Home / Romance / Reborn Of The CEO’s Cold-Hearted Wife / Chapter 43: Cracks Beneath the Surface.

Share

Chapter 43: Cracks Beneath the Surface.

Author: Astra Maye
last update Last Updated: 2025-10-20 15:52:52

The Steele household grew colder with each passing week. Not in the temperature of the grand mansion, but in the silence that seemed to stretch through its corridors like invisible ice. Meals were eaten in silence. Nights were spent on opposite sides of the bed, backs turned, words unsaid.

And though Elara’s laughter had once been the sunshine that melted through the frost, even that had begun to fade. The little girl’s joy dimmed more each day, for no matter how brightly she smiled, her father’s attention was often somewhere else,always pulled away by the same name.

Lilith.

Aurora had learned to guard her tongue. After their last confrontation, she realized there was no winning against Xavier’s blind loyalty. Whenever she tried to warn him, whenever she so much as whispered doubt, he rose to Lilith’s defense as though she were the victim of some cruel misunderstanding.

It was during one of those evenings, as Aurora folded laundry in the bedroom and Xavier stood near the window with h
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Latest chapter

  • Reborn Of The CEO’s Cold-Hearted Wife   Chapter 49: Her Imaginary Friend. 

    Elara stirred awake in the middle of the night, her small hand curling around the blanket as though it could shield her from the ache in her chest. She felt it before she heard it…a gentle touch, fingers smoothing through her hair with a tenderness that calmed her restless heart. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open.“My poor little star.” Came the soft familiar murmur, full of sorrow and warmth.Humans were always quick to blame fate for every misfortune, but they didn’t know it wasn’t all her doing. Sometimes she wanted to stop things, she wanted to reach in and change the cruel turns, but she couldn’t interfere. She had already broken a rule by giving Aurora a second chance.But Elara was special, and that exception came with its own limits. Fate could nudge, could offer a comfort in the dark, but she could not take over. The two elder sisters… forces Aurora could not yet see, would take matters into their own hands, and this was the only way Fate could be involved without breaking the

  • Reborn Of The CEO’s Cold-Hearted Wife   Chapter 48: A Daughter’s Question.

    It took almost an hour before Aurora finally calmed her daughter down. Elara’s small body trembled against her chest, sobs wracking her until exhaustion claimed her. Aurora’s arms never loosened; she held her tightly, stroking her soft hair until her breathing evened out.But even after Elara fell asleep, Aurora couldn’t stop hearing the words her daughter had spoken, words too heavy for someone so young.Earlier that night, as Aurora rocked her on the edge of the bed, Elara had lifted her teary eyes to her mother.“Mommy,” she whispered, her voice hoarse from crying, “does Daddy… not love me anymore? Is it because he has another child now?”Aurora’s throat went dry. She opened her mouth to soothe, to explain, but before she could form the words, Elara pressed on.“I know Jaxon’s my brother, not my cousin,” she said, lips quivering as she tried to be brave. “I heard you and Daddy fighting the other night. I didn’t mean to… but I did. And then today, at the zoo, I saw him call Daddy. S

  • Reborn Of The CEO’s Cold-Hearted Wife   Chapter 47: The Day at the Zoo.

    Elara’s small voice trembled as she stared at the empty entrance of the water park. Families were walking past them, children squealing with joy as they clutched balloons, but her tiny shoulders slumped as though the weight of disappointment was pressing down on her.“He’s not coming… is he?” She asked, her eyes glistening with tears she tried to hold back.Aurora’s chest constricted painfully. She crouched in front of her daughter, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Baby…” she began softly, desperately searching for words that wouldn’t cut too deep, excuses that would soften the blow Xavier had just delivered.But before she could speak, Elara gave a small, trembling smile. “It’s okay, Mommy, I knew he wouldn't come.” She whispered, though her watery eyes betrayed her. She forced her lips to curve upward, but they quivered with the effort.Aurora’s heart broke all over again. Her daughter had been so excited to go down the big slide with Xavier, to finally have one of those me

  • Reborn Of The CEO’s Cold-Hearted Wife   Chapter 46: Two Birthdays.

    Elara woke up unusually quiet for a child whose birthday had finally arrived. Normally she would have jumped on Aurora’s bed with all the excitement of balloons and cake waiting to happen. But this morning, she curled beside her mother, her small fingers tracing invisible patterns on the blanket.“Mummy…” her voice was soft, hesitant.Aurora stirred, brushing the hair from her daughter’s face. “Yes, baby? Happy birthday,” she whispered with a smile, kissing her forehead.Elara smiled faintly but didn’t bounce with her usual energy. “Mummy, I… I don’t want a party today.”Aurora blinked. “What?” She sat up straighter, searching Elara’s expression. “But you were so excited about your party, about your cake. What changed?”Elara bit her lip, her brows knitting in a way that made her look far too grown for six years old. “I just… don’t feel like it. I want to hang out with you instead. Just us. Maybe… we could go to the zoo, or the water park… or Disney World?” Her eyes brightened a littl

  • Reborn Of The CEO’s Cold-Hearted Wife   Chapter 45: Lines Crossed.

    The stares followed Lilith like daggers as she turned away from Aurora in front of Elara’s school. A few parents lingered at the gates, their murmurs unmistakable. They had seen the confrontation. They had seen Aurora pull her daughter close and declare her warning for all to hear.Lilith’s cheeks burned. Embarrassment clashed with fury inside her chest, but she kept her chin high as she walked quickly back to the waiting car. Jaxon sat in the back seat, watching her with wide, cautious eyes.“Drive.” She hissed at the driver, slamming the door behind her. Her hands tightened around her bag strap, her smile plastered back in place though no one else was around to see it.Inside, however, she seethed. Aurora had humiliated her. In front of others. In front of Elara. It wasn’t just about Xavier anymore, it was about her pride. Aurora thought she could stop her? She would pay for this.—Aurora held Elara’s hand tightly as they walked into the school. Her heart was still hammering, but h

  • Reborn Of The CEO’s Cold-Hearted Wife   Chapter 44: Her Next Move.

    Lilith paced across her bedroom, her heels clicking against the polished marble floors. It's been a week since the beach incident but her blood still boiled. Her expression was twisted with irritation. The memory of Aurora’s eyes at the beach still haunted her. There had been something dangerous there…something Lilith had never seen in her sister before.Aurora had always been soft, quick to tears, quick to forgive. That softness had been her weakness, one Lilith had exploited over and over growing up. She had expected Aurora to snap in front of Xavier, to create the kind of scene that would drive a wedge between them. Instead, Aurora had stood tall, cold, and unyielding, blocking every attempt Lilith had made to reach Elara.The look in Aurora’s eyes when she warned her… it still sent a shiver crawling down Lilith’s spine. But she pushed it away. Fear had no place here.She needed Aurora gone. The quickest way to achieve that was through Elara. If she could win the child’s heart, Aur

More Chapters
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status