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32. Hope
Last Updated:
2025-02-22 01:46:59
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Traded For His First Love 33. Spencer, the protector
Reese POVI woke up to a soft noise, followed by giggles and jumps on the bed. It didn’t take long for me to feel the mattress shaking and a small hand tapping my arm."Mommy, wake up! Come on, Mommy!" Avie exclaimed with an energy I only had in my youth. She bounced to the top of the bed and looked at me with shining eyes. "Guess what? Uncle Spence is in the kitchen making us breakfast!"I opened my eyes slowly, still fighting off sleep. "Uncle Spence?" I grumbled, trying to process it. "Is it time for all this already?"She nodded, bursting with energy and laughing. "Yes! He’s making pancakes with chocolate syrup! Come on!"That idea got me up faster. "Chocolate syrup, huh?" I smiled at her as I got out of bed. "You sure know how to convince me."Avie ran ahead, already forgetting I was still trying to get myself together. I slipped on my robe, ran a hand through my hair, and followed her to the kitchen.When we walked into the kitchen, I saw Spencer with his back turned, flipping p
Last Updated : 2025-02-23Traded For His First Love 34. Trying to return to normal
Reese POVThe rest of the morning passed slowly.It was then that I realized the best thing I could do that day was to occupy my mind with something else. Something that really mattered. Like work. I had been drifting too far from the things that truly helped me maintain balance. And, if I were honest with myself, work made me feel alive, helped me stay grounded.I took Avie’s hand, with a lightness that helped me momentarily divert from the mental chaos overwhelming me. She was as excited as ever. It was always like this: when I made a decision and put it into action, she got thrilled and seemed to forget any troubles. She had an energy that made me forget everything around me. I felt that, if she could be like this, maybe I could too."Mom, will there be lots of food today?" Avie asked, swinging her arm alongside mine. "I hope so, because Uncle Spence makes the best stuff!"I smiled at her, gently patting her head. "There won’t be pancakes today, but there’ll be a delicious lunch, d
Last Updated : 2025-02-24Traded For His First Love 35. Priorities
Elliot POVAs soon as everyone was gathered, the murmur of side conversations gradually quieted when Joshua Carter entered the room. He wore his usual impeccable suit, his eyes scanning each of us, assessing the atmosphere."Good morning, everyone," he said with a brief nod. "I hope you’re all prepared."That simple sentence was enough to straighten everyone’s posture around the table."We can start the meeting," Joshua continued, placing a folder on the table and opening it with precision. "There’s a lot to discuss today, and I want objectivity.""Are we all on board with the plan for the new production line?" Carter’s voice echoed through the conference room. His gaze swept over all of us, evaluating each person as if he already knew where the mistakes were before we even pointed them out."Yes," I responded firmly. "The equipment has been ordered, and the team starts testing next week. We’ve also aligned with the distributors to ensure everything arrives on time."Before I could co
Last Updated : 2025-02-24Traded For His First Love 36. Digging his own grave
Elliot POVAs soon as the door to the meeting room closed behind me, I let out a heavy sigh. My head was throbbing, and the weight of the conversation that had just happened still pressed on my chest. My talk with Josh had been a clear warning. He didn’t even need to say it outright.I needed to go to the legal department. Urgently.I was screwed.It wasn’t even a matter of speculation or exaggeration. I was genuinely screwed.I walked down the hallway without hesitation, my mind racing. A few employees greeted me as I passed, but I just nodded back, not stopping."Good morning, Mr. Goodwin.""Mr. Goodwin."I didn’t have time for small talk. Or patience.I ran a hand over my face as I strode down the corridor, feeling a cold knot in my stomach that worsened with each step. I knew, sooner or later, I’d end up at this point. After what happened at Josh’s engagement party, after what I said to Reese, it was obvious things would unravel. At least, that’s the only reason I could see for D
Last Updated : 2025-02-24Traded For His First Love 37. I would like to love someone like that too
Elliot POVMy fingers drummed on the table. The room felt smaller, suffocating. The clock ticked away, each second pushing my anxiety into an endless abyss.How the hell am I going to approach Reese? Can I just walk up to her and say, "Hey, how’s it going?" Ridiculous. Or maybe come up with some lame excuse to strike up a conversation? Sounds pathetic. What if I end up looking like a desperate coward? What can I say without sounding like a desperate coward?Damn it. My chest tightened. Reese… I need to see you. I need to fix this.Furthermore, I ran my hands over my face, exhausted by my own indecision. If I call, would she even pick up? Hear my voice and hang up right away? Maybe I should go to her… see her up close. But what if she doesn’t want to see me?I can’t stay like this anymore. I stood up, my chair scraping the floor with a sharp screech. Every cell in my body screamed for me to do something, anything, but not just sit here.I’ve been thinking about how to approach Reese fo
Last Updated : 2025-02-24Traded For His First Love 38. Red as blood
Jennifer POVThe day began with golden sunlight streaming through the curtains of my bedroom, the sun caressing my magnificent skin as I stretched, inhaling the intoxicating aroma of freshly brewed coffee rising from the kitchen. Today was a pivotal day. A day I’d been anticipating for weeks—a moment that could redefine my future. A day that would change everything.I couldn’t be late. I called a taxi, unwilling to risk any delays. The driver was chatty, rattling on about traffic, but my mind was elsewhere, sharp as a blade, focused on my grand plan. I merely nodded occasionally, my fingers gripping my purse strap with an intensity that mirrored the impatience growing inside me. I hated this. Hated having to pretend, having to chase what should already be mine by right. But patience, Jennifer. It’s all part of the game—a game I mastered.Inside the car, my mood soured further. I tapped my fingers lightly on the dashboard, stifling a sigh of irritation. Having to deal with that annoyi
Last Updated : 2025-02-24Traded For His First Love 39. You only have me
Jennifer POV"It’s okay, don’t worry," Sammy said to the nanny, forcing a smile. "I know her. So I’ll go with her."The nanny hesitated for a moment, her eyes assessing the situation. But in the end, she shrugged and nodded, relieved to offload the responsibility."Okay, Sammy, take care," she said with a gentle smile, then crouched down slightly to whisper in his ear. "I’ll have a snack ready for you when you get home."Sammy’s eyes lit up for a moment. "Really?"She nodded, and a small smile crossed his face, though he still looked distressed."Thanks." His voice came out low but sincere.The nanny waved goodbye before walking away, looking worried, but I couldn’t care less.Perfect, since the boy agreed, I can consider this progress made.I took Sammy’s hand and gently pulled him out of there. He moved like a broken doll, his steps heavy, his shoulders slumped. I hailed a taxi, sliding in first, expecting him to follow without question.The smell of old leather and cigarette smoke
Last Updated : 2025-02-24Traded For His First Love 40. Jennifer's return
Elliot POVI wanted so badly for that day to have been perfect. The plan was simple: buy a big bouquet of red roses for Reese, something that would show her how much I loved her, and a blank album, so Sammy could put all his drawings in it and give it to his mom as a gift. It was a small gesture, but meaningful. A reminder that he could still show affection, even though everything between Jennifer and me had crumbled long ago.I walked into the florist and went straight to the arrangements section. The scent of flowers enveloped me instantly, a sweet and earthy mix that evoked memories of both good and bad times. I wanted something striking, something eye-catching that would say everything without me needing words. When the florist showed me a massive bouquet of fully bloomed roses, with an intense aroma of love and nostalgia, I knew it was the one. Reese deserved something like that. I paid and headed to the stationery store, where I spent some time picking out a hardcover album wi
Last Updated : 2025-02-24
Latest chapter
Traded For His First Love 135: A Race Against Time
Reese POVThe living room felt smaller, as if the walls were closing in around me, every shadow a cruel reminder of Sammy and Avie’s absence. I was sitting on the couch, knees pulled to my chest, clutching Avie’s favorite toy and Sammy’s baseball, my face still wet with tears that wouldn’t stop falling.Because they left in such a hurry, my kids couldn’t even take the things they were so attached to. Elliot, what have you done…? I was weak, my mind foggy, unable to think of anything but how much I missed my children, Elliot’s betrayal, and the consequences of my mistakes. I was devastated.Alice and Connor stood before me, their voices soft but firm, trying to anchor me as the world crumbled. The house, which hours ago had echoed with the promise of a plan to get my kids back, now felt like a cage, trapping me in Chicago while Elliot took Sammy and Avie to London, with Jennifer by his side.“Venus, you need to prepare legally,” Alice said, sitting in the armchair, her eyes full of con
Traded For His First Love 134. A Heart Divided
Elliot POVThe interior of the private jet felt smaller with each passing hour, the space cramped not by its size but by the suffocating presence of Jennifer Durham. The hum of the engines was a constant drone,steady noise, but it didn’t drown out the sound of her voice, sharp as a blade, as she berated a flight attendant. “This is lukewarm coffee,” she said, pushing the cup back at the young woman, whose face flushed with embarrassment. “What do you think I am? An economy passenger? Bring me another, and make it decent this time.” The attendant mumbled an apology, hurrying to the back of the plane, while Jennifer rolled her eyes, adjusting her pearl necklace with an exaggerated flourish.I watched her from my seat, anger simmering beneath the surface. Jennifer was insufferable, always had been, but now, with her haughty demeanor, she seemed determined to make every second of this flight a living hell. She leaned toward one of the other staff, a man organizing the bar, and pointed
Traded For His First Love 133. A Flight Full of Shadows
Elliot POVThe steady hum of the private jet cut through the silence, a monotonous reminder that we were thousands of feet above the Atlantic, leaving Chicago behind. Avie slept in my lap, her little face serene, the bottle still between her lips, her slight weight an anchor in the chaos my life had become. Lately, she’d been clinging to me more, always seeking my lap, my hand, and now I understood why. It wasn’t just a child’s affection—it was the bond of father and daughter, a truth Jennifer threw in my face days ago, changing everything. Knowing Avie was mine, by blood, made my heart swell with love, but it also hurt, like an open wound, because Reese had hidden it from me for years.Carefully, I stood, settling Avie on the jet’s sofa-bed, tucking a blanket over her. Her curls fanned out on the pillow, and I ran a hand over my face, trying to shake the guilt chasing me. I’d done what I had to, right? Taking the kids and leaving was to protect them, to keep them with me, away fro
Traded For His First Love 132. A Thread of Hope in the Storm
Reese POVThe silence in the house was a crushing weight, every empty corner a cruel reminder of Sammy, Avie, and Elliot, who were no longer here. I was curled up on the couch, my eyes swollen from crying, the phone silent after countless unanswered calls to Elliot and the devastating conversation with Josh, who confirmed that Elliot had quit and was planning to return to London. The pain of losing my children was a tightness in my chest, a wound that throbbed with every breath, and the guilt—for hiding the truth about Avie, for not trusting Elliot—was suffocating. When I heard the sound of keys in the door, my heart leapt, but it wasn’t Elliot. It was Alice, and beside her, Connor, the two of them inseparable now, like a shadow of light in the midst of my chaos.Alice rushed to me, arms open, and I threw myself into her embrace, sobs returning with force. “Venus, my God,” she murmured, holding me tightly against her chest, her warmth a stark contrast to the cold consuming me. “I’m h
Traded For His First Love 131. An Unbearable Void
Reese POVThe silence in the house was deafening, a mute scream echoing in every empty corner. I was sitting on the couch, my legs tucked under me, the phone still warm in my hand after yet another unanswered call to Elliot. Avie’s plate, with a half-eaten pancake, sat on the kitchen table, a cruel relic of the breakfast that now felt like it belonged to another life. Sammy, Avie, Elliot—they weren’t here. The house, which hours ago had buzzed with laughter and chaos, was now a tomb, and the dread gripping my chest was so overwhelming I could barely breathe.Spencer’s words still reverberated in my head, each syllable a blow: “Elliot knows he’s Avie’s real father… He’s going back to London with your kids.” I didn’t want to believe it, couldn’t, but the empty house was evidence I couldn’t ignore. I ran through the rooms again, opening closets, searching for any sign—a backpack, a toy, a note—but there was nothing. Sammy’s sneakers, always scattered around, were gone. Avie’s teddy be
Traded For His First Love 130. A House Too Quiet
Reese POV The air in Spencer’s apartment felt thick, suffocating, as his words landed like a blow to my chest: “Elliot’s heading back to London soon — with his kids.” My heart stopped, the world tilting around me. Avie, my Avie, his daughter? How could he know? How could Elliot know? The question burned, but Spencer’s mocking smile, his voice dripping with venom, held the answer before I could even ask. I stood frozen, my hands trembling, the industrial decor of his bachelor pad blurring as his accusation echoed in my mind.“What do you mean, he knows?” I managed, my voice barely a whisper, my throat tight with dread. “How does Elliot know about Avie?”Spencer leaned against the counter, his eyes cold, the warmth I’d once trusted in him gone. “Jennifer told him,” he said, his tone almost gleeful, like he was savoring my unraveling. “She cornered him, spilled the whole truth — that Avie’s his, not mine, not anyone else’s. And you know what, Venus? He’s done with you. He’s planning t
Traded For His First Love 129. Shattered Trust
Reese POV “Reese…?” Spencer gasped as he opened the door to me. He clearly hadn’t expected me to show up at his place; I hadn’t warned him beforehand, precisely because I didn’t want him coming up with excuses to avoid me. Spencer and I had a lot to talk about.“It’s Venus to you, darling,” I said, my voice sharp as I stepped into his apartment without waiting for permission. “My real name is reserved for the truly intimate people in my life, if you catch my drift.”The place was spacious, with industrial decor that screamed single guy’s bachelor pad. “You won’t believe it, but I met your wife,” I said, sarcasm dripping from every word. “She’s so charming, treated me so well. But I’m sure you already know that, don’t you?”Spencer sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I heard about it. Alice told me Roseanne went to see you,” he admitted.In that moment, something broke inside me, a crack splintering through my heart. I’d clung to the hope that Roseanne was anything but his
Traded For His First Love 128. Facing the Storm
Reese POV The kitchen was alive with the chaos of morning, the kind of messy, beautiful noise that made my heart feel full even when everything else was crumbling. Sammy was giggling, smearing syrup on his pancakes, while Avie babbled about a cartoon, her curls bouncing as she waved a sticky fork. Elliot sat across from me, pouring orange juice into their cups, his smile soft but strained, the same shadow in his eyes I’d noticed last night in bed. The memory of our early morning — his arms around me, the heat of our bodies, the words I’d said about our family — warmed me, but that quiet distance in him lingered, a knot of worry I couldn’t untangle.I pushed a piece of pancake around my plate, my appetite dulled by the weight of what lay ahead. Roseanne’s slap, her accusations, the way my employees had looked at me — it all churned in my mind, a storm I couldn’t escape. I’d spent yesterday broken, leaning on Elliot to hold me together, but today, I needed answers. Spencer owed me th
Traded For His First Love 127. A Silent Fracture
Elliot POV The bedroom was cloaked in the hush of four a.m., the kind of stillness that made every thought feel louder, heavier. I lay beside Reese, her body curled against mine, her warmth a stark contrast to the cold knot of betrayal in my chest. The day had been a storm — her desperate call, the way she’d collapsed against me outside Lunaris Event, the story of Roseanne’s slap and accusations spilling from her lips. I’d held her, promised to confront Spencer, brought her home, and tucked her in, but now, in the quiet, Jennifer’s words from the garage haunted me: “Avie is your daughter, Elliot. Reese has been lying to you.” The truth — if it was the truth — was a blade, and it was cutting me open.Reese stirred, her breath soft against my neck, and I turned to look at her. The faint moonlight slipping through the curtains traced her face — the curve of her cheek, the lashes resting against her skin, the vulnerability that made my heart ache even now. She’d been through hell toda
