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All bark and no bite

Penulis: Author INA
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-12-17 22:22:19

AN HOUR EARLIER

Bethany was still tied up on the cold floor, her hands sore from the tight ropes. No one had come to her aid. She kept hoping Fred would set their differences aside and help her. But hope was fleeting.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed against the concrete. The door creaked open, and a man stepped in with a smug grin plastered across his face. He ripped the nylon bag off Bethany’s head.

She jerked back, gasping for air, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Squinting against the light, she demanded, “Who are you?”

“Shut up and listen,” the man barked. He pulled a tablet from behind his back and held it in front of her.

Bethany frowned, still catching her breath. “What’s that?”

The man smirked. “It’s a toy, idiot. Now pay attention.”

The screen flickered to life. Bethany’s heart stopped when she saw the face staring back at her. Her lips curled in disgust.

“You son of a bitch!” she yelled. “How dare you kidnap me?”

The person on the screen—someone she knew all too well—tilted
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  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    Cinderella lost her prince

    Bethany stood frozen, her chest tightening as she watched Fred slide the ring onto Chantel’s finger. Chantel’s cheeks flushed a rosy pink as she squealed in delight, practically glowing under Fred’s adoring gaze. The scene felt surreal, like a joke meant to humiliate her.“What the hell is going on?” Bethany’s voice broke through the moment, sharp and incredulous. Her suitcase fell to the ground with a loud thud. Her eyes darted around the place searching for Natalie, but her so-called friend had conveniently vanished into thin air. Typical. Bethany’s gut twisted with betrayal.Fred, oblivious to her turmoil, turned back to Chantel and repeated, “Will you marry me?” His voice was smooth, practiced, as if he’d rehearsed it a hundred times.Rage bubbled beneath her skin, barely contained. Her fists clenched at her sides, the veins in her arms prominent as she tried to steady herself. It was so obvious that even Dean, standing quietly beside her, placed a steadying arm on her should

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-18
  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    Partners

    Natalie tossed the bullets up and down in her hand, a sly smirk playing on her lips.She stepped forward, her voice low but taunting. “Do you need this, Avery? Why don’t you come and run for it?”Avery screamed in frustration, lunging for her. But Natalie was faster. With a calculated flick, she threw the bullets out of the building.“No! You bitch!” Avery shrieked, darting toward the edge, desperate to see where they landed. But it was too late. They were gone.That was the last straw. Avery turned on Natalie, her fury palpable. She lunged again, hands outstretched to strangle her.But Natalie stood her ground, unfazed. Just as Avery was inches away, Natalie raised a finger, stopping her in her tracks.“One step closer, one scratch on my body, and I’ll have you dead by tomorrow. I signed a contract with your brother, and guess what? It doesn’t go against family.” Natalie’s smile was cold and cutting.Avery staggered backward, her hands trembling with rage. She screamed and stormed to

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-18
  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    Who's in there?

    NATALIE'S HOMEThe little snowflakes fell onher eyelids, making her squint as she turned over on the chair. Instinctively, she sat up and rubbed her eyes."Ugh... What happened?" Bethany muttered, her voice hoarse. She pressed her fingers to her temples, trying to soothe the pounding headache that refused to relent.The pain was sharp, almost debilitating, and for a fleeting moment, she considered staying home. But no—she couldn't afford to sit her ass down. Not now. Not when she had a son to fight for. She shook her head, dismissing the idea.Her gaze swept across the place, landing on the mess of beer bottle that scattered on the floor. She groaned, the memories rushing back in little pieces. Natalie had forced alcohol on her the night before, and she'd stupidly joined, drinking herself into a stupor. No wonder her head felt like it was splitting in two.Carefully stepping over the shards of broken glass, she noticed a note taped to the door. She picked it up and read aloud, her l

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-19
  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    Pass me that, babe!

    As Bethany twisted the doorknob, it didn’t budge. Her eyes landed on a small passcode lock securing the door.She raised an eyebrow in confusion, but Jason, standing behind her, piped up. “You need a passcode. It’s...”Before he could finish, Fred walked in, gently pushing Jason aside.“You talk too much,” Fred said with a crooked smile, turning to Bethany.Jason shook his head and looked at Fred, his tone incredulous. “No, I was just telling her it’s—”Fred cut him off, covering his mouth with one hand and giving him a gentle shove toward the door. “Go meet Chantel. She needs you.”Bethany watched as Jason disappeared down the stairs, her curiosity piqued. What was behind that door that Fred had to send him away?“What’s behind there?” she asked, crossing her arms.Fred walked forward, hands shoved into his pockets. “We’re not married... so I don’t think you should be asking me that.”“Really?” Bethany raised an eyebrow.“Yeah.”She rolled her eyes and stared at the door again. “Inst

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-20
  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    Twice broken

    NATALIE'S HOMEBethany and Fred rushed to Natalie’s house, fear gripping them—mostly Bethany.“Natalie... I’m coming!” she yelled, breathless.But as they reached the entrance, they saw Natalie sitting on the floor, casually smoking a cigarette.Relief washed over Bethany, but confusion quickly followed. Wasn’t this the same Natalie who had screamed on the phone just moments ago, saying, “I need you now! Get here fast or I might die!”Bethany wore an exhausted frown and slowly walked toward her. “I thought you said you were going to die?”Natalie didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on the cigarette between her fingers.“Nat!” Bethany’s voice was sharp now, frustration creeping in.With a groan, Natalie flicked the cigarette to the ground and threw her hands up. “Okay, okay! I might have overreacted on the phone.” She stood up and moved toward the porch, a sheepish grin on her face.“Might have?” Bethany threw her hands up in disbelief. “You made me scared out of my mind!”Fred followed the

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-20
  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    Slut

    Bethany shot one last look at him before jumping off the counter."You bastard!" she sneered, her voice dripping with venom. He grabbed her arm, pulling her back, but her anger made her stronger than even his firm grip could contain. She yanked her hand free, glaring at him with a smirk of defiance."I'm not angry," she spat. "Live your life. I'm just disappointed in you.""Bethany!" he yelled, running a hand through his hair in frustration. But it was too late; she was already storming out of the kitchen.Just as he moved to follow her, Natalie blocked his way, pushing him back into the room. She leaned closer and whispered sharply, "You better apologize to me for trying so hard to get you two back together. You ruined it."****SWISS HOTEL, 1 PMMinutes after the snowstorm stopped, Bethany didn’t hesitate to leave for the office. Anything to avoid seeing his dirty face again.How stupid had she been? Flirting with him, asking for an answer he’d already made clear years ago. She sig

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-21
  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    Only Bethany in the world

    NEXT MORNINGFred paced in his office, glancing at the clock. Two hours had passed, and he still hadn’t heard from Bethany. She was supposed to leave for her meeting abroad, but something about it felt... off.His mind raced, clouded with regret over the harsh words he'd thrown at her the previous night. It had distracted him so much that he hadn’t questioned the details of her sudden trip. But now, as he pressed the matter, little inconsistencies surfaced: she hadn’t taken any money for a flight, nor had she submitted the client documents for the England deal.The knot in his chest tightened. He hadn’t seen Stacy, his secretary, all morning. Instead, he dialed Natalie’s number—Bethany’s new friend might know something.“Hello, Natalie?”“Morning, Fred. I’m just about to enter Swiss!” she said cheerfully before abruptly hanging up.Fred stared at his phone, dumbfounded. “I knew hiring a gangster lawyer would bite me someday.”Before he could think again, the door swung open. Chant

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-26
  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    Fake

    Bethany staggered back, her hand tightly gripping Dean’s as Fred advanced toward them with a smug grin.“Stop! Please... just stop, Fred!” she yelled, her voice trembling.Fred chuckled darkly and took another step forward, his eyes narrowing. “What did you think, Beth? That you could just run away with this guy?” He gestured dismissively at Dean, his tone dripping with disdain.Bethany dropped her bags and spoke with a forced calming tone. “Why do you always have to be this way? You’re a monster, Fred.”“Oh, please!” Fred retorted with a hoarse laugh. “All men are monsters. Yet here you are, trusting him?” He jabbed a finger in Dean’s direction. “You barely even know him.”Bethany gasped, biting her lip. “You think breaking me would make me stop trusting people? Well, you’re wrong. Dean’s nothing like you.”Fred’s smile faltered, his voice hardening. “If it wasn’t for the deal we made, I would have freed you from his manipulative ways. He’s more of a demon than you realize.”Dean’s

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-27

Bab terbaru

  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    Another one in the picture

    "Natalie! Natalie!!!" Natalie blinked multiple times, realizing she had been daydreaming about what she planned to do. But something didn’t feel right. She knew she had to do this, but she didn’t want to see her best friend taken away. "Are you okay, Natalie?" Fred asked for the umpteenth time. She pursed her lips and gazed at him, giving a slight nod. "Yeah… I'm fine." "Are you thinking about Bethany? If you are… don’t worry. She’ll be fine, back to her senses, and hopefully not all—" At the mention of Bethany, Natalie clenched her fists. "Really? I feel like you don’t want her to remember me… what we had as best friends!" Shaking his head violently, Fred scoffed. "Are you crazy?" He laughed. "I’m going crazy for my best friend! All I want to know is why you wouldn’t want her to remember her past!" Shocked, Fred leaned in. "Are we supposed to have this conversation?! Don’t you remember when Bethany wanted to kill herself because of her past? Or have you forgotten her

  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    You stole her

    Fred's eyes softened as he processed Bethany’s words. Who are you?His brows furrowed, and he stepped closer. “You don’t know me?” he asked softly.Bethany gazed into his eyes, tilting her head. “No… Are you the doctor?”Jill let out an awkward laugh while tucking Bethany in. “Oh yes, honey, he’s the doctor. But you ought to know me! High school… your home… your parent figure?”Bethany responded without hesitation, leaving both of them stunned. “I… really don’t know who you are. Can… can I see Maria?” she asked weakly.Jill and Fred exchanged glances before Fred exhaled slowly, palming his forehead.“We’ll be back, honey!” Jill forced a smile before dragging Fred out of the ward.Once outside, Fred yanked his arm away. “Stop controlling me!” he snapped.“I am not controlling you! But you had better fix this mess. What the hell is wrong with you?” She stomped her foot, her eyes blazing. “I knew you were no good—juggling two sisters like they were a pair of juggling balls. Do you have a

  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    Carefree

    **AT THE HOSPITAL** Fred tapped his foot impatiently, waiting for two things—Dean to be caught and Bethany’s condition to stabilize. He stood up from his chair and glanced over at Jill, who was busy applying makeup. She hadn’t changed one bit. How could she be so carefree when her daughter was in the hospital? Suddenly, the doctor approached. “Mr. Fred?” Fred tilted his head, his voice laced with worry. “Doctor! How is she? Is she okay?” The doctor sighed. “She’s stable, but her memories are groggy. The last thing you should do right now is remind her of her past, present, or future.” “Can I see her?” Jill interjected, taking what felt like ages to get to her feet. “Yes… yes, you can. But remember, follow the rules if you want her to recover properly.” “Okay… thank you, doctor.” Fred gave a warm smile, then walked toward the ward without sparing Jill a glance. Inside, Bethany lay on the hospital bed, IV drips attached to her fragile frame. Taking a deep breath, Fred

  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    Darkness

    FLASHBACKFifteen-year-old Bethany was washing clothes, occasionally glancing at her mother, Jill, who was playing the role of a philanthropist—helping other women. They would come to their house, and Jill would hand them good clothes and money. But despite her mother's generosity, Bethany couldn't help but wonder why they still lived in near-poverty. Her mother wore expensive outfits, yet her father and she barely had enough to get by."Do a good job and come back for more. Don't you dare make me look bad. I trust you, sweetie!" Jill called out, waving goodbye to the women before turning toward Bethany.Bethany set the clothes aside, crossing her arms over her chest. She watched her mother approach, admiring the confidence she exuded."My pretty baby... You're going to inherit everything I have, and I couldn't be happier!" Jill beamed.A smile formed on Bethany's face. "Mom! Can I try on one of your dresses? I love how they feel on my body!"Jill arched a brow, her expression unread

  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    Another hero is born

    OUTSIDE THE HOSPITALJohn was dragging Sarah’s hand outside as he came to a halt and pulled out his phone.Tired and frustrated, Sarah yanked her hand away and growled, “What the hell is wrong with you? What do you think you’re doing? And did you see that woman inside? Who wears a green shawl over a red dress? That’s a crime on its own.”Ignoring her, he fidgeted with his phone and kept dialing. His hands were shaking.“Why isn’t he picking up? Call him on your phone.”Sarah groaned and tried calling Dean, but the line wouldn’t go through. John was clearly panicking now. He ran a hand down his face and muttered, “We have to warn Dean. He shouldn’t be anywhere near the streets.”Frustrated, Sarah grabbed his collar and yelled, “For Bethany’s sake, tell me what’s going on! I thought Dean was scared of you. So why are you afraid of him?”John hesitated before answering, “Because… I’ve seen this before. Ten years ago, when he was in high school, he took my phone and connected himself to e

  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    They need her

    FLASHBACK: FIVE YEARS AGOBethany set the plate of food down on the dining table, her hands trembling slightly. Spaghetti and meatballs—Fred’s favorite. She knew it wasn’t the best meal for him before work, but she needed something from him.She glanced at the digital clock, tapping her foot impatiently. “Why is he taking forever? Sweetie, are you turning into a woman?” she called out mockingly.Sighing, she sat at the table, waiting. When Fred finally emerged, she blinked in surprise. He was wearing a pristine white suit—one she had never seen him wear before.“So? What do you think? Extravagant, right? I know, I know!” he laughed, twirling in place.Bethany pursed her lips. “Wow! You just pushed the word ‘bride’ right out of my mouth!”“Come on, Bethany. Be serious for once. My dad’s visiting the office today. I need to impress him and be on my best behavior.”Bethany bit her lip and stepped toward him, tugging on his collar. “Yes, baby. You rock that beautiful, sexy suit.”Fred smi

  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    Finally, the truth.

    Bethany walked slowly, her heels clicking softly against the pavement as she halted, her eyes darting around for Natalie. Funny enough, Natalie had promised to be with her. Yet she was nowhere in sight. A deep sigh escaped Bethany’s lips as she clenched her fingers. *Why does everything feel so wrong?* Fred always handled everything, but if he could lie about their son’s death, then he was capable of lying about anything. “But…I’m his mother. How could I not know the truth?”She was lost in thought when a voice jolted her back to reality. "Are you going to keep standing there?" Dean’s voice was sharp, impatient. "You’re his mother, aren’t you?" Bethany inhaled deeply, forcing herself to stay composed. "That’s not what I asked you to say. Do as you're told." A chuckle slipped past Dean’s lips as he leaned against the hospital wall, folding his arms. "Really? Now that you have my secret, you want to use it against me?" A smirk curled on Bethany’s lips as she turned to fa

  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    A game of choice

    Fred creased his brows, worry etched on his face as he yelled, “Natalie got kidnapped?!”Bethany's mouth fell open. “Oh my God! What happened?” she repeated in shock.The voice on the other end hesitated before correcting itself. “Wait… did I say Natalie? I meant to say your wife… Chantel has been kidnapped!”That stutter set off alarm bells. Clicking his tongue, Fred replied coolly, “Really? Are you willing to let her out for five million dollars?”The voice wavered. “Yeah… yeah… that’s already too—Um… I mean, you can send it to her account! I’m sorry… I mean, my account!”A chuckle escaped his lips, but his sneer carried more disdain than amusement. “Why don’t you tell her to go to hell because I would never, in my life, bail her out for a cent?”Disgusted, he hung up and scoffed, “I can’t believe that bitch is trying to get attention. Haven't I already landed in a mess because of her?”Bethany nodded violently. “Yeah… you have!” Then, with an urgent gesture, she pointed toward the

  • Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!    Natalie, my hero.

    She couldn't believe her eyes. The letter stated:"The blood sample that was given by Miss Bethany is no match to Jason's. She's not the mother of the child. We'd like you to prevent this occurrence from happening because it might damage the hospital's reputation!""Oh my God!!!" Bethany screamed as she staggered back and dropped the letter.Fred's eyes widened as he saw the letter fall to the floor."Bethany... why did you check it?" He breathed and Dean appeared.Bethany's hands trembled as if she had been electrocuted, her words fumbling, "I... what are... are they saying? I'm not his mom?!"Dean's brows creased into a deep frown as he realized Bethany had seen the letter.Fred stepped closer, attempting to reach for her, but Bethany spun around, her voice shaky, "It... says... says I'm not his mom!"Before anyone could react, she collapsed to the floor, unconscious.******WARD 109Natalie adjusted her nurse's mask and cautiously entered the ward where her children lay. It had bee

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