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Chapter 72: Fractured Ties
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2024-12-04 16:31:15Related chapters
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 1: A Clean Slate
I scrubbed the top of the table as I hummed, scrubbing it hard to get the stains out. Some people can eat like pigs, horrible pigs. And unfortunately, it was my job to clean up after them. Okay, not exactly my job, but the person doing it before got sick so I volunteered to clean it and take her salary until she is back on her feet. I accepted the offer with open arms. The extra cash was good.I worked in a hotel as a bartender. I used to be a hotel porter, but after I complained about the male guest always finding a way to smack my ass, I was placed in the bar. The manager liked me and didn't want me to go and that is the most luck I had since I changed my name."Jamila, are you still here?" Speak of the devil. I gave the table the last finishing scrub before I stood up and placed my hands on my hips. The table was spotless."People can eat like pigs, no, in fact, people are pigs." I sneered. He laughed from behind me before I felt his hand on my shoulder."Jami, the real problem is y
Last Updated : 2024-10-29It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 2: The Weight of Responsibility
"Mom, I prepared your bath for you," Savvy smiled. I nodded. "Don't worry, the others have all taken their baths but haven't brushed their teeth because as you can see," she looked at her younger siblings stuffing their faces with ice cream and pizza.Wait, where's Zachary?"Zachary is trying to figure out an algorithm to… what he said. Should I bring him some ice cream, Mom?""Sure," I turned and started walking to my room."How was work today?" She asked, following me into the hallway."It was good, very…" I stopped at their bedroom door, opened the door partly, and smiled as I saw Zachary focused on what he was doing. "Good evening, sir," Zach jolted from his seat.Zachary was the second eldest. He was the only one among his siblings who took no single feature from me. Even his intelligence was like that of his father's, if not higher that is. He was more of the cold-hearted type to outsiders and too obsessed with drawing a line between him and everyone he finds underneath his stand
Last Updated : 2024-10-29It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 3: The Breaking Point
Lavender went about her day like a miserable person. Her eyes were deep and hollow from crying throughout the night and her strength was almost depleted. She would have applied a lot of makeup to cover it up, but she didn't have the money to purchase a decent makeup kit. Her skin easily reacted if she used cheap or fake beauty products so she resulted in making natural concoctions to sustain her beauty. Still, the herbal and fruit mix was only for skincare and not to cover the horrible state of her face.It'd been days since her children broke the news to her and she'd been thinking nonstop. She was unable to sleep and spent the night crying or frantically staring at her two youngest children to make sure they were still breathing. The day before, the youngest suddenly started feeling dizzy and wheezing, and she knew it was connected to the second youngest. If she didn't act on time, she didn't want to think of what would happen. She was getting desperate and more depressed. It also ir
Last Updated : 2024-10-29It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 4: The Ghost of His Wife
"Sir, your 3 o'clock is ready for you," Rominic looked up from the sheet he was scribbling on and stared dully at his secretary. As if feeling his gaze, she looked up from her notepad and stared at him in the eyes for a few seconds before she quickly averted her eyes back to the notepad. The first thing she thought was that she was right to check up on him. She was personally assigned to him by his mother, particularly tasked with keeping an eye on him and making sure he didn't overwork himself.She mentally rolled her eyes, that was the hardest part of her job. Everything else was easy but when it came to keeping him at full health, she wished she could quit. He was a stubborn and reckless man. He would unnecessarily work overtime and barely ate, and thanks to his insomnia, he was always having a headache or nosebleed. The man was stubborn enough to reject his medication, just so he could intentionally punish himself.She rolled her eyes again and scoffed. ‘If he was going to act like
Last Updated : 2024-10-29It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 5: A Haunting Revelation
Rominic refreshed the page over and over again, still not believing his eyes. He thought that seeing her name was the biggest confusion but while the cars drove to the hospital, he continued to investigate and he saw that the money was paid for the treatment of three children. What was getting him more confused was the names of the children. It couldn't be just a coincidence. It took his mind back to the conversation he had with Lavender on what he'd like to name his children.It was a Sunday night, he lay on his bed, one hand supporting the back of his head and the other placed over his forehead. He stared at the light, his mind calculating and trying to figure out what was stopping the new machine he was working on. He couldn't come up with anything, not even after two hours of just laying there and thinking."Are you still thinking?" Her voice broke through the silent room. He ignored her, which was followed by a laugh, her annoying but yet amusing laugh. She flung herse
Last Updated : 2024-10-29It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 6: A Father's Surprise
‘Oh my fucking Lord!’ Lavender exclaimed in her head. He hadn't changed a bit. She could see that he was visibly thinner and with a couple of early gray strands to his beautiful creamy blonde hair, but his face remained the same. Lavender thought he was still handsome, still breathtakingly and abso-fucking-lutely gorgeous. She thought she was over it, but his handsome face always brought tears to her eyes and it did at that moment. To Lavender, he was just too beautiful and it pissed her off to know that his beauty still affected her.It was for a brief moment but when she locked gaze with his winter gray eyes, her heart skipped. She'd been staring at them through her children for years, but staring at the original made her feel different. She instantly tore her gaze away from his, but her eyes stubbornly shifted to his lips. They were slightly separated from surprise. She remembered that his lips were deep red. They were one of the favorite parts of his body she liked, so she always p
Last Updated : 2024-10-29It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 7: The Dark Descent
Rominic groaned and placed his hand on his throbbing forehead. He was having a nasty headache. Throughout the drive back to the villa, he couldn't stop thinking about how his life did a 360. He woke up after managing to get an hour of sleep, like every other morning. He started working without food and the day was going miserably just like other days, but he didn't expect something to change this much.He'd seen people react to their loved ones coming back from the dead, finding out their loved ones didn't die as they thought, and he thought it was ridiculous because he didn't believe it would ever happen to him. Sitting there in the back of his car, knuckles white from squeezing the door handle too hard and a nasty pain in his head, he realized that he was the ridiculous one.He wanted to feel elated that his love was back, but he couldn't. There were a lot of things he thought about. First, the whole situation was a big shock and he was finding it hard to adjust. Secondly, when he th
Last Updated : 2024-10-29It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 8: Bloodline and Legacy
I stretched on my toes, my hands high above my head. I was exhausted. I looked at the comfortable faces of my children as they slept on the hospital bed. Zayne snuggled up against Serenity's unconscious body and Savvy slept next to Zyaire. Zach and I shared a bed. I couldn't believe we'd turned a private ward into our home. It wasn't just because the children were sick, but because we were practically homeless.It'd been three days since Zyaire's surgery. I received a call from the landlord that while he went there to kick me out, some agents from one of the companies I borrowed money from came, and as a 'good' citizen, he gave them all my properties to sell even if it wouldn't cover half of the money I owed them. On top of that, we weren't allowed in that building anymore.I wasn't the least worried about that. With the money I got from my private account, I could settle all the debts once Zyaire and Serenity are alright and there would still be enough money left to get a new apartmen
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
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It 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
It 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
It 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
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
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 68: A Reunion of Sorts
I stood before the full-length mirror, meticulously inspecting my outfit for any flaws. I had chosen a bold, stylish ensemble—a black off-the-shoulder top adorned with delicate floral embroidery. Paired with that was a pair of dark red leather leggings that hugged my legs elegantly. To complete the look, I had slipped into a pair of sleek, black over-the-knee boots. My hair was styled in a messy, loose updo, with a few soft tendrils framing my face. This allowed my statement earrings, which perfectly complemented the dramatic necklace resting comfortably on my neck and chest, to take center stage. I had put extra thought into my appearance tonight, as I knew the people I was meeting typically dressed in a very fashionable, almost daring manner. However, my final outfit choice was ultimately influenced by the fact that Rominic was the one picking me up from the bar. His "trip" had taken him out of the country for the past week, and he was finally returning. Rominic had insisted on co
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 67: The Secrets We Keep
The cat was out of the bag—again. It was as if the universe was determined not to give me a break. I could see the glimmering excitement and intrigue for juicy gossip in Giovanna's eyes, and I knew from that look alone that I would never be able to convince her otherwise. All I could do now was admit the truth and try to figure out a way to convince her to keep her mouth shut.Giovanna walked beside me, her gaze fixed on my face, clearly eager to hear the details. Of course, all I had to do was tell her that I was the supposed dead fiancée of Rominic Verlice, but I knew that wouldn't be enough to satisfy her curiosity. She insisted that I tell her where I'd been and if I'd been with Rominic the entire time.Frantically, I spun a web of lies, telling her that I hadn't come back sooner because I had lost my memories, and the family who had taken me in were an elderly couple with no idea who I was. I explained that after regaining my memories, I had returned to Rominic, and we had decide
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 66: A Sticky Situation
The news struck me hard, and my eyes widened in shock. "What did you mean? How could this have happened?" I asked, my voice laced with disbelief.Rominic let out an annoyed huff. "His damn neighbors didn't even notice the stench of the corpse for two whole months! Sure, the body was dumped in the bathroom tub with water, but that still didn't explain why no one caught on for that long!" he exclaimed, frustration evident in his tone.I quickly swung my legs off the couch and slipped on my slippers, eager to remove myself from the children's presence. "But how did that explain why they didn't notice?" I tried to interject, only to be cut off by Rominic again."The water could have slowed the decomposition by keeping the body cooler and preventing some bacteria from reaching it. It might have trapped the odor, making it less intense and noticeable to the neighbors. But I could still smell it from the floor of that building. It's clearly a murder case — someone must have hired him and the
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 65: Breakthrough at Midnight
Lavender's viewpointI sat on the edge of the bed, silently observing as my eldest and youngest sons engaged in a technical discussion, while Rominic paced around, on the phone with his lawyer. I must admit, I didn't fully comprehend the intricacies of the scientific jargon that Zayne had spewed out, nor Rominic's precise response. Fortunately, Zach stepped in to help me interpret the situation.The general gist was that Zach had been scouring through the secure cloud Rominic had created, searching for any useful information, but had come up empty-handed after a prolonged effort. However, Zayne then decided to take a closer look and noticed something Zach had overlooked. Apparently, Zayne had discovered that there was something locked away within the cloud, but he had been hesitant to share his findings, not wanting to raise false hopes. This had occurred nearly two weeks ago. Today, Zayne finally cracked the secure layer and revealed that Rominic had an AI system integrated into the
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 64: Seduction
Beira was absolutely right. I knew from the very beginning how to calm Rominic down, but I had allowed myself to convince myself that I was powerless to help. This time, however, things were going to be different. I had a plan, and the children were eager to help me execute it.The living room all the way up to our bedroom was dimly lit, with the warm glow of rose and lavender-scented candles casting a soothing ambiance. Rominic's favorite soul music played softly in the background, creating a relaxing atmosphere.As Rominic opened the door and stepped inside, a heavy sigh escaped his lips as he tugged at his necktie. He paused, his eyes widening in surprise at the transformed environment. I stepped forward so that he would be able to see me as he entered the house, his gaze sweeping over the scene in confusion and awe.Clearing my throat to get his attention, I watched as his eyes fell upon me, a seductive smile spreading across my face. His jaw dropped, and I knew exactly how he fel
