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CHAPTER 011
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-12-09 09:22:10CHAPTER 011
The light was dim, and the dim light cast long shadows on the walls. I gripped the edge of the desk with my trembling hands. Rowan’s footsteps echoed down the hall, every one of them slowly tightening the knot in my stomach. I didn’t have much time. The polished surface held the photo I had found, its torn edges taunting me with answers I'd never get. Who was she, and why did Rowan keep her from me?
His voice, near silence, sliced through. “Sarah.”
I froze. I turned to face him; the air grew heavier, suffocating. In the doorway he stood, his tall figure blocking the faint light falling from the hallway. His eyes were glacial, sharp enough to cut. They homed in on the desk where the photo and papers were.
“What are you doing in here?” His voice was calm—too calm. That made it worse. It was a moment of tranquility before the impending chaos.
I forced the words out, my throat tight, ‘I was looking for answers.’ "These are the answers I found, and they don't align with what you've told me."
Rowan’s jaw scrunched tightly, his hands balled into fists just far enough from his sides to tally and maintain. The door behind him clicked ominously as he stepped into the room. “You went through my things.”
“Don’t you dare turn this on me,” he said. Fear and anger rose in my voice. Rowan, you’ve been lying to me. “About my father, about this marriage, about everything!”
His presence was overpowering, his body heat making the air between us even more stifling, and he stepped closer. He said, his tone low and controlled, “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Then tell me!” My voice cracked under the strain, and I snapped. Please share the truth with me! "The bad games won't hide you forever," is the response.
The sound of his hand slamming onto the desk beside me echoed through the room. I flinched, but I didn't back down. His eyes pierced mine, and I couldn’t tell what was there—anger, frustration, maybe even a little pain.
'You think you deserve the truth?' his voice slithered.' “Sarah, your father begged me to marry you.” He was desperate to save his pathetic company, and his debt was weighing heavily on him. He viewed you as his final leverage.
His words hit me like a slap. Tears threatened to fall at the corners of my eyes, and my chest tightened, but I wasn’t going to allow them. I shook my head whispering, “You’re lying.” “He wouldn’t do that.”
“Wouldn’t he?” Rowan’s voice softened, mockingly. “Sarah, your father didn’t care about you.” All he cared about was saving himself.”
I said, my voice shaking with anger, “You used me.” “You used him, and you used me.”
Rowan laughed—a bitter laugh—no humor in it. “Don’t pretend you’re innocent in all of this.” You knew what this marriage was. You agreed to it.”
"I didn't consent to this treatment!" My hands balled into fists, and I yelled. “Hurt me, humiliate me, and now you’re trying to justify it?”
His face was inches from mine. Rowan leaned in. His words were ice, but his breath was warm. “You’re just like him, Sarah. “Always looking for someone else to blame.”
As I pushed him back, my hands trembled at the contact with his chest, a reaction I did not anticipate. You don’t get to talk about him like that."You don’t know what I’ve been through, what you’ve put me through.”
His hardened mask slipped for a moment, and his expression flickered. Something raw and vulnerable was in his eyes. It was gone, though, as soon as it had appeared, swapped out for his usual steely resolve. He ran a hand through his dark hair and stepped back, frustration evident.
He said quietly, almost a whisper, “You think this is all my fault?” “I’ve done so much to protect you; you have no idea.”
“Protect me?” I laughed bitterly, tears now streaming down my cheeks. “From what, Rowan? From the truth? From yourself?”
He didn’t answer. His eyes darted to the torn photograph on the desk instead. I followed his gaze and quickly grabbed the torn photograph before he could intervene. Her face was beautiful and haunting, vaguely recognisable.
“Who is she?” I presented the photo and asserted my demands. “Why does she have anything to do with this?”
Rowan’s eyes narrowed and darkened. I saw fear flicker across his face for the first time. “Put that down, Sarah.”
“Not until you tell me the truth,” I said, my voice levelled out once more, strengthened by panic rising to claw at my chest. “Who is she, Rowan?”
"She's no one," he said, his voice trembling as he lied.
I stepped closer, pressing, “She’s not ‘no one.’” Isn’t she part of this? ‘Part of whatever you and my father were hiding.’”
He said, his voice softening, “You don’t understand.” “This isn’t what you think.”
“Then explain it to me!” My voice broke under the weight of my emotions, and I shouted. “Just tell me the truth for once in your life!”
Rowan slumped his shoulders, as though the fight had left him. “She was... someone I cared about.” A long time ago.”
“And?” My heart pounded in my chest as I pressed. “What happened to her?”
He said, his voice barely audible, 'She's gone.' “Sarah, it’s better if you stop asking questions.” For your own good.”
“For my good, or for yours?” I stepped even closer and demanded. “You don’t scare me, Rowan. Not anymore.”
He looked at me, and for a moment I saw something unguarded, something raw. He said quietly, “You should be scared.” “That’s because you can’t forget the truth once you’ve learned it.”
His words hung heavy air as silence fell over the room. The look in his eyes stopped me from wanting to push him further, to demand answers. It wasn’t anger or even arrogance; it was something else, something I couldn’t put a name to.
His shoulders tense, Rowan turned away and walked to the door. He said, his voice cold and distant, “Stay out of my study.” “And stay out of my past.”
The door slammed and then shut behind him, leaving me alone with the suffocating silence. I clutched the torn photograph in my hands; my hands were quivering as the woman's face stared back at me, ghostly, from a life that I didn't know.
What was Rowan hiding? Why did the answers seem connected to me in ways I wasn't prepared to confront?
Bab terkait
HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 012
CHAPTER 012The elegance of the setting was akin to a battlefield in disguise. The soft glow of the chandelier illuminated the crystal glasses, while the silverware stood off to the side, untouched, and tension simmered between us. Across from me, Lilith sat with a weaponized smirk of cruelty. The light illuminated her blonde hair, casting a shimmering halo around the devilish light in her eyes.He sat at the head of the table, his face distant as Rowan took a sip from his glass. Despite the torment, he remained silent and unfazed. The oppressive atmosphere had destroyed my appetite so that every bite of food felt like swallowing stones.Lilith’s voice rang out syrupy sweet.”Sarah.” That sent a shiver down my spine. Tonight you’ve been so quiet. You’re not even here, almost.”I tightened my grip on the fork until the metal dug into my palm. “I have nothing to say.”Her gentle laughter resonated like a hammer on a chalkboard. “Well, you should. It must be exhausting to act like the per
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-09HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 013
CHAPTER 013I stepped inside the house, which was muted but not the peaceful calm. It was heavy, as if the walls were closing in on me. I walked towards the living room, my heart pounding. Sprawled like a queen on her throne was Lilith on the couch. She had her legs crossed, a phone in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other. When she heard me, she looked up, and that infuriating smirk spread across her face.She snorted, her voice rasping with mockery and filling up with surprise. “Back so soon?” “I thought you’d finally grown a spine and left for good.”I stopped in the doorway, gripping the frame so hard my knuckles went white. “We need to talk.”Her smirk never wavered as she tilted her head. “Oh? ‘What could we possibly have to talk about?’”Moving into the room, each movement was deliberate, accomplished with a weight and a heaviness, as if I were preparing to fight. The simple words I wanted to hear came tumbling out of me. “I want to know the truth, Lilith.”A sharp, cru
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-09HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 013
CHAPTER 013I stepped inside the house, which was muted but not the peaceful calm. It was heavy, as if the walls were closing in on me. I walked towards the living room, my heart pounding. Sprawled like a queen on her throne was Lilith on the couch. She had her legs crossed, a phone in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other. When she heard me, she looked up, and that infuriating smirk spread across her face.She snorted, her voice rasping with mockery and filling up with surprise. “Back so soon?” “I thought you’d finally grown a spine and left for good.”I stopped in the doorway, gripping the frame so hard my knuckles went white. “We need to talk.”Her smirk never wavered as she tilted her head. “Oh? ‘What could we possibly have to talk about?’”Moving into the room, each movement was deliberate, accomplished with a weight and a heaviness, as if I were preparing to fight. The simple words I wanted to hear came tumbling out of me. “I want to know the truth, Lilith.”A sharp, cru
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-09HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 014
CHAPTER 014The air in my room was suffocating—the kind of weight that clung to your chest and wouldn’t let go. It was dark; the only light from my laptop, and the only sound was he faint hum of the laptop fan. Megan’s email was open, and her message was brief and to the point. She never asked questions, never had. That’s why I trusted her.My finger hesitated momentarily, and I clicked the first link. A news article popped up, its bold headline sending a chill through me: “The Missing Whistleblower and Pharma Giant.”I scanned the text, and my heart sank. Robert Gaines. I didn’t know his name, but I knew his story. At one point, Gaines was a former employee of Flint Pharmaceuticals who had filed complaints about unethical business practices. He vanished just weeks later. No trace. No leads. The article said the case had gone cold, but his family had desperately pleaded for answers. Rowan’s name was barely mentioned, just a shadow at the story's edge, and the company denied involvemen
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-11HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 015
CHAPTER 015The hallway outside of Jervis’s apartment smelled like old carpet and cleaning solution, the kind that barely covered up the years of wear and tear. My hand trembled slightly as I raised my fist to knock on the door, and I hesitated. Everything felt heavier tonight—my breath, my heartbeat, even the air seemed to press against my chest.The door swung open before I could make contact, and there he was. Jervis. His blonde hair was a tousled mess, as he’d just been running his fingers through it before turning his fists and anger over something in frustration. His glasses were crooked on his nose, but his eyes softened when they landed on me. His familiar presence loosened the knot in my stomach for a moment.He stepped aside to let me in, saying, "Sarah." "I was wondering when you'd come."I walked past him, but I couldn’t find the words. His apartment was warm compared to the icy knot of tension coiled inside my chest. He went through the door leading into his dorm—all of w
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-11HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 001
CHAPTER 001The only thing you could hear was the espresso machine humming to itself and the slight scrape of a chair against the wooden floor. The streets of New York were blanketed in a pristine layer of white snow that fell steadily outside. I leaned slightly against the window, pretending to clean a stubborn smudge that didn’t actually exist, and my breath fogged the glass.People my age walked down the street out there, their laughter muted by the thick panes of glass. Outside they stopped in a group, bundled into scarves and coats and carrying armsful of paper bags from the bakery next door. Another girl pressed a muffin to her face; her eyes widened, announcing the muffin to her friend in a way that may or may not have been a joke. Their voices filled with warmth and joy; they laughed.I didn’t know I was staring until one of them looked up and made eye contact. I embarrassed myself quickly, turning away and concentrating hard on the counter that I was wiping down. Regret gnawe
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-29HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 002
CHAPTER 002As soon as I stepped in the air inside the house felt different. It smelled warm, like roasted chicken and herbs, but the smell made me want to taint. Maybe it was just the weight of the air or the way Mom and Lilith sat silently across from me at the dining table, their faces blank, unreadable. At the head of the table, Dad looked stiff, as if he were guarding something most important. Mom didn’t look up. “You’re late.” Her voice was as sharp as a knife cutting through the space where only quiet should have been. I set my bag down near the door, mumbled, “I came as fast as I could.” She frowned and moved a plate closer to Dad. “Dinner’s cold now.” I walked to the table and sat down in the empty chair farthest from everyone else. My hands were clenched so tightly in my lap that they hurt. No one spoke. It was just the clinking of silver ware on plates, and it made my skin crawl. Dad finally broke the silence, clearing his throat loudly. His voice was calm but fir
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-29HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 003
CHAPTER 003After I spoke, the room went dead silent. I didn’t look away, all eyes were on me. My words fell like a stone in a pond; ripples out, and settled in an awkward, heavy quiet. My chest pounded and I kept my face calm, I stood my ground. The first to break the silence was Lilith. She laughed a sharp, mocking laugh that I couldn’t stand. She smirked, “Run away?” “And where would you go, Sarah?” “Do you think you’re brave enough for that?” I forced my voice to stay steady and said evenly, “I don’t think.” “I know. And I mean it.” Lilith snorted, crossing her arms as if she didn’t believe me. On the other hand, Mom looked furious. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her face had gone red, and she glared at me. She shook her voice, “You’ve lost your mind.” “This is not a game, Sarah. You don’t just get to make demands,” he said. I met her gaze and said, “I’m not making demands.” I’m asking for basic respect. You want me to get married? Fine. I won’t do it on your terms a
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-29
Bab terbaru
HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 015
CHAPTER 015The hallway outside of Jervis’s apartment smelled like old carpet and cleaning solution, the kind that barely covered up the years of wear and tear. My hand trembled slightly as I raised my fist to knock on the door, and I hesitated. Everything felt heavier tonight—my breath, my heartbeat, even the air seemed to press against my chest.The door swung open before I could make contact, and there he was. Jervis. His blonde hair was a tousled mess, as he’d just been running his fingers through it before turning his fists and anger over something in frustration. His glasses were crooked on his nose, but his eyes softened when they landed on me. His familiar presence loosened the knot in my stomach for a moment.He stepped aside to let me in, saying, "Sarah." "I was wondering when you'd come."I walked past him, but I couldn’t find the words. His apartment was warm compared to the icy knot of tension coiled inside my chest. He went through the door leading into his dorm—all of w
HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 014
CHAPTER 014The air in my room was suffocating—the kind of weight that clung to your chest and wouldn’t let go. It was dark; the only light from my laptop, and the only sound was he faint hum of the laptop fan. Megan’s email was open, and her message was brief and to the point. She never asked questions, never had. That’s why I trusted her.My finger hesitated momentarily, and I clicked the first link. A news article popped up, its bold headline sending a chill through me: “The Missing Whistleblower and Pharma Giant.”I scanned the text, and my heart sank. Robert Gaines. I didn’t know his name, but I knew his story. At one point, Gaines was a former employee of Flint Pharmaceuticals who had filed complaints about unethical business practices. He vanished just weeks later. No trace. No leads. The article said the case had gone cold, but his family had desperately pleaded for answers. Rowan’s name was barely mentioned, just a shadow at the story's edge, and the company denied involvemen
HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 013
CHAPTER 013I stepped inside the house, which was muted but not the peaceful calm. It was heavy, as if the walls were closing in on me. I walked towards the living room, my heart pounding. Sprawled like a queen on her throne was Lilith on the couch. She had her legs crossed, a phone in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other. When she heard me, she looked up, and that infuriating smirk spread across her face.She snorted, her voice rasping with mockery and filling up with surprise. “Back so soon?” “I thought you’d finally grown a spine and left for good.”I stopped in the doorway, gripping the frame so hard my knuckles went white. “We need to talk.”Her smirk never wavered as she tilted her head. “Oh? ‘What could we possibly have to talk about?’”Moving into the room, each movement was deliberate, accomplished with a weight and a heaviness, as if I were preparing to fight. The simple words I wanted to hear came tumbling out of me. “I want to know the truth, Lilith.”A sharp, cru
HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 013
CHAPTER 013I stepped inside the house, which was muted but not the peaceful calm. It was heavy, as if the walls were closing in on me. I walked towards the living room, my heart pounding. Sprawled like a queen on her throne was Lilith on the couch. She had her legs crossed, a phone in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other. When she heard me, she looked up, and that infuriating smirk spread across her face.She snorted, her voice rasping with mockery and filling up with surprise. “Back so soon?” “I thought you’d finally grown a spine and left for good.”I stopped in the doorway, gripping the frame so hard my knuckles went white. “We need to talk.”Her smirk never wavered as she tilted her head. “Oh? ‘What could we possibly have to talk about?’”Moving into the room, each movement was deliberate, accomplished with a weight and a heaviness, as if I were preparing to fight. The simple words I wanted to hear came tumbling out of me. “I want to know the truth, Lilith.”A sharp, cru
HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 012
CHAPTER 012The elegance of the setting was akin to a battlefield in disguise. The soft glow of the chandelier illuminated the crystal glasses, while the silverware stood off to the side, untouched, and tension simmered between us. Across from me, Lilith sat with a weaponized smirk of cruelty. The light illuminated her blonde hair, casting a shimmering halo around the devilish light in her eyes.He sat at the head of the table, his face distant as Rowan took a sip from his glass. Despite the torment, he remained silent and unfazed. The oppressive atmosphere had destroyed my appetite so that every bite of food felt like swallowing stones.Lilith’s voice rang out syrupy sweet.”Sarah.” That sent a shiver down my spine. Tonight you’ve been so quiet. You’re not even here, almost.”I tightened my grip on the fork until the metal dug into my palm. “I have nothing to say.”Her gentle laughter resonated like a hammer on a chalkboard. “Well, you should. It must be exhausting to act like the per
HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 011
CHAPTER 011The light was dim, and the dim light cast long shadows on the walls. I gripped the edge of the desk with my trembling hands. Rowan’s footsteps echoed down the hall, every one of them slowly tightening the knot in my stomach. I didn’t have much time. The polished surface held the photo I had found, its torn edges taunting me with answers I'd never get. Who was she, and why did Rowan keep her from me?His voice, near silence, sliced through. “Sarah.”I froze. I turned to face him; the air grew heavier, suffocating. In the doorway he stood, his tall figure blocking the faint light falling from the hallway. His eyes were glacial, sharp enough to cut. They homed in on the desk where the photo and papers were. “What are you doing in here?” His voice was calm—too calm. That made it worse. It was a moment of tranquility before the impending chaos.I forced the words out, my throat tight, ‘I was looking for answers.’ "These are the answers I found, and they don't align with what y
HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 010
CHAPTER 010: Sarah Discovers Rowan’s Sinister Connection The house was unnaturally quiet—the quiet that pressed on my chest and made my breathing hard. My fingers curled into the fabric of my skirt, my mind racing, and I sat on the edge of the bed. Lilith’s words for days had haunted me. ‘You have no idea what he’s done for you.’ Her smugness in her tone and the curl of her lips into that infuriating smirk was like a needle in my brain.I couldn’t shake it. I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I glanced at the hallway, where Rowan’s study stood, like a forbidden gate. Maybe the answers I needed were hidden with the secrets he wouldn’t tell me. I stood, legs shaky but resolved. I couldn’t spend a moment longer living this life filled with lies and half-truths. I pushed the door to his study open, and it creaked softly. It was heavy inside air thickened with the smell of leather and wood. In the centre sat Rowan’s desk, a monument to his authority. It was perfectly organized, and everything
HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 009
Chapter 009: Jervis Offers Sarah an Unexpected Escape. In the peaceful sanctuary of the park, the chaos of my life was absent. The crisp air nipped at my skin as the bare branches of the trees stretched toward a gray sky, and tall shadows twisted darkly like veins along that frozen pond. The sound resembled the innocent laughter of children from the playground, and it seemed almost unrent.I curled my fingers into my coat and pulled it tighter around me. The chill wasn’t enough to keep me out. Lilith's taunts and Rowan's suffocating control swirled in my mind, each memory digging more profound than the last, tearing me apart. The only reprieve I had was being here, away from the house. Still, even here, my mind was heavy, weighing me down.A small part of me had hoped he would find me. I couldn’t help it; it was stupid and pathetic, but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t help but recall the warmth of Jervis’s smile and how he looked at me like I meant something. No one had looked at me li
HER REVENGE AFTER DIVORCE CHAPTER 008
Chapter 008: Lilith’s Dangerous Game and a Shocking Revelation!Dinner had been unbearable. Rowan had barely spoken to me, his eyes darting between his phone and Lilith’s too loud laughter from the other side of the table. I stood at the sink, scrubbing plates that weren’t even mine, as my mind turned over with frustration. The maid installed a water tank on the flat roof and positioned a ladder inside the house to access the water. She then pumped it into a bucket, which she dragged into the house every morning and night for me to wash with, if I remembered to ask for it.I turned off the faucet and stacked the last plate on the drying rack, but I didn’t go upstairs. Voices. The voices in Rowan's study were low and sharp. I froze, straining to listen. It was Rowan and Lilith.Lilith hissed, slowly through the thick wooden door, ‘You’re losing your grip.’ “She’s starting to notice things,” he said.Rowan’s voice was tense. “She doesn’t know anything.” “It wouldn’t matter even if she di
