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34. Trying to return to normal
Last Updated:
2025-02-24 03:38:22
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Traded For His First Love 35. Priorities
Elliot POVAs soon as everyone was gathered, the murmur of side conversations gradually quieted when Joshua Carter entered the room. He wore his usual impeccable suit, his eyes scanning each of us, assessing the atmosphere."Good morning, everyone," he said with a brief nod. "I hope you’re all prepared."That simple sentence was enough to straighten everyone’s posture around the table."We can start the meeting," Joshua continued, placing a folder on the table and opening it with precision. "There’s a lot to discuss today, and I want objectivity.""Are we all on board with the plan for the new production line?" Carter’s voice echoed through the conference room. His gaze swept over all of us, evaluating each person as if he already knew where the mistakes were before we even pointed them out."Yes," I responded firmly. "The equipment has been ordered, and the team starts testing next week. We’ve also aligned with the distributors to ensure everything arrives on time."Before I could co
Last Updated : 2025-02-24Traded For His First Love 36. Digging his own grave
Elliot POVAs soon as the door to the meeting room closed behind me, I let out a heavy sigh. My head was throbbing, and the weight of the conversation that had just happened still pressed on my chest. My talk with Josh had been a clear warning. He didn’t even need to say it outright.I needed to go to the legal department. Urgently.I was screwed.It wasn’t even a matter of speculation or exaggeration. I was genuinely screwed.I walked down the hallway without hesitation, my mind racing. A few employees greeted me as I passed, but I just nodded back, not stopping."Good morning, Mr. Goodwin.""Mr. Goodwin."I didn’t have time for small talk. Or patience.I ran a hand over my face as I strode down the corridor, feeling a cold knot in my stomach that worsened with each step. I knew, sooner or later, I’d end up at this point. After what happened at Josh’s engagement party, after what I said to Reese, it was obvious things would unravel. At least, that’s the only reason I could see for D
Last Updated : 2025-02-24Traded For His First Love 37. I would like to love someone like that too
Elliot POVMy fingers drummed on the table. The room felt smaller, suffocating. The clock ticked away, each second pushing my anxiety into an endless abyss.How the hell am I going to approach Reese? Can I just walk up to her and say, "Hey, how’s it going?" Ridiculous. Or maybe come up with some lame excuse to strike up a conversation? Sounds pathetic. What if I end up looking like a desperate coward? What can I say without sounding like a desperate coward?Damn it. My chest tightened. Reese… I need to see you. I need to fix this.Furthermore, I ran my hands over my face, exhausted by my own indecision. If I call, would she even pick up? Hear my voice and hang up right away? Maybe I should go to her… see her up close. But what if she doesn’t want to see me?I can’t stay like this anymore. I stood up, my chair scraping the floor with a sharp screech. Every cell in my body screamed for me to do something, anything, but not just sit here.I’ve been thinking about how to approach Reese fo
Last Updated : 2025-02-24Traded For His First Love 38. Red as blood
Jennifer POVThe day began with golden sunlight streaming through the curtains of my bedroom, the sun caressing my magnificent skin as I stretched, inhaling the intoxicating aroma of freshly brewed coffee rising from the kitchen. Today was a pivotal day. A day I’d been anticipating for weeks—a moment that could redefine my future. A day that would change everything.I couldn’t be late. I called a taxi, unwilling to risk any delays. The driver was chatty, rattling on about traffic, but my mind was elsewhere, sharp as a blade, focused on my grand plan. I merely nodded occasionally, my fingers gripping my purse strap with an intensity that mirrored the impatience growing inside me. I hated this. Hated having to pretend, having to chase what should already be mine by right. But patience, Jennifer. It’s all part of the game—a game I mastered.Inside the car, my mood soured further. I tapped my fingers lightly on the dashboard, stifling a sigh of irritation. Having to deal with that annoyi
Last Updated : 2025-02-24Traded For His First Love 39. You only have me
Jennifer POV"It’s okay, don’t worry," Sammy said to the nanny, forcing a smile. "I know her. So I’ll go with her."The nanny hesitated for a moment, her eyes assessing the situation. But in the end, she shrugged and nodded, relieved to offload the responsibility."Okay, Sammy, take care," she said with a gentle smile, then crouched down slightly to whisper in his ear. "I’ll have a snack ready for you when you get home."Sammy’s eyes lit up for a moment. "Really?"She nodded, and a small smile crossed his face, though he still looked distressed."Thanks." His voice came out low but sincere.The nanny waved goodbye before walking away, looking worried, but I couldn’t care less.Perfect, since the boy agreed, I can consider this progress made.I took Sammy’s hand and gently pulled him out of there. He moved like a broken doll, his steps heavy, his shoulders slumped. I hailed a taxi, sliding in first, expecting him to follow without question.The smell of old leather and cigarette smoke
Last Updated : 2025-02-24Traded For His First Love 40. Jennifer's return
Elliot POVI wanted so badly for that day to have been perfect. The plan was simple: buy a big bouquet of red roses for Reese, something that would show her how much I loved her, and a blank album, so Sammy could put all his drawings in it and give it to his mom as a gift. It was a small gesture, but meaningful. A reminder that he could still show affection, even though everything between Jennifer and me had crumbled long ago.I walked into the florist and went straight to the arrangements section. The scent of flowers enveloped me instantly, a sweet and earthy mix that evoked memories of both good and bad times. I wanted something striking, something eye-catching that would say everything without me needing words. When the florist showed me a massive bouquet of fully bloomed roses, with an intense aroma of love and nostalgia, I knew it was the one. Reese deserved something like that. I paid and headed to the stationery store, where I spent some time picking out a hardcover album wi
Last Updated : 2025-02-24Traded For His First Love 41. It's all lost
Elliot POVJennifer cast one last venomous glance at us before storming out, her purse slung over her shoulder, her posture rigid as if she’d just suffered a profound injustice. "You two are ungrateful! One day, you’ll beg to kiss my feet!" she spat, slamming the door with a force that shook the frame.For a moment, the house fell silent, as if even the walls were absorbing the poisonous words she’d left behind. The air felt heavy, almost suffocating, thick with the residue of her manipulation.I turned to my son, my heart sinking as I saw his small shoulders hunched, fists clenched at his sides. His face was tense, his eyes brimming with confusion and anger. The sight of him like this—my Sammy, so fragile yet so fierce—cut deeper than Jennifer’s words ever could. I knew the weight of her lies was pressing on him, twisting his thoughts, planting seeds of doubt I’d spent years trying to uproot.I approached slowly, lowering myself to one knee, and wrapped his shoulders in a tight, prot
Last Updated : 2025-02-24Traded For His First Love 42. Insinuations
Reese POVThe morning sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled light across the park as Avie’s laughter filled the air. "Come on, Spencer, catch this frisbee!" I shouted, launching the disc toward him. He bolted like a madman, diving to grab it before it hit the ground, but he slipped on the grass and tumbled down the slope, rolling with a groan that turned into laughter. Avie, barely three years old and brimming with contagious giggles, clapped her hands on the grass, her tiny feet kicking with delight."Are you okay?" I called out, laughing as Spencer staggered to his feet, his face flushed from both the fall and amusement."Of course! Just testing the grass—it’s softer than I thought!" Spencer replied, still grinning and brushing himself off, trying to recover his dignity.Avie jumped up and down, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Now me! I want to play too!" She raised her little arms toward me, as if begging to be swept into the fun.I couldn’t help but laugh at her e
Last Updated : 2025-02-24
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Traded For His First Love 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 couldn’t 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 bag—a habit I’d abandoned in Chicago but brought along as a crutch for moments like this—and stepped out onto the balcony, hoping the cool midnight breeze would calm my troubled
Traded For His First Love 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 I’d 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.“So, Bethany really did it,” Josh said, taking a sip of wine, his crooked smile not reaching his eyes. “The pregnancy reveal was the final blow. She’s got me locked into this engagement, and now the wedding date’s set. In a few weeks, I’m a married man.” He laughed, but the sound was hollow, as if
Traded For His First Love 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 wasn’t alone. Florence, with her newfound facade of a caring grandmother, served dessert—a vanilla pudding that Sammy devoured—but I barely touched my plate, my stomach knotted by Elliot’s 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 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. “Mommy, look! It’s a castle!” Sammy exclaimed, pointing to his wobbly structure, and I smiled, my heart warmed by the simplicity of the moment. But even with the children’s laughter filling the room, the tension wouldn’t leave me. The legal battle for custody of Sammy and Avie was looming, and every day in this mansion—with Jennifer scheming in the city, Florence acting suspiciously friendly, and Elliot looking at me with a love I didn’t want
Traded For His First Love 146. An Unexpected Request
Reese POVThe lake at the Goodwin mansion shimmered under the soft midday light, its surface reflecting the willows swaying in London’s 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 family’s golden retriever, chased with enthusiasm, barking and wagging his tail. He had brought some toys from the shed—the ball, a frisbee, even a rope for Baxter to tug—and the kids were radiant, Sammy shouting, “Get it, Baxter!” 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 145. Shadows and Moments of Light
Reese POVThe dining room of the Goodwin mansion was filled with soft sounds—the 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 I’d 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 table—with Jennifer casting venomous glares and Elliot staring at me with an intensity that disarmed me—the 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 144. Your Nostalgic Gaze
Reese POVThe morning light filtered through the guest room curtains, soft and gray, as London’s 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 jacket—clothes 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 hadn’t 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 Chicago—the strength I built at Lunaris Event, the independence I fought to claim—were just a dream, an illusion. In that mirror, I was the submissive Reese again, the wife who endured Florence’s cold glares, Jennifer’s manipulations, and Elliot’s broken promises.My stomach churned, the sense of defeat threatening to swallow me. I had come to London to
Traded For His First Love 143. A Past That Won’t Die
Reese POVThe sound of the television in the children’s room—a cartoon filled with laughter and music that Sammy and Avie loved—was 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. “Stay here, okay? Mommy will be right back,” I murmured, kissing both their foreheads. Avie, with her sweet little voice, said, “Okay, Mama!” but quickly added, almost as an echo, “Venus come back soon!” I smiled, despite the weight in my chest. Avie, at three years old, sometimes called me “Venus,” mimicking Sammy or Alice, who used my Chicago nickname. It was confusing but so quintessentially her—a 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
Traded For His First Love 142. A Fragile Haven in the Storm
Reese POVI never imagined I’d end up here, back in the Goodwin mansion, the place that haunted my nightmares with memories of rejection, betrayal, and loss. Each white column of the facade, each dark window reflecting London’s gray sky, seemed to glare at me with contempt, as if it knew I didn’t belong. When I arrived in the city, exhausted and penniless after a harrowing journey—the theft of my bag in New York, the cramped flight, the uncertainty gnawing at me—my plan was clear: take Sammy and Avie and leave, rebuild our family far from Elliot, from Jennifer, from this mansion full of ghosts. But Elliot, with his anger and resolve, made it clear in the entrance hall that he wouldn’t let me leave with the kids. I faced a cruel choice: walk away alone, empty-handed, returning to Chicago defeated, or stay here, in this house that terrified me, to be with my children. There was no choice, really. Sammy and Avie were my life, and for them, I’d swallow any fear, any pain. So, I stayed.
