Short
Worlds Apart

Worlds Apart

By:  ChihuahuaCompleted
Language: English
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In the fifth year of Gwyneth Payne's marriage to Asher Crowe, he tells her thrice that he wants to bring Liana Quayle along with them when they migrate. Gwyneth puts down the dishes she's just prepared and asks him why. He's frank with her. "I don't want to keep this from you anymore. Liana lives in the residential area beside ours. She's spent nine years with me, and I owe her too much. I must bring her with me when we migrate." Gwyneth doesn't cry or kick up a fuss. Instead, she books a ticket for Liana on their flight. Asher thinks she's finally seen sense. On the day they leave the country, Gwyneth watches Asher and Liana board the flight. Then, she turns and boards another flight that will take her back to her parents' home.

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Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Mrs. Crowe, are you sure you want me to cancel your flight ticket for moving abroad with Mr. Crowe in a week?" Milena Brooks' voice came through the phone, sounding confused. She was Asher Crowe's assistant.

Gwyneth Payne stood on the balcony. She glanced at the withered trees below and made her decision. "Yes. Book me a flight to my parents' place for the same day and get Liana a flight overseas for that day, too. I'll see them off to settle down overseas in a week, then head back to my parents' place."

Milena was taken aback on the other end of the line. Liana Quayle was the other woman in Gwyneth's marriage. Milena couldn't figure out what Gwyneth was up to.

Even though she was puzzled, she nodded. "Got it, Mrs. Crowe."

Gwyneth ended the call.

Asher was in the living room. He jumped to his feet as soon as he saw her walk in. He looked impatient. "Have you decided yet? Lia's still waiting on my answer."

Gwyneth had just finished getting the meal ready ten minutes ago.

Asher came home and cut to the chase. "I'm done hiding this from you. Lia actually lives in the neighborhood next to ours. She's been with me for nine years, and I owe her so much. I have to take her along when we move abroad."

Gwyneth had barely set the dishes down when her smile instantly disappeared.

This wasn't the first time Asher had mentioned taking Liana abroad. When he first brought it up, Gwyneth had flipped out, wrecking the living room and cursing him for saying such a thing.

The second time Asher brought it up, Gwyneth completely broke down. She slapped him and left home for a week. He hadn't called her at all during those seven days.

Gwyneth decided to let them have their way this time. "I asked Milena to book her flight. You both can leave together."

"So, you have finally come to your senses?" Asher's frown faded, and a smile spread across his face.

Gwyneth dropped her gaze and twisted a strand of spaghetti around her fork. A rush of bitterness flooded her. "I thought you said you were worried about her being alone in the country. She's easy to deceive because she's so trusting."

Feeling like things were out in the open, Asher decided to drop the act. The mention of Liana brought a smile to his face.

"Honestly, Lia would make a better wife than you. But you got lucky, getting to know me a few years ahead of her. Once we're abroad, maybe you should learn from her how to keep a man happy."

Asher's phone buzzed at that exact moment. He stepped out onto the balcony to take the call.

Gwyneth watched him leave and looked down with a heavy heart.

She'd always considered knowing him to be one of the greatest gifts in her life. When they were freshmen in high school, Asher wrote her 99 love letters to win her over.

When their high school romance came to light, he visited the Payne residence with his parents. He dropped to his knees before Gwyneth's parents, sobbing as he pleaded with them to accept their relationship.

After the SATs, Gwyneth checked her results and saw how badly she'd done. Asher aced it, but he wasn't happy about it. He secretly passed on a top university to attend a regular college with her.

She hadn't failed him, either.

When Asher moved north to launch his business, she didn't hesitate to marry him, even though he was financially unstable. She supported his efforts all the way.

He failed three years in a row, and Gwyneth followed him from their apartment to a damp basement, where they lived off cabbage and potatoes for a long while.

Eventually, Asher made it in his business. He made their relationship public by posting their photos online, gave her 80% of his company's shares, and threw a belated, grand wedding celebration.

At the wedding, Asher gazed at Gwyneth, his voice thick with emotion. "Babe, I owe everything to you. I'll love you forever."

Those words had stayed with her all this time.

But just a month ago, she found out Asher had a mistress. It was Liana, his junior from college. After graduation, the two stayed in touch and chatted every single day.

Every year, Asher would get thoughtful gifts for Gwyneth's birthday and Liana's. The gifts he gave Liana tended to be far more expensive than the ones for Gwyneth.

Even during the hectic times of launching his business, he still made sure to spend one day a week with Liana.

Liana was at Asher and Gwyneth's belated wedding celebration. She had on a simple, short wedding dress and topped it off with a loose blazer.

Later that evening, she posted on Instagram. "I'll always be there for you in a different way."

Asher liked her post.

When Asher woke up the next morning, Gwyneth grabbed his phone and opened the conversation between him and Liana.

She lost control and yelled at him, "How many years have you two been talking all the time? Eight? Nine?"

Asher knew exactly who she meant without her even saying the name. He didn't feel bad about it at all. "Lia has feelings for me but never wanted to ruin our marriage. We've been talking for nine years. Is that a problem?"

Gwyneth's eyes were bloodshot, her gaze fixed on him in disbelief. Her voice was raw with hurt. "You're cheating on me. You've betrayed me."

Asher frowned, his voice dripping with disdain. "Gwyneth, ever since I found success in my career, you've been staying home and relying on me. It's been three years of trying, and you still haven't gotten pregnant. Don't you think you've been neglecting your duties as a wife?

"Imagine being in my shoes. I'm not the same broke guy I was. I now own three companies and am financially set, yet I'm only seeing one woman, who doesn't even bother you. I've always shown you respect and consideration. What else do you want?"
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Comments

user avatar
Tarnz Sanabuu
would love to read the rest of the chapters as it's very interesting
2025-01-22 02:32:22
2
user avatar
Cris Land
...........
2025-02-07 04:41:16
0
user avatar
Gina Saintval
starting to love these short stories. good job arthur
2025-02-03 23:05:54
0
21 Chapters
Chapter 1
"Mrs. Crowe, are you sure you want me to cancel your flight ticket for moving abroad with Mr. Crowe in a week?" Milena Brooks' voice came through the phone, sounding confused. She was Asher Crowe's assistant.Gwyneth Payne stood on the balcony. She glanced at the withered trees below and made her decision. "Yes. Book me a flight to my parents' place for the same day and get Liana a flight overseas for that day, too. I'll see them off to settle down overseas in a week, then head back to my parents' place."Milena was taken aback on the other end of the line. Liana Quayle was the other woman in Gwyneth's marriage. Milena couldn't figure out what Gwyneth was up to.Even though she was puzzled, she nodded. "Got it, Mrs. Crowe."Gwyneth ended the call.Asher was in the living room. He jumped to his feet as soon as he saw her walk in. He looked impatient. "Have you decided yet? Lia's still waiting on my answer."Gwyneth had just finished getting the meal ready ten minutes ago.Asher c
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Chapter 2
Gwyneth was left silent by Asher's words. She hadn't worked in years because she overexerted herself while helping him get his startup off the ground, and it took a toll on her health.Back when Asher first started dealing with clients, he was arrogant and awful at negotiations. He couldn't close any deals.Gwyneth downed one drink after another, toasting clients until her stomach bled. That was how she kept landing deal after deal.When he finally succeeded in his venture, her body was a wreck. She lost her period and ended up in the hospital for over half a year. And now, he was blaming her for staying home instead of working.Gwyneth silently headed to the bedroom, tore up the pregnancy test report from today, and threw it in the trash. She couldn't sleep that night again, managing only two hours of rest with the help of some pills.After that day, they fought almost every day.Two weeks ago, Asher brought up the idea of expanding his business overseas and talked about settlin
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Chapter 3
"Are you done?" Gwyneth asked again.Liana paused, unsure what she was up to, but still itching to provoke her. "I'm not leaving him. If you guys head abroad, I'll be going, too. I'm sticking with Asher—he loves me. You won't have a happy marriage with me around!"Gwyneth set the plates down and narrowed her eyes. "You done? Now, it's my turn. Here's a little advice. If you're going to be a mistress, act like it and stop blabbing."She slapped Liana hard, and her face jerked to the side.Liana twisted her ankle and knocked the soup bowl off the table. The scalding liquid splashed on her, and she yelped, "Ouch! That's burning!"The noise caught Asher's attention, and he hurried into the kitchen. "What happened, Lia?"Liana looked up, her right cheek red from the slap and her left hand swollen and burned. She pointed angrily at Gwyneth, who remained cold and distant. "Honey, she slapped me and spilled soup on me!"Honey? Gwyneth pushed down the disgust rising in her. Liana acted l
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Chapter 4
Gwyneth could already tell what Asher and Liana were up to. She gave a slight frown but didn't seem mad."The bedroom next to the master is bigger. Let her stay there," she said calmly.She'd already sent all her things off, so this place wasn't home to her anymore.Asher didn't expect Gwyneth to be so easy to talk to. He sensed something was off when Liana tugged at his sleeve and gave him a sweet smile. "Honey, take me upstairs."After taking care of Liana, Asher entered the master bedroom to find the place nearly empty. All of Gwyneth's stuff was gone.He frowned, feeling a little off. "Where's all your stuff?"Gwyneth sat on the edge of the bed, not even bothering to look his way. "I had them shipped abroad. I won't need to buy clothes when I get there."Asher noticed the jewelry box on the table. It held every gift he'd given her over the years. "What about the gifts I gave you? Why didn't you ship them?"Gwyneth scratched her head, realizing she'd forgotten to throw them
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Chapter 5
Asher looked puzzled, wondering why Gwyneth was asking that. He was pretty sure she couldn't get pregnant, so he figured it was time to stop lying to her."To be real, I only care about Lia having the baby. If you both end up pregnant, I'd definitely favor hers."Gwyneth's face went pale at his words. She lowered her gaze and touched her belly. All her guilt faded away."Oh, and my birthday's in two days. I want to celebrate with my friends and let them know about Lia's pregnancy before I leave the country. You should come, too." Asher leaned against the doorframe, watching Gwyneth with a cold expression.Gwyneth knew this was coming, but it still hurt to hear him say it. "If that's the case, why should I even be there?"Asher frowned. "If you don't show up, people will think Lia's being calculative. I don't want her getting misunderstood."Gwyneth's expression shifted through a range of emotions—bitterness, sorrow, disappointment, and emptiness. "I'm not going. No wife in her ri
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Chapter 6
"How much did Liana pay you guys? I'll double it!" Gwyneth yelled."Bitch! I'm not looking for extra money today. I just want something nice to treat myself to!" the guy with bright yellow hair snapped back.He yanked at her clothes, ripping her collar open and reaching for her neck. Fear clouded Gwyneth's face, and despair rose inside her. Her pants were nearly down when she quickly snatched a wine bottle from the table and smashed it over the guy with yellow hair.He took a hit to the head, and the other five men froze for a second before throwing punches at her. "You're dead today, bitch!"Gwyneth curled up on the ground, bruised and battered.Her will to survive kicked in, and she forced herself to get up. She grabbed the wine bottle by her feet and swung it at the six men, who dodged and backed off.Gwyneth seized the moment and ran. The men didn't dare go after her. She returned to Asher's private room, scanning the place until her eyes landed on Liana in the corner befor
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Chapter 7
Asher glanced at the signature on the divorce agreement. He touched it, double-checking that it was Gwyneth's handwriting. It wasn't a fake, and the signature was real.His face turned stormy. He crumpled up the divorce agreement and hurled it to the ground. He didn't buy that Gwyneth actually wanted a divorce.Asher thought she was probably just acting out because she didn't want Liana to move abroad with them. After 12 years of loving him and giving so much, Gwyneth wouldn't leave him that easily."Where the hell is she? How much longer is she going to keep this up?" Asher growled.The man sighed and shook his head. "I don't know. Ms. Payne didn't mention her whereabouts."Asher dialed Milena's number, his expression cold. "Call her and tell her to stop with the drama. I'm not about to please her. If she keeps this up, I'll sign the divorce papers. By then, I won't spare her a glance, no matter how much she cries and begs."Milena fell silent for a moment, clearly troubled. "Mr
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Chapter 8
Asher glanced at the form, his fist tightening by his side. "She's pregnant? Why didn't she tell me? And she had an abortion without saying anything? How can she not know how much I've been hoping for this child?"Yvette finally understood why Gwyneth was so set on having the abortion that day.If this were the old Asher, he'd have been devastated for Gwyneth and concerned about her recovery after the abortion. But now, he was all about himself."You should ask yourself that. What have you done for her all these years? She gave you her best 12 years, and you found someone else. Please, just go."Asher's face fell. He still didn't think he'd done anything wrong. He figured he'd given Gwyneth enough love and money in this marriage. What more could she possibly want?Just before he left, he asked again, "Where is she?"Yvette twirled the pen between her fingers and sneered. "If you'd come by a few days earlier, I could've told you she was at her parents' place. But now, I have no cl
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Chapter 9
Gwyneth was still trying to come up with a response when her phone buzzed.A guy's voice, somehow familiar yet different, came through, "I'm back in the country. Where are you? I'll come to you.""I moved to a different city. I'm not in Laverston anymore," Gwyneth replied.She talked to Kieran Lauder for about half an hour. He said he was heading over to the Payne residence to see her.Gwyneth got home that evening and was stunned by how Kieran looked now. He was 30 years old, wearing a casual gray suit. His eyes were sharp, but they softened whenever he looked at her.She hadn't seen him in years. He brushed her hair back like he used to when they were younger, and tears filled her eyes."Kie," she murmured.Kieran wasn't her brother, but he was like one to her. The Lauder family moved next door when she was six years old.To outsiders, they looked like childhood sweethearts—three years apart, both went to the same elementary school, walking to and from school every day.When
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Chapter 10
A year later, Gwyneth jumped into running her own business. She set up her business near the Payne residence to stay clear of Asher.With Kieran's support, her furniture business took off and flourished. Six months later, she was considering opening a second factory.Kieran found her a plot of land. The price was reasonable, and since there weren't any big furniture factories in the area, it was perfect for her. The land, however, was located in Laverston.Upon hearing this, Gwyneth started thinking about returning to Laverston to set up her second factory.After talking it over with Kieran, she said goodbye to Franklin and Greta that evening and headed back to Laverston with her suitcase.When Yvette found out Gwyneth was back, she eagerly invited her to lunch. "I've been missing you so much. You're finally back! You have no idea, but Asher's been asking about you constantly for the last two years."Hearing Asher's name left Gwyneth in a daze. She'd sent him divorce agreements c
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