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33- Maybe stop lying to yourself
Last Updated:
2025-02-16 13:57:27
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After 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 : 2025-02-16After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 35- I had sex with Michell Garcia
AUDREY POV The morning light filtered through the curtains. I stirred, stretching slightly—only to realize the space beside me was empty. My eyes flew open. Mr. Garcia. Last night. My heart pounded as the realization of what had happened crashed over me like a tidal wave. I had slept with Michell Garcia. We had sex. My breath hitched, and I squeezed my eyes shut, but that did nothing to stop the flood of memories rushing back. His touch, his mouth, the way he had worshipped every inch of my body like he had been waiting for this moment just as much as I had—if not more. I remembered the way I had gasped when he first entered me, the way he had cursed under his breath as he stretched me, filled me completely. The way his hands had held me down, possessive, firm, like he couldn’t get enough. Like he didn’t want to stop. Heat spread up my neck, and I buried my face in the pillow, groaning in embarrassment. What had I done? I had let myself get carried away. I had le
Last Updated : 2025-02-17After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 36- Do it again
MICHELL POV. I was pissed at myself at what happened two nights ago. At the fact that no matter how much I tried to shove it out of my head, it was still there—like a damn brand on my skin, refusing to fade. I ran a hand down my face, exhaling sharply as I sat in my office. The morning light streamed through the windows, but it did nothing to clear the fog in my head. What the hell was I thinking? I hadn’t lost control like that in years. I hadn't let myself be that weak, but I had with her. I gritted my teeth, leaning back in my chair. I told myself I had been drunk, that my judgment had been clouded. But that was just a sorry excuse. Being drunk didn’t justify what I did. I shouldn’t have touched her. I shouldn’t have kissed her. I damn sure shouldn’t have spent the night in her bed, taking her over and over like a starved man. I slammed my fist against my desk, the sharp pain grounding me for a second. This couldn’t happen again. It wouldn’t happen again. Audrey
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AUDREY POV. I sank into the pillows, exhaustion settling deep. The ache in my calf was a dull throb—easier to ignore now. Easier to pretend it didn’t still own a piece of me. Then the dream came. I was small. No older than four. Strong arms lifted me, a deep, gentle laugh rumbling in my ear. “Sweet girl,” a voice murmured. “You’re getting so big.” I looked up, but their faces were blurred, bathed in golden light. A woman’s hands smoothed over my hair. “You’re so precious, my love.” A deep ache filled my chest—a longing I didn’t understand. The scene shifted. A boy with dark curls grinned at me. “Come on! I found the best swing!” His warm hand gripped mine, and for the first time in a long, long time— I felt safe. I woke up with a start. The room was dark, the heater’s hum the only sound. These dreams had haunted me for years, confusing and persistent. I massaged my temples, exhaled, and closed my eyes again. *** The conservatory was warm, filled with the soft
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MICHELL POV Audrey didn’t notice me at first. She was too focused on the call, her phone pressed tightly against her ear even though it was loud enough for anyone to hear her conversation. I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but the second I heard the voice on the other end—sharp, cold, and uninterested—I knew I wasn’t walking away. Her voice had started out steady. Cautious. And then, piece by piece, I heard it crumble. I hadn’t meant to listen. But the moment I heard her mother’s voice—cold, distant, almost bored—I couldn’t walk away. Then she told her about the divorce. And the woman laughed. Ms. Taylor had curled into herself, like she was trying to make herself smaller, like she wasn’t sure she was even allowed to take up space. And I knew, then. This wasn’t the first time. This wasn’t new. This was just another wound from a lifetime of them. I had never wanted to be wrong about something so badly in my life. But I wasn’t. The conversation kept going. She told
Last Updated : 2025-02-19After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 39- The scan will take about twenty minutes
. AUDREY POV. The room was colder than I expected. Not just because of the air conditioning, humming softly in the background, but because of everything. The walls, the equipment, the chair where I sat, my hands gripping the armrests just a little too tightly. I kept my arms crossed as I sat on the examination table, my fingers pressing into my skin, trying to hold myself together. The room smelled like antiseptic and faintly of lavender—probably something they used to mask the sterility of the place. It was quiet. Too quiet. The way the physician spoke like this was just another routine case. Like it wasn’t my life he was talking about. Like it wasn’t my body that had to be opened up and put back together. “You’ll need surgery.” I heard the words. Understood them. But they didn’t sink in right away. It was like hearing something underwater—muffled, distant, unreal. I should have expected it. The pain never really went away, no matter how much I ignored it. Some day
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MICHELL POV. I stood outside the MRI room, arms crossed, watching through the glass as the machine whirred to life. Audrey lay on the table, perfectly still, but I caught the slight tension in her hands, the way her fingers curled just a little too tightly against the fabric of the hospital gown. The doctor had asked me to step outside before beginning the scan—not that I had argued. I wasn’t about to interfere. Still, I didn’t like standing here. Didn’t like watching without being able to do anything. I glanced at the physician, who was focused on the monitors, reading the images as they appeared on the screen. His expression remained neutral, unreadable. I had seen enough medical professionals to know that meant nothing. The rhythmic thunk-thunk-thunk of the MRI filled the silence, and I shifted slightly, resisting the urge to speak. To ask. To demand an answer now. The moment the call came through, I knew something was wrong. My assistant’s voice was tight, uneasy
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Audrey pov The rhythmic clunking of the MRI machine had finally stopped, and Dr. Myers helped me out, guiding me back to sit on the examination bed. My legs felt stiff, but I managed to keep my expression neutral. I’d gotten too good at hiding discomfort over the years. The scan was done. That was the first step. Dr. Myers studied the images on his monitor, his face unreadable. My fingers curled around the edge of the bed, heart pounding slightly. I had been told before that there was no solution. What if that hadn’t changed? The doubt crept back into me. I had learned that he was the best. Why doubt then? He turned to me. “The results are clear. Surgery is the next step—and the sooner, the better.” A strange mix of relief and fear settled in my chest. Relief that something could be done. Fear because I had never allowed myself to hope for this. Before I could respond, the door opened, and Mr. Garcia walked in. The moment I saw him, I knew something was wrong. His u
Last Updated : 2025-02-20
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AUDREY POVThe five of us stood side by side on the stage, our breaths shallow, our hearts racing. The lights were blinding, heating my skin, but nothing compared to the pounding of my chest. The murmurs of the audience were a distant hum in my ears. All I could focus on was the panel of judges in front of us, their expressions unreadable as they looked down at the results in their hands. I clenched my fists to keep them from shaking. The lead judge, a distinguished man with graying temples and sharp, observant eyes, leaned into the microphone. His voice, smooth but authoritative, filled the silence. “Before we announce the results, we want to take a moment to acknowledge each of you. What you’ve accomplished here is beyond commendable. This stage is not for the weak-hearted, and every single one of you has proven why you deserve to be here. Winning or not, this is only the beginning.”The words should have comforted me, but all they did was tighten the coil of tension in my st
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 98- The judges have their winner
AUDREY POVThe air inside the practice room was thick with focus, each contestant absorbed in their own world of preparation. The faint echo of footsteps, the occasional murmurs of dance instructors correcting postures, the sharp exhale of a dancer landing a difficult move—it all blended together in a quiet symphony of tension. I rolled my shoulders and took a deep breath, stretching my legs as I prepared my body for what lay ahead.My mind was clear. No more overthinking. No more obsessing over Gina. Just me, my body, and the dance. Elena stood nearby, arms crossed, her sharp gaze watching my every movement. “How do you feel?” she asked. I exhaled, feeling the steadiness in my bones. “Good.” She nodded. “Then hold onto that.” I continued my warm-up, rolling through my ankles, stretching out my arms, steadying my breath. No excessive training. No pushing beyond my limit. Just enough to keep me grounded. Then, I felt it—the shift in energy, the presence approaching me befo
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 97- You're gonna be amazing
AUDREY POVI couldn’t breathe. The moment my name was called as the fifth contestant, relief flooded me, but it was short-lived. I barely made it. From second place to fifth. The humiliation burned in my chest, and I could feel the weight of it pressing down on me. I had messed up. Completely. Even when I tried to redeem myself on stage, it was useless. My body had refused to cooperate, my movements stiff, my mind fogged with frustration. And now, I stood here, barely holding on to a spot in the final round. The judges’ words still echoed in my head. “You were second last time, Miss Taylor. What happened? Are you alright?”“We can only hope you come back stronger in two days.”Two days. That was all I had to fix everything. But what was I even fixing? I had trained tirelessly, pushed myself beyond my limits, yet I still failed. What more could I possibly do? I could feel eyes on me as we were dismissed, but I didn't stop to look at anyone. My feet carried me to the dressin
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 96- I was a disaster
AUDREY POVI exhaled slowly, my fingers gripping the edge of my seat as the announcer’s voice filled the hall again. “Contestant number7, Maya Roberts.”Maya, a tall, dark-haired girl with striking green eyes, stepped onto the stage with an air of quiet confidence. Her instructor whispered something to her before she nodded and took her position. The music began, slow and haunting, and Maya moved like water—smooth, controlled, every motion blending into the next without hesitation. She had an effortless grace, the kind that made it look easy, though I knew it wasn’t. I studied her carefully. Her lines were impeccable, her spins sharp but elegant. The way she floated across the stage made it clear she had years of discipline in her body. She wasn’t just good—she was mesmerizing. Elena leaned in slightly. “She has excellent control,” she murmured, “but her expressions are lacking. She’s focusing too much on technique, not enough on storytelling.” I nodded, noting how Maya’s
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
