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TWENTY-SEVEN
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2024-10-29 19:42:56"Emilia, you look gorgeous today. Your skin is glowing and don't even get me started on that smile. I can see why Max is having a hard time letting you go"
Emilia stopped, did a once over, all the way from his head to his shoes then did it again just to make sure she wasn't mistaken "Come again? I seem to have developed bad hearing. I could've sworn you were singing my praises" "Don't be like that pretty face. We all know your husband is throwing this party to show you off to his friends. Since I suggested the idea, I can't say it's bad but that man is cruel. Bragging about his beautiful wife to single people like us is downright evil" "Oh, I thought he was doing it to introduce me to your circle?" The rich snobby assholes who thought the world revolved around them. If she thought about it hard enough, she'd realize Max hadn't done it years ago because he knew she wouldn't fit in or he was ashamed to do it. But Emilia refused to dwell on the past.Related chapters
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife TWENTY-EIGHT
Genevieve sat by the staircase watching the people coming and going from the house. Some of them were the people hired to plan for the party while others were the ones she'd hired to work for her. Years ago, she would have been the one giving orders. Telling them what and what not to do. She had been the great Genevieve Carter, secretly feared but openly respected. A reputation she'd earned from working hard. No one had dared go against what she said until Emilia Parker arrived at her house. Max's wife had been one of a kind. Naive, shy, obedient but also headstrong and stubborn. Genevieve would think she'd scared her but the next day Emilia would prove her wrong. Unlike the women who were after Max and wanted her approval, she didn't even try to please her.Immediately, she'd felt threatened. Maybe fighting with her had been out of fear and not dislike. For so many years she'd been the center of attention to her children but all of a sudden Max had someone else h
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife TWENTY-NINE
The heat was more intense than usual as if the sun had set out on a mission to scorch everything in its path. Including him. As much as Max loved summer, it had its disadvantages, especially for someone as forgetful as him. The amount of times he'd forgotten to apply sunscreen and ended up with sunburns was embarrassing. Nash couldn't stop teasing him about how sensitive his skin was. It irritated him to no end. Until the girls at the bar or parties flocked to him asking for his skincare routine. Nine out of ten times, the same girls had ended up under him and every time, he rubbed it in his best friend's face. Cocking his head to the side, he wondered if he should go inside the restaurant. His mother would talk his ears off if she saw him there but the place had the best burgers and cold drinks and that was bullshit. He was after the stunning, mouthy waitress who'd flat-out told him to go to hell yesterday after he'd asked for her number. As a Carter, he was used to girls
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife THIRTY
She had finally accepted his proposal after having another big fight with Chrissie, her boss. Her reasons for marrying him hadn't mattered. He knew she had feelings for him back then but not enough to call them love. As long as she was his, she'd never have to suffer again. He would make sure of it. But they'd been so wrong and naive. There was so much to marriage than just love and security. He'd made sure she never had to worry about money again but at what cost?Either way, Max had never regretted marrying her. Even when he was busy blaming her for his mother's accident, he'd never once regretted marrying Emilia. His only hope was that she felt the same way too. The party was either going to be a new beginning for them or the end. It made him nervous to think things could go wrong. Maybe throwing it so soon was a mistake but it was too late to back out. He had to go through with his plans no matter the outcome. Now more than ever he needed to get Emilia back. F
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife THIRTY-ONE
"Ugh, can you believe him, Thea? How could he pass his mistress down to his brother? What is wrong with him? Why did I marry that asshole?" Emilia breathed down the phone, pacing in front of the bed. Darren saw the best in people so he probably didn't know Lisandra's true nature but she thought Max had already found out. Why hadn't he kicked her out of that house yet?"Are you angry or jealous?" "JEALOUS OF WHAT?" She roared "Don't you get it? I'm trying to kick her out of this house but it feels like he's holding onto her. He doesn't want her but he can't let her go either" "Hate to break it to you, but that sounds a lot like jealousy" Emilia felt like punching a wall. Were they blind? Why couldn't they understand the reason she wanted Lisandra gone? Maybe a small part of her was jealous but the bigger part wanted her away from Zander and the Carter family in general. If she continued living in that house, they would never know peace. Besides,
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife THIRTY-TWO
"You look beautiful ma'am" "Thank you, TC. Is everyone here already?" "Quite a number of people have arrived." "Oh," Emilia sighed. She didn't like those kinds of parties. Not when she knew all eyes would be on her. It was unnerving to be the center of attention. She'd spent hours getting ready but still felt as if she'd missed something. Looking over her shoulder at the stairs behind her, she wondered if it was too late to run away. "I'm afraid it's too late," TC said, smiling. Emilia's cheeks flamed when she realized she'd said that out loud. She didn't know half the people Max had invited and the other half she'd only seen on magazines or TV. It wasn't a secret that she'd left Max. During the nine years they were apart, once in a while, she'd come across people cursing her and saying how despicable she was for leaving such a good man. Luckily they hadn't known who she was so no one pointed accusing fingers at her. But after that n
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife THIRTY-THREE
Max seized the guy up and decided everything about him was average. Starting from his ugly-ass face and his yellow teeth had to be a turn-off for women. Why was he still smiling? Who had lied to him about standing a chance with Emilia anyway? She was a goddess. He couldn't keep his eyes off her and knowing other men would approach her, even if it was for a simple chat, made him territorial. She belonged to him. Throwing a possessive arm around her waist, he pulled her into his side and turned to Fabbri. "If you will excuse us, we have important guests to attend to," he said, hoping the guy would get the underlying meaning. He wasn't important. "See you later, Mr. Fabbri," Emilia said over her shoulder as he was pulling her away. He didn't care that he was dragging her or that several eyes were on them. "What is wrong with you?" "Why would you go on a date with that loser?" "It's none of your business. Hands off me, Max" "Not happenin
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife THIRTY-FOUR
"Let's go," Emilia said running her hands down her dress. The elegant ball gown had multiple layers of rich blue tulle with a fitted bodice and a sheer neckline that delicately draped over her shoulders. The layered tulle skirt had tiered ruffles, each layer dusted with fine glitter and subtle embellishments that added sparkle to it. She'd felt like a princess until Mrs. Richardson reminded her who she was. Despite being draped in the most expensive diamonds, that old bitch still found a way to make her feel inferior. "Are you sure?" Max asked, taking her elbow and turning her to face him. The worry in his gaze eased her nerves. "You don't have to go back there. I can ask everyone to leave" "It would be rude for the host to leave before talking to the guests" Besides, she hadn't seen Lisandra yet. Emilia was in a sour mood and humiliating that psychopath would make her feel so much better. "Come on, let's not keep your guests waiting"
The Vendetta of the Returned Wife THIRTY-FIVE
"Oh my gosh, did we get married again?" Emilia squeaked, raising her hand to inspect her finger while the other covered her mouth. She'd come back with bare hands and thanks to his possessiveness, he had bought her another ring. If she insisted on calling herself Mrs. Carter, it was only right she wore a wedding ring. Max had been wondering when to give it to her and how to make her wear it without getting on her bad side. Luckily, she'd given him an opening and he'd be a fool not to take it. He still couldn't believe she'd suggested they renew their vows. Granted, she'd been trying to stick it to Lisandra but he wasn't complaining.Her inebriated state was thanks to her friend Jennings and as much as he wanted her to be sober that night, he'd take anything he got. The little talk they'd had earlier hadn't even covered half of their issues. He knew they had a long way to go but as long as Emilia gave him a chance, he'd rectify all his mistakes. When she wrapped her hands ar
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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
