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Chapter 4
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A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 5
The words hit Ezra like a thunderclap, jolting him awake.His face drained of color. He quickly ended the call, turning around to find himself locking eyes with Shermaine, whose gaze was as cold as ice.She had lost more weight in the past few days due to illness, her pale face expressionless, like the winter sun—bright but without warmth."Shermaine." Ezra's heart raced. He stepped forward, fumbling for words. He opened his mouth but had no idea what to say.Shermaine smiled lightly, as though nothing had happened. "What's wrong, Ezra? I heard your voice and came to check on you. You look off. Did you argue with someone?"Ezra visibly relaxed, quickly slipping into his usual act. He furrowed his brow, feigning irritation. "A few companies I'm working with have been acting up. I got angry and gave them a piece of my mind. Anyway, we shouldn't be standing here. Let's head back. Look how cold your hands are," Ezra remarked, swiftly taking her hand and tucking it into the warmth of h
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 6
After their conversation, Shermaine quickly made an excuse to rest and left the room with swift steps.Ezra watched her retreating figure, his mind replaying the strange look she had given him moments ago. A wave of unease washed over him, but he quickly pushed the feeling aside.Ezra was certain that Shermaine loved him deeply, that even that cold, aloof woman would get jealous. A few years ago, if he had even exchanged a few words with one of his assistants, Shermaine would sulk for days, ignoring him completely.If she had discovered what was going on between him and Melanie, she wouldn't be so cold. He was confident that, with her love for him, she would have reacted very differently.His phone buzzed again. It was another message from Melanie, begging him to take her to his house.Ezra's handsome face darkened, and just as he was about to lash out in anger, a new message from Melanie appeared on the screen.The message contained a provocative picture—on a white bedspread
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 7
The next morning, Ezra woke up feeling an odd weakness throughout his body. However, as he lay there, everything seemed fine. Shermaine simply told him it was because he'd had too much to drink the night before.On the table beside him was a beautifully wrapped box. Ezra's curiosity piqued, but Shermaine, looking a little embarrassed, explained, "That's your anniversary gift. Don't open it yet. Wait until tonight when you get back."Ezra felt a warmth in his heart as he pulled her into his arms, a rare trace of guilt flashing in his eyes. He spoke softly, "Shermaine, after this week, I'll take you abroad for a month. We'll get away and clear our minds."Shermaine gave a brief nod before quickly pulling herself from his embrace. "Hurry up. We're going to be late."At the foot of the mountain, as they were getting out of the car, a high-pitched, sweet voice called out, "Ms. Stout, Mr. Yarbrough, what a coincidence! You two are here too!"They turned to see Melanie, surrounded by a g
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 8
Melanie pouted and muttered under her breath, "I guess we're being the third wheel today." Her words were light, but Shermaine could sense the underlying truth in them. She had clearly seen the flash of jealousy and disdain in Melanie's eyes just moments before.Melanie turned to her with a playful wink. "Ms. Stout, it's just a hike. You don't mind, right? There's a group of us here," she said, signaling her friends to chime in. "Yeah, come on, Ms. Stout. Let us join you!" one of them said. "We promise not to disturb you and Mr. Yarbrough. We'll just be hiking together. You're the nicest person in the world, Ms. Stout!" Ezra barely suppressed a scoff. They were piling on the compliments, making it impossible for her to say no. It was clear to Shermaine why Melanie had shown up today. There was no such thing as coincidence, not when she was involved.Even Ezra, who usually kept his cool, spoke up in a tone that sounded almost too considerate. "Since we've run into each other
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 9
The more Melanie spoke, the more venomous her gaze became. She had an innocent, beautiful face and a sweet, melodious voice. But the words that came out of her mouth were like sharp daggers, stabbing into Shermaine's heart. Melanie grinned as she watched Shermaine's face grow paler, expecting to see her explode in anger. But to her surprise, Shermaine simply took a deep breath.Suddenly, Shermaine reached out, snatching the sample bottle from Melanie's hand. Her voice was calm, but there was a clear trace of mockery in it. "Is this the big brand you think it is? How unfortunate—its value doesn't even measure up to a fraction of what I use. You probably don't know, but everything that touches my skin is handpicked by Ezra. He even has specialists customize them for me because I've always pursued something unique. From the looks of it, he doesn't seem to put as much effort into you." The mockery in Shermaine's voice made Melanie's face twist in anger. Shermaine's eyes stayed c
A Weight She Refused to Carry Chapter 10
It wasn't until Ezra had lifted Melanie from the slope and stood her in front of the crowd that he finally realized he should have set her down. But as his gaze swept the area, he noticed Shermaine was nowhere to be found."Shermaine?" Ezra asked, his voice tinged with panic.Someone quickly replied, "She left already."Ezra exhaled a sigh of relief, but it didn't take away the gnawing unease. He knew she'd be upset. But that was fine. He'd just have to calm her down when he saw her again.His sharp gaze swept over everyone present, his voice cold as ice. "You all know what to say when it comes to explaining this to Shermaine."Immediately, someone spoke, "Mr. Yarbrough, don't worry. We'll tell her that Melanie's injuries were serious, and everyone went with her to the hospital. You just happened to follow us to help make sure she's fine for Ms. Stout's sake."Ezra nodded in satisfaction.Meanwhile, Melanie in his arms was practically glowing with triumph. She lazily draped hers
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
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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
