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135 The weight of silence
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-16 17:26:11
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Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 136 Lingering doubts
Isabel’s POVI smile, snapping out of my thoughts. If Cynthia thinks I’m going to be scared of her for whatever reason, then she’s kidding herself. Whatever she’s here for, I’m ready for it.Cynthia chuckles, her shoulders shuddering slightly as she looks directly at me, probably sensing the tension in the air. “Oh my! I was just kidding. Don’t tell me you took it that seriously?”I scoff. “Of course not,” I say smoothly, my tone light but with just enough bite to let her know she doesn’t matter.For a brief second, her smile falters before she braces up again. “But… on the other hand, I did expect your call. Or maybe a visit? You know, as friends do.”I push down the irritation rising in me, leaning slightly forward. “Not when you broke the friendship rule. Or did you forget our last discussion that night?”Cynthia’s eyes flicker, a sly look crossing them. “Oh, about that,” she murmurs, tilting her head as if in thought. “I’m not supposed to say this now, but don’t you think you shou
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 137 Secret is out
Aria’s POVI step into Claire’s office, a smile tugging at my lips. It’s been a while since I’ve been here, and despite everything weighing on me, there’s always something warm and familiar about LM Group. Something that makes me feel like I belong, even if just for a moment.But then my gaze lands on her.Cynthia Castillo.My smile falters, my heart sinking so fast it feels like it might plummet right through me.I wasn’t expecting to see her here. She’s dressed in an expensive dress and heels, the kind that scream power, wealth—privilege. The same privilege she’s always had. The same privilege that ruined my life.I try to mask my reaction, force the tension from my body. But it’s hard. Too hard. Because when you’re standing face-to-face with your worst nightmare, the past has a way of sinking its claws into you, dragging you under.Cynthia takes a step toward me. My pulse pounds.Not now, Aria. I clench my fist slightly, pushing down every raging thought, every memory clawing its w
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-18Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 138 A drink too many
Aria’s POVI wake up with a pounding headache, the kind that makes me want to bury myself under the covers and disappear. I press my fingers against my temples, my hand ruffling through my hair as I try to ground myself.Coffee—yeah, I need coffee. Something strong enough to stop the room from spinning.My eyes finally crack open, and I’m hit by the unfamiliar sight of the room around me. It’s… luxurious. Like the kind of place you see in ads, not where I’d ever find myself on a regular morning.The bedding’s crisp and thick, the air scented faintly of cedar and linen. There’s a softness to everything, even in the light filtering through the heavy curtains.For a second, I just blink, trying to let it all sink in, wondering how I even got here.Then the fog in my head starts to lift. Little fragments of last night come together: the Castillo building, a crowded bar, way too many shots… and him.I sit up quickly, clutching my head as the rush of motion makes it throb even harder. I was
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-19Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 139 A love not mine
Aria’s POVA few hours later, I find myself staring at the beach entrance, barely believing I agreed to this. Spend the day with him? Who demands a day in return for silence? But if it keeps him quiet, fine. I’ll pretend to enjoy it, put on my best act.As soon as we step onto the warm sand, I throw my hands up in exaggerated excitement. “Wow, this is amazing!” I turn to him, forcing a bright smile. “How did you know I needed this?” My arms swing out as if I’m embracing the ocean breeze, letting it cool my skin. And okay—maybe I actually do need this. A distraction. A moment to feel normal, even if only for today.I catch him watching me, his expression softer than I expected. His usual guarded demeanor is gone, replaced by something almost… contemplative. It’s like he’s lost in thought, somewhere else entirely.My smile falters as I study him, feeling slightly off balance. The Collins I’ve been bumping into all this time—the persistent lawyer, the one who always seems composed—feels
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-20Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 140 Uneasy night
Isabel’s POVI trudge up the stairs, my legs heavy like they’re weighed down by sandbags. Each step feels harder than the last, my shoulders slumping as I grip the railing to keep from stumbling.Talking to my mother, trying to justify the twins calling Roy “Dad”—it’s like I’ve been drained of everything. My head throbs, and even the soft lights lining the hallway feel like they’re pressing down on me.Argh. But why do I feel like I’ve just dug my own grave? I blink, trying to connect the dots. I mean, ever since the kids started calling Roy ‘Dad,’ they’ve wanted us together more than ever.Tonight, the twins had been relentless, insisting I go on a date with Roy now that my project was done. They didn’t just want dinner—they wanted something real. And for them, Roy being ‘Daddy’ wasn’t just a word anymore.In my room, I open my closet, scanning through my options. A dinner date with Roy—well, I need to dress up, if not for him, then for the kids. I pull out a sleek, emerald green dre
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-21Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 141 Crossroads
Collins’ POVFor once, the day doesn’t feel like a battlefield.Spending time with Aria—just the two of us, away from the tension of legal battles and unspoken worries—feels like a break from reality. I know she only agreed because she had no choice. I see it in the way she holds herself, the reluctance she tries to mask with small smiles. But I’ll take it.Even if it’s not how I want, even if it’s just because of the secret I’m keeping for her, I’ll take this moment. A day that isn’t about struggles. A day that isn’t about the cases we’ve been trapped in—hers, mine, and the ones we’ve both found ourselves tangled in.By the time we arrive at the restaurant, I’m already thinking about wrapping up the night. This was the condition, after all. My silence in exchange for a day without fights, without the weight of what we both know pressing down on us.But then I see her.Claire.Or should I say, Isabel.The truth I uncovered still sits heavy in my chest, fresh and unsettling. She’s here
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-22Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 142 A haunting presence
Isabel’s POVI swing slowly in my chair, letting the motion soothe me as I gaze out of my office window, watching the clouds drift lazily across the sky. Today is supposed to be a special day—her birthday. But she’s not here anymore. She’s gone. Six feet below the ground. She’d sacrificed herself to make sure I was safe, to give me a chance to live. Memories flash before me—of her laughter filling the house, her warm smile, her comforting arms. For a moment, I’m pulled back into those happy days, feeling that old familiar love.A soft knock on the door pulls me back to the present. I glance up to see Christine entering the room, her expression composed, yet there’s a sense of urgency in her steps. She places an iPad on my desk, clearing her throat. “Miss Aria won’t be able to make it to the meeting today. She sent over some photos of the designs you both were discussing last time,” she explains, her voice respectful.I raise an eyebrow, silently prompting her for more clarification
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-23Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 143 Not letting go
Alexander’s POVI sit in my car a few miles from the LM Group building, staring blankly at the road ahead. I can’t believe I’m here again, caught up in this madness.I’d accepted long ago to let it go—that Claire Montgomery isn’t Isabel. But today, Collins’ question keeps gnawing at me, refusing to let me move on.“What will you do if Claire happens to be the real Isabel we thought died five years ago?”It wasn’t just a casual question. No, there was something in his tone, something that said he knew more than he was letting on.Collins is my friend, and I’ve known him long enough to sense when he’s hinting at something.Now, here I am, clutching the steering wheel and tapping my fingers against it, the other hand pressed hard against my temple as I think about the consequences of what I’m about to do.I take a deep breath, muttering to myself, “Screw it. I don’t care. Today, I’m getting to the bottom of this. No more lies.”Just as I’m about to start the engine and move closer to the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-24
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Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 209 Too suspicious
Alexander’s POVI’m still trying to wrap my head around it.Isabel knew.All this time… she knew.I sit there, breathing like I’ve been sprinting for miles, my hands pressed against my face, dragging down slowly as if doing so could pull the disbelief away with them. My heart pounds, not from exertion, but from the weight of realization.I never imagined—never even considered—that she’d found out about what happened between me and Cynthia at the Euphoria Club.What I tried so damn hard to hide… what I let destroy everything good I had… she knew?From the start?I sacrificed our marriage to keep that night buried, thinking if I only held on to the part where she cheated on me, maybe it would be enough to protect my image.Maybe—just maybe—if she never found out about my mistake too, I could live with it.I wasn’t trying to shield her from the truth… I just didn’t want her to see me differently.I wanted to stay the one who was wronged. The one who had a reason to let go.But all this w
Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 208 If I Lose you
Isabel’s POVThe sound splits the air like thunder.But it doesn’t hit me.I don’t even see it happen—just feel the sudden force of Roy’s body slamming into mine, shoving me aside in one sharp, protective motion.Then comes the crack of bone, the dull thud of impact, and the sickening sound of him crashing to the floor.“No… no, no—” I gasp, stumbling back as my eyes drop to him.He’s on the ground. Blood.So much blood.Spilling out from the side of his torso, soaking through his shirt and pooling beneath him like a dark, blooming flower. My ears ring, my hands tremble as I drop to my knees beside him, unable to breathe, unable to think.“Roy!” I cry, crawling toward him, grabbing his shoulders. “Roy!”The world around me explodes with chaos. Screams. Footsteps. The shriek of people rushing in from the hall. My guards storm out, guns drawn, shouting orders, some flanking me immediately, while others bolt after the motorcycles tearing away through the entrance, engines roaring into th
Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 207 Echoes of pain
Isabel’s POVI’ve been standing in this corner for a while now. My eyes keep scanning the space—back and forth, every shadow, every movement—but still, nothing. No sign. No trace. Not even a whisper of someone watching. I bite down hard on my bottom lip, frustration swirling inside me.But how’s that even possible?If someone’s truly been watching my every move—dropping letters like the last one, you can’t get away from me—then they should know I’m here. Alone. Waiting. Isn’t that the perfect opportunity? Isn’t this exactly what they’ve been waiting for?Damn it.This was supposed to be it—the night I catch whoever it is. The night I uncover every damn truth that’s been clawing at my peace for months. But now… silence.I’m so lost in my head that I don’t notice the hand until it lands on my shoulder.My heart sinks.My breath catches as I whirl around, bracing for a blow—only to find Christine’s wide eyes staring at me.“Ma’am,” she says quickly, her voice tight with concern. “Are you
Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 206 Finding Her
Alexander’s POVIt’s not just her beauty.It never was.It’s the way she carries herself. Regal, yet detached. That air of quiet defiance, like she doesn’t need to try—like she was born to own every damn space she walks into. Even now, standing in the center of this glittering hall with eyes trailing after her like moths to flame, I still can’t figure her out. And I hate that about her.I tell myself I feel nothing but anger toward her. But the moment I see her—just one glance—and I lose grip.My eyes flick, without permission, to the slit in her dress. Her skin catches the light like satin, a soft shimmer that holds my gaze longer than it should. My attention moves to her lips—watching the way they move as she speaks to someone across the room. I know every curve of those lips, every silent message they used to send me.I drag my eyes away, clenching my jaw as I shake my head.Damn it.I curse under my breath, angry at myself. At this weakness. She shouldn’t still have this effect on
Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 205 Make the move
Isabel’s POVAs we take our seats, I glance around the room, soaking in its glow.Crystal chandeliers hang like stars above a sea of curated beauty—fashion elites, influencers, designers, journalists. All gathered for LM Fashion’s latest showcase. Velvet drapes in the brand’s signature maroon shade frame the wide runway, sleek and gleaming beneath the spotlight. The air smells of roses, ambition, and a hint of tension that only those like me can sense.Roy sits beside me, his shoulder brushing mine slightly, his quiet presence grounding. Across the table, my mother, Victoria Montgomery—still poised as ever—leans in to whisper something to Grace, who gives a soft chuckle in return. They look relaxed. Pleased. The calm before the wave.I glance up—my eyes drawn to the opposite table where the night’s showstoppers sit.Aurora.She looks like she belongs here: regal in black, her hair pinned back with delicate crystal clips that shimmer under the soft lighting. Beside her, Richard looks d
Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 204 Risked and Ready
Isabel’s POVIt’s been two weeks since the fall.Two weeks since I cornered Cynthia and made it painfully clear just how much she stands to lose if she ever dares to come for me again. I didn’t need to raise my voice. Just facts, laid bare like knives on silk. I showed her the cracks in her perfect little world—one by one. Her reputation? Hanging by a thread. Her false sense of security in that house? Dismantled. Her place in the industry? Already slipping through her manicured fingers.And that was just the beginning.Because losing her foundation is only the first drop on the rollercoaster I’ve strapped her into.Next comes the descent.I’m going to make her stay at the King’s mansion a living hell. A place so cold, so hostile, even the walls will reject her. I want her to feel the weight of being truly hated—not just by me, but by everyone that matters in that house. Especially Sabrina. The anger in Sabrina’s eyes when she looks at Cynthia now? It’s sharp. Raging. I’ve stoked the f
Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 203 Held, not hurt
Isabel’s POVI struggle to loosen my arm from Alexander’s grip, tugging harder even as his fingers dig into my skin like claws desperate to stay tethered. My chest heaves from the pressure, my throat tight with restrained fury.“Let go,” I hiss, but he doesn’t budge.Not until the door swings open.And then… I see him.Roy.He’s standing there, still, shoulders broad, presence commanding. But it’s his eyes that speak volumes. The intensity in his gaze, the way it flickers from me to Alexander’s hold on my arm—it’s enough to make Alexander go still too.In seconds, Roy strides forward. I feel a rush of relief as he reaches us, his hand locking around Alexander’s wrist. His grip is firm. Steady. Without hesitation, he peels Alexander’s hand away from me, forcing him to let go.“How dare you touch her,” Roy growls, his voice low and rough, seconds before his fist crashes into Alexander’s jaw.The blow is fast, brutal. Alexander stumbles back, nearly losing balance but catches himself jus
Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 202 Stage regrets
Alexander’s POVCameras flash like lightning across a stormy sky, the air thick with tension. I stand there, jaw set, the words already rehearsed in my head—but still, I can’t believe Isabel is making me do this.A public apology.God.But as my mother said earlier this morning, “If getting low is the only way to gain control, then get low. We’ll crawl beneath her feet if we must—until we’re ready to rise and flip her world upside down.”And when we do, it’ll be her turn to choke on regret.I inhale sharply through my nose, straighten my shoulders, and speak to the press with a calm I barely feel.Then it comes—the reporter’s question. His voice cuts through the buzz.“We see that your wife, Cynthia Castillo, has indeed offended Miss Claire Montgomery by releasing her private affairs without consent… but what we don’t know is—why? Do you mind telling us why she did so?”My fist tightens.Jaw clenched.My eyes flick toward Cynthia where she sits at the corner of the stage, legs crossed
Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet 201 One frame
Isabel’s POVI’m in the middle of a quick briefing with the heads of each department for the upcoming fashion show, everyone huddled around the oval table in my office. Swatches are being passed, digital models flicker across screens, and fabric samples are laid out like cards at a poker game. I’m about to ask a question about lighting when Christine slides in quietly, pressing her hand against the glass door.“Ma’am,” she says, voice low but urgent, “someone is here to see you. He said it’s important.”My brow furrows. “Who is it?”She hesitates.I dismiss the team with a nod. “We’ll pick this up later. Keep working as planned.”They file out, murmuring to one another, a few casting curious glances over their shoulders. The last door click hasn’t even faded when the knob turns again—and in walks the least person I ever expected.Carl Edward.His presence draws an immediate scoff from my lips. I arch a brow, half-surprised, half-irritated. He looks almost the same—tailored charcoal su
