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Chapter 6
Huling Na-update:
2024-12-19 10:06:22
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After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 7
Emily’s POVI drove off in a mixed state of shock and rage. I drove almost blindly, barely making it across town. Where I was going, I didn’t know.Eventually, I pulled over. With determination, I dialed Louis. He answered on the second ring as if expecting my call.“Emily? Is everything okay?”“Louis,” I said, trembling, “have you betrayed our promise?”A silence. Then, “No.”“Then why did Maya tell me she’s carrying your baby?”The silence was the judge, jury, and executioner. It condemned him just as much as any confession would have.How could he lie to me? How could he betray me like this?“Emily, where are you? Let’s talk about this—”“You’ve ruined my life!” I screamed. I saw red, fury coursing through me like a burning flame. I had no idea where I was going or even how fast I was going. I barely registered a turn and over-twisted my wheel. A deafening bang rang out, and I jerked harshly against the seatbelt as the airbag hit me roughly in the face. I sat for a moment, dazed as
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-19After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 8
Maya’s POVI tidied up the living room quickly, ensuring everything looked untouched and perfect. The SD card and card reader I’d prepared was plugged in the back of the TV. I plucked it out, holding it with triumph, then slipped it into a drawer, placing it gently under a pile of old magazines. The proof of my night with Louis. He might have dismissed me, but I wasn’t going to let him erase me or our child that easily.I smoothed my hands over my stomach, feeling anger and determination swell within. “Emily, don’t blame me,” I murmured softly to myself. “I’m doing this for my child.” I whispered down to my stomach, “Daddy will love you very much.” He might not know it yet, but he would adore this baby—and me. He had to. Or all this would have been for nothing.***I had confronted him about it almost as soon as I knew. “I’m pregnant, Louis,” I told him. My pulse thrummed with the excitement that my plan was finally coming to fruition.But when he looked at me, his expression was cold
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-19After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 9
Emily’ POVLouis carried me through the door, his arms tight around me as if he were afraid I'd shatter. The sight of everything looking so normal while my entire life was falling apart was jarring. But there was something more. The house was too clean, especially around the TV. This wasn’t how I had left it.I wrenched out of his grasp, stumbling. "This isn’t right!" I shouted, pointing at the TV. “Where’s the video?”Louis moved closer, his hand reaching out to stroke my cheek in an attempt to calm me. "Emily," he said, his voice too soft, instantly grating on my nerves, "you’re tired. You’ve been through a lot. Just sit down, okay?”But I pushed him away, unable to shake the terrible feeling of violation and insecurity. "No, Louis! Somebody’s been here—someone messed with the TV!” I screeched, my voice rising as my thoughts spiraled. “Where is the video?” I was grasping at straws—it felt like everything was slipping through my fingers, and the more I tried to hold on, the faster it
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-19After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 10
Emily’s POVMy body was heavy, weighed down as if submerged in a thick, dark tide. The faint creak of the door barely registered and I wanted to see who it was. My mind screamed to react, to open my eyes, to ask who was there, but my body refused to obey. I was trapped in my own skin, helpless.Footsteps shuffled closer, deliberate and slow. A shadow fell across me, and I felt the invasive grip of fingers prying my mouth open. The bitter taste of something vile flooded my tongue, and I gagged, my throat spasming against the intrusion. My stomach churned violently, sending sharp, agonizing waves of pain rippling through my body.Panic surged, cutting through the fog of sedation. A damp, warm sensation spread beneath me, and I knew something was wrong—terribly wrong. I wanted to cry out, to fight back, to see the face of whoever was doing this, but darkness dragged me under once more.***"Emily!"Louis’s voice pierced through the haze, shaking me roughly by the shoulders. My head lolle
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-19After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 11
Louis’ POVI leaned back in my office chair, the weight of the day pressing down on me like iron. The room was silent, save for the faint ticking of the clock on the wall, yet my mind was anything but. Papers lay scattered across my desk, reports begging for attention, but I couldn’t focus. Not with Emily’s image burned into my mind—frail, pale, and accusing.I’d thrown myself into work, burying the turmoil of home life. It wasn’t enough. The moments of peace, of distraction, weren’t coming, leaving me to face the bitter truth: Emily and I were beyond broken. The warmth we once shared, the laughter, the love—it had all curdled into something rotten, bloodstained.“Louis?” A soft voice broke the silence, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced up to find Maya standing in the doorway, her hands resting lightly on her rounded belly. She looked vulnerable, her usual confident demeanor replaced with something hesitant.“Yes?” My tone was clipped, though not intentionally. I was simply too t
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-19After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 12
Emily’s POVLouis sat stiffly behind his desk, his expression carefully composed, though the tightness in his jaw betrayed the tension simmering beneath the surface. His usual aura of control seemed slightly frayed as his eyes flicked from me to Maya and back again."Emily," he began, his voice low. "Let's not do this here.""Why is she still here, Louis?" I demanded, pointing an accusatory finger at Maya. "You told me she was transferred. What is she doing here?"Before Louis could respond, Maya gracefully interjected, holding her belly like it was a delicate treasure. Her calm demeanor only fanned the flames of my rage."Louis," she said, her voice soft, "Maybe I should explain things to Emily." She turned to me, her expression almost pitying, but her words were knives concealed in velvet. "Emily, once my baby is born, I’ll leave. You don’t have to worry about anything. I’m not trying to interfere."She was pure malice rolled in sugar, easier to swallow for those around her - it was
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-19After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 13
Emily’s POVMaya's sobs echoed off the walls of Louis's office, a pitiful soundtrack to her manipulations. I watched her through narrowed eyes, my stomach churning with disgust."I just want to do what's right," she wailed, cradling her belly dramatically. "Emily, please, stop blaming me for everything. I'm not the enemy here!"I had heard enough. “Oh, spare me the theatrics,” I snapped, my voice cold. “You’ve been the enemy since the moment you wormed your way into my life pretending to be my friend.”Louis glanced between us, clearly uncomfortable, but when he moved to speak, Maya beat him to it.“I was just trying to help,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I never wanted this to happen.”Her lies grated against my already frayed nerves. I had to get out before I said—or did—something I couldn’t take back. Spinning on my heel, I marched toward the door.“Emily, wait!” Louis’s voice followed me, but I didn’t stop.Behind me, I heard the faint rustling of fabric and Maya’s voice,
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-19After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 14
Emily's POVLouis’s face paled as he rushed past me, his eyes fixed on Maya’s shuddering form at the bottom of the stairs. He knelt beside her, his hands trembling as he cradled her carefully. Maya let out a piercing wail, clutching her stomach.“My baby… my baby!” she sobbed, tears streaming down her face.I froze at the top of the stairs, my heart pounding in my chest. The hallway was deathly quiet, save for Maya’s cries. The accusing stares of their coworkers burned into me like fire.One of them, a man with a stern face, turned to me. “What happened?”“She—she fell,” I stammered, gesturing wildly. “I didn’t touch her! She moved back on her own!”But their expressions didn’t soften. If anything, their gazes grew colder, filled with disbelief.“You expect us to believe that?” a woman muttered, her voice laced with disdain. “After that altercation… the whole office could hear…”“I’m telling the truth!” I snapped, panic creeping into my voice. “It wasn’t me!”Louis looked up sharply,
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-19
Pinakabagong kabanata
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 115
Barrett’s POVThe next morning, I sat in my leather recliner, nursing a secund cup of black coffee, and staring out over the manicured estate. Thoughts of the approaching date churned in my mind, and I found myself… restless. Seventy. The big seven-zero. The number itself tasted both bitter and regal on my tongue. I had not planned to celebrate, not publicly anyway. But as the morning wore on, I began to feel something stir in my chest. A small fire. A whisper of sentimentality. Perhaps, I thought, a modest gathering with those closest to me would not be entirely foolish.I reached for the landline beside me, its polished brass and ivory buttons still more satisfying than any of these cursed smartphones. I dialed Charles’ office number and waited.“Father,” Charles answered, his voice clipped, professional. Always the executive, even for me.“I hope I’m not interrupting your hostile takeover of a rival firm,” I said, smirking to myself.“You’re lucky I find your sarcasm charming, Fath
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 114
Barrett’s POVThe morning sun filtered through the heavy drapes of my suite, casting golden beams over the thick Persian rugs and polished mahogany furniture. I had just finished a satisfying breakfast of poached eggs, grilled asparagus, and a piece of toast slathered with just enough marmalade to remind me of Madelin’s old habit of sneaking sugar into everything. I was reclined in my massage chair, the mechanical hum of the rollers easing into my lower back as I sipped a small glass of tomato juice. My slippers were warm, my robe wrapped perfectly around me, and for a brief, fleeting moment, I allowed myself the luxury of peace.Then came the knock.It was not sharp or aggressive, but steady, insistent. I assumed it was Becky, my nurse, coming to check my vitals and shuffle me off to the pool where I would wade like a disoriented walrus through lukewarm water in the name of cardio. I did not mind. At my age, movement was a celebration, not a punishment.“Come in,” I called, not turni
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 113
Emily’s POVThe house was silent, that comforting kind of quiet that settles just before twilight. I had dimmed the lights in the kitchen and lit the candles I kept tucked away for special occasions, letting them cast soft, flickering shadows across the table. The scent of roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil danced through the air, blending with the heady sweetness of the vanilla candle near the door. Damian had texted me an hour ago to say he was finally headed home after a brutal day at the hospital. I could almost hear the exhaustion in his message.He had been working late all week, dealing with a string of emergency surgeries and difficult patients. I had seen it in the shadows under his eyes and the way his voice sometimes trailed off mid-thought. I hated seeing him that way. So tonight, I decided, was just for him.The table was set with our mismatched plates and the fancy cloth napkins we never used. A bottle of Chianti stood like a soldier at attention beside
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 112
Emily’s POVThe smell of garlic, rosemary, and lemon zest lingered in the air as I stirred the sauce gently in the pan, the soft clink of the wooden spoon against metal filling the silence between bursts of laughter. Damian sat on a stool near the island, slicing up bright heirloom tomatoes for the salad, his sleeves rolled up, forearms dusted with a trace of sea salt. There was something sweetly ridiculous about how domestic we’d become. Just last week I was navigating legal documents and emotionally charged confrontations, and now, I was arguing with this man—this impossibly handsome, frustrating, tender man—about how thick tomato slices should be.“Thicker, Damian. They fall apart when they’re paper-thin. What is this, a salad or carpaccio?” I teased, shaking my head.He looked up at me with mock offense, eyes sparkling with humor. “Excuse you, this is art. Not everything needs to be manhandled into submission.”I flicked a little water at him from the edge of my fingers and he gas
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 111
Barrett’s POVThe afternoon light filtered in through the tall windows of Emily’s restaurant, casting a soft golden hue across the crisp white tablecloth and delicately arranged tea set before me. I leaned back slightly in my chair, cigar long extinguished, the aroma of fresh herbs and warm fruit filling the air. Emily moved with the grace of a dancer, placing platters of vibrant foods before Tom and me, her smile glowing with sincerity and quiet confidence. It was a different kind of strength than I was used to — not forged in boardrooms or battles, but grown in the soft, persistent soil of daily intention and care. A strength you could eat, I thought, marveling at the spread before us.“I wanted to do something special,” she said as she settled into the chair across from me. “This is part of something I’ve been dreaming up — a lifestyle brand built around nutrition, mindfulness, and family. Something real. I’ve spent so long building something for myself, and now… I want to build so
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 110
Barrett’s POVTom turned the wheel smoothly, his gloved hands steady on the leather steering wheel as the car pulled up in front of Emily’s restaurant. The warm amber glow of the morning sun bathed the little bistro’s façade, catching the edge of its elegant signage and making the gold lettering sparkle. It was half-past ten, a peaceful hour before the doors opened to the bustle of brunch service. I reached for my phone, preparing to dial Emily and let her know we had arrived, when the front door of the restaurant swung open.There she was. Bright-eyed and graceful, waving as she stepped into the sun with a smile that could make a bitter man sweet. I rolled down the window and gave her a gentleman’s wave, the kind I had perfected over the decades. There was charm in that wave, intention too. I always made a show of things. She crossed the sidewalk quickly, her steps light and full of purpose, and Tom, ever the reliable footman, was already out of the car and opening the door before sh
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 109
Barrett’s POVI opened my mouth to decline, but my stomach betrayed me with a traitorous growl. Tom chuckled and patted his own gut."I haven’t eaten breakfast," he admitted sheepishly. "Wouldn’t say no to something light.""Then it’s settled," Emily said with a delighted nod. "Come inside. I’ll whip something up quickly before the restaurant opens."Inside, the space was warm and inviting. Clean wood, exposed brick, and the scent of cinnamon and espresso hung in the air. She led us to a corner booth and told us to make ourselves comfortable before disappearing behind the kitchen doors.I leaned back against the leather banquette and glanced around, noting the framed photos, handwritten menus, and stacks of mismatched ceramic cups. It had charm. Real charm. Not that fabricated kind the decorators installed into million-dollar spaces with rustic beams from fake barns in Vermont.A few minutes later, Emily returned carrying two plates and two steaming mugs of coffee."Spinach, egg, and
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 108
Barrett’s POVOnce they were gone, I called Tom, who had wisely waited downstairs in the car, no doubt reading the paper or texting his wife about what groceries to pick up on the way home.“Tom,” I said, “it’s time. We’re going to Emily’s restaurant to pick her up.”He chuckled on the other end. “That was quick, sir. Thought you’d be stuck there all afternoon.”“It does not take long to make people uneasy,” I said with a laugh, lighting one final cigar before snuffing it out prematurely. “Sometimes all you have to do is show up.”I stepped out from my office and walked through the executive corridor with purpose, nodding politely at those who dared look me in the eye. I was not a ghost of the past. I was still the storm that shook the windows. I took the elevator back down, passing floor after floor of carefully polished egos and glass walls, watching my reflection in the silver doors. There he was—Barrett Augustus, still in control, still calling the shots.The lobby greeted me with
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 107
Barrett’s POVThe phone call had gone better than expected. Emily had answered after three rings, her voice a delicate mix of confusion and caution, but the moment she realized it was me—Barrett Augustus—her tone shifted to something more respectful. I could hear the hesitation behind her words, the hesitation of a woman who had been burned too many times, who had learned the hard way that even well-dressed men with deep pockets carried knives behind their backs. But I was not calling to hurt her. No, I had far more interesting things in mind.I told her I wanted to take her somewhere important, somewhere that mattered to me, and she agreed without pressing too much. That pleased me. A young woman with enough intuition to know when not to push an old lion too hard. She insisted, however, that once our little errand was over, I would join her at her restaurant for tea and pastries. Tea and pastries. The very idea of it made me laugh, but there was something endearing about her. She did
