All Chapters of Dropped the Deadweight, Hit the Road: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

Drovetsk, the hometown.I looked up. Ivan Brown, all decked out in his uniform, oozed smug. So not the awkward kid I remembered.He stepped in front of Nadia Kollar like her personal bodyguard. She hid behind him, all pale and pathetic with those downturned eyes.Next to her, I looked like a wreck. No contest—she was prettier.They fit. Too well. Just looking at them hurt.My hands, raw and bleeding from the cold, curled into fists. I swallowed the sting."Then I'm done. Engagement's off."Olenna snapped, "Don't be ridiculous! Ivan misspoke. Go make dinner. I'll handle him."My brain short-circuited. I just turned and walked to the kitchen.Ivan and I had been locked in since forever. Childhood sweethearts, stuck like glue.Then my dad died in the line of duty when I was fifteen. Mom couldn't handle it—she remarried and bailed. I was on my own.Ivan's family took me in. I owed them, so when Olenna got paralyzed, I stepped up.I even gave him the military spot, which was the

Chapter 2

The second Nadia showed up, Olenna dropped cash on a gold ring for her—no hesitation.Word was, Nadia's family still lived in the city. Good background, decent status."I feel super close to you too," Nadia said, all smiles. "Like we're already family."Olenna lit up even more.Yeah, Nadia was a widow, but she looked like someone you'd brag about.So when Nadia wrinkled her nose at the food I made, Olenna didn't miss a beat."Barley bread? Really? We've got a guest. You should know better. Make something else."Her tone was sharp, like she was barking orders at the help.I looked down, hiding the sting in my eyes."There's no money left. And no other food."Ivan jumped in, "Then go buy sausages. Stop acting like we're broke. I've been sending money—unless you've been skimming?"Olenna's face twitched. She glanced at me, eyes darting.Truth? His money barely covered her meds. The rest? Came from me hustling two jobs—my day gig and anything else I could scrape together.That

Chapter 3

I stared him down, zero fear in my eyes."Let's get something straight. This house? Rebuilt with my dad's death benefits. I make my own money. I've taken care of your mom for ten years. I don't need praise—but I deserve respect. This is how you thank me?"He didn't have a comeback. Still had a sliver of shame left.I turned, walked back to my room, pulled out the application form, and filled it in—slow and steady.Mr. Randall, the village head, had stopped by recently pushing the Rural Teaching Support Program.The first batch of teachers would get solid government support.Back then, I only took the form to be polite.Now? It felt like my ticket out.***Just as I finished the form, someone knocked.Ivan. Holding a steaming bowl of buckwheat with egg.I blinked, caught off guard. My face softened before I could stop it.Maybe... maybe he still cared.A flicker of hope sparked—unwanted, but there.I reached for the bowl.He yanked it back."What are you doing? It's for

Chapter 4

I wanted to tell him I was headed northwest for the Rural Teaching Support Program. That this was it—he and I were done.But the words choked.Why bother? He'd just laugh."I'm moving into the teacher's dorm. Nadia can have the room."His face relaxed, even looked kinda smug."Good. I'm glad you are sensible. Nadia's only staying two weeks. After that, you can come back. I'll help you move."Yeah, I already knew where she'd end up.He reached out to help. I brushed him off."No need. I've got it."Dragging my suitcase out, I heard Nadia behind me, all soft and sweet."With Elya gone, who's gonna cook for us?"Ivan reassured her,"I'll pay Mrs. Peterson next door. It's freezing—you'll get frostbite."I glanced back. Nadia's hands were pale, delicate.Mine were cracked, purple, bleeding.He never pitied me. Not once.I laughed under my breath and stepped into the storm.***I sent in my app for the Rural Teaching Support Program.The principal looked bummed but didn't

Chapter 5

The color in Ivan's face drained. The coat hit the floor—he didn't even blink.Northeast? That middle-of-nowhere place? She really ghosted without a word?He bolted to the station, eyes darting through the crowd.The train was seconds from pulling out. He had to catch her.Then—bam—last car.There she was.***I sat by the window, watching the world blur.Ivan slammed the glass, yelling my name.I slid it open slowly—the cold wind hit like a slap.He was full-on screaming."Elya, get off the train! Are you nuts? Running off to some nowhere-town? What about my mom? What about me?"I just stared."Ten years, Ivan. Did you ever ask if I was cold? Tired? Okay? Now you care?"His face went red. He fumbled, "I... I...""Let's just pretend we never met."The train started rolling. He ran for a bit.Then he stopped, watching me fade out.I didn't look back.By the time I hit the remote town, it was dead dark.The Wind slapped grit across my face.I pulled my coat tight and

Chapter 6

Nadia paused, then tossed out, super casual, "Any word on your housing application? The mosquitoes here are brutal. I'm covered in bites."Ivan waved her off, clearly over it. "Later."His brain was spinning. Elya dipped without a word—totally blindsided him.He figured she'd just take it like always.But she didn't. This time, she bounced.Inside, Olenna's voice cut through the house."Ivan! You need to bring Elya back! These bedsores are killing me!"She groaned, trying to roll over, but she couldn't move—too stiff, too far gone.The room stank.Urine. Old sheets.Nadia hadn't lifted a finger in days, so Olenna had been stuck in her own mess, helpless.It was disgusting. And now, without Elya, it was all falling apart.Ivan's stomach turned. He swallowed the nausea. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll figure it out."Olenna cried harder. "Just bring Elya back! She's the only one who knows how to handle me."The sores were worse. Nadia wouldn't help—wouldn't turn her, clean her, not

Chapter 7

When the time was right, he'd fix it. Say sorry. Never mention Nadia again.But back home? Total meltdown.Nadia couldn't stand being there, and Olenna made it worse by the hour.What started as snide digs turned into full-on screaming matches."You're a curse on this house! If it weren't for you, Elya'd still be here! I wouldn't be like this! Get out!" Olenna shrieked, spit flying.Nadia cracked. She ran to Ivan, bawling."Ivan, your mom screamed at me! Called me a homewrecker! Said I bring bad luck! I'm scared..."Ivan's head pounded. Caught in the middle, he was drowning.So, he caved. Brought in the neighbor, Mrs. Peterson, to look after Olenna.Finally, the house went quiet. For now.But then came the next headache—Olenna's meds ran out.Ivan took the script to the pharmacy, his draw dropping. And that didn't even cover doctor visits.He used to send a few hundred a month. Elya handled the rest. Never said a word.Now he couldn't stop thinking about her rough hands, h

Chapter 8

But the kids? Their eyes lit up like stars.They wanted to learn—fierce and hungry for it, like wild grass punching through dry dirt.I taught them everything—reading, math, even a little art and music.Somehow, in all this grit and emptiness, I felt whole.Started a literacy class for the women too—basic reading, numbers, whatever they needed.Didn't expect it, but a few local ladies started eyeing me.One day, Mrs. Samkov—big smile, warm hands—pulled me aside."Ms. Lovren, you're smart and pretty—let me set you up with someone."I blushed hard. "Mrs. Samkov, I... I'm not really looking..."She waved me off. "Sweetheart, every girl needs someone to lean on. He's one of the best—easy on the eyes, owns land too!"I gave a stiff smile, not sure how to shut it down gently.Truth? I hadn't thought about love since I got here.Ivan hurt me so deep. Marriage just felt... fake.But over time, Stepnoye started to feel like home.I picked up the accent.Learned to ride a mule, tr

Chapter 9

Two weeks later, a letter landed in my hands—no mistaking Ivan's handwriting.Didn't want to open it. Did anyway.The tone was all sorrow.He wrote about how Olenna's death broke him, how he drank too much, how he "accidentally" slept with Nadia.Now Nadia was threatening to off herself if he didn't step up.But, of course, he still "only loved me."If I came back, he swore he'd never marry her.I let out a sharp, cold laugh.Then tossed the letter straight into the fire.The flames ate the letter fast—thin paper gone in seconds, just like whatever was left of my feelings for Ivan.I had better things to do now.I was busy—teaching kids to read, running classes for the women in Stepnoye.No time for that kind of trash.Lately, I'd started writing—little snapshots of life here, the kids' goofy grins, their wins.And out of nowhere, a newspaper picked up my pieces. Asked me to write every week.That hit different. Gave me something real.Every night after lessons, I'd wri

Chapter 10

I cut him off."You were never waiting for me. You were just picking what was easiest."Back when my family had those military perks and your mom needed care, you clung to our engagement. Why wouldn't you? Free caregiver, family benefits."Then Nadia shows up—pretty, flirty, maybe loaded—and you slide right in."Now she's gone, and I'm supposed to feel special? Get real."His face went ghost-white, then red like I'd smacked him.His eyes filled with guilt and something like pain. "I'm sorry."I didn't answer.Didn't even look back.I just walked away.I came back to Drovetsk. Not much had changed.I headed straight to the village office to file my papers—permanent relocation to Stepnoye.That place had shaped me. I'd found my worth there. I wasn't sticking around Drovetsk.Mr. Randall looked surprised when he saw me, then broke into a grin."Elya! When did you get back? You look great—more confident, more refined!"I gave a polite smile. "Just here to handle a few things

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP