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1,921,824	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2024-07-12 08:57	active	1112	1341731020116495	📚💞《Mommy Daddy, Please Get Married! 》ALL chapters for Free！😍💕	The one who cured the tycoon's terminal illness turned out to be a three-year-old kid! <br /> The tycoon went mad and asked, "Who is your mother?! Why do you look exactly like me!"<br /> Chapter 1 Being Set Up<br /> The sunlight shone upon her tired face. She opened her eyes wearily, feeling weak and exhausted. The rays of the sun poured into her eyes, and she shut them quickly.<br /> Gradually, she opened her eyes gently, allowing them to adjust to the light. Where was she?<br /> She raised herself to a sitting position and tried to remember what had happened. Lifting the quilt, she was shocked to find herself naked. What had happened to her? Why was she here? When had she taken off her dress?<br /> She vaguely remembered that Sara had helped her into a room last night. She didn't remember anything else besides...<br /> <br /> Ah! Someone had taken advantage of her—she had been raped! She lifted the quilt again and checked herself.<br /> <br /> The hickeys, the bloodstains, and the pain of being torn only confirmed that she had been violated.<br /> <br /> She was married, and there was no way she could excuse herself or explain to Ethan Thompson that she had lost her virginity to someone else.<br /> <br /> She stood up quickly, picked up her dress from the floor, and dashed into the bathroom. <br /> <br /> Just then, Ethan Thompson walked in with his mother and Sara.<br /> <br /> "That's right, she has really been taken. Take photos of the bloodstained bedspread and let's leave," Margaret Thompson, Ethan's mother, instructed.<br /> <br /> “I have enough reason to divorce her and marry the love of my life," Ethan chimed in, holding Sara close to his heated body and kissing her.<br /> <br /> "Easy, my love. We will be married soon, and I will be yours fully. My sister has been pushed out of the way, ” Sara Blake said, sounding excited.<br /> <br /> Aurora Blake heard their words and couldn't believe her ears. Her husband and sister had connived against her?<br /> <br /> She waited until the sound of their footsteps had faded before walking out of the bathroom, dressed. She hurried out of the room.<br /> <br /> Hardly had Aurora left when Pascal Lee entered. He checked the room and found it empty.<br /> <br /> "Hello boss, the woman is gone. But I have proof of her innocence," Pascal said and took photos of the bloodstains on the bed.<br /> <br /> Aurora Blake had always been a strong woman. She had married Ethan Thompson through an arranged marriage.<br /> <br /> They were only four months into their marriage. Though they didn't love each other, they had agreed to nurture their feelings before becoming intimate.<br /> <br /> But despite not having been intimate with him, she was still his wife. She couldn't imagine that Sara would set her up just to be with her husband.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Aurora Blake arrived home in a taxi and went into the house.<br /> <br /> As soon as Aurora Blake stepped into the sitting room, she was greeted by a ferocious stare from Ethan Thompson, his glare almost making her lose her balance.<br /> <br /> "You whore," Margaret Thompson spat. "You have no shame left, do you? Bringing those miserable feet of yours into this house!"<br /> <br /> "You're married and still sleeping around? Are you so cheap that you can't even recognize your own status?" Ethan thundered.<br /> <br /> Hypocrites, Aurora thought. He pretends to be outraged, yet he knows everything. He was the one who brought her the drink that led to this.<br /> <br /> "This marriage is over," Ethan declared. "I can't ignore what you've done. You're a loose woman and a slut." He eyed her with disgust.<br /> <br /> "What right do you have to say such horrible things to me when you were the one who drugged me?" Aurora snapped back. "What kind of man drugs his own wife to trap her? Do you think I don’t know about your escapades with my sister? If you wanted a divorce, you should have just said so instead of creating a reason for it."<br /> <br /> Ethan was temporarily speechless. How did she know about him and Sara? Had they left a clue behind?<br /> <br /> "How dare you accuse my son without evidence?" Margaret Thompson shouted. "A bitch like you should hide her face or better yet, go end it all. But here you are, pretending after spending the night with your lover."<br /> <br /> "If you know what's good for you, sign the divorce papers and leave," Ethan threatened. "Otherwise, I will make your life a living hell."<br /> <br /> Before Ethan could finish his statement, Aurora Blake walked past him and headed upstairs. Margaret Thompson hurried after her and grabbed her by the hair.<br /> <br /> Aurora's scalp burned as her mother-in-law dragged her around the room, shouting that her son couldn't wait on someone else's leftover.<br /> <br /> Aurora's body was already bruised and exhausted. Now, being dragged like this, she felt her strength ebb away. She didn't know how long it lasted, but her vision blurred and she blacked out.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> When Aurora opened her eyes three days later, she found herself hooked up to an IV. She felt weak and disoriented. She remembered the last thing that had happened before she passed out but had no idea how she ended up in the hospital.<br /> <br /> No one was with her. Feeling the cruel sting of life, tears welled up in her eyes. She had been forced into this union despite the lack of chemistry between them.<br /> <br /> Her stepmother had insisted on the marriage to the Thompson family. Ethan Thompson, the second master of the Thompsons, was not the heir to the family enterprise. <br /> <br /> Her stepmother had made it mandatory for her to marry Ethan so that her own daughter, Sara Blake, could be the only girl in the Blake family and be chosen by the heir of the Drake family, one of the four richest families in Country Z.<br /> <br /> But things hadn’t gone as planned. The young master of Drakes returned from abroad with a woman he had married. His parents got infuriated and stripped all titles from him. He remained a member of the Drake family but could no longer be the heir.<br /> <br /> Aurora had no idea how or when her husband and Sara Blake became entangled with each other. <br /> <br /> She was lost in thought when a man in business suit walked into the hospital ward and stood before her.<br /> <br /> “Ms. Blake, I am Ethan Thompson's lawyer,” he said coldly, and pulled up a chair and sat down, opening his portfolio to pull out the divorce papers. <br /> <br /> “Please sign these papers and end your marriage with my client," he instructed coldly.<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 Divorce<br /> <br /> Aurora didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Ethan Thompson was truly a beast. He couldn't even wait for her to be discharged from the hospital before bringing the papers to her.<br /> <br /> "What if I refuse to sign?" Aurora asked, wondering what Ethan and his mother would do if she refused. <br /> <br /> Her marriage would remain intact, preventing Ethan from being with Sara Blake. He couldn't force her to sign, especially considering he was the one who had drugged her.<br /> <br /> "Then you will force my client to take drastic action and go public with your so-called adulterous lifestyle. Remember, you are an illegitimate daughter, and your mother's past would be dug up," the lawyer replied with a sneer.<br /> <br /> Aurora felt her heart skip a beat. She had always tried to live her life in contrast to her mother's. Her mother was said to have had her out of wedlock. And when her parents finally decided to marry, her mother was hit by a reckless driver and didn't survive. Hence, she remained an illegitimate daughter.<br /> <br /> She was three when her father married Molly Blake, and they had Sara a year later. Aurora grew up under her stepmother's indifferent tutelage. <br /> <br /> While her father was alive, Molly managed to put up with her, neither showing affection nor outright hatred. They lived together and had no issues with each other until her father's death.<br /> <br /> When her father's will was read, revealing that he had divided his wealth equally between his two daughters, Molly Blake was furious.<br /> <br /> How could Dennis Blake have given Aurora the same share of his property as Sara? Aurora was an illegitimate daughter and she had been kind enough to accommodate her in the house and let her bear the Blake name.<br /> <br /> However, granting Aurora equal rights with her daughter was a step too far. She would never accept it. She was going to deal with Aurora until she was satisfied with her revenge.<br /> <br /> "Ms. Blake, please sign the papers," the lawyer urged her. He seemed to be in a hurry and didn't understand what was making Aurora lost in thought.<br /> <br /> Aurora carefully adjusted herself to sit without disturbing the IV line in her hand. She collected the golden pen from the lawyer's outstretched hand.<br /> <br /> The document stipulated that she was never to return to pick a needle in her matrimonial home, nor does she retain any shares in her father's company.<br /> <br /> Her property was designated as compensation to Ethan Thompson for being cuckolded. Aurora's hands trembled when she read the conditions attached to the divorce papers.<br /> <br /> With a soft sigh, she steadied her breathing and signed the papers, sealing her fate—a life stripped of wealth and possessions, condemned to poverty.<br /> <br /> As the lawyer collected the signed papers and returned them to his portfolio, a faint smile graced his lips, the first since entering Aurora's presence.<br /> <br /> "I wish you all the best, Ms. Blake. Have a good day," he said, rising from his seat and exiting the hospital ward.<br /> <br /> Aurora watched him depart, tears streaming down her cheeks. She felt utterly ruined, her life now devoid of meaning.<br /> <br /> She was empty. No parents, no husband. She thought she had a sister but alas, she was a green snake under green grass. <br /> <br /> Where was her home? Who were her people? Where did she turn for help?<br /> <br /> She wept until she could weep no more, left with nothing but the dress she wore, laid beside her on the hospital bed.<br /> <br /> When she changed out of the hospital gown, she found herself possessing only that single dress, her sole belonging in the world.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, the lawyer exited the hospital and slipped into a tinted car where Ethan Thompson and Sara Blake awaited. "She signed when I threatened her with her mother's past," the lawyer boasted.<br /> <br /> "I knew you could make that bitch succumb. I'll add 10% to your fees," Ethan Thompson replied happily. Now he was free from the shackles of that bondage called marriage.<br /> <br /> Gosh,he didn't like that girl a bit. She disgusted him. He had to put up with her and pretend for the past four months. <br /> <br /> "Baby, you're the best," Sara chimed in, resting her head on Ethan's shoulder and circling her hand around his arm.<br /> <br /> They kissed each other, feeling satisfied as the chauffeur ignited the engine and drove off.<br /> <br /> **<br /> <br /> For the next two days, no one checked on Aurora in the hospital. She ordered takeout and managed to eat. She was glad that he left her phone by her bedside.<br /> <br /> She had transferred what little money she had to a secret account. She couldn’t underestimate the extent to which Ethan Thompson would go. <br /> <br /> She was able to pay her bills and got discharged from the hospital. Since she couldn't return home, she had to go to her stepmother's place. <br /> <br /> At least that house belonged to her father as well. She could stay there for a while and found something meaningful to do with her time and life.<br /> <br /> She hailed a taxi, directing it to her stepmother's address. She can vouch for her stepmother. She wouldn't be in support of what her daughter had done.<br /> <br /> She may not have really loved her but at least she was the one who paired her forcefully to Ethan Thompson. She was to be blamed for forcing her with that idiot.<br /> <br /> If Molly Blake were to discover that her daughter had a hand in the breakdown of the marriage she had arranged, she would definitely be furious with Sara Blake.<br /> <br /> The taxi driver came to a halt at the address Aurora Blake had given him. He waited to see her alight but was surprised when the woman he carried remained in the car without the slightest intention of stepping out.<br /> <br /> He glanced at her from the rear view mirror and saw her teary eyes. She was shedding tears and at the same time seemed to be lost in distant thoughts.<br /> <br /> The taxi driver shook his head. Everyone had their battles. He couldn't fathom what could trouble such a beautiful woman, but it was clear she was troubled and lost.<br /> <br /> He had his own struggles too. He sighed softly before saying, "Ma'am, we're here."<br /> <br /> But Aurora Blake didn't respond. He repeated himself and even honked the horn. Finally, she snapped out of her reverie, looking embarrassed.<br /> <br /> How long had he been trying to get her attention? He had even resorted to using the horn.<br /> <br /> She wiped away her tears and quickly exited the car. After paying the fare, the taxi driver spoke up again. "Ma'am, I may not know what you're going through, but I want to encourage you to stay strong and not lose hope. Everything will be fine in time."<br /> <br /> He collected the money, and Aurora told him to keep the change. She thanked him with a smile before hurrying toward the house.<br /> <br /> But as she reached the threshold, she froze upon hearing voices from inside.<br /> <br /> Chapter 3 Toasting To Her Downfall?<br /> <br /> "You got everything back. That girl shouldn't have been allowed in this home in the first place. But now, you’ve taken from her what was supposed to be my Sara’s," Molly Blake said excitedly.<br /> <br /> Aurora was shocked and rendered momentarily dazed. Her stepmother was part of the setup?<br /> <br /> She seemed to be in company of some people. Aurora never thought she would be involved in something so shady.<br /> <br /> "Aunt, I told you to leave everything to me. I was going to strip her of everything she's got. I not only did that but also made her lose her first time to a hooker.<br /> <br /> Who's going to marry a girl who's poor and not innocent? Such a combination in a woman drives men far away like the West from the East," Ethan Thompson praised himself.<br /> <br /> "Mum, I told you to have full faith in Ethan. He had proven himself competent to be my husband,"Sara Blake said shyly.<br /> <br /> "Absolutely Sara. Congratulations once again!" Molly said and Aurora heard the sound of glasses clicking. <br /> <br /> They were toasting to her downfall? She tore the door knob and stepped in. The guests were surprised when they saw her, and none of them made a sound for the next few seconds.<br /> <br /> Aurora’s palm clenched into a fist. This was a conspiracy of conspirators. They had plotted against her, and she had unknowingly fallen into their trap.<br /> <br /> She looked at their faces one after the other. There were four of them. Molly Blake and her daughter Sara Blake. Ethan Thompson and his mother Margaret Thompson. These were the people who had dragged her into the mire.<br /> <br /> But one day, she would rise again and make every one of them pay for what they had done to her!<br /> <br /> "Tsk tsk tsk, look who we have here? The adulterous wife. You still have the nerve to come back here? You've actually thrown away the last bit of shame you had left?" Molly mocked.<br /> <br /> She eyed Aurora from head to toe, walking around her before bursting into loud laughter.<br /> <br /> "You've heard everything we said, right? Well, let me tell you how it all started. I planned this a long time ago with my dear friend Margaret Thompson. <br /> <br /> We had her son help us execute the plans in exchange for marrying Sara. I forced you into the marriage so that we could get everything back later. <br /> <br /> That's why Ethan never touched you or had sex with you. He belongs to Sara and wouldn't waste his manliness on an illegitimate daughter like you.<br /> <br /> We organized the party solely for this purpose, and Ethan was the one who drugged you. You were hooked up with a man, and the rest you already know. <br /> <br /> This house is off-limits to you. Everything I've done for you and the years I accommodated you are all you will have, and you can live with those memories," Molly declared without remorse.<br /> <br /> Aurora wanted to cry but held back her tears. She would not appear weak before these people; otherwise, they would mock her even more.<br /> <br /> "What have I ever done to you to deserve this?" Aurora asked. She wanted to know why they did this. Was it because her father divided his wealth between her and Sara? She was the eldest after all. Or was it because her parents didn’t get married before she was born?<br /> <br /> "Because you are Dennis Blake's illegitimate daughter," Molly replied, eyeing her before drinking from her glass.<br /> <br /> "Ethan and I are married, Aurora. We are happy," Sara said, raising her finger to show Aurora the golden wedding ring on her finger.<br /> <br /> "Congratulations, Sara. I wish you both the happiness that you truly deserve," Aurora replied, and she saw Ethan squint.<br /> <br /> She wasn't wishing them well at all; she was actually cursing them, and Ethan understood. He couldn't say anything about what she said but knew Aurora Blake's heart held no goodwill for them, only retribution.<br /> <br /> He felt a little uncomfortable with the way Molly treated Aurora, but at that point, he couldn't go back on what he had done. He was pushed into this act by his mother with the promise that he would own the entire Blake business if he eventually married the legitimate daughter.<br /> <br /> What else was Aurora waiting for? She turned her back and left. <br /> <br /> As she opened the door and stepped out, she turned back to look at the house that held her childhood memories.<br /> <br /> Where her father carried her and Sara on his thighs or shoulders, and they played like a mother dog and her puppies. But today, that house was out of bounds for her henceforth.<br /> <br /> She let go of the door, and it slammed shut on its own. She walked briskly out of the vast compound, and the tears she had been trying to hold back seemed to be let loose, flowing down her cheeks uncontrollably.<br /> <br /> She wandered on the street, not knowing where to go. <br /> <br /> That was when she heard a loud honking sound. Her heart skipped as she spun around only to find a car closing in on her at full speed. <br /> <br /> She wanted to move, but it seemed like her limbs were frozen.<br /> <br /> Her life flashed before her eyes. Her mom, her dad. Her failed marriage...<br /> <br /> “Oh, god, I am going to die.”	LEARN_MORE	https://page.joyreadings.com/h5-book-share-custom4	325231040681310	Read the world-3	https://facebook.com/61561778493802	5	1	1,458,779,481,673,344	2024-07-12 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Learn more	Read the world-3	120209288405470046	page.joyreadings.com	NONE	video		https://page.joyreadings.com/h5-book-share-custom4.html?lang=en&id=1127&brand=2&app=0&ppid=4075&pid=FBW2A&utm_source=FBW2A&utm_medium={{placement}}&utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_term={{adset.id}}&utm_content={{ad.id}}&ori_campaign_id=120209288309460046&ori_adset_id=120209288320620046&ori_ad_id=120209288402430046		2024-07-11 21:10	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450872192_469225495807732_5147706893306417318_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1suOaQNS_i8Q7kNvgG7zx4m&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXaylW9XF2l04c2ngJqRCJilgdAfLqbyX_6cLDqbouPA&oe=66970C71	person_profile	Read the world-3	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450535038_996208898485600_3106602534236943314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xTigIKvdH8kQ7kNvgGfKIxl&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBL5GhDCiNzJWCrCHoKzUO5z5iFizGRnHMIb6lQm4MZzg&oe=66970E19	3	Read the world-3	2024-07-12 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,922,059	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1921952}'	No	2024-07-12 08:57	active	1112	1889825901497040	Read More	She signed the divorce papers and left without taking her phone. He checked her phone and got floored at the message: Please come tomorrow for another prenatal care checkup!<br /> =============<br /> <br /> Chapter 1 Ex-girlfriend Returns<br /> <br /> Raegan Hayes was a little absent-minded at the moment. <br /> <br /> All she could think of since this afternoon was the doctor's words. "Congratulations! You are going to be a mom."<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Mitchel Dixon pinched her arm. His low voice came the next second. "Come back to earth. What are you thinking about?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel was her husband. They had been married secretly for two years. He was her superior at work, the president of the Dixon Group. <br /> <br /> Everything had happened so fast. She was newly employed in the company when they unexpectedly got married. <br /> <br /> At that time, Mitchel's grandfather fell seriously ill. It was then he proposed a fake marriage just to fulfill his grandfather's dying wish. <br /> <br /> They signed a prenup, agreeing to hide their marriage from the public. Their union could be terminated at any time. <br /> <br /> It was an unconventional thing to do. However, Raegan only considered herself lucky at that time. <br /> <br /> Never in a million years did she think she would ever get married to the man she had a crush on for eight years. She delightfully agreed. <br /> <br /> After their marriage, Mitchel was very busy. He spent most of his time working. <br /> <br /> Raegan wished she could spend more time with him at home. However, she was rest assured because there hadn't been any rumors or scandals about him with women in the past two years. <br /> <br /> Except for his mild indifference, Mitchel was a perfect husband. <br /> <br /> Raegan had mixed feelings as she stared at the medical report. <br /> <br /> In the end, she decided to tell Mitchel this news. <br /> <br /> She also wanted to tell him that she hadn't learned about him for the first time two years ago and that she had been crushing on him for many years before then. <br /> <br /> Just then, Mitchel’s phone rang. He went to the balcony and answered the phone. <br /> <br /> Raegan checked the time and found that it was already midnight. <br /> <br /> She felt a little uneasy. Who would call Mitchel at this hour? <br /> <br /> Mitchel spent a few minutes on the balcony. Thereafter, he returned and changed into formal attire. His handsome face which had a clear outline made him look dignified. <br /> <br /> He was something to see now. <br /> <br /> "Don't wait up for me. Good night," he said finally. <br /> <br /> What? He was on his way out? At this hour? <br /> <br /> Raegan's grip on the report tightened as she stared at him in disappointment. Unconsciously, she withdrew slightly. After thinking for a while, she blurted out, "It's already so late."<br /> <br /> Mitchel's fingers froze on his tie. With a faint smile, he pinched her earlobe and said, "Be good, okay? There's something I have to do. Don't wait up."<br /> <br /> With that, he headed for the door. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel."<br /> <br /> Raegan quickly ran and caught up with him. <br /> <br /> Mitchel turned around and looked at her seriously. <br /> <br /> "What's the matter?"<br /> <br /> There was a tinge of coldness to his voice. An icy cloud hung over them as they stared at each other. <br /> <br /> A little distressed, Raegan asked in a low voice, "I would like to visit my grandma tomorrow. Can you accompany me there?"<br /> <br /> Her grandmother always wanted to see her. As a result, Raegan wanted to take Mitchel there to assure her grandma they were happy. <br /> <br /> "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Without agreeing or declining, Mitchel left in a hurry. <br /> <br /> Several thoughts were threading Raegan's mind. She couldn't sleep a wink. <br /> <br /> After tossing and turning for a long time, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm glass of milk. <br /> <br /> A few notifications from some online blogs came into her phone. <br /> <br /> However, she wasn't interested in them. She was about to swipe them away when one of them caught her attention. The familiar name made her click on it. <br /> <br /> The news read, "Famous designer, Lauren Murray was spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend earlier today."<br /> <br /> Lauren was wearing a bucket hat. The man's figure was vague, but the outline of his body was enough to show that he was dashing. <br /> <br /> Raegan zoomed in on the picture. The next second, her heart dropped. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was the man in the picture! <br /> <br /> So, he canceled the afternoon meeting just to go pick up his ex-girlfriend from the airport? <br /> <br /> This realization settled like a boulder in Raegan's gut, rendering her flustered. <br /> <br /> Her hands trembled. Subconsciously, she dialed Mitchel's number. <br /> <br /> The dial tone brought her back to her senses. Just as she was about to hang up, the line connected, and a voice came from the other end. <br /> <br /> "Hello!"<br /> <br /> It was a particularly gentle woman's voice. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a second and then threw the phone away. <br /> <br /> She suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet bowl. <br /> <br /> The next morning, Raegan went to work on time. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had tried to get her to stop working after they got married. Stubbornly, she insisted on making her own money. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't kick against her decision, but he asked her to work as his assistant, helping him with the daily chores. <br /> <br /> The head assistant, Matteo Jenkins was left to take care of the major affairs Mitchel had. <br /> <br /> Matteo was the only Dixon Group employee who knew about their marriage. <br /> <br /> Since inception, only male assistants were hired for the president's office. Reagan was the first and only female. Her employment broke the protocol. As a result, other workers couldn't help but wonder if she was involved with Mitchel. <br /> <br /> It took a while before they realized that Mitchel never gave Raegan special treatment. Strangely, this made them despise her even more. <br /> <br /> After all, no one would last long in anything while taking advantage of their looks.<br /> <br /> At this time, one of Raegan's colleagues handed her a document and ordered her to take it to Mitchel's office. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't return home last night. Raegan was so worried that she didn't sleep at all. <br /> <br /> All she kept thinking about was the woman who answered his phone when she called. What was her relationship with Mitchel?<br /> <br /> Raegan already knew the answer to that, but she was still in denial. <br /> <br /> It was difficult for her to come to terms with that fact. <br /> <br /> Raegan tried to remain calm now. She reasoned that no matter what happened, she deserved a result that would be rewarding for all the years she spent loving Mitchel. This couldn't be all for nothing, right? <br /> <br /> She pressed the elevator button calmly and went up to the president's office. Before she walked out of the elevator, she smoothed her hair to make sure she looked good. <br /> <br /> She had arrived at the office, only to see that the door was ajar. A man's voice came. She halted instantly. <br /> <br /> "Come on, man! Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?"<br /> <br /> The voice belonged to Luis Stevens, a childhood friend of Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> "What do you mean exactly?" Mitchel asked in a cold voice. <br /> <br /> "You know exactly what I mean!" Luis clicked his tongue impatiently and added, "I think Raegan is a good girl. Isn't she your type?"<br /> <br /> "Do you want me to hand her over to you?" Mitchel asked carelessly. <br /> <br /> "You know what, forget it!"<br /> <br /> The scornful laughter of Luis sounded particularly harsh in Raegan's ears. <br /> <br /> They were talking about her as if she were an object. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the document. <br /> <br /> Soon, Luis's voice was heard again. <br /> <br /> "By the way, I saw the gossip news about Lauren's mysterious boyfriend this morning. That was you, right?"<br /> <br /> "Yes."<br /> <br /> "Well, well, well! That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. You always want to please her."<br /> <br /> Luis sighed and continued to tease Mitchel. "As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell me, did you two..."<br /> <br /> Their conversation was like a thunder exploding over Raegan's head. <br /> <br /> Her face turned pale and her body was as cold as ice. <br /> <br /> The woman was indeed Lauren! <br /> <br /> Absence made the heart grow fonder! <br /> <br /> Every word drove a knife into her heart. <br /> <br /> Several whispering voices filled her head at this time. She suddenly felt light-headed. Her vision became blurry. <br /> <br /> She held the wall and took a step backward. Suddenly, the door was opened from inside. <br /> <br /> "Raegan?"<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 2 One-sided Love<br /> <br /> Luis was the one who opened the door. It appeared he was on his way out. <br /> <br /> Raegan balled her hands, turned to him, and nodded. "Hey, Mr. Stevens!"<br /> <br /> Without waiting for him to respond to her greeting, she walked past him and entered the office with the document. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was seated behind a large luxurious desk. In an expensive suit and matching tie, he looked particularly handsome. <br /> <br /> Raegan noticed it wasn't the same suit he had on when he left home last night. How did he get changed? <br /> <br /> With her eyes lowered, she swallowed that question and said instead, "Mr. Dixon, this is from the Marketing Department. Please sign it."<br /> <br /> Mitchel was expressionless as he signed the document at a glance. <br /> <br /> Raegan walked out the door as soon as he handed the document back to her. Luis was still standing at the threshold. <br /> <br /> It wasn't until she went out of sight that Luis turned to Mitchel and said in a hushed tone, "Do you think she heard us?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's appealing eyes were expressionless at the moment. Obviously, he wasn't paying attention to what Luis was saying. <br /> <br /> To Mitchel, Raegan had always been docile and never felt jealous of anyone. <br /> <br /> Her strict obedience was all Mitchel demanded from her in exchange for treating her well. <br /> <br /> In the elevator. <br /> <br /> Raegan held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn't work. <br /> <br /> She had thought two years would be enough for Mitchel to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love. <br /> <br /> Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream. <br /> <br /> She realized she would always play second fiddle to Lauren, Mitchel's true love. <br /> <br /> Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened. <br /> <br /> She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea. <br /> <br /> Several employees were chatting inside. <br /> <br /> "Guys, have you heard? Lauren Murray is back."<br /> <br /> "And who is that?"<br /> <br /> "Oh, my! You don't know her? Lauren is the heiress of the Murray Group as well as a world-class designer. Most importantly, she's the only girlfriend Mr. Dixon has ever shown off in public. She's his first love!"<br /> <br /> "Why is her return such a big deal? Isn't it rumored that there is something between Mr. Dixon and Raegan?"<br /> <br /> "Raegan? She's nothing to Mr. Dixon. Mr. Dixon never admitted that he was dating her. And that is no surprise to me. After all, look at her. She's not even that beautiful. Yet, she behaves as if she's already Mrs. Dixon. What a fool!"<br /> <br /> Standing at the door, Raegan smiled with self-mockery as she listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her. <br /> <br /> The love was one-sided. <br /> <br /> "Ha-ha, have you finally woken up from your wild dream, Raegan?"<br /> <br /> A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Raegan turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Mitchel's cousin, who had always despised her. <br /> <br /> Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping. <br /> <br /> The last thing Raegan wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way. <br /> <br /> With a cup of coffee in her hand, Tessa uttered sarcastically, "Lauren is back now. Do you think Mitchel will still give you any attention?"<br /> <br /> Raegan said nothing to that. <br /> <br /> Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule. "Maybe it’s time for you to seek out another man, you pathetic fool."<br /> <br /> Raegan clenched her fists and said coldly, "Ms. Lloyd, if you are interested in that kind of thing, feel free to pursue it yourself."<br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Raegan's retort made Tessa's face change. <br /> <br /> The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of coffee on Raegan. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't think for a second that Tessa would do something so crazy. She held up her arms just to block the liquid from her face. In no time, the coffee drenched her clothes. <br /> <br /> Raegan frowned. "What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?"<br /> <br /> It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama. Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers. <br /> <br /> She put on a mean-girl look as she said, "What makes you so smug every day, huh? Do you seriously think that others don't know you are just an orphan? The nerve of..."<br /> <br /> Tessa was silenced by Raegan’s shove. <br /> <br /> Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Raegan, who was so quiet and timid, would shove her. <br /> <br /> Tessa stuttered, "You... You pushed me? How dare you!"<br /> <br /> Raegan eyed her and replied, "Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness."<br /> <br /> Indeed, she lost her parents when she was a child. But that didn't mean she would allow someone to walk over her for it. <br /> <br /> Wrinkles appeared on Tessa's face as she frowned in anger. As Mitchel's cousin, she was used to being fawned over and respected. This was the first time she had been treated like this. <br /> <br /> Tessa charged at Raegan like a raging bull, poised to retaliate. <br /> <br /> This time, Raegan was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa's wrist so that the latter couldn't move another inch. <br /> <br /> Tessa was shorter than Raegan. As a result, she struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap. <br /> <br /> Tessa cursed angrily, "How dare you put your hands on me? Who do you think you are?"<br /> <br /> These harsh words attracted more people to the break room. <br /> <br /> "That's enough!"<br /> <br /> Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Mitchel had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo. <br /> <br /> The entire room fell silent. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel?" Tessa's blood ran cold at the sight of Mitchel. She had always been scared of him. Her mother also warned her against provoking him. <br /> <br /> But when she remembered that Raegan humiliated her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed. "Mitchel, she bullied me."<br /> <br /> The sunlight from outside fell on Mitchel's handsome face. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to look at her clothes which were soaked with coffee. <br /> <br /> Their gaze met in the air. With a deep frown, Mitchel looked at Raegan and said, "Raegan, have you forgotten the rules of the company?"<br /> <br /> His ruthlessness made Raegan's breathing cease. She couldn't believe her ears. <br /> <br /> No one dared to make a sound at this moment. <br /> <br /> Raegan just stood straight there with her slender figure. <br /> <br /> When she got employed here, Mitchel had told her that the Dixon Group wasn't a place for her to mess around and that he would not tolerate her making any mistakes. <br /> <br /> Raegan could understand why he took this stand. <br /> <br /> However, at this moment, she was desperate to know whether Mitchel had heard those hard words Tessa scolded her or he was just pretending not to have heard because he agreed to those words. <br /> <br /> Was she truly insignificant to him?<br /> <br /> Scared to death by Mitchel's rage, the crowd soon dispersed. A few employees were bold enough to peep from a distance, unwilling to miss the good show. <br /> <br /> Mitchel's cold eyes made Raegan shiver from head to toe. <br /> <br /> Raegan pinched her palm to suppress her emotions as she looked at Tessa. <br /> <br /> "I'm sorry, Ms. Lloyd. As an employee of the Dixon Group, it was wrong of me to have offended you."<br /> <br /> Eyeing Raegan, Tessa raised her chin complacently. "Humph! Don't think you'll be let off the hook just by making a simple apology. I don't buy..."<br /> <br /> "The offence has nothing to do with the company. Personally, I refuse to apologize to you. Now, if you'd excuse me," Raegan chimed in. <br /> <br /> She then walked past Mitchel without sparing him another look. <br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Tessa's face turned blue after hearing what Raegan said. <br /> <br /> Never in her years of being alive had she been so humiliated. She was always the bully, not the victim! <br /> <br /> The humiliation was so much that scolding Raegan wouldn't appease her anger. <br /> <br /> Pointing in Raegan's direction, Tessa shouted, "Mitchel, did you hear what that woman just said? She humiliated me, yet she's still so arrogant. Call her back. I have to teach her some manners!"<br /> <br /> Mitchel, staring at Raegan's thin back, had an ambiguous expression at this moment. <br /> <br /> "Enough!" he said coldly, raising his hand. <br /> <br /> As someone who lived and breathed drama and cruelty, Tessa didn't think Mitchel was partial to Raegan just now. She assumed that Mitchel didn't care about Raegan at all. <br /> <br /> Tessa gritted her teeth and said viciously, "Next time, I'll get someone to teach her a lesson."<br /> <br /> "Tessa!" Mitchel's tone and squint made it a reproof. <br /> <br /> Tessa trembled at once. <br /> <br /> With a somber face, Mitchel said, "I'll only say it once. Forget about what happened here today. Leave Raegan alone."<br /> <br /> The aura he exuded made her tongue go dry. All the vicious ideas she had in store against Raegan disappeared in an instant. <br /> <br /> She stammered, "Ok... Okay, got it..."<br /> <br /> Mitchel cast a cold glance at her and spoke to Matteo. "Irrelevant people wouldn't be allowed in here from today onwards."<br /> <br /> Without catching the drift, Tessa flattered Mitchel. "Nice call. This is a top company. Not everyone gains access in here."<br /> <br /> Matteo nodded to Mitchel and then walked over to Tessa. He gestured to the exit. "Ms. Lloyd, this way, please."<br /> <br /> It wasn't until this moment that Tessa realized that she was the irrelevant person Mitchel just mentioned. She tried to speak to him, but Matteo blocked her way. The security guards then escorted her out. <br /> <br /> They showed her no mercy. Her struggle was useless. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Raegan got changed when she returned to her office. <br /> <br /> Her heart was filled with sadness as she thought of how Mitchel looked at her minutes ago. <br /> <br /> Closing hour soon rolled by. <br /> <br /> Raegan took her bag and headed for the exit. However, Matteo stopped her. <br /> <br /> He said, "Mr. Dixon has something urgent to deal with, so he asked me to drive you home."<br /> <br /> Raegan declined the ride without thinking twice. <br /> <br /> She was blind before, but now she could see through the situation. <br /> <br /> In Mitchel's eyes, she was just a nobody. <br /> <br /> How could Mitchel agree to accompany her to visit her grandmother when he didn't even care about her? <br /> <br /> Upon arriving at the hospital, Raegan saw that the nurse was about to feed her grandmother dinner. Raegan took the job over and did it by herself. <br /> <br /> All her life, her grandmother had been living in the countryside, enjoying a quiet life. Everything changed last month when her routine medical checkup showed that she was in need of medical care. Raegan insisted on bringing her to the city for better treatment. <br /> <br /> Her grandmother wasn't aware of her marriage to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> Raegan had planned to surprise her today. But as it turned out, that was no longer necessary. <br /> <br /> Raegan waited for her grandmother to fall asleep before she left. She walked out of the hospital and waited for a taxi. <br /> <br /> In the distance, a black luxury car pulled into the entrance of the hospital. <br /> <br /> Raegan's eyes lit up when she saw it. She recognized that car as Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> Did he come to pick her up? <br /> <br /> At this moment, she forgot all the pain she had been feeling. <br /> <br /> Were her thoughts about him all wrong? Did he care for her, contrary to the gossip? <br /> <br /> The door of the driver's side opened and Mitchel got out. <br /> <br /> Raegan started walking toward him with her heart brimming with joy. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had just walked over to the other side and carried a woman out of the car. <br /> <br /> Worry and compassion were written all over his handsome face. <br /> <br /> This wiped the smile on Raegan's face. Her heart sank. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 3 Let's Divorce<br /> <br /> Mitchel's tall and straight figure got closer and closer to Raegan. And then, without saying a word, he strode past Raegan. <br /> <br /> It was hard to tell if Mitchel saw Raegan or just ignored her. <br /> <br /> Regardless, Raegan noticed that the woman in his arms was the same one who had been photographed with him yesterday. <br /> <br /> She was Lauren. <br /> <br /> Raegan's shoes felt like they were made of lead as she walked away. <br /> <br /> She lost all awareness of her surroundings. She got into a taxi absentmindedly. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, the driver uttered, "Ma'am, where to?"<br /> <br /> Raegan was stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> She didn't want to go back to Serenity Villas. It was only a matter of time before that place stopped being her home. <br /> <br /> After a while, she replied, "Please take me to Crystal Bay."<br /> <br /> She had purchased an apartment at Crystal Bay after getting married to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> At the time, she had hopes of bringing her grandmother to the city, so she bought the apartment on mortgage. It wasn't that big, but it had more than enough space for two people. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't understand why she wanted to buy an apartment. He offered to give her a bigger one, but she declined. <br /> <br /> Looking back now, she realized that buying that apartment was the only wise decision she had ever made in the last two years. <br /> <br /> When she arrived at the apartment complex, Raegan sat in the park alone, trying to cool herself down. <br /> <br /> The memories of the past two years were bittersweet. <br /> <br /> Two years had passed in the blink of an eye even though it was more than seven hundred days and nights. <br /> <br /> Love could move mountains, they said. <br /> <br /> Yet, her love didn't move that stone of a man. She finally realized what a fool she had been. She had been making herself a laughingstock in front of everyone. <br /> <br /> It was already late in the night before Raegan finally decided to go into her apartment. <br /> <br /> As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mitchel standing in front of the door. <br /> <br /> His sleeves were rolled up casually, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone, which revealed his long neck and part of his collarbone. He was leaning on the wall by the door, his handsome face straight. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a moment. <br /> <br /> Why was he here? Didn't she see him at the hospital with Lauren? What brought him here? <br /> <br /> Their eyes met. With his coat draped over his arm and one of his hands in his pocket, Mitchel squinted at her. <br /> <br /> "Why didn't you answer the phone?" he asked, sounding a little grumpy like someone who hadn't slept in a long time. <br /> <br /> Raegan took out her phone and saw she had accidentally put it on DND. <br /> <br /> There were five missed calls from Mitchel. <br /> <br /> This marked the first time in their two-year marriage. <br /> <br /> Mitchel blew up her phone because he couldn't find her? Surprising! <br /> <br /> Before today, she would have been overjoyed by this. People would've thought she won the lottery. <br /> <br /> But now, she just threw her phone back into her bag, folded her arms, and said in a hoarse voice, "I didn't hear it ring."<br /> <br /> Mitchel raised his hand to check the time on the watch, and said impatiently, "I've been looking for you for two hours."<br /> <br /> After arranging everything for Lauren, he returned home to find an empty house. He looked for Raegan everywhere. When he couldn't find her, he asked Matteo to check the surveillance footage of all the roads that led away from the company. <br /> <br /> He later found out that Raegan went to Crystal Bay without telling him. <br /> <br /> "Next time, tell me when you are coming here, okay? Let's go home now." After that, Mitchel walked toward the elevator without sparing her another glance. <br /> <br /> He meant to go back to Serenity Villas. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't move an inch. She just stared at his broad back and pondered reluctantly. <br /> <br /> Would they have a future? <br /> <br /> Mitchell turned around, only to see that Raegan hadn't taken a single step. He frowned and asked, "Can't you walk? Do you want me to carry you instead?"<br /> <br /> The light in the corridor illuminated his face, making his side profile almost impeccable. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and said, "Let's divorce."<br /> <br /> "What do you mean?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's voice was cold, and his handsome face changed immediately. <br /> <br /> "I want to move into my own place. After all, we will be strangers soon."<br /> <br /> Raegan forced a smile, but her heart was aching as if someone was tearing it apart bit by bit. <br /> <br /> "We will be strangers?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel smiled coldly. "Raegan, what do you think our relationship is now?"<br /> <br /> His questioning left Raegan stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had made it very clear to her from the very beginning. This facade of their marriage had happened by mutual agreement. There was no love. In the eyes of others, they were nothing more than just a superior and a subordinate. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was quite the catch in Ardlens. Many young ladies longed for his love and were even willing to throw themselves at him. <br /> <br /> His question just now reminded her of that fact. Was he afraid that she wouldn't let him go that easily? If that was the case, he couldn't be more wrong... <br /> <br /> After biting her lower lip to conceal her bitterness, Raegan said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Dixon. I was giving it too much thought. Anyway, please leave me alone from now on. You don't have to come here again."<br /> <br /> After saying that, Raegan couldn't help but burst into tears. <br /> <br /> How could she not be sad when she was cutting ties with the man she had loved for a decade? It was such a long time. <br /> <br /> Regardless of how difficult it was, she knew it was time to let go. <br /> <br /> It was high time she stopped being a fool. <br /> <br /> Strangely, the light in the corridor began flickering. <br /> <br /> The deathly stare Mitchel was giving Raegan right now made the atmosphere seem like the moment before an attack in a horror movie. <br /> <br /> Although he understood that Raegan sometimes could throw a tantrum, he felt that she had just crossed the line now. <br /> <br /> His eyes shone like blazing torches at this moment. But when he saw the tears in her eyes, the rage inside him extinguished in an instant. He said in a low voice, "If this is about what happened between you and Tessa, I..."<br /> <br /> "No, this isn't about her. Mr. Dixon, please leave now."<br /> <br /> A lot of things happened between them. And the incident with Tessa didn't come close to any. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt exhausted. She passed by Mitchel and was about to open the door. <br /> <br /> Yet, Mitchel was displeased with her stubbornness. <br /> <br /> He loosened his tie irritably. He then took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. <br /> <br /> "Stop this, will you?"<br /> <br /> A second later, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. <br /> <br /> He instantly realized that she was burning up like someone who had been set on fire. <br /> <br /> "You have a fever?"<br /> <br /> Raegan felt dizzy. She rested her head on his chest weakly. <br /> <br /> This made the whole situation complicated. <br /> <br /> Reagan was slow to catch that. When she finally realized that her body was too close to his, she put her hands against his chest and tried to pull back. <br /> <br /> Before she could escape, Mitchel pulled her back and held her by the waist. With a cold face, he said in a low voice, "Where do you think you are going?"<br /> <br /> The light flickered again. Out of the blue, Mitchel lifted her up. <br /> <br /> He then headed for the elevator. <br /> <br /> In a daze, Raegan asked softly, "What are you doing?"<br /> <br /> "What does it look like I am doing?" Mitchel remarked. "Taking you to the hospital, of course."<br /> <br /> "No way!" Raegan cried out in surprise and seemed to regain more strength. <br /> <br /> Mitchel might find out about her condition if they went to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Raegan struggled to get out of Mitchel's arms. However, his tight grip made her efforts fruitless. <br /> <br /> "Don't be so stubborn. You are sick, so you must see the doctor," Mitchel said firmly. <br /> <br /> He walked to the elevator with her in his arms. At this moment, Raegan's heart was thumping so hard that it could jump out of her chest. She flailed in protest. <br /> <br /> "Put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!"<br /> <br /> &13&	LEARN_MORE	https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-e	108744435202789	Novellove read	https://facebook.com/100083283215376	6,001	1	1,204,934,920,954,104	2024-07-11 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Learn more	Novellove read	120210219515590475	fbweb.moboreader.net	NONE	video		https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-enj57-c2-1205-core2.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=216543&accid=341011508563777		2024-07-10 21:45	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450385622_965807935227131_3276887127449917717_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BJ-AGAHYEMsQ7kNvgHsTLXy&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDt_2R_bjRzcQJqZp-FdR3efZPoHn8i-0mHJJJuAq-v4Q&oe=6697213E	person_profile	ReadNow	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450680911_1424373651611001_354027309178298609_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RjUxI-Rtf3EQ7kNvgHAUbAD&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC05KLUWgEcoemki5KwSQVPlCIIzzuiDN4uZ4S9FEjjhg&oe=669717DF	3	Novellove read	2024-07-11 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,921,868	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2024-07-12 08:57	active	1112	1641562773363422	🔞🔥Click to Read more about📜<The Billionaire's Ex-Wife (Her Ex-Husband's Regret)>📜	💥💞Please, baby. Help me change Daddy's heart.<br /> <br /> I march towards my husband's office on the top floor of Steele Corp Building, carrying a present in my hand. It's our third anniversary and I thought I'd give my husband a surprise. I just came back from the OBGYN. I placed my ultrasound photos inside a small box and wrapped it with a ribbon.<br /> <br /> "Excuse me, Miss Carlisle. You need an appointment to see the CEO," Tara, my husband's secretary, blocks the entrance to my husband's office. "Or do you want me to call your supervisor?"<br /> <br /> She raises a haughty brow at me, acting like she's above me.<br /> <br /> Well, I suppose she is above me. She is the CEO's executive secretary, sitting in the office at the top floor, while I'm just a graphic designer with a cubicle on the third floor.<br /> <br /> I have been married to Steele Corp's CEO, Kayden Steele, for three years. But sadly, no one in the office knows about it.<br /> <br /> "Umm..." I force a smile on my face. "Mr. Steele called my extension and personally asked me to bring the present that arrived for him." I motion at the box in my hands.<br /> <br /> "A present? From whom?"<br /> <br /> "His wife, maybe," I reply nonchalantly.<br /> <br /> Tara smirks. "You know he's still single!" See? Not even his secretary has a clue. "Although, I wonder if it's from that woman he asked to be picked up at the airport."<br /> <br /> "What?" Now, it's my turn to be surprised. "What woman?"<br /> <br /> Tara raises a skeptical brow at me again. "That information is none of your business," she replies. Then she turns to open the door to Kayden's office. "The graphic artist is here to see you, Sir?"<br /> <br /> "Let her in," I hear Kayden say.<br /> <br /> As I walk past Tara, I can't help smiling at her smugly. If she only knew what I'm carrying in my hands right now.<br /> <br /> This gift, this wonderful news, is going to bring my husband closer to me.<br /> <br /> This baby will change everything!<br /> <br /> I close the door behind me, and with wobbly legs and a big smile of anticipation on my face, I walk towards Kayden.<br /> <br /> He looks up from the papers on his desk as he watches me intensely. I almost lost my nerve as I remembered how devilishly handsome he was, with his midnight black hair, and blue-gray eyes. We've been married for three years, but he still takes my breath away.<br /> <br /> "Kayden," I call, my voice almost squeaking. "I have... some news for you."<br /> <br /> "Before you say anything, I have something to say to you, too," he says in a voice laced with ice. When he speaks so coldly to me like that, I wonder if he's the same man who makes hot love to me at night.<br /> <br /> "Oh, okay. What do you want to tell me?" I ask.<br /> <br /> He stands up from his seat. I cannot read the expression on his face as he stares back at me in silence.<br /> <br /> "Kayden, what is it?"<br /> <br /> He sighs heavily before turning away from me, as if he can't bear to look at me when he says what he needs to say.<br /> <br /> "You see, when I was young, I vowed to marry someone," he mumbles. "But unfortunately, I couldn't because..." he trails off, heaving another sigh. "But now, she's back in town. And I don't think I can do this anymore, Cassie."<br /> <br /> Wait, what did he mean by that?<br /> <br /> He turns around. His eyes look distant, devoid of any emotion. "This is not working out for both of us. I want a divorce."<br /> <br /> Divorce?<br /> <br /> The word keeps ringing in my head like a deafening siren. Sure, this marriage was far from perfect. But in the years that I've been married to Kayden, I tried to be the perfect wife. I made sure I gave him no reason to regret ever marrying me.<br /> <br /> "But... why?" Tears begin to brim my eyes.<br /> <br /> “Come on, Cassie. Did you really think this marriage was going to last?” he asks. His voice was ice cold, and his face almost stoic. “You know it wasn’t my choice to get married. You drugged me and threatened to expose my indiscretion the same week that I was going to be announced as CEO of Steele Corp! What was I supposed to do? Of course, I had no choice but to marry you!"<br /> <br /> I shake my head. "No, Kayden! I told you before that I didn't drug you. That night, somebody drugged me, too! I-I was framed. I don't even remember how I got to your room that night! Somebody made it seem like... like I staged it all!"<br /> <br /> He sighs heavily. I doubt that he heard anything that I just said. Or maybe he did. He just doesn’t care. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I managed to gain control of my father’s company. Your family got whatever it is you wanted to gain out of this marriage. Maybe it’s better we walk away now, while we still can. Before we tear each other apart.”<br /> <br /> “I gave my life to this marriage, too, Kayden!” I tell him evenly. “I didn’t plan on marrying a stranger as soon as I graduated university! This was against my will, too. I also have dreams I gave up because of this marriage.”<br /> <br /> “How could I believe you? Your father was too eager to give you away. And his business suddenly boomed, didn’t it? I was desperate to gain control of my father’s company. And you just took advantage of my vulnerable situation.”<br /> <br /> I can’t believe I’m hearing this. In the three years that we’re married, I can hardly remember when Kayden showed me any affection. He’s always been reserved and indifferent. It wasn’t a perfect marriage, but I never thought he’d ask me for a divorce so soon.<br /> <br /> My hands tremble. The box I'm carrying drops to the floor. My wonderful news, my little ray of hope, completely forgotten. "Tricking you into marriage is the last thing I would do!”<br /> <br /> He scoffs. “But that’s exactly what you did, didn’t you? I dreamt of building a family for myself. On my own terms and at the right time. Marrying you felt like I wasn’t given a chance to choose what I wanted for myself.”<br /> <br /> I shake my head, unable to control the tears that's flowing from my eyes. I realize that no matter what I say or do, Kayden will never believe me.<br /> <br /> "Is that why no matter how hard I tried to be the perfect wife... even after the many nights we made love, you... you never learned to love me?"<br /> <br /> Kayden's face remains relentless as he stares back at me. "Love? When you trapped me in this marriage, were you thinking about love at all? Your father bagged his biggest clients at the mere mention of my name, remember? It’s all about money and power. Of course, I could never love you!”<br /> <br /> I inhale deeply. It's painfully obvious now what the man I had desperately loved for three years thought of me: a gold-digging, scheming bitch!<br /> <br /> Looking back at that night, I know that somebody had spiked my drink, and somehow, I ended up in Kayden's penthouse. And the morning after, somebody had tipped the paparazzi and made it look like I blackmailed Kayden into marrying me. I know that somebody had set me up. I just don't know who.<br /> <br /> Kayden inhales deeply. “How could I love anyone who robbed me of my will?”<br /> <br /> "You're wrong, Kayden," I sob. "It seems that after all these years, you never saw me for who I really am."<br /> <br /> Kayden shakes his head. "It doesn't matter now. My lawyers are already preparing the divorce papers as we speak. Let's do this as quietly as possible," he says. "Anyway, there are only a few people who knew you were my wife."<br /> <br /> I nod, feeling numb. "Yes. You did an excellent job keeping me a secret."<br /> <br /> That was his first request to me: keep quiet about the marriage. Thinking about it now, he must have been planning to divorce me since then. Why did he wait three years to do this?<br /> <br /> I wipe the tears on my cheeks as I struggle to compose myself. I know that when Kayden makes a decision, there's very little chance that he'll change his mind. "An—anything else you want to say?"<br /> <br /> "One last thing," he replies.<br /> <br /> I look up at him, pretty sure that there's nothing he can say that would make me feel any worse than I do at this moment.<br /> <br /> He takes a deep breath and announces, "I don’t want to see you around the office. You're fired!"	LEARN_MORE	https://land.novelenders.com/share/middle/gawbuzqs	124627240725435	Lereader-Favorite novel	https://facebook.com/61550573436554	1,441	1	7,748,609,608,560,555	2024-07-12 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Learn more	Lereader-Favorite novel	120212553372230651	land.novelenders.com	NONE	video		https://land.novelenders.com/share/middle/gawbuzqslewpmb4l5gkdmnht?ad_id={{ad.id}}&sid=120212553359650651&campaign={{campaign.name}}&adgroup={{adset.name}}		2024-07-12 02:17	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450754768_334345939730945_2976158002918709440_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ew8lHtbytZUQ7kNvgE_hWxI&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAXi5_74FSccSgk0JQ_sBRBYspGr_cfRB0mHbCfv49wXg&oe=66970E7C	person_profile	Lereader-Favorite novel	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450750665_882275330404104_3507722203446864287_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WKzaKbigkBEQ7kNvgFKTlgI&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCRYc37TVwzpAgAP8kxTSIi5kCbfU8LDeoU7mMmL8HEpA&oe=66970835	3	Lereader-Favorite novel	2024-07-12 02:00	View Edit Delete
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1,922,020	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1921875}'	Yes	2024-07-12 08:57	active	1112	1218918812796146	Read next chapter	"Are you sure you want this? Because once it is in, you will officially belong to me."<br /> ====== <br /> Chapter 1 Ex-girlfriend Returns<br /> <br /> Raegan Hayes was a little absent-minded at the moment. <br /> <br /> All she could think of since this afternoon was the doctor's words. "Congratulations! You are going to be a mom."<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Mitchel Dixon pinched her arm. His low voice came the next second. "Come back to earth. What are you thinking about?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel was her husband. They had been married secretly for two years. He was her superior at work, the president of the Dixon Group. <br /> <br /> Everything had happened so fast. She was newly employed in the company when they unexpectedly got married. <br /> <br /> At that time, Mitchel's grandfather fell seriously ill. It was then he proposed a fake marriage just to fulfill his grandfather's dying wish. <br /> <br /> They signed a prenup, agreeing to hide their marriage from the public. Their union could be terminated at any time. <br /> <br /> It was an unconventional thing to do. However, Raegan only considered herself lucky at that time. <br /> <br /> Never in a million years did she think she would ever get married to the man she had a crush on for eight years. She delightfully agreed. <br /> <br /> After their marriage, Mitchel was very busy. He spent most of his time working. <br /> <br /> Raegan wished she could spend more time with him at home. However, she was rest assured because there hadn't been any rumors or scandals about him with women in the past two years. <br /> <br /> Except for his mild indifference, Mitchel was a perfect husband. <br /> <br /> Raegan had mixed feelings as she stared at the medical report. <br /> <br /> In the end, she decided to tell Mitchel this news. <br /> <br /> She also wanted to tell him that she hadn't learned about him for the first time two years ago and that she had been crushing on him for many years before then. <br /> <br /> Just then, Mitchel’s phone rang. He went to the balcony and answered the phone. <br /> <br /> Raegan checked the time and found that it was already midnight. <br /> <br /> She felt a little uneasy. Who would call Mitchel at this hour? <br /> <br /> Mitchel spent a few minutes on the balcony. Thereafter, he returned and changed into formal attire. His handsome face which had a clear outline made him look dignified. <br /> <br /> He was something to see now. <br /> <br /> "Don't wait up for me. Good night," he said finally. <br /> <br /> What? He was on his way out? At this hour? <br /> <br /> Raegan's grip on the report tightened as she stared at him in disappointment. Unconsciously, she withdrew slightly. After thinking for a while, she blurted out, "It's already so late."<br /> <br /> Mitchel's fingers froze on his tie. With a faint smile, he pinched her earlobe and said, "Be good, okay? There's something I have to do. Don't wait up."<br /> <br /> With that, he headed for the door. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel."<br /> <br /> Raegan quickly ran and caught up with him. <br /> <br /> Mitchel turned around and looked at her seriously. <br /> <br /> "What's the matter?"<br /> <br /> There was a tinge of coldness to his voice. An icy cloud hung over them as they stared at each other. <br /> <br /> A little distressed, Raegan asked in a low voice, "I would like to visit my grandma tomorrow. Can you accompany me there?"<br /> <br /> Her grandmother always wanted to see her. As a result, Raegan wanted to take Mitchel there to assure her grandma they were happy. <br /> <br /> "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Without agreeing or declining, Mitchel left in a hurry. <br /> <br /> Several thoughts were threading Raegan's mind. She couldn't sleep a wink. <br /> <br /> After tossing and turning for a long time, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm glass of milk. <br /> <br /> A few notifications from some online blogs came into her phone. <br /> <br /> However, she wasn't interested in them. She was about to swipe them away when one of them caught her attention. The familiar name made her click on it. <br /> <br /> The news read, "Famous designer, Lauren Murray was spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend earlier today."<br /> <br /> Lauren was wearing a bucket hat. The man's figure was vague, but the outline of his body was enough to show that he was dashing. <br /> <br /> Raegan zoomed in on the picture. The next second, her heart dropped. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was the man in the picture! <br /> <br /> So, he canceled the afternoon meeting just to go pick up his ex-girlfriend from the airport? <br /> <br /> This realization settled like a boulder in Raegan's gut, rendering her flustered. <br /> <br /> Her hands trembled. Subconsciously, she dialed Mitchel's number. <br /> <br /> The dial tone brought her back to her senses. Just as she was about to hang up, the line connected, and a voice came from the other end. <br /> <br /> "Hello!"<br /> <br /> It was a particularly gentle woman's voice. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a second and then threw the phone away. <br /> <br /> She suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet bowl. <br /> <br /> The next morning, Raegan went to work on time. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had tried to get her to stop working after they got married. Stubbornly, she insisted on making her own money. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't kick against her decision, but he asked her to work as his assistant, helping him with the daily chores. <br /> <br /> The head assistant, Matteo Jenkins was left to take care of the major affairs Mitchel had. <br /> <br /> Matteo was the only Dixon Group employee who knew about their marriage. <br /> <br /> Since inception, only male assistants were hired for the president's office. Reagan was the first and only female. Her employment broke the protocol. As a result, other workers couldn't help but wonder if she was involved with Mitchel. <br /> <br /> It took a while before they realized that Mitchel never gave Raegan special treatment. Strangely, this made them despise her even more. <br /> <br /> After all, no one would last long in anything while taking advantage of their looks.<br /> <br /> At this time, one of Raegan's colleagues handed her a document and ordered her to take it to Mitchel's office. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't return home last night. Raegan was so worried that she didn't sleep at all. <br /> <br /> All she kept thinking about was the woman who answered his phone when she called. What was her relationship with Mitchel?<br /> <br /> Raegan already knew the answer to that, but she was still in denial. <br /> <br /> It was difficult for her to come to terms with that fact. <br /> <br /> Raegan tried to remain calm now. She reasoned that no matter what happened, she deserved a result that would be rewarding for all the years she spent loving Mitchel. This couldn't be all for nothing, right? <br /> <br /> She pressed the elevator button calmly and went up to the president's office. Before she walked out of the elevator, she smoothed her hair to make sure she looked good. <br /> <br /> She had arrived at the office, only to see that the door was ajar. A man's voice came. She halted instantly. <br /> <br /> "Come on, man! Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?"<br /> <br /> The voice belonged to Luis Stevens, a childhood friend of Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> "What do you mean exactly?" Mitchel asked in a cold voice. <br /> <br /> "You know exactly what I mean!" Luis clicked his tongue impatiently and added, "I think Raegan is a good girl. Isn't she your type?"<br /> <br /> "Do you want me to hand her over to you?" Mitchel asked carelessly. <br /> <br /> "You know what, forget it!"<br /> <br /> The scornful laughter of Luis sounded particularly harsh in Raegan's ears. <br /> <br /> They were talking about her as if she were an object. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the document. <br /> <br /> Soon, Luis's voice was heard again. <br /> <br /> "By the way, I saw the gossip news about Lauren's mysterious boyfriend this morning. That was you, right?"<br /> <br /> "Yes."<br /> <br /> "Well, well, well! That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. You always want to please her."<br /> <br /> Luis sighed and continued to tease Mitchel. "As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell me, did you two..."<br /> <br /> Their conversation was like a thunder exploding over Raegan's head. <br /> <br /> Her face turned pale and her body was as cold as ice. <br /> <br /> The woman was indeed Lauren! <br /> <br /> Absence made the heart grow fonder! <br /> <br /> Every word drove a knife into her heart. <br /> <br /> Several whispering voices filled her head at this time. She suddenly felt light-headed. Her vision became blurry. <br /> <br /> She held the wall and took a step backward. Suddenly, the door was opened from inside. <br /> <br /> "Raegan?"<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 2 One-sided Love<br /> <br /> Luis was the one who opened the door. It appeared he was on his way out. <br /> <br /> Raegan balled her hands, turned to him, and nodded. "Hey, Mr. Stevens!"<br /> <br /> Without waiting for him to respond to her greeting, she walked past him and entered the office with the document. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was seated behind a large luxurious desk. In an expensive suit and matching tie, he looked particularly handsome. <br /> <br /> Raegan noticed it wasn't the same suit he had on when he left home last night. How did he get changed? <br /> <br /> With her eyes lowered, she swallowed that question and said instead, "Mr. Dixon, this is from the Marketing Department. Please sign it."<br /> <br /> Mitchel was expressionless as he signed the document at a glance. <br /> <br /> Raegan walked out the door as soon as he handed the document back to her. Luis was still standing at the threshold. <br /> <br /> It wasn't until she went out of sight that Luis turned to Mitchel and said in a hushed tone, "Do you think she heard us?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's appealing eyes were expressionless at the moment. Obviously, he wasn't paying attention to what Luis was saying. <br /> <br /> To Mitchel, Raegan had always been docile and never felt jealous of anyone. <br /> <br /> Her strict obedience was all Mitchel demanded from her in exchange for treating her well. <br /> <br /> In the elevator. <br /> <br /> Raegan held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn't work. <br /> <br /> She had thought two years would be enough for Mitchel to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love. <br /> <br /> Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream. <br /> <br /> She realized she would always play second fiddle to Lauren, Mitchel's true love. <br /> <br /> Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened. <br /> <br /> She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea. <br /> <br /> Several employees were chatting inside. <br /> <br /> "Guys, have you heard? Lauren Murray is back."<br /> <br /> "And who is that?"<br /> <br /> "Oh, my! You don't know her? Lauren is the heiress of the Murray Group as well as a world-class designer. Most importantly, she's the only girlfriend Mr. Dixon has ever shown off in public. She's his first love!"<br /> <br /> "Why is her return such a big deal? Isn't it rumored that there is something between Mr. Dixon and Raegan?"<br /> <br /> "Raegan? She's nothing to Mr. Dixon. Mr. Dixon never admitted that he was dating her. And that is no surprise to me. After all, look at her. She's not even that beautiful. Yet, she behaves as if she's already Mrs. Dixon. What a fool!"<br /> <br /> Standing at the door, Raegan smiled with self-mockery as she listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her. <br /> <br /> The love was one-sided. <br /> <br /> "Ha-ha, have you finally woken up from your wild dream, Raegan?"<br /> <br /> A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Raegan turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Mitchel's cousin, who had always despised her. <br /> <br /> Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping. <br /> <br /> The last thing Raegan wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way. <br /> <br /> With a cup of coffee in her hand, Tessa uttered sarcastically, "Lauren is back now. Do you think Mitchel will still give you any attention?"<br /> <br /> Raegan said nothing to that. <br /> <br /> Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule. "Maybe it’s time for you to seek out another man, you pathetic fool."<br /> <br /> Raegan clenched her fists and said coldly, "Ms. Lloyd, if you are interested in that kind of thing, feel free to pursue it yourself."<br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Raegan's retort made Tessa's face change. <br /> <br /> The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of coffee on Raegan. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't think for a second that Tessa would do something so crazy. She held up her arms just to block the liquid from her face. In no time, the coffee drenched her clothes. <br /> <br /> Raegan frowned. "What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?"<br /> <br /> It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama. Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers. <br /> <br /> She put on a mean-girl look as she said, "What makes you so smug every day, huh? Do you seriously think that others don't know you are just an orphan? The nerve of..."<br /> <br /> Tessa was silenced by Raegan’s shove. <br /> <br /> Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Raegan, who was so quiet and timid, would shove her. <br /> <br /> Tessa stuttered, "You... You pushed me? How dare you!"<br /> <br /> Raegan eyed her and replied, "Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness."<br /> <br /> Indeed, she lost her parents when she was a child. But that didn't mean she would allow someone to walk over her for it. <br /> <br /> Wrinkles appeared on Tessa's face as she frowned in anger. As Mitchel's cousin, she was used to being fawned over and respected. This was the first time she had been treated like this. <br /> <br /> Tessa charged at Raegan like a raging bull, poised to retaliate. <br /> <br /> This time, Raegan was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa's wrist so that the latter couldn't move another inch. <br /> <br /> Tessa was shorter than Raegan. As a result, she struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap. <br /> <br /> Tessa cursed angrily, "How dare you put your hands on me? Who do you think you are?"<br /> <br /> These harsh words attracted more people to the break room. <br /> <br /> "That's enough!"<br /> <br /> Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Mitchel had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo. <br /> <br /> The entire room fell silent. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel?" Tessa's blood ran cold at the sight of Mitchel. She had always been scared of him. Her mother also warned her against provoking him. <br /> <br /> But when she remembered that Raegan humiliated her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed. "Mitchel, she bullied me."<br /> <br /> The sunlight from outside fell on Mitchel's handsome face. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to look at her clothes which were soaked with coffee. <br /> <br /> Their gaze met in the air. With a deep frown, Mitchel looked at Raegan and said, "Raegan, have you forgotten the rules of the company?"<br /> <br /> His ruthlessness made Raegan's breathing cease. She couldn't believe her ears. <br /> <br /> No one dared to make a sound at this moment. <br /> <br /> Raegan just stood straight there with her slender figure. <br /> <br /> When she got employed here, Mitchel had told her that the Dixon Group wasn't a place for her to mess around and that he would not tolerate her making any mistakes. <br /> <br /> Raegan could understand why he took this stand. <br /> <br /> However, at this moment, she was desperate to know whether Mitchel had heard those hard words Tessa scolded her or he was just pretending not to have heard because he agreed to those words. <br /> <br /> Was she truly insignificant to him?<br /> <br /> Scared to death by Mitchel's rage, the crowd soon dispersed. A few employees were bold enough to peep from a distance, unwilling to miss the good show. <br /> <br /> Mitchel's cold eyes made Raegan shiver from head to toe. <br /> <br /> Raegan pinched her palm to suppress her emotions as she looked at Tessa. <br /> <br /> "I'm sorry, Ms. Lloyd. As an employee of the Dixon Group, it was wrong of me to have offended you."<br /> <br /> Eyeing Raegan, Tessa raised her chin complacently. "Humph! Don't think you'll be let off the hook just by making a simple apology. I don't buy..."<br /> <br /> "The offence has nothing to do with the company. Personally, I refuse to apologize to you. Now, if you'd excuse me," Raegan chimed in. <br /> <br /> She then walked past Mitchel without sparing him another look. <br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Tessa's face turned blue after hearing what Raegan said. <br /> <br /> Never in her years of being alive had she been so humiliated. She was always the bully, not the victim! <br /> <br /> The humiliation was so much that scolding Raegan wouldn't appease her anger. <br /> <br /> Pointing in Raegan's direction, Tessa shouted, "Mitchel, did you hear what that woman just said? She humiliated me, yet she's still so arrogant. Call her back. I have to teach her some manners!"<br /> <br /> Mitchel, staring at Raegan's thin back, had an ambiguous expression at this moment. <br /> <br /> "Enough!" he said coldly, raising his hand. <br /> <br /> As someone who lived and breathed drama and cruelty, Tessa didn't think Mitchel was partial to Raegan just now. She assumed that Mitchel didn't care about Raegan at all. <br /> <br /> Tessa gritted her teeth and said viciously, "Next time, I'll get someone to teach her a lesson."<br /> <br /> "Tessa!" Mitchel's tone and squint made it a reproof. <br /> <br /> Tessa trembled at once. <br /> <br /> With a somber face, Mitchel said, "I'll only say it once. Forget about what happened here today. Leave Raegan alone."<br /> <br /> The aura he exuded made her tongue go dry. All the vicious ideas she had in store against Raegan disappeared in an instant. <br /> <br /> She stammered, "Ok... Okay, got it..."<br /> <br /> Mitchel cast a cold glance at her and spoke to Matteo. "Irrelevant people wouldn't be allowed in here from today onwards."<br /> <br /> Without catching the drift, Tessa flattered Mitchel. "Nice call. This is a top company. Not everyone gains access in here."<br /> <br /> Matteo nodded to Mitchel and then walked over to Tessa. He gestured to the exit. "Ms. Lloyd, this way, please."<br /> <br /> It wasn't until this moment that Tessa realized that she was the irrelevant person Mitchel just mentioned. She tried to speak to him, but Matteo blocked her way. The security guards then escorted her out. <br /> <br /> They showed her no mercy. Her struggle was useless. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Raegan got changed when she returned to her office. <br /> <br /> Her heart was filled with sadness as she thought of how Mitchel looked at her minutes ago. <br /> <br /> Closing hour soon rolled by. <br /> <br /> Raegan took her bag and headed for the exit. However, Matteo stopped her. <br /> <br /> He said, "Mr. Dixon has something urgent to deal with, so he asked me to drive you home."<br /> <br /> Raegan declined the ride without thinking twice. <br /> <br /> She was blind before, but now she could see through the situation. <br /> <br /> In Mitchel's eyes, she was just a nobody. <br /> <br /> How could Mitchel agree to accompany her to visit her grandmother when he didn't even care about her? <br /> <br /> Upon arriving at the hospital, Raegan saw that the nurse was about to feed her grandmother dinner. Raegan took the job over and did it by herself. <br /> <br /> All her life, her grandmother had been living in the countryside, enjoying a quiet life. Everything changed last month when her routine medical checkup showed that she was in need of medical care. Raegan insisted on bringing her to the city for better treatment. <br /> <br /> Her grandmother wasn't aware of her marriage to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> Raegan had planned to surprise her today. But as it turned out, that was no longer necessary. <br /> <br /> Raegan waited for her grandmother to fall asleep before she left. She walked out of the hospital and waited for a taxi. <br /> <br /> In the distance, a black luxury car pulled into the entrance of the hospital. <br /> <br /> Raegan's eyes lit up when she saw it. She recognized that car as Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> Did he come to pick her up? <br /> <br /> At this moment, she forgot all the pain she had been feeling. <br /> <br /> Were her thoughts about him all wrong? Did he care for her, contrary to the gossip? <br /> <br /> The door of the driver's side opened and Mitchel got out. <br /> <br /> Raegan started walking toward him with her heart brimming with joy. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had just walked over to the other side and carried a woman out of the car. <br /> <br /> Worry and compassion were written all over his handsome face. <br /> <br /> This wiped the smile on Raegan's face. Her heart sank. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 3 Let's Divorce<br /> <br /> Mitchel's tall and straight figure got closer and closer to Raegan. And then, without saying a word, he strode past Raegan. <br /> <br /> It was hard to tell if Mitchel saw Raegan or just ignored her. <br /> <br /> Regardless, Raegan noticed that the woman in his arms was the same one who had been photographed with him yesterday. <br /> <br /> She was Lauren. <br /> <br /> Raegan's shoes felt like they were made of lead as she walked away. <br /> <br /> She lost all awareness of her surroundings. She got into a taxi absentmindedly. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, the driver uttered, "Ma'am, where to?"<br /> <br /> Raegan was stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> She didn't want to go back to Serenity Villas. It was only a matter of time before that place stopped being her home. <br /> <br /> After a while, she replied, "Please take me to Crystal Bay."<br /> <br /> She had purchased an apartment at Crystal Bay after getting married to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> At the time, she had hopes of bringing her grandmother to the city, so she bought the apartment on mortgage. It wasn't that big, but it had more than enough space for two people. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't understand why she wanted to buy an apartment. He offered to give her a bigger one, but she declined. <br /> <br /> Looking back now, she realized that buying that apartment was the only wise decision she had ever made in the last two years. <br /> <br /> When she arrived at the apartment complex, Raegan sat in the park alone, trying to cool herself down. <br /> <br /> The memories of the past two years were bittersweet. <br /> <br /> Two years had passed in the blink of an eye even though it was more than seven hundred days and nights. <br /> <br /> Love could move mountains, they said. <br /> <br /> Yet, her love didn't move that stone of a man. She finally realized what a fool she had been. She had been making herself a laughingstock in front of everyone. <br /> <br /> It was already late in the night before Raegan finally decided to go into her apartment. <br /> <br /> As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mitchel standing in front of the door. <br /> <br /> His sleeves were rolled up casually, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone, which revealed his long neck and part of his collarbone. He was leaning on the wall by the door, his handsome face straight. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a moment. <br /> <br /> Why was he here? Didn't she see him at the hospital with Lauren? What brought him here? <br /> <br /> Their eyes met. With his coat draped over his arm and one of his hands in his pocket, Mitchel squinted at her. <br /> <br /> "Why didn't you answer the phone?" he asked, sounding a little grumpy like someone who hadn't slept in a long time. <br /> <br /> Raegan took out her phone and saw she had accidentally put it on DND. <br /> <br /> There were five missed calls from Mitchel. <br /> <br /> This marked the first time in their two-year marriage. <br /> <br /> Mitchel blew up her phone because he couldn't find her? Surprising! <br /> <br /> Before today, she would have been overjoyed by this. People would've thought she won the lottery. <br /> <br /> But now, she just threw her phone back into her bag, folded her arms, and said in a hoarse voice, "I didn't hear it ring."<br /> <br /> Mitchel raised his hand to check the time on the watch, and said impatiently, "I've been looking for you for two hours."<br /> <br /> After arranging everything for Lauren, he returned home to find an empty house. He looked for Raegan everywhere. When he couldn't find her, he asked Matteo to check the surveillance footage of all the roads that led away from the company. <br /> <br /> He later found out that Raegan went to Crystal Bay without telling him. <br /> <br /> "Next time, tell me when you are coming here, okay? Let's go home now." After that, Mitchel walked toward the elevator without sparing her another glance. <br /> <br /> He meant to go back to Serenity Villas. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't move an inch. She just stared at his broad back and pondered reluctantly. <br /> <br /> Would they have a future? <br /> <br /> Mitchell turned around, only to see that Raegan hadn't taken a single step. He frowned and asked, "Can't you walk? Do you want me to carry you instead?"<br /> <br /> The light in the corridor illuminated his face, making his side profile almost impeccable. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and said, "Let's divorce."<br /> <br /> "What do you mean?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's voice was cold, and his handsome face changed immediately. <br /> <br /> "I want to move into my own place. After all, we will be strangers soon."<br /> <br /> Raegan forced a smile, but her heart was aching as if someone was tearing it apart bit by bit. <br /> <br /> "We will be strangers?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel smiled coldly. "Raegan, what do you think our relationship is now?"<br /> <br /> His questioning left Raegan stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had made it very clear to her from the very beginning. This facade of their marriage had happened by mutual agreement. There was no love. In the eyes of others, they were nothing more than just a superior and a subordinate. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was quite the catch in Ardlens. Many young ladies longed for his love and were even willing to throw themselves at him. <br /> <br /> His question just now reminded her of that fact. Was he afraid that she wouldn't let him go that easily? If that was the case, he couldn't be more wrong... <br /> <br /> After biting her lower lip to conceal her bitterness, Raegan said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Dixon. I was giving it too much thought. Anyway, please leave me alone from now on. You don't have to come here again."<br /> <br /> After saying that, Raegan couldn't help but burst into tears. <br /> <br /> How could she not be sad when she was cutting ties with the man she had loved for a decade? It was such a long time. <br /> <br /> Regardless of how difficult it was, she knew it was time to let go. <br /> <br /> It was high time she stopped being a fool. <br /> <br /> Strangely, the light in the corridor began flickering. <br /> <br /> The deathly stare Mitchel was giving Raegan right now made the atmosphere seem like the moment before an attack in a horror movie. <br /> <br /> Although he understood that Raegan sometimes could throw a tantrum, he felt that she had just crossed the line now. <br /> <br /> His eyes shone like blazing torches at this moment. But when he saw the tears in her eyes, the rage inside him extinguished in an instant. He said in a low voice, "If this is about what happened between you and Tessa, I..."<br /> <br /> "No, this isn't about her. Mr. Dixon, please leave now."<br /> <br /> A lot of things happened between them. And the incident with Tessa didn't come close to any. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt exhausted. She passed by Mitchel and was about to open the door. <br /> <br /> Yet, Mitchel was displeased with her stubbornness. <br /> <br /> He loosened his tie irritably. He then took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. <br /> <br /> "Stop this, will you?"<br /> <br /> A second later, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. <br /> <br /> He instantly realized that she was burning up like someone who had been set on fire. <br /> <br /> "You have a fever?"<br /> <br /> Raegan felt dizzy. She rested her head on his chest weakly. <br /> <br /> This made the whole situation complicated. <br /> <br /> Reagan was slow to catch that. When she finally realized that her body was too close to his, she put her hands against his chest and tried to pull back. <br /> <br /> Before she could escape, Mitchel pulled her back and held her by the waist. With a cold face, he said in a low voice, "Where do you think you are going?"<br /> <br /> The light flickered again. Out of the blue, Mitchel lifted her up. <br /> <br /> He then headed for the elevator. <br /> <br /> In a daze, Raegan asked softly, "What are you doing?"<br /> <br /> "What does it look like I am doing?" Mitchel remarked. "Taking you to the hospital, of course."<br /> <br /> "No way!" Raegan cried out in surprise and seemed to regain more strength. <br /> <br /> Mitchel might find out about her condition if they went to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Raegan struggled to get out of Mitchel's arms. However, his tight grip made her efforts fruitless. <br /> <br /> "Don't be so stubborn. You are sick, so you must see the doctor," Mitchel said firmly. <br /> <br /> He walked to the elevator with her in his arms. At this moment, Raegan's heart was thumping so hard that it could jump out of her chest. She flailed in protest. <br /> <br /> "Put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!"	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1,922,172	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1921766}'	No	2024-07-12 08:57	active	1112	402253302850373	Say Goodbye To Gabapentin	Camp Hill, Pennsylvania - END NEUROPATHY PAIN NOW: Discover Natural Relief at Our Neuropathy Seminar! 👇<br /> <br /> Tired of relying on medications that only offer temporary relief? Join us at our upcoming seminar to learn about an FDA-cleared, non-pharmaceutical treatment that targets the root cause of neuropathy.<br /> <br /> 📅 Reserve Your Seat Now to Learn More about Our Groundbreaking Techniques for Lasting Relief.<br /> <br /> We understand the toll neuropathy can take on your life. That's why we focus on promoting nerve regeneration and improving blood circulation to provide immediate comfort and mobility.<br /> <br /> 🌱 Say goodbye to tingling sensations and hello to a pain-free future. Join Dr. Adam Tomasetti DC, as he shares the secrets to transforming your life at our Seminar.<br /> <br /> Don't let neuropathy hold you back in 2024. Click below to take the first step towards reclaiming your life.<br /> <br /> 👇👇👇	SIGN_UP	http://fb.me/	105224971734334	Legacy Health	https://facebook.com/LegacyHealthPA	266	1	375,607,868,475,560	2024-07-11 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Sign up	Legacy Health	120210144936420774	fb.me	NONE	image	END Neuropathy Pain Seminar	http://fb.me/		2024-07-11 15:28	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450650346_1673920726695194_2685601947885325866_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SC909TdJZXAQ7kNvgEjAh9c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDg0xFiiaZ4ixPal4Q6AWOrSMMPvAk5ELeZfnfJnVRDug&oe=6696FE60	person_profile	LEGACY HEALTH	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450808279_854748936702363_4595589963317456501_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7TtkVvhPAkYQ7kNvgFMTRXD&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDve2Sfte2uEPQZjYM75uEcxFu3RgXRYSG56dAhPAY6Ug&oe=6696F793	3	Legacy Health	2024-07-11 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,922,163	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1922165}'	Yes	2024-07-12 08:57	active	1112	874304077866393	Non-invasive Treatment for Depression 👉	Hey Lake Mary! Struggling with Treatment-Resistant Depression? You don't have to face it alone!<br /> <br /> Caya Health specializes in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy, a non-invasive treatment that can help you regain control of your mental well-being.<br /> <br /> For the Next Week, we are Giving Away 25 Vouchers for a 60-Min 'Treatment Resistant Depression' TMS Consultation – to learn more about how TMS is a cutting-edge, FDA-cleared therapy that employs MRI technology to invigorate nerve cells in the brain, targeting the source of your symptoms. (Services billed directly to insurance)<br /> <br /> Ready for a brighter, healthier future? <br /> <br /> Click below to Claim your Voucher now!	LEARN_MORE	https://www.cayahealth.net/optinx	104672354606162	CAYA Health	https://facebook.com/CAYAhealth	288	1	8,499,060,786,805,748	2024-07-11 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	CAYA Health	120210649851510421	cayahealth.net	NONE	image	Book an appointment today!	https://www.cayahealth.net/optinx		2024-07-05 09:29	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/449927366_3735153173408636_2756746563749370993_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T8HME_-fwPAQ7kNvgGf64fR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDJHqJVffjOfHgNa_cASdQtT1vi_R2_DYWFmL0JCu9W6g&oe=66971CAE	person_profile	CAYA Health	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/449837456_2233171217025314_1324974561074135852_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FrY7TBinYzYQ7kNvgGbJzKA&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAYNBp2sZzBDlmHGarLGyHMnLFlxcnDsQNMKBWJvp7kEQ&oe=6696F5FD	3	CAYA Health	2024-07-11 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,921,784	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2024-07-12 08:57	active	1112	862518389026326	[FREE] Breathwork for Bloating & Food Sensitivity	If you ever feel bloated for no reason or react to random foods, this 12-minute breathing exercise is for you ⤵️<br /> <br /> Hey there–I’m Christa, functional medicine nutritionist and full believer in that👇<br /> <br /> 👉Over restriction is dead<br /> 👉Whole food is soul food and fed is best<br /> 👉Sustainable, synergistic nutrition is in (the opposite of whack a mole supplementation & supplement graveyards)<br /> 👉You don’t have to figure it out alone<br /> 👉Do your best and leave the rest<br /> <br /> But more importantly, that you deserve to have a less stressed life.<br /> <br /> This short recording combines several healing modalities, including an intentional breath pattern that signals relaxation to the vagus nerve. <br /> <br /> This can improve digestive function and immune health, which impacts food reactions, along with many other benefits.<br /> <br /> It's absolutely free and only 12 minutes, what do you have to lose?<br /> <br /> Grab your free, guided breathwork here: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christabiegler.com%2Fbloatbreathwork&h=AT1eGqEzE2BZ111twrF-g-cPjrWsGnVoJt2Zxtked_4QeIdDRMO0Dw5cUWpwhn39C0F03V3SoJxQrcY1j-omRs2yupV9BE-WREEdmx1SH20K6P8SvQcIJclyaQFmDBfza1BDFFa1RAXN1Ayogwndh31vUL5Ocg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.christabiegler.com/bloatbreathwork</a>	LEARN_MORE	https://www.christabiegler.com/bloatbreathwork	1722502431306607	Christa Biegler, RD Less Stressed Life Nutrition & Podcast	https://facebook.com/christabieglerrd	1,725	1	1,897,144,994,066,879	2024-07-12 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	Christa Biegler, RD Less Stressed Life Nutrition & Podcast	6594124309745	www.christabiegler.com	NONE	video		https://www.christabiegler.com/bloatbreathwork		2024-07-11 11:45	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450618848_447931828089073_6099149180537640915_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2EMbAu3Qls0Q7kNvgEjAv_g&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDwtKhCpS0K3eDI3mNBlS7yRFcGyVU-0IhkmaNPQMqlsA&oe=6697118D	person_profile	Gut \| Skin \| Energy Wizard	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450667649_848825233783447_6208274406834962345_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PoJFnO96CDoQ7kNvgG556zH&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB9UsEJBe0oCP90xUPBLSVymo7RqFumCilZww5A5-YVYA&oe=6696F4CE	3	Christa Biegler, RD Less Stressed Life Nutrition & Podcast	2024-07-12 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,922,047	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1921908}'	No	2024-07-12 08:57	active	1112	1567541193796579	She was going to marry her fiancé tomorrow, but she was mistaken for a runaway bride by a billionaire and kidnapped to get the marriage certificate and taken home...	She dropped out of high school, had a bad reputation, was jilted by her fiancé, and was laughed at by public. Yet the following day, she wed a billionaire, and was doted on by him who was arrogant and averse to women.<br /> =====<br /> "Ow, that hurts..." As she felt something hard pierce her body, Marissa Nash momentarily felt dizzy from the agony.<br /> She had forgotten about the bunch of Dreamweed on the seat and had accidentally sat on it. Its long, sharp thorns had dug deep into her flesh.<br /> Then, noticing blood seeping from between her legs, she gasped in shock and exclaimed, "Oh no!"<br /> Dreamweed was known for its strong anesthetic properties, meaning she would likely be numb for the next six hours. Realizing this, she decided to close the shop and rest.<br /> <br /> Gritting her teeth against the pain, she removed the thorns and wanted to go put up the "Closed for Today" sign.<br /> <br /> But before she could stand, a tall, well-dressed man in a sharp suit entered the flower shop through the glass door. His imposing presence quickly dominated the space.<br /> <br /> His face was handsome and stern, his eyes a mix of disdain, hatred, and something fiercely destructive.<br /> <br /> Marissa slightly frowned; she did not recognize him and knew nothing of his intentions.<br /> <br /> But it was evident he wasn't here on a friendly visit!<br /> <br /> She had many enemies. Though she often used aliases and disguises on her missions, there was always the risk of being unmasked. There was also the possibility that a traitor emerged within the organization she belonged to. It wasn't uncommon for enemies to seek her out for revenge or abduct her.<br /> <br /> Feeling her strength fading away, she dared not act hastily. All she could do was try to remain calm on the surface.<br /> <br /> "Are you here to buy flowers, sir?"<br /> <br /> "Heh!" The man scoffed.<br /> <br /> Without a word, he scooped her up and carried her outside.<br /> <br /> Marissa instinctively tried to punch him, but her feeble punches felt more like gentle taps against his solid body.<br /> <br /> What awaited her outside left her stunned.<br /> <br /> Down the narrow, run-down Vintage Street, over a dozen luxurious black Rolls Royces were lined up impressively.<br /> <br /> Over a hundred stern-faced bodyguards in black surrounded her modest flower shop, making it seem like a fortress.<br /> <br /> Passersby had already scurried into nearby stores, driven by fear.<br /> <br /> It was as if a scene from a mafia movie had come to life, with the mafia boss making a dramatic public appearance.<br /> <br /> Despite Marissa's extensive experiences, she couldn't determine which powerful person in Blebert was targeting her.<br /> <br /> To cause such a spectacle in broad daylight was incredibly bold and insane!<br /> <br /> The man roughly shoved her into a car and then climbed in beside her, settling next to her.<br /> <br /> Once the door was shut, the car's interior was engulfed by his intense, chilling presence, making it hard to breathe.<br /> <br /> Marissa tried to remain composed and discreetly reached into her pocket for her phone to send out a distress signal.<br /> <br /> But just as her fingers grazed the device, the man beside her snatched it away.<br /> <br /> She glanced at his harsh, tense face. "Sir, could you at least tell me your name and why you're abducting me... Ugh!"<br /> <br /> Her plea was abruptly cut short as his hand clamped tightly around her throat.<br /> <br /> "I'm not interested in your antics! Say another word, and I'll end you right here!"<br /> <br /> To save her life, Marissa quickly shut her mouth.<br /> <br /> Powerless to fight back, she could only sit and wonder what would come next.<br /> <br /> However, what happened next left her completely astounded.<br /> <br /> The man brought her to the City Hall.<br /> <br /> Before she knew it, her name was listed next to his on the marriage certificate.<br /> <br /> Thrown back into the car, Marissa was in shock.<br /> <br /> She stared vacantly at the marriage certificate in her hand, finally seeing the man's name, Connor Daniels.<br /> <br /> In Blebert, only one Connor Daniels fit the profile of possessing such immense wealth and influence--the current head of the top family, also known as the wealthiest man in Blebert!<br /> <br /> The situation was both horrifying and bewildering.<br /> <br /> She had never encountered such an extremely prestigious and fearsome person.<br /> <br /> While she might have unwittingly offended him, an assassination attempt or revenge on her would make sense, but a forced marriage...?<br /> <br /> "Um, Mr. Daniels..."<br /> <br /> "shut up!"<br /> <br /> Marissa attempted to find out what was going on, but Connor cut her off before she could begin to ask questions.<br /> <br /> Then, he grabbed her left hand and slid a priceless diamond ring onto her finger.<br /> <br /> "Make my grandma happy as you did before. Don't provoke me again!" he ordered.<br /> <br /> Marissa was left speechless.<br /> <br /> She had never even met his grandmother, so how was she supposed to make her happy?<br /> <br /> "Mr. Daniels, there's clearly been a misunderstanding... Hmm..."<br /> <br /> She found herself once again gripped tightly by the throat.<br /> <br /> His demeanor was tense and grim. Each word he said seemed to echo from a place of deep darkness.<br /> <br /> "You went to great lengths to trick my grandma into forcing this marriage upon me. Yet, after I had agreed and our wedding invitations had been sent out, you vanished on the day we were to legalize our marriage? I'm not interested in why you chased me and then ran away, r do I mind the embarrassment and complications it caused. But my grandma was rushed to the hospital because of this, and we need to resolve it! With her health in a critical condition, you will return and act the part of the dutiful granddaughter-in-law. If you try any tricks, I'll make sure the entire Nash family pays dearly!"<br /> <br /> Marissa started to piece things together.<br /> <br /> He had abducted the wrong person!<br /> <br /> She resembled his actual runaway fiancee closely, leading to this mistake.<br /> <br /> She had planned to go back to her hometown Adagend tomorrow to marry her fiance, Derek Tucker. What was she supposed to do now?<br /> <br /> Chapter2 Buried Alongside Her<br /> Marissa was seething with anger for being mistaken for someone else.<br /> <br /> Her carefully laid plans had been completely ruined by Connor, and even if she were to regain her freedom in the future, she would be a divorced woman.<br /> <br /> This blind and rude bastard!<br /> <br /> She was consumed by the desire to tear Connor apart.<br /> <br /> Yet, at this moment, she was powerless to defend herself. His overbearing and aggressive presence forced her into submission once again.<br /> <br /> As the sun set, casting its last golden light, their car pulled into the opulent grounds of Daniels Manor.<br /> <br /> No sooner had Connor pulled her from the car than a distressed butler hurried over with urgent news.<br /> <br /> "Mr. Daniels, you must come quickly. Your grandma has collapsed again and they're trying to revive her. This is the third time she's fainted. The doctors say her heart is failing, and her condition is... very critical..."<br /> <br /> Connor's expression twisted into one of anger.<br /> <br /> Marissa instinctively recoiled, sensing the murderous intent emanating from him.<br /> <br /> Before she could react, he grabbed her by the throat and slammed her against the car door.<br /> <br /> His grip was that of a madman, his hand tightening around her neck to the point where she nearly passed out.<br /> <br /> "You better hope my grandmother gets through this! If she doesn't, I'll make sure you're buried alongside her!"<br /> <br /> With one last menacing squeeze, Connor let her go and stormed off towards the mansion.<br /> <br /> Gasping for air, Marissa clutched her bruised throat and coughed painfully.<br /> <br /> "Ugh... Ahem..."<br /> <br /> The sensation of being so close to death left her both terrified and seething with anger.<br /> <br /> This man was completely insane!<br /> <br /> He still hadn't realized that he had married the wrong woman.<br /> <br /> Given his current unstable and aggressive demeanor, if his grandmother passed away, she was certain she'd be buried alive alongside her!<br /> <br /> To ensure her survival until the truth came out, she knew she must try to save his grandmother.<br /> <br /> With that resolve, she gathered her strength and followed Connor into the mansion.<br /> <br /> Inside the bedroom, Arabella Daniels, an elderly lady with silver hair, was lying motionless on the bed.<br /> <br /> Medical personnel were desperately attempting to save her, but the monitors tracking her vitals indicated her blood pressure and heart rate were critically low. She was indeed on the brink of death.<br /> <br /> Connor stopped at the doorway, his face strained. Marissa, trailing behind him, held her breath.<br /> <br /> Suddenly, the heart monitor's rhythmic beeping stopped, replaced by a continuous flat tone.<br /> <br /> The medical team paused briefly before resuming their intense efforts to resuscitate Arabella.<br /> <br /> However, Arabella's heart remained unresponsive.<br /> <br /> The lead doctor finally said somberly, "Mrs. Daniels has passed away. Please accept our condolences."<br /> <br /> Connor was in denial. His eyes, already reddened, became wild with grief.<br /> <br /> "I don't accept this! Keep trying! Use whatever means necessary, regardless of the cost!"<br /> <br /> The doctor sighed and said, "Mr. Daniels, your grandma's heart has stopped. Further attempts are futile."<br /> <br /> Connor was on the verge of a breakdown.<br /> <br /> He had lost his parents at a young age, and it was his grandmother who had raised him. She was the closest family he had.<br /> <br /> "No, Grandma can't just go like this! She wanted to see me married and meet her great-grandchildren. She said only that would bring her peace!"<br /> <br /> The room fell eerily quiet, everyone too apprehensive to speak. Finally, Neil Daniels, Connor's brother, broke the silence with a scornful remark. "Enough, Connor. What's the point of saying all this now?"<br /> <br /> He was Connor's eldest brother, twenty-three years older than him.<br /> <br /> His words were sharply cutting.<br /> <br /> "Grandma died stressed out because of your runaway fiancee. Her death is your fault. You can't even handle a woman. How are we supposed to trust you with running the whole family? If you feel any remorse for Grandma, hand over the family leadership and shares, and step down from managing the family business!"<br /> <br /> Connor's lips tightened as he tried to contain his emotions.<br /> <br /> Neil had always been bitter that their grandmother had entrusted Connor with the shares and family leadership instead of him, her eldest grandchild. He never missed a chance to pin a blame on Connor.<br /> <br /> Usually, Connor didn't let Neil's accusations slide and always had a retort ready to keep his conniving brother in check.<br /> <br /> But today, Connor had no desire to argue. He was too overwhelmed by grief and wanted his grandmother to rest in peace.<br /> <br /> But Glenn Daniels, Connor's third elder brother, who used a wheelchair, couldn't stand it any longer.<br /> <br /> "Neil, Grandma chose Connor to be in charge. It's unseemly for you to try to take the family leadership and shares now!"<br /> <br /> "Glenn, since when do you have a say in this family?" Neil's wife, Lorna Daniels, jumped in sharply before Neil could respond, her voice laden with sarcasm. Despite her carefully applied makeup, her malicious nature was evident.<br /> <br /> "Connor doesn't have the integrity required for his position. It's only right that he hands over the family leadership and shares! And you, contributing nothing from that wheelchair, think you deserve a share too?" Lorna was known for her harsh words, and she hit exactly where it hurt.<br /> <br /> As expected, Glenn grimaced, gripping his knee, rendered speechless by the distress.<br /> <br /> Marissa observed the family drama silently from the sidelines, uninterested in their squabbles.<br /> <br /> While the others argued, she had been closely observing Arabella's condition.<br /> <br /> As the argument intensified, Marissa said calmly, "Mrs. Daniels can still be saved..."<br /> <br /> Chapter3 Who Dares Lay A Finger On My Woman<br /> The moment Marissa spoke, all attention shifted to her.<br /> <br /> Connor, deep in grief, seemed to only remember her presence now, turning his head sharply toward her, his eyes filled with a fierce anger.<br /> <br /> Marissa instinctively took a step back, feeling as if she was walking dangerously on the edge of a knife.<br /> <br /> "Isn't that the runaway bride who's from the Nash family?"<br /> <br /> "How dare she show her face here?"<br /> <br /> The crowd looked at her with evident disdain.<br /> <br /> Marissa felt like prey surrounded by a pack of wolves. Cautiously, she asked Connor, "May I see Mrs. Daniels? Perhaps I could be of some help."<br /> <br /> What?! Everyone was shocked.<br /> <br /> Lorna let out a sharp, mocking laugh and said, "Miss Nash, are you out of your mind? Everyone knows you never finished high school. When did you become a medical expert?"<br /> <br /> Marissa ignored the cutting remark.<br /> <br /> Her focus was solely on trying to save a life, and she pleaded with Connor, "Since the doctors have given up, what harm is there in letting me try? Things can't get much worse."<br /> <br /> The medical team was outraged.<br /> <br /> How could they let a notorious rich girl, declared a failure by her own family, overturn their death declaration?<br /> <br /> The Daniels family members were also seething with anger.<br /> <br /> This woman, who had disgraced them by fleeing the wedding, now had the audacity to step in upon Arabella's death.<br /> <br /> Everyone expected Connor to demand this lunatic be thrown out.<br /> <br /> Unexpectedly, the fierce anger in Connor's eyes faded.<br /> <br /> He continued to stare at Marissa's face, leaving the room in suspense about his thoughts.<br /> <br /> Neil, unable to contain his anger, slammed the table and said, "How can we let this ignorant girl meddle? Throw her out now!"<br /> <br /> The bodyguards, anticipating this command, started to approach Marissa to escort her away.<br /> <br /> "Who dares lay a finger on my woman?!" Suddenly, Connor's voice rang out, stopping everyone in their tracks.<br /> <br /> Everyone was stunned.<br /> <br /> Connor's commanding presence filled the room, leaving no room for defiance.<br /> <br /> Even the troublemakers, Neil and Lorna, were forced to remain silent.<br /> <br /> With a single command, Connor had taken control of the situation.<br /> <br /> He then took Marissa by the hand and led her to the bedside, simply saying, "Please."<br /> <br /> No one dared to question the decision of the head of the family.<br /> <br /> Marissa started to examine Arabella's body.<br /> <br /> Given that she had not fully regained her strength and had been roughly choked by Connor thrice, her hands shook noticeably, making her examination seem clumsy.<br /> <br /> This clumsiness was misinterpreted negatively by the onlookers.<br /> <br /> They assumed she knew nothing about medicine; she was merely seeking attention and was visibly nervous.<br /> <br /> There had always been many women trying to garner Connor's attention with dramatic gestures.<br /> <br /> But for Marissa to use Arabella as a part of her scheme was unprecedented.<br /> <br /> She had previously convinced Arabella to agree to her and Connor's marriage, showing some cunning. But now, with Arabella gone, did she really think she could revive the dead?<br /> <br /> Such a thought was pure insanity!<br /> <br /> Everyone watched Marissa intently.<br /> <br /> They were eager to see her make a fool of herself, expecting Connor to throw her out and the downfall of the Nash family alongside her.<br /> <br /> Marissa paid them no mind. After finishing her examination, she paused in thought for a moment before pulling out her acupuncture kit.<br /> <br /> Upon seeing the kit, the doctors scoffed, and the observers mocked her even more.<br /> <br /> They had anticipated some sophisticated medical intervention, but she resorted to acupuncture, which many regarded as mere folklore.<br /> <br /> Arabella's heart had stopped to function; not even surgery could save her, and Marissa thought a few needles would revive her?<br /> <br /> Connor must be out of his mind to allow her to treat Arabella.<br /> <br /> Arabella was so revered. How could Marissa be permitted to mess with her body? It was a disrespect to her!<br /> <br /> Yet, Connor did not intervene, so no one dared openly criticize her actions.<br /> <br /> Marissa sterilized the silver needles and started positioning them at strategic points on Arabella's body.<br /> <br /> Her increasing weakness caused her hands to tremble more visibly, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead.<br /> <br /> The spectators, noticing her shaky hands, were both anxious and terrified witnessing the positioning of her every needle.<br /> <br /> When the first needle was inserted, there was no change.<br /> <br /> The second needle followed, and still, no response.<br /> <br /> By the ninth needle, there was still no sign of any miracle.<br /> <br /> At that point, the onlookers could no longer restrain themselves.<br /> <br /> "Stop!" Neil shouted furiously.<br /> <br /> "You have some nerve, trying to deceive us! Do you think we're fools?"<br /> <br /> "Using Arabella's body for your scheme--you must be tired of living!"<br /> <br /> Everyone glared at Marissa, furious and ready to tear apart this woman who they believed disrespected Arabella.<br /> <br /> Even the usually gentle Glenn appeared unusually grim. "Connor, are you really going to let this woman continue with her antics?"<br /> <br /> But Connor did not stop Marissa. Instead, he yelled, "Everyone, be quiet!"<br /> <br /> Marissa breathed a sigh of relief. She had only one needle left.<br /> <br /> If Connor had succumbed to the crowd's influence and halted her, all her efforts would have been for nothing.<br /> <br /> Connor's authoritative presence shut down the opposing voices once more, but the room felt heavier with all that pent-up anger lurking beneath the surface.<br /> <br /> With the room's full attention on her, Marissa positioned the final, tenth needle.<br /> <br /> As she did, Arabella abruptly inhaled a breath of air.<br /> <br /> She was alive!<br /> <br /> Chapter4 They Had Abducted The Wrong Person<br /> Did a miracle just happen?<br /> <br /> Everyone in the room looked as if they had witnessed the impossible.<br /> <br /> No, it was as if they had seen God.<br /> <br /> The doctors, who had previously declared the patient beyond help, looked as though they wanted to bow down to Marissa in reverence!<br /> <br /> Connor was overjoyed.<br /> <br /> Only Marissa remained calm and concentrated, continuing to massage and press various points on Arabella's body.<br /> <br /> Ten minutes later, Arabella's blood pressure and heart rate stabilized.<br /> <br /> Although Arabella hadn't regained consciousness, her breathing was regular, and her skin color was returning to normal.<br /> <br /> The person declared dead was now in stable condition!<br /> <br /> "How... she...?" Lorna stuttered, pointing at Marissa, her words trailing off in disbelief.<br /> <br /> Everyone had labeled Miss Nash as dumb. When had she developed such extraordinary medical abilities?<br /> <br /> The esteemed doctors in the room felt both humiliated and ashamed.<br /> <br /> The lead doctor couldn't resist asking, "Miss Nash, from whom did you learn your medical skills?"<br /> <br /> "I picked it up from acupuncture books and just replicated what I read," Marissa answered, making up a simple explanation to avoid any complications, given everyone in the room was now thinking she was another woman.<br /> <br /> This response shattered the earlier sense of wonder in the room.<br /> <br /> Who would seriously attempt to treat someone as critical as Arabella with basic acupuncture techniques learned from books?<br /> <br /> This woman must be out of her mind.<br /> <br /> She had simply struck it incredibly lucky today!<br /> <br /> Ignoring the mixed reactions from the crowd, Marissa meticulously gathered her silver needles.<br /> <br /> Large beads of sweat trickled down her cheeks--she was completely exhausted.<br /> <br /> The effects of the Dreamweed had weakened her, and she hadn't rested at all. Instead, she endured rough handling by Connor that nearly crushed her.<br /> <br /> Suddenly, she felt a warm hand gently wipe the sweat from her cheek. Marissa turned her head, only to see it was Connor.<br /> <br /> His eyes conveyed a deep sense of gratitude, almost as if he was trying to soften her with his look.<br /> <br /> Feeling uneasy with such closeness, Marissa quickly stepped away.<br /> <br /> "Mr. Daniels, can we talk?"<br /> <br /> "You look exhausted. Rest now. We can talk later, once you've had some sleep," Connor suggested, his voice unexpectedly tender, mirroring the softness in his eyes.<br /> <br /> Realizing how exhausted she truly was, Marissa agreed to his suggestion.<br /> <br /> Before leaving, she asked, "Could I have my phone back, please?"<br /> <br /> Connor paused for a brief moment, then swiftly pulled her phone from his pocket and handed it to her.<br /> <br /> Marissa accepted her phone and followed the servant out.<br /> <br /> The night had deepened outside, the sky hinting at an impending rainstorm.<br /> <br /> Marissa was led to a guest room in an adjacent building and immediately checked her messages.<br /> <br /> Derek and she had planned to go back to their hometown the next day to get married. With her phone off for so long, he must have been incredibly worried.<br /> <br /> Sure enough, after three hours without her phone, it was bombarded with notifications.<br /> <br /> Over a hundred missed calls and dozens of texts greeted her, all from Derek.<br /> <br /> Marissa gave a wry smile and quickly texted Derek to reassure him that she would meet him at the train station as planned at noon the next day.<br /> <br /> The wedding date couldn't be changed. Before meeting Derek, she needed to divorce Connor.<br /> <br /> He had turned what was supposed to be her first marriage into her second, and she was determined to make him regret it.<br /> <br /> All she needed now was a good night's rest, and then she would set things right!<br /> <br /> With that resolve, she climbed into bed and quickly fell asleep.<br /> <br /> In a small conference room in the same building, tension filled the atmosphere.<br /> <br /> Domenic Wells, Connor's trusted assistant, stood before him, delivering his report with due respect.<br /> <br /> "Mr. Daniels, the young woman's name is Marissa Nash, 22 years old, originally from a small village in Adagend. She owns a small flower shop on Vintage Street. Her family's financial struggles forced her to drop out of school shortly after beginning high school to start working, contributing to family expenses. She left her village at fifteen, wandered through various towns, and settled in Blebert only last year. As a young woman on her own who earns a decent income, she's the subject of various nasty rumors back in her village. Essentially, her reputation isn't stellar."<br /> <br /> While saying this, Domenic had already prepared himself for any harsh punishment.<br /> <br /> The intended bride from the Nash family had fled from her marriage to Connor, and he, under orders, had searched the entire city, ending up at a small flower shop on Vintage Street. Regrettably, they had abducted the wrong person!<br /> <br /> The two women merely shared a resemblance and the same surname, Nash.<br /> <br /> This mistake had landed his boss in a significant predicament.<br /> <br /> Though the actual bride, whom Arabella had approved of, was despised by Connor, she had a suitable social standing.<br /> <br /> But now, the new "Mrs. Daniels" was nothing more than a high school dropout with a questionable background from a tiny village!<br /> <br /> This was a blow to his boss' dignity!<br /> <br /> If this village girl attempted to blackmail them or refuse to let go of Connor, he feared that even sacrificing his life would not be enough to atone for this mistake.<br /> <br /> "Mr. Daniels, I have failed in my responsibilities and am prepared to face whatever punishment you deem necessary!"<br /> <br /> The room was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.<br /> <br /> Connor remained silent for a long time, repeatedly examining the brand-new marriage certificate.<br /> <br /> Then, suddenly, he got up and moved towards the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the clouded sky. He opened his mouth, seemingly about to say something.<br /> <br /> Chapter5 Legally Dividing Community Property<br /> "The weather is nice," Connor said out of the blue.<br /> <br /> Domenic stood frozen, while Marc Bailey and Terry Bailey, the two captains of the bodyguard team, looked terrified.<br /> <br /> Connor was known for being unpredictable. A dark expression on his face didn't always signify anger, whereas a smile might be the calm before the storm.<br /> <br /> Without a second thought, Domenic, Marc, and Terry all knelt with a heavy thud.<br /> <br /> At that moment, lightning flashed across the window, followed by a booming thunderclap that rattled the entire building.<br /> <br /> The rain began to fall in torrents.<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Connor turned around and said softly, "Send someone upstairs to check the situation."<br /> <br /> Upon hearing this, the two bodyguard captains remained motionless, and Domenic, the well-educated special assistant, seemed completely lost.<br /> <br /> Cade Garza, the seasoned old butler who had a deep understanding of human nature, took charge. He promptly summoned a maid and instructed, "Quickly go upstairs and see if our esteemed guest was startled by the thunder. If she's awake, let us know immediately. Also, prepare a lavish meal in the kitchen and be ready to serve her at any moment!"<br /> <br /> After a brief pause, Cade personally retrieved some swelling-reducing ointment and passed it to the maid.<br /> <br /> Once these orders were given, Cade looked to Connor and asked, "Mr. Daniels, do you find these arrangements enough?"<br /> <br /> Connor nodded.<br /> <br /> After the thunderstorm, Marissa woke up.<br /> <br /> Though she hadn't slept long, she felt her energy had returned.<br /> <br /> During previous missions, she often had to make do with minimal sleep. Her body had adapted, trained to recover energy swiftly from brief rests.<br /> <br /> Noticing a cooling sensation around her neck, carrying a faint medicinal scent, she sniffed gently and recognized it as some ointment.<br /> <br /> As she opened her eyes, she saw several maids standing by her bed with respect.<br /> <br /> The head maid approached with a warm smile and said, "Mrs. Daniels, you are awake."<br /> <br /> "Please, call me Miss Nash." Marissa corrected her politely as she sat up.<br /> <br /> The maids exchanged puzzled glances. Miss Nash had previously preferred the title Mrs. Daniels. What had changed her mind today?<br /> <br /> Then the head maid said, "Mr. Connor Daniels is waiting for you downstairs. Dinner is ready. Would you like to come down for a meal?"<br /> <br /> Marissa, feeling quite hungry, freshened up and headed downstairs.<br /> <br /> There, Connor was seated at the dining table, absorbed in a newspaper.<br /> <br /> He seemed more controlled andcomposed now, presenting himself as nothing more than a charming gentleman, easy on the eyes.<br /> <br /> Yet, Marissa shot him a disdainful glance and silently started to eat.<br /> <br /> She only raised her head after satisfying her hunger.<br /> <br /> "Mr. Daniels, I believe you understand now that you've made a big mistake. Even though I come from a humble background, you've wronged me, and it's only right that you make amends, correct?"<br /> <br /> Connor looked at the woman before him and gave a slight nod. "Yes, I apologize."<br /> <br /> "So, Mr. Daniels, would you prefer to resolve this legally, or can we settle it privately?"<br /> <br /> "Let's handle it privately," Connor responded.<br /> <br /> He then offered a slight smile. "Miss Nash, please, specify your terms."<br /> <br /> Perfect!<br /> <br /> Marissa quickly requested paper and a pen, and set about drafting an agreement...<br /> <br /> Silence enveloped the dining room, broken only by the scratching of Marissa's pen against the paper.<br /> <br /> Connor was intrigued to see what terms she would propose and learn more about the kind of person she truly was.<br /> <br /> She was dressed casually in a blue checkered shirt, overalls, and Martin boots, her hair tied in a loose braid, without a trace of makeup.<br /> <br /> Her outfit was typical for someone who ran a flower shop, yet it rendered her quite striking.<br /> <br /> She looked exceptionally pure and vibrant, standing out like a beacon among the crowd.<br /> <br /> His eyes lingered on her, starting from her jet-black hair and moving slowly downward.<br /> <br /> He studied her expressive eyes, the shape of her nose, her rosy lips, and her flawless skin.<br /> <br /> When his gaze landed on the red marks around her neck, a pang of guilt hit him hard.<br /> <br /> As he remembered how he had treated her harshly, remorse washed over him.<br /> <br /> Just then, Marissa set down her pen and looked up, meeting his probing gaze.<br /> <br /> Startled and feeling guilty, Connor quickly looked away.<br /> <br /> Marissa passed the paper to him, her demeanor composed.<br /> <br /> There were two agreements in total.<br /> <br /> Connor took them and began to review them carefully.<br /> <br /> The first agreement was primarily about the compensation.<br /> <br /> The initial clause demanded five thousand for physical injuries.<br /> <br /> "Mr. Daniels, you physically assaulted me three times, resulting in neck injuries. I'm requesting five thousand in compensation. That seems fair, doesn't it?" Marissa interjected just in time.<br /> <br /> "Very fair," Connor said, continuing to read.<br /> <br /> The next clause asked for one hundred thousand for emotional distress.<br /> <br /> "Mr. Daniels, your actions have caused me significant emotional suffering. One hundred thousand in compensation isn't unreasonable, right?" Marissa added.<br /> <br /> "Very reasonable." Connor agreed once more, his tone still gentle.<br /> <br /> He moved on to the following clause.<br /> <br /> The third clause concerned medical fees, totaling ten million.<br /> <br /> Connor was momentarily at a loss for words.<br /> <br /> He lifted his head and looked at Marissa from head to toe, his eyes nearly widening in bewilderment, yet he still couldn't quite understand her.<br /> <br /> Marissa offered a slight smile. "Mr. Daniels, although my medical intervention was somewhat fortuitous, the fact remains that I revived your grandmother. The value of Mrs. Daniels's life is immeasurable. Surely, ten million for medical expenses isn't too much?"<br /> <br /> Slightly amused, Connor smiled faintly. "Very reasonable."<br /> <br /> He immediately signed the agreement after speaking.<br /> <br /> He then wrote a check for 10, 150, 000 dollars and handed it over to Marissa.<br /> <br /> She accepted it without hesitation and tucked it into her pocket.<br /> <br /> Connor then proceeded to the second document.<br /> <br /> It was a divorce agreement.<br /> <br /> The content was straightforward--legally dividing their community property.<br /> <br /> Upon seeing the phrase "community property," Connor couldn't help but chuckle.<br /> <br /> He looked at her intently for a few moments before softly inquiring, "Miss Nash, are you interested in getting more money out of this?"<br /> <br /> ......<br /> <br /> ====<br /> Marissa Nash, who is going to marry her fiancé tomorrow, is mistaken by the billionaire Connor Daniels as his runaway bride, and is kidnapped to get the marriage certificate and taken home.<br /> <br /> After being brought home, she accidentally revived his grandmother who had been declared dead with ten needles!<br /> <br /> Connor later found out that he kidnapped the wrong person, but he became interested in this mysterious girl.<br /> <br /> Can Marissa successfully divorce and marry her fiancé?<br /> <br /> What happens next? <br /> <br /> Available chapters here are limited, click the button below to install the App and enjoy more exciting chapters <br /> (Automatically jump to this novel when you open the app)<br /> &5&	LEARN_MORE	https://web.weread.mobi/57264322-fb_contact-enp59_	111692811836799	Heat Novel A	https://facebook.com/100089743291944	189	1	504,625,938,576,351	2024-07-12 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Learn more	Heat Novel A	120210726802840597	web.weread.mobi	NONE	image		https://web.weread.mobi/57264322-fb_contact-enp59_2-0625-core3.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=331118&accid=1435595577085911		2024-07-10 00:10	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450466851_1802818736908890_6782294435358133960_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KZ19FGYIH8MQ7kNvgHGN8HP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBSIhH3cKAoWGgpVxbovA6EIuXOnjcqTUhb3O_CqY47iQ&oe=66971142	person_profile	Heat Novel A	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450481065_2176021729426932_4990031115131843721_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Zw48HAtdInAQ7kNvgGrNCd8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBZ4EhEy7ZKQzNLvoH_Mi7OL_6UtqTtrtKTsn7-zM1sHg&oe=6697208F	3	Heat Novel A	2024-07-12 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,922,073	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1922040}'	No	2024-07-12 08:57	active	1112	3112030092272929	Read next chapter👉	She signed the divorce papers and left without taking her phone. He checked her phone and got floored at the message: Please come tomorrow for another prenatal care checkup!<br /> =============<br /> <br /> Chapter 1 Ex-girlfriend Returns<br /> <br /> Raegan Hayes was a little absent-minded at the moment. <br /> <br /> All she could think of since this afternoon was the doctor's words. "Congratulations! You are going to be a mom."<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Mitchel Dixon pinched her arm. His low voice came the next second. "Come back to earth. What are you thinking about?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel was her husband. They had been married secretly for two years. He was her superior at work, the president of the Dixon Group. <br /> <br /> Everything had happened so fast. She was newly employed in the company when they unexpectedly got married. <br /> <br /> At that time, Mitchel's grandfather fell seriously ill. It was then he proposed a fake marriage just to fulfill his grandfather's dying wish. <br /> <br /> They signed a prenup, agreeing to hide their marriage from the public. Their union could be terminated at any time. <br /> <br /> It was an unconventional thing to do. However, Raegan only considered herself lucky at that time. <br /> <br /> Never in a million years did she think she would ever get married to the man she had a crush on for eight years. She delightfully agreed. <br /> <br /> After their marriage, Mitchel was very busy. He spent most of his time working. <br /> <br /> Raegan wished she could spend more time with him at home. However, she was rest assured because there hadn't been any rumors or scandals about him with women in the past two years. <br /> <br /> Except for his mild indifference, Mitchel was a perfect husband. <br /> <br /> Raegan had mixed feelings as she stared at the medical report. <br /> <br /> In the end, she decided to tell Mitchel this news. <br /> <br /> She also wanted to tell him that she hadn't learned about him for the first time two years ago and that she had been crushing on him for many years before then. <br /> <br /> Just then, Mitchel’s phone rang. He went to the balcony and answered the phone. <br /> <br /> Raegan checked the time and found that it was already midnight. <br /> <br /> She felt a little uneasy. Who would call Mitchel at this hour? <br /> <br /> Mitchel spent a few minutes on the balcony. Thereafter, he returned and changed into formal attire. His handsome face which had a clear outline made him look dignified. <br /> <br /> He was something to see now. <br /> <br /> "Don't wait up for me. Good night," he said finally. <br /> <br /> What? He was on his way out? At this hour? <br /> <br /> Raegan's grip on the report tightened as she stared at him in disappointment. Unconsciously, she withdrew slightly. After thinking for a while, she blurted out, "It's already so late."<br /> <br /> Mitchel's fingers froze on his tie. With a faint smile, he pinched her earlobe and said, "Be good, okay? There's something I have to do. Don't wait up."<br /> <br /> With that, he headed for the door. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel."<br /> <br /> Raegan quickly ran and caught up with him. <br /> <br /> Mitchel turned around and looked at her seriously. <br /> <br /> "What's the matter?"<br /> <br /> There was a tinge of coldness to his voice. An icy cloud hung over them as they stared at each other. <br /> <br /> A little distressed, Raegan asked in a low voice, "I would like to visit my grandma tomorrow. Can you accompany me there?"<br /> <br /> Her grandmother always wanted to see her. As a result, Raegan wanted to take Mitchel there to assure her grandma they were happy. <br /> <br /> "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Without agreeing or declining, Mitchel left in a hurry. <br /> <br /> Several thoughts were threading Raegan's mind. She couldn't sleep a wink. <br /> <br /> After tossing and turning for a long time, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm glass of milk. <br /> <br /> A few notifications from some online blogs came into her phone. <br /> <br /> However, she wasn't interested in them. She was about to swipe them away when one of them caught her attention. The familiar name made her click on it. <br /> <br /> The news read, "Famous designer, Lauren Murray was spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend earlier today."<br /> <br /> Lauren was wearing a bucket hat. The man's figure was vague, but the outline of his body was enough to show that he was dashing. <br /> <br /> Raegan zoomed in on the picture. The next second, her heart dropped. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was the man in the picture! <br /> <br /> So, he canceled the afternoon meeting just to go pick up his ex-girlfriend from the airport? <br /> <br /> This realization settled like a boulder in Raegan's gut, rendering her flustered. <br /> <br /> Her hands trembled. Subconsciously, she dialed Mitchel's number. <br /> <br /> The dial tone brought her back to her senses. Just as she was about to hang up, the line connected, and a voice came from the other end. <br /> <br /> "Hello!"<br /> <br /> It was a particularly gentle woman's voice. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a second and then threw the phone away. <br /> <br /> She suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet bowl. <br /> <br /> The next morning, Raegan went to work on time. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had tried to get her to stop working after they got married. Stubbornly, she insisted on making her own money. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't kick against her decision, but he asked her to work as his assistant, helping him with the daily chores. <br /> <br /> The head assistant, Matteo Jenkins was left to take care of the major affairs Mitchel had. <br /> <br /> Matteo was the only Dixon Group employee who knew about their marriage. <br /> <br /> Since inception, only male assistants were hired for the president's office. Reagan was the first and only female. Her employment broke the protocol. As a result, other workers couldn't help but wonder if she was involved with Mitchel. <br /> <br /> It took a while before they realized that Mitchel never gave Raegan special treatment. Strangely, this made them despise her even more. <br /> <br /> After all, no one would last long in anything while taking advantage of their looks.<br /> <br /> At this time, one of Raegan's colleagues handed her a document and ordered her to take it to Mitchel's office. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't return home last night. Raegan was so worried that she didn't sleep at all. <br /> <br /> All she kept thinking about was the woman who answered his phone when she called. What was her relationship with Mitchel?<br /> <br /> Raegan already knew the answer to that, but she was still in denial. <br /> <br /> It was difficult for her to come to terms with that fact. <br /> <br /> Raegan tried to remain calm now. She reasoned that no matter what happened, she deserved a result that would be rewarding for all the years she spent loving Mitchel. This couldn't be all for nothing, right? <br /> <br /> She pressed the elevator button calmly and went up to the president's office. Before she walked out of the elevator, she smoothed her hair to make sure she looked good. <br /> <br /> She had arrived at the office, only to see that the door was ajar. A man's voice came. She halted instantly. <br /> <br /> "Come on, man! Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?"<br /> <br /> The voice belonged to Luis Stevens, a childhood friend of Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> "What do you mean exactly?" Mitchel asked in a cold voice. <br /> <br /> "You know exactly what I mean!" Luis clicked his tongue impatiently and added, "I think Raegan is a good girl. Isn't she your type?"<br /> <br /> "Do you want me to hand her over to you?" Mitchel asked carelessly. <br /> <br /> "You know what, forget it!"<br /> <br /> The scornful laughter of Luis sounded particularly harsh in Raegan's ears. <br /> <br /> They were talking about her as if she were an object. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the document. <br /> <br /> Soon, Luis's voice was heard again. <br /> <br /> "By the way, I saw the gossip news about Lauren's mysterious boyfriend this morning. That was you, right?"<br /> <br /> "Yes."<br /> <br /> "Well, well, well! That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. You always want to please her."<br /> <br /> Luis sighed and continued to tease Mitchel. "As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell me, did you two..."<br /> <br /> Their conversation was like a thunder exploding over Raegan's head. <br /> <br /> Her face turned pale and her body was as cold as ice. <br /> <br /> The woman was indeed Lauren! <br /> <br /> Absence made the heart grow fonder! <br /> <br /> Every word drove a knife into her heart. <br /> <br /> Several whispering voices filled her head at this time. She suddenly felt light-headed. Her vision became blurry. <br /> <br /> She held the wall and took a step backward. Suddenly, the door was opened from inside. <br /> <br /> "Raegan?"<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 2 One-sided Love<br /> <br /> Luis was the one who opened the door. It appeared he was on his way out. <br /> <br /> Raegan balled her hands, turned to him, and nodded. "Hey, Mr. Stevens!"<br /> <br /> Without waiting for him to respond to her greeting, she walked past him and entered the office with the document. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was seated behind a large luxurious desk. In an expensive suit and matching tie, he looked particularly handsome. <br /> <br /> Raegan noticed it wasn't the same suit he had on when he left home last night. How did he get changed? <br /> <br /> With her eyes lowered, she swallowed that question and said instead, "Mr. Dixon, this is from the Marketing Department. Please sign it."<br /> <br /> Mitchel was expressionless as he signed the document at a glance. <br /> <br /> Raegan walked out the door as soon as he handed the document back to her. Luis was still standing at the threshold. <br /> <br /> It wasn't until she went out of sight that Luis turned to Mitchel and said in a hushed tone, "Do you think she heard us?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's appealing eyes were expressionless at the moment. Obviously, he wasn't paying attention to what Luis was saying. <br /> <br /> To Mitchel, Raegan had always been docile and never felt jealous of anyone. <br /> <br /> Her strict obedience was all Mitchel demanded from her in exchange for treating her well. <br /> <br /> In the elevator. <br /> <br /> Raegan held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn't work. <br /> <br /> She had thought two years would be enough for Mitchel to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love. <br /> <br /> Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream. <br /> <br /> She realized she would always play second fiddle to Lauren, Mitchel's true love. <br /> <br /> Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened. <br /> <br /> She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea. <br /> <br /> Several employees were chatting inside. <br /> <br /> "Guys, have you heard? Lauren Murray is back."<br /> <br /> "And who is that?"<br /> <br /> "Oh, my! You don't know her? Lauren is the heiress of the Murray Group as well as a world-class designer. Most importantly, she's the only girlfriend Mr. Dixon has ever shown off in public. She's his first love!"<br /> <br /> "Why is her return such a big deal? Isn't it rumored that there is something between Mr. Dixon and Raegan?"<br /> <br /> "Raegan? She's nothing to Mr. Dixon. Mr. Dixon never admitted that he was dating her. And that is no surprise to me. After all, look at her. She's not even that beautiful. Yet, she behaves as if she's already Mrs. Dixon. What a fool!"<br /> <br /> Standing at the door, Raegan smiled with self-mockery as she listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her. <br /> <br /> The love was one-sided. <br /> <br /> "Ha-ha, have you finally woken up from your wild dream, Raegan?"<br /> <br /> A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Raegan turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Mitchel's cousin, who had always despised her. <br /> <br /> Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping. <br /> <br /> The last thing Raegan wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way. <br /> <br /> With a cup of coffee in her hand, Tessa uttered sarcastically, "Lauren is back now. Do you think Mitchel will still give you any attention?"<br /> <br /> Raegan said nothing to that. <br /> <br /> Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule. "Maybe it’s time for you to seek out another man, you pathetic fool."<br /> <br /> Raegan clenched her fists and said coldly, "Ms. Lloyd, if you are interested in that kind of thing, feel free to pursue it yourself."<br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Raegan's retort made Tessa's face change. <br /> <br /> The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of coffee on Raegan. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't think for a second that Tessa would do something so crazy. She held up her arms just to block the liquid from her face. In no time, the coffee drenched her clothes. <br /> <br /> Raegan frowned. "What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?"<br /> <br /> It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama. Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers. <br /> <br /> She put on a mean-girl look as she said, "What makes you so smug every day, huh? Do you seriously think that others don't know you are just an orphan? The nerve of..."<br /> <br /> Tessa was silenced by Raegan’s shove. <br /> <br /> Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Raegan, who was so quiet and timid, would shove her. <br /> <br /> Tessa stuttered, "You... You pushed me? How dare you!"<br /> <br /> Raegan eyed her and replied, "Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness."<br /> <br /> Indeed, she lost her parents when she was a child. But that didn't mean she would allow someone to walk over her for it. <br /> <br /> Wrinkles appeared on Tessa's face as she frowned in anger. As Mitchel's cousin, she was used to being fawned over and respected. This was the first time she had been treated like this. <br /> <br /> Tessa charged at Raegan like a raging bull, poised to retaliate. <br /> <br /> This time, Raegan was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa's wrist so that the latter couldn't move another inch. <br /> <br /> Tessa was shorter than Raegan. As a result, she struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap. <br /> <br /> Tessa cursed angrily, "How dare you put your hands on me? Who do you think you are?"<br /> <br /> These harsh words attracted more people to the break room. <br /> <br /> "That's enough!"<br /> <br /> Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Mitchel had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo. <br /> <br /> The entire room fell silent. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel?" Tessa's blood ran cold at the sight of Mitchel. She had always been scared of him. Her mother also warned her against provoking him. <br /> <br /> But when she remembered that Raegan humiliated her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed. "Mitchel, she bullied me."<br /> <br /> The sunlight from outside fell on Mitchel's handsome face. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to look at her clothes which were soaked with coffee. <br /> <br /> Their gaze met in the air. With a deep frown, Mitchel looked at Raegan and said, "Raegan, have you forgotten the rules of the company?"<br /> <br /> His ruthlessness made Raegan's breathing cease. She couldn't believe her ears. <br /> <br /> No one dared to make a sound at this moment. <br /> <br /> Raegan just stood straight there with her slender figure. <br /> <br /> When she got employed here, Mitchel had told her that the Dixon Group wasn't a place for her to mess around and that he would not tolerate her making any mistakes. <br /> <br /> Raegan could understand why he took this stand. <br /> <br /> However, at this moment, she was desperate to know whether Mitchel had heard those hard words Tessa scolded her or he was just pretending not to have heard because he agreed to those words. <br /> <br /> Was she truly insignificant to him?<br /> <br /> Scared to death by Mitchel's rage, the crowd soon dispersed. A few employees were bold enough to peep from a distance, unwilling to miss the good show. <br /> <br /> Mitchel's cold eyes made Raegan shiver from head to toe. <br /> <br /> Raegan pinched her palm to suppress her emotions as she looked at Tessa. <br /> <br /> "I'm sorry, Ms. Lloyd. As an employee of the Dixon Group, it was wrong of me to have offended you."<br /> <br /> Eyeing Raegan, Tessa raised her chin complacently. "Humph! Don't think you'll be let off the hook just by making a simple apology. I don't buy..."<br /> <br /> "The offence has nothing to do with the company. Personally, I refuse to apologize to you. Now, if you'd excuse me," Raegan chimed in. <br /> <br /> She then walked past Mitchel without sparing him another look. <br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Tessa's face turned blue after hearing what Raegan said. <br /> <br /> Never in her years of being alive had she been so humiliated. She was always the bully, not the victim! <br /> <br /> The humiliation was so much that scolding Raegan wouldn't appease her anger. <br /> <br /> Pointing in Raegan's direction, Tessa shouted, "Mitchel, did you hear what that woman just said? She humiliated me, yet she's still so arrogant. Call her back. I have to teach her some manners!"<br /> <br /> Mitchel, staring at Raegan's thin back, had an ambiguous expression at this moment. <br /> <br /> "Enough!" he said coldly, raising his hand. <br /> <br /> As someone who lived and breathed drama and cruelty, Tessa didn't think Mitchel was partial to Raegan just now. She assumed that Mitchel didn't care about Raegan at all. <br /> <br /> Tessa gritted her teeth and said viciously, "Next time, I'll get someone to teach her a lesson."<br /> <br /> "Tessa!" Mitchel's tone and squint made it a reproof. <br /> <br /> Tessa trembled at once. <br /> <br /> With a somber face, Mitchel said, "I'll only say it once. Forget about what happened here today. Leave Raegan alone."<br /> <br /> The aura he exuded made her tongue go dry. All the vicious ideas she had in store against Raegan disappeared in an instant. <br /> <br /> She stammered, "Ok... Okay, got it..."<br /> <br /> Mitchel cast a cold glance at her and spoke to Matteo. "Irrelevant people wouldn't be allowed in here from today onwards."<br /> <br /> Without catching the drift, Tessa flattered Mitchel. "Nice call. This is a top company. Not everyone gains access in here."<br /> <br /> Matteo nodded to Mitchel and then walked over to Tessa. He gestured to the exit. "Ms. Lloyd, this way, please."<br /> <br /> It wasn't until this moment that Tessa realized that she was the irrelevant person Mitchel just mentioned. She tried to speak to him, but Matteo blocked her way. The security guards then escorted her out. <br /> <br /> They showed her no mercy. Her struggle was useless. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Raegan got changed when she returned to her office. <br /> <br /> Her heart was filled with sadness as she thought of how Mitchel looked at her minutes ago. <br /> <br /> Closing hour soon rolled by. <br /> <br /> Raegan took her bag and headed for the exit. However, Matteo stopped her. <br /> <br /> He said, "Mr. Dixon has something urgent to deal with, so he asked me to drive you home."<br /> <br /> Raegan declined the ride without thinking twice. <br /> <br /> She was blind before, but now she could see through the situation. <br /> <br /> In Mitchel's eyes, she was just a nobody. <br /> <br /> How could Mitchel agree to accompany her to visit her grandmother when he didn't even care about her? <br /> <br /> Upon arriving at the hospital, Raegan saw that the nurse was about to feed her grandmother dinner. Raegan took the job over and did it by herself. <br /> <br /> All her life, her grandmother had been living in the countryside, enjoying a quiet life. Everything changed last month when her routine medical checkup showed that she was in need of medical care. Raegan insisted on bringing her to the city for better treatment. <br /> <br /> Her grandmother wasn't aware of her marriage to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> Raegan had planned to surprise her today. But as it turned out, that was no longer necessary. <br /> <br /> Raegan waited for her grandmother to fall asleep before she left. She walked out of the hospital and waited for a taxi. <br /> <br /> In the distance, a black luxury car pulled into the entrance of the hospital. <br /> <br /> Raegan's eyes lit up when she saw it. She recognized that car as Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> Did he come to pick her up? <br /> <br /> At this moment, she forgot all the pain she had been feeling. <br /> <br /> Were her thoughts about him all wrong? Did he care for her, contrary to the gossip? <br /> <br /> The door of the driver's side opened and Mitchel got out. <br /> <br /> Raegan started walking toward him with her heart brimming with joy. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had just walked over to the other side and carried a woman out of the car. <br /> <br /> Worry and compassion were written all over his handsome face. <br /> <br /> This wiped the smile on Raegan's face. Her heart sank. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 3 Let's Divorce<br /> <br /> Mitchel's tall and straight figure got closer and closer to Raegan. And then, without saying a word, he strode past Raegan. <br /> <br /> It was hard to tell if Mitchel saw Raegan or just ignored her. <br /> <br /> Regardless, Raegan noticed that the woman in his arms was the same one who had been photographed with him yesterday. <br /> <br /> She was Lauren. <br /> <br /> Raegan's shoes felt like they were made of lead as she walked away. <br /> <br /> She lost all awareness of her surroundings. She got into a taxi absentmindedly. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, the driver uttered, "Ma'am, where to?"<br /> <br /> Raegan was stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> She didn't want to go back to Serenity Villas. It was only a matter of time before that place stopped being her home. <br /> <br /> After a while, she replied, "Please take me to Crystal Bay."<br /> <br /> She had purchased an apartment at Crystal Bay after getting married to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> At the time, she had hopes of bringing her grandmother to the city, so she bought the apartment on mortgage. It wasn't that big, but it had more than enough space for two people. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't understand why she wanted to buy an apartment. He offered to give her a bigger one, but she declined. <br /> <br /> Looking back now, she realized that buying that apartment was the only wise decision she had ever made in the last two years. <br /> <br /> When she arrived at the apartment complex, Raegan sat in the park alone, trying to cool herself down. <br /> <br /> The memories of the past two years were bittersweet. <br /> <br /> Two years had passed in the blink of an eye even though it was more than seven hundred days and nights. <br /> <br /> Love could move mountains, they said. <br /> <br /> Yet, her love didn't move that stone of a man. She finally realized what a fool she had been. She had been making herself a laughingstock in front of everyone. <br /> <br /> It was already late in the night before Raegan finally decided to go into her apartment. <br /> <br /> As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mitchel standing in front of the door. <br /> <br /> His sleeves were rolled up casually, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone, which revealed his long neck and part of his collarbone. He was leaning on the wall by the door, his handsome face straight. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a moment. <br /> <br /> Why was he here? Didn't she see him at the hospital with Lauren? What brought him here? <br /> <br /> Their eyes met. With his coat draped over his arm and one of his hands in his pocket, Mitchel squinted at her. <br /> <br /> "Why didn't you answer the phone?" he asked, sounding a little grumpy like someone who hadn't slept in a long time. <br /> <br /> Raegan took out her phone and saw she had accidentally put it on DND. <br /> <br /> There were five missed calls from Mitchel. <br /> <br /> This marked the first time in their two-year marriage. <br /> <br /> Mitchel blew up her phone because he couldn't find her? Surprising! <br /> <br /> Before today, she would have been overjoyed by this. People would've thought she won the lottery. <br /> <br /> But now, she just threw her phone back into her bag, folded her arms, and said in a hoarse voice, "I didn't hear it ring."<br /> <br /> Mitchel raised his hand to check the time on the watch, and said impatiently, "I've been looking for you for two hours."<br /> <br /> After arranging everything for Lauren, he returned home to find an empty house. He looked for Raegan everywhere. When he couldn't find her, he asked Matteo to check the surveillance footage of all the roads that led away from the company. <br /> <br /> He later found out that Raegan went to Crystal Bay without telling him. <br /> <br /> "Next time, tell me when you are coming here, okay? Let's go home now." After that, Mitchel walked toward the elevator without sparing her another glance. <br /> <br /> He meant to go back to Serenity Villas. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't move an inch. She just stared at his broad back and pondered reluctantly. <br /> <br /> Would they have a future? <br /> <br /> Mitchell turned around, only to see that Raegan hadn't taken a single step. He frowned and asked, "Can't you walk? Do you want me to carry you instead?"<br /> <br /> The light in the corridor illuminated his face, making his side profile almost impeccable. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and said, "Let's divorce."<br /> <br /> "What do you mean?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's voice was cold, and his handsome face changed immediately. <br /> <br /> "I want to move into my own place. After all, we will be strangers soon."<br /> <br /> Raegan forced a smile, but her heart was aching as if someone was tearing it apart bit by bit. <br /> <br /> "We will be strangers?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel smiled coldly. "Raegan, what do you think our relationship is now?"<br /> <br /> His questioning left Raegan stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had made it very clear to her from the very beginning. This facade of their marriage had happened by mutual agreement. There was no love. In the eyes of others, they were nothing more than just a superior and a subordinate. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was quite the catch in Ardlens. Many young ladies longed for his love and were even willing to throw themselves at him. <br /> <br /> His question just now reminded her of that fact. Was he afraid that she wouldn't let him go that easily? If that was the case, he couldn't be more wrong... <br /> <br /> After biting her lower lip to conceal her bitterness, Raegan said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Dixon. I was giving it too much thought. Anyway, please leave me alone from now on. You don't have to come here again."<br /> <br /> After saying that, Raegan couldn't help but burst into tears. <br /> <br /> How could she not be sad when she was cutting ties with the man she had loved for a decade? It was such a long time. <br /> <br /> Regardless of how difficult it was, she knew it was time to let go. <br /> <br /> It was high time she stopped being a fool. <br /> <br /> Strangely, the light in the corridor began flickering. <br /> <br /> The deathly stare Mitchel was giving Raegan right now made the atmosphere seem like the moment before an attack in a horror movie. <br /> <br /> Although he understood that Raegan sometimes could throw a tantrum, he felt that she had just crossed the line now. <br /> <br /> His eyes shone like blazing torches at this moment. But when he saw the tears in her eyes, the rage inside him extinguished in an instant. He said in a low voice, "If this is about what happened between you and Tessa, I..."<br /> <br /> "No, this isn't about her. Mr. Dixon, please leave now."<br /> <br /> A lot of things happened between them. And the incident with Tessa didn't come close to any. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt exhausted. She passed by Mitchel and was about to open the door. <br /> <br /> Yet, Mitchel was displeased with her stubbornness. <br /> <br /> He loosened his tie irritably. He then took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. <br /> <br /> "Stop this, will you?"<br /> <br /> A second later, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. <br /> <br /> He instantly realized that she was burning up like someone who had been set on fire. <br /> <br /> "You have a fever?"<br /> <br /> Raegan felt dizzy. She rested her head on his chest weakly. <br /> <br /> This made the whole situation complicated. <br /> <br /> Reagan was slow to catch that. When she finally realized that her body was too close to his, she put her hands against his chest and tried to pull back. <br /> <br /> Before she could escape, Mitchel pulled her back and held her by the waist. With a cold face, he said in a low voice, "Where do you think you are going?"<br /> <br /> The light flickered again. Out of the blue, Mitchel lifted her up. <br /> <br /> He then headed for the elevator. <br /> <br /> In a daze, Raegan asked softly, "What are you doing?"<br /> <br /> "What does it look like I am doing?" Mitchel remarked. "Taking you to the hospital, of course."<br /> <br /> "No way!" Raegan cried out in surprise and seemed to regain more strength. <br /> <br /> Mitchel might find out about her condition if they went to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Raegan struggled to get out of Mitchel's arms. However, his tight grip made her efforts fruitless. <br /> <br /> "Don't be so stubborn. You are sick, so you must see the doctor," Mitchel said firmly. <br /> <br /> He walked to the elevator with her in his arms. At this moment, Raegan's heart was thumping so hard that it could jump out of her chest. She flailed in protest. <br /> <br /> "Put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!"	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1,922,082	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1921884}'	No	2024-07-12 08:57	active	1112	3714172508837892	Read next chapter👉	She signed the divorce papers and left without taking her phone. He checked her phone and got floored at the message: Please come tomorrow for another prenatal care checkup!<br /> =============<br /> <br /> Chapter 1 Ex-girlfriend Returns<br /> <br /> Raegan Hayes was a little absent-minded at the moment. <br /> <br /> All she could think of since this afternoon was the doctor's words. "Congratulations! You are going to be a mom."<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Mitchel Dixon pinched her arm. His low voice came the next second. "Come back to earth. What are you thinking about?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel was her husband. They had been married secretly for two years. He was her superior at work, the president of the Dixon Group. <br /> <br /> Everything had happened so fast. She was newly employed in the company when they unexpectedly got married. <br /> <br /> At that time, Mitchel's grandfather fell seriously ill. It was then he proposed a fake marriage just to fulfill his grandfather's dying wish. <br /> <br /> They signed a prenup, agreeing to hide their marriage from the public. Their union could be terminated at any time. <br /> <br /> It was an unconventional thing to do. However, Raegan only considered herself lucky at that time. <br /> <br /> Never in a million years did she think she would ever get married to the man she had a crush on for eight years. She delightfully agreed. <br /> <br /> After their marriage, Mitchel was very busy. He spent most of his time working. <br /> <br /> Raegan wished she could spend more time with him at home. However, she was rest assured because there hadn't been any rumors or scandals about him with women in the past two years. <br /> <br /> Except for his mild indifference, Mitchel was a perfect husband. <br /> <br /> Raegan had mixed feelings as she stared at the medical report. <br /> <br /> In the end, she decided to tell Mitchel this news. <br /> <br /> She also wanted to tell him that she hadn't learned about him for the first time two years ago and that she had been crushing on him for many years before then. <br /> <br /> Just then, Mitchel’s phone rang. He went to the balcony and answered the phone. <br /> <br /> Raegan checked the time and found that it was already midnight. <br /> <br /> She felt a little uneasy. Who would call Mitchel at this hour? <br /> <br /> Mitchel spent a few minutes on the balcony. Thereafter, he returned and changed into formal attire. His handsome face which had a clear outline made him look dignified. <br /> <br /> He was something to see now. <br /> <br /> "Don't wait up for me. Good night," he said finally. <br /> <br /> What? He was on his way out? At this hour? <br /> <br /> Raegan's grip on the report tightened as she stared at him in disappointment. Unconsciously, she withdrew slightly. After thinking for a while, she blurted out, "It's already so late."<br /> <br /> Mitchel's fingers froze on his tie. With a faint smile, he pinched her earlobe and said, "Be good, okay? There's something I have to do. Don't wait up."<br /> <br /> With that, he headed for the door. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel."<br /> <br /> Raegan quickly ran and caught up with him. <br /> <br /> Mitchel turned around and looked at her seriously. <br /> <br /> "What's the matter?"<br /> <br /> There was a tinge of coldness to his voice. An icy cloud hung over them as they stared at each other. <br /> <br /> A little distressed, Raegan asked in a low voice, "I would like to visit my grandma tomorrow. Can you accompany me there?"<br /> <br /> Her grandmother always wanted to see her. As a result, Raegan wanted to take Mitchel there to assure her grandma they were happy. <br /> <br /> "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Without agreeing or declining, Mitchel left in a hurry. <br /> <br /> Several thoughts were threading Raegan's mind. She couldn't sleep a wink. <br /> <br /> After tossing and turning for a long time, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm glass of milk. <br /> <br /> A few notifications from some online blogs came into her phone. <br /> <br /> However, she wasn't interested in them. She was about to swipe them away when one of them caught her attention. The familiar name made her click on it. <br /> <br /> The news read, "Famous designer, Lauren Murray was spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend earlier today."<br /> <br /> Lauren was wearing a bucket hat. The man's figure was vague, but the outline of his body was enough to show that he was dashing. <br /> <br /> Raegan zoomed in on the picture. The next second, her heart dropped. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was the man in the picture! <br /> <br /> So, he canceled the afternoon meeting just to go pick up his ex-girlfriend from the airport? <br /> <br /> This realization settled like a boulder in Raegan's gut, rendering her flustered. <br /> <br /> Her hands trembled. Subconsciously, she dialed Mitchel's number. <br /> <br /> The dial tone brought her back to her senses. Just as she was about to hang up, the line connected, and a voice came from the other end. <br /> <br /> "Hello!"<br /> <br /> It was a particularly gentle woman's voice. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a second and then threw the phone away. <br /> <br /> She suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet bowl. <br /> <br /> The next morning, Raegan went to work on time. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had tried to get her to stop working after they got married. Stubbornly, she insisted on making her own money. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't kick against her decision, but he asked her to work as his assistant, helping him with the daily chores. <br /> <br /> The head assistant, Matteo Jenkins was left to take care of the major affairs Mitchel had. <br /> <br /> Matteo was the only Dixon Group employee who knew about their marriage. <br /> <br /> Since inception, only male assistants were hired for the president's office. Reagan was the first and only female. Her employment broke the protocol. As a result, other workers couldn't help but wonder if she was involved with Mitchel. <br /> <br /> It took a while before they realized that Mitchel never gave Raegan special treatment. Strangely, this made them despise her even more. <br /> <br /> After all, no one would last long in anything while taking advantage of their looks.<br /> <br /> At this time, one of Raegan's colleagues handed her a document and ordered her to take it to Mitchel's office. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't return home last night. Raegan was so worried that she didn't sleep at all. <br /> <br /> All she kept thinking about was the woman who answered his phone when she called. What was her relationship with Mitchel?<br /> <br /> Raegan already knew the answer to that, but she was still in denial. <br /> <br /> It was difficult for her to come to terms with that fact. <br /> <br /> Raegan tried to remain calm now. She reasoned that no matter what happened, she deserved a result that would be rewarding for all the years she spent loving Mitchel. This couldn't be all for nothing, right? <br /> <br /> She pressed the elevator button calmly and went up to the president's office. Before she walked out of the elevator, she smoothed her hair to make sure she looked good. <br /> <br /> She had arrived at the office, only to see that the door was ajar. A man's voice came. She halted instantly. <br /> <br /> "Come on, man! Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?"<br /> <br /> The voice belonged to Luis Stevens, a childhood friend of Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> "What do you mean exactly?" Mitchel asked in a cold voice. <br /> <br /> "You know exactly what I mean!" Luis clicked his tongue impatiently and added, "I think Raegan is a good girl. Isn't she your type?"<br /> <br /> "Do you want me to hand her over to you?" Mitchel asked carelessly. <br /> <br /> "You know what, forget it!"<br /> <br /> The scornful laughter of Luis sounded particularly harsh in Raegan's ears. <br /> <br /> They were talking about her as if she were an object. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the document. <br /> <br /> Soon, Luis's voice was heard again. <br /> <br /> "By the way, I saw the gossip news about Lauren's mysterious boyfriend this morning. That was you, right?"<br /> <br /> "Yes."<br /> <br /> "Well, well, well! That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. You always want to please her."<br /> <br /> Luis sighed and continued to tease Mitchel. "As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell me, did you two..."<br /> <br /> Their conversation was like a thunder exploding over Raegan's head. <br /> <br /> Her face turned pale and her body was as cold as ice. <br /> <br /> The woman was indeed Lauren! <br /> <br /> Absence made the heart grow fonder! <br /> <br /> Every word drove a knife into her heart. <br /> <br /> Several whispering voices filled her head at this time. She suddenly felt light-headed. Her vision became blurry. <br /> <br /> She held the wall and took a step backward. Suddenly, the door was opened from inside. <br /> <br /> "Raegan?"<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 2 One-sided Love<br /> <br /> Luis was the one who opened the door. It appeared he was on his way out. <br /> <br /> Raegan balled her hands, turned to him, and nodded. "Hey, Mr. Stevens!"<br /> <br /> Without waiting for him to respond to her greeting, she walked past him and entered the office with the document. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was seated behind a large luxurious desk. In an expensive suit and matching tie, he looked particularly handsome. <br /> <br /> Raegan noticed it wasn't the same suit he had on when he left home last night. How did he get changed? <br /> <br /> With her eyes lowered, she swallowed that question and said instead, "Mr. Dixon, this is from the Marketing Department. Please sign it."<br /> <br /> Mitchel was expressionless as he signed the document at a glance. <br /> <br /> Raegan walked out the door as soon as he handed the document back to her. Luis was still standing at the threshold. <br /> <br /> It wasn't until she went out of sight that Luis turned to Mitchel and said in a hushed tone, "Do you think she heard us?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's appealing eyes were expressionless at the moment. Obviously, he wasn't paying attention to what Luis was saying. <br /> <br /> To Mitchel, Raegan had always been docile and never felt jealous of anyone. <br /> <br /> Her strict obedience was all Mitchel demanded from her in exchange for treating her well. <br /> <br /> In the elevator. <br /> <br /> Raegan held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn't work. <br /> <br /> She had thought two years would be enough for Mitchel to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love. <br /> <br /> Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream. <br /> <br /> She realized she would always play second fiddle to Lauren, Mitchel's true love. <br /> <br /> Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened. <br /> <br /> She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea. <br /> <br /> Several employees were chatting inside. <br /> <br /> "Guys, have you heard? Lauren Murray is back."<br /> <br /> "And who is that?"<br /> <br /> "Oh, my! You don't know her? Lauren is the heiress of the Murray Group as well as a world-class designer. Most importantly, she's the only girlfriend Mr. Dixon has ever shown off in public. She's his first love!"<br /> <br /> "Why is her return such a big deal? Isn't it rumored that there is something between Mr. Dixon and Raegan?"<br /> <br /> "Raegan? She's nothing to Mr. Dixon. Mr. Dixon never admitted that he was dating her. And that is no surprise to me. After all, look at her. She's not even that beautiful. Yet, she behaves as if she's already Mrs. Dixon. What a fool!"<br /> <br /> Standing at the door, Raegan smiled with self-mockery as she listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her. <br /> <br /> The love was one-sided. <br /> <br /> "Ha-ha, have you finally woken up from your wild dream, Raegan?"<br /> <br /> A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Raegan turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Mitchel's cousin, who had always despised her. <br /> <br /> Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping. <br /> <br /> The last thing Raegan wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way. <br /> <br /> With a cup of coffee in her hand, Tessa uttered sarcastically, "Lauren is back now. Do you think Mitchel will still give you any attention?"<br /> <br /> Raegan said nothing to that. <br /> <br /> Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule. "Maybe it’s time for you to seek out another man, you pathetic fool."<br /> <br /> Raegan clenched her fists and said coldly, "Ms. Lloyd, if you are interested in that kind of thing, feel free to pursue it yourself."<br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Raegan's retort made Tessa's face change. <br /> <br /> The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of coffee on Raegan. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't think for a second that Tessa would do something so crazy. She held up her arms just to block the liquid from her face. In no time, the coffee drenched her clothes. <br /> <br /> Raegan frowned. "What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?"<br /> <br /> It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama. Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers. <br /> <br /> She put on a mean-girl look as she said, "What makes you so smug every day, huh? Do you seriously think that others don't know you are just an orphan? The nerve of..."<br /> <br /> Tessa was silenced by Raegan’s shove. <br /> <br /> Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Raegan, who was so quiet and timid, would shove her. <br /> <br /> Tessa stuttered, "You... You pushed me? How dare you!"<br /> <br /> Raegan eyed her and replied, "Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness."<br /> <br /> Indeed, she lost her parents when she was a child. But that didn't mean she would allow someone to walk over her for it. <br /> <br /> Wrinkles appeared on Tessa's face as she frowned in anger. As Mitchel's cousin, she was used to being fawned over and respected. This was the first time she had been treated like this. <br /> <br /> Tessa charged at Raegan like a raging bull, poised to retaliate. <br /> <br /> This time, Raegan was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa's wrist so that the latter couldn't move another inch. <br /> <br /> Tessa was shorter than Raegan. As a result, she struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap. <br /> <br /> Tessa cursed angrily, "How dare you put your hands on me? Who do you think you are?"<br /> <br /> These harsh words attracted more people to the break room. <br /> <br /> "That's enough!"<br /> <br /> Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Mitchel had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo. <br /> <br /> The entire room fell silent. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel?" Tessa's blood ran cold at the sight of Mitchel. She had always been scared of him. Her mother also warned her against provoking him. <br /> <br /> But when she remembered that Raegan humiliated her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed. "Mitchel, she bullied me."<br /> <br /> The sunlight from outside fell on Mitchel's handsome face. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to look at her clothes which were soaked with coffee. <br /> <br /> Their gaze met in the air. With a deep frown, Mitchel looked at Raegan and said, "Raegan, have you forgotten the rules of the company?"<br /> <br /> His ruthlessness made Raegan's breathing cease. She couldn't believe her ears. <br /> <br /> No one dared to make a sound at this moment. <br /> <br /> Raegan just stood straight there with her slender figure. <br /> <br /> When she got employed here, Mitchel had told her that the Dixon Group wasn't a place for her to mess around and that he would not tolerate her making any mistakes. <br /> <br /> Raegan could understand why he took this stand. <br /> <br /> However, at this moment, she was desperate to know whether Mitchel had heard those hard words Tessa scolded her or he was just pretending not to have heard because he agreed to those words. <br /> <br /> Was she truly insignificant to him?<br /> <br /> Scared to death by Mitchel's rage, the crowd soon dispersed. A few employees were bold enough to peep from a distance, unwilling to miss the good show. <br /> <br /> Mitchel's cold eyes made Raegan shiver from head to toe. <br /> <br /> Raegan pinched her palm to suppress her emotions as she looked at Tessa. <br /> <br /> "I'm sorry, Ms. Lloyd. As an employee of the Dixon Group, it was wrong of me to have offended you."<br /> <br /> Eyeing Raegan, Tessa raised her chin complacently. "Humph! Don't think you'll be let off the hook just by making a simple apology. I don't buy..."<br /> <br /> "The offence has nothing to do with the company. Personally, I refuse to apologize to you. Now, if you'd excuse me," Raegan chimed in. <br /> <br /> She then walked past Mitchel without sparing him another look. <br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Tessa's face turned blue after hearing what Raegan said. <br /> <br /> Never in her years of being alive had she been so humiliated. She was always the bully, not the victim! <br /> <br /> The humiliation was so much that scolding Raegan wouldn't appease her anger. <br /> <br /> Pointing in Raegan's direction, Tessa shouted, "Mitchel, did you hear what that woman just said? She humiliated me, yet she's still so arrogant. Call her back. I have to teach her some manners!"<br /> <br /> Mitchel, staring at Raegan's thin back, had an ambiguous expression at this moment. <br /> <br /> "Enough!" he said coldly, raising his hand. <br /> <br /> As someone who lived and breathed drama and cruelty, Tessa didn't think Mitchel was partial to Raegan just now. She assumed that Mitchel didn't care about Raegan at all. <br /> <br /> Tessa gritted her teeth and said viciously, "Next time, I'll get someone to teach her a lesson."<br /> <br /> "Tessa!" Mitchel's tone and squint made it a reproof. <br /> <br /> Tessa trembled at once. <br /> <br /> With a somber face, Mitchel said, "I'll only say it once. Forget about what happened here today. Leave Raegan alone."<br /> <br /> The aura he exuded made her tongue go dry. All the vicious ideas she had in store against Raegan disappeared in an instant. <br /> <br /> She stammered, "Ok... Okay, got it..."<br /> <br /> Mitchel cast a cold glance at her and spoke to Matteo. "Irrelevant people wouldn't be allowed in here from today onwards."<br /> <br /> Without catching the drift, Tessa flattered Mitchel. "Nice call. This is a top company. Not everyone gains access in here."<br /> <br /> Matteo nodded to Mitchel and then walked over to Tessa. He gestured to the exit. "Ms. Lloyd, this way, please."<br /> <br /> It wasn't until this moment that Tessa realized that she was the irrelevant person Mitchel just mentioned. She tried to speak to him, but Matteo blocked her way. The security guards then escorted her out. <br /> <br /> They showed her no mercy. Her struggle was useless. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Raegan got changed when she returned to her office. <br /> <br /> Her heart was filled with sadness as she thought of how Mitchel looked at her minutes ago. <br /> <br /> Closing hour soon rolled by. <br /> <br /> Raegan took her bag and headed for the exit. However, Matteo stopped her. <br /> <br /> He said, "Mr. Dixon has something urgent to deal with, so he asked me to drive you home."<br /> <br /> Raegan declined the ride without thinking twice. <br /> <br /> She was blind before, but now she could see through the situation. <br /> <br /> In Mitchel's eyes, she was just a nobody. <br /> <br /> How could Mitchel agree to accompany her to visit her grandmother when he didn't even care about her? <br /> <br /> Upon arriving at the hospital, Raegan saw that the nurse was about to feed her grandmother dinner. Raegan took the job over and did it by herself. <br /> <br /> All her life, her grandmother had been living in the countryside, enjoying a quiet life. Everything changed last month when her routine medical checkup showed that she was in need of medical care. Raegan insisted on bringing her to the city for better treatment. <br /> <br /> Her grandmother wasn't aware of her marriage to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> Raegan had planned to surprise her today. But as it turned out, that was no longer necessary. <br /> <br /> Raegan waited for her grandmother to fall asleep before she left. She walked out of the hospital and waited for a taxi. <br /> <br /> In the distance, a black luxury car pulled into the entrance of the hospital. <br /> <br /> Raegan's eyes lit up when she saw it. She recognized that car as Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> Did he come to pick her up? <br /> <br /> At this moment, she forgot all the pain she had been feeling. <br /> <br /> Were her thoughts about him all wrong? Did he care for her, contrary to the gossip? <br /> <br /> The door of the driver's side opened and Mitchel got out. <br /> <br /> Raegan started walking toward him with her heart brimming with joy. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had just walked over to the other side and carried a woman out of the car. <br /> <br /> Worry and compassion were written all over his handsome face. <br /> <br /> This wiped the smile on Raegan's face. Her heart sank. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 3 Let's Divorce<br /> <br /> Mitchel's tall and straight figure got closer and closer to Raegan. And then, without saying a word, he strode past Raegan. <br /> <br /> It was hard to tell if Mitchel saw Raegan or just ignored her. <br /> <br /> Regardless, Raegan noticed that the woman in his arms was the same one who had been photographed with him yesterday. <br /> <br /> She was Lauren. <br /> <br /> Raegan's shoes felt like they were made of lead as she walked away. <br /> <br /> She lost all awareness of her surroundings. She got into a taxi absentmindedly. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, the driver uttered, "Ma'am, where to?"<br /> <br /> Raegan was stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> She didn't want to go back to Serenity Villas. It was only a matter of time before that place stopped being her home. <br /> <br /> After a while, she replied, "Please take me to Crystal Bay."<br /> <br /> She had purchased an apartment at Crystal Bay after getting married to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> At the time, she had hopes of bringing her grandmother to the city, so she bought the apartment on mortgage. It wasn't that big, but it had more than enough space for two people. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't understand why she wanted to buy an apartment. He offered to give her a bigger one, but she declined. <br /> <br /> Looking back now, she realized that buying that apartment was the only wise decision she had ever made in the last two years. <br /> <br /> When she arrived at the apartment complex, Raegan sat in the park alone, trying to cool herself down. <br /> <br /> The memories of the past two years were bittersweet. <br /> <br /> Two years had passed in the blink of an eye even though it was more than seven hundred days and nights. <br /> <br /> Love could move mountains, they said. <br /> <br /> Yet, her love didn't move that stone of a man. She finally realized what a fool she had been. She had been making herself a laughingstock in front of everyone. <br /> <br /> It was already late in the night before Raegan finally decided to go into her apartment. <br /> <br /> As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mitchel standing in front of the door. <br /> <br /> His sleeves were rolled up casually, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone, which revealed his long neck and part of his collarbone. He was leaning on the wall by the door, his handsome face straight. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a moment. <br /> <br /> Why was he here? Didn't she see him at the hospital with Lauren? What brought him here? <br /> <br /> Their eyes met. With his coat draped over his arm and one of his hands in his pocket, Mitchel squinted at her. <br /> <br /> "Why didn't you answer the phone?" he asked, sounding a little grumpy like someone who hadn't slept in a long time. <br /> <br /> Raegan took out her phone and saw she had accidentally put it on DND. <br /> <br /> There were five missed calls from Mitchel. <br /> <br /> This marked the first time in their two-year marriage. <br /> <br /> Mitchel blew up her phone because he couldn't find her? Surprising! <br /> <br /> Before today, she would have been overjoyed by this. People would've thought she won the lottery. <br /> <br /> But now, she just threw her phone back into her bag, folded her arms, and said in a hoarse voice, "I didn't hear it ring."<br /> <br /> Mitchel raised his hand to check the time on the watch, and said impatiently, "I've been looking for you for two hours."<br /> <br /> After arranging everything for Lauren, he returned home to find an empty house. He looked for Raegan everywhere. When he couldn't find her, he asked Matteo to check the surveillance footage of all the roads that led away from the company. <br /> <br /> He later found out that Raegan went to Crystal Bay without telling him. <br /> <br /> "Next time, tell me when you are coming here, okay? Let's go home now." After that, Mitchel walked toward the elevator without sparing her another glance. <br /> <br /> He meant to go back to Serenity Villas. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't move an inch. She just stared at his broad back and pondered reluctantly. <br /> <br /> Would they have a future? <br /> <br /> Mitchell turned around, only to see that Raegan hadn't taken a single step. He frowned and asked, "Can't you walk? Do you want me to carry you instead?"<br /> <br /> The light in the corridor illuminated his face, making his side profile almost impeccable. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and said, "Let's divorce."<br /> <br /> "What do you mean?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's voice was cold, and his handsome face changed immediately. <br /> <br /> "I want to move into my own place. After all, we will be strangers soon."<br /> <br /> Raegan forced a smile, but her heart was aching as if someone was tearing it apart bit by bit. <br /> <br /> "We will be strangers?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel smiled coldly. "Raegan, what do you think our relationship is now?"<br /> <br /> His questioning left Raegan stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had made it very clear to her from the very beginning. This facade of their marriage had happened by mutual agreement. There was no love. In the eyes of others, they were nothing more than just a superior and a subordinate. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was quite the catch in Ardlens. Many young ladies longed for his love and were even willing to throw themselves at him. <br /> <br /> His question just now reminded her of that fact. Was he afraid that she wouldn't let him go that easily? If that was the case, he couldn't be more wrong... <br /> <br /> After biting her lower lip to conceal her bitterness, Raegan said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Dixon. I was giving it too much thought. Anyway, please leave me alone from now on. You don't have to come here again."<br /> <br /> After saying that, Raegan couldn't help but burst into tears. <br /> <br /> How could she not be sad when she was cutting ties with the man she had loved for a decade? It was such a long time. <br /> <br /> Regardless of how difficult it was, she knew it was time to let go. <br /> <br /> It was high time she stopped being a fool. <br /> <br /> Strangely, the light in the corridor began flickering. <br /> <br /> The deathly stare Mitchel was giving Raegan right now made the atmosphere seem like the moment before an attack in a horror movie. <br /> <br /> Although he understood that Raegan sometimes could throw a tantrum, he felt that she had just crossed the line now. <br /> <br /> His eyes shone like blazing torches at this moment. But when he saw the tears in her eyes, the rage inside him extinguished in an instant. He said in a low voice, "If this is about what happened between you and Tessa, I..."<br /> <br /> "No, this isn't about her. Mr. Dixon, please leave now."<br /> <br /> A lot of things happened between them. And the incident with Tessa didn't come close to any. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt exhausted. She passed by Mitchel and was about to open the door. <br /> <br /> Yet, Mitchel was displeased with her stubbornness. <br /> <br /> He loosened his tie irritably. He then took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. <br /> <br /> "Stop this, will you?"<br /> <br /> A second later, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. <br /> <br /> He instantly realized that she was burning up like someone who had been set on fire. <br /> <br /> "You have a fever?"<br /> <br /> Raegan felt dizzy. She rested her head on his chest weakly. <br /> <br /> This made the whole situation complicated. <br /> <br /> Reagan was slow to catch that. When she finally realized that her body was too close to his, she put her hands against his chest and tried to pull back. <br /> <br /> Before she could escape, Mitchel pulled her back and held her by the waist. With a cold face, he said in a low voice, "Where do you think you are going?"<br /> <br /> The light flickered again. Out of the blue, Mitchel lifted her up. <br /> <br /> He then headed for the elevator. <br /> <br /> In a daze, Raegan asked softly, "What are you doing?"<br /> <br /> "What does it look like I am doing?" Mitchel remarked. "Taking you to the hospital, of course."<br /> <br /> "No way!" Raegan cried out in surprise and seemed to regain more strength. <br /> <br /> Mitchel might find out about her condition if they went to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Raegan struggled to get out of Mitchel's arms. However, his tight grip made her efforts fruitless. <br /> <br /> "Don't be so stubborn. You are sick, so you must see the doctor," Mitchel said firmly. <br /> <br /> He walked to the elevator with her in his arms. At this moment, Raegan's heart was thumping so hard that it could jump out of her chest. She flailed in protest. <br /> <br /> "Put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!"<br /> <br /> &13&	LEARN_MORE	https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-e	159129143942156	Hello reading	https://facebook.com/61552535188096	43,118	2	780,455,007,572,048	2024-07-12 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Learn more	Hello reading	120213505596140091	fbweb.moboreader.net	NONE	image		https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-enj57-1125-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=124213&accid=798859118295947		2024-06-16 22:20	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448435997_447481407993979_2088033035106020657_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FTN6taUi5RkQ7kNvgHo-pOK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDRdgBKsnAHpgxubz5MavJ8Jyv_L_bzRqBz2OZUd-dCaQ&oe=669705A5	person_profile	moboreader	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448379524_3675475959376113_2360083677414545398_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dLtDGLkUez0Q7kNvgF_2gKH&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYD4zfYZ_qaqub5p4dyn_mFb1fwJ85v9vvxdw7oOpo0Eqg&oe=66972115	3	Hello reading	2024-07-12 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,922,198	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1922199}'	No	2024-07-12 08:57	active	1112	1140173943938009	$69 Consult + Any Necessary X-rays of the area + First SoftWave Treatment + Report of Findings	Hey Conway Area! 👋 I'm giving away 30 vouchers to get a SoftWave™ Consultation, Any Necessary X-rays of the area, First SoftWave Treatment, and Report of Findings for just $69 ($275 Value)!<br /> <br /> SoftWave™ Therapy has been used in Europe for the past 10+ years with great success. It has been recently cleared by the FDA for treatment of pain and connective tissue activation in the US. <br /> <br /> The SoftWave™ Therapy device generates harmless yet powerful electro hydraulic shockwaves that travel at 3,335 mph to drastically reduce inflammation and increase circulation in an injured area. <br /> <br /> Research indicates there are growth of new blood vessels and migration of stem cells to the treated area in about 8 to 10 weeks. <br /> <br /> SoftWave™ Therapy not only reduces pain, but it also has a regenerative effect due to increased blood flow and stem cell activation. <br /> <br /> SoftWave™ Therapy is often effective for conditions that have not responded to standard treatment such as pain medications, physical therapy, or even steroid joint injections and epidural injections. It may also even help some patients avoid surgery.<br /> <br /> Conditions that have been treated successfully with SoftWave™ Therapy include:<br /> <br /> ✅ Knee Pain <br /> ✅ Shoulder Pain <br /> ✅ Back Pain <br /> ✅ Neck Pain <br /> ✅ Wrist/Hand Pain<br /> ✅ Foot/Ankle Pain<br /> ✅ Neuropathy <br /> ✅ Carpal Tunnel<br /> ✅ Ligament Damage <br /> ✅ Plantar Fasciitis <br /> ✅ Nerve Pain <br /> ✅ Sciatica <br /> ✅ Tendinitis<br /> ✅ Arthritis<br /> ✅ Joint Pain <br /> ✅ & Much More!<br /> <br /> It's so unique and so successful that we have patients traveling 20+ miles away to receive this therapy!<br /> <br /> 📍 675 Dave Ward Dr. Ste 105, Conway, AR 72034<br /> <br /> We're here to help reduce stress, discomfort & pain as quickly as possible to improve quality of life.<br /> <br /> Claim your voucher now: <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fchiroadvancecare.com%2Fdr-merissa-beard-softwave&h=AT184muHiXkCegqaYIlwuj8NjV8SEWBiouQ_UD6xNPltJhDCgS5As51TAgZ2m9rmFE73uHGYr4ouEadvs3hZ5rLZLqkvXFaT54YT1UqsuD-MY7sI_y8ZIKNvFYWLPxQX09fxoCKvutnu_ICZ5VbYb1_0qdrAcg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://chiroadvancecare.com/dr-merissa-beard-softwave</a>	GET_OFFER	https://chiroadvancecare.com/dr-merissa-beard-soft	731532156881551	Beard Family Chiropractic	https://facebook.com/maxlivingconway	2,794	2	1,484,576,902,452,967	2024-07-12 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Get offer	Beard Family Chiropractic	120210862907650666	https://chiroadvancecare.com/dr-merissa-beard-softwave	NONE	video		https://chiroadvancecare.com/dr-merissa-beard-softwave?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium={{placement}}&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&utm_adset={{adset.name}}		2024-07-11 19:42	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450889190_811818231088240_5714987835708703395_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AKJk2t3gIXAQ7kNvgGNxXJE&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCXmRU8bOjcBrO9SlRBkEQJgDxbwN116n4Er9l5ph1hFg&oe=6696EF10	person_profile	Beard Family Chiropractic	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450839809_846341580235010_5128121035392376383_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JkJ6Fm2pOiMQ7kNvgFBMhzD&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDJrPWb1kiWCx7rUF15KSPktlSkijxdIH_s0Wz3KvIUbQ&oe=6696FA39	3	Beard Family Chiropractic	2024-07-11 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,922,143	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1922141}'	No	2024-07-12 08:57	active	1112	491018343481224	Do this to...		LEARN_MORE	https://www.new-digital.online/ps-nutra/	224971670703756	Hector Diaz	https://facebook.com/61556719610387	2	4	467,974,146,185,666	2024-07-12 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	Hector Diaz	120209746643990727	www.new-digital.online	NONE	video		https://www.new-digital.online/ps-nutra/		2024-07-11 15:45	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450761031_830156022408544_5354917951436208475_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nPk2Q8ZjgxIQ7kNvgFF31K_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCRZ4bQyP0XOhKMRg4I_QWSKWj068BeoPbEDmol8Tl7cw&oe=66970579	person_profile	Hector Diaz	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450831863_467825189291272_6898412609382127946_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HzVAooG_kZQQ7kNvgEBOEU3&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDjx74ssRHMECc0xpnDKgHIBaWTcpfsfyNqRgu3nP8pMQ&oe=669721B3	3	Hector Diaz	2024-07-12 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,921,845	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2024-07-12 08:57	active	1112	2739004652947021	Fall for the villain	My breath caught when he began to slowly trace the neckline of the dress with one, calloused finger. The material was so light that when he trailed that finger down, it was as thrilling as if he’d touched my skin.<br /> <br /> But then he took hold of my shoulders and turned me around so my back was to him and stepped in, his warm chest pressing right at my back, his breath fluttering on my ear as he trailed the tips of his fingers from my neck, to the point of my shoulders, then down my arms.<br /> <br /> “There is a lie among the males of your kind that pleasure is centered on… sacred places.”<br /> <br /> I shivered as the skin under his fingertips bloomed, the hair on my arms rising to meet his touch as he trailed them softly, slowly down my forearms. “Every square inch of your skin hides one thousand nerve endings. Each one a tiny seed of sensation. Did you know that?” His voice was rough, guttural.<br /> <br /> I shook my head and he chuckled and dropped his chin so his breath puffed, hot on my neck. Then he opened his mouth on the skin under my ear.<br /> <br /> My breath caught. Closing my eyes, I tipped my head back and aside to give him better access.<br /> <br /> A deep, approving rumble began in his chest, vibrating against my back. He rewarded me by lightly dragging those fingers back up my arm, so slowly that the goosebumps rushed ahead of his touch to sensitize the skin before he reached it.<br /> <br /> I shivered.<br /> <br /> “Do not be afraid, Jesse. I will paint you in pleasure,” he rasped, his touch trailing all the way up my arms, then to my shoulders, then down to trace the lines of my collarbones… and when I bit my lip, he took hold of my chin in one hand and turned my head, forcing me to meet his eyes. His stunning, sapphire eyes that glowed so chillingly cold it was like being doused in ice-water. “But do not deny me.”<br /> <br /> “I won’t,” I whispered. “I don’t want to.”<br /> <br /> He shuddered then, his eyes closing for a moment and his chin dropped so his lips brushed the top of my shoulder. “How you feed my power so acutely, I do not know. But it is… stunning, Jesse. If you can do this before we’ve completed the bond… I barely dare to hope how it will be once we have.”<br /> <br /> I tensed, then, knowing what that meant. And he felt it.<br /> <br /> With a low growl, he let his hands slide down, kissing the side of my neck again—softer, slowly, but his breath was getting faster, and I could feel the steel of him against my back.<br /> <br /> “Submit to me, Jesse, and I will show you a world you didn’t know existed.” His hands slid down and he began slowly furling up the skirt of my dress on both sides, concertinas of fabric gathering in his hands as the hem slowly climbed. My breath got faster too, goosebumps pebbling my back and raising the hair on my arms again.<br /> <br /> “I will,” I whispered. “I told you… protect me and I’ll give you everything you want.”<br /> <br /> He groaned like he’d been struck and leaned into me so I felt the heat of him from my calves to my neck.<br /> <br /> “Then it is time, Kitten. Now… prepare yourself,” he rasped. “We’re going to make you truly mine.”<br /> <br /> SLAVE TO THE WOLF KING - Aimee Lynn (Bestselling and award-winning author of Falling in Love with the King of Beasts, and Rise of the Dark Alpha)<br /> <br /> Available on Kindle, in paperback, and audio NOW.	DOWNLOAD	https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D4W2WK5D?maas=maas_adg	129252323603254	Author Aimee Lynn/Lane	https://facebook.com/61551483925825	5	1	1,814,247,662,416,066	2024-07-12 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Download	Author Aimee Lynn/Lane	120209979932390499	amazon.com	NONE	image	Jesse is a normal girl from a fucked-up family. The only thing she wants is freedom. Casimir, the dark and ruthless Wolf King, reigns in the underground dens of the wolf world with the power to compel anyone to do anything he commands. But he needs a new mate because the last two killed themselve...	https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D4W2WK5D?maas=maas_adg_FE107ABF4D486A712FC492DAFCBD3CBF_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas		2024-07-12 00:09	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450253196_1059362305610697_7396409139939042297_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=57OgxdFZ3lgQ7kNvgEHSQbH&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDdqgTQXtMo45JKBwvk1KrTLEyJTYoVBWi05s4GGP7TPg&oe=66971AB0	person_profile	Aimee Lynn \| Aimee Lane	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450530847_403816375423747_1971488261697895882_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zmRkCVTb5egQ7kNvgEwFW3-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCedltLl7X2ghHvgg07BYz2Js0_cUgqwz_bfourQ8D56Q&oe=6696F911	3	Author Aimee Lynn/Lane	2024-07-12 02:00	View Edit Delete
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1,921,995	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":1921851}'	Yes	2024-07-12 08:57	active	1112	1139936220448525	Read next chapter👉	She signed the divorce papers and left without taking her phone. He checked her phone and got floored at the message: Please come tomorrow for another prenatal care checkup!<br /> =============<br /> <br /> Chapter 1 Ex-girlfriend Returns<br /> <br /> Raegan Hayes was a little absent-minded at the moment. <br /> <br /> All she could think of since this afternoon was the doctor's words. "Congratulations! You are going to be a mom."<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Mitchel Dixon pinched her arm. His low voice came the next second. "Come back to earth. What are you thinking about?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel was her husband. They had been married secretly for two years. He was her superior at work, the president of the Dixon Group. <br /> <br /> Everything had happened so fast. She was newly employed in the company when they unexpectedly got married. <br /> <br /> At that time, Mitchel's grandfather fell seriously ill. It was then he proposed a fake marriage just to fulfill his grandfather's dying wish. <br /> <br /> They signed a prenup, agreeing to hide their marriage from the public. Their union could be terminated at any time. <br /> <br /> It was an unconventional thing to do. However, Raegan only considered herself lucky at that time. <br /> <br /> Never in a million years did she think she would ever get married to the man she had a crush on for eight years. She delightfully agreed. <br /> <br /> After their marriage, Mitchel was very busy. He spent most of his time working. <br /> <br /> Raegan wished she could spend more time with him at home. However, she was rest assured because there hadn't been any rumors or scandals about him with women in the past two years. <br /> <br /> Except for his mild indifference, Mitchel was a perfect husband. <br /> <br /> Raegan had mixed feelings as she stared at the medical report. <br /> <br /> In the end, she decided to tell Mitchel this news. <br /> <br /> She also wanted to tell him that she hadn't learned about him for the first time two years ago and that she had been crushing on him for many years before then. <br /> <br /> Just then, Mitchel’s phone rang. He went to the balcony and answered the phone. <br /> <br /> Raegan checked the time and found that it was already midnight. <br /> <br /> She felt a little uneasy. Who would call Mitchel at this hour? <br /> <br /> Mitchel spent a few minutes on the balcony. Thereafter, he returned and changed into formal attire. His handsome face which had a clear outline made him look dignified. <br /> <br /> He was something to see now. <br /> <br /> "Don't wait up for me. Good night," he said finally. <br /> <br /> What? He was on his way out? At this hour? <br /> <br /> Raegan's grip on the report tightened as she stared at him in disappointment. Unconsciously, she withdrew slightly. After thinking for a while, she blurted out, "It's already so late."<br /> <br /> Mitchel's fingers froze on his tie. With a faint smile, he pinched her earlobe and said, "Be good, okay? There's something I have to do. Don't wait up."<br /> <br /> With that, he headed for the door. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel."<br /> <br /> Raegan quickly ran and caught up with him. <br /> <br /> Mitchel turned around and looked at her seriously. <br /> <br /> "What's the matter?"<br /> <br /> There was a tinge of coldness to his voice. An icy cloud hung over them as they stared at each other. <br /> <br /> A little distressed, Raegan asked in a low voice, "I would like to visit my grandma tomorrow. Can you accompany me there?"<br /> <br /> Her grandmother always wanted to see her. As a result, Raegan wanted to take Mitchel there to assure her grandma they were happy. <br /> <br /> "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Without agreeing or declining, Mitchel left in a hurry. <br /> <br /> Several thoughts were threading Raegan's mind. She couldn't sleep a wink. <br /> <br /> After tossing and turning for a long time, she went to the kitchen and made herself a warm glass of milk. <br /> <br /> A few notifications from some online blogs came into her phone. <br /> <br /> However, she wasn't interested in them. She was about to swipe them away when one of them caught her attention. The familiar name made her click on it. <br /> <br /> The news read, "Famous designer, Lauren Murray was spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend earlier today."<br /> <br /> Lauren was wearing a bucket hat. The man's figure was vague, but the outline of his body was enough to show that he was dashing. <br /> <br /> Raegan zoomed in on the picture. The next second, her heart dropped. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was the man in the picture! <br /> <br /> So, he canceled the afternoon meeting just to go pick up his ex-girlfriend from the airport? <br /> <br /> This realization settled like a boulder in Raegan's gut, rendering her flustered. <br /> <br /> Her hands trembled. Subconsciously, she dialed Mitchel's number. <br /> <br /> The dial tone brought her back to her senses. Just as she was about to hang up, the line connected, and a voice came from the other end. <br /> <br /> "Hello!"<br /> <br /> It was a particularly gentle woman's voice. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a second and then threw the phone away. <br /> <br /> She suddenly felt sick in her stomach. Covering her mouth, she ran into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet bowl. <br /> <br /> The next morning, Raegan went to work on time. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had tried to get her to stop working after they got married. Stubbornly, she insisted on making her own money. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't kick against her decision, but he asked her to work as his assistant, helping him with the daily chores. <br /> <br /> The head assistant, Matteo Jenkins was left to take care of the major affairs Mitchel had. <br /> <br /> Matteo was the only Dixon Group employee who knew about their marriage. <br /> <br /> Since inception, only male assistants were hired for the president's office. Reagan was the first and only female. Her employment broke the protocol. As a result, other workers couldn't help but wonder if she was involved with Mitchel. <br /> <br /> It took a while before they realized that Mitchel never gave Raegan special treatment. Strangely, this made them despise her even more. <br /> <br /> After all, no one would last long in anything while taking advantage of their looks.<br /> <br /> At this time, one of Raegan's colleagues handed her a document and ordered her to take it to Mitchel's office. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't return home last night. Raegan was so worried that she didn't sleep at all. <br /> <br /> All she kept thinking about was the woman who answered his phone when she called. What was her relationship with Mitchel?<br /> <br /> Raegan already knew the answer to that, but she was still in denial. <br /> <br /> It was difficult for her to come to terms with that fact. <br /> <br /> Raegan tried to remain calm now. She reasoned that no matter what happened, she deserved a result that would be rewarding for all the years she spent loving Mitchel. This couldn't be all for nothing, right? <br /> <br /> She pressed the elevator button calmly and went up to the president's office. Before she walked out of the elevator, she smoothed her hair to make sure she looked good. <br /> <br /> She had arrived at the office, only to see that the door was ajar. A man's voice came. She halted instantly. <br /> <br /> "Come on, man! Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?"<br /> <br /> The voice belonged to Luis Stevens, a childhood friend of Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> "What do you mean exactly?" Mitchel asked in a cold voice. <br /> <br /> "You know exactly what I mean!" Luis clicked his tongue impatiently and added, "I think Raegan is a good girl. Isn't she your type?"<br /> <br /> "Do you want me to hand her over to you?" Mitchel asked carelessly. <br /> <br /> "You know what, forget it!"<br /> <br /> The scornful laughter of Luis sounded particularly harsh in Raegan's ears. <br /> <br /> They were talking about her as if she were an object. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the document. <br /> <br /> Soon, Luis's voice was heard again. <br /> <br /> "By the way, I saw the gossip news about Lauren's mysterious boyfriend this morning. That was you, right?"<br /> <br /> "Yes."<br /> <br /> "Well, well, well! That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. You always want to please her."<br /> <br /> Luis sighed and continued to tease Mitchel. "As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell me, did you two..."<br /> <br /> Their conversation was like a thunder exploding over Raegan's head. <br /> <br /> Her face turned pale and her body was as cold as ice. <br /> <br /> The woman was indeed Lauren! <br /> <br /> Absence made the heart grow fonder! <br /> <br /> Every word drove a knife into her heart. <br /> <br /> Several whispering voices filled her head at this time. She suddenly felt light-headed. Her vision became blurry. <br /> <br /> She held the wall and took a step backward. Suddenly, the door was opened from inside. <br /> <br /> "Raegan?"<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 2 One-sided Love<br /> <br /> Luis was the one who opened the door. It appeared he was on his way out. <br /> <br /> Raegan balled her hands, turned to him, and nodded. "Hey, Mr. Stevens!"<br /> <br /> Without waiting for him to respond to her greeting, she walked past him and entered the office with the document. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was seated behind a large luxurious desk. In an expensive suit and matching tie, he looked particularly handsome. <br /> <br /> Raegan noticed it wasn't the same suit he had on when he left home last night. How did he get changed? <br /> <br /> With her eyes lowered, she swallowed that question and said instead, "Mr. Dixon, this is from the Marketing Department. Please sign it."<br /> <br /> Mitchel was expressionless as he signed the document at a glance. <br /> <br /> Raegan walked out the door as soon as he handed the document back to her. Luis was still standing at the threshold. <br /> <br /> It wasn't until she went out of sight that Luis turned to Mitchel and said in a hushed tone, "Do you think she heard us?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's appealing eyes were expressionless at the moment. Obviously, he wasn't paying attention to what Luis was saying. <br /> <br /> To Mitchel, Raegan had always been docile and never felt jealous of anyone. <br /> <br /> Her strict obedience was all Mitchel demanded from her in exchange for treating her well. <br /> <br /> In the elevator. <br /> <br /> Raegan held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn't work. <br /> <br /> She had thought two years would be enough for Mitchel to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love. <br /> <br /> Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream. <br /> <br /> She realized she would always play second fiddle to Lauren, Mitchel's true love. <br /> <br /> Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened. <br /> <br /> She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea. <br /> <br /> Several employees were chatting inside. <br /> <br /> "Guys, have you heard? Lauren Murray is back."<br /> <br /> "And who is that?"<br /> <br /> "Oh, my! You don't know her? Lauren is the heiress of the Murray Group as well as a world-class designer. Most importantly, she's the only girlfriend Mr. Dixon has ever shown off in public. She's his first love!"<br /> <br /> "Why is her return such a big deal? Isn't it rumored that there is something between Mr. Dixon and Raegan?"<br /> <br /> "Raegan? She's nothing to Mr. Dixon. Mr. Dixon never admitted that he was dating her. And that is no surprise to me. After all, look at her. She's not even that beautiful. Yet, she behaves as if she's already Mrs. Dixon. What a fool!"<br /> <br /> Standing at the door, Raegan smiled with self-mockery as she listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her. <br /> <br /> The love was one-sided. <br /> <br /> "Ha-ha, have you finally woken up from your wild dream, Raegan?"<br /> <br /> A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Raegan turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Mitchel's cousin, who had always despised her. <br /> <br /> Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping. <br /> <br /> The last thing Raegan wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way. <br /> <br /> With a cup of coffee in her hand, Tessa uttered sarcastically, "Lauren is back now. Do you think Mitchel will still give you any attention?"<br /> <br /> Raegan said nothing to that. <br /> <br /> Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule. "Maybe it’s time for you to seek out another man, you pathetic fool."<br /> <br /> Raegan clenched her fists and said coldly, "Ms. Lloyd, if you are interested in that kind of thing, feel free to pursue it yourself."<br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Raegan's retort made Tessa's face change. <br /> <br /> The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of coffee on Raegan. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't think for a second that Tessa would do something so crazy. She held up her arms just to block the liquid from her face. In no time, the coffee drenched her clothes. <br /> <br /> Raegan frowned. "What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?"<br /> <br /> It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama. Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers. <br /> <br /> She put on a mean-girl look as she said, "What makes you so smug every day, huh? Do you seriously think that others don't know you are just an orphan? The nerve of..."<br /> <br /> Tessa was silenced by Raegan’s shove. <br /> <br /> Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Raegan, who was so quiet and timid, would shove her. <br /> <br /> Tessa stuttered, "You... You pushed me? How dare you!"<br /> <br /> Raegan eyed her and replied, "Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness."<br /> <br /> Indeed, she lost her parents when she was a child. But that didn't mean she would allow someone to walk over her for it. <br /> <br /> Wrinkles appeared on Tessa's face as she frowned in anger. As Mitchel's cousin, she was used to being fawned over and respected. This was the first time she had been treated like this. <br /> <br /> Tessa charged at Raegan like a raging bull, poised to retaliate. <br /> <br /> This time, Raegan was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa's wrist so that the latter couldn't move another inch. <br /> <br /> Tessa was shorter than Raegan. As a result, she struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap. <br /> <br /> Tessa cursed angrily, "How dare you put your hands on me? Who do you think you are?"<br /> <br /> These harsh words attracted more people to the break room. <br /> <br /> "That's enough!"<br /> <br /> Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Mitchel had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo. <br /> <br /> The entire room fell silent. <br /> <br /> "Mitchel?" Tessa's blood ran cold at the sight of Mitchel. She had always been scared of him. Her mother also warned her against provoking him. <br /> <br /> But when she remembered that Raegan humiliated her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed. "Mitchel, she bullied me."<br /> <br /> The sunlight from outside fell on Mitchel's handsome face. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to look at her clothes which were soaked with coffee. <br /> <br /> Their gaze met in the air. With a deep frown, Mitchel looked at Raegan and said, "Raegan, have you forgotten the rules of the company?"<br /> <br /> His ruthlessness made Raegan's breathing cease. She couldn't believe her ears. <br /> <br /> No one dared to make a sound at this moment. <br /> <br /> Raegan just stood straight there with her slender figure. <br /> <br /> When she got employed here, Mitchel had told her that the Dixon Group wasn't a place for her to mess around and that he would not tolerate her making any mistakes. <br /> <br /> Raegan could understand why he took this stand. <br /> <br /> However, at this moment, she was desperate to know whether Mitchel had heard those hard words Tessa scolded her or he was just pretending not to have heard because he agreed to those words. <br /> <br /> Was she truly insignificant to him?<br /> <br /> Scared to death by Mitchel's rage, the crowd soon dispersed. A few employees were bold enough to peep from a distance, unwilling to miss the good show. <br /> <br /> Mitchel's cold eyes made Raegan shiver from head to toe. <br /> <br /> Raegan pinched her palm to suppress her emotions as she looked at Tessa. <br /> <br /> "I'm sorry, Ms. Lloyd. As an employee of the Dixon Group, it was wrong of me to have offended you."<br /> <br /> Eyeing Raegan, Tessa raised her chin complacently. "Humph! Don't think you'll be let off the hook just by making a simple apology. I don't buy..."<br /> <br /> "The offence has nothing to do with the company. Personally, I refuse to apologize to you. Now, if you'd excuse me," Raegan chimed in. <br /> <br /> She then walked past Mitchel without sparing him another look. <br /> <br /> "You..."<br /> <br /> Tessa's face turned blue after hearing what Raegan said. <br /> <br /> Never in her years of being alive had she been so humiliated. She was always the bully, not the victim! <br /> <br /> The humiliation was so much that scolding Raegan wouldn't appease her anger. <br /> <br /> Pointing in Raegan's direction, Tessa shouted, "Mitchel, did you hear what that woman just said? She humiliated me, yet she's still so arrogant. Call her back. I have to teach her some manners!"<br /> <br /> Mitchel, staring at Raegan's thin back, had an ambiguous expression at this moment. <br /> <br /> "Enough!" he said coldly, raising his hand. <br /> <br /> As someone who lived and breathed drama and cruelty, Tessa didn't think Mitchel was partial to Raegan just now. She assumed that Mitchel didn't care about Raegan at all. <br /> <br /> Tessa gritted her teeth and said viciously, "Next time, I'll get someone to teach her a lesson."<br /> <br /> "Tessa!" Mitchel's tone and squint made it a reproof. <br /> <br /> Tessa trembled at once. <br /> <br /> With a somber face, Mitchel said, "I'll only say it once. Forget about what happened here today. Leave Raegan alone."<br /> <br /> The aura he exuded made her tongue go dry. All the vicious ideas she had in store against Raegan disappeared in an instant. <br /> <br /> She stammered, "Ok... Okay, got it..."<br /> <br /> Mitchel cast a cold glance at her and spoke to Matteo. "Irrelevant people wouldn't be allowed in here from today onwards."<br /> <br /> Without catching the drift, Tessa flattered Mitchel. "Nice call. This is a top company. Not everyone gains access in here."<br /> <br /> Matteo nodded to Mitchel and then walked over to Tessa. He gestured to the exit. "Ms. Lloyd, this way, please."<br /> <br /> It wasn't until this moment that Tessa realized that she was the irrelevant person Mitchel just mentioned. She tried to speak to him, but Matteo blocked her way. The security guards then escorted her out. <br /> <br /> They showed her no mercy. Her struggle was useless. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Raegan got changed when she returned to her office. <br /> <br /> Her heart was filled with sadness as she thought of how Mitchel looked at her minutes ago. <br /> <br /> Closing hour soon rolled by. <br /> <br /> Raegan took her bag and headed for the exit. However, Matteo stopped her. <br /> <br /> He said, "Mr. Dixon has something urgent to deal with, so he asked me to drive you home."<br /> <br /> Raegan declined the ride without thinking twice. <br /> <br /> She was blind before, but now she could see through the situation. <br /> <br /> In Mitchel's eyes, she was just a nobody. <br /> <br /> How could Mitchel agree to accompany her to visit her grandmother when he didn't even care about her? <br /> <br /> Upon arriving at the hospital, Raegan saw that the nurse was about to feed her grandmother dinner. Raegan took the job over and did it by herself. <br /> <br /> All her life, her grandmother had been living in the countryside, enjoying a quiet life. Everything changed last month when her routine medical checkup showed that she was in need of medical care. Raegan insisted on bringing her to the city for better treatment. <br /> <br /> Her grandmother wasn't aware of her marriage to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> Raegan had planned to surprise her today. But as it turned out, that was no longer necessary. <br /> <br /> Raegan waited for her grandmother to fall asleep before she left. She walked out of the hospital and waited for a taxi. <br /> <br /> In the distance, a black luxury car pulled into the entrance of the hospital. <br /> <br /> Raegan's eyes lit up when she saw it. She recognized that car as Mitchel's. <br /> <br /> Did he come to pick her up? <br /> <br /> At this moment, she forgot all the pain she had been feeling. <br /> <br /> Were her thoughts about him all wrong? Did he care for her, contrary to the gossip? <br /> <br /> The door of the driver's side opened and Mitchel got out. <br /> <br /> Raegan started walking toward him with her heart brimming with joy. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had just walked over to the other side and carried a woman out of the car. <br /> <br /> Worry and compassion were written all over his handsome face. <br /> <br /> This wiped the smile on Raegan's face. Her heart sank. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Chapter 3 Let's Divorce<br /> <br /> Mitchel's tall and straight figure got closer and closer to Raegan. And then, without saying a word, he strode past Raegan. <br /> <br /> It was hard to tell if Mitchel saw Raegan or just ignored her. <br /> <br /> Regardless, Raegan noticed that the woman in his arms was the same one who had been photographed with him yesterday. <br /> <br /> She was Lauren. <br /> <br /> Raegan's shoes felt like they were made of lead as she walked away. <br /> <br /> She lost all awareness of her surroundings. She got into a taxi absentmindedly. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, the driver uttered, "Ma'am, where to?"<br /> <br /> Raegan was stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> She didn't want to go back to Serenity Villas. It was only a matter of time before that place stopped being her home. <br /> <br /> After a while, she replied, "Please take me to Crystal Bay."<br /> <br /> She had purchased an apartment at Crystal Bay after getting married to Mitchel. <br /> <br /> At the time, she had hopes of bringing her grandmother to the city, so she bought the apartment on mortgage. It wasn't that big, but it had more than enough space for two people. <br /> <br /> Mitchel didn't understand why she wanted to buy an apartment. He offered to give her a bigger one, but she declined. <br /> <br /> Looking back now, she realized that buying that apartment was the only wise decision she had ever made in the last two years. <br /> <br /> When she arrived at the apartment complex, Raegan sat in the park alone, trying to cool herself down. <br /> <br /> The memories of the past two years were bittersweet. <br /> <br /> Two years had passed in the blink of an eye even though it was more than seven hundred days and nights. <br /> <br /> Love could move mountains, they said. <br /> <br /> Yet, her love didn't move that stone of a man. She finally realized what a fool she had been. She had been making herself a laughingstock in front of everyone. <br /> <br /> It was already late in the night before Raegan finally decided to go into her apartment. <br /> <br /> As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Mitchel standing in front of the door. <br /> <br /> His sleeves were rolled up casually, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone, which revealed his long neck and part of his collarbone. He was leaning on the wall by the door, his handsome face straight. <br /> <br /> Raegan froze for a moment. <br /> <br /> Why was he here? Didn't she see him at the hospital with Lauren? What brought him here? <br /> <br /> Their eyes met. With his coat draped over his arm and one of his hands in his pocket, Mitchel squinted at her. <br /> <br /> "Why didn't you answer the phone?" he asked, sounding a little grumpy like someone who hadn't slept in a long time. <br /> <br /> Raegan took out her phone and saw she had accidentally put it on DND. <br /> <br /> There were five missed calls from Mitchel. <br /> <br /> This marked the first time in their two-year marriage. <br /> <br /> Mitchel blew up her phone because he couldn't find her? Surprising! <br /> <br /> Before today, she would have been overjoyed by this. People would've thought she won the lottery. <br /> <br /> But now, she just threw her phone back into her bag, folded her arms, and said in a hoarse voice, "I didn't hear it ring."<br /> <br /> Mitchel raised his hand to check the time on the watch, and said impatiently, "I've been looking for you for two hours."<br /> <br /> After arranging everything for Lauren, he returned home to find an empty house. He looked for Raegan everywhere. When he couldn't find her, he asked Matteo to check the surveillance footage of all the roads that led away from the company. <br /> <br /> He later found out that Raegan went to Crystal Bay without telling him. <br /> <br /> "Next time, tell me when you are coming here, okay? Let's go home now." After that, Mitchel walked toward the elevator without sparing her another glance. <br /> <br /> He meant to go back to Serenity Villas. <br /> <br /> Raegan didn't move an inch. She just stared at his broad back and pondered reluctantly. <br /> <br /> Would they have a future? <br /> <br /> Mitchell turned around, only to see that Raegan hadn't taken a single step. He frowned and asked, "Can't you walk? Do you want me to carry you instead?"<br /> <br /> The light in the corridor illuminated his face, making his side profile almost impeccable. <br /> <br /> Raegan took a deep breath and said, "Let's divorce."<br /> <br /> "What do you mean?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel's voice was cold, and his handsome face changed immediately. <br /> <br /> "I want to move into my own place. After all, we will be strangers soon."<br /> <br /> Raegan forced a smile, but her heart was aching as if someone was tearing it apart bit by bit. <br /> <br /> "We will be strangers?"<br /> <br /> Mitchel smiled coldly. "Raegan, what do you think our relationship is now?"<br /> <br /> His questioning left Raegan stunned for a moment. <br /> <br /> Mitchel had made it very clear to her from the very beginning. This facade of their marriage had happened by mutual agreement. There was no love. In the eyes of others, they were nothing more than just a superior and a subordinate. <br /> <br /> Mitchel was quite the catch in Ardlens. Many young ladies longed for his love and were even willing to throw themselves at him. <br /> <br /> His question just now reminded her of that fact. Was he afraid that she wouldn't let him go that easily? If that was the case, he couldn't be more wrong... <br /> <br /> After biting her lower lip to conceal her bitterness, Raegan said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Dixon. I was giving it too much thought. Anyway, please leave me alone from now on. You don't have to come here again."<br /> <br /> After saying that, Raegan couldn't help but burst into tears. <br /> <br /> How could she not be sad when she was cutting ties with the man she had loved for a decade? It was such a long time. <br /> <br /> Regardless of how difficult it was, she knew it was time to let go. <br /> <br /> It was high time she stopped being a fool. <br /> <br /> Strangely, the light in the corridor began flickering. <br /> <br /> The deathly stare Mitchel was giving Raegan right now made the atmosphere seem like the moment before an attack in a horror movie. <br /> <br /> Although he understood that Raegan sometimes could throw a tantrum, he felt that she had just crossed the line now. <br /> <br /> His eyes shone like blazing torches at this moment. But when he saw the tears in her eyes, the rage inside him extinguished in an instant. He said in a low voice, "If this is about what happened between you and Tessa, I..."<br /> <br /> "No, this isn't about her. Mr. Dixon, please leave now."<br /> <br /> A lot of things happened between them. And the incident with Tessa didn't come close to any. <br /> <br /> Raegan felt exhausted. She passed by Mitchel and was about to open the door. <br /> <br /> Yet, Mitchel was displeased with her stubbornness. <br /> <br /> He loosened his tie irritably. He then took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. <br /> <br /> "Stop this, will you?"<br /> <br /> A second later, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. <br /> <br /> He instantly realized that she was burning up like someone who had been set on fire. <br /> <br /> "You have a fever?"<br /> <br /> Raegan felt dizzy. She rested her head on his chest weakly. <br /> <br /> This made the whole situation complicated. <br /> <br /> Reagan was slow to catch that. When she finally realized that her body was too close to his, she put her hands against his chest and tried to pull back. <br /> <br /> Before she could escape, Mitchel pulled her back and held her by the waist. With a cold face, he said in a low voice, "Where do you think you are going?"<br /> <br /> The light flickered again. Out of the blue, Mitchel lifted her up. <br /> <br /> He then headed for the elevator. <br /> <br /> In a daze, Raegan asked softly, "What are you doing?"<br /> <br /> "What does it look like I am doing?" Mitchel remarked. "Taking you to the hospital, of course."<br /> <br /> "No way!" Raegan cried out in surprise and seemed to regain more strength. <br /> <br /> Mitchel might find out about her condition if they went to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Raegan struggled to get out of Mitchel's arms. However, his tight grip made her efforts fruitless. <br /> <br /> "Don't be so stubborn. You are sick, so you must see the doctor," Mitchel said firmly. <br /> <br /> He walked to the elevator with her in his arms. At this moment, Raegan's heart was thumping so hard that it could jump out of her chest. She flailed in protest. <br /> <br /> "Put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!"	LEARN_MORE	https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-e	159129143942156	Hello reading	https://facebook.com/61552535188096	43,118	2	506,559,298,607,166	2024-07-12 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	Learn more	Hello reading	120209832120060302	fbweb.moboreader.net	NONE	video		https://fbweb.moboreader.net/46526322-fb_contact-enj57-1125-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=124213&accid=825458485857502		2024-07-03 01:55	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/449785980_1583461355562932_5204348624737836572_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_P4U_6LOjIQQ7kNvgED-CQh&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCaktAZTgQ_-HvYb4WXuz07WKt9LmdmaF-FaIfILMnT2w&oe=66970693	person_profile	moboreader	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/449775428_797935879139910_6928552239348547860_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LrNHaQ-2WFEQ7kNvgGEv1uX&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCvq6H_Q_qX-rKOJeaqYAh42M4KBrlN44q3D8kwF2vflg&oe=669705FD	3	Hello reading	2024-07-05 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,921,777	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2024-07-12 08:57	active	1112	831673788905033			INSTAGRAM_MESSAGE	https://www.instagram.com/	112165210609440	Jay Adams	https://facebook.com/jayadams.uk	2,047	1	1,215,801,379,438,400	2024-07-11 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Send message	Jay Adams	120211578807290154	www.instagram.com	NONE	video		https://www.instagram.com/	{"type":"VISUAL_EDITOR","version":2,"landing_screen_type":"welcome_message","media_type":"text","text_format":{"customer_action_type":"ice_breakers","message":{"ice_breakers":[{"title":"OWNER"}],"quick_replies":[],"text":"Send me the word 'OWNER' to explore working together👇"}},"image_format":{"customer_action_type":"quick_replies","message":{"attachment":{"type":"template","payload":{"template_type":"generic","elements":[{"title":"","buttons":[]}]}},"quick_replies":[{"title":"I'd like to learn more","content_type":"text"}],"text":"Send me the word 'OWNER' to explore working together👇"}},"video_format":{"customer_action_type":"quick_replies","message":{"attachment":{"type":"video","payload":{"attachment_id":""}},"quick_replies":[{"title":"I'd like to learn more","content_type":"text"}],"text":"Send me the word 'OWNER' to explore working together👇"}},"user_edit":true,"surface":"visual_editor_new","ice_breakers_edited":true,"welcome_message_edited":true,"template_id":"750679553613140","has_ai_generated_welcome_message":false,"template_version":0}	2024-07-11 06:26	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/451007033_496307159506465_2222329843071644532_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vDY6VKVW__kQ7kNvgGTzeKl&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBNI9Alh15HTUhmeQpGEo2StO1a0kdtFRkPSEDMvPX2HA&oe=6696FD12	person_profile	Jay Adams - Business Coach for Barbers	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450807929_1485793218964578_2879936815823490455_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JtqEBPtN6-gQ7kNvgGDpyjQ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDgq-PAG9Sjg3IL8WK4jRzFkk84zpIpSKCv89xoJ89W5Q&oe=66971F5C	3	Jay Adams	2024-07-11 02:00	View Edit Delete
1,921,778	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2024-07-12 08:57	active	1112	482297300961945	Después de un día duro, relájate viendo más vídeos~	#Para vengarme de mi ex, me casé con un desconocido# ¡Para vengarme de la pareja infiel de mi prometida, me convertí en la esposa de su tío!	WATCH_MORE	https://fbweb.moboreels.com/12476375-fb-spy5-0705-	272723359246567	Mo-TV	https://facebook.com/61556983348059	3,906	1	1,178,255,523,418,122	2024-07-12 02:00	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	Watch more	Mo-TV	120209499815750331	fbweb.moboreels.com	NONE	video		https://fbweb.moboreels.com/12476375-fb-spy5-0705-2-core1-video.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=141683&accid=243380358820866&jump=1		2024-07-12 04:15	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/451008339_1022595256042551_2848234381048806572_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BbelPHAEqnwQ7kNvgGuRdl5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCOUfTNRKhzep1pEBolBRUCcvBMQ2P4SAbiV1tnNZxuvw&oe=66971700	person_profile	Mo-TV	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/451016544_2116960152005701_239727522318950800_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eWWSTgix0XsQ7kNvgFiguKe&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDIibI6QUJDQW7uVy9g2hDbRSySq0OxfymftFZbuQaULg&oe=6696F0B1	3	Mo-TV	2024-07-12 02:00	View Edit Delete

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