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FORTY-THREE
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2024-09-28 15:01:11"Hey, handsome. How was your day?" Emilia asked, leaning on one of the columns on the front porch. The fact that she'd been waiting for him to get home warmed him from the inside out. Striding toward her, he dropped his briefcase, pulled her into his body, and kissed her until they were both fighting for air.
"Better now that you're in my arms. Were you waiting for me?" "Uh-huh. Are you hungry? We baked some cookies earlier" "I'm hungry but not for food" "What do you want then?" "You" he buried his nose in her neck and inhaled "I like coming back home to you" For a long he'd dreaded the day coming to an end because it meant coming home to a place without her. At some point, he had moved to the other house and only came back occasionally to check on his family. A few months before she returned, he'd been forced to move back because Lisandra had been onto him. She thought he had another woman. No oneRelated chapters
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife FORTY-FOUR
"I'm sorry, did you just say kidnap or am I hearing things?" "It sounds funny. Doesn't it? The idea of me kidnapping you so you wouldn't sign a contract." "Not funny but unreasonable." "Okay, let's forget about it then but don't say I didn't warn you," she told him knocking his hands away and leaving. Max stared at the door in confusion. He had so many questions but knew she wasn't going to answer any of them. Once in a while, her stubborn streak would make an appearance and he was afraid this was one of those times. He thought to ignore what she'd said but then a strange thought flit through his mind, making his stomach drop. Was that the reason she'd come back? Because she knew about the contract? Who sent her and what would she gain if he listened to her? Had everything been a lie? The contract she was referring to involved a new shipping company. They had a deal with another company before but it tur
Last Updated : 2024-09-28The Vendetta of the Returned Wife FORTY-FIVE
"Change of plans. I'm moving the timeline up. Tell your men to get ready" "What do you mean by moving up the timeline?" "Are you so stupid that I have to explain everything to you?" "Yes. Let's start with why you're so angry today. Who was it that had the audacity to anger you today, your highness?" Albert said putting down the magazine he had been perusing. Lisandra's mood swings were starting to irritate him. He could tolerate them but only in moderation. Of late, ever since Max's wife had come back, she had been getting out of control and asking for outrageous things. He liked it better when all he worried about was who he was going to spend the night with. "Gwen found out about us" "What?" he asked springing up "How?" "She saw us at the restaurant..." "Damn it, I knew this would happen. Didn't I tell you it was too risky?" he asked cutting her off. "Are
Last Updated : 2024-09-29The Vendetta of the Returned Wife FORTY-SIX
"Good morning, my love" Max paused beside his car, looking puzzled. She'd slept in her room and hadn't bothered to go down for breakfast. He probably thought she was still mad at him hence his reaction. "Going to work?" "No. I'm going with you today" Emilia answered, rummaging through her bag to see if she had forgotten anything. "Going where? To my office?" "Yeah. Where else are you going?" "What is this about Em?" "You won't listen to me so I'll go with you and put a stop to it myself" "Have you seriously lost it? I'm about to sign a really important contract and instead of being honest, you're freezing me out. I didn't like sleeping alone and the way you're behaving is starting to piss me off" "Suck it up, baby. I'm all good so let's go" "We're not going anywhere" "That is even better. We can go back inside and start on th
Last Updated : 2024-09-29The Vendetta of the Returned Wife FORTY-SEVEN
Why did you do it?" Max asked Lisandra. She sat opposite him with a green smoothie she hadn't touched. After Emilia stormed off, he spent almost an hour wondering what he'd done to make her angry. It took him a while to realize she had been right. He hadn't been pissed about her interfering with his work but about Lisandra. She also misunderstood why he was angry. It had nothing to do with his non-existent feelings for her. Although he couldn't deny that he did feel a bit betrayed. He had trusted her with his family. She looked after them and he'd been grateful to have her around when he felt as if he was drowning. They all considered her a part of the family. Finding out she'd lied about everything made him angry. Especially since she had no reason to do it. Not only had she caused his marriage to fall apart but now she was responsible for hurting Gwen. They'd grown up together. He knew how much his sister had loved and looked up to her. Max thought t
Last Updated : 2024-09-29The Vendetta of the Returned Wife FORTY-EIGHT
She was like a magnet that men couldn't help but be drawn to. In the few hours they'd been separated, how had she found another moron who looked like he was ready to step in front of a moving car for her? Her friend Hendrix saw him first and whispered something to her. She looked up, saw him and the smile on her face disappeared, which only made him angrier. Why wasn't she happy to see him? He was her husband. She couldn't smile at other men and give him a frown. Max moved to stand between her and the other moron, asking, "Wife, you better be dressed like that for me" "Excuse me?" "Mr. Carter, what a surprise. Why are you here?" Hendrix cut in before he could answer. A wise man would have thanked him for the save but when it came to his wife, Max was anything but wise. Especially when other men were involved. He'd barely gotten her back. "You were dressed differently when we lef
Last Updated : 2024-09-30The Vendetta of the Returned Wife FORTY-NINE
"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 bac
Last Updated : 2024-09-30The 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,
Last Updated : 2024-09-30The 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
Last Updated : 2024-10-01
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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
