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65. There's still hope
Last Updated:
2025-02-28 04:42:52
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Traded For His First Love 66. My walk here
Reese POVI stood at the window of my bedroom, holding a glass of red wine, the deep crimson liquid glinting under the moonlight filtering through the curtains. The distant hum of the city was a faint murmur, but my thoughts were fixed on the path that had brought me here. The battles, the losses, the victories—I was close to winning.A soft creak made me turn, and Avie, my daughter, ran in, dressed in a pastel nightgown, her blonde curls bouncing. She climbed into my lap, hugging my neck, instantly bringing peace.“Mommy, can we read a story?” she asked, her voice sleepy.“Of course, sweetheart,” I replied, smiling as I carried her to the bed, grabbing a book about dinosaurs—Sammy’s favorite. I imagined the day he and Avie would meet, laughing together in this room.Flashback on: Three Years AgoThree years ago, pregnant, I stepped into a new apartment in the city, the empty space echoing my loneliness. I stood at the window, looking out, my heart heavy after divorcing Elliot and los
Last Updated : 2025-02-28Traded For His First Love 67. Everything goes in love
Bethany POVThe sound of Josh’s car crunching over the gravel of my parents’ mansion driveway jolted me out of my reverie. Josh sat beside me, and since we’d left the restaurant, a morbid silence had hung between us. Every time I spoke, he’d huff, grumble, or roll his eyes as if the sound of my voice alone irritated him. I considered myself pretty, but Joshua Carter’s disdain made me feel like the ugliest, most uninteresting woman in the world.“Alright,” he said after pulling up in front of my house, his voice flat, not even glancing at me. “You’re safely delivered. You can go now.”I looked toward the house through his car window and sighed. So that was it? I’d just get out of the car, and this would end here? For heaven’s sake, things were only getting worse… “Or better yet, why don’t you come in? My parents won’t mind if you sleep with me tonight. It’s kind of fitting, since we’re engaged,” I invited, flashing a seductive smile.He frowned at me as if I’d just said something outr
Last Updated : 2025-02-28Traded For His First Love 68. Fortunately we will be unhappy
Bethany POV“Lady Venus is a beautiful and very interesting woman, but she really isn’t my type,” Josh said, “so stop hating her to ease your frustration over me not responding to you, okay? Besides, you’re so pretty—stop being so bitter, it doesn’t suit you.” He pinched my cheek in a gesture that was anything but romantic, then reached for my door handle. “Now get out of the car, come on. It’s getting late.”But I pulled the door shut, closing it firmly, and looked at him with my nose tilted upward. “What?” He was confused by my defiance.“I already said, I’m not getting out of here unless you’re with me,” I repeated. “Or would you rather take me to your place? I’ll take any place as long as we’re together.”“You’re not seriously doing this, Bethany, are you? You’re not challenging me like this, are you?” he raged, his brow furrowed. There was danger in his green eyes, but I wasn’t afraid. What more could happen? I was already in deep trouble anyway.“If Lady Venus isn’t your type,
Last Updated : 2025-02-28Traded For His First Love 69. My condemnation
Elliot POVI stood on Venus’s doorstep, clearly anxious, Sammy’s hand gripped tightly in mine, my heart pounding like a drum against my ribs. It was Saturday, and the crisp, quiet morning stretched before us, the promise of a whole day with her pulsing through my veins.I’d barely slept, my mind racing with anticipation—not just for Sammy’s sake, but for mine. I wanted to be near Venus again, to feel the spark of connection we’d once shared, to see if we could start understanding each other after all this time. Who knows… maybe this could be the start of something new.Sammy shifted beside me, his dinosaur-themed sneakers scuffing the stone step, his wide, curious eyes darting between me and the polished wooden door. “Dad, is Lady Venus really here?” he asked, his voice small but hopeful, the uncertainty left by years of Jennifer’s lies still echoing in his tone.“She is, buddy,” I replied, squeezing his hand, my voice steady despite the nerves churning in my stomach. “She’s excited t
Last Updated : 2025-02-28Traded For His First Love 70. My kids together finally
Venus POVThis felt like a dream—watching my two children, Sammy and Avie, communicating for the first time, their small voices filling the living room with chatter about dinosaurs. Sammy’s excitement over his T-Rex book, Avie’s timid but growing curiosity about the big, scary ones—I could barely breathe, my heart swelling with a joy I’d held onto for years, buried under the pain of loss and Jennifer’s lies. It was as if the fractured pieces of my family were finally stitching together, and I stood there, frozen, soaking in the miracle of it all.Sammy sat cross-legged on the carpet, his dinosaur-themed sneakers glowing against the soft rug, holding up a plastic T-Rex figurine for Avie to see. “This one’s the strongest, but I think the Velociraptor’s smarter,” he said, his voice bubbling with enthusiasm, the uncertainty left by Jennifer’s manipulations melting away.Avie, still clutching her favorite stuffed bunny, peeked from behind the couch, her blonde curls bouncing as she edged
Last Updated : 2025-02-28Traded For His First Love 71. The Annoying Spencer Davies
Elliot POVVenus’s suggestion had been damn awkward. Spencer and I, going out together? We had nothing in common—hell, what were we even going to talk about? I hugged Sammy tightly, promising I’d pick him up later, my chest aching with the need to stay, to be part of this moment with Venus and the kids. But I forced myself to step away, descending the elevator with my rival in a silence so thick it felt suffocating. There was nothing to say between us, nothing but the weight of our shared history and Venus’s shadow looming over it all.When we reached the parking lot, I pointed to my car, my voice gruff but steady. “We’ll take my car, right?”Spencer rolled his eyes, letting out an unnecessary, mocking chuckle. “The city’s mine, so I’m driving,” he said, striding toward his sleek black sedan, his movements sharp and confident.I sighed, shoving my hands into my pants pockets, already knowing this day would be a bloody challenge. But I couldn’t disrespect Venus—I could see she was ben
Last Updated : 2025-03-04Traded For His First Love 72. Club of the Pathetically Unlovable Dudes
Elliot POVSpencer Davies dragged me to a luxury club in the heart of the city, a place where only gentlemen with six zeros in their bank accounts could even dream of entering. The air was thick with wealth and arrogance as we stepped inside, the dim lighting casting a golden glow over polished wood and leather.A group of guys was sprawled out on plush sofas, their eyes glued to a massive screen blaring some sport, drinks in hand and smoke from exotic herbs swirling around them. At least there weren’t any obscenities or naked women around—small mercies, I suppose.“Hey, lads!” Spencer greeted them with firm handshakes as he approached, his voice booming with that smug confidence I’d come to despise.I recognized Josh Carter among them, hunched over a glass bong, inhaling the herb smoke with a glazed look in his eyes.“Bloody hell, you lot started early today, huh?” I commented, sinking into a chair beside them, my tone dry as I tried to mask the unease gnawing at me. Being here with
Last Updated : 2025-03-06Traded For His First Love 73. Ernest Williams
Elliot POVThe lads were still holed up in the club, drinking and yapping away as the hours dragged on. The place reeked of bourbon and weed, the air thick with the haze of their excess. Josh, Andrew, Ernest, and Spencer were tossing back drinks like water, their laughter growing louder and sloppier with each round. I nursed a single glass, the amber liquid barely touched—my mind was too tangled with other things to let loose. Venus kept creeping into my thoughts, her smile from this morning with Sammy and Avie haunting me, and the sting of Spencer’s taunts from the car ride still burned. I couldn’t shake the image of her in that red lace he’d bragged about, and it twisted my gut with a mix of jealousy and longing.By the time night fell, the club’s buzz had dulled into a drunken hum. I slipped out to the balcony, the cool air hitting my face as I lit a cigarette, the ember glowing against the city skyline. My heart ached, a dull throb of missing Reese—Venus—settling in. I wondered w
Last Updated : 2025-03-07
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
