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Lingering Echoes
Last Updated:
2024-10-26 17:53:46
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A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love CHARLOTTE
CHARLOTTEWhen I opened my eyes, the sun cast a warm glow on the windowsill, and the curtains were closed. I sighed and placed a palm against my forehead to check my temperature. It felt considerably better than the last time I checked; the headache had also stopped. As I looked around the room, I realized that someone had tidied up the place. It wasn’t particularly messy the previous day, but it was easy to tell that someone had picked up items that had been in odd places and put them where they belonged.Another sign of this was my phone, which had been placed on the bedside table. I tried to sit up, panicking at the thought of my body aching if I moved, but I managed it anyway. When I realized the pain wasn’t as bad as I’d anticipated, I sighed in relief and leaned back to rest. As I sat in the quiet room, the silence allowed the thoughts I had buried deep down to rise to the surface, and I realized that, in the midst of everything that had been happening, I was lucky to have Sonia
Last Updated : 2024-10-27A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love Unanswered Hopes
CHARLOTTE“You should rest a bit; you’ll need…” she started, reaching for the bowl. I readily handed it to her and shifted my weight, trying to find a more comfortable spot.“I think I’ve had enough time to rest,” I interrupted. “I’m tired of lying in bed. I need to…” I continued, but she held up a finger.“The only thing you need to do is stay in bed; you’re not strong enough for any other activity,” she interjected, and I shrugged.“Well, we had a deal. I do what I want today, and afterward, you can call the doctor,” I reminded her. She started to say something, then stopped.“All right,” she said instead. “What would you like to do?”“I need to get to the supermarket,” I started and smiled weakly as she stared at me with a confused expression. “Then a walk around the city would be nice,” I finished, and she chuckled.“Going to the supermarket, yes. No walks. You can barely sit up; I’m not letting you drag your weak body from one corner of Los Angeles to the other,” she replied in a
Last Updated : 2024-10-28A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love A Heart in Conflict
ROGERIOIt would be easier to categorize whatever I was feeling at this point under having “cold feet” regarding the wedding, but that wouldn’t be entirely true. Since my conversation with Maria and other interactions with Elena, I have been subconsciously comparing my experience with both women.Being with Charlotte was undoubtedly a marriage of convenience; there was a spark somewhere in the beginning of the relationship. At least she liked to think it was something tangible at the time, but as much as I didn’t want to admit it, being with Elena was different. It felt unreal. Every time we spoke, every time she complained about the marriage preparations, I wondered if there was an angle to it.Since the divorce, my life had become a cycle of asking questions I didn’t have the answers to. Marrying Elena had always been the plan, if she hadn’t left when she did. Our relationship would’ve blossomed or withered; either way, I wouldn’t be at this crossroads, wondering if it was better to
Last Updated : 2024-10-31A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love Between Shadows and Light
CHARLOTTEConvinced and slightly relieved that I had nothing to hide from Sonia, I let her call the doctor the next day. He ran a few tests, sent some samples to the lab, and assured me that he could tell I was doing better than the last time we had seen each other. He concluded that what I was feeling was probably linked to mental stress. Sonia and I passed a knowing look between us when he mentioned that.I toyed with the idea of telling him that two people had died because they tried to help me, and I still wasn’t sure how to process that. Instead, I asked what I could do to alleviate the stress. He suggested relaxing or doing things that made me feel happy. Sonia started to say something, but I spoke before she did. “Does that include dates? I have someone I need to see this weekend,” I said slowly and heaved a sigh as my throat felt sore.“Yes, you should feel a lot better then. If you don’t, we’ll have to get you to the hospital, maybe see a therapist?” he answered and turned to
Last Updated : 2024-10-31A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love Out of the Shadows
CHARLOTTEThe weekend arrived faster than I’d envisioned, but for the first time, I didn’t feel anxious about meeting Thiago. If anything, I was happy to be out of the house, and the activity we had planned seemed like a great distraction from everything that had been happening. Sonia had spent most of the week in the apartment, making sure I had something to eat and that I was well-rested.When the nurse arrived, she was impressed by how much had changed compared to the reports she’d read. My headaches were gone, and while I still felt a dull pain in my joints, I knew it would be gone soon. Today we were going shopping for a new dress since Thiago and I were going to an exhibition tomorrow, and he was already on his way to Los Angeles.“Can’t I just stay home and wear something from my wardrobe?” I asked as Sonia stood behind me, debating what to do with my hair.She shook her head. “I’m sure the clothes you have in your closet are great, but no… You’ll want something new for this, a
Last Updated : 2024-10-31A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love A Perfect Date, A Nervous Heart
CHARLOTTEI stared at the clock on the wall as a smile danced at the corner of my lips. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel anxious about meeting Thiago. The urge to crawl into a hole and disappear didn’t envelop me. I wasn’t sure how to feel about this new development, but I knew I would have a great evening. I supported my body on the bed with my elbows and glanced around the room until my eyes settled on the dress sealed in a cloth bag.Sonia had hung the bag in a way that would keep the dress crease-free and ready for when I wanted to use it. I sighed as the aroma of freshly baked pastries filled the room and closed my eyes for a moment. She had also turned herself into my designated chef, occasionally coming into the apartment to make breakfast, bring lunch she ordered, or give the housekeeper orders. During this time, she had also found a way to keep me from drinking. To be fair, I hadn’t considered drinking in a while, which should be a sign of the progress I’ve ma
Last Updated : 2024-11-08A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love Canvas of Secrets
CHARLOTTESpending the evening at the exhibition turned out to be much better than I’d anticipated. The art pieces on display were beautiful, and Thiago’s cousin had a welcoming personality that made everyone feel comfortable. The stares had lessened once the event started, and I went from feeling left out to genuinely enjoying myself. A few minutes later, someone walked up to the podium and announced there would be an auction for some of the pieces soon, but first, we needed to follow a guide waiting to lead us on a short tour in a different room.Thiago stood from his chair and offered his hand as the other guests filed out of the room. We were the last to exit, and as we stepped out, his cousin slipped behind us and lightly touched my shoulder. “I see why Thiago has been grinning all evening,” she said calmly. I turned to meet her gaze. “You look stunning,” she added, and I smiled.“Thank you,” I replied, glancing at Thiago, who seemed to be beaming with pride. “You look beautiful,
Last Updated : 2024-11-12A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love A Night of Surprises
CHARLOTTE“You don’t have to go there, you know. I know a…” he started to say as I stared at the card in my hand. It was a black business card that had an address and Tiana’s name printed on the back.“Where is this?” I asked, studying the card curiously.“It’s Tiana’s favorite restaurant, one of her favorites to be fair,” he answered, and I smiled. “Don’t pay her any attention; she’s a nosy brat,” he said with feigned annoyance, and I chuckled because I could tell that, as much as he acted like he didn’t want her in his business, it wasn’t hard to see that he still adored her.“I want to go. I like your cousin,” I said, running my fingers across the edge of the card.“I was afraid you’d say that,” he replied and shook his head. “She’d be delighted to hear that. I have to warn you, though. When Tee sets her mind on something, she doesn’t stop till she’s achieved it.”I turned to him and arched an eyebrow. “What could she possibly have her mind set on by offering me a card to one of he
Last Updated : 2024-11-12
Latest chapter
A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love Dinner
CHARLOTTEWhen I got home that evening, one of the guards was holding a box, which he handed to me with a cheesy smile. I took it, arching an eyebrow, but as I read the note stamped on the side, I understood why he was smiling that way.Thiago had picked the silliest yet cutest way to ask me out to dinner. I chuckled, thanked him, and walked into the apartment.I knew Thiago was just being performative with this gesture, and while I appreciated it, I wasn’t sure I liked the ideas it might put in the minds of others.Hopefully, they’d been around us long enough to know there was nothing between us - or so I hoped.When I opened the box and turned it on the bed, a dark blue dress fell out. It was short, with purple and silver frills, a bodice I feared would be too tight, and small sleeves that let my arms breathe. I picked it up, admired it, and reached for my phone to call him.“What’s the occasion?” I asked, as he picked up on the first ring.He chuckled, clearing his throat before re
A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love Behind the Counter
CHARLOTTEWhen I was done, I slid the mug over to him, and he inhaled the aroma first."What’s this called?" he asked, and I shrugged again."That’s not an answer," he added."Actually, it is. It’s called anything your taste buds want it to be. I have my name for it, but I like it when customers give their own. So, what do you want it to be called?" I responded, shoving the pen and notepad back into my pocket.He lifted the mug, looked at me with uncertainty, then sipped from it and smacked his tongue as he set it down."Oh, it’s sweet and hot. I like it," he said and downed the contents of the mug in one gulp, stifling a belch. "That’s actually great. Where’d you learn to mix like that?""Well, it’s been a few years since I bartended, but the art isn’t lost on me," I replied, folding my arms. "So, what do you want to call it?""I’m not sure… I might need another round to be certain," he said with a knowing smile. I chuckled and got to work making another drink for him.***The next f
A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love Best drink
CHARLOTTEWorking at the club was going smoother than I thought, and despite Thiago’s disapproval, I kept working as a bartender on some nights. When I wasn’t in the office with my nose stuck in financial records that I could barely understand, I took a break from that part of the trade by standing behind the counter, taking orders, and mixing drinks.It gave me the chance to familiarize myself with the regulars, whom I introduced myself to as “Charlotte,” but they preferred to call me “Charlie,” establish customer relationships with new customers, become closer with the staff who seemed to appreciate the approach I had taken towards running the establishment, and brush up my bartending skills.It was fun, a little overwhelming when I first set out to do it and stressful given that I hadn’t done it in a while, but still fun, and I made sure I had the best time. As I progressed, I asked the guards to get me a talkie or one of the earphones they used for their operations, and I became t
A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love She is right
Elena“Very well. Also, call me when you’ve decided. I’ll reach out later in the week about the wedding plans. Now that a date has been set, everything should proceed smoothly,” she responded, her tone brisk. She said something to someone in the background, then hung up.I lowered the phone and stared at the screen for a few seconds before shaking my head. I never knew what to expect with the Thuthais. As much as I hated to admit it, Maria was right. No matter how much I tried to stay ahead of the curve, something always came up to make me feel like I was twenty steps behind.I knew I had to talk to Rogerio now. There were no more excuses to reschedule outings or avoid meetings. This had to be done soon. But before that, I needed to talk to someone else: my father.He had been the mastermind behind my insistence on the estate that had been given to Charlotte. No matter how much I tried to explain that securing it was nearly impossible, he remained adamant about pushing for it.It didn
A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love Thinking
ElenaI lowered the windows and closed my eyes as the wind blew tiny ringlets of hair across my face. I couldn’t stop thinking about Thiago’s words in the warehouse, about Rogerio’s insistence on finding Charlotte. Now I had Maria’s words to add to the mix.I tried to force myself to sleep, hoping it would save me from dwelling on the connection between what they had said, but the sound of the bustling city humming in the distance grew louder and closer, pulling me back.The noise reminded me that something else was out there, something beyond my reach. As we inched closer, I focused on the peculiar thought that every single person walking in and out of stores, yelling on street corners, or laughing in restaurants and bars with their partners and friends had their own unique problems. One way or another, regardless of social standing, we all shared that common thread.“Problems,” I muttered to myself, chuckling softly. “We all have problems we’re dealing with.” I shook my head at the
A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love Mark my word
ElenaThey looked extremely stressed about the idea of answering to Rogerio, and I understood it. The power and social currency of the Rogerio name wasn’t something anyone in their right mind would dare go against.I was fully prepared to wield it to its maximum potential until one of the men finally spoke up, saying the only thing they could do was call Maria to come to the gate. That was perfect, as speaking with her had been my main objective all along.I crossed my arms, maintaining my annoyed expression while waiting. Predictably, Maria took her sweet time, and just as I was about to return to the car to sit and wait, she arrived with an expression far sourer than I could have conjured up myself.“You’re not wanted here,” she said coldly as the guards silently retreated to their posts, pretending not to eavesdrop on the conversation.“You have no right to tell me that. You just work here. This house belongs to Rogerio, and—” I began, but she cut me off with a sharp chuckle and an
A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love My husband
ELENAThe meeting with Thiago had shaken me to my core. I had put up a brave face during the conversation, concealing my feelings as best as I could, but deep down, I was terrified of what the possibility of Charlotte being pregnant meant for me. If she were found, it would upend the plans I had carefully set in motion to solidify my place as Rogerio’s bride.For days, I mulled over ways to stay ahead of Rogerio and eventually decided to visit the estate. It had been a while since I was last there, and I wanted to see if my presence would provoke Maria enough to reveal any information about Charlotte’s whereabouts.That morning, I rose early, called my assistant, and instructed her to inform Rogerio that our meeting for the evening had been rescheduled. My plan was to spend the morning at the estate and see Thiago before he left Milan.However, the latter didn’t go as planned - my assistant informed me he had already left the city an hour before. I tried to reassure myself that Thiago
A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love Don’t go
ROGERIO The plan was to wait outside her apartment and watch from a vantage point to study her movements. I wasn't sure what I'd be able to decipher from whatever I saw, but I still needed to satisfy the curiosity lodged at the back of my mind, propelling me to act on impulse. I didn't know what to expect, but even if she didn’t leave the house all day, I’d still be able to see if anyone came to visit. Maybe I’d do a better job identifying what exactly was going on. Half an hour later, I had parked the car a few meters away from her apartment block and turned off the ignition. I watched quietly to see what would transpire, and in all fairness, I was ready to stay there all day if I had to. My phone rang. I reached into my pocket for it and glanced at the screen. It was a call from the office, and I knew who would be on the other end. "Hello, Signor, you…" my assistant began as soon as I hit the dial button. I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth. "No meetings
A Chance At Forever: Chasing His Divorced Love Shadows
ROGERIOI spent the next few days trying to weigh my options and decide the next step to take. "I have to watch her every move, but how?" I said to myself one morning as I prepared for work. Her assistant had called to reschedule the dinner we were supposed to have later that day, and instead of feeling relieved, my suspicion grew in leaps and bounds.I picked up my suitcase and stepped out of the apartment, deep in thought. She hadn't been here since the last time we spent time together. I was delighted to have my space all to myself the way I'd always wanted, but this new information stirred something in me, and I knew I would be restless until I found a way to sate it.I walked down the hallway, ignoring the guards that greeted me, and stepped into the elevator, trying to put the thought out of my mind and focus on the day ahead. But every step I took seemed to renew the desire to get to the bottom of this. As the elevator moved to the ground floor, I decided what I wanted to
