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1: My Past Is Haunting Me

Author: Meminger
last update Last Updated: 2025-07-15 06:57:56

Vivian POV

The hum of the car’s engine was a soft lullaby, blending with the faint thump of music leaking from Graham’s earbuds as he slouched in the backseat, his hoodie pulled low over his eyes. Beside him, Laura slept, her small chest rising and falling, her brown curls splayed across the car seat, a peaceful contrast to the storm brewing in my heart.

The New York skyline glittered beyond the window, its lights a promise of the life we’d built, but as Ernest drove us home from the Goodwins’ brunch, my thoughts churned with unease. The afternoon had been warm, filled with Reese’s laughter, Alice’s teasing, and the kids’ joyful chaos, but beneath it all, a shadow lingered—Brian Thompson, my ex-husband, and the poison he was dripping into our son’s mind.

Ernest glanced at me, his hand resting on the gearshift, his voice low and warm. “Did you have a good time at Reese’s, Viv? That brunch was something else.”

I smiled, the memory of Reese’s scones and Alice’s bubbly pregnancy stories
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  • Traded For His First Love    2: A Fragile Morning

    Vivian POVThe morning light slipped through the gauzy curtains of our bedroom, casting a soft, dappled glow across the quilt where Ernest and I lingered, tangled in the warmth of each other’s arms. His breath was steady against my neck, his arm a comforting weight across my waist, and I pressed closer, reluctant to let the day pull us from this quiet haven. The world outside—New York’s restless hum, the demands of Williams Jewels, the shadow of Brian’s venom seeping into Graham’s heart—felt distant here, in the cocoon of our bed. Ernest’s fingers traced lazy circles on my back, his voice a low, teasing murmur. “Can we just skip the day, Viv? Stay right here, just you and me?”I smiled, brushing a kiss along his jaw, his familiar cedar scent grounding me like an anchor. “You’re gonna get us both fired, Mr. Williams. Some CEO you are.”He chuckled, his eyes crinkling with the boyish charm that had stolen my heart when we were kids, sneaking glances in the schoolyard before his family’

  • Traded For His First Love    1: My Past Is Haunting Me

    Vivian POVThe hum of the car’s engine was a soft lullaby, blending with the faint thump of music leaking from Graham’s earbuds as he slouched in the backseat, his hoodie pulled low over his eyes. Beside him, Laura slept, her small chest rising and falling, her brown curls splayed across the car seat, a peaceful contrast to the storm brewing in my heart. The New York skyline glittered beyond the window, its lights a promise of the life we’d built, but as Ernest drove us home from the Goodwins’ brunch, my thoughts churned with unease. The afternoon had been warm, filled with Reese’s laughter, Alice’s teasing, and the kids’ joyful chaos, but beneath it all, a shadow lingered—Brian Thompson, my ex-husband, and the poison he was dripping into our son’s mind.Ernest glanced at me, his hand resting on the gearshift, his voice low and warm. “Did you have a good time at Reese’s, Viv? That brunch was something else.”I smiled, the memory of Reese’s scones and Alice’s bubbly pregnancy stories

  • Traded For His First Love    Epilogue: Life Ever After

    Reese POV New York, Months Later It was a beautiful spring afternoon, and Reese Hudson-Goodwin decided to prepare a brunch and invite her closest friends for the occasion. Life in New York was better than expected. Despite moving with apprehensions, the Goodwins quickly settled into the city with the help of their friends. Although Elliot had to return to London from time to time to manage his family’s business, when he was in New York, he worked remotely, giving him more time to be present in the lives of his beloved wife and adored children. He was loving it, even taking up gardening in the backyard of their new home. Avie was his best companion, as the little girl loved playing in the dirt and, above all, her father’s company. Reese, who had returned to using her pseudonym Venus and recently opened her new atelier, was celebrating the opening’s great success. The local media couldn’t stop talking about it; everyone wanted to see her work, and she finally felt truly welcomed.

  • Traded For His First Love    203. A Promise of Tomorrow

    Reese POVThe night wrapped around us like a soft blanket, the bedroom bathed in the gentle glow of a single lamp, its light tracing the familiar lines of Elliot’s face as we lay tangled in each other’s arms. His heartbeat thrummed steady against my cheek, a quiet rhythm that grounded me after months of chaos. I pressed closer, breathing in his warmth, the faint cedar of his cologne, and let myself sink into the simple, profound joy of loving him and being loved. Our children, Sammy and Avie, slept down the hall, their laughter still echoing in my heart from bedtime stories. Our friends—Alice, Connor, Ernest, Vivian, Josh—had filled our home with life, their departure looming but their bond eternal. In this moment, the Goodwin mansion’s ghosts—Jennifer’s malice, Florence’s sacrifice, Samuel’s shadow—felt distant, overshadowed by the love that had carried us through. I held Elliot tighter, my heart whispering gratitude for this family, this life, we’d fought so hard to keep.Morning

  • Traded For His First Love    202. Shadows and New Horizons

    Reese POVThe crackle of the fireplace filled the living room with a cozy warmth, its golden light dancing across the faces of my closest friends, their laughter a fragile tether to joy after months of pain. Alice Davies, her short black hair gleaming, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief, was mid-story about a Chicago gallery fiasco, while Connor, Ernest, Vivian, and Josh traded playful barbs. Elliot’s arm draped over my shoulders, his soft chuckle a quiet anchor, reminding me of the family we’d fought to keep whole. The air was rich with the scent of wine and the ease of old bonds, a fleeting reprieve from the scars left by Jennifer’s conviction and Florence’s death, but the Goodwin mansion’s walls seemed to whisper memories I couldn’t escape.Alice caught my gaze, her smile softening, and leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “Reese, can we talk? Just us, for a minute?”I nodded, intrigued, and stood, gesturing toward the stairs. “Sure, let’s go.” As we moved, Josh gri

  • Traded For His First Love    201. A Quiet Healing

    Reese POVThe soft glow of the bedside lamp cast gentle shadows across Avie’s room, her small form curled beneath a quilt, her stuffed bear tucked under her chin. The familiar rhythm of bedtime—tucking in my children, smoothing their blankets—felt like a fragile return to normalcy, a balm after the storm of Jennifer’s condemnation. I leaned down, pressing a kiss to Avie’s forehead, her steady breaths a quiet promise of peace. Sammy’s bed was next, his light brown hair peeking above the covers, his green eyes still open, heavy with thoughts no nine-year-old should carry. The weight of Florence’s death, Jennifer’s cruelty, and the chaos that had shaken our family lingered in his gaze, but tonight, I hoped to ease that burden, if only for a moment.I adjusted Sammy’s blanket, my fingers brushing his cheek. “Time to sleep, sweetheart,” I whispered, offering a smile.He shifted, his voice small but searching. “Mom… is Dad gonna be okay? I mean, with Grandma gone?”My heart ached, his wor

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