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Chapter 13
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2024-09-30 11:08:12Related chapters
A Free Relationship Chapter 14
The first time Seth had seen Maisie had been on his way out of the library after an evening study session. She had been huddled in a hidden corner by the entrance, crouching with a few stray cats.She had been so small, barely bigger than the cats themselves. It had been pouring outside, and she hadn't had an umbrella, clearly stranded there by the rain.He had started toward her and had intended to offer his umbrella, but Ethan had beaten him to it. The latter had rushed up from behind, asking, "Seth, do you know her?"Seth had shaken his head."Then, let's go." Ethan hadn't understood why Seth hadn't moved. He glanced back at Maisie and realized she had seemed to be crying. Her eyes had been red and puffy, and her face had been pale.Many years later, Seth would learn that it had been the day Maisie's parents had divorced.It had turned out that her father had been unfaithful and had another child with his mistress. Out of anger, her mother had taken Felicia and had moved abroa
Last Updated : 2024-09-30A Free Relationship Chapter 15
Seth had felt pathetic. He had promised himself that he'd give up if this didn't work. But then, he had heard sounds from the room next door at the hotel.The rough breathing of a man, along with the soft moans of a woman.He had succeeded.Perhaps it had been the alcohol or the pressure from work. More likely, it had been the woman Seth had hired—seductive, skilled, and impossible for Ethan to resist.Either way, Ethan had cheated.The two of them had carried on through the night, while Seth had lain awake in his room, staring at the ceiling.…The next morning, Ethan had called, crying, "Seth, do you have time? I could really use a drink."At the bar, Ethan had silently downed glass after glass of alcohol. Seth had tried to stop him. "Take it easy. Your health matters."But Ethan had been on the edge. "Just let me drink."Seth had known why, so he hadn't intervened again. In the end, he had taken Ethan home when he had been completely wasted.Maisie had been worried sick.
Last Updated : 2024-09-30A Free Relationship Chapter 16
Seth had thought that after more than a decade of betrayal, Maisie would surely choose to leave. But he had underestimated her endurance.She had cried, fought, and broken down. Yet, in the end, she always forgave.This time, though, Seth finally understood. It wasn't that Maisie couldn't let go of Ethan. It was that she couldn't let go of the only lifeline she had clung to all these years.Ethan had been the one who pulled her out of her darkest moments. She was terrified of drowning in sorrow again, so she held on to him tightly and refused to let go no matter what.She feared being swept away by the current or dragged under by the waves.Since that was the case, Seth thought he could become her new lifeline. He could replace Ethan.Felicia had been an unexpected bonus. When Seth found out Ethan had been involved with her, he knew that the time had come.He had waited for six months before Maisie finally called. His hand that had held the cigarette had trembled as he had answe
Last Updated : 2024-09-30A Free Relationship Chapter 17
Maisie soon found a place to stay and moved out with Coco. However, in her haste, the new apartment had its shortcomings.It was a newly rented unit in a somewhat desolate area, and it lacked convenient amenities. But Coco was happy as there was a large grassy area downstairs where she could play.Maisie bought a stroller and took her out for walks every day. Coco's health was declining, and even walking a few steps left her panting heavily.After a trip to the vet, the doctor advised her to prepare for the worst because Coco's condition could worsen at any time. So, Maisie devoted as much time as possible to being with her and tried to make her last days as joyful as they could be.On the weekend, Bret Walkman, her former class representative, called to invite her and Ethan to celebrate his newborn son's first birthday. Maisie didn't tell Ethan and took a cab to the event alone.The celebration was held at a restaurant in the city center. She was slightly delayed because of Coco'
Last Updated : 2024-09-30A Free Relationship Chapter 18
Quincy's theory was blunt and straightforward."If you're going to marry, make sure it's to a rich man. There's always a price to pay. You're holding onto your feelings, and I'm holding onto my money. So, we're pretty much in the same boat."Maisie didn't respond.Quincy leaned in, covering her mouth with a hand as she whispered in Maisie's ear, "But as a reminder, you need to keep your money close. He can sleep around all he wants, but you can't let him spend everything on other women."Just the other day, I saw in the news that the woman Ethan is with now is draped in Bulgari from head to toe. And look at you...""So what? It's not like it's woven from gold threads.""Don't be naive. If you don't spend Ethan's money, he'll just spend it on someone else."Maisie thought back to the last time she saw Felicia at that exclusive restaurant. She could sum it up in three words: luxurious and extravagant.After her parents divorced, she and Felicia had been split up and assigned to d
Last Updated : 2024-09-30A Free Relationship Chapter 19
Maisie paused for a moment before realizing the implication behind Ethan's question. She reached out to grab his arm. "Don't cause a scene here. It's Bret's son's birthday—""Maisie." Ethan shook off her hand. "Just answer me. Who's the father?"The force of his push sent her stumbling.Bret, suddenly sober, rushed to grab Ethan. "Are you crazy? What's wrong with you? Who else could be the father if Mais is pregnant? How could you even ask that?"Maisie collapsed onto the table, shattering a bottle of wine in the process. Quincy hurried to help her up.Ethan loomed over her furiously. "Who is it? Tell me!"Maisie sneered. "Does it even matter?"…Deep down, Maisie yearned for an escape, perhaps a trip somewhere far away to clear her mind—anything to temporarily distance herself from the suffocating pressure of being with Ethan and Seth.Nevertheless, Coco needed her, and that meant she was stuck.When she finally got home, her phone was flooded with missed calls. Most were from Seth.
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Maisie's apartment was a modest two-bedroom unit, barely over 500 square feet. She occupied the smaller bedroom, while the larger bedroom had been given over to Coco.Seth strode in and scanned the whole place in seconds.When he caught sight of Coco sprawled out on the bed in the master bedroom with her tail wagging in greeting, he merely scratched his nose and retreated."How did you even find this place?" Maisie asked.Seth deflected her question. "I've been hungry all day. I just lugged up a few dozen pounds of groceries to the 12th floor. If you're going to interrogate me, at least let me catch my breath."Maisie had no retort."I'm starving. Can you whip something up? I haven't eaten all day.""What do you want?"Seth casually gestured to the bag of groceries he had brought. "I picked these up at the supermarket. You figure out what to make."Maisie rummaged through the contents, her frown deepening with every item. "You got ripped off. These cucumbers are broken, and th
Last Updated : 2024-09-30A Free Relationship Chapter 21
When Seth had arrived earlier, he had spotted Ethan's car right away, despite it being parked in the shadows. Therefore, he deliberately lingered at Maisie's place for a while longer before heading down.Coco was a hefty golden retriever. Seth carried her all the way and only let her down once they reached the ground floor. After disposing of the trash, he strolled leisurely over to where Ethan stood.Seth knew Ethan had spotted him.Ethan's car was parked at the roadside, and he leaned against a lamppost while smoking. The ground around him was littered with cigarette butts.Seth approached with a small smile. "Hey, you should cut down on smoking. You're about to get married, soon. Shouldn't you be prepping for a baby?""I'm already married.""Isn't a divorce imminent?" Seth countered. "I've even drafted the divorce agreement based on your specifications. It should be arriving at your office tomorrow morning."Ethan sneered. "Thanks, Seth. Off working abroad, yet you still find
Last Updated : 2024-09-30
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A Free Relationship Chapter 43
Ethan wrote a letter for Maisie. The letter read, "Maisie, you may never read this letter, but I want to write it anyway. Consider this a letter for myself. "Maisie, Seth told me that if he were the one who approached you when you were at your lowest point that night 15 years ago, things would have turned out differently for the three of us."I thought long and hard about that. He was right. Things would have been different. You would've fallen for him and led a good life with him. "You wouldn't have to endure the hardships of being poor. You wouldn't even have to cook. Most importantly, you wouldn't have to feel the pain of being betrayed by the man you loved."If I could rewind time, I would still choose to be the first one to get to you. "Maisie, I couldn't possibly give up on what we had. The 15 years we spent together felt like a dream to me."I was like a man dying from thirst who found an oasis. Even though I knew the oasis would thrive even more in another man's hand
A Free Relationship Chapter 42
Felicia could never forget that day. Both she and Ethan thought Maisie would choose to get a divorce out of anger once she saw the intimate pictures of her and Ethan.Then, she would probably cut ties with Ethan forever. Maisie didn't do any of that. She was pregnant at the time. She went up to the balcony and jumped down.Felicia felt like Ethan's soul had left his body when he heard the news. He rushed to the hospital like a demented man. But he didn't go in. He hid behind a trash can next to a staircase in a corner. He clenched his teeth as he cried. Then, he muttered, "Everything's okay as long as he's here…"Felicia looked at the tall man standing outside the ICU. He had a striking presence and appeared very mature and composed. His features also resembled Ethan's a little. Felicia later found out that the man was named Seth Shaw and that he was Ethan's cousin.Ethan told her, "When my first attempt at starting my own business failed, I had wanted her to go with Seth. He
A Free Relationship Chapter 41
Just to make sure there were no mistakes, Seth went to the Ford residence and brought some stuff that Ethan's parents had used. That way, the police would be able to extract their DNA and compare it with the body. The coroner said, "We've already ruled out the possibility of homicide. This won't be a criminal case."Seth nodded. "Did you find any traces of alcohol in the body? Could it have been drunk driving? Or maybe the poor visibility at night that caused him not to see the lake?"The coroner said, "There weren't any traces of alcohol. Based on our deductions, the time of death should be around three days ago in the afternoon. The lighting should be sufficient enough. So, there was no way he could've missed it.""Then… an accident?""It's probably a suicide."Seth was at a loss for words. "We found a significant amount of sleeping pills in his system. Other than that, there's also a lot of half-burnt coal in the car. "The gaps in the car doors were tightly sealed with
A Free Relationship Chapter 40
Coco passed away six months after Maisie got married to Seth. Although Maisie had been preparing herself for that moment, she still felt as if the memories of the past 15 years of her life were gone along with Coco. She contacted a pet cremation center and went to Shelkin City alone. She scattered Coco's ashes under the tree where she and Ethan first met her. "Maisie. You're Maisie, right?"Maisie recognized the woman before her. "Mrs. Smith."Over a decade had passed. Her former landlady, Maria Wade, was holding the hands of her grandson who was around five years old. Maria asked with a smile, "Are you here for a stay?"Maisie shook her head. "No. I'm just visiting.""Your boyfriend came to stay for a bit a while back. I was wondering why you hadn't come with him. I tried to ask him, but he wouldn't tell me.""He came to stay here?""Yeah. He stayed for over six months. He only moved out last month. You didn't know about that?""We've broken up."Maria sighed. "Is that
A Free Relationship Chapter 39
Macy never saw Ethan again from that day onward. Her calls never went through, and she couldn't even see him when she went to his office. Macy couldn't accept this outcome. How could the man who said he loved her a moment ago leave her without the slightest hint of hesitation the next moment? She was only 18 years old. She couldn't figure out what was going on. Was the love of the rich really so fickle? She didn't understand when Ethan claimed to love her. She still couldn't comprehend it after he left.One of the advantages of being young was the determination to get to the bottom of things. Finally, she managed to run into Jeremy near the entrance of Ford Group. She had met Jeremy twice before. She knew he was a close friend of Ethan and his business partner. He was also her only shot at finding Ethan at that point. "Mr. Lloyd!"Jeremy stopped in his tracks. "Do I know you?""Did you forget about me? I'm Macy."Jeremy was taken aback. "Maisie?"Macy thought Jeremy had
A Free Relationship Chapter 38
Macy opened her eyes. She was a little confused. Why was the man who treated her like his most precious treasure a while ago suddenly so cold toward her?She thought she had done something wrong. So, she quickly held his arm and swung it playfully. "Mr. Ford, thank you for celebrating my birthday with me. This is the happiest birthday I've ever had."Looking into the distance, Ethan asked, "What made you feel happy?""Because you prepared a fireworks show just for me. It's even grander than the ones seen in theme parks. I bet the whole city saw the fireworks!""And that made you happy?""Of course!" Macy rested her head on Ethan's shoulder and said, "Thank you, Mr. Ford.""It's not me who you have to thank.""Then, who should I thank?"Who should she thank? The image of him and Maisie envisioning their future in the basement of Shelkin City appeared in his mind. …Back then, he was still a young man who had nothing. He held Maisie in his arms and rested his chin on her flu
A Free Relationship Chapter 37
Seth talked to Maisie about Waylon's request when he went home. That night, Maisie had trouble sleeping. Seth felt terrible for her and regretted telling her about Waylon's request. He felt like he should've come up with an excuse to turn Waylon down. He wrapped his arms around Maisie's waist and pulled her closer. "You don't have to think about it anymore. I'll turn him down tomorrow.""That's not it. I think I hear someone calling for me."Seth held his breath and listened for a moment. "I don't hear anything.""I'm confused, too. It's like I hear someone calling my name as soon as I close my eyes."Seth thought about Felicia. "Could something have happened to Felicia?"Maisie had no idea. She figured that Felicia was probably fine since she was with Ethan.Seth picked up her phone and placed it before her. "Why don't you give her a call if you're worried?"Maisie didn't move. "Are you still angry at her?"Maisie shook her head. "We're twins. I could never stay angry at
A Free Relationship Chapter 36
Seth was extremely pleased when he got to work the next day. Even the cleaning lady could tell. "Mr. Shaw, you look very happy. Did you win another case?"Seth cleared his throat. He wanted to say that he was very pleased with the effects of the beef and lentil soup he had the night before, but he couldn't say that out loud. So, he shook the pink-colored bag he was carrying. "My wife made lunch for me."The cleaning lady understood immediately. "Your wife must be a great cook.""Yeah. She's great.""You've changed since you got married, Mr. Shaw. You worked overtime until it was so late last night. Your wife must've felt so bad for you, right?"For some reason, her words made Seth feel a sense of serenity. "That's right. She felt so bad for me that she made a whole feast for me. It was a magnificent spread!""Oh, really?""Yeah. She wanted me to eat my fill, so she made all sorts of tasty dishes."Someone tapped him on the shoulder before he could finish talking. Waylon
A Free Relationship Chapter 35
After the wedding, Maisie's life was relatively comfortable. Apart from Francis occasionally asking when they planned to have kids, Maisie felt that marrying Seth wasn't a bad decision. He was a mature man, so he was emotionally stable, attentive, and gentle. Besides his rather intense needs in the bedroom, she was the one wearing the pants for most of their relationship. Seth rarely voiced any objections.Seth had told Maisie he was planning to buy a new marital home and renovate it to her liking. After all, his current apartment was decorated in a minimalist black-and-white style, which wasn't exactly warm and cozy. The small apartment Maisie was renting was a bit out of the way, plus the bed was too small.It seemed that Maisie still had her guard up. Her bedroom still only had a single bed that was just over three feet wide.Fortunately, they were both slim. Even though it was cramped, Seth didn't mind holding her close as they slept. But after a while, Seth started to
