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111: Shadows of the Morning
Last Updated:
2025-04-06 22:56:53
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Traded For His First Love 112. Beneath the Quiet
Reese POV The day had been a soft unraveling of something I’d almost forgotten how to feel — Sammy’s wild laughter as he darted around the apartment, toy plane in hand, chasing Elliot through the narrow hall; Avie’s sticky fingers tugging at my blue robe while she babbled and stacked blocks that toppled with every giggle. We’d spent hours like that, the four of us tangled in a rhythm that felt dangerously close to the life I’d once pictured, before Jennifer stole it away. The kitchen still held the faint sweetness of pancakes from that morning, a trace of Elliot flipping them with that easy grin while Sammy shouted “Daddy!” and Avie clapped like it was magic. It was too good, too fragile, and it scared me — because every second of it pressed against the secret I still hadn’t let slip.Night crept in slow, the kids finally crashing after a day that wore them out. Sammy’s snores echoed faintly from his room, and Avie’s soft breaths hummed through the monitor on the counter, her little
Last Updated : 2025-04-07Traded For His First Love Chapter 113. In Your Arms
Reese POV The sheets were still warm where our bodies met, my head nestled on Elliot’s chest, the steady thump of his heart against my ear. His arms wrapped around me, one hand tracing slow circles on my lower back, the other resting on the curve of my hip. The room was cloaked in silence, save for the soft hum of the baby monitor on the nightstand, reminding me Sammy and Avie were sleeping soundly down the hall. I wanted to freeze that moment — us like this, bare, entwined, as if the world outside, with its venom and humiliations, couldn’t touch us.“You okay?” Elliot asked, his husky voice cutting through the quiet, a hint of worry tucked into the lightness. He tilted his head, trying to catch my face in the dimness.I looked up at him, his features softened by the faint light slipping through the curtains. “Why do you ask?” I countered, a half-smile tugging at my lips as I tried to keep things easy.He chuckled low, his fingers sliding through my brown hair, mussing it gently. “Y
Last Updated : 2025-04-08Traded For His First Love 114. Promises in the Dark
Reese POVThe bed was still warm where our bodies met, the sheets tangled around us as if they wanted to trap us there forever. My head rested on Elliot’s chest, the sound of his heart a steady thud against my ear, while his arms wrapped around me, one hand tracing lazy lines along my lower back, the other nestled at the curve of my hip. The room was cloaked in silence, broken only by the soft hum of the baby monitor on the nightstand, a reminder that Sammy and Avie slept peacefully down the hall. The faint moonlight slipped through the curtains, sketching gentle shadows across his face, and I caught myself staring, memorizing every detail — the subtle lines at the corners of his eyes, the way his blond hair fell messily over his forehead. It was him, my Elliot, here with me, after everything.“Ever think about how much we lost?” I murmured, my voice low, almost swallowed by the stillness. My hand rested on his chest, fingers playing with his warm skin as I tried not to let the weigh
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Traded For His First Love 115. Tangled Bonds and Hidden Truths
Alice POV The sun was already setting when I stopped in front of Venus’s building, my bag slung over my shoulder and a restlessness jittering in my chest. The day before had been a blur — waking up in the motel with Connor, the heat of his body still lingering on my skin, the way he’d made me laugh with that crooked smile while we ate toast in bed. I’d gotten lost in him, in that easy flirtation and chemistry that caught me off guard, and hadn’t checked in with Venus all day. But now, standing there, the weight of Nathalie’s party hit me full force. Spencer had called me last night, his voice a thunderstorm of rage as he spat accusations about Venus — that she’d screwed everything up, that she was chasing Elliot, that my reputation was going down the drain because of her. I needed to know what had happened, needed to look after my best friend.I pressed the buzzer, the sound slicing through the cool evening air, and waited, fussing with my hair as I tried to sort my thoughts. The d
Last Updated : 2025-04-10Traded For His First Love 116. Shadows of Peace
Reese POV The air in the apartment turned thick the moment Elliot’s words sliced through the silence, the coffee tray trembling slightly in his hands. “What secret? Is there something you two are hiding from me?” His green eyes darted between me and Alice, and my heart raced, a knot tightening in my throat. Avie. He’d almost found out, right there, in front of her, that the bright-eyed girl running down the hall was his, ours. My whole body went cold, but I forced a smile, the kind I’d used a thousand times to dodge conversations I wasn’t ready for.“Oh, it’s nothing big,” I said, my voice coming out lighter than I felt as I stood from the couch and took the tray from his hands. “Alice is just worried about me, you know how she gets.” I set the coffee on the table, my fingers shaking a little, and turned to him with a look that begged him not to dig deeper. “Friend stuff, that’s all.”Alice huffed behind me, the sound heavy with frustration, and I felt the weight of her stare on my
Last Updated : 2025-04-11Traded For His First Love 117. A Legacy Unraveled
Josh POV “So that’s why you decided to come have lunch with us today? Because you want to talk about the engagement to the Skylands’ daughter?” My father asked, his habitual scowl fixed on me, a look I’d grown up with. I’d been raised under the weight of a strict father who never left room for argument, so I was used to it by now, knew how to handle it.“Yes, Dad. That’s exactly it,” I replied, firm. “Bethany and I… we just don’t love each other, and it’s not going to work.”My father sat in his usual spot at the dining table, my mother beside him. The polished mahogany table was far too long for our small family of three, making the air feel morbid, lifeless. A family that only nurtured greed for money didn’t sit around chatting about trivial things like a football game or planning a park outing together.That’s how I’d grown up, and I knew it had left scars in me, ones that would mark me forever, not just in my behavior but in my choices. I didn’t want to be like my father, though
Last Updated : 2025-04-12Traded For His First Love 118. Lights and Confessions
Alice POV The mirror in my bedroom reflected a version of myself I barely recognized — the navy-blue dress hugging my curves, the subtle neckline catching the glow of the lamp, my blonde hair falling in waves I’d spent half an hour perfecting. Connor had called earlier, his voice warm and inviting, saying he wanted to take me out to dinner at a “special” place. I couldn’t resist the urge to dress up, to escape for one night from the weight I’d been carrying since I left Reese’s apartment yesterday, the echo of the slamming door still ringing in my head. Connor’s invitation was a breather, a chance to lose myself in something other than worry about my best friend and the choices I couldn’t wrap my head around.The restaurant was everything he’d promised — a fancy spot at the top of a building, with windows showing the city twinkling below like a sea of stars. The hostess led us to a table near the view, candles flickering in crystal holders, the soft hum of a piano floating through
Last Updated : 2025-04-13Traded For His First Love 119. Trapped by Lies
Josh POV “What did you say?” I asked, feeling my throat dry as I processed Bethany’s words. She stood before me and my parents, claiming she was pregnant? Had I heard her correctly, or was my mind playing tricks on me? “You’re pregnant, my love? Oh, what wonderful news!” My mother was already beaming from ear to ear. “It’s everything we’ve dreamed of, that you’d give us a grandchild!” “Mom, stop it. She’s not pregnant; this is just a misunderstanding,” I cut my mother off, making her pause. Then I turned to Bethany. “Take it back, Bethany. This isn’t the time for your jokes!” “But I’m not joking, Josh. I’m really pregnant. I went to the doctor and did all the tests. You should be happy now, you know? A child is always a great blessing…” “She’s right, Josh,” my father said. “You should be happy to know you’re going to be a father.” He had a half-cynical smile on his face, as if he were triumphant at the overwhelming turn of events that had just hit me. After all, he was the on
Last Updated : 2025-04-14
Latest chapter
Traded For His First Love 123. Cracks in the Truth
Reese POV The burn on my cheek still pulsed, as if the woman’s hand had left more than a red mark on my skin. I stood frozen in the Lunaris Event reception, my hand on my face, heart pounding as I tried to process what had just happened. The employees were still, eyes wide, some whispering low, and the heavy silence was only broken by the echo of her words: “You think you can get away with it?” The woman was already at the door, but now I could see her clearly — blonde, piercing light eyes, dressed in expensive clothes that screamed wealth, the kind Nathalie, Bethany, or even Alice would wear. And beside her, clutching her hand tightly, was a boy, about Sammy’s age, maybe five, staring at the floor like he wanted to vanish.Before I could speak, she spun back around, her face twisted with rage. “You’re a homewrecker, Venus!” she spat, my name dripping with disgust. “I’m Roseanne, Spencer’s wife. At least, he’d still be my husband if you hadn’t shown up to steal him from me!”Her wor
Traded For His First Love 121. Shattered Facades
Reese POVThe Lunaris Event office felt smaller that morning, the white walls and modern art pieces Alice and I had chosen so carefully now staring at me like silent judges. I sat at the head of the conference table, my laptop open in front of me, but my focus was on the faces of the employees around me — six pairs of eyes filled with doubt, worry, and something that edged on mistrust. The air was heavy, not just with the scent of fresh coffee my assistant had brought in, but with the weight of unspoken questions. The gossip magazines had done their dirty work, spreading the scandal from Nathalie’s party like wildfire, and now Lunaris Event — my company, my dream — was feeling the flames.“Okay, let’s get started,” I said, forcing my voice to sound steady, though my stomach twisted. The chair where Alice usually sat, to my right, was empty, and every glance that landed there felt like a jab at her absence. “I know things are… tough. I want to hear what you all have to say.”Emily,
Traded For His First Love 121. Sunlit Smiles
Reese POV The Saturday sun shone warm, but with that crisp autumn touch that made the air feel lighter, sweeter. I was sitting on a checkered blanket spread out on the grass in the park, the scent of fallen leaves and cotton candy floating around me. Sammy was running a few meters away, his skinny little legs kicking a soccer ball with an energy that seemed endless, while Avie, her cheeks flushed, tried to keep up, stumbling lightly and laughing loudly every time she fell. Elliot was in the middle of them, in jeans and a gray t-shirt, his blond hair mussed by the breeze, pretending to be an over-the-top goalkeeper just to make them squeal with joy. My heart was so full it felt like it might overflow, as if every laugh of theirs was stitching up a part of me I didn’t even know was torn.“Go, Sammy, kick it harder!” Elliot shouted, throwing himself sideways onto the grass with a dramatic flair that drew a squeak from Avie. The ball sailed past him, rolling to a stop near a tree, and
Traded For His First Love 119. Whiskey and Wounds
Spencer POVThe bar was shrouded in an amber haze, the kind of place where the scent of whiskey and stale cigarettes clung to your skin. I sat on a high stool, my half-empty bourbon glass in hand, ice melting slowly as Josh, beside me, poured his heart out like the world had collapsed on him. The guy was a mess, his voice hoarse from talking, his sunken eyes glinting with a mix of fury and despair. Not that I could blame him — the story he was spilling was a nightmare.“I swear, Spencer, she set me up,” Josh said, twirling his beer glass between his fingers, the golden liquid catching the bar’s dim lights. “Bethany shows up out of nowhere, right in front of my parents, saying she’s pregnant. Pregnant! As if I’d ever laid a hand on her. I told her we were done, but she’s obsessed, man. It’s a trap to force me to marry her, and my dad’s eating it up like it’s his grand plan.”I took a sip of bourbon, the burn sliding down my throat as I tried to focus on his words. “That’s heavy, Josh
Traded For His First Love 119. Trapped by Lies
Josh POV “What did you say?” I asked, feeling my throat dry as I processed Bethany’s words. She stood before me and my parents, claiming she was pregnant? Had I heard her correctly, or was my mind playing tricks on me? “You’re pregnant, my love? Oh, what wonderful news!” My mother was already beaming from ear to ear. “It’s everything we’ve dreamed of, that you’d give us a grandchild!” “Mom, stop it. She’s not pregnant; this is just a misunderstanding,” I cut my mother off, making her pause. Then I turned to Bethany. “Take it back, Bethany. This isn’t the time for your jokes!” “But I’m not joking, Josh. I’m really pregnant. I went to the doctor and did all the tests. You should be happy now, you know? A child is always a great blessing…” “She’s right, Josh,” my father said. “You should be happy to know you’re going to be a father.” He had a half-cynical smile on his face, as if he were triumphant at the overwhelming turn of events that had just hit me. After all, he was the on
Traded For His First Love 118. Lights and Confessions
Alice POV The mirror in my bedroom reflected a version of myself I barely recognized — the navy-blue dress hugging my curves, the subtle neckline catching the glow of the lamp, my blonde hair falling in waves I’d spent half an hour perfecting. Connor had called earlier, his voice warm and inviting, saying he wanted to take me out to dinner at a “special” place. I couldn’t resist the urge to dress up, to escape for one night from the weight I’d been carrying since I left Reese’s apartment yesterday, the echo of the slamming door still ringing in my head. Connor’s invitation was a breather, a chance to lose myself in something other than worry about my best friend and the choices I couldn’t wrap my head around.The restaurant was everything he’d promised — a fancy spot at the top of a building, with windows showing the city twinkling below like a sea of stars. The hostess led us to a table near the view, candles flickering in crystal holders, the soft hum of a piano floating through
Traded For His First Love 117. A Legacy Unraveled
Josh POV “So that’s why you decided to come have lunch with us today? Because you want to talk about the engagement to the Skylands’ daughter?” My father asked, his habitual scowl fixed on me, a look I’d grown up with. I’d been raised under the weight of a strict father who never left room for argument, so I was used to it by now, knew how to handle it.“Yes, Dad. That’s exactly it,” I replied, firm. “Bethany and I… we just don’t love each other, and it’s not going to work.”My father sat in his usual spot at the dining table, my mother beside him. The polished mahogany table was far too long for our small family of three, making the air feel morbid, lifeless. A family that only nurtured greed for money didn’t sit around chatting about trivial things like a football game or planning a park outing together.That’s how I’d grown up, and I knew it had left scars in me, ones that would mark me forever, not just in my behavior but in my choices. I didn’t want to be like my father, though
Traded For His First Love 116. Shadows of Peace
Reese POV The air in the apartment turned thick the moment Elliot’s words sliced through the silence, the coffee tray trembling slightly in his hands. “What secret? Is there something you two are hiding from me?” His green eyes darted between me and Alice, and my heart raced, a knot tightening in my throat. Avie. He’d almost found out, right there, in front of her, that the bright-eyed girl running down the hall was his, ours. My whole body went cold, but I forced a smile, the kind I’d used a thousand times to dodge conversations I wasn’t ready for.“Oh, it’s nothing big,” I said, my voice coming out lighter than I felt as I stood from the couch and took the tray from his hands. “Alice is just worried about me, you know how she gets.” I set the coffee on the table, my fingers shaking a little, and turned to him with a look that begged him not to dig deeper. “Friend stuff, that’s all.”Alice huffed behind me, the sound heavy with frustration, and I felt the weight of her stare on my
Traded For His First Love 115. Tangled Bonds and Hidden Truths
Alice POV The sun was already setting when I stopped in front of Venus’s building, my bag slung over my shoulder and a restlessness jittering in my chest. The day before had been a blur — waking up in the motel with Connor, the heat of his body still lingering on my skin, the way he’d made me laugh with that crooked smile while we ate toast in bed. I’d gotten lost in him, in that easy flirtation and chemistry that caught me off guard, and hadn’t checked in with Venus all day. But now, standing there, the weight of Nathalie’s party hit me full force. Spencer had called me last night, his voice a thunderstorm of rage as he spat accusations about Venus — that she’d screwed everything up, that she was chasing Elliot, that my reputation was going down the drain because of her. I needed to know what had happened, needed to look after my best friend.I pressed the buzzer, the sound slicing through the cool evening air, and waited, fussing with my hair as I tried to sort my thoughts. The d
