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FORTY-NINE
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2024-10-29 19:42:56"Why can't I come along? Last I checked, I was also part of this family" Darren complained. They were all cramped in the backseat while he drove them to the airport. Two weeks had passed since Max told her he'd cut ties with Lisandra. He had been extra attentive and touchy, following her to work, staying in his office, or trailing behind her like a toddler. He took time off his work, claiming he was giving Darren the chance to learn how to manage Carter Industries. Not only that but he'd promised to retire in ten years.
"We can raise our kids here or anywhere you want. It's your choice. All you have to do is ask and I'll give you everything you want" Emilia wanted to believe they could have the life he envisioned for them. She wanted to think that was the end of Lisandra and that they wouldn't see her again but she knew better. "Are you okay?" Max asked lifting their twined hands and placing a kiss on the bacRelated chapters
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife FIFTY
Max watched her sleep, her chest rising and falling in rhythmically. He loved the little pout she made while she slept or was in deep concentration. The moment they arrived, she told him she was going to take a shower and he'd thought he could catch her before she was done but Zander had decided he was hungry. And because the kid was still mad at him, he spent longer than necessary to tell him what he wanted. A part of him had been tempted to throw Emilia under the bus and he would have done it if he thought Zander would believe it. To him, his mother could never do wrong. They finally decided to have a sandwich each and Max tried to bribe him with another game but ended up promising to get him two. They shook on it and reconciled. Being the overachiever he was, he told him about the vacations they took when they were young and the ridiculous stuff Darren used to do that landed them in trouble. Before he knew it, an hour had passed. By the time he got to their room,
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife FIFTY-ONE
"How's your vacation?"TC snorted "This isn't a vacation. I got here yesterday and scouted the property twice. It was clear but I have this nagging feeling that something isn't right so I'm keeping one eye open" "Even so, you're still in Hawaii man. Why isn't my job as interesting as yours?" "Stop complaining and find me the link between Carter Industries and the Russians. Max might not have signed that deal but I need to know how he got in touch with them in the first place" "He has a lot of employees. It'll take some time before I can look through all of them" "Then stop yapping and get on with it. I'd like to... Shit! I gotta go. I see a dog sniffing around" he hung up and got out of his chair. Luckily, Carter had agreed to install cameras outside and a motion sensor that only sent notifications to their phones when tripped. He brought up the image to find a guy dressed in a white T-shirt and black trousers creeping around the
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife FIFTY-TWO
"Miss Brown, Yes?" "Depends on who's asking" she replied sipping her wine. She had decided to go out and celebrate early. Soon, news of the death of Mrs. Carter would be spreading around and she couldn't wait for it. Ever since Max had introduced her as his wife, Lisandra had despised her. For taking her place and being arrogant about it. She'd thought Genevieve could deal with her but useless hag had ruined everything. If Max didn't protect her so much, she'd also be dead along with her daughter-in-law. Max would be so heartbroken and she would be there to comfort him. Like she always did. "A friend. Can I buy you a drink?" the man asked. He had a weird accent and his voice made her feel uneasy. But she was used to all types of men hitting on her. So she brushed off the feeling and replied, "No thanks. I can buy my own drinks" "Independent woman. I like that" Taking the chair opposite her, he leaned forward and
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife FIFTY-THREE
Emilia was walking back home from the beach when she felt a chill run down her spine. They'd spent the whole day in the water and Max was chasing Zander back to the house after teaching him how to surf. With all the things they'd done, she wondered how they still had the energy to run around. Although, she couldn't deny that it made her happy to see them that way. It wasn't hard for Zander to call Max dad anymore and he didn't overreact every time he found them arguing. He was comfortable with him, like how father and son should be. She realized she was the happiest when they were both happy. Finally, they were the family she'd longed for and she wanted it to always be like that. But lately, she had been feeling uneasy. As if someone was watching her. Yesterday she had decided to take a walk in the evening and she could have sworn someone was following her. She didn't see anyone but she felt it. And today she also had the same feeling. Was it her paranoia or was somet
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife FIFTY-FOUR
"Hey sis, your cheating boyfriend is here. Should I kick him out?" "Are you sure you're strong enough to handle him?" Darren clutched his chest "Are you still defending him? And here I thought I would go back to being your best friend. I'm hurt, Gwen" "Tell Mel to give you a glass of milk. It should help you with your broken heart" Slapping him on the back, Gwen left to see what Albert wanted. Ever since she'd found out about him and Lisandra, he hadn't stopped texting her and telling her how sorry he was. So far, she had done everything she could to avoid him but it was time they spoke and ended things officially. He couldn't continue following her and she couldn't avoid him forever. "Gwen, Please don't kick me out," he said as soon as he saw her. "Have a sit then" she pointed to a chair. Talking to him in the living room was better even though there was a chance that nosy Darren would be eavesdropping. She couldn't
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife FIFTY-FIVE
"Hey, buddy? What did you bring your favorite uncle?" "You're my only uncle and I brought you a shirt. Dad said you'd love it" Zander said. "If your father said I'd love it then I will definitely not love it. Let's see it, the sooner the disappointment, the faster I'll get over it" "Let's go. It's in my bag" Hand in hand, Zander and Darren went up the stairs. Emilia smiled, sitting on the arm of the chair Max had just sat on but he dragged her onto his lap and nuzzled his nose on the crook of her neck. She sighed. "Darren's right. It's as if he knows you picked something awful for him" Max grumbled "It's not awful. I like that shirt" "Then why didn't you get one for yourself?" "It's too bright," he said then realizing he was contradicting himself, he grinned up at her "I guarantee Dar will love it. He's my brother and I know him" "It's your birthday that's coming up soon. Let's see wh
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife FIFTY-SIX
"Ma'am" TC got to his feet as she entered the kitchen. The warm weather in Hawaii had made her even more beautiful. Tanned skin, bright eyes, lighter hair color, they all suited her. He understood the reason Carter was protective of her and went around snapping at any man who looked her way. "Walk with me. I need to talk to you about something" she said heading towards the door that led to the garden. He wondered if she'd somehow sensed something in Hawaii. He'd stopped two guys from attacking her. One had been following her for some time while the other had been waiting for her at home. TC had grabbed the first one and they'd fought but since he had attacked first, it meant he had the upper hand. As for the second one, he'd had to knock him out cold and carry him to an old empty warehouse Trent had discovered. Both men had a tattoo of two hands shaking meaning they were Petrov's guys. It also meant that they wouldn't talk even if he tortured them so he'd decided
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife FIFTY-SEVEN
"Hey, do you have time for lunch? We need to talk" "I was on vacation and today is my first day back at work. I don't think I'll be able to breathe let alone have lunch" "It's important Em" "How about tomorrow then?" "Dammit, just come see me. I managed to free up my lunch today and I can't say it over the phone" Thea was grumpy sometimes but never snappy. The fact that she sounded so curt made Emilia sit up. "What's wrong Thea?" "Lunch. I'll come to you at the hotel" she answered then hung up. The call put her on edge. Instead of concentrating on her work, she spent the whole morning wondering why Thea wanted to have lunch urgently until one of the employees came to get her. Apparently, one of the guests complained about them and he wanted to see the manager. Since he'd booked one of the VIP suites, Emilia couldn't ignore him. "What happened?" she asked the woman who was part of the executive housekeeping team
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The Vendetta of the Returned Wife Epilogue.5
EMILIA & MAX He didn't have to worry about the kids. They loved staying with the Jennings, especially now that they'd adopted a little girl. Zander was fascinated by Blossom while Gabby treated her as her doll. Soon Max was sure they were going to have sleepovers and joint parties. He had an hour before his flight so he called Darren. Gwen's outburst had reminded him how he'd neglected them over the years compared to when they were young. He thought they were grown-ups and didn't need him anymore but they were still his siblings. Even when he was grieving, he still had to remember he wasn't the only one who'd lost a mother. They both had. Now three of them only had each other. There was also the fact that his girlfriend had lied about who she was and her actions had led to their mother's death. He couldn't imagine the kind of pain Darren was going through. "Hey, what's up?" "I brought the kids to the Jennings for the weekend and I have an hour. Wanna have a drink?" "No thanks. I
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife Epilogue.4
HENDRIX & SAWYER "Hey, have you seen..." "Shut it" Hendrix whispered "I finally managed to put her down for a nap. If you wake her up with your big mouth I will push you off the balcony" Sawyer bit back a laugh "My watch, I'm looking for my watch" "You have more than twenty watches, babe. Why do you bother looking for one?" "The one Em and Zander gave me when he was two. Remember?" "You lost it?" He screeched in a whisper. "I misplaced it. That's why I'm asking if you have seen it" "Why are you so careless? Have Cosima help you find it. I'm going to catch some sleep before that little devil wakes up" Sawyer watched him head to their bedroom thinking that he was thriving as a parent. It suited him. He loved being a dad and every time Blossom made a sound, he'd rush to see what their daughter wanted. The adoption process had been hard but it was worth it. He couldn't ask for anything more out of life. Well, except for having his friend back. No one could have expected t
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife Epilogue.3
THEA & PRESTON Thea looked around sighing. While newly married women were on their honeymoon, she was busy at the office trying to solve the latest crime which just happened to be a breaking and entering case. Because she'd held her wedding out of the blue, her boss had told her to first tie up some loose ends before taking her vacation days. She'd never wanted to punch the man so bad. It wasn't as if she was the only cop in the building and she was only taking two weeks off. At one point she'd even thought of resigning but she loved being a cop. So she was busy debating whether to ask for a transfer to another division. Could she be better at something else? Say traffic police or... The thought of it had her shivering. She would rather quit than join another division and start all over again. But as much as she loved her job, it wasn't fair to Preston. He was the one who had convinced her to get married hastily in an attempt to cheer up their friends. They'd only been engaged for a
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife Epilogue.2
DARREN Even though he knew the streets of New York like the back of his hand, Darren felt lost. Every time he looked up, it took him a moment to remember where he was and why he was there. Sometimes he'd find himself in a place but not recall how he got there. If he'd listened to Preston and not rushed to fall in love, he wouldn't be in that situation. A few days after his mother's death, Nadia, no, Oksana had gone to him and confessed everything. She thought he needed to know who she was and why she'd approached him. As if knowing she was the one who got Lisandra out of prison would make him feel better. If he had known what she was going to say, he would have chosen not to listen. He would have decided to only know his Nadia and not the woman she claimed to be. He didn't want to believe she was capable of lying and killing. Or that she had family ties to a Russian criminal organization. He'd fallen in love with her because she was different from the women he'd known. Innocent, c
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife Epilogue
GWEN & TC "Am I allowed to ask where you're coming from?" "I would tell you but then I'd have to kill you" TC replied. Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her, a light peck on the mouth, and then deciding it wasn't enough, he pried her lips open with his tongue. Gwen sighed, opening up to him. He needed to come up with new ways to distract her from asking about his job. Although she wasn't complaining. He had a way of making her forget everything with only a simple touch. She tried to remember if anyone had ever made her feel that way. Was there anyone before him? She couldn't recall. No one could compare to the way he made her feel. "How long until we can go on that vacation? I want to be able to do this all day without worrying about..." Her phone rang. He jerked his head back smiling but she knew he was annoyed. "Damn phone calls" "What happened to being a supportive partner?" He drew his lower lip between his teeth. A sign that his patience was thinning. She answ
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife ONE HUNDRED & THIRTY-SEVEN
It was easy to picture them having a girls' day out together with Gwen and Thea. Gabby too. They would go to spas, have their hair and nails done, and do all the girly things she'd missed out on doing with her mother. Her mind conjured the perfect family gathering. With all her friends and family. Wouldn't that be something? "I felt the same way about Max. He looks so much like his father. I couldn't believe it" "Honestly I always feel proud whenever people tell me how much Gaby resembles me. It's so satisfying to know she at least takes after me and not her father" "She does. Down to the shape of your nose. She will break a lot of hearts when she grows up" "Hush, don't let Max hear that. He's embraced this Texan lifestyle. Next thing you know he's going to buy a shotgun to keep boys away from his daughter" Emilia had no doubt he would do that in a few years. The thought of him fighting with teenagers over his daughter excited her. She couldn't wait to see who would win. "I don
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife ONE HUNDRED & THIRTY-SIX
Seeing that man had made her feel uneasy. All throughout yesterday she was nervous and kept jumping at the smallest sound. Sleep evaded her because she couldn't stop worrying about her children. What if someone broke in and hurt them? She just got Zander back. Losing him would destroy her. Max must have noticed how on edge she was because he took the kids and Mel out, telling her to relax. It was his way of giving her a day off. But all it did was give her more nerves. Instead of resting, she went around the house, looking for something out of the ordinary. A broken window or door. Anything to indicate she wasn't overreacting. Her search stopped outside Genevieve's door. Since Gwen went off on her, she hadn't left her room. Emilia wondered if the woman was repenting. That was if she was capable of repenting. She wasn't a saint but she knew she couldn't ignore her child, especially if he was in the hospital. How had she done it? Genevieve sure was one of a kind. Emilia couldn't believ
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife ONE HUNDRED & THIRTY-FIVE
Lisandra's heart skipped a beat just as realization dawned on her. She wasn't free. Those guards had known the police were on their way and they had left after getting rid of any evidence that could point to any of them being there. That was why the house was so clean. They'd scrubbed down every inch of it, probably getting rid of evidence like fingerprints and stray hairs. Son of a bitch, her benefactor had really called the police on her. But why? Their deal was to distract the Carters while she took her revenge. Had she had a change of mind? Damn that bitch to hell. Spinning around, she ran the other way, swearing she would rather die than go back to prison. When she got to the road, her legs quickened, hoping the police cars wouldn't catch up with her. The second they realized the house was empty, they would know she had escaped and start chasing her. As she speed walked, she tried to think of reasons why her benefactor had cast her aside. Had she done something to change her min
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife ONE HUNDRED & THIRTY-FOUR
The guards were acting strangely. Lisandra had been keeping an eye on them and that's how she knew something was up. Ever since she stepped foot in that house, they hadn't let her out of their sight. Everywhere she went they followed. Kitchen, living room, bedroom, and even the bathroom. Their excuse? Her benefactor had told them to keep an eye on her so she wouldn't escape. It didn't make sense that she'd want to escape when she had nowhere to go but that bitch had insisted on having her men there. But before going to bed she noticed how they all sat in the living room watching TV. She had never seen them all together in one place so she thought maybe they were celebrating something or they had come to trust her. However, before she could get to her room, one of them got up and made it there ahead of her. He checked the windows to make sure they were locked then stood outside her door, telling her to hurry up. Normally they just let her do whatever she wanted. Lisandra dragged her
