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Chapter 33 Maplewood
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2024-11-22 15:12:17Related chapters
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 34 Paternity test
As the door opened, Jenna pulled down her mask and extended her hand with a friendly grin, “Hello, I'm Jenna.” Kate eyes widened, her pupils dilating in sheer surprise. She blinked twice, and just as the reality hit, she squealed. “Oh my gosh! It’s really you! Jenna Stone, I’m your—” “Shh!” Jenna quickly raised a finger to her lips, giving Kate a conspiratorial wink. “I know, I know, you’re a fan. I’ll totally give you an autograph later, maybe even a selfie. But right now, can we focus on the house?” Kate, still visibly starstruck, nodded enthusiastically, her cheeks turning the faintest shade of pink. Jenna's grin widened. "Great! Now, lead the way, Kate. My friend and I can’t wait to check this place out.” As Kate guided them inside, Jenna gave a playful nudge to her Ella. “Told you I got this covered,” she whispered, winking. Ella, however, was too busy staring around the luxurious hallway to notice. The apartment Kate showed them was a chic duplex on the third floor. The b
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 1
Ella Montgomery stared at the two pink lines on the pregnancy test, her heart hammering as a dozen emotions rushed through her. Pregnant? How on earth? She and Lucas had only been married for half a year, and they’d only been…intimate once. And that one time didn’t even count; he’d been as drunk as a sailor on shore leave. So, how could she possibly be pregnant? Just then, a voice came from outside the bathroom door, making her jump. “Mrs. Montgomery, sir is back.” Ella's heart skipped another beat. She quickly tossed the pregnancy test into the trash, feeling absurdly guilty—like a thief hiding evidence. But why should she feel guilty? She was Lucas Montgomery’s legally wedded wife, and she was carrying his child. If anyone had explaining to do, it was him. After a deep breath to steady herself, Ella stepped out of the bathroom, determined to share the news, but as soon as she saw him, her courage faltered. Lucas was by the door, kicking off his shoes, looking like he h
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 2
Ella woke up suddenly, gasping. The air around her felt thick and hot, as if someone had cranked up the heat to unbearable levels. Squinting her eyes open, she was met with the eerie orange glow of flames licking up the walls, smoke filling every corner of the room. She couldn’t breathe. Her throat scratched with every gasp, her lungs screaming for relief. Instinctively, she covered her mouth with her sleeve and tried to rise. That’s when she stumbled, her feet catching on something soft yet unyielding. She glanced down and froze. “Dad…” The word came out as a broken whisper. Her father lay still beside her, his face peaceful yet hauntingly lifeless. He had no visible injuries, nothing to suggest he’d been hurt—yet here he was, lying motionless. Panic clawed at her chest, but amid the terror, a strange familiarity washed over her. She recognized this place: her father’s factory workshop, his beloved pharmaceutical lab. Her mind raced, piecing together fragments of memory
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 3
Everyone in the cabin went silent, their eyes fixed on Lucas. He gave a mocking sneer, putting down the newspaper he’d been holding. His icy gaze turned to Ella, and he took slow, deliberate steps toward her. "Miss Kane," he drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "you really live up to your name as the ‘Rose of the Battlefield.’” Suddenly, his hand shot out, grabbing her by the neck, his grip cold and unyielding. He lifted her toward the window with a dark glint in his eyes. “Do you honestly believe I couldn’t open this window right now and toss you out as fertilizer for the flowers?” The threat hung in the air, his voice low and venomous. Just then, Ella stumbled forward, her balance lost as the plane gave a sudden jolt. She fell against him, her heart pounding as his arms closed around her for a brief second, enveloped in his scent. Lucas froze, momentarily taken aback by her closeness, a flicker of something like surprise crossing his face before he hardened again.
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 4
Ella heart skipped a beat, her mind racing. Had Aunt Laura, Lila's Mom figured it out? "Lila is our daughter, who else could she be? Laura, you’re getting old and confused!" Lila's dad’s voice boomed across the living room. Aunt Laura's eyes narrowed, eyebrows arching up. "James Peterson, did you just call me old?" Her dad, known across the neighborhood for his strict but silent demeanor, rarely spoke to Aunt Laura so directly. Yet here he was, standing his ground with a tone Lila had only ever seen him use with stubborn vendors at the farmer’s market. “Stop talking nonsense and just tell us where the child was last seen!” His voice was sharp and commanding, cutting through Aunt Laura's attempted rebuttal. Aunt Laura’s face lost its color, her fingers clenched into a tight ball. After a pause, she muttered unwillingly, “The paternity testing center.” Ella's heart dropped. Could Aunt Laura have taken both children for a DNA test? “You had them tested? Laura, have you completely
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 5
Compared to little Kaia, who was all bright-eyed and giggly, Kai seemed far more composed as he carefully observed his mother, who had just walked in. He smoothly pulled out a chair for her, showing a maturity that was almost startling in someone his age, and poured her a cup of warm milk. “Mom, when did you get back?” he asked, studying her with that same serious expression that made him look like a mini-adult. “Didn’t you say your flight was delayed because of the weather?” Ella chuckled. Her son always had a way of getting to the heart of things, didn’t he? “Well,” she teased, giving him a mischievous grin. “I actually borrowed a plane from a friend and flew back overnight myself. Impressive, right?” Kai's eyes went wide with shock. His mouth opened slightly, looking both amazed and doubtful at the same time, as he tried to wrap his head around the idea of his mom piloting her way across the night sky. She couldn’t resist ruffling his hair, holding back her laughter. “I’m jus
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 6
"Mr. Lucas, Captain Dan has recovered, but the doctor says he needs a six-month observation period before he can fly again. Do you think we should hire another pilot?" Secretary Zane reported over the phone, his voice echoing in the hallway. Standing by the glass walls of the mall, Lucas looked out with his usual unreadable expression. Expanding the Apex group’s business into Asia meant he had to fly overseas almost every month, so having a dependable pilot was essential. Just as he was about to respond, Lucas spotted Ella in the distance—and three little kids trailing behind her. Something in his mind shifted, and before he knew it, he said, "Look into a journalist named Lila Kane. I want to know why she knows how to fly a plane." There was a beat of silence on the other end, then Zane’s voice returned, tinged with shock, "Sir… Are you saying you want Ms. Lila to be your pilot?" Zane immediately regretted those words. Lucas hated it when people tried to guess his intentions, and
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 7
Ella nodded silently, her mind racing with thoughts she wasn’t quite ready to share. "But how is that even possible?" Jenna’s voice broke through the fog of uncertainty. "They didn’t notice anything weird when you lived with them before. So, what changed? Unless… someone told them something?" As the pieces clicked into place, Jennas expression shifted, her eyes narrowing. "Could it be Dr. Leo..?" "No," Ella replied, shaking her head with conviction. Jenna looked at her, surprised. "How can you be so sure?" Ella paused for a moment, weighing her words. She decided to spill the beans. "He’s been looking after Kai and Kaia for years. He’s helped me out a lot, so he has no reason to spill the beans to Mr. and Mrs. Kane." But Jenna, always quick to catch the scent of gossip, raised an eyebrow. "He helped take care of Kai and Kaia? What, like a dad or something?" Ella shot her a glare. "It’s not what you think." Jenna smirked, leaning in closer. "But how do you know what I’m thinki
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Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 34 Paternity test
As the door opened, Jenna pulled down her mask and extended her hand with a friendly grin, “Hello, I'm Jenna.” Kate eyes widened, her pupils dilating in sheer surprise. She blinked twice, and just as the reality hit, she squealed. “Oh my gosh! It’s really you! Jenna Stone, I’m your—” “Shh!” Jenna quickly raised a finger to her lips, giving Kate a conspiratorial wink. “I know, I know, you’re a fan. I’ll totally give you an autograph later, maybe even a selfie. But right now, can we focus on the house?” Kate, still visibly starstruck, nodded enthusiastically, her cheeks turning the faintest shade of pink. Jenna's grin widened. "Great! Now, lead the way, Kate. My friend and I can’t wait to check this place out.” As Kate guided them inside, Jenna gave a playful nudge to her Ella. “Told you I got this covered,” she whispered, winking. Ella, however, was too busy staring around the luxurious hallway to notice. The apartment Kate showed them was a chic duplex on the third floor. The b
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 33 Maplewood
Ella thought about the breakfast delivery for a moment, her mind racing with possibilities. "Could it be from the neighborhood association? Like, some kind of 'morning kindness' program?" Lila's Mom, let out a hearty laugh, shaking her head. "Oh, please, Lila! No, it was from your coworker." "Coworker?" Ella frowned, her suspicion growing. She had only been back in the country for less than two weeks, and her closest colleague was her boss, Matt. But Matt had no idea that she was sick, so how could he have sent her breakfast? Could it be someone pretending to be her colleague and trying to poison her? It wasn't that Ella was being paranoid, but she had actually experienced something similar when she was in Westvale. Because she had exposed too many high-level secrets,she was seen as a thorn in the eyes of those in power and was secretly poisoned several times. Fortunately, she was vigilant and lucky enough to survive, or she wouldn't know how many times she would have died.
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 32 Lucas must have want to poison her!
As Ella walked down the hallway, she paused suddenly, something sparking in her memory. She spun around to face Leo. "Oh, hey, Leo, I just remembered something weird." Leo looked up, surprised by her sudden halt. "What's up?" "Do you know Lucas? I just heard him call you 'Mr. Quinn.' But… didn't you say you were an only child?" Leo's eyes narrowed slightly. He always knew Ella was sharp, but he hadn't expected her to catch such a small detail, especially with everything going on. For a second, Leo considered dodging the question, but he realized it was probably time to be honest with her. After all, if Lucas had figured out who he was, then it was only a matter of time before Ella found out, too. "Ella," he began, his voice low and sincere. "I've actually wanted to tell you this for a while… but I never quite knew how." She cocked her head to the side, her curious gaze glued to him. "Tell me what?" He exhaled slowly. "I only found out about it six years ago." Ella's eyebrow
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 31 Hearing his name always makes her nauseous
Lucas paced down the hospital hallway, flicking a cigarette to life. The brief hit of nicotine helped, but it was just a distraction. After a few drags, he stubbed it out, taking a deep breath. Ella hated the smell of smoke, and somehow, even now, he still cared. She’d told him once, early on in their marriage, that the smell bothered her. Since then, he’d done his best to quit, even during the most high-pressure times at work. But he’d picked up the habit again after she “left.” Those nights of sleeplessness, combined with long, grueling work hours, had driven him back to it, as if the smoke could somehow ease the emptiness she left behind. Now, as he headed back to the ward, a strange feeling crept over him. He was almost at the door when he heard voices inside. “Are you hungry?” came a familiar voice. “I brought you some oatmeal porridge. Drink it, and then I’ll take you home.” Lucas's eyes narrowed. That’s Leo Quinn. How did Leo find her? Besides himself, only Kai a
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 30 What happened six years ago
“It’s fine. What’s going on that’s so urgent?” Leo asked, his voice still rough from being jolted awake in the middle of the night. He flicked on the bedside lamp, throwing soft light into the room, and started pulling on his clothes. Years as a surgeon had trained him to expect chaos at odd hours, but he still preferred a warning. “Did something happen?” Kaia didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "My mother was taken away by Lucas Montgomery." Leo paused in his movements, his expression changing. "You mean Lucas took your mother away? When did this happen?" “After work last night. She told us she had to work late, but she didn’t come home. Just now, my sister called her phone, and Lucas answered. He said Mom is sick and he’s with her at the hospital.” That was all Leo needed to hear. He yanked on his second sock, grabbed his jacket, and was out of bed in an instant. “Which hospital?” Kai was stunned for a moment. She hadn't mentioned it. But just because she didn't
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 29 Mommy has been kidnapped!!
"Wait, didn't you just say she’d freak out if she saw me?" Lucas's voice had an edge of disbelief. "Yeah," Aaron replied, unfazed. "She’d panic if she saw you conscious. But guess what? She’s not conscious right now, is she?" Lucas was quiet, unsure what to do next. “So...what exactly am I supposed to do?” Aaron gave him a patient look, as though explaining a simple math problem to a child. “Simple. Pour water near her ear to mimic the sound of rain. Drip a little cold water on her skin. And, from time to time, whisper to her that you’re here to help.” Lucas arched an eyebrow, skeptical. “Seriously? That’s gonna work?” “Who’s the doctor here, you or me?” Aaron shot back. Taking a resigned breath, Lucas muttered something under his breath before finally walking into the emergency room. --- In the depths of her unconscious mind, Ella found herself reliving a nightmare she thought she'd left far behind. She was back six years ago, trapped in a raging fire. Smoke stung her eyes,
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 28 He might be the only one to help her
"Mr. Montgomery, we’ve arrived at the hospital," the driver announced gently. Lucas blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. He glanced down at the woman resting limply in his arms, her face pale and peaceful in sleep. His heart twisted, but he ignored it, taking off his coat and carefully wrapping it around her, keeping her warm. Just as he stepped out, Zane, rushed forward with an umbrella, his brow furrowing in concern. "Mr. Lucas, it’s cold out. Maybe you should keep the coat. I can give her mine." Lucas gave him a look that could freeze lava. Without a word, he swept past Zane, clutching her close to his chest as he strode toward the hospital doors, leaving Zane to trail behind, holding the umbrella. --- Half an hour later, they waited in a quiet corner of the emergency room. Finally, a young man in a white coat stepped out, clipboard in hand. Dr. Aaron, a childhood friend of Lucas and a top doctor, sighed as he looked over the test results. "Well, Lucas," Aaron said, push
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 27 Murder
"Poison." Lucas's words hung in the air as Ella stared at him, wide-eyed and speechless, for a solid two seconds. She then whipped around, pressing a hand to her mouth, panic spreading through her face. Lucas quickly reached out and stopped her, his expression dark and severe. "Did you really think I meant poison?" Ella shot him a look as if to say, Of course, I believed you! After all, he was capable of murder and arson. Seeing that she was still trying to force the supposed "poison" out of her mouth, Lucas sighed and finally admitted, "Fine, it’s just chlorophenol amine maleate." Ella froze. She knew chlorophenol amine maleate—it was a common allergy medication. But that meant he’d specifically prepared it… for her. Which also meant he’d somehow known she had an allergy. Specifically to osmanthus. Which meant… Oh. Oh no. She pieced it all together with a dawning sense of horror: Lucas must have used the osmanthus tea as a test. A test to confirm her identity. And now
Second chances: Love or revenge? Chapter 26 What was Leo hiding?
Ella stared at the man in front of her, her jaw nearly dropping. Leo is the son of the wealthiest man in the city? The Henry Quinn she’s known for ages? How is that possible?! She blinked, half-expecting someone to jump out with a hidden camera and shout, “Gotcha!” But, Lucas didn’t look like he was in on some joke. He looked serious. Real serious. After the shock wore off a bit, Ella shook her head. This had to be a mistake. There’s no way her humble, down-to-earth Leo could be part of that family. “Mr. Lucas,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady, “There are tons of people out there with the same name, right? I mean, Leo Quinn isn’t exactly unique.” Lucas raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Sure, but how many people have the same name, the same face, and... the same everything else?” With that, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a stack of photos, placing them right in front of her. Ella hesitated, glancing at the photos like they might explode
