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151. The First Day in Court
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2025-05-05 00:13:25
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Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 1. Disaster in the middle of Valentine's Day
Reese POVToday was Valentine's Day, and as usual, I was preparing something special for my husband. Four long years of marriage had passed, and our son, Sammy, was the fruit of our love. At least that's what I liked to think, since with each passing year, Elliot Goodwin's love for me only seemed to grow colder.I married him on a day like this; it snowed all night, as if God were blessing our union. Elliot Goodwin and I loved each other more than anything; he was the man of my life; for him, I left my old life in New York and accepted to go with him to another city, expecting to live wild love adventures by his side, expecting that I would finally be happy with him.But everything crumbled when his family looked down on me with disdain and disapproved of me. "What is this, Elliot?" Florence, my mother-in-law, asked haughtily as she looked at me as if I were dust."This is Reese Hudson, Mom," Elliot said, introducing me to his family. "Actually, she's Reese Goodwin now. She's my wife.
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-23Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 2. My husband wants me to sign the divorce papers
Reese POVI was completely absorbed in my own pain after the words my husband used to attack me. I stood there, speechless, holding my son's hand, as I watched Elliot ignore my pain and head towards the dinner table for a convivial meal, the beautiful dinner I had prepared for our family, to celebrate Valentine's Day, but everything was turning into a ruin.Since his father's death, right after our wedding, Elliot had used that truth to attack me and express how much he hated me. Since that day, the tender look he always gave me had turned into one of resentment and regret.The truth was, I had indeed killed his father. I was totally emotional after being humiliated by my mother-in-law, after she had rejected me as her son's wife. "I will never accept you as my daughter-in-law, girl," she had said four years ago with words as harsh and sharp as daggers. "I won't accept my son joining with a commoner like you and staining our bourgeois status!"I was bleeding inside, seeing that I was
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-23Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 3. My husband's mistress's dirty plans
Reese POV"Today I prepared a beautiful dinner and a lovely surprise for you, but you came home demanding a divorce. What a pitiful situation, I must say," I commented gloomily, the divorce papers still in my hands. "So this is how our story ends?""Our story ended when you killed my father, Reese. All of this is your fault," he continued with that speech, but I knew it was just a way to use that against me to get me out of his life.I wiped my face, feeling too small. "Do you know what your father's last words were before the accident? He begged me not to give up on you, Elliot. He said he believed in our love and that I shouldn't give up on you despite everything. So how do you expect me to give up on you now?""What are you getting at?" he asked, already showing irritation. "Are you planning not to give me the divorce? I'm a fucking billionaire, Reese. I'll find a way to take this from you." That was clearly a threat. It hurt to think that the man I loved so much treated me like an
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-23Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 4. They want me to give up
Reese's POVThings happened too fast.Elliot still had Jennifer Durham's unconscious body in his arms while he hurriedly called for an ambulance. My mother-in-law was screaming at me, accusing me of being a murderer."Isn't your husband enough? Now you wanted to kill poor Jennifer, you murderer?" She was screaming at me while crying in horror.The household staff looked at me as if I were a monster. Elliot didn't even dare to look at me."But I didn't do anything! She threw herself down the stairs on her own," I said, trying to defend myself, feeling that if I didn't, no one else would."Sure, you didn't, did you, Reese?" Florence's sarcasm was heavy, directed at me. "First, my husband threw himself in front of that car to save you, and now this poor woman threw herself to certain death of her own free will. And you really expect us to believe that?""Florence, I know you've never liked me, but you have to believe me. I didn't do this; I'm innocent!" I said, crying. Likewise, I was so
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-24Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 5. An intruder in my house
Reese POVThe day had barely begun, and I was already enveloped by a sense of desolation. The sunlight, which weakly filtered through the windows, made the world outside luminous, but within me, there was a growing darkness. The mansion, with its familiar scent of flowers, felt like the set of a movie where I didn't want to be. I was anxiously at the window, watching the gate, waiting for Elliot, but each second was a painful reminder of what had happened the night before.Yesterday had been a whirlwind of events that starkly contrasted with the calm and monotonous days I spent in this house since marrying Elliot. It was an onslaught of discoveries and twists, and I simply spent the entire night thinking about it. I couldn't sleep because there was a fear growing in my chest.After all, my husband had come home with another woman and was demanding a divorce, not to mention that Jennifer Durham had thrown herself down the stairs as a way to incriminate and accuse me. Just thinking abou
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-26Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 6. Just want
Reese POVWhen I woke up, Elliot was already beside me, his gaze determined but softened by the morning light filtering through our silk curtains. He looked rested, something I hadn't seen in him for a long time.โElliotโฆ Good morning. What's wrong?โ I asked as I adjusted myself in bed; it was early in the morning."Reese, sorry to wake you like this, but I need to say something," he began, his voice carrying a tone of sincerity that made my heart race.โIt's okay, go ahead. What is it?โ"I've thought a lot about what you said yesterday," he said. "I know I've made many mistakes, and I want to change that. I'm going to spend more time with Sammy and our family."His words were like a balm to my wounded soul. I could hardly believe what I was hearing; it was as if a dream was becoming reality after so many nightmares. I almost cried with joy but held back, not wanting to show how affected I was."Are you serious?" I asked, my voice a mix of hope and caution."Yes, Reese. I'm going to d
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-03Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 7. The danger is lurking
Reese POVElliot and I spent the entire morning together in bed, clearly not sleeping. It had been so long since my husband had touched me that I had almost forgotten the feeling, and today he seemed to want to make up for lost time in the best way possible. His binding kisses, his large hands sliding over my body, took me to heaven, so we stayed there just enjoying each other, something that seemed to belong to a lost time, something that should have been the right thing to do from the beginning.Moments later, he was lying in bed with me on top of him, resting my head on his chest with his arm over my shoulders. It was simply amazing to be like this with him; I could feel him so close to me, which was completely satisfying.โI need to go now,โ he said after a while.I lifted my head to look at him. โBut already? You said you were taking the day off today?โ I questioned, already missing him.โI know I said that,โ he said, smiling at me. โBut I just need to sort out some things at the
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-04Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 8. Fear of losing you
Reese POVAfter that memorable morning, I truly saw that Elliot was trying to change. He took Sammy to the park, spending more time with him, trying to build those family memories we had lost. Watching them together, running across the grass, playing ball, warmed my heart in a way I hadn't felt in years. It was as if, for the first time in a long time, we were being a real family.The day was going so well, full of laughter and small moments of happiness, that I almost forgot our recent problems. But then, during our impromptu picnic in the park, Sammy said something that brought me back to reality.โMom, I'm not going to eat all my cookie. I want to save a piece for Jennifer,โ he said with an innocence that broke my heart, showing how much he missed that woman.โWhy do you insist on that, sweetie?โ I asked with a smile, running my hand over his head, trying to hide my discomfort.โJen loves cookies,โ the boy answered while eating.โWow! Incredible how Sammy already likes Jennifer so
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-06
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Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 151. The First Day in Court
Reese POVThe London courthouse was an imposing structure, its gray stone columns rising toward the overcast sky as if to intimidate anyone daring to cross its threshold. The morning was cold, the damp air carrying the scent of impending rain, and I felt the weight of each step as I climbed the marble stairs, my heart pounding so fiercely it seemed to echo in the silence around me. My hand gripped Aliceโs tightly, her warm, steady fingers an anchor against the dread threatening to swallow me. Beside me, Josh walked with the confident posture of someone who knew the power of his name, his navy blazer impeccable, but his clear eyes sent me glances of support, as if to say we were in this together. My lawyers, two middle-aged men with serious expressions and briefcases stuffed with documents, followed close behind, murmuring strategies in hushed tones. It was the first session of the custody trial for Sammy and Avie, and though I knew it was just the beginning of a battle that would st
Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 150. Encounter on the Balcony
Reese POVThe night was heavy, the London sky cloaked in a layer of dark clouds that hid the stars, as if the universe itself mirrored the turmoil within me. I couldnโt sleep, the weight of anxiety keeping me awake, my thoughts swirling like a whirlwind. In a few hours, the first session with the judge to decide the custody of Sammy and Avie would begin, and the thought of facing Elliot in court, of exposing our story to strangers, made my stomach churn. Lying in bed, I tossed and turned, the silence of the guest room broken only by the soft breaths of Sammy and Avie, sleeping peacefully, oblivious to the earthquake looming. Unable to bear the restlessness, I got up, wearing only a light cotton nightgown, my bare feet feeling the chill of the wooden floor. I grabbed the pack of cigarettes I kept hidden in my bagโa habit Iโd abandoned in Chicago but brought along as a crutch for moments like thisโand stepped out onto the balcony, hoping the cool midnight breeze would calm my troubled
Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 149. Shadows of Regret
Elliot POVThe fireplace room in the Goodwin mansion was enveloped in a cozy dimness, the flickering light of the flames dancing on the stone walls, casting shadows that seemed to mirror the weight of my thoughts. The scent of burning wood mingled with the rich aroma of the red wine swirling in the glass in my hand, a Bordeaux Iโd chosen from the cellar in the vain hope that a drink could calm the storm within me. Josh Carter sat in the leather armchair across from me, his light hair tousled, his clear eyes gleaming with a mix of forced humor and melancholy. He held his own glass, gesturing as he told his story, his voice wavering between laughter and a tone that betrayed his true anguish.โSo, Bethany really did it,โ Josh said, taking a sip of wine, his crooked smile not reaching his eyes. โThe pregnancy reveal was the final blow. Sheโs got me locked into this engagement, and now the wedding dateโs set. In a few weeks, Iโm a married man.โ He laughed, but the sound was hollow, as if
Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 148. Confessions Under Moonlight
Reese POVThe night had fallen over the Goodwin mansion, the London sky now a dark mantle speckled with timid stars, visible through the tall corridor windows. Dinner had been surprisingly calm, with Sammy and Avie stealing the show as they recounted stories about the ducks at the lake, their little voices filling the dining room with a lightness that contrasted with the tension lingering among the adults. Josh had been polite but firm, keeping the conversation neutral with Elliot, while Alice cast supportive glances my way, a silent reminder that I wasnโt alone. Florence, with her newfound facade of a caring grandmother, served dessertโa vanilla pudding that Sammy devouredโbut I barely touched my plate, my stomach knotted by Elliotโs presence, his green eyes seeming to find mine every time I looked up.After dinner, as the children headed upstairs with a governess Elliot had hired, I found myself standing in the hall, the bag of old clothes still weighing on my mind, a symbol of the
Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 147. An Unexpected Ally
Reese POVThe twilight began to paint the London sky with shades of orange and gray, the soft light filtering through the tall windows of the Goodwin mansion, casting long shadows across the polished wooden corridors. I was in the guest room with Sammy and Avie, sitting on the edge of the bed, watching them play on the rug with a set of wooden blocks Elliot had retrieved from the attic. Sammy was building a tower, his tongue sticking out in concentration, while Avie stacked the blocks in a chaotic pattern, laughing each time the pile collapsed. โMommy, look! Itโs a castle!โ Sammy exclaimed, pointing to his wobbly structure, and I smiled, my heart warmed by the simplicity of the moment. But even with the childrenโs laughter filling the room, the tension wouldnโt leave me. The legal battle for custody of Sammy and Avie was looming, and every day in this mansionโwith Jennifer scheming in the city, Florence acting suspiciously friendly, and Elliot looking at me with a love I didnโt want
Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 146. An Unexpected Request
Reese POVThe lake at the Goodwin mansion shimmered under the soft midday light, its surface reflecting the willows swaying in Londonโs chilly breeze. Sammy and Avie ran along the shore, their laughter echoing as they tossed bits of bread to the ducks, which swam in circles, quacking eagerly. Elliot was with them, kneeling on the grass, holding a tennis ball that Baxter, the familyโs golden retriever, chased with enthusiasm, barking and wagging his tail. He had brought some toys from the shedโthe ball, a frisbee, even a rope for Baxter to tugโand the kids were radiant, Sammy shouting, โGet it, Baxter!โ while Avie tried to throw the frisbee, which landed just a few feet away.I sat on a wicker outdoor sofa, covered with faded cushions, watching the scene with a mix of tenderness and pain. Elliot looked so at ease, laughing when Baxter leaped to steal the ball from Sammy, helping Avie toss the bread farther for the ducks. He was an enthusiastic father, the kind who made the kids feel
Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 145. Shadows and Moments of Light
Reese POVThe dining room of the Goodwin mansion was filled with soft soundsโthe clink of cutlery, the murmur of Sammy and Avie chatting about muffins, the aroma of coffee and fresh bread lingering in the air. I held a mug, its warmth against my hands a contrast to the cold I felt inside, still dressed in the old clothes Elliot had kept, clothes that made me feel as if Iโd stepped back in time to a life I fought so hard to leave behind. Sammy was beside me, biting into a muffin, while Avie, in my lap, played with a strawberry, giggling when the juice stained her little fingers. Despite the tension pulsing at the tableโwith Jennifer casting venomous glares and Elliot staring at me with an intensity that disarmed meโthe kids seemed, somehow, at ease. Except for the way Sammy kept his eyes fixed on his plate whenever Jennifer spoke, clearly uncomfortable with her presence.Florence, seated at the other end of the table, surprised me with her almost warm demeanor, serving more scrambled
Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 144. Your Nostalgic Gaze
Reese POVThe morning light filtered through the guest room curtains, soft and gray, as Londonโs sky always seemed to be. I stood before the small mirror on the dresser, my reflection staring back like an image from another life. The blue wool sweater, the floral dress underneath, the denim jacketโclothes I found in the bag Elliot handed me last night, clothes I wore three years ago when I was still his wife, when this Goodwin mansion was both my home and my prison. They still fit, as if my body hadnโt changed, but seeing myself, a hollow ache opened in my chest. It was as if time had folded in on itself, as if all my achievements in Chicagoโthe strength I built at Lunaris Event, the independence I fought to claimโwere just a dream, an illusion. In that mirror, I was the submissive Reese again, the wife who endured Florenceโs cold glares, Jenniferโs manipulations, and Elliotโs broken promises.My stomach churned, the sense of defeat threatening to swallow me. I had come to London to
Traded For His First Love ย ย ย 143. A Past That Wonโt Die
Reese POVThe sound of the television in the childrenโs roomโa cartoon filled with laughter and music that Sammy and Avie lovedโwas a small oasis amidst the tension pulsing through the Goodwin mansion. I left them on the bed, Sammy clutching the remote with a triumphant little grin, Avie hugging a pillow, her messy curls falling over her face. โStay here, okay? Mommy will be right back,โ I murmured, kissing both their foreheads. Avie, with her sweet little voice, said, โOkay, Mama!โ but quickly added, almost as an echo, โVenus come back soon!โ I smiled, despite the weight in my chest. Avie, at three years old, sometimes called me โVenus,โ mimicking Sammy or Alice, who used my Chicago nickname. It was confusing but so quintessentially herโa mix of affection and innocence that made me love her even more.I closed the door partway, my heart tightening at leaving them, even for a few minutes. Elliot was waiting in the hallway, and each step toward him felt like walking on glass, the pa
