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Chapter 34
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2025-02-11 18:45:11
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After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 35
Emily's POVThe scene in the kitchen buzzed with energy, like a pot of stew just beginning to boil. I glanced at the clock, my heart racing as I wiped my hands on my apron. Tonight was the night. A famous food blogger named Nathan Park was on his way to our restaurant, ready to discover the hidden gem that was our restaurant. He specialized in this.He was a renowned food critic and influencer with millions of viewers on YouTube and a popular food blog that highlighted up and coming restaurants, often labeled hidden gems. Of course, after he reviewed them, they weren’t so hidden, but this is the exact exposure I wanted for my family. I could already hear the hum of anticipation beyond the kitchen door as the bar staff hustled to set the mood. This was my shot, the chance to highlight my family’s passion and our determination to bring our past culinary experiences to more people.As I arranged garnishes on plates with trembling fingers, the sound of raised voices filtered through the
Last Updated : 2025-02-12After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 36
Emily's POVThe music swirled around us, the singer hitting a high, thrilling note that sent the crowd into a roar of excitement. I walked over to Nathan’s table, holding my creation—a chili hot dog. The soft, crusted bread cradled a lavishly seasoned sausage, topped with green bell peppers, scallions, crunchy radishes, spicy jalapeño slices, and finished off with a generous drizzle of my special sauce and melting cheese.Nathan sat with his legs wide on the stool, his signature slouch evident in his worn t-shirt and ripped jeans. Tattoos with intricate designs snaked down his shoulders, giving him the appearance of someone who belonged in an energized fight club, not sitting here as a professional food critic. His grin spread when I approached, and he glanced up as I set the plate down, taking a seat beside him. His table was already piled high with a variety of snacks, appetizers, and dishes—it was almost comical to think this muscular frame could take on so much food.“Feeling the
Last Updated : 2025-02-13After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 37
Emily's POVDamian stood there, leaning against the frame, his dark eyes fixed on me with something unreadable—something raw. For a moment, neither of us spoke. It had been days since our last conversation, since Charlotte’s harsh words, since my doubts had almost swallowed me whole.“You gonna let me stand here all night?” he finally asked, a small, wry smile tugging at his lips.I let out a breath, shaking off my nerves. “You’re the one lurking in my kitchen like a lost soul.”Damian chuckled and stepped inside, his presence filling the space. “I came to talk.”I swallowed, setting my tongs down. “I figured.”He took a deep breath, rubbing the back of his neck before looking at me, his gaze unwavering. “Emily, I don’t want to dance around this anymore. I want to be with you. I know things are complicated, I know you’re scared, but I also know what we have is real. And I’m asking you—are you willing to give us a chance?”My chest tightened. I had spent so much time pushing him away,
Last Updated : 2025-02-13After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 38
Damian's POVThe glow of my desk lamp cast long shadows over the paperwork spread before me. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temple as I scanned through my patient notes, my mind half-focused on the words scribbled in black ink. Mrs. Lancaster had opened up about her struggles with grief today—her husband’s passing still fresh in her heart despite the years that had passed. Then there was Adam, a teenager weighed down by his father’s impossible expectations, his shoulders curled inward as if bracing for the next blow.Different lives, different pain, but all of them searching for a way forward.I sighed and made a few final notes, saving the updates to my records. Just as I reached for my coffee, my phone chimed.Charlotte.Dinner. Tomorrow night. I already made reservations.I stared at the text, irritation prickling beneath my skin. It wasn’t a request; it was a demand, an expectation wrapped in polite wording. My fingers hovered over the screen before I typed out a curt reply
Last Updated : 2025-02-13After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 39
Emily's POVThe restaurant hummed with energy, the warm glow of chandeliers casting a golden sheen over the sea of guests. I wiped my hands on my apron, exhaling slowly as I scanned the room.Emma stood behind the bar, effortlessly mixing cocktails, her smile lighting up the space. Near the stage, the band from my bar played their hearts out, while regulars at the bar raised their glasses at me with playful winks. Loyal restaurant customers nodded solemnly like seasoned pros, chatting away with industry folks at each food station. Amidst it all, Nathan beamed his signature smile as he tasted a dish, and I even spotted neighbors who’d shown up to every yearly cookout, offering their quiet support.I stole a glance at the large screen behind me. A video played, a beautifully edited montage of my journey—my family’s history, the roots of our recipes, the long nights of struggle, and sweats and tears we poured into our every creation. I saw my parents’ faces, their younger selves beaming
Last Updated : 2025-02-14After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 40
Emily's POVThe heat from the stove warmed my face as I plated the final dish, hands moving with practiced ease. This was the highlight of our family’s meticulously crafted event—my best creation, unveiled in the most dramatic, eye-catching manner. The crowd hushed as I skillfully waved the ladle, splashing hot oil onto the thick, amber curry sauce. The top layer of the massive snapper sizzled, sending a satisfying crackle through the air. Green peppers, red chilies, carrots, lime slices, and diced tomatoes swirled in the rich liquid, their vibrant colors flashing with each pop and bubble. I let the aroma stew, filling the air with its mouthwatering fragrance, then placed the lid on the wok with a soft metallic clink. The crowd gasped. I smiled. “During my time in Philadelphia, I experienced the wonderful culinary ingenuity of Szechuan and Thai cuisines…” I began, my voice smooth. “I wanted to honor that memory by combining the best of both worlds—”“Interesting,” a man interrupte
Last Updated : 2025-02-17After 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
Last Updated : 2025-02-17After 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
Last Updated : 2025-02-17
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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
