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105. The Sting of Victory
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-31 07:40:12
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Traded For His First Love 106. Breaking the Chains
Josh POV I was standing near the door of Nathalie’s party, the cold night air hitting my face as the sound of Spencer’s car tires faded into the distance. What had just gone down in the parking lot—Bethany chasing after Venus and slapping her across the face—was still spinning in my head like a movie I didn’t want to watch. I’d seen it all from the entrance, the way Bethany screamed, the pure hatred in her eyes, her hand smacking Venus like she was a punching bag. And I knew, deep down, that this was one of the reasons I didn’t want to marry her. It wasn’t just that I didn’t love her—though that was true—but because Bethany had a rotten soul, a darkness that twisted my stomach every time I saw her lose it like that. I wasn’t some saint, and I didn’t pretend to be. The engagement to Bethany was my dad’s doing, a move to tie our families together, his business with hers, and I’d even thought it might work out. Maybe, with time, I could fall for her—she was pretty, had a fire that s
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31Traded For His First Love 108. Fractured Trust
Venus POV The low rumble of Spencer’s car engine was the only sound filling the silence between us as he drove through Chicago’s dark streets, the streetlights streaking past the window like blurs. I was slumped in the passenger seat, my blue dress still damp from Nathalie’s champagne clinging to my skin, my face faintly stinging where Bethany had slapped me in the parking lot. My head was a mess—the party had started so well, with laughter, light conversation, a moment with Elliot on the balcony that nearly made me forget everything. But then it all crashed into a nightmare I couldn’t wrap my mind around. The humiliation in front of everyone, the accusations from Nathalie, Jennifer, and Bethany, and now this—Spencer driving me home with a look that said he was holding a volcano inside him. I ran a hand over my face, trying to wipe away the last of the dried champagne prickling my skin, and felt the weight of his gaze even without turning to him. The silence was suffocating, and
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31Traded For His First Love 108. Shelter in the Storm
Venus POV I’d barely shut the apartment door when the buzzer rang, a sharp sound cutting through the heavy silence I was trying to cling to. My body was still trembling, the dress damp from Nathalie’s champagne sticking to my skin, my face faintly stinging where Bethany had slapped me, and Spencer’s words still echoing in my head like knives. I hesitated, my feet frozen on the cold floor, thinking it might be him coming back—maybe regretful, maybe to yell some more. My heart lurched with reluctance, but I dragged myself to the door anyway, opening it with a tired sigh. But when I saw who was there, my shoulders slumped, the weight of the day nearly knocking me over with relief. It was Elliot. He stood in my doorway, his hair mussed by the wind, his green eyes full of a concern I hadn’t expected but that hit me like a bolt. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed him until that moment—not just his presence, but the way he saw me, as Reese, not the Venus everyone seemed to hate now.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31Traded For His First Love 109. Heat of the Night
Alice POVI was on the balcony of Nathalie’s party, the cool night air brushing against my heated skin as Connor pinned me against the railing, his hands firm on my waist and his lips locked on mine in a kiss that was pure fire. The lively music from the ballroom spilled through the glass doors, muffled by the sound of crickets and the light breeze, but I could barely hear anything beyond the rough sound of him against my mouth. Our earlier conversation there— me throwing his flirting with the green-dress brunette in his face, him promising to surprise me — had turned into this: heated making out, his hands sliding up my back under my purple dress, and me losing myself in his warmth despite swearing I wouldn’t fall so easily.“You’re driving me crazy,” he murmured against my neck, his teeth grazing my skin as I arched into him, my heart pounding. His blue eyes glinted in the dim light, and his citrusy scent wrapped around me, pulling me deeper.“You started it,” I shot back, my voic
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31Traded For His First Love 110. Morning Light
Reese POV I woke up to my kids’ laughter echoing through the apartment, a sound so alive it almost felt like a gift after the night I’d had. Sammy and Avie were in the kitchen — Sammy’s loud, energetic laugh mixing with Avie’s joyful little squeals — and the smell of fresh coffee and warm pancakes drifted through the air, pulling me out of bed like a thread of hope. My head still throbbed, a leftover from the party that turned into a nightmare, from the ugly fight with Spencer that ended with him dumping me at the door like I was nothing. But those laughs… they were a piece of something I’d lost, something coming back, even if it carried secrets I wasn’t ready to face.I got up slowly, my body heavy with exhaustion and a truth I hadn’t found the courage to tell. I grabbed the blue robe tossed over the chair, tied it around my waist while rubbing my eyes, and followed the sound down the hall. Last night had been a mess — Spencer spitting venom over things I didn’t even fully grasp,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31Traded For His First Love 1. Disaster in the middle of Valentine's Day
Reese POVToday was Valentine's Day, and as usual, I was preparing something special for my husband. Four long years of marriage had passed, and our son, Sammy, was the fruit of our love. At least that's what I liked to think, since with each passing year, Elliot Goodwin's love for me only seemed to grow colder.I married him on a day like this; it snowed all night, as if God were blessing our union. Elliot Goodwin and I loved each other more than anything; he was the man of my life; for him, I left my old life in New York and accepted to go with him to another city, expecting to live wild love adventures by his side, expecting that I would finally be happy with him.But everything crumbled when his family looked down on me with disdain and disapproved of me. "What is this, Elliot?" Florence, my mother-in-law, asked haughtily as she looked at me as if I were dust."This is Reese Hudson, Mom," Elliot said, introducing me to his family. "Actually, she's Reese Goodwin now. She's my wife.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-23Traded For His First Love 2. My husband wants me to sign the divorce papers
Reese POVI was completely absorbed in my own pain after the words my husband used to attack me. I stood there, speechless, holding my son's hand, as I watched Elliot ignore my pain and head towards the dinner table for a convivial meal, the beautiful dinner I had prepared for our family, to celebrate Valentine's Day, but everything was turning into a ruin.Since his father's death, right after our wedding, Elliot had used that truth to attack me and express how much he hated me. Since that day, the tender look he always gave me had turned into one of resentment and regret.The truth was, I had indeed killed his father. I was totally emotional after being humiliated by my mother-in-law, after she had rejected me as her son's wife. "I will never accept you as my daughter-in-law, girl," she had said four years ago with words as harsh and sharp as daggers. "I won't accept my son joining with a commoner like you and staining our bourgeois status!"I was bleeding inside, seeing that I was
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-23Traded For His First Love 3. My husband's mistress's dirty plans
Reese POV"Today I prepared a beautiful dinner and a lovely surprise for you, but you came home demanding a divorce. What a pitiful situation, I must say," I commented gloomily, the divorce papers still in my hands. "So this is how our story ends?""Our story ended when you killed my father, Reese. All of this is your fault," he continued with that speech, but I knew it was just a way to use that against me to get me out of his life.I wiped my face, feeling too small. "Do you know what your father's last words were before the accident? He begged me not to give up on you, Elliot. He said he believed in our love and that I shouldn't give up on you despite everything. So how do you expect me to give up on you now?""What are you getting at?" he asked, already showing irritation. "Are you planning not to give me the divorce? I'm a fucking billionaire, Reese. I'll find a way to take this from you." That was clearly a threat. It hurt to think that the man I loved so much treated me like an
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-23
Bab terbaru
Traded For His First Love 110. Morning Light
Reese POV I woke up to my kids’ laughter echoing through the apartment, a sound so alive it almost felt like a gift after the night I’d had. Sammy and Avie were in the kitchen — Sammy’s loud, energetic laugh mixing with Avie’s joyful little squeals — and the smell of fresh coffee and warm pancakes drifted through the air, pulling me out of bed like a thread of hope. My head still throbbed, a leftover from the party that turned into a nightmare, from the ugly fight with Spencer that ended with him dumping me at the door like I was nothing. But those laughs… they were a piece of something I’d lost, something coming back, even if it carried secrets I wasn’t ready to face.I got up slowly, my body heavy with exhaustion and a truth I hadn’t found the courage to tell. I grabbed the blue robe tossed over the chair, tied it around my waist while rubbing my eyes, and followed the sound down the hall. Last night had been a mess — Spencer spitting venom over things I didn’t even fully grasp,
Traded For His First Love 109. Heat of the Night
Alice POVI was on the balcony of Nathalie’s party, the cool night air brushing against my heated skin as Connor pinned me against the railing, his hands firm on my waist and his lips locked on mine in a kiss that was pure fire. The lively music from the ballroom spilled through the glass doors, muffled by the sound of crickets and the light breeze, but I could barely hear anything beyond the rough sound of him against my mouth. Our earlier conversation there— me throwing his flirting with the green-dress brunette in his face, him promising to surprise me — had turned into this: heated making out, his hands sliding up my back under my purple dress, and me losing myself in his warmth despite swearing I wouldn’t fall so easily.“You’re driving me crazy,” he murmured against my neck, his teeth grazing my skin as I arched into him, my heart pounding. His blue eyes glinted in the dim light, and his citrusy scent wrapped around me, pulling me deeper.“You started it,” I shot back, my voic
Traded For His First Love 108. Shelter in the Storm
Venus POV I’d barely shut the apartment door when the buzzer rang, a sharp sound cutting through the heavy silence I was trying to cling to. My body was still trembling, the dress damp from Nathalie’s champagne sticking to my skin, my face faintly stinging where Bethany had slapped me, and Spencer’s words still echoing in my head like knives. I hesitated, my feet frozen on the cold floor, thinking it might be him coming back—maybe regretful, maybe to yell some more. My heart lurched with reluctance, but I dragged myself to the door anyway, opening it with a tired sigh. But when I saw who was there, my shoulders slumped, the weight of the day nearly knocking me over with relief. It was Elliot. He stood in my doorway, his hair mussed by the wind, his green eyes full of a concern I hadn’t expected but that hit me like a bolt. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed him until that moment—not just his presence, but the way he saw me, as Reese, not the Venus everyone seemed to hate now.
Traded For His First Love 108. Fractured Trust
Venus POV The low rumble of Spencer’s car engine was the only sound filling the silence between us as he drove through Chicago’s dark streets, the streetlights streaking past the window like blurs. I was slumped in the passenger seat, my blue dress still damp from Nathalie’s champagne clinging to my skin, my face faintly stinging where Bethany had slapped me in the parking lot. My head was a mess—the party had started so well, with laughter, light conversation, a moment with Elliot on the balcony that nearly made me forget everything. But then it all crashed into a nightmare I couldn’t wrap my mind around. The humiliation in front of everyone, the accusations from Nathalie, Jennifer, and Bethany, and now this—Spencer driving me home with a look that said he was holding a volcano inside him. I ran a hand over my face, trying to wipe away the last of the dried champagne prickling my skin, and felt the weight of his gaze even without turning to him. The silence was suffocating, and
Traded For His First Love 106. Breaking the Chains
Josh POV I was standing near the door of Nathalie’s party, the cold night air hitting my face as the sound of Spencer’s car tires faded into the distance. What had just gone down in the parking lot—Bethany chasing after Venus and slapping her across the face—was still spinning in my head like a movie I didn’t want to watch. I’d seen it all from the entrance, the way Bethany screamed, the pure hatred in her eyes, her hand smacking Venus like she was a punching bag. And I knew, deep down, that this was one of the reasons I didn’t want to marry her. It wasn’t just that I didn’t love her—though that was true—but because Bethany had a rotten soul, a darkness that twisted my stomach every time I saw her lose it like that. I wasn’t some saint, and I didn’t pretend to be. The engagement to Bethany was my dad’s doing, a move to tie our families together, his business with hers, and I’d even thought it might work out. Maybe, with time, I could fall for her—she was pretty, had a fire that s
Traded For His First Love 105. The Sting of Victory
Bethany POV Watching Venus get humiliated in front of everyone had been like a balm—every shout from Nathalie, every drop of champagne running down that perfect face, every shocked stare in the room felt like I was cashing in on a piece of the pain I’d been carrying in my chest for so long. I was leaning against a table near the bar, arms crossed, my heart still racing with pure satisfaction as the echo of Nathalie’s shattering glass replayed in my head. Venus was everything I wasn’t—beautiful, desired, with that effortless charm that made everyone like her, even Josh, my fiancé. But now, drenched and kicked out, she was imperfect for the first time, and for the first time, I felt special. Jennifer was beside me, laughing softly as she swirled her sparkling wine, the bubbles rising like they were toasting our victory. “Did you see her face, Bethany?” she said, her tone light but dripping with that venom I loved. “She looked like a wet dog trying to explain herself. Pathetic.”
Traded For His First Love 104. Soaked in Shame
Venus POV The party at Nathalie’s was starting to wind down—the golden lights still glowed, but the music had softened, and the little clusters of people were breaking apart, some grabbing coats, others exchanging goodbye hugs. I was near the door, Spencer at my side with that look like he couldn’t wait to leave, and I was trying to say my farewells to a few acquaintances so we could get out of there. My heart was still racing from the almost-kiss with Elliot on the balcony, and all I wanted was to get home, take a hot shower, and pretend this night hadn’t turned me inside out. “Nice seeing you, Clara,” I said, smiling at a friend of Nathalie’s I knew from other events. She was in a shiny green dress, holding a nearly empty glass, and gave me a friendly nod. “You too, Venus. Take care, okay?” she replied, her tone light as she turned to grab her purse. I nodded, adjusting the strap of my blue dress—which was still clinging to my back from the party’s heat—and glanced at Spenc
Traded For His First Love 103. Venom in the Air
Jennifer POV The party at Nathalie’s was still buzzing—the hall aglow with those golden lights that screamed luxury, the loud music making the floor tremble, and the air thick with the scent of champagne and expensive perfume. I was leaning against a column near the drink table, a gin in hand, the ice clinking as I watched the crowd. But my focus was all on Bethany, a few steps away, her eyes narrowed and fists clenched, spitting venom like she owned the place. She was ranting about Reese—or Venus, as everyone but Elliot called her—and I could almost see the hatred rolling off her in waves. “You saw that, Jennifer? It’s so obvious that bitch wants my fiancé,” she snarled, her voice dripping with rage as she jerked her chin toward Reese across the room. There she was, the elegant woman in that perfect blue dress, smiling and chatting with her friends, her loose hair falling over her shoulders like she didn’t have a care in the world. “The way she looked at Josh? What a slut! I b
Traded For His First Love 102. Echoes Over the Lake
Venus POV The balcony at Nathalie’s house was a breath of calm amidst the storm of the party—the cool breeze blew in from Lake Michigan on the horizon, where the dark water swallowed the city lights like an upside-down sky. I was leaning against the railing, the cold metal pressing into my arms, the wind playing with my hair, and Elliot was beside me, close enough that I could feel his warmth without even touching. The noise of the party inside—the loud music, the laughter, the clinking glasses—felt like a distant echo, and I let my eyes drift to the serene line of the lake, the peace of that place wrapping around me like a blanket I didn’t know I craved. Alice and Connor were still in their little corner, murmuring and giggling, but my mind was all on Elliot, as it always was. I took a deep breath, the chilly air filling my chest, and the words slipped out before I could hold them back. “You know, Elliot… sometimes, in my craziest moments, I wonder what it’d be like if we’d wor
