Share

Chapter 100

Author: Ena Starr
last update Last Updated: 2025-03-24 23:11:46

Abigail

I sat on the edge of my mother’s bed, an old photo album resting on my lap. I had found it in her drawer earlier while looking for a hair brush earlier, and I'd abandoned untangling my hair to go through it. The album's leather cover was worn and softened from years of handling. My fingers traced the edges of a faded picture, my younger self smiling up at me from the glossy surface. Opposite me in the photograph, Liam stood with a wide, toothy grin, holding up the trophy he’d won at the regional spelling bee. Our mother stood between us, her arms wrapped around our shoulders, pride glowing in her eyes.

I let out a soft breath, a sad smile playing on my lips as I remembered that day. He had been so nervous before the competition, pacing the hallway outside the auditorium, mouthing words under his breath. I had teased him relentlessly, telling him his brain was probably bigger than his head, but when he won, I had been the loudest one cheering.

That was a time when life had felt
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Related chapters

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 101

    AbigailI stepped inside as Alexander closed the door behind me. The apartment had a quiet elegance to it, and the air was pleasantly scented with something warm and inviting, like a mixture of freshly cooked food and faint cologne.“Did you have much trouble finding the place?” Alexander asked, his tone casual.I shook my head. “Not at all.”Deciding to let my curiosity lead, I glanced around before turning to him with a raised brow. “So… is this place yours?”He let out a noncommittal hum. “Something like that.”That wasn’t much of an answer, but I supposed I should’ve expected that from him. I stepped further in, taking in the cozy living room. The furniture was modern, with its plush cushions, and neutral colors. It didn’t look overly personal, which made me guess it was fully furnished. Letting out a low whistle, I glanced at him. “I’m guessing all of this came w

    Last Updated : 2025-03-25
  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 102

    AbigailAlexander swirled his wine again, thoughtful. “And you think this will be enough to break her?”“She’s impulsive,” I said. “She acts without thinking. The more desperate she gets, the more mistakes she’ll make. And when she does, Liliana will have to clean up after her. Again. It won’t be long before they fall into a disagreement. And once Susanna is isolated…”“That’s when we strike.”I nodded. Alexander studied me over the rim of his glass. “You’re good at this.”“At thinking like them?” I shrugged. “I’ve spent enough time dealing with them. I guess I picked up a few tricks.”His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before he leaned back in his seat, a slow, approving smile curving his lips.I let my words settle between us, expecting another response from Alexander. But he didn’t say anything rig

    Last Updated : 2025-03-25
  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 103

    AlexanderI watched Abigail carefully, my breath caught somewhere in my throat as I noticed the telltale shine in her eyes. Was she… about to cry?Panic gripped me before I could stop it.Had I said something wrong? Something too harsh? No, that didn’t make sense. I’d only told her the truth, and I meant every word. But I wasn’t exactly used to comforting people. If she cried, what was I supposed to do?I kept my gaze on her, bracing myself for the possibility, already trying to come up with a plan, but before I could spiral further, Abigail blinked hard and, thankfully, downed the rest of her wine instead.Relief flooded me so fast that I only then realized how tensely I’d been holding myself.She set her glass down with a soft clink and gave me a wry smile. "Well, well," she drawled, her voice carrying a hint of mischief. "I think I have some blackmail material on you now."I arched a brow. "Do you?""Oh, absolutely," she continued, leaning slightly forward, as if she were sharing s

    Last Updated : 2025-03-26
  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 104

    Alexander Abigail, who had been leaning back in her chair with a thoughtful expression, suddenly straightened. "Is there anything else?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "Any other unresolved issues you've been dealing with?" I frowned. "What?" She squinted at me. "You seem more relaxed to me. Should we go over everything again? In case you want to talk about something else?" For a split second, I thought she meant the case, and our joint investigations. I figured maybe she had remembered something, some clue we had missed. Without thinking twice, I got up, and walked over to the corner of the living room where I kept a stack of files. Pulling a few out, I flipped through them quickly, checking for anything we hadn't discussed yet before bringing them back to the table. I handed them over to her, and that was when I saw it; Abigail was holding them upside down. Not just that; she was staring at them like she was actually trying to make sense of them, blinking a few times as

    Last Updated : 2025-03-27
  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 105

    Abigail I woke up with a dull ache in my head and a heavy warmth draped over me. Blinking groggily, I shifted on the couch, my body protesting the awkward position I had apparently been sleeping in. My fingers curled into soft fabric that was smooth and looked expensive. Looking at it properly, I saw it was a man’s coat. I sat up quickly, immediately regretting the sudden movement as my head throbbed in response. Pushing my hair out of my face, I took a moment to gather my bearings. The room around me was unfamiliar at first, and for a brief, disorienting second, I didn’t know where I was. Then, it came back to me. I had come here to meet Alexander. We had talked. We had eaten. We had… drank. I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. How had I fallen asleep? When had I fallen asleep? Surely I couldn’t have drunk that much? The coat bunched around my lap as I shifted, the scent of expensive cologne and something distinctly Alexander clinging to it. My cheeks heated as I rea

    Last Updated : 2025-03-28
  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 106

    Abigail Even though I had agreed to see Liam, I found myself trying to worm my way out of it before I had even finished my breakfast. “I should probably head home and change first,” I said to Alexander, brushing invisible crumbs from my lap. “I’ll meet you back here or at the place once I’m ready. Whichever's better.” It was a solid excuse, one that was both practical and reasonable. No one in their right mind would walk into a hospital still dressed in yesterday’s clothes, and I wasn’t about to show up looking like I’d spent the night passed out on someone’s couch. But Alexander didn’t even blink. Instead, he reached down and set a small shopping bag in front of me. “There’s no need for that,” he said. I hesitated, eyeing the bag like it might bite. Oh, you have got to be kidding me. Still, I reached for it, pulling the opening apart to peek inside. Neatly folded within was an outfit; a simple blouse in a soft cream color, paired with slim black trousers and a lightweight beig

    Last Updated : 2025-03-28
  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 107

    Abigail The facility Liam was being kept in was called Ridgeway Wellness Center, and if I hadn’t known better, I would have thought we had pulled up to a luxury retreat rather than a rehabilitation center. The building itself was discreet, modern but not flashy, and clearly designed to blend in rather than draw attention. Even the entrance was unassuming, hidden behind a row of neatly trimmed trees, giving the impression of privacy. I had half-expected Alexander to stash Liam away in some run-down place, somewhere fitting for a man who had made so many mistakes, but he hadn’t. He had brought him here. It must be my imagination that my eyes were burning as we stepped inside. The lobby was bright, clean, and quiet. The soft scent of antiseptic mixed with something fresher, like lavender, filled the air. A nurse stood at the reception desk, a man in his forties with neatly combed hair and a professional but friendly demeanor. He looked up as we entered, and immediately, something in h

    Last Updated : 2025-03-28
  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 108

    Abigail "I hope you mean that," Alexander said, taking a step towards the bed. Liam’s hands shook as he nodded, his fingers curling into the bedsheets. I held my breath, bracing myself, knowing whatever came next wouldn’t be easy to hear. “When did it really start?” Alexander pressed, his voice firm. “The gambling, the drugs… they didn’t just start when you met Marceline, did they? You’d already been sinking long before that.” Liam swallowed hard, guilt flashing in his bloodshot eyes. He lowered his head. “No. It started before.” I exhaled slowly, a bitter weight settling in my chest. Liam squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, as if steeling himself, before speaking again. “It started with...Conrad.” I stiffened at the name, my hands clenching in my lap. Just the mention of his name sent a flash of anger down my spine. “The first time I asked him for money, I was hesitant,” Liam admitted. “I knew you already felt indebted to him for helping with Mom’s hospital bills, Bee

    Last Updated : 2025-03-29

Latest chapter

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 153

    Liliana I stared down at my lunch, the delicate aroma rising from the bowl doing nothing to stir my appetite. It was my favorite meal, carefully prepared and beautifully plated but today it tasted like nothing more than ash in my mouth, bitter and dry. I set my spoon down with a loud clatter, the sharp sound slicing through the silence of the room. Harry was out playing baseball with his friends, so I was all at home today, which made my annoyance even worse. My chest felt tight, suffocated by a fury I was barely managing to keep contained. How could I eat happily? How could I pretend everything was fine when it wasn’t? I let out a harsh loud breath, pushing my plate aside so forcefully it nearly toppled over the edge of the table. Enough. It had been months of enduring this slow descent into chaos. I had been an angel to tolerate it for this long. What other woman could have withstood the humiliation and the pressure of everything that had been thrown my way lately? First, ther

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 152

    AbigailI meant to wait until later to tell Alexander about the meeting. I had every intention of acting cool, composed, someone who didn’t need to rush and blurt everything out like an overeager intern.But the second I promised to see Mr. Hayes back at the office and stepped into the elevator and the doors slid shut behind me, all my resolve crumbled. My fingers itched for my phone, and before I knew it, I was pulling it out of my pocket, rapidly typing out a message. I crushed it, I wrote, my heart beating a little too fast. Conrad’s project is dead. You should have seen his face, Alexander. It was glorious.I stared at the screen, grinning like a fool. And then, reality caught up with me.I was being ridiculous. Maybe even downright immature. This wasn’t the dynamic we had. I was supposed to be professional and reliable, not someone who acted like they were texting a secret crush after acing a test. Groaning quietly under my breath, I erased the entire message and typed a much s

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 151

    AbigailI froze mid-sentence, lifting my head slowly to look at him. He was still at the front of the room, but now his arms were crossed loosely over his chest, a mocking smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.“And here I thought,” he added, dripping with false politeness, “that only those formally invited had something to contribute.”A few people shifted in their seats. A few glanced at me. I could feel the weight of their eyes, the tension coiling in the air.Conrad was trying to embarrass me and put me back in my place.I leaned forward, pressing the button on the microphone in front of me. My voice was cool. “I have nothing to say to you, Mr. Remington.”I started t

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 150

    AbigailInternally, I whooped and punched the air in victory. But outwardly, I gave Mr. Hayes a serene, practiced smile, the kind that said I'm glad to be here, not desperate to be here. “Thank you again,” I said politely, then stepped out of his office before my excitement bubbled too far to contain.Ten o’clock was only forty minutes away. Not enough time to start anything new, but just enough to make myself useful. I returned to my office, where Elle was already tidying up the documents on my desk.“Anything urgent?” I asked as I approached.She handed me a printed memo and gave me a quick update on a postponed meeting. “Only thing worth noting is

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 149

    AbigailThe smell of the food filled the entire room, and something about the presence of Alexander beside me dulled the tightness I’d been carrying all day. The tension behind my eyes had started to fade as I picked at the grilled fish, letting the flavors roll across my tongue, my limbs slowly unknotting with every bite.“I’ve been getting calls from Liam,” I said, my voice tired but audible. I didn’t know why I chose now to bring it up; maybe because I finally felt safe enough to say it out loud.Alexander’s hand stilled mid-motion, his chopsticks hovering above the container of scallops. “Liam?” His eyes flicked to mine, sharp. “How long?”I nodded and swallowed. “It’s been a few times now. He says he’s changed and keeps asking to see me.”His brows drew together, and I could see him piecing something together. “He’s been coming to me too and asking to see you.” He paused. “He’s not been released from Ridgewell officially, but this is part of the treatment program; they release so

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 148

    Abigail I didn’t know where I was going, I just kept driving. One street turned into another and headlights flashed past me in a blur. The city was quietly winding down while something restless stirred in my chest. My fingers were clenched so tight around the steering wheel, they ached. I told myself I would find a hotel. Or maybe I would go to Roxy’s, even though it was too late and she’d worry. But the truth was, I wasn’t thinking clearly at all. I wasn’t thinking at all.I just didn’t want to go home.And somehow, without meaning to, I ended up here. The car rolled to a slow stop in front of the tall, glittering building before I fully realized where I was. I blinked up at it, dazed and slightly breathless, my stomach twisting into an uncomfortable knot. I knew this place; it was the high rise I had met Alexander before we went to Ridgewell to see Liam. The lights shimmered against the glass like stars in a city that forgot what the real ones looked like. But I wasn’t looking at

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 147

    AbigailAfter work, I found myself walking to the park instead of driving straight home.I told Roxy I’d leave early today, mostly because she looked ready to duct-tape me to my chair if I didn’t. But now that I had, I didn’t know what to do with myself. My body wasn’t worn down enough, and that small sliver of energy still lingering in me made me restless. If I’d had my way, I would’ve stayed in the office till one a.m., working until even my thoughts couldn’t keep up with me anymore. But Roxy had been especially worried lately. So, I’d smiled, packed up, and walked out like someone who had a life waiting for her outside those walls.I didn’t.So, here I was, wandering through the park with my coat still buttoned, my shoes making soft sounds against the path. The air was crisp but not cold, and the faint scent of blooming grass and wet earth filled my lungs. It was peaceful, in a way that made the ache in my chest feel sharper.To my left, I noticed a picnic spread out on a checkered

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 146

    RoxyAnd yet he always asked as if he had nothing to do with it. As if it wasn’t his driver who opened the door for me, or his expense account that covered the seafood platter I’d been daydreaming about since 3 p.m.I settled in, crossing one leg over the other. What I couldn’t quite wrap my head around what I never could was how a man like Alexander could share even a single drop of blood with someone like Conrad.Conrad Remington, the walking ego. The emotional toddler. Every time I thought about him, it made me want to demand a DNA test on Alexander’s behalf. Maybe they swapped cribs at the hospital. Maybe one of them was adopted. Maybe God just wanted to play a particularly cruel practical joke.Still, why was I thinking about Conrad with what was in front of me?Sitting beside Alexander was one of the most delicious motivations I’d ever had for showing up anywhere on time; Daniel Woods, his secretary. The tall drink of sin I’d been lowkey thirsting over since the first moment I l

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 145

    RoxyI yawned so hard I swore my jaw cracked. My screen dimmed in front of me, signaling the finality of another day. With a satisfying click, I shut down my computer and sat back in my chair, allowing myself a tiny internal cheer.Done. All of it. Not only had I cleared every task on my to-do list—emails, reports, that ridiculous revision James from Marketing demanded this morning—I had also accomplished the almost-impossible: I’d managed to convince Abigail to leave on time. No 11 p.m. grind, no haunting the office like a lonely ghost with the cleaning crew. She actually packed up and went home like a normal person. That was a victory in itself.I stretched my arms above my head and yawned again, this one longer. All I wanted now was to kick off my heels, boil water for some scandalously sodium rich ramen, and fall asleep in the middle of an episode of Love & Lies: Southside Edition. It was my guilty pleasure, that trashy little reality series with way too many slow motion breakups

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status