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Buried feelings, unfinished business
Last Updated:
2024-12-14 17:16:34
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The One He Let Go   Torn truths
Aiden I couldnât get her face out of my mind. The woman at the eventâno, not just any woman. My mother or at least the woman who used to be my mother before she decided I wasnât good enough to keep. Sheâd looked right at me, and for a moment, I thought I saw something. Recognition, maybe? Regret? But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by the same polished smile she wore for everyone else. Now, she was someone else entirelyâKendra, a congresswoman, a stranger. But no matter how much she wanted to pretend otherwise, I knew. She couldnât fool me. That was Kelly, my mom. The image of her with that manâAdrian, I think his name was, made my blood boil. The way she smiled at him, the way he held her hand so confidently, and the way their little girl clung to him. Harper, was it? Thatâs what sheâd called him âDaddy.â The word grated in my ears. That shouldâve been me. I miss her so much, yet I hate her aswell, how could she not call me for once in 5 years? I thought after what h
Last Updated : 2024-12-15The One He Let Go   The past
Kelly The faint hum of the coffee machine in the corner of the kitchen couldnât drown out my restless thoughts. My mind keeps drifting back to Aiden again no matter how hard I try. The image of his face, his deep, accusing eyes, played on an endless loop in my mind. It had been five years. Five long years since I last saw him. He had grown taller, leanerâhis cheekbones sharper, his features a spitting image of his Father, though his lips had the fullness of my own. Aiden was no longer the little boy I remembered. He was a young man now, but I couldnât help but picture him as the boy who used to hug me tight before bedtime, whispering, âGoodnight, Mommy. I love you.â âMommy?â Harperâs voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She stood in the doorway, clutching her favorite stuffed dinosaur. Her bright eyes stared at me, a mix of concern and curiosity. âAre you sad?â I quickly composed myself, forcing a soft smile. âNo, sweetheart. I was just thinking.â Harper tilted her head
Last Updated : 2024-12-16The One He Let Go   Echoes of the past
Kelly The weekend was meant to be relaxing, a rare opportunity for Harper to unwind after her first week at her new school. Adrian had suggested taking her to the park, a routine we created after Harper turned 1. He had appointments lined up for the day, leaving me to enjoy some quiet time with Harper. We arrived at Willowcreek Park around noon. The air was crisp, and laughter echoed from the playground. Harper's eyes lit up as she dashed toward the swings. I smiled, following her with measured steps, enjoying the sight of her carefree happiness. âMommy, push me higher!â Harperâs giggles pulled me back to the present. I obliged, pushing her gently as she squealed with joy. âYouâre getting so strong, Mommy!â she teased, making me laugh. But that laughter faded the moment my gaze landed on a figure near the sandbox. Aiden. He wasnât alone. Evelyn was with him, looking as polished as ever in a beige coat and dark sunglasses. My breath hitched. My instincts screamed to grab Harper
Last Updated : 2024-12-17The One He Let Go   Defending the woman I care for
Kelly The warmth of Adrianâs family home always made me feel welcome, even though every time I stepped foot in it, a slight feeling of unease gripped me. Still, it was nice to be here with Harperâshe had grown fond of her grandfather and grandmother over the years, and today seemed like no exception. The dinner table was warm, filled with the smell of rich food and the gentle hum of conversation. Adrian's family had invited us over for a quiet Sunday gathering, something they did every now and then. Harper as usual was her lively self, showing off her drawings to anyone who would listen. Olivia, Adrianâs younger sister, was animated as always, discussing her latest project at work. âMommy!â Harperâs voice broke my thoughts as she dashed toward me from the living room, her little legs carrying her with excitement. I smiled, picking her up and planting a kiss on her cheek. âWhat is it, sweetie?â âIâm going to show Grandma my drawings!â she exclaimed, holding up a colorful stac
Last Updated : 2024-12-18The One He Let Go   Crossing the line
AndersonI stand at the edge of my office, my eyes fixed on the skyline outside, Washington DC never sleeps, but tonight, neither do I. I can feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me. The tension in the air is suffocating, and itâs all because of one woman: Kelly. Sheâs always been a challenge, and Iâve always thrived on challenges. But this... this is different. When I first met her, she was a simple girl eager to prove herself. Sheâd been that way, naive in the way she believed that her ambition alone could make her untouchable. It wasnât her fault. Sheâd been too trusting, too willing to believe in people, even someone like me. And I took advantage of that. It was easy back then. I had the power, the influence, and Kelly had nothing but her name. But now? Now, sheâs not that girl. I hate that Iâm forced to admit it, but Kelly has evolved into something far more dangerous than I could have ever imagined. Sheâs smartâtoo smart, and she knows exactly how to play the
Last Updated : 2024-12-19The One He Let Go   Silence speaks
Kelly The sound of my phone buzzed on my desk as I sat there, flipping through paperwork. My mind was elsewhere, focused on the clothing line I had launched recently. It was an investment, but to Anderson it must've looked like a rebellion. It was a proof that I was more than just the congresswoman everyone expected me to be. It was my way of showing my independence, but more importantly, it was for Aiden. I had plans. I wanted his adulthood to be smooth, it was my way of filling my absence for all these years. I had thought Anderson might try something, but I never imagined heâd stoop to this level. The rumors were circulating like fire, each one more damaging than the last. The fashion line I was building had started gaining some real attraction, but Anderson, ever the manipulator, decided to sabotage that. False rumors spread about the quality of my clothes, and whispers about how I was mismanaging my staffs flooded the industry. It was no longer just personal, It was now my b
Last Updated : 2024-12-20The One He Let Go   What?
Kelly I could feel the weight of Avaâs words, the sharp implication behind them. She was taunting me, and she knew it. She had always known exactly how to get under my skin, even years ago. She knew the torment I had been through with Anderson and her mother, and now she was trying to pull me back into that dark place. For a moment, the urge to leave washed over me. I wanted to walk away from this table, from this meeting. But I stayed, I couldnât let her see me rattled. Not after my years of rehab, after everything I had done to move on.Susan glanced at me, her warm eyes laced with concern. She sensed the tension, though she didnât seem to understand its source. She tried to smooth over the awkwardness with a soft smile. âHow have you been, Kendra? I mean howâs work?â Susan asked, tilting her head with genuine curiosity. âIâve missed you. Itâs been way too long since weâve had a proper catch-up.â Her words caught me off guard, pulling me from my thoughts. Forcing a small smile,
Last Updated : 2024-12-21The One He Let Go   SOS
Kelly Sliding into the driverâs seat, I exhaled sharply, my pulse hammering in my ears. Clara's SOS call had been hideen yet urgent enough to drag me out of an already chaotic day. My thoughts raced as I sped toward the office, each scenario more unsettling than the last. What could have possibly happened to warrant such a desperate call? Arriving at the building, I ascended to the third floor, the familiar scent of polished floors and light coffee filling the air. But as I stepped off the elevator, chaos greeted me. A manâs voice thundered through the hallway, demanding to see someone. âKendra Lewis!, tell her I must see her or else I will keep disturbing" My stomach dropped as recognition hit me like a train. Anderson! What does he even want from me now? The guards were holding him back, with Clara nervously attempting to intervene. The moment they saw me, their collective tension eased. "Ma'am," Clara said, breathless, "we tried to stop himâ" "It's fine," I cut her
Last Updated : 2024-12-22
Latest chapter
The One He Let Go   The end
Dear Readers, I canât believe weâve reached the end of Kellyâs story. Writing this book has been an emotional rollercoaster, and I know many of you have felt the highs and lows just as deeply as I have. Kellyâs journey wasnât easy, there was pain, heartbreak, and moments where it seemed like happiness was out of reach. But through it all, she found strength, love, and a future worth fighting for. To everyone who stuck by this story, who cried, laughed, and rooted for Kelly, Aiden, Adrian, and even the complicated characters like Anderson and Kate, thank you. Your love and support mean everything. Though this book has ended, Kellyâs story will always live on in our hearts. And who knows? Maybe one day, there will be more to tell. But for now, I hope this ending brings you the closure and warmth that Kelly fought so hard to find. With love and gratitude, MOONCHILD.
The One He Let Go   Epilogue: The real wedding
Kelly The sun is warm against my skin, the sky a perfect colour of blue. A soft breeze carries the scent of roses and fresh-cut grass. The sound of distant laughter and murmured conversations fills the air, blending seamlessly with the soft notes of a violin playing somewhere nearby. Itâs perfect. Everything about this day feels surreal, like stepping into a dream I never dared to imagine. A real wedding. Not a hidden ceremony. Not a desperate attempt to silence rumors. Just love. I close my eyes for a brief moment, taking it all in. The gentle rustling of the trees. The faint sound of conversation. The quiet presence of everyone who matters. Adrianâs family is here. After months of resentment and distance, they came. His mother, his father, Olivia, both watching with cautious but genuine smiles. Susan is here, standing with them, her expression warm, proud. And in the distance, I see Aiden straightening his suit, looking nervous and determined at the same time. Harper,
The One He Let Go   New beginning
KellyNine months. Nine long, exhausting, emotional months. And now, Iâm here. In a hospital bed, drenched in sweat, gripping Adrianâs hand so tightly that Iâm sure Iâve cut off his circulation. My body feels like itâs being torn apart, and yet, I push. âJust a little more, Kelly!â the doctor encourages. Easy for them to say. They arenât the ones feeling like their body is being split open. Adrian leans close, his lips brushing my forehead. âYouâre almost there,â he murmurs, his voice steady, calming. âIâve got you.â Tears sting my eyes. I donât know if itâs from the pain or the overwhelming feeling that this moment is actually happening. And then, a sharp cry fills the room. My breath catches. The world seemed to stop. The doctor lifts a tiny, wriggling body into the air. âItâs a girl!â A sob escapes me. I collapse back against the pillows, my whole body trembling. Tears slip down my temples as I hear my daughterâs first sounds. I did it. Sheâs here. Adrian presses a
The One He Let Go   Silent mercy
Kelly The morning is cold, the kind of D.C winter chill that seeps through the layers of your clothes and lingers deep in your bones. I clutch my coffee cup tighter, trying to soak in the warmth as I step out of the cafÃĐ. The city is alive as always, cars honking, people hurrying past, lost in their own worlds. And then I see her. At first, I didn't recognize the figure crouched near the side of the building, wrapped in an oversized hoodie, the fabric frayed at the edges. Her hair is tangled, falling over a gaunt face. Her fingers, red from the cold, clutch a small cardboard sign. âHungry. Please help.âMy breath catches. Kate. Sheâs thinner than I remember. A shell of the woman she once was. She sits with her knees pulled close, gaze darting to every passerby, but no one stops. No one even looks at her. And I realize, this is what rock bottom looks like. For a long moment, I just stood there. Then, before I can talk myself out of it, I move. She doesnât notice me at fir
The One He Let Go   Mending whatâs broken
Kelly It happens on a quiet afternoon. Adrian and I are sitting on the couch, Harper curled up between us, absentmindedly flipping through a picture book while Adrian scrolls through emails on his phone. Itâs peaceful. And then, I see his posture stiffen. I glance at him. âWhatâs wrong?â His brows are furrowed, lips pressing into a thin line as he reads whatever message is on his screen. For a long moment, he doesnât answer. Then, finally, he exhales, setting the phone down on his thigh. âMy parents,â he says, rubbing his jaw. âThey want to talk.â I blink. I wasnât expecting that. âTalkâĶ as in?â âAs in dinner. A sit-down conversation.â He shakes his head slightly, as if heâs still processing it himself. âThey sent an invitation. No conditions. JustâĶ a request to see me.â I canât tell if thatâs a good thing or a bad thing. His parents and I became a sore subject, one of the few places where his love for me had cost him something. I know how deeply it hurt him when they rej
The One He Let Go   The final goodbye
KellyThe call came in the middle of the night. I wake up to the sound of my phone vibrating on the nightstand. My first thought is that itâs Adrian, maybe heâs checking in from the living room where he sometimes falls asleep after reading. But when I grab my phone and see Susanâs name glowing on the screen, my stomach twists. I answer on the second ring. âHeâs gone,â she says softly. Two words. Just two words, and for a second, I feel absolutely nothing. I sit there in the dark, the phone pressed to my ear, my mind blank. I should have expected it, Andersonâs health had been failing, and yetâĶ hearing it, knowing itâs real, knowing there will never be another word, another regret-filled gaze, itâs different. Susan stays quiet, as if she knows I needed a moment. Then, like a wave finally crashing, it hits. A sharp, aching weight pressing down on my chest. My throat tightens, my vision blurs, and before I can stop it, I let out a small, choked sob. I feel Adrian shift be
The One He Let Go   Goodbye thatâs long overdue
KellyI grip Aidenâs hand tighter as we walk down the hallway, past closed doors and nurses who barely glance at us. His fingers clutch mine, his other hand curled into a fist at his side. I wonder if heâs nervous. If he regrets coming. Because I do. I swallow hard as we stop outside Andersonâs room. The door is slightly ajar, but I donât move. Aiden looks up at me, uncertain. His dark eyes are searching, waiting for me to give him permission to go inside. I force myself to nod. âAre you ready?â He hesitates, then nods back. I push the door open. And we stepped. Anderson looksâĶ different. His skin is pale, almost gray under the harsh hospital lights. The strong, confident posture he once carried is gone, replaced by sunken shoulders and frail limbs tangled in hospital sheets. But his eyes, the sharpness in them, the smug curve of his lips, thatâs still him. His gaze drifts past me, landing on Aiden. And his smirk, despite everything, still appears. âThanks for coming.â Hi
The One He Let Go   The past catches up
Kelly The call came in the middle of the night. My phone buzzes against the nightstand, dragging me from sleep. I blink, groggy, confusion heavy in my head as I fumble for it. Adrian stirs beside me, mumbling something unintelligible before rolling over. I donât recognize the number. But the moment I press the phone to my ear, Susanâs voice, low and weighted with something different fills the silence. âKelly, Iâm sorry for calling so late.â I sit up instantly, dread curling in my stomach. âWhatâs wrong?âA beat. ThenâĶ.âItâs Anderson. He doesnât have much time.â The words donât sink in right away. My fingers tighten around the phone. âWhat do you mean?â Susan exhales. âHis condition worsened tonight. The doctors donât think heâll make it much longer. If youââ She hesitates. âIf Aiden wants to see him, it has to be soon.â The room feels colder. I glance at the clock. 2:17 AM. The world outside quiet by this moment. But my body knows. My body feels the shift, I felt goo
The One He Let Go   A childâs, A motherâs regret
KellyHarper was avoiding me. It wasnât like the usual tantrums when she was upset over bedtime or not getting a second helping with ice cream. This was different. It had been days now, long enough for the silence to settle like a weight in my chest. She wouldnât sit next to me at breakfast. Wouldnât let me brush her hair. Wouldnât even look me in the eyes when I spoke to her. But she clung to Adrian. If Adrian walked into a room, she was at his side in seconds, grabbing his hand, leaning against him, giggling at every little thing he said. She held onto him like he was her safe place, like she was afraid of something. Or someone. And that someone was me. I didnât know what I had done. But I knew it was breaking me. âĶâĶIt was bedtime when I finally couldnât take it anymore. Adrian had just tucked Harper in, but instead of curling into her blankets the way she usually did, she turned away from me when I walked into the room. I swallowed the hurt and sat on the edge of her be
