Having Loved Him Before

Everyone went silent."Honey, what are you doing here?" Vincent's expression changed abruptly. He shoved Kiara aside. She tried to reach for him, but he dodged her.I looked at him. "If I hadn't come, how would I have found out you're still in contact with this woman? That you even have a child together?""Honey, you've got it wrong." Vincent scrambled to explain. "The child is almost three now. I didn't betray you. Kiara and I only slept together that one time, and she got pregnant from it."I didn't want her to have the baby, but my parents said I needed an heir, so they allowed her to give birth."Honey, you have to believe me. Kiara and I are just co-parenting a child. Nothing else has happened between us. The person I love is you. I'll only ever love you. Besides, with this child, you won't have to go through pregnancy. When he's a bit older, I'll transfer custody to you. Then the three of us will be a family. We'll be so happy."Happy? The three of us as a family?How coul

After leaving the hospital, I went straight to a law firm and had divorce papers drawn up before returning home.The moment I pushed open the door, the usually quiet villa was filled with the sound of a child's laughter. The air carried a strong milky scent.In the living room, maids bustled about preparing various mother and baby supplies. Vincent and Kiara wore matching cotton loungewear as they played with building blocks in a newly enclosed play area with the child.The child kissed Vincent one moment, then Kiara the next. To anyone watching, they looked like a harmonious family.When Vincent saw me, he stood and instinctively moved in front of Kiara and the child, immediately launching into an explanation. "Elena, the child hasn't been feeling well these past few days, so I brought him home. This is actually perfect. You can start learning how to care for him. When I transfer custody to you later, you won't be afraid you can't handle it."As for Kiara, the child is still si

They gave me all 30 lashes without holding back. The first one struck, and I let out a muffled groan, my spine stiffening sharply. The second, third, and fourth brought the dull sound of flesh splitting.I still did not cry, beg for mercy, or even move.When the tenth lash fell, I suddenly remembered being eight years old, falling by the flowerbed. My knee scraped raw, blood beading up as I sobbed uncontrollably.Vincent's face had been aloof, yet he still crouched down, blowing on my wound while saying, "Don't cry, Elena. It'll be better soon. Don't shed tears so easily."When the 15th lash fell, I remembered being 13 years old, bullied by a group of girls. I stood frozen in the classroom, too scared to move, tears streaming down my face.Vincent had stepped forward and kicked the ringleader, the one laughing the hardest. He pulled me away and told me, "Protect yourself from now on. But I'll always be by your side. I'll protect you."By the 20th lash, I remembered the night Vinc

Vincent's POV:I sat by the hospital bed when my heart suddenly seized with a tearing pain. Even my breathing hitched.An inexplicable sense of foreboding washed over me.After the surgery ended last night, Kiara came out first, so I followed her into the hospital room and stayed by her side.As for Elena, she should be fine, right?After all, losing one kidney would not kill someone. Besides, she owed this to Kiara. If it were not for her, Kiara and Robbie would not have been in that accident.Thank god Robbie was unharmed. If something had happened to him, everyone in the family would have made Elena pay.Still, I should go check on her.I took a deep breath and was about to stand up and leave when a weak voice came from the bed."Vincent..."Kiara opened her eyes and looked at me, her eyes bloodshot. "How's Robbie? Is he okay?"My heart softened. For some reason, I thought that if Elena were as gentle and considerate as Kiara, none of this would have happened."Don't wor

Elena's POV:I woke up on the way to the crematorium. I had heard every word Kiara said earlier.By the time I arrived in Harborview, it was already midnight. The moment I got off the plane, I saw a man in a black coat standing at the arrivals gate, his entire bearing noble and refined.My eyes instantly reddened. I flew over and threw my arms around him. "James."Any scolding my brother had prepared died in his throat the moment he heard that choked greeting."Let's go. I'm taking you home."…Vincent's POV:The day we returned from our trip happened to be the annual family banquet. I brought Kiara and Robbie back with me.As for Elena, I sent her a message telling her to come on her own.After I sent the message, half an hour passed with no reply. I frowned, feeling a sudden discomfort rising in my chest.Usually, she replied to my messages within a minute. Now, half an hour had passed and still nothing?Was she angry just because of one kidney donation?Though it was a