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Chapter 68: A Reunion of Sorts
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-12-02 19:35:38
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It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 69: The Truth in Dream
I sat on the floor at the foot of my bed, rocking my body gently as I sang, my mother seated behind me on the edge of the mattress, brushing through my hair as she joined in softly. Her voice was louder and clearer than my own, the melodic tones blending together as we practiced the song "Over the Rainbow" — the very same piece I had been tasked with perfecting for my starring role as Dorothy Gale in the upcoming school play. I giggled as I thought about how my friend Ferris would be playing the part of the Cowardly Lion. He had been so vehemently opposed to the role that he'd nearly bashed his head against the wall in protest. But I knew, deep down, that Ferris would be able to embody that timid, yet cheerful character flawlessly. He was usually quite shy and reserved, only truly coming out of his shell when around me. And he had proven time and again that he would rise to my defense, no matter the danger, despite his own frailty—a fact that never ceased to amaze me, given that I wa
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-02It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 70: The Truth in Dream (2)
You should have let your foolish, gullible, and utterly naive child know the full extent of his selfishness and callousness. You should have ensured that I came to hate him with an unwavering, burning intensity—a hatred that would have been impossible for anyone or anything to diminish. And most egregiously, you never should have designated him as my next guardian, should anything ever happen to you. That decision has only served to open the door for him to potentially re-enter my life and inflict even more pain and suffering.I can only imagine the turmoil and anguish you must have endured, Mom. The thought of that heartless, deceitful man betraying your trust and abandoning you and your unborn child fills me with a seething rage. You deserved so much better than the cruel hand fate dealt you. If only you had confided in me, I could have channeled that anger towards him, ensuring he never had the opportunity to worm his way back into my life.If you had instead entrusted my upbringin
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-03It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 71: A Promise to Keep
ELEVEN YEARS AGOI walked into the living room, and my mother's gaze immediately shifted from her laptop to me. Her lips curved downward into a deep frown, and her eyes narrowed with a palpable sense of displeasure upon seeing me. This had been her typical reaction to my presence for weeks, ever since I had proposed to Lavender. Mother had always been adamantly against my decision to reclaim what my maternal great-grandmother, her own grandmother, had lost to the greedy Wester D. McCabe, but she had never actively tried to stop me. That is, until I had introduced her to the granddaughter of the very man who had taken everything from her family.My mother, just like the rest of her family, firmly believed that it was a waste of time to pursue what Granny Lily had cherished the most. My great-grandmother had been the favored one among our relatives—old, yet remarkably agile, and undoubtedly the kindest person I had ever known, even more so than my own mother.Granny Lily had originally
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-03It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 72: Fractured Ties
A deep, agonizing sadness washed over me, constricting my chest as I buried my face in my palms. "Even if you won't admit it to yourself, you know that Lavender deserves more than your betrayal. That child deserves to be happy, to be with someone who will genuinely love her," my mother said softly, her voice heavy with conviction and sorrow."She can't leave, Mom. I need her for the plan," I pleaded.My mother placed her hands over mine and gently pulled them away from my face. "Rominic," she cried sorrowfully, "why can't you see what everyone else sees? Your sister didn't threaten your life to end things with Peyton because she's biased towards Lavender. Phineas isn't angry because he just hates Peyton—your father didn't turn his back on you because of either the woman or your plan to take everything away from The McCabe. They honestly deserve it—""Then what is the problem?! Why is everyone making me out to be the bad guy if you don't blame me or hate Peyton?!" I exclaimed, yanking
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-04It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 73: Morning After
I awoke to a gentle tap on my back. I groaned and whimpered, instinctively shrugging the hand off me. Undeterred, the person continued their ministrations, now stroking my hair soothingly. I huffed out a breath of pure annoyance, squeezing my pillow under my head in a tighter embrace and slightly shifting away from the persistent source of disturbance. My mind quickly began to stir, and I mentally cussed at whoever had dared to disturb my much-needed slumber.Wait, what had I been dreaming about?I snapped my eyes open, only to be greeted by a nasty, pounding headache. My mind instantly told me that the dream had been important, something I shouldn't have forgotten, but instead of helping me recapture the missing memory, the searing pain that blossomed within my skull effectively blocked out any lingering recollections."Fuck," I hissed under my breath, squinting my now twitching and stinging eyes. It suddenly felt as if an elephant had taken up residence on my head, the responsive an
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-05It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 74: The Devil's Anniversary
'Ugh, damnit! I'm never getting married in my next life or even having sex,' I grumbled internally as I dragged my weary body towards the kitchen. I had to admit, I was thankful that I had the foresight to bake the cakes and desserts ahead of time — if I hadn't, I wouldn't have had the energy to do anything.Rominic trailed quietly behind me, his hands clasped innocently behind his back, a maddening smile playing on his lips. He hummed softly as he kept a careful distance of about three paces, not daring to venture closer. I briefly regretted declining his offer to carry me, but I had been too embarrassed at the prospect of the children seeing him with his hands all over me.Glancing over my shoulder, I caught his gaze, and he flashed me a grin that only served to stoke the fires of my resentment. Why was I the only one suffering? Why did it always fall to me to bear the brunt of his desires?Huffing in annoyance, I finally made my way into the kitchen, only to pause at the doorway, t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-06It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 75: The Weight of Regret
Rominic's ViewpointI ran a weary hand through my hair, a heavy sigh escaping my lips as I tried to focus on Stacy's frantic words. It was difficult to concentrate, my mind consumed by thoughts of my wife, who had locked herself away in her room and refused to come out.It had been five days since the article detailing her previous lifestyle had been uploaded to the media. The article did not paint her in a negative light; rather, it portrayed her as a saint, emphasizing the struggles and pain she had endured in order to care for our children. It also revealed the truth behind her purported "fake death." If anything, the article had succeeded in casting me as the cruel, heartless bastard I truly was. It seemed aimed at utterly destroying my reputation, tearing down the image I had worked so hard to cultivate.With such a damning article now public, my business and family were under critical attack. The article did not hide the awareness of my family and friends but lied about them sta
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-06It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 76: A Glimmer of Hope
I walked into the house absentmindedly, my fingers deftly unfastening the buttons of my shirt. I still felt overwhelmed by the crushing weight of grief and guilt, to the point where simply breathing was becoming a painful effort. But unlike before, I now had a clear purpose in mind, and that was exactly what I intended to pursue."You're back," a soft voice stopped me in my tracks. I looked down to see my daughter, Serenity, standing before me, clutching her favorite stuffed toy. Her eyes were deep and teary, with dark circles beneath them, yet they were filled with a glimmer of expectation as she gazed up at me."Daddy, did you get a call from Miss Beira?" she asked.Realization dawned on me then. She had been the one to call Beira. I should have guessed as much, since she was the only one who had accompanied Lavender to her therapy sessions in the early weeks."Mrs.," I corrected gently, "and yes, I did.""I asked her to check on you because you seem to be losing your mind," Serenit
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-07
Bab terbaru
It Should Have Been Like This Epilogue: A Year Later
Lavender say in front of the vanity she had placed next to the window, watching the soft glow of morning light stretch across the horizon. The city, once a battlefield of deception and danger, now breathed in quiet serenity. The past year had been a slow unraveling—one thread at a time—of pain, guilt, and the suffocating memories Peyton had left behind.She exhaled, pressing her fingertips to the cool glass, tracing invisible lines as if drawing out the thoughts that refused to settle. Even now, she found it hard to believe it was over. Peyton was truly gone.Some nights, when the silence became too loud, she still imagined hearing that familiar voice—whispering in the dark, taunting her with the possibility of another cruel trick. For the first five months after Peyton's confirmed death, sleep had been a foreign concept. She had tried closing her eyes, willing herself into rest, but every time, panic clawed at her throat. The paranoia had been unbearable—always waiting, always expect
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 113: Checkmate (2)
The color drained from her face. Her chair scraped against the wooden floor as she jolted to her feet. "Shit." The curse barely escaped her lips before she reached for the gun hidden at her waist, but Lavender was faster.A flick of her wrist. A barely visible glint of silver.Pain exploded through Giovanna’s hand as something sharp embedded itself into her wrist. She screamed, the gun slipping from her grasp and clattering to the floor.Lavender was on her in an instant. She surged forward, pulling out her own firearm and stepping down hard on Giovanna’s fallen weapon, keeping it out of reach. The weight of her shoe against the cold metal was final, unwavering.Giovanna froze as something much colder pressed against her temple—the barrel of a gun.Her body went rigid. Her mind raced. She had underestimated Lavender, had stayed alone in this room like a fool, thinking she had control. But it was fine. It had to be fine.Her guards were right in the next room.Any second now, they would
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 112: Checkmate
Lavender pulled up to the farmhouse, her car rolling to a stop in front of the small, unassuming structure. The address had led her here—a lonely farm tucked away in an open plain, the kind of place where screams would be swallowed by the wind and a body could be disposed of without a trace. How convenient. How utterly unsightly.She exhaled softly, slipping the key card back into the pocket of her coat. Her eyes swept over the land, taking in the neglected fields, the weathered fences barely holding together. No doubt, the original owners had been struggling—probably desperate enough to sell it off without questioning who was buying. A fleeting thought crossed her mind: purchasing this place herself, restoring it, turning it into something profitable.She shook that thought away and strode toward the house, her shoes crunching against dry earth. There was no hesitation in her steps, no pause at the door to knock or ring the bell. Instead, she gripped the doorknob, twisted it, and step
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 111: A Game of Ghosts
The clock ticked in slow, measured beats, each second stretching, elongating, suffocating. The rhythmic beeping of the cardiac monitor filled the room, a relentless reminder of the fragile life tethered to its machines. The air was thick, sterile, laced with the sharp scent of antiseptic that did nothing to mask the underlying bitterness of despair. The fluorescent lights cast a cold, artificial glow over the large hospital ward, highlighting the stark contrast between the warmth of the floral-printed bedding and the icy stillness of the girl lying upon it.Serenity remained motionless, her small body pale, her chest rising and falling only by the will of the ventilator. Tubes snaked around her, connecting her to a maze of medical equipment that hummed softly, keeping her alive. She should have been running, laughing, causing the kind of mischief that only she could—but instead, she was trapped in a prison of unconsciousness, a mere shell of the vibrant child she had been days ago.Lav
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 110: When One Falls, the Others Follow
The sky was a perfect shade of blue, a vast canvas unmarred by even a single cloud. The sun shone brightly, its warmth brushing against my skin, and the faint scent of chlorine and freshly cut grass wafted through the air. Despite the lively scene around me, I found myself staring up at the sky, smiling faintly. It wasn't because I felt at peace—I wasn't. Inside, I was a tangled mess of emotions, but I smiled anyway, if only to keep myself together.I sighed heavily, the weight in my chest pressing harder as my mind drifted to the scandalous headlines that had erupted online just days ago. The rumors of an affair between Apollo and me had spread like wildfire, and the storm they caused had been brutal. Thankfully, Apollo going public about his love for Rominic had turned the tide in our favor. Watching Rominic and Phineas look as if they'd turned to stone when they found out had been oddly satisfying. That, combined with the widely known fact that Apollo and I used to hate each other's
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 109: Possession and Apologies
Lavender stood in the dimly lit living room, her nerves fraying with every passing second. The soft glow of the overhead light bathed the space in warm hues, but it did little to soothe the tension crackling in the air. Rominic was pacing, his creamy blonde hair disheveled, winter-gray eyes stormy as they pinned her in place. He wasn't speaking yet, but his silence was worse than yelling. It was the kind of silence that suffocated, pressing down on her chest like an unseen weight.She laughed nervously, the sound brittle as it broke the stillness. "It's not what you're thinking," she said, her voice softer than she intended. "I swear, Rominic, it's not.”His eyes flickered, sharp and unyielding, and she could feel his temper bubbling just beneath the surface. The faint ticking of his wall clock was the only other sound in the room, an infuriating reminder of how slowly time seemed to move in moments like these.Lavender inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself. Her cinnamon-brown hair
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 108: Truce Over Grudges
Apollo's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts, sharp and unrelenting. "You alone could've prevented everything, but you chose not to. That's exactly why I despised you. None of you deserve him.""True," I whispered, my voice trembling but steady enough to hold the weight of my resolve. "I don't deserve him." I lifted my gaze to meet his, my expression calm despite the storm raging inside me. A soft, bitter smile curved my lips. "But neither does he deserve me."For a moment, Apollo's sneer faltered, his sharp retort caught in his throat. I turned away before he could recover, the silence between us broken only by the muffled sounds from outside and the deafening beat of my own heart.The room was still thick with the lingering stench of sweat and mildew, but somehow, the suffocating weight of the earlier confrontation had begun to lift. The muffled groans and rhythmic thumping from the other side of the door persisted, but I could almost tune them out now. Apollo leaned back agains
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 107: Locked In (2)
"Useless," I muttered, shaking my head and leaning further into the armrest of the sofa. The fabric felt damp, and I shifted again, trying to touch as little of it as possible.Apollo leaned back against the wall, his legs stretched out and his arms crossed over his chest. He looked as though he were perfectly comfortable, but I knew better. He thrived on tension, and this situation was no different. A heavy silence settled between us, but it was far from peaceful. The noises from outside—the cries, the moans, the unmistakable sound of a furniture slamming against a wall—filled the void like an unwelcome guest."You've changed," Apollo finally said, his voice cutting through the cacophony. I turned to him, my expression flat and unimpressed. "What?" "What you did out there…" he trailed off, his tone strangely contemplative, though the familiar edge of derision lingered."I don't see anything wrong with seducing my husband," I replied sharply, emphasizing the word ‘husband' with veno
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 106: Locked In
You know how sometimes things don't go as planned? Well, my situation was one of those.At first, everything seemed to be going perfectly. I had managed to get under Apollo's skin so effectively that he stormed off, his face tight with fury. Victory tasted sweet—at least for a fleeting moment. With him out of the picture, Rominic was mine, entirely mine. We flirted, trading sharp smiles and lingering glances that set my skin ablaze. We kissed, his hands firm yet teasing, and for a brief while, the club's chaotic energy seemed to fade into the background. Then, as if the universe couldn't let me revel for too long, Lilith and a group of men I'd pointed out started brawling. Rominic and Phineas stepped in, practically dragging them apart before things got bloody. They saved lives; I mostly tried not to get crushed.And somehow—still baffling to me—I ended up here. In the mixed-gender restroom. With Apollo.Let me clarify: calling it a “restroom” was a cruel joke. There wasn't a toilet i
