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Chapter 113. In Your Arms
Last Updated:
2025-04-08 23:41:57
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Traded For His First Love 114. Promises in the Dark
Reese POVThe bed was still warm where our bodies met, the sheets tangled around us as if they wanted to trap us there forever. My head rested on Elliot’s chest, the sound of his heart a steady thud against my ear, while his arms wrapped around me, one hand tracing lazy lines along my lower back, the other nestled at the curve of my hip. The room was cloaked in silence, broken only by the soft hum of the baby monitor on the nightstand, a reminder that Sammy and Avie slept peacefully down the hall. The faint moonlight slipped through the curtains, sketching gentle shadows across his face, and I caught myself staring, memorizing every detail — the subtle lines at the corners of his eyes, the way his blond hair fell messily over his forehead. It was him, my Elliot, here with me, after everything.“Ever think about how much we lost?” I murmured, my voice low, almost swallowed by the stillness. My hand rested on his chest, fingers playing with his warm skin as I tried not to let the weigh
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Traded For His First Love 115. Tangled Bonds and Hidden Truths
Alice POV The sun was already setting when I stopped in front of Venus’s building, my bag slung over my shoulder and a restlessness jittering in my chest. The day before had been a blur — waking up in the motel with Connor, the heat of his body still lingering on my skin, the way he’d made me laugh with that crooked smile while we ate toast in bed. I’d gotten lost in him, in that easy flirtation and chemistry that caught me off guard, and hadn’t checked in with Venus all day. But now, standing there, the weight of Nathalie’s party hit me full force. Spencer had called me last night, his voice a thunderstorm of rage as he spat accusations about Venus — that she’d screwed everything up, that she was chasing Elliot, that my reputation was going down the drain because of her. I needed to know what had happened, needed to look after my best friend.I pressed the buzzer, the sound slicing through the cool evening air, and waited, fussing with my hair as I tried to sort my thoughts. The d
Last Updated : 2025-04-10Traded For His First Love 116. Shadows of Peace
Reese POV The air in the apartment turned thick the moment Elliot’s words sliced through the silence, the coffee tray trembling slightly in his hands. “What secret? Is there something you two are hiding from me?” His green eyes darted between me and Alice, and my heart raced, a knot tightening in my throat. Avie. He’d almost found out, right there, in front of her, that the bright-eyed girl running down the hall was his, ours. My whole body went cold, but I forced a smile, the kind I’d used a thousand times to dodge conversations I wasn’t ready for.“Oh, it’s nothing big,” I said, my voice coming out lighter than I felt as I stood from the couch and took the tray from his hands. “Alice is just worried about me, you know how she gets.” I set the coffee on the table, my fingers shaking a little, and turned to him with a look that begged him not to dig deeper. “Friend stuff, that’s all.”Alice huffed behind me, the sound heavy with frustration, and I felt the weight of her stare on my
Last Updated : 2025-04-11Traded For His First Love 117. A Legacy Unraveled
Josh POV “So that’s why you decided to come have lunch with us today? Because you want to talk about the engagement to the Skylands’ daughter?” My father asked, his habitual scowl fixed on me, a look I’d grown up with. I’d been raised under the weight of a strict father who never left room for argument, so I was used to it by now, knew how to handle it.“Yes, Dad. That’s exactly it,” I replied, firm. “Bethany and I… we just don’t love each other, and it’s not going to work.”My father sat in his usual spot at the dining table, my mother beside him. The polished mahogany table was far too long for our small family of three, making the air feel morbid, lifeless. A family that only nurtured greed for money didn’t sit around chatting about trivial things like a football game or planning a park outing together.That’s how I’d grown up, and I knew it had left scars in me, ones that would mark me forever, not just in my behavior but in my choices. I didn’t want to be like my father, though
Last Updated : 2025-04-12Traded For His First Love 118. Lights and Confessions
Alice POV The mirror in my bedroom reflected a version of myself I barely recognized — the navy-blue dress hugging my curves, the subtle neckline catching the glow of the lamp, my blonde hair falling in waves I’d spent half an hour perfecting. Connor had called earlier, his voice warm and inviting, saying he wanted to take me out to dinner at a “special” place. I couldn’t resist the urge to dress up, to escape for one night from the weight I’d been carrying since I left Reese’s apartment yesterday, the echo of the slamming door still ringing in my head. Connor’s invitation was a breather, a chance to lose myself in something other than worry about my best friend and the choices I couldn’t wrap my head around.The restaurant was everything he’d promised — a fancy spot at the top of a building, with windows showing the city twinkling below like a sea of stars. The hostess led us to a table near the view, candles flickering in crystal holders, the soft hum of a piano floating through
Last Updated : 2025-04-13Traded For His First Love 119. Trapped by Lies
Josh POV “What did you say?” I asked, feeling my throat dry as I processed Bethany’s words. She stood before me and my parents, claiming she was pregnant? Had I heard her correctly, or was my mind playing tricks on me? “You’re pregnant, my love? Oh, what wonderful news!” My mother was already beaming from ear to ear. “It’s everything we’ve dreamed of, that you’d give us a grandchild!” “Mom, stop it. She’s not pregnant; this is just a misunderstanding,” I cut my mother off, making her pause. Then I turned to Bethany. “Take it back, Bethany. This isn’t the time for your jokes!” “But I’m not joking, Josh. I’m really pregnant. I went to the doctor and did all the tests. You should be happy now, you know? A child is always a great blessing…” “She’s right, Josh,” my father said. “You should be happy to know you’re going to be a father.” He had a half-cynical smile on his face, as if he were triumphant at the overwhelming turn of events that had just hit me. After all, he was the on
Last Updated : 2025-04-14Traded For His First Love 120. Whiskey and Wounds
Spencer POV The bar was shrouded in an amber haze, the kind of place where the scent of whiskey and stale cigarettes clung to your skin. I sat on a high stool, my half-empty bourbon glass in hand, ice melting slowly as Josh, beside me, poured his heart out like the world had collapsed on him. The guy was a mess, his voice hoarse from talking, his sunken eyes glinting with a mix of fury and despair. Not that I could blame him — the story he was spilling was a nightmare. “I swear, Spencer, she set me up,” Josh said, twirling his beer glass between his fingers, the golden liquid catching the bar’s dim lights. “Bethany shows up out of nowhere, right in front of my parents, saying she’s pregnant. Pregnant! As if I’d ever laid a hand on her. I told her we were done, but she’s obsessed, man. It’s a trap to force me to marry her, and my dad’s eating it up like it’s his grand plan.” I took a sip of bourbon, the burn sliding down my throat as I tried to focus on his words. “That’s he
Last Updated : 2025-04-15Traded For His First Love 121. Sunlit Smiles
Reese POV The Saturday sun shone warm, but with that crisp autumn touch that made the air feel lighter, sweeter. I was sitting on a checkered blanket spread out on the grass in the park, the scent of fallen leaves and cotton candy floating around me. Sammy was running a few meters away, his skinny little legs kicking a soccer ball with an energy that seemed endless, while Avie, her cheeks flushed, tried to keep up, stumbling lightly and laughing loudly every time she fell. Elliot was in the middle of them, in jeans and a gray t-shirt, his blond hair mussed by the breeze, pretending to be an over-the-top goalkeeper just to make them squeal with joy. My heart was so full it felt like it might overflow, as if every laugh of theirs was stitching up a part of me I didn’t even know was torn.“Go, Sammy, kick it harder!” Elliot shouted, throwing himself sideways onto the grass with a dramatic flair that drew a squeak from Avie. The ball sailed past him, rolling to a stop near a tree, and
Last Updated : 2025-04-16
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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
