All Chapters of Moving On Without You: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Nick hadn’t shared the details of his “revenge plan” with Jenna. He had only instructed her to take Xena to try on a wedding dress in the morning and then pick up Mia in the afternoon to do the same. Naturally, Jenna assumed that the talk of a fifth wedding anniversary celebration and holding a wedding for Mia was all a ruse. She figured her dear brother was planning to propose to Xena in front of everyone on her birthday, which was why he had called her early in the morning, urging her to take Xena to try on wedding dresses. As for Mia? Jenna assumed Nick was simply planning to humiliate her in front of everyone, forcing her to leave on her own. Thinking this, Jenna decided to add her own touch. She arranged for a bucket of cold water to be placed above the banquet hall door, intending to drench Mia and embarrass her before the crowd. The mix-up with the wedding dresses was also a result of Jenna’s meddling. The dress Mia wore was clearly much more expensive than the

After sending his final, threatening message, Nick felt confident. He was sure he had it under control. Mia loved him deeply. He was certain that after reading his messages, she would rush back to the banquet hall. As always, she would lower her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Then she would cautiously apologize, pleading for his forgiveness.The thought gave Nick a sense of satisfaction. Feeling reassured, he decided not to join the search efforts anymore and instead leisurely made his way back to the banquet hall. By then, everyone else was still outside looking for Mia. The hall was empty, except for Xena, who hadn’t left. Seeing her, Nick smirked with disdain. “You’re still here? What, are you hoping to stick around for my wedding with Mia?” Hearing this, Xena suddenly burst into laughter. Whether it was from the overwhelming shock or sheer disbelief, she laughed uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. “Ha! Ha! Ha! Nick, you don’t actually think

In the following months, Nick became consumed with the search for Mia. He traveled to her hometown, meeting her former teachers, classmates, and neighbors. One by one, he visited everyone who had known her, desperately hoping to uncover some clue about her whereabouts. Through his relentless efforts, Nick slowly began to piece together the life he had never bothered to understand before. He learned that Mia had grown up in a single-parent family. Her father had abandoned her at a young age, leaving her with a deep sense of insecurity. Lacking love and support, she developed a people-pleasing personality, always trying to gain approval from those around her. He realized that her tolerance for his behavior, was never born out of love. It was simply a reflection of the harsh realities she had endured, teaching her to silently endure whatever life threw at her. Despite the hardships that shaped her, Mia remained kind. After their marriage, she made regular monthly donations

The most painful thing in life might be achieving success, only to realize that the one person you wanted to repay the most didn’t live to see the day and left too soon.Every time Zoe spoke of her sister, her eyes filled with tears. Charlie’s passing had left her with an endless ache of regret and sorrow. But while Charlie was gone, she had left behind a daughter. “When I was young, our parents favored boys over girls. They only sent my useless brother to school and refused to let me study. I fought back, determined to continue my education, so they cut off my living expenses and refused to pay my tuition, hoping I’d give up,” Zoe said, her voice thick with emotion. “During that time, it was your mom who secretly worked multiple jobs to scrape together enough money for me. To me, Charlie wasn’t just my sister—she was like a mother. She raised me when our parents wouldn’t lift a finger.“That’s why, Mia, you should never feel like an outsider. I don’t have children of my own,

Mia was momentarily stunned. She had assumed James to be the type of aloof, stoic businessman who rarely cracked a smile. She hadn’t expected that he actually had a sense of humor.“Then should I thank you for complimenting me earlier?” Mia couldn't help but chuckle. Seeing her smile, James's brows lifted slightly, a faint grin spreading across his face. “You finally smiled.”Mia froze for a moment, her cheeks warming with a light blush. “I... I thought I’d been smiling all along.”She had maintained a polite smile ever since Zoe had introduced her. A smile was the most basic social courtesy, something she had learned despite her modest upbringing and limited interactions with high society.“You were,” James replied, his deep gaze fixed on hers, carrying a faint warmth. “But that was just a polite smile. Now, this is a genuine, happy smile.” Mia’s heart fluttered at his words. How strange. They had only just met, yet it felt as though he could see through her every expressi