Lahat ng Kabanata ng DIVORCED MORNING AND REMARRIED TO HIS BROTHER BY NIGHT: Kabanata 251 - Kabanata 260

MONIQUEI took Marcus’s hand under the table and pinched him, silently begging him not to say it. He looked down at me, smiled gently, and then spoke anyway.“I asked Monique to marry me,” he said with an adoring smile that threatened to weaken me. “And she said yes." He announced to the room."So as soon as she’s divorced from Ryan, we’re going to get married. That’s why we don’t see a reason for her to leave the house. And I don’t have a problem with her using my money or me giving it to her.... It's all going to be hers anyway.”The room went still.So still that I could hear the faint hum of the air conditioner, the distant murmur of voices somewhere down the corridor, the sound of my own pulse pounding in my ears.My aunt froze first. Her mouth parted slightly, but no sound came out. Her eyes flicked from Marcus to me, sharp and searching, as if she were waiting for me to contradict him, to laugh it off, to say he was joking.Mr Smith was slower, but more controlled. His expressi

MONIQUEAs if Ryan could read my fear. As if he could feel the way my body had gone rigid, the way my breath had caught, the way my eyes had widened just enough to betray me.I couldn’t move.I couldn’t speak.I just stood there, frozen in place, staring at the man who had once controlled my entire world, while he stood there calmly, watching me unravel.Ryan's smirk widened deliberately, as if he was savouring this, enjoying it, like he had all the time in the world.“Well,” he said, his voice almost amused. “I have been looking all over for you, and guess where I find you? The same place I lost you.”I didn't answer.I couldn't.My throat felt tight, like it had closed around every word I could have said. My hands were clenched at my sides, my nails digging into my palms.Ryan looked me over in a way that made my skin crawl, as if he was taking inventory of me.“You look different,” he said, his eyes lingering. “ I am not sure whether I like the look in your eyes or not.”I didn't r

MONIQUE“What did he do?” Marcus's entire body changed, becoming cold and defensive.I shook my head. “He didn’t touch me. He didn’t do anything.” My thoughts raced as I tried to calm him down. “I swear. We were in public. He wouldn’t try anything.”He searched my face, like he needed to be sure.“Then what did he do?” he asked.“He threatened me. Just like he always does. Ryan is careful, and when he threatens you, it’s a promise.”His jaw tightened. “Monique...""It’s okay. I’m not scared of him anymore.”“You shouldn’t be,” he said. “So what did he want?”“He wanted me to go back with him. Back to our house. Back to what he thinks is our home, but it’s not.”I swallowed. “I told him I want a divorce.”Marcus stared at me, stunned.“I told him I don’t belong to him anymore. That I don’t want anything to do with him.”His arm stiffened on me.“You told him that?” he asked quietly.I nodded. “I know the plan was to surprise him with the papers, but I couldn’t take it. The way he talke

MONIQUEMy heart dropped so hard it felt like it hit the floor.She had already packed.“I can’t do this anymore,” Aunt Jane said softly, folding clothes with trembling hands.Panic surged through me so fast I felt dizzy.I only had two people in this world. I had my aunt And I had Marcus. I didn’t have anyone else.And now my aunt was packing her bags. She was leaving. And I was losing it.I stepped forward instinctively, my hands shaking as I reached for the suitcase before she could pull it off the bed.“No,” I said, the word tearing out of my chest before I could stop it. “No, you can’t just leave.”She froze, her back still to me, her shoulders stiff like she was bracing herself for a blowout. For a second, neither of us spoke. The room felt too small, the air too tight.“Aunt Jane, please,” I whispered. “Don’t do this.”She let out a long, tired breath, the kind that carried years in it. Slowly, she turned around, and when I saw her face properly, my heart cracked. Her eyes were

MONIQUE“So you’re choosing him over me?” Aunt Jane asked sharply. “You’re choosing Marcus over your own family?”“No, Auntie, that’s not what I’m doing,” I said quickly. “I’m not choosing him over you. I just…” My voice faltered. “I wish you could see things the same way I do.”“All I see,” she said, “is you pushing me away the same way you did when you were with Ryan.”“Please stop mentioning Ryan!” I snapped before I could stop myself. “I know right now he’s a big issue for me because I want to get far away from him and get my inheritance back if I can. I won’t fight for him if he’s going to use it to keep me married to him.... But let’s not pretend that you wanting to leave has anything to do with Ryan, because it doesn’t.”“It has everything to do with Ryan,” she shot back. “If it wasn’t for him doing this to you, we wouldn’t be here right now. You would be in your home with your family. Happy.”“I’m sorry,” I said, my voice breaking. “I’m sorry about what happened to you. I didn