Semua Bab Wasted Time, Wasted Love: Bab 1 - Bab 9

9 Bab

Chapter 1

There was a long silence on the other end of the line before Raymond Mueller finally sighed. "Don't act recklessly, Joyce. Just wait for me to get back, alright?""Sorry, Raymond. I can't wait anymore."I barely had time to hang up before a bowl came hurling straight at my face. I didn't react fast enough, and it hit me hard."You snitch. You think you're so special just because Grandpa backs you up?"Jeremy Mueller hadn't heard our conversation from where he was standing, so he jumped to the usual conclusion—that I'd run to Raymond for help.He grabbed another bowl and drew his arm back, ready to launch it at me."That bowl meant everything to my mom before she died, and you went and broke it. Don't think Grandpa showing up will save you from this."I looked up, staring straight at my stepson. "You're lying, Jeremy."Aaron Mueller had carefully stored all the possessions of my sister, Celia Quayle, in a safe. He was the only one who knew the combination.That shattered bowl?

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Chapter 2

Aaron continued, "Jeremy's older now. Skip the pill tonight. If you end up pregnant, we'll have the baby."He'd never been one for condoms, but he'd made it equally clear he never wanted me pregnant.Getting me pregnant, he'd said, would feel like cheating on Celia, like he was somehow betraying her memory. That was why he'd kept me on birth control all these years.Years of medication had left my body broken. I could barely conceive anymore. I closed my eyes, and the tears I'd been holding back finally spilled over."No, we're not having a child," I said, pressing my palm against his chest to push him away. "I want a divorce.""What's wrong with you?" Aaron studied me with narrowed eyes, his voice dripping with confusion. "This is still about Jeremy, isn't it?"I held my tongue.His patience snapped. He grabbed my chin, yanking my face up to his. "Joyce, if you can't get over something this insignificant, you don't deserve to be his mother."My lips curled into a bitter smile.

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Chapter 3

I wiped the soup off my face and muttered, "But the soup tastes the same as it always does. Nothing's different."Jeremy tilted his head, looking annoyed. "Maybe I'm just sick of it."He was born premature, so he stayed weak and sickly his whole life. That was why I learned to make those nourishing soups to build up his health.For eight years, I got up before sunrise to simmer the soup, just like his personal cook.When he was four, he used to wrap his arms around my waist, look up at me with those bright eyes, and say, "Your soup is so good. I'll never get sick of it."Now he was only eight and was already saying he was sick of it."If you don't want it, just throw it out."With that, I turned and headed to my room.…Raymond kept me from leaving at dawn. He'd come straight from his medical retreat overseas, flying through the night just to stop me.He tried every possible argument to get me to stay. But my decision was final.With a heavy sigh, Raymond laid out the conseq

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Chapter 4

Jeremy didn't say a word to me the whole ride.Before, that would have sent me into a spiral, thinking I must've done something wrong. But this time, I was honestly relieved.Once we got to the venue, Jeremy hopped out of the car and skipped to Charlene. He took Aaron's hand with one and Charlene's with the other, leaving me behind without a second thought.Jeremy stuck to Charlene's side the whole party while Aaron watched them with a fond smile.I sat in the corner, watching them laugh and talk like they shared some secret warmth. That was when it hit me—they looked like a real family, more than I had ever felt with them.The guests walked up with their wine glasses. "You must be Mrs. Mueller. You and Mr. Mueller make such a lovely couple."Aaron paused, ready to correct them, but Jeremy beat him to the punch. He straightened up with a proud grin, chest puffed out, and declared, "Yes, she's my mom."Aaron's eyes darted toward me instinctively. Only when he saw I hadn't noticed

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Chapter 5

Jeremy's face twisted with hatred as he rushed over. "You really think faking a walkout will make Dad and me beg you to stay?"I ignored him and kept walking toward the exit.But then Jeremy charged at me, shoving me hard. My foot caught, and I lurched sideways into the carefully arranged champagne tower. And as fate would have it, Charlene and I were right in their path."Charlene!"The sudden chaos caught Aaron and Jeremy off guard, and they sprinted toward Charlene.Then came a deafening crash as the champagne tower collapsed. Aaron grabbed Charlene and pulled her out of the way just in time, but I went down hard.Glass shattered everywhere, slicing deep into my skin, so deep I could feel it in my bones. Blood gushed from the wounds, soaking my white gown in seconds, the fabric turning a sickening crimson.To make things worse, the spilled champagne seeped into the cuts, sending white-hot pain shooting through my nerves.Dazed, I looked up just in time to see Aaron sweep Cha

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Chapter 6

Jeremy peeked around the doorway with a mischievous grin. "I'm totally fine staying here, Dad. Charlene's place is great, even her room smells nice. And she really doesn't want you to go. You should stay!"Charlene blushed."If Jeremy's saying so, you might as well stay. It's way too late to go now," she said quietly.Then she got up and gently guided Jeremy, who was still peering around the door, back to his room.It didn't take long for Charlene to lull Jeremy to sleep. She stepped in close, her hand finding Aaron's while he was still on the phone, then kissed his throat.Aaron's fingers clenched around his phone. His throat worked as he muttered a rough, "I'll handle this later," before hanging up.Then he trapped her wandering hand in his, his gaze darkening with desire. "I told you not to interrupt me when I'm working."Charlene chuckled like she was already used to his aloofness, and melted into him. "So, what's my punishment, Mr. Mueller?"Aaron shoved her onto the bed a

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Chapter 7

The sleek luxury van had barely parked when Jeremy hopped out and rushed toward the house. "Joyce, I'm home—"His voice died in his throat as he realized the villa was pitch black.A second later, his gut told him something was wrong. He was scared of the dark, so I would always leave the lights on whenever I was home.Jeremy darted to the table and snatched up the document. Even at eight, he recognized enough words to sound them out. "Divorce agreement."He said it over and over until it finally hit him that Aaron and I were getting divorced. A wave of sadness crashed over him, and he burst into tears."Dad… Joyce is leaving you."Aaron ripped the divorce agreement from his hands. Right there, in the wife's signature line, was my name, neat and unmistakable. The husband's line was already signed, too.A terrible realization started to form in his mind. He refused to believe I'd actually go through with leaving him."Joyce, show yourself! Enough with the games. Did you really t

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Chapter 8

The class had just ended when Wayne poked my back from the seat behind me. His voice came through low and smooth, right by my ear. "Would you do me the honor of going on a date?""Of course," I said.We walked down the street, our fingers laced together. Sunlight filtered through the trees, warm on our skin.We talked for ages. That was how I found out Wayne had stayed single all that time, just waiting for another chance to meet me.He squeezed my hand. "Guess fate finally took pity on me and brought you back."My heart melted a little. I was just reaching out to hug him when I spotted two familiar faces.Aaron's eyes turned stormy as they landed on our joined hands. His voice came out sharp with frost. "Joyce, it's time to come home. Jeremy misses you."I dropped my gaze, feeling Wayne's grip tighten around mine. I turned to find him watching me, his eyes steady and reassuring.I looked up, meeting Aaron's gaze without flinching. "I'm not going back."Aaron caught his breath

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Chapter 9

I sneered. "Sunflowers are my favorite. Celia was the one who loved roses."I ignored Aaron and Jeremy, their eyes all red and swollen. Instead, I hurried over to Wayne. That was when I noticed the flowers and cake in his hands."I thought you might need something to cheer you up, so I grabbed your favorites. I didn't expect they'd be here. No pressure if you'd rather not eat it."I took the mango cake and sunflowers, smiling as I thanked him.Aaron wanted to hold on to me, but things had fallen apart at his company, so he had no choice but to return home with Jeremy.After getting fired, Charlene got her revenge by publicly reporting Aaron for tax fraud and embezzling company funds. Then she'd turned around and handed confidential files over to their competitors.They worked together to take down the Muellers while Aaron was gone. With the tax authorities breathing down their necks and competitors piling on the pressure, the company's stock kept tanking.Things got so out of co

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