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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
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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
