Lahat ng Kabanata ng DIVORCED, BUT SPOILED BY MY FIVE BROTHERS : Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

Rowan's Point of View I tried Janet's number again, my finger pressing the call button harder than needed. Three hours I've been doing this. Three whole hours of nothing but her voicemail. My hand shook slightly as I reached for my glass, taking a long sip of whiskey. The burn in my throat matched the anger building inside me. "Come on, Janet," I muttered, dialing again. "Pick up the damn phone." Ever since I found out Janet's mother had been moved from the hospital—without my knowledge or permission—everything had been falling apart. I pressed call again, expecting the same robotic voice telling me the number wasn't available. But this time, it rang. My heart jumped in my chest. I sat up straighter, nearly spilling my drink. It rang once, twice, three times... then connected. "Finally, you pick up!" I rushed to say, the words tumbling out before she could even speak. There was a pause on the other end, then Janet's voice—cold and distant, like a stranger's. "What do

I felt my cheeks warm. "Edward, I think you're making good progress. You're smart, successful, and clearly caring. Anyone would be lucky to have you in their life." I paused, choosing my next words carefully. "But I don't think it's helpful to focus on dating right now." He nodded, but the smile didn't leave his face. "You're probably right. Still, I can't help but wonder... what kind of man does catch your eye, Janet?" Now I was sure he was flirting. I needed to redirect this conversation quickly. "Let's focus on you today," I said firmly. "Tell me more about how you're handling things at home. Are you sleeping better?" Edward seemed to get the message, though he looked a little disappointed. "Yes, much better. The nightmares are less frequent now." We spent the rest of the session talking about his progress, his grief over his mother and grandmother, and his plans for the future. Every now and then, he would slip in a compliment or a personal question, but I gently steered us ba

Janet's Point of View I stood stunned in Elena's doorway, watching as Edward stepped forward beside me. I never expected him to defend me like this. Flora clearly thought I would be fired on the spot—the look of shock on her face was almost worth the whole ordeal. I bit my lip to hold back a smile, thinking how funny it was that she didn't realize Edward was just a client, not someone in charge. "Ms. Martinez," Flora said, her voice suddenly soft and trembling. She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. "I came here seeking help, but Janet was so harsh with me. So judgmental. I opened up about my grief, about my feelings, and she..." Flora's voice broke dramatically, "she attacked me." I kept my face neutral, though inside I was rolling my eyes. Flora's victim act was so familiar—I'd seen it countless times before. Edward cleared his throat. "I think you should drop the act, Ms. Reynolds. It doesn't suit you." Flora's head snapped up, tears miraculously gone. "Excuse me?" "Being

Rowan's Point of View I wasn't meant to say all this, but the image of that guy holding Janet is almost destroying me from the inside. The urge to punch something is driving me crazy from within. "Isn't it why you haven't come home?" I said, my voice sharper than I intended. "Because someone else claims they love you and they come outside to show it?" Janet looked at me like I had lost my mind. "You sound delusional, Rowan. You need to go see your doctor." I chuckled, but it wasn't a good laugh. "I need to see a doctor?" I repeated. "Janet, when did you even become a doctor? We've been married for three years, and you never said anything about being a mental health doctor. And look at this—this is not the wife I know I married." "Oh, come on, Rowan," Janet said, staying firm in her seat. "You never knew what I'm capable of." My hands clenched into fists. "You claim I don't know you? Do you want me to really expose you out there? Wow, I don't know, it's even easier nowadays

Janet's Point of View I stepped down in front of Bellevue Estate, the address Rowan had texted me three days ago after that terrible scene at the clinic. The memory still made my stomach tight with anger. I didn't want to come—not because of Rowan's threats, but because Grandma Stella was the only member of the Thayer family who had ever treated me like real family. She deserved better than to have her birthday ruined by our drama. I was free this weekend anyway. Jasper had wanted one of my brothers to come with me, but I told him it would be fine. I lied, saying I was attending as a guest. I didn't want my new family to have anything to do with Rowan or his family. The banquet hall looked breathtaking. White and gold decorations covered everything, with beautiful roses and lilies in tall crystal vases. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting soft light that made everything glow. It really showed how much they loved Grandma Stella. Of course Rowan would host the party at one o