LOGINShare
Chapter 5
Related chapters
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 6
That hand had once caressed her, held her, wiped away her tears, and slipped a ring onto her finger. But now, that same hand was tenderly resting on Rita's belly. "You may not want to rest, but the baby in your stomach needs it. Be a good girl, go to sleep," came Grayson's deep, soothing voice. Hearing his words, the online audience exploded in excitement, filling the chat with pleas for Rita to let her "husband" reveal himself. Amid the chaos of requests, a solitary comment popped up like a rogue wave in the sea of praise: [Wait... did I mishear, or does that voice sound just like Grayson Bryce?] The remark barely registered before being drowned in the torrent of other messages. Rita, her face flushed with coy delight, let Grayson take her hand in his. "My husband isn't the kind to show his face easily," she said, smiling gently at the screen. "He's an important man; please understand." The viewers didn't press further, instead shifting their focus to Rita's love story. Th
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 7
As Wendy's birthday approached, Grayson finally returned in haste, organizing a grand celebration in her honor. When she descended the staircase in her gown, he was already waiting below. She cast him a glance, her eyes unusually calm—too calm. It was a quietude that bordered on unsettling. Grayson's heart skipped a beat. The image of Wendy that lived in his memory was one of unrestrained brightness, of spirited vitality. But the woman before him now was a shadow of that, her complexion pale, her gaze hollow and devoid of its usual spark. Acting on instinct, he stepped forward, arms reaching to pull her into an embrace, but she sidestepped with a slight turn of her body. Her voice was hoarse, a brittle thread barely holding itself together. "I've been feeling unwell lately. Better you don't touch me—wouldn't want you catching anything." Her words hung in the air, brittle and impenetrable, as she walked past him, not sparing a glance at the hand he'd left suspended in midair.
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 8
The heavy rain soaked Wendy's clothes as she gazed at the palm of her hand, bruised from the fall. Suddenly, her mind flashed to a memory from long ago—when Grayson first brought her home to meet his family. His mother, Carrie had placed the family heirloom jade bracelet carefully onto Wendy's wrist, saying, "In my lifetime, I will only acknowledge you as my daughter-in-law." His bros had smiled at her with respect, their voices warm as they said, "A sister-in-law for life, we'll only recognize you as our sister-in-law." But now, Carrie had accepted another woman as her daughter-in-law, and his bros called that woman their sister-in-law. They were all just like Grayson, speaking of love and respect, but in their hearts, they had already recognized another. What was even more tragic was that their conversation had plainly revealed that they had known about Rita's existence long before she did. And they had all helped Grayson hide it from her. She was the only fool in this enti
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 9
Wendy's eyes flickered, a hint of mockery surfacing beneath her eyelids. The next moment, a tear slid down her cheek, tracing the curve of her face. She instinctively reached up to wipe it away, but before she could, he beat her to it. His finger, trembling, gently wiped the moisture from her skin, as if afraid to disturb her further. "Wendy, what's wrong? Don't scare me. If you're upset, just say it—don't keep it to yourself." His voice was filled with quiet desperation as he reached out to embrace her, but she turned her body slightly, avoiding his touch. Finally, she allowed her gaze to settle on him, but the tone of her words was distant, detached. "Grayson, take me to the beach." His hand faltered, hovering in midair. He looked at her with surprise. "Baby, you've always been afraid of water. You never liked the beach." Wendy's response was cool, almost indifferent. "I suddenly want to see it." After all, her death had been staged as a "suicide by drowning." Witho
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 10
On the other side, Rita cried out in desperation, but her pleas did little to loosen the grip of the man holding her. It wasn't until a muffled grunt escaped from Grayson that Rita's hand, which had been wrapped around his neck, fell onto the pillow. He chuckled softly, and then resumed his erratic kisses, pressing himself against her. "You're too delicate," he murmured. Rita let out a faint hum, lifting a hand covered in kiss marks to trace patterns across his chest. Her voice was laced with feigned bitterness. "What does it matter if I'm delicate? You're about to marry someone who's even more delicate than I am." His gaze darkened for a moment, and he kissed her again. "I told you, I'll give you everything except a title." He gently caressed her swollen belly. "Even if I'm getting married, I still love you... and our child." Rita smiled seductively, lifting her long legs to wrap around his waist. "Then you'd better love me well," she cooed. With a single hand, he
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 11
Grayson's mind went blank. The world seemed to fall silent around him as he stared at the figure in the coffin. For a moment, everything seemed disjointed. It couldn't be Wendy—could it? The woman in the coffin, with her bruised and battered face, pale and bloated from long periods of exposure to water, was unrecognizable. This wasn't the same person who had once been his Wendy—his Wendy, who had always cared about her appearance, who would cry at the slightest mark on her skin, terrified of leaving behind a scar. The woman lying there now, though, was nothing like that. Trembling, he reached for the coffin lid and pushed it open with force, desperate to see her face, to find some sign that this wasn't really Wendy—that this wasn't truly her. But as he looked, a terrible, heartbreaking clarity washed over him. It was her. His hands shook violently as he tried to take her cold hand, but no matter how many times he reached out, his fingers could never find hers. "Wendy, pleas
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 12
The day Wendy jumped into the sea, taking her own life, Grayson had been whispering sweet nothings to Rita, telling her that even if he were to marry Wendy, his love for Rita and their child would remain unchanged. Every time Wendy had tried to end it all because of her depression, he had been with another woman. And not once had he noticed her struggles. Even if he had sensed something was wrong, his heart had still been tied to the other woman. Grayson gripped the depression diagnosis report so tightly his fingers trembled. His tears fell, hitting the cold, hard marble floor. Then, with both hands pressed against his face, he began to sob uncontrollably. What was supposed to be the wedding of the century had turned into the century's funeral. … At the funeral, Grayson stood beside Wendy's coffin, his eyes glazed over, offering mechanical gestures of acknowledgment to each guest who came to pay their respects. "Mr. Bryce, please accept our condolences." "Mr. Bryce, ple
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 13
Grayson stumbled to his feet, his hands reaching out to pull the figure into his embrace. "Wendy, is it really you? You've finally come to see me. Do you know how much I've missed you?" The woman in his arms, Rita, flinched at the suddenness of his embrace, letting out a soft grunt of surprise. But the man holding her didn't seem to hear it. He just kept murmuring his regrets, pouring out his emotions as if no one else existed. Rita, listening to him call out Wendy's name again and again, felt a flash of bitterness in her eyes. Why does he love Wendy so much? Wendy had been dead for so long—how could he not look at her, especially when she was carrying his child? The thought of the child brought her back to herself, and she pushed the resentment aside, her voice softening. "Grayson, it's me, Rita." It was like a sudden blow, a hammer that shattered the fragile bubble of his fantasy. Grayson abruptly pulled away from Rita, his dazed eyes slowly clearing, then turning into so
Latest chapter
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 25
In the haze of her thoughts, countless memories of their time together flooded her mind. At six years old, he had taken her hand and firmly told her parents, "It doesn't matter if they don't want you, I do." At sixteen, he had gathered the courage to confess to her. "I will love only you, for the rest of my life." At twenty-two, he had spent millions to propose, begging her not to leave him, telling her he would go mad without her. At twenty-three, he had cheated on her with Rita. He began to lie to her repeatedly, staying out all night. At twenty-four, the night before their wedding, she "jumped into the sea to commit suicide," and they never saw each other again. At twenty-five, they met again, but it was too late. The chasm between them was final—he was now a ghost. The bitterness she once harbored for him faded in that moment. It wasn't that she didn't hate him anymore—it was simply that he no longer mattered. He was just another transient figure in the story of her l
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 24
Cheryl had just closed her phone and was about to stand up when the butler walked in, his face filled with hesitation. "Miss, there are people outside claiming to be your biological parents. They wish to see you." Cheryl's head jerked up, her eyes wide in disbelief. "Who did you say wants to see me?" After the butler gave a more detailed explanation, Cheryl finally understood. It was her estranged parents, who had divorced many years ago and now had new families of their own. After her traumatic events and supposed death, they had only just remembered their abandoned daughter. The fact that she had been presumed dead had halted their plans to see her for the final time. But now, hearing rumors about her "resurrection" and her return to the country, they thought to visit her. She listened in silence, her expression unreadable. It was Allen who spoke next, stepping closer and wrapping his arm around her waist. "They're pretending to visit you out of a desire to reconnect,
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 23
In the days that followed, Grayson lay feverish and delirious, his hoarse voice repeatedly calling out Wendy's name. By his side, Rita sat slumped in a chair, her once-vibrant presence reduced to a hollow shadow. Her gaze, blank and unblinking, was fixed on him. Since the scandal of being labeled a homewrecker, her difficult childbirth, and the violent tumble down the stairs, Rita's love for him had long since evaporated. What remained in her heart was a toxic mix of hatred and helplessness. She knew all too well that her current misery was inextricably tied to the man lying before her. Yet, deep down, she also understood that the pampered life he had given her had robbed her of the ability to stand on her own. She couldn't leave him. Without him, she wouldn't survive. No one would hire a woman with such a ruined reputation. Her only option was to cling to him with all her might. Summoning what little resolve she had, Rita pressed the call button beside her. A team of doctors
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 22
In the end, Allen not only purchased the jewelry set she had chosen but also bought all the others as well. When she tugged at his hand, intending to say something, he silenced her with a kiss. "Cheryl, as long as you're happy, I don't care how much it costs," he murmured. Cheryl lifted her gaze to meet his. In his eyes, there was no one else but her. As their relationship stabilized, Cheryl finally agreed to return to Asteria and meet his family and close friends. From the moment they stepped off the plane to their arrival at the Lloyd family home, their visit was kept low-profile. Only Allen's family and close friends knew of her return. He shielded her carefully, leaving no space for outsiders to intrude. Unbeknownst to Cheryl, someone else had been waiting for her—a shadow lingering in the rain. Grayson, drenched and silent, stood outside the Lloyd family estate for an entire night. He had learned of her return by accident, overhearing a conversation between Christoph a
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 21
After much persuasion from Allen, Cheryl managed to divert her attention away from Grayson. However, a more complicated situation had arisen. One evening, Allen, drunk and uninhibited, finally pierced the veil of ambiguity that had hung between them for so long. He kissed her—a spontaneous, unguarded kiss. Cheryl, tipsy herself, didn't resist, and before they knew it, the two had stumbled into a hazy, unplanned intimacy. The next morning, Cheryl resolved to brush the incident under the rug. After all, they were adults, and adults sometimes made impulsive decisions. But Allen, surprisingly, was having none of it. Like a child with an unshakable determination, he insisted she take responsibility for what had happened. Faced with his pleading gaze, so filled with vulnerability and hope, Cheryl found herself nodding before she could stop. Later, as she glanced at the faint marks scattered across her arms, she gently patted her cheeks, trying to bring herself back to her senses. H
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 20
Allen didn't say anything more, just lightly patting her back to reassure her. His voice carried a quiet promise, steady yet firm. "Don't worry. I'll handle everything. He won't find you." Cheryl lowered her gaze. Whatever she and Grayson needed to say to each other had been said the day she staged her death. There was nothing left. No explanations, no lingering ties. Betrayal didn't require justification; it was absolute and final. She didn't want to see him, nor did she want to hear any explanations. The two sat together on the sofa, tightly nestled against each other. The room was steeped in a stillness that seemed to suspend time itself. Yet, miles away in a hospital room, chaos reigned. Grayson, barely recovered from his leg injury, was in a frenzy, fighting against the bodyguards restraining him. He was determined to break free, to go to New Zealand and see Wendy. Ever since her death, or what he had believed to be her death, he had never truly accepted the finality of it
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 19
Allen suppressed the urge to let a smirk creep across his lips. Taking a few deliberate sips of tea, he finally spoke with casual detachment, "So, your family made the news again?" After all, Rita wasn't staying in a VIP ward. The commotion during her argument with Grayson had been witnessed by several patients, some of whom had even live-streamed the spectacle. Christoph rubbed his temples, exhaustion clouding his features. Ever since he'd taken over as CEO of Bryce Ventures, both Grayson and Rita had been a constant source of trouble. "I've decided that once they wake up, they'll be moving back to their own place," he said. Initially, Carrie had thrown a tantrum upon hearing the decision, threatening to escalate things. But the moment Christoph coldly threatened to cut off all financial support for Grayson's family, she fell silent. "Once they've moved out, I'll issue a public statement severing all ties between them and the Bryce family. Whatever mess they make afterward w
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 18
Before Rita could strike, Grayson seized her wrist, shoving her back against the wall and wrapping his hand tightly around her throat. "Rita, if you dare to harm Wendy again, you won't live to see another sunrise." Without sparing her another glance, he released her, turned, and carefully helped the "Wendy" doppelgänger back into the villa, as if shielding the most fragile of treasures. Rita stood frozen, her body trembling uncontrollably. It was only after a long moment that her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor, gasping for air like a drowning swimmer breaking the surface. So close. So close. He'd almost killed her. The thought screamed in her mind. Her throat throbbed with the memory of his grip, and the terror that had seized her still lingered. Just as she tried to rise, a sharp, searing pain radiated from her lower abdomen, and the unmistakable scent of blood began to fill the air. Her face drained of color as she clutched her stomach in panic. "My baby!
To My Childhood Sweetheart, See You Never Chapter 17
At the airport, Cheryl stepped forward and, almost impulsively, hugged Allen. "Take care of yourself," she said. Allen held her in his arms for a long moment before letting go, then turned to head toward the departure gate. At the Bryce family home, the house was alive with activity. Servants scurried to decorate the sprawling villa, ensuring every corner reflected the prestige of a family heir's wedding. The patriarchal torch had passed to Christoph, the eldest son from a different mother, leaving Grayson and his scandals relegated to whispers. In the shadows of a window in the auxiliary building, Rita stood motionless, her eyes fixed on the flurry of preparations. She was no longer the center of attention, no longer the woman who commanded the room. When her affair with Grayson had been exposed, both of them fell from grace. But for Rita, the fall had been steeper. The Bryce family's disdain for her was palpable; her presence was tolerated only because she was carrying th
