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Chapter 19: Push and Pull
Last Updated:
2024-10-18 19:28:51
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It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 20: Screaming into Sheets
"When a person plays with their food, it usually means two things: they don't like it, or they're thinking about something." Dad's voice pulled me out of my trance. "I'm assuming it's the latter since you're a big fan of my pasta dishes. So, what's bothering you?" Discussing my weaknesses wasn't my favorite thing to do, and my problems weren't exactly the topic I wanted to talk about. Forcing a smile, I crunched my nose, hoping I could pull off the act of a great liar. “It’s—” “Nothing? Yeah, I thought so,” he interrupted, swirling his wine. “But what’s that nothing about? I’m curious.” I shrugged, still feeling the ghost of Valerian’s touch on my shoulders. I twirled some pasta on my fork. “I’m just being a woman,” I mumbled, taking a bite even though I had no appetite. Dad sipped his wine. “Does being a woman make you a liar?” I almost choked. “What? No!” "What am I going to expect? I've encountered so many women in my life, and all of them have this unusual att
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My left eye kept twitching, and no, it’s not because I lack magnesium—or his cum! I mean, it’s not about lacking anything in my body; it’s all because of the anger, the fury, the raging flames inside me, and just me embodying the temperature of hell all mixed up. Summer is supposed to be hot; I get that. But it didn’t help me extinguish the burning rage within. "Dad said you have an impressive talent, E! I watched the video, and it was superb!" Bree chimed in enthusiastically as she plopped herself on the couch next to me, checking her neon green nails. "It was almost Broadway-level drama. I should've been there." Last night was the most embarrassing moment of my life. How many times do I need to remind myself never to get drunk? I drunkenly drove in my lingerie and robe, broke down and cried, and ended up getting pranked, a little? But it was all my father's fault. Valerian was in the hospital, sleeping, because he got punched in the jaw by some huge brawny guy after causing a s
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"You’re saying you brought me here just to leave me?" I confronted Dad as soon as he told me to stay put in the hotel while he checked the plantation with Bree. He adjusted his necktie in the mirror, tilting his head awkwardly. "As you know, your sister knows more about business than you, and Breeden insisted on coming with me. Besides, I told you to look around, have fun, and breathe in the air you desperately need." "It’s weird hearing it like that," I shot back with sarcasm. "I should’ve just flown back to the coast. At least the resort needs me." Excuses... excuses... "Any good businessperson knows their company survives with or without them physically present," he lectured, straightening up to face me. "How do I look?" "Like a fifty-year-old trying way too hard to impress someone younger than his daughters," I deadpanned, making him chuckle. "But seriously, Dad, I can’t just stay here. And if you forgot again, you still owe me an explanation." He checked his watch. "I bette
Last Updated : 2024-10-28It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 23: Stay
"Gotcha!" Panic flooded through me. For a second, I thought I was getting dragged under by a kraken—turned out it was just some jackass thinking it'd be hilarious to play a prank on me. I splashed water right in his face, swimming away as his laugh echoed across the entire ocean. "Motherfucker! You think that's funny?" I yelled, heading back toward the yacht. But before I could climb on, Valerian pulled me—not by my arm, leg, or waist, but by the ribbon of my bikini top. "Oops..." he chuckled, as my glare burned into him. "Didn't mean to; my hand just did it on its own." He ran a hand through his wet hair, flexing his muscles and giving me one more reason to feel weak in the knees and wet my pussy. "I so hate you right now," I grumbled, narrowing my eyes as I splashed him again. With a mock pout, he swam closer, slipping an arm around my waist to hold me still. "That's sweet," he whispered, tugging my top and tossing it onto the deck. "Love you too, Ellie." Control? Yeah, the o
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"This dinner looks like my last supper," I remarked, eyeing the lavish treat laid out before me—so many dishes that they practically mocked the ability of my stomach. "Are you planning to kill me tonight?"A low, seductive chuckle slipped from Valerian's lips as he gestured for the sommelier to pour us each a glass of champagne. "I took your energy earlier, didn’t I? Thought you could use some refueling. You’ll need all the strength you can get because, believe me, I’m planning to take it again after dinner."Valerian was true to his word, and he held nothing back. He knew exactly how to make me let my guard down, and it was far too effective.My legs were still trembling, and I felt a delicious soreness between them. He was strong, healthy, and insatiable. And me? Just a poor, enamored girl with a weakness for him."Very considerate of you to give me a forewarning," I said with mock sarcasm, leaning in to whisper, "But don’t you think owning me all over that yacht was enough?"I glan
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"You're going on a bed date with Valerian the hottie, not off to church to play Mother Teresa!" Bree chirped, watching as I checked myself out in the mirror.The minute I walked into the room, her judgmental eyes locked onto me. I had no choice but to give her a bit of the story—well, not everything.Seriously, this woman has eyes everywhere."Look, I’m not actually going to his room. What am I, a bimbo?" I said, wrapping my coat around my waist. "I'm heading out. I need some air.""Because he banged you hard on that yacht?" she shot back, smirking as she poured herself tea."Very decent of you, Bree," I snarked, flipping my hair back and grabbing my purse. "If Dad asks, tell him I went out to date myself.""Yourself, or with your Valerian?" she teased.I shook my head, left the room, and made a beeline for the elevator, low-key terrified Valerian might catch me sneaking out.How did things happen so quickly? I could barely keep up.I ended up down by the dock, staring at rows of yach
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Sitting on a flat rock, my eyes twinkled. Valerian really took me to an unforgettable place.I lost count of how many times I complained about walking along the trail, but as soon as we sat here and just stared at the night view, I had to admit that the dark hike was worth it— even if I had become the mosquitoes' dinner on our way here."Whoa..." I chuckled, biting my lower lip to stifle my enthusiasm about what was in front of me."Since you're a 'sucker' for nature views, feast your eyes on Hudson Valley's beauty," he said, gesturing his hand in the air before joining me—eating up all the space beside me. "Let's appreciate the 'beauty' for a while."My playful mind wandered to what he meant by 'sucker.'Glancing at him from the corner of my eye, I could see how he was looking at me."The view is in front of us, Valerian, not on my face."He only hummed before following my gaze. "I'd like to be the guy I failed to be when we were together. My only question is... how. I want to know h
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We both stopped, eyes locking. Panic shot through me like a caffeine overdose, but that jerk? Calm as a cucumber.“Damn it,” he muttered, clearly not planning on answering the door. He began thrusting inside me, making me moan."Val... Oh... The door," I gasped."Fuck!" The bell rang again, followed by a knock. “Coming!” he yelled, pulling himself out of me, the sudden friction sending goosebumps racing across my skin.“Who’s at the door?” I asked, palms suddenly clammy, pushing myself to stand up straight.With zero concern and maximum annoyance at the interruption, he carried me to the bed.“I’ll find out,” he said, setting me down and tucking the covers over me as though I’d vanish into the bedspread.I watched as he threw on boxers and a robe, his muscular back rippling as he strode out.From where I am, I couldn’t see a thing, but the sound of my dad’s chipper voice hit me like a slap as Valerian opened the door.“Shit!” I hissed, sinking deeper under the blanket, as though it co
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It All Started with a Divorce Epilogue
"Sign it, Ellie."Valerian’s words rang in my ears. I lost count of how many times he had tried to convince me, but my hand still refused to move, hovering over the stupid paper like it weighed a ton.I wanted this. I was the one who suggested it. So why the hell am I hesitating now?"I know what to do, don’t rush me," I snapped, shooting a glare at the man sitting across from me as I sat on the floor, he's far too comfortable and confident for someone who’d been nagging me.His man spread was almost right in my face. And had I—out of curiosity—glanced at what sinful thing he hid under those pants? I think more than a dozen times in the past few minutes already.Sighing, I picked up the pen, my lips twisting in disapproval."Time ticks, baby."I was on the edge of a cliff, and this man was shoving me right off. Was he for real?I threw him another glance. Those same green orbs that had swallowed me whole for years were still watching me like I was the only person he could ever fall fo
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 59: The Real Pain
I take it back. I regret it. I regret it!!The pain I feel is the worst of all. Never in my entire life have I felt this way. And it's all Valerian's fault."Aah!" I screamed, tears welling in my eyes.I gripped his already wrinkled shirt—one he had barely worn by now. Some of his buttons had flown everywhere from my pulling."Damn you, Val! I swear I'm going to kill you!" I shouted at him as the nurses transferred me from the ambulance to the stretcher.My water just broke!I have an indefinite words to explain what I feel right now, but it just doubled up whenever I senses Valerian's loud panic. He acts like he's the one who would give birth."Hang in there, baby," he comforted me. "Everything will be just fine. I'll be here, okay? Just—just hold my hand, okay?"Sweat formed in bullets on his forehead. My whole body hurt, and I felt like I was about to explode.I expected the pain, but I didn’t know it would feel "this" bad! Is my body splitting to two? I gripped his shirt tighter
It All Started with a Divorce Chaptee 58: Man on Fire
I stood frozen while I watched him walk in with confidence, his hands in his pockets. He gazed at me like I had committed a crime.Actually, I did.Ute sherpishly chuckled to lighten the mood. "I’ll join the others. I'll leave you two to talk, okay?" She excused herself and patted Valerian’s chest twice, silently telling him to be careful before blending into the crowd.A lump formed in my throat. Is he mad at me for not telling him sooner?"Val..." I called, my voice fragile and guilty.He shuffled the sole of his shoe as he slid closer to me, searching for my eyes.Lifting his hand, he tucked my hair behind my ear and guided my head to meet the calmness of his gaze.Instead of showing betrayal, he looked at me with even more intense love."I'm sorry," I whispered. "I—I should've told you the moment I figured it out. I was just—" I began to babble, but he placed his forefinger on my lips and hushed me."I'm not mad. Just surprised that we're going to have twins," he clarified, showin
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 57: No One But Us
Fanning myself, I find it hard to breathe. Was the dress too tight? Did I eat too much? Or was I just hyperventilating because I was minutes away from getting married... for the second time? "Relax, relax, relax. Think of it as just a normal day and then seal this night with a kiss from your prince charming with big guns and a dick." I frowned at Bree’s so-called pep talk while she gave her whole body a once-over in the mirror. But judging by the look on her face, she wasn’t satisfied with how she looked. "Breathe in, breathe out..." she murmured, meeting my gaze in the mirror. "I think I’m better off with your 'encouragements,' Bree. I swear, they're not helping," I cut her off as I adjusted the ribbon of my robe. "It’s not for you, mother. It’s for me," she replied, pouring herself a glass of water before exhaling loudly. My back ached again, and the mix of excitement and anxiousness wasn’t helping at all. Add Bree to that—she had been with me since I started getting my hair a
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 56: Better
Swallowing my burp, I stared at the view of the resort from the small hill, where I could see the guests enjoying the last weeks of summer.The whole place was enough to give anyone peace—but not me."Stop staring," I chided, noticing how Valerian's eyes had been eating me up since we woke up this morning.It's making me so conscious of how I look.Does he think I look fat? I did gain weight from my pregnancy because of my nonstop cravings, and it was obvious—especially on my arms and cheeks.When I looked in the mirror this morning, I thought I was staring at a steamed bun. I already have a double chin, and it's kind of stressing me out."You look beautiful," he suddenly uttered, looking at me viciously—like he's a wild lion and he wants to eat me.Rolling my eyes, I created some space between us. "Can you say something sincere? I literally look like a pig right now," I snorted."That's not true. It’s like claiming you’re an angel," he retorted, wearing that smug grin on his face.I
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 55: Deep Dive
Too lazy to work, I stared into the air, replaying what happened that night at the celebration. If I could just go back in time, I'd smack my own head and tell myself to act right. I guess I just got sedated in the moment. There were a lot of eyes on us, high expectations poured onto me—the highlight of the night. And did I give them the right show? Did I give him the answer he was anticipating? I caressed my five-month-old womb. I guess I did the right thing. "Knock, knock?" someone uttered, showing up by the open door of my office with a bouquet of tulips and sunflowers hiding his face. "Earth is closed, Mr. Blackwood. Come back when it's open," I shooed him, leaning back in my chair as I watched his sulky face revealed when he pulled the flowers down. "Mood swings?" Valerian asked, pulling a surprise from behind him—a basket of oranges that made my eyes twinkle. "I think I've got an answer to that." Rolling my eyes, I had to clamp my lips shut to hide my excitement upon see
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 54: Answer
A ticking bomb. That’s me. If somebody cuts the wrong wire—boom! Everybody? Toasted. Fried.I’m still wondering how Valerian isn’t melting yet. Can’t he feel me blowtorching him since we share the same space?He’s got a lot of things to explain.I should’ve kicked him in the face back when I had the chance.I ate the oranges he gave me. I’m taking care of the flowers he gave me. I "kind of" welcomed him into my house. I let him join me in bed. I even let him kiss me. Hug me.And this? This is the "unfinished business" he was talking about? I thought it was about "us". I thought he was doing something to put us back together. Then why the hell is he with that leech?!"If looks could kill. He. Dead," someone snickered from behind me.When I turned, I thought I’d gone blind. If there was ever a personification of a diamond, it would be only one man I’d met recently—Atticus Lark."Jealousy isn’t good for pregnant ladies," he added, biting the olive from his drink. "Gives you stress." He u
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 53: Bad News
Rubbing the bottom of my nose, I can smell the approaching change of the season—just like the shift in my mood. "Dad organized the event, and a lot of people are coming tonight. I believe he told me it’s a celebration of the 37th year since the company opened," Bree explained while I pouted, my eyes scanning the names of the invited guests. Ever since Dad landed here on the coast, I haven’t seen him, but Bree said he brought his work with him. I’m neither happy nor upset about it. Technically, it’s not exactly work—just related—but it still makes my bones jitter, whether from annoyance or something else I can’t quite name. "He’s bringing a date with him," she added. "Does going there require bringing a date?" I raised an eyebrow, squinting at a particular name on the list. Valerian Blackwood. It was written in beautiful golden calligraphy, perfectly matching how elegant and powerful he is. But in my eyes, he’s still a bastard. "It’s a must. A ridiculous rule Dad made for tonig
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 52: Eternal Sunshine
I hadn't considered any day special—until yesterday. I feel like the heavy thing that had been making my heart feel like it was about to explode is suddenly gone, and now there's just peace.But no matter how magical the scene was, I like to take things slow.And when I say slow..."What are you doing here?" I spat as soon as I opened my door and found Valerian holding a bouquet of sunflowers and a jar of... pickles?"Just came here to visit my pregnant Elodie," he said comfortably, lifting what he had in his hands.Arching my eyebrows, I gave him a deadpan glare.Just because we settled one thing doesn’t mean we’re already fine. I still want to play hard to get, and nothing goes fast—aside from his... No, no, no. I’m not going back to that kind of mindset anymore.I've refreshed my mind, and I am no longer a sinner. Or so I assume."This is private property, Mr. Blackwood. I suggest you back off before I call the police," I warned him, but as expected, it didn’t faze him—not even the
