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Chapter 14
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2025-02-05 16:42:16
VictoryAnne ViceThank you all for reading my story! More to come!
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Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 15
[Addison] I didn’t hear a response to my email. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. With the way Michael has been doting on Evelyn, he was probably too busy to read it. Making another attempt to get him to respond, I sent an email letting him know I was being released tomorrow and that I needed him to come by to at least sign the divorce papers. He did reply this time. “We’ll talk later,” is all the message said, an automatic response he has set in his phone at the press of a button. He didn't even bother to read it. As promised, Tracy showed up twenty minutes later with a pizza box. I laughed out loud when she pulled out a bottle of beer hiding in the recesses of her purse, just like when she used to sneak beer into the movies during our college days.By the time the pizza was eaten and the beer was long gone, we were fast friends once more. It was as if no time had passed between us, and we were as close as sisters again. Michael had discouraged our friendship, so after we were ma
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-06Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 16
[Addison]“Michael,” I take a small step back. “What is this about? Why are you home in the middle of the day?”Sitting up a bit straighter, he uncrosses his legs and places his drink on the table beside him. It settles with a heavy-handed thunk. “Why shouldn’t I be here to greet my wife?” he emphasizes the last word. “You wanted to talk, let’s talk now. What is this?”Michael throws the divorce agreement onto the floor between us, the edges crumpled from where he gripped it so tightly. Even lying curled on the ground I can see the imprint of his fingers.“Isn’t it obvious?” I reply evenly and carefully. “It’s a divorce agreement, Michael. I drafted it myself last night.”A silence stretches between us as we contemplate one another. Even though there are only a few feet between us, it feels like we are separated by an unpassable chasm of emotion and heartbreak. This man, my husband, has become somehow unknowable to me.. Before Evelyn returned, I’d have sworn that I understood him bette
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-07Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 17
[Addison]“This is insane, Michael! Let me out!” I shouted, rattling the locked door, my fists pounding against the painted wood. “You can’t keep me here!”“You need help, Addy!” he shouts back. “I’m calling Dr. Greene. He'll come and give you something to ease your anxiety. You're still shaken from the kidnapping. Don't worry, he'll get you fixed up."Michael's voice grows happier as he continues to speak, truly believing his own lies.""You'll see, Addy. You'll be yourself again soon." Dr. Greene is Michael’s psychiatrist. Ever since Evelyn left, Michael has been seeing Dr. Greene once a week. I don’t know him very well, having only met him once or twice during fundraisers and social functions, but he is an old-school doctor who believes in heavy medication. And who knows what Michael is going to tell him about me. Whatever it is, Evelyn will likely have a hand in it. Opening my purse, I see the contract and business card from Mr. Grant. He had said I could call him about anythin
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-09Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 18
[Hunter]My shoulders ache. I'm too tired to be at work, but I need to keep up appearances.The raid last night was successful. Millions of dollars of contraband were seized at the harbor because of our efforts, putting a squeeze on the local black market. But then after making a few arrests and making sure the evidence was properly locked away for the evening, I still had to make an appearance at the club. I needed a steel-clad alibi, so I switched with my double at the gym, took a shower, and reappeared in the lobby, looking as if I had finished a very good workout. Which of course I did, just not in the way anyone knows. And of course, being Hunter Grant, I had to go out to the top dance club in the city, The Rooftop Revue, which I started as soon as I moved back into town. I have a solid reputation as a playboy that I need to maintain. It also provides the perfect cover for reconnaissance. If the mobsters think you're just as dirty as they are, they'll open up. Last night my
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-11Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 19
[Addison]"Addy!"There are loud, rapid footsteps followed by the heavy sound of someone falling to their knees. Warm arms reach around me and cradle me to their chest, their heart beating rapidly against my ear.My husband, Michael, is shaking with fear as he looks down at me with wide, frightened eyes. "Addison! What have you done!" His voice shakes as he looks up at the open window and then back at me. "Why? Do I make you so miserable that you are trying to kill yourself?""Don't forget, you're still pregnant!" He blamed me.The sadness in his voice makes my heart skip. I scoffed in my mind. There was no child anymore.Does he really care about me underneath all of this anger and angst? Am I the one pushing him away with my jealousy?"Michael, help, I fell," I whimper pathetically. I hate how weak I sound, how defenseless I am. I don't want his help, but what choice do I have? I was foolish to think I could climb out the window to get away. In the distance, my son's small voice
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-13Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 20
[Addison]But does he believe me? Have I convinced him of my sincerity?Can he feel how my heart is racing, not out of love for him, but the need to escape?Gently, Michael sets me down on the couch, propping me up against some pillows that he gathers from the nearby cushions. With gentle hands, he repositions my body, laying my leg out straight in an attempt to make me comfortable.Now that he believes I want to be here, his entire mood has shifted, his brittle anger melting away. It almost feels like how things were before Evelyn came back into our lives. Walking to his lounge chair, Michael reaches down, his eyes never leaving mine as he picks up the discarded divorce agreement."We won't be needing this anymore now," he smiles at me with renewed hope as he takes my carefully prepared packet and tears it to shreds. I do my best to smile warmly back at him as I pretend that it is what I want as well even though I'm internally screaming in outrage. If he doesn't love me anymore, why
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-14Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 21
[Addison]When I looked up at my savior, I couldn’t believe it— it was Hunter! As if I had conjured him from my dreams, Hunter Grant appeared like a vision, too wonderful to be real, his strong arms holding me close to his chest. His touch is gentle and strong as he adjusts his grip being careful to avoid my bruises and swollen ankle as he looks me over from head to foot. Finally I settle in, my cheek against his warm wool suit, his natural, masculine scent blended with soap and a faint cologne calming me as I let myself relax in his arms."I have you now," my rescuer promises, cradling me like something precious. "You're safe with me." And I do feel safe, safer than I have in a very long time. Possibly safer than I've ever felt.Hunter looks over his shoulder to glare at my husband, who sputters curses as he stands on the front porch shaking his fist in anger, sweat rolling down his angry red face. Seeing him there with his blonde hair askew, I find myself wondering where the dashi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 22
[Michael][Earlier...]She's gone. I had been upstairs for less than 20 minutes. If I hadn't come downstairs to grab a glass of water, would I have noticed her missing? How long has she been gone?The door is wide open. Could she have made it off the front porch by herself? No. I can't imagine that...Oh gods, what if someone took her? What if she hadn't been lying about the kidnapping. I know she's wrong about Evelyn, but that doesn't mean someone else isn't trying to hurt them both. My head pounds, my ears having the hallow sound of an impending migrane as I rush outside. There is no sign of a struggle, no sign that anyone else has been here at all."ADDY!" maybe she's just sitting in the garden. "ADDISON!"She isn't on the porch, or the garden swing. She isn't sitting on any of the stumps.How could she just vanish.Running inside, my feet slip on the slick floor as they slide on the tattered shreads of our divorce agreement. She had promised to apologize for her mistakes, to make
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17
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Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 44
[Hunter]She’s so lovely in the gentle light of the living room as she enjoys the meal I made for her. I’ve never cooked for anyone other than Livy and Janie in the past. None of the women I’ve dated have ever been this intimate with me.They were never family. And even though Addison and I are not a couple, she’s closer to being family than I have felt in a very long time. I wonder if this is what it would feel like to have a partner, someone to share my life and my burdens with. If only I could share all of them with her, tell Addison about everything. I could use a sympathetic ear. But if Addison were to know the true nature of my work, of my mission, not just my job for the government, but my own private revenge, it could make all of my careful work fall and shatter around us. No, it’s better that it remains this way. I can’t let anyone get too close. It’ll only lead to more pain.Besides, who knows, she may still be a spy. This could all be a very carefully crafted act, a hon
Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 43
[Addison]Hunter took us home. Seeing how shaken I was, he took the initiative, having the maids draw a bath while he made us all beef stroganoff and decanted a bottle of red wine. By the time I was clean and dry, Livy had already eaten, her messy plate sitting on the counter while Hunter stood in the kitchen washing dishes. “Don’t you have people to do that for you,” I made my best attempt at a joke, only for it to sound flat in the large empty room. “Taking care of others helps me settle my mind,” his deep voice rumbles as he looks up from the dishes and my gaze connects with his. His deep blue eyes, almost black in this light, crease with worry even as he makes his best effort to smile. “It’s been a very long day.”Pausing at his task, he rinses the soap from his hands and then sets about making me a plate of food. I offer to do that myself, but he shoos me from the kitchen, insisting I take a seat at the table. The lighting is dim, a glass of red wine resting next to a cup of
Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 42
[Addison] I’m too tired in both body and spirit to deal with all of this nonsense. Now that Michael and Evelyn have arrived back home, Evelyn is screaming, Michael is demanding to know the truth, and I…well I just want to go home. Because this house isn’t my home anymore. While the Grant estate isn’t my home either, it is at least a safe place to rest. I’m making my own home now, one piece at a time. Evelyn’s hands are on her hips, her eyes burning with self-righteous fury as if I had somehow wronged her. Before I had realized the truth about how little Michael cares about me, I might have wasted my time and energy trying to explain myself. But what’s the point of any of that? He’s going to believe what he wants. Besides, I’m done trying with him. I just want him to let go. “Do you want to get the police involved,” I sigh wearily looking back at the car where Livy is thankfully resting under the watchful eye of one of the guards. “Because then I’d have to be honest about everyt
Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 41
[Addison]Livy walks around me, holding out her hand to the strange man greeting him like an old friend. The man bends down and greets her, apologizing for his tardiness.“Sorry, Young Miss,” the man bows over her little hand. “Mr. Grant sent us to assist just in case you needed help, but it looks like we were a little too late.” He frowns, looking at my son, who is still lying flat on the road. He is moaning and making a fuss, so I can tell he’s not too badly injured, despite the blood which seems to be everywhere. “Who are you?” I demand as I remain kneeled next to Jayson. “And how did you know we’d need help?” “My name is Mr. Carpenter, and I am the Head of Security at Grant Group,” he helps me stand, his warm calloused hand keeping me steady. “As for why we are here, Mr. Grant has all of his employees and members of his household tracked for emergencies such as this one.” He nods towards Livy. “He’d never put his most precious people at risk.” I take another look at my son and
Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 40
[Addison]Finally unclenching my fist, I fiddle with the lock of the handcuff, using the key that I had fought so hard to claim from my willful, naughty son. Livy's in trouble. I can hear her screaming. His attack, which must have felt like it came out of nowhere, probably put her into one of her rages. Her autism makes it hard for her to transition from one task to the next, and any interruption can lead to at least a snappy reply or a grump or two.And that's with a warning. I doubt Jayson said, "Hey Livy, I'm going to hit you with a bat!" Not only that, but Livy was also reading about one of her favorite things. I can't even imagine the level of anger and upset she must be feeling right now, the emotional pain in addition to the physical pain of being battered by a larger kid. Somebody taught Jayson how to fight. Not just kid playground stuff, but real dirty adult fighting. Even with Livy's strength and intensity during one of her attacks, she doesn't stand a chance against my ve
Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 39
[Addison] I’m so sorry Jayson. I failed you as a parent. “You don’t need Mr. Jersey, or Mr. D, or any of them,” I hold out my hand, the one that isn’t cuffed to the bed, and plead with my little boy. I remember how sweet he was, just one year old, when Michael brought him home. How can such a sweet, innocent child turn into someone who would give his own mother to criminals. And I am his mother in every way. I may not have carried him in my body, but I have carried him in my heart for these last five years. I shouldn’t have ever left him behind. “Come on JayJay,” I call out, “I’m sorry your dad left you here alone. How about this, I can take you to my new place. It’s big enough, we can get you a room of your own. And your dad can pick you up there when he’s back from his trip. “NO!” he shouts, angered at the idea of us leaving here. “This is our home! You are going to stay right here with me.” He reaches into his shirt and pulls out a very tiny key on a small chain. Jayson d
Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 38
[Jayson]I knew it was important to keep Mama Evelyn's secret, even before I knew I should call her "Mama." That came later when she returned."Remember to keep my secret," Evelyn kissed my cheek giving me a special fairy stamp as I left the classroom. It shimmered in the light like real magic. I wanted to see her again. I wanted to take her home with me. But I had to say goodbye.When I got home, I tried to keep her secret, but I was excited about my day so I Told my mom we had a special substitute. "Her name was Ev..." I stopped myself, but then my mom kept asking questions. Annoying questions. "Who? Do I know her? Did she give you that stamp? What did she look like"The questions came so fast that I know I said too much. She didn't learn her real name, but the damage was already done. The next day, Miss Daphne was back and I knew why. I did it. It was all my fault. I told my mom too much and I was certain that was why my special friend was lost. That night, at dinner was so ma
Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 37
[Jayson] Mr. D is my friend. I know he is because Mama Evelyn said I could trust him. He has an office in the shiniest building I’ve ever seen. Everything shines from the rooftop to the doors and the edges of the windows. Even Mr. D. shines with his perfect smile. All of his friends are tough, like superheroes. They fight against injustice and have shiny guns and all of them have secret identities and secret names that they made me swear never to tell. They also know how to chop someone in half with their bare hands, just like Sensei Kai from Big Battle Monster Force. One year for Halloween, Mr. D even dressed as Sensi Kai and showed me how a "real man" takes care of business. "Someday, Ace, you'll be a fighter like me," Mr. D told me. "You might not know this, but you're special. Extra special. I don't teach just anyone." Maybe, I'm meant to learn from him, just like the Monster Force learns from Mr. D. I once asked if I'd have my Monster Force and he grinned. "Of course, Ace.
Heart of Stone: Her Revenge Unleashed Chapter 36
[Addison] Who is this child and what has he done with my sweet little angel? I thought I knew Jayson, that I understood him. I raised him for the last five years, from the time Michael found him in that dumpster at the age of one. But my little boy would never do something like this, something so malicious and calculating. “Jayson,” tugging at the cuff, I test it to see if it will let me go, like many toy cuffs will. But they don’t. I’m stuck tight. “Let Mama go, Jayson. This isn’t funny.” My son ignores me, pulling his tablet down from where I stored it, and opening it up. Pressing a button with Evelyn’s smiling face labeled “Mama,” he waits patiently for her to pick up the phone. She doesn’t reply, but I watch as he leaves her a video message. “Look Mama,” not Mama Evelyn, “I trapped her for you, just like you wanted. Let Daddy know, okay.” He flips the camera around to show them that I’m securely attached to the headboard of his bed. “Michael Stone, when I get free I’m
