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An Ocean Between Hearts
An Ocean Between Hearts
Author: Four Seas

Chapter 1

Author: Four Seas
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-31 11:25:17
By six, Amelia had whipped up a six-dish dinner with soup—Chad Felton's favorites, of course.

By seven, she'd prepped his bath, complete with rose petals and candles.

By eight, his slippers were perfectly lined up by the door.

At nine, Chad finally strolled in. Amelia stepped up, taking his suit jacket. "Eat first or bathe?" she asked, setting the slippers in front of him and hanging the jacket.

"Bathe," he muttered, eyes glued to his phone.

Thirty minutes later, he came out in his robe, towel in hand. Amelia passed him his pajamas without a word and rushed to reheat the dinner she'd kept waiting.

Chad, used to her quiet service, barely looked her way. In a good mood tonight, he stayed fixated on his phone, a faint smile playing on his lips as he typed.

Amelia's eyes flicked to his screen, catching the name 'Irina.' Her expression wavered for a split second, but she quickly looked away and kept moving.

Her own phone buzzed. It was Miranda. With a sigh, she picked up.

"Amelia, are you really divorcing Chad?"

She stared out the window, where a single night-blooming flower glowed softly under the lamplight. After a pause, she answered, "You've always known why I stayed. That contract's done now. Irina's back, divorced, and Chad... he doesn't need me anymore."

Miranda let out a heavy sigh, her voice laced with regret. "You've been through so much these past years. I hoped your dedication would win his heart, but... never mind. With Irina back, I guess I don't have to worry about him anymore. Five years ago, you gave up studying abroad for Chad. If you're still interested, I can help set it up again."

Amelia's gaze stayed on the flower as it fully bloomed, her thoughts quiet. Five years of her life—gone. It was time to move on.

"Thanks," she said. "Please make the arrangements. I'm ready to leave."

By the time the call ended, the flower outside had already started to wilt—briefly beautiful, now fading fast. Just like her five years with Chad.

Her family had struggled financially, but the Feltons' support had given her the chance to stay in school and excel, eventually earning the school's only foreign exchange scholarship.

Grateful, she'd gone to the Felton estate to thank them in person—a gesture most would've skipped. Miranda had planned to politely dismiss her, but after a long, thoughtful look, she'd said something that changed everything.

"If you really want to repay us, I have a favor to ask."

From Miranda, Amelia learned the tangled story of Chad and Irina.

Chad was the golden boy, Irina the golden girl—both from prestigious families, childhood friends who grew up side by side. Everyone knew Chad adored her. But when Irina said she wanted a love that grew slowly and deeply, he chose to quietly support her from afar.

After college, Chad decided it was finally time to confess. But before he could, Irina introduced her new boyfriend and announced she was leaving Kaldora with him.

Stunned, Chad raced to the airport that night, only to crash his car on the way. By the time he woke up after surgery, Irina was already married abroad.

The once-proud Chad fell apart, shutting himself away and drowning in alcohol. Miranda, desperate to pull him out of his spiral, saw an opportunity when Amelia showed up to express her gratitude. She asked Amelia for a favor: help Chad move on.

In exchange for the Feltons' continued support, Amelia gave up her chance to study abroad and signed a five-year contract with Miranda.

At a formal event, Amelia staged a meeting with Chad, acting as though she'd fallen for him at first sight. She pursued him openly, earning a reputation as the woman hopelessly in love with Chad.

Over time, Chad grew used to having her around, but his heart stayed cold.

One night, during a yacht party with his closest friends, they made a bet: whoever's date could retrieve a ring tossed into the sea would win rights to a prized piece of land in Averville.

Chad, exhausted after days of failed negotiations, saw his chance. While the others balked at the stormy waves, Amelia didn't hesitate—she dove straight in.

For the first time, Chad lost his cool. When they pulled Amelia from the water, he wrapped her in his arms, his voice shaking. "Amelia, let's get married. I'll try to love you."

Only later did she find out his sudden proposal wasn't about her—it was triggered by a social media post. Irina had shared a picture of herself and her husband under the northern lights that same night.

Still, Amelia stuck to her role, determined to see the contract through. She cooked his favorite meals, ran the house like clockwork, and even spent six months planning a trip to a mountaintop where they could watch shooting stars—fulfilling his unfulfilled childhood birthday wish.

He never showed up. Chad had been with Irina that night.

By then, Irina's marriage was falling apart, and Chad began flying out weekly to deliver secret gifts to cheer her up—never once telling her they were from him.

When Irina moved back to Kaldora, Chad couldn't stay away. Racing to see her, he drove recklessly and crashed his car.

Amelia stayed by his side through three sleepless days, only to hear him call Irina's name over and over—999 times in his unconscious state.

That was the moment she knew she'd never be able to replace Irina in his heart.

Now, with the contract ending and Irina divorced and back in Kaldora, Chad had everything he wanted.

It was time for Amelia to walk away.

From here, they could both start over.

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    "Who were you talking to?" Chad's voice cut through the quiet.Still standing in the kitchen, Amelia snapped back to reality. "No one," she said evenly.That night, with Chad's soft breathing beside her, Amelia lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Sleep felt impossibly far away....The next morning, Chad frowned at the breakfast spread. "You know I don't eat this kind of stuff in the morning. Why'd you make it?"Amelia kept her eyes on her plate, cutting into a piece of steak. "It's all we've got left in the fridge."That was a lie. The fridge was full. She'd made this on purpose, prepping herself for the kind of food she'd be eating after she left.Chad didn't push it. Instead, he set his phone on the table, glancing at it every few seconds like he was waiting for something—or someone.When it buzzed, he grabbed it, his face lighting up with a rare smile. She didn't need to guess who it was.Amelia watched him quietly for a moment, then pulled out the divorce papers. She'd bee

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  • An Ocean Between Hearts   Chapter 3

    After getting back from the orphanage, Amelia went straight upstairs to her walk-in closet and started packing.It hit her then—she barely owned any clothes.Most of what she had were the outfits Miranda gave her when she first married into the family. In five years, Chad hadn't bought her a single thing. Not once.When her clothes were packed, Amelia turned her attention to the gifts she'd given Chad over the years. Carefully chosen birthday presents, each one meant to make him happy—he hadn't even looked at them. They'd sat in a dusty corner, forgotten.She sold them all for scrap.Watching the truck pull away, Amelia felt a strange sense of relief. She turned to head back to the villa when a car horn blared behind her.A sleek Maybach pulled up, and out stepped Yara, Chad's younger sister, in a striking red dress.Yara's eyes flicked to the departing scrap truck, then back to Amelia with a sneer. "Seriously? Selling scrap? So typical of someone from a small-time family."Ame

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  • An Ocean Between Hearts   Chapter 4

    Afraid Irina might change her mind and leave, Chad immediately ordered the servants to move her luggage into the largest guest room.Yara turned to Amelia with a smug sneer. "What are you standing there for? Go make dinner. Oh, and keep it mild—Irina can't handle spicy food."In this house, even with servants around, it was always Amelia doing the cooking.Chad was impossibly picky, his standards so high that even Michelin-starred chefs failed to impress him. Somehow, he tolerated Amelia's cooking, though he barely ate more than a few bites. Yara would sometimes join but mostly just complained about the food.This time, Amelia didn't move. She shook her head lightly and said something that froze everyone in place."I can't."Chad turned to her, frowning. In all the years he'd known her, she had never refused a single thing his family asked. Not once.Before he could say anything, Irina's eyes filled with tears. She bit her lip and looked down, her voice trembling. "This is my fa

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  • An Ocean Between Hearts   Chapter 5

    "Ah!"The soup drenched Amelia, the boiling liquid searing her skin. Her arms turned bright red as blisters began forming almost instantly. The pain was excruciating. She couldn't even find her voice to cry out."Amelia!"Chad released Irina and rushed to her, his face twisting with panic—the kind of panic Amelia had never seen from him before. "Does it hurt? I'll take you to the hospital!"Amelia lifted her trembling gaze to him, her whole body shaking from the pain. She wanted to say something, but the words just wouldn't come."Oh my God, Irina, look how badly you're hurt!" Yara shrieked.Chad's focus snapped back to Irina. He rushed to her side, his panic visibly escalating, only to find a few drops of hot oil on her arm.To Chad, the scene looked "devastating."Irina gently pulled her arm back, tears brimming in her eyes as she shook her head. "I'm fine. Amelia seems worse—take her to the hospital first."Yara stomped her foot. "What do you mean you're fine? You've been p

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  • An Ocean Between Hearts   Chapter 6

    Still trying to piece everything together, Amelia pulled into the driveway and stepped out, sketch board in hand.The second her feet hit the ground, the villa's staff practically mobbed her. Their faces screamed relief, and a few looked like they'd been one bad day away from crying."You're finally back! The house has been chaos without you. Mr. Felton hasn't liked anything we've done—he's been impossible!"Ah. There it was.This wasn't about her. Chad didn't care where she'd been; he just couldn't function without his built-in caretaker.Too bad for him. He'd better get used to it because soon, she'd be out of his life for good.Amelia gave them a polite smile and headed inside.The villa was dark, not even a lamp on. Chad was sitting alone on the couch, moonlight cutting across his face and throwing half of it into shadow. It made him look as unreadable as ever.When he heard her footsteps, his eyes snapped to hers, lingering for what felt like forever. His voice broke the s

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  • An Ocean Between Hearts   Chapter 7

    A week later, the cooling-off period for the divorce was finally over. Amelia could officially leave.She started packing.Midway through, Leon showed up holding a couture gown, saying it was from Chad. Apparently, Chad wanted her to attend a banquet at the family estate.Amelia stared at the dress, barely holding back a laugh.Their marriage was basically over—legally done. And yet Chad still thought she'd play the role of his wife.She was about to say no but paused, thinking of Miranda. The woman had shown her kindness, and Amelia still needed to grab a few documents for her upcoming trip.After a moment of deliberation, she slipped on the gown and headed to the banquet....The grand banquet hall sparkled, alive with chatter and clinking glasses. The scent of wine and expensive perfumes filled the air.At the center of it all stood Irina, soaking up the adoration of a circle of fawning socialites.Every woman's eyes seemed glued to the emerald necklace resting on her coll

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  • An Ocean Between Hearts   Chapter 8

    And just as she was gearing up to leave, here came Yara and her entourage, strutting over like the mean girl squad.Amelia glanced up, suddenly boxed in.Yara's grin was all venom. "Amelia, what's it like being Chad's wife all these years, only to watch him drooling over Irina?" she sneered.She didn't stop there. "I've said it before—Chad's heart was always Irina's. You were just his rebound. Honestly, you should've taken the hint and left ages ago. But no, here you are, clinging like some desperate wannabe. Pathetic."Amelia's patience was paper-thin, her mind already on her half-packed suitcase upstairs. She didn't have time for this nonsense. Turning away, she tried to leave.But Yara and her gang weren't done."Still dreaming of your ugly-duckling-to-swan moment, huh?""If Irina hadn't left, do you really think someone like you could call yourself Mrs. Felton?""Know your place.""If you've got half a brain, you'll pack up and disappear from the Felton family for good."

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  • An Ocean Between Hearts   Chapter 9

    Three days later, Chad finally returned to the villa, just dropping by to grab some clothes."Amelia!" he called out, like always.Silence.He tried again. Still nothing. After a few more attempts, only a couple of servants shuffled into view, awkwardly helping him with his shoes and coat."Where's my wife?" he asked, frowning.The servants exchanged uneasy looks before one finally stammered, "She's... not home."Not home? Chad's brow furrowed as he slipped into his house slippers and headed deeper into the house. Last time he left her to rush Irina to the hospital, Amelia had pulled a disappearing act for a few days, claiming she'd been out for sketching.This time? Same story. He'd left with Irina again, and Amelia had even told him to go, all calm and understanding. And now? She was gone.His chest tightened, irritation bubbling into full-blown anger. Was this another one of her tantrums?He stalked toward the couch, where a stack of papers caught his eye. Normally, he woul

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Latest chapter

  • An Ocean Between Hearts   Chapter 25

    As Amelia stepped into the mourning hall, her eyes landed on Emerson—his hair stark white—and Chad, sitting silently in a wheelchair.With a bouquet in hand, she walked to Miranda's portrait. She laid the flowers gently at the altar, her gaze lingering on the photo for a long moment.Her feelings about Miranda were... messy.Gratitude? Miranda had stolen five years of her life.Resentment? Miranda had paid for her education.But now? None of it mattered. The dead didn't come back, and the weight of those years seemed to vanish with Miranda's death.Amelia gave the portrait one last look before turning to Emerson. "Mr. Felton, my condolences."Emerson nodded, saying nothing.She approached Chad next, her gaze lingering for a moment. "My condolences," she said softly.He gave her a bitter smile but stayed quiet....Yara arrived under guard, dragged in from prison.All her swagger? Gone. She looked pale, empty, like a shadow of who she'd been. Even when her eyes met Amelia's,

  • An Ocean Between Hearts   Chapter 24

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  • An Ocean Between Hearts   Chapter 23

    Amelia didn't even flinch at Chad's reaction. "If it weren't for the whole 'repay your family' thing, we never would've met. I'd have my own life."Chad stared at her, bitter and empty. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. She didn't wait for him to figure it out, stepping out of the car without a backward glance.As she walked toward the villa, a sudden glare of headlights lit up the driveway, blinding her. She raised a hand to shield her eyes when—"Amelia!" Chad's panicked shout cut through the screech of brakes.Yara. Behind the wheel. Her twisted resentment had finally snapped. In her mind, Amelia was the reason her perfect little world had fallen apart. She'd broken free from her bodyguards, jumped in the car, and floored it straight at Amelia.Before Amelia could even react, Chad lunged, shoving her out of the way. She hit the ground with a few scrapes and bruises, but Chad? Not so lucky.Yara didn't stop. Consumed by rage, she kept her foot on the gas, slamming int

  • An Ocean Between Hearts   Chapter 22

    Amelia snapped her suitcase shut and carried it to the door.Luna trailed behind, her face lit with curiosity. "Do you remember Irina?"Amelia froze mid-step. Irina?It had been ages since she'd thought about that name. The last she'd heard, Irina had left with her ex-husband, Max, to the United States. What happened after that? Not something Amelia cared to follow.Luna tapped her phone, pulling up an article, and handed it over. "Irina had a miscarriage."Amelia's eyes widened as she scanned the screen.The article detailed Irina's struggles after returning to Kaldora with Max Delbert. Despite his attempts to shield her, his family had been openly hostile about her past. Under constant pressure, Irina had spiraled, and during a moment of despair, she'd fallen down a staircase.As if that wasn't enough, rumors swirled about Max being linked to another woman, sparking explosive arguments between the two. The article didn't say what happened next.Luna pocketed her phone. "She r

  • An Ocean Between Hearts   Chapter 21

    The living room had gone dead quiet, leaving only Emerson and Miranda behind.He stared at her, his disappointment cutting deeper than any words. Before leaving for overseas, he'd set up trusted aides—a top assistant and the butler—to help Miranda keep things in line back in Kaldora.A month later, both had come to him, begging for reassignment. That's when he'd learned Miranda had fired them the moment he left, replacing them with her own people.The full extent of her negligence hit him only after Chad's two reckless car accidents involving Irina. That brat had ignored his wife entirely, spiraling under Miranda's blind eye. She'd indulged his behavior, slowly destroying the Felton discipline that had built their legacy.The Feltons had a reputation for being ruthless and laser-focused. Emotions didn't get in the way—family interests always came first. Heartbreak? Grief? Deal with it, and fast. No one had the luxury of leaning on someone else for five years to pick up the pieces.

  • An Ocean Between Hearts   Chapter 20

    Chad's outstretched hand froze midair as Luna's words sank in. His gaze shifted, landing on Amelia with a mix of guilt and unease.Amelia glanced at the wreckage in front of her, a faint, mocking smile curving her lips.Around them, murmurs rippled through the crowd, but Yara's face flushed a furious red. Ignoring the stares, she jabbed a finger at Amelia."This is all your fault! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been sent to Australia!"With her family name, Yara could've lived comfortably in Australia—but Chad had cut off her credit cards, determined to teach her a lesson. She'd been forced to scrape by on the small allowance Miranda sent each month, humiliated and bitter."My fault?" Amelia's tone was cold. "Who looked down on me first? Who mocked me? And who was it that sent you to Australia? You don't even understand what happened, but you're ready to blame me."She added, "Yara, did you left your common sense behind in Australia?"Yara realized she was being mocked f

  • An Ocean Between Hearts   Chapter 19

    Miranda studied Amelia, taking in her poised and refined demeanor. A mix of satisfaction and regret swirled within her.She was satisfied because Amelia would've been the ideal daughter-in-law for the Felton family—graceful, capable, and composed. But regret lingered, too, because Chad's obsession with Irina had cost them such a perfect match.Now that things with Irina were over, Miranda couldn't help but think it wasn't too late to bring Amelia back into the fold.Amelia listened in silence as Miranda spoke. When Miranda finished, Amelia calmly placed a bank card on the table between them."This card holds twice the amount the Felton family invested in me," she said. "If it hadn't been for that repayment agreement, I could've repaid the money—with interest—within a couple of years."The Felton family had built their reputation on philanthropy, and Amelia knew she wasn't the only person they'd sponsored. But unlike others, she had been singled out, ensnared in a trap disguised as

  • An Ocean Between Hearts   Chapter 18

    The cozy vibe at the table instantly shifted, tension crackling in the air.The server hesitated, clutching the roses like a hot potato. After a long, awkward pause, he quietly backed away.But Chad wasn't done.Every day after that, a bouquet of pink roses showed up at her studio.Every day, they went straight into the trash without a second glance.At another art exhibition, he finally cornered her, desperate to know why she kept rejecting his flowers.Amelia just looked at him, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, a sharp, mocking smile crept across her face.Five years of marriage, and he still didn't have a clue."Because I don't like you," Amelia said, her tone brutally honest. "So why would I like anything you send me? Chad, why can't we part on good terms? We're divorced—you, of all people, should be the happiest about that."Chad's breath hitched. His eyes shimmered, and his voice wavered as he instinctively reached for her hand. "That's not true, Amelia. I wasn't

  • An Ocean Between Hearts   Chapter 17

    Amelia frowned, pausing mid-turn, when suddenly she was pulled into an all-too-familiar embrace. The cold, sharp scent of cedar hit her like a memory she'd rather forget.Chad.He held her tightly, his body trembling. "Amelia... Amelia, you're finally back," he said, his voice shaking.Before she could push him away, someone else stepped in, ripping him off her.The next second, she felt Luna's arms around her, protective and steady. "Amelia, are you okay?" Luna asked, her voice low but worried.Amelia shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.Hugh was already in front of Chad, his glare sharp enough to cut. "Chad Felton," he said coldly, "what makes you think you have any right to see Amelia again?"Hugh's anger burned, fueled by years of watching Amelia suffer because of this man.Chad opened his mouth, but Amelia stepped in, her voice firm. "Chad, let's talk somewhere else."The last thing she wanted was for him to ruin the exhibition she and her friend had poured their

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