LOGINShare
61. Let's Returning
Last Updated:
2025-02-27 19:15:25
Related chapters
Traded For His First Love 62. Don't touch my child again
Reese POVI was seething with rage. My fingers gripped the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity as I drove toward Jennifer’s mansion, the engine’s hum a faint backdrop to the fury pounding in my chest. Alice, in the passenger seat, listened intently as I recounted the latest outrage, her jaw clenched, her hands balled into fists in her lap.“She showed up out of nowhere, Alice! Acting like some concerned mother, trying to fill Sammy’s head with lies. Can you believe this?”Alice huffed, her eyes flashing with anger. “Oh, she’s going to pay for this. I swear it.”My breathing was heavy, uneven, my heart hammering against my ribs. I knew Jennifer wouldn’t stop until she got what she wanted—she always came back to wreak havoc. But today? Today, I was going to put an end to it.We pulled into the parking lot of Jennifer’s building, a nondescript mid-rise with a sterile, gray facade that seemed to mirror the coldness of her soul. I stepped out of the car like a storm, my footsteps
Last Updated : 2025-02-27Traded For His First Love 63. This time you will back off
Reese POVJennifer let out a sharp cry of shock and pain as I yanked her by the hair, forcing her to her knees on the cold, tiled floor of her apartment. The sound of her rapid, ragged breathing only intensified the satisfaction coursing through me—I was finally doing what I should have done years ago. I didn’t care that I was breaking laws, didn’t care if this was right or wrong in the eyes of the world. I wouldn’t allow this woman to keep meddling in the bond I shared with Sammy. She had no right to tear us apart any longer.I tightened my grip on her hair, pulling her head back until our eyes locked. Hers burned with hatred, but I felt no remorse—my expression was steely, unyielding, every line of my face etched with resolve.“You’ll regret challenging me, Jennifer,” I said, my voice low and menacing, each word dripping with a weight she couldn’t ignore. “Next time, it won’t just be your hair I go for.”She groaned in pain, but the sarcastic smirk never left her lips, even through
Last Updated : 2025-02-27Traded For His First Love 64. Well deserved
Reese POVAlice’s laughter erupted beside me, so loud I could barely keep my hands steady on the steering wheel, my fingers trembling not from fear or nerves, but from pure, unbridled adrenaline.“Did you see that bitch’s face?” Alice choked out between giggles, slapping her thigh with delight. “Haha, it was so satisfying when you slapped her! I swear, Venus, I’ve never felt anything so gratifying in my life!”My hands remained tense on the wheel, my knuckles white from the force of my grip, the adrenaline still coursing through me like wildfire. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat thundering like a drum, resonating with the rush of what we’d just done. But despite the tension, I couldn’t deny it… this had been cathartic. As if years of pent-up rage, frustration, and hatred had finally found an outlet, exploding at that moment of raw defiance.“I’m still trying to process all of this,” I murmured, letting out a shaky laugh, half-convincing myself that everything was okay. “My God
Last Updated : 2025-02-27Traded For His First Love 65. There's still hope
Elliot POVI tucked Sammy into bed, pulling the dinosaur-patterned blanket up to his chin, his small frame settling into the mattress with a sleepy sigh. The soft glow of his nightlight cast shadows across the room, illuminating his face—peaceful, innocent, and so much like Reese’s it hurt. “Goodnight, buddy,” I murmured, brushing a lock of hair from his forehead.“Night, Dad,” he mumbled, his voice drowsy but content, his eyelids fluttering shut. I lingered for a moment, watching his chest rise and fall, the quiet rhythm easing some of the tension in my shoulders. But the peace didn’t last long.My phone buzzed on the nightstand, the sharp vibration cutting through the stillness. I glanced at the screen—Jennifer. My stomach tightened, a familiar dread creeping in, but I answered, stepping out into the hallway to keep my voice low.“What do you want, Jennifer?” I said, my tone clipped, already bracing for the storm.Her voice exploded through the line, furious and shrill. “I’m going t
Last Updated : 2025-02-28Traded For His First Love 66. My walk here
Reese POVI stood at the window of my bedroom, holding a glass of red wine, the deep crimson liquid glinting under the moonlight filtering through the curtains. The distant hum of the city was a faint murmur, but my thoughts were fixed on the path that had brought me here. The battles, the losses, the victories—I was close to winning.A soft creak made me turn, and Avie, my daughter, ran in, dressed in a pastel nightgown, her blonde curls bouncing. She climbed into my lap, hugging my neck, instantly bringing peace.“Mommy, can we read a story?” she asked, her voice sleepy.“Of course, sweetheart,” I replied, smiling as I carried her to the bed, grabbing a book about dinosaurs—Sammy’s favorite. I imagined the day he and Avie would meet, laughing together in this room.Flashback on: Three Years AgoThree years ago, pregnant, I stepped into a new apartment in the city, the empty space echoing my loneliness. I stood at the window, looking out, my heart heavy after divorcing Elliot and los
Last Updated : 2025-02-28Traded For His First Love 67. Everything goes in love
Bethany POVThe sound of Josh’s car crunching over the gravel of my parents’ mansion driveway jolted me out of my reverie. Josh sat beside me, and since we’d left the restaurant, a morbid silence had hung between us. Every time I spoke, he’d huff, grumble, or roll his eyes as if the sound of my voice alone irritated him. I considered myself pretty, but Joshua Carter’s disdain made me feel like the ugliest, most uninteresting woman in the world.“Alright,” he said after pulling up in front of my house, his voice flat, not even glancing at me. “You’re safely delivered. You can go now.”I looked toward the house through his car window and sighed. So that was it? I’d just get out of the car, and this would end here? For heaven’s sake, things were only getting worse… “Or better yet, why don’t you come in? My parents won’t mind if you sleep with me tonight. It’s kind of fitting, since we’re engaged,” I invited, flashing a seductive smile.He frowned at me as if I’d just said something outr
Last Updated : 2025-02-28Traded For His First Love 68. Fortunately we will be unhappy
Bethany POV“Lady Venus is a beautiful and very interesting woman, but she really isn’t my type,” Josh said, “so stop hating her to ease your frustration over me not responding to you, okay? Besides, you’re so pretty—stop being so bitter, it doesn’t suit you.” He pinched my cheek in a gesture that was anything but romantic, then reached for my door handle. “Now get out of the car, come on. It’s getting late.”But I pulled the door shut, closing it firmly, and looked at him with my nose tilted upward. “What?” He was confused by my defiance.“I already said, I’m not getting out of here unless you’re with me,” I repeated. “Or would you rather take me to your place? I’ll take any place as long as we’re together.”“You’re not seriously doing this, Bethany, are you? You’re not challenging me like this, are you?” he raged, his brow furrowed. There was danger in his green eyes, but I wasn’t afraid. What more could happen? I was already in deep trouble anyway.“If Lady Venus isn’t your type,
Last Updated : 2025-02-28Traded For His First Love 69. My condemnation
Elliot POVI stood on Venus’s doorstep, clearly anxious, Sammy’s hand gripped tightly in mine, my heart pounding like a drum against my ribs. It was Saturday, and the crisp, quiet morning stretched before us, the promise of a whole day with her pulsing through my veins.I’d barely slept, my mind racing with anticipation—not just for Sammy’s sake, but for mine. I wanted to be near Venus again, to feel the spark of connection we’d once shared, to see if we could start understanding each other after all this time. Who knows… maybe this could be the start of something new.Sammy shifted beside me, his dinosaur-themed sneakers scuffing the stone step, his wide, curious eyes darting between me and the polished wooden door. “Dad, is Lady Venus really here?” he asked, his voice small but hopeful, the uncertainty left by years of Jennifer’s lies still echoing in his tone.“She is, buddy,” I replied, squeezing his hand, my voice steady despite the nerves churning in my stomach. “She’s excited t
Last Updated : 2025-02-28
Latest chapter
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
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
