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77. Falling in his arms
Dernière mise à jour:
2025-03-12 23:01:57
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Traded For His First Love 78. Setback
Reese POVLying in the guest room bed, still wrapped in each other’s arms, our bodies pressed together under the sheets, the warmth of his skin against mine felt like an echo of a time I thought I’d never live again. His breathing was slow, his chest rising and falling as his hand stroked my hair—a gesture so familiar it hurt. The moonlight slipped through a crack in the curtain, softly illuminating his face, and for a moment, it was as if we were the only two people in the world—nights in London, before the betrayals, before Jennifer, before everything fell apart. But the past was there, a shadow I couldn’t ignore, even in that fleeting moment of peace.Elliot broke the silence, his voice hoarse and hesitant. “Reese… did you really miss me?” He turned his face to look at me, his green eyes filled with a vulnerability I hadn’t seen in years. “Because sometimes I feel like you hate me now.”My heart clenched in my chest, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to say. I looked away, star
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-13Traded For His First Love 79. Undervalued
Bethany POVToday was one of those days that left my heart aching, frustration with Josh swallowing me whole like a wave I couldn’t escape. I woke up with a thread of hope, convinced that if I arrived early at his house, we could share a moment together when he returned—maybe a dinner, a conversation, something to bring us closer for real. I wanted to feel like I meant something to him, that he saw me as the woman who would be his wife, not just a piece on the chessboard of our engagement. But, as always, reality hit me like a cold splash, reminding me that Josh was far from the man of my dreams, no matter how hard I tried to believe otherwise.At least today my waiting room was different, though no less humiliating than the last time I endured that embarrassment at his office. This time, I waited on the sofa in the grand living room of his parents’ mansion. It felt almost pathetic—I’d worn a beautiful dress, taken the time to fix my hair, dabbed on my best perfume, all just to sit h
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-14Traded For His First Love 80. The Morning Sun and Its Memories
Reese POVThe morning arrived like a hoarse whisper, carrying the weight of a night that still echoed on my skin and in my heart. I opened my eyes in my bedroom, my body heavy with sleep and the guilt beginning to take root, the sound of Spencer’s snores beside me pulling me back to reality. Last night, in the guest room, I surrendered to Elliot, letting the walls I’d built over years crumble under the heat of his touch and his promises. Now, with daylight filtering through the curtains, it all felt like a dangerous dream, a mistake I didn’t know how to undo.I rose slowly, careful not to wake Spencer, and dragged myself to the bathroom to splash water on my face, trying to wash away the traces of the night before. Each drop felt like a reminder—his whispers, the way our bodies met, the fragile promise that we might find our way back to each other. But the truth was, I didn’t know what I felt. Part of me still loved him, a part I’d buried beneath layers of pain and pride, but anothe
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-15Traded For His First Love 81. Yes, I fell.
Reese POV“What? You slept with your ex-husband?” Alice asked, her voice dripping with shock, but far too loud, drawing unwanted attention our way.“Alice!” I hissed desperately, reminding her that we weren’t in an appropriate place for such an outburst. We were at a luxurious restaurant, waiting for a client to discuss an event she wanted to host. A few heads had turned toward our table when Alice practically shouted in disbelief.She was composing herself now, but her face still held that stunned expression. “I’m sorry, Venus, but you can’t just drop a bombshell like that and expect me not to react accordingly,” she said, adjusting her short, choppy hair. I sighed. What could I even say? I could barely believe my own words myself. “So you’re telling me you and Goodwin hooked up?!”I nodded, embarrassed. “Yes, we hooked up.” I sipped my juice, feeling my throat dry up.Alice let out a humorless laugh. “But how? When did this happen? How?” She was trying to make sense of it, and hone
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-16Traded For His First Love 82. Common Reason
Bethany POVThe luxurious restaurant felt almost suffocating, with its golden lights and the muffled sound of elegant conversations surrounding me. I sat at a corner table, drumming my fingers on the white linen tablecloth, my stomach churning with anger and humiliation.I had come here to meet a mysterious woman who had promised juicy information about Venus—information that, according to her, could ruin that woman’s career. I didn’t have anything personal against Venus, at least not until she started hovering around Josh, messing with what was mine. And after the dreadful weekend I’d just had, I was more than ready to take my anger out on someone.My mind was still trapped in the humiliating scene from that morning, and as I waited, the memories swallowed me like a whirlwind. I had woken up next to Josh, still in his bed, my body warm against his, believing that the night we spent tending to him—after he stumbled in drunk and cursed at me—might have changed something.I washed him,
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-17Traded For His First Love 83. The Poisoned Invitation
The Poisoned Invitation Reese POVThe air at La Maison d’Or reeked of truffles and hypocrisy. The gold-plated walls reflected the fake smiles of women trading secrets like currency. I adjusted my red silk dress and forced a smile for Natalie Singleton, the client who barely hid her fascination with "Chicago’s Venus." Alice, beside me, was already in "pitbull in stilettos" mode, scowling at anyone who smelled of betrayal. “So, Natalie, we want something intimate but impactful. A party that says, ‘I’m rich but classy,’” Alice said, toying with her pearl necklace while reviewing the proposal. Natalie laughed, her eyes bright. “Exactly! I want everyone to remember this house. White flowers, dramatic lighting, and…” A sharp laugh made me turn. Across the room, *Bethany Skyland* leaned against a table like a trainee geisha, her lips glued to the ear of… Jennifer Durham. My body froze. The water glass in my hand trembled. “Shit,” Alice whispered, following my gaze. “What’s that
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-18Traded For His First Love 84. Tangled Hearts and Tangled Lies
Reese POV “Alice, please, stop the car,” I asked, my voice coming out quieter than I intended. The soft sound of blue jazz spilling from the Ferrari’s speakers felt like it was mocking the mess swirling in my head. She turned to me, eyes wide with surprise, one hand still on the wheel. “What? You okay? Why do you want me to stop now?” I sighed, running my fingers through my hair as I tried to sort out my thoughts. “We need to go back there,” I said, referring to La Maison d’Or, where Jennifer and Bethany had just cornered us like a pair of grinning hyenas. “I need to talk to Bethany. Clear some things up. I don’t like seeing her with Jennifer one bit—that woman’s pure poison.” Alice pulled over to the side of the road with a dramatic sigh, her gloved hands tapping the leather steering wheel. “I know that, honey. I didn’t like seeing that girl cozying up to Jennifer Durham either. How’d they even meet, huh? And look, I love you, but you can’t go around saving everyone. She’s go
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-19Traded For His First Love 85. Shadows of Trust
Reese POV Back at my apartment, the air felt lighter, but only on the surface. I was sunk into the couch, running my fingers through Avie’s soft hair as she blinked sleepy little eyes in my lap, nearly giving in to sleep. Alice and Spencer were parked at the coffee table, wine glasses in hand, while I tried to explain the Bethany fiasco without letting exhaustion swallow me whole. “So, Bethany was totally different,” Alice started, swirling her wine in the glass like it was some magic potion. “She treated Venus like she was trash or something. I swear, if I hadn’t held myself back, I’d have yanked that sloppy ponytail right off her head.” Spencer laughed, that low, raspy laugh that always carried a hint of irony. “Seriously? What happened to make her so prickly?” “She’s convinced Josh is into me,” I said, rolling my eyes while I rubbed Avie’s back, her warmth calming me a little. “Josh Carter’s a great catch, but to me, he’s just a good friend, you know? But Alice thinks that’
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-20
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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
