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CHAPTER SIX
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-22 18:42:23
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A Whole New World CHAPTER SEVEN
ESSENCE Mr. Hot Stuff held my hand so firmly, so naturally, it was hard not to believe it myself. If anyone saw us right then, they would’ve sworn we were lovers. Real ones. The kind who spent Sunday mornings tangled in bed sheets and fought over where to order takeout from. My heart thudded, not from the cold, but from something warmer. Something that made the fine hairs on my skin stand to attention, despite the jacket shielding me from the rain. And by "shielding me," I mean it still carried his scent...expensive, subtle, and maddeningly distracting. I noticed the stares first. The women. Some subtle, some not. Their gazes slid over him like syrup, even the ones already sitting across from men who were probably regretting every life choice they’d made that day. Mr. Hot Stuff was still holding my bag in one hand like it was the most natural thing to do, and judging by the way a few ladies were eyeing him, I was pretty sure they were considering making me an offer for him.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-22A Whole New World CHAPTER EIGHT
ESSENCE I didn’t know what to say. A part of me wanted to reject the bag Lucian was handing to me, not because I was ungrateful, but because it was all beginning to feel a little… unreal. He had already done so much for me tonight, and quite frankly, it was starting to scare me. No one had ever treated me this well. It was the kind of thing you see in romantic dramas, the ones where the girl gets swept off her feet by the handsome, mysterious stranger. Except I was not that girl. Not even close. He stood there, arm extended, waiting patiently, and I was shivering even with the heater on. The stubborn chill wasn’t just from the rain, it was from life. The kind of cold that clung to your soul and refused to let go. But the moment I looked at Lucian’s hand still holding the bag, not backing away, I felt guilty. He wasn’t pressuring me. He wasn’t doing it to impress me. He was just… kind. And that messed with me more than anything else. With a weak smile, I reached for the bag.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-04A Whole New World CHAPTER NINE
ESSENCE When I looked up, Lucian was still staring at me. His calm smile hadn’t changed, and oddly enough, it made me feel safe. Which was insane, because I knew better than to trust a man just because he looked like he belonged in a billionaire calendar. But still... something about him felt familiar. Not just familiar in the “I’ve seen this hot man in a dream before” kind of way, but like I’d met him, once upon a time. "Can I ask you something?" I asked. He gave a slight nod. "Shoot." "Have we met before?" He didn’t even blink. "Yes, we have." I gasped. I knew it! "Yesterday," he added with a smirk. "We met at the gym." My lips curled into a half-grimace. “Huh.” I blinked. “I meant before yesterday. There’s something about you that feels… familiar. I just can’t place it.” He just smiled again...cool, and confident. "Then let’s wait until you remember." Wait until I remember? Was that his way of saying yes? That we had known each other? My heart skipped for reas
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-04A Whole New World CHAPTER TEN
ESSENCE The shrill sound of my alarm dragged me out of the shallow, miserable puddle of sleep I’d fallen into. I hadn’t slept much, but sleeping in wasn’t an option either. I needed to hit the gym—not because I wanted to, but because...well...I felt I had to. When I came out of my room, the house was as silent and empty as it was last night. The silence was almost theatrical, like even the walls were pretending I didn’t exist. I walked into the kitchen, made breakfast out of habit, but didn’t bother setting the table. What was the point? Alex and Asher weren’t home. They were probably off having their little family moment with Mother Remi the Great. As usual, I freshened up, put on my gym clothes, and headed out. I was nursing the tiniest hope that maybe Lucian would be there again. But of course, no black-suited dreamboat today. I remembered what he’d said about meeting someone three days in a row being fate. Ha. Fate clearly ghosted me. Maybe he said it out of pity. Maybe I look
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-05A Whole New World CHAPTER ELEVEN
ESSENCE I stood there, watching them walk away, smiling, laughing, a perfect little trio. A part of me wanted to rush after them, plant myself in the middle of that picture-perfect lie, and scream that I was Asher’s mother. That I had built that family from the ground up. But what was the point? He called her Mommy. Right in front of me. My chest ached so badly, I thought I was going to pass out. I didn’t even remember walking to the couch, but somehow I landed there, and the moment I sat, the tears began to fall all over again. Not the pretty, movie-type tears. No. These were the ugly, sniffling, snot-running kind that shook my entire body. But eventually, the sobbing slowed, and the silence returned. And with it, something else. Resolve. I needed to do something. Anything. I couldn’t keep living like this.... crying, waiting, hoping. I had given up my dreams, my friends, my career, and my self-respect for a man who’d rather stab me in the back than acknowledge I existe
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-05A Whole New World CHAPTER TWELVE
ESSENCE For a moment, I let go. Honestly, I did. It felt easier to just drift away than continue living this miserable, humiliating life where everyone I loved had turned into a stranger. But as the seconds passed, I realized something terrifying—I didn’t actually want to die. Not yet. Not like this. I was only thirty. I hadn’t even started truly living. I wanted to do something meaningful with my life. I wanted to be happy. Heck, I just wanted to wake up one day without feeling like a walking doormat. With renewed determination, I reached for my phone on the floor. Luckily, it was still within arm’s reach. My vision was blurry, and my limbs felt like they were moving through molasses, but I managed to unlock it and search for Sky’s number. Hers was the only name I could think of in that moment—short, simple, and still burned into my memory even after years of silence. I hadn’t spoken to her in forever. I had no idea what to expect. But still… I hoped. She picked up on the s
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-06A Whole New World CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ESSENCE Lucian’s words made my heart thud like someone had kicked it. The most sought-after bachelor in the entire country just mentioned spending the rest of his life with me… to me? I mean, I knew he was joking—he had to be—but still, my heart flipped, tripped, and nearly did the salsa in my chest. And hearing that he was the richest man in the country? Yeah, that made me feel even smaller than I already did. I mean, look at me—messed up marriage, and all what not. Meanwhile, this guy had women lining up and crying for his attention, and somehow, I was the one he was talking to. I stared up at him, grinning like a fool. 'Say something, Essence. Anything.' My mind screamed. “Am I missing something?” Hailey whispered beside me, eyeing us suspiciously. I still couldn’t speak. “I’ll give you the privacy you need,” she added, leaning in closer. “I’ll just grab our drinks real quick.” And poof, she was gone like a magician’s final act. Lucian and I were alone again, a
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-07A Whole New World CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ESSENCE Hailey led me back into the room. The moment Sky saw my condition, she got up and exclaimed, "What happened!" "Please, get the doctor," Hailey quickly told her. Thirty minutes later, the doctor wrapped a piece of bandage around my head and said, "You have to be careful, Mrs. Watson." I nodded. "I will. Thank you, doctor." After he left, Hailey held my hand and asked, "Do you want to talk about it?" "Talk about what?" Sky asked, her brows raised. Hailey sighed. "Well... um... her husband was..." "I'll talk about it some other time," I cut in quickly. "My head is aching right now and my mind is all over the place." "What exactly happened, guys!" Sky exclaimed. "Stop keeping me in the dark, people!" "We saw Lucian," Hailey revealed. Sky furrowed her brows. "And who the hell is that?" "Lucian Knight!" Hailey exclaimed. "Hello... richest billionaire in the country? Hot and sexy? And oh—he knows Essy. Not just 'hi, hello' kind of know, but 'take my jacket, let me cradle
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-09
Bab terbaru
A Whole New World CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
LUCIAN "That is completely ridiculous, baby. You absolutely can't think that way." I said softly, watching Essence pout as she shifted in her seat. "Food is important, and I think your body is more than okay. You're beautiful, Essence. I have a gym at home. If you're worried about your weight, we’ll work out together. But please stop worrying. You look absolutely perfect." She blinked at me, her eyes searching mine for something.....maybe doubt, maybe sincerity. But then she went quiet, lips pressed together in contemplation. A few minutes later, I pulled into a quiet restaurant parking lot. She looked around, confused. "Why are we stopping?" "For a quick late brunch," I replied, already unbuckling my seatbelt. "You haven’t eaten all day." The small smile she gave me was the kind that slipped past her guard. The kind that made my chest tighten. Inside, I’d already made arrangements. A private booth had been prepared, and within minutes, servers began to fill the table
A Whole New World CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
LUCIAN I nodded slowly, watching Essence, the corners of my lips lifting with a calm sort of confidence. “Yeah… we’ll get married today. And after that, you’ll move in with me.” She blinked at me like she hadn't quite heard me right. Her eyes darted across the modest living room, then at the barely-painted walls and the single bulb flickering dimly above us. I could see the disbelief building behind her gaze like a slow storm. “Isn’t that too fast?” she asked, her voice soft but uncertain. “Look around… I just moved in here after my divorce. I haven’t even unpacked my toothbrush.” I followed her gaze, allowing myself a second to take in the full scope of her new environment. The place was small. Cramped. The faint smell of dampness lingered stubbornly in the air. The walls were bare, and the curtain swayed gently beside a broken window frame. And yet, she had chosen this space to start over—this fragile little box of peace she’d carved for herself in a world that had been so u
A Whole New World CHAPTER TWENTY
ESSENCE Lucian was right.... I wasn’t a bad person. But how could he possibly know that just from a glance? A few conversations? What kind of superpower was that? Heart-sensing X-ray vision? He must have seen the confusion in my eyes because he leaned forward and said, “I forgot to add something important. I also believe this... us... it's fate. You know—how we met three times in a row?” I tilted my head slightly. “Yeah... about that. How the hell were we in the same places at the same time?” His lips curved into a knowing smile. “First time we met, I was trying out that gym for the first time. It belongs to a friend, and I went at an odd hour to avoid attention. I don’t usually go there… and I wasn’t expecting to bump into anyone.” He looked amused now, like the memory actually made his day. “Then the second time—Lovers Hill. You know it’s a big chain, right? I have shares in it. Never really visited, but I decided to drop by that day and check things out.” I nodded slowl
A Whole New World CHAPTER NINETEEN
ESSENCE I stared at Lucian like he had lost his mind. There he was, down on one knee at the entrance of my dusty little apartment, holding out a 24-carat gold ring like this was some royal engagement and not a scene straight out of one of my stress-induced dreams. I stood there like a complete mess, hair stuck to my forehead, eyes swollen from crying, and holding a mopstick in one hand like a poor man’s version of Cinderella. And he.... Lucian Knight.... the country’s most desired bachelor, was proposing marriage. “Please marry me, Essence. I’ve waited for you my whole life.” I blinked repeatedly. My lips parted, but I had no words. My throat dried up like sandpaper. And the only thing I managed to say, with my voice barely above a whisper, was... “Are you trying to joke with me too?” He shook his head, calm and composed like I hadn’t just accused him of playing a prank. “No games, Essence. I’m serious.” I took a deep breath and stepped back, hugging the mop closer t
A Whole New World CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
LUCIAN I sat behind my desk, staring at the photo of Essence on my phone. My jaw clenched as I fought back the wave of guilt rising in my chest. I blamed myself for the state she was in. If only I had come back sooner, she wouldn’t have ended up with that sorry excuse for a man. His viral sex tape confirmed what I had always known—Essence deserved better. In the past, I took a step back. I could tell she was happy and I told myself that it was enough for me. Until one night at a party few years ago, I saw her husband laughing too comfortably with another woman. There was no mistaking their intimacy. They were clearly more than friends. I did a bit of digging and confirmed what I feared—they were having an affair. It pained me to my marrow. The woman who meant more than the world to me was being treated like trash. How could I let that be? Still, the decision wasn't mine to make. Essence was an adult, and had to decide for herself what was best for her. I had someone watch her ea
A Whole New World CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
ESSENCE I sat in my car for a while longer, staring at the signed divorce document in my hand. It still felt surreal. Me. Divorced. I never imagined this day would come—not when I had fought so hard to hold onto a marriage that was already lost. After grieving the years, the energy, the loyalty and love I had invested...all now gone....I finally pulled myself together and drove to a car dealership. My car, a silver 2014 Toyota Corolla, wasn’t anything fancy, but it had been mine. My first real investment after starting work. It had carried me through job interviews, late-night food runs, and emotional breakdowns in traffic. But right now, emotions wouldn’t pay rent. I needed cash. The dealer barely gave me a second glance before quoting a price that was way below its worth. I didn’t argue. Desperate people don’t negotiate—they accept. I left the shop with just a little over three thousand dollars, knowing I’d been cheated, but grateful I had something to start with. I got in
A Whole New World CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ESSENCE When I woke up the next morning, I sat up in bed and stared around the room that once felt familiar but now felt like a cage. I had made up my mind, but the heaviness in my chest reminded me of the uncertainty that lay ahead. I was about to step into a new chapter of my life..... alone. But first, I had to figure out where to go. Returning to my family was out of the question; they’d made it clear I was no longer welcome after the choices I made. I couldn’t go crawling back to them now, not when our relationship was practically non-existent. And my friends? As grateful as I was for their help, I didn’t want to be a burden. They had already gone out of their way to help me restart my career. Asking them for a roof over my head would just feel like asking too much. I needed to stand on my own two feet, no matter how shaky those feet felt. I picked up my phone and checked my bank account. I stared at the screen for a long time, hoping the numbers would somehow change. The
A Whole New World CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ESSENCE Remi got up at this point and came to stand close to Alex, a smug look of triumph dancing across her face. A bandage was wrapped around her head too, as though she was the one injured. I could have laughed. “And who exactly will kneel and apologize to me for my own injury?” I asked, eyeing them. Vesper and Asher stood too and joined the drama. “Stop pretending!” Vesper snapped. “We all know that bandage on your head is fake. Kneel down and apologize to Remi now while we’re still being nice.” I scoffed and folded my arms. “And if I don’t? What’s going to happen? You and your brother going to try and jump me?” I chuckled bitterly. “A cripple I once helped out of pity is now trying to bite the hand that fed him? Interesting. Should I remind you what would’ve happened if I hadn’t wasted my hard-earned money to get an ungrateful man like you to walk again?” Alex blinked at me like I’d just slapped him across the face. Well, not yet. “You dare!” Vesper screamed and rai
A Whole New World CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ESSENCE Hailey led me back into the room. The moment Sky saw my condition, she got up and exclaimed, "What happened!" "Please, get the doctor," Hailey quickly told her. Thirty minutes later, the doctor wrapped a piece of bandage around my head and said, "You have to be careful, Mrs. Watson." I nodded. "I will. Thank you, doctor." After he left, Hailey held my hand and asked, "Do you want to talk about it?" "Talk about what?" Sky asked, her brows raised. Hailey sighed. "Well... um... her husband was..." "I'll talk about it some other time," I cut in quickly. "My head is aching right now and my mind is all over the place." "What exactly happened, guys!" Sky exclaimed. "Stop keeping me in the dark, people!" "We saw Lucian," Hailey revealed. Sky furrowed her brows. "And who the hell is that?" "Lucian Knight!" Hailey exclaimed. "Hello... richest billionaire in the country? Hot and sexy? And oh—he knows Essy. Not just 'hi, hello' kind of know, but 'take my jacket, let me cradle
