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101- Proud?
Last Updated:
2025-04-03 00:43:00
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After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 102- Let the investigator handle it
MICHELL POVAudrey was different tonight.Not in an obvious way—she still carried herself with that quiet, stubborn grace, her chin lifted just enough to defy the world without seeming like she was trying. But something in her eyes had shifted.Something I couldn’t name.As I carried Amelia upstairs, I could feel the slow, steady rhythm of her breathing against my chest, the warmth of her small body curling instinctively into mine. She was exhausted. Happy, but exhausted.Audrey had that effect on her. On both of us.Once in Amelia’s room, I laid her down gently, brushing a few loose strands from her face before pulling the blanket over her. She sighed in her sleep, murmuring something I couldn’t quite make out.A part of me wanted to stay, to watch over her a little longer. But my thoughts were elsewhere—downstairs.With her.I found Audrey still standing in the dimly lit hallway when I returned. She hadn’t moved. Her fingers trailed absently over the edge of the console table, her e
Last Updated : 2025-04-04After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 103
MICHELL POVThe night air was sharp as I stepped outside, the lingering warmth of the house already a distant memory.I got into my car, gripping the wheel tighter than necessary. My mind was still filled with the image of Audrey—standing there, her arms crossed, concern flickering in her eyes.But I couldn’t afford to stop. Not now.The address the investigator sent was across the city, in a part of town I rarely found myself in. Run-down, forgotten. The kind of place people disappeared into when they didn’t want to be found.Fitting.I pressed down on the gas.Every turn, every streetlight blurred past, but my mind was somewhere else. Back to the night I got the call. The way my world split apart in an instant.I had spent years trying to bury the doubt, forcing myself to believe the official reports. But the cracks had always been there.And now, the truth was within reach. I wasn’t about to let it slip away. Not again.The street was dimly lit, the yellow glow of flickering neon
Last Updated : 2025-04-04After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 104- I miss you
AUDREY POVThe morning light streamed through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the sheets. I should have felt warm, safe even, but the moment I reached for my phone, the illusion shattered. 17 unread messages. 5 emails. All from Harold. My jaw tightened. I didn’t need to open them to know what they said. Apologies coated in nostalgia. Carefully placed words meant to stir something in me. Maybe even an “I miss you” thrown in at just the right moment, as if that would somehow erase the past. I hovered over the first message, then— Delete.One by one, his words vanished, just like he should have years ago. I set the phone down, exhaling. Then it rang. A number I didn’t recognize. No, that wasn’t true. I knew this number. I just hadn’t seen since before my surgery. The cold weight in my stomach settled deep as I stared at the screen. Then, slowly, I pressed accept.“Audrey,” the voice purred through the speaker, silk-thin and sharp enough to cut. “It’s been
Last Updated : 2025-04-05After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 105- A gold crest wristwatch.
MICHELL POVThe text came in just after mid-afternoon.PI: Got something. Check your email.I sat up, rubbing a hand over my face before reaching for my laptop. The screen glowed in the dim light of my office as I pulled up the file.A picture loaded first.A golden watch, sleek and polished, but it wasn’t the watch that mattered. It was the crest engraved on the band—intricate, ornate. A symbol I didn’t recognize.I scrolled down.The PI had attached a short message.“It’s not just any crest. It belongs to an elite group—some underground cult, invitation-only. Been around for decades. No official records, no digital footprint. But I found a list.”I clicked the next file.A series of names—except they weren’t real names. Just aliases.AegisVanguardFerrumDaemonSpecterAnd dozens more.I exhaled sharply, leaning back in my chair. A secret society? A cult? This wasn’t just a back-alley hit—this was planned by someone with wealth, influence, and a network to cover their tracks.I gra
Last Updated : 2025-04-05After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 106- Victor is on borrowed time.
MICHELL POV.I snapped a picture of the wristwatch first, making sure the gold crest emblem was sharp and clear in the frame. Then, carefully, I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket. No way in hell was I going to leave my fingerprints on this. If Victor was involved, I wasn’t about to make it easier for him to twist this into something else. Using the cloth, I lifted the watch, turning it over in my hands. It was old, worn in places, but still held an air of prestige—something only a man with status, or one desperate to prove he had it, would wear.My jaw tightened. Victor had no need to claw his way up the ranks. He was already born into power. So why the hell did he have this? I exhaled through my nose, then wrapped the wristwatch in the handkerchief before slipping it into my pocket. If Victor had anything to do with Emilio’s death—if he had a hand in taking away the only person who ever truly gave a damn about me—then he was already living on borrowed time.I turned towar
Last Updated : 2025-04-06After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 107- Let’s make him slip.
MICHELL POV.FIVE DAYS LATER.I leaned back in my seat, the scent of aged whiskey and the faint sting of cigar smoke clinging to the air of Ethan’s house. Floor-to-ceiling windows cast a panoramic view of the city, the neon glow of streetlights stretching into the distance. Ethan sat across from me, rolling his glass between his fingers, his usual smirk in place. “Your girl really did it, huh?” he mused, shaking his head. “From a competitor to a damn judge at one of the biggest ballet competitions. That’s wild.” I took a slow sip of my drink, the amber liquid burning a path down my throat. “Not wild. Earned.” Ethan chuckled, lifting a brow. “Look at you. Almost sounded proud there.” I shot him a look, but he only laughed. “Come on, man. Admit it,” he pressed. “Audrey worked her ass off, and now the whole world is watching. You can’t tell me you don’t feel something about that.” I exhaled through my nose, glancing at the ice swirling in my glass. Feel something? I felt eve
Last Updated : 2025-04-06After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 108- I’m whatever she needs me to be
AUDREY POVThe faint echo of pointe shoes tapping against the polished studio floor filled the air, rhythmic and sharp like raindrops on a quiet street. I watched my students from across the room, arms folded, hearts quietly swelling as they moved—some clumsily, some gracefully—but all of them were trying. That was what mattered. That was always what mattered.It had been a good week. No, a great one.Just two days ago, I sat behind the velvet-draped judge’s panel at one of the biggest ballet competitions in the country. Me—a judge. I still caught myself blinking in disbelief sometimes. If someone had told the Audrey from years ago that this would be her life... she probably would’ve laughed and danced away.A soft smile tugged at my lips as I corrected a young girl’s posture with a gentle nudge of her shoulder. “Lift your chin, Elina. You’re a star, not a shadow. Let them see you.”She nodded with wide eyes, absorbing every word like gospel. That was what I loved about teaching—see
Last Updated : 2025-04-07After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 109- What do you mean? I’m not following you, Hector
MICHELL POVHer hand was small in mine, but steady—warm in a way that grounded me, even as a dozen thoughts clawed at the back of my mind. I opened the car door for her, waiting until she was settled before circling to the driver’s side.Silence stretched between us at first, thick and laced with all the things we weren’t saying.I started the engine and pulled away from the curb.The city hummed outside the windows—cars, lights, a world that kept spinning even as mine felt like it was winding tighter, piece by piece.I glanced at her.Audrey stared out the window, her arms crossed, her profile lit softly by the dash lights. I could see the tension in her shoulders. The way she was trying to breathe through it.“Sorry you had to see that,” she said suddenly, her voice low.I kept my eyes on the road, jaw tight. “Don’t apologize. He had no right.”“He’s been following me. For weeks now,” she muttered. “I didn’t want to stress you out more than you already are.”That made me glance at
Last Updated : 2025-04-07
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After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 139- Thank you for divorcing me
AUDREY POV.I couldn’t stop smiling as I touched my belly, feeling a sense of warmth and connection that seemed to grow with every passing day. It was strange, but in the best way possible. This baby—our baby—had already become such a huge part of my world, even before I had a chance to meet them. I couldn’t wait for the day when they’d be in my arms, but for now, I was content with the gentle movements, the little kicks, and the love that already filled me up inside.Michell was beside me every step of the way, and the love I saw in his eyes each time he looked at me was enough to make me feel like I could do anything. The planning for the wedding had been a whirlwind, but it was a beautiful chaos. Everyone was on board—Ethan, Lisa, Amelia—each of them supporting me, making me feel like I wasn’t alone in any of this. I chuckled softly to myself as I remembered the weird cravings. Sometimes they were so odd, even I couldn’t believe what I was asking for. The other day, I had sent
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 138- Preparation
MICHELL POV.The days after Audrey told me about the pregnancy felt like they were moving at a dizzying speed, but with each passing moment, I found myself growing more and more excited. It was a strange combination of fear and joy—a blend of emotions I hadn’t expected. But one thing I knew for sure: this was happening. And I couldn’t be more ready.Ethan was the first person I wanted to tell. He had always been my sounding board, the one I went to for advice. And now, with everything changing, I knew I needed his support more than ever. So, I called him up one evening after dinner, my voice steady but a little too eager. I could hardly contain the news anymore.“Hey, Ethan,” I said, trying to sound casual, but the excitement was practically bubbling over. “I need to tell you something. Can you meet up?”There was a brief pause on the other end, followed by Ethan’s usual laid-back tone. “Of course, man. What’s up?”“I—uh—well, Audrey and I…” I let the words trail off, feeling a mix
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 137- I am going to be a father?
AUDREY POV.I held onto Michell as if I could somehow wrap my arms around the whole world in that one moment. There was something so surreal about it, like time had stopped just for us. The air felt thicker, full of everything I had ever wanted, yet never truly believed I deserved.Michell and I had been through so much, had lived through the ups and downs that tested the very foundation of who we were. We’d fought our way back from uncertainty, built something that felt more real than anything I had ever known before. Yet here we were, standing in the middle of a dream—one that I wasn’t sure I could have even imagined until this moment.As I looked at him, his eyes were still shining with that quiet joy, and I saw something else in them, something deeper than I had ever seen before. He wasn’t just happy because of the proposal. No, this was a sense of peace, of certainty. A quiet understanding that he knew exactly what he wanted in this life—and that was me.And I knew, in that
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 136- Will you marry me?
MICHELL POV.The sound of laughter filled the room as Ethan and I clinked our glasses together, the amber liquid catching the light of the late afternoon sun. It had been a good day—nothing special, just two guys sitting in the living room, talking about life. It felt like the first time in ages that things had slowed down to a pace I could enjoy.“Man, I’m telling you, life is different when you’re not always running from something,” Ethan said, leaning back on the couch, his hand cradling his drink as he looked over at me with that familiar half-smile of his.I chuckled. “I hear you. I spent half my life running—sometimes, it feels like I’m just starting to figure out how to stand still.”Ethan nodded, his gaze thoughtful. “Yeah, it’s strange, isn’t it? Everything’s changed so fast.”After a few moments, I cleared my throat, breaking the silence.“Hey, Ethan,” I started, my voice a little more serious than usual. “I’ve been thinking.”Ethan looked up from his beer, raising an eyebr
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 135- Two blue lines
AUDREY POV.The court proceedings felt like a distant memory now, the courtroom and the judgment barely leaving a mark on me anymore. Evelyn had been sentenced to thirty years, but even that didn't bring the closure I thought it would. Somehow, what she'd done to me still hung in the air. But in the quiet moments that followed, I could feel something shifting inside me, as if the fog was slowly lifting, bit by bit.I’d spent the next few days with Ethan, moving through the motions, trying to piece myself together. There was a sense of calm, but also something delicate—like I could break at any moment if I wasn't careful.Ethan was always there, steady and patient. And somehow, in his presence, I started to feel like I wasn't alone anymore. The pieces of me that felt lost began to click into place.It wasn’t just him, though. Michell, Amelia and Lisa too. They had been so supportive. One morning, as we were all seated in the living area, Lisa spoke. Amelia had gone to school, but n
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 134- I need to see their graves
AUDREY POV.The days after Evelyn’s arrest felt like they belonged to someone else. A strange, dizzying blur of noise and silence, filled with questions I couldn't answer, and memories that still stung like fresh wounds. But somehow, I had to breathe through it all.Ethan had been there—steady and unwavering, like the one constant in the chaos. We had spent hours together, just the two of us. His words were like soft blankets wrapping around the rawness inside me. Ethan and I sat in the garden that morning, the sun barely rising but casting soft golden light over everything. It felt like it was just the two of us, the world far away, as he spoke.“You know,” he said, his voice soft but sure, “no wonder I liked you the moment we met.”I frowned, looking up at him. “What do you mean?”Ethan’s lips twisted into a small, self-deprecating smile. “I couldn't put it together back then. It was like I knew you… but from somewhere else. I should have realized.”I took a deep breath, trying to
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 133- You didn't love me
AUDREY POV.Ethan’s voice was barely a whisper, but it sliced through the air like a blade. “You’re telling me… it was my uncle?”Evelyn’s body sagged as if the truth was physically tearing her apart. Her lips trembled. “Matt… Matt wanted both you and Sophia gone. He was afraid they’d ruin everything.”“What the hell are you talking about?” Ethan’s voice cracked, a mix of confusion and horror. “Why would he—?”“Because he wanted your father’s properties!” Evelyn cried. “So, he wanted to get rid of both of you.”The room was spinning. My breath came in shallow bursts. My knees nearly buckled under me, and I clung to the wall like it was the only thing holding me upright. “What are you saying?” I whispered. “Who was she?”Evelyn looked at me then—really looked at me. And what I saw there made my blood run cold. It wasn’t the cold stare of the woman I’d called Mother all my life. It was something different. Something broken. She stepped forward, trembling, her voice hoarse.“You were So
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 132- Where's Sophia?
AUDREY POV.“Evelyn?” Ethan's voice sliced through the tense air. It wasn’t a question—it was an accusation.“Evelyn?” I echoed, my voice barely a whisper as I tried to process the flood of emotions rushing through me. My gaze darted between Ethan and my mother, whose body had frozen.She turned slowly, her eyes locking with Ethan’s for the briefest moment. In that fleeting instant, I saw it—a flash of something that wasn’t just anger, but something much darker. Fear. But as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, leaving behind only the mask of defiance she always wore.Before anyone could react, she made a desperate move—jerking violently against the grip of the security guards holding her. Her eyes widened in sheer panic, and for a split second, I saw the wild, primal look of someone on the edge of losing control.“Hold her!” one of the guards barked, his grip tightening around her arm as he fought to keep her still.She was cornered now, her frantic eyes scanning the surroundings
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 131- You ingrate!
AUDREY POV.That night, after everything, as I finally lay down to sleep, my mind couldn't seem to settle.The day’s events replayed over and over, but it wasn't long before exhaustion took over, pulling me into a deep slumber.The dream came again. The one I’d had so many times before. It was always the same—gentle, comforting. A man’s voice, low and warm, calling me beautiful names, followed by a woman’s melodic tone, soft but so loving, calling me something sweet, something precious. Their words were a lullaby, one I never wanted to wake from.Then there was the boy, the same boy from every dream. A little, golden-haired boy, swinging me in the air. His laughter would echo, sweet and innocent, as the swing creaked with each push. The breeze would tangle my hair, and I’d feel weightless, carefree. For a moment, everything was calm, perfect even. But then something shifted. For the first time, I wasn’t just watching. I was part of the dream. I was the one dancing. My body moved i
