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Chapter 29: Countdown
Last Updated:
2024-11-22 14:29:10
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It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 30: Lose
Can you review it by Character introduction, are they interesting? What about the stakes and conflict, mystery and suspense, my writing style, and the clarity of the chapter? Also review my pace, the plot of the chapter, and the cliffhanger. Is it funny and sensual? Standing on the balcony, I waited for my call to go through. One ring. Two rings. “Hello?” His voice came through, slightly groggy, followed by the sound of him clearing his throat. “Elodie?” I smiled to myself, leaning on the railing as my eyes roamed the glowing city below. “Hey, Silas. How are you doing?” “Uh…” He cleared his throat again, and I heard a faint shuffle on his end. “I’m fine. Still at the coast, enjoying the sea and some much-needed ‘me time.’ You?” Biting my lip, I thought about how to phrase things without sounding like an ass. “I’m… good,” I said, glancing over my shoulder at the reason I wasn’t on the coast. Valerian sprawled across the bed,
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"Yes?" Valerian asked, catching me gawking at him while he worked at his desk.He’d been frowning at his laptop screen since I walked in. I’d been bored at home and decided to visit him, avoiding my sister’s calls because I knew she’d pester me for updates about Valerian and me, like some paparazzo desperate for a scoop.Honestly, I don’t know what spell this man has on me, but he’s been in my head all day. I swear, I’d probably drop dead if I didn’t get to stare at his gorgeous face for a few hours.Every morning, I wake up in his arms, warm and safe. There’s nothing more I could ask for.Valerian doesn’t just love me; he respects me, trusts me, and treats me like a delicate child more than the queen I think I am. And somehow, I love it.Biting my lip, I tried to contain my excitement as I watched him.The earthy green of his eyes was mesmerizing enough to suck me into his world. And those lips? Always hungry for me—but does he know I’m just as greedy?Mornings are quite... eventful
Last Updated : 2024-12-03It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 32: Unexpected Guest
First Rachel Took, and now this? How does someone just waltz in after eight freaking years to drop a bomb like, “Oh, by the way, you have a kid”?Athena Winters knew exactly what she was doing. She couldn’t not know about Valerian and me. What was she trying to pull?Whatever beauty she owned on her skin brought nothing but headache in me."Massaging the sides of my head, I let out a soft sigh as I listened to the faint sound coming from the radio, breaking the silence that had settled in the air.""Ellie," Valerian said softly, his hands gripping the steering wheel, eyes darting toward me. He was trying to gauge my mood, but his voice betrayed him—he was nervous.I get it, his past was a mess. But can I really blame those women when it’s Valerian Blackwood who was willing to bring them heaven?If I were one of those women who had him, I'm pretty sure I'd do whatever it takes to keep him in my pocket. But the point is, I was the
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My eyes locked onto the face of a man I never thought I’d see again—not in this lifetime, not in the next. Yet, here he is. After twelve long years. Liam. Back from my history, as if he’d never left.His straight, dark hair still framed those maddeningly familiar brown eyes. Eyes that once felt like home and now felt like a question I wasn’t ready to answer. He carried the same calm he oozes, the kind that felt almost too fragile for the chaos he used to create. But then there was that jacket—black leather, well-worn—still screaming "trouble follows me everywhere."“Liam?” I said his name, my voice unsteady, as if speaking it would bring back all the ghosts I’d worked so hard to bury.His name tasted bitter, like chewing on regret.He stood there, easily towering over me, though I hated giving him that much credit.Standing there, he just shrugged. That same damn shrug, like nothing in the world could faze him—not heartbreak, not time, not even the look on my face right now.His expre
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It's past noon, and Liam told me to meet him tonight. I 'could' just tell Valerian about it, but what’s really bugging me is—what the hell does Liam have to spill?Shaking my head, I tried to clear my thoughts. I could practically feel my brain splitting in two. This is all Athena’s fault. If she hadn’t shown up with that huge ass missile, I wouldn’t be stuck overthinking everything."I’ve been seeing you around a lot lately," someone said behind me, making me inhale sharply mid-pour as coffee overflowed from my mug.I spun around to find Valerian’s decent yet laid-back older brother, Theodore, leaning casually against the counter.He was dressed in a dark gray suit and black tie, his whole vibe screaming calmness and effortless charm—unlike Valerian's color scheme on a daily basis. Theo looked like the type who could host a TED Talk on "Chill Vibes Only" while rocking the same monotone wardrobe every day.The meeting must’ve been dismissed. Now he’s probably looking for someone to bl
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"So, what's the deal between you and that guy?" Valerian asked as we sat in the waiting area, a chair apart.Frankly, we hadn’t talked for minutes now, even after he insisted on driving us to the hospital just to wait for Silas to finish his report to the police. And Liam... poor Liam. I didn’t know what to think.I figured Silas would be the one to handle the case—if there even was one. He hadn’t shared the story yet. All we knew was that Liam got into an accident just an hour ago.And Valerian? He was sour."He just came by the door after twelve years of not seeing him. Just like you saw," I answered, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms. "He asked if we could talk.""About what?" he asked, sticking his nose in further. I couldn’t blame him. Jealousy clung to his voice like a second skin."Well, I’d know by now if he hadn’t been hit by a car," I shot back, sarcasm held my words captive as I huffed and closed my eyes. "Look, Val, don’t you think this is just not the time to
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After visiting Liam at the hospital, I asked Valerian if he could drive to Dad's since, no matter what bad news comes, it’s apparently not a valid excuse to skip work. But he just said we could go there tomorrow—together.Fine by me. I still have a ton of stuff to sort out, especially now that Dad just sent me a message roping Valerian and me into some charity exhibit this weekend.I’ve got a million thoughts racing through my head, and just as many words I want to say. But instead, here I am, watching Valerian being way too tenacious with his phone while expertly taking off his watch and loosening his tie.He’s definitely hiding something. I’ve got this gut feeling—he’s the one who got Rachel fired.And let’s be real, Valerian’s not just powerful; he’s the kind of guy who could order a thunderstorm out of existence if it annoyed him. Still, maybe this is partly my fault. I mean, I did complain endlessly about Rachel’s articles. Maybe my whining pushed him to… "snap his fingers" and m
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"You know, you don’t have to drive me to the hospital. I can go there by myself," I told Valerian as he opened the car door for me.He rested one elbow on the roof of his car while holding the door open with the other. His body blocked my way, leaning in just enough to trap me against the car.This teasing bastard."I’m a gentleman," he said curtly before stealing a kiss on my lips.Giving him a teasing deadpan stare, I cocked my head to the side. "You’ve got better things to do than play chauffeur, you know. Like... dealing with Athena Winters and her accusations?"His mood dipped for a second before he shrugged it off. "I moved the test to tomorrow. So, to shut that beautiful, delicious, perfect mouth of yours, we’ll handle it faster than your patience runs out." He put a period on his sentence with a playful poke to the tip of my nose."Is that supposed to make me agree to let you tag along?" I asked, raising an eyebrow."Yeah, well, I wasn’t exactly asking for permission. Besides,
Last Updated : 2025-01-06
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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
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 51: Deja Vu
Still enduring the hard pounding of my heart, I entered the restaurant with my chin up like nothing had happened."Keep it together," I grumbled to myself.I had a business to deal with. My personal life should be set aside. I would cry about it later.My heels hit the carpeted floor. The smell of expensive edibles lingered in the air, along with the chatter polluting the area bathed in golden lighting."Ms. Beaumont?"A man clad in a stylized black suit stood up from a chair, offering me his hand and a formal smile."Atticus Lark, Larkvish Corporation. My good old friend, Mr. Kaufman, asked me to personally bring you his apology and also to inform you that he won't be able to join us for this meeting." He handed me a bouquet of flowers.His neatly brushed back salt-and-pepper hair seemed like it was smothered in butter leaving just a group of strand dangling before his forehead like Superman.He had a scarf around his neck that matched the color of his hair, a swaying cross earring o
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 50: Baby
"Dad..." I picked up his call while driving myself to the building.I know my father is a great man. He has his flaws, and he let those flaws ruin us. But just like Bree, he's straining his best to fix our relationship as a family.Was it my fault that I found it hard to trust anyone? I forgave, but it's hard to forget. It was marked in my head."Missed you here at the resort," he said, his voice carrying a hint of his age. "Lois mentioned that you're heading to a meeting. I just wanted you to know I'd like to spend time with you while I'm here."Parking the car, I let out a soft exhale. "Sure," I replied."I know you still feel a sense of resentment towards me, daughter. I only wanted what I thought would make you happy.""I don't—" I plopped the back of my head against the headrest, closing my eyes as I turned the engine off. "I don't hate you, Dad. Remember, I already forgave you.""Doesn't feel like I'm forgiven, Elodie.""Look, Dad, we'll just talk later, okay?" I cut him off, no
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 49: Missing Him
Clinging closer to my cardigan, I felt the gushing wind brush against my skin, blowing my long hair.I watched as the waves lapped by the shore.The resort was doing well; it was bustling behind me—the staff rushing, the guests laughing, and glasses clinking. But I felt like I was on the other side of the world, just watching this scenery from behind a glass.It had been almost two months. Fifty-three days without him, to be exact.No calls, no messages.What kept me updated about him were the papers—the things written in the news. His business, his relationship with his shareholders, his status in life.He was open to the media, aside from what was really personal.Valerian was true to his word when he said he would keep his promise—from the moment he let me go until now.Letting out a soft sigh, I placed my hand on my small but noticeable bump. My baby was growing. Our baby.My life was moving forward every second, but I think my heart was unwell. It was paralyzed in time, right at
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 48: Exhaustion
My breath hitched as he placed the last piece of the puzzle. He had aided the jumbled pieces, but still… I'm incomplete.Bree, my own flesh and blood—she betrayed me. Now I understand why she kept pushing me to him. And Dad? Valerian said it all. He was part of this too.Valerian planned this. All of it.My second chance. My engagement. My life with him. I thought this was a fresh start. I didn’t know it would come with a new, more painful trouble.It’s like my whole system shut down, and the only thing I could feel was my heart pounding against my ribs, fueled by my sharpened fury and… heartbreak.“They knew all along, and they let you?” I said. My voice was barely above a whisper, but it cracked like thunder, exposing the storm building up inside me. My eyes clouded.“Don’t blame them, Ellie. If you’re going to be mad at someone, it should only be me,” he said bravely, accepting where he was wrong, denying nothing. “I asked them myself. I made them promises. They only wanted you to
