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Chapter 25
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2025-01-24 10:06:27
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After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 26
Maya’s POVThe soft glow of candlelight flickered against the bedroom walls as I nestled against Louis’s chest, savoring the quiet intimacy of the moment. His arm rested possessively around my waist, and for once, the world outside felt distant and unimportant. Just as my fingers traced lazy patterns along his collarbone, his phone buzzed insistently on the nightstand.I stiffened. Who would dare intrude on our time together?Louis sighed, his breath warm against my hair. He reached for the phone, casting a brief, apologetic glance my way. I craned my neck to catch the name on the screen, my heart sinking when I saw it.Emily.Of course, it had to be her. That woman was like a ghost that refused to be exorcised from our lives. Louis hesitated, his thumb hovering over the screen. For a brief, delicious moment, I thought he might ignore it. But then, to my dismay, he answered.“Emily,” he said, his tone tinged with impatience. “What is it? Don’t call me like this. Maya might misunderst
Last Updated : 2025-01-25After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 27
Damian’s POVI stood in front of my closet, staring at the rows of neatly pressed shirts and perfectly matched ties, as though they held the secret to tonight's success. Dinner with Emily. Just the thought of her name was enough to send a flutter of nerves through my chest. It wasn’t a date, at least not officially, but it felt monumental, like the start of something I didn’t quite dare to name yet.Formal attire seemed too stiff, too calculated, as though I were attending a business meeting. Casual felt careless, disrespectful even, as if I weren’t taking her seriously. In the end, I chose a crisp white button-down shirt and dark slacks, a balance between effort and ease. The reflection staring back at me in the mirror looked composed, but inside, I felt anything but.As I drove to Emily’s house, my thoughts raced. Memories from our childhood at the children’s home flooded back, unbidden and vivid. Back then, she had been the light in a dim, uncertain world. Her laughter could chase
Last Updated : 2025-01-27After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 28
Lucy’s POVMaya’s family home was just as I’d expected—squat, with a sagging fence, chipped paint, and a yard barely clinging to life. “Mrs. Whitmore,” Lyla, Maya’s mother, greeted us with a disarming smile. Her golden locks were gathered in a delicate bun, and a modest purple gem sparkled at her neck. Though her dress was plain, it was clean and well-kept.“Mrs. Evans,” I replied, my voice smooth and composed. “Thank you for having us.”Lyla inclined her head graciously but didn’t smile. “It’s my pleasure.”There was a quiet dignity in her bearing that caught me off guard. I had expected subservience, an almost eager deference from a woman of her station. But Lyla stood poised, her gaze steady as she regarded me.As Louis exchanged pleasantries with her, my attention drifted across the street. Emily was in her yard, tending to her vegetable garden. She looked up, her gaze fixed on us with an air of calm detachment, as though she had all the time in the world.A prick of embarrassmen
Last Updated : 2025-01-28After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 29
Emily’s POVThe brisk winter air nipped at my cheeks as Emma and I wandered through the bustling streets of downtown, the golden glow of shop windows casting fleeting warmth on our path. She had insisted on window shopping, her idea of distracting me from the storm of emotions swirling within me after visiting my father. The streets were alive with laughter, conversations, and the clink of teacups from nearby cafés. It was a world so full of life and light that I almost forgot the weight on my shoulders. Almost.“Emily, look at this!” Emma exclaimed, tugging at my arm as she gestured toward a hat in one of the shop windows. “You’d look so chic in this!”I gave her a faint smile. “Maybe, but I’d feel more like I was wearing a birdcage on my head.”She burst out laughing, and I couldn’t help but join her, the sound of our mirth cutting through the cold air. For a moment, it was easy to pretend that life wasn’t so complicated.That was until we stepped into the cozy embrace of a nearby
Last Updated : 2025-01-30After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 30
Emily’s POVDuring the day, I helped run my family’s restaurant, finding a rare sense of happiness while at night I was part-timing at the bar Emma worked. She pitched the job to me, and I aced the interview thanks to my stint in a bar after high school. In just a week, she became the closest thing to a best friend. My past had made me wary of friendships, but Emma’s bright smile and no-nonsense attitude gave me hope.“You’re starting again,” Emma teased without looking up, a mischievous grin playing on her lips.“Am I?” I shot back, feigning innocence.“Daydreaming.” Emma teased, pouring the shimmering liquid into a frosted glass. “Look, if I had half your charm, I’d have men tripping over themselves just to order another round. You could probably have three boyfriends by noon if you wanted.”I rolled my eyes, laughing softly. “One is more than enough to deal with, thank you.”She arched a brow but didn’t press further. The truth was, Damian had been on my mind more than I cared to ad
Last Updated : 2025-02-10After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 31
Emily’s POVI took a deep breath, my fingers clenching into fists on my knees as I sat in the middle of them. “What if we hosted a special dining event at the restaurant? Something new, something fresh.”“We could showcase our traditional dishes, mix them up with fusion recipes, and pair them with cocktails I’ve learned from Emma. We invite food critics, bloggers, TikTok influencers, people I know from food magazines and dad’s connections from the travel industry.”I leaned forward, my pulse quickening with excitement. “If it works, we could gain more exposure, attract new customers, maybe even get some collaboration offers.”My father sighed, setting his tea down. “That sounds like a lot of work.”“It will be,” I admitted. “But we need something to push us forward, right? We’re doing better, but we can’t just sit, and hope things will change. We have to make them change.”Lola perked up. “It could be cool. I mean, people love those fancy, exclusive food events. If we market it right,
Last Updated : 2025-02-10After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 32
Emily’s POVThe bar thrived with its usual energy, laughter spilling through the air, glasses clinking against polished wood, and the hum of conversation blending with the distant melody of the live band. But tonight, I barely noticed any of it. My mind was elsewhere—on Savor the Night, on the dishes I was perfecting, on the future I was determined to carve out for myself and my family.My mind was solely focused on creating and everything else seemed to fade away as I bustled around the kitchen. The weight of my failed marriage, the years I had spent trying to be someone I wasn’t, no longer lingered in my mind. Rediscovering my passion for food forced me to face myself - it challenged me, pushed me, made me realize that I wasn’t weak. I wasn’t just Louis’s ex-wife. I was Emily. I was a damn good chef.I had spent the past week refining the menu for Savor the Night, testing bold new flavors, bringing fresh twists to our family’s traditional dishes. Every plate was a piece of me, a stor
Last Updated : 2025-02-10After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 33
“I can explain everything,” he assured, glancing around the bar. “When do you get off?”“Two, it’s a bar,” I responded, looking him up and down. He was clearly shaken. “What is going on? Why are you here?”“It’s a long story.”Just then, Emma came over, eyeing us both curiously. She looked around the bar, which was still lively but slowing down, most people lingering, drunk and chatting entirely too loudly.“What’s wrong?” she asked, glancing at Damien.“I honestly don’t know,” I grumbled, shaking my head. I then turned to restock the coolers and Emma stopped me, smiling."Go on, Emily," she said over the hum of conversation and the clink of glasses. "You’ve done enough for tonight. I’ll close up."I hesitated, looking up at the clock behind the bar. It was still an hour until closing. “Are you sure? It’s still so busy.”She rolled her eyes, tossing a towel over her shoulder. “Emily, you’ve been on your feet all day. I’ve got this. Besides, I think you two should talk – he looks anxio
Last Updated : 2025-02-11
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After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 49
Emily's POVThe morning air was cool against my skin as I made my way to the restaurant, the scent of fresh bread and roasted coffee drifting through the streets. My head still ached from last night’s disaster, but the worst part wasn’t the hangover. It was the mortifying memory of how I had fallen apart in front of everyone—my family, Damian… Damian.I groaned, rubbing my temples as I quickened my pace. The sooner I got to work, the sooner I could drown myself in tasks and forget that last night ever happened.But, of course, the universe had other plans."Emily."I froze mid-step, my heart lurching violently against my ribs.Damian stood just a few feet away, hands in his pockets, his dark eyes fixed on me with quiet intensity. He looked impossibly calm, as if he hadn’t spent the night witnessing my complete unraveling."You’re up early," he observed, his gaze scanning me as if assessing whether I would collapse at any moment. "How are you feeling?"“Fine,” I said sharply. The tense
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 48
The car rolled to a slow stop in front of my house, and the weight of the night pressed down on me like a thick, suffocating fog. My head swam, my body heavy with exhaustion, but beneath the drunken haze, a sharp edge of dread coiled in my chest. I knew what was waiting for me behind that door.Damian shifted in the driver’s seat, exhaling through his nose as he glanced toward the house. The porch light glowed dimly, a beacon against the night, and through the front window, I could see faint shadows moving inside."They’re awake," he muttered.I groaned, letting my head flop against the seat. "Of course they are. Because why wouldn’t they be waiting up for their mess of a daughter?""You’re not a mess," he said firmly.I snorted, cracking an eye open to look at him. "I am currently drunk, dramatically spiraling, and about to walk into a family intervention. That, my dear doctor, is the definition of a mess."Damian didn’t argue, but his jaw tightened as he stepped out of the car and w
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 47
Emily's POVThe band had wrapped up for the night, but the revelry showed no signs of stopping. I perched on a barstool, my cheeks flushed from drink and the remnants of adrenaline still rushing through my veins from my impromptu performance.Emma clinked her glass against mine, grinning like a cat who had just knocked something expensive off a shelf. "To finally seeing you let loose," she declared, swaying slightly as she threw back the rest of her cocktail.I giggled, leaning on her shoulder dramatically. "I always let loose."She snorted. "Oh, please. You are the queen of restraint. If there was an Olympic event for brooding, you’d take home the gold.""I’m not that bad," I protested, slurring slightly.Emma raised an eyebrow. "You just spent the last six months looking like a Victorian widow haunting her ex-lover’s estate."I gasped, clutching my chest. "I am deeply offended.""You should be." She winked. "But you’re also drunk, which means I win."She wasn’t wrong. The room swaye
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 46
Emily's POVThe next night back in the city, the bar pulsed with life. The air was thick with laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the scent of whiskey and warm candle wax. It was a full house tonight, the kind of crowd that thrived on the energy of music and conversation. Once, a night like this would have exhilarated me. But tonight, the weight in my chest was too heavy, the dark cloud over my mind too thick to shake."You're brooding," Emma teased, nudging me with her elbow as she sipped on her cocktail. "Again. Honestly, I should start charging you every time you slip into moody silence."I shot her a look, but a reluctant smile tugged at my lips. "I’m not brooding."She arched a brow, clearly unimpressed. "You’re sitting at a bar, staring into your drink like it personally wronged you. That is textbook brooding."I sighed, swirling the amber liquid in my glass. "I just-.""Ah-ah," she interrupted, wagging a finger. "No tragic monologues tonight. You need to have fun, Emily. Rea
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 45
Emily's POV“The whole thing was unbelievable,” a woman at table four murmured, her voice carrying just enough for me to hear.“I know,” her friend replied, barely bothering to lower her tone. “Imagine—him of all people. And right here, in her restaurant? Poor thing, she must be humiliated.”I didn’t need to ask who they were talking about.Rumors had spread like wildfire, twisting and turning with every retelling until I barely recognized the truth within them. Some said Damian’s family had stormed in, demanding he return home as if I were some villainous temptress keeping him hostage. Others whispered that it had been a dramatic public breakup, a love triangle exploding right before their eyes. A few even speculated that I had known all along—that I had planned for this scandal, as if I thrived on chaos.None of them were right.But none of them were completely wrong either.The restaurant bustled with life around me, the clang of silverware against plates, the murmur of conversatio
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 44
Emily's POVThe night had barely ended, but exhaustion clung to me like a second skin. The warmth and excitement that once filled the space had long since faded, replaced by something colder, something that left a bitter taste in my mouth.And at the center of it all stood Damian.He looked at me with an expression I couldn’t bring myself to decipher—desperation, regret, something deeper. His hands were clenched at his sides, as if he was holding himself back from reaching for me.“Emily, please,” he started, his voice raw. “Just let me explain.”I folded my arms. “You had plenty of chances to explain. But instead, you lied. Again and again.”His jaw tensed. “I never wanted to lie to you. I—”“No.” I cut him off sharply. “You pretended to be kind while hiding the truth. And now? I have no idea who you really are.”Damian flinched, like I had physically struck him.“I understand why you’re angry, but I swear to you, everything I did was because I—”I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 43
Damian's POVLouis stood too close to Emily, his presence a vile intrusion, his gaze dark and taunting. He had no right. Not after what he had done to her. Not after he shattered her heart and left her to pick up the pieces alone.I stepped in front of her, blocking his path. “Back off, Louis,” I warned, my voice low and lethal. “You have no place here.”A slow, mocking smirk curled at the corner of his mouth. “Oh? And you do?” He crossed his arms, his tone dripping with disdain. “I must say, Damian, your hypocrisy is astounding. You stand here, acting like some noble protector, when you’re the one dragging her into your family's endless disgrace.”Emily stiffened behind me, her fingers gripping the fabric of her dress. I could feel the tension radiating from her, the confusion, the pain. She didn’t deserve this. She didn’t deserve any of this.Her parents, standing nearby, moved closer, instinctively positioning themselves in silent defense. Her mother’s gaze burned with quiet fury,
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 42
Damian's POVThe restaurant had been warm before, filled with the rich scents of simmering sauces, seared meats, and the gentle hum of admiration. Now, the air was thick with something else entirely. Something cold. Something suffocating.Barrett Augustus stood at the center of the chaos, his commanding presence drawing every eye in the room. His sharp, calculating gaze bore into me with quiet fury, his voice slicing through the tension with the ease of a blade."You have defied the family’s wishes for far too long, Damian," he stated, his words clipped and deliberate. "Pretending to date other women, keeping up appearances, when all along, you were secretly pursuing her?"He turned then, his piercing gaze settling on Emily."Tell me, my dear," he continued smoothly, his tone laced with something that sent an unmistakable chill down my spine. "Has my grandson told you the truth?"Emily’s brows furrowed, confusion flickering in her green eyes. "What are you talking about?"Barrett’s li
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 41
Emily's POVAs the tension over my creative originality hung thick in the air, the crowd watched with bated breath. Damian stepped onto the stage beside me, his presence commanding attention. With a few swift taps of his fingers, the screen flickered to life, revealing a candid moment from my kitchen—hair messy, face dotted with splashes of sauce, and me fumbling with the ingredients for the dish I’d just introduced. The contrast couldn’t have been more striking.“Stop! Damian, I’m still experimenting!” I protested, laughter spilling out as I fumbled with the ingredients, my hands—no doubt covered in sauce—smeared across the counter. “Promise me you’ll never show this to anyone! You’re supposed to capture my best, not my clumsiest moments!”“Well, it’s the process that shows your genius,” Damian said, zeroing in on me and the cutting board. “What’s next? Tell me about your thought process.”“Well,” I smiled playfully, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear, “maybe a Thai and Szech
