로그인공유
Chapter 9
최신 업데이트:
2025-02-05 20:23:43The buzzing of my phone worked its way into my dreams. I reached for it blindly, squinting at the screen. 6:17 AM. The notifications kept coming, each one lighting up the dim room.
27 missed calls. 43 text messages. 15 news alerts. 8 emails marked urgent. I sat up slowly, switched on the bedside lamp. The guest room at Dante's penthouse was still unfamiliar—all grey silk and chrome, nothing personal yet. My finger hovered over the first notification. The image loaded. I blinked, certain I was still dreaming. There I was, outside Provocateur nightclub, my black dress hitched high. A man's arm circled my waist, his face conveniently turned from the camera. The timestamp read March 15th, 2023. "That's not..." I scrolled further. More photos. Me at the Four Seasons bar, leaning into another man's space. July 2023—the week I'd been in Hong Kong for the Asian merger. Another showed me getting into a car, a different man's hand on my back. September 2023. "No, no, no." I opened my messages. The first was from James: I expected better from someone who carried our name. Through the wall, Dante's voice rose. "Trovalo." A pause. "Non mi interessa quanto costa." Find him. I don't care what it costs. Something crashed in his office. A coffee cup maybe, or a glass. "No," his voice again, harder now. "I want the source. Today. Not tomorrow, not next week. Oggi." My phone lit up with an incoming call. Clarissa. "I always knew." Her voice dripped with satisfaction. "All that corporate polish, those designer suits. Acting so perfect, so above it all." A small laugh. "Underneath it all, just what I suspected. Does your new husband know about your... adventures?" My hands shook as I tried to end the call. The phone slipped onto the bed. News alerts kept coming: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: "Moretti Ex-Wife's Double Life Exposed" BLOOMBERG: "Scandal Rocks Moretti Empire: Who Is The Mystery Man?" FORBES: "Vivian Caldwell: Saint or Sinner?" The nausea hit without warning. I barely made it to the bathroom, my knees hitting the cold tile. "Vivian?" Dante stood in the doorway. His tie hung loose, shirt sleeves pushed to his elbows. Dark circles under his eyes suggested he'd been up for hours. He sat on the edge of the tub, phone already at his ear. "Get everyone here." His free hand rested on my back. "No, not tomorrow. Now." He listened for a moment. "I want every photo traced. Yes, all of them. And get me someone who can analyze the metadata." By ten, the penthouse had transformed. People with tablets and laptops filled every surface. Voices overlapped as they debated strategy. "Look at the lighting here," a woman in a sharp suit pointed at printouts spread across the dining table. "The shadow angles don't match the time stamp. And this edge here—clear manipulation." "The upload was coordinated," a man with three phones called from the sofa. "All posts went live at exactly 6 AM. We're tracing the server locations now." "The timing's suspicious," another PR person cut in. "Right before the wedding announcement—" I pushed back from the table. The guest bathroom had become my refuge, the only quiet space left. "We need her at the press conference." The voices followed me. "The optics demand a united front." "She's not well." Dante's voice cut through the chatter. "Sir, the media is already speculating—" "Give her an hour." A woman from the PR team found me in the bathroom. She had a makeup kit and a garment bag. "We need you camera-ready in thirty minutes." The Vanguard Corp conference room doors felt heavy under my hands. Light exploded as they opened—camera flashes, TV spots, phones recording. The noise hit next: shouted questions, clicking shutters, the rustle of bodies pressing forward. Dante guided me to the podium, his hand steady on my back. The microphones caught his every word: "The images circulating online are fabricated. Evidence of this manipulation has been documented. Legal action will be taken against all parties involved in creating or distributing these defamatory materials." Questions erupted: "Ms. Caldwell, were you in Provocateur that night?" "Mr. Moretti, did you know about these allegations before the engagement?" "Sources suggest there are more photos—" "Is this connected to the custody dispute with Luca Moretti?" Security cleared a path. Dante's hand never left my back as we moved through the crowd. In the elevator, he finally spoke. "It'll be handled." Later, in his office, I watched him take calls. Each one shorter, more clipped than the last. I wandered to his desk, needing to be closer to his certainty, his control. That's when I saw it. A flash of red under his desk. I bent down, my fingers finding soft silk. Louise's Hermès scarf lay crumpled in the shadow of his chair. The same one she'd worn to dinner last week. My phone buzzed. A text from the hospital: Confirming your 12-week scan appointment for Thursday at 10 AM? Before I could respond, another call came through. Louise.관련 챕터
Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle Chapter 10
The gravel crunched under the car's tires as we pulled up to James's mansion. Through the windows, I could see the dining room lit up—the same room where I'd once served coffee while Clarissa critiqued my pour. Ten years of memories pressed against the glass."We don't have to do this," I said.Dante switched off the engine. "Yes, we do." He turned to look at me. "They need to see you're still standing."I tugged at my black dress. Twelve weeks, and already nothing fit properly. The fabric clung to the slight curve I was trying to hide."Stop fidgeting," Dante said quietly. "You look perfect."His certainty steadied me, even as my stomach churned—morning sickness, nerves, or maybe both.The butler—not Thompson, they'd fired him last year—opened the door with practiced efficiency. No warmth in his greeting. The Morettis went through staff like other people went through paper towels. I remembered Thompson's last day, how he'd slipped me my favorite tea with trembling hands.Clarissa hel
최신 업데이트 : 2025-02-05Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle Chapter 11
The forty-third floor bathroom at Vanguard Corp had become my second office. 6 AM, and I'd already memorized every detail of the marble tile pattern. Morning sickness was a misnomer—it lingered all day, like an unwelcome houseguest.When I emerged, Dante's office smelled of fresh ginger tea and something else—toast, maybe. He'd transformed one corner of his desk into what looked like a pregnancy survival station."Try these." He pushed a plate of crackers toward me. "They're supposed to help.""You've been researching again.""The reviews were convincing." He turned back to the spread of documents before him. "How are you feeling?""Like death warmed over." I settled into my chair, eyeing the tea warily. "But I'll live."His lips quirked. "Good. Because we need to discuss the Thomson merger."I reached for the financial projections, letting muscle memory guide me through the familiar numbers. The same ones I'd seen destroy Luca's company in another life."You're certain Luca will purs
최신 업데이트 : 2025-02-05Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle Chapter 12
Moonlight spilled across Dante's desk, turning everything silver-edged and strange. Midnight, and I wasn't supposed to be here. The house felt different at this hour—too quiet, too empty. But his words from earlier kept echoing: "She can't know yet."His office smelled of him—expensive cologne and old books. The built-in shelves held volumes of corporate law, family photos I'd never seen before, a single photo frame turned face-down. Everything else stood with military precision.The desk drawer slid open silently. Private letters. Bank statements. A folder marked "River Incident - 2015." My hands shook slightly as I opened it.Inside: a police report about the attack. Medical records from his hospital stay. But something was off about the dates. The investigation had begun before the attack happened.The laptop sat closed beside the folder. I'd watched him work on it countless times, fingers moving across keys, screen angled away. Always careful. Always protected. Whatever was happen
최신 업데이트 : 2025-02-07Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle CHAPTER 1
The heat of the oven hit my face with a vengeance as I pulled out the chicken that I had spent the entire day preparing. It was seasoned to perfection. I placed it on the kitchen counter and finally took a breath as I wiped my brow. I had finished with today's dinner. Now, I could rest—"Vivian!" Clarissa, my mother-in-law, screamed, making my pulse jump.I ran to where she sat in front of the television."Yes?" I asked.Her cold eyes fell on me, a scowl on her lips. She pushed a plate in my direction. "I need more pie," she said. "It's a bit overbaked, but there's nothing else to eat around here."I picked up the plate and made a beeline back to the kitchen. My heart sank when I saw what was left of the pie. Nothing. Just then, Diane, my sister-in-law, entered the kitchen with another plate and placed it on the counter instead of in the sink."You finished the pie?" I asked.Her gaze hardened. "And? Who told you not to make enough?"She didn’t even give me a chance to speak before sh
최신 업데이트 : 2024-10-20Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle CHAPTER 2
I gasped, shooting up from the bed, my heart hammering in my chest. Cold sweat clung to my skin, and my breath came in shallow, panicked bursts. I reached for my stomach, the impact of the fall still vivid, still fresh in my mind. But there was no pain. No broken bones.I was in my bed.“Good morning, beautiful,” Luca’s voice murmured beside me, and I flinched as his arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer. His warm breath fanned against my neck, but it felt suffocating. My skin crawled, every inch of my body recoiling.I stiffened, turning my head to glance at him. His blue eyes were soft, filled with the affection I once craved. His golden hair was rough from sleep. It was just a dream, I told myself. Just a nightmare.But it felt real. Too real. I could still feel the air rushing past me as I fell from the balcony, Luca’s cold words echoing in my mind: "You’re mine. You always will be."I forced a smile, my heart pounding in my chest as I whispered, “Morning.”Luca kissed my
최신 업데이트 : 2024-10-20Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle CHAPTER 3
I stood at the ATM, my fingers trembling slightly as I inserted my card. The machine whirred, the screen flashing before delivering a message that felt like a punch to my gut:Transaction Declined.I tried again, but the same message popped up. My heart sank, frustration and panic rising in my chest. Of course, Luca had frozen my account. He wouldn’t make it easy for me to leave. He’d make sure I had nothing.I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to scream in the middle of the bank. Fine, I thought. I didn’t need his money.I hurried outside, grabbing my suitcase and walking toward the nearest hotel. I had stashed some cash inside the lining of my suitcase—a lesson I’d learned long ago in case of emergencies. Luca didn’t know about it, and it would be enough to cover me for a few days.The hotel lobby was quiet, and I wasted no time booking a room. The receptionist didn’t ask too many questions, and soon enough, I was alone, sitting on the edge of the bed, my suitcase open in front
최신 업데이트 : 2024-10-20Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle CHAPTER 4
I blinked, utterly flabbergasted. "What—""I’ve been wondering how long it would take for you to leave that bloody bastard." Dante’s eyes searched my face before settling on mine.I was left utterly speechless, the alcohol doing nothing to help my case. I couldn’t comprehend what I was hearing.Was he really talking about his nephew that way?"Wait," I said, my voice cracking slightly. "You can’t mean that. Luca is your nephew."Dante’s lips twitched into a deadly smile. "Family isn’t always what you think, Vivian. You, of all people, should know that by now."Luca’s voice rang through the party, sharp and furious. "Vivian!"I froze, every muscle in my body tensing. Dante’s grip tightened on my wrist, pulling me into an empty corner before Luca could see us.“There’s a reason I never came to your house," Dante whispered in my ear, his voice dangerous. "I watched you build Luca from the ground up, make him into something powerful. And what did he do? He treated you like a servant. Like
최신 업데이트 : 2024-10-20Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle Chapter 5
The forty-story drop beyond Dante's office windows made the room spin. I gripped the back of a leather chair, my knuckles white against the black surface. Below, cars crawled like insects through the morning gridlock. The sun hadn't properly risen yet—just a grey suggestion of dawn that made everything look slightly unreal.I hadn't slept. The ring box had sat on my nightstand all night, its presence like another person in the room. Every time I'd closed my eyes, I'd seen Luca's face when he realized who exactly I'd kissed at that party. The thought should have frightened me. Instead, I felt a dark thrill of anticipation."Coffee?" Dante's voice came from somewhere behind me.The scent wafted over—rich, dark roast from the small Italian café downstairs. My stomach rolled unexpectedly. "I'm fine."The office breathed wealth, but quietly. No gold-framed paintings or crystal sculptures like the ones Luca collected. Just clean lines of chrome and glass, everything arranged with precision.
최신 업데이트 : 2025-02-04
최신 챕터
Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle Chapter 12
Moonlight spilled across Dante's desk, turning everything silver-edged and strange. Midnight, and I wasn't supposed to be here. The house felt different at this hour—too quiet, too empty. But his words from earlier kept echoing: "She can't know yet."His office smelled of him—expensive cologne and old books. The built-in shelves held volumes of corporate law, family photos I'd never seen before, a single photo frame turned face-down. Everything else stood with military precision.The desk drawer slid open silently. Private letters. Bank statements. A folder marked "River Incident - 2015." My hands shook slightly as I opened it.Inside: a police report about the attack. Medical records from his hospital stay. But something was off about the dates. The investigation had begun before the attack happened.The laptop sat closed beside the folder. I'd watched him work on it countless times, fingers moving across keys, screen angled away. Always careful. Always protected. Whatever was happen
Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle Chapter 11
The forty-third floor bathroom at Vanguard Corp had become my second office. 6 AM, and I'd already memorized every detail of the marble tile pattern. Morning sickness was a misnomer—it lingered all day, like an unwelcome houseguest.When I emerged, Dante's office smelled of fresh ginger tea and something else—toast, maybe. He'd transformed one corner of his desk into what looked like a pregnancy survival station."Try these." He pushed a plate of crackers toward me. "They're supposed to help.""You've been researching again.""The reviews were convincing." He turned back to the spread of documents before him. "How are you feeling?""Like death warmed over." I settled into my chair, eyeing the tea warily. "But I'll live."His lips quirked. "Good. Because we need to discuss the Thomson merger."I reached for the financial projections, letting muscle memory guide me through the familiar numbers. The same ones I'd seen destroy Luca's company in another life."You're certain Luca will purs
Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle Chapter 10
The gravel crunched under the car's tires as we pulled up to James's mansion. Through the windows, I could see the dining room lit up—the same room where I'd once served coffee while Clarissa critiqued my pour. Ten years of memories pressed against the glass."We don't have to do this," I said.Dante switched off the engine. "Yes, we do." He turned to look at me. "They need to see you're still standing."I tugged at my black dress. Twelve weeks, and already nothing fit properly. The fabric clung to the slight curve I was trying to hide."Stop fidgeting," Dante said quietly. "You look perfect."His certainty steadied me, even as my stomach churned—morning sickness, nerves, or maybe both.The butler—not Thompson, they'd fired him last year—opened the door with practiced efficiency. No warmth in his greeting. The Morettis went through staff like other people went through paper towels. I remembered Thompson's last day, how he'd slipped me my favorite tea with trembling hands.Clarissa hel
Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle Chapter 9
The buzzing of my phone worked its way into my dreams. I reached for it blindly, squinting at the screen. 6:17 AM. The notifications kept coming, each one lighting up the dim room.27 missed calls. 43 text messages. 15 news alerts. 8 emails marked urgent.I sat up slowly, switched on the bedside lamp. The guest room at Dante's penthouse was still unfamiliar—all grey silk and chrome, nothing personal yet. My finger hovered over the first notification.The image loaded. I blinked, certain I was still dreaming. There I was, outside Provocateur nightclub, my black dress hitched high. A man's arm circled my waist, his face conveniently turned from the camera. The timestamp read March 15th, 2023."That's not..." I scrolled further. More photos. Me at the Four Seasons bar, leaning into another man's space. July 2023—the week I'd been in Hong Kong for the Asian merger. Another showed me getting into a car, a different man's hand on my back. September 2023."No, no, no." I opened my messages.
Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle Chapter 8
I stood in Dante's office doorway that morning, watching him read through contracts. He didn't look up, but his fingers stopped moving across the keyboard."About last night," I started.He waited. Ten seconds. Twenty. The silence stretched between us like a living thing."Would you like to sit?" he asked finally.I gripped the doorframe. "I need to tell you something."More silence. Patient. Undemanding."I—" The words stuck. "I need to check something first."He looked up then. "Take your time."I retreated to the kitchen. Cooking had always helped me think, even in Luca's house where Clarissa criticized every meal. The familiar motions might help order my thoughts.I found the recipe card while unpacking kitchen boxes. It was tucked into an old cookbook, the paper soft and stained. Sophia Moretti's handwriting flowed across it: Rigatoni alla Vodka. Below, in different handwriting: More vodka. Less cream. - L.Luca had mentioned this dish once. "Nonna taught all the wives to make it
Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle Chapter 7
The room was still dark when I opened my laptop. 4:47 AM. Sleep had become a stranger these past few days. I typed in the search bar: "early pregnancy symptoms." Incognito mode—some habits die hard.Three pregnancy tests sat lined up on my bathroom counter. I'd driven across the city before dawn, stopping at different pharmacies, not wanting to face the same cashier twice. First Response. Clear Blue. EPT. All positive. The empty boxes scattered across the marble told a story I wasn't ready to read.My phone lit up. Dante."Hey." His voice was soft, warm—a tone I was starting to recognize as just for me. "Want to grab breakfast?"I pressed my forehead against the cool bathroom mirror. "Can't. Migraine.""Do you need anything?""No, I just..." I swallowed. "I need to sleep it off."He was quiet for a moment. "Call me if you change your mind."The OB-GYN's waiting room felt too bright, too real. Pale green walls. Black and white photographs of newborns. A couple sat across from me—her ha
Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle Chapter 6
I studied my reflection in the hotel mirror. MAC Ruby Woo lipstick lay uncapped on the marble counter—the same shade I'd worn to close my first billion-dollar deal, before Luca convinced me to "focus on the family."Morning light spilled through the gauzy curtains. The king-sized bed remained untouched, sheets pulled tight. Sleep hadn't come.My phone buzzed again. Clarissa's name lit up the screen—her twelfth call since dawn. Three from James. Five from Diane, methodically spaced seventeen minutes apart. Seven from Luca. His latest text read simply:Don't embarrass yourself more than you already have. Think of everything I know about you.The white Tom Ford suit waited on the bathroom door, still in its garment bag. I'd purchased it in Paris six months ago during a solo trip through the fashion houses while Luca attended his "emergency meetings.""White makes you look washed out, dear," Clarissa had said at one of our mandatory Sunday brunches, eyeing my outfit with practiced disdain
Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle Chapter 5
The forty-story drop beyond Dante's office windows made the room spin. I gripped the back of a leather chair, my knuckles white against the black surface. Below, cars crawled like insects through the morning gridlock. The sun hadn't properly risen yet—just a grey suggestion of dawn that made everything look slightly unreal.I hadn't slept. The ring box had sat on my nightstand all night, its presence like another person in the room. Every time I'd closed my eyes, I'd seen Luca's face when he realized who exactly I'd kissed at that party. The thought should have frightened me. Instead, I felt a dark thrill of anticipation."Coffee?" Dante's voice came from somewhere behind me.The scent wafted over—rich, dark roast from the small Italian café downstairs. My stomach rolled unexpectedly. "I'm fine."The office breathed wealth, but quietly. No gold-framed paintings or crystal sculptures like the ones Luca collected. Just clean lines of chrome and glass, everything arranged with precision.
Rebirth: In the arms of my Ex's Uncle CHAPTER 4
I blinked, utterly flabbergasted. "What—""I’ve been wondering how long it would take for you to leave that bloody bastard." Dante’s eyes searched my face before settling on mine.I was left utterly speechless, the alcohol doing nothing to help my case. I couldn’t comprehend what I was hearing.Was he really talking about his nephew that way?"Wait," I said, my voice cracking slightly. "You can’t mean that. Luca is your nephew."Dante’s lips twitched into a deadly smile. "Family isn’t always what you think, Vivian. You, of all people, should know that by now."Luca’s voice rang through the party, sharp and furious. "Vivian!"I froze, every muscle in my body tensing. Dante’s grip tightened on my wrist, pulling me into an empty corner before Luca could see us.“There’s a reason I never came to your house," Dante whispered in my ear, his voice dangerous. "I watched you build Luca from the ground up, make him into something powerful. And what did he do? He treated you like a servant. Like
