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88. Candlelight and Cold Sparks
Last Updated:
2025-03-23 20:47:07
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Traded For His First Love 89. Petals and Promises
Reese POV After dinner at Le Jardin, Spencer suggested a walk around the city, and I couldn’t say no—not with that crooked smile of his looking at me like I was the center of the universe. The night was gorgeous, the clear sky dotted with stars, the cool air carrying the scent of wet asphalt from the rain earlier. We strolled through Chicago’s lit-up streets, the building lights reflecting in puddles, and he took my hand, lacing his fingers with mine in a way that caught me off guard with its ease. “Ever stop to think how alive this city feels at night?” he asked, his voice soft as he gazed at the glowing shop windows and passing cars. “It’s like it never sleeps.” I smiled, following his gaze. “Yeah, sometimes I forget that. I spend so much time rushing around, I don’t really look.” He laughed, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “Then let me show you. Let’s enjoy it a little.” We walked without hurry, chatting about everything and nothing. He told me a funny story about a clie
Last Updated : 2025-03-24Traded For His First Love 90. Tangled Bonds and Unspoken Truths
Reese POV I couldn’t settle with how Elliot had stormed out of there, running off like he’d been wronged somehow by me bringing Spencer home—and worse, holding his hand right in front of him. It gnawed at me, this urge to do something, to make him listen. I felt this need to explain myself, even though I didn’t fully understand why. “Can you wait here for me?” I asked Spencer, nodding toward the kids. Sammy’s little brow was furrowed, unsure what to do now that his dad had bolted out like that, so I took off after Elliot. I ran through the hallways until I caught up with him at the elevator, shoving my hand in just as the doors were about to close. I slipped inside, and his jaw was clenched tight. His eyes darted everywhere in that tiny metal box—anywhere but me. “What are you doing?” he asked, his words coming out stiff and sharp. “I…” I stammered, and suddenly all the things I wanted to say vanished from my head. My throat went dry. I knew he still had feelings for me, but w
Last Updated : 2025-03-25Traded For His First Love 91. Drowning in the Dark
Reese POV I could barely feel my own body as I trudged heavily down the condo hallway, heading back to my apartment. The conversation I’d just had with Elliot had really gotten to me—I felt drained, almost breathless, the pressure nearly bringing me to my knees right there in the corridor. I even had to brace myself against the nearest wall. “Please pull yourself together, Venus…” I begged myself, repeating it like a mantra to make my heart remember my cause, to remind my heart of my struggle. I’d chosen to stay away from Elliot because I believed it was the right thing for me, but it was overwhelmingly heavy, and I just didn’t feel strong enough to bear it. It hurt like hell—uncontrollable tears streamed down my face—so I crouched down, trying to gather my strength. “Venus…?” It was Spencer. “My God, are you okay?” He came over, kneeling in front of me and pulling me into a hug, visibly worried. “Did that guy do something to you? Did he hurt you or anything?” I could hear the
Last Updated : 2025-03-26Traded For His First Love 92. Glitter and Ghosts
Reese POV I was knee-deep in a sea of golden tulle and boxes of scented candles, holed up in the office we’d turned into a command center for Nathalie’s party. The event was two days away, and the chaos of preparation was almost a gift—it kept me busy enough to stop my mind from drifting to Elliot every five minutes. It’d been days since that elevator, since he walked out with those dark eyes and hands in his pockets, leaving me behind. After that, he vanished. No calls, no showing up. Just sent the driver to pick up Sammy, like he’d made peace with the kid spending more time with me. But that was it—a silence that screamed louder than anything he could’ve said. “Venus, you in there?” Alice nudged me, waving a silver ribbon in front of my face like a magic wand. She was standing, holding a roll of fabric, giving me that look that said she knew I was spacing out. “If these flowers aren’t ready by the end of the day, Nathalie’s gonna strangle us.” I blinked, snapping back to real
Last Updated : 2025-03-27Traded For His First Love 93. Tangled Hearts and Sparkling Lies
Reese POV The party at Nathalie’s was a knockout—the hall shimmered with golden lights hanging like stars, the five-tier cake gleamed like a sculpture in the center, and the clink of glasses and laughter bounced off the marble walls. I was standing near the dance floor, the blue dress Spencer had complimented hugging my body, trying to feel in control, when Nathalie swooped in out of nowhere, her eyes sparkling like the chandeliers above us. She grabbed me in a tight hug, her expensive perfume nearly choking me as she pulled Alice in too. “Venus! Alice! My brilliant girls!” she exclaimed, her voice loud enough to turn a few heads. “Look at this party! It’s all perfect—I’m in love! You two are a dream, you know that?” I laughed, a little awkward under her enthusiasm, and hugged her back. “Glad you liked it, Nathalie. We gave it everything to make it your way.” “Your way?” she shot back, letting us go to step back and fling her arms wide, like she wanted to embrace the whole ro
Last Updated : 2025-03-28Traded For His First Love 94. Heat of the Dance
Reese POV The party at Nathalie’s was in full swing—the hall thrummed with laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the buzz of conversations rising like smoke. I was caught up in the middle of my friends, trying to lose myself in their stories, the chilled champagne sliding down my throat as I laughed here and there. Andrew Singleton, Nathalie’s husband, was holding court in the circle, telling a dumb joke about a guy who mistook his dog for his boss. “And then the guy gave his boss a biscuit and got slapped!” he finished, and everyone cracked up, even me, though I’d heard better. Spencer was beside me, all fired up, talking about the city’s stock market like it was the most thrilling thing ever. “You should’ve seen it, Josh, the tech stocks were through the roof this week,” he said, waving his whiskey glass around. Josh nodded, scratching his chin like he was some expert. “Yeah, man, I threw a bunch into that. It’s paying off big time.” Bethany huffed, crossing her arms as she
Last Updated : 2025-03-29Traded For His First Love 95. Unspoken Weights
Reese POV The party at Nathalie’s was still buzzing, the romantic music wrapping around the couples on the dance floor as I spun in Spencer’s arms. Elliot’s heat was still clinging to my skin, like a tattoo I couldn’t erase, but I tried to focus on the moment—Spencer’s steady arm around my waist, the way he led me with precise steps, the scent of whiskey and cologne surrounding me. He was smiling at me, but there was something in his eyes, a shadow I couldn’t ignore. “Venus,” he said suddenly, his voice low so it wouldn’t draw attention from the other couples twirling around us. “I… I got jealous. You with Elliot just now. I didn’t like it.” I blinked, caught off guard, my heart giving a jolt I hadn’t expected. “Spencer, you don’t need to be jealous,” I replied, keeping my tone light as we kept dancing, the blue dress brushing against his legs. “I know you’re my boyfriend. It’s fine.” He pressed his lips together, his gaze dropping to the floor for a second before meeting min
Last Updated : 2025-03-29Traded For His First Love 96. Sparks and Spins
Alice POV The party at Nathalie’s was a delicious mess—the hall packed with flickering golden lights, the sound of romantic music mixing with laughter and the clink of glasses. I was dancing with Elliot, spinning across the floor, and there was no denying it: the guy was drop-dead gorgeous. His messy hair fell over those green eyes that could pierce right through you, the black suit hugging his frame in a way that screamed charm. I totally got why Venus was so hooked on him—he had that pull that didn’t even need effort. But at the same time, I couldn’t really like him. Not after all the pain he’d put Venus through, that back-and-forth that left her a wreck. I mean, Venus was my little darling since the time in London when she was married to this guy, so I was there and saw how Elliot Goodwin made her suffer, I was there from the beginning, so his pretty face and charm didn't convince me at all, even though he brought that hot friend of his called Connor O'Brien.“Elliot,” I said,
Last Updated : 2025-03-29
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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
