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Chapter 71
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-21 13:34:33
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After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 72
Emily's POVThe knock at the door came late, just past midnight. The city had settled into a hushed lull, the distant hum of traffic barely audible through the thick walls of Damian’s apartment. I had been curled up on the couch with a book, Damian beside me, his arm draped lazily over my shoulders, his warmth soothing the tension that still lingered from the disastrous dinner at his family’s estate.At first, I thought I had imagined the sound. But then it came again, sharper, more insistent.Damian sighed, untangling himself from me as he stood, his steps heavy with reluctance as he moved toward the door. He didn’t need to check who it was. We both knew.When he pulled it open, Charlotte stood there, arms crossed, chin lifted in that stubborn, unyielding way of hers. She looked just as she had when she stormed out of the estate, furious, exhausted, and wholly unwilling to explain herself.“I’m staying here tonight,” she announced, as if it were an irrefutable fact.Damian didn’t look
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-24After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 73
Emily's POVI blinked up at Damian, caught off guard by the sudden confession. He didn’t sound hesitant, but there was a certain weight to his words, as though he had been waiting for the right moment to say them.“I thought about it,” I admitted, my voice quiet in the dimly lit room. “It didn’t make sense to me, especially after everything we’ve been through.”His lips twitched with the ghost of a smile, but his eyes remained serious. “It wasn’t about keeping distance, Emily. I never wanted that.” He paused, as if choosing his next words carefully. “I’ve been dealing with my family’s business late at night. I didn’t want to disturb your rest.”Relief flooded through me, washing away the last remnants of doubt I hadn’t even realized I was still holding on to.“You were protecting my sleep?” I asked, a soft laugh escaping me.He smirked, brushing a kiss against my forehead. “I was trying. Though, I have to admit, I missed you more than I expected.”I smiled, my fingers tracing the stro
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-24After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 74
Louis's POVLately, my life has been a complete mess.I stood in my office, the once-pristine shelves now half-empty, their contents scattered across the desk in various stages of packing. The room, once a symbol of my ambition, now felt suffocating, like a tomb I was sealing shut with every item I placed in the boxes.The decision had been made. I was leaving this company behind, stepping into a new position at Charles’ family business, a move that wasn’t entirely my own.Maya had ensured that.I dragged a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply. The very thought of it sent a wave of unease through me, an unshakable heaviness that clung to my chest.My eyes flickered toward the darkened window, and just like that, the past surged forward, an unwelcome ghost clawing its way back into my mind.***Maya sat across from me, draped in silk, her lips curved in a knowing smirk. She held a glass of wine between her fingers, swirling it lazily as she leaned back against the plush couch in our
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-24After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 75
Louis's POVThe city lights blurred as I drove through the night, their glow reflected in the windshield like distant stars mocking me. A week had passed since I left my old office, and yet, the weight on my shoulders had only grown heavier. Because of Maya, my workload had doubled. More meetings, more responsibilities, more insufferable business dinners with men whose voices grated on my nerves.This was what she wanted.Maya had secured her position as Charles’ daughter, and in turn, she had pulled me into a world I had no interest in. She wanted me integrated, established, tied so deeply into her family’s empire that there was no escape. And I let her.Networking events. Tedious discussions about investments, supply chains, and expanding market control. I had to play my part, to endure it all if I wanted to keep my place. I despised it. Every second of it felt like a slow suffocation, like being trapped in a role I never auditioned for.Tonight had been particularly unbearable.I g
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-24After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 76
Maya's POVLucy Laurent, the woman who would soon be my mother-in-law, was going to drive me insane.No, she already had driven me insane.Every single day, it was something new. Some trivial argument over a meaningless detail, some clash of preferences, some new and insufferable eccentricity she introduced into the house. We were two completely different people—our tastes, our habits, our very lives could not have been more incompatible. And yet, somehow, we were stuck under the same roof, battling over dominance like two queens in a game of chess.I was patient. I always won in the end.But the victories were exhausting.She knew how to push my buttons, how to make everything just unbearable enough to ruin my mood. But ever since my status changed—since I became Charles’ acknowledged daughter, since I secured my position at the top—she had started showing some restraint. At least on the surface.Still, I wasn’t a fool. I knew she loathed me.But I didn’t care. Because I had everythi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-27After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 77
Maya's POVI couldn’t take it anymore. My hands were trembling as I clutched my phone, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. The sheer disgust of what I had just seen, the chaos of this house, the stench that clung to every surface, it was all too much. I swiped at the tears on my cheeks, pressing the call button with shaking fingers. The phone barely rang before Louis picked up."Maya?" His voice was steady, indifferent, as if he hadn’t just left me to drown in this nightmare of a house.I felt my composure shatter the moment I heard his voice. "Louis, I can't do this anymore," I cried, my words tumbling out in a desperate, breathless rush. "I swear to God, I am losing my mind in this house! Your mother—she is unbearable! She is always here, always interfering, always shoving her ridiculous remedies down my throat, and I have had enough!"There was silence on the other end, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop. "She keeps making these disgusting concoctions and insists I drink them.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-27After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 78
Louis's POVThe moment my phone rang and I saw Maya’s name flash on the screen, I knew something was wrong. I had been getting ready to leave work, shrugging on my jacket, when I answered. The second I picked up, her voice hit me like a storm, raw, frantic, and nearly breaking apart with rage and frustration."Louis, I can't do this anymore!" she cried, her voice shaking. "I swear to God, I am losing my mind in this house! Your mother is unbearable! She’s always here, always interfering, always treating me like I’m some child who can’t take care of myself! And those—those disgusting concoctions she keeps forcing on me, I can’t take it, Louis, I won’t take it! Do you have any idea what I walked into today? Do you? The house is a disaster! It looks like some kind of apothecary exploded, and the kitchen—Louis, I went into the kitchen, and there were dead bugs in the food. Dead. Bugs!"I gripped my phone tighter, momentarily stunned into silence. My mind should have been focused on Maya,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 79
Louis's POVMaya let out a sharp, humorless laugh, eyes widening as she stared at my mother in utter disbelief. “Thanking you?” she spat. “For what? For making me live in this?” She gestured wildly around the room, her hands trembling. “For making my house smell like rotting plants? For forcing me to drink God-knows-what every single day? For making me feel like I am losing my sanity?”Lucy sighed, rolling her eyes slightly, as if Maya were nothing more than a dramatic child throwing a tantrum. “You’re exaggerating,” she said with that same infuriating calmness. “The house isn’t that messy. You young people are just too accustomed to sterile, lifeless spaces. A home should have character. It should be full of life, full of culture. You act as if a few books out of place and a few herbs drying in the air is a disaster.”“A few herbs?” Maya shrieked. “There are piles of them, everywhere! It looks like a witch’s lair! And the books? They’re not even ours! Where do you even get them?” She
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28
Bab terbaru
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 85
Damian's POVThe restaurant had been packed from the moment the doors opened, the energy electric, the kitchen a well-oiled machine producing dish after dish with precision and perfection. Emily had been in her element, her passion shining through with every plate that left the pass. And now, as the final customers lingered over their desserts and the staff began winding down, she stood at the bar, a champagne flute in hand, her cheeks flushed from the rush of it all.I stood beside her, watching the way her eyes sparkled in the low light. “You should let them close up,” I murmured, swirling the golden liquid in my glass before taking a sip.She turned to me, instantly shaking her head. “I can’t just leave them to do everything. It was a crazy night.”Her assistant manager, a sharp-eyed woman named Lila, overheard and let out an exasperated sigh. “Emily, go. Seriously. We’ve got it under control.”Her sous chef, a burly, no-nonsense guy named Felix, chimed in from across the bar. “We’
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 84
Damian's POVFrom across the restaurant, I watched Emily’s expression shift as she spoke on the phone in the office. A faint smile tugged at her lips, her features soft, even playfully relaxed. It was a look I recognized but didn’t often see—at least, not when she was with me. With me, she was always guarded, careful, as if some invisible weight rested on her shoulders.The way her fingers curled loosely around the phone, the way her eyes flickered with amusement—it wasn’t just a casual call. She wasn’t just handling business. This was different. This was personal.My fingers absentmindedly traced the edge of my phone. Nathan’s voice echoed in my mind, teasing and knowing, and I could still hear Emily’s casual remark—"a private invitation."Psychology would categorize this as an irrational jealousy response. But at this moment, I had no intention of suppressing it with logic.Sliding my phone into my pocket, I made my way toward the office.She had just ended the call, still staring a
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 83
Emily's POVEmily barely had time to catch her breath before she was back in the kitchen, calling out to her chefs as they fired up dish after dish. The energy was intoxicating, the air thick with the smell of sizzling meats, fragrant broths, and caramelized garlic. But that night for dinner, with their reservations full, there was something new in the mix.Truffle fried rice.The dish had started as an experiment, a luxurious take on a humble classic, and after Nathan’s viral video, she knew the timing was perfect. A blend of creamy truffle, perfectly fried rice, and a balance of umami-rich flavors that made every bite melt on the tongue. She had tested it, perfected it, and now it was ready to make its grand debut.As soon as the first plates hit the tables, the reaction was immediate. Customers took that first bite and practically melted in their seats. Word spread fast, and soon, orders flooded the kitchen, the dish flying off the line like gold dust. It was a hit.Emily barely co
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 82
Emily's POVThe kitchen buzzed with energy, the air thick with the scent of sizzling garlic, rich broths, and seared meats. Pans clattered, knives chopped in rhythmic precision, and the steady hum of the lunch rush filled the space. Emily moved with practiced ease, her sleeves rolled up, her hands expertly tossing noodles in a steaming wok. Sweat beaded along her hairline, but she didn’t care. This was her domain, her sanctuary.But then her phone vibrated again. And again. And again.Her brow furrowed as she wiped her hands on a kitchen towel, glancing at the notifications flooding her lock screen. Her heart pounded, her pulse quickening with every new alert.The numbers didn’t lie; Nathan Park’s short video had exploded, racking up thousands of likes, shares, and comments in just a few days. It was everywhere. Food bloggers, influencers, even critics had latched onto it, praising the restaurant’s revival and raving about the dishes.Emily sucked in a breath, pushing through the swin
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 81
Maya's POVI finished the last bite of my dessert, a delicate fruit tart with a buttery crust and just the right amount of sweetness. It had been a perfect evening, just like the ones I had always envisioned for myself—peaceful, luxurious, and completely under my control. No unexpected chaos, no unwanted guests, no one to question me or undermine my authority. This was my home, my life, and I was finally at the center of it all.I picked up my phone again, absentmindedly scrolling through my messages as I sipped on my herbal tea. A new text from my mother, Lyla, caught my attention.Have you considered keeping things simple for the wedding? A smaller venue, something more intimate? No need for extravagance, sweetheart. These things are about the union, not the spectacle.I nearly scoffed aloud. Not the spectacle? What was even the point of a wedding if not to be a spectacle? This was my grand moment, my crowning achievement, the culmination of everything I had worked toward. I had spe
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 80
Maya's POVMy life was finally perfect.Louis was always busy with work, but that was exactly what I wanted. He was dedicated to the family business, leaving me to enjoy the luxury of our new home, a spacious, pristine sanctuary untouched by chaos. No more bizarre herbs strewn across counters, no more foreign guests parading through the house at all hours, and, most importantly, no more Lucy. I had won.The house was everything I had dreamed of, the kind of place women envied and whispered about over brunch. A classic American two-story home, wrapped in elegant ivory siding, with dark shutters that framed tall, stately windows. The front yard was a masterpiece—symmetrically trimmed hedges, a smooth stone pathway leading up to a grand mahogany door, and a black wrought-iron gate enclosing it all in a picture-perfect vision of stability. No overgrown vines creeping over walls, no bizarre statues cluttering the yard. It was polished, refined, and entirely mine.The backyard was just as f
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 79
Louis's POVMaya let out a sharp, humorless laugh, eyes widening as she stared at my mother in utter disbelief. “Thanking you?” she spat. “For what? For making me live in this?” She gestured wildly around the room, her hands trembling. “For making my house smell like rotting plants? For forcing me to drink God-knows-what every single day? For making me feel like I am losing my sanity?”Lucy sighed, rolling her eyes slightly, as if Maya were nothing more than a dramatic child throwing a tantrum. “You’re exaggerating,” she said with that same infuriating calmness. “The house isn’t that messy. You young people are just too accustomed to sterile, lifeless spaces. A home should have character. It should be full of life, full of culture. You act as if a few books out of place and a few herbs drying in the air is a disaster.”“A few herbs?” Maya shrieked. “There are piles of them, everywhere! It looks like a witch’s lair! And the books? They’re not even ours! Where do you even get them?” She
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 78
Louis's POVThe moment my phone rang and I saw Maya’s name flash on the screen, I knew something was wrong. I had been getting ready to leave work, shrugging on my jacket, when I answered. The second I picked up, her voice hit me like a storm, raw, frantic, and nearly breaking apart with rage and frustration."Louis, I can't do this anymore!" she cried, her voice shaking. "I swear to God, I am losing my mind in this house! Your mother is unbearable! She’s always here, always interfering, always treating me like I’m some child who can’t take care of myself! And those—those disgusting concoctions she keeps forcing on me, I can’t take it, Louis, I won’t take it! Do you have any idea what I walked into today? Do you? The house is a disaster! It looks like some kind of apothecary exploded, and the kitchen—Louis, I went into the kitchen, and there were dead bugs in the food. Dead. Bugs!"I gripped my phone tighter, momentarily stunned into silence. My mind should have been focused on Maya,
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 77
Maya's POVI couldn’t take it anymore. My hands were trembling as I clutched my phone, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. The sheer disgust of what I had just seen, the chaos of this house, the stench that clung to every surface, it was all too much. I swiped at the tears on my cheeks, pressing the call button with shaking fingers. The phone barely rang before Louis picked up."Maya?" His voice was steady, indifferent, as if he hadn’t just left me to drown in this nightmare of a house.I felt my composure shatter the moment I heard his voice. "Louis, I can't do this anymore," I cried, my words tumbling out in a desperate, breathless rush. "I swear to God, I am losing my mind in this house! Your mother—she is unbearable! She is always here, always interfering, always shoving her ridiculous remedies down my throat, and I have had enough!"There was silence on the other end, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop. "She keeps making these disgusting concoctions and insists I drink them.
