All Chapters of A second chance at forever: Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

5 Chapters

Chapter 1

ANNALISE'S POV "No, it can't be."The words echoed in my head, over and over, as I stood frozen in the doorway. My hands trembled, clutching the doorframe, my breath shallow and erratic. This couldn't be real. This couldn’t be happening. Yet, here I was, staring at the sight before me "It couldn't be," I whispered, the words barely escaping my throat. My pulse quickened, pounding in my ears like the beat of war drums. With a hand over my chest i gave it a gentle squeeze hoping it will numb the pain inside but it was just a wishful thinking. My husband, Diego, lay curled up in our bed with a woman wrapped in his arms. His hold on her was tender, protective, the kind of embrace I had never experienced from him. Not once in our entire marriage. The dull ache in my chest deepened into something sharp as i stared at them with envy. I had long accepted that ours was an arranged marriage, orchestrated by our parents for the sake of business and status. Diego had never cared for me

Chapter 2

A second chance at forever/Zy Zy Jade

ANNALISE'S POV"I want a divorce," I said firmly, despite being overwhelmed with pain.My heart felt like it was being ripped out of my chest.He shook his head, still unwilling to accept our new reality."You can't," he whispered, choking on his words."You can't leave me."I bit the inside of my lip, forcing myself to meet his gaze.My eyes were cold, void of the love I once felt for him."It’s over between us, Diego. You don’t get to decide what I do with my life anymore."I turned and headed for the door, my footsteps heavy with finality, but before I could take another step, I felt his hand wrap around me from behind, and I froze.That familiar scent hit my nostrils. One I knew all too well, the one that used to give me butterflies. Now, it only stirred up disgust, a bitter reminder of how much had changed.My breath hitched, tears threatening to spill as I fought the growing ache in my chest.He got what he wanted, so why was he still acting this way?Why was he acting like he c

Chapter 3

A second chance at forever/Zy Zy Jade

ANNALISE'S POVThe next day, I woke up to the sound of running water, a steady stream filling the quiet room. My head was throbbing, a dull ache pulsing behind my eyes. I pressed my hand to my head, hoping to find some form of relief from the pain. "My head is killing me," I muttered softly. I blinked, trying to shake the grogginess that clung to me like a thick fog. I didn’t recognize my surroundings. The walls were unfamiliar and I shifted in the bed, the sheets cool against my bare skin, and it hit me. Bare skin.My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as I shot up, my heart pounding wildly in my chest as realization washed over me. "Oh God," I gasped, placing a hand over my mouth. The events of last night came rushing back like a tidal wave, crashing over me with relentless force.I had slept with a stranger. My body trembled with embarrassment, my stomach churning with the nauseating mix of regret and shame.How could I let my pain get the best of me, causing me to fal

Chapter 4

A second chance at forever/Zy Zy Jade

ANNALISE'S POV"Five years had passed, and it was still the same," I muttered, glancing at the hotel.The grand entrance of the Delight Hotel loomed before me, as magnificent as I remembered. It was still one of the most prestigious establishments in Sterling City, and now that I had the means, I demanded nothing but the best.But no matter how much I tried to convince myself that I belonged here, I couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at me."Have a nice day, ma'am," the receptionist said brightly, handing me the key card with a warm smile.I managed a stiff nod, glancing over at Jenny as she took the card from my hand and thanked the receptionist."Right this way, Miss," Jenny said, leading me toward the elevators.It had been five years since I walked away from Sterling City, but just being here again made it feel like yesterday. The weight of the past still tethered me, pulling me back into the depths of memories I had buried for so long, but I tried my best not to dwell on it.Onc

chapter 5

A second chance at forever/Zy Zy Jade

ANNALISE'S POVI froze, my body going cold as my eyes landed on the one person I never expected to see again.Diego Lopez.Here. After all this time?My heart slammed against my chest, each beat louder than the last.The air in the room thickened, and I had never felt so suffocated in my entire life.For years, I had imagined what it would be like if I ever saw him again, but not like this. Not here with my one night stand as his cousin, and certainly not when I was completely off guard.I stared at him, and my heart ached.Diego's face was so familiar, those sharp features still striking.How could someone still look the same after all these years, still be the man I had once loved?But now, he was nothing more than a ghost from a past I thought I’d buried. Seeing him ripped open old wounds—wounds I had spent five years pretending had healed.He took a step toward me, his voice gentle, like he was afraid I might shatter."Annalise, I can't believe you're here."I clenched my fists as