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Chapter 20
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2024-11-29 10:25:53Related chapters
When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 1
After three years of dating Nathan Foster, I thought I knew where we were headed. But he never proposed. Instead, he fell in love at first sight with my stepsister. His pursuit of her was bold and relentless, leaving no room for doubt. This time, I didn’t break down or wait around, hoping he’d return like before. I made a clean break. I threw away every gift he had given me, shredded the wedding dress I once secretly bought, and on his birthday, I left Riverdale behind. Just as I was about to board my flight, Nathan messaged me: “Where are you? Everyone’s waiting for you.” I smiled, didn’t bother replying, and blocked him on every channel. He had no idea that, two weeks earlier, I had accepted the proposal of my college senior, Eustace Cooper. When the plane landed in my new city, Eustace and I were ready to begin a new chapter of our lives together—as husband and wife. …"Eustace, I’ve made up my mind," I said, standing in front of the mirror, staring at the pale and fra
Last Updated : 2024-11-29When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 2
My father looked pleased with how understanding I was, while my stepmother wore a satisfied smile. After they left, Sophia stayed behind. "Roxanne, let me help you pack," she said sweetly, standing in front of me with an obedient demeanor. Yet, as her gaze swept around the room, a hint of undisguised triumph flickered in her eyes. "I didn’t think Dad would actually agree to us switching rooms," she added. "Roxanne, are you mad at me?" She paused for effect, then continued with a sly smile. "After all, I just took Nathan, and now I’ve taken the room you’ve lived in for ten years." I didn’t respond. Turning away, I went to grab my suitcase. Suddenly, Sophia let out a dramatic "Ouch!" and collapsed onto the floor, clutching her arm. "Roxanne..." she whimpered. Her arm had struck the corner of the desk, leaving a dark bruise spreading across her pale skin. "Roxanne, what are you doing?" Nathan Foster had appeared at some point, now standing at the doorway. He stepped ins
Last Updated : 2024-11-29When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 3
Sophia suddenly burst into tears. "Nathan, please don’t argue with my sister because of me," she said softly, her voice trembling with grievance. "It’s okay… Roxanne has every right to be upset with me." Her sobs were quiet and delicate, like someone who had endured endless wrongs. Nathan’s gaze on me turned completely frigid. "You’re jealous that I care about Sophia," he said, his tone as cold as ice. "Jealous that I treat her well. Jealous that everyone loves her." He paused before delivering the final blow. "Roxanne Evans, you’re not the person you used to be. You’ve changed—you’ve become bitter and twisted, haven’t you?" With that, he turned away, carrying Sophia in his arms as they left the room. I stood there, watching their figures fade into the distance, and suddenly realized that my tears had dried without me even noticing. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. After all, I’d already cried so much over Nathan these past few days. Maybe now, I’d finally reached t
Last Updated : 2024-11-29When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 4
Just as I left the group chat, Nathan’s call came through. "Roxanne, get over here right now." "Where?" "You know where. The usual spot." "Is something wrong?" "You need to apologize to Sophia." "Why should I apologize?" "Because you suddenly left the group chat. Do you have any idea what our friends might think of her now?" Nathan’s tone was cold and commanding. "I don’t want anyone talking badly about Sophia. It’s my fault. I’m the one who loves her and wants to give her a proper status. She’s innocent and doesn’t deserve to be labeled a homewrecker because of your impulsive actions." I thought I’d become immune to his words and actions, but this still managed to ignite a dull, suffocating ache in my chest. My fingers trembled slightly as I gripped the phone, my voice shaking as I responded, "Nathan, you can’t treat me like this. What gives you the right to bully me this way? You’re the one who betrayed me. I haven’t done anything wrong. I even congratulated the t
Last Updated : 2024-11-29When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 5
Sophia moved into my room, but I didn’t bother taking hers. Instead, I picked a random guest room to stay in for the time being. The bedding the housekeeper prepared for me was cold and damp, so I just lay down fully dressed. After all, I would only be staying here for a few more days. I just had to endure until it was all over. But the next morning, as I walked downstairs, I saw a scene that made my blood run cold. In the sitting room where my mother’s framed photo and a small display of her favorite flowers and keepsakes were kept, everything was in shambles.Her photo had been thrown to the ground, the frame shattered, and muddy footprints covered the once-smiling image of my mother. The flowers and keepsakes were scattered across the floor, and Sophia’s pet dog was happily chewing on them. Standing nearby, Sophia clapped her hands in delight, watching the scene unfold as if it were some sort of show. I stood there, feeling all the blood in my body rush to my head. Eve
Last Updated : 2024-11-29When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 6
In the middle of the night, I was abruptly woken by the sound of crying and screaming. As I sat up, my bedroom door was kicked open from the outside. My stepmother stormed in, sobbing hysterically. Before I could react, her hand struck my face, again and again, each slap harder than the last. "How could you be so cruel?" she shouted. "Hurting her during the day wasn’t enough. You’re even trying to kill her now?" She collapsed into my father’s arms, wailing. "She knows Sophia is allergic to peaches, yet she deliberately poured peach juice all over her bed and pillows! She’s trying to kill our daughter!" "Enough, stop crying," my father said softly, comforting her as he looked at me with disgust. "Thankfully, Sophia took her medication in time, so she’s fine." Then his voice turned cold. "Roxanne, you’ve deeply disappointed me. Pack your things and move out tomorrow. Keeping you in this house will only bring chaos to our family." My stepmother’s crying ceased immediately, h
Last Updated : 2024-11-29When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 7
The rest were the gifts Nathan had given me over the past three years. Some were playful little trinkets, others expensive jewelry and accessories. I carefully sorted out the valuable items, deciding to leave them with my best friend temporarily. Once I left Riverdale, she could return them to Nathan on my behalf. That way, everything would truly be settled, with no lingering debts or ties. As for the cheap, meaningless things that he had given to amuse me, I didn't hesitate to pack them all up and throw them away.There was a time when I cherished even the smallest keychain he gave me. But now, as I discarded them, I didn’t feel the slightest ripple of emotion. After finishing, I carefully wrapped my mother’s photo, securing it safely in the padded compartment of my suitcase. Without looking back, I left the house I had called home for ten years. As I stepped through the front gate, Nathan’s car happened to pull up. I didn’t spare it a glance. But the car suddenly sto
Last Updated : 2024-11-29When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 8
In the past, no matter how heartbroken I was, I always waited for him to come back, silently and willingly. He had grown used to it. Everyone around him said I would never leave him. He believed it too. Dragging my suitcase behind me, I prepared to leave, but Sophia’s soft, sweet voice rang out. "Nathan, you’re here!" She ran over, clinging tightly to his arm, her entire body practically leaning against him. "How’s your allergy?" Nathan asked, brushing aside the stray strands of hair on her forehead to check her face carefully. "Much better," Sophia replied, smiling sweetly, her eyes curving like crescent moons. "Don’t be mad at my sister, okay?" She held onto his arm, swaying gently as she continued, "Honestly, it’s my own fault for being so weak. If I weren’t so frail, Dad wouldn’t have asked Roxanne to switch rooms with me. Then she wouldn’t have taken it out on me…" "This isn’t your fault," Nathan said, glancing at me with disdain before pulling Sophia into his ar
Last Updated : 2024-11-29
Latest chapter
When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 20
The wedding that day was breathtakingly extravagant yet impossibly romantic. Neither Nathan nor Charles was allowed to step foot inside the ceremony itself. Still, neither of them chose to leave. Charles didn’t make it to the end of the wedding. Partway through, he suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. Though his life was saved, he remained in a coma. However, Nathan stayed until the very end. For reasons he couldn’t quite understand, Cassie had never blocked him on social media. Through her posts, he saw nearly the entire wedding unfold—photo after photo, video after video. Nathan had already known before the wedding that Roxanne’s groom was Eustace, her accomplished senior from college. Back then, in the early days of their relationship, when they were still figuring things out, Roxanne often spoke highly of Eustace.Every time she mentioned Eustace, Nathan would get jealous. Eventually, Roxanne stopped bringing him up altogether and went out of her wa
When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 19
Eustace and I held our wedding in the spring of the following year. Keeping the promise we made in our younger days, Cassie stood by my side as my sole bridesmaid.I didn’t notify any family or friends from Riverdale, yet somehow, the news spread. On the day of the wedding, both my father and Nathan showed up. Eustace came to ask for my opinion. The makeup artist was still working on me, and as I instinctively glanced up, I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror and the man who would soon be my husband. The bridal makeup was slightly more elaborate than my usual look, and the person staring back at me felt unfamiliar yet striking. I felt like the blooming hydrangea bush Eustace had planted for me in our new garden—delicate, vibrant, and full of life.And Eustace, dressed in his sleek black tuxedo, was effortlessly handsome, exuding confidence and charm. Our eyes met in the mirror, and in that brief moment, we both smiled, a shared warmth passing between us. "I don’
When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 18
But the man who had once doted on her, the "father" she relied on, didn’t spare her even a glance. Charles waved his hand dismissively, as though swatting away an annoying fly, and ordered for the mother and daughter to be thrown out. At the front gate, Sophia still refused to give up. Clinging desperately to the doorframe, she screamed hoarsely, "Nathan… you can’t do this to me! You can’t—I’m pregnant! The baby is yours! You have to take responsibility!" By the end, her voice had cracked, and she looked utterly deranged, like a madwoman. "Nathan?" Charles turned to him with a questioning look. Nathan felt an overwhelming wave of disgust. He wanted to laugh, but the bitterness in his chest wouldn’t let him. How had he ever been attracted to someone so revolting? "Mr. Evans," Nathan said, stepping forward to face the older man, whose hair had turned noticeably gray. "I never touched her. I swear, I’ve never slept with her." Charles exhaled deeply, relief washing over h
When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 17
Eventually, the neighbors, fed up with the disturbance, called the building management. It was only then that Nathan learned the truth from the property office: Roxanne had moved out long ago. She had even arranged for the apartment to be sold through them. Where had she gone? Was she still in Riverdale? Would she ever come back? And if so, when? Nathan had no answers. Only one thought consumed him, clawing at his mind with relentless panic, like a beast lurking in the shadows, ready to devour him whole. He had lost Roxanne. And this time, he might have lost her forever. Meanwhile, every scheme and lie Sophia and her mother had orchestrated to frame and slander Roxanne was finally exposed. Even the Evans family’s house staff stepped forward to defend their young mistress, sharing the injustices she had silently endured. The day the mother and daughter were thrown out of the Evans estate, they were reduced to a pathetic sight—disgraced, humiliated, and treated like out
When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 16
"I am allergic to peaches! Even Dad knows that," Sophia cried, clutching her face, her tone thick with grievance. "It was Roxanne who had the housekeeper smear peach juice on my bed. Dad even investigated and confirmed it!" "Liar!" Nathan suddenly stepped forward, grabbing her by the collar. He was tall and imposing, and with that one motion, he nearly lifted Sophia off the ground entirely. "Nathan… stop! I can’t breathe!" Sophia gasped, clawing at his grip. Nathan glared down at her, his sharp features darkened by anger, his handsome face twisting with a rage that grew fiercer by the second. "Sophia," he said, his voice low and cold, "did you forget that you’re wearing Roxanne’s favorite perfume? The one I bought her countless times?" He paused, his lips curling into a bitter, self-mocking smile. "And yet, I forgot… I’ve forgotten so much." He loosened his grip slightly, but his voice grew heavier, almost regretful. "I forgot how deeply Roxanne cared for me, how much
When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 15
Nathan’s mind was consumed by the image of Roxanne’s final glance at him. It had been calm, emotionless, devoid of any waves or ripples. At that moment, it was as if he were nothing more than a stranger—an insignificant passerby in her life. Nathan abruptly stood up, ready to leave, but before he could take a step, Sophia pushed the door open and walked in. "Nathan," she said softly, her voice laced with its usual delicate timidity. Her eyes glistened as if they were always on the verge of tears, giving her the perpetual appearance of someone who had been wronged. "You’ve been drinking too much again," she chided gently, slipping her arm through his. "You’ll be complaining about a headache tomorrow, you know." Her tone was so sweet and caring, but as Nathan opened his mouth to respond, the faint trace of a familiar perfume hit him. He froze for a moment, the scent stirring something deep in his chest. The hand he’d intended to use to push Sophia away dropped limply to
When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 14
"Nathan, are you trying to kill yourself with all this drinking? Do you know how worried everyone’s been about you lately?" A friend grabbed the bottle from his hand, trying to reason with him. "We just called Sophia. She’s on her way to take you home. Stop drinking, okay?" The mention of Sophia’s name suddenly filled Nathan with disgust. He shoved his friend aside and sent the bottle crashing to the floor. "Who told you to call her? Did I ask for her?" "She’s your girlfriend. If not her, then who else should we call?" "My girlfriend?" Nathan sneered. "Do you even know who my girlfriend is?" His friends exchanged uneasy glances. "Nathan, have you forgotten? You and Roxy already broke up..." "Yeah, and you even told us in the group chat to start calling Sophia your fiancée." "Roxy left the group after congratulating the two of you." "Aren’t you and Sophia getting engaged soon?" "There won’t be an engagement," Nathan said flatly, signaling for someone to open a ne
When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 13
"Eustace..." "I'm not dreaming, am I? You're Roxy... you're Roxanne Evans, right?" Eustace suddenly cupped my face in his hands. The distance between us was so close that our breaths tangled in a chaotic rhythm. His eyes, hazy with alcohol, reflected a mix of emotions—confusion, disbelief, longing, and a bittersweet ache that was impossible to put into words. It felt like someone had crumpled my heart in their hand, leaving it tender and sore. "Eustace," I whispered, my voice trembling, "you’re not dreaming. It’s me. I’m Roxanne Evans—" Before I could finish, his lips brushed against mine—a kiss so light, so gentle, it felt almost fragile. I hadn’t even fully processed what was happening before Eustace pulled away. Perhaps he caught the surprise and unease on my face, the nervousness in my wide eyes. He took my hand and guided me to sit properly on the seat, his touch firm yet careful. The car had started moving, and he lowered the partition, enclosing us in a qui
When Love Wilts and Blooms Again Chapter 12
As the gathering came to an end, I waited for Eustace in the lobby downstairs. Just then, a call came in from a friend back in Riverdale. "Roxy, what’ve you been up to these days? Haven’t seen you around." "I’ve been dealing with some personal matters." "How about meeting up later?" I smiled faintly. "No, you guys go ahead." "Wait, don’t hang up just yet," the voice on the other end said hesitantly. "Actually... it’s Nathan. He’s in a bad mood tonight, got drunk, and won’t listen to anyone. If you’re free, could you come check on him? We’re worried if he keeps drinking, he might end up with gastrointestinal bleeding again." "Call Sophia instead," I replied flatly. "Roxy, Nathan just kicked Sophia out." The voice softened. "We can all tell he still has feelings for you. He regrets it." "Enough, Zane," I said, gripping my phone tightly, my voice calm. "Nathan and I are over. His problems have nothing to do with me anymore, so don’t call me about him again." The mome
