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5. An intruder in my house
Last Updated:
2025-01-26 01:37:25
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Traded For His First Love 158. A Safe Harbor
Reese POVThe drive back from the hospital to the Goodwin mansion was quiet, but not the kind that suffocates. It was a comforting silence, heavy with relief, as if all of us—me, Elliot, Sammy, and Avie—were simply breathing, grateful to be together. Avie, still fragile, slept in my lap in the backseat of the Bentley, her breathing now steadier, her little face relaxed against my chest. Sammy, beside me, held her tiny hand, his eyes heavy but stubbornly open, as if he wanted to keep watch over her. Elliot drove, his gaze fixed on the road, London’s lights reflecting on his tired face. We didn’t exchange many words, but we didn’t need to. What mattered was here, in the warmth of my children against me, in the unspoken promise that we’d do better for them.When we arrived at the mansion, the rain had stopped, leaving the air fresh and the sky speckled with timid stars. Elliot parked, and I carefully carried Avie, her curls brushing my face as she mumbled something incoherent in her sle
Traded For His First Love 157. Reflections
Reese POVThe silence in the hospital waiting room was heavy, broken only by the tick-tock of the wall clock and the distant murmur of nurses in the hallway. I sat, hands clasped tightly in my lap, eyes fixed on the floor, trying not to let fear swallow me. Sammy slept on the couch beside me, curled up under my coat, his little face still stained with tears. Elliot, in the chair across from me, looked equally lost, his shoulders slumped, blonde hair disheveled, restless hands intertwined. The tension between us was palpable, an open wound neither of us touched, but it ached with every fleeting glance. We didn’t need to talk about the fight, about the hurts that brought us here—the weight of them lingered in every breath.Elliot broke the silence first, his voice hesitant. “Reese… do you think we should call Connor and Alice? To let them know we’re at the hospital?” He looked at me, his green eyes heavy with concern, but also something else, perhaps an attempt to find common ground.I
Traded For His First Love 156. Intertwined Dreams
Alice POVThe soft glow of the ring on my finger caught the golden light of the bedside lamp, a modest diamond that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. I traced its smooth edge with my fingertip, still marveling at the weight of that moment on Westminster Bridge when Connor knelt and asked me to be his forever. My heart raced, a mix of joy and disbelief, as if I were living a dream I never wanted to wake from. We were in a boutique hotel room in Mayfair, an elegant haven with velvet blue walls, heavy curtains blocking out the rain outside, and a plush bed that seemed to swallow us whole. Connor was behind me, his strong arms wrapped around my waist, his chin resting on my shoulder, his warm breath against my neck. I could feel his smile even without seeing it, and it warmed my chest even more.“You can’t stop looking at that ring, huh?” he murmured, his voice low and playful, tightening his arms around me, pulling me against his chest. He wore just a gray t-shirt and sweatpants,
Traded For His First Love 155. Lights and Promises
Alice POVLondon at night was a dream, a city that seemed crafted for lovers. The rain fell lightly, a silvery veil reflecting the glow of streetlights and shop windows, transforming the streets into a shimmering mirror. But for me, none of that mattered as much as the warmth of Connor’s hand holding mine, his fingers interlaced with my own as we strolled along the Thames, the sound of our footsteps mingling with the gentle murmur of the water. The chill of London’s autumn didn’t bother me, not when Connor looked at me with those brown eyes that seemed to hold secrets and promises, a shy smile curving his lips. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach, a giddy excitement that made me laugh too loudly, talk too quickly, as if I were a teenager on a first date.“Have you been here before, Alice?” Connor asked, his voice soft but tinged with curiosity, as he pointed to the horizon where the London Eye rose, its colorful lights cutting through the night’s mist. He wore a gray coat that made h
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
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