All Chapters of Cutting My Losses: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

When I learned that my husband, Abel Brooks, was returning to the country today, I got up early and laid out the little trinkets I had collected for him over the past six months from various places.I even instructed the housekeeper, Eve Goods, to prepare a table full of his favorite dishes.At that moment, the door opened, and Abel appeared before me. I was completely taken aback when I saw him holding his first love in his arms.Cora Garrett walked toward me with a smile, gently stroking her slightly rounded belly as she greeted me. "Hey, Aspen! Long time no see," she said.I glanced at her small bump, and a surge of anger overwhelmed me.Cora seemed to notice the change in my expression and quickly came to my side. She delicately grabbed my wrist and said, "Aspen, please don't get upset. This is entirely my fault."If you must blame someone, blame me. Don't take it out on Abel."Cora left me thunderstruck with just one simple sentence. I hadn't said a word, but Cora had alrea

Eve had watched me grow up and knew my temperament well. She paused to gauge my reaction, and when I didn't interrupt her, she continued, "She also said that all pregnancy expenses should be covered by you."After all, since you can't have children, you might as well get involved and experience it for yourself."My face darkened when I heard this. I straightened my sleeves and asked, "Anything else?"Eve added, "She also mentioned that since you don't have children, all your assets will eventually belong to this child."I couldn't help but laugh. What a masterful plan this family had concocted! I kept my composure, despite the anger that bubbled within me. I knew this wasn't the time to act.When Eve asked how I planned to respond, I simply smiled and told her to carry on as usual.She then brought me lunch, and I sat by the bedroom window after eating, gazing at the scene below. At the moment, Abel was escorting Cora out of the house.Memories rushed back to me. It was also an

I slapped Abel with almost all my strength, and his cheeks instantly turned red and swollen. His face was full of disbelief as he said, "Aspen Larkins, are you crazy? How dare you hit me!"I glanced at my own reddened hand and let out a cold chuckle. "You were the one who raised your hand first. Now, you're upset with me?"I am the eldest daughter of the Larkin family. Do you think you can humiliate me however you like?"Hearing the commotion, Vivian hurried over to mediate. "Aspen, Abel acted out of impulse. Don't hold it against him."Seeing my expression remain icy, she quickly tugged on Abel's sleeve, signaling him with repeated blinks.This was the first time Abel had ever raised a hand against me, and I could see he was nervous. Perhaps it was because Cora was there, or maybe it was his male pride, but Abel turned his face away.He was unwilling to admit he was wrong."Abel Brooks!" Vivian shouted. She knew very well that if the standoff continued, Abel would come out of t

I never expected Andre, who was now a decisive and commanding CEO, to still comfort me the same way he did when we were kids. To be honest, my relationship with Andre growing up had always been good.He was only three months older than me but far more mature. As a child, he told all my friends that I was his little sister and wouldn't let anyone bully me, but that didn't stop me from bullying him often.Every year on his birthday, if he received a gift I liked, I would snatch it from him. Once, he refused to give me a limited-edition collectible, and we ended up in a fistfight.Of course, he didn't hurt me, but I managed to scratch the corner of his eye. I cried my eyes out while apologizing, and he spent the entire time comforting me, even though he was the one injured and bandaged.From then on, he gave in to me in every way. I thought he was just afraid of me hurting him again. It wasn't until my 18th birthday party that I realized there was more to it.Andre showed up with a t

I grabbed Abel's chin with bloodshot eyes and said coldly, "When you see the surprise I've prepared for you, you'll be thanking my ancestors instead."Seeing him beaten and bloodied, Abel's parents couldn't hold back their anger and shouted at me. But what use was their powerless fury?Cora was tied to a chair as well, and she cried with swollen eyes, pleading for Abel to save her. I stepped closer, gripped her chin, and asked, "Are you sure the child in your womb is really Abel's?"Abel's face twisted in shock as he stammered, "W-What do you mean?"Cora maintained a calm expression in the face of my question, and she replied, "I'm certain. The child is Abel's."What Cora didn't know was that every time she called Abel's name with that sickeningly sweet tone in front of me, it disgusted me to my core.Andre arrived shortly after I returned home, as I had entrusted him with a task the night before. Knowing the influence the Schmidts held in Jonesburg, I was confident Andre could