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Chapter OneHundredSeven
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2025-01-17 21:36:03
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The "EX" Factor Chapter OneHundredEight
It wasn't up to two hours after I arrived at the gallery the next day that Tyler came in.The door rang softly as he stepped inside, and I felt a tightness in my chest.He was exactly his typical self.. his presence commanding, that familiar air of confidence mixed with something else today... weakness (that could be used to hurt someone or something).His eyes scanned the room until they met mine, and for a moment, the world outside stopped to exist.I couldn't breathe. I didn't know if I wanted to feel the weight of him being here, or if I wished he'd just turn around and leave.I didn't know how to feel anymore."Sam," Tyler said softly, his voice cracking (a) little, like he hadn't spoken in days.Maybe he hadn't.He'd been working non-stop, trying to clear my name, working next to newspapers, web sites, and TV team, and even bringing in private investigators.All the things he'd done in the past few days... it was impossible to ignore the effort.I gave him a stiff nod, barely ab
Last Updated : 2025-01-18The "EX" Factor Chapter OneHundredNine
“Why both of us for dinner, Sam?” Daniel asked, his voice a curious blend of confusion and caution.Across the table, he met my gaze, eyes flicking to Tyler.. arms resolutely crossed beside him.Tension thickened the air, a palpable shroud that felt suffocating.I drew a deep breath, forcing a smile that barely scratched the surface, as my heart raced in protest.This was no walk in the park.I had to confront the truth, to lay my feelings bare before them both.“I needed to talk,” I stated, my voice quaking like autumn leaves in the breeze.I looked first at Daniel, my steadfast rock amidst stormy seas, then to Tyler, who felt like home, even in our complex history.Daniel arched an eyebrow, his features softening with a glimmer of understanding in his eyes.“Talk about what, exactly?”I flicked my gaze towards Tyler.His calm eyes locked with mine, steady as a lighthouse, yet filled with an undercurrent of tension.. he was waiting, needing something from me.After all this time keep
Last Updated : 2025-01-19The "EX" Factor Chapter OnehundredTen
Two days later, a storm brewed in Julie's mind.She exhaled a swirling cloud of smoke, the cigarette quaking between her fingers. Her crimson nails sparkled under the room's dim light, like icebergs floating in dark waters, as she paced, simmering with barely contained fury."He found out, Caleb!” she spat, her words sharp as glass. “This entire pregnancy charade exploded right in my face. And the scandal? Instead of tearing them apart, it stitched them together!” She flicked the ash away with an irritated flourish. “Together! Can you fathom that?”In the corner, Caleb reclined, arms crossed and unfazed.His face wore a mask of cool indifference, but his piercing eyes betrayed a storm of tension. “So now you want to what? Throw another fit and wish for a miracle?”Julie halted mid-stride, her gaze hardening like steel. “I have no time for your clever jibes, Caleb. I summoned you here because I know you’re just as desperate as I am.”He raised an eyebrow, untouched by her venom. “Desp
Last Updated : 2025-01-19The "EX" Factor Chapter One
The doctor was finally approaching. The quick brief glance I took at my wristwatch made me realize I'd been waiting for about an hour. My head was a mess, racing faster than a cheetah chasing its prey. Oh God, calm down, I told myself.“Please let it be negative, please, please let it be negative” Literally frea-ing out, I mummured under my breaths, my words barely audible.“Ms. Wills, I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long,” Dr. Dawson said, his smile making me uncomfortable. Why the smile?? I breathed out a shaky breath, hoping to calm myself. Deep breathes Sam. You got this."Not at all, Doc," I said, attempting a smile. "It wasn't that long...""Well, congratulations, Mrs. Wills." His smile grew as he gave me a tiny envelope.My breath hung in my throat. No, God, no. I quickly conposed myself, swallowing hard."What do you mean, Dr. Dawson?" I asked, my heart pumping hard."You're six weeks pregnant, Mrs. Wills," he stated.It seemed like time stopped, and the world began
Last Updated : 2024-08-05The "EX" Factor Chapter Two
Tyler's brows furrowed as he re-read the title of the email that just popped on his PC once again. Your Wife's InfidelityWtf is this? He thought to himself as he clicked the email, his hands trembling slightly. The sender was unknown, and he quickly glanced around his study, ensuring no one else was present. With a deep breath, he opened the message.The email was brief but pointed: "Do you know what your wife has been up to? Check the attached photos."Tyler hesitated, his finger hovering over the attachment icon. When he finally clicked it open, he saw Samantha, his wife, in the arms of Owen, the man who had been his sworn enemy since childhood.A wave of anger flooded his veins, threatening to cloud his judgment. Owen?! So, Julie was right all along?.. wow.Tyler and Owen had once been close, their friendship shattered by a business fallout between their families. Since then, they'd been bitter rivals. The sight of Owen embracing Samantha was a punch to the gut, a moment of i
Last Updated : 2024-08-05The "EX" Factor Chapter Three
The door swung open and my gaze fell upon the familiar figure of Lilian, our househelp."Good evening, Mrs. Wills," she greeted me, a polite smile on her lips.A thin wavw of relief coursed through me as it turned out to be Lilian, our househelp, and not Tyler. To be honest, I didn't think I had gathered the courage to break the news yet. "Mrs. Wills," Lilian broke the short silence, her voice warm and gentle. "Mr. Wills said he wants to see you in his study when you get back," she said.I started to panic. My heart was beating very fast, like an animal that was trapped.See me in his study? Why? Was he finally willing to talk, to reconcile? He never calls to talk to me privately. Well, he hasn't done that in two years. I nodded to Lilian, my throat tight, my heart beating so hard I felt like it was visible through my chest. "Thanks for the message," I managed to let out. My mind was spinning, and I tried to steady myself, to remember that this moment had to come."I should head
Last Updated : 2024-08-05The "EX" Factor Chapter Four
He growled, his words full of anger. "I should have seen it at the beginning. But I didn't. I was blind. Blinded by your...charms."His words hurt me, but something inside me snapped. "How dare you?" I said. "If you didn't want me, why did you ask for my parents blessings to marry me?”Tyler let out a dry laughter. “Blessings?" he spat, his lip twisting in disgust. "You think I was happy with this arranged marriage either? I did it for the sake of our families, for the sake of tradition. And what did I get in return? A wife who can't even keep her legs closed."My eyes narrowed, rage scorching through my veins. "Don't attempt to twist this around, Tyler. You were the one who agreed to marry me, who made all those promises. And now you're blaming me for your own mistakes?""Mistakes?” Tyler asked, his brows furrowed. "Yes, mistakes," I yelled, my voice rising with wrath. "You married me because you thought it was the right thing to do," I said. "But now it is clear. You never really
Last Updated : 2024-08-05The "EX" Factor Chapter Five
Upstairs, I made my way to the bedroom I had been banished to.The room that had once been my comfort zone now felt cold and empty, a mirror of the future Tyler had left me with.I spotted my charger on the bed and remembered I needed to power my phone. I rushed to plug it in, knowing I needed to call Ann, my friend. She was the person I could always count on and right now, I really needed her.When the phone lit up, I felt a tiny bit of relief. I knew that I was not alone in this, even if only for a moment. With that small comfort, I turned to face the rest of the room. The sight of my belongings scattered around the room felt almost unreal, like remnants of a life that had become a stranger to me. I walked to the closet and pulled out a suitcase, the reality of leaving sinking in with every item I packed.My phone buzzed, breaking the calm of the room.. I pulled it up to saw a new message from Anna."Hey girl! What's wrong with your phone?! Call me, it's important."I couldn't ign
Last Updated : 2024-08-05
Latest chapter
The "EX" Factor Chapter OnehundredTen
Two days later, a storm brewed in Julie's mind.She exhaled a swirling cloud of smoke, the cigarette quaking between her fingers. Her crimson nails sparkled under the room's dim light, like icebergs floating in dark waters, as she paced, simmering with barely contained fury."He found out, Caleb!” she spat, her words sharp as glass. “This entire pregnancy charade exploded right in my face. And the scandal? Instead of tearing them apart, it stitched them together!” She flicked the ash away with an irritated flourish. “Together! Can you fathom that?”In the corner, Caleb reclined, arms crossed and unfazed.His face wore a mask of cool indifference, but his piercing eyes betrayed a storm of tension. “So now you want to what? Throw another fit and wish for a miracle?”Julie halted mid-stride, her gaze hardening like steel. “I have no time for your clever jibes, Caleb. I summoned you here because I know you’re just as desperate as I am.”He raised an eyebrow, untouched by her venom. “Desp
The "EX" Factor Chapter OneHundredNine
“Why both of us for dinner, Sam?” Daniel asked, his voice a curious blend of confusion and caution.Across the table, he met my gaze, eyes flicking to Tyler.. arms resolutely crossed beside him.Tension thickened the air, a palpable shroud that felt suffocating.I drew a deep breath, forcing a smile that barely scratched the surface, as my heart raced in protest.This was no walk in the park.I had to confront the truth, to lay my feelings bare before them both.“I needed to talk,” I stated, my voice quaking like autumn leaves in the breeze.I looked first at Daniel, my steadfast rock amidst stormy seas, then to Tyler, who felt like home, even in our complex history.Daniel arched an eyebrow, his features softening with a glimmer of understanding in his eyes.“Talk about what, exactly?”I flicked my gaze towards Tyler.His calm eyes locked with mine, steady as a lighthouse, yet filled with an undercurrent of tension.. he was waiting, needing something from me.After all this time keep
The "EX" Factor Chapter OneHundredEight
It wasn't up to two hours after I arrived at the gallery the next day that Tyler came in.The door rang softly as he stepped inside, and I felt a tightness in my chest.He was exactly his typical self.. his presence commanding, that familiar air of confidence mixed with something else today... weakness (that could be used to hurt someone or something).His eyes scanned the room until they met mine, and for a moment, the world outside stopped to exist.I couldn't breathe. I didn't know if I wanted to feel the weight of him being here, or if I wished he'd just turn around and leave.I didn't know how to feel anymore."Sam," Tyler said softly, his voice cracking (a) little, like he hadn't spoken in days.Maybe he hadn't.He'd been working non-stop, trying to clear my name, working next to newspapers, web sites, and TV team, and even bringing in private investigators.All the things he'd done in the past few days... it was impossible to ignore the effort.I gave him a stiff nod, barely ab
The "EX" Factor Chapter OneHundredSeven
The soft glow of her phone screen lit the darkened gallery.Samantha sat alone in her office, her chair tilted back, eyes closed, trying to find a moment of peace in the middle of the storm.But peace was hard to see/hard to catch.The past few days had been a blur of media rushed craziness, statements that someone has done something bad, and questions she hadn't been able to answer.She felt like her life had been turned upside down, each piece scattered like glass pieces she couldn't quite put back together.Then, the phone rang.She reached for it, deeply wiping a stray tear from her cheek before answering."Hello?" Her voice was rough-sounding, still recovering from the weight of everything that had happened."Samantha," Tyler's voice cut through the static, familiar yet mixed with a tiny bit of a sense of extreme importance. "I need you to watch the news."Samantha felt a knot in her stomach tighten, a mixture of curiosity and a sick, upset feeling.What now?She quickly looked a
The "EX" Factor Chapter OneHundredSix
Tyler sat at his desk, a faint layer of sweat on his brow.The phone sat in front of him, the screen flashing with missed calls and messages.He hadn't answered any of them. Not yet. Not until he had the answers.Robert, his ever-loyal personal helper, paced across the room, moving and wiggling around with a stack of papers in his hands.His usually calm behavior/personality was visibly shaken, a difficult to notice sign of the extreme importance they were both facing.Tyler's office was weirdly and unpleasantly quiet, aside from the occasional clink of a pen against the desk and the rustling of paper as Robert skimmed through another document."You're sure this is it?" Tyler's voice broke the silence, his tone tight.Robert didn't respond immediately, his eyes fixed on the document in front of him.Finally, he met Tyler's look, his face tightly stretched."I'm not sure about anything anymore, but this is as close as we're going to get. Julie's fingerprints are all over this."Tyler's
The "EX" Factor Chapter OneHundredFive
Next day.Samantha's heart raced as she slammed the car door, her phone still pressed against her ear."Rachael, slow down. What's going on?"There was rushing and upset rustling on the other end of the line."Ma'am, you need to get here. The news is all over the place! Rumors are spreading about you! Your name's everywhere.""What?" Samantha froze, her hand gripping the phone tightly. Her pulse quickened. "What? What are you saying?""I... I don't even know where to start. The media's calling it insider trading, theft of money, all these crazy statements that someone has done something bad. It's..." Rachael's voice broke, and Samantha could hear her fast breathing. "It's huge, Sam. You need to get to the gallery now. People are already showing up, asking questions."Samantha's mind spun.Theft of money? Insider trading?Her name, the one she'd worked so hard to build, was now being dragged through the mud. How?She didn't even have time to think.She ran inside the gallery, her heart
The "EX" Factor Chapter OneHundredFour
Tyler jogged through the hospital parking lot, his pulse pounding. He caught sight of Samantha's car just as she started the engine. The taillights glowed like a warning, and before he could call her name, she sped off."Damn it," he mumbled, rushing to his own car.Sliding into the driver's seat, Tyler started the engine and pulled onto the street, keeping a cautious distance behind her. She was heading toward the familiar route to her gallery. He squeezed tightly the wheel tighter.The image of her in the hospital flashed in his mind.. her shock, her disappointment, and the cold way she walked out.He needed to talk to her, to explain everything before she shut him out completely.Samantha parked in front of her gallery, stepped out, and slammed the car door with more force than necessary.She smoothed her skirt and straightened her shoulders, forcing herself to focus on work.The noise and confusion of the last few weeks had been very strong, and Tyler showing up at the hospital ha
The "EX" Factor Chapter OneHundredThree
And then, the vibration of his phone shook Tyler from his thoughts. He frowned, quickly looking at the screen. It wasn't Samantha.. it was an unknown number. Waiting for a moment, he finally answered. "Hello?" "Is this Mr. Tyler Wills?" a woman's voice asked, professional but extremely important. "Yes," he said carefully. "This is Mercy General Hospital. Julie Spencer is here. She's been in a car crash, and your number was listed as her emergency contact. We need you to come immediately." Tyler's heart suddenly moved, his grip tightening on the phone. "A sudden crash? Is she... is she okay?" "She's stable for now, but she needs medical attention. We'd appreciate it if you could get here as soon as possible." He didn't know what to think. The last thing he wanted was for anyone.. Julie.. to die, no matter how complicated things had become. He grabbed his keys, heading straight for the door. ********** Tyler drove like a man possessed, weaving through traffic with white-knu
The "EX" Factor Chapter OneHundredTwo
Two weeks later.The soft hum of Tyler's office air conditioning did little to cut through the heat of his thoughts.He leaned back in his leather chair, a glass of untouched scotch on the desk beside him.The past two weeks had been nothing short of a rollercoaster, each twist tightening the coil of tension in his chest.Julie had been quiet.. too quiet.After Robert's act of asking questions and trying to find the truth about something told about cracks in her story, Tyler had tried to maintain his calmness, waiting his time as the truth slowly fell apart ruined.He hadn't angrily stood up to her yet, but the weight of knowing she was likely lying bore down on him like an acting to cause death from not having air fog.Meanwhile, Caleb had been unstoppable.Tyler had learned about his rival's difficult to notice moves to ruin the reputation of him, whispering doubts into the ears of possible partners and people or businesses who give money to help start businessesIt wasn't anything
