All Chapters of Love's Final Embrace: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I almost lost my balance and had to steady myself against the bedroom door.Mike Perez patted Daniel Smith on the shoulder, teasing him, "Come on. It's been three years, and Isabella is married. You still can't get over her?"Daniel took a drag of his cigarette and bowed his head, struggling to keep his emotions in check."I've only ever loved Isabella," he said. "In fact, she's getting a divorce soon. I'll get to see her more often.""What are you saying, man?" Mike gasped. "Are you planning to divorce Jessica and marry Isabella?"Daniel didn't reply immediately. Instead, he looked out the window.After a while, he finally said, "No, I'll spend my life making up for the pain I caused Jessica."I couldn't hold back my tears any longer.But when Daniel turned around, I quickly wiped my tears and forced a smile.He glanced at Mike nervously and came up to me."What's wrong?" he asked, cupping my face. "Your eyes are so red. Did you get something in them while showering?"I nod

Daniel didn't come home that day. He called me in the evening."Isabella is divorced now," he said. "She finally sees that scumbag for what he is. You both were victims of all this, and she wanted to invite you to dinner."I wanted to refuse, but Isabella took the phone."Jessica, don't turn me down," she said. "Look, you're married to a good man. You're not holding a grudge about me taking your ex-fiancé, right? Now I'm just like you, a victim. Doesn't that make us friends?"I didn't respond, and Daniel got impatient. "Come on. It's just a meal."Finally, I agreed. "Alright."I figured this was all Isabella's idea. She wanted to provoke me face-to-face, but I didn't fear her.As soon as I arrived, Daniel stood up and trotted over.Before I could say anything, he explained eagerly, "Don't misunderstand. I got to know Isabella at work. She has been running her own company and has business dealings with me."He paused and added, "I knew things between you two were complicated, s

Right before I boarded the plane, Daniel called me.I rejected it without hesitation, but he was persistent, calling me again and again.I simply turned off my phone and closed my eyes to rest.Maybe it was exhaustion or relief of finally letting go, but for the first time in a long while, I slept soundly.By the time I woke up, the plane had already landed. I stepped out of the airport and saw Sarah waiting for me.I had packed lightly, with only important credentials with me.She waved at me, and I ran straight into her arms."Girl, it's been a long time. I missed you so much," she said, hugging me tightly. "Ugh, it's all Daniel's fault. If he hadn't forced you to give up painting, you'd have been a famous artist too."Her words brought back those painful memories. Painting used to be my major and passion. But after marrying Daniel, I gave it up."Wait a second," Sarah said, pulling back to look at me. "Daniel did everything he could to stop you from coming here. What made h

Unable to reach me, Daniel paced anxiously in his room."What's gotten into Jessica? She's never acted like this before. Why is she giving me such a hard time?" he huffed. "I don't get it. Do I have to go and look for her?"He sat with his head down, pinching his brows and rubbing his head with frustration.In his mind, our marriage was just a form of compensation to me, but he couldn't help worrying about me.He couldn't understand why he felt so miserable now. It didn't make any sense.And the divorce agreement was drafted by me, not him. Once he signed it, he'd be free to be with Isabella.But now, the sight of it gnawed at him. He crumpled it, threw it on the floor, and stomped on it."Jessica, where are you?" he shouted.Then he paused, surprised by how much he cared about me.Panicked, he checked the bedroom, looking through my clothes and makeup."Everything's here," he muttered. "She must be trying to scare me and seeking my comfort. She won't really leave me."He ch

A month later, I made significant progress in my painting lessons.I submitted my best work to the judges and unexpectedly won an award.I wasn't as famous as Sarah, but I was getting closer to her.I thought life would continue peacefully like this until Daniel suddenly showed up.One day, Sarah and I walked out of the studio, only to see him waiting at the door.His beard looked like it hadn't been shaved for a week, and his hair was messy. Even his clothes weren't as neat as before. No one was there to iron them anymore.His polished image was completely gone.When he saw me, his face lit up with joy, and he rushed over to my side."Jess, I finally found you," he exclaimed, trying to hug me.Sarah shoved him away. "Who are you to show up here? Get lost!"Her eyes burned with fury, and Daniel took a step back."Okay, I won't get too close. Jess, don't be mad," he said. "It took me a whole month to find you. I saw your name on the news and rushed here. I miss you so much."