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79- Uncomfortable questions
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2025-03-21 01:14:12
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After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   80- Can we just lay together?
MICHELL POVThe tension in the room thickened as my father swirled the amber liquid in his glass, his sharp gaze shifting between me and Victor. âI didnât come here for pleasantries,â he said smoothly again, his voice carrying the weight of a man who was used to being obeyed. Victor leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs casually, though I could see the amusement in his eyes. He was waiting. Waiting for whatever storm our father was about to unleash. âI hear Montiel and De Luca have been causing trouble,â my father continued, placing his glass down with a controlled motion. âAffecting the companies. Our numbers are slipping. I should be asking you, Michell, what the hell is going on?â I clenched my jaw, forcing my posture to remain relaxed. âIâm handling it.â His brows lifted slightly. âHandling it?â âYes.â My voice was even, but beneath the surface, my frustration simmered. âI already have people looking into it. Montiel and De Luca wonât be a problem for much longer
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-22After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   81- it is complicated, Audrey
AUDREY POVThe sun had barely risen, but I was already moving. My feet skimmed the floor, my body slicing through the air in perfect rhythm. Every stretch, every turn, every leap burned away the restless thoughts circling my mind. I needed this. The competition was approaching fast, and despite securing my spot, an anxious knot sat heavy in my chest. This wasnât just about winning. It was about proving somethingâto myself. That I could still be her. The girl who once danced without fear, without hesitation. The girl who had a future before it was ripped away. I pushed harder, sweat beading at my temples, muscles straining with the force of my movements. I refused to let exhaustion slow me. My breathing grew ragged, but I didnât stopâuntil a shadow appeared at the edge of my vision. Victor. I exhaled sharply, slowing to a stop as he approached, his usual smooth confidence in every step. In his hand was a cold bottle of water. âYou should drink.âI hesitated for a second
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-22After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   82- Death warrant
MICHELL POVThe next morning, I sat at the edge of my bed, elbows resting on my knees, staring blankly at the floor. I had barely slept. Audreyâs question from last night still echoed in my head. Would you ever introduce me to your father as your girlfriend?I hadnât given her a straight answer. I couldnât. It wasnât that I didnât want toâI did. But it wasnât that simple. My fatherâĶ he would see it as an insult. Not just because Audrey was Ameliaâs nanny, but because she was a divorcee. To him, that meant she had already been claimed by another man, already been used. He wouldnât care about the circumstances, wouldnât care about the kind of woman she was. In his eyes, she wouldnât be worthy of anything more than a temporary distraction. He had drilled that mindset into us since we were young. Take any woman you want, enjoy them, but never give them your heart. Love makes you weak. Attachment makes you vulnerable.I used to think my father was invincibleâuntil my brother p
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-23After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   83- Consider it done
MICHELL POVI didnât bother knocking. The moment I reached Victorâs room, I slammed the door open so hard it banged against the wall. He barely had time to react before I grabbed him by the collar and yanked him to his feet. âWhat theâ?â His words were cut off as I dragged him out, my grip like iron, my blood boiling. We moved through the dimly lit hallways, down the staircase, past the silent rooms where everyone slept peacefullyâeveryone except me. Victor barely struggled, though I could feel the tension in his body. He knew exactly why I was doing this. We reached the garden. The cold night air bit at my skin, but I barely felt it. Without hesitation, I turned and slammed my fist straight into his face. A sickening crack echoed in the garden. Victor staggered back, spitting blood onto the grass. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and let out a breathless, humorless laugh. âFuck, Michell.â He tilted his head, smirking despite the split lip. âIs that the best y
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-23After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   84- Try harder
AUDREY POVVictor always had a way of making words stick. They werenât accusations, not reallyâjust observations, and stories. âYou know, men like big fishes in the world, they take what they want, but they never give their heart in return.ââA woman should know her worth. If a man values you, he wonât keep you hidden.ââSometimes, we mistake desire for something deeper. And by the time we realize, itâs too late.âEach time he spoke, his voice was smooth, never pressing, never too direct. Yet, his words gnawed at me, planting tiny seeds of doubt that took root faster than I could shake them. At first, I dismissed it. But then, I started noticing things. Michell still hadnât introduced me to his father or anyoneânot even as a friend. Whenever we were together, it was behind closed doors, in stolen moments. When he touched me, I felt wantedâĶ but was I cherished? Was I just someone convenient? As the week went by, I buried myself in my dancing, focusing on every movement, every
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-24After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   85- You need a break
MICHELL POVI was fuming. Every muscle in my body tensed as I stalked into my room, slamming the door shut behind me. My hands curled into fists as I replayed every word Audrey had thrown at me. Was she making me jealous on purpose? Had Victor really poisoned her against me?I had no doubt. Victor. It had to be him. That bastard had been circling like a vulture, waiting for a crack, waiting for the perfect moment to sink his claws in. And somehow, heâd managed to plant enough doubt in Audreyâs mind that she was pulling away from meâchoosing him over me. My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me from my thoughts. Ethan. I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair before picking up. âEthan.ââMichell, what the hell is going on? You sound like youâre about to kill someone.âHis voice was calm but laced with concern. âI was about to call you,â I muttered, pacing the length of my room. âItâs Audrey. Somethingâs off. Sheâs been distant. I know Victor has a hand in it. He
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-24After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   86- That sounds about right
AUDREY POVThe night air was cool against my skin, the sound of gentle waves filling the silence between us. Michell was watching meâI could feel it. But for once, I didnât try to read into it. I didnât try to analyze what this meant or where we stood. For now, I just wanted to be here. Ease the tension and nervousness about dancing on the stage after all these years.The past few days had been exhausting, emotionally and physically. Between the competition, Michell, and everything else weighing on me, my mind had been a battlefield. But as I sat there, staring out at the water, I allowed myself a moment of peace. I needed to focus on one thingâdancing. Life had given me a second chance, and I wasnât going to waste it. After a while, Michell glanced at his watch and sighed. âWe should head back. You have a big day coming up.âI nodded, pulling my jacket tighter around me. As much as I wanted to stay in this little pocket of serenity, reality was waiting. The drive back was
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-25After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   87- That's Michellâs 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 everythingâwhether 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. âYouâre gonna be amazing,â she declared, her voice full of certainty. I let out a shaky breath, adjusting the fabric of my competition outfit. âI hope so.â She huffed, stepping into the room with a dramatic shake of her head. âNot hope, Audrey. You will.â She placed her tiny hands on her hips, her expression so serious it was almost comical. âYouâve been practicing forever. No one can do what you do.â A small smile tugged at my lips. âWell, when you put it that wayâĶâ âI do put it that way,â she said proudly, then tilted her head, her eyes shining with admiration. âYou look so pretty.â I glanced at the mirror. My sleek competition outfit
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-25
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After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   99- Youâre the best ballerina ever!
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. âBefore we announce the results, we want to take a moment to acknowledge each of you. What youâve 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.âThe 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 moveâit 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. âHow do you feel?â she asked. I exhaled, feeling the steadiness in my bones. âGood.â She nodded. âThen hold onto that.â 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 itâthe 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 couldnât 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 judgesâ words still echoed in my head. âYou were second last time, Miss Taylor. What happened? Are you alright?ââWe can only hope you come back stronger in two days.âTwo 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 announcerâs voice filled the hall again. âContestant number7, Maya Roberts.âMaya, 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 waterâsmooth, 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 wasnât. 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 wasnât just goodâshe was mesmerizing. Elena leaned in slightly. âShe has excellent control,â she murmured, âbut her expressions are lacking. Sheâs focusing too much on technique, not enough on storytelling.â I nodded, noting how Mayaâs
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 wasnât 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 didnât know what to make of it. Audrey had grown attached to himâmaybe too attached. I wasnât surprised. Ethan had a way of making himself welcome in peopleâs 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, Iâd caught them talking more, laughing more. It shouldnât bother me. But it did. Not surprisingly, I was jealous. Ethan grinned at Audrey. âSo, howâs training going, superstar?â 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 wouldnât lieâI 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 wasnât enough for me to match herâI 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 mineâsomething 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. âI 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 subtleâlike the lingering warmth from a fire that had just been extinguished. I let out a breath I hadnât even realized I was holding, my fingers curling around my cup. âDonât just focus on outshining her. Focus on being better than you were yesterday.âHis words echoed in my mind, sinking deeper than I expected them to. I wasnât intimidated by Gina. âĶWas 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 yetâ I could still hear the way Ginaâs 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 wouldnât let self-doubt creep in. Not now. I pushed my chair back,
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined   92- Sheâs 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 personâthe investigator I had hired.I exhaled sharply, then finally pressed the phone to my ear. âTalk.âThe investigator didnât waste time. âI got into the accident records like you asked.â His voice was low, deliberate. âAnd you were right.âMy fingers curled around the edge of my desk.âThe official report claimed it was a brake failure,â he continued. âThe car lost control, spun off the road, and crashed into the ravine. But hereâs the thingâthere was no real investigation. Everything was rushed. Too clean. Too perfect.âMy 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.âGo on.âThere was a pause, like he was choosing his words carefully. âThere
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 timeâmy 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 couldnât quite decipher, but thisâĶ this was thoughtful. Meaningful. A part of me wanted to hold onto that moment, but I could feel their staresâLisaâs expectant smirk, Ameliaâs bubbling excitement, Michellâs unreadable yet intense gaze. And EthanâĶ I swallowed, my fingers curling slightly around the picture before tucking it away. Trevor suddenly clapped his hands together, breaking the silence. âAlright, now that weâve had our sentimental momentâfood? Because Iâm starving.â Lisa rolled her eyes. âYouâre always starving.â He grinned. âYeah, and?â A small chuckle slipped past my lips despite everything. The tension eased just a little, the moment bec
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