บททั้งหมดของ Love's Wrong Turn: บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

After work, I went to pick up Kathy from daycare. When we got home, I stepped through the door and saw clothes scattered across the floor.The room that I thought belonged to me and Kathy now had photos of Jennifer Cross and her daughter hanging on the walls.The clothes I had folded and put neatly in the wardrobe had been thrown out.What little remained of our belongings—mine and Kathy's—was dumped in the courtyard like garbage.When Jennifer saw me come in with Kathy, she looked surprised, though her face was laced with mockery and contempt."Sorry, Anna," she said with a sneer. "I was just clearing out some unwanted stuff. Zach said I should move in here with Felicia. You and Kathy will have to make do in the kitchen tonight."There was not a trace of apology in her face. Just smugness.I glanced toward the inner room, at the princess bed. My fingertips curled into my palm, digging deep. And I let out a laugh, low and bitter.That bed was clearly the latest trend, expensive

If I hadn't learned the truth just before I died in my last life, I might still be wondering how Zach could be so heartless to us.That day, when Kathy's arm was scalded, I saw it—pain and guilt flicker across his face. It was faint, but real enough that I clung to it. I kept a sliver of hope alive, thinking maybe he hadn't fallen completely beyond redemption. That's why I reached out to him, pleaded with him to help us.But the truth was simple. Zach had always put Jennifer first.He didn't love me. He didn't love our daughter. That truth hadn't changed just because I had been given another chance at life. The way he turned away from us—cold, indifferent, vaguely apologetic—was exactly the same as before.I held Kathy tighter and made a quiet promise in my heart: this time, all I would ask for was Kathy's safety. Her health. Her life.Early the next morning, I dropped Kathy off at daycare and went straight to my workplace. I told the director I had decided to accept the transfer

Kathy was still little, but she understood everything. All the way there, she clung to me tightly and said, "Mommy, wherever you go, I want to go with you."I kissed her on the cheek, eyes stinging with tears. Hugging her back, I whispered, "Okay. No matter where I go, I will always take you with me."After a full day and night on the train, we arrived in Shaylon City.My company director had already contacted the local unit here and let them know I'd be coming. He said someone from the Shaylon City office would be picking me up—a man with the last name Remington.Just outside the train station, someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and saw a man. Tentatively, I asked, "Mr. Remington?"He nodded, then pulled out a handful of candy and dropped it into Kathy's hand. His smile was warm. "No need to be so formal. Just call me Rowan when we're not at work."I looked him over. I had expected someone older, maybe a middle-aged man with a bit of a belly—someone who'd worke

"That has nothing to do with you! Anna! Tell him—what exactly is our relationship?" Zach snapped.His arrogance made me laugh. For someone like him, admitting to our past in front of someone else was humiliation.My tone remained calm, but firmer than usual. "There's nothing between us. No relationship at all."With that, I took Rowan's hand and walked away.Just before we turned, Rowan cast Zach a deliberate, mocking smile—so unlike the composed, well-mannered man everyone knew.Behind us, Zach clenched his fists so tight I could hear the bones pop. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, "Anna! Keep this up, and I really won't come after you again!"I didn't look back. I walked away with Rowan by my side.At the corner, I quickly let go of his hand, flustered. "I'm sorry about just now," I said, apologizing. "It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing."He shook his head with a smile. "No need to apologize. If I didn't want to help, I wouldn't have done it."There was something more in

I found it laughable. I had spent what felt like a lifetime waiting for Zach to say he loved me—and now, only after I no longer loved him, the word finally came so easily to his lips."But I don't love you," I said, looking straight at him, my voice flat and emotionless. It sounded almost cruel.Zach's tears fell silently. He shook his head with a broken smile, somewhere between desperation and disbelief."That's impossible, Anna… How could you not love me? We were together for six years. Don't lie to me. I don't believe it…" His voice cracked. "And Kathy—Kathy must miss me. A child needs her father…"That forced smile stayed plastered on his face, sitting awkwardly against the weight of his unraveling composure.Before he could say more, Kathy burst out of the room and planted herself firmly in front of me."I don't like you either," she said loudly. "I don't want a daddy like you."Zach froze. The smile on his face hardened, then faltered. He stared at us—me and Kathy—as if th