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43. Concern
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-25 21:49:08
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Traded For His First Love 44. Pressed
Reese POVThe night had been overwhelming.Every time I closed my eyes, I replayed the moment from last night. Spencer’s intense gaze, the way his voice sounded low and husky when he said my name. The exact instant he leaned in… and I turned away.I felt that weight in my chest. An uncomfortable, suffocating tightness I couldn’t name, but it had been there, persistent, since the moment I heard the door close behind him.I sighed and sat up in bed. Enough. Reliving it wouldn’t help. I had to move forward.Sunlight streamed through the crack in the curtains, softly illuminating the room. I could hear the city waking up outside—cars passing, birds singing, the routine of the world moving on as usual.I got up and headed straight for the shower. The hot water relaxed my muscles, but it did nothing to ease the heaviness of my thoughts.When I stepped out of the bathroom, I knew exactly how I wanted to start the day.If I couldn’t control what I felt, at least I could control how I presente
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-26Traded For His First Love 45. The fight
Reese POV The longing was suffocating me. I tried to ignore it. I tried to pretend I could get through the day normally, focusing on work, on commitments, on numbers, on meetings. But it was useless. Every minute, my heart grew heavier in my chest. Every time I blinked, I saw his face in my mind. His smile, his bright eyes, the way he said my name. Sammy. I closed my eyes for a second and took a deep breath. My hands rested on the desk in my office. I needed to see him. Determined, I stood from my chair. I grabbed my purse and walked to the door, ignoring the spreadsheet open on my computer, the messages piling up on my phone, the meeting I was supposed to prepare for in an hour. Alice, who was reviewing something on her tablet just outside my office, looked at me with surprise. "Reese? Where are you going?" "I need to handle something." "Now?" She frowned. "We have that important meeting—" "Reschedule it." My voice came out firm, but my chest was a mess. Alice studie
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-26Traded For His First Love 46. Worries
Elliot POVI was still reeling from Reese’s words when I saw her hurry away. My chest tightened, and before I could think, my feet moved on their own.I bolted down the stairs, my shoes echoing through the hallway. The urgency made my chest heave harder, but I didn’t care. As soon as I reached the ground floor, I dashed straight for the reception, ignoring the few people milling about in the lobby. The receptionist, a woman with glasses and her hair pulled into an impeccable bun, looked up as I stopped at the counter.I turned to her. "Did you see Reese pass through here?" I asked, already poised to chase after her.The woman raised an eyebrow, adjusting her glasses. "Reese?""Venus," I corrected quickly, mentally kicking myself for the slip. I never called her that. "Lady Venus from Lunaris Events.""Oh, yes, she just left," she replied, glancing back at her computer screen. "Will you continue with the meeting now, or would you like to reschedule it, Mr. Goodwin?""No, I—" I didn’t f
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-26Traded For His First Love 47. Things never remains the same
Elliot POVThe silence in the car was oppressive, a heavy blanket that draped over us, unbroken except for the low hum of the engine and the rhythmic tapping of Reese’s fingers on the steering wheel. Each tap echoed like a heartbeat, filling the space between us with an anxious tension I couldn’t ignore.I stole a glance at her from the corner of my eye, trying to decipher the change I sensed in her presence. It wasn’t just the way she gripped the wheel with steady, almost ironclad determination, her knuckles whitening slightly under the pressure. It was something deeper—the way her shoulders stayed rigid, pulled back as if she were constantly bracing for an unexpected blow, a shield against a world that had already dealt her too many. Her jaw was set, her hazel eyes locked on the road ahead, reflecting a guarded intensity I hadn’t seen in her before, or at least not to this degree."You’re different," I blurted out, the words slipping out before I could weigh them. They hung in the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-26Traded For His First Love 48. Hand sweating
Reese POVI drove in silence, my fingers gripping the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles ached, the leather cool and unyielding under my palms. The weight of the moment pressed against me, a silent storm brewing beneath the surface as the city blurred past—Chicago’s skyline, the hum of traffic, the rhythmic thud of my own heartbeat pounding in my ears. When I finally turned the last corner, Sammy’s school loomed ahead, its red-brick facade a stark silhouette against the late afternoon sky. My stomach churned violently, a knot of nerves twisting tighter with each passing second, threatening to consume me entirely.I slowed the car, carefully maneuvering into a spot near the entrance, the tires crunching softly against the gravel. The parking lot buzzed with the chatter and laughter of parents and children, a scene of normalcy that felt alien, surreal, like a dream I couldn’t quite enter. I turned off the engine, and the sudden silence that followed was vast, heavy, pressing a
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-26Traded For His First Love 49. The most anticipated meeting
Reese POVThe parking lot was nearly empty, with faint lights casting a soft glow over the parked cars. I stood near my car, waiting for Elliot to emerge with Sammy, my breath shallow and my nerves fraying with every passing second. Time seemed to stretch endlessly, each tick consuming me, making me feel as if my heart might stop. I was still trying to steady myself and make sense of what was about to happen after so long apart.When I finally saw Elliot step out of the school building with Sammy, my body froze. The boy looked at me, stopping mid-step, standing still as if trying to piece together who I was, trying to understand the moment unfolding before him. That look hit me with such force that I nearly couldn’t breathe. His small frame, so familiar yet so changed, stood there under the dim lights, his wide, curious eyes locked on mine, searching for something I wasn’t sure I could offer.I gazed at him, my chest tightening painfully. How he’d grown. So different. I knew he’d ch
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-26Traded For His First Love 50. The unexpected turn
Reese POVThe ice cream parlor was crowded, filled with laughter and conversations in the background, but it felt like the world around us had stopped. The tension was almost palpable. Elliot and I were trying to make Sammy feel comfortable, but he remained distant, closed off, his gaze fixed on his chocolate ice cream cup as if it were the only thing in the world worth his attention.“So, Sammy,” I began, trying to sound casual, “would you like to meet Avie? She’s adorable. I think you two would get along really well.”My voice came out more cheerful than I actually felt, but my intentions were good. I wanted him to meet his sister, I wanted them to connect in some way. I knew it would take time, but I wanted to take the first step at least.But Sammy didn’t seem excited. He just shook his head and kept staring at the ice cream, as if I hadn’t said anything. “I don’t feel like it,” he replied, not even looking at me.Those words hit me like a blow. I tried to hide the pain, but I kn
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-27Traded For His First Love 51. Not this time
Reese POVI was still sitting there, staring at the door Sammy had run out of, as if waiting for him to come back. But he didn’t.The weight of his words was crushing me. “You’re not my mom, Lady Venus.”Lady Venus.Not “Mom.” Not Reese. Just a distant name, as if I were some stranger.I felt a knot forming in my throat. I wanted to be strong, to act as if this hadn’t shattered me inside, but it was impossible.The truth was, nothing could have prepared me to hear that from my own son’s mouth. I’d spent years dreaming of this reunion, trying to imagine how it would be. I always knew there would be difficulties, that things wouldn’t be perfect right away, but never, not even in my worst nightmares, had I imagined he would reject me like this.Elliot sighed beside me, rubbing his hands over his face before turning to look at me.“Venus, he didn’t mean it.”“Didn’t he?” My voice came out more bitter than I intended. “Because it sounded pretty clear to me, Elliot. I’m nothing to him.”“He
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-27
Bab terbaru
Traded For His First Love 154. Race Against Time
Reese POVPanic was a cold current surging through my veins, squeezing my chest until I could barely breathe. Avie lay limp in my arms, her little face pale, her breathing so faint I had to strain to feel it against my skin. Elliot was by my side, his face twisted with fear and guilt, as we raced through the mansion’s hallway, our footsteps echoing like thunder in the silent night. Sammy followed, clutching Elliot’s hand, his wide eyes brimming with tears, his small voice trembling as he repeated, “Mommy, Avie’s gonna be okay, right? She’s gonna be okay?” I wanted to answer, to reassure him, but the words were stuck in my throat, choked by the terror consuming me.“Get the car, Elliot!” I shouted, my voice hoarse, as we stumbled down the stairs, nearly tripping in our haste. He nodded, panic evident in his movements, and ran to the garage, the keys jangling in his trembling hands. I held Avie tighter, as if I could protect her with sheer will, whispering against her curls, “You’re go
Traded For His First Love 153. Sparks and Fears
Reese POVThe guest room in the Goodwin mansion felt like a time bubble, where the past and present collided in an uncomfortable clash. As we played with Sammy and Avie, stacking wooden blocks into wobbly towers, I couldn’t help stealing glances at Elliot. He was sitting on the carpet, laughing with Sammy, helping build an improvised bridge, his green eyes shining with a tenderness that was painfully familiar. It was strange, almost surreal, this moment of harmony between us, as if the war over the custody trial didn’t exist, as if he hadn’t allowed his lawyers to humiliate me with lies about my life in Chicago. My anger still simmered, a smoldering ember that wouldn’t fade, but here, with the kids, I tried to keep the peace, at least for now.Avie, with her messy curls, giggled as she tried to steal a block from Elliot’s hand, but suddenly, a hoarse cough interrupted her laughter. She coughed again, the sound dry and persistent, and my heart tightened. The air in London was cold and
Traded For His First Love 152. Fury and Small Moments
Reese POVThe night in the Goodwin mansion was stifling, the silence of the corridors amplifying the chaos in my mind. After the disaster in court, I couldn’t stay still. I paced back and forth in the guest room, my bare feet sinking into the plush carpet, my arms crossed tightly as if they could contain the rage bubbling inside me. Every word from Elliot’s lawyer still echoed, like a knife stabbed repeatedly: the rumors of scandals in Chicago, the accusation that I was an “indecent” woman, unfit to be a mother to Sammy and Avie. How could he? How could Elliot, the man I once swore to love, sit there in silence while his team used lies to destroy me in front of the judge?“You believe this, Alice?” I said, my voice loud, almost a shout, as I gestured frantically. “Elliot let them call me… a woman who gets involved with committed men! As if I’m a threat to my own children! He really thinks he can use those stupid Chicago rumors to make the judge think I don’t deserve Sammy and Avie?”
Traded For His First Love 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 Alice’s 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 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
