LOGINShare
Chapter 10
Related chapters
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 11
Ezra recalled Shermaine's words and, without hesitation, rushed to open the gift box.This was a present Shermaine had carefully prepared for him.It was also evidence of her love for him.If she truly loved him, how could she ever bring herself to leave him even though she found out about his infidelity?Ezra kept reassuring himself, but when he finally saw what was inside the box, he froze completely.In that moment, the color drained from his face, and he stood frozen, his hand trembling slightly as he gripped the papers.It felt as though a massive hand had clenched around his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.His mind went blank, and all he could hear was a dull buzzing in his ears.Ezra's large body swayed, and he could no longer bear the weight of the moment. He collapsed to his knees, his fists clenched as he pounded the ground again and again, letting out a guttural, anguished growl, like a trapped animal with no hope.As he moved, everything in the gift box t
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 12
A sudden knock echoed from the door, sharp and urgent, breaking the eerie silence of the night. Ezra immediately sprang to his feet, his heart racing with anticipation. He hurried to the door, eager to see who it was.When he opened it, his breath caught in his throat. There she was—the one he'd been longing for, the person who had haunted his thoughts day and night. It was Shermaine.She stood at the threshold, her soft face lifting to meet his gaze, a faint, gentle smile playing on her lips."Shermaine," Ezra whispered, his eyes brimming with tears. Without thinking, he reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace. The weight in his chest lifted, as if a missing piece of himself had finally been restored. For the first time in what felt like forever, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips, a smile that hadn't graced his face in weeks. But just as he was savoring the moment, he heard her voice—sweet and playful. "Ezra, let me in first."The smile on his face froze, and w
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 13
Ezra slammed the door shut without a second thought, leaving Melanie standing on the other side, alone and abandoned.For a moment, Melanie just stood there, stunned, before she scrambled to her feet and began knocking on the door with frantic urgency. She cried until her throat was raw, but Ezra inside remained unresponsive, ignoring her pleas entirely.She had come here in the middle of the night, hoping for a fleeting, intimate moment with Ezra, but she hadn't expected to be so ruthlessly thrown out. To make matters worse, her coat was still inside, and all she had on now was the revealing lingerie she had worn to seduce him.The loud bang of the door echoed, and the noise was enough to draw the attention of a few neighbors in the buildings nearby. They peeked out, watching Melanie's humiliation unfold in full view."I don't think she's the woman who lives here," one neighbor whispered."Yeah, I know the real wife. She's elegant and beautiful, nothing like this," another voice
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 14
After Nikki left, Shermaine took her medicine and read for a while before she felt her eyelids growing heavy. She lay down for a nap, and when she woke up again, it was already nearly evening.The outside world was shrouded in darkness, and the room was just as dim. Still groggy from her sleep, Shermaine got up, turned on the light, and sat on the bed, her gaze drifting to the lonely moon outside the window. A sudden pang of sadness washed over her, unexpected and sharp.It was strange how one could still feel lonely sometimes.At that moment, Shermaine didn't think about Ezra. Instead, she thought about her parents and friends far away. She had only vaguely mentioned coming to the research institute to them, and they probably had no idea that she wouldn't be seeing them again for another five years.Her decision to come here hadn't been made on impulse. It had been the result of careful thought over time. But Ezra's actions had pushed her further, giving her the final nudge she ne
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 15
Another two weeks passed in a blur for Ezra, and if it weren't for the persistent pressure from his company's senior executives, he'd likely never leave the house again. He had developed a severe case of insomnia. Every night, he struggled to sleep; he clung to the memories he shared with Shermaine, desperately trying to recall the moments that once brought him peace. He scoured his home, searching for anything that could remind him of her, but all he found was an overwhelming emptiness. Shermaine had never been one for extravagant jewelry or beautiful clothes. She was someone who valued simplicity, a person who preferred a quiet, minimalist life.Ezra watched the surveillance footage from the night before she left—the day he had passed out from the spiked wine. A delivery man had come to take away several large boxes from her apartment. They were filled with her things.While he had been lost in his own world, running into another woman's arms each night, Shermaine had been quie
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 16
The living room was a mess. Isaiah sat on the couch, his chest rising and falling with visible anger, clearly on the edge of exploding. On the other side, Melanie stood with her clothes in disarray, her pale face marred with red marks, and there were several photos scattered on the floor—intimate pictures of her and Ezra.When Ezra entered, Melanie seemed to have found her anchor. She ran over, clinging to his shirt, her voice trembling with a mix of tears and indignation. "I came to visit Mr. and Mrs. Stout today, and for some reason, they grabbed my hair and told me to go to hell… Ezra, they tried to kill me!""Yes, I wish I could kill you." Isaiah's voice trembled with rage as he slammed his hand on the table, his eyes filled with a mixture of fury and sorrow. "But you're not the only one I want dead. Ezra, I'll kill you too, you jerk!"Isaiah's voice quivered with anger. "My sweet daughter had never been wronged in her life... You promised you would treat her well! But what ha
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 17
Ezra returned to the Stouts, his heart heavy with regret as he gazed at Isaiah's frail figure. The once towering man now seemed smaller, his shoulders slumped, and Ezra felt a pang of sorrow deep within. He hesitated for a moment before slowly groveling at the door.Never one to bow in front of anyone, Ezra dropped all his pride in that moment, humbling himself completely. His forehead touched the ground in a desperate gesture, his actions driven by the overwhelming weight of his own guilt."Dad, please…" Ezra's voice cracked as he spoke, his eyes red-rimmed and filled with sorrow. "Tell me where Shermaine is. Please."Tears blurred his vision, and the weight of his mistakes crushed him. He could barely breathe through the sorrow."I was wrong. I'll spend the rest of my life making it right." His voice broke again, desperate. "Please, just tell me... Is she okay?"Isaiah, his expression icy, walked to the door, looking down at Ezra with a cold, emotionless gaze. His voice was as s
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 18
Not only did Ezra reveal how Melanie had seduced him to climb the ranks and how she had provoked Shermaine, but he also exposed how, when he no longer wanted to be with her, Melanie had turned the tables, scheming to ruin Shermaine's reputation.He laid everything bare for the world to hear.Throughout it all, Melanie was restrained, her arms held down by others, and the microphone in front of her had been turned off. Her voice, hoarse from shouting, fell on deaf ears.She could do nothing but watch, helplessly, as the man she loved destroyed her life.And he did all of this for Shermaine.Once Ezra had finished speaking, he let out a long, almost relieved breath. When he looked up again, his face was pale and his eyes bloodshot, filled with an unbearable sense of loss."Shermaine, maybe you'll see this press conference today. I just want to say, I was wrong. I hurt you, and I regret it, but the person I love most in this world is you. If I have to destroy myself, ruin my name,
Latest chapter
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 30
The situation unfolded suddenly.Melanie, in a frenzy, slammed her car toward the two of them.Ezra reacted quickly, shoving Shermaine aside, but he was caught under the wheels. In an instant, he was left fighting for breath, barely alive.Before Shermaine could fully process what happened, Melanie, in a wild, frantic state, jumped out of the car, clutching a fruit knife in her hand.But this time, she didn't get the chance to get close to Shermaine.As she neared and was about ten feet away, she was swiftly restrained by the bodyguards who had been lurking nearby.Melanie screamed and cursed, her voice filled with madness, as she struggled against the guards.Shermaine, still in shock, couldn't tear her eyes away from Ezra, whose blood pooled on the ground. Her expression was mixed—conflicted and unreadable.Ezra was still alive, but just barely. His breath was labored as he looked at her with a pleading gaze, his lips parting as if he wanted to say something.But Shermaine t
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 29
Under Ezra's hopeful gaze, Shermaine gently lifted her hand and touched the crying boy's small face.Ezra's eyes visibly lit up with excitement. He thought, perhaps, Shermaine had already forgiven him.But what he didn't expect was what came next."In the past, I did want to have a child with you," Shermaine said as she slowly pulled her hand away, her tone light yet cold, carrying an air of indifference. "But then, I realized something. I'm actually glad we didn't have a child. If we had one, it would have only tied me to you longer."Shermaine smiled at him, but the smile was filled with distance and coldness."Looking back, I don't even hate you for drugging me and causing me to lose the child. In fact, maybe I should thank you.""No, that's not what happened," Ezra choked, the weight of regret and pain threatening to overwhelm him. "I never meant to cause you to miscarry. It's all my fault. If you really feel nothing for me anymore, why did you leave me all those things to re
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 28
Melanie nearly couldn't hold back her smile. She quickly moved forward while holding the child, and in a sweet, high-pitched voice, called out, "Ezra, why did you take so long to get here? If you were any later, your son and I would've been bullied."But to her surprise, Ezra didn't stop beside her. He walked straight past, heading for Shermaine.Ezra's handsome face was filled with concern, his usually indifferent dark eyes now showing rare humility. He lowered his voice as he cautiously spoke to Shermaine, "Shermaine, she didn't do anything to you, did she? I'm sorry I'm late. Don't be angry. Whatever it is, I'll explain it at home. I'll do anything you want."The atmosphere suddenly grew tense and awkward. The bystanders, who were too far away to hear Ezra's words, could still tell something unusual was happening from his submissive posture in front of Shermaine. A few people who were closer exchanged shocked glances, their faces a mix of panic and disbelief. They hadn't expect
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 27
Upon hearing Shermaine's words, Melanie's face twisted with a fleeting look of rage. The anger and bitterness in her eyes grew stronger.Shermaine realized she been right all along. Ezra wanted to have it both ways.The thought of him pretending to be so deeply in love with her earlier made Shermaine's stomach churn. It was hard to believe she had once been taken in by his act.Melanie, clueless about Shermaine's meaning, assumed she was simply reluctant to divorce and grew more smug."Yes, Ezra's exact words were that if you hadn't left without a word and then disappeared without a trace, he would have divorced you long ago. You ran off in such a hurry because you were avoiding Ezra bringing up divorce, huh? So, all those times you acted so aloof and composed were all just an act. The truth is, you can't let go of Ezra."Laughter rippled through the crowd of onlookers.The drama between the three of them had caused quite a stir back then. Ezra had publicly admitted to his affair
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 26
Melanie lost her composure immediately, screaming from across the room, "Are you all crazy or blind? I'm Mrs. Yarbrough! She's the one you should be taking away! Let go of me! You'll regret this when Ezra hears about it!" Normally, the security guards would be wary of her name-dropping Ezra. But things were different now. Ezra wasn't as important as Shermaine. The school staff and security were all well aware of Shermaine's status, though they kept it confidential for her safety and privacy.After Melanie and her child were dragged off as Melanie hurtled insults, the head of security approached Shermaine with a respectful greeting. "Professor Stout, Melanie is a recent hire, so she doesn't know the rules. Should I help you report this to the dean?" Shermaine lazily lifted her eyelids. "No need. I understand the dean's situation. Since Ezra pushed her into this role, there's no real harm in keeping her around as long as she doesn't cause much trouble. I won't be here for long a
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 25
The child in front of Shermaine seemed around three years old, his wide, curious eyes locked onto her. He seemed to think bumping into people was a fun game, as he awkwardly shuffled his short legs backward, ready to charge at her again. Shermaine rubbed the spot where he'd collided with her. She didn't want to make a fuss with a toddler, but there was a flicker of irritation rising in her chest. "Whose kid is this? Where are his parents? Children shouldn't be here." "That's my son." A familiar, sweet voice rang out, laced with a hint of challenge. "Other people's kids aren't allowed, but my special status allows me to bring him." Melanie clicked her heels over to them, her high heels tapping loudly on the floor. Compared to years ago, she was no longer the naive girl she once was. Now, she looked much more polished and mature, though her eyes had become sharper, with an edge of bitterness. Shermaine hadn't expected to run into Melanie here. Judging by the time, Melanie s
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 24
There was still nearly half a month before the results would be out. Shermaine had only told her parents about this. No one else knew, not even Nikki. After a restless night, she slept in the next morning, and when she woke up, she felt much more refreshed. She pulled open the curtains and immediately spotted Ezra still standing down below. He seemed to be truly freezing, his body trembling slightly, his eyes bloodshot with a look of deep despair. Shermaine took one glance at him before quickly closing the curtains. For a moment, she almost forgot about his bothersome presence.Having finished up her work at the research institute, Shermaine still had to go to her regular job. She had kept her professor position at Judgeton University, which meant she could return to work there anytime.On her way to work, she took the back gate of the apartment complex to avoid Ezra. She also made sure to stop by a real estate agency, asking them to help her find a better place to live.Ezr
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 23
As soon as Shermaine got into the car after leaving the event, she instinctively sensed that she was being followed.She glanced at the rearview mirror and saw the familiar license plate. Her face remained unchanged, and her voice was calm as she said, "Drive on."Ezra followed her to the apartment complex where she now lived. It was an unremarkable neighborhood, nothing special about it at all.Shermaine acted like she hadn't even noticed his presence. But just as she was about to enter the building, she suddenly stopped.Turning around, she looked at Ezra, her eyes colder than the night air around them."Mr. Yarbrough, if you keep following me, it's going to start looking bad, don't you think?"Shermaine allowed him to follow because she knew there was nothing he could really do to her. After all, she was under national protection now. She didn't have to be afraid of any trouble or threats.Only then did Ezra step forward. The cold, desolate night seemed to make his lone figur
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 22
In his hand, he held a black blazer, clearly not a match for Shermaine's white mermaid gown. It looked more like a man's jacket. "It's a bit chilly inside. Do you want to put this on?" Eddie asked, his voice casual, but already he was draping the jacket over Shermaine's shoulders.As he lowered his gaze, his expression softened, and for a brief moment, there was a tenderness in his eyes.Ezra recognized that look instantly. What made it even harder for him to accept was that Shermaine, who had always been so careful about boundaries with others, didn't pull away. She allowed Eddie to drape the jacket over her without hesitation. She even lifted her soft, delicate face to smile slightly at him. "Thank you."The scene hit Ezra like a sharp blow, and his chest tightened in pain. He felt a sudden rush of anger and jealousy, his breath coming in heavier bursts. He stepped forward quickly, wanting to separate them, but just as he did, Eddie turned to face him.Ezra froze. His e
