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10- This wasn’t about Amelia.

Penulis: Hayley
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-02-03 22:34:53

Michell pov

I sat in silence for a long while after she left.

Ms. Taylor had nerves. That much was clear. Most people folded under pressure, especially when faced with authority they knew they couldn’t challenge.

But she had stood there, unwavering, defending her choices as if she had the right to.

She didn’t.

And yet, I found myself neither irritated nor impressed.

Curious, maybe.

I turned my attention back to my notes. Amelia’s routine was structured down to the minute—a necessity, not an overcorrection. Audrey saw it as rigid. She saw room for adjustment.

She was wrong.

But that didn’t mean she was useless.

For now, I would let her believe she was doing well.

She had two months to prove herself.

And I intended to test her every step of the way.

***

A week later.

The morning was quiet, just the way I preferred it.

I adjusted the cuffs of my suit as I descended the staircase, mentally running through my schedule for the day.

My time was accounted for—meetings, calls, decisions th
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  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   11- He's back in the country

    Michell povI sat in my office, fingers tapping against the desk, my mind elsewhere. The house was quiet now, but I knew Amelia had just returned from school. The thought alone eased the tension in my shoulders, though I would never say it aloud. A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I said. The door cracked open, and Amelia peeked inside, her small hands gripping the frame. “Daddy?”My chest warmed at the sight of her. “Come here, sweetheart.”She grinned and hurried inside, her steps light as she approached my desk. I pulled her onto my lap, smoothing a stray curl from her face. “How was school?” I asked. “I got another A in math!” she beamed. “And we learned about planets today! Did you know Jupiter has 92 moons?”“Impressive,” I murmured, genuinely pleased. “You’re getting smarter every day.”She giggled, leaning her head against my chest. These were the moments I held onto—the ones where she still let me be her father, not just the man who ma

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-04
  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   12- One strike down, Four left

    Audrey povThe sharp bang of something slamming against a hard surface made me jump.I froze, my hands gripping the edge of the book I had been flipping through absentmindedly. The sound had come from down the hall—Michell’s office.My heartbeat quickened.It wasn’t unusual for him to be harsh, cold, or demanding, but that… that had been different. It wasn’t controlled. It wasn’t calculated.It was anger.Real, unfiltered, dangerous anger.I hesitated before stepping toward the door. I had no business prying, but something in my gut told me this wasn’t about me.Or Amelia.Something else had set him off. Something bigger.Just then, Amelia appeared, looking as lost as me, “What is that sound?” she asked.I quickly put on a smile and took her little hand, “Nothing, probably from the television.”***My mind drifted to his warning.One strike down. Four left. I couldn’t afford another mistake. Mr Garcia had made that crystal clear, and the last thing I wanted was to give him a reas

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-05
  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   13- Her personal life wasn't my concern

    Michell povI hadn’t meant to stop. I was heading to my study, mind occupied with the day’s mess, when I heard her voice—low, tense, and laced with something I couldn’t quite place. It made me pause. Not because I cared. But because it was… interesting. Ms. Taylor’s tone was different from the one she used with Amelia. Less steady. Strained. Her words weren’t clear, but the emotion was. Frustration. Maybe fear. And something else—something defensive. A lawsuit? I frowned. So she had secrets after all. I should’ve known. Women like her always did. I didn’t stay to hear more. I stepped away, moving down the hall with slow, deliberate steps. My mind turned over what I’d just heard, considering, analyzing—then stopping. Because it didn’t matter. Her personal life wasn’t my concern. She was here for Amelia. Nothing more. I had enough problems without adding hers to the list. Whatever mess she was caught up in, it wasn’t my business. And I intended to k

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-06
  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   14- I'd done the opposite

    Michell povI sat behind my desk, my fingers steepled as I watched the time tick by. Harold was late. The man had nerve—posting that nonsense and thinking he could get away with it. The headline alone was irritating, but the video? That was calculated. Designed to drag my name through the mud along with Audrey’s. A mistake. One he was about to regret. So he was the ex husband. Little wonder their interaction that night.The door opened. My assistant stepped in, followed closely by Harold. He looked different than I remembered. His suit was expensive, but it didn’t fit right. Like he’d lost weight too fast, or he didn’t have the money to tailor it anymore. Good. I gestured to the chair in front of my desk. “Sit.” He hesitated. Swallowed. Then obeyed. I let the silence stretch. Let him feel it. Finally, I leaned forward, resting my arms on the desk. “You have twenty-four hours.” Harold shifted. “I—” “Not a word.” My voice was calm, but it shut him up instantly.

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-06
  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   15- I don't deserve that, but you're welcome

    Audrey povI sat on the edge of my bed, gripping my phone so tightly my knuckles ached. The screen was still lit with the lawsuit notice, as if taunting me. Infidelity. The accusation burned, not because it was true, but because it came from the man I had given up everything for. Harold. The man I had fought my mother for, the man I had married against her wishes, the man she had disowned me over. And for what? For a marriage that had cost me my dignity? My peace? My entire life? I stared down at my leg, absently rubbing the scar along my ankle. A permanent reminder of that accident—that shattered the life I had built in one single moment. And Harold? He hadn’t been missing. He had been with her. Two years. I had taken care of his family for two years, believing he was in trouble, believing he needed me. All while he was gallivanting with his mistress. And now, after everything, he wanted to take even more from me?No. If Harold wanted a fight, he would get one. I p

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-07
  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   16- At this rate, I won't even last the week

    Audrey povI barely slept, but when my alarm rang, I forced myself up. If there was ever a day I needed to be perfect, it was today. One more strike, and I was gone.I went over Amelia’s schedule again, making sure every detail was precise. Breakfast at 8:00 sharp, playtime from 8:30 to 9:00, reading at 9:15—not a single second off. Amelia sat at the table, happily swinging her legs as she munched on her toast. “Audrey, did you know some birds can talk?” I smiled. “I did. Parrots, right?” “Uh-huh! Daddy told me that some of them can even copy voices perfectly.” “That’s true.” I reached for her juice and refilled it. “Do you think Mr. Floppy would make a good talking bunny?” She giggled. “Nooo. Mr. Floppy only talks to me.” I laughed softly. Then footsteps approached. Mr Garcia.He stopped by the dining table, eyes immediately flicking to Amelia’s plate, then to me. “She’s still eating.” I frowned slightly. “She just has a few bites left.” “The schedule says breakfast

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-07
  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   17- I'll help you

    Michell povThe door clicked shut behind her. I didn’t look up. Didn’t acknowledge the way she hesitated for half a second before leaving. Good. That should’ve been the end of it. I returned my attention to the contract in front of me, scanning the figures and clauses with practiced precision. It was a multi-million-dollar deal, one that required every ounce of my focus. But for the first time in years, I found myself rereading the same paragraph. My mind was elsewhere. On her. On the way her voice trembled, not with fear, but with anger. On the way her hands clenched at her sides, like she was holding back more than just frustration. She had come expecting rejection. And yet, she had still asked. I exhaled sharply, setting the contract down. I shouldn’t care. Ms. Taylor Taylor’s life—her past—was not my concern. She was here to do one thing: take care of Amelia and follow my rules. That was the agreement. She has proof.That changed things. The scandal Har

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-08
  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   18- You have to survive the week without getting another strike

    Amelia povThe door clicked softly behind me, but my mind was already miles away, replaying Mr Garcia’s words over and over in my head.“You have to survive the week without getting another strike.”It was absurd. Impossible, even. How could he expect me to balance all the chaos surrounding Harold’s lawsuit, my own mounting stress, and Amelia’s care without slipping up? The demands he’d already placed on me felt like enough to break anyone, and now he was adding one more, as if I could simply wave a magic wand and make everything work.I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to slam something—anything—against the walls. I didn’t have time for this. I didn’t have the luxury of frustration.Still, his offer lingered, like a sickly-sweet promise that left a bitter aftertaste. He would help me with Harold, but only if I could somehow manage to stay perfect. No mistakes, no signs of weakness. Just… survive.I could feel his eyes on me again, the way he had looked at me when I finally agre

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-08

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  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   95- One performance down

    MICHELL POVI leaned back on the couch, a book in my hands, but I wasn’t reading. The words blurred together, meaningless against the backdrop of laughter filling the room. They all came back to the living area. Amelia was perched on his lap, giggling uncontrollably as he tickled her sides. Audrey sat beside them, curled up comfortably, her eyes bright with amusement. They looked like a picture of easy familiarity. And I didn’t know what to make of it. Audrey had grown attached to him—maybe too attached. I wasn’t surprised. Ethan had a way of making himself welcome in people’s lives, slipping in like he belonged there.And somehow, over the past few days, he had done just that. He had visited four days ago, and since then, I’d caught them talking more, laughing more. It shouldn’t bother me. But it did. Not surprisingly, I was jealous. Ethan grinned at Audrey. “So, how’s training going, superstar?” Audrey rolled her eyes at the nickname, but there was a smile tugging at

  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   94- Shut up and eat your cookies

    AUDREY POVA week and six days.The exhaustion seeped into my bones, a dull ache spreading through my muscles as I sank onto the couch. My breath came in slow, measured exhales, my body heavy from another brutal training session. I wouldn’t lie—I had pushed myself beyond my limits these past days. I had forced Elena to teach me every move she could recall, determined to absorb every ounce of technique I had seen Gina execute. It wasn’t enough for me to match her—I had to surpass her. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I would prove it. I pressed my fingers to my temple, my body screaming for rest, but before I could surrender to the exhaustion, I heard footsteps. Michell. He walked in, his presence as sharp and commanding as ever, but there was something different in his eyes when they met mine—something unreadable, yet piercing.Without a word, he sat beside me. The space between us felt small, charged. Then, in a low, measured voice, he spoke. “I got a report from Mrs. Vasquez toda

  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   93- Audrey, be careful.

    AUDREY POVAs soon as Michell walked out the door, the air in the room shifted. It was subtle—like the lingering warmth from a fire that had just been extinguished. I let out a breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding, my fingers curling around my cup. “Don’t just focus on outshining her. Focus on being better than you were yesterday.”His words echoed in my mind, sinking deeper than I expected them to. I wasn’t intimidated by Gina. …Was I? I stared at the smooth surface of my coffee, watching the faint ripples from where I had stirred it earlier. I had worked so hard to get here. I had clawed my way through pain, rejection, and doubt. I had sacrificed everything to dance. And yet— I could still hear the way Gina’s name was whispered through the crowd last night. The way their eyes followed her, expectant. The way she moved, like she knew she belonged on that stage. I gritted my teeth. No. I wouldn’t let self-doubt creep in. Not now. I pushed my chair back,

  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   92- She’s determined. Stubborn. Relentless

    MICHELL POVI shut the door behind me, locking out the world. I could feel the heat of the call against my chest before I even answered.Private Number.The only calls I received from a private number were from one person—the investigator I had hired.I exhaled sharply, then finally pressed the phone to my ear. “Talk.”The investigator didn’t waste time. “I got into the accident records like you asked.” His voice was low, deliberate. “And you were right.”My fingers curled around the edge of my desk.“The official report claimed it was a brake failure,” he continued. “The car lost control, spun off the road, and crashed into the ravine. But here’s the thing—there was no real investigation. Everything was rushed. Too clean. Too perfect.”My throat felt tight.I had read that report a hundred times. Had memorized every line.Faulty brakes. Instant impact. No survivors.But I never believed it. Not for a second.“Go on.”There was a pause, like he was choosing his words carefully. “There

  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   91- I need to take this.

    AUDREY POV.Victor was gone. I stood still, my fingers tracing the smooth edges of the photograph he had given me. It was perfect. A frozen moment in time—my body suspended mid-air, arms outstretched, strength and grace woven into a single movement. My throat tightened. Victor had always been unreadable, distant in ways I couldn’t quite decipher, but this… this was thoughtful. Meaningful. A part of me wanted to hold onto that moment, but I could feel their stares—Lisa’s expectant smirk, Amelia’s bubbling excitement, Michell’s unreadable yet intense gaze. And Ethan… I swallowed, my fingers curling slightly around the picture before tucking it away. Trevor suddenly clapped his hands together, breaking the silence. “Alright, now that we’ve had our sentimental moment—food? Because I’m starving.” Lisa rolled her eyes. “You’re always starving.” He grinned. “Yeah, and?” A small chuckle slipped past my lips despite everything. The tension eased just a little, the moment bec

  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   90- I have a plane to catch.

    MICHELL POVThe moment Audrey’s name was called for second place, the auditorium erupted in cheers. And yet, for a split second, my world had gone utterly silent. My hands tightened around the edge of my seat as I watched her step forward, her expression unreadable, her body still trembling from exertion. She had given everything out there on that stage. Every movement, every breath had been filled with the kind of raw passion that left the audience breathless. And me? I could barely sit still. A slow exhale left my lips as pride swelled in my chest, so potent it almost hurt. “She was magnificent,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. Beside me, Amelia was practically bouncing in her seat, clapping so enthusiastically it was a wonder her hands weren’t sore. “I told you she’d make it! I told you!” Her grin was wide, her excitement bubbling over. “Did you see the way she moved? I swear, it was like she wasn’t even touching the ground!” I had seen it. I had seen e

  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   89- Guess you still can’t beat me, limp.

    AUDREY POV.I took a deep breath, willing my nerves to settle. Fear threatened to consume me, but I shoved it down. One step forward. Then another. The moment my foot touched the stage, a familiar calm settled over me.The first few notes of my music filled the room, soft yet commanding.Then I moved.My body reacted before my mind could catch up, muscle memory taking over. Years of training, of pain, of sacrifice—it all came pouring out through my movements.A delicate bourree carried me across the stage, my steps whisper-light but precise. Then came the arabesque, my leg extending high, my arms reaching as if grasping for something unseen.The music swelled, and I let myself fall into it.I turned—once, twice, three times—the pirouettes controlled, fluid, a perfect balance between strength and grace.“Breathe through the movement, Audrey. Control.”Elena’s voice rang in my mind, guiding me.A leap.A series of jetes, each one soaring, defying gravity.The room was silent. They were

  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   88- Stop overthinking

    AUDREY POV.I froze. Of all the faces I expected to see today, hers was the last one. Gina. She was dancing—no, gliding—across the floor with an effortless grace that made my breath hitch. Every move was precise, every transition seamless, as if her body was made for this. The way she extended her limbs, the fluidity of her turns… it was mesmerizing. And I hated that. I hated that I was watching her. That, for the first time, I understood why Harold had once called her the best dancer he had ever seen. Back then, I had scoffed at his words, assuming it was just infatuation talking. But as I stood there, watching her perform with such ease, I realized he wasn’t completely wrong. Gina was good. No—she was really good. A knot twisted in my stomach. I had never seen her as a real competitor before. I had always viewed her as the woman who had taken my husband, the woman who had caused me so much pain. But now, here she was—not just a reminder of my past but a direct r

  • After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   87- That's Michell’s older brother

    AUDREY POVThe morning light streamed through the curtains as I fastened my earrings, my fingers slightly trembling. Today was the day. The competition that would determine everything—whether I was truly back, whether I still belonged on that stage. Amelia peeked through the doorway, her small hands gripping the frame as she beamed at me. “You’re gonna be amazing,” she declared, her voice full of certainty. I let out a shaky breath, adjusting the fabric of my competition outfit. “I hope so.” She huffed, stepping into the room with a dramatic shake of her head. “Not hope, Audrey. You will.” She placed her tiny hands on her hips, her expression so serious it was almost comical. “You’ve been practicing forever. No one can do what you do.” A small smile tugged at my lips. “Well, when you put it that way…” “I do put it that way,” she said proudly, then tilted her head, her eyes shining with admiration. “You look so pretty.” I glanced at the mirror. My sleek competition outfit

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