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Chapter 47
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-18 11:35:37
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After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 48
The car rolled to a slow stop in front of my house, and the weight of the night pressed down on me like a thick, suffocating fog. My head swam, my body heavy with exhaustion, but beneath the drunken haze, a sharp edge of dread coiled in my chest. I knew what was waiting for me behind that door.Damian shifted in the driver’s seat, exhaling through his nose as he glanced toward the house. The porch light glowed dimly, a beacon against the night, and through the front window, I could see faint shadows moving inside."They’re awake," he muttered.I groaned, letting my head flop against the seat. "Of course they are. Because why wouldn’t they be waiting up for their mess of a daughter?""You’re not a mess," he said firmly.I snorted, cracking an eye open to look at him. "I am currently drunk, dramatically spiraling, and about to walk into a family intervention. That, my dear doctor, is the definition of a mess."Damian didn’t argue, but his jaw tightened as he stepped out of the car and w
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-18After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 49
Emily's POVThe morning air was cool against my skin as I made my way to the restaurant, the scent of fresh bread and roasted coffee drifting through the streets. My head still ached from last night’s disaster, but the worst part wasn’t the hangover. It was the mortifying memory of how I had fallen apart in front of everyone—my family, Damian… Damian.I groaned, rubbing my temples as I quickened my pace. The sooner I got to work, the sooner I could drown myself in tasks and forget that last night ever happened.But, of course, the universe had other plans."Emily."I froze mid-step, my heart lurching violently against my ribs.Damian stood just a few feet away, hands in his pockets, his dark eyes fixed on me with quiet intensity. He looked impossibly calm, as if he hadn’t spent the night witnessing my complete unraveling."You’re up early," he observed, his gaze scanning me as if assessing whether I would collapse at any moment. "How are you feeling?"“Fine,” I said sharply. The tense
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-18After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 50
Maya's POVThe glow of the dim overhead lights reflected beautifully off the rim of my glass as I lifted it, savoring the expensive cocktail in my hand. Around me, my friends laughed and chatted, their voices a gentle hum of admiration and indulgence. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and fine whiskey, a mix of sophistication and luxury—everything I had always deserved.Louis sat beside me, his dark, smoldering gaze locked onto me with that slow, knowing smile that made every other woman in the room seethe with jealousy. I could feel it, the way they watched us, the way they whispered. They wanted what I had. They wanted to be me. And who could blame them? I had it all—wealth, beauty, power, and a fiancé who worshipped the ground I walked on.“This place is… quaint,” one of my friends, Ava, mused, running a manicured finger along the rim of her glass. Her usual taste ran more toward exclusive members-only lounges with imported champagne and name recognition.I smil
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-27After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 51
Maya's POVEmily moved through the bar ready to take their order, her face perfectly neutral, her posture stiff.A slow smile curved my lips. The moment was too perfect.Seizing my opportunity, I gestured toward her with syrupy sweetness. “Oh, everyone, you must meet Emily.” I let my voice rise just enough to ensure I had the group’s full attention. “This is Damian’s ex-girlfriend.”The reaction was instant. Heads snapped toward her, eyes widening with interest. The conversation that had been focused on me—on my flawless life—shifted, their curiosity now directed at the woman who had, once upon a time, held Louis’ heart.Emily’s steps faltered for just a fraction of a second, her fingers tightening around the tablet in her hand. She recovered quickly, but I had seen it. The weakness. The sting.I tilted my head, feigning innocence. “Oh, you don’t mind the introduction, do you, Emily?” My voice was light, pleasant, perfectly polite, but the underlying message was clear.She met my gaze
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-27After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 52
Maya's POV“Oh, Damian has always been the noblest of men,” I cooed, swirling my untouched champagne as I leaned forward, my smile delicate yet sharp. “It’s no wonder he has such a dedicated following. Isn’t that right, Emily?”Emily barely spared me a glance as she set down another tray of drinks with practiced ease. Her expression was composed, unreadable, and it infuriated me.“I wouldn’t know,” she said lightly, her tone void of any emotion that would suggest familiarity. “I was never his patient.”The table let out an exaggerated collective gasp, ever the dramatists when a bit of juicy gossip was at play.“Oh?” I feigned a surprised blink. “I thought… well, with everything I’ve heard…” I trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air like perfume.Emily smiled at me then, and I despised how calm she looked. “Damian is a wonderful doctor, but we’ve never had that kind of relationship.”I tapped my chin as if deep in thought. “Interesting. But tell me, Emily, how is your fami
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-06After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 53
Damian's POVI never intended to come to this party.When Eloise extended the invitation, I had every intention of declining. I had been preparing excuses in my head, knowing that social gatherings hosted by Maya were never just friendly get-togethers. There was always an underlying motive, a scheme brewing beneath her carefully poised smile.But then Eloise mentioned the venue.Emily’s bar.I agreed before I had time to think about it.Now, as I stepped inside with Eloise on my arm, I was immediately reminded of why I had hesitated.Maya was already holding court, her voice lilting with amusement as she spun yet another version of the story she wanted the world to believe. The moment she noticed me, her eyes gleamed, and she turned her attention toward Emily, her tone growing deliberately louder.“Emily, you must know how we feel,” Maya purred, her voice honeyed with false concern. “After everything that’s happened, it’s just so unfortunate that people keep bringing up old wounds. I
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-07After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 54
Damian's POVEmily, standing just beyond the table with a tray balanced effortlessly in her hands, froze. Her green eyes locked onto mine, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw something shift behind them. Surprise? Doubt? A flicker of emotion she didn’t want me to see? But just as quickly as it came, it was gone, buried beneath the same calm professionalism she always carried like armor.Across from me, Maya’s smile faltered, a thin crack forming in her carefully polished exterior. She hadn’t expected this. She had set the stage so beautifully, twisted the narrative just enough to make Emily seem like the fool, the desperate woman clinging to a man who had never truly belonged to her. And yet, I had just shattered it in one fell swoop.Louis sat rigid beside her, his fingers curled into a fist against the table. His expression darkened, his jaw tightening as if he were barely containing whatever rage had begun to simmer inside him.Someone cleared their throat awkwardly, breaking t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-07After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 55
Emily's POVThe glass in my hand trembled slightly as I set it down behind the bar. My fingers tightened into a fist for just a moment before I forced myself to release the tension. I couldn’t let them see me falter—not now, not after everything Damian had just said.His words still echoed in my mind, lingering like an unfinished melody. He had stood up for me. He had declared, in front of everyone, that he admired me, respected me, believed in me. I had known, deep down, that his feelings for me were real. And yet, hearing them spoken aloud, laid bare in front of a crowd of people who wanted nothing more than to see me humiliated; it was overwhelming.I should have been grateful. I should have felt vindicated. But instead, all I felt was the sharp edge of complication cutting through me.Because this was exactly what I had wanted to avoid.From across the room, I felt Maya’s venomous gaze searing into me. Though she had recovered her usual poised expression, her fingers were curled a
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-07
Bab terbaru
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 130
Madelin’s POVThe restaurant was dimly lit, all shadows and soft music, the kind of place where lovers leaned in too close and secrets were whispered into wine glasses. I sat in the farthest booth, hidden beneath the brim of a wide hat and a veil that shimmered like mist. The staff didn’t question me. Money has a way of silencing curiosity. I had slipped out of the estate days ago, or was it longer? Time meant very little to me now. The days bled together, foggy and slow, like honey dripping from a broken jar. No one noticed I was gone. Or perhaps they did, and they just didn’t care.Then, through the clink of glasses and the low hum of conversation, I saw them. Charles, Maya, and Lyla. The triumvirate of my former life, sitting under golden lights like a scene from a dream I’d never been invited into. Maya was radiant, her hand protectively resting over her rounded stomach, smiling, laughing, receiving every doting glance from Charles like she had earned them. Lyla looked different—w
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 129
Maya’s POVThe day was warm and beautiful, and the sun was casting soft shadows across the polished table where I sat across from my mother. Lyla. My mother, my enigma, my constant contradiction. She looked so elegant in that pale lilac silk blouse, her wrists adorned with delicate bangles that clinked gently every time she lifted her wine glass. Her hair was swept back with effortless grace, a loose bun that framed her face with that familiar softness I remembered from childhood. There was something different about her that afternoon. She looked… peaceful, resolved. It unnerved me.I had just finished opening the latest round of extravagant gifts that had arrived since my induction into The Salvare Society. A Baccarat crystal rattle. A limited-edition baby carriage from some obscure Italian designer. Tiny hand-stitched gowns made of French lace. Silver spoons with my child’s initials already engraved. The rich did not simply give—they performed. And I had become their stage."Can you
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 128
Barrett’s POVThe car was silent, tense like a drawn wire ready to snap. I sat between Maya and Charlotte, a wall of expensive cologne, perfume, and pride keeping us all in separate orbits. Neither of them looked at each other, and frankly, I preferred it that way. Maya, in a sleek dark emerald gown, her baby bump delicately concealed but not hidden, stared out the window with a smirk that didn’t reach her eyes. Charlotte, resplendent in a tailored navy-blue suit dress that reeked of polished ambition, kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, her jaw tight, her fingers twisting the strap of her clutch. I could feel it—the storm of resentment between them swirling like a hurricane against the glass. But I said nothing.They were going to be introduced to the Salvare Society tonight whether they liked it or not. It had taken long enough. My hand tightened around the handle of my cane. This wasn’t about who deserved it more. It wasn’t even about them. It was about legacy. It was about preserv
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 127
Charles’s POVI stepped out of the car, cane in hand, my breath fogging in the cool air. The facility was just as pristine and peaceful as always, with its manicured gardens and soft music playing behind the glass walls. A place designed for tranquility. For forgetting. For hiding people too delicate for the real world. I paid for that illusion, month after month. My name on the donation plaques ensured discretion, ensured comfort. But it could never bring back time.I walked slowly, every step measured, every inhale deliberate. I had postponed this visit for weeks, maybe months if I were honest. There was always a reason not to come. A meeting. A dinner. A fabricated emergency. I had buried myself in the rituals of my empire, pretending I had no ghosts left to face. But they lived here. She lived here. And I was out of excuses.The nurse greeted me at the door. A young girl with a polite smile and eyes that were far too curious for my liking.“She’s in the solarium,” she said, motion
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 126
Barrett's POVI had heard the shouting. Not unusual in this house, no. Emotions ran high, and the Barrett mansion had always been a place where drama echoed off the marble floors like thunder. But this—this was different. This wasn’t the irritated bickering of cooks or the clipped tones of Charlotte talking on the phone. This was raw. Violent. Human. I sat up straighter in my chair, the fine wood creaking beneath me, and tilted my head, trying to catch more. But by the time I reached the hallway, adjusting my robe and gripping my cane with one steady hand, everything had fallen silent.The lights down the corridor flickered briefly as I stepped into the hallway. And then I saw Alfred, the butler, coming up from the west wing, his face pale, his hands shaking slightly in their white gloves.“Where is Charles?” I asked sharply, my voice cutting through the silence.“Gone, sir,” Alfred said quickly. “He rushed Mrs. Lyla to the hospital. She… there was an accident. She fell. She hit her h
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 125
Charles’s POVLyla’s voice sliced through the stillness of our bedroom like a jagged piece of glass, sharp and trembling, trembling not just with rage but with years of swallowed tears and disappointment. I could barely look at her, but I couldn’t look away either. Her eyes, red-rimmed and glistening, stared straight into me, as though she could see the rot beneath my composed surface. My tablet was still in my hands, but my fingers had gone numb, and the glowing screen now felt obscene in the face of her heartbreak.“I just want my daughter to live with dignity!” she cried out, each word unraveling like a stitch pulled too tight. “Without guilt, without feeling like she doesn’t belong!”I flinched. There it was. The thing I had been pretending didn’t exist for years now. The truth. Ugly, bleeding, and long overdue. I stared at her, silent, pinned to the mattress by the weight of my own cowardice. My mouth opened, but nothing came out. How could it? I didn’t have the right to defend m
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 124
Lyla’s POVMaya turned, holding a plush white bear with a satin bow. “Still nothing?”“No,” I said, blinking back the sting in my eyes. “It’s fine. He’s probably just busy.”“With what?” she snapped. “Charlotte’s endless parade of guilt? That woman could turn a sunny day into a funeral. I swear, if she says one more thing about how he ruined her childhood, I will personally frame every photo of you raising Damian and make her eat them.”I laughed, despite the tightness in my chest. “She just misses her mother. And Charles... he carries that guilt like a stone.”“He uses it as a shield,” Maya muttered. “To push you out.”We went back to the mansion just before five. Maya excused herself for a nap, her hand resting protectively over her belly. I watched her walk away down the long corridor, her robe trailing like a queen’s train, and I felt a sudden ache so deep I nearly staggered. I had done everything for this family. I had been the glue, the thread, the silence between their shouts.
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 123
Lyla’s POVThe moment the doors closed, Maya turned on me like a storm. “I hate seeing you like this—like some kind of servant in the Barretts' house. You do things out of kindness, and they just don’t get it. They don’t see you. And let’s be honest, you don’t even have a place there—not officially.”The words hit me like a slap. My hands trembled, and before I could stop it, the tears came. Hot, humiliating, relentless tears. I didn’t even wipe them away. I just stood there, crying, whispering, “I’m sorry, Maya. I’m so sorry,” again and again like a broken record.Maya’s anger faltered. Her expression cracked, and she stepped forward, her voice softer now. “Hey. No. No, no, no.” She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me close, one hand stroking my hair the way she used to when I was the strong one and she was just a frightened little girl.“It’s not your fault,” she whispered. “But you can’t keep living like this.”I sobbed into her shoulder, my fingers clutching at the fabric of
After Divorce: Ex-wife Never Turns Back Chapter 122
Lyla’s POVThe morning sun filtered through the gauzy curtains of the garden canopy, spilling soft light across the freshly trimmed hedges and carefully positioned wrought-iron furniture. The air smelled faintly of lilacs and expensive fertilizer, the kind that came in black-and-gold packaging and boasted European soil enhancements. I sat quietly across from Maya at the little round table near the fountain, my hands cupped around a delicate porcelain coffee mug, steam curling into the spring air like the ghosts of my intentions. Maya looked stunning, of course, as she always did—even with her pregnancy making her visibly rounder. She wore that expensive silk robe I had given her, pale blue with gold piping, and her skin glowed like she had been kissed by candlelight. I couldn’t stop staring at her, not because I was jealous, but because she had everything I had once dreamed I’d give to a daughter of my own.“Coffee is perfect today,” she murmured, taking a sip, her voice casual but cl
