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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,
Last Updated : 2024-11-23It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 31: Explode
"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
Last Updated : 2024-12-04It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 33: Hickey
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
Last Updated : 2024-12-24It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 37: Liam
"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 47: His Schemes
"Earth to E, hello?" Bree waved her hand in front of my face. "Where is your head?"Blinking twice, I adjusted my dark glasses—the ones protecting me from being recognized or, worse, attracting someone who’d want to ruin my day.There were eyes everywhere. The city was the most chaotic place to be at the moment, especially now that what happened at the event had started circulating on the internet.Athena was playing the victim, but unfortunately, a lot of people weren’t falling for her kind of drama even after the press conference she held.But I pushed her aside in my mind. I had a bigger problem to deal with. Yes, bigger than her."I'm doing my best to suggest a lot of things, and you're not listening?" Bree groaned, pointing at the notes on her phone. "I thought you called me for some girl talk, to brainstorm and this and that, but I think I'm the only one talking. And thinking."I clutched my head. "Sorry, it's just that... my mind is blown.""You gave Valerian a 'blow'... job?"
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 46: Good Boys
When we got to the hospital, Liam was doing better than when we first saw him. He could move more easily, was vomiting less, and was regaining pieces of his memory faster than expected.Even Valerian bragged that he helped him recover quickly.His bruises had faded, but he still needed supervision and a lot of rest since his bones hadn’t completely healed.I remembered the doctor saying it would take at least a month before he could be discharged."That was... fast?" Liam said uncertainly. "How long have you guys been together?" He tilted his head to the side, frowning. His eyes were locked on my hand, where the engagement ring sat. If I had to guess, he looked a bit bewildered.I met Valerian’s gaze. His eyes were droopy, still high from what I did in the car. He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his head tilted back while his stare stayed fixed right on me.Moving my tongue in my mouth after taking a mint, I could still taste the sweetness and saltiness of his juices—wh
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 45: Drive You Crazy
Her hair was in a messy ponytail, her face painted in deep colors, matching her black get-up, making her seem like she came from the dark world.She’d been gone for a while and came back with a dark motive. But that friendly smile she’s giving doesn’t exactly help me accept her lightly.I gave Valerian a glance. He’s composed, as always. Am I the only one getting antsy in this situation?Now I hope Bree didn’t leave."Don't look at me like that," Rachel snorted, snatching Valerian's drink and taking a gulp.The sommelier Bree was flirting with earlier approached us, but Valerian showed his palm."I'm not here to ruin anything, if that's what you think this is." She rolled her eyes and pulled out her recorder. "I'm just here to make a story. I promise to be a nice girl."She meant no harm? Then why do I feel like she does?The way she flicked her hand, the way she beamed at me—it gives me trauma. And should I even mention her recklessness that almost cost Liam his life?I can't help bu
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 44: Devour
I woke up alone in bed, comfortably snuggling in the blanket, wearing Valerian's shirt underneath. His warmth had vanished into the sheets, but not from inside me.The clock stated that it was past eleven in the morning—barely morning, actually. The thick curtains were still closed.Last night was both the most dramatic moment of my life and a piece of heaven, as well as the most ecstatic night I’d ever had. We had slept at four in the morning.Biting my lower lip, I lifted my left hand and found myself wearing the engagement ring on my finger.Was it the best decision I had ever made in my whole life? Definitely—no doubt.When I gave him my sweetest answer, I witnessed the genuine happiness in his eyes. He was so excited that we forgot about the event we were supposed to continue attending, the time, and—on my part—the things I had to say and the questions I had to ask.The night was just the two of us, in bed, as one.I could feel my legs weak, my lips numb and thick, and I was stil
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 43: Marry Me
I've decided to say it—or rather, I'm trying to make myself spill it—but the moment doesn’t feel right yet."I'm pregnant." That’s what I wanted to say. Straightforward, no dilly-dallying, just those two words.Easy to say, but too hard for me to do.I gathered a bit of courage a few minutes ago, but it feels like I used up all my gallantry and ran out of juice to speak up.Oh, myself. When am I going to change?"Baby..." he pleaded for my lips. "My cheek hurts. Kiss me," he begged, almost pouting like a kid asking for something sweet.Maybe that revelation should be kept for later. Not after what just happened. I’ll find the right time.His hand massaged the back of my head, soothing where I felt Athena’s nails almost dig my brains out. He leaned his forehead against mine as he gave quick but continuous pecks on my lips.My smile widened at his actions. "I brought us here to keep your cheek from swelling up, not to smooch around," I chided, putting some distance between us again."So
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 42: Exposed
A sharp sting shot across my scalp as I tumbled, grasping onto the fabric of someone's dress. I barely had time to absorb what was happening when a familiar, disgusted scoff filled my ears.From the floor, I lifted my head just to find Athena dusting off her hands as she stood tall next to—who I assumed was—her father, who had just served Valerian a fist to the jaw.Francisco Lewes.Judgment settled in me. Athena's father had silver-streaked hair combed back with precision. Just like his daughter, his face was nothing like a devil’s, yet dark in intentions. But unlike his daughter, he held the expression of a man bearing authority, while Athena… well, she was just her.By the way the staff and guests hesitated to react, I could conclude that he held weight.I immediately clutched my stomach, fearing for what was inside it.Valerian didn't waste time pushing himself up as he wiped the side of his lips. He gave me a hand and even helped me brush my hair away from my face.Relief flooded
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 41: Mine
"Bitch!" Bree groaned, grabbing a couple of glasses of champagne for herself as we sat at a table in the corner. "And when are you planning to make a news flash to our family?"Clutching my head, I felt myself sinking to the floor. I didn’t know if it was from stress or the smell of alcohol from Bree’s breath slapping me in the face.I groaned silently, partly regretting that I chose to leave Valerian’s side to stay with my sister, who has a twenty-four-hour open mouth—like a freaking convenience store."You found out, and I’m pretty sure Dad will know the moment your mouth reaches his ear," I said in a low tone, shifting my weight to my other leg as I grew tired of standing there for barely a few minutes.Maybe it was because having Bree around just naturally drained me. It wasn’t exactly a compliment, but it wasn’t much of an insult either, because—sometimes—her company could help.I wasn’t worried about her or Dad figuring that part out. It was Valerian I was getting antsy about. I
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 40: Daddy
"One line, negative. Two lines, positive," I read out loud from the box. "Fifth time, okay..."Biting my lower lip, I stared at the result, waiting for it to show up. Tapping my heel on the tiled floor repeatedly, I counted the ticking of the clock as I listened to the loud pounding of my heart."Oh, shit..." I muttered, staring at the two lines on the PT. "I'm really pregnant," I murmured, covering my mouth.I looked at myself in the mirror, checking for the changes I had been feeling in my body.My breasts were full and raw. I cupped them with my hands and felt their sensitivity. Then, I caressed my flat stomach over the silvery dress I wore. My own flesh and blood is growing inside of me."Oh my gosh, Val. You're going to be a freaking father," I whispered, sighing in both tension and excitement."Ellie, are you good in there?" Valerian's voice came from outside the bathroom door. "What's taking you so long? Are you okay?"Panic rushed through me. I didn’t know which item to toss a
It All Started with a Divorce Chapter 39: Breathless
It wasn’t the clouds that told me a storm was coming—it was Dad’s silence. The criticism in his eyes was burning me, and I had no idea why. Well… maybe a bit?"I heard what happened to Liam," he said, slicing his lunch into a perfect diamond cut before taking a bite. "That was a terrible accident."Nodding, I straightened my spine, careful not to let it touch the backrest of the chair. "Yes, it was very... unfortunate. But he was already stable and awake when we left the hospital," I said, not really having an appetite.After I explained everything to Liam, I gave him a headache—a massive one. The doctors had to give him painkillers and a sedative. They reminded us about his situation, but Valerian was too eager to slap Liam with reality.Just as I joined my father for lunch, Valerian had to take his own road to put a halt to another problem we had. Athena Winters.Valerian promised me that whatever the result, nothing would change. I cou
