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26-Rule three: Don't get attached.
Last Updated:
2025-02-12 04:25:01
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After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 27- That’ll be the last time you question me. Understood?
Michell pov Her skin was impossibly soft. Like silk warmed by the sun. The contact was fleeting—just a brush of her arm against mine as we moved in the kitchen. It shouldn’t have meant anything, but for some reason, it did. It sent a sharp, unwelcome sensation up my arm, something dangerously close to heat. A slow burn that settled in my chest, unwanted and unshakable. I stilled for a fraction of a second. So did she. Her breath caught, her lips parting just slightly. But before either of us could acknowledge it, before I could convince myself that I had imagined the way her skin felt against mine, I stepped back. “Sorry,” I muttered. For a second, it looked like she wanted to argue. But instead, her lips pressed together, and she shook her head. I didn’t wait for her response. I was already turning on my heel, leaving the kitchen before I made the mistake of brushing against her again. I took the stairs two at a time, my frustration mounting with every ste
Last Updated : 2025-02-13After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 28- Mr. Michell Garcia isn’t mine to want
Audrey povI couldn’t sleep. The house was silent, wrapped in the kind of stillness that made thoughts louder, and heavier. I had Amelia to bed. I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, my mind restless, tangled in things I didn’t want to admit were bothering me. It should have been relief I felt. The trial was over. Harold had lost. I was free. But instead, there was this… tension. A tension in my chest that hadn’t lifted, no matter how many times I reminded myself that I was finally done with him. Maybe it was exhaustion. Or maybe it was something else—something I didn’t want to name yet. My fingers traced the edge of the blanket, my mind drifting to earlier in the kitchen. To Mr. Garcia. To the way our arms had grazed, the way his skin had felt against mine—warm, firm, solid. It was ridiculous that I even remembered it. It had been a second, a fleeting touch. And yet, my body had noticed. A shiver ran down my spine, and I turned onto my side, gripping the pillow a li
Last Updated : 2025-02-13After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 29- Did he? Because I don’t remember Amelia being the one on trial
AUDREY POV After Mr. Garcia left, I turned my full attention to Amelia. It was easier to focus on her—to drown myself in the structure of our daily routine rather than dwell on things I had no business thinking about. We started the morning with her coloring books, an activity that always kept her happily occupied for a good hour. She sat cross-legged on the living room floor, her tiny hands gripping her crayons as she carefully colored inside the lines. “Audrey, what’s your favorite color?” she asked suddenly, peering up at me with those big brown eyes. I smiled, settling beside her. “Hmm… I like green.” She wrinkled her nose. “Like broccoli?” I laughed. “Not exactly. More like… the color of the trees outside. Fresh and bright.” Amelia hummed in thought, then grabbed a green crayon and started coloring the dress of the princess on her page. “I think I like pink. And purple. And yellow.” “So, all the colors?” She giggled. “Not brown. Brown is boring.” I gasped dram
Last Updated : 2025-02-14After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 30- I don’t recall hiring you to give restaurant recommendations to random men
Michell povThe morning was crisp, the kind of rare weekend morning that almost made me feel like I had the luxury of slowing down. Almost. Amelia had been buzzing with energy since she woke up, running around the house in her pajamas, demanding to know if we could go out today. I had already decided to take her for a walk, get her out of the house for a bit. Ms. Taylor had no choice but to come along. Not that she complained. But I noticed things. And this morning, I noticed that she had been limping more than usual. At first, I told myself I was imagining it. Maybe it was the way she moved, the way she shifted while standing at the kitchen counter. I knew she limped, but today was too obvious.But when she thought no one was looking, I saw the way her posture tensed when she took a step, the way she subtly tried to mask the discomfort in her expression. She was in pain or discomfort. And she hadn’t said a damn thing about it. I wasn’t used to people who didn’t
Last Updated : 2025-02-14After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 31- A difficult, frustrating, unreasonably attractive employer
Audrey povMy hands curled into fists as I walked ahead, my steps sharp and deliberate.Unbelievable.Of all the things I had expected from today, getting interrogated for something as harmless as giving a brunch recommendation was not on the list.I could still hear Mr. Garcia’s words in my head. “It wasn’t professional.”Professional.Right.Because professionalism clearly included him acting like some possessive, overbearing—I exhaled sharply, forcing my irritation down as I reached Amelia.She looked up from where she was crouched, gathering small rocks in her hands. “Audrey! Look, I found a heart-shaped one!”I smiled despite myself, kneeling beside her. “You did? Let me see.”She eagerly placed it in my palm. It was more oval than heart-shaped, but I wasn’t about to ruin her excitement.“It’s beautiful,” I told her.She beamed, then peeked over my shoulder. “Where’s Daddy?”Good question.I didn’t look back as I answered, “He’s coming.”I felt him approaching before I saw him.
Last Updated : 2025-02-15After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 32- Daddy, can we have hot chocolate when we get home?
Michell povI was pouring myself a cup of coffee when Ms. Taylor walked into the kitchen. She was dressed simply—jeans, a fitted sweater—but there was something different about her today. She looked well-rested, for one. And she wasn’t moving as stiffly as yesterday. The only reason I knew that was because I had noticed. Unfortunately. She walked to the fridge, grabbed a bottle of water, and then, as if she had just remembered something, turned to face me. Her lips pressed together for a second before she exhaled. “Thanks.” I arched a brow over my coffee. “For what?” “For the ointment,” she said stiffly. “I appreciate it.” I took a slow sip, letting her words settle. I hadn’t expected her to acknowledge it—at least not this quickly. Ms. Taylor was stubborn, almost irritatingly so, and I figured she’d rather suffer than admit she needed help. But here she was. Saying thank you. I set my coffee down. “I didn’t do it for you.” Her brows furrowed. “Sorry?” I lean
Last Updated : 2025-02-15After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 33- Maybe stop lying to yourself
Michell pov. The next morning, I was at my desk, skimming through reports when my phone buzzed. I ignored it at first, but it vibrated again—insistent. I sighed, reaching for it, and when I saw the name flashing on the screen, my brows lifted in surprise. Ethan Brooks. I answered immediately. “What's up, mate?” A deep chuckle came through the line. “Guess who’s back?” We had spoken just last night. Not once did he mention he was flying back. “You’re kidding me.” Miss me already?" “You were in another country eight hours ago,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “What the hell?” “Change of plans. Got in late last night.” “And you didn’t think to mention that?” “Figured I’d surprise you.” His tone was light, but I knew him well enough to sense something else beneath it. Still, I wasn’t about to dig into it over the phone. “You’re an asshole,” I muttered, but I was already reaching for my keys. He laughed. “I take it you wanna see me, then?” “Shut up.” “Great. Meet m
Last Updated : 2025-02-16After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 34- Tell me to stop.
MICHELL POV I exhaled sharply, shaking my head as I reached for my glass again. This conversation was heading somewhere I didn’t want it to. The last thing I needed was Ethan dissecting my feelings—or lack thereof—about Audrey. So, I changed the topic. “So,” I leaned back against the couch, swirling the whiskey in my glass, “remember that time we almost got arrested in Miami?” Ethan burst into laughter, the kind that shook his shoulders and had him nearly spilling his drink. “Which time? You gotta be specific, man.” I smirked. “The jet ski incident.” He groaned, running a hand through his hair. “Oh, hell no. I still have nightmares about that cop chasing us down the pier.” “You were the idiot who thought we could outmaneuver a police boat.” “Hey, in my defense, we almost did.” I snorted. “Almost doesn’t count.” We fell into easy conversation after that, talking about old times—stupid stunts, reckless nights, the kind of shit we could only pull off back then. Ethan
Last Updated : 2025-02-16
Latest chapter
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
