ํค์ ๋ง์ฃผํ๋ค. "์ฃ์กํฉ๋๋ค, ๋ํ๋. ํธ๋ผ์ด์ธํธ๋ฅผ ๋ง๋ ๋ฐ ์คํจํ์ต๋๋ค. ์ด๋ค ๋ฒ์ด๋ ๋ฌ๊ฒ ๋ฐ๊ฒ ์ต๋๋ค." ๋ฐฐ๋ํค์ ๋ฐ๋ฅ๋ถํฐ ์ฒ์ฅ๊น์ง ๋ฟ๋ ์ปค๋ค๋ ์ฐฝ๋ฌธ ์์ ์์ A์๋ฅผ ๋ด๋ ค๋ค๋ดค๋ค. ๊ทธ์ ์์ ์ ํ ๊ฑด๋ฌผ์ ๊ณ ์ ๋์ด ์์๋ค. "๊ทธ ์ฝ๋์ธ๊ทธ, ๊ณ ์จ ๊ฐ๋ฌธ๊ณผ ๊ด๋ จ์ด ์๋?" ์จ์งํ์ ์ฌ๋นจ๋ฆฌ ํ๋ธ๋ฆฟ์ ์กฐ์ํ๋ฉฐ ๋๋ตํ๋ค. "๊ธฐ๋ก์ ๋ฐ๋ฅด๋ฉด ์ด ์ฐจ๋ 3๋ ์ ์ ๊ตฌ์ ํ ๊ฒ์ผ๋ก, ์ฃผ๋ก ๊ณ ์์ฐ ์จ์ ๊ทธ์ ์๋ฒ์ง๊ฐ ์ฌ์ฉํ์ต๋๋ค." ์จ์งํ์ ์ ์ ๋ฉ์นซํ๋๋ ๊ณ์ํด์ ๋งํ๋ค. "์ค๋ ๊ทธ ์ฐจ๋ฅผ ๋ชฌ ๊ฑด ๊ณ ์จ์ฐ ์จ์ ์๋ด, ์๋จ์ด๋ผ๋ ์ฌ๋์ธ๋ฐ... ๊ทธ๋ถ์ด ํธ๋ผ์ด์ธํธ์ผ ๋ฆฌ๋ ์์ด์." ๋ฐ์ฒ์ฃผ๊ฐ ์ฝ์ธ๊ฒ ์จ์งํ์ ๋ง์ ๊ฐ๋ก๋ง์๋ค. "๋ง๋ ์ ๋ผ์! ์จ ๋น์๋๋ ๊ทธ ์ฌ์๊ฐ ๋ฐ๋ฆฌ์ผ์ด๋๋ฅผ ์ด๋ป๊ฒ ๋ถ์๋์ง ๋ณด์ จ์์์. ๊ทธ ์ฌ์๊ฐ ํธ๋ผ์ด์ธํธ๊ฐ ์๋๋ผ๋ฉด, ์ด๋ป๊ฒ ๊ทธ๋ฐ ๊ฑธ ํด๋ผ ์ ์๊ฒ ์ต๋๊น? ํธ๋ผ์ด์ธํธ๊ฐ ํ๋ฆผ์์ด์!" ๊ณ์ํด์ ๋ฐ์ดํฐ๋ฅผ ์ดํผ๋ ์จ์งํ์ ํ์ ์ด ๊ตณ์ด์ก๋ค. "๊ธฐ๋ก์ ๋ฐ๋ฅด๋ฉด, ์๋จ ์จ๋ ์ํ ์ ์์ฌ ์ฌ์ฅ์ ๋ธ๋ก, ํ๋ฒํ ์ง์ ์ถ์ ์ ๋๋ค. ์ด๋จธ๋๋ ์ผ์ฐ ๋์๊ฐ์ จ๊ณ , ์๋ฒ์ง์ ์ฌํผ ํ ์ด๋ณต ์ค๋น ์ ์ด๋ณต ์ธ๋๊ฐ ์๊ธฐ๋ ๋ฐ๋์ ๊ณ ๋ฑํ๊ต๋ฅผ ๊ทธ๋ง๋๊ณ ๋ค๋ฅธ ๋์๋ก ์ด์ฌํด์ผ ํ์ต๋๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ฐ ์ฌ๋์ด ์ด๋ป๊ฒ ๋ ธ๋ฆฐ์ฐ ๊ฒฝ์ฃผ์์ ์ฐ์น๊น์ง ๊ฑฐ๋จธ์ฅ ๋ ์ด์๊ฐ ๋ ์ ์์์๊น์?" ๋ง๋ฌธ์ด ๋งํ ๋ฐ์ฒ์ฃผ๋ ๋ณธ๋ฅ์ ์ผ๋ก ๋ฐฐ๋ํค์๊ฒ๋ก ์์ ์ ๋๋ ธ๋ค. ํค๊ฐ ํค์น ํ ๋ฐฐ๋ํค์ ์กด์ฌ ์์ฒด๋ง์ผ๋ก๋ ์๋์ ์ธ ์กด์ฌ๊ฐ์ ๋๋ฌ๋ด๊ณ ์์๋ค. ๋ฐฐ๋ํค์ ๋ฌด์ฌํ ํํ ํ๋ฆฝ ์๊ณ๋ฅผ ๋ง์ง์๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๋ฉฐ ๋ฌ๊ธ์์ด ์์์ ํฐ๋จ๋ ธ๋ค. ๊ทธ์ ๊ฐ์์ค๋ฐ ์์์ ๊ณ์ ์๋ ๋ ์ฌ๋์ ๋ชธ์ด ์ค์นํด๋ฌ๋ค. "๋ค์ ์ฃผ์ ์์ ํํฐ์ ๊ณ ์จ ๊ฐ๋ฌธ์ ์ด๋ํด." ์ฝ๋์ธ๊ทธ๋ ์ฑ์ฌ ๋๊ทน์ฅ ๋ฌธ ๋ฐ์์ ๋ผ์ต ์๋ฆฌ๋ฅผ ๋ด๋ฉฐ ๋ฉ์ท๋ค. ์ธ๋ จ๋๊ณ ์น์ํ ์ท์ ์ ๊ณ ์ฝ๋์ธ๊ทธ์์ ๋ด๋ ค ๋จผ์ง๊ฐ ์์ฑํ ๊ธธ์ ๊ฑธ์ด์ค๋ ์๋จ์ ๋ชจ์ต์ ๋ ์ด์ ๊ณ ์์ฐ๊ฐ ์๊ณ ์๋ ๋ณด์์ ์ธ ์ฃผ๋ถ๊ฐ ์๋์๋ค. ๊ณ ์์ฐ๊ฐ ์ง์ฆ์ ๋ด๋ฉฐ ์ด๋์์ง ํ์ ์ผ๋ก ์๋ฆฌ์ณค๋ค. "์๋จ..." ์๋จ์ ์ฅ๋๊ธฐ ๊ฐ๋ํ๋ฉด์๋ ์ํ์ ์ธ ๋ฏธ์๋ฅผ ์ง๋๋ ์๋์ฐจ ์ด์ ๋ฅผ ๊ฐ๋ณ๊ฒ ํ๋ค๋ฉฐ ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ฅผ ํฅํด ๋ค๊ฐ๊ฐ๋ค. "์๋ํ ๊ณ ๋ํ๋์ ๋ด์ฐ๋ ์ฝ์ํธ ๋ณด๋ฌ ๊ฐ ์๊ฐ์ ์์ผ๋ฉด์ ์ดํผํ ์๊ฐ์ ์์ผ์ ๊ฐ ๋ด์. ๊ทธ๋์ ๋ด๊ฐ ์ง์ ์ดํผ ์๋ฅ๋ฅผ ๋ค๊ณ ์์ฃ ." ๋ณํจ์์ด ํ์ง์ฐ๋ฅผ ๊ฐ์ธ๊ณ ๋๋ ๊ณ ์์ฐ์ ๋ชจ์ต์ ์๋จ์ ์กฐ๊ธ ์์ธํด์ก๋ค. ์๋จ์ด ์ ์ธํ๋ค. "๊ณ ์์ฐ, ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฒ ์ฌ๋ํ๋ ์ฌ๋ ๊ณ์ ์๊ณ ์ถ์ผ๋ฉด, ์ดํผ ์๋ฅ์ ์๋ช ํ๊ณ ์ฌ์ฐ์ ๋๊ฐ์ด ๋๋๋๋ก ํ์. ํ์ง๋ง ๋จ ํ ํผ์ด๋ผ๋ ์ ๊ฒ ์ฃผ๋ฉด ์ดํผ์ ๋์ํ์ง ์์ ๊ฑฐ์ผ. ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฒ ๋๋ฉด ๋น์ ๊ณผ ๋น์ ์ ์ฐ์ธ์ ํ์์ ๋ถ๋ฅ์ด๋ผ๋ ๋ง์ ๋ค์ผ๋ฉฐ ์ด ์ ๋ฐ์ ์๊ฒ ๋๊ฒ ์ง." ์ 3ํ ๋ด ๋น์ฐธํ ๊ฒฐํผ ์ํ๊ณผ ํจ๊ป ์นจ๋ชฐํ์ด ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ ํ์์ ์์ข ์ ์ด๊ณ ๋ค๋ฃจ๊ธฐ ์ฌ์ด ์๋ด๊ฐ ์ด๋ ๊ฒ ๋ณํ ์ค์ ์ ํ ์์ํ์ง ๋ชปํ๋ค. "๊ฟ ๊นจ!" ๊ณ ์์ฐ๊ฐ ์ง์ฆ์ ๋ด๋ฉฐ ์ด๋์์ง ํ์ ์ผ๋ก ์๋ฆฌ์ณค๋ค. "๊ทธ๋งํด, ์๋จ. ๋ด ๊ด์ฌ์ ๋๊ธฐ ์ํด์ ์ด๋ฐ ์ง์ ํ๋ ๊ฑฐ๋ผ๋ฉด ์ด์ ๊ทธ๋ง ๋ฌ." ๊ทธ๊ฐ ๊ฒฝ๊ณ ํ๋ ๋ฏํ ๋๋น์ผ๋ก ๋งํ๋ค. "๊ทธ๋ด์๋ก ๋ ์ ์ด ๋จ์ด์ง ๋ฟ์ด๋ผ๊ณ ." ์๋จ์ ์ฒ์์ผ๋ก ๊ณ ์์ฐ๊ฐ ์์ ์ ๋ํด ์ ์๋ ๋ฏ์ด ์ ๋ฉ๋๋ก ๋งํ์ ํฅ๋ฏธ๋ฅผ ๋๊ผ๋ค. "๋ ์๊ธฐํ๋๋ฐ ๊ฐ์ ์๊ธฐ๋ ์ ๊บผ๋ด? ์ญ๊ฒน์ง๋ ์์?" ์๋จ์ ๋ ์ฌ๋์ ํฅํด ์ฑ๊ธ ์์ผ๋ฉฐ ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ฅผ ํฅํด ๋ ์นด๋กญ๊ฒ ๋งํ๋ค. "ํ์ง์ฐ ์จ๊ฐ ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฒ ์ข์์ผ๋ฉด ๋ฐ๋ผ์ ํด์ธ๋ก ๊ฐ๋ฒ๋ฆฌ์ง ๊ทธ๋ฌ์ด? ์ ๋์ ๊ฒฐํผํ ๊ฑฐ์ผ? ๊ทธ ์ ๋๋ก ์ฌ๋์ด ๊น์ง๋ ์์๋ ๋ณด์ง?" ๊ทธ๋ ์ ๋ง์ ์ ๊ณก์ ์ฐ๋ฆฐ ๊ณ ์์ฐ๊ฐ ์ฌ๋นจ๋ฆฌ ๋๋ตํ๋ค. "ํ ์๋ฒ์ง๊ฐ ๊ณ ์จ ๊ทธ๋ฃน์ ์ด์ฉํด ๋๋ฅผ ํ๋ฐํ๋ ๊ฑฐ ์์์. ๊ทธ๋ ์ง ์๊ณ ์์ผ ๋ด๊ฐ ์ง์ฐ๊ฐ ๋ ๋๋ ๊ฑธ ๊ฐ๋งํ ์์์ ์ง์ผ๋ดค์ ๋ฆฌ๊ฐ..." "๊ทธ๋ฌ๋๊น, ๋ ๋๋ฌธ์ด๋ผ๋ ๊ฑฐ์์?" ์๋จ์ด ๋ ์นด๋กญ๊ฒ ๋ฐ๋ฐํ๋ค. "๊ทธ๋ผ ๊ทธ ์ง์ ํ ์ฌ๋์ด๋ผ๋ ๊ฒ๋ ๊ณ ์จ ๊ฐ๋ฌธ์ ์ฌ์ฐ ์์ ์์์๋ ์๋ฌด๊ฒ๋ ์๋ ๊ฑฐ๋ค?" ์๋จ์ด ์กฐ๋กฑํ๋ฏ์ด ์์๋ค. "๊ณ ์์ฐ ์จ, ์ฌ๋ ๋ฐ์ ๋ชจ๋ฅด๋ ์น์ ๋จ์ธ ์ฒ ์ข ๊ทธ๋งํด!" ๋ชจ๋์ ์์์ ์์ ์ ์์ ์ด ๋ฐํ์ง์, ๊ณ ์์ฐ์ ์ผ๊ตด์ด ๋ฒ๊ฒ๊ฒ ๋ฌ์์ฌ๋๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ํ์ง์ฐ๊ฐ ๋์ ์ฌ๋ ค ๊น์ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๋ก ์ฌ๋นจ๋ฆฌ ๊ทธ๋ฅผ ๋ณํธํ๊ธฐ ์์ํ๋ค. "์๋จ ์จ, ์์ฐ ์จ์ ๋ด ์ฌ์ด๋ฅผ ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฒ ํ์ด๋์ผ๊ฒ ์ด์? ์์ฐ ์จ๋ ์์ฐ ์จ ๋๋ฆ๋๋ก์ ์ด์ ๊ฐ ์์์ ๊ฑฐ์์." ๊ทธ๋ฌ๋ฉด์ ํ์ง์ฐ๋ ์๋ฏธ์ฌ์ฅํ๋ฉด์๋ ๋๋ฐ์ ์ธ ๋๋น์ผ๋ก ์๋จ์ ๋ง์ฃผ๋ดค๋ค. "์๋จ ์จ, ์ฌ์ฐ ๋ถํ ์์ ๋ ๋ง์ ์ด๋์ ๋ณด๊ธฐ ์ํด ๋์ ์์ฐ ์จ์ ๊ด๊ณ๋ฅผ ์ด๊ฐ์งํ๋ ค๋ ๊ฑฐ ๋ค ์์์. ์ ์ด์ ์๋จ ์จ๋ ๋์ ๋ชฉ์ ์ผ๋ก ๊ฒฐํผํ ๊ฑฐ์์์?" ๊ทธ๋ ์ ๋ง์ ์๋จ์ ๋ํ ๊ณ ์์ฐ์ ํ์ค๊ฐ์ ๋์ฑ ์ปค์ก๋ค. "๊ทธ๋ด ์ค ์์์ด! ๋น์ ์ ์ธ์ ๋ ์์ฌ์ด ๋ง์์ง. ์ด๋ฏธ 2์ต ์ก๊ธํ๊ณ , ๊ทธ ์์ฐ๋๋ ๊ณง ๋น์ ๋ช ์๊ฐ ๋ ๊ฑฐ์ผ. ๊ณ ์จ ๊ฐ๋ฌธ์๊ฒ ๊ทธ๋ฐ ๊ฒ์ฏค์ ์ฝ๊ฒ ํด๋ผ ์ ์๋ ์ผ์ด์ผ. ๋น์ ๋ค ๊ฐ์กฑ์ฒ๋ผ ํ์ฐฎ์ ์ง์์ด ์๋๋๊น..." "๊ทธ ์ ๋๋ก๋ ์ ๋์ง!" ์๋จ์ ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ฅผ ๋ฐ๋ผ๋ณด๋ฉฐ ๋ ์นด๋กญ๊ฒ ๋ฐ๋ฐํ๋ค. "๋น์ ์ ์ต๋ง์ฅ์์ผ. ์ฐ๋ฆฌ์ ๊ณต๋ ์ฌ์ฐ๊ณผ ์ฐจ, ๋ถ๋์ฐ์ ๋ชจ๋ ๊ณ ๋ คํ๋ฉด ์ต์ํ ์ฒ ์ต์ ์ค์ผ์ง. ์ง๊ธ ๋น์ ๋๋๊ฐ ์ค ์ค๊ณ ์์ฐ๋๋ก ํ ์น๋ ค๊ณ ํ๋ ๊ฑฐ์ผ?" ์๋จ์ ๋ ์นด๋ก์ด ์์ ์ด ํ์ง์ฐ์๊ฒ๋ก ํฅํ์, ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ๋ณธ๋ฅ์ ์ผ๋ก ๋ชธ์ ์์ธ ๋ ธ๋ค. "๋ด๊ฐ ์๋ชป ๋ณธ ๊ฒ ์๋๋ผ๋ฉด, ๋น์ ์ ์ธ์ด ํ๊ณ ์๋ ๋ชฉ๊ฑธ์ด ๊ฐ๊ฒฉ์ด ์ต์ 2์ต์ด ๋์ง ์๋?" ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ ํ์ง์ฐ์ ์์ ๋ง์์๋ฉฐ ๋งํ๋ค. "์๋จ, ๋ถ๋๋ฌ์ด ์ค๋ ๋ชฐ๋ผ? ์ง์ฐ์ ๋ชฉ๊ฑธ์ด๋ ๋ด๊ฐ ์ ๋ฌผํ ๊ฑฐ์ผ. ๋๋ฐ์ ๋ชจ๋ฅด๋ ๋น์ ๊ณผ๋ ๋ฌ๋ฆฌ ์์ํ๊ณ ์ฐฉํ ์ฌ์๋ผ๊ณ !" ์๋จ์ ๊ณ ๊ฐ๋ฅผ ๋๋์ด๋ฉฐ ๋ฐ๋ฐํ๋ค. "๊ทธ๋ฌ๋๊น, ๋ ์ฃผ๊ธฐ ์ซ๋ค ์ด๊ฑฐ์ง, ์ง๊ธ?" ๊ทธ ๋ง๊ณผ ํจ๊ป ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ๋์์์ ์ฝ๋์ธ๊ทธ์ ๋ค์ ์ฌ๋ผํ๋ค. ๋ชจ๋๊ฐ ๊ทธ๋ ์ ํ๋์ ์์ํดํ๋ฉฐ ์ง์ผ๋ณด๊ณ ์์ ๋, ์คํฌ์ธ ์นด ์์ง์ ๊ต์์ด ๊ณต๊ธฐ๋ฅผ ๊ฐ๋ฅด๋ฉฐ ์ธ๋ คํผ์ก๋ค. ๋งค๋ํ ๊ฒ์์ ์ํผ์นด๊ฐ ๋ ์ ํ์ด์ฒ๋ผ ์์ผ๋ก ๋ฌ๋ ค๋๊ฐ๋ฉฐ, ํ ๋น ๊ณ๋จ์ ๋ฐ๋ผ ๋ด๋ ค๊ฐ ๋ฌด๋๋ก ๊ณง์ฅ ๋์งํ๋ค. "์พ !" ๋ฐฉ์ฌํ๊ณ ์๋ ๊ณ ์์ฐ์ ํ์ง์ฐ๋ ํฉ๋ ๋ฆฌ๋ ๋๋ฌด ํํธ์ ๋ฎ์ด ์ฐ๊ณ ๋ง์๋ค. ํ์ง์ฐ๋ ๋ ์นด๋ก์ด ๋น๋ช ์ ์ง๋ ๊ณ , ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ ๋ถ๋ ธ๊ฐ ์น๋ฐ์ด ์ฌ๋ผ ์๋ฆฌ์ณค๋ค. "์๋จ, ํ ๋ฒ๋ง ๋ ์ด๋ฌ๋ฉด ๊ฐ๋งํ ๋์ง ์์..." ํ์ง๋ง ์๋จ์ ๊ทธ์ ์ถฉ๊ณ ๋ฅผ ์์ ํ ๋ฌด์ํ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ์ฐจ๋ฅผ ํ์งํ๋ฉฐ ๋ฌด๋์์ ์์ ๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๋ฅผ ๋๊ณ ๋ฉ์ถฐ ์ธ์ ๋ค. "๊ณ ์์ฐ ์จ, ๋ค์ ํ ๋ฒ ๋ฌผ์๊ฒ. ์ฌ์ฐ ๋ถํ ํ ๊ฑฐ์ผ, ๋ง ๊ฑฐ์ผ?" ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฐ ๊ธด์ฅ์ด ํฝํฝํ ๋ถ์๊ธฐ๋ฅผ ๋ซ๊ณ ์๋ฆฌ์ณค๋ค. ์์ง์ ๊ต์์ ๊ณ ์์ฐ์ ์ผ๊ตด์ด ์ํ์๊ฒ ์ง๋ ธ๋ค. ์ํ์ ์ธ ์ฐจ์ ์ด๋ง์ด๋งํ ์๋จ์ ์กด์ฌ๊ฐ์ ์ง๋๋ฆฐ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฏธ์ฒ ํ์ถํ ์๊ฐ์กฐ์ฐจ ๋ชปํ๊ณ ์ ์๋ฆฌ์ ์ผ์ด๋ถ์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฒฝ๋น๋ฅผ ๋ถ๋ฅด๋ ค๊ณ ํ์ง๋ง, ๊ฒฝ๋น์๊ณผ ์ฌ๋๋ค์ ๋ชจ๋ ๊ฒ์ ์ง๋ ค ๋๋ง๊ฐ๊ณ ์์๋ค. ์ด ๋์น ์ํฉ์์๋ ์ธ ์ฌ๋๋ง์ด ๋จ์ ์์๋ค. ์๋จ, ์์ ํ ๋ฏธ์ณ๋ฒ๋ ธ๋ค! ์๋จ์ ๊ฒ์ ์ง๋ฆฐ ๊ณ ์์ฐ์ ํ์ง์ฐ์ ์ผ๊ตด์ ๋ณด๊ณ ๋ง์กฑ์ค๋ฌ์ด ๋ฏธ์๋ฅผ ์ง์๋ค. ๋ฌด์์ด ์์ง ์๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ๋์ฑ ์ปค์ง๋๋ ๊ณ ์์ฐ์ ๊ณตํฌ์ ์ง๋ฆฐ ์์ ์๋์ ์๋์ฐจ๋ ๋ค์ ํ ๋ฒ ๋ฌด๋๋ฅผ ํฅํด ๋์งํ๋ค! "์์์ด! ๋น์ ๋ง๋๋ก ์ฌ์ฐ ๋ถํ ํ๋ฉด ๋์์!" ์ฐจ๋ ๋ฌด๋์์ ๋ช ์ผํฐ๋ฏธํฐ ๋จ์ด์ง ๊ณณ์์ ๊ฒจ์ฐ ๋ฉ์ท๋ค. ์ ๋ฒํผ๊ฐ ์์ฌ์์ฌํ๊ฒ ๋ฌด๋๋ฅผ ์ค์น ๋ปํ๋ค. ์๋จ์ ์ด์ ๋๋๋๋ํด์ง ์ฐจ ๋ฌธ์ ๋ฐ๋ก ๋ฐ์ฐจ๊ณ ์นจ์ฐฉํ๊ฒ ์ฐจ์์ ๋ด๋ ค ํ์งฑ์ ๋ ์ฑ ๋จ๊ณ ์๋ ๋ ์ฌ๋์ ๋ง์ฃผ๋ณด์๋ค. ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ ์ฌํธํก์ ํ๋ฉฐ ํ์ ์ฌ์ ๋์ฐพ์ผ๋ ค๊ณ ์ ์ผ๋ค. "ํ์ง๋ง ๋ค์ ์ฃผ๊น์ง ๊ธฐ๋ค๋ ค์ผ ํด. ์ด๋ฒ ์ฃผ๋ง์ ํ ์๋ฒ์ง ์์ ์ด์ผ. ์์ง์ ์ดํผ ์์์ ์ ํ ์ ์์ด." ๊ณ ํ๋ ํ ์๋ฒ์ง๋ ์ธ์ ๋ ์๋จ์๊ฒ ์น์ ํ๊ณ , ๊ทธ๋ ์ญ์ ๊ทธ์ ์์ผ์ ๋ง์น ์๊ฐ์ ์์๋ค. ์๋จ์ ์ด๊นจ๋ฅผ ์ผ์ฑํ๋ฉฐ ๋งํ๋ค. "์ค๋ ์ฝ์์ ๊ผญ ์ง์ผ. ์ด๋ ๊ฒ ๋ง์ ๋์ด ์ฐ๋ฆฌ๋ฅผ ์ฃผ๋ชฉํ๋ ๊ฐ์ด๋ฐ ๊ณ ์จ ๊ฐ๋ฌธ์ ํ๊ณ์๊ฐ ๊ฐํ ์๊ธฐ๊ฐ ๋ด๋ฑ์ ๋ง์ ๋ฒ๋ณตํ์ง๋ ์๊ฒ ์ง?" ๊ทธ๋ ์ ๋ง์ ๋ฐ๋ฐํ ์ ์์๋ ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ ์ข์ ํด์ ์ด๋ฅผ ์ ๋ฌผ์๋ค. ์๋จ์ ๋ช ๊ฑธ์ ์์ผ๋ก ๋์๊ฐ, ํ์ง์ฐ๋ฅผ ์ง๋์น๊ณ ๊ณ ์์ฐ์๊ฒ ์์ ์ ๊ณ ์ ํ๋ฉฐ ๊ฐ๋ณ๊ฒ ํ๋ฅผ ์ฐผ๋ค. "์ฌ์ค, ์ ์ฐจ๋ ์ฒ์์ ๋ฌด๋์ ๋ถ๋ชํ์ ๋ ๋ฒ์จ ๋ง๊ฐ์ก์ด. ๊ทธ๋ฅ ๋น์ ์ ๋๋ผ๊ฒ ํ๋ ค๊ณ ์์ง์ ์ผ๋์์ ๋ฟ์ด์ผ. ์ด์ฐจํผ ๋ถ๋ชํ์ง๋ ๋ชปํ์ ๊ฑฐ์ผ." ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ ์ถฉ๊ฒฉ์ ๋์ด ํ๋ฅ๊ทธ๋์ก๋ค. ์๋จ์ ๋์น์ ์น์ผ ์ฌ๋ฆฌ๊ณ ๋น๊ผฌ๋ฏ์ด ๋งํ๋ค. "๋น์ ๊ฐ์ ์ฌ๋์๊ฒ ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฒ ์ข์ ์ฐจ๋ฅผ ํ๋นํ๋ค๋." ๋ง์ด ๋๋ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ๋๊ธธ ํ ๋ฒ ์ฃผ์ง ์๊ณ ๋ฐ์ผ๋ก ๋๊ฐ๋ค. ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ ์ ์ ์ ๋ชป ์ฐจ๋ฆฌ๊ณ ๊ทธ ์๋ฆฌ์ ์ ์ ๋ฉํ๋ ์ ์์๋ค. ์์๊ฐ์ ๋๋ฌด ๋ง์ ์ผ์ด ๋ฒ์ด์ ธ ๋ฐ์๋ค์ด๋ ๋ฐ ์๊ฐ์ด ํ์ํ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ์๋จ์ด ๋ ๋๋ ๊ฒ์ ๋ณด๊ณ ์์ผ 3๋ ๋์ ํ๋ฒํ๋ ์๋ด๊ฐ ์์ ๋ ๋ชจ๋ฅด๊ณ ์์๋ ์จ๊ฒจ์ง ๋งค๋ ฅ์ด ์์ ๊ฑฐ๋ผ๋ ์๊ฐ์ด ๋ค์๋ค. "๋ค ๋ ๋๋ฌธ์ด์์, ์์ฐ ์จ! ๋๋ฅผ ๋ณดํธํ๋ ค ํ์ง๋ง ์์์ด๋ ๊ทธ๋ฐ ํฐ๋ฌด๋์๋ ์๊ตฌ๋ฅผ ์ ๋ ๋ค์ด์ฃผ์ง ์์์ ํ ๋ฐ!" ํ์ง์ฐ๋ ๊ณ ์์ฐ์ ์ท๊น์ ๋ถ์ก๊ณ ๋จ๋ฆฌ๋ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๋ก ๋งํ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฐ ๋๋ฌผ์ ๋ณด์ด์ ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ ๋ค์ ๊ทธ๋ ์๊ฒ๋ก ์์ ์ ๊ณ ์ ํ๋ค. ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ ํ์ง์ฐ๋ฅผ ๋์ด์๊ณ ๋ถ๋๋ฝ๊ฒ ์๋กํ๊ธฐ ์์ํ๋ค. "๋ค ํ์ด ์๋์ผ. ๋ค ์์ฌ ๋ง์ ์ ์ฌ์ ํ์ด์ง. ๋ด๊ฐ ๋ฐฉ์ฌํ ํ์ ํ ์๊ธฐ๊ฐ ์ํ๋ ๊ฑธ ์๊ตฌํ๋ค๋." ํ์ง์ฐ๋ ๋๋ฌผ์ ๊ธ์ฝ์ด๋ฉฐ ๊ทธ๋ฅผ ์ฌ๋ ค๋ค๋ดค๋ค. "์ด์ ์ฐ๋ฆฌ ์ด๋กํด์? ๋น์ ์ด ์ค๋ซ๋์ ์ฌํ์ ๊ธฐ์ธ์ฌ ๊ณ ์จ ๊ทธ๋ฃน์ ๊ฒฝ์ํ ๋๋ถ์ ์ง๊ธ์ ์ฌ์ฐ์ ์์ ํ ์ ์๊ฒ ๋ ๊ฑด๋ฐ, ์ ์ฌ์๋ ์๋ฌด๊ฒ๋ ์ ํ์์์. ๊ทธ๋ฐ ์ฌ์๊ฐ ๋น์ ์ฌ์ฐ์ ์ ๋ฐ์ ๊ฐ์ ธ๊ฐ๋ค๋์?" ํ์ง์ฐ๋ ์ ์ ์ ๊นจ๋ฌผ์๋ค. "๋๋ ์ด๋ค ์ํฉ์๋ ๋น์ ์ ์ง์งํ ๊ฑฐ์์. ํ์ง๋ง ์ด๋ฐ ๋ถ๋นํ ์ผ์ด ๋ฒ์ด์ง๋ ๊ฑธ ๊ฐ๋ง ๋๊ณ ๋ณผ ์๋ ์์ด์. ์์ฐ ์จ ์ด๋จธ๋์ ๋๋์ด ์ด ์๊ธฐ๋ฅผ ๋ค์ผ๋ฉด ๋ง์ด ํ๋์ค ํ ๋ฐ์." ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ ์ฝ์์์ ์ณค๋ค. "์ฐ์ ์๊ฒ ๋ค๊ณ ๋ ํ์ง๋ง, ์์ํ ๋ฐ๋ผ ์ค ์๋ ์์ง." ์์๋ผ์ฅ์ด ๋ ๊ทน์ฅ ๋ฐ์์ ์๋จ์ ์ํฌ์ฐ์๊ฒ ์ ํ๋ฅผ ๊ฑธ์๋ค. "์ฑ์ฌ ๋๊ทน์ฅ์ผ๋ก ๋ฐ๋ฆฌ๋ฌ ์ฌ ์ ์์ด?" ์ํฌ์ฐ์ด ์์ํดํ๋ฉฐ ๋ฌผ์๋ค. "์ฝ๋์ธ๊ทธ ๋๊ณ ๊ฐ์์?" ์์ ์ ์์ ๋ด๋ ค๋ค๋ณธ ์๋จ์ ์กฐ๊ธ ์ ์ ์ถฉ๋ ๋๋ฌธ์ ์๊ธด ์์ฒ๋ฅผ ๋ฐ๊ฒฌํ๋ค. ์์ฒ๋ ์์์ง๋ง ๋๊ฒ ํผ์ ธ ์์๊ณ , ์ด์ ๋ ํผ๊ฐ ๋๊ธฐ ์์ํ๋ค. "๋ด ๋น์ฐธํ ๊ฒฐํผ ์ํ๊ณผ ํจ๊ป ์นจ๋ชฐํ์ด." ์ 4ํ ๋ฐฐ์จ ๊ฐ๋ฌธ์ ์ฐํ ์ด๋์ฅ ๊ทธ ํ๋ง๋ ๋ง์ ๋ด๊ธด ๋ป์ ์ดํดํ ์ํฌ์ฐ์ ์๊ฐ ์จ์ด ๋ฉ๋ ๋ฏํ๋ค. ํธ๊ธฐ์ฌ์ด ์๊ธด ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ์ฌ๋นจ๋ฆฌ ์ฐจ ํค๋ฅผ ์ฑ๊ฒจ ์๋จ์ ๋ฐ๋ฆฌ๋ฌ ๋๊ฐ๋ค. ์ํฌ์ฐ์ด ๊ณ ์๋๋ก๋ฅผ ๋ฐ๋ผ ์ง์ฃผํ๋ ํ๋ผ๋ฆฌ ์์์ ๋ฏฟ์ ์ ์๋ค๋ ๋ฏ์ด ์ธ์ณค๋ค. "๊ทธ ๋์ฐํ ์ปคํ์ ๊ทธ๋ฅ ๋ค์ด๋ฐ์ง ๊ทธ๋ฌ์ด?" ์๋จ์ ์นจ์ฐฉํ๊ฒ ์์ฒ๋ฅผ ์น๋ฃํ๋ฉด์ ๋๋ตํ๋ค. "๋ฒ์ ์ด๊ธฐ์ง ์๋ ํธ์ด ์ข์ผ๋๊น." ์ํฌ์ฐ์ ๋ง๋ฌธ์ด ๋งํ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ์๋จ์ด ์ด ๋ํ๋ฅผ ๊บผ๋ฆฐ๋ค๋ ๊ฒ์ ๊นจ๋ซ๊ณ ์ฌ๋นจ๋ฆฌ ์ฃผ์ ๋ฅผ ๋ฐ๊ฟจ๋ค. "์, ๊ทธ ์์ ์ฐํ ๋ง์ด์ผ. ๋ ํน๋ณ ๊ฒ์คํธ๋ก ์ด๋๋ฐ์์์. ์ด๋ฒ์๋ ๊ฐ ๊ฑฐ์ง?" ์๋จ์ด ๋๋ตํ๊ธฐ๋ ์ ์ ์ํฌ์ฐ์ด ๋งํ๋ค. "์ด์ฐจํผ ์ดํผํ ๊ฑฐ์์. ์ด์ ๊ทธ ๋ฉ์ฒญํ ๊ณ ์์ฐํํ ๋ ์ด์ ์จ๊ธธ ํ์ ์์ง ์์?" ์ํฌ์ฐ์ด ์ ์ ์์ฃฝ ๋ด๋ฐ๋ฉฐ ๋ง๋ถ์๋ค. "์ด๋ฒ ์ฐํ ์ค๋นํ๋๋ผ ์ผ๋ง๋ ๊ณ ์์ ํ๋๋ฐ. ์๋น ํํ ์ข์ ์ธ์์ ์ฃผ๊ณ ์ถ๋จ ๋ง์ด์ผ. ๋๋ ๋ด ๊ฐ์ฅ ์นํ ์น๊ตฌ์์. ์ฌ ๊ฑฐ์ง, ์?" "์์์ด." ์๋จ์ด ์ฒด๋ ํ ๋ฏํ ๋ฏธ์๋ฅผ ์ง์ผ๋ฉฐ ๋งํ๋ค. "๋ค๊ฐ ์ํ๋ค๋ฉด์ผ!" ์ํฌ์ฐ์ ๊ธฐ๋ป์ ์ ๋๊ฒ ๊ฒฝ์ ์ ์ธ๋ ค๋๋ค. "์ข์, ๋ด์ผ ์ฌ์ฏ ์ ์ ๊ฐ์ด์ผ! ์ด๋์์ ์ ๊ตฌ๋ก ๋ณด๋ผ๊ฒ!" ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ์์นจ ์ผ์ ์ ์๋ฒฝํ๊ฒ ์ํํ๊ณ , ํ์ฌ ์์ 30๋ถ ์ ์ ์ฌ์ ๋กญ๊ฒ ์ฐํ์ฅ์ ๋์ฐฉํ๋ค. ์๋จ์ ์ง์ง ์ ์ฒด๋ฅผ ์จ๊ธด๋ฐ๋ค ์ด์ ์ ์ฐธ์ ๋ป์ ์ ๋๋ก ๋ฐํ์ง ์์ ํ์ ๊ณต์ ์ด๋์ฅ์ ๋ฐ์ง ๋ชปํ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋์ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ์ ๊ตฌ ๊ทผ์ฒ์ ์๋ ์์ ํ๋น๋ฆฌ์จ์ ์์ ์ปคํผ๋ฅผ ๋ง์๋ฉฐ ์ด๋์์ด ๋์ฐฉํ๊ธฐ๋ฅผ ๊ธฐ๋ค๋ฆฌ๊ณ ์์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฐ ์ปคํผ๋ฅผ ๋ฐ์ฏค ๋ง์ จ์ ๋ ์ด๋์์ด ๋ฌธ์๋ฅผ ๋ณด๋ด์๋ค. "๋ฆ์ด์ ์ฃ์กํฉ๋๋ค, ์ฒ์ฌ ๋์์ด๋๋! 10๋ถ ์์ ๋์ฐฉํด์!" ์๋จ์ด ์์ผ๋ก ์์ผ๋ฉฐ ๋ต์ฅ์ ๋ณด๋ด๋ ค๊ณ ํ๋ ๊ทธ ๋, ๋น๊ผฌ๋ ๋ฏํ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ๋ค๋ ค์๋ค. "์ด๊ฒ ๋๊ตฌ์ผ, ์๋จ ์จ์์์? ์ฌ๊ธฐ์ ๋น์ ์ ๋ง๋ ์ค์ ๋ชฐ๋๋ค์. ์์ฐ ์จ์๊ฒ ์์๋ฃ๋ฅผ ๋ฌ๋ผ๊ณ ๊ตฌ๊ฑธํ๋ฉด์ ๋ฐฐ์จ ๊ฐ๋ฌธ์ ์ฐํ๊น์ง ๋ฐ์ ๋ค์ด๋ ค๊ณ ํ๋ค๋. ํ์ง๋ง ๋ง์ด์ฃ ..." ๊ทธ๋ ์ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ์ ์ ์ฐจ๊ฐ์์ก๋ค. "์ด ์ฐํ๋ ๋น์ ๊ฐ์ ์ฌ๋์ด ์ฐธ์ํ ์ ์๋ ์๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ์๋์์. ์ฃผ์ ๋ฅผ ์์์ผ์ง." ์ 5ํ ๊ธฐ์ด์ด ์์ ๋๊ฒ ๋ง๋๋ ๊ฑฐ์ผ ์๋จ์ ๋ฉ์นซํ๋๋ ์ฒ์ฒํ ๊ณ ๊ฐ๋ฅผ ๋ค์๋ค. ํ์ง์ฐ๊ฐ ๊ฐ์์ ์ผ๋ก ๊ฑฑ์ ํด์ฃผ๋ ์ฒ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฅผ ๋ด๋ ค๋ค๋ณด๊ณ ์์๋ค. ์๋จ์ ๋ถ์ ์ ์ ์ ๋ง์ ์ฌ๋ฆฌ๋ฉฐ ๋ ์นด๋กญ๊ฒ ๋๋ตํ๋ค. "๋น์ ์ด ๋ฌด์จ ์๊ด์ด์ฃ ? ๋ด๊ฐ ๋ฐฐ์จ ๊ฐ๋ฌธ ์ฐํ์ ๊ฐ๋ ๋ง๋ , ๋น์ ์ด ์ ๋ฐ ์๋์์์." ํ์ง์ฐ๋ ์๋จ์ ์ง์ค์ ์ธ ๋๋ต์ ์กฐ๊ธ ๋๋ ๋ฏ ๋์ด ๋๊ทธ๋์ก๋ค. ์๋จ์ ๋ฑ๋๋ฌด ์์์ ๊ธฐ๋์ด ์์ ๋ฌด์ฌํ๊ฒ ํธ๋ํฐ์ ํกํก ๋๋๋ ธ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ๋งคํน์ ์ธ ๋์ผ๋ก ํ์ง์ฐ๋ฅผ ๋๋ฆฌ๋ฏ์ด ์ณ๋ค๋ดค๋ค. ํ์ง์ฐ๋ ํ์คํ ๊ตํํ๋ค. ๋๊ตฌ๋ผ๋ ๋ฐ๋ํ ํ๋์ ๋งํฌ๋ฅผ ์ ์ฐ๋ ๊ฒ ๊ฐ์๋ค. "์๋จ?" ๋ฐ๋ก ๊ทธ๋, ๊ณ ์์ฐ๊ฐ ๋ค๊ฐ์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ์๋จ์ ์ฌ๊ธฐ์ ๋ณผ ์ค์ ์์์กฐ์ฐจ ๋ชปํ๋ค. ๊ณ ์์ฐ๊ฐ ๋์ด์ ์ฐํธ๋ ธ๊ณ , ๊ทธ์ ์์๊ธด ์ผ๊ตด์ด ์ฆ์ ์ด๋์์ก๋ค. "๋๋ฅผ ๋ง์ ์ํค๋ ค๊ณ ์ฌ๊ธฐ๊น์ง ์จ ๊ฑฐ์ผ?" ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ ํ๋ฅผ ๋ด๋ฉฐ ์๋ฆฌ์ณค๋ค. "๊ทธ๋ฅ ์ข ๊บผ์ ธ!" ํ์ง์ฐ๋ ๋ง์น ์์ ์ ์ง์๋ฅผ ์ ์ธํ๊ธฐ๋ผ๋ ํ๋ฏ ์ผ๋ถ๋ฌ ๊ณ ์์ฐ์ ํ์ ๋์ด์์ผ๋ฉฐ ๋์ ์ ์ธ ๋๋น์ผ๋ก ์๋จ์ ๋ฐ๋ผ๋ดค๋ค. ์๋จ์ ๊ทธ๋ฐ ๋ฌด๋กํ ํ๋์ ์ฐธ๊ณ ๋์ด๊ฐ ์ฌ๋์ด ์๋์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ์๊ฐ๋ฝ์ ๊ฝ ์์ผ์ฅ๋๋ ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ฅผ ๊ฒฝ๋ฉธ์ค๋ฝ๋ค๋ ๋ฏ์ด ๋ฐ๋ผ๋ณด๋ฉฐ ์ฐจ๊ฐ์ด ๋ฏธ์๋ฅผ ์ง์๋ค. "๋ค์ ๋งํด๋ณผ๋? ์ง๊ธ ๊ฐํ ๋๊ตฌ ๋ณด๊ณ ๊บผ์ง๋ผ๋ ๊ฑฐ์ผ?" ์๋จ์ ๊ฒ์์ ์คํฌ ์ฌ๋ฆฝ ๋๋ ์ค๋ฅผ ์ ๊ณ ๊ฐ๋๋ค๋ ๋ค๋ฆฌ๋ฅผ ์ฐ์ํ๊ฒ ๊ผฌ๊ณ ์์ ์์๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ์ ํ ์ก์ ๋ฐ ์๋ ํผ๋ถ์ ๋๊ธธ์ ๋๋ ์ด๋ชฉ๊ตฌ๋น๋ ์์ฒญ๋ ๋งค๋ ฅ์ ์ ์ฌํ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ์ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๋ ํ๋ค๋ฆผ ์์ด ์ฐจ๋ถํ์ง๋ง, ์จ๋ชธ์์ ์ฐจ๊ฐ์ด ๋ถ์๊ธฐ๋ฅผ ๋ด๋ฟ๊ณ ์์๋ค. ์๋ฐ๊ฐ์ด ๊ธ์ตํด์๋ค. ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ ๊ฐ์์ค๋ฝ๊ฒ ๋ณํ ๋ถ์๊ธฐ์ ๋นํฉํ ์ฑ ์ ์ ์ผ์ด๋ถ์๋ค. ์ด ์ฌ์๊ฐ ์ ๋ง๋ก ์์ข ์ ์ด๊ธฐ๋ง ํ๋ ๊ทธ์ ์๋ด๋ผ๋! ์ง์ฆ์ด ๋ ํ์ง์ฐ๋ ๋์ด์ ์ฐํธ๋ ธ๋ค. ๋ง์ง๋ง์ผ๋ก ์๋จ์ ๋ง๋ฌ์ ๋, ํ์ง์ฐ๋ ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฐ ์ ์ ์ด ๋๊ฐ ์ค ์์๋ค. ํ์ง์ฐ๋ ์๋จ์ด ๋ ๋ค์ ๋๋์ ๋ถ๋ ค ์์ ์ด ๋ง์ ๋นํ๊ฒ ๋ ๊น ๋ด ๊ฑฑ์ ๋์ด ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๋ฅผ ๋๊ทธ๋ฌ๋จ๋ฆฌ๊ณ ์์งํ ์ฒ ์ฐ๊ธฐํ๋ค. "์๋จ ์จ, ์ด๋ง ๊ฐ ๋ณด์ธ์. ์ด๋์ฅ์ ํ๋ ๋ฐ์ ์๊ณ , ์์ฐ ์จ๋ ๋๋ฅผ ๋ฐ๋ฆฌ๊ณ ๋ค์ด๊ฐ๊ธฐ๋ก ํ์ด์. ์๋จ ์จ๊ฐ ์ฌ๊ธฐ์์ ๋ฒํฐ๊ณ ์๋๋ค๊ณ ํด์ ๋ค์ด๊ฐ ์ ์๋ ์ฐํ๊ฐ ์๋์์. ๊ฒ๋ค๊ฐ ์๋จ ์จ๋ ๋ฌธ์ ๋ง ์ผ์ผํค์์์. ์ ์๊พธ ์ผ์ ์ด๋ ต๊ฒ ๋ง๋๋ ๊ฑฐ์์?" ์๋จ์ ํ์ง์ฐ๋ฅผ ์ฐจ๊ฐ์ด ์์ ์ผ๋ก ์ณ๋ค๋ดค๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ์ด๋ฏธ ๊ณ ์์ฐ์ ์ง์ง ๋ชจ์ต์ ํคํ ์ ์๊ณ ์๋ค. ์ด์ ๊ณ ์์ฐ์๊ฒ๋, ์ด ๊ฒฐํผ ์ํ๋ ์ฒ ์ ํ ํฌ๋ง์ ์์๋ค. ์ด์ ํ์ง์ฐ์ ํ๋๋ ๋ง์ ๊ทธ๋ ์๊ฒ ์๋ฌด๋ฐ ์ํฅ์ ๋ฏธ์น์ง ๋ชปํ๋ค. "๋น์ ์ด ๋ฌด์จ ์๊ด์ด์์?" ์๋จ์ ํ์ง์ฐ์ ๋ง์ ์ ํ ๋์ํ์ง ์๊ณ ์ฐจ๋ถํ๊ฒ ๋๋ตํ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๋ ๋ฌด์ฌ์ฝ ์์ ๋ค์ด ๋นจ๋๋ก ํฌ๋์ฃผ์ค๋ฅผ ์ชผ๋ฅด๋ฅต ๋ง์ จ๋ค. "์ ๊ฐ๊ฒ ๋ค, ์ด๊ฑฐ์ผ? ๊ธฐ์ด์ด ์์ ๋๊ฒ ๋ง๋ค๋ ค๋ ๊ฑฐ์ผ!" ๊ณ ์์ฐ๊ฐ ์๋ฆฌ์ณค๋ค. ์๋จ์ ๊ณ ์์ฐ์ ๋ถ๋ ธ ํญ๋ฐํ ๋ฐ์์ ์ ํ ๋์ํ์ง ์์๊ณ , ๊ทธ๋ฅผ ์๋ ์ฌ๋ ์ทจ๊ธํ๋ค. ๊ณ ์์ฐ์ ํ์ ์ด ๋์ฑ ์ด๋์์ก๋ค. ์๋จ์ด ๊ผผ์ง๋ ํ์ง ์์ ์ง์ฆ์ด ๋ ๊ทธ๋ ๊ทธ๋ ๋ฅผ ๋์ด๋ด๊ธฐ ์ํด ํ ๊ฑธ์ ๋ค๊ฐ์ฐ๋ค. ์๋จ์ ๋์ด์ ์ฐํธ๋ ธ๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๊ฐ ๋ชธ์ ์์ง์ด๋ ค๋ ๊ทธ๋, ๊ณ ์์ฐ์ ๋ค์์ ํ ๋จ์์ ์จ ๊ฐ์ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ๋ค๋ ค์๋ค. "๋น์ผ!" ์ด๋์ต์ ์ฃผ์ ํ์ง ์๊ณ ๊ณ ์์ฐ์๊ฒ ๋ฌ๋ ค๋ค์ด ๋ง์น ์ฅ๋๊ฐ์ ์ก๋ฏ์ด ๊ทธ์ ์ท๊น์ ์์ผ์ฅ๊ณ ์์ผ๋ก ๋ด๋์ง ๋ค, ์๋จ์ ์์ ๊ฐ๋ก๋ง๊ณ ์์ ๋ณดํธ ํ์ธ๋ฅผ ์ทจํ๋ค. ํค๊ฐ 195์ผํฐ๋ฏธํฐ ๋๋ ์ด๋์์ ๋ชธ์ง์ด ๊ฑด์ฅํ๊ณ , ๊ทธ์ ๊ทผ์ก์ง ํ์ ๋ฌด์ฒ ํ์ธ ๋ณด์๋ค. "์ด๊ฒ ๋ญ ํ๋ ์ง์ ๋๊น?" ์ด๋์์ ๊ณ ์์ฐ๋ฅผ ์ฌ๋์ด ๋๋น์ผ๋ก ์์๋ณด๋ฉฐ ์๊ฐ๋ฝ ๊ด์ ์ด ๋ฑ๋ฑ ์๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ๋ ์ ๋๋ก ์ฃผ๋จน์ ๊ฝ ์ฅ๊ณ ๋งํ๋ค. "์ ์ฐ๋ฆฌ ๋๋๋ฅผ ๊ดด๋กญํ๋ ๊ฑฐ์ผ? ์ฃฝ๊ณ ์ถ์ด ํ์ฅํ์ด?" "๋๋ ๋๊ตฌ์ผ?" ์กฐ๊ธ ์ , ์ฐ๋ ๊ธฐ์ฒ๋ผ ๋ดํฝ๊ฐ์ณ์ก๋ ๊ณ ์์ฐ๊ฐ ์๋ฆฌ์ณค๋ค. ๊ทธ๋ ๋นํ๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๋ฉฐ ์ผ์ด๋์ ์ฑ๋ ๋๋น์ผ๋ก ์ด๋์์ ๋ ธ๋ ค๋ดค๋ค. ...... ์์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/65152436-fb_contact-k | Happy reading | https://www.facebook.com/61566043183664/ | 483 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.moboreader.net | IMAGE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/65152436-fb_contact-kra210_2-1203-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=124213&accid=1085029615921206&jump=1&rawadid=120213598942560274 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/468887594_4171407659745833_6614691967249225686_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WoON0UwA-NsQ7kNvgHatJ8u&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AsFVJHE_jDgmguPysldv5zL&oh=00_AYBb2L62w3YZwGfgC7PyBBdqfXDwz_Ox0SZjU6-g1v6L6A&oe=676EC404 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Happy reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-12-22 23:48 | active | 2067 | 0 | Read next chapter๐ | As the real heiress returns, onlookers mock at how the fake heiress will end. She, however, comes back as the daughter of a top billionaire, taking on the role of a judge in the real heiress competition, terminating her foster parents'contract, backed by business tycoons, and stunning everyone! ===== "Madisyn, for years, we've raised you, never imagining you capable of such cruelty. This house can no longer bear your presence. You must leave immediately." Declared the imposing woman before Madisyn Chapman, her gaze laden with disdain and a bitter chill, her elegant attire contrasting sharply with the harshness of her words. "Mom, please, it was an accident. I lost my footing and tumbled down the stairs on my own. Madisyn had no part in this," said a young girl from her seat on the sofa. Just half an hour prior, Jenna Chapman, the biological daughter of the Chapmans, had suffered a fall on the staircase. At that time, Madisyn had been alone on the upper floor. Everyone believed Madisyn had pushed Jenna... Now, the looks that the Chapmans shot at Madisyn were filled with venom and disgust, a stark contrast to their attitude just a week prior, when they had professed their reluctance to ever part with her. Madisyn looked down at the floor, a fleeting shadow of irony passing through her eyes. Once, Madisyn was the sole daughter of the Chapmans. Though she never basked in parental favoritism, she lacked for nothing, her basic needs always met. The facade shattered when Jeffry Chapman, whom she had known as her father, met with a grave accident necessitating an urgent bl**d transfusion. The subsequent tests unveiled a startling truth--Madisyn was not his biological child. Jeffry then harnessed his extensive network to uncover the whereabouts of his true daughter, Jenna. The Chapman family was a prestigious household in Gemond, and news like this naturally spread quickly. To manage the public narrative and preserve their esteemed reputation, they declared an unwavering commitment to Madisyn, the girl they had raised, asserting their intention to treat her as their own for a while longer before she returned to her biological family. Behind closed doors, however, their plans were starkly different. They wanted to quickly send Madisyn away at once. Upon Jenna's arrival, the Chapman family blamed Madisyn for Jenna's years of hardship, relegating Madisyn from her room to a mere storage space, diminishing her status drastically. She was tasked with menial chores, her status far beneath even those of the household servants. Jenna, however, still wanted Madisyn gone. She had crafted several schemes against Madisyn, yet her parents turned a blind eye, their disdain for Madisyn thinly veiled. These tribulations stripped away any illusions Madisyn had about her former family, fueling a resolve to confront the injustices imposed upon her. As the tensions reached a boiling point, she faced Jenna, her voice resolute as she said, "I'll leave, but not before setting the record straight, Jenna!" Jenna's composure wavered under the intensity of Madisyn's icy stare, her body trembling slightly. Was this the same Madisyn who had once submitted quietly to every slight? A dark glint flickered in Jenna's eyes. She was the rightful heiress to the Chapman family assets, not this usurper, Madisyn, who had been living in luxury undeserved. She had to drive this impostor out! "Madisyn, I have no idea what you're going on about!" Jenna's voice dripped with feigned confusion. "Ever since I reclaimed my rightful place, receiving the affection rightfully owed to me by our parents, I've sensed your discontent. Despite your actions, I've remained tolerant. But my legs... how could you? Dancing is my soul's expression. Had I known you coveted the national competition spot so desperately, I would not have contested it." Her insinuation was clear: Madisyn had sabotaged her out of it. The gaze of Jenna's mother, Phyllis Chapman, hardened at Jenna's words, her voice laced with disdain. "Jenna, you possesses a remarkable talent that Madisyn could never hope to match. That competition spot was yours by right. And you, Madisyn!" She turned sharply towards Madisyn, adding, "Pack your belongings and leave immediately!" Madisyn's usually somber expression seemed only to fuel her contempt. Meanwhile, Jenna, ever the docile and talented daughter, shone brightly in her eyes--a true Chapman. Amidst the unfolding drama, Jeffry finally broke his silence, his voice heavy with disappointment. "Madisyn, our agreement was to keep you until the public scrutiny waned, yet here we are, facing your deep-seated resentment towards Jenna. We have no choice but to return you to your true family today." Jenna's eyes glittered with a triumphant gleam as her father pronounced Madisyn's imminent departure. In stark contrast, Madisyn's face remained an unreadable mask as she went up the stairs to gather her possessions. Her prolonged stay on the upper floor kindled a flicker of anxiety in Jenna. "What if she attempts to take everything with her?" After all, everything of value in the house rightfully belonged to her--how could she allow a fake to leave with any part of her wealth? Eventually, Madisyn reappeared, descending the staircase slowly, her movements deliberate. She carried a small, unassuming black bag. As her gaze swept coolly across the living room, it unsettled Jeffry enough for him to divert his eyes. Phyllis's eyebrows knitted together at the sight of Madisyn's minimal luggage. "Is that all you've packed? What's in there? Show me," she demanded, suspicion lacing her tone. Jeffry, however, raised a hand to halt his wife's interrogation. "Let her be." It was probably just the bank card he gave her, which had a mere hundred thousand dollars left on it. Unfazed, Madisyn placed her bag squarely on the table, her expression stoic. "Inspect it if you must." Phyllis, unable to mask her distrust, scoffed. "Maybe she has packed something valuable," she muttered as she unzipped the bag. Peering inside, she found nothing more than a notebook, a few seeds, and a small stack of cash--hardly the valuables she had feared. Phyllis, her face flushed with embarrassment from her baseless accusation, straightened up. "I'll let the driver take you there," she said crisply. Jeffry, the weight of the situation bearing down on him, reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. "Madisyn, when you return, listen to your parents. They're farmers, yes... but they are good, simple people. You should help them." Madisyn looked at the offered card with her beautiful eyes, her expression calm. "Everyone has their own destiny to fulfill," she replied quietly, pushing the card back towards Jeffry. "But before I leave, there needs to be clarity. Jenna, how did you truly fall down those stairs? This is your last chance to tell the truth." Jenna seethed internally, infuriated by Madisyn's serene composure, which seemed to elevate her above everyone else despite her humble origins. Madisyn was not from a wealthy family! She was just two farmers' daughter! "Madisyn, what are you implying? That I threw myself down the stairs?" Jenna retorted. "My legs are my life; they are essential for my dancing. Why would I ever get them injured?" As she spoke, Jenna's emotions crescendoed, and she dissolved into theatrical tears, collapsing into Phyllis's arms. Suddenly, Jennainstinctively leaped to her feet because of a shattered vase. Silence enveloped the room as everyone, including Phyllis and Jeffry, turned their shocked gazes towards her. Jenna's sudden agility was startling--didn't she say she couldn't stand up because of her injuries? &9& | LEARN_MORE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/60743322-fb_contact-e | Hello reading-A | https://www.facebook.com/61570065204033/ | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.moboreader.net | VIDEO | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/60743322-fb_contact-enp65_2-c2-0827-core2.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=124213&accid=1983022462166766&rawadid=120214135033780250 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/469778568_1132161291799450_1110230689406923463_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nOXAmArbWLsQ7kNvgGz98PY&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AsFVJHE_jDgmguPysldv5zL&oh=00_AYAnqc_04sWL1WGhEge7_zps3f34fY9AhBfQswL44zGNeA&oe=676EB190 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Hello reading-A | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-12-22 23:48 | active | 2067 | 0 |
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Read next chapter๐ | As the real heiress returns, onlookers mock at how the fake heiress will end. She, however, comes back as the daughter of a top billionaire, taking on the role of a judge in the real heiress competition, terminating her foster parents'contract, backed by business tycoons, and stunning everyone! ===== "Madisyn, for years, we've raised you, never imagining you capable of such cruelty. This house can no longer bear your presence. You must leave immediately." Declared the imposing woman before Madisyn Chapman, her gaze laden with disdain and a bitter chill, her elegant attire contrasting sharply with the harshness of her words. "Mom, please, it was an accident. I lost my footing and tumbled down the stairs on my own. Madisyn had no part in this," said a young girl from her seat on the sofa. Just half an hour prior, Jenna Chapman, the biological daughter of the Chapmans, had suffered a fall on the staircase. At that time, Madisyn had been alone on the upper floor. Everyone believed Madisyn had pushed Jenna... Now, the looks that the Chapmans shot at Madisyn were filled with venom and disgust, a stark contrast to their attitude just a week prior, when they had professed their reluctance to ever part with her. Madisyn looked down at the floor, a fleeting shadow of irony passing through her eyes. Once, Madisyn was the sole daughter of the Chapmans. Though she never basked in parental favoritism, she lacked for nothing, her basic needs always met. The facade shattered when Jeffry Chapman, whom she had known as her father, met with a grave accident necessitating an urgent bl**d transfusion. The subsequent tests unveiled a startling truth--Madisyn was not his biological child. Jeffry then harnessed his extensive network to uncover the whereabouts of his true daughter, Jenna. The Chapman family was a prestigious household in Gemond, and news like this naturally spread quickly. To manage the public narrative and preserve their esteemed reputation, they declared an unwavering commitment to Madisyn, the girl they had raised, asserting their intention to treat her as their own for a while longer before she returned to her biological family. Behind closed doors, however, their plans were starkly different. They wanted to quickly send Madisyn away at once. Upon Jenna's arrival, the Chapman family blamed Madisyn for Jenna's years of hardship, relegating Madisyn from her room to a mere storage space, diminishing her status drastically. She was tasked with menial chores, her status far beneath even those of the household servants. Jenna, however, still wanted Madisyn gone. She had crafted several schemes against Madisyn, yet her parents turned a blind eye, their disdain for Madisyn thinly veiled. These tribulations stripped away any illusions Madisyn had about her former family, fueling a resolve to confront the injustices imposed upon her. As the tensions reached a boiling point, she faced Jenna, her voice resolute as she said, "I'll leave, but not before setting the record straight, Jenna!" Jenna's composure wavered under the intensity of Madisyn's icy stare, her body trembling slightly. Was this the same Madisyn who had once submitted quietly to every slight? A dark glint flickered in Jenna's eyes. She was the rightful heiress to the Chapman family assets, not this usurper, Madisyn, who had been living in luxury undeserved. She had to drive this impostor out! "Madisyn, I have no idea what you're going on about!" Jenna's voice dripped with feigned confusion. "Ever since I reclaimed my rightful place, receiving the affection rightfully owed to me by our parents, I've sensed your discontent. Despite your actions, I've remained tolerant. But my legs... how could you? Dancing is my soul's expression. Had I known you coveted the national competition spot so desperately, I would not have contested it." Her insinuation was clear: Madisyn had sabotaged her out of it. The gaze of Jenna's mother, Phyllis Chapman, hardened at Jenna's words, her voice laced with disdain. "Jenna, you possesses a remarkable talent that Madisyn could never hope to match. That competition spot was yours by right. And you, Madisyn!" She turned sharply towards Madisyn, adding, "Pack your belongings and leave immediately!" Madisyn's usually somber expression seemed only to fuel her contempt. Meanwhile, Jenna, ever the docile and talented daughter, shone brightly in her eyes--a true Chapman. Amidst the unfolding drama, Jeffry finally broke his silence, his voice heavy with disappointment. "Madisyn, our agreement was to keep you until the public scrutiny waned, yet here we are, facing your deep-seated resentment towards Jenna. We have no choice but to return you to your true family today." Jenna's eyes glittered with a triumphant gleam as her father pronounced Madisyn's imminent departure. In stark contrast, Madisyn's face remained an unreadable mask as she went up the stairs to gather her possessions. Her prolonged stay on the upper floor kindled a flicker of anxiety in Jenna. "What if she attempts to take everything with her?" After all, everything of value in the house rightfully belonged to her--how could she allow a fake to leave with any part of her wealth? Eventually, Madisyn reappeared, descending the staircase slowly, her movements deliberate. She carried a small, unassuming black bag. As her gaze swept coolly across the living room, it unsettled Jeffry enough for him to divert his eyes. Phyllis's eyebrows knitted together at the sight of Madisyn's minimal luggage. "Is that all you've packed? What's in there? Show me," she demanded, suspicion lacing her tone. Jeffry, however, raised a hand to halt his wife's interrogation. "Let her be." It was probably just the bank card he gave her, which had a mere hundred thousand dollars left on it. Unfazed, Madisyn placed her bag squarely on the table, her expression stoic. "Inspect it if you must." Phyllis, unable to mask her distrust, scoffed. "Maybe she has packed something valuable," she muttered as she unzipped the bag. Peering inside, she found nothing more than a notebook, a few seeds, and a small stack of cash--hardly the valuables she had feared. Phyllis, her face flushed with embarrassment from her baseless accusation, straightened up. "I'll let the driver take you there," she said crisply. Jeffry, the weight of the situation bearing down on him, reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. "Madisyn, when you return, listen to your parents. They're farmers, yes... but they are good, simple people. You should help them." Madisyn looked at the offered card with her beautiful eyes, her expression calm. "Everyone has their own destiny to fulfill," she replied quietly, pushing the card back towards Jeffry. "But before I leave, there needs to be clarity. Jenna, how did you truly fall down those stairs? This is your last chance to tell the truth." Jenna seethed internally, infuriated by Madisyn's serene composure, which seemed to elevate her above everyone else despite her humble origins. Madisyn was not from a wealthy family! She was just two farmers' daughter! "Madisyn, what are you implying? That I threw myself down the stairs?" Jenna retorted. "My legs are my life; they are essential for my dancing. Why would I ever get them injured?" As she spoke, Jenna's emotions crescendoed, and she dissolved into theatrical tears, collapsing into Phyllis's arms. Suddenly, Jennainstinctively leaped to her feet because of a shattered vase. Silence enveloped the room as everyone, including Phyllis and Jeffry, turned their shocked gazes towards her. Jenna's sudden agility was startling--didn't she say she couldn't stand up because of her injuries? &9& | LEARN_MORE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/60743322-fb_contact-e | Hello reading-K | https://www.facebook.com/61569719435565/ | 47 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.moboreader.net | IMAGE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/60743322-fb_contact-enp65_2-c2-0827-core2.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=124213&accid=1983022462166766&rawadid=120214106548110250 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/469710614_3908106389455822_2400185979815837409_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FFuGDp8jiHkQ7kNvgGnNbAh&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AsFVJHE_jDgmguPysldv5zL&oh=00_AYCqDYrvnM9G8IMNr6OlHpTLBFjW9aD1dLhfzTEhVjNrZQ&oe=676ED37B | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Hello reading-K | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2 in 1 Physical and Chemical Sunscreen Combo SPF50+ | ๐ Ready for superior sun protection on the go? ๐ก๏ธ Meet Peptide 9 Bio Sun Stick โ SPF 50+ and 9 Peptide Complex for youthful skin. ๐ช Combines physical and chemical sunscreens for unbeatable UV defense. ๐ Water-resistant, sweat-resistant, and perfect for outdoor adventures. ๐ Non-greasy, non-sticky โ enjoy smooth, comfortable skin without the white cast. ๐Click Below To Get Yours 40% Off Until Midnight! | SHOP_NOW | https://norvure.com/products/peptide-9-2-in-1-phys | HeartlyLove | https://www.facebook.com/100089641703840/ | 748 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Shop now | 0 | norvure.com | IMAGE | 40% Off Until Midnight | https://norvure.com/products/peptide-9-2-in-1-physical-and-chemical-sunscreen-combo-spf50-2-pack | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448165809_817818196971033_8273399906170243151_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xp1ashL0W-EQ7kNvgE2oB4y&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AMaAbxw4E9F9K4Wo_j8Zrev&oh=00_AYDcSnH24O3yIJZ-gUjy5f4OE4JVIvRdqorOuW0ZyYmVPg&oe=676EB067 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | HeartlyLove | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | I wondered am I going to die? "Answer me, why you can't smell my presence?" The threatening aura of an Alpha wraps around me. My body shivers, I am so nervous that my throat get tied up. Earlier this morning, my ex-mate Beta Kyle had ordered me to clean my brother Alpha Trey's office before Trey heads back as they are to have an important guest today. Before he left he hit me to the ground and spat on me saying I was a stupid wolf and how right he was to have rejected me as I was nothing but a damned sinner. Slowly I picked myself up from the ground and started to cry only to be interrupted by a deep voice coming from behind. This tall man caught me in surprise but he was more surprised when he found out I didn't notice his strong presence. As his eyes bore into mine, I averted his intimidating gaze and lowered my head. I can't tell him why I couldn't smell an Alpha. I can't tell him what my brother has done to me - how he made me his slave when I was 6 and tortured me even till now. "I...just can't." I said trembly. Trey would beat me to death if he ever found I spoke ill of him in front of his guest. Not to mention, the man in front of me could be THE guest Trey has been fawning about for months- Alpha Dane, King of the largest pack in the world. Trey needed Alpha Dane's help, that's weird as our pack never suffered from outside attack, why would we need help? Of course I was not told of it. Anyway, Trey wanted to conclude a contract with Dane, which promised anything Trey can offer. Does anything include women? Rumor has it that Alpha Dane was a demon who has killed all his 9 ex-wives... โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ The tall man takes a swig from his drink. "My ... wolf abilities were bound." I muttered out of fear that he might hit me too. Twice, actually, Trey bound my wolf abilities so that I had no strength to fight against him or run away. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. "Who did this to you?" The man then asked, his eyes lingering on my whole body up and down. Did he smell the wounds hidden behind my clothes? "You smelled strange." He reached out to my face, I was about to run when the office door swung open. "Neah, What the heck are you doing in my office?" My brother angrily walked in, his eyes turned crimson red, โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap,it was indeed him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the usual burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โI am afraid it's my family business, not sure why you would care.โ Alpha Trey said in a little offended tone. "About the contract we are signing, I want to add another item." Alpha Dane stared at me for a while before he continued,"I want to take her with me." I looked up, eyes filled with the same incredulity in Trey's. "Why do you want a useless wolf like her? " Trey was surprised, angry as well. "I want her to be my tenth bride." Alpha Dane pointed at me, yet there was not the slightest emotion in his eyes, as if I were just a object. I couldn't believe the words he just uttered. "Why? You want a murderer to be your bride?" Trey spat. I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. "Murdered whom?" "Our parents! That little brat killed our parents when she was 6!" Trey snarled. | LEARN_MORE | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783& | New world publications | https://www.facebook.com/100090352943774/ | 3,774 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | wwwedb.com | IMAGE | 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-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/467898080_483621588062488_7306436897792904071_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eVswjScscPQQ7kNvgEo-a5L&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AKY6CzbmK_4MncCMNQycbNE&oh=00_AYB5c_diSpFBBNs0uiCN7m8pcSiiQlC226QN0c3lvOLfMA&oe=676EAC2E | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | New world publications | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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๐Read the next chapters๐ | For three days and three nights, Joseph gave me no respite. He had come to live with me as my husband, one I had little respect for. Not only would I never let him touch me, but I'd done everything in my power to belittle him. But now that my fortune had all but disappeared, and he was suddenly a rich man, it was like he was taking his revenge. He seemed to savor every last act we performed. ... My husband came to me with nothing. It wasn't even him I liked; it was his brother. But at a class reunion, I had too much to drink and he took advantage. Not only that, but everyone we knew found out. My father was disgraced. He felt the only thing to do to save our family honor was for me to marry this man. But he did have one condition, that the man who despoiled me would come and live with us in our family home. My new husband's parents were divorced. His father had all but abandoned him after remarrying and now he had nothing. As for me, my family was rich, and I was my parents' little princess. My husband could hardly have dreamed of a better match. So, just like that, we were married. No one even considered what I wanted. I wanted his brother. Naturally, I resented him and everything he'd done. I wouldn't let him near me. I made him sleep on the floor. I would mock him at mealtimes, along with my brother. We'd sneer at him and refuse him food. He'd still do things for me, like bring me umbrellas in the rain, but I'd make sure to insult him nonetheless. I couldn't feel easy letting him get away with what he'd done. Despite all this, he never seemed to mind. It was like he had no temper, no self-respect. Whatever me or my family said and did, he would always sit there meekly and take it. Objectively, he wasn't bad to look at. If he hadn't been so introverted and if his grades hadn't been so bad then he'd probably have got a lot more attention at school. His brother was a different story. Handsome, outgoing, with impeccable grades, he was what you might call a bit of a schoolyard celebrity. To think that our burgeoning romance was snuffed out so cruelly by my husband's actions was a source of great pain and anger. In the middle of the night, I got out of bed and kicked my husband awake, demanding a drink. He immediately pulled himself to his feet and dutifully got me a glass of water. As there was a slight autumn chill in the air, he even warmed it up for me. Such thoughtfulness might have charmed me, but all I could think of was how he'd used me the night of our class reunion. My anger flared and I threw the whole glass of water in his face. His only reaction was to go to the bathroom to dry himself off. Watching him quietly slink away, I almost felt a pang of guilt for my actions. That is, until I reminded myself once more of what he'd done and how my life would never be the same again. This was our life for the first three years of marriage. But a lot can happen in three years. For example, my family losing our fortune, or me starting to fall for my husband, or even... him deciding he wanted a divorce. When he handed me the divorce papers, he said it was because his childhood sweetheart had returned. I have to admit, at that moment, I was in shock. It was like a great weight was crushing my body and I could hardly breathe. But I had too much self-respect to let him see how he was hurting me. With as carefree an expression as I could muster, I took the pen from his hand and signed the papers. As soon as I had done so, he asked me, not unkindly, "Would you like my driver to take you home?" It took me a while to react. The villa I was in, the villa I had called home for over 20 years, was no longer mine. My family was broke. All of our possessions had been sold off. All this while he, the man who had forced me into marriage when he had nothing to his name, had secretly started his own company and built his own fortune behind my back. To add insult to injury, it was he who had bought our family home. Not that I could blame him completely. Or that I had any claim to his wealth. He had worked hard to get where he was, without a penny of help from me or my family, all while suffering in silence. He stared at me in silence, waiting for my response. He suddenly seemed so reasonable, while I was now ashamed of how I'd treated him. After all that I'd put him through, it would be only natural for him to use this reversal of fortunes to exact his revenge. But he wasn't doing so. If anything, he seemed just as meek and mild-mannered as before. "There's no need. I'll find my own way back." I replied. As soon as I'd finished speaking, I turned and hurried outside. His voice called after me, calmly, "What did you come to see me about?" "Nothing" I called back, without even turning my head. It was raining outside and I clutched the gift I was carrying tightly to keep it dry. Today was our third-year anniversary. I'd never done anything nice for him before, but since realizing I had developed feelings for him, I thought it might be nice to celebrate a nice occasion together. I'd never dreamed that what awaited me was a pile of divorce papers. I smiled a bitter smile as the rain soaked through my clothing and left me drenched. The next day, I woke up sniffling. I lay there in bed, feeling too weak to get up. Eventually, a commotion outside disturbed me from my malaise. I dragged myself feebly out of bed. When I made it outside, my father was sitting atop a crumbling wall, declaring to all that he wanted to terminate his life. We were now living in a dilapidated apartment block. Conditions in the building were poor, but the rent was cheap. My mother was crying and wailing, screaming at my father that if he jumped, she would follow suit. My head was pounding as I tried to talk my father down. I tried to tell him that money isn't everything, that as long as we have each other we'd be fine. My father looked at me, suddenly quiet. His eyes seemed to be burning into my soul. "Go ask Joseph for help. He's family. He wouldn't abandon us now." Having heard my father's words, my mother hastily added, "Of course! Maybe we haven't always seen eye to eye, but he's your husband. He's certain to help." I could almost have laughed. My parents still had no idea about our divorce. I tried to tell them he wouldn't help, but my father started becoming hysterical once more. He left me with no choice. I had to go crawling back to Joseph. To my "husband". Before I left, my mother insisted on spending the last of our money to get me a new outfit: a long dress with a deep-cut V-neck and a pair of pointy leather shoes. She also helped me do my make-up so I was dolled up to the nines. As I looked myself up and down in the mirror, I couldn't help but feel a tinge of revulsion. I didn't look at all like someone asking for help. I looked more like I was on a mission to seduce. But even if I turned up on his doorstep in my birthday suit, I doubt he'd give me more than a cursory glance. At that time, I couldn't understand why he'd slept with me at our class reunion. Could it be that he was just as drunk as I was? Had he mistaken me for his sweetheart? I quickly put those thoughts out of my mind. Even though I was doomed to fail, I would go to ask him for help. That way my parents could give up on the fantasy that he might save us. After making some inquiries, I discovered that he was at his company's offices. And so, that's where I went. I headed inside, while my parents, who had accompanied me this far, waited outside. The looks of pure, desperate hope on their faces were almost too much for me to bear, knowing how much this would disappoint them. When I arrived at his office, I was greeted by a sea of unfriendly faces. I could make out people talking about me as I passed. Nothing I heard was nice. I pretended not to notice. I straightened my shoulders and made straight for his personal office. But as soon as I saw him, I could feel my confidence fade. He was sitting on his chair, radiating poise, smiling broadly as he watched me approach... Chapter 2 I stood there wringing my fingers in shame as I explained why I had come. Joseph's gaze grew stern as he asked, "And why do you think I should help you?" It was clear that I had been right to think he would reject me. "Please, forget I even came." After everything we put him through, my family should be happy he wasn't seeking revenge. To come here asking him for help was nonsense. I'd swallowed my pride for my parents' sake, but obviously, we'd get no help from him. I was beginning to get angry at myself for even trying. I started to leave but he called me back. "Tell me. What do you have to offer in return? If I feel like it's worth it, then I'm sure we can make a deal." I froze in my tracks. My mind was whirring but I could think of nothing to offer him. Nothing except my body. But if he wanted that, we'd been married for three years. While we didn't share a bed, we at least shared a room. In three years, he'd never once made a move. I lowered my head, mumbling through my shame, "Just forget I came." Unexpectedly, he walked over and stood in front of me. He was a good head taller than me. He leaned over slightly and whispered against my ear. "You came here dressed like that. Why play coy now?" I felt my body stiffen and my shame burned even brighter. I wanted so desperately to turn and run. He put his hands around my waist and flashed me a knowing smile. "Three years of marriage. Every night, sleeping alone on the floor. You don't think I've dreamed of that body of yours? Why not offer me that?" My eyes grew wide. For a moment, I doubted my own ears. At last, I asked, "What are you saying?" He stared at me, his eyes as deep and impenetrable as a bottomless ocean. A sense of panic rose up inside me. Wordlessly, without looking away, he moved his fingers up and gently pulled down the straps of my dress. My cheeks flushed red and I pushed him away. I shouted, angrily, "If you won't help, just say so! I didn't expect you to anyway. There's no need to insult me like this!" Joseph looked at me, a hard-to-read expression crossing his face, like a mixture of anger and amusement. He said, "You think this is an insult?" "Is it not?" He clearly had feelings for someone else. To act this way towards me could be seen as nothing but insulting. He suddenly turned away and sat back down in his chair. When he raised his head to look at me once more, his gaze was cold. He sneered, "The way you're dressed, I thought you were serious, but it seems you haven't thought this through. If you're not here to make a deal, then I suggest you leave." I never expected him to help. Having had my prediction confirmed, I turned and left the office. As soon as I stepped outside the building, my parents were there to ask me how things went. "Will he help us?" My father asked urgently. All I could do was shake my head. My father's rage erupted. "The ungrateful swine. Now he's made his fortune he's forgotten his own family? If I'd have seen him for what he is, I'd never have let him marry you!" My mother joined in. "He always acted so civil, like a dutiful son-in-law. But now that he doesn't need us, he leaves us out in the cold!" I let out a helpless sigh. "There's no use cursing him now. Besides, he never took a penny from us, never made use of your connections. He's entitled to his business. "And it's not like we treated him much like a part of the family. Surely, you can see why he might not want to help us." My parents didn't respond, but it was clear from their expressions that they weren't impressed. Looking at them like this, my head, still heavy from whatever illness I'd caught the night before, began to hurt even worse. That evening, my brother took his phone and called each of his old friends, asking them for help. Back when we had money, they'd pick up the phone and come out drinking in a flash. Now that we were destitute, not a single one would answer. In his fury, my brother smashed the phone. I lay curled up in bed and tried to comfort him. "This is the world we live in. Friendship isn't what it used to be." My mother was sitting nearby, crying. The financial straits we were in meant it was unlikely we were ever going to recover. The best we could hope for was to somehow pay off our debts. My family's creditors were making daily appearances, demanding money. The calls were so frequent that it was impossible to focus our attention on anything else. My father was desperate. "Anna, why not try asking Joseph for a loan? He has money. At the very least, he should be able to lend us some." Then my mother chimed in. "Even if you divorced, wouldn't he have to give you some of his money?" I curled up tighter beneath the blankets. How was I supposed to tell them I hadn't got a single penny out of our divorce? My brother had heard as much as he could take. "That's enough! Sending Anna off to beg for mercy is degrading. Don't you remember how we treated him when he was with us?" Suddenly, a flash of realization crossed my mother's face. She quickly asked, "Did Joseph insult you when you went to see him?" I shook my head. "No. Of course not." My mother looked reassured. Almost to herself, she muttered, "Of course he wouldn't. He's always been such a well-mannered person, not to mention obedient. He clearly likes and admires you. How could he possibly insult you?" I barely suppressed a scornful laugh and said nothing in response. My father let out an anguished sign. He turned his gaze towards the unlocked balcony and declared his desire to end his life once more. Hearing this, my mother again started crying. By now, my head was ready to explode. All we needed was money. Even just a little would help stave off our creditors for a time, while we could work on getting more. A few days later, once my health had sufficiently recovered, I set out to find work. Most jobs I could find paid too little to put a dent in our debts, but I'd heard you could make good money trading booze in the high-end clubs. I'd seen this myself when I used to go clubbing with my friends. The customers in those places were crazy tippers. I picked my favorite club from the old days and went in to see if I could land myself a job. The manager recognized me immediately and was happy to bring me on board. He even let me start off by working the VIP tables. Serving those rich kids and big shots meant I was bringing in a decent living in tips. I never thought that one day, one of the VIPs I was serving would turn out to be Joseph. He would never have frequented an establishment such as this. At least, not while we were married. In fact, back then, if I was ever going to the club on a night out with friends, he would try to persuade me not to. He always said places like this were bad news. Of course, whenever to tried to stop me, I would insult and belittle him, until he gave in and left. He always seemed so innocent and naive. Yet here he was now. It was almost as if his meek and obedient nature had all been an elaborate ruse. He was staring at me in silence. The condescension in his gaze made me want to run and hide. If I'd have known he would be here tonight, I'd have swapped tables with one of the other staff. Just as I was hoping for the earth to swallow me up, a cacophony of wolf whistles caught my attention. As I looked around to see where they were coming from, I realized that everyone at the table with Joseph was one of my brother's erstwhile friends. Fair-weather would be a nice way to describe them. Now that Joseph was rich, these fawning hangers-on had flocked to him instead. They knew all about how I'd treated him, and now, as if to curry favor, they were making sure to humiliate me in turn. I could see it would be best to leave. Just as I was about to take my tray of drinks and go, a male voice piped up. Chapter 3 "Hey! Aren't you Anna? Joseph's wife? What's wrong? Feeling shy? Come have a drink. "Hold on a second ... Why are you wearing that uniform?" As soon as he finished speaking, the table erupted in laughter. I gripped the sides of my drinks tray and took a deep breath. What choice did I have? They'd already seen me, and they were going to have their fun no matter what I did. It's not like I could escape now. Who knew, maybe I could even get a few tips from them if I weathered the storm. My family's creditors weren't going anywhere. My father was still proclaiming daily how he didn't want to go on living, my mother was a one-woman waterworks, and my brother was running himself ragged as a delivery driver. Now wasn't the time for clinging on to hollow pride. I walked back over to their table, working hard to force a smile. I put on my best attempt at a jaunty voice and said, "What a coincidence. I didn't expect to see you all here. We're all friends; if you're happy with the service, feel free to leave a little something extra." "Ha ha ha." I was greeted by scoffs and sneers from the man who had called me over. I remembered his face. Back when my family had money, he was always following us around like a star-struck sycophant. Now that we had fallen on hard times, we were suddenly beneath him. I felt a strong urge to reach out and slap his grinning face. But now wasn't the time for self-indulgence. Money was more important. So, I stood there smiling politely and said nothing. This manโPhil, I think his name wasโsuddenly leaned across and put his face close to mine. With an obvious air of smug satisfaction, he jeered, "Look what we have here. Is this the same arrogant Anna, scion of the great Tate family? Not so high and mighty now your parents' money's all gone." The table erupted into mocking laughter once more. Will, another of my brother's old friends, joined in. "If you want a little something extra, then you'll have to work for it. You should know what kind of service people want in a place like this. Why not pull down that dress and give us a sneak peek of what's on offer?" My hands gripped the drinks tray so hard my knuckles went white. I looked over at Joseph. He was sitting there, completely unsympathetic to my plight. I lowered my gaze and placed the drinks tray carefully on the table. Forcing a smile, I said, "Please don't misunderstand. I'm here to serve drinks. We all used to get along once. If you want something to drink, it would be my pleasure to help". "Ha! Have things really got that bad for the illustrious Tates?" Phil dismissively threw his card down on the table, before saying, almost magnanimously, "There's 3,000 on that card. Get on all fours and bark like a dog and you can have it all." Another wave of cruel laughter washed over the table. The commotion had drawn the attention of a few people from the surrounding tables. I felt like a thousand eyes were on me. Two of those eyes belonged to Joseph. He was staring at me impassively, his expression hard to read. I stood there, frozen to the spot. Suddenly, Will threw his own card down on the table. "There's 10,000 on that one. Bark like a dog and then spend the night with us and you can have that one too." I stared at him in disbelief. My family may have lost all our moneyโabout the only thing these leeches cared aboutโbut as far as they were aware, I was still Joseph's wife. I couldn't believe they would dare talk to me like this in front of him. Unless Joseph had already told them about our divorce, but even then, they would have needed some sort of signal from him, otherwise they'd never have the courage to act like this. "What? I thought you needed the money. Now's hardly the time for self-respect." Will was smirking, menacingly. "You won't find a better deal than this anywhere else." He had a point. If my family was ever going to recover, at some point I was going to have to do a few things I wasn't happy about. I stared back at that mocking, moronic face. Just looking at him filled me with revulsion. I picked up the credit card, with its 10,000, and threw it back at Will. "If you want me for a night, then you're going to have to do better than this. Make it a million and I'm all yours." I remembered Will from his days mooching off my brother. He was one of those guys who liked to act the part, but when it came time to pay up, he was as stingy as they came. For him, parting ways with a large amout of money was like cutting off one of his own limbs. Yet now, he was willing to part with 10,000 just to humiliate me. It was hard to imagine what I could have done for him to hate me so much. Was I really that horrible of a person before? "Ha ha ha. Will, you're never going to get what you want being that close-fisted. This is THE Miss Anna Tate. 10,000 is a low-ball offer." The laughter erupted once more. Will's face had turned bright red and he shot me an angry look. "I'm not sure she's even worth that." He said, dismissively. I did my best to ignore him and turned to pick up Phil's card. "So, all I need to do is bark like a dog and this 3,000 is mine?" Phil's mocking expression suddenly turned to one of shock. He clearly never imagined I would take him seriously. I knew full well that Phil was just the same as Will: all bark and no bank account. I could see the unease on his face as he said, "The arrogant Anna Tate, looking down on all of us. Quit joking. There's no way you'd ever put aside your pride and go through with it." He reached over and tried to take his card back. I pulled the card back out of his reach. "Who said I was joking? It's not exactly hard to bark, is it? A few quick woofs and I make 3,000. Sounds like a good bit of business to me." Panic spread across Phil's stricken face. He stared at the card in my hand, desperate to take it back. Will's face had returned to its normal color. "Hurry up and bark then. I want to see how convincingly you beg." All of my pride was gone. All I could think of was the creditors knocking at our door, my parents' despair, and my brother wearing himself thin working for pennies. I took a deep breath, cleared my head, and said, "Okay." But just as I was getting down on all fours, a pair of hands lifted me back up. I looked around in surprise to find Joseph firmly grasping my elbows. My heart jumped. "Get out." His voice was soft but all of my brother's old friends heard him clearly. They all stood up from the table and headed outside. As Phil walked past, he grabbed the credit card from my hand, a grim look on his face. Joseph's eyes bored into me. "Is your family really that broke?" I extricated myself from his grasp and took a step back. "I think you're very clear on what our situation is like, Mr. Hertz." Our family's fall from grace was big news across the city. Everyone and their dog knew what dire straits we were in. There was no way Joseph wasn't already acutely aware. "Mr. Hertz?" He seemed amused, yet his gaze darkened. I had no idea what was going through his mind right then. To be honest, I just wanted him to leave. I waved towards the drinks tray, which was still sitting on the table. "If you're satisfied with my service, please feel free to leave a tip." Joseph continued to stare at me in silence, his gaze deep and impenetrable. I wasn't really hoping for a tip. I just wanted to find a way to end our conversation. I forced another smile and turned to leave. Joseph suddenly called out, "I'll give you a million." I froze, hardly believing my ears. I turned back to face him. "What did you say?" He took a step forward. Our faces were now only inches apart. He stared into my eyes. "I'll give you a million ... but you have to spend the night with me." Chapter 4 My lips quivered with barely suppressed rage. I wanted to scream at him. But this wasn't the Joseph from my marriage. He was rich now, and powerful. I swallowed my anger and replied curtly, "Joseph, please don't joke with me like this. I have work to do." "It's the same offer you gave to Will. Why not leave it open to me?" Joseph said quietly, his voice cold. I frowned. "That was hardly an offer. He was never going to accept it." "You told him that if he gave you 1,000,000, you'd spend the night with him. Well, I have a million, so why won't you spend the night with me?" I couldn't help but drop my smile. I had only given Will that "offer" because I knew he didn't have a million to give me. Did Joseph really think I was being serious? He walked over to me. He said, "Your family is in dire straits. All you need to do is spend one night with me and 1,000,000 could be yours." My hands tightened with fury. I understood exactly why he was doing this. To humiliate me. I did my best to control the emotion in my voice as I smiled at him coldly. "So, now you have money you think you're suddenly above me? It's true, my family is broke, but I'm not about to stoop so low as to trade my body!" Having said all I needed to, I turned around and hurried away. My eyes were already wet with tears. A tide of complex emotions swelled up inside me. With my brothers' old friends, it didn't matter how much they insulted me, I couldn't care less. But with Joseph, it was different. His humiliation filled me with pain and sadness. I hurried to the club's entrance hall where I was shocked to find my brother. He was dressed in his delivery driver's uniform and was surrounded by his old "friends". For the sake of a couple of notes, he was kneeling on the floor before them. At that moment, my remaining pride and self-respect crumbled to nothing. I bit my lip, tears streaming from my eyes. To make a little money, my brother was willing to reduce himself to this, while I was too proud to face up to Joseph's insult and make our family a million. I turned around and ran up the stairs I had just come down, praying that Joseph was still there. I sprinted back to his table to find him still sitting there. It was almost as if he knew I would come crawling back. There was a smile plastered on his face. I tried to compose myself as I approached him. "You must really hate me for how I treated you before." Without waiting for him to respond, I went on, "Fine. As long as you help my family pay off their debts, you can humiliate me any way you want, for as long as you please." Joseph lowered his gaze to his glass. He smiled even wider. "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 returned home visibly excited. He told us that our debts had all been repaid. My mother cried tears of joy as she asked my father how this had happened. He told her that Joseph had come to his senses and stepped in to help us. He had even bought us a home to live in. 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. That afternoon, Joseph sent his driver to pick me up. My parents had no reason to be suspicious; as far as they 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 a toy for his carnal gratification. Joseph was now living in the villa that had once belonged to my family. Not much had changed; our old servants and staff were now his. Servants are expected to follow their master, and ours had joined in more than a few times with our humiliation of Joseph. The fact that he had kept them on after taking ownership of the villa showed how magnanimous he could be. I just wondered if that magnanimity would extend to his treatment of me. Thinking back to his demeanor at the nightclub, I somehow doubted it. Our former servants and I were two different cases. At worst, they'd merely been unkind to him in passing. But I had berated him, hit him, thrown things at him, and humiliated him in front of others. Recalling my past treatment of Joseph left me feeling uncomfortable. If I'd have known that one day our roles would be reversed, I'd have been a lot nicer to him from the start. Poppy, our old maid, led me to his door. "Master Joseph asked you to wait for him here. Also ... " She paused, as though uncomfortable with what she had been asked to say. "He asked that you wash yourself before his return." My heart sank. Clearly, both of us could see what he wanted from me. But what other choice did I have? I'd already agreed to be his mistress. 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. Before, there had been a mat on the floor by the side of the bed. That was where Joseph had slept while I looked down on him from my bed on high, making sure to remind him of his place. That mat was no longer here. Neither was my high and mighty feeling of superiority. Another thing that was missing was my husband's meek and obedient facade. The past is the past, I reminded myself, as I entered the bathroom with a heavy heart and turned on the shower. After getting clean, I laid down on the bed to await Joseph's return. I'd signed on to be his mistress, so I might as well play the part. Things had certainly changed since the last time I was here, but lying on that bed, I thought to myself that it could have been a lot worse. My family's debts, at the very least, had been paid off. My parents could rest easy. My brother would no longer have to work himself to the bone or prostrate himself at the feet of false friends. All of these things came as a comfort to me. I had no idea when Joseph would return. Tired out from the last few days of working and worrying, I soon fell asleep. 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 on my body 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/ | 327 | 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-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/470814330_8712858118783020_8400113635240001660_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qzmRqafBWuYQ7kNvgEgpwF2&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AqgBF4QlKSu9txTqQ2ioaCz&oh=00_AYBrJOVlNGqAPm-tihanWg_rmadFTe_iSk7W1L7TNB8iXQ&oe=676EC18C | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | When Helena Lane arrived at the police station, dawn had yet to break. Tiny snowflakes swirled in the night wind, melting as soon as they touched the ground, leaving a muddy mess. Two hours earlier, Helena had received news that her newlywed husband, Kenneth Keller, had been arrested on suspicion of assault. Not wanting to alarm her family, she came alone as his lawyer and closest relative. Seated in the visitation room, Helena was focused on cleaning the grayish mud off her high heels when Kenneth entered, escorted by two officers. Seeing her, his eyes flickered with a hint of surprise before he casually slouched into the seat across from her, looking more relaxed than he ever did at home. There wasnโt a hint of panic in his demeanor and certainly no trace of fear. As the heir to one of Greenwickโs most powerful family empires, Kenneth was notorious for his rebellious streak, acting with complete disregard for convention and authority. Fear? It was something others felt around him, not the other way around. Had it not been for the high-ranking officer overseeing the case, he wouldnโt have been here at all, no matter what trouble he caused. Helena stared at him, expressionless, and got straight to the point. โMr. Keller, care to explain what happened last night?โ Kenneth draped his arms over the back of the chair, lazily studying the woman seated opposite him, who looked all serious and professional. Her camel cashmere coat was pressed to perfection, her clear, unblemished face free of makeup, and her low ponytail perfectly in place. She showed none of the anger or panic one might expect from a wife whoโd just learned of her husbandโs charges. Her demeanor was all business. โAnd are you asking as the corporate attorney, orโฆโ he let his lips curl slightly, pausing deliberately, then lowered his voice to a murmur, โas my wife?โ The low, suggestive tone seemed to linger in the air, but Helena remained unfazed, her gaze cool. โIs there a difference?โ He raised an eyebrow. โIf youโre here as an attorney, I want a replacement.โ He paused, then gave her a sidelong glance, a touch of mischief gleaming in his eyes. โIf youโre here as my wife, then you should start by calling me โhoney.โโ Helena glanced at him, completely unamused by the little game he was playing in a situation like this. This was all too typical of him. โIf the charges stick, youโll be looking at three to ten years behind bars.โ Helenaโs cool voice was laced with sarcasm as she added, โTired of your fancy feasts, Mr. Keller? Thought youโd try bread and pickles for a change?โ Kenneth met her mildly annoyed gaze. He was entirely unfazed and even held a roguish grin. โWhat, worried about me?โ Seeing that Kenneth had no intention of cooperating, Helena, who had only come as a formality, decided not to waste any more time and rose to leave. โThis is the police station, Mr. Keller. Talking nonsense here is more troublesome than keeping silent,โ she reminded him, urging him not to spout off. โAnd remember, we signed a prenuptial agreement.โ Feelings of attachment had no place in their contractual, paper-thin marriage. Were it not for the fact that he was needed at the South City project bidding event that afternoonโor the concern that his grandmother would worry if she learned of his arrestโshe wouldnโt have bothered with him at all. It wasnโt until Helenaโs figure disappeared through the door that Kenneth slowly withdrew his gaze. She hadnโt even glanced back, completely indifferent to whether or not heโd assaulted another woman. But then again, to her, their marriage was never real. Sheโd personally drafted the prenuptial agreement and had never considered him a life partner. In truth, she had never intended for him to play any lasting role in her life. The roguish smile on his handsome face faded gradually. His eyelids lowered, and his eyes held a barely perceptible hint of disappointment. Ten minutes later, Helena found herself outside the interview room, facing the lead officer, Eric Langston. After five years, Ericโs aura was more intimidating than ever, radiating a fierce, unapproachable presence that surpassed even what she remembered. Helena had anticipated seeing Eric at the police station, but when she finally faced him, she paused for a couple of seconds to collect herself. Five years ago, Helena could never have guessed that, Eric, her frugal, hardworking seniorโa man sheโd worked part-time jobs withโcame from a prominent family. That was until Ericโs mother warned her, โA beggar of unknown origin, a stray the Keller family took in, daring to latch onto my son? Take a good look at yourself! โMy son has a fiancรฉeโsomeone whose family background, upbringing, and character make you unworthy to even shine her shoes. Oh, and in case you didnโt know, theyโll be going abroad together soon. โYouโd better understand your place and stop shamelessly clinging to my son. Getting rid of someone as low as you is easier than squashing an ant.โ Before she turned seven, Helena had been forced to beg on the streets, only to be rescued during a police raid on a human trafficking ring. Since her parents were never identified through the DNA database, she was sent to an orphanage. She grew up used to the scorn of others but never had she felt such raw humiliation. It was as though her dignity had been ripped away, thrown to the ground, and trampled upon. Any feelings she had for Eric vanished completely. If he hadnโt hidden his identity, she wouldnโt have suffered this shame. Out of pride and resentment, she never saw him again after that, even after he graduated. As time went by, Helena realized that Ericโs mother had been behind it all and that she might have directed some of her resentment toward him unfairly. With a polite yet distant smile, Helena broke the silence. โEric, itโs been a long time.โ Eric assessed Helena with an impassive gaze. Seeing her composed demeanor, he raised his brows slightly and nodded. He then turned and entered the interview room first. Helena exhaled deeply, steeling herself as she followed him inside as a witness. Her marriage to Kenneth was a well-kept secret. Aside from close family, no one knew they were married. Kenneth refused to cooperate with the police, adamantly withholding any details about what happened the previous night. Left with no choice, Helena had to implement a backup plan: testifying as his wife. After all, rumor had it that in Wellington's criminal investigations division, Eric was known as the โJudge"โonce he set his sights on someone, even the smallest sins from birth would be unearthed. Kenneth, being the reckless type, was bound to have skeletons in his closet. With the South City project at a critical juncture and Kennethโs role as CEO on the line, this was the worst possible time for a scandal. Moreover, his grandmother's frail health couldn't withstand such a shock. Helena knew she had to protect him, both for professional and personal reasons. Once the deposition was complete, Eric regarded Helena with a complicated expression. โWhen did you and Mr. Keller get married?โ Helena met his intense gaze, feeling a slight ripple in her heart before quickly composing herself. She replied calmly, โAlmost a month ago. Would you like to see the marriage certificate?โ It had only been a month since Eric had applied for a transfer back to Greenwick. Had it not been for a minor delay in the paperwork... Ericโs gaze darkened, and after a moment, he spoke with difficulty, โAre you certain you were with him the entire night?โ After a brief pause, he added, โAs a lawyer, you should be aware of the consequences of perjury.โ Sensing his doubt, Helena took a deep breath and responded with professional confidence. โAccording to Article 305 of the Criminal Code, committing perjury is punishable by up to three years in prison or detention. In serious cases, it carries a sentence of three to seven years. "And if a lawyer commits a crime intentionally, their license will be revoked. Which is precisely why my testimony carries even more weight.โ Kenneth had been accused of breaking into a hotel room at 12:37 a.m., assaulting a female celebrity, and not leaving until more than two hours had passed. Testifying as his wife, Helena claimed that Kenneth had been home until just before midnight, stepping out only at 11:57 p.m. By her calculations, even in the fastest sports car, it would take at least an hour to reach the hotel from their house. Moreover, she had obtained all surveillance footage from the route Kenneth took after leaving, each clip showing him driving past, proving he had no time to commit the crime. Chapter 0002 "The police retrieved hotel surveillance screenshots that show the perpetrator wearing a mask. Basing suspicion on nothing more than a similar build and hairstyle is clearly insufficient evidence.โ Helenaโs voice was calm but precise, each word landing with conviction. Eric felt a slight ringing in his ears from her firm tone. Watching her, who was radiating professional confidence, he couldnโt help but recall how she once dominated the debate stage back in college with the same spirit. The secondary officer, noticing Ericโs silence, couldnโt hold back. โThe victim identified him personally, and we found DNA that matches Mr. Kellerโsโthatโs our strongest evidence!โ Helenaโs sharp, clear gaze didnโt waver; she remained as composed as ever, unshaken. โAfter more than two hours of alleged assault, not a single fingerprint or any other biological trace was recovered from the victim or the scene. I have every reason to believe Kenneth is being framed.โ The secondary officer protested, โWhat if he knew how to cover his tracks, cleaning the scene thoroughly?โ โWhat if?โ Helenaโs lips curved slightly, and her eyes held a confident gleam. โWhat if he wasnโt there at all? Itโs the policeโs duty to eliminate reasonable doubt; the law doesnโt permit presumption of guilt.โ The officer was left speechless, eventually turning to Eric for backup, only to see him staring at Helena in a daze. Unable to resist, he nudged Eric with his elbow. โYouโฆdo you really believe him?โ Eric finally came to his senses, his voice hoarse as he asked. Helena paused, taken aback. Did she believe Kenneth? Ever since she was adopted by the Keller family at ten, supposedly due to a favorable fortune reading, she had witnessed Kennethโs defiance and disregard for rules and morals, his actions always based on his whims. But when she received the news of his arrest around three in the morning, even knowing the police had collected his DNA, her first move hadnโt been to go to the station. Instead, sheโd instructed someone to look for evidence of his alibi. Subconsciously, when it came to this matter, she actually trusted Kenneth! No matter how he usually acted out, heโd never crossed that line. This realization brought an inexplicable unease to her heart. She averted her gaze from Eric and said softly but firmly, โI only trust the evidence.โ Eric watched her, remaining silent for a long time. With the alibi evidence presented, Kennethโs suspicion was reduced. Given his influential status, the police had no choice but to grant Helenaโs request for bail. โSomeone actually managed to wrest a detainee from the captainโs handsโlooks like weโre in for a miracle,โ murmured an officer. "Miss Lane works for the legal department at Keller Corporation, doesnโt she? Sheโs not only beautiful but also impressively skilled with criminal casesโdefinitely worth a second look." "Sheโs actually two years his juniorโtheyโre both alumni. With all her achievements, how did they not know each other back then?" Eric stood by the window, the officers' murmurs buzzing in his ears, his sharp gaze fixed on the scene below. The tall, commanding figure of a man walked out of the police station, following a slender woman. From behind, they looked like a perfect match, though it stung to watch. Ericโs hands, hanging at his sides, clenched instinctively. Memories from five years ago surfaced vividly. At graduation, his family arranged for him to study abroad. Before leaving, he asked Helena to meet him, intending to confess his feelings. If she was willing, heโd take her with him; heโd even secured a spot for her at the same school. But from evening until dawn, he waited for five long hours. Helena never showed, and then she blocked his number. Unable to let go, he sought her out that night, only to witness Helena stepping out of Kennethโs car, her clothes disheveled. Sensing his presence, Kenneth shifted to block her view, shielding her as they headed toward the house. One of Kennethโs security guards quickly covered Ericโs mouth and dragged him to the side entrance. Eric struggled, desperate to confront Helena and find out what had happened but was met with Kennethโs unrestrained fist. "Sheโs mine. Try to get close to her again, and I donโt care if your last nameโs LangstonโIโll end you life." After that night, every attempt Eric made to see Helena was thwarted by Kenneth. Finally, Kenneth โaccidentallyโ called him, letting him hear Helena say she didnโt want to see him and never would. Eric had given himself five years to let go, yet he still couldnโt. But now, he had come back only to find he was one step too late! Back then, Eric sensed that Helena had feelings for him. Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the surge of resentment and resisted the urge to rush down and pull Helena away. Kenneth, initially following leisurely behind Helena, suddenly quickened his pace as they approached the car, as though sensing something. He wrapped an arm around her, his touch overly intimate. Helenaโs body went rigid, and she instinctively tried to push him off with a frown. "Whatโs gotten into you now?" "Didnโt sleep all nightโcanโt walk straight," Kenneth replied, completely unbothered, practically leaning his full weight onto her shoulder. Helena muttered, โServes you right,โ under her breath. Realizing they were almost at the car and that she couldnโt budge him, she gave up and resigned herself to dragging him along like a dead weight. Fortunately, ever since Kenneth had pushed her into the fountain when she was twelve, sheโd kept up with self-defense training over the years, enough to prevent him from easily knocking her over. Finally reaching the car, Kenneth, in a rare moment of consideration, opened the door for her and even held a hand above the frame to protect her from bumping her head. Helena eyed him warily. โWhat are you up to now?โ From the first day sheโd met Kenneth, sheโd learned that the prettier the smile, the more dangerous the person. "I'm Kenneth Keller; you can call me Ken!" Helena had never seen such a beautiful boy before. Standing in the sunlight, he looked like a porcelain doll that glowed. His bright smile eased some of her nervousness at being in her new home. She shyly placed her hand in his. But the next moment, his smile turned malicious and dangerous. She felt something slimy squirm in her palm, and when she looked down, a small green snake was flicking its tongue at her. Horrified, Helena fainted instantly. He was worse than the kids who bullied her back at the orphanage. As Kenneth grew older, his methods of teasing and tormenting Helena became endlessly inventive. Helena went from feeling nervous and afraid to a constant state of vigilance, learning to gauge the level of danger just by reading his expressions and movements. Just like now. Her entire body tensed, ready to respond at any moment. Kennethโs roguish grin spread across his finely sculpted face, softening with an unusual gentleness. โComing all the way here early in the morning to rescue me from 'Judge Langston'โthanks for the effort, honey.โ Helena held his gaze for a few seconds, assessing the threat level. Confirming it was low, she mentally deactivated her alert. She rubbed her arms discreetly, trying to shake off the goosebumps, then leaned down and got into the car. Kenneth shut the door for her and made his way around to the passenger side. Before getting in, he shot a smug, defiant grin and lifted his brows at a particular window of the police station, oozing satisfaction. โWhere did you actually go last night?โ Helena finally asked after theyโd driven a fair distance from the station. Though sheโd found enough evidence to prove Kenneth didnโt have time to commit the crime, the police had still found his DNA at the scene, a fact that couldnโt be overlooked. Without clearing up this detail, his suspicion wouldnโt fully dissipate. Knowing his movements would allow Helena to defend him more effectively and prevent further police scrutiny. Kenneth reclined lazily in his seat, adopting his usual indifference. He shot back with her own words, โDid you forget about the prenuptial agreement you drafted yourself, Miss Lane?โ No interference. No questions. It was the most crucial clause in their marriage agreement, second only to asset divisionโthe very foundation of their contractual union. โMr. Keller, I have no intention of prying into your private life,โ Helena said, keeping her eyes on the road as she gripped the steering wheel, patiently explaining, โRight now, youโre only out on bail. The police havenโt dropped their suspicions. Knowing your whereabouts last night is the only way to clear you.โ Kenneth suddenly sat up, turning to study the sharp lines of her profile. His eyes flickered slightly, and his voice held a faint, almost undetectable trace of tension. โDo youโฆbelieve I didnโt do it?โ Chapter 0003 Helena ignored Kennethโs odd look and said coolly, "What kind of woman could you possibly not get, Mr. Keller? You donโt need to stoop to something so low." In terms of looks, wealth, and power, Kenneth was a constant presence in the countryโs top three "Most Eligible Bachelors" lists. Women who fawned over him numbered in the thousands. A month ago, on that fateful night when heโd let his guard slipโan infatuated woman had drugged him, leading to an unexpected encounter with a drunken Helena. Kenneth scoffed and settled back into his seat, smirking. โSince you know me so well, Miss Lane, why donโt you take a guess at where I was last night?โ Helena frowned slightly. โMr. Keller, your lack of cooperation will only prolong the police investigation.โ โAnd so what?โ Kenneth scoffed, raising an eyebrow. โAre you worried the police will dig too deep, or are you more concerned that someone else might come up empty-handed?โ Realizing heโd let slip more than he intended, Kenneth quickly shifted his focus, glancing at the upcoming intersection. โTake a left here and drop me off at the Starlight Club.โ Ignoring his veiled jabs, Helena kept her tone professional. โThe afternoonโs bidding event is important. Youโll need to attend in top form.โ Without a word, she continued driving in the opposite direction, away from the club. Kenneth was silent for a moment, then lifted his gaze with a wry smile. โMiss Lane, are you planning to breach the marriage agreement? Because if thatโs the case, then I could ask you to fulfill certain marital duties.โ Screech! The car came to an abrupt halt. The white sedan quickly reversed direction and headed straight for Greenwickโs largest entertainment club. When Kenneth chose to be reckless, nothingโnot even a contractโcould rein him in. The only reason he upheld their agreement was that Helena had followed it to the letter. If she broke it, what right did she have to expect him to do the same? Though Kenneth was unpredictable, he never shirked his responsibilities. After a night out and a morning spent at Starlight, he still showed up impeccably dressed and right on time for the afternoon bidding event. But as soon as it ended, he vanished once again. Helena was on her way back to the office when she received a call from Kennethโs grandmother, Rachel Wilson. โHelena, the bidding event is over, right? Donโt forget to come home with Kenneth for dinner tonight!โ That was when it hit Helenaโit was the end of the month. The Keller family rule required every family member in Greenwick to return home for dinner on the last day of the month, no matter how busy they were. Kenneth never took that family rule seriously; it was always up to Helena to remind him. This time, however, sheโd been too busy reviewing bid documents and dealing with Kennethโs issues at the police station that morning, so the reminder had slipped her mind. Not wanting to disappoint Rachel, Helena reluctantly called Kenneth three times. But he didnโt answer his phone. Kenneth was too independent to tolerate bodyguards trailing him. His protection detail consisted of covert security, hidden and discreet. Helena hesitated, ultimately deciding not to ask them for his whereabouts. They only answered to Kenneth, and they might not tell her anyway. Besides, if he found out sheโd been trying to track him down, who knew what kind of reaction sheโd face? Left with no choice, Helena headed to the Starlight Club on the off chance heโd be there. It seemed her luck was in her favor. She had been to the club a few times before with her friend, Miranda Cook, so the manager recognized her. Upon learning she was looking for Kenneth, he graciously offered to pass along the message. After a few minutes, the manager returned, looking pale, and shook his head apologetically. "Miss Lane, Iโm sorry, but Mr. Keller said heโs unavailable." Helena lowered her gaze, keeping her expression unchanged. When the manager had opened the door to enter, sheโd caught a quick glimpse inside. In the room, a sultry woman in a skimpy outfit was moving suggestively to the music, clinging to a pole in a dance. She hadnโt seen Kenneth directly, but with such a lively atmosphere, it was clear he wasnโt short of female company. So, he was irritated that sheโd interrupted his fun. Helena offered the manager a polite smile, slipped him a few bills from her wallet as a tip, and left the club, heading back to her car. โFive minutes. If you donโt come down by then, Iโm leaving. You can explain yourself to Grandma.โ Helena pulled out her phone, found Kennethโs profile picture, and quickly sent him a message. The last text sheโd sent him was a month ago, forwarding the marriage agreement, to which heโd replied with a curt โWhatever.โ After hitting send, she set a five-minute countdown on her phone, leaned back in her seat, and closed her eyes to rest. Kenneth had been raised by Rachel and held a deep respect for her. Helena had once overheard someone joking, โKenneth Keller fears nothing and no oneโexcept a call from his grandmother.โ While an exaggeration, there was truth to it. Kenneth, like an untamed stallion, answered to no oneโฆ except Rachel. Sure enough, with five seconds left on the countdown, the passenger door flew open. As Kenneth slid into the car, a blast of icy wind rushed in, making Helena shiver as her eyes snapped open. โGrown some nerve, havenโt you? Threatening me now?โ Kennethโs eyes narrowed even further, his gaze sharp and dangerous. Before Helena could respond, her phoneโs alarm went off. It was the countdown reminder. She casually switched it off and started the car. โYou flatter me, Mr. Keller. I didnโt mean to ruin your fun, but today is a special case. After all, Grandma is waiting for you.โ Kennethโs frustration turned to a bitter smile as he replied with a mocking tone, โToo bad your last name isnโt Keller. Otherwise, people might think youโre her real grandchild.โ With a frustrated exhale, he slammed the passenger door shut, making the car jolt slightly as it pulled away from the curb. The biting chill that had entered quickly faded, replaced by the warmth of the carโs heaterโset to full, just the way Helena liked it in the cramped space since she hated the cold. Helena kept her hands steady on the wheel, stealing a quick sideways glance at Kenneth. The dim overhead light cast a warm, amber glow over his sculpted profile, softening the sharp lines of his face and adding an unreadable depth to his eyes. She lowered her gaze, instinctively avoiding any unnecessary confrontation. When Rachel chose Helena from the orphanage, sheโd been explicit about her intentions: adopting and supporting Helena was all for the benefit of her grandson, Kenneth. Helena was to be his subordinate, his friend, his partner, and possibly even his wife. But not even Rachel could have predicted that Kenneth would see Helena as a rival. From her first day in the Keller family, Kenneth had made it his mission to give Helena a hard time. Initially, Helena thought her presence was unwelcome and that perhaps he genuinely disliked her. Later, she realized it was jealousy driving him. He resented her for the affection Rachel showed her, feeling as if she had stolen his exclusive bond with Rachel. Once Helena understood that, she stopped trying to earn Kennethโs approval and kept her distance as much as possible. Her path was clear: to be Kennethโs loyal subordinate, protect him, and repay the Keller familyโs support and care. Everything unfolded as she planned. After graduating from college, she joined Keller Corporationโs legal department, shielding Kennethโs reckless behavior and ensuring he maintained his CEO position. But everything changed the night they, both drunk, slept togetherโand were caught by Rachel. To ease Rachelโs worries, Kenneth approached Helena with a proposal for a contractual marriage. In exchange, once the timing was right, they would divorce, and she would be free to live her life as she pleased. Freeing herself from the burden of the Keller familyโs debt was something Helena secretly yearned for; deep down, she had no desire to remain entangled with Kenneth. But then, just as they were settling into the marriage, Rachel fell ill, diagnosed with a terminal condition after being hospitalized from the initial shock. To ease Rachelโs mind, Helena agreed to Kennethโs proposal. Though she wasnโt Rachelโs biological granddaughterโand Rachelโs decision to adopt her had been partly self-servingโover the years, Helena had felt genuine love and care from Rachel. In her heart, she had come to see Rachel as her only family in the world. Not wanting to leave any regrets behind for her, Helena resolved to make this contract marriage appear as genuine as possible. Until the end, she would maintain the pretense of playing the role of a devoted wife to give Rachel peace. Chapter 0004 At the entrance of the Keller Estate. After Helena parked the car, Kenneth silently stepped out. Seeing this, Helena quickly got out as well and hurried to follow. They had to put on a complete act in front of Rachel, pretending to be a deeply affectionate couple. Fortunately, Kenneth kept his composure. Just as they approached the main gate, he paused for a brief moment. Seizing the opportunity, Helena stepped forward, gently wrapping her hand around his arm. Kennethโs movements stiffened slightly. He slowly lowered his gaze, eyeing her slender hand resting on the crook of his arm. Helena took a deep breath, lifted her gaze, and smiled at him. โFor Grandmaโs sake, please bear with me, dear husband.โ โLikewise.โ Kennethโs thin lips curved slightly, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. โThank you for your hard work, dear wife.โ After a brief pause, he lifted his other hand and firmly pressed down on the back of Helenaโs hand, giving her a meaningful smile before striding forward. Caught off guard, Helena stumbled slightly, managing to steady herself after a moment. Yet, his smile left her heart racing, filled with unease. She couldnโt shake the feeling that Kenneth was quietly plotting something again! The Keller Estate was a traditional classical manor, elegant and refined, crafted with ingenuity. The architecture lay nestled by hills and waters, with layered courtyards and pavilions. Helena and Kenneth followed the servant for a while before arriving at the main dining hall. Inside the brightly lit dining hall, the large mahogany dining table, intricately carved, was already surrounded by family members. The Keller family of Greenwick had nearly a century of history, but by Kenneth's grandfather's generation, the line had dwindled to just two sons and a daughterโnone of whom had lived up to expectations. Kennethโs grandfather, Walter Keller, had three children, each a disappointment in their own way. The eldest son was rebellious, storming out of the family home after Walter opposed his marriage to a mysterious dancer. Since that day, he vanished without a trace. The second son, Kennethโs father, Raymond Keller, made his escape with a mistress, choosing to leave on the rainy night of Kennethโs third birthday, only to meet his end in a car accident. Walterโs only daughter went abroad for school, fell for a delinquent, and chose to sever ties with her family rather than return. Hurt by his children, Walter grew indifferent toward Kenneth, instead investing his hopes in the extended familyโs descendants. Near the end of his life, he nearly handed over the Keller family assets to his nephew. But Rachel intervened decisively. Leading a team of lawyers, she reclaimed control over the Keller family, defying opposition to appoint Kenneth as CEO of Keller Corporation. However, in the years Walter had been lenient, the extended family had embedded themselves within the Keller Corporation, securing key positions in various critical departments. Now and then, they continued their schemes, still aiming to wrest control of Keller Corporation from Kenneth. Rachel was fully aware of everything, but her age left her with limited strength; all she could do was maintain the delicate balance between Kenneth and the extended Keller family. In the banquet hall, only the members of the extended family were seated alongside Rachel. The head seat remained vacant, and the tableware set, as always, was reserved for Walter. Rachel, who had been listlessly listening to their complaints, brightened as soon as she saw Kenneth and Helena enter. Her eyes sparkled as she beckoned them over with a smile. "Ken, Lena, you're back! Come, have a seat!" The relatives who had been talking with Rachel were visibly displeased at being ignored, despite their attempts to hide it. Kenneth, however, appeared oblivious, leading Helena with confidence to sit beside Rachel. Leaning in, he whispered something to Rachel that had her laughing with joy, her gaze shifting periodically to Helenaโs abdomen. Helenaโs unease only grew stronger. With Rachel present, she couldnโt say anything directly, so when Kenneth turned to look at her, she shot him a warning look to stay quiet. He merely smirked with a laid-back, roguish grin, which made her grit her teeth and glare at him with even more frustration. To onlookers, however, this seemed like an affectionate exchange, with the young couple exchanging flirtatious glances. Not only had they kept everyone waiting, showing up late to the family dinner without so much as an apology, but they were now putting on a show of intimacy, clearly not taking the others seriously. Recalling Kenneth's usual audacious demeanor, the uncles were increasingly irritated. Kennethโs eldest relative, Jerome Keller, was the first to break the silence. โI thought the bidding meeting for the South City project ended this afternoon. Did you two go off to a celebration party afterward?โ With Jerome setting the tone, other relatives quickly chimed in. "What celebration could possibly be more important than a family dinner? Ken, we may overlook certain things you do outside, but traditions passed down through generations deserve respect." โHelena, Grandma has spent years teaching and guiding you, yet instead of keeping Ken in check, you go along with his antics. Youโre letting her down!โ Subtle verbal jabs came at her from all directions. Helena, long accustomed to this, kept her gaze lowered and ignored their insinuating remarks, turning a deaf ear to the sharp-edged words aimed her way. After all, with Kenneth here, he would be the one to handle these people when things got out of control. Sure enough, in the next instant, Kenneth's smile vanished. He suddenly hurled the expensive teacup in his hand, sending it crashing across the room. The sharp sound of shattering porcelain echoed through the banquet hall, creating an atmosphere of intense pressure that radiated from him, silencing everyone in an instant. Even the small child in someone's arms was too frightened to make a sound. โCelebration dinner, family dinnerโit doesnโt matter. If thereโs food, just eat and be content, but know your limits. Otherwise, I have plenty of ways to make what you eat go right back out. โThe biggest rule in the Keller family is that there are no rules. Otherwise, none of you would be here making pointless remarks. โNeither I nor Grandma see any issues with Helena being the next matriarch, yet you all feel entitled to judge. If youโre so eager to critique, should I air some of your dirty laundry so we can all evaluate each other?โ Kenneth crossed his arms and leaned back, one leg resting casually over the other, his gaze lingering on Jerome for a moment before sweeping lazily around the room. His expression was like that of a grim reaper in idle contemplation, deciding which one of them he might claim next. The unfiltered suggestion, the blatant sarcasmโeven an obvious challenge glimmered in his eyes. Hearing the implication behind his words, the extended members of the family felt both offended and afraid, their discomfort evident as they instinctively looked toward Jerome for direction. "Ken, weโre your elders, just offering reminders for your own good and for the familyโs sake," Jerome replied, holding Kennethโs sharp gaze for a moment before shifting to Helena. "Since we're on the topic of secrets, why donโt we let Helena explain why she was at the police station this morning?" At that, Helenaโs heart skipped a beat. Sheโd received a call from the police that morning and had promptly informed the PR department to keep the news tightly contained. Yet somehow, Jerome knew she had gone to the police station that morning! Helena instinctively glanced at Kenneth, only to find him seated there, arms crossed, a faintly amused look in his eyes as he noticed her gaze. Years of understanding between them meant that with just one look, Helena grasped his intention. He was subtly hinting at Jeromeโs embezzlement, deliberately provoking him by implying he could make him spit it back out. Jerome, who had never taken Kenneth seriously, wasnโt one to tolerate a threat and quickly struck back. But in doing so, he unwittingly exposed his weakness. Yet Kenneth had used her as bait without warning, setting her up as part of his ploy to corner Jerome! Helena clenched her fists discreetly, gritting her teeth in silence. Her instincts hadnโt let her downโKenneth was definitely up to something, setting this trap with her squarely in the middle of it. She knew he was about to throw her under the bus, yet she had no choice but to play along, as if she were a willing partner in the scheme. It was maddening! If not for Rachelโs presence, Helena truly would have loved to walk out and let Kenneth handle this on his own. Sensing the tension, Rachel looked over anxiously and asked, โLena, is everything alright?โ โGrandma.โ Helena took a deep breath, calming herself before gently patting Rachelโs hand with a reassuring smile. โIf something was wrong, would I still be here sitting beside you?โ Rachel still seemed unconvinced and glanced at Kenneth, who nodded lazily with a faint smile, which finally put her at ease. Taking advantage of the moment, Helena shot Kenneth a quick glare before turning back, her expression subtly mocking as she looked at Jerome. โUncle Jerome, I didnโt expect you to be so concerned about me, knowing my whereabouts in such detail. To an outsider, it might look as if youโd had someone tailing me!โ Helena indirectly called out Jeromeโs surveillance, tossing the ball back into his court with effortless poise. โAs your niece-in-law, I may not be the brightest, but I truly donโt understand what youโre implying. Why donโt you clarify what exactly it is that Iโve done thatโs so questionable?โ Chapter 0005 Jerome knew heโd misspoken, yet he hardly cared that Helena had caught him slipping. โThis morning, you rushed off to the police stationโwasnโt it to reconnect with that new captain of the station, Eric Langston?โ Helenaโs heart skipped a beat. Not only was Jerome fully aware of her whereabouts, but he also knew she was acquainted with Eric. Sheโd underestimated Jerome. After all, when she met Eric seven years ago, he was reserved and unapproachable, always keeping his distance from others. Moreover, his mother had erased all traces of her connection with Eric to remove the stain she posed on their family, clearing all records and keeping everything well-hidden. Almost no one knew that she and Eric had been familiar with each other, let alone shared a faintly ambiguous past. If Jerome had the means to uncover her connection with Eric, he could just as easily find out why Kenneth had gone to the police station. Hinting at an old flame between her and Eric was clearly an attempt to drive a wedge. If she didnโt deny it, Rachel would naturally start to doubt her relationship with Kenneth. And even if Kenneth knew the truth, Jeromeโs words would plant seeds of suspicion in his heart that would, over time, lead to cracks. On the other hand, denying it would inevitably drag up the accusations of assault against Kenneth. If Rachel found out, it would not only make her question their story of falling in love over time and choosing to marry but also leave her disappointed in Kenneth. Jerome would then seize the opportunity to make even more outrageous demands. "Uncle Jerome, you really give me too much credit." Helenaโs mind raced, though her expression remained unreadable. "If I actually had any history with Mr. Langston, Iโd certainly have asked him to treat you a bit more courteously before your visit." Jeromeโs pupils contracted, and his expression, like a fractured mask, began to crack silently. Ericโs position was indeed unique, and Jerome had specifically arranged a visit to him on the first day he arrived in Greenwick. There were countless people eager to meet him, and Jerome had struggled through numerous attempts just to secure an appointment. When they finally met, Ericโs demeanor was cold and cutting, his gaze sharp and distant, as though heโd seen right through Jeromeโs intentions from the start. In an attempt to bridge the gap, Jerome had mentioned Helena, who had once been Ericโs schoolmate. Unexpectedly, what was initially supposed to be a brief five-minute meeting turned into a half-hour conversation with Eric. And just last night, despite the gravity of the incident surrounding Kennethโwitnesses and evidence stacked against himโHelena had still managed to bail him out from the station. After all, Eric wasnโt just any officer; he was known as the "Judge." Sensing an opportunity, Jerome had dropped hints in front of everyone, trying to gauge Helenaโs relationship with Eric, hoping it would strain her connection with Kenneth. Without Helenaโs support, he was certain Rachel would eventually see Kenneth as the reckless badboy he truly was. At that point, they could employ a few well-planned moves to seize everything from the Keller family. Yet Jerome hadnโt anticipated that young Helena would maintain her composure so well, even managing to turn the tables on him. The Kellers had strict rules: family members could pursue either business or government, but never both. His secret meeting with Eric was already a breach of those family principles. Noticing the scrutinizing looks from the other relatives, particularly the sharp stares from Rachel and Kenneth, Jerome felt a pang of unease, uncertain how Helena had learned of his visit with Eric. His chest tightened as he gritted his teeth and pressed on, โSo if it wasnโt to catch up with Mr. Langston, why did you rush to the station first thing this morning?โ Before Helena could respond, she sensed something amiss and instinctively stood to shield Rachel. A loud bang erupted in the next instant. Kenneth, without warning, flipped the entire dining table in Jeromeโs direction. Jerome had no time to dodge as dishes, utensils, and food crashed down onto him. A plate of green vegetables landed squarely on his head, resembling a makeshift hat perched on his hair. Ignoring Jeromeโs disheveled appearance and the twisted fury on his face, Kenneth leaned back in his seat, casually wiping his fingers. His movements were graceful, his expression relaxed as if he were seated in a tranquil riverside pavilion, leisurely listening to a distant melody. โIt seems the Keller family meal doesnโt suit everyoneโs taste,โ Kenneth said, his voice calm. โIn that case, no one needs to eat.โ He paused briefly before adding, โAnd as for the end-of-month family dinner tradition, itโs time we canceled that as well.โ With a casual wave, his private guards and bodyguards emerged, promptly escorting all extended relatives out of the estate. Rachel looked on, momentarily stunned, before giving Kenneth a disapproving glance. โKen, youโve managed to offend all your relatives.โ Kenneth raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. โThey openly disrespected me. Did they really think they wouldnโt offend me?โ Beside him, Helena felt her eye twitch. Would it ever end? Heโd clearly wanted to cancel the end-of-month dinner for a while and had finally found his excuse, all under the pretense of โprotectingโ her. Rachelโs gaze shifted between Helena and Kenneth, her expression softening as she smiled knowingly. โSeeing how well you two get along really puts my mind at ease!โ โWell, since youโre at ease, how about cooperating with the doctor and focusing on getting better?โ Kenneth stepped forward, gently holding Rachelโs arm, while his other hand reached around to brush Helenaโs cheek, his eyes on her. โWhat do you say, darling?โ Though filled with frustration, Helena had no choice but to offer a sweet smile and nod. With an exaggerated sigh, Rachel looked longingly at Helena. โAh, if I could just hold a great-grandchild in my arms, Iโd be content even in death!โ Helenaโs mind immediately flashed back to Kennethโs earlier whispered words to Rachel, which had made her repeatedly glance at Helenaโs abdomen. He must have said something he shouldnโt have! After hesitating for a few seconds, she couldnโt bear to let Rachel down and spoke gently, โGrandma, as long as you take care of yourself, Iโm sure that day will come.โ Rachel beamed with joy at Helena's response. Since the family dinner had been cut short, Rachel instructed the staff to bring out fresh dishes. With Helena and Kenneth accompanying her, she enjoyed an extra small plate of pasta, a rare treat, and asked them both to stay overnight at the estate so they could join her for breakfast in the morning. Kenneth, evidently too tired to return to the Starlight Club for his usual late-night revelry, surprisingly agreed. Helena, with no other choice, stayed as well. They returned to the room Rachel had prepared for them. The spacious room was decorated with romantic touches, and in the soft glow of flickering candles, the atmosphere felt thick with unspoken tension. The bed, draped in pure white sheets, was scattered with red roses arranged in a large heart shape, their rich fragrance filling the air. Helena and Kenneth exchanged glances, both speechless. She quickly found the light switch and turned on the overhead lights. The bright light dispelled much of the room's suggestive atmosphere. Helena turned to Kenneth, choosing a decidedly unromantic topic. "Do you think Jerome had anything to do with the false accusations against you?" Though phrased as a question, there was a tone of certainty in her voice. Kenneth didnโt respond. Instead, he looked down at her with a cold, assessing gaze. โMr. Langstonโheโs still lingering around you, isnโt he?โ Seeing she didnโt immediately respond, he pressed on bluntly, as if worried she might misunderstand his meaning. โIf youโre truly interested in rekindling things with him, just say so. Thereโs no need to sneak around behind my back.โ Kenneth was one of the few who knew about her past with Eric. His use of the word "rekindling" was laced with sarcasm. Helena couldnโt stand it anymore and snapped, โKenneth, whatโs gotten into you? Havenโt I played along enough with all your schemes?โ Kenneth met her gaze, which was now blazing with anger, and seemed momentarily at a loss. After a couple of seconds, he responded in a low voice, โI just donโt want to be blindsided with a betrayal like tonight.โ Thinking of Jeromeโs earlier provocations, Helena took a deep breath, about to reassure Kenneth. But an inexplicable sensation began to rise within herโa warmth that felt like a spark, ready to spread like wildfire through her body. Sensing something was off, she looked up at Kenneth, only to find his face slightly flushed, his intense gaze fixed on her. In the depths of his eyes, there was a fierce, flickering heat as if a flame had been ignited and was burning wildly. | LEARN_MORE | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=15543&ut | Random Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61559743679549/ | 327 | 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=15543&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/t39.35426-6/466919986_534033072870870_7540673277837274692_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q1lZfeDLASYQ7kNvgEYzbwN&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AKY6CzbmK_4MncCMNQycbNE&oh=00_AYCmOpP0zB1HCLjRt0CUmv0oFL1tA79wo8S4hs4QTMXJtg&oe=676ECC12 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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He drunkenly hugged her โCall me husband again ......โ | ๐Nyla Jayston was in her third month of trying to conceive when she saw a message on her husband Clark Sumner's phone from a contact named "Jordyn Cheatham". Jordyn: [I think my new nightgown is a bit tight. Why don't you come over and check if it fits?] Attached was a selfie of a woman in a deep V-neck red slip dress, her body partly exposed, exuding seduction. Nyla's grip on the phone tightened. She scrolled up and found Clark and Jordyn's previous exchanges to be strictly work-related, which made her frown. 'Was the text sent by mistake? Orโฆ' A hand wrapped around Nyla's waist from behind, breaking her thoughts. Clark pressed his warm body against hers and gently nibbled her earlobe. "Honey, I'm all cleaned up. Do you want to do it on the couch or the bed?" Before Nyla could respond, Clark picked her up and laid her on the couch, his tall frame looming over her. "Since you're not saying anything, I'll choose. Let's do it on the couch," Clark said, his voice husky and his eyes filled with a flicker of fire that made Nyla blush instantly. Nyla was already beautiful, and the slight flush on her cheeks made her look like a tempting, ripe, juicy peach under the light. Clark's gaze grew darker. He leaned in to kiss Nyla, but she suddenly turned her head away. Sensing her resistance, he looked at her with confusion. "Honey, what's wrong?" Clark, usually assertive at work, now looked at Nyla with a mix of confusion and hurt, which softened her heart momentarily. Despite that, she hadn't forgotten the explicit selfie she had just seen. She stopped him with one hand on his chest and held up his phone with the other, showing him the screen. "Explain this first." Clark glanced at the screen and immediately frowned, grabbing the phone to make a call. It was quickly answered. "Mr. Sumner, what can I do for you?" Clark glowered, and his voice turned icy. "I didnโt know my secretary started soliciting clients." There was a moment of silence before Jordyn's panicked voice came through. "M-Mr. Sumner, I'm sorry. That message was meant for my boyfriend. I must have sent it to you by mistake..." "Next time it happens, pack your things and leave!" Clark hung up and looked back at Nyla, his expression softening, even showing a hint of grievance. "Honey, she sent it by mistake. If you're still upset, I'll fire her tomorrow. It's late now, so letโs not waste time on someone unworthy. We haven't seen each other in a week. You need to make it up to me tonight." Clark pulled Nyla in for a kiss, but her mood was ruined despite the issue being cleared up. She wasn't in the mood anymore and pushed him away. "I'm tired tonight. Let's continue tomorrow." A flash of disappointment crossed Clark's eyes, but he didn't pressure her. "Alright, you sleep first. I'm not tired yet, so I'll go to the study to handle some work." "Okay." โฆ It started raining heavily in the middle of the night. The sound woke Nyla, and she reached out only to feel the cold space beside her. She glanced at the clockโ3:16 a.m. Nyla wondered whether Clark was still working. She got up, put on a robe, and went to the study, but it was dark and empty. Her grip on the doorknob tightened, and her heart sank. Nylaโs phone suddenly chimed, startling her in the quiet night. Seeing that it was a text from a stranger, she had a gut feeling that reading it would mean no turning back for her and Clark. A thunderclap boomed outside, startling her into accidentally pressing it. [Still awake? Because your husband isn't with you?] [I was scared because of the thunder and power outage, and he came to comfort me.] [Don't you want to know where your husband is?] As Nyla read the messages and the boastful tone, her hands trembled uncontrollably. After a long while, another text came in with an address and a series of digits. Nyla bit her lip, grabbed her car keys, and drove straight there. By the time she reached the villa, it was past 4:00 a.m. She entered the code, and the door unlocked. The living room lights were on. From the entrance to the bedroom door, a man's suit and a woman's lingerie were strewn about, revealing the urgency of their actions. Seeing the torn red nightgown at the bedroom door, Nyla felt a sense of absurdity. Although the distance from the entrance to the bedroom was only a few meters, it felt like an eternity to Nyla. Standing at the bedroom door, she felt light-headed and dizzy. She reached out, trembling, and slowly pushed the slightly open door. The sight of the messy bed and the bared couple entwinedโtheir heavy breathing filling the roomโpierced Nyla's heart. The couple was so engrossed that they didn't notice her standing there. Nyla's hand on the door frame turned white from gripping it too hard, leaving red marks on her palm. She had been with Clark for eight years, from school days to marriage, envied by everyone around them. Until today, she had never imagined betrayal between them. Now, reality dealt her a cruel blow. Even the most sincere wedding vows couldn't withstand a fickle heart. Unable to bear the sight, Nyla turned and stumbled out, driving away. She stopped by a bar on the way and decided to go in. โฆ By the time Valarie Weir arrived, Nyla had already downed two bottles of whiskey, her gaze slightly unfocused. "Valarie, you're here..." Seeing Nyla surrounded by several men, Valarie frowned. "All of you, leave!" "No, they're fine hereโ" "I said, leave!" After driving the men away, Valarie sat next to Nyla. "What happened? Did Clark really cheat on you?" Valarie was Nyla's university roommate and had witnessed Nyla and Clarkโs journey from school to marriage. She had seen Clark treat Nyla well all these years, so she couldn't believe he would cheat. Upon hearing Clarkโs name, Nyla's gaze dimmed, and the heart-wrenching pain came rushing back. "I don't want to hear that name right now." Chapter 2 Nyla downed her drink in one gulp. She had never imagined Clark would betray her. Seeing him in bed with another woman felt like a dagger through her heart. "I just can't believe it. He loved you so much. He didn't seem like the type to cheat. Maybe there's a misunderstanding," Valarie suggested. Nyla let out a cold laugh. "I saw it with my own eyes. How could that be a misunderstanding?" The room fell silent. Watching Nyla drink like there was no tomorrow, Valarie grabbed the glass from her hand. "Even if he cheated, you shouldn't punish yourself by getting drunk. What are you going to do now?" "I'm getting a divorce. Just thinking about him with that woman makes me sick." Upon seeing the defiance in Nylaโs red eyes, Valarie's heart ached. "Don't think about it now. You need to rest. Decide what to do next once youโre calm. I'll take you home." Nyla shook her head. "No... I don't want to go back." Returning to that house would only bring back the sickening images of Clarkโs betrayal. Each recollection made her feel nauseous. Seeing Nylaโs reluctance, Valarie didn't insist. "I'll book you a hotel room then." โฆ After booking a room, Valarie took Nyla to the hotel entrance. "Are you sure you don't want me to take you up?" Nyla shook her head. "No, you go rest. I'll be fine." She waved with the room card and walked into the hotel. Seeing Nyla walk steadily, Valarie finally breathed a sigh of relief and drove away once Nyla was inside the hotel. What she didn't know was that Nyla, when drunk, appeared sober but was actually a mess inside. Nyla entered the elevator, scanned her card, and the elevator began to ascend. Soon, the doors opened with a ding. As Nyla stepped out onto the carpet, her legs almost gave out. She steadied herself against the wall, massaging her aching temples while searching for her room number. The wine was taking its toll, and her vision blurred. She found Room 8919 and tried the card on the door. Hearing no beep, she frowned and was about to push the door when it suddenly opened. Nyla froze. Before she could react, a large hand yanked her into the dark room. The door slammed shut, cutting off the light from the hallway. She was pressed against the door, a man's breath hot against her ear, making her shiver. The familiar scent of pine filled her senses, but before she could place it, she felt the warmth of his lips on hers. "Mmph!" Realizing what was happening, Nyla struggled. Damon was strong, and with the wine dulling her strength, her hands felt weak, almost inviting as she pushed against his chest. Damonโs hands roamed her body, leaving a trail of fire, and her body grew more responsive under his touch. Nyla tried to push him away, but he easily caught her wrists and pinned them above her head. "Letโ Mmph! Let me goโฆ" He stopped kissing her and chuckled. "No need to play hard to get." His fingers traced her collar, the cool touch making her shudder. His body heat seemed to melt her, and her legs grew weak. In the dark, Nylaโs senses heightened. She felt Damon unbuttoning her clothes, her mouth dry, her last bit of rationality warning her that this was going too far. "Let me go!" She mustered all her strength to push him, but he simply picked her up and threw her onto the bed. The bed was soft, so Nyla didnโt feel pain, but the impact made her head spin. She tried to get up, but Damon pinned her down. Soon, her clothes were gone, and they were both nearly bared. He pressed against her, ready. His dominating presence made her tremble. She pushed against his chest, biting her lip to stay calm and clear-headed. "Mister, I think I entered the wrong room. Please let me goโฆ" Nylaโs voice shook with tension. "Tsk!" Damon's voice was impatient, his tone cold. "Still playing?" He was about to get up and kick Nyla out when the room light suddenly came on. Nyla had accidentally hit the light switch in her struggle. The sudden light made Damon squint. He was shocked when he saw the terrified woman beneath him. Nyla, recognizing Damon, felt the blood drain from her face. The fear sobered her instantly. She couldnโt believe itโthe man who almost violated her was Clarkโs uncle, Damon Summer! "Uncle Damonโฆ" Nyla had always been wary of Damon. He was the youngest son of Richard Sumner and Marie Thorne, doted on by them and known for his unpredictable, cold nature. Even outsiders avoided crossing him. When she married Clark, he had warned her to steer clear of Damon. "Shut up!" Damon's face was dark, his gaze icy, as he contemplated whether to silence her for good. Then, his eyes shifted to her bare body, darkening further. He turned away, getting off the bed. "Get dressed and get out!" As Damon moved, Nyla caught a glimpse of him where she shouldn't, and her face turned red with embarrassment. Upon seeing her flushed face, Damon's expression soured even more. "Still not leaving?" Nyla could not care less about her embarrassment as she hastily dressed and left without looking back. Once outside, she checked the room number and realized her mistakeโit wasnโt Room 8919, but Room 8916! She had entered the wrong room and almost slept with her husbandโs uncle. The thought made her headache worse. She should have let Valarie take her up. Unfortunately, it was too late for regrets now. After Nyla left, Damon dialed a number with a glower on his face. "Delete all surveillance footage from the Empire Skyview Hotel tonight!" Upon hanging up, he looked at the messy bed and sheets, his irritation growing. He had almost slept with his nephewโs wife... What a mess! Chapter 3 On Nyla's way back, she hesitated for a long time before finally messaging Damon, someone whose contact she had had for three years but had never contacted. Nyla: [Uncle Damon... Can we pretend tonight never happened? I was really drunk and went to the wrong room.] She waited for a long time, but there was no response from Damon. Frowning, she sent another message. Nyla: [?] As soon as she sent it, a red exclamation mark appeared: [You are no longer friends with this user. Please send a friend request to continue chatting.] Nyla bit her lip. Damon had deleted her. He must not want to bring this up again. Relieved, she finally felt a bit of peace. โฆ When Nyla got home, it was already past 6:00 a.m. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Clark sitting on the sofa. He turned sharply at the sound of the door, his eyes bloodshot from a sleepless night. "Where were you last night? I called you dozens of times. Why didnโt you answer?" Clark stood up and walked quickly toward her, reaching out to grab her hand, but she pulled away. He froze, about to speak, but she spoke first, her tone icy. "You can stay out all night, but I can't?" Nyla had always been gentle. In their eight years together, they had hardly ever argued. This was the first time she had spoken to him so coldly. Clark sensed something was wrong and noticed her red, swollen eyes. His expression changed, and his hand clenched at his side. "You know, don't you?" His voice was calm, without a trace of guilt or panic, as if he had expected this day to come. Upon seeing his unapologetic demeanor, Nyla's long-suppressed emotions finally exploded. She swung her bag at him, her eyes red with fury, like a madwoman. All the good times they had shared, all the happy moments, were shattered the moment she saw him in bed with another woman. They could never be pieced together again. "Clark Sumner, how could you do something so disgusting?! If you didnโt love me anymore, you could have divorced me. Why did you have to hurt me like this?" Nyla had assumed that no third party could ever come between them. Unfortunately, reality gave her a harsh slap, waking her from the lies he had woven and turning her love for him into a joke. Seeing her red, tear-filled eyes, Clark felt a pang in his chest. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms. "Nyla, Iโm sorry..." Nyla shoved him away, wanting to laugh but only tears came. "Donโt touch me with your filthy hands! "Is it that hard to stay faithful? "Since we got married, Iโve met many excellent men, and some have shown interest in me. But Iโve never crossed the line. If I can do it, why canโt you?!" Clark clenched his fists when he saw the disappointment and anger in her eyes. "Nyla, youโre the only one I loveโฆ It was just an accident with herโฆ" His explanation sounded so weak that Nyla found it both laughable and nauseating. "So youโre saying I could sleep with another man and then tell you it was an accident? That I may have betrayed you physically, but my heart still belongs to you?" A flash of ruthlessness crossed Clark's eyes. "If you dare, Iโll end you and that man together in bed." Seeing his icy gaze, Nyla felt a chill in her heart. If he knew betrayal was unforgivable, why would he still betray her? She took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "Do you remember what I told you when you proposed?" She had said that if he ever betrayed her, she would not forgive him but leave him. Clarkโs expression changed. "I will not let you leave!" Nyla wiped her tears, her expression a mixture of ridicule and hatred. "Whether you agree or not, Iโve made up my mind. Iโm divorcing you. You donโt deserve my forgiveness." With that, she ignored his reaction and went upstairs. Clark stared at her back, his gaze dark. โฆ Back in the bedroom, Nyla went straight to the bathroom to shower, unable to stand the smell of wine on herself. While applying body wash, she noticed red marks on her chest and paused. The image of Damonโs hands roaming her body flashed through her mind, making her frown. She scrubbed the marks hard until the skin around them turned red, trying to erase his touch. After her shower, she saw Clark sitting on the bed with his head down, lost in thought. She frowned and decided to ignore him. They would be divorced soon anyway. Clark looked up and saw Nyla coming out in just a towel. Her damp hair dripped water, her freshly washed face flushed like a blooming rose with an enticing fragrance. The towel barely covered her behinds, revealing her long, fair legs. His breath hitched, his gaze glued on her. Nyla didnโt notice Clark's reaction. She walked to the wardrobe to grab her pajamas when a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her from behind. "Nyla..." Clark's voice was husky, filled with undisguised desire. Clark had been thinking about how to win her back downstairs after she left. The only way he could think of was to have a child with her. He had come upstairs to discuss this with her, planning to take it slow. However, he lost control upon seeing her just out of the shower. In the past, such behavior would have stirred Nyla's feelings, but all she felt now was disgust. She turned and pushed him away, her gaze full of revulsion. "Donโt touch me. I feel dirty." Hurt flashed in Clark's eyes. He grabbed her hands, his expression earnest. "Didnโt you always want a child? Letโs have one now, okay?" Nyla shook him off at his matter-of-fact attitude. "That was before. I might have a child in the future, but it wonโt be yours." Her words enraged Clark. He grabbed her and threw her onto the bed, pinning her down. "Say that again!" His eyes were full of anger, but Nyla didnโt care. "It doesnโt matter how many times I say it. Iโm disgusted by you. Iโd rather die than have your child." As soon as she finished speaking, Clark kissed her fiercely. Chapter 4 Nyla froze for a moment, then struggled desperately. Just the thought of Clark kissing another woman the night before filled her with disgust and rage. "Let go!" Her struggles were futile against Clark, who only tightened his grip around her waist. As she fought, her towel loosened, revealing her body. His gaze darkened, and he felt a rush of desire. Their bodies were pressed tightly together, and Nyla quickly noticed the change in Clark. Furious, she bit him hard, tasting blood in their mouths. Instead of letting go, Clark's other hand slipped under Nyla's towel. She had nothing on underneath, having just come out of the shower. She stiffened and struggled even more fiercely. "Clark, get off me!" Clark ignored Nyla, his fingers teasing her sensitive spots. "Nyla, you need me too, don't you?" Nylaโs struggles were in vain, and she grew increasingly desperate. As Clark positioned himself, she closed her eyes in despair. "Clark, don't make me hate you." Clark halted abruptly. Seeing Nyla filled with despair and pain, like a fragile porcelain doll about to shatter, made him pause. He wanted her desperately, but a voice in his head warned that if he took her now, it would be the end of them. He stared at her, his hand tightening around her waist. After several tense seconds, he suddenly let go and got off the bed, leaving the room quickly. The door slammed shut with a loud bang, making Nyla flinch. She clutched the blanket tightly. โฆ For the next few days, Clark didn't come home. Nyla called him several times to discuss the divorce, but he didn't respond. โฆ The weekend arrived. Nyla was in the living room, sending out job applications when she heard the front door open. Clark walked in, looking haggard. They stared at each other in silence until Nyla broke it, closing her laptop and standing up calmly. "Since you're back, let's talk about the divorce." Clark frowned. "I told you, I won't divorce you. I'm here to remind you that we have to go to the family dinner tonight." The Sumners held a monthly dinner, and ever since their wedding, Clark and Nyla had attended together. The family wasn't kind to Nyla, often treating her poorly. She endured it because she believed Clark loved her. After seeing him with another woman, however, she couldn't lie to herself anymore. "I don't want to go. Go by yourself." Clarkโs expression turned impatient. "Nyla, how long are you going to keep this up?" He had ignored her calls and messages, hoping she would calm down, but she was still the same. "I'm not keeping anything up. I just want a divorce." Upon hearing the word "divorce", Clark's patience wore thin. He looked at Nyla as if she were unreasonable. "Divorce? You haven't worked since we got married. How will you support yourself? Which company would hire you? And what about your father's exorbitant medical bills? Can you afford those? "Nyla, you're not a teenager anymore. You're 28. It's time to grow up. "I'm the CEO of the Sumner Group. I face temptations all the time. Sometimes, it's hard to resist, but those women will never take your place as my wife. What more do you want?" Clark couldn't understand why Nyla didn't see that he still loved her, even if he couldn't commit to being with her forever. Seeing Clarkโs arrogant demeanor, Nyla couldn't reconcile this man with the shy boy who had once blushed while confessing his love and promising never to hurt her. Maybe this was his true selfโselfish, proud, and condescending. "If being mature means tolerating your infidelity, then I'm sorry, I can't do that. Find someone else. Here are the divorce papers I've had drafted. Sign them when you have time." Clark glanced at the documents, sneering when he saw the section on asset division. "Quite the appetite you have, asking for half my assets. Do you really think that's possible?" "I deserve it. Why not?" Clark chuckled, his tone mocking. "Look around this house. Did you buy anything here? I've been covering your father's medical expenses for years. If we tally things up, you should be paying me. Should I have my lawyer do the math?" As Nyla watched his bitter expression, she couldn't believe she had once loved this man. He had hidden his true self so well that, until she caught him cheating, she had thought he was a great guy. "Don't forget, if it weren't for me giving you that patent, you wouldn't be the Sumner Group's CEO. And you were the one who told me to stay home after we got married. If I had continued my research, I would have earned far more than what you've given me." Unfazed, Clark replied, "Who would believe you about the patent now? "I don't want to argue about money, but if you insist on a divorce, we'll have to settle accounts. Nyla, as long as you drop the divorce idea, my money is still yours to use." "Clark, you're despicable!" Since he refused to divorce, she'd have to sue. She turned to leave, but he blocked her. "Change your clothes. We're going to the family dinner." "I said I'm not going. Tell them I'm not feeling well." Clark grabbed her wrist. "Nyla, I'm running out of patience. Don't force me to cut off your father's medical expenses." "You wouldn't dare!" Clark took out his phone and called his secretary. "Cancel my father-in-law's medical payment for next monthโ" Furious, Nyla grabbed his phone and ended the call. "You're crossing a line, Clark." "Crossing a line?" Clark's gaze was full of contempt as he yanked her closer. "Everything you have is because of me. Don't you think you're the one crossing the line? Change your clothes, or I have numerous ways to make you comply." Chapter 5 Seeing the coldness in Clark's eyes, Nyla realized how blind she had been to fall in love with such a man. Her eyes stung with unshed tears, but she refused to show any vulnerability in front of him. She yanked her hand away, took a deep breath, and headed upstairs. The only thought in her mind was to find a job quickly so she could move out and divorce Clark. She grabbed a random outfit, tied her hair up with a hairpin, and went back downstairs. She was never one to fuss over her appearance. In the past, she had dressed up for the Sumners' gatherings to make a good impression. Now, she couldn't care less. Hearing her footsteps, Clark looked up. Nyla wore a fitted white dress, her waist so slender it seemed it could be encircled with one hand. Her hair was secured with a jade hairpin, revealing her delicate neck. She was breathtakingly beautiful. The grace she exuded was just like when they first met. However, the look in her eyes now was devoid of any warmth. "Letโs go," she said. They drove to the Sumner residence in silence. As they arrived and were about to get out of the car, a black Range Rover sped up and stopped abruptly in front of them. Upon recognizing the car, Clark's expression darkened. It was Damon's car, someone he both feared and disliked. Damon was known for his reckless and unpredictable behavior. He had refused to take over the Sumner Group when Richard wanted him to run the company, choosing to start his own business instead. Everyone had expected him to fail, but within five years, his company had grown to be worth several times more than the Sumner Group. Clark couldn't stand Damon, partly out of jealousy. Once, a comment Clark made about Damon reached Damon's ears, and in retaliation, Damon refused to collaborate with the Sumner Group, costing them millions. Damon rarely attended family dinners, and Clark had hoped to avoid him. Luck wasnโt on his side todayโthey met at the door. He didnโt notice Nylaโs stiffened expression when she saw Damon get out of his car. Clark opened the car door and greeted, "Uncle Damon." Damon glanced at him indifferently, his gaze briefly landing on the passenger seat before he nodded and walked into the house. Nyla let out a deep breath. When Damon looked her way, she had forgotten to breathe, fearing he might say something outrageous. He was known for his unpredictable nature, always doing whatever he pleased. Fortunately, he said nothing. She decided she needed to talk to him privately later. As Clark and Nyla walked into the living room, they saw it was already filled with people. Richard and Marie, the family heads, were chatting with Damon. He was the kind of person who naturally stood out in a crowd. Noticing Nylaโs gaze on Damon, Clark frowned. "Why are you staring at my uncle?" Nyla withdrew her gaze and replied coolly, "None of your business." Her coldness irritated Clark. "Nyla, you know I donโt like you paying attention to other men." Ever since they got together, Clark had been extremely controlling, not allowing Nyla to interact with other men. She used to think this was a sign of his love, but now it seemed laughable. She sneered. "And I donโt like you sleeping with other women, but you seem to enjoy it just fine." Clark said through gritted teeth, "This is a family dinner. Weโll deal with this later." "If you donโt want me to bring it up, then stay out of my business," she retorted. Clark didnโt want to cause a scene now because it might affect the Sumner Group and his standing with Richard, who still held all the companyโs shares. As they talked, Marie called out, "Nyla, Clark, youโre here! Come sit down!" Nyla took a deep breath, forcing a smile as she approached. She might not like the Sumners, but she maintained basic manners. "Hello, Grandpa, Grandma," she greeted with a smile. Marie, who had been urging Damon to settle down and get married, looked pleased to see the couple. "Come, sit down." She turned to Damon with a hint of dissatisfaction. "Look at Clark. He manages the company well and has a beautiful wife. They might have children soon. And you? Almost 30 and still single. If you donโt bring a girlfriend next time, donโt bother coming!" Damon glanced at the couple with a smirk. "She is indeed beautiful." He just wondered how that petite frame would suffer if she were to have children. Nyla frowned, feeling uncomfortable with Damonโs gaze. Clark also noticed the inappropriate way Damon looked at Nyla. It wasnโt the look of an elder but more like a man admiring a woman. His hand clenched into a fist, and his body tensed. Marie sighed. "My point is, when will you bring me a daughter-in-law?" "Depends. If I meet someone I like, maybe Iโll bring her back tomorrow," Damon replied nonchalantly. "Youโre too picky! Iโve arranged a good match for you. Date's tomorrow, donโt ruin it." "Then youโll probably have to apologize to another old friend tomorrow." Frustrated, Marie snapped, โYouโre going to drive me crazy!โ Damon glanced at Clark. โClark's been married for years. Instead of pushing me, why donโt you encourage him to have kids?โ Marie nodded, realizing Damon wouldnโt listen to her. She turned to Nyla and Clark, her expression softening. โNyla, you and Clark have been married for a few years now. When are you planning to have children?โ Chapter 6 Nyla lifted her head to speak, but Clark grabbed her hand and smiled. "Grandma, we're working on it!" Nyla tried to pull her hand away, but Clark's grip was too tight. If he wouldn't let her be, she wouldn't make it easy for him either. She turned to Marie. "Grandma, I'm looking for a job right now, so having children might have to wait." The room fell silent. Clark's grip on Nyla's hand tightened painfully, and she winced. Damon glanced at Clark's hand on Nyla, noticing the bulging veins, then looked away indifferently. Clarkโs aunt, Anne Sumner, sneered. "Nyla, don't blame me for being blunt. You've been married for years. How can you not have a child yet? If it weren't for Clark insisting on marrying you, do you think your family could have ever married into the Sumners? "You should be grateful. If you don't want to have Clark's child, there are plenty of women who do. If someone else steps in, youโll be the one looking silly." Besides, Anne thought, "Who knows if Nyla is fertile?" She sounded like she meant well, but her gaze at Nyla was filled with an air of superiority. Marie frowned at Anne, disapproving. "Anne, enough." Anne pursed her lips but stayed silent. Marie turned back to Nyla with a kind smile. "Nyla, you and Clark are still young. If you don't want children yet, that's fine. Just don't overwork yourself. Our family isn't short on money. You can work if you want, but take it easy." Nyla nodded. "I understand, Grandma." With that, the awkward moment passed, and the room returned to its previous warmth. Seeing the attention shift away, Clark pulled Nyla out of the living room. Once they reached the gazebo in the backyard, he released her. "Nyla, have you lost your mind? Do you want everyone to know about our fight?" Nyla rubbed her sore hand and said, "I was just being honest." "Honest?" Clark scowled. "Should I call your father then?" Harrison Jayston was ill and couldn't handle stress. Nyla planned to divorce Clark before breaking the news to him gently. She glared at Clark. "You wouldnโt dare! You were the one who cheated. What right do you have to be so self-righteous?" Clark clenched his hands, a flicker of guilt crossing his face before it was replaced by impatience. "I promised it wouldnโt happen again. If you don't want to see Jordyn, I'll fire her. What more do you want?" Nyla felt like there was a communication breakdown between them and turned away. "I don't want to argue with you here." When Clark saw her red-rimmed eyes, he softened. "Nyla, I truly know I was wrong. Just don't mention divorce, and I'll make it up to you. I love you. I can't let you go." Nyla found it laughable. How could he claim to love her while being with another woman? Just thinking about him with someone else made her sick. "I will never forgive you." Betrayal was her bottom line. She couldnโt pretend nothing had happened or reconcile with him. Clark knew Nyla well enough to understand that he had to be patient. He believed she still had feelings for him. Otherwise, she would have made a bigger scene when she found out. As long as he refused to divorce her, she would eventually forgive him. "Fine, we won't talk about it now. If you don't want kids yet, weโll postpone it to two years later. Since you want to work, I'll have my secretary find you a position at the Sumner Group." Nyla laughed at his arrangement, a mocking look in her eyes. "Clark, do you see me as a puppet you can control?" Hurt by her gaze, Clark frowned. "How am I controlling you? You don't want kids now, so I agreed to wait two years. You want to work, so I'll arrange it. What more do you want?" "Stop pretending. I don't want kids because I want a divorce. I want to work to sever ties with you." Clark looked at Nyla's stubborn face, displeased. Since their wedding, she had been like a canary in his cage. He couldn't let her go. "As long as I don't agree, this marriage won't end. Even if you tell a lawyer I cheated, do you have proof?" Clark's confident tone and controlling demeanor made Nyla step back, trembling with anger. She finally saw how selfish and disgusting he was. She had wasted eight yearsโthe best years of her life, from 18 to 26โloving this man. "You make me sick, Clark!" Seeing the undisguised disgust in Nyla's eyes, Clar | LEARN_MORE | https://findedc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=15692& | Indulge in story | https://www.facebook.com/61552702618591/ | 880 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | findedc.com | DCO | https://findedc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=15692&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/t39.35426-6/468455042_1262834138099234_1389968434765802098_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D8UBxsULjwUQ7kNvgGA6NPy&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AqgBF4QlKSu9txTqQ2ioaCz&oh=00_AYBr08N_BBX3vo91wq6PWyts143hYmM_bPp8fenYnSJq3A&oe=676EAFC7 | 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 | "Dexter Bamford,let's get a divorce." Dexter could hardly believe what he had just heard. Throughout his marriage with Angela,he had only ever seen a submissive and hopeful look in her eyes.He knew she feared losing him. The term"divorce"was probably the thing she had feared hearing the most in the past three years. But now,she had uttered it so casually. Dexter questioned in a cold voice,"What?Are you upset because I didn't accompany you yesterday?Or is it because I refused to let you participate in that ridiculous competition? "Angela,are you out of your mind?You cried and begged to be Mrs.Bamford.You live in a villa and have luxury cars to drive you around.I even propped up your failing family.What more could you possibly be dissatisfied with?" The disdain and contempt in his words made Angela feel a chill run down her spine. She couldn't hold back anymore.She retorted loudly,almost shouting,"Mrs.Bamford?So what if I'm Mrs.Bamford?Have you ever seen a rich man's wife as pathetic as I am?" She stormed into the study,grabbed a bulky contract,and threw it in front of Dexter forcefully."You should know what this is better than I do!I'm expected to keep up appearances in front of your family.But when I come home,even the household staff can show me attitude! "What kind of wife spends her birthday being yet another portfolio addition to a fireworks designer and is given the very same six-inch birthday cake that was given to the nanny? "While it is true that I got to become Mrs.Bamford because of my family's plotting,I don't want it anymore!Do you have a problem with that?" He raised an eyebrow mockingly."Do you think you can come and go as you please in the Bamford family?What about the debt you and your family owe me?" | LEARN_MORE | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=15824&ut | Random Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61559743679549/ | 327 | 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=15824&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/t39.35426-6/467993308_1971135373330962_6152744400347345039_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ignhR4pt6jEQ7kNvgEutgAr&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AKY6CzbmK_4MncCMNQycbNE&oh=00_AYCyzDHWDAQpTW3RlZUDjb5ztG3qdb3NtVORxB3ksrUisg&oe=676EC9DB | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | "Little wolf," Raven's voice was rough velvet in the candlelight. "just looking at you makes me hard. You're making it impossible for me to focus on dinner." His dark eyes traced my silhouette as he sat across our anniversary table, wine glass dangling forgotten from his fingers. I'd spent hours preparing for tonight. The black dress hugged every line of my body, the silk falling like water over the lace beneathโhis favorite. The neckline dipped just low enough to hint at promises for later, while the slit along the side flashed tempting glimpses of the thigh with each movement. Five years of marriage, and I still felt a thrill when he looked at me like thisโlike I was the only woman in his world. His Alpha pheromones filled our dining room, making my skin flush with heat. That unique scent of hisโpine needles and winter frostโgrew stronger with his desire, calling to my wolf. My breath caught as his eyes darkened to amber, a sign of his wolf rising to the surface. He tipped back his red wine glass, finishing it in one long swallow. The movement emphasized his strong throat, making my mouth go dry. "Let me fill that for you," I murmured, rising from my seat. I picked up the red wine bottle and bent to pour. I saw his eyes rest on the silver moon lily pendant at firstโhis gift from our first anniversary. Then his eyes moved to my chest under the pendant. His scent intensified, becoming sharp with need. Before I could straighten, strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind. His breath was hot against my neck as he pulled me back against his chest. "Raven..." My voice trembled as his hot breath caressed my neck. Strong arms lifted me onto our dining room table, scattering the carefully arranged silverware. My black dress rode up my thighs as he pressed between them, his powerful hands skating up my sides with possessive intent. "Little wolf,โ he growled against my ear, the sound pure Alpha dominance. โDo you know how irresistible you look tonight?โHis scent surrounded me, making my toes curl as his pheromones called to my wolf. The candlelight danced across crystal glasses, casting warm shadows through the deep red wine. He nuzzled my marking scar, sending shivers of pleasure through our mate bond. I arched into him, my fingers tangling in his silk shirt. "The dinner," I protested weakly as his lips traced a burning path down my throat. "I spent hours..." "Later," he promised, his voice rough with desire. My legs wrapped around his waist instinctively as he lifted me again. "Right now, I need to properly appreciate my mate on our anniversary." We barely reached our bedroom, leaving a trail of clothes behind. "I've missed you," I murmured against his neck, my fingers tracing the strong line of his jaw. "You've been so busy with pack business lately." Raven's skilled hands gripped my haunch, drawing a soft gasp from my lips. His eyes darkened with desire as he pulled me closer until I could feel every hard plane of his body against mine. The thin fabric of my anniversary dress did nothing to shield me from his heat. His kiss was deep, and passionate, making heat pool low in my belly as my toes curled with pleasure. "You know I'd rather be here with you, Sylvia." His breath was hot against my ear, followed by a gentle bite that made me gasp. "Only you, little wolf." Every brush of his fingers left fire trails on my skin, and I found myself arching into his touch, wanting more. The mate bond between us hummed with electricity as his hands roamed higher, each caress more demanding than the last. My wolf stirred within me, responding to his dominance despite her weakened state. When his lips found my neck, right over our mating mark, my toes curled with pleasure. "My beautiful little wolf," he growled, the sound vibrating through his chest. His touch grew more insistent, making my breath catch. "My perfect Luna." "Mine," he growled, and I arched into him, wanting desperately to believe it. Then his phone buzzed. At first, he ignored it, his lips trailing fire down my neck. But it buzzed again. And again. Raven tensed above me, his whole body going rigid. The phone buzzed again, insistent. Pack business - I recognized that specific ringtone and had heard it too many times before. "Don't," I pleaded, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Please. It's our anniversary." He hesitated, then reached for the phone. I saw the caller ID flashโBeta Marcusโbefore Raven answered. "This better be important," he snapped, but I could already feel him pulling away emotionally, if not yet physically. I watched his face as he listened, noting how his expression shifted from annoyed to concerned to... something else. Something I couldn't quite read. "I'll be right there," he said finally, already moving to get up. "Are you serious?" I sat up, clutching the sheet to my chest. "It's our anniversary, Raven. Our anniversary. Whatever it is, surely Marcus can handle it." He was already pulling on his clothes, and his movements rushed. "It's pack business. This needs the Alpha's attention. I'm sorry, little wolf." "Fine." I turned away, not wanting him to see the hurt in my eyes. "Go be Alpha. It's what you're best at anyway." He paused, then leaned down to press a kiss to my forehead. "I'll make it up to you. I promise." The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me alone with the cooling sheets and the ghost of his touch on my skin. I curled into his pillow, breathing in his scent and fighting back disappointment. This wasn't the first time pack business had interrupted our special moments, and it probably wouldn't be the last. "He's the Alpha," I whispered to myself, sitting up slowly. "The pack needs him." It has been five years since Raven became the Alpha of our pack. Five years ago, I lost my father forever. He was the powerful Alpha of Cold Moon Pack but had fallen defending our borders from Blood Moon Pack's ruthless expansion. I'd felt his death through our pack bondsโa searing pain that dropped every Cold Moon wolf to their knees. Our once-mighty pack fractured, vulnerable as newborn pups. Enemy packs circled our borders like vultures, waiting to claim our territory. It was then Raven found me during the Moon Goddess ceremony. The moment our eyes met, our wolves recognized each other. True matesโa blessing so rare it was almost a myth. Even then, my wolf was weaker than she should have been, but Raven didn't care. "You're mine," he'd said fiercely, right there in front of both packs. "Your strength, your weakness, your everythingโit's all mine to protect." The other Alphas had whispered, of course. A powerful wolf like Raven, choosing a mate who might never bear him pups? But he'd silenced them all by taking the Cold Moon Alpha position, merging our packs, and protecting my father's legacy. "He'll probably be hungry after handling pack business," I murmured, heading to the kitchen. Maybe I could salvage what remained of our anniversary with my mother's moon-blessed cookiesโRaven's favorite. The cookies would need some special decorations stored in the top cabinet. I dragged the wooden ladder from the pantry, positioning it carefully. My wolf whined softly - she'd been feeling so weak lately that even simple tasks seemed to drain me. "It's fine," I assured myself, starting to climb. "Just a few more steps." The world suddenly tilted. My wolf's usual grace failed me, and my ankle twisted sharply as I missed a step. I crashed to the floor, pain shooting up my leg. "Raven?" I called out instinctively, before remembering I was alone. Tears pricked at my eyes as I sat there on the cold kitchen floor, cradling my throbbing ankle. This wasn't the first time I'd needed him lately and found myself alone. Last week during the pack run, when I'd felt too weak to keep up. The council meeting where I'd nearly fainted, and he'd barely noticed. "Stop it," I scolded myself, wiping away a stray tear. "He's doing his job. The pack comes first." I managed to pull myself up using the counter, testing my weight gingerly on the injured ankle. It hurt, but I could walk. The moon-blessed cookies lay half-mixed on the counter, mocking my attempts at creating a perfect anniversary surprise. My phone chimed. "Maybe it's Raven," I thought hopefully, reaching for it. "Maybe he's finished early." The name on the screen made me pause: Astrid. "Thank you for being so understanding about Raven's 'pack duties.' He takes such good care of me." The attached photo loaded, and time seemed to stop. My mate - my Raven - his hands on another woman's haunch, his lips on her neck, their bodies pressed together in an intimate embrace that mirrored our own moments ago. "This is ridiculous," I whispered, my voice sounding strange in the empty kitchen. "Raven wouldn't..." But the timestamp glared up at me: ten minutes ago. I stared at the screen, unable to process what I was seeing. His scentโpine needles and winter frostโstill lingered on my skin from our intimate moments just before. The mark on my neck still tingled from his kisses. Is this what he called ... pack duties? Is he giving up our anniversary just for ... this kind of duty? Chapter 0002 Sylviaโs POV Sleep eluded me after last night's revelation. I spent hours staring at the cold, empty space beside me in our bed. Dawn found me in our kitchen, staring at Astrid's photo from last night. The intimacy in their embrace twisted my heart, even though I knew - rationally - that Raven wouldn't cross that line. Not with James's widow. Not with the woman carrying his dead Beta's child. But hadn't I said that every time before? When did he rush to her side during pack meetings? When he spent hours "comforting" her while I handled pack duties alone? Astrid - widow of James, Raven's former Beta who end life protecting him three months ago. I'd always encouraged Raven to look after her and had even defended him when others whispered about how much time he spent with her. "She's grieving," I'd say. "She needs support." I'd even brought her soup when morning sickness hit. This was different though. This wasn't just another missed dinner or forgotten appointment. This was our wedding anniversary. Moments before that photo was taken, he'd been in our bed, whispering words of love, our bodies joined as one. His marks were still fresh on my skin when he left me for her. "I need to talk to him," I whispered to myself, my wolf stirring weakly within me. "Calmly. Rationally. There has to be an explanation." "Get it together," I whispered to myself, my wolf stirring weakly within me. "The pack needs its Luna." The monthly safety inspection couldn't wait, even if my mate hadn't come home all night. I forced myself up, wincing at my still-throbbing ankle from last night's fall. My wolf's usual healing hadn't kicked in - another sign of her weakening strength that I couldn't afford to dwell on. The pack grounds were already busy when I arrived. Warriors training, pups playing, daily life continuing as if my world hadn't tilted on its axis hours before. I focused on my checklist, methodically checking each area's safety protocols. The accident happened near the training grounds. I was noting some loose boards that needed repair when a blur of motion caught my peripheral vision. A young wolf - clearly new to the pack from his unfamiliar scent - came tearing around the corner at full speed. He was looking back over his shoulder, laughing at something. "Watch out!" I called, but it was too late. He slammed into me hard, his momentum sending us both sprawling. My already weakened state meant I couldn't catch myself properly. Pain exploded through my forehead as it hit the edge of a training post. Warm blood immediately began trickling down my face. "Oh, goddess!" The boy scrambled up, shifting back to human form. His eyes went wide at the blood. "I... I didn't see you!" I pushed myself up slowly, fighting a wave of dizziness. "This is exactly why we have rules about running in the training areas. You could have seriously hurt someone." Instead of contrition, his expression shifted to defiance. "It was an accident! Why are you making such a big deal about it?" "A big deal?" I pressed my hand to my bleeding forehead, trying to stay calm. "You were running full-speed in a training zone without looking where you were going. What if I had been one of the younger pups? Or someone elderly?" "Whatever." He rolled his eyes. "Just wait until my sister's mate gets here. He'll show you how we handle stuck-up wolves who think they can boss everyone around." The surrounding pack members who had gathered gasped. I almost wanted to laugh at the bitter irony - this pup had no idea he was threatening his Luna. "Your sister's mate?" I kept my voice level, though blood was now dripping onto my collar. "And who might that be?" "You'll see." He smirked. "He's coming now. He'll scare you to death." Familiar footsteps approached from behind. My heart clenched as Raven's scent washed over me - mixed with Astrid's. Of course. Of course, she'd be with him. "What's happening here?" Raven's Alpha voice rang out. I turned slowly, dignity intact despite the blood on my face. And there they were - my mate with Astrid at his side, her hand resting delicately on his arm like she belonged there. "Your Luna was attacked," I said coolly, watching his face. "This pup shifted without warning and drew blood. He refuses to apologize." Raven's eyes narrowed at the blood on my face, but before he could speak, Tommy straightened up with a smirk. "You should see my sister and Alpha Raven together," he announced proudly, clearly emboldened by Astrid's presence. "They look like a real Alpha pair. Not like..." His eyes raked dismissively over me. "Tommy," Astrid's soft voice carried a gentle reproof. She pressed closer to Raven, her hand resting delicately on his arm. "You shouldn't say such things. Alpha Raven and I are just... close friends." But her eyes told a different story as she gazed up at him. "He's been so kind to me during this difficult time." Raven's arm moved automatically to support her waist. The gesture was small, but it spoke volumes. How many times had he held me like that? When had that protective instinct shifted to another woman? "She's weak!" Tommy continued, encouraged by Raven's silence. "Can't even dodge a playful jump. How can she be our Luna if she can't even have pups? Everyone can see who really belongs at our Alpha's sideโ" "Enough!" Raven's Alpha voice rang out, but I barely heard it over the roaring in my ears. Can't even have pups. The words struck like physical blows. my weakened wolf, my mate's growing distance - all my private shame laid bare before the pack. "Tommy." Raven's Alpha voice was cold with anger as he focused on the defiant pup. "You've not only broken pack safety protocols, but you've injured your Luna. This behaviorโ" "Raven," Astrid's soft voice interrupted, breathy with distress. Her hand tightened on his arm as she swayed dramatically. "Oh... I don't feel well..." She pressed her other hand to her stomach, her face going pale. I watched, heartbreaking, as my mate's attention immediately shifted to her. His arm went around her waist, all thoughts of pack discipline forgotten. "What's wrong?" "My stomach..." she whimpered, pressing against him. "The baby..." The baby. James's baby. The child my dead friend would never know, growing in the abdomen of a woman who used it as a weapon. "We need to get you to the healer," Raven said urgently, already turning away. He barely glanced at my bleeding forehead. "Tommy, we'll discuss your behavior later." "But Raven-" I started, my vision blurring slightly. "Later, Sylvia," he cut me off, leading Astrid away. "This needs immediate attention." I stood there, blood dripping onto my collar, watching my mate walk away with another woman. The whispers started immediately: "She's gotten so weak lately..." "The Alpha clearly prefers Astrid's company..." My wolf whimpered, too weak to even growl at the disrespect. The wound on my forehead throbbed in time with my pulse, each beat sending fresh pain through my skull. Black spots danced at the edges of my vision. "Luna?" One of the pack healers stepped forward hesitantly. "Let me help with that cut..." I backed away, somehow keeping my feet under me. "I'm fine. Everyone return to your duties. Tommy, report to my office tomorrow morning to discuss pack safety protocols." The walk back to my office was endless. Each step was a battle against dizziness and nausea. By the time I closed my door, my legs were shaking so badly I could barely stand. I slid down the wall, finally letting the tears fall. They mixed with the blood on my face, hot and bitter. My wolf curled up small and quiet within me, as broken as I was. Not because I thought Raven was sleeping with Astrid. Although my wolf was weak, she told me that he did not betray our physical bond. But what hurt worse was watching him choose her again and again. Every time she swayed, he caught her. Every time she called, he ran. Every time she needed him, he forgot about everyone elseโincluding his Luna, his mate, his wife. A knock at the door made me flinch. "Sylvia?" Raven's voice. "Let me in." I didn't move. "Please, little wolf. I brought medicine for your head." A laugh bubbled up in my throat - harsh and foreign. He'd left me bleeding to tend to Astrid's latest dramatic episode, and now he wanted to play caring mate? I opened the door. Raven stood there with a first aid kit and concern in his eyes. The same eyes that had looked at Astrid with such urgency minutes ago. "Let me help," he said softly, reaching for me. I stepped back, maintaining distance. "How is Astrid? And James's baby?" His face flickered at the deliberate mention of his dead Beta. "She's fine. Just stress." "Of course she is." The words came out bitter. "She's always fine after she gets what she wants." "Sylvia..." He sighed, setting down the first aid kit. "You know I have to look after her. After James..." "After James end life saving you, yes. I know." I pressed my hand to my throbbing head. "But when did looking after her start meaning abandoning your actual duties? Leaving your injured mate? Ignoring pack discipline?" "You're bleeding," he said instead of answering, reaching for me again. "Let me-" "Don't." I held up a hand. The look of hurt on his face almost made me take back my words. Almost. But I remembered the photo Astrid had sent, the way she clung to his arm, the countless times he'd chosen her needs over mine. "I love you," he said softly, reaching for me again. This time, I let him pull me into his arms, too tired to resist. "I love you more than anything, Sylvia. You're my mate, my Luna, my everything. I'm sorry I've made you doubt that." Chapter 0003 Sylviaโs POV "Just a bit further," Raven's warm hand pressed against my lower back, guiding me through the pack's shopping district. After yesterday's confrontation in my office, this sudden tenderness felt like a peace offering. "I want to show you something special." My wolf, still weak from whatever was affecting her, nonetheless purred at his touch. Despite everything - the photo, the injuries, the constant presence of Astrid - my traitorous heart still skipped when he looked at me like this, like I was his whole world. "Another apology gift?" I tried to keep my tone light, though the bandage on my forehead from yesterday's incident still stung. His fingers tightened slightly on my waist. "Not an apology. A reminder." He stopped in front of David's Jewelry, the pack's finest artisan shop. "A reminder of who we are together." The bell chimed softly as we entered. David, an elderly wolf with clever hands and kind eyes, looked up from his workbench. "Alpha, Luna! I have it ready." "Have what ready?" I turned to Raven, but he just smiled mysteriously. "Show us your finest pieces, David," Raven commanded, but his voice was warm. "Let my Luna choose what speaks to her heart." David brought out tray after tray of exquisite jewelry. Diamonds that caught the light like Starfire. Rubies deep as fresh blood. But it was a delicate silver necklace that caught my eye - moonstones arranged like a cascade of tears, or perhaps stars falling through a night sky. "This is beautiful." I couldnโt help reaching for it. "Ah." David smiled. "A unique piece. I crafted it using moonstone from the sacred caves. There will never be another quite like it." Raven lifted the necklace gently. "Perfect for my Luna. Turn around, love." I swept my hair aside, shivering as his fingers brushed my neck. The metal felt cool against my skin, but Raven's breath was warm as he fastened the clasp. "Beautiful," he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to my shoulder. The bell chimed again. "Oh!" A familiar voice broke our moment. "What a gorgeous necklace." My muscles tensed as Astrid glided into the shop, one hand resting on her slightly swollen belly. After yesterday's confrontation and injury, I was in no mood for another of her performances. "Astrid." Raven straightened, but his hand stayed on my shoulder. "Shopping for the baby ceremony?" My grip tightened on the necklace. "Baby ceremony?" "Didn't Raven tell you?" Astrid's eyes widened with fake innocence. "He's helping me plan James's baby's naming ceremony. It's tradition for the Alpha to stand in when... when the father is gone." Something cold settled in my chest. "Is it?" "Sylvia," Raven stepped forward, his expression pleading. "As Alpha, it's my responsibility to look after James's family." "And as Luna, it's mine to organize pack ceremonies," I countered. "Yet this is the first I'm hearing of it." Astrid sniffled delicately. "The necklace just reminded me so much of the ones James used to give me... and with the ceremony coming up..." David cleared his throat. "As I mentioned, it's a unique piece. But I have other lovely-" "Please," Astrid's eyes filled with tears. "Seeing it... it's like a sign from James. Like he's telling me he's watching over his child." I felt Raven's fingers tighten on my shoulder. Felt the shift in his energy. I saw the moment Raven's resolve cracked. "Sylvia, love... maybe you could pick another necklace for your birthday? This one would mean so much to Astrid..." The shop went very quiet. "What?" My voice came out barely a whisper. "You have so many beautiful pieces," he continued, not meeting my eyes. "And Astrid has lost so much..." "Are you serious?" I looked between them - my mate of five years and the widow who'd slowly been taking my place. "This necklace was meant for your Luna, your mate, and you want to give it to another woman?" "Don't be selfish," Raven's voice hardened. "I've bought you countless jewels. One necklace won't hurt." "Selfish?" The word hit like a physical blow. "I've watched you slowly pull away from me. I've endured the pack's whispers about my weakening wolf. I stayed silent when you missed our anniversary for her. And I'm selfish?" "Please don't fight," Astrid whimpered. "I never meant... I just miss James so much..." Tears spilled down her cheeks. "Stop it!" I snapped. "Stop using James's memory to manipulate everyone! If you need help with the baby, we can hire a nanny. The pack has resources-" "No." Raven's voice cracked like thunder. "James end life saving my life. I owe him everything. I will personally ensure his child and mate are cared for." "What about my father?" The words escaped before I could stop them, years of buried pain erupting. "He end life defending this pack too. He end life in a war your father started, Raven. Where was this devotion then?" The room temperature seemed to drop. Raven's face went white, then dark with rage. "That's enough!" Raven's eyes flashed Alpha red. He stepped back, jaw clenched. "You've gone too far." "Have I?" My fingers found the necklace clasp. "Or have you just never gone far enough for me?" Astrid's tears had mysteriously dried. She stepped closer to Raven, placing a hand on his arm. "Perhaps I should go..." "No." Raven wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "We'll go. You don't need this stress in your condition." I watched, numb, as my mate led another woman toward the door. Just before they left, Astrid turned back. Her eyes met mine over Raven's protective arm, and the mask slippedโjust for a moment, but it was enough. That smile. That calculated, victorious smile. My heart stopped as years of "coincidences" suddenly realigned in my mind. Every time she'd swooned during pack meetings, it had been when I was speaking. Every stomach pain had struck just as Raven and I were having a moment. Every "emergency" had interrupted our private time. All those times I'd defended her to others: "She's grieving," I'd said. But now, watching her triumphant smirk, I saw the truth. The door closed behind them with devastating finality. I walked out of the shop, the bell's cheerful chime a mockery of the moment we'd shared minutes ago. Through the window, I saw Raven helping Astrid try on my necklace and saw her lean into him with practiced vulnerability. My fingers found my phone, scrolling to Elena, my best friend since childhood. The only one who knew everything - about my father, about how I'd fallen for Raven despite our families' history, about how I'd given up my birthright to be his Luna. The phone rang twice before she answered. "Elena?" My voice cracked. "Can I come over?" "Always, love. What's wrong?" "Everything," I whispered, watching through the window as my mate adjusted the necklace on another woman's throat. Chapter 0004 Sylviaโs POV Dawn light crept through Elena's guest room window, painting shadows on unfamiliar walls. I hadn't slept, the events from the jewelry store playing on an endless loop in my mind. The necklace. Astrid's tears. Raven's betrayal. A soft knock echoed through the house. "Sylvia?" Elena's voice carried from downstairs. "Raven's here. He's... he's been sitting at the door all night." My wolf stirred weakly, responding to our mate's proximity despite everything. I moved to the window, and my breath caught. There he was - the powerful Alpha of the Silver Moon pack, sitting on Elena's doorstep like a penitent wolf. His usually immaculate clothes were wrinkled, and dark circles under his eyes matched mine. A bouquet of moon flowers - my favorites, so rare they only bloom at midnight - trembled slightly in his hands. "Go away, Raven," I called down, hating how my voice shook. He looked up, those dark eyes that had once held my whole world were now filled with desperation. "Please, little wolf. Just five minutes." "You gave up your right to call me that when you gave my necklace to another woman." "I was wrong." His voice cracked. "I was so wrong. Please, just let me explain." Elena appeared at my side. "Want me to chase him off? I may not be an Alpha, but I can still bite." I almost smiled. "No. I need to face this." The walk downstairs felt endless. Each step was a battle between my heart, which still ached for him, and my pride, which screamed to remember his betrayals. I opened the door. Raven immediately dropped to his knees, the mighty Alpha kneeling before me. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, my love." "Sorry for what?" My voice came out bitter. "For missing our anniversary? For abandoning me while I was bleeding? For giving my necklace to Astrid?" "All of it. Everything." He reached for my hand. I let him take it, watching as he pressed his forehead to my knuckles - a wolf's deepest gesture of submission. "I've been a fool. I let my guilt over James cloud my judgment. But I promise you, I've fixed it." "Fixed what?" He looked up, hope flickering in his eyes. "Everything. I've arranged for Astrid to move to one of the pack's remote properties. I've hired the nanny you suggested. I've deleted her number and removed her from pack meetings. She'll be cared for, but she won't come between us again." My heart stuttered. "You... you did?" "I should have done it months ago." He pulled something from his jacket - a velvet box. "And this... I spent all night searching every jewelry store in three territories." Inside lay a necklace almost identical to the one from yesterday. Almost, but not quite. "I don't want a copy," I said, even as tears threatened. "I don't want another woman's leftovers." "You're right. You deserve better." He set the box aside, still on his knees. "You've always deserved better. Do you remember when we first met? Not as adults, but as pups?" The memory rose unbidden. Me at six years old, lost in the forbidden woods between territories. Him at eight, found me crying under a silver moon. "You gave me your jacket," I whispered. "Led me home even though our packs were at war." "I knew even then." His thumb traced circles on my palm. "Knew you were meant to be mine. Through all the fighting, all the politics, all the tragedy - you were my constant star." "Until I wasn't." I pulled my hand away. "Until Astrid needed you more." "No," he caught my fingers again. "I lost my way, but you've always been my true north. Please, little wolf. Let me make this right. Let me prove myself again." "How?" "I'll do anything." He pressed something else into my palm - his phone. "Look. I've already deleted her contact. Check my messages and my calls. I'm an open book to you." I scrolled through, seeing he was telling the truth. "The baby ceremony..." I began. "Marcus will handle all preparations for the baby blessing ceremony," he said, hope blooming in his eyes. "I won't even attend. My place is with my Luna, celebrating our anniversary properly this time." He reached for my hand again. "Just us, little wolf. No interruptions, no pack business, no... distractions. I swear on the moon herself." My wolf whined softly, wanting to believe. Memories flooded back - countless moments of joy and love before Astrid entered our lives. The way he'd held me through my father's death. The way he'd defied his own pack to mate with me. "I need time," I said finally. "Take all you need." He stood slowly, relief evident in every line of his body. "I'll wait forever if I have to." I looked at the necklace again. It was beautiful, but... "I think I'll get you something too. Show you I'm willing to try." His smile - that rare, real smile that crinkled his eyes - made my heart ache. "I love you, little wolf. Never doubt that." I watched him leave, hope warring with caution in my chest. After he disappeared from view, I picked up the discarded necklace box, running my fingers over the velvet. The jewelry inside sparkled, catching the morning lightโbeautiful, but not quite the same as the original piece. "Maybe I'm being too harsh," I whispered, my wolf stirring with longing. The sight of our proud Alpha on his knees, the desperation in his eyes, the way he'd spent all night searching for a replacement necklace... "Hey." Elena squeezed my shoulder. "I know that look. You're already forgiving him, aren't you?" "Not forgiving exactly," I said slowly, closing the box. "But maybe... maybe willing to try? " I set the necklace box down carefully. "I think... I think I want to meet him halfway. Show him I'm willing to try too." Elena's eyes lit up. "Shopping trip? I know just the places for Alpha-worthy gifts." The mall was quieter than usual this early. Elena and I wandered, looking for something worthy of an Alpha, of the mate who'd just humbled himself to win me back. A familiar voice drifted from the luxury boutique ahead. "Oh yes, my husband is so generous." I froze. Astrid. "These are gorgeous pieces, madam," the saleswoman gushed. "Your husband has excellent taste." "He does spoil me." Astrid's laugh tinkled like snek. "Especially now, with the baby." I edged closer, staying out of sight. "Another piece for your collection?" The saleswoman was wrapping something in silk. "He insists. Says nothing's too good for his..." Astrid's voice dropped sweetly, "family." My eyes fixed on the credit card in her hand as she paid. Black metal with a familiar silver moon insignia - Raven's secondary pack card. Three months ago, he'd casually mentioned needing it back, something about pack accounting and consolidating expenses. "Have you seen my black pack card?" he'd asked then, barely looking up from his papers. "The backup one?" "It's in my wallet," I'd replied, already reaching for it. "Though I've barely used it." "Good. The council wants all secondary cards recalled. Something about tighter financial controls." I'd handed it over without a second thought. My mate is always so responsible with pack finances. Always so concerned about proper protocols. Now I watched that same cardโthe one that was supposedly canceled for pack securityโglinting in Astrid's manicured hands. The card he'd taken from me, his Luna, only to give to her. All those pretty words this morning about ending their connection, about putting our marriage first... while she still had access to pack funds, to his accounts, to his trust. "Your husband must really love you," the saleswoman smiled. "Oh yes." Astrid caught my eye in the mirror, her smile turning razor-sharp. "He does." The world tilted sideways. All his pretty words, his promises, his show of deleting her contact - worthless. He didn't need her number when he was still funding her shopping sprees, still letting her call him husband. My wolf, weak as she was, howled in agony. I stumbled back, memories taking on new, horrific meanings: "I've arranged for her to move..." - To a luxury property? "I've hired a nanny..." - While giving her his credit card? "She won't come between us..." - Because he'd hidden their connection better? My phone buzzed - Raven, sending a photo of dinner preparations for our makeup celebration. Another text arrived immediately after a receipt from the boutique, forwarded from his bank alert. Astrid's purchase was made seconds ago with his card. Chapter 0005 Sylviaโs POV "You manipulative fool!" Elena's voice cut through the pristine shopping atmosphere. Several customers turned to stare as she planted herself in front of Astrid. "Calling yourself his wife while wearing the jewelry you stole from his actual mate?" Astrid's practiced mask of innocence slipped into place as she pressed a protective hand to her belly. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just shopping with the allowance my... husband has given me." "Allowance?" Elena spat the word. "You mean the credit card you're flashing around? The one that belongs to my best friend's mate?" "Oh." Astrid's eyes flickered to me, still standing in the doorway. Her lips curved into a poisonous smile. "You're making such a fuss over nothing. No wonder Raven prefers my company. At least I don't suffocate him with jealousy and send my friends to fight my battles." The saleswoman shifted uncomfortably. "Perhaps we should-" "No." I found my voice, at last, stepping forward. "Let's have this out right here. Every penny you've spent is our pack's common property - my mate's money. You need to pay it back." Astrid laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "Pay it back? With what money? My mate end life protecting your precious Alpha. The least you can do is let him take care of his friend's widow." She gestured at her shopping bags. "Besides, Raven gives it freely. Unlike you, I don't have to beg for his attention." "Using James's memory again?" Elena's eyes flashed gold. "Is that your only trick?" "At least I gave James pups before he end life." Astrid's voice dripped honey-coated venom. "Poor, barren Luna. Can't even give Raven one child. No wonder he-" The crack of my palm against her cheek echoed through the cafe. Silence fell. "How dare you?" I whispered, trembling with rage. "You use James's memory, manipulate everyone's guilt, play the grieving widow while spending pack money on luxury goods-" Astridโs wolf exploded out of her, fangs snapping at my throat. I barely managed to dodge, my weakened wolf struggling to respond. Elena shifted instantly, putting herself between us. Astrid's claws caught my thigh before Elena could block her, tearing through flesh and muscle. The pain was shockingโI'd forgotten how vulnerable I'd become. Blood soaked through my dress where her claws had shredded both fabric and skin. But instead of pressing her advantage, Astrid shifted back to human form, one hand protectively curved over her belly. Her eyes glittered with malicious triumph. "How dare you attack me?" she gasped, loud enough for the gathering crowd to hear. "I'm carrying a noble warrior's child! James's baby!" Her voice turned venomous as she lowered it for my ears alone. "If anything happens to this child because of your jealous attack, imagine how Raven will feel. Losing his best friend's baby because his mate couldn't control herself?" Elena snarled, still in wolf form, but we both knew we were trapped. Any move against Astrid now would make me look like the aggressorโthe Luna attacking a expecting a baby widow. "You manipulativeโ" Elena started to lunge forward, but I grabbed her with my good arm. "Don't," I whispered. "It's what she wants." The world spun slightly as blood continued to soak my dress. The mall's pristine floor now bore crimson droplets. But the physical pain was nothing compared to watching Astrid's smug smile as she wielded her expecting a baby like a weapon, knowing I couldn't fight back without looking like a monster. "Luna!" Sarah, our pack healer, pushed through the gathering crowd. Her eyes widened at the sight of my injury. "You're not healingโyou need treatment immediately." The world tilted dangerously as she examined the wound. "You need to come to the clinic immediately. You're not healing properly." Elena supported me as we hurried to Sarah's clinic, leaving behind the chaos of scattered shopping bags and shocked onlookers. Each step sent fresh pain through my thigh, a constant reminder of how vulnerable I'd become. "I don't understand," I whispered as Sarah cleaned the wounds. "I used to be one of the strongest wolves in the pack. Now I can barely shift." Sarah's hands stilled. Something flickered across her face. "Actually... I have your latest test results. The ones about your wolf's weakness and the... the fertility issues." My heart stopped. "And?" Elena gripped my good hand. Sarah's smile was radiant. "It's not permanent! Your wolf isn't naturally weak, Luna. And you're not barren. With proper treatment, you could be back to full strength within months." The words hit like a physical blow. All this time... all these years of thinking I was broken... "I can..." My voice cracked. "I can have pups?" "There's no reason you couldn't, once your wolf regains her strength. You and Alpha Raven could start your family within the year." Joy bubbled up through the pain, so intense it brought tears to my eyes. A family. The dream I'd thought forever out of reach. The one thing I'd wanted more than anything. "All those years," I whispered, remembering every disappointment, every pitying look, every whispered comment about the Luna who couldn't give the Alpha heirs. "I thought there was something wrong with me." Despite the pain in my thigh, despite the morning's confrontation, hope bloomed in my chest. Raven had sworn to make things right between us. With my condition treatable, with the possibility of pups in our future... "I have to tell him," I breathed, sliding off the examination table. "Elena, I have to" "Go." She hugged me carefully. "But be careful. " I barely felt my injuries as I rushed home, my heart lighter than it had been in months. A future stretched before me - one with strong pups playing in our yard, my wolf running freely under the moon, my mate's proud smile as our family grew... But... The sight of luggage in our driveway stopped me cold. Expensive suitcases. Designer bags. A small mountain of possessions was carried into my home by pack servants. "Ah, Sylvia." Raven appeared in the doorway, his expression grave. "We need to talk." "What's going on?" But I knew. Deep in my soul, I knew. "I heard about the fight." His voice held disappointment. Like I was a misbehaving pup. "Attacking a expecting a baby she-wolf? Causing her such stress in her condition?" "She attacked me! Her wolves-" "After you slapped her." He ran a hand through his hair. "Look, given the situation, Astrid doesn't feel safe in the remote property. She doesn't trust the nanny, not after this. She needs to be somewhere I can personally ensure her safety." "So you're moving her into our home?" The words tasted like ashes. "Just until she calms down. Until she feels secure again." He wouldn't meet my eyes. "It's the only way to protect James's child." The test results burned in my pocket. The hope of our own family turned to dust. "I'm your mate," I whispered. "Your Luna." "And she's carrying my best friend's baby." Finally, he looked at me. "A friend who end life for me. Please, Sylvia. Just until the baby comes." ohhh, her smile. All this time, I'd been playing a game I didn't even know the rules to. Every move I made pushed Raven further into her web. Every reaction gave her more power. And now she was moving into my home. My territory. My life. The joy of the test results crumbled to nothing as I watched another woman claim my space, my mate, my future. I felt like a fool. Chapter 0006 Sylviaโs POV "You can't just bring her into our home without even discussing it with me," I said, my voice trembling with suppressed emotion. We stood in our bedroom, where hours ago I'd been celebrating the possibility of having pups, of fixing our marriage. Now those dreams felt like ashes in my mouth. "What would you have me do, Sylvia?" Raven ran a hand through his dark hair, frustration evident in every line of his body. "You attacked a expecting a baby she-wolf." "I slapped her," I cut in. "After she flaunted your credit card after she called herself your wife after she mocked our inability to have pups. One slap, Raven. And in return..." I yanked up my skirt, revealing the angry red gashes that scored my thigh. The wounds still hadn't healedโa testament to my wolf's weakened state. "Look at what your precious widow did to me, Raven. Look!" His eyes widened as he took in the wounds. For the first time since this mess began, I saw genuine shock cross his face. "She did this to you?" His fingers reached out but stopped short of touching the wounds. "Oh, Raven!" Astrid's voice cracked perfectly on his name as she appeared in our doorway. Her timing, as always, was impeccable. Tears sparkled in her wide eyes, one hand pressed to her belly while the other braced against the doorframe. The very picture of a distressed expecting a baby woman. "I was so scared," she whispered, those tears now sliding down her cheeks. "When she slapped me... all I could think about was the baby. James's baby." Her voice broke on his name. "I just... I reacted. My wolf... she only wanted to protect our pup." I watched my mate's face, seeing the conflict war across his features. The wounds on my leg spoke of violence, but Astrid's tears spoke of vulnerability. My strong, decisive Alphaโthe man who could command hundreds of wolves with a single wordโstood frozen between his mate and his supposed responsibility. The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken accusations. Through our weakened bond, I felt his turmoil, his desire to protect both women before him. "Astrid," he said finally, his voice carrying that Alpha authority I used to love. "Regardless of provocation, you attacked my mate. The Luna of this pack. That cannot happen." Hope flared in my chest, bright and painful. Finally, he was seeing through her actโ "You're right!" Astrid's knees buckled as she sank to the floor, one hand still protectively curved over her belly. The movement was graceful despite her apparent distress. Everything about her was always so perfectly choreographed. "You're absolutely right, Alpha. Luna." She turned those tear-filled eyes to me. "I was wrong. So wrong. I should never have let my fear control me. Without James, I just feel so... so vulnerable. Every threat seems so much bigger." My wolf wanted to snarl, to expose her manipulation. But I'd played this game before. Every time I reacted to her provocations, I looked like the aggressor. Every time I called out her manipulation, I seemed paranoid. "Get up," I said coldly, watching her performance with new eyes. "Save your tears for someone who hasn't seen both your faces. The sweet, helpless widow you play for Raven, and the smirking manipulator who sent me that photo on our anniversary night." "Sylvia!" Raven's reproachful tone made my wolf whimper. "She's apologizing. She's carrying James's pupโ" "James's pup," I laughed, the sound harsh even to my own ears. "How convenient. The perfect shield, isn't it? Every time you want something, every time you overstep, you just need to mention James or pat your belly, and everyone falls in line." "Please," Astrid whispered, her voice small. "I know I've made mistakes, but I'm tryingโ" "Trying to take my place?" I stepped toward her, noting how she shrank back even as her eyes glittered with challenge. "Trying to move into my home? Trying to steal my mate?" "Enough!" Raven's Alpha voice resonated through the room. "Both of you need to calm down." I turned to him, really looked at him. My mate. My Alpha. The man I'd loved since we were pups ourselves. Five years of marriage, of building a life together, and he still couldn't see what was right in front of him. "No," I said quietly. "No more calming down. No more understanding. No more compromises." I met his eyes steadily. "One of us needs to leave this house, Raven. Your mate, or your... whatever she is to you. Choose." Astrid's soft sobs provided the perfect backdrop to our drama. Everything about her was perfectโher timing, her tears, her helpless widow act. And I was done competing with it. Raven straightened, his Alpha authority filling the room. "Astrid, please wait downstairs. I need to speak with my mate alone." She hesitated, her hand still pressed to her belly, but even she couldn't disobey a direct Alpha command. As she left, her scentโjasmine and honeyโlingered unpleasantly in our bedroom. I turned back to my closet, yanking clothes from hangers. "There's nothing to discuss. You've made your choice clear." "Stop." His hands caught mine from behind, stilling my frantic movements. His chest pressed against my back, his scentโpine needles and winter frostโsurrounding me, making my wolf stir with longing despite everything. "Just... stop, little wolf." "Don't call me that," I whispered, but didn't pull away. His warmth was achingly familiar, reminding me of countless intimate moments we'd shared in this room. "Let me at least tend to your wounds," he murmured, his breath warm against my neck. I hesitated... He guided me to sit on our bed, the same bed where just this morning I'd dreamed of having his pups. He knelt before me, gently examining the gashes on my thigh. Through our weakened bond, I felt his genuine distress at seeing me injured. "These should have healed by now," he said softly, reaching for the medicinal salve. His fingers were gentle as they spread the cooling substance over my wounds. "Your wolf's healing..." "Has been weak for months," I finished. "But you've been too busy with Astrid to notice." His hands stilled on my leg. Then they moved higher, past the wounds to uninjured skin. The mate bond hummed between us as his touch became less clinical, more intimate. "I've noticed everything about you," he murmured, his eyes darkening as they met mine. "Your scent changing. Your wolf's quietness. The way you pull away from me." His hands slid higher, making me gasp. "I've just been too much of a fool to do anything about it." "Raven..." I meant it as a warning, but it came out as a plea. His lips found mine, tasting of regret and desire. Each kiss felt like an apology, each touch a promise. The mate bond sparked between us, stronger than it had been in months, carrying echoes of his guilt, his love, his need. I should have stopped him. Should have maintained my anger, and my resolve. But five years of love don't end life easily, even when poisoned by betrayal. And right now, with his scent surrounding me, his hands erasing every memory of pain, I needed this connection. Chapter 0007 Sylviaโs POV The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow through the bedroom window. His tall frame casts a shadow over me. My breath catches in my throat as he reaches out, his fingers brushing my cheek. The touch was electric, sending shivers down my spine. We hadn't been this close in months. "I'm sorry," he finally said, his voice low. "I'm truly sorry, little wolf, forgive me." His apology was filled with regret and longing. I want to forgive him and let go of the sadness and anger that has consumed me for so long. But part of me is scared, scared that if I allow myself to feel again, it will only lead to more pain. "Don't, Raven," I said, pushing his hand away, but not firmly. "We both need time to calm down. "But Raven didn't care. He continued to kiss me "I don't want to calm down," he murmured, his breath rolling over my skin. "I want you, little wolf. Right now. " The intensity in his voice turned me and my wolf on, and my wolf let out a sound of pleasure in my head. I closed my eyes, enjoying the feel of his lips on mine, soft and insistent. It had been a long time since we had kissed like this, and a long time since I had felt the heat of his desire. He licked over the spot I'd marked and growled, his eyes were all over me now, "Baby, spread your legs." His voice got hotter, "Please baby, let me in." My body trembled with anticipation as I obeyed, opening up for him. Raven's hands were gentle but firm as he guided himself to fill me completely. The sensation was overwhelming, the mixture of pleasure and pain bringing tears to my eyes. "Look at me," he said with emotion in his voice. "Don't hide from me." I meet his gaze, my vision blurred by tears. He kisses my face, kisses away my tears, and begins to move inside me. I can feel the wolf inside him, its primal instincts driving him forward, demanding fulfillment. "That's it," Raven growled, his haunch shaking harder. "I love you, little wolf, believe me." For a moment, everything felt perfectโlike we'd finally found our way back to each other. The mate bond hummed between us, stronger than it had been in months, carrying echoes of his desire, his guilt, his need for forgiveness. Afterward, we lay tangled in the sheets, our scents mingled in the air. His hand traced lazy patterns on my skin as my wolf purred contentedly within me. Our knots of tension and mistrust had loosened, if not completely untied. I was in the crook of his arm, drifting off to sleep. But in the middle of the night, I woke to cold sheets beside me. Raven's warmth was gone, his scent fading. My weakened wolf stirred uneasily, the mate bond pulling me toward... Astrid's room. No. Not tonight. Not after we'd just... But my feet carried me forward anyway, drawn by an instinct I couldn't ignore. The hallway seemed endless as I approached her room, my heart pounding with each step. Through the doorway, I saw themโmy husband, who had been making love to me just hours ago, now holding Astrid in his arms as she cried. I pressed against the wall beside the door, my wolf straining to hear their words. "It's not fair," Astrid sobbed, her face pressed against his chest. "None of this is fair." "I know." Raven's voice was so gentle, so intimate. It made my stomach turn. "We had something real," she whispered. "Before the moon goddess interfered, before her destiny tore us apart..." My heart stopped. What? "Astrid..." Raven's voice held such history, such pain. "We can't change the past." "Can't we?" Her fingers clutched his shirtโthe same shirt I'd helped him remove hours ago. "Tell me you don't think about it. About us. About what we had before she came along." The silence that followed was deafening. Raven's hesitation spoke volumes. "My marriage to Sylvia..." he finally said, his words careful, measured. "It's not reluctant. I do care for her." Care. Not love. Never love. "But it's not the same," Astrid pressed. "What we had was real. The moon goddess might have chosen her for you, but your heart chose me first." My legs trembled as memories realigned in my mind. Every time he'd pulled away. Every time he'd chosen Astrid over me. Every time he'd made me feel like I was asking for too much by wanting my mate's full attention. "The child..." Astrid's voice dropped to a whisper, her hand moving to her belly. "Sometimes I wonder..." Raven cut her off quickly. "Don't. That path only leads to pain." I listened as Astrid continued, her voice breaking with practiced perfection as she detailed her struggles, her loneliness, and her fear. Each word was carefully chosen to twist the knife of guilt deeper into Raven's heart. My wolf whimpered within me, but for once, it wasn't from weakness. It was from heartbreak. All this time, I'd thought Astrid was trying to steal my mate. But she'd had him first. She'd loved him first. And some part of him had never stopped loving her. The Moon Goddess herself broke them up, forcing him to accept me as his mate. I was the Moon Goddess's choice, but not his heart's, and our union was never complete. I struggled with my emotions, torn between rage and devastation. Part of me sympathized with Astridโlosing the man she loved to another woman must have been painful. But then I remembered her calculated manipulations, her triumphant smirks, her deliberate interference in my marriage. My sympathy withered. "I know I should let you go," Astrid was saying, her voice thick with tears. "But seeing you with her... knowing what we once had..." Raven's silence was another knife in my heart. He should be denying this. Should be pushing her away. Should be honoring our mate bond, especially after the intimacy we'd just shared. Instead, he held her closer, offering comfort that wasn't his to give. The wolf inside meโmy proud, fierce wolf that had been growing mysteriously weakerโfinally stirred with purpose. She wanted to burst in there, to confront them both, to demand answers about all the lies and I needed to think. Needed to plan. This wasn't just about a widow seeking comfort anymore. This was about a woman who'd lost her lover to a mate bond, who'd married his best friend instead, and who was now using that friend's death and her expecting a baby to reclaim what she'd lost. And my mate... My Raven... he was letting her. I pushed away from the wall, my feet silent on the carpeted floor as I retreated. Their voices followed meโAstrid's perfectly timed sobs, Raven's gentle comforting words. Words that should have been mine. Comfort that belonged to his mate, not his former lover. In our bedroomโthe same room where he'd touched me so tenderly just hours agoโI sank onto the bed. His scent still clung to the sheets, but now it felt tainted. Every kiss, every touch, every whispered promise... had he been thinking of her? Wishing I was her? Chapter 0008 Sylvia's POV Morning light filtered through the windows as I stood outside Astrid's room, my resolve hardened by last night's revelations. No more games. No more manipulation. This had to end. I knocked sharply. "It's me, Sylvia. Astrid. We need to talk." She opened the door with that perfectly practiced innocent expression. "Oh, Luna! What a surprise..." "Save it." I pushed past her into the room, then stopped cold. I was surprised to see on her dresser sat my mother's silver urnโthe one thing I had left of her, the most precious possession in my entire home. "Oh, that?" Astrid smiled sweetly. "Such a lovely piece. Raven told me all about your mother... how she end life protecting your father, who then end life protecting his pack. So tragic." My wolf bristled at her casual handling of my family's pain. "This ends now, Astrid. I heard you last night. I know everythingโabout your relationship with Raven, about how the moon goddess separated you." "Finally figured it out, did you?" Her mask slipped, revealing the snake beneath. "Took you long enough. Five years of marriage, and you never wondered why he runs to me every chance he gets?" "You need to leave," I said firmly. "Find another pack, another life. Stop poisoning my marriage." She laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "Your marriage? Do you mean the one forced on him by the moon goddess? The one that stole him from me?" "He's my mateโ" "He's my love!" She snatched up my mother's urn. "I had him first. We chose each other. You? You're just some cosmic joke forced on him by fate." "Put that down." My voice shook with barely contained rage. "Or what?" Her fingers loosened on the urn. "You'll attack a expecting a baby woman? Prove to everyone what a monster you really are?" "Astridโ" " "You know what's funny?" She started pacing, still holding my mother's ashes. "How easy it was to make him doubt you. A few tears here, a swoon there... He's so desperate to atone for his father's sins against your family that he never questions my motives." "This isn't about Raven anymore," I growled. "This is about you using my dead friend's child as a weapon. James deserved better than that." Her eyes flashed. "Don't you dare speak his name! James was a fool who end life for his precious Alpha, leaving me to play grieving widow. But it worked out perfectly, didn't it? Now I have the perfect excuse to stay close to Raven." "You're insane." I stepped toward her. "Give me my mother's urn." "Your mother?" She sneered. "Another weak wolf who end life for nothing. Like father, like daughterโalways playing the noble sacrifice. It's pathetic." Something snapped inside me. "Give. Me. The. Urn." "Come get it." And then, with a smile that showed her true nature, she let it slip from her fingers. Time slowed. I lunged forward, but my weakened wolf wasn't fast enough. The silver urn shattered on the hardwood floor, my mother's ashes scattering like gray snow. "Oops." Astrid's voice dripped false concern. "How clumsy of me." A sound escaped meโpart wolf, part human, pure anguish. My mother's ashes... all I had left of her... "What's wrong, Luna?" Astrid taunted. "Upset about a little spilled dust? Like mother, like daughterโboth of you just dirt on the ground." I moved without thinking, grief and rage propelling me forward. Astrid backpedaled toward the balcony doors, her hand on her stomach, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Stay back!" she cried, a voice suddenly loud enough to carry. "Please! Think of the baby!" "You did this on purpose," I snarled. "Everythingโthe urn, backing toward the balconyโit's all another manipulation!" She smirked. "Yes, but no one will believe you, Luna. Poor Luna." Then, with the grace of a dancer, she let herself fall backward through the open doors. A normal wolf would have easily caught themselvesโthe drop was nothing to our kind. But Astrid didn't even try. She just fell, her scream piercing the morning air. "I promise I'll never go near Raven again!" she wailed as she fell. "Please don't hurt my baby!" "Sylvia!" Raven's roar came from below. Of course, he was there. Of course, she'd timed this perfectly. I rushed to the balcony, looking down to see Astrid sprawled dramatically on the ground, Raven already at her side. Pack members gathered, drawn by her scream. "What happened?" Raven demanded, though his eyes said he'd already decided. "Sheโshe attacked me," Astrid sobbed. "Said she was tired of me being around. When I told her I'd leave, she said it was too late. That she'd make sure there was nothing left to keep you tied to me..." "That's not true!" I called down. "She broke my mother's urnโ" "You want to know what she said, Raven?" Astrid's voice carried clearly. "She said her father was the true Alpha of the Cold Moon tribe. That you only have your position because of her family's sacrifice. She said she's always looked down on you, that she only tolerates you because of the mate bond." Raven's face darkened with each word. "Sylvia. Get down here." I descended the stairs, my legs shaking with fury. "She's lying. She deliberately broke my mother's urn to provoke meโ" "A high fall like that wouldn't hurt a wolf," I argued. "She didn't even try to land properly!" "I was scared!" Astrid wailed. "When she came at me, all I could think about was protecting the baby. I... I just panicked." She leaned into my husband's arms and gave me a provocative look. She thought I would come forward again in anger, she thought I would, but I didn't. I suddenly felt confused, their faces were in front of me, but so unreal. "Enough!" Raven's Alpha voice rang out. His eyes, when they met mine, were cold with fury. "I've seen enough. Heard enough." "Raven, pleaseโ" "You attacked expecting a baby woman. Used your father's name to undermine my authority. Threatened an innocent child." Each accusation felt like a physical blow. "I've been patient. Been understanding. But this? This is unforgivable." My wolf cowered at his tone, but I forced myself to stand tall. "If you'd just listenโ" "No more listening." His voice dropped to something terrible and final. "You want to act like a traitor? Fine. I'll treat you like one. Perhaps the Blood Moon pack needs a new slave. They know how to handle rebellious wolves." The world stopped. The Blood Moon pack. Known for their cruelty. For breaking wolves into mindless servants. My mateโthe man I'd loved since childhoodโwas threatening to send me there. He was going to hurt me, and in the crook of his arm, he was guarding another woman in a protective position. Something deep inside me shattered. Not just my heart, but every dream, every hope, and every bit of love I'd ever felt for him. "A slave?" My voice came out strange and cold. "That's what I am to you now? Not your mate? Not your Luna? Just a disobedient wolf to be sold off?" He faltered slightly at my tone. "Sylviaโ" "No." Power rose in meโnot my weakened wolf, but something older. Something primal. I stood straight as I stared into his eyes, fearless. "I, Sylvia, the Luna of Cold Moon pack, now break the mate bond with you, Raven, the Alpha of... " | LEARN_MORE | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=15909&u | Galaxy in the Story | https://www.facebook.com/61555427913037/ | 1,660 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | befant.com | DCO | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=15909&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/t39.35426-6/468320331_1286055129255157_6112139950753879329_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1hyb8ehPR-EQ7kNvgFnIoOW&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AKY6CzbmK_4MncCMNQycbNE&oh=00_AYB8HWTVyicpUUgvGBsFPtST3iO20F0Wx5qKe09WaQee-g&oe=676EAF6D | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cliquez ici pour en savoir plus๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๐ | Lorsqu'ils se sont revus, son ex-mari a pleurรฉ et l'a suppliรฉe de se remarier. Mais le magnat des affaires en fauteuil roulant se lรจve et entrelace ses doigts avec elle : ยซ Tu mรฉrites de la courtiser ?! ยป ===== ยซ Divorรงons. ยป Colton Stevens s'est approchรฉ avec impatience, sa frustration รฉtant presque perceptible. ยซ Quatre millions devraient te permettre de vivre toute ta vie. ยป ยซ C'est notre troisiรจme anniversaire de mariage aujourd'hui, ne pouvons-nous pas au moins terminer ce repas ensemble ? ยป Le visage d'Allison Clarke s'est figรฉ un instant. Ses ongles se sont douloureusement enfoncรฉs dans sa paume alors qu'elle luttait pour garder son sang-froid. Colton s'est moquรฉ, son regard รฉtait froid et distant. ยซ Mรชme aprรจs ce repas, je ne t'aimerai jamais. De plus, Melany est revenue. Elle est orgueilleuse, et elle ne supportera pas toute cette situation. ยป Une lueur de douceur lui a parcouru le visage ร la mention de Melany Johnson, une chaleur qui n'avait jamais รฉtรฉ rรฉservรฉe ร Allison, malgrรฉ tous les efforts qu'elle avait dรฉployรฉs pour y parvenir. Soumise ร des exigences extrรชmes pour lui, elle s'รฉtait occupรฉe de ses parents et avait tout sacrifiรฉ pendant des annรฉes. Mais rien de tout cela ne lui avait valu plus qu'un simple regard. Melany รฉtait celle qui tenait son cลur, elle l'avait toujours tenu. Elle l'avait quittรฉ trois ans plus tรดt, rompant leurs fianรงailles et partant ร l'รฉtranger. Pourtant, aujourd'hui, sur un simple mot de sa part, Colton a facilement acceptรฉ son retour et a choisi de divorcer d'Allison sans la moindre hรฉsitation. Allison s'est agrippรฉe au bord de la table comme si elle essayait de se stabiliser contre une soudaine rafale de vent. ยซ Ton grand-pรจre est au courant ? ยป Colton a รฉclatรฉ d'un rire aigu et moqueur. ยซ Ne crois pas que tu puisses te cacher derriรจre mon grand-pรจre. Il est ร l'hรดpital et ne peut pas supporter le stress. Mes parents sont d'accord avec le divorce. En fait, Melany les a rencontrรฉs aujourd'hui mรชme. ยป Le cลur d'Allison s'est effondrรฉ, un froid glacial s'est insinuรฉ dans ses veines. Elle รฉtait autrefois une parfumeuse de gรฉnie, une pirate informatique de renom. Pendant trois ans, elle avait enterrรฉ toute trace de son gรฉnie, se transformant en parfaite femme au foyer. Rรฉcemment, elle avait obtenu une opportunitรฉ rare avec Cobweb, le rรฉseau de renseignement le plus insaisissable, dans l'espoir d'aider la famille Stevens ร conclure une affaire cruciale. Une telle opportunitรฉ รฉtait presque impossible ร obtenir. Pourtant, maintenant, tout cela ressemblait ร une farce cruelle. ยซ Alors, Melany est chez tes parents ? ยป, a-t-elle demandรฉ, la voix cassante. ยซ Naturellement ยป, a dit Colton en souriant, ses traits s'adoucissant comme si la pensรฉe de Melany rendait tout plus lumineux. ยซ Ils viennent mรชme de dรฎner. Melany s'est toujours bien entendue avec mes parents. Ils ont vantรฉ ses mรฉrites toute la soirรฉe, disant ร quel point elle est attentionnรฉe et comprรฉhensive. ยป ยซ Et vous saviez tous qu'elle allait revenir, mais vous m'avez laissรฉe dans l'ignorance ยป, a murmurรฉ Allison, la voix chargรฉe d'incrรฉdulitรฉ. Ses yeux se sont illuminรฉs, la piqรปre de la trahison l'a profondรฉment marquรฉe. Attentionnรฉe et comprรฉhensive. Comme c'รฉtait ridicule. Les parents de Colton avaient l'habitude de faire les mรชmes commentaires ร son sujet. Colton lui a lancรฉ un regard impatient. ยซ Ce n'รฉtait pas fait exprรจs. C'est juste que le majordome a oubliรฉ de le mentionner. Ne commence pas ร crรฉer des drames lร oรน il n'y en a pas. ยป Il l'a regardรฉe alors, vraiment regardรฉe, et pendant un moment, son expression est passรฉe ร celle du dรฉdain. Allison รฉtait une femme dรฉlicate, ร la peau impeccable et aux traits remarquables, d'autant plus que ses yeux รฉtaient clairs et brillants. Mais rien de tout cela n'avait d'importance. Elle รฉtait ennuyeuse, et c'รฉtait tout. Elle รฉtait une femme au foyer idรฉale, certes, rรฉpondant ร tout ce qu'il aurait pu attendre d'une gardienne pour ses parents, mais vivre avec elle รฉtait รฉtouffant. Chaque jour, Allison repassait les vรชtements et prรฉparait les repas avec prรฉcision. Sa routine รฉtait si prรฉvisible que Colton n'avait jamais ร se demander ce qu'elle faisait. Elle รฉtait l'image mรชme de la femme au foyer parfaite : entiรจrement dรฉvouรฉe ร la maison. Mais il n'en pouvait plus. ยซ Et que tu acceptes le fait ou pas, tu pars ce soir. ยป Colton a hรฉsitรฉ, rรฉalisant ร quel point il avait l'air dur. ยซ Tu peux dรฉmรฉnager ร la Villa Starfish. Je te laisse la villa, elle est ร toi. ยป En effet, il avait fait des recherches sur Allison. Elle venait d'un milieu rural modeste, avait quittรฉ l'รฉcole trรจs tรดt et n'avait pas vu grand-chose du monde. Si elle n'avait pas sauvรฉ la vie du grand-pรจre de Colton, elle n'aurait jamais รฉpousรฉ un membre de la famille Stevens. Dans son esprit, lui offrir la villa semblait plus que gรฉnรฉreux pour quelqu'un aux origines aussi modestes. Mais le visage d'Allison n'a pas manifestรฉ de gratitude. Au lieu de cela, elle lui a offert un mince sourire froid. ยซ Alors, est-ce qu'elle emmรฉnage maintenant ? ยป Allison se moquait de la villa et des quatre millions qu'il proposait. Elle pouvait gagner bien plus en tant que hacker dehaut niveau. Ce qui lui faisait mal, c'รฉtait d'รชtre abandonnรฉe aprรจs trois ans de loyautรฉ. Colton a soupirรฉ et a dit : ยซ La chambre au deuxiรจme รฉtage รฉtait toujours la sienne. Maintenant que Melany est de retour et qu'elle n'a pas d'autre endroit oรน loger, je lui ai dit qu'elle pouvait s'y installer. Si tu es encore lร , elle se sentira mal ร l'aise. ยป Le silence d'Allison suffisait ร l'agacer, car il supposait qu'elle n'รฉtait pas satisfaite de l'accord. Il devenait de plus en plus frustrรฉ. ยซ N'insiste pas. Tu dois savoir quand c'est assez. ยป Il a jetรฉ un coup d'ลil ร sa montre, comptant manifestement le temps. ยซ Maintenant que j'ai dรฉposรฉ ma demande de divorce, nous nous retrouverons ร la mairie dans quelques jours. Tu ferais mieux de te prรฉparer et d'engager un avocat... ยป Il n'a pas pu terminer. ยซ Je sais ce qu'il faut faire ยป, l'a interrompu Allison, la voix teintรฉe de dรฉgoรปt. Elle s'est replongรฉe dans un souvenir d'enfance oรน elle รฉtait aveugle et en grand danger. Un garรงon l'avait portรฉe sur son dos pendant trois jours et trois nuits, lui sauvant la vie. Ce garรงon avait dit qu'il s'appelait Colton Stevens. ร prรฉsent, trois ans aprรจs leur mariage, ce mรชme garรงon l'obligeait ร partir. Le temps transformait parfois les gens en รฉtrangers. ยซ Je vais y aller ยป, a dit Allison en revenant ร l'instant prรฉsent. Elle s'est levรฉe et a regardรฉ Colton avec fermetรฉ et dรฉtachement. ยซ ร partir de maintenant, nous ne nous devons plus rien l'un ร l'autre. ยป Colton a respirรฉ, soulagรฉ. ยซ C'est bien. ยป Comme ร l'improviste, la gouvernante, Kaelyn Thorpe, est apparue en haut des escaliers, se dรฉbattant avec une valise. ยซ Monsieur, vos parents ont appelรฉ et ont dit que Mme Clarke devait partir tout de suite, alors j'ai emballรฉ ses affaires.... Oh non ! ยป Avant qu'elle ne puisse terminer, elle a poussรฉ un cri dramatique et a fait semblant de se tordre la cheville. La valise d'Allison a dรฉgringolรฉ les escaliers, renversant ses affaires partout. Chapitre 2 Retour ยซ Mme Clarke, je suis vraiment dรฉsolรฉe ! Je n'ai pas fait exprรจs ! ยป Kaelyn a descendu prรฉcipitamment les escaliers, son visage affichant une inquiรฉtude exagรฉrรฉe. ยซ Peut-รชtre pourriez-vous tout mettre dans un sac pour l'instant ? ยป, a-t-elle ajoutรฉ, cachant son dรฉdain derriรจre un sourire mielleux. Kaelyn mรฉprisait toujours Allison, ne la considรฉrant que comme une pauvre fille de la campagne qui s'accrochait sans vergogne ร Colton pour avoir une vie meilleure. Colton a froncรฉ les sourcils de frustration. ยซ Tu es tellement maladroite ! ยป, s'est-il exclamรฉ en jetant un coup d'ลil aux vรชtements รฉparpillรฉs. La valise d'Allison contenait si peu de choses, quelques vรชtements et presque aucun bijou. Elle n'avait mรชme pas dรฉpensรฉ une grande partie de l'argent qu'il lui avait donnรฉ au fil des ans. Elle vivait simplement, frugalement, et cela reflรฉtait le fait qu'elle n'avait jamais essayรฉ de profiter de son statut. Mais l'amour ne pouvait pas รชtre forcรฉ ou simulรฉ. ยซ Les bagages de Melany sont prioritaires. Mets les affaires d'Allison dans un sac de rangement ยป, a ajoutรฉ Colton d'un air dรฉdaigneux, en regardant la valise cassรฉe. ยซ Je demanderai ร la gouvernante de t'en acheter une nouvelle demain. ยป Allison a esquissรฉ un lรฉger sourire amer. ยซ Cette valise, c'est celle que j'ai volรฉe aux kidnappeurs quand nous nous enfuyions pour sauver nos vies. Sans elle, nous nous serions noyรฉs ร l'รฉpoque. ยป Pendant ces annรฉes, elle avait pris soin de cette valise, tout comme elle avait pris soin de leur mariage. Et ร prรฉsent, tout comme leur relation, elle รฉtait brisรฉe. Colton a laissรฉ รฉchapper un rire glacial. ยซ Cette histoire pourrait tromper mon grand-pรจre, mais elle ne marche pas sur moi. ยป Le souvenir d'avoir รฉtรฉ kidnappรฉ quand il รฉtait enfant รฉtait trop vague, et il doutait toujours qu'Allison ait รฉtรฉ avec lui ร cette รฉpoque. Se tournant vers Kaelyn, Colton a รฉlevรฉ le ton. ยซ Dรฉpรชche-toi de faire ses valises ! ยป ยซ ร vos ordres ! ยป, a commencรฉ Kaelyn avec empressement ร rassembler les vรชtements d'Allison, mais elle a dรฉlibรฉrรฉment marchรฉ dessus, les salissant par la mรชme occasion. D'un ton maladivement doux, elle s'est moquรฉe : ยซ Mme Clarke, la grand-mรจre de M. Stevens dit toujours que les gens sont comme des vรชtements. Une fois que les vรชtements d'une personne sont tachรฉs, on a beau les laver, les marques ne s'effacent jamais vraiment. ยป Allison faisait toujours preuve de gentillesse ร l'รฉgard de Kaelyn, mรชme lorsqu'elle n'รฉtait pas obligรฉe de le faire. Aprรจs tout, Kaelyn รฉtait une parente รฉloignรฉe de la grand-mรจre de Colton. Quelques annรฉes plus tรดt, lorsque Kaelyn avait commis une erreur qui avait failli mettre la famille Stevens en conflit avec Kellan Lloyd, le fils aรฎnรฉ de la famille Lloyd, c'รฉtait Allison qui avait aplani les choses. Elle avait nรฉgociรฉ un accord avec Kellan, qui รฉtait paralysรฉ, afin d'obtenir le terrain nรฉcessaire au projet commercial des Stevens. ร l'รฉpoque, Kaelyn avait รฉtรฉ reconnaissante, presque humiliรฉe. Mais aujourd'hui, enhardie par le vent de changement qui soufflait sur la famille Stevens, Kaelyn agissait comme si elle ne s'รฉtait jamais mise ร genoux. Tout se rรฉsumait ร une chose : la faveur de la grand-mรจre de Colton s'รฉtait รฉloignรฉe, et avec elle, l'attitude de la famille. ยซ Si les vรชtements se salissent, tu as raison, il est impossible de les nettoyer complรจtement ยป, a dit Allison en jetant un coup d'ลil ร Colton. Elle a haussรฉ les รฉpaules, avec une certaine dรฉsinvolture dans la voix. ยซ Donc, je n'en aurai plus besoin. ยป De toute faรงon, elle n'avait jamais aimรฉ ses vรชtements fades et informes. Ils ne lui avaient jamais convenu. Aprรจs avoir dit cela, Alison se retourna et s'รฉloigna. Sortie de la villa, Allison son tรฉlรฉphone ร la main, et avait composรฉ un numรฉro familier. Lorsque l'appel a รฉtรฉ connectรฉ, sa voix รฉtait calme, presque lรฉgรจre. ยซ Rebecca, je suis divorcรฉe et j'ai quittรฉ sa villa. Ma maison et ma voiture sont toujours au Vrining. รa te dรฉrange si je passe la nuit chez toi ? ยป ร l'autre bout du fil, Rebecca Green a passรฉ du silence aux cris de joie en quelques secondes. ยซ Nom d'un chien ! Tu as enfin divorcรฉ de cet i**ot ! Oublie l'hรฉbergement, passons ร une fรชte ! Une fรชte de cรฉlibataires ! ยป Mรชme ร distance, Allison pouvait entendre les rires exagรฉrรฉs de Rebecca dans le tรฉlรฉphone. ยซ Si les gens de Cobweb apprennent que la fondatrice est de retour, les serveurs vont exploser ! ยป Chapitre 3 Fรชte de la croisiรจre Dans la villa, Colton son regard tombant sur la table ร manger chargรฉe de nourriture. La frustration l'a envahi, d'autant plus qu'il a repensรฉ au souvenir d'Allison je viens de partir plus tรดt. Allison รฉtait restรฉe calme, mais quelque chose en elle semblait plus froid, plus dur qu'avant, loin de la femme docile et conciliante qu'il avait connue. Mais cette pensรฉe s'est rapidement dissipรฉe. Pour lui, Allison serait toujours cette femme au foyer terne et soumise. Il pensait que sans lui, elle ne serait rien. ร l'extรฉrieur de la villa, une Lamborghini รฉlรฉgante s'est arrรชtรฉe et une femme en est descendue. ยซ Allison, ma chรฉrie ! ยป Rebecca s'est prรฉcipitรฉe sur Allison et l'a embrassรฉe chaleureusement. ยซ Tu sais, si tu le souhaites, tu pourrais vivre chez moi pour toujours ! ยป Rebecca, fille unique des propriรฉtaires du Groupe รternitรฉ, possรฉdait pratiquement la moitiรฉ de l'horizon de la ville. Trouver un toit pour Allison n'รฉtait pas un problรจme. ยซ Alors, que s'est-il passรฉ ce soir ? ยป, a demandรฉ Rebecca en se rapprochant, sa joue reposant sur le cou d'Allison. ยซ Tu sens encore l'huile de cuisson. Ne me dis pas que tu as encore cuisinรฉ pour ce c**tin ? ยป Allison a senti le serrement familier dans sa gorge, les รฉmotions montant alors que l'รฉtreinte de Rebecca la rรฉchauffait. ยซ Parlons dans la voiture ยป, a-t-elle dit. Une fois dans la Lamborghini, Allison a commencรฉ ร raconter ce qui s'รฉtait passรฉ aujourd'hui. Sa voix est restรฉe stable, mais le tempรฉrament de Rebecca s'est enflammรฉ comme une รฉtincelle enflammant du bois sec. ยซ Peux-tu le croire ? Colton s'est fait larguer par Melany le jour de leur mariage, et maintenant il essaie de revenir vers elle en divorรงant ? Ils sont faits l'un pour l'autre, deux pois dans une cosse pourrie ! ยป, s'est emportรฉe Rebecca. ยซ Et ses parents ! ยป Rebecca a continuรฉ, sa colรจre montant comme une tempรชte. ยซ Tu t'es occupรฉe d'eux pendant trois ans, tu t'es pliรฉe en quatre pour cette famille, et c'est le remerciement que tu reรงois ? ยป Rebecca a continuรฉ sa tirade, ses mots comme des balles. ยซ รcoute, il a perdu la mรฉmoire de cet incident dans son enfance, c'est sรปr, mais รงa n'excuse pas ce qu'il a fait. Tu as plus que payรฉ ton dรป ces trois derniรจres annรฉes. Ce n'est plus la peine de faire semblant d'รชtre la femme qu'il veut. Il est temps de laisser le passรฉ derriรจre toi. ยป Allison s'est affaissรฉe sur le siรจge du passager, son regard distant alors que le monde se brouillait devant la fenรชtre. ยซ C'est fini. Nous sommes quittes maintenant. ยป Pendant trois ans, elle s'รฉtait modelรฉe ร l'image de la femme parfaite de Colton. Elle avait abandonnรฉ ses talons, ramenรฉ ses cheveux en arriรจre et s'รฉtait contentรฉe de tenues modestes et ennuyeuses, des tenues qu'elle n'aimait mรชme pas, tout cela pour รชtre ร l'image de Melany. Mais elle avait beau essayer, elle ne pouvait pas rivaliser avec la femme qu'il aimait vraiment. ยซ Allison, la vรฉritรฉ est que la famille Stevens ne mรฉrite pas quelqu'un comme toi. ยป La voix de Rebecca s'est adoucie, chargรฉe du poids des รฉmotions alors qu'elle sentait l'รฉpuisement d'Allison. ยซ Le divorce est un processus, mais jusqu'ร ce qu'il soit rรฉglรฉ, tu resteras chez moi. Tu es comme une sลur pour moi, de toute faรงon. ยป Allison a rรฉussi ร esquisser un petit sourire. ยซ D'accord. ยป Ayant grandi dans un orphelinat, Allison n'avait jamais eu de famille. Mais Rebecca la traitait toujours mieux que quiconque. Leur conversation s'est interrompue lorsqu'elles sont arrivรฉes ร un studio de maquillage exclusif. Rebecca a baissรฉ la vitre et a saluรฉ avec enthousiasme Mary Brown, une cรฉlรจbre maquilleuse. ยซ Hรฉ, Mary ! J'ai un petit projet pour toi ! ยป Allison s'est frottรฉ les tempes en gรฉ**ssant doucement : ยซ Honnรชtement, je suis รฉpuisรฉe. Je ne pense pas pouvoir me maquiller ce soir. ยป ยซ Oh, voyons ! Tu n'as pas l'intention de garder ce look fatiguรฉ, toujours en train de l'attendre, n'est-ce pas ? ยป ยซ Oui... Certainement pas. ยป ยซ Exactement ! ยป Le visage de Rebecca s'est illuminรฉ. ยซ Dรฉtends-toi et laisse les pros faire leur magie. Ce sont des artistes internationaux de premiรจre classe. Ce soir, ils font ressortir la version de toi qui manque au monde entier ! ยป Trente minutes plus tard, la transformation รฉtait incontestable. Presque tous ceux qui l'ont vue dans le miroir ont รฉtรฉ momentanรฉment stupรฉfaits. Les traits naturellement frappants d'Allison avaient toujours รฉtรฉ รฉclipsรฉs par l'รฉpuisement. Mais aujourd'hui, avec une simple touche de maquillage, elle est devenue รฉpoustouflante. Ses longs yeux fรฉlins, accentuรฉs par la juste dose d'ombre, รฉtaient captivants sans รชtre exagรฉrรฉs. Un dรฉlicat grain de beautรฉ dessinรฉ au coin de l'ลil ajoutait une touche d'audace presque rebelle. Mรชme Rebecca ne pouvait contenir son exaltation. ยซ Voilร ... c'est l'Allison dont je me souviens ! ยป Elle a fait un geste en direction d'une รฉtagรจre de robes qui รฉtait en train d'รชtre apportรฉe. ยซ Chรฉrie, choisis n'importe quelle robe qui te plaรฎt. J'ai tout prรฉvu pour ce soir. Nous cรฉlรฉbrons ta libertรฉ sur un yacht de luxe. Je te jure que ce sera une soirรฉe que tu n'oublieras pas ! ยป Allison l'a balayรฉ d'un revers de main. ยซ Je ne suis pas d'humeur. ยป Rebecca lui a lancรฉ un regard complice, avec un peu de frustration. ยซ Tu n'es pas d'humeur ? ยป Rebecca l'a observรฉe attentivement, sentant qu'elle pouvait encore se raccrocher au passรฉ. Il รฉtait temps de sortir l'artillerie lourde ! ยซ Tu sais qu'il y aura des parfumeurs internationaux ร cette soirรฉe, n'est-ce pas ? Y compris le cerveau du Groupe Charisma ! Ne me dis pas que tu ne veux pas le rencontrer enfin. ยป Charisma รฉtait la marque de parfum la plus rรฉputรฉe du pays. Allison avait croisรฉ le PDG lors d'un concours international de parfumerie. Ses crรฉations n'รฉtaient rien de moins que de l'art. Pour la premiรจre fois depuis longtemps, elles lui donnaient une impression de dรฉjร -vu, car elles lui rappelaient le style de sa mรจre. Mais comme elle, le PDG รฉtait une รฉnigme. Il ne s'รฉtait jamais montrรฉ en public, mรชme lorsque Charisma รฉtait devenu cรฉlรจbre ร l'รฉchelle mondiale. Personne ne savait ร quoi il ressemblait, pas mรชme aujourd'hui. ยซ D'accord, allons voir. ยป Allison a fini par cรฉder, sa curiositรฉ piquรฉe. Aprรจs tout, elle avait dรฉjร piratรฉ la base de donnรฉes de Charisma et n'avait rien trouvรฉ. Et quelque chose dans ses tripes lui soufflait encore que ce mystรฉrieux parfumeur pouvait รชtre liรฉ ร sa mรจre, d'une maniรจre ou d'une autre. ...... Que se passe-t-il ensuite? Le nombre de chapitres affichรฉs est limitรฉ. Appuyez sur le bouton ci-dessous pour installer notre application et lire les chapitres suivants. (Accรฉder automatiquement ร ce livre en ouvrant l'application) &5& | LEARN_MORE | https://fbweb.kifflire.com/20896410-fb_contact-frp | Loving reading | https://www.facebook.com/61567813351718/ | 753 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.kifflire.com | IMAGE | https://fbweb.kifflire.com/20896410-fb_contact-frp83_2-241129-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=124213&accid=1873316979751191&rawadid=120214262141980736 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/469196595_1575381436440615_6724117007404114070_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=K7XCmSM9P9oQ7kNvgGCLE3J&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AsFVJHE_jDgmguPysldv5zL&oh=00_AYC2JUSAzpoekZlqcMHqQFhM_O99T2YBCNmytr6x96QKXw&oe=676EE28B | 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 | โIโm so glad you are here tonight, Leah. I care so much about you.โ Tristan said. My husband, the Alpha of Blazewood Pack, held the beautiful blonde in his arm. I froze on my spot after seeing this. All the guests in the banquet hall were stealing glances at me, whispering and jeering. โIs that Leah Middleton?โ My maid Mandy gasped, โWhatโs she doing here?!โ My husband brought her here, obviously. Tonight was the Full Moon festival. We should have attended as Alpha and Luna, but Tristan brought her instead. Leah Middleton was Tristanโs high school sweetheart, Ironclaw Packโs Alphaโs daughter. She and Tristan were the perfect couple until Leah broke up with him. Rumors said that she cheated on him with another person. Tristan met me a year later at a party. Nobody in my family was thrilled about our relationship. But I still ran away from home and married into Blazewood Pack. We were mates, blessed by the Moon Goddess. How bad could it be? But I was wrong. So wrong. The first bump in our marriage was my miscarriage. I lost my child during a business meeting. Tristan blamed me for it. He thought I was too careless. To fix the trauma, we adopted a sweet little boy called Roman. But a child still couldnโt fix our marriage. Tristan started to grow cold to me. And now, Leah was back, my husbandโs Ex. Was she here to take him away from me? Suppressing the panic, I strode up to them. โLeah, you should leave.โ I tried to say this with as much dignity as possible. โAnd stay away from my husband.โ Leah rounded her big, innocent eyes and looked over to Tristan. โShall we tell her?โ she asked softly. I started to get a bad feeling. โTell me what?โ Tristan gave me an indifferent look, โLeah will stay here from now on.โ I couldnโt believe what I just heard. โStay here? As what? Are you out of your mind?!โ Tears quickly welled up in Leah's eyes, โI know you hate me, Evelyn. It's all my fault. But Tristan didnโt do anything wrong so please donโt yell at him.โ โDo you mind? Iโm talking to my husband!โ I snapped. โBe nice to her!โ Tristan growled. โI wonโt threaten your position. I promise.โ Leah blinked innocently, โYou can still be Luna. All I want is to stay with Tristanโฆand my child.โ The ground was slipping away underneath my feet. My legs went soft, and I couldnโt stand straight. โChild? What child?โ I asked through clenched teeth. They had a child together? How come I didn't know about this?? They exchanged a look. And then finally, Tristan spoke up, โItโs probably time to tell you the truthโฆRoman is Leah and my kid.โ I couldnโt breathe, โBut you saidโฆyou adopted Roman from an orphanage! He doesnโt have any parents!โ โIf I hadnโt said that, would you have accepted Roman and raised him as your own?โ Tristan said with a frown. โLeah couldnโt raise Roman when the kid was born. So I brought him back here. Itโs just a little harmless lie.โ A harmless lie? I poured my heart out and raised the child of the person who fucked my husband. And now she swooped in and tried to take my child and husband away. What am I? A free nanny to them? โNo, TristanโฆI donโt want her here.โ I gritted, trying hard not to let my tears fall. โThis is unacceptable. Send her away, pleaseโฆI am asking as your wife and Luna!โ โShe stays. End of discussion!โ Tristan growled. โIf she staysโฆIโm afraid that you are driving me away,โ I said, trembling. My heart was in my throat because even I couldnโt be sure whom he would choose. Tristan looked frustrated. Yet before he spoke up, Leah burst out crying. โDonโt push him! This is all my faultโฆI never want to be the third person in your marriageโฆIโI should go!โ she sobbed and turned away, running out of the banquet hall. Tristan snapped his head towards me and glared, โNow are you happy?โ Chapter 2 Evelynโs POV Tristan never bothered to check on me once. I heard that he was busy taking Leah to parties and introducing her to all his members. Then I got an unexpected call, from my best friend in college, Haley. โHey, Evelyn! Just want to check on you and see if you are still coming to Storm Fang Pack for business next week. We should find a time to meet up!โ I took in a small deep breath. I almost forgot that. For the past few years, I have been working on a huge real estate project called Carnival City with a company in Storm Fang Pack, AKA the largest and most powerful pack in the world. Originally, I planned to go over there next week and sign the contract with CEO Jason. I also wanted to catch up with Haley andโฆpossibly visit Haley's brother. Her brother, Asher Hawthorne, was no one else but the Alpha of Storm Fang Pack, the tycoon that dominated the business world. If he could advise on my project, itโd definitely help me. But now, I had completely forgotten all about that. Because of what happened with Leah. โI donโt know, HaleyโฆMaybe thereโll be a change of plan. I canโt go anymore.โ I said lowly. โWhat? Why?โ Thereโs no point hiding this with my best friend. I covered my face and choked, โโฆTristan is leaving me for another personโฆthe birth mother of our adopted child. If he does, thereโs no point for me to keep working on that projectโฆโ Although Leah was his mother by birth, I was by his side for the past 3 years. My boy would be on my side. Standing outside of the packhouse, I saw Romanโs school bus drive close. I was on this spot every day for the past 3 years, waiting for Roman to come back to school. As soon as the door opened, I started waving and calling for my boy: โRoman! Darling! Over here!โ He jumped off the school bus. But as soon as he saw me, he started running in the opposite direction. โGet away from me!โ He cried. I rushed to grab his shoulder, stunned, โWhat? Roman, whyโโ โYou want my mommy to leave! I hate you!โ he shouted, โDaddy, Mommy, and I are a real family! Not you!โ Tears welled up in my eyes. Roman knew Leah was back. And he chose her over me. โRoman, IโIโm your mom, remember?โ I choked, โI took you to the hospital when you were sick. I went to all of your parent and teacher's meetings.โ He struggled in my arms, screeching, as though he didnโt want me to touch him. Passersby stopped and stared at us. One guy even came forward and said, โMiss, please let go of the child.โ โItโs ok. Heโs my kid.โ I quickly explained. โNO!โ Roman shrieked, โYou hit me! You put my head into the toilet! You scared me! I donโt want you. I want Mommy Leah!โ I froze on my spot. I didnโt none of those stuff! Why would Roman lie about those?! Leah suddenly appeared near the front gate, with Tristan behind her back. She dashed over, crying, and held Roman tightly in her arms. โMy poor baby! Whatโve you been through!โ she wailed. โYou hit Roman?!โ Tristan growled at me, โAre you doing this because you canโt have your own child and you are jealous of Leah?โ I looked at him in shock. How could he think this way? Leah sobbed, โDonโt blame her, Tristan. I get it. People only care about their own kids. Roman and I are outsiders here. Maybe we should leaveโฆโ โYes, you do!โ I blurt out. โENOUGH!โ Tristan snarled, glaring at me. โLeahโs the person I care about and Roman is my only son! I canโt leave them. And they need me.โ I started to tremble in pain. โThen what about me, Tristan? Iโm your mate!โ โNobody says you arenโt!โ Tristan said impatiently, โYouโll still be Blazewood Packโs Luna. Sheโs not interested in your position.โ โYou wonโt even notice that Iโm in the house. I just want to stay with Tristan.โ Leah said softly. I felt dizzy. If she was the person he loved, then what did that make me? A free employee who helped him run his pack? How could I stand the pain while my husband fucked another person every day in the next room? No, I couldnโt handle that. So with a trembling hand, I started undoing my blouse, revealing my delicate collarbone. My scent quickly filled the air. I heard Tristanโs breathing suddenly become heavy. โโฆWhat are you doing?โ he gritted with sweat on his forehead. I took a step further, locking eyes with him, whispering, โDonโt you miss me? The feeling of being with your mateโฆitโs better than anything else in the world. You know that.โ The mate bond was working. He stared deep into my eyes, obsessed, and murmured, โMy mate.โ | LEARN_MORE | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=15862&u | Galaxy in the Story | https://www.facebook.com/61555427913037/ | 1,660 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | befant.com | DCO | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=15862&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/t39.35426-6/467730157_1238869077349073_3792002446600257245_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=17SesUHwGkcQ7kNvgFGVcPT&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AKY6CzbmK_4MncCMNQycbNE&oh=00_AYCn3VmQKB09NsDHCkvBSekI2O9E6nrBCz9Z51z-bScYXw&oe=676EE3EC | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | "Little wolf," Raven's voice was rough velvet in the candlelight. "just looking at you makes me hard. You're making it impossible for me to focus on dinner." His dark eyes traced my silhouette as he sat across our anniversary table, wine glass dangling forgotten from his fingers. I'd spent hours preparing for tonight. The black dress hugged every line of my body, the silk falling like water over the lace beneathโhis favorite. The neckline dipped just low enough to hint at promises for later, while the slit along the side flashed tempting glimpses of the thigh with each movement. Five years of marriage, and I still felt a thrill when he looked at me like thisโlike I was the only woman in his world. His Alpha pheromones filled our dining room, making my skin flush with heat. That unique scent of hisโpine needles and winter frostโgrew stronger with his desire, calling to my wolf. My breath caught as his eyes darkened to amber, a sign of his wolf rising to the surface. He tipped back his red wine glass, finishing it in one long swallow. The movement emphasized his strong throat, making my mouth go dry. "Let me fill that for you," I murmured, rising from my seat. I picked up the red wine bottle and bent to pour. I saw his eyes rest on the silver moon lily pendant at firstโhis gift from our first anniversary. Then his eyes moved to my chest under the pendant. His scent intensified, becoming sharp with need. Before I could straighten, strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind. His breath was hot against my neck as he pulled me back against his chest. "Raven..." My voice trembled as his hot breath caressed my neck. Strong arms lifted me onto our dining room table, scattering the carefully arranged silverware. My black dress rode up my thighs as he pressed between them, his powerful hands skating up my sides with possessive intent. "Little wolf,โ he growled against my ear, the sound pure Alpha dominance. โDo you know how irresistible you look tonight?โHis scent surrounded me, making my toes curl as his pheromones called to my wolf. The candlelight danced across crystal glasses, casting warm shadows through the deep red wine. He nuzzled my marking scar, sending shivers of pleasure through our mate bond. I arched into him, my fingers tangling in his silk shirt. "The dinner," I protested weakly as his lips traced a burning path down my throat. "I spent hours..." "Later," he promised, his voice rough with desire. My legs wrapped around his waist instinctively as he lifted me again. "Right now, I need to properly appreciate my mate on our anniversary." We barely reached our bedroom, leaving a trail of clothes behind. "I've missed you," I murmured against his neck, my fingers tracing the strong line of his jaw. "You've been so busy with pack business lately." Raven's skilled hands gripped my haunch, drawing a soft gasp from my lips. His eyes darkened with desire as he pulled me closer until I could feel every hard plane of his body against mine. The thin fabric of my anniversary dress did nothing to shield me from his heat. His kiss was deep, and passionate, making heat pool low in my belly as my toes curled with pleasure. "You know I'd rather be here with you, Sylvia." His breath was hot against my ear, followed by a gentle bite that made me gasp. "Only you, little wolf." Every brush of his fingers left fire trails on my skin, and I found myself arching into his touch, wanting more. The mate bond between us hummed with electricity as his hands roamed higher, each caress more demanding than the last. My wolf stirred within me, responding to his dominance despite her weakened state. When his lips found my neck, right over our mating mark, my toes curled with pleasure. "My beautiful little wolf," he growled, the sound vibrating through his chest. His touch grew more insistent, making my breath catch. "My perfect Luna." "Mine," he growled, and I arched into him, wanting desperately to believe it. Then his phone buzzed. At first, he ignored it, his lips trailing fire down my neck. But it buzzed again. And again. Raven tensed above me, his whole body going rigid. The phone buzzed again, insistent. Pack business - I recognized that specific ringtone and had heard it too many times before. "Don't," I pleaded, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Please. It's our anniversary." He hesitated, then reached for the phone. I saw the caller ID flashโBeta Marcusโbefore Raven answered. "This better be important," he snapped, but I could already feel him pulling away emotionally, if not yet physically. I watched his face as he listened, noting how his expression shifted from annoyed to concerned to... something else. Something I couldn't quite read. "I'll be right there," he said finally, already moving to get up. "Are you serious?" I sat up, clutching the sheet to my chest. "It's our anniversary, Raven. Our anniversary. Whatever it is, surely Marcus can handle it." He was already pulling on his clothes, and his movements rushed. "It's pack business. This needs the Alpha's attention. I'm sorry, little wolf." "Fine." I turned away, not wanting him to see the hurt in my eyes. "Go be Alpha. It's what you're best at anyway." He paused, then leaned down to press a kiss to my forehead. "I'll make it up to you. I promise." The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me alone with the cooling sheets and the ghost of his touch on my skin. I curled into his pillow, breathing in his scent and fighting back disappointment. This wasn't the first time pack business had interrupted our special moments, and it probably wouldn't be the last. "He's the Alpha," I whispered to myself, sitting up slowly. "The pack needs him." It has been five years since Raven became the Alpha of our pack. Five years ago, I lost my father forever. He was the powerful Alpha of Cold Moon Pack but had fallen defending our borders from Blood Moon Pack's ruthless expansion. I'd felt his death through our pack bondsโa searing pain that dropped every Cold Moon wolf to their knees. Our once-mighty pack fractured, vulnerable as newborn pups. Enemy packs circled our borders like vultures, waiting to claim our territory. It was then Raven found me during the Moon Goddess ceremony. The moment our eyes met, our wolves recognized each other. True matesโa blessing so rare it was almost a myth. Even then, my wolf was weaker than she should have been, but Raven didn't care. "You're mine," he'd said fiercely, right there in front of both packs. "Your strength, your weakness, your everythingโit's all mine to protect." The other Alphas had whispered, of course. A powerful wolf like Raven, choosing a mate who might never bear him pups? But he'd silenced them all by taking the Cold Moon Alpha position, merging our packs, and protecting my father's legacy. "He'll probably be hungry after handling pack business," I murmured, heading to the kitchen. Maybe I could salvage what remained of our anniversary with my mother's moon-blessed cookiesโRaven's favorite. The cookies would need some special decorations stored in the top cabinet. I dragged the wooden ladder from the pantry, positioning it carefully. My wolf whined softly - she'd been feeling so weak lately that even simple tasks seemed to drain me. "It's fine," I assured myself, starting to climb. "Just a few more steps." The world suddenly tilted. My wolf's usual grace failed me, and my ankle twisted sharply as I missed a step. I crashed to the floor, pain shooting up my leg. "Raven?" I called out instinctively, before remembering I was alone. Tears pricked at my eyes as I sat there on the cold kitchen floor, cradling my throbbing ankle. This wasn't the first time I'd needed him lately and found myself alone. Last week during the pack run, when I'd felt too weak to keep up. The council meeting where I'd nearly fainted, and he'd barely noticed. "Stop it," I scolded myself, wiping away a stray tear. "He's doing his job. The pack comes first." I managed to pull myself up using the counter, testing my weight gingerly on the injured ankle. It hurt, but I could walk. The moon-blessed cookies lay half-mixed on the counter, mocking my attempts at creating a perfect anniversary surprise. My phone chimed. "Maybe it's Raven," I thought hopefully, reaching for it. "Maybe he's finished early." The name on the screen made me pause: Astrid. "Thank you for being so understanding about Raven's 'pack duties.' He takes such good care of me." The attached photo loaded, and time seemed to stop. My mate - my Raven - his hands on another woman's haunch, his lips on her neck, their bodies pressed together in an intimate embrace that mirrored our own moments ago. "This is ridiculous," I whispered, my voice sounding strange in the empty kitchen. "Raven wouldn't..." But the timestamp glared up at me: ten minutes ago. I stared at the screen, unable to process what I was seeing. His scentโpine needles and winter frostโstill lingered on my skin from our intimate moments just before. The mark on my neck still tingled from his kisses. Is this what he called ... pack duties? Is he giving up our anniversary just for ... this kind of duty? Chapter 0002 Sylviaโs POV Sleep eluded me after last night's revelation. I spent hours staring at the cold, empty space beside me in our bed. Dawn found me in our kitchen, staring at Astrid's photo from last night. The intimacy in their embrace twisted my heart, even though I knew - rationally - that Raven wouldn't cross that line. Not with James's widow. Not with the woman carrying his dead Beta's child. But hadn't I said that every time before? When did he rush to her side during pack meetings? When he spent hours "comforting" her while I handled pack duties alone? Astrid - widow of James, Raven's former Beta who end life protecting him three months ago. I'd always encouraged Raven to look after her and had even defended him when others whispered about how much time he spent with her. "She's grieving," I'd say. "She needs support." I'd even brought her soup when morning sickness hit. This was different though. This wasn't just another missed dinner or forgotten appointment. This was our wedding anniversary. Moments before that photo was taken, he'd been in our bed, whispering words of love, our bodies joined as one. His marks were still fresh on my skin when he left me for her. "I need to talk to him," I whispered to myself, my wolf stirring weakly within me. "Calmly. Rationally. There has to be an explanation." "Get it together," I whispered to myself, my wolf stirring weakly within me. "The pack needs its Luna." The monthly safety inspection couldn't wait, even if my mate hadn't come home all night. I forced myself up, wincing at my still-throbbing ankle from last night's fall. My wolf's usual healing hadn't kicked in - another sign of her weakening strength that I couldn't afford to dwell on. The pack grounds were already busy when I arrived. Warriors training, pups playing, daily life continuing as if my world hadn't tilted on its axis hours before. I focused on my checklist, methodically checking each area's safety protocols. The accident happened near the training grounds. I was noting some loose boards that needed repair when a blur of motion caught my peripheral vision. A young wolf - clearly new to the pack from his unfamiliar scent - came tearing around the corner at full speed. He was looking back over his shoulder, laughing at something. "Watch out!" I called, but it was too late. He slammed into me hard, his momentum sending us both sprawling. My already weakened state meant I couldn't catch myself properly. Pain exploded through my forehead as it hit the edge of a training post. Warm blood immediately began trickling down my face. "Oh, goddess!" The boy scrambled up, shifting back to human form. His eyes went wide at the blood. "I... I didn't see you!" I pushed myself up slowly, fighting a wave of dizziness. "This is exactly why we have rules about running in the training areas. You could have seriously hurt someone." Instead of contrition, his expression shifted to defiance. "It was an accident! Why are you making such a big deal about it?" "A big deal?" I pressed my hand to my bleeding forehead, trying to stay calm. "You were running full-speed in a training zone without looking where you were going. What if I had been one of the younger pups? Or someone elderly?" "Whatever." He rolled his eyes. "Just wait until my sister's mate gets here. He'll show you how we handle stuck-up wolves who think they can boss everyone around." The surrounding pack members who had gathered gasped. I almost wanted to laugh at the bitter irony - this pup had no idea he was threatening his Luna. "Your sister's mate?" I kept my voice level, though blood was now dripping onto my collar. "And who might that be?" "You'll see." He smirked. "He's coming now. He'll scare you to death." Familiar footsteps approached from behind. My heart clenched as Raven's scent washed over me - mixed with Astrid's. Of course. Of course, she'd be with him. "What's happening here?" Raven's Alpha voice rang out. I turned slowly, dignity intact despite the blood on my face. And there they were - my mate with Astrid at his side, her hand resting delicately on his arm like she belonged there. "Your Luna was attacked," I said coolly, watching his face. "This pup shifted without warning and drew blood. He refuses to apologize." Raven's eyes narrowed at the blood on my face, but before he could speak, Tommy straightened up with a smirk. "You should see my sister and Alpha Raven together," he announced proudly, clearly emboldened by Astrid's presence. "They look like a real Alpha pair. Not like..." His eyes raked dismissively over me. "Tommy," Astrid's soft voice carried a gentle reproof. She pressed closer to Raven, her hand resting delicately on his arm. "You shouldn't say such things. Alpha Raven and I are just... close friends." But her eyes told a different story as she gazed up at him. "He's been so kind to me during this difficult time." Raven's arm moved automatically to support her waist. The gesture was small, but it spoke volumes. How many times had he held me like that? When had that protective instinct shifted to another woman? "She's weak!" Tommy continued, encouraged by Raven's silence. "Can't even dodge a playful jump. How can she be our Luna if she can't even have pups? Everyone can see who really belongs at our Alpha's sideโ" "Enough!" Raven's Alpha voice rang out, but I barely heard it over the roaring in my ears. Can't even have pups. The words struck like physical blows. my weakened wolf, my mate's growing distance - all my private shame laid bare before the pack. "Tommy." Raven's Alpha voice was cold with anger as he focused on the defiant pup. "You've not only broken pack safety protocols, but you've injured your Luna. This behaviorโ" "Raven," Astrid's soft voice interrupted, breathy with distress. Her hand tightened on his arm as she swayed dramatically. "Oh... I don't feel well..." She pressed her other hand to her stomach, her face going pale. I watched, heartbreaking, as my mate's attention immediately shifted to her. His arm went around her waist, all thoughts of pack discipline forgotten. "What's wrong?" "My stomach..." she whimpered, pressing against him. "The baby..." The baby. James's baby. The child my dead friend would never know, growing in the abdomen of a woman who used it as a weapon. "We need to get you to the healer," Raven said urgently, already turning away. He barely glanced at my bleeding forehead. "Tommy, we'll discuss your behavior later." "But Raven-" I started, my vision blurring slightly. "Later, Sylvia," he cut me off, leading Astrid away. "This needs immediate attention." I stood there, blood dripping onto my collar, watching my mate walk away with another woman. The whispers started immediately: "She's gotten so weak lately..." "The Alpha clearly prefers Astrid's company..." My wolf whimpered, too weak to even growl at the disrespect. The wound on my forehead throbbed in time with my pulse, each beat sending fresh pain through my skull. Black spots danced at the edges of my vision. "Luna?" One of the pack healers stepped forward hesitantly. "Let me help with that cut..." I backed away, somehow keeping my feet under me. "I'm fine. Everyone return to your duties. Tommy, report to my office tomorrow morning to discuss pack safety protocols." The walk back to my office was endless. Each step was a battle against dizziness and nausea. By the time I closed my door, my legs were shaking so badly I could barely stand. I slid down the wall, finally letting the tears fall. They mixed with the blood on my face, hot and bitter. My wolf curled up small and quiet within me, as broken as I was. Not because I thought Raven was sleeping with Astrid. Although my wolf was weak, she told me that he did not betray our physical bond. But what hurt worse was watching him choose her again and again. Every time she swayed, he caught her. Every time she called, he ran. Every time she needed him, he forgot about everyone elseโincluding his Luna, his mate, his wife. A knock at the door made me flinch. "Sylvia?" Raven's voice. "Let me in." I didn't move. "Please, little wolf. I brought medicine for your head." A laugh bubbled up in my throat - harsh and foreign. He'd left me bleeding to tend to Astrid's latest dramatic episode, and now he wanted to play caring mate? I opened the door. Raven stood there with a first aid kit and concern in his eyes. The same eyes that had looked at Astrid with such urgency minutes ago. "Let me help," he said softly, reaching for me. I stepped back, maintaining distance. "How is Astrid? And James's baby?" His face flickered at the deliberate mention of his dead Beta. "She's fine. Just stress." "Of course she is." The words came out bitter. "She's always fine after she gets what she wants." "Sylvia..." He sighed, setting down the first aid kit. "You know I have to look after her. After James..." "After James end life saving you, yes. I know." I pressed my hand to my throbbing head. "But when did looking after her start meaning abandoning your actual duties? Leaving your injured mate? Ignoring pack discipline?" "You're bleeding," he said instead of answering, reaching for me again. "Let me-" "Don't." I held up a hand. The look of hurt on his face almost made me take back my words. Almost. But I remembered the photo Astrid had sent, the way she clung to his arm, the countless times he'd chosen her needs over mine. "I love you," he said softly, reaching for me again. This time, I let him pull me into his arms, too tired to resist. "I love you more than anything, Sylvia. You're my mate, my Luna, my everything. I'm sorry I've made you doubt that." Chapter 0003 Sylviaโs POV "Just a bit further," Raven's warm hand pressed against my lower back, guiding me through the pack's shopping district. After yesterday's confrontation in my office, this sudden tenderness felt like a peace offering. "I want to show you something special." My wolf, still weak from whatever was affecting her, nonetheless purred at his touch. Despite everything - the photo, the injuries, the constant presence of Astrid - my traitorous heart still skipped when he looked at me like this, like I was his whole world. "Another apology gift?" I tried to keep my tone light, though the bandage on my forehead from yesterday's incident still stung. His fingers tightened slightly on my waist. "Not an apology. A reminder." He stopped in front of David's Jewelry, the pack's finest artisan shop. "A reminder of who we are together." The bell chimed softly as we entered. David, an elderly wolf with clever hands and kind eyes, looked up from his workbench. "Alpha, Luna! I have it ready." "Have what ready?" I turned to Raven, but he just smiled mysteriously. "Show us your finest pieces, David," Raven commanded, but his voice was warm. "Let my Luna choose what speaks to her heart." David brought out tray after tray of exquisite jewelry. Diamonds that caught the light like Starfire. Rubies deep as fresh blood. But it was a delicate silver necklace that caught my eye - moonstones arranged like a cascade of tears, or perhaps stars falling through a night sky. "This is beautiful." I couldnโt help reaching for it. "Ah." David smiled. "A unique piece. I crafted it using moonstone from the sacred caves. There will never be another quite like it." Raven lifted the necklace gently. "Perfect for my Luna. Turn around, love." I swept my hair aside, shivering as his fingers brushed my neck. The metal felt cool against my skin, but Raven's breath was warm as he fastened the clasp. "Beautiful," he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to my shoulder. The bell chimed again. "Oh!" A familiar voice broke our moment. "What a gorgeous necklace." My muscles tensed as Astrid glided into the shop, one hand resting on her slightly swollen belly. After yesterday's confrontation and injury, I was in no mood for another of her performances. "Astrid." Raven straightened, but his hand stayed on my shoulder. "Shopping for the baby ceremony?" My grip tightened on the necklace. "Baby ceremony?" "Didn't Raven tell you?" Astrid's eyes widened with fake innocence. "He's helping me plan James's baby's naming ceremony. It's tradition for the Alpha to stand in when... when the father is gone." Something cold settled in my chest. "Is it?" "Sylvia," Raven stepped forward, his expression pleading. "As Alpha, it's my responsibility to look after James's family." "And as Luna, it's mine to organize pack ceremonies," I countered. "Yet this is the first I'm hearing of it." Astrid sniffled delicately. "The necklace just reminded me so much of the ones James used to give me... and with the ceremony coming up..." David cleared his throat. "As I mentioned, it's a unique piece. But I have other lovely-" "Please," Astrid's eyes filled with tears. "Seeing it... it's like a sign from James. Like he's telling me he's watching over his child." I felt Raven's fingers tighten on my shoulder. Felt the shift in his energy. I saw the moment Raven's resolve cracked. "Sylvia, love... maybe you could pick another necklace for your birthday? This one would mean so much to Astrid..." The shop went very quiet. "What?" My voice came out barely a whisper. "You have so many beautiful pieces," he continued, not meeting my eyes. "And Astrid has lost so much..." "Are you serious?" I looked between them - my mate of five years and the widow who'd slowly been taking my place. "This necklace was meant for your Luna, your mate, and you want to give it to another woman?" "Don't be selfish," Raven's voice hardened. "I've bought you countless jewels. One necklace won't hurt." "Selfish?" The word hit like a physical blow. "I've watched you slowly pull away from me. I've endured the pack's whispers about my weakening wolf. I stayed silent when you missed our anniversary for her. And I'm selfish?" "Please don't fight," Astrid whimpered. "I never meant... I just miss James so much..." Tears spilled down her cheeks. "Stop it!" I snapped. "Stop using James's memory to manipulate everyone! If you need help with the baby, we can hire a nanny. The pack has resources-" "No." Raven's voice cracked like thunder. "James end life saving my life. I owe him everything. I will personally ensure his child and mate are cared for." "What about my father?" The words escaped before I could stop them, years of buried pain erupting. "He end life defending this pack too. He end life in a war your father started, Raven. Where was this devotion then?" The room temperature seemed to drop. Raven's face went white, then dark with rage. "That's enough!" Raven's eyes flashed Alpha red. He stepped back, jaw clenched. "You've gone too far." "Have I?" My fingers found the necklace clasp. "Or have you just never gone far enough for me?" Astrid's tears had mysteriously dried. She stepped closer to Raven, placing a hand on his arm. "Perhaps I should go..." "No." Raven wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "We'll go. You don't need this stress in your condition." I watched, numb, as my mate led another woman toward the door. Just before they left, Astrid turned back. Her eyes met mine over Raven's protective arm, and the mask slippedโjust for a moment, but it was enough. That smile. That calculated, victorious smile. My heart stopped as years of "coincidences" suddenly realigned in my mind. Every time she'd swooned during pack meetings, it had been when I was speaking. Every stomach pain had struck just as Raven and I were having a moment. Every "emergency" had interrupted our private time. All those times I'd defended her to others: "She's grieving," I'd said. But now, watching her triumphant smirk, I saw the truth. The door closed behind them with devastating finality. I walked out of the shop, the bell's cheerful chime a mockery of the moment we'd shared minutes ago. Through the window, I saw Raven helping Astrid try on my necklace and saw her lean into him with practiced vulnerability. My fingers found my phone, scrolling to Elena, my best friend since childhood. The only one who knew everything - about my father, about how I'd fallen for Raven despite our families' history, about how I'd given up my birthright to be his Luna. The phone rang twice before she answered. "Elena?" My voice cracked. "Can I come over?" "Always, love. What's wrong?" "Everything," I whispered, watching through the window as my mate adjusted the necklace on another woman's throat. Chapter 0004 Sylviaโs POV Dawn light crept through Elena's guest room window, painting shadows on unfamiliar walls. I hadn't slept, the events from the jewelry store playing on an endless loop in my mind. The necklace. Astrid's tears. Raven's betrayal. A soft knock echoed through the house. "Sylvia?" Elena's voice carried from downstairs. "Raven's here. He's... he's been sitting at the door all night." My wolf stirred weakly, responding to our mate's proximity despite everything. I moved to the window, and my breath caught. There he was - the powerful Alpha of the Silver Moon pack, sitting on Elena's doorstep like a penitent wolf. His usually immaculate clothes were wrinkled, and dark circles under his eyes matched mine. A bouquet of moon flowers - my favorites, so rare they only bloom at midnight - trembled slightly in his hands. "Go away, Raven," I called down, hating how my voice shook. He looked up, those dark eyes that had once held my whole world were now filled with desperation. "Please, little wolf. Just five minutes." "You gave up your right to call me that when you gave my necklace to another woman." "I was wrong." His voice cracked. "I was so wrong. Please, just let me explain." Elena appeared at my side. "Want me to chase him off? I may not be an Alpha, but I can still bite." I almost smiled. "No. I need to face this." The walk downstairs felt endless. Each step was a battle between my heart, which still ached for him, and my pride, which screamed to remember his betrayals. I opened the door. Raven immediately dropped to his knees, the mighty Alpha kneeling before me. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, my love." "Sorry for what?" My voice came out bitter. "For missing our anniversary? For abandoning me while I was bleeding? For giving my necklace to Astrid?" "All of it. Everything." He reached for my hand. I let him take it, watching as he pressed his forehead to my knuckles - a wolf's deepest gesture of submission. "I've been a fool. I let my guilt over James cloud my judgment. But I promise you, I've fixed it." "Fixed what?" He looked up, hope flickering in his eyes. "Everything. I've arranged for Astrid to move to one of the pack's remote properties. I've hired the nanny you suggested. I've deleted her number and removed her from pack meetings. She'll be cared for, but she won't come between us again." My heart stuttered. "You... you did?" "I should have done it months ago." He pulled something from his jacket - a velvet box. "And this... I spent all night searching every jewelry store in three territories." Inside lay a necklace almost identical to the one from yesterday. Almost, but not quite. "I don't want a copy," I said, even as tears threatened. "I don't want another woman's leftovers." "You're right. You deserve better." He set the box aside, still on his knees. "You've always deserved better. Do you remember when we first met? Not as adults, but as pups?" The memory rose unbidden. Me at six years old, lost in the forbidden woods between territories. Him at eight, found me crying under a silver moon. "You gave me your jacket," I whispered. "Led me home even though our packs were at war." "I knew even then." His thumb traced circles on my palm. "Knew you were meant to be mine. Through all the fighting, all the politics, all the tragedy - you were my constant star." "Until I wasn't." I pulled my hand away. "Until Astrid needed you more." "No," he caught my fingers again. "I lost my way, but you've always been my true north. Please, little wolf. Let me make this right. Let me prove myself again." "How?" "I'll do anything." He pressed something else into my palm - his phone. "Look. I've already deleted her contact. Check my messages and my calls. I'm an open book to you." I scrolled through, seeing he was telling the truth. "The baby ceremony..." I began. "Marcus will handle all preparations for the baby blessing ceremony," he said, hope blooming in his eyes. "I won't even attend. My place is with my Luna, celebrating our anniversary properly this time." He reached for my hand again. "Just us, little wolf. No interruptions, no pack business, no... distractions. I swear on the moon herself." My wolf whined softly, wanting to believe. Memories flooded back - countless moments of joy and love before Astrid entered our lives. The way he'd held me through my father's death. The way he'd defied his own pack to mate with me. "I need time," I said finally. "Take all you need." He stood slowly, relief evident in every line of his body. "I'll wait forever if I have to." I looked at the necklace again. It was beautiful, but... "I think I'll get you something too. Show you I'm willing to try." His smile - that rare, real smile that crinkled his eyes - made my heart ache. "I love you, little wolf. Never doubt that." I watched him leave, hope warring with caution in my chest. After he disappeared from view, I picked up the discarded necklace box, running my fingers over the velvet. The jewelry inside sparkled, catching the morning lightโbeautiful, but not quite the same as the original piece. "Maybe I'm being too harsh," I whispered, my wolf stirring with longing. The sight of our proud Alpha on his knees, the desperation in his eyes, the way he'd spent all night searching for a replacement necklace... "Hey." Elena squeezed my shoulder. "I know that look. You're already forgiving him, aren't you?" "Not forgiving exactly," I said slowly, closing the box. "But maybe... maybe willing to try? " I set the necklace box down carefully. "I think... I think I want to meet him halfway. Show him I'm willing to try too." Elena's eyes lit up. "Shopping trip? I know just the places for Alpha-worthy gifts." The mall was quieter than usual this early. Elena and I wandered, looking for something worthy of an Alpha, of the mate who'd just humbled himself to win me back. A familiar voice drifted from the luxury boutique ahead. "Oh yes, my husband is so generous." I froze. Astrid. "These are gorgeous pieces, madam," the saleswoman gushed. "Your husband has excellent taste." "He does spoil me." Astrid's laugh tinkled like snek. "Especially now, with the baby." I edged closer, staying out of sight. "Another piece for your collection?" The saleswoman was wrapping something in silk. "He insists. Says nothing's too good for his..." Astrid's voice dropped sweetly, "family." My eyes fixed on the credit card in her hand as she paid. Black metal with a familiar silver moon insignia - Raven's secondary pack card. Three months ago, he'd casually mentioned needing it back, something about pack accounting and consolidating expenses. "Have you seen my black pack card?" he'd asked then, barely looking up from his papers. "The backup one?" "It's in my wallet," I'd replied, already reaching for it. "Though I've barely used it." "Good. The council wants all secondary cards recalled. Something about tighter financial controls." I'd handed it over without a second thought. My mate is always so responsible with pack finances. Always so concerned about proper protocols. Now I watched that same cardโthe one that was supposedly canceled for pack securityโglinting in Astrid's manicured hands. The card he'd taken from me, his Luna, only to give to her. All those pretty words this morning about ending their connection, about putting our marriage first... while she still had access to pack funds, to his accounts, to his trust. "Your husband must really love you," the saleswoman smiled. "Oh yes." Astrid caught my eye in the mirror, her smile turning razor-sharp. "He does." The world tilted sideways. All his pretty words, his promises, his show of deleting her contact - worthless. He didn't need her number when he was still funding her shopping sprees, still letting her call him husband. My wolf, weak as she was, howled in agony. I stumbled back, memories taking on new, horrific meanings: "I've arranged for her to move..." - To a luxury property? "I've hired a nanny..." - While giving her his credit card? "She won't come between us..." - Because he'd hidden their connection better? My phone buzzed - Raven, sending a photo of dinner preparations for our makeup celebration. Another text arrived immediately after a receipt from the boutique, forwarded from his bank alert. Astrid's purchase was made seconds ago with his card. Chapter 0005 Sylviaโs POV "You manipulative fool!" Elena's voice cut through the pristine shopping atmosphere. Several customers turned to stare as she planted herself in front of Astrid. "Calling yourself his wife while wearing the jewelry you stole from his actual mate?" Astrid's practiced mask of innocence slipped into place as she pressed a protective hand to her belly. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just shopping with the allowance my... husband has given me." "Allowance?" Elena spat the word. "You mean the credit card you're flashing around? The one that belongs to my best friend's mate?" "Oh." Astrid's eyes flickered to me, still standing in the doorway. Her lips curved into a poisonous smile. "You're making such a fuss over nothing. No wonder Raven prefers my company. At least I don't suffocate him with jealousy and send my friends to fight my battles." The saleswoman shifted uncomfortably. "Perhaps we should-" "No." I found my voice, at last, stepping forward. "Let's have this out right here. Every penny you've spent is our pack's common property - my mate's money. You need to pay it back." Astrid laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "Pay it back? With what money? My mate end life protecting your precious Alpha. The least you can do is let him take care of his friend's widow." She gestured at her shopping bags. "Besides, Raven gives it freely. Unlike you, I don't have to beg for his attention." "Using James's memory again?" Elena's eyes flashed gold. "Is that your only trick?" "At least I gave James pups before he end life." Astrid's voice dripped honey-coated venom. "Poor, barren Luna. Can't even give Raven one child. No wonder he-" The crack of my palm against her cheek echoed through the cafe. Silence fell. "How dare you?" I whispered, trembling with rage. "You use James's memory, manipulate everyone's guilt, play the grieving widow while spending pack money on luxury goods-" Astridโs wolf exploded out of her, fangs snapping at my throat. I barely managed to dodge, my weakened wolf struggling to respond. Elena shifted instantly, putting herself between us. Astrid's claws caught my thigh before Elena could block her, tearing through flesh and muscle. The pain was shockingโI'd forgotten how vulnerable I'd become. Blood soaked through my dress where her claws had shredded both fabric and skin. But instead of pressing her advantage, Astrid shifted back to human form, one hand protectively curved over her belly. Her eyes glittered with malicious triumph. "How dare you attack me?" she gasped, loud enough for the gathering crowd to hear. "I'm carrying a noble warrior's child! James's baby!" Her voice turned venomous as she lowered it for my ears alone. "If anything happens to this child because of your jealous attack, imagine how Raven will feel. Losing his best friend's baby because his mate couldn't control herself?" Elena snarled, still in wolf form, but we both knew we were trapped. Any move against Astrid now would make me look like the aggressorโthe Luna attacking a expecting a baby widow. "You manipulativeโ" Elena started to lunge forward, but I grabbed her with my good arm. "Don't," I whispered. "It's what she wants." The world spun slightly as blood continued to soak my dress. The mall's pristine floor now bore crimson droplets. But the physical pain was nothing compared to watching Astrid's smug smile as she wielded her expecting a baby like a weapon, knowing I couldn't fight back without looking like a monster. "Luna!" Sarah, our pack healer, pushed through the gathering crowd. Her eyes widened at the sight of my injury. "You're not healingโyou need treatment immediately." The world tilted dangerously as she examined the wound. "You need to come to the clinic immediately. You're not healing properly." Elena supported me as we hurried to Sarah's clinic, leaving behind the chaos of scattered shopping bags and shocked onlookers. Each step sent fresh pain through my thigh, a constant reminder of how vulnerable I'd become. "I don't understand," I whispered as Sarah cleaned the wounds. "I used to be one of the strongest wolves in the pack. Now I can barely shift." Sarah's hands stilled. Something flickered across her face. "Actually... I have your latest test results. The ones about your wolf's weakness and the... the fertility issues." My heart stopped. "And?" Elena gripped my good hand. Sarah's smile was radiant. "It's not permanent! Your wolf isn't naturally weak, Luna. And you're not barren. With proper treatment, you could be back to full strength within months." The words hit like a physical blow. All this time... all these years of thinking I was broken... "I can..." My voice cracked. "I can have pups?" "There's no reason you couldn't, once your wolf regains her strength. You and Alpha Raven could start your family within the year." Joy bubbled up through the pain, so intense it brought tears to my eyes. A family. The dream I'd thought forever out of reach. The one thing I'd wanted more than anything. "All those years," I whispered, remembering every disappointment, every pitying look, every whispered comment about the Luna who couldn't give the Alpha heirs. "I thought there was something wrong with me." Despite the pain in my thigh, despite the morning's confrontation, hope bloomed in my chest. Raven had sworn to make things right between us. With my condition treatable, with the possibility of pups in our future... "I have to tell him," I breathed, sliding off the examination table. "Elena, I have to" "Go." She hugged me carefully. "But be careful. " I barely felt my injuries as I rushed home, my heart lighter than it had been in months. A future stretched before me - one with strong pups playing in our yard, my wolf running freely under the moon, my mate's proud smile as our family grew... But... The sight of luggage in our driveway stopped me cold. Expensive suitcases. Designer bags. A small mountain of possessions was carried into my home by pack servants. "Ah, Sylvia." Raven appeared in the doorway, his expression grave. "We need to talk." "What's going on?" But I knew. Deep in my soul, I knew. "I heard about the fight." His voice held disappointment. Like I was a misbehaving pup. "Attacking a expecting a baby she-wolf? Causing her such stress in her condition?" "She attacked me! Her wolves-" "After you slapped her." He ran a hand through his hair. "Look, given the situation, Astrid doesn't feel safe in the remote property. She doesn't trust the nanny, not after this. She needs to be somewhere I can personally ensure her safety." "So you're moving her into our home?" The words tasted like ashes. "Just until she calms down. Until she feels secure again." He wouldn't meet my eyes. "It's the only way to protect James's child." The test results burned in my pocket. The hope of our own family turned to dust. "I'm your mate," I whispered. "Your Luna." "And she's carrying my best friend's baby." Finally, he looked at me. "A friend who end life for me. Please, Sylvia. Just until the baby comes." ohhh, her smile. All this time, I'd been playing a game I didn't even know the rules to. Every move I made pushed Raven further into her web. Every reaction gave her more power. And now she was moving into my home. My territory. My life. The joy of the test results crumbled to nothing as I watched another woman claim my space, my mate, my future. I felt like a fool. Chapter 0006 Sylviaโs POV "You can't just bring her into our home without even discussing it with me," I said, my voice trembling with suppressed emotion. We stood in our bedroom, where hours ago I'd been celebrating the possibility of having pups, of fixing our marriage. Now those dreams felt like ashes in my mouth. "What would you have me do, Sylvia?" Raven ran a hand through his dark hair, frustration evident in every line of his body. "You attacked a expecting a baby she-wolf." "I slapped her," I cut in. "After she flaunted your credit card after she called herself your wife after she mocked our inability to have pups. One slap, Raven. And in return..." I yanked up my skirt, revealing the angry red gashes that scored my thigh. The wounds still hadn't healedโa testament to my wolf's weakened state. "Look at what your precious widow did to me, Raven. Look!" His eyes widened as he took in the wounds. For the first time since this mess began, I saw genuine shock cross his face. "She did this to you?" His fingers reached out but stopped short of touching the wounds. "Oh, Raven!" Astrid's voice cracked perfectly on his name as she appeared in our doorway. Her timing, as always, was impeccable. Tears sparkled in her wide eyes, one hand pressed to her belly while the other braced against the doorframe. The very picture of a distressed expecting a baby woman. "I was so scared," she whispered, those tears now sliding down her cheeks. "When she slapped me... all I could think about was the baby. James's baby." Her voice broke on his name. "I just... I reacted. My wolf... she only wanted to protect our pup." I watched my mate's face, seeing the conflict war across his features. The wounds on my leg spoke of violence, but Astrid's tears spoke of vulnerability. My strong, decisive Alphaโthe man who could command hundreds of wolves with a single wordโstood frozen between his mate and his supposed responsibility. The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken accusations. Through our weakened bond, I felt his turmoil, his desire to protect both women before him. "Astrid," he said finally, his voice carrying that Alpha authority I used to love. "Regardless of provocation, you attacked my mate. The Luna of this pack. That cannot happen." Hope flared in my chest, bright and painful. Finally, he was seeing through her actโ "You're right!" Astrid's knees buckled as she sank to the floor, one hand still protectively curved over her belly. The movement was graceful despite her apparent distress. Everything about her was always so perfectly choreographed. "You're absolutely right, Alpha. Luna." She turned those tear-filled eyes to me. "I was wrong. So wrong. I should never have let my fear control me. Without James, I just feel so... so vulnerable. Every threat seems so much bigger." My wolf wanted to snarl, to expose her manipulation. But I'd played this game before. Every time I reacted to her provocations, I looked like the aggressor. Every time I called out her manipulation, I seemed paranoid. "Get up," I said coldly, watching her performance with new eyes. "Save your tears for someone who hasn't seen both your faces. The sweet, helpless widow you play for Raven, and the smirking manipulator who sent me that photo on our anniversary night." "Sylvia!" Raven's reproachful tone made my wolf whimper. "She's apologizing. She's carrying James's pupโ" "James's pup," I laughed, the sound harsh even to my own ears. "How convenient. The perfect shield, isn't it? Every time you want something, every time you overstep, you just need to mention James or pat your belly, and everyone falls in line." "Please," Astrid whispered, her voice small. "I know I've made mistakes, but I'm tryingโ" "Trying to take my place?" I stepped toward her, noting how she shrank back even as her eyes glittered with challenge. "Trying to move into my home? Trying to steal my mate?" "Enough!" Raven's Alpha voice resonated through the room. "Both of you need to calm down." I turned to him, really looked at him. My mate. My Alpha. The man I'd loved since we were pups ourselves. Five years of marriage, of building a life together, and he still couldn't see what was right in front of him. "No," I said quietly. "No more calming down. No more understanding. No more compromises." I met his eyes steadily. "One of us needs to leave this house, Raven. Your mate, or your... whatever she is to you. Choose." Astrid's soft sobs provided the perfect backdrop to our drama. Everything about her was perfectโher timing, her tears, her helpless widow act. And I was done competing with it. Raven straightened, his Alpha authority filling the room. "Astrid, please wait downstairs. I need to speak with my mate alone." She hesitated, her hand still pressed to her belly, but even she couldn't disobey a direct Alpha command. As she left, her scentโjasmine and honeyโlingered unpleasantly in our bedroom. I turned back to my closet, yanking clothes from hangers. "There's nothing to discuss. You've made your choice clear." "Stop." His hands caught mine from behind, stilling my frantic movements. His chest pressed against my back, his scentโpine needles and winter frostโsurrounding me, making my wolf stir with longing despite everything. "Just... stop, little wolf." "Don't call me that," I whispered, but didn't pull away. His warmth was achingly familiar, reminding me of countless intimate moments we'd shared in this room. "Let me at least tend to your wounds," he murmured, his breath warm against my neck. I hesitated... He guided me to sit on our bed, the same bed where just this morning I'd dreamed of having his pups. He knelt before me, gently examining the gashes on my thigh. Through our weakened bond, I felt his genuine distress at seeing me injured. "These should have healed by now," he said softly, reaching for the medicinal salve. His fingers were gentle as they spread the cooling substance over my wounds. "Your wolf's healing..." "Has been weak for months," I finished. "But you've been too busy with Astrid to notice." His hands stilled on my leg. Then they moved higher, past the wounds to uninjured skin. The mate bond hummed between us as his touch became less clinical, more intimate. "I've noticed everything about you," he murmured, his eyes darkening as they met mine. "Your scent changing. Your wolf's quietness. The way you pull away from me." His hands slid higher, making me gasp. "I've just been too much of a fool to do anything about it." "Raven..." I meant it as a warning, but it came out as a plea. His lips found mine, tasting of regret and desire. Each kiss felt like an apology, each touch a promise. The mate bond sparked between us, stronger than it had been in months, carrying echoes of his guilt, his love, his need. I should have stopped him. Should have maintained my anger, and my resolve. But five years of love don't end life easily, even when poisoned by betrayal. And right now, with his scent surrounding me, his hands erasing every memory of pain, I needed this connection. Chapter 0007 Sylviaโs POV The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow through the bedroom window. His tall frame casts a shadow over me. My breath catches in my throat as he reaches out, his fingers brushing my cheek. The touch was electric, sending shivers down my spine. We hadn't been this close in months. "I'm sorry," he finally said, his voice low. "I'm truly sorry, little wolf, forgive me." His apology was filled with regret and longing. I want to forgive him and let go of the sadness and anger that has consumed me for so long. But part of me is scared, scared that if I allow myself to feel again, it will only lead to more pain. "Don't, Raven," I said, pushing his hand away, but not firmly. "We both need time to calm down. "But Raven didn't care. He continued to kiss me "I don't want to calm down," he murmured, his breath rolling over my skin. "I want you, little wolf. Right now. " The intensity in his voice turned me and my wolf on, and my wolf let out a sound of pleasure in my head. I closed my eyes, enjoying the feel of his lips on mine, soft and insistent. It had been a long time since we had kissed like this, and a long time since I had felt the heat of his desire. He licked over the spot I'd marked and growled, his eyes were all over me now, "Baby, spread your legs." His voice got hotter, "Please baby, let me in." My body trembled with anticipation as I obeyed, opening up for him. Raven's hands were gentle but firm as he guided himself to fill me completely. The sensation was overwhelming, the mixture of pleasure and pain bringing tears to my eyes. "Look at me," he said with emotion in his voice. "Don't hide from me." I meet his gaze, my vision blurred by tears. He kisses my face, kisses away my tears, and begins to move inside me. I can feel the wolf inside him, its primal instincts driving him forward, demanding fulfillment. "That's it," Raven growled, his haunch shaking harder. "I love you, little wolf, believe me." For a moment, everything felt perfectโlike we'd finally found our way back to each other. The mate bond hummed between us, stronger than it had been in months, carrying echoes of his desire, his guilt, his need for forgiveness. Afterward, we lay tangled in the sheets, our scents mingled in the air. His hand traced lazy patterns on my skin as my wolf purred contentedly within me. Our knots of tension and mistrust had loosened, if not completely untied. I was in the crook of his arm, drifting off to sleep. But in the middle of the night, I woke to cold sheets beside me. Raven's warmth was gone, his scent fading. My weakened wolf stirred uneasily, the mate bond pulling me toward... Astrid's room. No. Not tonight. Not after we'd just... But my feet carried me forward anyway, drawn by an instinct I couldn't ignore. The hallway seemed endless as I approached her room, my heart pounding with each step. Through the doorway, I saw themโmy husband, who had been making love to me just hours ago, now holding Astrid in his arms as she cried. I pressed against the wall beside the door, my wolf straining to hear their words. "It's not fair," Astrid sobbed, her face pressed against his chest. "None of this is fair." "I know." Raven's voice was so gentle, so intimate. It made my stomach turn. "We had something real," she whispered. "Before the moon goddess interfered, before her destiny tore us apart..." My heart stopped. What? "Astrid..." Raven's voice held such history, such pain. "We can't change the past." "Can't we?" Her fingers clutched his shirtโthe same shirt I'd helped him remove hours ago. "Tell me you don't think about it. About us. About what we had before she came along." The silence that followed was deafening. Raven's hesitation spoke volumes. "My marriage to Sylvia..." he finally said, his words careful, measured. "It's not reluctant. I do care for her." Care. Not love. Never love. "But it's not the same," Astrid pressed. "What we had was real. The moon goddess might have chosen her for you, but your heart chose me first." My legs trembled as memories realigned in my mind. Every time he'd pulled away. Every time he'd chosen Astrid over me. Every time he'd made me feel like I was asking for too much by wanting my mate's full attention. "The child..." Astrid's voice dropped to a whisper, her hand moving to her belly. "Sometimes I wonder..." Raven cut her off quickly. "Don't. That path only leads to pain." I listened as Astrid continued, her voice breaking with practiced perfection as she detailed her struggles, her loneliness, and her fear. Each word was carefully chosen to twist the knife of guilt deeper into Raven's heart. My wolf whimpered within me, but for once, it wasn't from weakness. It was from heartbreak. All this time, I'd thought Astrid was trying to steal my mate. But she'd had him first. She'd loved him first. And some part of him had never stopped loving her. The Moon Goddess herself broke them up, forcing him to accept me as his mate. I was the Moon Goddess's choice, but not his heart's, and our union was never complete. I struggled with my emotions, torn between rage and devastation. Part of me sympathized with Astridโlosing the man she loved to another woman must have been painful. But then I remembered her calculated manipulations, her triumphant smirks, her deliberate interference in my marriage. My sympathy withered. "I know I should let you go," Astrid was saying, her voice thick with tears. "But seeing you with her... knowing what we once had..." Raven's silence was another knife in my heart. He should be denying this. Should be pushing her away. Should be honoring our mate bond, especially after the intimacy we'd just shared. Instead, he held her closer, offering comfort that wasn't his to give. The wolf inside meโmy proud, fierce wolf that had been growing mysteriously weakerโfinally stirred with purpose. She wanted to burst in there, to confront them both, to demand answers about all the lies and I needed to think. Needed to plan. This wasn't just about a widow seeking comfort anymore. This was about a woman who'd lost her lover to a mate bond, who'd married his best friend instead, and who was now using that friend's death and her expecting a baby to reclaim what she'd lost. And my mate... My Raven... he was letting her. I pushed away from the wall, my feet silent on the carpeted floor as I retreated. Their voices followed meโAstrid's perfectly timed sobs, Raven's gentle comforting words. Words that should have been mine. Comfort that belonged to his mate, not his former lover. In our bedroomโthe same room where he'd touched me so tenderly just hours agoโI sank onto the bed. His scent still clung to the sheets, but now it felt tainted. Every kiss, every touch, every whispered promise... had he been thinking of her? Wishing I was her? Chapter 0008 Sylvia's POV Morning light filtered through the windows as I stood outside Astrid's room, my resolve hardened by last night's revelations. No more games. No more manipulation. This had to end. I knocked sharply. "It's me, Sylvia. Astrid. We need to talk." She opened the door with that perfectly practiced innocent expression. "Oh, Luna! What a surprise..." "Save it." I pushed past her into the room, then stopped cold. I was surprised to see on her dresser sat my mother's silver urnโthe one thing I had left of her, the most precious possession in my entire home. "Oh, that?" Astrid smiled sweetly. "Such a lovely piece. Raven told me all about your mother... how she end life protecting your father, who then end life protecting his pack. So tragic." My wolf bristled at her casual handling of my family's pain. "This ends now, Astrid. I heard you last night. I know everythingโabout your relationship with Raven, about how the moon goddess separated you." "Finally figured it out, did you?" Her mask slipped, revealing the snake beneath. "Took you long enough. Five years of marriage, and you never wondered why he runs to me every chance he gets?" "You need to leave," I said firmly. "Find another pack, another life. Stop poisoning my marriage." She laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "Your marriage? Do you mean the one forced on him by the moon goddess? The one that stole him from me?" "He's my mateโ" "He's my love!" She snatched up my mother's urn. "I had him first. We chose each other. You? You're just some cosmic joke forced on him by fate." "Put that down." My voice shook with barely contained rage. "Or what?" Her fingers loosened on the urn. "You'll attack a expecting a baby woman? Prove to everyone what a monster you really are?" "Astridโ" " "You know what's funny?" She started pacing, still holding my mother's ashes. "How easy it was to make him doubt you. A few tears here, a swoon there... He's so desperate to atone for his father's sins against your family that he never questions my motives." "This isn't about Raven anymore," I growled. "This is about you using my dead friend's child as a weapon. James deserved better than that." Her eyes flashed. "Don't you dare speak his name! James was a fool who end life for his precious Alpha, leaving me to play grieving widow. But it worked out perfectly, didn't it? Now I have the perfect excuse to stay close to Raven." "You're insane." I stepped toward her. "Give me my mother's urn." "Your mother?" She sneered. "Another weak wolf who end life for nothing. Like father, like daughterโalways playing the noble sacrifice. It's pathetic." Something snapped inside me. "Give. Me. The. Urn." "Come get it." And then, with a smile that showed her true nature, she let it slip from her fingers. Time slowed. I lunged forward, but my weakened wolf wasn't fast enough. The silver urn shattered on the hardwood floor, my mother's ashes scattering like gray snow. "Oops." Astrid's voice dripped false concern. "How clumsy of me." A sound escaped meโpart wolf, part human, pure anguish. My mother's ashes... all I had left of her... "What's wrong, Luna?" Astrid taunted. "Upset about a little spilled dust? Like mother, like daughterโboth of you just dirt on the ground." I moved without thinking, grief and rage propelling me forward. Astrid backpedaled toward the balcony doors, her hand on her stomach, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Stay back!" she cried, a voice suddenly loud enough to carry. "Please! Think of the baby!" "You did this on purpose," I snarled. "Everythingโthe urn, backing toward the balconyโit's all another manipulation!" She smirked. "Yes, but no one will believe you, Luna. Poor Luna." Then, with the grace of a dancer, she let herself fall backward through the open doors. A normal wolf would have easily caught themselvesโthe drop was nothing to our kind. But Astrid didn't even try. She just fell, her scream piercing the morning air. "I promise I'll never go near Raven again!" she wailed as she fell. "Please don't hurt my baby!" "Sylvia!" Raven's roar came from below. Of course, he was there. Of course, she'd timed this perfectly. I rushed to the balcony, looking down to see Astrid sprawled dramatically on the ground, Raven already at her side. Pack members gathered, drawn by her scream. "What happened?" Raven demanded, though his eyes said he'd already decided. "Sheโshe attacked me," Astrid sobbed. "Said she was tired of me being around. When I told her I'd leave, she said it was too late. That she'd make sure there was nothing left to keep you tied to me..." "That's not true!" I called down. "She broke my mother's urnโ" "You want to know what she said, Raven?" Astrid's voice carried clearly. "She said her father was the true Alpha of the Cold Moon tribe. That you only have your position because of her family's sacrifice. She said she's always looked down on you, that she only tolerates you because of the mate bond." Raven's face darkened with each word. "Sylvia. Get down here." I descended the stairs, my legs shaking with fury. "She's lying. She deliberately broke my mother's urn to provoke meโ" "A high fall like that wouldn't hurt a wolf," I argued. "She didn't even try to land properly!" "I was scared!" Astrid wailed. "When she came at me, all I could think about was protecting the baby. I... I just panicked." She leaned into my husband's arms and gave me a provocative look. She thought I would come forward again in anger, she thought I would, but I didn't. I suddenly felt confused, their faces were in front of me, but so unreal. "Enough!" Raven's Alpha voice rang out. His eyes, when they met mine, were cold with fury. "I've seen enough. Heard enough." "Raven, pleaseโ" "You attacked expecting a baby woman. Used your father's name to undermine my authority. Threatened an innocent child." Each accusation felt like a physical blow. "I've been patient. Been understanding. But this? This is unforgivable." My wolf cowered at his tone, but I forced myself to stand tall. "If you'd just listenโ" "No more listening." His voice dropped to something terrible and final. "You want to act like a traitor? Fine. I'll treat you like one. Perhaps the Blood Moon pack needs a new slave. They know how to handle rebellious wolves." The world stopped. The Blood Moon pack. Known for their cruelty. For breaking wolves into mindless servants. My mateโthe man I'd loved since childhoodโwas threatening to send me there. He was going to hurt me, and in the crook of his arm, he was guarding another woman in a protective position. Something deep inside me shattered. Not just my heart, but every dream, every hope, and every bit of love I'd ever felt for him. "A slave?" My voice came out strange and cold. "That's what I am to you now? Not your mate? Not your Luna? Just a disobedient wolf to be sold off?" He faltered slightly at my tone. "Sylviaโ" "No." Power rose in meโnot my weakened wolf, but something older. Something primal. I stood straight as I stared into his eyes, fearless. "I, Sylvia, the Luna of Cold Moon pack, now break the mate bond with you, Raven, the Alpha of... 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He drunkenly hugged her โCall me husband again ......โ | ๐Nyla Jayston was in her third month of trying to conceive when she saw a message on her husband Clark Sumner's phone from a contact named "Jordyn Cheatham". Jordyn: [I think my new nightgown is a bit tight. Why don't you come over and check if it fits?] Attached was a selfie of a woman in a deep V-neck red slip dress, her body partly exposed, exuding seduction. Nyla's grip on the phone tightened. She scrolled up and found Clark and Jordyn's previous exchanges to be strictly work-related, which made her frown. 'Was the text sent by mistake? Orโฆ' A hand wrapped around Nyla's waist from behind, breaking her thoughts. Clark pressed his warm body against hers and gently nibbled her earlobe. "Honey, I'm all cleaned up. Do you want to do it on the couch or the bed?" Before Nyla could respond, Clark picked her up and laid her on the couch, his tall frame looming over her. "Since you're not saying anything, I'll choose. Let's do it on the couch," Clark said, his voice husky and his eyes filled with a flicker of fire that made Nyla blush instantly. Nyla was already beautiful, and the slight flush on her cheeks made her look like a tempting, ripe, juicy peach under the light. Clark's gaze grew darker. He leaned in to kiss Nyla, but she suddenly turned her head away. Sensing her resistance, he looked at her with confusion. "Honey, what's wrong?" Clark, usually assertive at work, now looked at Nyla with a mix of confusion and hurt, which softened her heart momentarily. Despite that, she hadn't forgotten the explicit selfie she had just seen. She stopped him with one hand on his chest and held up his phone with the other, showing him the screen. "Explain this first." Clark glanced at the screen and immediately frowned, grabbing the phone to make a call. It was quickly answered. "Mr. Sumner, what can I do for you?" Clark glowered, and his voice turned icy. "I didnโt know my secretary started soliciting clients." There was a moment of silence before Jordyn's panicked voice came through. "M-Mr. Sumner, I'm sorry. That message was meant for my boyfriend. I must have sent it to you by mistake..." "Next time it happens, pack your things and leave!" Clark hung up and looked back at Nyla, his expression softening, even showing a hint of grievance. "Honey, she sent it by mistake. If you're still upset, I'll fire her tomorrow. It's late now, so letโs not waste time on someone unworthy. We haven't seen each other in a week. You need to make it up to me tonight." Clark pulled Nyla in for a kiss, but her mood was ruined despite the issue being cleared up. She wasn't in the mood anymore and pushed him away. "I'm tired tonight. Let's continue tomorrow." A flash of disappointment crossed Clark's eyes, but he didn't pressure her. "Alright, you sleep first. I'm not tired yet, so I'll go to the study to handle some work." "Okay." โฆ It started raining heavily in the middle of the night. The sound woke Nyla, and she reached out only to feel the cold space beside her. She glanced at the clockโ3:16 a.m. Nyla wondered whether Clark was still working. She got up, put on a robe, and went to the study, but it was dark and empty. Her grip on the doorknob tightened, and her heart sank. Nylaโs phone suddenly chimed, startling her in the quiet night. Seeing that it was a text from a stranger, she had a gut feeling that reading it would mean no turning back for her and Clark. A thunderclap boomed outside, startling her into accidentally pressing it. [Still awake? Because your husband isn't with you?] [I was scared because of the thunder and power outage, and he came to comfort me.] [Don't you want to know where your husband is?] As Nyla read the messages and the boastful tone, her hands trembled uncontrollably. After a long while, another text came in with an address and a series of digits. Nyla bit her lip, grabbed her car keys, and drove straight there. By the time she reached the villa, it was past 4:00 a.m. She entered the code, and the door unlocked. The living room lights were on. From the entrance to the bedroom door, a man's suit and a woman's lingerie were strewn about, revealing the urgency of their actions. Seeing the torn red nightgown at the bedroom door, Nyla felt a sense of absurdity. Although the distance from the entrance to the bedroom was only a few meters, it felt like an eternity to Nyla. Standing at the bedroom door, she felt light-headed and dizzy. She reached out, trembling, and slowly pushed the slightly open door. The sight of the messy bed and the bared couple entwinedโtheir heavy breathing filling the roomโpierced Nyla's heart. The couple was so engrossed that they didn't notice her standing there. Nyla's hand on the door frame turned white from gripping it too hard, leaving red marks on her palm. She had been with Clark for eight years, from school days to marriage, envied by everyone around them. Until today, she had never imagined betrayal between them. Now, reality dealt her a cruel blow. Even the most sincere wedding vows couldn't withstand a fickle heart. Unable to bear the sight, Nyla turned and stumbled out, driving away. She stopped by a bar on the way and decided to go in. โฆ By the time Valarie Weir arrived, Nyla had already downed two bottles of whiskey, her gaze slightly unfocused. "Valarie, you're here..." Seeing Nyla surrounded by several men, Valarie frowned. "All of you, leave!" "No, they're fine hereโ" "I said, leave!" After driving the men away, Valarie sat next to Nyla. "What happened? Did Clark really cheat on you?" Valarie was Nyla's university roommate and had witnessed Nyla and Clarkโs journey from school to marriage. She had seen Clark treat Nyla well all these years, so she couldn't believe he would cheat. Upon hearing Clarkโs name, Nyla's gaze dimmed, and the heart-wrenching pain came rushing back. "I don't want to hear that name right now." Chapter 2 Nyla downed her drink in one gulp. She had never imagined Clark would betray her. Seeing him in bed with another woman felt like a dagger through her heart. "I just can't believe it. He loved you so much. He didn't seem like the type to cheat. Maybe there's a misunderstanding," Valarie suggested. Nyla let out a cold laugh. "I saw it with my own eyes. How could that be a misunderstanding?" The room fell silent. Watching Nyla drink like there was no tomorrow, Valarie grabbed the glass from her hand. "Even if he cheated, you shouldn't punish yourself by getting drunk. What are you going to do now?" "I'm getting a divorce. Just thinking about him with that woman makes me sick." Upon seeing the defiance in Nylaโs red eyes, Valarie's heart ached. "Don't think about it now. You need to rest. Decide what to do next once youโre calm. I'll take you home." Nyla shook her head. "No... I don't want to go back." Returning to that house would only bring back the sickening images of Clarkโs betrayal. Each recollection made her feel nauseous. Seeing Nylaโs reluctance, Valarie didn't insist. "I'll book you a hotel room then." โฆ After booking a room, Valarie took Nyla to the hotel entrance. "Are you sure you don't want me to take you up?" Nyla shook her head. "No, you go rest. I'll be fine." She waved with the room card and walked into the hotel. Seeing Nyla walk steadily, Valarie finally breathed a sigh of relief and drove away once Nyla was inside the hotel. What she didn't know was that Nyla, when drunk, appeared sober but was actually a mess inside. Nyla entered the elevator, scanned her card, and the elevator began to ascend. Soon, the doors opened with a ding. As Nyla stepped out onto the carpet, her legs almost gave out. She steadied herself against the wall, massaging her aching temples while searching for her room number. The wine was taking its toll, and her vision blurred. She found Room 8919 and tried the card on the door. Hearing no beep, she frowned and was about to push the door when it suddenly opened. Nyla froze. Before she could react, a large hand yanked her into the dark room. The door slammed shut, cutting off the light from the hallway. She was pressed against the door, a man's breath hot against her ear, making her shiver. The familiar scent of pine filled her senses, but before she could place it, she felt the warmth of his lips on hers. "Mmph!" Realizing what was happening, Nyla struggled. Damon was strong, and with the wine dulling her strength, her hands felt weak, almost inviting as she pushed against his chest. Damonโs hands roamed her body, leaving a trail of fire, and her body grew more responsive under his touch. Nyla tried to push him away, but he easily caught her wrists and pinned them above her head. "Letโ Mmph! Let me goโฆ" He stopped kissing her and chuckled. "No need to play hard to get." His fingers traced her collar, the cool touch making her shudder. His body heat seemed to melt her, and her legs grew weak. In the dark, Nylaโs senses heightened. She felt Damon unbuttoning her clothes, her mouth dry, her last bit of rationality warning her that this was going too far. "Let me go!" She mustered all her strength to push him, but he simply picked her up and threw her onto the bed. The bed was soft, so Nyla didnโt feel pain, but the impact made her head spin. She tried to get up, but Damon pinned her down. Soon, her clothes were gone, and they were both nearly bared. He pressed against her, ready. His dominating presence made her tremble. She pushed against his chest, biting her lip to stay calm and clear-headed. "Mister, I think I entered the wrong room. Please let me goโฆ" Nylaโs voice shook with tension. "Tsk!" Damon's voice was impatient, his tone cold. "Still playing?" He was about to get up and kick Nyla out when the room light suddenly came on. Nyla had accidentally hit the light switch in her struggle. The sudden light made Damon squint. He was shocked when he saw the terrified woman beneath him. Nyla, recognizing Damon, felt the blood drain from her face. The fear sobered her instantly. She couldnโt believe itโthe man who almost violated her was Clarkโs uncle, Damon Summer! "Uncle Damonโฆ" Nyla had always been wary of Damon. He was the youngest son of Richard Sumner and Marie Thorne, doted on by them and known for his unpredictable, cold nature. Even outsiders avoided crossing him. When she married Clark, he had warned her to steer clear of Damon. "Shut up!" Damon's face was dark, his gaze icy, as he contemplated whether to silence her for good. Then, his eyes shifted to her bare body, darkening further. He turned away, getting off the bed. "Get dressed and get out!" As Damon moved, Nyla caught a glimpse of him where she shouldn't, and her face turned red with embarrassment. Upon seeing her flushed face, Damon's expression soured even more. "Still not leaving?" Nyla could not care less about her embarrassment as she hastily dressed and left without looking back. Once outside, she checked the room number and realized her mistakeโit wasnโt Room 8919, but Room 8916! She had entered the wrong room and almost slept with her husbandโs uncle. The thought made her headache worse. She should have let Valarie take her up. Unfortunately, it was too late for regrets now. After Nyla left, Damon dialed a number with a glower on his face. "Delete all surveillance footage from the Empire Skyview Hotel tonight!" Upon hanging up, he looked at the messy bed and sheets, his irritation growing. He had almost slept with his nephewโs wife... What a mess! Chapter 3 On Nyla's way back, she hesitated for a long time before finally messaging Damon, someone whose contact she had had for three years but had never contacted. Nyla: [Uncle Damon... Can we pretend tonight never happened? I was really drunk and went to the wrong room.] She waited for a long time, but there was no response from Damon. Frowning, she sent another message. Nyla: [?] As soon as she sent it, a red exclamation mark appeared: [You are no longer friends with this user. Please send a friend request to continue chatting.] Nyla bit her lip. Damon had deleted her. He must not want to bring this up again. Relieved, she finally felt a bit of peace. โฆ When Nyla got home, it was already past 6:00 a.m. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Clark sitting on the sofa. He turned sharply at the sound of the door, his eyes bloodshot from a sleepless night. "Where were you last night? I called you dozens of times. Why didnโt you answer?" Clark stood up and walked quickly toward her, reaching out to grab her hand, but she pulled away. He froze, about to speak, but she spoke first, her tone icy. "You can stay out all night, but I can't?" Nyla had always been gentle. In their eight years together, they had hardly ever argued. This was the first time she had spoken to him so coldly. Clark sensed something was wrong and noticed her red, swollen eyes. His expression changed, and his hand clenched at his side. "You know, don't you?" His voice was calm, without a trace of guilt or panic, as if he had expected this day to come. Upon seeing his unapologetic demeanor, Nyla's long-suppressed emotions finally exploded. She swung her bag at him, her eyes red with fury, like a madwoman. All the good times they had shared, all the happy moments, were shattered the moment she saw him in bed with another woman. They could never be pieced together again. "Clark Sumner, how could you do something so disgusting?! If you didnโt love me anymore, you could have divorced me. Why did you have to hurt me like this?" Nyla had assumed that no third party could ever come between them. Unfortunately, reality gave her a harsh slap, waking her from the lies he had woven and turning her love for him into a joke. Seeing her red, tear-filled eyes, Clark felt a pang in his chest. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms. "Nyla, Iโm sorry..." Nyla shoved him away, wanting to laugh but only tears came. "Donโt touch me with your filthy hands! "Is it that hard to stay faithful? "Since we got married, Iโve met many excellent men, and some have shown interest in me. But Iโve never crossed the line. If I can do it, why canโt you?!" Clark clenched his fists when he saw the disappointment and anger in her eyes. "Nyla, youโre the only one I loveโฆ It was just an accident with herโฆ" His explanation sounded so weak that Nyla found it both laughable and nauseating. "So youโre saying I could sleep with another man and then tell you it was an accident? That I may have betrayed you physically, but my heart still belongs to you?" A flash of ruthlessness crossed Clark's eyes. "If you dare, Iโll end you and that man together in bed." Seeing his icy gaze, Nyla felt a chill in her heart. If he knew betrayal was unforgivable, why would he still betray her? She took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "Do you remember what I told you when you proposed?" She had said that if he ever betrayed her, she would not forgive him but leave him. Clarkโs expression changed. "I will not let you leave!" Nyla wiped her tears, her expression a mixture of ridicule and hatred. "Whether you agree or not, Iโve made up my mind. Iโm divorcing you. You donโt deserve my forgiveness." With that, she ignored his reaction and went upstairs. Clark stared at her back, his gaze dark. โฆ Back in the bedroom, Nyla went straight to the bathroom to shower, unable to stand the smell of wine on herself. While applying body wash, she noticed red marks on her chest and paused. The image of Damonโs hands roaming her body flashed through her mind, making her frown. She scrubbed the marks hard until the skin around them turned red, trying to erase his touch. After her shower, she saw Clark sitting on the bed with his head down, lost in thought. She frowned and decided to ignore him. They would be divorced soon anyway. Clark looked up and saw Nyla coming out in just a towel. Her damp hair dripped water, her freshly washed face flushed like a blooming rose with an enticing fragrance. The towel barely covered her behinds, revealing her long, fair legs. His breath hitched, his gaze glued on her. Nyla didnโt notice Clark's reaction. She walked to the wardrobe to grab her pajamas when a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her from behind. "Nyla..." Clark's voice was husky, filled with undisguised desire. Clark had been thinking about how to win her back downstairs after she left. The only way he could think of was to have a child with her. He had come upstairs to discuss this with her, planning to take it slow. However, he lost control upon seeing her just out of the shower. In the past, such behavior would have stirred Nyla's feelings, but all she felt now was disgust. She turned and pushed him away, her gaze full of revulsion. "Donโt touch me. I feel dirty." Hurt flashed in Clark's eyes. He grabbed her hands, his expression earnest. "Didnโt you always want a child? Letโs have one now, okay?" Nyla shook him off at his matter-of-fact attitude. "That was before. I might have a child in the future, but it wonโt be yours." Her words enraged Clark. He grabbed her and threw her onto the bed, pinning her down. "Say that again!" His eyes were full of anger, but Nyla didnโt care. "It doesnโt matter how many times I say it. Iโm disgusted by you. Iโd rather die than have your child." As soon as she finished speaking, Clark kissed her fiercely. Chapter 4 Nyla froze for a moment, then struggled desperately. Just the thought of Clark kissing another woman the night before filled her with disgust and rage. "Let go!" Her struggles were futile against Clark, who only tightened his grip around her waist. As she fought, her towel loosened, revealing her body. His gaze darkened, and he felt a rush of desire. Their bodies were pressed tightly together, and Nyla quickly noticed the change in Clark. Furious, she bit him hard, tasting blood in their mouths. Instead of letting go, Clark's other hand slipped under Nyla's towel. She had nothing on underneath, having just come out of the shower. She stiffened and struggled even more fiercely. "Clark, get off me!" Clark ignored Nyla, his fingers teasing her sensitive spots. "Nyla, you need me too, don't you?" Nylaโs struggles were in vain, and she grew increasingly desperate. As Clark positioned himself, she closed her eyes in despair. "Clark, don't make me hate you." Clark halted abruptly. Seeing Nyla filled with despair and pain, like a fragile porcelain doll about to shatter, made him pause. He wanted her desperately, but a voice in his head warned that if he took her now, it would be the end of them. He stared at her, his hand tightening around her waist. After several tense seconds, he suddenly let go and got off the bed, leaving the room quickly. The door slammed shut with a loud bang, making Nyla flinch. She clutched the blanket tightly. โฆ For the next few days, Clark didn't come home. Nyla called him several times to discuss the divorce, but he didn't respond. โฆ The weekend arrived. Nyla was in the living room, sending out job applications when she heard the front door open. Clark walked in, looking haggard. They stared at each other in silence until Nyla broke it, closing her laptop and standing up calmly. "Since you're back, let's talk about the divorce." Clark frowned. "I told you, I won't divorce you. I'm here to remind you that we have to go to the family dinner tonight." The Sumners held a monthly dinner, and ever since their wedding, Clark and Nyla had attended together. The family wasn't kind to Nyla, often treating her poorly. She endured it because she believed Clark loved her. After seeing him with another woman, however, she couldn't lie to herself anymore. "I don't want to go. Go by yourself." Clarkโs expression turned impatient. "Nyla, how long are you going to keep this up?" He had ignored her calls and messages, hoping she would calm down, but she was still the same. "I'm not keeping anything up. I just want a divorce." Upon hearing the word "divorce", Clark's patience wore thin. He looked at Nyla as if she were unreasonable. "Divorce? You haven't worked since we got married. How will you support yourself? Which company would hire you? And what about your father's exorbitant medical bills? Can you afford those? "Nyla, you're not a teenager anymore. You're 28. It's time to grow up. "I'm the CEO of the Sumner Group. I face temptations all the time. Sometimes, it's hard to resist, but those women will never take your place as my wife. What more do you want?" Clark couldn't understand why Nyla didn't see that he still loved her, even if he couldn't commit to being with her forever. Seeing Clarkโs arrogant demeanor, Nyla couldn't reconcile this man with the shy boy who had once blushed while confessing his love and promising never to hurt her. Maybe this was his true selfโselfish, proud, and condescending. "If being mature means tolerating your infidelity, then I'm sorry, I can't do that. Find someone else. Here are the divorce papers I've had drafted. Sign them when you have time." Clark glanced at the documents, sneering when he saw the section on asset division. "Quite the appetite you have, asking for half my assets. Do you really think that's possible?" "I deserve it. Why not?" Clark chuckled, his tone mocking. "Look around this house. Did you buy anything here? I've been covering your father's medical expenses for years. If we tally things up, you should be paying me. Should I have my lawyer do the math?" As Nyla watched his bitter expression, she couldn't believe she had once loved this man. He had hidden his true self so well that, until she caught him cheating, she had thought he was a great guy. "Don't forget, if it weren't for me giving you that patent, you wouldn't be the Sumner Group's CEO. And you were the one who told me to stay home after we got married. If I had continued my research, I would have earned far more than what you've given me." Unfazed, Clark replied, "Who would believe you about the patent now? "I don't want to argue about money, but if you insist on a divorce, we'll have to settle accounts. Nyla, as long as you drop the divorce idea, my money is still yours to use." "Clark, you're despicable!" Since he refused to divorce, she'd have to sue. She turned to leave, but he blocked her. "Change your clothes. We're going to the family dinner." "I said I'm not going. Tell them I'm not feeling well." Clark grabbed her wrist. "Nyla, I'm running out of patience. Don't force me to cut off your father's medical expenses." "You wouldn't dare!" Clark took out his phone and called his secretary. "Cancel my father-in-law's medical payment for next monthโ" Furious, Nyla grabbed his phone and ended the call. "You're crossing a line, Clark." "Crossing a line?" Clark's gaze was full of contempt as he yanked her closer. "Everything you have is because of me. Don't you think you're the one crossing the line? Change your clothes, or I have numerous ways to make you comply." Chapter 5 Seeing the coldness in Clark's eyes, Nyla realized how blind she had been to fall in love with such a man. Her eyes stung with unshed tears, but she refused to show any vulnerability in front of him. She yanked her hand away, took a deep breath, and headed upstairs. The only thought in her mind was to find a job quickly so she could move out and divorce Clark. She grabbed a random outfit, tied her hair up with a hairpin, and went back downstairs. She was never one to fuss over her appearance. In the past, she had dressed up for the Sumners' gatherings to make a good impression. Now, she couldn't care less. Hearing her footsteps, Clark looked up. Nyla wore a fitted white dress, her waist so slender it seemed it could be encircled with one hand. Her hair was secured with a jade hairpin, revealing her delicate neck. She was breathtakingly beautiful. The grace she exuded was just like when they first met. However, the look in her eyes now was devoid of any warmth. "Letโs go," she said. They drove to the Sumner residence in silence. As they arrived and were about to get out of the car, a black Range Rover sped up and stopped abruptly in front of them. Upon recognizing the car, Clark's expression darkened. It was Damon's car, someone he both feared and disliked. Damon was known for his reckless and unpredictable behavior. He had refused to take over the Sumner Group when Richard wanted him to run the company, choosing to start his own business instead. Everyone had expected him to fail, but within five years, his company had grown to be worth several times more than the Sumner Group. Clark couldn't stand Damon, partly out of jealousy. Once, a comment Clark made about Damon reached Damon's ears, and in retaliation, Damon refused to collaborate with the Sumner Group, costing them millions. Damon rarely attended family dinners, and Clark had hoped to avoid him. Luck wasnโt on his side todayโthey met at the door. He didnโt notice Nylaโs stiffened expression when she saw Damon get out of his car. Clark opened the car door and greeted, "Uncle Damon." Damon glanced at him indifferently, his gaze briefly landing on the passenger seat before he nodded and walked into the house. Nyla let out a deep breath. When Damon looked her way, she had forgotten to breathe, fearing he might say something outrageous. He was known for his unpredictable nature, always doing whatever he pleased. Fortunately, he said nothing. She decided she needed to talk to him privately later. As Clark and Nyla walked into the living room, they saw it was already filled with people. Richard and Marie, the family heads, were chatting with Damon. He was the kind of person who naturally stood out in a crowd. Noticing Nylaโs gaze on Damon, Clark frowned. "Why are you staring at my uncle?" Nyla withdrew her gaze and replied coolly, "None of your business." Her coldness irritated Clark. "Nyla, you know I donโt like you paying attention to other men." Ever since they got together, Clark had been extremely controlling, not allowing Nyla to interact with other men. She used to think this was a sign of his love, but now it seemed laughable. She sneered. "And I donโt like you sleeping with other women, but you seem to enjoy it just fine." Clark said through gritted teeth, "This is a family dinner. Weโll deal with this later." "If you donโt want me to bring it up, then stay out of my business," she retorted. Clark didnโt want to cause a scene now because it might affect the Sumner Group and his standing with Richard, who still held all the companyโs shares. As they talked, Marie called out, "Nyla, Clark, youโre here! Come sit down!" Nyla took a deep breath, forcing a smile as she approached. She might not like the Sumners, but she maintained basic manners. "Hello, Grandpa, Grandma," she greeted with a smile. Marie, who had been urging Damon to settle down and get married, looked pleased to see the couple. "Come, sit down." She turned to Damon with a hint of dissatisfaction. "Look at Clark. He manages the company well and has a beautiful wife. They might have children soon. And you? Almost 30 and still single. If you donโt bring a girlfriend next time, donโt bother coming!" Damon glanced at the couple with a smirk. "She is indeed beautiful." He just wondered how that petite frame would suffer if she were to have children. Nyla frowned, feeling uncomfortable with Damonโs gaze. Clark also noticed the inappropriate way Damon looked at Nyla. It wasnโt the look of an elder but more like a man admiring a woman. His hand clenched into a fist, and his body tensed. Marie sighed. "My point is, when will you bring me a daughter-in-law?" "Depends. If I meet someone I like, maybe Iโll bring her back tomorrow," Damon replied nonchalantly. "Youโre too picky! Iโve arranged a good match for you. Date's tomorrow, donโt ruin it." "Then youโll probably have to apologize to another old friend tomorrow." Frustrated, Marie snapped, โYouโre going to drive me crazy!โ Damon glanced at Clark. โClark's been married for years. Instead of pushing me, why donโt you encourage him to have kids?โ Marie nodded, realizing Damon wouldnโt listen to her. She turned to Nyla and Clark, her expression softening. โNyla, you and Clark have been married for a few years now. When are you planning to have children?โ Chapter 6 Nyla lifted her head to speak, but Clark grabbed her hand and smiled. "Grandma, we're working on it!" Nyla tried to pull her hand away, but Clark's grip was too tight. If he wouldn't let her be, she wouldn't make it easy for him either. She turned to Marie. "Grandma, I'm looking for a job right now, so having children might have to wait." The room fell silent. Clark's grip on Nyla's hand tightened painfully, and she winced. Damon glanced at Clark's hand on Nyla, noticing the bulging veins, then looked away indifferently. Clarkโs aunt, Anne Sumner, sneered. "Nyla, don't blame me for being blunt. You've been married for years. How can you not have a child yet? If it weren't for Clark insisting on marrying you, do you think your family could have ever married into the Sumners? "You should be grateful. If you don't want to have Clark's child, there are plenty of women who do. If someone else steps in, youโll be the one looking silly." Besides, Anne thought, "Who knows if Nyla is fertile?" She sounded like she meant well, but her gaze at Nyla was filled with an air of superiority. Marie frowned at Anne, disapproving. "Anne, enough." Anne pursed her lips but stayed silent. Marie turned back to Nyla with a kind smile. "Nyla, you and Clark are still young. If you don't want children yet, that's fine. Just don't overwork yourself. Our family isn't short on money. You can work if you want, but take it easy." Nyla nodded. "I understand, Grandma." With that, the awkward moment passed, and the room returned to its previous warmth. Seeing the attention shift away, Clark pulled Nyla out of the living room. Once they reached the gazebo in the backyard, he released her. "Nyla, have you lost your mind? Do you want everyone to know about our fight?" Nyla rubbed her sore hand and said, "I was just being honest." "Honest?" Clark scowled. "Should I call your father then?" Harrison Jayston was ill and couldn't handle stress. Nyla planned to divorce Clark before breaking the news to him gently. She glared at Clark. "You wouldnโt dare! You were the one who cheated. What right do you have to be so self-righteous?" Clark clenched his hands, a flicker of guilt crossing his face before it was replaced by impatience. "I promised it wouldnโt happen again. If you don't want to see Jordyn, I'll fire her. What more do you want?" Nyla felt like there was a communication breakdown between them and turned away. "I don't want to argue with you here." When Clark saw her red-rimmed eyes, he softened. "Nyla, I truly know I was wrong. Just don't mention divorce, and I'll make it up to you. I love you. I can't let you go." Nyla found it laughable. How could he claim to love her while being with another woman? Just thinking about him with someone else made her sick. "I will never forgive you." Betrayal was her bottom line. She couldnโt pretend nothing had happened or reconcile with him. Clark knew Nyla well enough to understand that he had to be patient. He believed she still had feelings for him. Otherwise, she would have made a bigger scene when she found out. As long as he refused to divorce her, she would eventually forgive him. "Fine, we won't talk about it now. If you don't want kids yet, weโll postpone it to two years later. Since you want to work, I'll have my secretary find you a position at the Sumner Group." Nyla laughed at his arrangement, a mocking look in her eyes. "Clark, do you see me as a puppet you can control?" Hurt by her gaze, Clark frowned. "How am I controlling you? You don't want kids now, so I agreed to wait two years. You want to work, so I'll arrange it. What more do you want?" "Stop pretending. I don't want kids because I want a divorce. I want to work to sever ties with you." Clark looked at Nyla's stubborn face, displeased. Since their wedding, she had been like a canary in his cage. He couldn't let her go. "As long as I don't agree, this marriage won't end. Even if you tell a lawyer I cheated, do you have proof?" Clark's confident tone and controlling demeanor made Nyla step back, trembling with anger. She finally saw how selfish and disgusting he was. She had wasted eight yearsโthe best years of her life, from 18 to 26โloving this man. "You make me sick, Clark!" Seeing the undisguised disgust in Nyla's eyes, Clar | LEARN_MORE | https://findedc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=15692& | Indulge in story | https://www.facebook.com/61552702618591/ | 880 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | findedc.com | DCO | https://findedc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=15692&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/t39.35426-6/468455042_1262834138099234_1389968434765802098_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=D8UBxsULjwUQ7kNvgGA6NPy&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AqgBF4QlKSu9txTqQ2ioaCz&oh=00_AYBr08N_BBX3vo91wq6PWyts143hYmM_bPp8fenYnSJq3A&oe=676EAFC7 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Indulge in story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Read more FREE chapters๐ | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. Could it beโฆ? No, she would never do that to me! With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could my husband cheat on me?! I thought I was the most important person in his life. After 7 horrible years at the orphanage, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they took me in. How could Owen betray me after everything we went through?! We grew up together and were always inseparable. We fell in love and got married when we were 22 years old. I canโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. But Owen had been acting very strange lately. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didn't answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why did he treat me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, but a few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes are in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back several 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. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to be my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When seeing the private doctor, I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we knew each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why did you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treat me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life was ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? You must pay for what you have done!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepare your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โGood. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning,โOwen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile, โOh, Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you. Hope you will enjoy it!โ | LEARN_MORE | https://redtgb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=14837&u | Random Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61559743679549/ | 327 | 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=14837&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/t39.35426-6/463746090_1935842656910759_3812755172762740403_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=I1o2yqoLmUgQ7kNvgFtQuMK&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AKY6CzbmK_4MncCMNQycbNE&oh=00_AYB5J9CT2FVgYrNARaivQzw2Eu-WLje44TS0aSOocrDxsA&oe=676ECF48 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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๐Read the next chapters๐ | It was actually very obvious whether a man loved a woman or not. Angela Graham knew it very well. For example, Dexter Bamford could spend a fortune buying out all the billboards in the central business district to celebrate the birthday of his first love, Elena Carrey. He did so that the whole city would be able to tell his sincerity toward her. But for Angela's birthday, all she got was just a small, six-inch cake. In fact, it was the very same cake the nanny had gotten on her birthday. Angela chuckled when she saw the cake. It made sense, after all. Although she was Dexter's legally wedded wife, the actual Mrs. Bamford, her job scope wasn't much different from the nanny's anyway. The only extra task she had was sleeping with Dexter. Angela felt tears well in her eyes when she thought about this. The loneliness in her eyes stood out like a sore thumb amid the noisy surroundings of the party. Dexter had been late to the party as always. Actually, he had planned on staying at the banquet hall for a while longer, but he had received a message just then. He opened up the message, not bothering to hide anything from Angela. It was as if her feelings weren't even worth considering at any point. "It kinda hurtsโฆ Can you come over?" Along with the message was a photo of a woman's bare back, decorated all over with love bites, as if she had just finished rolling in the sheets with her lover a few minutes ago. It was very suggestive. Angela couldn't even describe what she was feeling anymore. She just felt the discomfort in her stomach start to intensify. She knew the person who had sent Dexter the messages. It was his secretary, Erica Carrey, Elena's younger sister. She had just never imagined that Erica was also one of Dexter's bed partners. Angela stared at Dexter's phone for a long time. It wasn't until Dexter addressed her that she finally snapped back to her senses. "Done staring?" Angela raised her head, her gaze meeting Dexter's dark eyes. Dexter's facial features were partially hidden in the shadows under the dim light. He exuded a cold and aloof air as he threw Angela another glance and nonchalantly slipped the phone back into his pocket. He didn't seem the least bit hurried or anxious at all, and he certainly wasn't remorseful that his wife had found out about his affair. He didn't even care whether Angela would throw a fuss about it. Meanwhile, Angela simply lowered her head like a guilty child who had just done something wrong. She shifted her gaze at once. She just simply couldn't hold this against him. After all, following what had happened the last time, her father, Bill Graham, had remarried, and Angela didn't have any support from her maternal family. They no longer wanted to have anything to do with her. Her mother, Marie Jetson, used to own a company called Jetson Co., but Bill had completely taken over the company. He had also long forgotten his promise to Marie and abandoned Angela for the sake of his new wife, Judy Miller, and her son, Zack Graham. Angela had nothing left aside from the title of Mrs. Bamford. She was just Dexter's trophy wife. She knew that she had no right to question Dexter, the head of the household who provided for her. It didn't matter that she used to be a very famous designer in the industry. Just as Dexter was about to leave, Angela tugged on the corner of his shirt and said, "Dexter, can you come home earlier today? I've got something to tell you." Dexter looked at her with a half-smile and suddenly came close to her. He chuckled in her ear and said, "What, tonight? Someone's eager today. I'm taking this as an invitation." Angela shuddered suddenly. Dexter had never gone easy on her in bed. However, the people around them couldn't help teasing them watching their interaction. They joked that Dexter and Angela kept behaving like newlyweds in their honeymoon phase with how often they stuck to each other like glue. Still, Angela knew that this so-called intimacy was only a show. Dexter had never viewed her as his equal. To him, she was nothing but a decoration item that he owned. He had been forced to marry her, so she was a liability to him. He also thought it was all a ruse to curry favor with him. Without giving Angela a chance to answer, Dexter nodded at the rest of the guests and left the place. โฆ That night, Dexter got home even later than usual. Angela glanced at the clock and saw that it was close to dawn. She sat in the living room as she waited for him. When she saw him enter the house, she got up and approached him. As she took his coat from him, she thought it vaguely smelled like peaches. Obviously, this scent didn't belong to her. She held the coat closer and took another sniff. "Dexterโ" Just as she started to speak, she was immediately interrupted. However, it was obvious that Dexter misunderstood her. "What's up? Why are you sniffing like a dog?" He said it nonchalantly, as if reminding Angela about her position in this marriage. She was Mrs. Bamford, a nanny who should always turn a blind eye to Dexter's tomfoolery, serve him food, and satisfy him in bed whenever he wanted. She was not to bother about anything else that didn't concern her. "Whatever you have to say, you can wait until I've showered," Dexter said, walking around Angela as he left. A short while later, Dexter emerged from the bathroom with a head of messy hair. His bathrobe hung loosely on his shoulders, revealing his toned abs and sexy V-line. Angela hurriedly stood up from the couch and didn't dare to look up at him. It had been so many years, and Dexter still managed to hypnotize her like this every time. When they had been in high school, she had accidentally bumped into his table, knocking his textbook off to the ground. From the moment he had smiled at her and told her it was okay, with the sun shining in the back, Angela had fallen for him, hook, line, and sinker. But she then recalled the phone call she had received from Judy that afternoon, saying that Zack had racked up a huge debt from his gambling addiction. Apparently, they had no choice but to put a mortgage on the house Marie had left for Angela to repay his debts. That house had belonged to Marie all along and had nothing to do with them! How could they have done such a thing? Angela gritted her teeth and said, "Dexter, I'd like to participate in the international design competition this year." The prize money was well worth up to eight figures. Angela wanted to use the money to redeem her mother's house. "You waited for so long just to ask me this? Aren't you a little too free now, Mrs. Bamford?" Dexter asked, curling his lips up in a smirk. "You're not suited to reveal your face in public." Angela grabbed Dexter's arm anxiously and said, "I'm not revealing my face to the public. I won't let other people know that I'm Mrs. Bamford." Dexter had long lost his patience. He looked at her mockingly and said, "And why should I believe you?" Exactly. Why should he believe her? The coffee Bill had prepared for Dexter back then had been drugged. Angela had known nothing about it, but they hadn't been able to trust each other for years because she had been the one who had given it to Dexter. Angela released her hold on Dexter's arm. If she didn't participate in the competition, then how else could she get so much money? Suddenly, a huge force swept Angela off her feet. She found herself falling against a cold, steely chest. Dexter's icy voice sounded from behind her. "Giving up so soon? Actually, if you perform well tonight, I can perhaps think about it." "Perform what?" "What do you think?" Dexter suddenly blew in Angela's ear, getting her in the mood. As usual, the lobes of Angela's ears turned a bright red color. Dexter felt aroused all of a sudden. He hugged her tightly from the back and leaned in to kiss her earlobes. Yet, Angela suddenly felt annoyed. Dexter often acted on his primal instincts. He was the only one who had a say in whether they would be having that night or not. Hadn't he just come back from someone else's bed that night? That woman didn't satisfy him? Before Angela could push him away, Dexter's phone suddenly started ringing loudly, ruining the mood. He went to answer the phone. The sound of a woman sobbing could be heard on the other end of the line. Chapter 2 Dexter glanced up at Angela before speaking gently into the phone. "What's the matter? Don't cry." Angela watched as Dexter changed into his outdoor clothes and left for the second time, for some other woman and that too, on her birthday. Her eyes stung with tears. She didn't feel sleepy anymore after Dexter left. Thinking she would get a book or two to read, Angela headed into the study and happened to see a contract. The contract was placed right in the center of the table, as if anyone was welcome to take a look at it. It was a contract between Dexter and Elena, his first love. Angela couldn't believe that they were still in contact with each other. The contract was very thick. It had started when Angela had first gotten married to Dexter, spanning five years. Angela's hand shook. The more she read, the more shocking it was for her. The latest date was actually last night. As it turned out, everything that Dexter had done for her, whether a celebration or an anniversary date, had been meticulously planned out by Elena. That explained everything! No wonder Dexter had been so gracious to set off a fireworks display just for her when she had made a fuss about him and Elena. The fireworks display had been a grand show of colors, lighting up the night with the words "LOVE YOU", the very two words Angela had been wanting to hear from Dexter since forever. She had felt so touched then. She could still remember how elated she had felt when she had seen the two words in the sky. But now, after reading this contract, she finally understood that the fireworks display she had been so proud of had been nothing but another one of Dexter's tactics to toy with her emotions. And yet, she had naively thought that maybe he did have a place for her in his heart after all. Angela closed her eyes. She had never felt such despair like she did today. She was going to have to divorce him. โฆ Dexter didn't return for the rest of the night. The next morning, Erica called, telling Angela to bring Dexter's tie and cufflinks to the company. She told Angela to hurry up since Dexter had an important meeting that day. Angela packed the things and headed over to Bamford Co. However, as always, she was stopped by the receptionist. "Good morning, miss. Do you have an appointment today?" Angela could already recite their next conversation with her eyes closed. "None." "I'm sorry, but you can't go up without an appointment." It didn't matter if Angela proved that she was Dexter's wife. "We're sorry, but we didn't receive any orders, so we can't let you up. It's the same for everyone else." In fact, if Erica were there, she would also mock Angela and say, "Oh, I'm sorry, but Mr. Bamford is the one who sets the rules here." So, this time, Angela didn't give them a chance to humiliate her anymore. She said, "I do, but my appointment is with Ms. Carrey. Please call her and ask her to come down." The receptionist stared at Angela for a brief while before calling Erica. Erica appeared very quickly. "Did you bring the things, Ms. Graham?" She never called Angela "Mrs. Bamford" in front of other people. She was also somewhat dismissive of her, talking to her as if she were just talking to a delivery man. In the past, Angela would always treat Erica with the utmost respect because of her status and position. But now, she was already planning to leave Dexter. "I did. Where's Dexter?" "Mr. Bamford is very busy. You can just hand me the things without having to wait for him. He won't show up anyway," Erica said condescendingly. Angela sighed in relief. She lifted a corner of her lips in a smirk and passed the items to Erica. "Okay. I'll pass you his things. I just thought of telling him that next time, it would perhaps be more appropriate for him to get his driver to send these things to him. "Also," Angela added, giving Erica the once-over. "As his secretary, isn't it your job to make sure that you have at least a few sets of his neckties and cufflinks as a spare? Aren't you being a little incompetent since you don't even have any extra sets for him?" With that, Angela walked away. She couldn't be bothered to argue with a mistress and teach the latter to mind her position. Dexter only caught sight of Angela's back as she left when he came out of the door. He looked at Erica and asked in confusion, "She left?" Erica opened her mouth to say something but decided against it. She didn't know what was wrong with Angela today. Usually, Angela would always beg to stay at the company, and Dexter would always appear when she was arguing with Erica. But it was somehow different today. It was as if Angela was a completely different person altogether. At the very least, she didn't stay back to wait to catch a glimpse of Dexter anymore. Erica frowned. "Yes. She left without saying anything else." Dexter found it strange. He felt a little frustrated too. "Don't bother about her. Hurry up and get to the meeting." The meeting lasted the whole day. It was already evening by the time it ended. Dexter got into his black Luxury car and went straight home to the villa. His driver, Chet Sanders, cut the engine and hurriedly got around the car to open the door for Dexter. As soon as Dexter got out, the maids came out to greet him. "You're back, sir! Madam has been in her room all day and refuses to eat anything. We're not sure if anything's wrong with her." When he heard this, Dexter was stunned for a moment. His eyes turned dark with emotion. Angela must be jealous. She probably didn't like that he had left last night, and she was throwing a fuss because she felt threatened. Dexter went upstairs, jeering at her in his heart. He saw Angela folding her clothes in front of the wardrobe when he stepped into their bedroom. He reached up to loosen his tie, leaning against the side as he openly eyed her from top to bottom. This was Angela, his wife. Aside from that pretty face of hers, she was absolutely useless to him. Come to think of it, she was pretty good with doing chores around the house. She was even better than the nanny at it. Angela didn't make a sound. Seeing that she wasn't saying anything, Dexter didn't feel like questioning her either. He just went to change out of his work clothes. He thought that by the time he was done changing, knowing Angela's temperament, her anger toward him would have already dissipated by then. She would then pour him a drink and gently ask him if he'd had dinner. She would always pretend as if nothing bad had ever happened. So, when Dexter noticed a suitcase at the door after he was done changing his clothes, he stared at it in surprise. "Are you going out?" Dexter asked, frowning slightly. Angela packed up the last of her belongings and raised her head to meet Dexter's gaze. Dexter's eyes were deep, and he exuded an air of elegance. It was still just as Angela remembered him from when she had first met him. He was a brightly shining star, and she simply couldn't take her eyes away off of him. However, as time passed, Dexter had only seemed to hate her even more. Angela stared at him silently for a long time. She stared at him for so long that her eyes began to feel dry, and they slightly welled up with tears. She then took a deep breath and said slowly, "Dexter Bamford, let's get a divorce." Chapter 3 Dexter could hardly believe what he had just heard. Throughout his marriage with Angela, he had only ever seen a submissive and hopeful look in her eyes. He knew she feared losing him. The term "divorce" was probably the thing she had feared hearing the most in the past three years. But now, she had uttered it so casually. When Dexter had seen Angela's retreating back at the office this morning, he had already felt annoyed. That emotion resurfaced again. Dexter questioned in a cold voice, "What? Are you upset because I didn't accompany you yesterday? Or is it because I refused to let you participate in that ridiculous competition? "Angela, are you out of your mind? You cried and begged to be Mrs. Bamford. You live in a villa and have luxury cars to drive you around. I even propped up your failing family. What more could you possibly be dissatisfied with?" The disdain and contempt in his words made Angela feel a chill run down her spine. She should have known better. She couldn't hold back anymore. She retorted loudly, almost shouting, "Mrs. Bamford? So what if I'm Mrs. Bamford? Have you ever seen a rich man's wife as pathetic as I am?" She stormed into the study, grabbed a bulky contract, and threw it in front of Dexter forcefully. "You should know what this is better than I do! I'm expected to keep up appearances in front of your family. But when I come home, even the household staff can show me attitude! "What kind of wife spends her birthday being yet another portfolio addition to a fireworks designer and is given the very same six-inch birthday cake that was given to the nanny? "While it is true that I got to become Mrs. Bamford because of my family's plotting, I don't want it anymore! Do you have a problem with that?" Dexter found this side of Angela unfamiliar. At the same time, he thought she was being ridiculous. "Do you think you can just get into this marriage and end it as you wish? You'd be too naรฏve to think so!" He raised an eyebrow mockingly. "Do you think you can come and go as you please in the Bamford family? What about the debt you and your family owe me?" "Whatever the Graham family owes you, go to them. What do I owe you, Dexter? I don't owe you a thing! Even if I did, three years of warming your bed should have been enough to repay it!" Angela countered. She didn't want to argue with Dexter anymore. So, she picked up her only suitcase and turned to leave. After three years of being Mrs. Bamford, all her belongings didn't even fill a small suitcaseโthis was proof of the miserable life she had been leading. As she approached the staircase, a strong grip pulled her back. Dexter's expression was stormy as he gripped her chin and forced her to look up at him. "Warming my bed? Is that how you see yourself? Ha! It seems I've overestimated you. You don't even know how to be proactive in bed or please me. Shall I give you a chance to demonstrate what you're capable of now?" Angela's eyes widened in disbelief as the dull pain radiated from her chin. Out of reflex and in retaliation, she slapped Dexter. As her hand landed on his face, a loud slap echoed in the enclosed space. The air around them seemed to freeze at that moment. A surge of anger shot up in Dexter's heart. In the next second, Angela felt the world spinning around her as Dexter picked her up and threw her onto the bed. His expression was terrifying, and he exuded an imposing air. Pinning Angela down, Dexter placed his hands on either side of her head. She felt his heavy breaths on her face. They were mere inches apart. Angela tensed up upon sensing the looming danger. As she stared at the vivid handprint on his face, she couldn't help but cower a little. Dexter bit down on the side of her neck and spoke unkind words in the most intimate way possible. "You're making a scene because you're jealous. Are you that bothered about Elena? Isn't pretending your specialty? What? Can't keep it up now?" The mention Elena struck a nerve with Angela. She swallowed down the nervousness from slapping him earlier and tried to push Dexter away impatiently. This was the first time Angela had shown refusal, or it could also be that Dexter was simply too used to their physical contact. Either way, Angela's actions ignited his desire, and he suddenly felt aroused. Angela had always had an alluring figure; she had beautiful curves in all the right places. Though she was passive in bed, they actually got along very well physically. Dexter brushed a few strands of stray hair off her forehead, his gaze darkening. He then leaned in, his lips lingering over hers. One of his hands moved to grip her soft waist. Angela came to her senses and realized what Dexter was about to do. Usually, she found it hard to refuse him when he was this forceful. But now that she intended to divorce him, this forced intimacy was uncalled for. "No, Dexter! Stopโฆ" Angela was unaware of the impact that her soft, moaning tone had on a man. There was even a hint of a sob in her meek protest. Angela cursed herself for being so weak. All it took was a light kiss from Dexter, and what was supposed to be a firm rejection sounded like she was playing hard-to-get instead. Well, Dexter was into this. His wandering hand trailed lower as his lips brushed over her earlobe. "Isn't it too early to ask me to stop now? It always takes a few rounds before you start begging for mercy." Angela's face turned red with embarrassment, and she had a flustered look in her eyes. Even if Dexter didn't want to admit it, he was indeed aroused when he held her intoxicating body in his arms so closely. Just as he was about to tear her clothes away, she reached out and stopped him. Angela asked through ragged breaths, "There are no more protective measure. Are you sure about this?" Dexter paused, and reason took over. He realized that he wasn't that desperate to bed her. After all, having a child with Angela wasn't part of his current plans. Nevertheless, he felt reluctant to let go of her when the mood was just right. He raised an eyebrow and questioned, "Are you threatening me?" "No, I'm simply stating a fact." Angela stubbornly looked up at him, standing her ground. At that moment, something snapped in Dexter, and he found the face staring back at him incredibly infuriating. "You could just take a pill!" he growled, disregarding her objections. Angela's face was wet with tears. Once again, she saw her true worth in Dexter's eyes. Even calling her a bed partner would be too generous. A bed partner had the right to say "no", but she didn't even have the right to refuse. The abrupt ringing of Dexter's phone interrupted their imminent intimacy. He casually picked up his phone, not really concerned at first. But upon seeing who was calling, he quickly lifted himself off Angela. Chapter 4 Dexter cleared his throat with a light cough before pressing the answer button. "Yes, Grandpa?" The robust voice of an old man came from the other end. "Dexter, I may be sick, but I'm not dead. Did you even know it was Angie's birthday yesterday?" Upon hearing this, Dexter glanced at Angela before speaking politely into the phone. "Of course I knew it was her birthday yesterday. I even organized a grand celebration for her." "Hmph! Don't try to fool me!" Joseph Bamford scolded. The next moment, there was the sound of Joseph angrily handing the phone over to his butler, Gary Butler. Gary took over the call and spoke respectfully to Dexter. "Mr. Bamford Jr., Mr. Bamford Sr. has been feeling some discomfort in his chest over the past couple of days. If you have the time, bring your wife along to visit him at Bamford Manor. Mr. Bamford Sr. might not say it, but he probably misses the pasta she makes." Dexter remained silent for a moment before agreeing. "I'll bring her over shortly, Mr. Butler." After hanging up, Dexter calmly adjusted his cuffs and asked in a seemingly casual tone, "Didn't you post any birthday photos yesterday?" With just that question, Angela understood what he meantโthe lack of photos had caused Joseph to worry. "Grandpa isn't well, and he's getting on in years. Whatever you may be thinking, keep it to yourself in front of him. Understood?" Dexter warned. Angela nodded wordlessly and got up to get dressed. Joseph was the only one in the Bamford family who had ever truly treated her well. When she had been ten, Marie had end life saving Joseph. After that, Bill had gotten married again, and Judy had become her stepmother. Bill had used this debt of gratitude to secure Angela a foothold in the Bamford family. Feeling sympathy for her and having always liked Angela, Joseph had forced Dexter to marry her. She and Dexter getting divorced was a private matter. So, there was no need to trouble Joseph about it. He didn't need to know. Dexter went downstairs first and picked out a car from the garage. He didn't ask Chet to drive him to Bamford Manor. Instead, he drove the car out himself. The engine emitted a low hum in the night. Angela changed into a white camisole dress and draped a pale blue shawl over it, accentuating her curves. Her long hair cascaded down her shoulders, and the pale skin on her neck was partially visible, adding a touch of allure. She forcefully tugged on the handle of the door to the back seat, but it wouldn't budge. The window on the passenger side rolled down halfway, and Dexter's impatient voice came from inside. "Get in the front." Angela hesitated only briefly before opening the door and getting in. Dexter stepped on the accelerator pedal somewhat heavily as he drove off. The inertia caused Angela to be thrown back into her seat slightly, making her frown. She glanced sideways at Dexter, who had one hand resting on the wheel. He was completely focused on the road, seemingly oblivious to her presence. He had always been like this. In their three years of marriage, he had seldom given her any of his attention unless it had been necessary. Over the years, Angela had rarely gotten to ride in his car. The times she had gotten to sit in the passenger seat were few and far between. Now that she was preparing to divorce Dexter, she didn't bother to engage him further. Hence, the drive was silent. The car stopped in front of Bamford Manor, which was on the outskirts of town. With its lush greenery and vast expanse, it resembled castle grounds from the last centuryโrustic yet grand on the outside and luxurious on the inside. Just as Angela was about to open the door to get out, Dexter grabbed her wrist. "Hold on." She turned around in puzzlement to see Dexter looking unusually serious. "What?" she asked curtly. "Let me remind you againโGrandpa can't handle surprises. Think carefully before you speak," Dexter reminded warily. Angela nodded, her tone cold as she replied, "I know." As she got out, she shrugged her shoulders against the chilly night air. With brisk steps, she walked toward the entrance. Dexter watched her back, noticing that she didn't wait for him. He caught up with her in a few strides and placed a hand over her shoulder. He felt her halt, and her body stiffened for a brief second. Ultimately, she didn't pull away. In the main hall on the first floor, Dexter's mother, Fiona Rosewell sat elegantly, holding a steaming cup of dandelion tea prepared by the maids. She didn't even look up when Gary announced Dexter and Angela's return. Angela wasn't surprised. For the past three years, Fiona had always been indifferent toward her. Once, Angela would have felt hurt upon being given the cold shoulder. But now that she was on the brink of divorce from Dexter, none of it seemed to matter anymore. Knowing that Dexter would never take the initiative to greet Fiona, Angela took the initiative to greet her instead. After a moment, Fiona reluctantly nodded and said, "Oh, you're here. Go greet your grandfather." She sipped her tea daintilyโa signal for them to leave her alone. Her gaze lingered on Dexter's hand that was on Angela's shoulder, and she frowned slightly. She had always disliked seeing them being intimate. Dexter, as usual, ignored her and walked straight past her. Fiona and Dexter had been estranged for years. Once, Angela had tried to act as a mediator between them. Now that she had her own troubles, she no longer had any energy to spare them. She followed Dexter into Joseph's bedroom and found the latter looking somewhat weary as he leaned against the headboard. Upon hearing the door open, Joseph looked up. His eyes lit up with joy when he saw it was them. "You're here, Angie! I was just thinking of you, birthday girl. Gary, go bring the gift I prepared for Angie." Joseph's cheerful expression nearly brought tears to Angela's eyes. In this household, he was probably the only one who had bothered to prepare a gift for her. "Grandpa, I heard you've been unwell lately. Don't worry about me. Your health means more to me than any gift you could give," Angela said with concern. She chatted with Joseph for a while before going off to make him some fresh pasta. As soon as she left, Joseph's expression became grim. He looked up and narrowed his eyes at Dexter, who had been silent since he had entered the room. "Cat got your tongue?" The corners of Dexter's lips became slightly downturned. "Didn't I bring her back to see you?" "Don't act innocent, Dexter. I'm warning you, don't keep this up until it's too late. Angie is a good womanโdon't take her for granted! Keep an eye on the Graham family. They're not easy to deal with either. "As for that other Carrey womanโฆ You'd better cut ties with her completely! Don't upset Angie, you fool." Dexter mumbled a few vague responses, hoping to end the conversation. Joseph was about to lose his temper when Angela returned with the fresh pasta. "Here's the pasta, Grandpa. Give it a try and see if it is as good as you remember," Angela said. Joseph noticed that Dexter and Angela had barely had any interaction with each other ever since they had arrived. In his eyes, this was a clear sign of trouble. He was especially worried because Angela's eyes no longer shone when she looked toward Dexter. Joseph felt an urgency to intervene on behalf of his oblivious grandson. He took a spoonful of the pasta and praised it. Then, he asked with a smile, "Angie, I'm getting older. I hope that my home can be a bit more lively, you know? When are you two planning to give us a new family member?" Chapter 5 Angela had just gotten out of the car and steadied herself when the black Cullinan drove off without any hesitation, leaving her in a cloud of dust. She stood there in a daze for a moment before letting out a self-deprecating laugh and thought, "That's right. He's always been like this." But before she had time to dwell on her misery, her phone rang urgently. Angela took out her phone and saw that it was an unknown number. "Hello, is this Ms. Graham? I'm the property manager for Villa Heights. I'm calling to confirm if your property has been sold." "Why do you ask?" Angela's heart skipped a beat. Over the years, she had managed the property, so the contact information listed was hers. However, when Marie had passed away, she had been too young. So, Bill had put all of Marie's assets under his name. When Angela had been young, he had used to say to her, "When you grow up and find your Prince Charming, I'll turn this house into a castle for you both to live in happily ever after!" But in just a few years, everything had completely changed for the Graham family. Angela sometimes wondered if Bill was still the same father who used to love her mother dearly and cherish her. Whenever Bill hadn't been home, Judy hadn't allowed Angela to eat at the table. She had come up with the excuse that girls needed to stay in shape and had made Angela go hungry several times a day. Apart from her outerwear, her clothes had always been too short. The freezing winter wind would seep right into her sleeves and chill her to the core. Angela had developed arthritis at a young age, yet Judy had always complained to Bill, saying, "I don't know what else to do! I pamper her, but she's never satisfied. She's always complaining of feeling pain here and there. Anyone who didn't know better would think I'm mistreating her!" Upon hearing that, Bill had responded furiously, "Can't you let us have some peace, Angela?" The first slap she had ever received from Bill had landed on her cheek at that moment. Later on, he had even sacrificed her for his own selfish desires by sending her to Dexter's bed. Angela hated herself for spending three years trying to win Dexter's love and failing ultimately. Frustrated, she clenched her fists tightly. It seemed she couldn't rely on anyone. She would have to reclaim what was rightfully hers on her own. However, she knew she couldn't rush thingsโshe had to take it step by step. First, she needed to secure her mother's house no matter what. The property manager's voice on the other end snapped her back to the present. "The moving company is clearing out the house, saying it has a new owner." Angela was stunned and felt a surge of panic. Hadn't they agreed to give her more time? Why should she bear the consequences of her good-for-nothing stepbrother's actions? "I'm coming over right now!" She hung up and quickly hailed a cab back to her home. But when she arrived, the house was barely recognizable. The place was filled with unfamiliar men in gaudy clothing. The furniture was overturned. The photos of her and Marie were carelessly tossed on the floor. A fat, middle-aged man with a bald head stepped squarely on Marie's face in one of the pictures. "Stop! Who gave you permission to come in?" Angela shouted angrily. The man turned around, grinning sleazily when he saw her. "The house is mine! I can come and go as I please. And who might you be, little lady?" Angela looked at the fat man in front of her in disgust, pointing toward the door. "This house is mine! I'm asking you to leave immediately!" The man guffawed as he said, "Did you all hear that? She says the house is hers!" The men around him joined in, egging him on. "Since when did you get a wife, Tony? She's fighting you over the property!" "Well, she's pretty, but we've never seen her." "Yeah! Introduce us to your beautiful wife, Tony!" The fat man, Tony Koch, felt emboldened by their provocation. He walked up to Angela with a lewd grin. Laughing raucously, he offered, "Come on, pretty lady. Give me a smile! Tell me which room you like. I'll let you choose first!" Angela silently estimated when the police would arrive after she had called them. She stepped back coldly, her face full of disdain. Tony got even more excited when he saw her retreat. "Hey, don't back away!" He reached out, attempting to touch Angela's cheek. Just then, she heard the screech of car brakes outside. She smiled slightly and delivered a crisp slap to Tony's greasy face. Tony stared back in shock, unable to believe that this delicate-looking woman had dared to hit him. "Why youโฆ Do you have a death wish?" he snarled, grabbing a wooden frame from the floor and hurling it at Angela's head. Angela quickly dodged. At that moment, the property manager arrived and said loudly, "Sir, miss, please calm down. The police are at the gate. Let's handle this peacefully!" Upon hearing the property manager's words, Tony hesitated. However, the mocking looks from the people around him made him refuse to back down. "Fine, let's see what kind of punishment she gets for causing trouble on my property!" โฆ Angela had never expected the person who had bailed her out of the police station would be Dexter. When she saw him, he had one hand on the car window, He looked devilishly handsome. His gaze toward her was filled with disdain. "Well, this is unexpected, Mrs. Bamford." The mocking smile on his face was clear to see. "I didn't expect I'd need to come and get you from the police station on the first day you ran away from home." Angela felt a wave of humiliation but held back her tears. She put on a defiant expression and replied, "Since you find it so troublesome, why don't we just get divorced tomorrow? That way, you won't be troubled by my problems anymore." After some time, he chuckled. "Still acting tough, huh? What makes you think I'll comply with your wishes? Get out!". "Don't call me again if you get into this kind of trouble." The Car Continental GT sped off, leaving a trail of exhaust in its wake. Angela crouched down and hugged herself, trying to find some warmth in the cold night. โฆ Over the next few days, Angela rented a small apartment and found a new job. With the police's help, she was granted a three-month grace period. If she could gather enough money within three months, she could buy back Marie's house. During this time, the property couldn't be auctioned or have its ownership title transferred. This meant that she could no longer remain as a rich man's wife who had nothing to her name. The first thing she needed to do was to be able to support herself financially. Things didn't go as she wished. On her first day at work, the HR manager nervously called her over and asked, "Excuse me, are you Mrs. Bamford?" Chapter 6 Angela frowned and denied it without a second thought. However, the manager didn't believe her. "Regardless, we just found out that you have no work experience. I'm sorry, but we can't hire a complete newbie like you." Even though Angela repeatedly assured him of her expertise in design, the manager was adamant about not going through with hiring her. As Angela stared at the manager, who looked deeply troubled, she instantly understood everything. It was Dexter! He was forcing her to give in! Amidst the strange gazes everyone was casting her way, Angela took her belongings and left. At that moment, she felt an urge to call Dexter and ask him why he was doing this. Still, she resisted that impulse and refrained from acting on it. She kept convincing herself not to let this get to her. It was just a jobโshe could find another. Angela dragged her exhausted body back to her rented apartment, only to find her belongings thrown out and lying miserably in the hallway. Nothing had been sparedโeven her brand-new bedding and toiletries had suffered the same fate as they lay in a pile outside. Shocked and furious, she immediately called the landlord. "Sorry, but I can't rent to you anymore. I'll transfer your rent back," the landlord replied curtly, not even giving her a chance to question him. Seconds later, she received 2,000 money on Venmo. Once again, the image of Dexter's handsome yet maliciously amused face appeared in her mind. Unable to bear it any longer, she called him. For once, he picked up within ten seconds. "What's wrong? Have you finally come to your senses?" His tone was casual, and there were the sounds of a lively gathering in the background. But the moment he spoke, everything around him fell silent. It seemed everyone was waiting to hear how Angela would make a fool of herself. "Are you making my life difficult for fun, Dexter?" Angela asked. Her eyes were red, and her nose tingled. She was on the verge of tears. Yet, she forced herself to stay composed and not let her voice break. On the other end, there was a brief pause before Dexter let out a cold laugh. "Of course I'm not doing it for fun. I want you to experience what life would be like without the Bamford familyโ" "You're sick!" Angela spat harshly and hung up before he could finish his sentence. Her shoulders shook slightly as she slid down the cold wall as tears finally streamed down her face. She wiped them away, but they wouldn't stop. Dexter knew her pain more than anyone else, yet he had chosen to rub salt on her wounds. "Dexter, you're a bad egg!" she screamed, her chest heaving. After a long while, she slowly stood up and found a hotel through a quick online search on her phone. She needed somewhere to stay for a few days before she could start afresh. โฆ Meanwhile, in a luxurious VIP suite at Mystique Bar, the earlier liveliness had vanished. In its place was an eerie silence. Everyone exchanged looks, seeing the shock and confusion mirrored in each other's eyes. Who had Dexter been talking to on the phone just now? He had been cursed at, and the person had even hung up on him. The shrill exclamation from earlierโ"You're sick!"โseemed to linger in the air, weighing down the atmosphere even more. Dexter's expression was grim. The scowl on his face was so pronounced that it intimidated the people around him. He gripped his phone tightly, staring at the phone screen, which showed that the call had ended. The name "Angela" was right at the top of the list of recent calls. Staring at her name, Dexter seemed to see her defiant face in his mind's eye. "What's wrong, Mr. Bamford?" asked a young man. The person asking was Zayn Jewell, a childhood friend of Dexter's. He was the one who had arranged the gathering that evening. "Nothing." After a brief silence, Dexter stood up and lifted his long legs to step over the obstacles blocking his way. As he walked out, he announced, "I'm leaving." He was tall and muscularโeven his back looked imposing. Erica was already waiting outside. As Dexter tossed his coat to her, he ordered coldly, "Take me to Bliss Garden." He thought Angela had acted out of line that day and that she needed stern disciplining. Angela's angry outburst reverberated in his mind constantly as he got into the car and seated himself. Irritated, he loosened his tie. Erica asked, "Mr. Bamford, why are you going to Bliss Garden?" Normally, she wouldn't ask questions. Her reaction was out of the norm that day. Dexter's expression darkened. "What? Do I need to report to you now?" Erica turned pale instantly. She lowered her head and explained, "I'm sorry, Mr. Bamford. Mrs. Bamford is no longer at Bliss Garden." Dexter frowned and asked irritably, "What do you mean? Where did she go?" Erica recounted her conversation with Angela's landlord in Bliss Garden succinctly. "Who told you to do that?" Dexter's gaze was icy, and he exuded a menacing chill all over. No wonder Angela had been furiousโshe had been pushed to her limits. Erica trembled in fear and struggled to come up with an adequate explanation that could justify her actions. However, her mouth felt like it was glued shut, and she couldn't utter a word. "Find her!" Dexter ordered coldly. His expression remained the same, but it still sent a chill down Erica's spine. The gentle summer night breeze blew softly. Angela trudged along the city's main street with all her belongings. She went from one hotel to another. She had to admit that Dexter was ruthless. With just a little effort, he had plunged her into the depths of despair. This was a huge city, yet she couldn't even find a place to stay. Angela had thought about going home, but that place was hardly home to her anymore. Suddenly, it began to rain. As the rain grew heavier, Angela and her meager belongings were soaked through in no time. Angela ran desperately in the rain. Eventually, she found shelter in a self-service banking kiosk. With that, she finally had a moment to catch her breath. She found a cheap motel that didn't require any registration on her phone. When the rain stopped, she took a cab there. The motel was in poor condition, and it had thin walls. So, she didn't sleep well all night. The next morning, she woke up with a fever. She felt hot for a moment, but cold in the next. Due to her sickness, she drifted in and out of consciousness. Suddenly, Angela heard the door open. She jumped out of bed immediately, feeling alarmed. Dexter stepped in, and it was clear he wasn't pleased. When their eyes met, her guarded expression didn't soften in the slightest. She asked, "What are you doing here?" Of course, he was there to watch her misery. What Dexter first noticed upon stepping in wasn't the defensive look on Angela's face. He scanned the shabby room and frowned while thinking, "I can't believe she'd rather stay here than admit defeat and come home." "I came to see what my dear wife has been up to these past two days," Dexter said blandly, sitting down on the dingy couch. The lingering scent of the previous occupants' body odor and sweat clung to it. The moment his nose caught the stench, he stood back up, feeling repulsed. "So, is life on the streets fun?" he asked, looking at Angela with amusement. He observed her frail frame. Though she looked thin and weak, her gaze was sharp and defiant. Something was different about her. "It's none of your business." Angela's head ached, and her knees felt like they would buckle at any moment. Even her voice sounded lethargic. She wrapped herself in her clothes and sneezed. It made her head throb even more. Dexter quickly sensed that something was wrong with her. He stepped forward and grabbed her arm, noticing right away that she was burning up. His hand shot up to her face and forehead, and an even warmer temperature registered on his fingers. | LEARN_MORE | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=15824&ut | Random Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61559743679549/ | 327 | 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=15824&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/t39.35426-6/468079191_576706848177391_5263571557326726272_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZUSbPvXlHJgQ7kNvgE_D5Rl&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AKY6CzbmK_4MncCMNQycbNE&oh=00_AYAFAEmTLjqgE8YKUwge_jCRuoMQZEBuEh2rHVVnMcnVig&oe=676EBE03 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | February in Sureton City was wet. It had been drizzling throughout the day, leaving the roads damp. The cold wind brought with it the rain, making Freya Somner shiver. She held an umbrella and curled up while crouching before the entrance to the city hall. It was already 5:00 pm. Would that person come? She was worried as she thought about her grandfather, Neil Somner, who lay sick in bed. Had he finished his IV drip? Would he need to use the restroom? Had Thomas Talbot already gone home? She looked up and scanned the empty streets. The city hall would close for the day at 5:30 pm. She would just grit her teeth and wait for another half an hour, then. If that person didn't show up, she could blame him and tell Neil and Thomas that he'd stood her up. It wasn't because she didn't want to marry him or anything. Neil was sick. As a traditional medicine practitioner, he knew his time was running out. Freya was his only concernโshe would be alone in the world once he passed. He'd contacted Thomas, whom he'd saved many years ago. Thomas had promised Neil that he would do everything in his power to help if Neil ever needed it. All Neil had to do was make the call. Years had passed since then, but the call had miraculously gone through. Thomas had shown up the very next day. Neil had explained the situation to him and asked Thomas to help care for Freya in the future. Thomas had generously said, "It's only natural for me to care for her. How about thisโI have many grandsons, so I'll have one of them marry Fae as a way of repaying you. That way, she won't be alone." Neil had agreed, leaving Freya with no room to object. She didn't want to marryโshe could take care of herself and was fine alone. She was currently staying at the dormitory her university had prepared for graduate students. She even had 2,300 a month as financial aid. Eating at the hospital's and university's cafeterias was cheapโshe only needed to spend 15 a day on food. However, Neil had insisted. He felt that it was hard to predict the future, and he would only be able to rest in peace once he saw that marriage certificate. That way, he'd be able to face Freya's parents in the afterlife with no regrets. Freya's parents had died after falling off a cliff. They'd been searching for a herbal catalyst to save Thomas back in the day. It had rained that day, just as it had on this day. Freya had seen her parents' corpses entwined with one another, their hands still clutching the herbal catalyst. After her parents passed away, she and Neil depended on each other for survival. It was on that day that she'd suddenly grown up. She'd studied hard and skipped grades, sitting for her SATs at 17 years old. Then, she'd gotten into Sureton University's medical faculty, joining the seven-year integrated bachelor's and master's program. She only had two years to go before she could graduate and officially start working. Things were starting to look good. Then, Neil had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. It was taking his life away. The screeching of brakes pulled Freya out of her reverie. She looked up at the offroad vehicle before her. It was painted a military green and covered in mud, and the tires were soiled. It was clear the car had ventured through the mountains. The door opened, blocking the man's face from her view. Still, she'd gotten a glimpse of his chiseled features. His bushy brows, tall nose, and deep-set eyes formed a handsome, honest face. With the door open, all Freya could see was the army pants enveloping his long legs and the leather boots he wore. It was a cold day, yet he only wore an olive green T-shirt. He stepped away from the car. Before Freya could take a closer look at his face, he approached her, stopping before her so his boots were level with her eyes. "Are you Freya Somner?" he asked, his voice deep and somewhat daunting. "Yeah." "Let's get married, then." He turned and headed into the city hall. Chapter 2 Freya wanted to stand up, but she'd been crouching for so long that her legs had gone numb. "What's wrong?" the man asked. "My legs have gone numb." She was lifted off her feet as soon as the words were out of her mouth. An unfamiliar scent enveloped her, and she felt her face burn. The man placed her on the seat before the counter. "Get your identification." She kept her head lowered as she obediently placed the things on the counter. "Daniel Talbot," the staff said. "That's me," the man said. "Freya Somner." "Here," Freya said. She looked up at the staff. The staff looked at the identification she held, then at Freya. The latter's eyes were spirited but also carried a hint of naivety. Freya was only 22, but Daniel was already 28. He'd even carried her in. That made the staff suspect whether Freya had been forced into this. She asked, "Are you here to get married at your own will?" "Yes, I am," Freya said. "Alright, then. Fill up these forms, please." At 5:30 pm, Freya and Daniel walked out of the city hall. Freya looked down at her marriage certificate. She'd gone from being single to married once the staff stamped the certificate. She'd married a man she'd met for the first time without even dating him. The whole thing had only taken a matter of minutes. Daniel stopped and looked at her. "Where are you headed now?" She had kept her head down and hadn't been paying attention to the distance between them. She walked right into his chest. Pain spread through her, starting from her nose. Tears welled in Freya's eyes. How could his chest be as hard as a wall? She clamped a hand over her nose and looked at him tearily. "I'm going back to the hospital." He was so tall that her eyes were only level with his chest. It was incredibly muscular and looked just like the diagrams she'd seen in her medical texts. "Get in the car," he said. Freya struggled to open the door. She tugged it with all her strength, but it didn't budge. Daniel saw her from the driver's seat. He waved at her, gesturing for her to back up. Then, he opened the door from inside. "Which hospital are you going to?" he asked. "The county tumor hospital, the one at Percat Street. Thanks." Freya obediently settled in her seat. "Your seatbelt," he said. She put it on, and he started the car. She noticed that his hands and arms were tanned, with protruding veins. He oozed strength and power. Suddenly, Freya's stomach rumbled. The sound was magnified in the silent car. She instinctively held her stomach, her face turning beet red. What was wrong with her? Why did she keep embarrassing herself? Was there something about her that made her incompatible with Daniel? Her stomach continued to rumble for a while. Finally, the car stopped. Freya thought they'd arrived at the hospital and moved to open the door. Then, she looked out and said, "We're not at the hospital." Daniel had already gotten out of the car, though. He headed to a fruit store without looking back at her. Soon, he returned with a bag full of fruits. "I don't know what your grandfather likes, so I bought a little of everything." "He can't eat anything. Doctor's orders." Daniel looked at her, perhaps because she sounded too calm. Only then did Freya notice how deep-set his eyes were. There was a hint of dominance in them. "You have them, then." He placed the bag on her lap. "Have some to tide the hunger. I'm in a rush." Freya wondered whether he was showing his concern for her. A wave of warmth surged in her as she peeled a banana. It was sweet. โฆ The nurse had just removed Neil's IV drip when Freya and Daniel arrived at the ward. Thomas took the marriage certificates from Daniel and Freya and held them before Neil. He said happily, "Look at this, Neil. They're official marriage certificates with the stamps and all. They're genuine!" Neil smiled and nodded weakly. "That's great. I won't have anything to worry about anymore." "Come closer so Neil can see you, Dan," Thomas said. Daniel stepped forward. "Hi, Grandpa." Neil's smile widened. "Hiโฆ" He held Daniel's hand and said, "I'll leave Freya in your hands from now on. She's a softie but is stubborn on the inside. I hope you'll be more tolerant of her and take the time to explain your thoughts to her if you two ever get into an argument." Tears streamed down Freya's face when she heard this. Daniel said, "I will, Grandpa." "Don't worry, Neil. We won't mistreat Freya. Daniel has property and a carโI'll have him show Freya around his place right now. She can move in when she's free," Thomas said. Freya forgot about crying and stared at Thomas in shock when she heard that. Didn't she and Daniel only have to get married? Why did they even have to live together? "Go on, then. It's still light out, so you can see what the place is like," Neil said. Daniel and Freya headed to his place under Thomas' urging. Chapter 3 Daniel's apartment was in Sureton City's central commercial area. It was an expensive area with good infrastructureโthe medical and education systems were well-established. The residential area was right next to Sureton City's largest park. Freya looked at the minimalist, almost stark apartment. The marble coffee table was covered in a layer of dust. "This is your home?" "Yeah." Daniel also saw the dust. "I don't usually stay here." That didn't make sense at all. Why would anyone not live in their own home? Freya couldn't understand it. "There's a card here that you can use to pay for the utilities." He opened a drawer in the TV cabinet to show her. "If anything needs fixing, you can speak to the management office. "I'll have someone clean up the place later. There are two rooms, so you can pick whichever one you want. Feel free to use the study as wellโฆ" Freya observed the place. It was well renovated but showed no signs of being lived in. There weren't even any plates or utensils around. "What am I to you?" she suddenly asked. "My wife." "But I feel like your mistress," she said boldly. She didn't know whether Daniel had a girlfriend or anythingโperhaps he'd only married her due to Thomas' pressure. Otherwise, he wouldn't have made her wait a whole afternoon for him, only arriving right before the city hall closed for the day. "What are you getting at?" Daniel asked. "I'm fine with getting a divorce if you already have a partnerโour grandfathers have seen the marriage certificates, anyway. I don't want to inadvertently end up as a homewrecker." She respected the elderly but wouldn't do anything immoral just to comply with Neil's and Thomas' wishes. Daniel understood now. "I'm single. I usually stay at the military camp in the mountains." Freya recalled his offroad vehicle and the mud on it. That, coupled with his outfit, made her realize just who he was. "I'm sorry for misunderstanding you." "It's fine. I'll take you back to the hospital nowโyou can move in here whenever it's convenient for you." "What about you?" she blurted. Then, she disdained herself for asking. What did his matters have to do with her? "I need to head back after this. There's an urgent mission I need to handle." That was the last thing Daniel said to her. โฆ Shortly after Daniel left, Neil's condition took a turn for the worse, and a new semester started. Freya bustled back and forth between the university and the hospital daily. On days when Neil felt better, he could even hold Freya's hand and reminisce with her. Neither of them mentioned that rainy night, though. He kept telling her that life was long and that she had to live well independently. However, he also told her she couldn't expect to do everything herself. She had to give in occasionally. Daniel looked like a good man, and they had to communicate with each other. They had to understand each otherโฆ Neil said many things. Freya wanted to object to everything and tell him that none of that mattered. She wanted him to know that she only wanted to spend her life with him in a small town called Floriver Town. She wanted to read medical texts and pick herbs with him. However, as a doctor, she was rational enough to know there was no chance of them ever returning to that life. The reports and data she saw every day were enough to tell her that Neil's condition was deteriorating. She cried almost daily throughout that month but hid it well. Neil never noticed. One day, white clouds floated in the blue sky. Freya drew the curtains, allowing the sunlight to stream into the room. Neil was in good spirits. "The weather is so nice today, Fae. Maybe you should take me off my oxygen tube now." He sounded calm, but Freya faltered while clipping his nails. She acted like she hadn't heard him and moved on to the next finger. "I can't take it anymore, Fae. I'm on drug every day, but it still hurts so bad. I'm begging you, okay?" His plea made Freya's nose prickle. Tears rolled down her face and landed on the floor, fading within seconds. Neil was a proud and strong man who'd never begged anyone in his life. Nowโฆ It looked like she really had to let him go. She slowly shut her eyes, sounding choked up as she said, "Okay. I'll get a doctor after I'm done clipping your nails." "The weather is so nice today that I feel so much more relaxed," Neil said. He lifted a hand with difficulty to caress her head one last time. It reminded her of how he'd praised her whenever she could memorize the things she'd read in the medical texts. After Freya signed the necessary documents, the doctor removed Neil's oxygen tube. She stood by his bedside and held his hand until his body became devoid of warmth. Thomas helped her with Neil's funeral, after which he urged her to move into Daniel's apartment. Chapter 4 Two years passed in the blink of an eye. "There's no time to eat, Dr. Somner. We're being dispatched for a house call." Freya was in a hospital's emergency room. When she heard the nurse, Jade Winton, call her, she put a folder over her unfinished instant mac and cheese and left the doctor's lounge. "Where's Dr. Wood?" she asked while wearing a mask. She hurried to catch up with Jade. "He's accompanying Lena for a prenatal check. I've called him, and he's on his way." Jade grabbed a first-aid kit and an extra bag of gauze and bandages. She handed them to Freya. "What's the situation? Why do we need so many bandages and gauze?" "A luxury jewelry store was robbed. The store's staff called the police, but the robbers discovered them and took ten staff hostage. We're being dispatched to provide medical assistance," Jade said. She told Freya everything she knew, then added, "Don't be rash later. Leave everything to Dr. Wood." "Got it. Thanks, Jade." Freya's mentor, Jason Wood, arrived at the same time as Freya and Jade. He was a tall, skinny man whose hairline was receding. He'd come from a prenatal check with his wife, Lena Johnson, and had already changed into his uniform. It made him look particularly spirited. "What's the situation?" he asked as he got into the car. "A jewelry store's been robbed. The robbers are armed," Jade said. Silence descended upon the car. They didn't know what they were facing but had to go at it regardless. Medicine knew no borders, and all lives were equal in worth. They had to save lives as long as they were at risk. When Freya and the others arrived, the police had already secured the scene. A crowd consisting of spectators and staff from various media outlets gathered behind the police line, surrounding the place and making it hard for anyone to get through. Police cars and vehicles belonging to a SWAT team were parked outside the jewelry store. There were also three buses with the windows tinted black. Freya followed Jason out of the car. A man who looked like an administrator hurried over to them, looking anxious. "The robbers need a doctor in there to save their comrade. Which one of you two will go in?" Freya looked at the jewelry store. It had three floors and was a corner lot with an expansive view. A mall was behind it, which meant it probably had more than one exit. "I'll go," Jason said, dragging Freya out of her reverie. She gave him a disagreeable look. "No way. I'll go, Dr. Wood. You have parents and children to care for, and Lena's conceived with your second child. You can't go in there." "You can't, either. You're inexperienced." Jason's attitude was firm. "The situation is complicated. I'm the only one who can head in there." Freya didn't argue with him. She turned to the administrator and volunteered. "I'll go, sir. I've passed the medical board exam and can practice independently. I don't have any dependents or relatives to care for." He looked at her. She was young and so nervous that she clenched her fists, but her expression was calm. She was bold, but her courage needed some training. "You can go, then. We don't know the situation inside, so we can only act when the Falcon Strike Unit arrives. All you need to do when you get in there is to save whoever is injured. Drag things out for as long as possible while ensuring your safety and wait for help." "Understood, sir." Freya wore her medical cap and gave herself a mental pep talk. "Freyaโฆ" Jason started. "I have to gain experience since I don't have it, Dr. Wood. You have to give me a chance," she said. That was what medicine was like. One had to be bold and careful while constantly defeating one's old self. That way, one would only become a better version of oneself. Jason knew what Freya was like. She'd met various people when treating patients. When some of them criticized or insulted her, she wouldn't take it lying down. Her retorts left much to be desired, though. For instance, if a patient said she was incapable and that a doctor online had told them this and that, she would say, "I'll leave, then. You can ask your online doctor to treat you." Once, someone had shouted at her, saying she was useless. She'd clapped back, calling that person the useless one. "Do you guys have a bulletproof vest or something? Give one to her." Jason knew nothing he said would change Freya's mind. The administrator gave one of his subordinates a look. A member of the SWAT team brought a bulletproof vest over. Freya took her doctor's coat off and put the bulletproof vest on over her T-shirt. Then, she put her uniform on. Chapter 5 Jade handed Freya the first-aid kit before hanging the stethoscope from her neck. "You're just going to ignore everything I told you before we came here, aren't you? You're bound to get into trouble if you continue like this." "No one is more suitable than me, Jade," Freya said calmly. "It's not like the military region's general hospital lacks doctors. If you turn them down, they'll arrange for someone else to come." "But it's too far away. They'll take at least 30 minutes to arrive. That doesn't conform to the principles of pre-hospitalization emergency care." Jade was one of the emergency room's most experienced nurses, so she knew Freya was right. It was the only thing they could do under the circumstances. The administrator held a loudspeaker and shouted toward the store, "The doctor is coming. Open the door." A hoarse voice rang out as soon as the words were out of his mouth. "Put the first-aid kit on the ground and turn in a circle. Then, take everything out of the first-aid kit and lay them on the ground." Freya did as told. She'd just placed the final tool on the ground when the hoarse voice rang out again. "Put the things back in and come inside." Freya packed everything back. She was about to enter the store when she felt a cool breeze. Curious, she looked in the direction it had come. A helicopter was hovering in midair in one of the jewelry store's blind spots. A tall figure in camouflage slid down the rope and made a smooth landing. It happened in seconds. Freya stared at the man, finding his figure incredibly familiar. He wore a black mask, and his sharp eyes flitted past her. Then, he hid behind the wall. Another team member landed behind him. "Come in," the hoarse voice urged loudly. He sounded impatient. Freya knew she had to enter the store since these people had yet to infiltrate it. Once she understood that, she didn't hesitate to head inside. As soon as she pushed open the door, she smelled the metallic scent of blood. Suddenly, someone grabbed her by the neck and roughly dragged her inside. Then, he flung her onto the floor and commanded, "Save him." She looked at the man on the floor. His mask, shaped like a pig's head, had been thrown aside. He looked ashen while struggling to breathe and had cyanosis of the nail bed. These were all signs of a lack of oxygen. Freya checked him and concluded that he was having an asthma attack. His throat had swelled up, leading to breathing difficulties. She searched his bag while muttering, "Where's the inhaler?" Asthma patients would bring their inhalers when they were out, but she didn't find one in his bag. "What are you looking for?" a man in a mask shaped like a dog's head asked. "His inhaler," she said. "He doesn't have one. Do a cricothyrotomy on him right now." Freya was taken aback. "How are you related to him? You know how to save him?" Suddenly, he pressed a gun to her forehead. "Shut up if you don't want to die. Just do as I say!" The iciness of the metal made Freya's heart clench. Her mind went blank for a second, and she couldn't think. "Hurry up!" He kicked her shoulder. The pain made her snap to her senses. She forced herself to calm down and took a deep breath before commencing anatomical positioning and sterilization. Then, she inserted a thick injection needle into the cricothyroid membrane. The process didn't take long, and the man gradually started looking better. Suddenly, a black thing landed not far from Freya. Before she realized what it was, a few more followed. The inside of the store was quickly filled with smoke, and people started yelling. The alarm went off. Freya wanted to take advantage of the chaos to hide, but a hand wrapped around her neck. A gun was pressed to her forehead, and someone snarled, "You're coming with me." Chapter 6 The man dragged Freya to a secluded corner to hide. The cold feeling against her temple made her compliant. Her palms grew sweaty as she stood there, and she could hear her heart racing. No matter how nervous or scared she was, she could only place her faith in the Falcon Strike Unit and tightly hold the needle in her hand. A few minutes later, red lights flashed at them. The man dragged Freya out of their hiding spot. Before she could even see what was happening, she heard a muffled groan behind her. Then, there was a thump, and the robber's hand fell before her. She was still lost when a team of three surrounded her. A familiar voice said, "Take her out, Rabbit." "Roger, Falcon." This voice belonged to a woman. Rabbit, or Loren Smith, turned to Freya. "Come with me." Freya turned to look at the familiar man while following Loren out. He glanced at her while walking up the stairs, and his sharp eyes matched the ones in her memory. She asked Loren, "Is the person you called Falcon Daniel Talbot?" Loren faltered. Then, she continued walking out while observing their surroundings. She didn't respond to Freya's question, but Freya knew she was right. After leaving the jewelry store, the situation outside left no room for Freya to be pensive. She threw herself into workโthe jewelry store's staff had more or less been injured. Jason was rescuing the most critically injured ones, so she had to handle those who were only bruised or scraped. The injured staff came and went as she stopped the bleeding, cleaned wounds, and bandaged them. "Freya." She looked up in the middle of stopping a patient's bleeding to see black leather boots before her. Then, she raised her head to find Daniel standing before her. She looked away and continued with her work. "Yes?" "Help me clean this up." He'd taken his mask off, his tanned face unreadable. It had been two years since they'd last seen each other. Now that they were reunited, Freya still couldn't help feeling a little scared of him. Based on what she remembered, he was a little domineering, and he spoke and acted brusquely. "I'm almost done here." She picked up the pace and recorded the time. Then, she called out to Jade, who was somewhere behind her, "I'm done with the last one, Jade. They can be sent to the hospital now." She turned back to Daniel. "Have a seat." She sterilized her hands and scanned him. There didn't seem to be any wounds on him, so she asked, "Where's your injury?" "The side of my abdomen." He lifted his shirt, revealing the bandage around his waist. Freya crouched before him, finding that the bandage had already been stained with blood. She removed it and looked at the stitches on the neat woundโit was a knife wound. He asked, "How have you been for the past two years?" "Not too bad." "I was on a mission abroad when your grandfather passed. I've only just returned." Freya faltered. Daniel was explaining why he had missed Neil's funeral. Her voice remained calm as she said, "I understand." They didn't speak anymore after that. Freya didn't ask about the wound, merely cleaning it and bandaging it again. She stood up and took off her gloves, throwing them into the medical waste bin. "You'll have to be careful with your wound for some time. It'll take longer for you to recover if you keep reopening it." "Thanks," he said. "You're welcome." Their conversation was polite and distant. "This is yours, right?" Daniel suddenly held out a sandalwood bracelet with an emerald pendant in the middle. Freya's face was carved on itโit didn't look much like her, though. It was a bracelet her father had made for her. "Yes, it is. Thanks." She reached out for it. Her fingers brushed against his palm as she took the bracelet from him, making her heart skip a beat. She immediately retracted her hand. "I'm leaving." Daniel stood up. He straightened his shirt and returned to his unit. Freya watched as the helicopter started up. The blades spun, lifting the aircraft into the air. Then, it flew away. "Let's go, Dr. Somner. We're taking a police car back," Jade called. Freya snapped to her senses. The helicopter was no longer in sight. All that was left was a vortex cloud left from its tail. She tightened her grip on the bracelet and packed everything up. Then, she ran to Jade with the first-aid kit and medical waste bag in hand. โฆ After the incident, Jason requested that she be placed under counseling and given a month off. Freya returned to work after only three days at home, though. "Go home and rest," he said. "I need to do something with my hands, Dr. Wood." Jason pressed a hand to his forehead and threw her a pair of gloves. "Go to the debridement room and change the dressing for the patients there. You're not allowed to go on house calls or dispatches in the future." "Why?" Freya didn't get it. | LEARN_MORE | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=15224&ut | Random Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61559743679549/ | 327 | 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=15224&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/t39.35426-6/465249817_520746214095774_6444994746307294846_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ut78RZ30-EsQ7kNvgGjjJ8c&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AKY6CzbmK_4MncCMNQycbNE&oh=00_AYBR_RwpIeUMnyCq6pBYiKaGZxrwf387QKLC7VsjJIrsgw&oe=676ED9EB | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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He drunkenly hugged her โCall me husband again ......โ | ๐Nyla Jayston was in her third month of trying to conceive when she saw a message on her husband Clark Sumner's phone from a contact named "Jordyn Cheatham". Jordyn: [I think my new nightgown is a bit tight. Why don't you come over and check if it fits?] Attached was a selfie of a woman in a deep V-neck red slip dress, her body partly exposed, exuding seduction. Nyla's grip on the phone tightened. She scrolled up and found Clark and Jordyn's previous exchanges to be strictly work-related, which made her frown. 'Was the text sent by mistake? Orโฆ' A hand wrapped around Nyla's waist from behind, breaking her thoughts. Clark pressed his warm body against hers and gently nibbled her earlobe. "Honey, I'm all cleaned up. Do you want to do it on the couch or the bed?" Before Nyla could respond, Clark picked her up and laid her on the couch, his tall frame looming over her. "Since you're not saying anything, I'll choose. Let's do it on the couch," Clark said, his voice husky and his eyes filled with a flicker of fire that made Nyla blush instantly. Nyla was already beautiful, and the slight flush on her cheeks made her look like a tempting, ripe, juicy peach under the light. Clark's gaze grew darker. He leaned in to kiss Nyla, but she suddenly turned her head away. Sensing her resistance, he looked at her with confusion. "Honey, what's wrong?" Clark, usually assertive at work, now looked at Nyla with a mix of confusion and hurt, which softened her heart momentarily. Despite that, she hadn't forgotten the explicit selfie she had just seen. She stopped him with one hand on his chest and held up his phone with the other, showing him the screen. "Explain this first." Clark glanced at the screen and immediately frowned, grabbing the phone to make a call. It was quickly answered. "Mr. Sumner, what can I do for you?" Clark glowered, and his voice turned icy. "I didnโt know my secretary started soliciting clients." There was a moment of silence before Jordyn's panicked voice came through. "M-Mr. Sumner, I'm sorry. That message was meant for my boyfriend. I must have sent it to you by mistake..." "Next time it happens, pack your things and leave!" Clark hung up and looked back at Nyla, his expression softening, even showing a hint of grievance. "Honey, she sent it by mistake. If you're still upset, I'll fire her tomorrow. It's late now, so letโs not waste time on someone unworthy. We haven't seen each other in a week. You need to make it up to me tonight." Clark pulled Nyla in for a kiss, but her mood was ruined despite the issue being cleared up. She wasn't in the mood anymore and pushed him away. "I'm tired tonight. Let's continue tomorrow." A flash of disappointment crossed Clark's eyes, but he didn't pressure her. "Alright, you sleep first. I'm not tired yet, so I'll go to the study to handle some work." "Okay." โฆ It started raining heavily in the middle of the night. The sound woke Nyla, and she reached out only to feel the cold space beside her. She glanced at the clockโ3:16 a.m. Nyla wondered whether Clark was still working. She got up, put on a robe, and went to the study, but it was dark and empty. Her grip on the doorknob tightened, and her heart sank. Nylaโs phone suddenly chimed, startling her in the quiet night. Seeing that it was a text from a stranger, she had a gut feeling that reading it would mean no turning back for her and Clark. A thunderclap boomed outside, startling her into accidentally pressing it. [Still awake? Because your husband isn't with you?] [I was scared because of the thunder and power outage, and he came to comfort me.] [Don't you want to know where your husband is?] As Nyla read the messages and the boastful tone, her hands trembled uncontrollably. After a long while, another text came in with an address and a series of digits. Nyla bit her lip, grabbed her car keys, and drove straight there. By the time she reached the villa, it was past 4:00 a.m. She entered the code, and the door unlocked. The living room lights were on. From the entrance to the bedroom door, a man's suit and a woman's lingerie were strewn about, revealing the urgency of their actions. Seeing the torn red nightgown at the bedroom door, Nyla felt a sense of absurdity. Although the distance from the entrance to the bedroom was only a few meters, it felt like an eternity to Nyla. Standing at the bedroom door, she felt light-headed and dizzy. She reached out, trembling, and slowly pushed the slightly open door. The sight of the messy bed and the bared couple entwinedโtheir heavy breathing filling the roomโpierced Nyla's heart. The couple was so engrossed that they didn't notice her standing there. Nyla's hand on the door frame turned white from gripping it too hard, leaving red marks on her palm. She had been with Clark for eight years, from school days to marriage, envied by everyone around them. Until today, she had never imagined betrayal between them. Now, reality dealt her a cruel blow. Even the most sincere wedding vows couldn't withstand a fickle heart. Unable to bear the sight, Nyla turned and stumbled out, driving away. She stopped by a bar on the way and decided to go in. โฆ By the time Valarie Weir arrived, Nyla had already downed two bottles of whiskey, her gaze slightly unfocused. "Valarie, you're here..." Seeing Nyla surrounded by several men, Valarie frowned. "All of you, leave!" "No, they're fine hereโ" "I said, leave!" After driving the men away, Valarie sat next to Nyla. "What happened? Did Clark really cheat on you?" Valarie was Nyla's university roommate and had witnessed Nyla and Clarkโs journey from school to marriage. She had seen Clark treat Nyla well all these years, so she couldn't believe he would cheat. Upon hearing Clarkโs name, Nyla's gaze dimmed, and the heart-wrenching pain came rushing back. "I don't want to hear that name right now." Chapter 2 Nyla downed her drink in one gulp. She had never imagined Clark would betray her. Seeing him in bed with another woman felt like a dagger through her heart. "I just can't believe it. He loved you so much. He didn't seem like the type to cheat. Maybe there's a misunderstanding," Valarie suggested. Nyla let out a cold laugh. "I saw it with my own eyes. How could that be a misunderstanding?" The room fell silent. Watching Nyla drink like there was no tomorrow, Valarie grabbed the glass from her hand. "Even if he cheated, you shouldn't punish yourself by getting drunk. What are you going to do now?" "I'm getting a divorce. Just thinking about him with that woman makes me sick." Upon seeing the defiance in Nylaโs red eyes, Valarie's heart ached. "Don't think about it now. You need to rest. Decide what to do next once youโre calm. I'll take you home." Nyla shook her head. "No... I don't want to go back." Returning to that house would only bring back the sickening images of Clarkโs betrayal. Each recollection made her feel nauseous. Seeing Nylaโs reluctance, Valarie didn't insist. "I'll book you a hotel room then." โฆ After booking a room, Valarie took Nyla to the hotel entrance. "Are you sure you don't want me to take you up?" Nyla shook her head. "No, you go rest. I'll be fine." She waved with the room card and walked into the hotel. Seeing Nyla walk steadily, Valarie finally breathed a sigh of relief and drove away once Nyla was inside the hotel. What she didn't know was that Nyla, when drunk, appeared sober but was actually a mess inside. Nyla entered the elevator, scanned her card, and the elevator began to ascend. Soon, the doors opened with a ding. As Nyla stepped out onto the carpet, her legs almost gave out. She steadied herself against the wall, massaging her aching temples while searching for her room number. The wine was taking its toll, and her vision blurred. She found Room 8919 and tried the card on the door. Hearing no beep, she frowned and was about to push the door when it suddenly opened. Nyla froze. Before she could react, a large hand yanked her into the dark room. The door slammed shut, cutting off the light from the hallway. She was pressed against the door, a man's breath hot against her ear, making her shiver. The familiar scent of pine filled her senses, but before she could place it, she felt the warmth of his lips on hers. "Mmph!" Realizing what was happening, Nyla struggled. Damon was strong, and with the wine dulling her strength, her hands felt weak, almost inviting as she pushed against his chest. Damonโs hands roamed her body, leaving a trail of fire, and her body grew more responsive under his touch. Nyla tried to push him away, but he easily caught her wrists and pinned them above her head. "Letโ Mmph! Let me goโฆ" He stopped kissing her and chuckled. "No need to play hard to get." His fingers traced her collar, the cool touch making her shudder. His body heat seemed to melt her, and her legs grew weak. In the dark, Nylaโs senses heightened. She felt Damon unbuttoning her clothes, her mouth dry, her last bit of rationality warning her that this was going too far. "Let me go!" She mustered all her strength to push him, but he simply picked her up and threw her onto the bed. The bed was soft, so Nyla didnโt feel pain, but the impact made her head spin. She tried to get up, but Damon pinned her down. Soon, her clothes were gone, and they were both nearly bared. He pressed against her, ready. His dominating presence made her tremble. She pushed against his chest, biting her lip to stay calm and clear-headed. "Mister, I think I entered the wrong room. Please let me goโฆ" Nylaโs voice shook with tension. "Tsk!" Damon's voice was impatient, his tone cold. "Still playing?" He was about to get up and kick Nyla out when the room light suddenly came on. Nyla had accidentally hit the light switch in her struggle. The sudden light made Damon squint. He was shocked when he saw the terrified woman beneath him. Nyla, recognizing Damon, felt the blood drain from her face. The fear sobered her instantly. She couldnโt believe itโthe man who almost violated her was Clarkโs uncle, Damon Summer! "Uncle Damonโฆ" Nyla had always been wary of Damon. He was the youngest son of Richard Sumner and Marie Thorne, doted on by them and known for his unpredictable, cold nature. Even outsiders avoided crossing him. When she married Clark, he had warned her to steer clear of Damon. "Shut up!" Damon's face was dark, his gaze icy, as he contemplated whether to silence her for good. Then, his eyes shifted to her bare body, darkening further. He turned away, getting off the bed. "Get dressed and get out!" As Damon moved, Nyla caught a glimpse of him where she shouldn't, and her face turned red with embarrassment. Upon seeing her flushed face, Damon's expression soured even more. "Still not leaving?" Nyla could not care less about her embarrassment as she hastily dressed and left without looking back. Once outside, she checked the room number and realized her mistakeโit wasnโt Room 8919, but Room 8916! She had entered the wrong room and almost slept with her husbandโs uncle. The thought made her headache worse. She should have let Valarie take her up. Unfortunately, it was too late for regrets now. After Nyla left, Damon dialed a number with a glower on his face. "Delete all surveillance footage from the Empire Skyview Hotel tonight!" Upon hanging up, he looked at the messy bed and sheets, his irritation growing. He had almost slept with his nephewโs wife... What a mess! Chapter 3 On Nyla's way back, she hesitated for a long time before finally messaging Damon, someone whose contact she had had for three years but had never contacted. Nyla: [Uncle Damon... Can we pretend tonight never happened? I was really drunk and went to the wrong room.] She waited for a long time, but there was no response from Damon. Frowning, she sent another message. Nyla: [?] As soon as she sent it, a red exclamation mark appeared: [You are no longer friends with this user. Please send a friend request to continue chatting.] Nyla bit her lip. Damon had deleted her. He must not want to bring this up again. Relieved, she finally felt a bit of peace. โฆ When Nyla got home, it was already past 6:00 a.m. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Clark sitting on the sofa. He turned sharply at the sound of the door, his eyes bloodshot from a sleepless night. "Where were you last night? I called you dozens of times. Why didnโt you answer?" Clark stood up and walked quickly toward her, reaching out to grab her hand, but she pulled away. He froze, about to speak, but she spoke first, her tone icy. "You can stay out all night, but I can't?" Nyla had always been gentle. In their eight years together, they had hardly ever argued. This was the first time she had spoken to him so coldly. Clark sensed something was wrong and noticed her red, swollen eyes. His expression changed, and his hand clenched at his side. "You know, don't you?" His voice was calm, without a trace of guilt or panic, as if he had expected this day to come. Upon seeing his unapologetic demeanor, Nyla's long-suppressed emotions finally exploded. She swung her bag at him, her eyes red with fury, like a madwoman. All the good times they had shared, all the happy moments, were shattered the moment she saw him in bed with another woman. They could never be pieced together again. "Clark Sumner, how could you do something so disgusting?! If you didnโt love me anymore, you could have divorced me. Why did you have to hurt me like this?" Nyla had assumed that no third party could ever come between them. Unfortunately, reality gave her a harsh slap, waking her from the lies he had woven and turning her love for him into a joke. Seeing her red, tear-filled eyes, Clark felt a pang in his chest. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms. "Nyla, Iโm sorry..." Nyla shoved him away, wanting to laugh but only tears came. "Donโt touch me with your filthy hands! "Is it that hard to stay faithful? "Since we got married, Iโve met many excellent men, and some have shown interest in me. But Iโve never crossed the line. If I can do it, why canโt you?!" Clark clenched his fists when he saw the disappointment and anger in her eyes. "Nyla, youโre the only one I loveโฆ It was just an accident with herโฆ" His explanation sounded so weak that Nyla found it both laughable and nauseating. "So youโre saying I could sleep with another man and then tell you it was an accident? That I may have betrayed you physically, but my heart still belongs to you?" A flash of ruthlessness crossed Clark's eyes. "If you dare, Iโll end you and that man together in bed." Seeing his icy gaze, Nyla felt a chill in her heart. If he knew betrayal was unforgivable, why would he still betray her? She took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "Do you remember what I told you when you proposed?" She had said that if he ever betrayed her, she would not forgive him but leave him. Clarkโs expression changed. "I will not let you leave!" Nyla wiped her tears, her expression a mixture of ridicule and hatred. "Whether you agree or not, Iโve made up my mind. Iโm divorcing you. You donโt deserve my forgiveness." With that, she ignored his reaction and went upstairs. Clark stared at her back, his gaze dark. โฆ Back in the bedroom, Nyla went straight to the bathroom to shower, unable to stand the smell of wine on herself. While applying body wash, she noticed red marks on her chest and paused. The image of Damonโs hands roaming her body flashed through her mind, making her frown. She scrubbed the marks hard until the skin around them turned red, trying to erase his touch. After her shower, she saw Clark sitting on the bed with his head down, lost in thought. She frowned and decided to ignore him. They would be divorced soon anyway. Clark looked up and saw Nyla coming out in just a towel. Her damp hair dripped water, her freshly washed face flushed like a blooming rose with an enticing fragrance. The towel barely covered her behinds, revealing her long, fair legs. His breath hitched, his gaze glued on her. Nyla didnโt notice Clark's reaction. She walked to the wardrobe to grab her pajamas when a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her from behind. "Nyla..." Clark's voice was husky, filled with undisguised desire. Clark had been thinking about how to win her back downstairs after she left. The only way he could think of was to have a child with her. He had come upstairs to discuss this with her, planning to take it slow. However, he lost control upon seeing her just out of the shower. In the past, such behavior would have stirred Nyla's feelings, but all she felt now was disgust. She turned and pushed him away, her gaze full of revulsion. "Donโt touch me. I feel dirty." Hurt flashed in Clark's eyes. He grabbed her hands, his expression earnest. "Didnโt you always want a child? Letโs have one now, okay?" Nyla shook him off at his matter-of-fact attitude. "That was before. I might have a child in the future, but it wonโt be yours." Her words enraged Clark. He grabbed her and threw her onto the bed, pinning her down. "Say that again!" His eyes were full of anger, but Nyla didnโt care. "It doesnโt matter how many times I say it. Iโm disgusted by you. Iโd rather die than have your child." As soon as she finished speaking, Clark kissed her fiercely. Chapter 4 Nyla froze for a moment, then struggled desperately. Just the thought of Clark kissing another woman the night before filled her with disgust and rage. "Let go!" Her struggles were futile against Clark, who only tightened his grip around her waist. As she fought, her towel loosened, revealing her body. His gaze darkened, and he felt a rush of desire. Their bodies were pressed tightly together, and Nyla quickly noticed the change in Clark. Furious, she bit him hard, tasting blood in their mouths. Instead of letting go, Clark's other hand slipped under Nyla's towel. She had nothing on underneath, having just come out of the shower. She stiffened and struggled even more fiercely. "Clark, get off me!" Clark ignored Nyla, his fingers teasing her sensitive spots. "Nyla, you need me too, don't you?" Nylaโs struggles were in vain, and she grew increasingly desperate. As Clark positioned himself, she closed her eyes in despair. "Clark, don't make me hate you." Clark halted abruptly. Seeing Nyla filled with despair and pain, like a fragile porcelain doll about to shatter, made him pause. He wanted her desperately, but a voice in his head warned that if he took her now, it would be the end of them. He stared at her, his hand tightening around her waist. After several tense seconds, he suddenly let go and got off the bed, leaving the room quickly. The door slammed shut with a loud bang, making Nyla flinch. She clutched the blanket tightly. โฆ For the next few days, Clark didn't come home. Nyla called him several times to discuss the divorce, but he didn't respond. โฆ The weekend arrived. Nyla was in the living room, sending out job applications when she heard the front door open. Clark walked in, looking haggard. They stared at each other in silence until Nyla broke it, closing her laptop and standing up calmly. "Since you're back, let's talk about the divorce." Clark frowned. "I told you, I won't divorce you. I'm here to remind you that we have to go to the family dinner tonight." The Sumners held a monthly dinner, and ever since their wedding, Clark and Nyla had attended together. The family wasn't kind to Nyla, often treating her poorly. She endured it because she believed Clark loved her. After seeing him with another woman, however, she couldn't lie to herself anymore. "I don't want to go. Go by yourself." Clarkโs expression turned impatient. "Nyla, how long are you going to keep this up?" He had ignored her calls and messages, hoping she would calm down, but she was still the same. "I'm not keeping anything up. I just want a divorce." Upon hearing the word "divorce", Clark's patience wore thin. He looked at Nyla as if she were unreasonable. "Divorce? You haven't worked since we got married. How will you support yourself? Which company would hire you? And what about your father's exorbitant medical bills? Can you afford those? "Nyla, you're not a teenager anymore. You're 28. It's time to grow up. "I'm the CEO of the Sumner Group. I face temptations all the time. Sometimes, it's hard to resist, but those women will never take your place as my wife. What more do you want?" Clark couldn't understand why Nyla didn't see that he still loved her, even if he couldn't commit to being with her forever. Seeing Clarkโs arrogant demeanor, Nyla couldn't reconcile this man with the shy boy who had once blushed while confessing his love and promising never to hurt her. Maybe this was his true selfโselfish, proud, and condescending. "If being mature means tolerating your infidelity, then I'm sorry, I can't do that. Find someone else. Here are the divorce papers I've had drafted. Sign them when you have time." Clark glanced at the documents, sneering when he saw the section on asset division. "Quite the appetite you have, asking for half my assets. Do you really think that's possible?" "I deserve it. Why not?" Clark chuckled, his tone mocking. "Look around this house. Did you buy anything here? I've been covering your father's medical expenses for years. If we tally things up, you should be paying me. Should I have my lawyer do the math?" As Nyla watched his bitter expression, she couldn't believe she had once loved this man. He had hidden his true self so well that, until she caught him cheating, she had thought he was a great guy. "Don't forget, if it weren't for me giving you that patent, you wouldn't be the Sumner Group's CEO. And you were the one who told me to stay home after we got married. If I had continued my research, I would have earned far more than what you've given me." Unfazed, Clark replied, "Who would believe you about the patent now? "I don't want to argue about money, but if you insist on a divorce, we'll have to settle accounts. Nyla, as long as you drop the divorce idea, my money is still yours to use." "Clark, you're despicable!" Since he refused to divorce, she'd have to sue. She turned to leave, but he blocked her. "Change your clothes. We're going to the family dinner." "I said I'm not going. Tell them I'm not feeling well." Clark grabbed her wrist. "Nyla, I'm running out of patience. Don't force me to cut off your father's medical expenses." "You wouldn't dare!" Clark took out his phone and called his secretary. "Cancel my father-in-law's medical payment for next monthโ" Furious, Nyla grabbed his phone and ended the call. "You're crossing a line, Clark." "Crossing a line?" Clark's gaze was full of contempt as he yanked her closer. "Everything you have is because of me. Don't you think you're the one crossing the line? Change your clothes, or I have numerous ways to make you comply." Chapter 5 Seeing the coldness in Clark's eyes, Nyla realized how blind she had been to fall in love with such a man. Her eyes stung with unshed tears, but she refused to show any vulnerability in front of him. She yanked her hand away, took a deep breath, and headed upstairs. The only thought in her mind was to find a job quickly so she could move out and divorce Clark. She grabbed a random outfit, tied her hair up with a hairpin, and went back downstairs. She was never one to fuss over her appearance. In the past, she had dressed up for the Sumners' gatherings to make a good impression. Now, she couldn't care less. Hearing her footsteps, Clark looked up. Nyla wore a fitted white dress, her waist so slender it seemed it could be encircled with one hand. Her hair was secured with a jade hairpin, revealing her delicate neck. She was breathtakingly beautiful. The grace she exuded was just like when they first met. However, the look in her eyes now was devoid of any warmth. "Letโs go," she said. They drove to the Sumner residence in silence. As they arrived and were about to get out of the car, a black Range Rover sped up and stopped abruptly in front of them. Upon recognizing the car, Clark's expression darkened. It was Damon's car, someone he both feared and disliked. Damon was known for his reckless and unpredictable behavior. He had refused to take over the Sumner Group when Richard wanted him to run the company, choosing to start his own business instead. Everyone had expected him to fail, but within five years, his company had grown to be worth several times more than the Sumner Group. Clark couldn't stand Damon, partly out of jealousy. Once, a comment Clark made about Damon reached Damon's ears, and in retaliation, Damon refused to collaborate with the Sumner Group, costing them millions. Damon rarely attended family dinners, and Clark had hoped to avoid him. Luck wasnโt on his side todayโthey met at the door. He didnโt notice Nylaโs stiffened expression when she saw Damon get out of his car. Clark opened the car door and greeted, "Uncle Damon." Damon glanced at him indifferently, his gaze briefly landing on the passenger seat before he nodded and walked into the house. Nyla let out a deep breath. When Damon looked her way, she had forgotten to breathe, fearing he might say something outrageous. He was known for his unpredictable nature, always doing whatever he pleased. Fortunately, he said nothing. She decided she needed to talk to him privately later. As Clark and Nyla walked into the living room, they saw it was already filled with people. Richard and Marie, the family heads, were chatting with Damon. He was the kind of person who naturally stood out in a crowd. Noticing Nylaโs gaze on Damon, Clark frowned. "Why are you staring at my uncle?" Nyla withdrew her gaze and replied coolly, "None of your business." Her coldness irritated Clark. "Nyla, you know I donโt like you paying attention to other men." Ever since they got together, Clark had been extremely controlling, not allowing Nyla to interact with other men. She used to think this was a sign of his love, but now it seemed laughable. She sneered. "And I donโt like you sleeping with other women, but you seem to enjoy it just fine." Clark said through gritted teeth, "This is a family dinner. Weโll deal with this later." "If you donโt want me to bring it up, then stay out of my business," she retorted. Clark didnโt want to cause a scene now because it might affect the Sumner Group and his standing with Richard, who still held all the companyโs shares. As they talked, Marie called out, "Nyla, Clark, youโre here! Come sit down!" Nyla took a deep breath, forcing a smile as she approached. She might not like the Sumners, but she maintained basic manners. "Hello, Grandpa, Grandma," she greeted with a smile. Marie, who had been urging Damon to settle down and get married, looked pleased to see the couple. "Come, sit down." She turned to Damon with a hint of dissatisfaction. "Look at Clark. He manages the company well and has a beautiful wife. They might have children soon. And you? Almost 30 and still single. If you donโt bring a girlfriend next time, donโt bother coming!" Damon glanced at the couple with a smirk. "She is indeed beautiful." He just wondered how that petite frame would suffer if she were to have children. Nyla frowned, feeling uncomfortable with Damonโs gaze. Clark also noticed the inappropriate way Damon looked at Nyla. It wasnโt the look of an elder but more like a man admiring a woman. His hand clenched into a fist, and his body tensed. Marie sighed. "My point is, when will you bring me a daughter-in-law?" "Depends. If I meet someone I like, maybe Iโll bring her back tomorrow," Damon replied nonchalantly. "Youโre too picky! Iโve arranged a good match for you. Date's tomorrow, donโt ruin it." "Then youโll probably have to apologize to another old friend tomorrow." Frustrated, Marie snapped, โYouโre going to drive me crazy!โ Damon glanced at Clark. โClark's been married for years. Instead of pushing me, why donโt you encourage him to have kids?โ Marie nodded, realizing Damon wouldnโt listen to her. She turned to Nyla and Clark, her expression softening. โNyla, you and Clark have been married for a few years now. When are you planning to have children?โ Chapter 6 Nyla lifted her head to speak, but Clark grabbed her hand and smiled. "Grandma, we're working on it!" Nyla tried to pull her hand away, but Clark's grip was too tight. If he wouldn't let her be, she wouldn't make it easy for him either. She turned to Marie. "Grandma, I'm looking for a job right now, so having children might have to wait." The room fell silent. Clark's grip on Nyla's hand tightened painfully, and she winced. Damon glanced at Clark's hand on Nyla, noticing the bulging veins, then looked away indifferently. Clarkโs aunt, Anne Sumner, sneered. "Nyla, don't blame me for being blunt. You've been married for years. How can you not have a child yet? If it weren't for Clark insisting on marrying you, do you think your family could have ever married into the Sumners? "You should be grateful. If you don't want to have Clark's child, there are plenty of women who do. If someone else steps in, youโll be the one looking silly." Besides, Anne thought, "Who knows if Nyla is fertile?" She sounded like she meant well, but her gaze at Nyla was filled with an air of superiority. Marie frowned at Anne, disapproving. "Anne, enough." Anne pursed her lips but stayed silent. Marie turned back to Nyla with a kind smile. "Nyla, you and Clark are still young. If you don't want children yet, that's fine. Just don't overwork yourself. Our family isn't short on money. You can work if you want, but take it easy." Nyla nodded. "I understand, Grandma." With that, the awkward moment passed, and the room returned to its previous warmth. Seeing the attention shift away, Clark pulled Nyla out of the living room. Once they reached the gazebo in the backyard, he released her. "Nyla, have you lost your mind? Do you want everyone to know about our fight?" Nyla rubbed her sore hand and said, "I was just being honest." "Honest?" Clark scowled. "Should I call your father then?" Harrison Jayston was ill and couldn't handle stress. Nyla planned to divorce Clark before breaking the news to him gently. She glared at Clark. "You wouldnโt dare! You were the one who cheated. What right do you have to be so self-righteous?" Clark clenched his hands, a flicker of guilt crossing his face before it was replaced by impatience. "I promised it wouldnโt happen again. If you don't want to see Jordyn, I'll fire her. What more do you want?" Nyla felt like there was a communication breakdown between them and turned away. "I don't want to argue with you here." When Clark saw her red-rimmed eyes, he softened. "Nyla, I truly know I was wrong. Just don't mention divorce, and I'll make it up to you. I love you. I can't let you go." Nyla found it laughable. How could he claim to love her while being with another woman? Just thinking about him with someone else made her sick. "I will never forgive you." Betrayal was her bottom line. She couldnโt pretend nothing had happened or reconcile with him. Clark knew Nyla well enough to understand that he had to be patient. He believed she still had feelings for him. Otherwise, she would have made a bigger scene when she found out. As long as he refused to divorce her, she would eventually forgive him. "Fine, we won't talk about it now. If you don't want kids yet, weโll postpone it to two years later. Since you want to work, I'll have my secretary find you a position at the Sumner Group." Nyla laughed at his arrangement, a mocking look in her eyes. "Clark, do you see me as a puppet you can control?" Hurt by her gaze, Clark frowned. "How am I controlling you? You don't want kids now, so I agreed to wait two years. You want to work, so I'll arrange it. What more do you want?" "Stop pretending. I don't want kids because I want a divorce. I want to work to sever ties with you." Clark looked at Nyla's stubborn face, displeased. Since their wedding, she had been like a canary in his cage. He couldn't let her go. "As long as I don't agree, this marriage won't end. Even if you tell a lawyer I cheated, do you have proof?" Clark's confident tone and controlling demeanor made Nyla step back, trembling with anger. She finally saw how selfish and disgusting he was. She had wasted eight yearsโthe best years of her life, from 18 to 26โloving this man. "You make me sick, Clark!" Seeing the undisguised disgust in Nyla's eyes, Clar | LEARN_MORE | https://findedc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=15692& | Indulge in story | https://www.facebook.com/61552702618591/ | 880 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | findedc.com | DCO | https://findedc.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=15692&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/t39.35426-6/468488068_484333964060835_7423614745601675335_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SMTRF8O-jcAQ7kNvgEA1Hln&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AqgBF4QlKSu9txTqQ2ioaCz&oh=00_AYDtu0WFtv8oxzhd2m0gtBOISCD5vgWemu_-shtICUdM_Q&oe=676EB0EE | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Indulge in story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | โIโm so glad you are here tonight, Leah. I care so much about you.โ Tristan said. My husband, the Alpha of Blazewood Pack, held the beautiful blonde in his arm. I froze on my spot after seeing this. All the guests in the banquet hall were stealing glances at me, whispering and jeering. โIs that Leah Middleton?โ My maid Mandy gasped, โWhatโs she doing here?!โ My husband brought her here, obviously. Tonight was the Full Moon festival. We should have attended as Alpha and Luna, but Tristan brought her instead. Leah Middleton was Tristanโs high school sweetheart, Ironclaw Packโs Alphaโs daughter. She and Tristan were the perfect couple until Leah broke up with him. Rumors said that she cheated on him with another person. Tristan met me a year later at a party. Nobody in my family was thrilled about our relationship. But I still ran away from home and married into Blazewood Pack. We were mates, blessed by the Moon Goddess. How bad could it be? But I was wrong. So wrong. The first bump in our marriage was my miscarriage. I lost my child during a business meeting. Tristan blamed me for it. He thought I was too careless. To fix the trauma, we adopted a sweet little boy called Roman. But a child still couldnโt fix our marriage. Tristan started to grow cold to me. And now, Leah was back, my husbandโs Ex. Was she here to take him away from me? Suppressing the panic, I strode up to them. โLeah, you should leave.โ I tried to say this with as much dignity as possible. โAnd stay away from my husband.โ Leah rounded her big, innocent eyes and looked over to Tristan. โShall we tell her?โ she asked softly. I started to get a bad feeling. โTell me what?โ Tristan gave me an indifferent look, โLeah will stay here from now on.โ I couldnโt believe what I just heard. โStay here? As what? Are you out of your mind?!โ Tears quickly welled up in Leah's eyes, โI know you hate me, Evelyn. It's all my fault. But Tristan didnโt do anything wrong so please donโt yell at him.โ โDo you mind? Iโm talking to my husband!โ I snapped. โBe nice to her!โ Tristan growled. โI wonโt threaten your position. I promise.โ Leah blinked innocently, โYou can still be Luna. All I want is to stay with Tristanโฆand my child.โ The ground was slipping away underneath my feet. My legs went soft, and I couldnโt stand straight. โChild? What child?โ I asked through clenched teeth. They had a child together? How come I didn't know about this?? They exchanged a look. And then finally, Tristan spoke up, โItโs probably time to tell you the truthโฆRoman is Leah and my kid.โ I couldnโt breathe, โBut you saidโฆyou adopted Roman from an orphanage! He doesnโt have any parents!โ โIf I hadnโt said that, would you have accepted Roman and raised him as your own?โ Tristan said with a frown. โLeah couldnโt raise Roman when the kid was born. So I brought him back here. Itโs just a little harmless lie.โ A harmless lie? I poured my heart out and raised the child of the person who fucked my husband. And now she swooped in and tried to take my child and husband away. What am I? A free nanny to them? โNo, TristanโฆI donโt want her here.โ I gritted, trying hard not to let my tears fall. โThis is unacceptable. Send her away, pleaseโฆI am asking as your wife and Luna!โ โShe stays. End of discussion!โ Tristan growled. โIf she staysโฆIโm afraid that you are driving me away,โ I said, trembling. My heart was in my throat because even I couldnโt be sure whom he would choose. Tristan looked frustrated. Yet before he spoke up, Leah burst out crying. โDonโt push him! This is all my faultโฆI never want to be the third person in your marriageโฆIโI should go!โ she sobbed and turned away, running out of the banquet hall. Tristan snapped his head towards me and glared, โNow are you happy?โ Chapter 2 Evelynโs POV Tristan never bothered to check on me once. I heard that he was busy taking Leah to parties and introducing her to all his members. Then I got an unexpected call, from my best friend in college, Haley. โHey, Evelyn! Just want to check on you and see if you are still coming to Storm Fang Pack for business next week. We should find a time to meet up!โ I took in a small deep breath. I almost forgot that. For the past few years, I have been working on a huge real estate project called Carnival City with a company in Storm Fang Pack, AKA the largest and most powerful pack in the world. Originally, I planned to go over there next week and sign the contract with CEO Jason. I also wanted to catch up with Haley andโฆpossibly visit Haley's brother. Her brother, Asher Hawthorne, was no one else but the Alpha of Storm Fang Pack, the tycoon that dominated the business world. If he could advise on my project, itโd definitely help me. But now, I had completely forgotten all about that. Because of what happened with Leah. โI donโt know, HaleyโฆMaybe thereโll be a change of plan. I canโt go anymore.โ I said lowly. โWhat? Why?โ Thereโs no point hiding this with my best friend. I covered my face and choked, โโฆTristan is leaving me for another personโฆthe birth mother of our adopted child. If he does, thereโs no point for me to keep working on that projectโฆโ Although Leah was his mother by birth, I was by his side for the past 3 years. My boy would be on my side. Standing outside of the packhouse, I saw Romanโs school bus drive close. I was on this spot every day for the past 3 years, waiting for Roman to come back to school. As soon as the door opened, I started waving and calling for my boy: โRoman! Darling! Over here!โ He jumped off the school bus. But as soon as he saw me, he started running in the opposite direction. โGet away from me!โ He cried. I rushed to grab his shoulder, stunned, โWhat? Roman, whyโโ โYou want my mommy to leave! I hate you!โ he shouted, โDaddy, Mommy, and I are a real family! Not you!โ Tears welled up in my eyes. Roman knew Leah was back. And he chose her over me. โRoman, IโIโm your mom, remember?โ I choked, โI took you to the hospital when you were sick. I went to all of your parent and teacher's meetings.โ He struggled in my arms, screeching, as though he didnโt want me to touch him. Passersby stopped and stared at us. One guy even came forward and said, โMiss, please let go of the child.โ โItโs ok. Heโs my kid.โ I quickly explained. โNO!โ Roman shrieked, โYou hit me! You put my head into the toilet! You scared me! I donโt want you. I want Mommy Leah!โ I froze on my spot. I didnโt none of those stuff! Why would Roman lie about those?! Leah suddenly appeared near the front gate, with Tristan behind her back. She dashed over, crying, and held Roman tightly in her arms. โMy poor baby! Whatโve you been through!โ she wailed. โYou hit Roman?!โ Tristan growled at me, โAre you doing this because you canโt have your own child and you are jealous of Leah?โ I looked at him in shock. How could he think this way? Leah sobbed, โDonโt blame her, Tristan. I get it. People only care about their own kids. Roman and I are outsiders here. Maybe we should leaveโฆโ โYes, you do!โ I blurt out. โENOUGH!โ Tristan snarled, glaring at me. โLeahโs the person I care about and Roman is my only son! I canโt leave them. And they need me.โ I started to tremble in pain. โThen what about me, Tristan? Iโm your mate!โ โNobody says you arenโt!โ Tristan said impatiently, โYouโll still be Blazewood Packโs Luna. Sheโs not interested in your position.โ โYou wonโt even notice that Iโm in the house. I just want to stay with Tristan.โ Leah said softly. I felt dizzy. If she was the person he loved, then what did that make me? A free employee who helped him run his pack? How could I stand the pain while my husband fucked another person every day in the next room? No, I couldnโt handle that. So with a trembling hand, I started undoing my blouse, revealing my delicate collarbone. My scent quickly filled the air. I heard Tristanโs breathing suddenly become heavy. โโฆWhat are you doing?โ he gritted with sweat on his forehead. I took a step further, locking eyes with him, whispering, โDonโt you miss me? The feeling of being with your mateโฆitโs better than anything else in the world. You know that.โ The mate bond was working. He stared deep into my eyes, obsessed, and murmured, โMy mate.โ | LEARN_MORE | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=15862&u | Galaxy in the Story | https://www.facebook.com/61555427913037/ | 1,660 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | befant.com | DCO | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=15862&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/t39.35426-6/467730157_1238869077349073_3792002446600257245_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=17SesUHwGkcQ7kNvgFGVcPT&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AKY6CzbmK_4MncCMNQycbNE&oh=00_AYCn3VmQKB09NsDHCkvBSekI2O9E6nrBCz9Z51z-bScYXw&oe=676EE3EC | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete |
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