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Chapter 11
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The Day Love Died Chapter 1
I dragged myself forward with my broken leg while gathering the children's belongings, speaking softly to them. "Nate, make sure you look after Cece when you're up there. Have fun with all the superhero figures and teddy bears over there." That day, Lionel Brooks was about to leave with Fiona Smith and her child. In the rubble, my son, Nate Brooks, lay with a steel beam piercing his small chest, blood dripping. He looked at me and asked, "Mommy, will Daddy come back soon?" Cece Brooks chimed in confidently, "Of course, he will! He's our daddy after all." It was heartbreaking to hear them say that. I yelled, "Lionel, are you blind? Fiona and her kid only have scratches while our children are…" Before I could finish, Lionel turned to me with reddened eyes and snapped. "Aster, don't be ridiculous! I'm the manager of this museum, and during this earthquake, I have to treat everyone equally. I can't prioritize Nate and Cece just because they're my children, and I certainly ca
The Day Love Died Chapter 2
I did not want to argue about him and Fiona. I just needed him to donate blood for our children. I pleaded, "Lionel, the kids need a blood transfusion urgently. Please come quickly! I'm begging you." "Blood transfusion?" Before he could continue, I heard Fiona let out a sharp scream in the background. "Fiona, are you okay?" Lionel asked with concern. Fiona's voice came through weakly. "Lionel, I'm feeling dizzy, but I'll be fine after some rest. You should check on Aster and the kids. I don't want her to misunderstand." Lionel's irritated voice crackled through the phone. "What era are we living in? What hospital doesn't have blood in its blood bank? Aster, how have I never noticed how petty you are? You're just trying to drag me away from Fiona because you saw me bring her to the hospital. You're being completely unreasonable!" He hung up, and when I tried calling back, an automated message informed me the number was disconnected—he had turned on his "Do Not Disturb" mode.
The Day Love Died Chapter 3
The children's funeral was scheduled for the following week. For five days and nights, I sat silently in Nate and Cece's room, clutching their photos and refusing to cry or speak. I could almost feel their warmth lingering in the room, and I swore I could still hear them sweetly calling me Mommy. The memories felt so fresh… so real. My childhood friend, Luke Armstrong, rushed back from overseas, dropping a major business deal. The moment he walked in and saw my state, he embraced me tightly. "Let it out, Aster… Keeping it all inside is only going to hurt you," he whispered. I looked at him and asked, "Nate and Cece… are never coming back, are they? Do you think they regret having me as their mother? Why was I so useless?" Before my parents passed away, I married Lionel. Back then, Lionel wanted to be my father's graduate student, and despite the college having their preferred candidate, Dad fought to give Lionel a spot because he saw him as a hardworking man from a struggling
The Day Love Died Chapter 4
Lionel was caught off guard. When he finally recovered, he growled, "Aster, have you lost your mind? Instead of caring for the kids at the hospital, you're here stalking Fiona and me? And now you want a divorce over something so trivial? I'm Nate and Cece's father!" "Oh, so you remember you're Nate and Cece's father? Anyone watching would think you were Eva's dad!" I spat back. Fiona cowered behind Lionel with tears in her eyes. "Lionel, this is all my fault. Stop arguing with Aster because of me. I was the reason you couldn't check on the kids. You should go back. I'll be fine on my own." She turned to leave but stumbled dramatically. Lionel caught her immediately and said, "Fiona, I need to get you and Eva home safely first. I can't leave you like this." He picked up Eva and supported Fiona, preparing to leave. "Tell Nate and Cece that I'll visit them at the hospital tomorrow." "Don't bother." "What do you mean?" "You're not going to see them again." "Aster, what are
The Day Love Died Chapter 5
Fiona and Eva rushed in behind Lionel. "Oh my… Aster, are Nate and Cece… really gone?" Fiona gasped. "Are you happy now, Fiona?" I hissed, grabbing the vase nearby and smashing it against her head. Fiona screamed and instinctively hid behind Lionel. This time, Lionel did not shield her. He just stood there in shock, muttering, "No, this can't be true…" Blood began trickling down Fiona's forehead where the vase had struck her. "T-They only had minor injuries, and they couldn't have died," Lionel stammered. "Aster, you're just angry with me, right? Is this just a cruel prank? Call them out… Please don't joke like this." "A joke? When Nate and Cece were trapped under rubble begging for help, you chose to save Fiona. When they needed blood transfusions, you were busy comforting this homewrecker! They died alone on that cold operating table because of you!" "No, that's not true!" "Today was their funeral, and you weren't there. You lost your last chance to say goodbye
The Day Love Died Chapter 6
Luke followed through with his threat and sent Fiona a legal notice. To repay me, she had to sell all the jewelry Lionel had bought her and give up the luxury apartment he had rented. Even after selling everything, she still owed me over a million dollars. Later, Lionel showed up at my door again, carrying my favorite red roses. However, I did not let him in, speaking to him from the doorway. "Are you here to beg for Fiona?" Lionel quickly shoved the roses into my hands, acting submissive. "Aster, Fiona has already sold the jewelry and gave up the apartment. Can't you just let this slide?" I tossed the roses straight into the trash. "My children just died, and you bring bright red roses to beg me to spare your precious girlfriend? How laughable! "She can either pay back everything or face a lawsuit. If she can't handle it, she can go kill herself—I don't care." Lionel's anger flared instantly. "Aster! You're just kicking her while she's down! She's a single divorced mother
The Day Love Died Chapter 7
I shared my theory with Luke. He had spent the last four years building his network overseas since my wedding, and his connections quickly uncovered the whole scheme. It was a classic debt transfer scam, a method by which con artists would shift their debts onto unsuspecting victims through elaborate schemes. They essentially used other people's assets to fill their own financial holes. While Lionel came from a poor background, my parents were renowned college professors who had left me substantial assets, including real estate, valuable artwork, and several retail properties. Fiona must have gotten her hands on this information early on, but she had underestimated me. Perhaps she thought that after my children's deaths, I would become too depressed to care about anything else. While she had severely underestimated a mother's determination for revenge, poor, foolish Lionel remained completely in the dark. I wondered how he would feel when he discovered his precious first love
The Day Love Died Chapter 8
Lionel kept watch outside the hotel all night. The next morning, he stood there unshaven as Fiona, Fred, and Eva emerged, looking like a happy family. "Uncle Lionel, why didn't you shave? I have Daddy today and don't need you," Eva said cheerfully. Fiona quickly pushed Eva toward Fred and pulled Lionel aside. "I'm sorry, Lionel. Fred just got back yesterday to discuss some unfinished business. It's not what you think…" If Lionel had not witnessed Fred and Fiona together the night before, he might have believed her innocent act again. He muttered, "Unfinished business?" "I'm not lying! Please go home, and I'll explain everything later, okay?" "Alright. I've submitted your paperwork to the museum, and you'll be a permanent employee soon," Lionel replied. "That's wonderful, Lionel! You're always so good to me!" Fiona exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. As Lionel returned the embrace, he slipped a tiny listening device into her purse. He heard every conversation betwe
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