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Chapter 53
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Estel, who was eight months pregnant, sat at her desk, engrossed in editing manuscripts. Michael enters the room, a mix of excitement and hesitation evident on his face.
“Hey, love.” Michael was grinning widely“Hi there. What brings you by?” Estel Looks up, smiling at the sight of Michael.“I have something to tell you.” Michael takes a seat opposite Estel, fidgeting nervously.“Is everything alright?” Estel looks concerned.“Oh, everything's fine, more than fine actually. Next month, I'll be heading to Canada to promote my books.” Michael clasped his hands.Estel's expression changes, a flicker of concern crossing her face.“Canada? But Doctor Jill advised against traveling, especially now.” Estel’s brows furrowed.“I know, I know, but this is a big opportunity. Nancy Wilson, the literary agent, is organizing everything, and she wants me there for a series of events.” Michael explained.“And who else is goingRelated chapters
Revenge is Sweet Chapter 1 - The Insult
Estela Bremmer brought the glass of sparkling wine to her lips as she studied the shocked guy across the table with an enraged gaze, planning the next delicate spike she intended to launch at him. What had gotten into her tonight—that she felt the need to puncture his façade with such vigor—was beyond her comprehension. However, she had been giving in to the temptation all night, and it had grown more robust with each glass of wine she had consumed.Perhaps it was because this day was the death anniversary of her husband, and Michael Jensen was the polar opposite of Peter. She felt oppressed by resentment over fate's decision to deprive the world and herself of the gentleness and pleasantness of such a pious man. Fate allowed this one, a tainted sensualist, to live and sit opposite her, emphatically vibrating with a practically disgusting reputation.It was borderline farcical. Estela needed to get used to thinking more clearly. What did Michael Jensen bring to the table for anybody o
Revenge is Sweet Chapter 2 - Getting a Cab
She smiled wickedly, winked lazily, and almost laughed at his frown, even though she couldn't say she blamed him. Tomorrow morning, she would have to reconcile with him, but right now, she just didn't have the energy. When Lars suddenly came to her elbow and asked her to dance, Estela let out a muffled sigh since she knew she wouldn't have time to calm down around him.Estela, expecting the reprimand she knew was coming, rose up to accept his offer, then felt a little worried at the knowledge that she was on the verge of intoxication. Even though she rarely drank and probably knew her limit, the fact was nonetheless mildly bothersome. She had no idea why she had become so drunk so quickly this evening, but she suspected it had something to do with being bored to tears by the endless praise for Michael.Estela paid Lars's expected reprimand for her misbehavior scarcely any attention. She felt lightheaded and disoriented, and it was everything she could do to keep up with his simple dan
Revenge is Sweet Chapter 3 - Retribution
Michael grabbed her arm in a painful grasp and steered her in the direction of her flat despite her protests. I don't care what you're feeling," was his equally icy response. "I want you to sober up; this is as good a way as any."Instead of responding angrily, Estela bit her tongue and let him drag her down the street. In fact, she didn't have much of a say in the issue, as breaking his grasp would have required someone far stronger than she was. Estela failed to consider it challenging to go home without his help. Her mind was clearing slightly in the night air, but the rest of her body was still in the grasp of the booze she'd consumed, and her legs were a very wobbly support for the time.The journey was completed in eerie stillness, and by the time they arrived at Estela's building, she couldn't wait to get inside and escape Michael's presence. She attempted to free herself from his grip by pulling on her arm once again. She said coldly, "This is my building, and I can make it on
Revenge is Sweet Chapter 4 - Unraveling
Michael's persistent mouth assaulted her lips, stifling a gasp that sprang from her throat. To get away from him, Estel put her hands on his shoulders, but he took this as an opening to run his palms down her sides, across her thighs, and finally to her buttocks. He hoisted her into the grinding rhythm of his hips, his fingers curving over the rounded bumps of skin.In response to Michael's assault, Estel experienced a disturbing, purely bodily sensual reaction that got entangled with the nausea and headache she was feeling. She was unable to process the whirlwind of sensations bombarding her. For long stretches, she just floated along with Michael's passionate kisses and the shaping of her body against his.When Michael finally backed off, she was vaguely startled to realize that he had been breathing harshly and that his body had tightened as he tried to excite her. It appeared that he was becoming engrossed in his own game, which only heightened the already high-risk profile of the
Revenge is Sweet Chapter 5 - Rapture
When he bent down even more and put his tongue on her pink nipples, Estel tensed. The seductive sensations of his sucking gave her outrage, even as the warmth it produced in her thighs and belly made any lingering sickness go away as if it had never been there. When Michael first started caressing her, she resisted the alcohol-induced weakness in her limbs as fiercely as she battled his seduction. "Damn you, Michael," she said under her breath as she struggled to free herself. I don't want you. I can't stand you! You self-centered jerk, how can you not see that? Michael's eyes blazed with desire as he dominated her, and his clenched teeth formed a ferocious grin. To which he said, "You may not like me, Estel, I'll give you that," ground out with a cruel chuckle. "but I can prove that you want me." Michael grasped one of Estel's arms in an iron grip and threw the other beneath his body to immobilize it. Then he placed one of his legs between her thighs so that she couldn't move anyth
Revenge is Sweet Chapter 6 - The Aftermath
Peter's lovemaking had been beautiful, delicate, and entirely acceptable to her in her limited experience. Still, it couldn't compare with the overwhelming force of Michael's.While lying exhausted in Michael's arms, her skin sticky with perspiration and her pulse hammering from the intensity of her exertion, Estel recognized that Michael's performance could not be described as loving. Michael had treated her like she was nothing more than a means to his own ends, and he had gotten much more pleasure out of humiliating her than from making her happy.He propped himself up on his elbows and grinned lazily down at her. Still, when he saw the cold venom in Estel's eyes, his grin twisted into sarcastic disdain."Get up!" Estel spat the words out, expressing her desire to use physical force for the first time in her life. "Get up and get out before I-" She couldn't finish her sentence, since she didn't want to talk to him anymore.Michael deliberated on it for a while. He looked at her for
Revenge is Sweet Chapter 7 - Becoming a different person
Estel called in sick the following day. Not only did she have a terrible hangover, but her mental and emotional despair was on par with what she'd felt following Peter's death. Then, at least, Estel might have attributed her misfortune to a random chance. This was the first time she'd ever been so severely let down by something she'd done, and she was entirely unprepared for it. Her face was strained and pale as she looked at herself in the bathroom mirror, and she thought wryly and bitterly that thirty was much too young to accept that she was just as flawed as everyone else. Until last night, she had been the epitome of the good girl archetype in every aspect of her life. What in the name of God had happened to her suddenly? Her countenance hardened as she recalled what had happened to her in Michael's hands. She went from being a catty bitch—not her style—to questioning her long-held conviction that she was a person possessing all the finer qualities that went hand in hand with a
Revenge is Sweet Chapter 8
His thick brown locks fell across his forehead as he shook his head, giving him an intriguingly helpless appearance. Before continuing, he said, "Sorry to get off the subject," apologizing to the interviewer, Mark. I have no plans to apologize for the quality of my work. It can stand on its own merits. People either appreciate it for what it is and pay for it, or they don't. Since it sells, many others believe it satisfies a need for amusement. Estel looked surprised by this. It was a statement of fact, but the simplicity of its reality rattled her. When she turned on the TV, the last thing she had anticipated was that Michael Jensen would make her feel better about herself. She hadn't bargained for an introduction to a worldview she'd never thought about before. But again, she had never been broken enough by her own failings to require pity. She had always met her own or anybody else's high standards. As her worldview shifted, she became temporarily bewildered and missed a few seco
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Revenge is Sweet Chapter 53
Estel, who was eight months pregnant, sat at her desk, engrossed in editing manuscripts. Michael enters the room, a mix of excitement and hesitation evident on his face. “Hey, love.” Michael was grinning widely “Hi there. What brings you by?” Estel Looks up, smiling at the sight of Michael. “I have something to tell you.” Michael takes a seat opposite Estel, fidgeting nervously. “Is everything alright?” Estel looks concerned. “Oh, everything's fine, more than fine actually. Next month, I'll be heading to Canada to promote my books.” Michael clasped his hands. Estel's expression changes, a flicker of concern crossing her face. “Canada? But Doctor Jill advised against traveling, especially now.” Estel’s brows furrowed. “I know, I know, but this is a big opportunity. Nancy Wilson, the literary agent, is organizing everything, and she wants me there for a series of events.” Michael explained. “And who else is going
Revenge is Sweet Chapter 52
The expression on Michael's face conveyed a mix of chagrined amusement and annoyance at her choice to bring up his prior actions that he deeply regretted, as well as her timing in doing so. But suddenly, his mouth twisted up in a sneaky smile, and his eyes gleamed with the same naughty mirth dancing in Estel's. After a split second, he had her held hopelessly beneath him, and he glared menacingly down at her during the entire ordeal. He muttered in a frightening tone, "You're right, woman," as she resisted and laughed while being held down by him. He held her wrists while he lifted himself slightly to cast a leering, appraising view over her body. He said, "Taking you to court might be a little drastic, but I am entitled to some revenge for the torture you've put me through these past months, and I think I know just how to go about it." He said this as he raked a leering, appraising eye over her body. He asked the question in a tone that suggested he was a prosecuting attorney with s
Revenge is Sweet Chapter 51
Afterward, Michael felt more at ease and continued with his explanation. "When I saw you in Hendrick's office that day, I knew I couldn't leave things as they were. I'd been thinking about you for months, wanting you, and hating myself for what I'd done to you and for what I'd ruined. I had already chosen to write The Essence of a Woman. When you stepped in, I realized I had the ideal opportunity for a second chance. It was your sort of book; it had the potential to gain your respect, and while you were working on it, I believed I could win you over. Estel's mouth scrunched up in response to his statements about earning her respect. Still, Michael did not allow her an opportunity to respond to his statement. "Only I kept repeating myself with you," he said with regret, "making the same mistakes repeatedly." "I couldn't keep my hands off you, and I couldn't keep from trying to break through that shell of yours and get at the woman I sensed was there. As a result, I ended up making you
Revenge is Sweet Chapter 50
Michael faced her, staring down with a sardonic and caustic attitude that made it clear that he was now a man... Estel sees him as a man in every sense of the word. After that, a serious look came over his face, and he again turned his head aside. He stated it with a strain in his voice, "I'm canceling our agreement, Estel," and the tone of his voice was harsh. Estel found herself suddenly gasping for air, and she began to shake where she was standing until she noticed a log that had just fallen nearby. She quickly moved to sit down on the log to prevent herself from falling. She questioned him, "What exactly do you mean, Michael?" with a lack of expression that belied the riot of sensations that was going on inside of her. "What exactly do you mean?" He stepped closer to her but refused to look into her eyes, even as he did so. "You're free to go," he said gloomily. "You don't have to give me a child... and you don't have to stay married to me." Estel momentarily suppressed her exp
Revenge is Sweet Chapter 49
After a little pause in which they were both silent and Estel made no effort to break it, Mrs. Jensen proceeded, her tone more forceful and her stance more upright. "Fortunately, in those days, it wasn't easy to find someone willing to break the law that way, and I ended up going to a midwife who was less than effective." She cracked a wry grin without amusement. "When I stepped into that room and saw the primitive, unsanitary conditions..." She simply chuckled. "Well, I turned right around and walked out again. And I've never regretted doing so." After that, she shifted her attention to Estel while sitting in her chair with a thoughtful expression. "I tried to be a good mother to Michael, and I did love him, but he was always such an exuberant, affectionate boy, and I've never let my feelings show. Perhaps he interpreted my reserve as indicating that I didn't love him. But it wasn't and isn't true. The trouble is, I don't know how to let him know that since I find it as difficult now
Revenge is Sweet Chapter 48
By the time they boarded the plane to go to Aspen to visit Michael's parents, Estel was at her wit's end. She prayed to God for a miracle so that Michael would recognize her deep love for him. It would be a miracle in their marriage if only he could bring himself to love her as much as she loved him. Estel hoped that Michael's parents would convince him to love her. When Estel first saw the tall, stately, and beautiful woman who was Michael's mother and his father's equally tall but less awesome figure, she felt a surge of animosity toward the couple. She wondered if they were the key to Michael's inability to respond to the love she was offering him. Estel's first impression of Michael's mother and father caused her to feel this way. Estel had thought that Michael had made it past his childhood difficulties. Still, the people in his life may have permanently damaged him and given him an icy hole in his heart—a spot that he desired love to so severely fill. However, as Mrs. Jensen c
Revenge is Sweet Chapter 47
Dr. Jill's tone was tense and insistent as he said, "For the love of God, why not?!?" "Without honesty, a marriage is not good for much, Estel. Your husband has the right to know that you're not the type of woman to be so callous, and you have the right to his unstinting regard. Why are you refraining from honest communication?" As Estel closed her eyes, she pondered how to explain the situation, even though she wasn't entirely sure of the cause. "For one thing," she said as she opened her eyes and walked aside to peer into the dimly lit garden, "the child was his." She took a momentary pause and looked back at Dr. Jill, during which she noticed a dawning of comprehension in his eyes. She stated this with a delay in her voice that made it clear, at least to Dr. Jill, how profoundly the pain of that hatred had affected her. "He hated me when he found out I'd aborted his child," she added. "For all that I know, he probably still does," she said with a softer tone. Dr. Jill was about t
Revenge is Sweet Chapter 46
When Piers Shaw pointed her toward Lars Pederson's library, she was so focused on following him that she hardly heard him whisper, "Certainly." She had a strong desire to be left alone, but she was astute enough to recognize that Piers wouldn't abandon her if he believed she required assistance. She also realized that, at this time, having Piers assist her would be far preferable to asking Michael to accompany her. It was perfectly conceivable that Piers would go and tell her husband about her sudden unsteadiness if she refused to take his arm, and she couldn't risk that happening for the time being since she couldn't afford to. Just as they were about to enter the library, she heard Dr. Jill's soothing voice calling her name. "Estel! How good it is to see you again!" She had the need to flee, but after a little pause during which she was undecided about what to do, she gently turned around to find the elderly guy walking toward her with a warm greeting gleaming over his kind face.
Revenge is Sweet Chapter 45
Estel was overjoyed to see that her efforts had unquestionably been effective as Michael gave her first a fleeting look, then returned his sight to her a second time, his eyes widening with admiration as he took in the image she produced. Michael had arrived late and had to rush to get dressed. When he walked in, she was striking a nonchalant stance in front of the windows, even though her heart raced with panic. Her manner, however, was calm and collected. The shell-white, body-hugging dress was silky and flowed over one shoulder, revealing the milky tan. The garment clung closely to her shape and emphasized her curves. The only other jewelry she wore was a pair of gold earrings that dangled from her ears and a gold slave bracelet that she wore on the naked right side of her wrist. Her tresses were pulled away from her face and rolled into a complete roll at the back of her head. The light hanging above brought out the shimmering highlights in her hair. She was aware that she was be
