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Expired Love

Expired Love

Short Story · Romance
By:  Book on CloudsCompleted
Language: English
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13Chapters
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Synopsis

Tragic Love

Melodramatic

Familial Bond

Bias

Hypocrisy

Poor Student

Biological Family

Cheating

Regret

Jethro Miles was an orphan sponsored by my dad. The moment I laid eyes on him, I flipped. Despite my family's objections, we dated for seven years, even as my dad threatened to disown me. Eventually, my dad relented and consented to our marriage. But as we exchanged rings, a young woman in a white dress burst into the venue, staring at Jethro with tears in her eyes. He chased after her, abandoning our wedding. Later, I learned that the woman was his childhood friend from the orphanage. Jethro desperately tried to explain, "Nancy grew up with me. She is like a sister to me. She's been through abuse and divorce. Please, give me time to help her, okay?" Tears blurred my vision as I watched him plead so fervently, my heart plummeting into despair. I managed, "Okay." Jethro took care of Nancy and her son as if they were his real family. What he didn't know were the two secrets I'd kept from him when my dad finally agreed to our marriage: I was pregnant, and I was dying.

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Chapter 1

Chapter 1

...

Seven years into my relationship with Jethro Miles, I finally had the wedding of my dreams.

But ten minutes before the ceremony, everything fell apart.

...

The host's voice echoed through the hall. "The bride and groom may exchange rings."

I smiled softly, my hands trembling as I slid the ring onto Jethro's finger.

The man before me, dashing in a sharp suit, was my first love and the one I had fallen for at first sight.

It all started seven years ago when Jethro visited our house to meet my dad, his sponsor.

I’d just finished dance practice, sweaty and breathless, when I walked into the living room. There he sat, in a crisp white shirt, cool and handsome.

He glanced at me and gave a small smile. That one look was all it took for me to fall for him.

Coincidentally, we attended the same university. Over time, despite my family's opposition, I
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reviews

Jack of Ash
Jack of Ash
Unfortunately this is mostly unreadable. The chapters just randomly cut off, starting with *chapter one* which really should have been my first red flag. The MC seems sweet but she makes genuinely baffling decisions. The medical bits are also rather nonsensical. I'd skip this one ...
2025-10-22 12:34:56
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13 Chapters
Chapter 1
...Seven years into my relationship with Jethro Miles, I finally had the wedding of my dreams.But ten minutes before the ceremony, everything fell apart....The host's voice echoed through the hall. "The bride and groom may exchange rings."I smiled softly, my hands trembling as I slid the ring onto Jethro's finger.The man before me, dashing in a sharp suit, was my first love and the one I had fallen for at first sight.It all started seven years ago when Jethro visited our house to meet my dad, his sponsor.I’d just finished dance practice, sweaty and breathless, when I walked into the living room. There he sat, in a crisp white shirt, cool and handsome.He glanced at me and gave a small smile. That one look was all it took for me to fall for him.Coincidentally, we attended the same university. Over time, despite my family's opposition, I started dating him.Seven years of joy and struggles had woven themselves into the fabric of my life. But just as I slipped the ring
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Chapter 2
The force pushed Jethro's head to the side.Nancy Sweeney couldn't hold back. She yelled, "Why did you hit him?"She lunged at me, but Jethro held her back. "Calm down."Turning back to me, he pleaded, "Let me explain. This is Nancy. We grew up together in an orphanage. She is like a sister to me. She's getting a divorce because of domestic abuse, and I hope you'll give me time to help her and her son. I understand you're upset, but I can't just ignore her."He defended himself desperately, as though I were a barrier between them. He never once considered that today was our wedding day.I still remembered how thrilled he'd been when I told him my dad had finally approved our marriage. He'd swept me into his arms, saying, "Valerie, I can finally marry you. I've waited seven years for this."I had rested my head on his chest and cried.What he didn't know was why my dad had agreed. I'd revealed two secrets: I was pregnant, and I had terminal stomach cancer.When I came back to re
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Chapter 3
Jethro's joy was genuine. He wanted this child as much as I did.If this had been before, I would've told him the truth about the pregnancy and hidden my illness until after the birth. But now, I couldn't bring myself to do it."Just kidding," I said.His smile faded, but he masked his disappointment, wrapping his arms around me. His head rested on my shoulder as he said, "That's okay. We will have one someday."I smiled without saying anything.That night, a high fever and searing pain gripped me. Jethro slept soundly beside me, oblivious. Once, he'd wake at the slightest change in my breathing, asking if I was okay. Now, he didn't even stir.When the pain became unbearable, I threw off the blankets, rushed to the bathroom, and locked the door.Jethro's phone rang outside. I heard him answer, his voice urgent. "I'm coming. Don't cry."He got out of bed and knocked on the bathroom door. "Honey, are you okay? Take some medicine if your stomach hurts. Glen has got a fever, so I'm
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Chapter 4
Early the next morning, I got a message from Jethro.[Glen got sick and was hospitalized, so I stayed. Went straight to the law firm today. Will make you some delicacies when I get back from work.]I read the message but didn't reply.Ever since Nancy and Glen showed up, I had been wondering if I was overreacting.Nancy and he came from the same orphanage. Before, Nancy had worked day and night for him, to the point where she broke down from exhaustion, but Jethro insisted that they were like family, nothing more."Valerie, you are my one and only," he had said. "Don't you know my heart after all these years?"It was true. Seven years of love wasn't something to dismiss lightly.Dane once asked why I only insisted on a wedding with Jethro, instead of a marriage certificate. I held back my tears and confessed, "I'm dying. A marriage certificate won't change that. I don't want him to grieve forever. I want him to move on and be happy."That was a lie.I was terrified of death an
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Chapter 5
Jethro left without a word, slamming the door shut behind him.I closed my eyes, tears of despair streaming down my face....Something compelled me to follow him to the hospital.As I parked, I saw Nancy standing in the cold outside the hospital. A big smile broke on her face when she spotted Jethro.She jogged over to link arms with him, and they went upstairs, chatting and laughing.A chill ran through me, but I forced myself to follow them."This is so good! Thank you, Jethro!" Glen exclaimed in the hospital room, praising Jethro's cooking skills.Through the little window, I saw him and Nancy standing side by side, both smiling warmly at Glen.Nancy turned to him. "Thank you for coming so late. But won't Valerie be upset?"Jethro didn't answer.Nancy leaned on his shoulder and sobbed, "But you're the only one I can rely on now. I've regretted it all these years. I shouldn't have been so stubborn and married him. I shouldn't have left you just because you were with Valer
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Chapter 6
I turned and walked out without looking back.By then, a crowd had gathered outside the hospital room. Dr. Klara Jimenez, who'd diagnosed my pregnancy and cancer, grabbed my hand."Ms. Roy, your condition..." she started anxiously.I shook my head and smiled bitterly....I went home to pack.I had lived there with Jethro for three years. Every corner of the house had something of mine. But in the end, I only took that necklace.As I reached the door, Jethro, who had rushed back, blocked my path. "Valerie, let's talk."I lowered my head. "What is there to talk about? No matter what your reasons are, Nancy is more important than me. Otherwise, you wouldn't have left me at the wedding or ignored me for her."I took a deep breath, my voice breaking. "It's okay. I don't blame you. She's had a hard life. With your help, she and Glen will be fine."I tried to convince myself that, since I was dying, Jethro would eventually move on. If it were with Nancy, perhaps I could accept it
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Chapter 7
Dane stood at the door, sighing helplessly.That night, Alva made a huge spread for dinner. Years apart, the three of us sat around the table again as a family. The happiness at that moment felt almost unreal.Alva peeled the shrimp, cut them into small pieces, and placed them on my plate."I spoke to your doctor," she said, choking up. "She said your condition is hard to treat, and your dad doesn't want you to spend your last days in the hospital. I'll respect your decision."They were no longer young. It was sad, but I had to be stronger than they were."Don't worry too much," I said. "Maybe I'll last longer than we think, who knows? Let's eat."I shoved food into my mouth, but my tears mixed with it. I chewed numbly but couldn't swallow.Suddenly, the phone on the table rang, attracting our attention.It was Dane's phone, and the caller was Jethro.Dane looked up at me, but no words came out. I took a deep breath, wiped my tears, and reached across the table to pick up the
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Chapter 8
I couldn't bear the thought of leaving a child behind to suffer without me. That would only disturb my peace.After all, Jethro would move on and have another family. Alva went with me for the abortion, but my worsening condition kept me hospitalized."It's okay, honey. You'll be fine," Alva said, holding my hand.Dane patted her shoulder with his trembling hand. "Take it easy. Your health is poor, too. Valerie is gonna be fine."She collapsed into his arms and grabbed his shirt. "What can we do to save her? I'd rather it be me."I turned my head away, tears falling silently.If people could trade lives, I bet the hospital roof would be filled with moms....When night fell, a storm broke out.A loud rumble of thunder shook the sky and startled me awake from sleep.I shivered in fear, but a pair of big hands grabbed my bony ones."Valerie, don't be scared. I'm here," Jethro whispered.The room was dim, but I made out his weary face. The warmth in his palms told me this wa
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Chapter 9
"Do you think it will be a boy or a girl?" Jethro said. "Well, it doesn't matter. I'd love them either way."Tears I'd fought to hold back finally streamed down my face. I bit my lip, struggling to resist the sobs that were choking me.Jethro reached out to hug me but paused. Then he pulled out a third card that read, [Hug Coupon.]"I know you're mad at me, but I can't help it. I really want to hug you," he said. "Please, forgive me. I know I messed up."He opened his arms again, trying to pull me into his embrace.Just as his hands almost touched my back, my cold voice rang out. "I had the baby aborted today, and I will never forgive you."...Jethro froze, dumbfounded. His face went deathly pale.He collapsed to the ground, searching my eyes for a lie.Unfortunately, he found nothing.After a long silence, he asked, "You were lying about dying, right?"He probably thought I was just throwing a tantrum to get attention, but he was wrong.I really was dying."Just leave,"
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Chapter 10
After walking a bit longer, I was out of breath. I decided to sit on a bench by the lake to rest. It was then that Jethro sat down beside me.We sat side by side, neither of us saying a word. By the time the last bit of sunlight from the sky disappeared, I broke the silence. "The fact that I'm dying is already set in stone and can't be changed. I don't want to dwell on the past anymore, and you shouldn't cling to it either."The closer I got to death, the calmer I became.He gave a bitter smile. "Easy for you to say. If I could let you go, then our seven years together would mean nothing."I snorted, turning to look at him. "From the moment you abandoned me at the wedding, those seven years became a joke. Do you know why my dad never agreed for us to be together, but still allowed us to get married in the end? I told him that I was dying and that my last wish was to marry you. And what did you do?"Jethro froze, trembling. Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably as he cove
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