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Chapter 23: Heartache and Despair
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 24: Consequences of Chaos (1)
I quietly ate at the dining table, not conversing with the kids or grumpy Rominic. He was still in pain and I felt so much better after crying because he deserved it. Crying reminded me of why I need to hate him, and why I must show him no mercy for his wrongdoings.Zachary and Savia noticed it, but they didn't do anything to question me and I was glad they didn't. "So, Mom, you're quiet," Zachary stated, looking at me from the corner of his eyes. Or not.I sighed, he was ready to bother me. "I'm tired,""So I'm guessing your day didn't go so well," Savvy added, giving me her signature smirk. I rolled my eyes to Nic who grumbled something about me being an insufferable woman."Dad, how did your day go?""Bad, terrible, and I blame your mother,""Seriously?" He slammed his fork down and flared his nostrils in furious annoyance."Yes, seriously. Working with you is like signing a contract with the grim reaper. First, you almost lost your mind because of holographic snakes," my cheeks bu
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 25: Consequences of Chaos (2)
"I was going to tell him but there were snakes!" I exclaimed.Rominic stared at me seriously. "What happened to my children?""Some bitch teacher—""Manners, young lady," I scolded, glaring at Savia.She huffed. "Can't I just swear out loud this once?""No,""Permitted,""Rominic! You can't go encouraging your kids to swear! She's just eight!""I'm like a few months away from my ninth birthday,"My lips twitched into a sneer. "That doesn't warrant it, sweetheart. You're not allowed to swear even in your head,""That's taking away their freedom of speech," Rominic said in a somewhat complaining manner.I glared at him. "They are kids, Nic,"He rolled his eyes with a scornful glare. "You cursed at me the whole day,""I'm an adult in my early thirties,""Then you should show a good example too,""They can swear as much as they want when they are grownups," I argued, folding my arms once again."No one is allowed to tell my children what to do. They can do and say whatever they want,"I an
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 26: A Night of Anguish
I feel the familiar sting of hurt and anger as I recall how he had forgotten my birthday. I had planned everything so meticulously — baking a cake, cooking a special meal, all with the intention of spending a simple, yet meaningful day with him. But he had broken his promise and never came home, leaving me to sleep off my disappointment while waiting for him.For the past seven days, I've been giving him the silent treatment, refusing to even cook for him. Part of me wished I could just leave his house, but my anger hadn't quite reached that level yet. I was determined to make him feel the full weight of his oversight.His Royal Majesty finally joined me in bed. I'd made sure to surround myself with a barrier of pillows, creating distance between us. He hadn't even bothered to apologize, dismissing my reaction as "childish.""It's just a birthday," he said, the nonchalance in his voice only serving to infuriate me further."Laverne, are you still angry?" he asked, as if the answer was
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 27: A Pinch of Possession
The day began with a heavy silence. After waking up, I felt a sense of embarrassment and lingering anger over my terrible outburst the night before. To my surprise and unease, Rominic didn't utter a single word about the incident. In fact, he barely spoke to me at all throughout the day, and this only worsened my already foul mood. I couldn't bring myself to talk to the children, afraid that I might end up venting my anger and frustration on them.I had hoped we could get through the day without any further interaction, but I was wrong. It was I who ended up disrupting the tense silence.As I observed Rominic, I couldn't help but notice that he was clearly in pain, likely due to the fall he had taken the previous day. Try as I might, I couldn't ignore the fact that he was suffering. The more I tried to push it out of my mind, the more I felt the tears threatening to spill. It was my fault that he had fallen, and my mind raced with fear-driven thoughts. What if he dies? How would my ch
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 28: Overdose
I twisted my lips in a pained grimace, biting down hard on my lower lip until I could feel the delicate skin break. Oh, how I longed to just punch that infuriating, smug smile right off his face, to slam his head down against his desk until that self-satisfied expression was wiped away. But I couldn't, and Rominic knew it — he knew he had me trapped. My heart pounded with a burning fury as I clenched my hands at my sides, feeling the joints of my knuckles crack under the strain. The metallic taste of my own blood seeped into my mouth as my teeth continued tearing into my tender lip.Rominic's expression softened, and he slowly rose from his seat, moving to loom over me. His hand came up, reaching towards my face, and I instinctively tried to pull away, but he was too fast. His fingers gripped my chin firmly, forcing me to hold still as his thumb gently stroked the tense muscle of my cheek."Stop biting your lip," he murmured, using his other hand to press his thumb against my bottom
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 29: A Prescription for Deception (1)
I watched as Rominic vehemently insisted, "Lavender, I'm telling you, I'm not sick." I stared at him blankly as I proceeded to remove the medications from the bag. Rominic let out a huff of laughter, sensing that I wasn't buying his claims. "Seriously, I'm fine!" he insisted.My gaze traveled over his trembling form. Despite being bundled up in layers of blankets and heavy coats, he was shivering uncontrollably. The only aspect of him that seemed stable was his voice."Mm hm," I hummed sarcastically in response."I'm okay, Laverne. Don't you trust me?" He pleaded. I ignored his protests and walked over to the water dispenser, filling a glass with warm water. I approached him, setting the cup and the bag of medications on the nightstand before beginning to remove the pills from their sealed packets."You bought me drugs?" He asked, his tone laced with uncertainty."Uhm," I replied, gathering the medications in my palm and stretching them out to him. Rominic took a deep breath, his gaze
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 30: A Prescription for Deception (2)
Stacy departed with the doctor, and Cadmus also left the office. Once they had all gone, I approached Rominic's desk, intent on completing any outstanding work to the best of my abilities. I found myself constantly moving between the two desks, juggling tasks to ensure everything was handled while he rested peacefully, like a baby. At some point, I simply stopped working and found myself gazing at his sleeping form.At first, I was utterly perplexed by the unfolding events. Stacy swiftly snatched the drugs from Rominic's drawers before I could get a good look at them, hastily handing them off to Cadmus. I couldn't reclaim them from Cadmus without causing an unnecessary commotion, which was the last thing we needed. My curiosity, however, was piqued.I leaned back in my chair, closed my eyes, and drummed my fingers on the table. I could have sworn that someone had mentioned to me once that Rominic was unwell and that a certain someone always ensured he took his medication. But I couldn
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 31: Beneath the Facade
Rominic's ViewpointI flexed my throbbing shoulders, trying to work out the lingering ache. The pain had subsided somewhat, but it still nagged at me. I felt an urge to just punch myself in the face, a self-loathing impulse that I had to resist.After Lavender's outburst the other night, I knew I was likely to lose control again. But despite the temptation, I had refrained from taking my usual medication. Deep down, I had this foolish hope that by enduring the discomfort, Lavender would see that I was punishing myself more harshly than she ever could. Of course, that plan had been a total failure, and before I knew it, I had foolishly taken more than I should have.I didn't want Lavender to see me in such a state, but I knew she already had. And knowing Lavender, she wouldn't stop until she uncovered the truth. Part of me hoped she would investigate, thinking that perhaps I could gain her sympathy. But another, more rational part knew that using her conscience against her was wrong. B
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It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 62: Concern
I let out a heavy sigh as I gazed absentmindedly out the window. My mind was in turmoil, consumed with worry for Rominic's well-being. The situation was far graver than I had initially thought.Even though Rominic always backed up his files in a secure cloud, he had been unable to find evidence of the crucial blueprint. He was not only in shock from the knowledge that his secret cloud had been compromised but also from the fact that the perpetrators had effortlessly accessed his password and shut down his security system without any warning.The only silver lining was that his other important files were stored in a different secured box, protected by a randomly generated password that he had carelessly crafted. He had failed to secure the particular file in question, however, because he needed to access it frequently, and the additional security measures seemed like too much of a hassle.Rominic's password was the pet name my mother had used for me, written in reverse with the additio
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 61: Bad News
It had been a week since the reunion, and I had unconsciously fallen into a routine with Rominic — or rather, Rominic had orchestrated this routine for us. Every morning, he made sure to steal a kiss or two, whether in front of the children or in private. We always ate breakfast together, and at night, we would cuddle and make out before falling asleep.The most agonizing part about this routine wasn't that I was angry about it, but because of Rominic's half-hearted approach. He would kiss me until I was a wet, trembling mess, my body consumed by desire, and then he would abruptly stop. His excuse was that he had promised himself he would never do anything I didn't want him to do — in other words, he wanted me to ask him directly before he would take things further.Rominic knew that my pride would never allow me to make such a request. No, he was well aware that with enough diligent preparation, he would eventually break down my defenses and make me give in to my desires. The bastard
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 60: Justification
I was taken aback, even though I had anticipated it. My body froze for a moment, caught in the throes of a forbidden desire.I was kissing the enemy!He was kissing me!I should stop!But instead of pulling away, I found myself responding, my lips dancing with his in a dangerous ballet. This single act sealed my fate. He slid his leg beneath mine, adjusting our position on the bed to make me more comfortable, though comfort was the last thing on my mind. Rominic's hands roamed my body, tracing a path of desire up my neck and into my hair. He had a particular fondness for my hair, always tangling his fingers in it. A soft moan escaped from both of us, swallowed by our joined lips.I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, my legs twitching with the urge to wrap around his waist. There was too much space between us, too much distance. I yearned to close that gap, to press myself against him, to feel the friction that would quench my burning desire.I traced the tips of my n
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 59: Restless
I tossed and turned restlessly on my side of the bed, sighing heavily. Today had been a whirlwind of events, the drama both concerning and exciting. Tyra and Link had decided to have a private conversation to work things out, and the conclusion of the earlier incident weighed heavily on my mind.Rylee had suggested that I should try to make Rominic jealous, throwing her support behind Phineas's plan. Rylee was always in Phineas's corner, and we all knew that it wouldn't take much to provoke Rominic's fiery jealousy. But that was the very problem I was grappling with.Were they truly serious about me intentionally infuriating Rominic? I could barely handle him as it was; the thought of pushing him to the edge filled me with dread. Rominic was capable of such intense rage that he might even commit violence, and they still wanted me to go through with this scheme. It felt like a disaster waiting to happen. Yet, despite my reservations, I couldn't help but contemplate the idea, questionin
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 58: Reunion (3)
I turned my gaze back to Tyra, and was immediately struck by the raw emotion etched across her face. Her eyes, once wide with surprise and disbelief, now glistened with unshed tears. Concern flashing across my face, I gently placed my hand on her shoulder, asking, "Tyra, are you okay?"My touch seemed to jolt Tyra out of her trance-like state, but rather than addressing me, a dark fury suddenly clouded her expression. The intensity of her anger made me cringe internally.Without warning, Tyra thrust her daughter into my arms, barking, "Hold her." Then, with purpose in her stride, she marched straight towards Link, rolling up her sleeves as she went. Link's face contorted with panic, cursed under his breath and hurriedly scrambled out of his seat, putting as much distance between himself and Tyra as possible. "I can explain, let me explain!" he pleaded, his voice laced with desperation."Explain?! Explain?!!! What the fuck do you want to explain, you bastard!!!" Tyra's thunderous roar
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 57: Reunion (2)
The tiny girl in question was undeniably cute. "Wow, so many pups," I said, eliciting a chorus of delighted laughter from the children. I walked over to her and bent down slightly, smiling as she blushed shyly."Hello, I'm Lavender. What's your name?" I asked, keeping my voice gentle."Laverne," she replied, hiding her face behind her small palms. I looked over my shoulder at Elias, who simply shrugged, while Ginger winked knowingly. Ah, so they had named her after me — or at least a close variation."It's so nice to meet you, Aunty Lavender," Laverne said, peeking out from behind her hands. I couldn't resist scooping her up into my arms, cooing over how adorable she was. She had inherited Elias' dark blond hair and skin tone, but Ginger's captivating reddish-brown eyes."What about me?" another voice cried, and I felt a small tug on the skirt of my dress. Glancing down, I squealed in delight at the sight of the puffy little muffin of a child. "Hello, I'm Wren, and Mommy said you alwa
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 56: Reunion (1)
I moved around the kitchen with the agility of a gazelle, determined to get everything done as quickly as possible. Today was the big day, and the others would be arriving soon, but I still had some cooking left to do.Suddenly, Chef Russo returned with his daughter. My kids already loved her, and she was a talented cook too — well, except for Zachary, who seemed to have a bit of a grudge against her.Unfortunately, Chef Russo had come down with a sudden cold that morning, leaving me to battle the meal on my own. Thankfully, his daughter and Savia stepped in to assist me, along with the two maids that Rominic had called in to help. I didn't thank him directly, but I knew he understood how grateful I was for his assistance. If he didn't, that was his problem."Lavender!!!" The familiar voice of Rominic suddenly rang out, and I felt a surge of frustration wash over me. I wiped my face and signaled for the maid to watch the stove, then hurried out of the kitchen.I take back everything I
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 55: He'll Live
I felt a gentle tugging at my dress and looked down to see my daughters, Savia and Serenity. Serenity's eyes were brimming with tears, while Savia wore a deeply concerned expression."Mom, why are those women killing our father?" Savia asked, her voice tinged with distress."Mommy, who are they?" Serene inquired, her gaze fixed on the women."Those are your aunties, and they are beating your father up because he did something mean to them. Don't worry, he'll be…" I paused mid-sentence as I heard Rominic's agonized scream, followed by a loud splash. They had thrown him into the pool. "Fine," I added, clicking my tongue. They would never simply throw him in without breaking something first. "He'll survive," I reassured the girls.Rylee let out a mocking laugh as she stood over the pool, watching Rominic sink beneath the surface without any apparent struggle. There was no way he would actually drown — Rominic was an exceptional swimmer, a skill Serenity had inherited. Unless…"Rylee, did
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 54: His Sisters
As I stood before them once more, I was struck by the complete absence of the anger I had anticipated. Instead, a profound sense of delight filled my heart as I gazed upon the mature female version of my husband and our children.Her winter gray eyes expanded like those of a curious cat, and her mischievous smirk melted into a genuine, warm smile. Rylee spread her arms wide, her brows wiggling playfully, and I couldn't help but laugh as I ran into her welcoming embrace. She was still as tall as I remembered, her stature commanding and imposing.Rylee shared the same striking facial features as her brother, but there was an undeniable air of badassery about her. It was evident in the way she dressed, spoke, and carried herself — her very aura exuding a sense of unapologetic confidence. From the moment I had first met her, her hair had been messily dyed to resemble the hue of freshly spilled blood or a pint of vibrant red paint splattered across her head.Rylee's appearance was a striki
