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2024-12-23 21:09:51
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Let Me Go, Ex Husband!ย ย ย 66
Iris After the shower, I stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, my hair still damp. His question had caught me totally off guard, and more so, my reply. I let him shower first, when he was done, I went in and had my shower. By the time I came out of the bathroom, Orchard was already rummaging through his closet, pulling out a crisp shirt and dark trousers. His ease and confidence were something I admired and envied.I went to the vanity, my hands trembling slightly as I reached for my makeup bag. I wasnโt usually this nervous, but today felt different. Everything felt heightened, like all eyes would be on me tonight.As I started applying foundation, my hands shook just enough for Orchard to notice. He walked over, his shirt half-buttoned, and leaned against the dresser, watching me with a calm expression.โYou need to relax,โ he said softly. โEverythingโs going to be fine.โI sighed, setting down the brush. โI know,โ I replied, though my voice didnโt sound convincing. โItโ
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-12-24Let Me Go, Ex Husband!ย ย ย 67
Iris Halleโs reply was totally expected, the world could probably be ending tomorrow and she would go to the office today.โYeah, butโฆโ I reached out toward her, placing a hand on her. Granted, she wasnโt pale, and she didnโt look tired. If anything, she looked much better than the day she was discharged. But still. I had seen just a little bit too much confidence harm someone. It suddenly struck me, remembering one of my high school friends, Betty. Her mom got admitted to the hospital due to an accident. While Betty was mostly fine, her mom wasnโt. By the time the doctor said she was fine and ready to go home, Bettyโs mom spent two days at home and died in her bed due to complications from a surgery she had. Of course, Halle couldnโt be compared to that. Still, I was worried. โAre you sure youโre going to be okay?โ She smiled a rather kind smile, shook her head, and somehow tapped me on the nose with an index finger. โIโm fine,โ she said. โNot really perfect, but the whol
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-12-25Let Me Go, Ex Husband!ย ย ย 68
Tiffany I stood staring at myself in the antiseptic-smelling air of the ladies' room, of course be-speckled with the scent of various perfumes and other air fresheners. Still, it left my nose powerful enough to pick out anything sometimes. This time, however, my focus had been so much on the mirror, on myself, on the dress I frankly hated, especially when compared to hers. Damn it, my sister was supposed to be living badly. She was supposed to be suffering. Her life was not supposed to be anything I wanted. It wasn't supposed to be anything I desired. So why? Why was her dress an early sub? I had seen the dress in several pictures. I'd loved it. I'd raved over it. I wanted it more than anything itself. And yet, my step-sister showed up in that dress with a billionaire dressed on her arm. She smelled impeccable. In a custody battle, I had seen the bottles. They looked almost like crystal. I'd wanted it, but frankly, the thing cost a little moreโnearly as much as my car. And then
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-12-26Let Me Go, Ex Husband!ย ย ย 69
DaveThe signature blue flashes of sirens illuminated the night outside. It clashed against everything and everyone, but even aside from that, it didnโt matter. What mattered was the smokeโhigh pillars of smoke moving unfettered toward the night sky, while large pillars of fire did the rest of the illuminating if the sirens werenโt enough to see. โCan you tell us what happened?โ I snapped back into my mind while seated and found myself in the holding room of the police station. There was a female police officer staring at me, her arms folded across her chest. Her hair had been slicked back, making her look like a cat, I thought to myself. โI didnโt see anything,โ I said. Of course, that was a lie, but they didnโt need to know that. โLook, Mr. Rover. We know exactly who you are.โ She placed a hand on the table, revealing her ugly nails. No, seriously, her nails were uneven, pointing in all directions, and coupled with her terribly kept fingers, it all stirred a sense of dis
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-12-27Let Me Go, Ex Husband!ย ย ย 70
DaveMy initial instinct was to bolt out of the room, get into my car, and never come back again. But suddenly, it hit me. I had paid him back, right? What the fuck did he want? I cleared my throat, patting myself on the chest. Right now, I began to walk towards the both of them. "Yes, I believe I am the wife," she said. "But what exactly do you want?" Ivan shrugged by the time I could hear their conversation. "What do you want?" I pulled Tiffany back by her arm, stepping between her and Ivan. "Ah, my friend," he said in his Russian accent. "Why is your life always stopping about you?" "Do you want to see me?" I shoved my hands into my pockets, hoping it would hide the sudden amount of sweat that had pooled there. "Yes," he said, placing a hand on my shoulder and leading me outside. I followed him to the staircase leading to the roof. The hall itself was rather built more like an observatory, with the glass ceiling being one that could be visible from where we both now s
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-12-28Let Me Go, Ex Husband!ย ย ย 71
OrchardThe event hall buzzed with energy, the kind that only came from a gathering of influential people all dressed to impress.I stood next to Iris, trying not to let my nerves show. This world of high-society events wasnโt entirely unfamiliar to me, but tonight felt different. Maybe it was the way peopleโs eyes lingered on us a second longer than usual, or the way their whispers seemed louder.I glanced at Iris, and it hit me again just how breathtaking she looked tonight. She was easily the most beautiful woman in the room. How lucky am I?Her dress clung to her in all the right ways, highlighting her elegance and confidence. Her hair was in soft waves down her back, and her makeup was subtle yet striking, emphasizing her sharp cheekbones and full lips.But it wasnโt just her appearance that made people stare, it was her presence. She carried herself with such poise, one could easily tell she was not to be messed with.Standing beside her, I felt both proud and in awe, knowing ju
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-12-29Let Me Go, Ex Husband!ย ย ย 72
Iris"Are you all right?" I felt Orchard's hand on my elbow, pulling me gently towards him until I nearly rested my entire weight on his body. "Peachy," I said. Just slightly shaken, I wanted to say, but frankly, he didn't need to know much about the conversation with Dave, or did he? "I ran into Dave," I said. His reaction was unreadable, but it was clear he wasnโt surprised."From the ladies?" I felt his arm around me tighten just a little bit. His face remained the same, however. It was his eyes. His eyes were where the money was. "Give me the word," Orchard said. "Give me the word, and I will have him slain for coming near you. I would rip apart his skin, I would cut him into pieces, but I'd make sure he wasn't dead yet. And then serve him up on a platter for you." The worst part to me about what Orchard was saying was the fact that he said it with a straight face, save for the burning emotion in his eyes. "That wouldn't be necessary," I said as I tried to hide a smile.
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-12-30Let Me Go, Ex Husband!ย ย ย 73
IrisI found myself frowning as I looked back towards Andrew. He had lightish brown hair with golden highlights. It was either the beach that helped him bleach it or he got those highlights from the salon. Either way, they seemed too generic to be man-made. He had cool, honey-brown eyes that seemed to twinkle in amusement, but it was his face that I couldnโt quite place. I was halfway going to bet that as a prepubescent teen or as a teenager, he might have had one of those faces riddled with pimples. He could have been a shy boy. And what was worse? He might have been one of those who had a crush on me. I was quite a looker. I nearly patted myself on the back. "We were nerds?" I raised an eyebrow. Suddenly, Andrew burst out laughing, just as the other members of his company did. "To them, yes," Andrew said. "I was into nerd stuff so bad. I loved UFOs and other funny stuff like that. I loved dinosaurs. I loved books about dragons. It set a few words to me in senior high. But
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-12-31
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Let Me Go, Ex Husband!ย ย ย 168
OrchardIris made the most adorable pregnant woman ever. Maybe it was just my sentimentโI would always believe that. Maybe it was still my sentiment to want her to have another baby just because she made the most adorable pregnant woman ever. And perhaps those sentiments couldnโt be shared with her. But when it always came down to the delivery room, I found myself pacing. "Itโs a normal reaction," the nurses said. "Itโs normal," they said eventually. "Why donโt you come hold her hand?" the half-face-covered nurse stretched out a hand. "Are you okay?" I whispered in her ear. "Oh yeah, Iโm amazing," she mumbled. "But sure, if we want to make this mountain out of a molehill, we can. Besides, I already requested an epidural," she rolled her eyes at me. "Maybe youโre just being dramatic," she waved me off. Maybe I was. Maybe I was just shy. After all, it wasnโt every day a man got to witness this perfect being born. "Okay, I feel something," she gripped my hand. The secon
Let Me Go, Ex Husband!ย ย ย 167
Orchard Nothing, except the mild silence of the humidifier beside my bed, the steady beeping of the heart monitor, and, of course, the gentle hum of the air conditioner, filled the room. Aside from having to convince my wifeโwell, I wasnโt sure what we were now, but we surely were somethingโconvincing her to go home, take a shower, get dressed, and look prettier the day after was more than enough. The same could apply to Mom. Partly, it was because of the text message I had received from Dad. โIs it all right if I come see you?โ he had texted earlier. โMe telling you no isnโt going to change your mind, so why bother?โ I texted back. And, as they say, speak of the devil, and he shall appear. An hour later, Dad walked into my hospital room as though he owned the placeโwhich was mildly accurate. He was one of those with the largest holdings in the hospital. Or, well, he had some of the largest holdings in the hospital. While he didnโt own it specifically, neither did I, but he d
Let Me Go, Ex Husband!ย ย ย 166
IrisHarold couldnโt be fast enough. Or maybe it was the fact that the speed limit was simply too slow, and Harold was dancing just at the edge. Either way, I kept pounding my heel against the floor of the car while biting my lips, and it seemed the buildings were moving apart too slowly. โIโm going as fast as I can, Mrs. Hector,โ Harold said, and turned towards the rearview mirror, his eyes darting towards me. โIโm driving as fast as I can,โ he said again, his eyes meeting mine this time. โWeโll be there soon.โ His eyes crinkled at the edges, smiling at me. He offered little comfort, I thought to myself, as my face strangely cracked into a small smile. โThank you,โ I said, letting out a huff of air and pulling my fingers together, trying to calm them from the shaking earlier. Whoโd have thought talking to the stepmother who effectively bullied you your whole life would cause some form of shakiness? Eventually, we reached the hospital in one pieceโmostly. I bolted straight u
Let Me Go, Ex Husband!ย ย ย 165
IrisPerhaps it was not just me but the entire court, but everyone seemed to let out a breath of relief. I caught sight of Karen sitting somewhere at the back of the room.Simply, I got sight of her because I was jittery, my eyes darting all over the place.Perhaps I was so eager to keep my eyes off Dave that I simply couldnโt look at the personโthe wicked personโhe had become. He was so unrecognizable.He was not the man I had known all my life; he was not the man I had fallen in love with. No. Buried far from those things were the sweet smiles he had given me when I was younger and the messages of conviction. *"Youโre the only woman I could ever marry,"* he had said. Well, perhaps that part was true. I was the only one he marriedโbut probably not the only one he could love. No. His love went to other places; his love had a knack for doing that, going to various places. But none of that mattered for the children. At least that chapter was closed. I raised my eyes to the prose
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Irisโ Pov I got the call from the police station. They told me Dave wanted to see me. I didnโt want to go. After everything heโd done, why would I? But then, Orchardโs mum, Halle, said sheโd come with me. I needed her support, so I agreed.When we got to the station, my hands were shaking. Halle held my arm gently, and we walked in together. They led us to the room where Dave was sitting. โIris,โ he said, โyou came.โI didnโt sit down. I just looked at him, feeling all the anger rise inside me. โYou better pray Orchard wakes up,โ I said, โif she doesnโt, youโll regret ever knowing me.โDave smirked. โI donโt care what happens to me. If Orchard dies, Iโm justified.โI couldnโt believe what I was hearing. Justified? For what? Before I could say anything else, Halle held me.โThereโs no use talking to a man like him,โ heโs lost his mind. Letโs go, Iris.โJust as we turned to leave, a cop walked into the room. He had a file in his hand and a serious look on his face.โWe found new evide
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Irisโ PovI sat in the cold, hard chair outside the operating room, my breaths were shallow and uneven. It felt like I had been holding my breath the entire time.Orchard was in there, fighting for his life. The doctors had rushed him in as soon as we arrived at the hospital, I wanted to believe he would make it, but the blood, there had been so much blood. I couldnโt stop seeing it.My hands wouldnโt stop shaking. I joined them together, pressing them tightly against my lap, trying to steady them, but it didnโt work. My clothes still smelled like blood and sweat, and I hated it.โIris,โ a soft voice said beside me.I looked up to see Orchardโs mother. I had called her as soon as I arrived. She placed a hand on my shoulder.โHeโs strong,โ she said, though her voice cracked. โHeโs going to make it.โI nodded, but I couldnโt speak. I couldnโt find any words.The hallway was too quiet, the kind of silence that only made things worse. Every time the doors to the operating room swung open,
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Daveโs Pov The sound of the gunshot still rang in my ears as I stumbled back, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. The scene before me felt surreal, like something out of a nightmare I couldnโt wake up from. Orchard was on the floor, blood spreading around him like a dark, growing shadow. Iris knelt beside him, screaming his name, her hands pressed desperately against his chest as if she could stop the life from slipping out of him. โOrchard! Stay with me! Please!โ she sobbed, tears streaming down her face. Her voice was filled with panic, raw and heart-wrenching. And I just stood there, frozen. My hand was still gripping the gun, my knuckles white. I couldnโt move, couldnโt think. All I could do was stare at the chaos I had caused. What have I done? The question repeated over and over in my mind, but I couldnโt find an answer. I hadnโt planned for this to happen, not like this. I just wanted to scare them, to make them pay attention, to make her listen to me. But nowโฆ
Let Me Go, Ex Husband!ย ย ย 161
Irisโ Pov The gun pressed against my head was a constant reminder of how close I was to disaster. I could see the anger in Daveโs eyes, the wild, unpredictable rage that told me he wasnโt bluffing. He was mad enough to do anything. The memory of the day he shot my stepsister, suddenly hit me. The look on his face then was the same as now. No hesitation, no regret. Just pure fury.I knew better than to argue with him. If I made one wrong move, one wrong word, this could end horribly. I forced myself to take a shaky breath, trying to calm the panic that threatened to overwhelm me.โDave,โplease, letโs not do this. Name your price. Whatever you want, weโll do it. Justโฆ just let us go.โFor a moment, he didnโt say anything. He just stared at me, his grip on the gun tightening and loosening, like he was considering his options.Then he laughed, a bitter, hollow sound that made my stomach twist. โName my price?โ he said mockingly. โItโs too late for that, Iris. Donโt you get it? Thereโs n
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Irisโ Pov My body stirred, waking me from a restless dream. At first, I didnโt understand why I woke up, but then I felt a familiar discomfort in my stomach.I sighed quietly and got out of bed, careful not to wake Orchard. The room was dark, lit only by the faint light of the moon that filtered through the curtains. I paused for a moment, listening to his steady breathing, and then padded softly toward the bathroom.The bathroom tiles were cold under my bare feet, and I shivered slightly as I finished and washed my hands. I thought I would just crawl back into bed and try to sleep again, but as I stepped out of the bathroom, I realized how dry my throat felt. My mouth felt like sandpaper, and my lips were cracked.โI need some water,โ I murmured to myself, my voice barely above a whisper.The thought of going downstairs in the middle of the night wasnโt appealing, but I knew I wouldnโt be able to sleep if I didnโt quench my thirst. So, I turned toward the stairs, walking as quietly
