Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 1 - Chapitre 10

Chapter 1

I woke up in the hospital to a nurse telling me that I had suffered a miscarriage. Ignoring the pain radiating through my body, I grabbed my phone and scrolled through the messages from the police.Beck Wilder hadn't drowned. His location tracker confirmed that he was at Rosehill Villa. The tension in my chest finally eased.I didn't wait for the IV drip to run its course. I ripped out the needle and rushed out to hail a taxi.By the time I reached the villa's entrance, I could hear Beck inside, laughing with a group of young elites."Maren had a child with Emmett Olson. Who knows if she's really over him?"My hand froze in mid-air.I stepped quietly to the window and watched Beck slowly swirl his wine. He let out a weary sigh. "I had my pick of decent women to marry, but I chose to be engaged to her. I gave too much of myself, and now all I carry is a bitterness I can't let go of."Someone asked, "So, Mr. Wilder, did you pretend to drown just to see how much Maren cares about y

Chapter 2

As I lay in the hospital bed, memories came crashing back.Before my family's downfall, both Beck and Emmett had pursued me romantically. I picked Emmett and bore him a daughter, only to lose her prematurely.Soon after, my family went bankrupt. My former mother-in-law resented me for no longer being able to support Emmett's business and began making my life unbearable. She even threatened to take her own life just to force Emmett to divorce me.With nothing left and no one to rely on, I endured a long, exhausting struggle simply to survive.One day, Beck entrusted me with a flower shop. He gently tucked a sunflower into my hair and said, "Maren, may you always grow toward the light."It was then that I truly noticed him. He had been protecting me quietly all along.After a year together, I realized what I felt wasn't just gratitude or loneliness. It was genuine love. So when he confessed his feelings, I accepted them.We spent three beautiful years together, and I loved him d

Chapter 3

While I was in the hospital for those few days, my best friend, Tonya Lindstrom, came to see me. When she found out that Beck had deliberately set me up and caused my miscarriage, her fury blazed like wildfire. She unleashed a torrent of oaths, cursing his entire family.She asked, "Do you want me to rough him up before you walk away for good?" "No," I replied. "Bruises fade. I want him to live with this!""The worst punishment is to take everything from a man the moment he thinks he's untouchable," Tonya advised. She continued, "You'll return the day after tomorrow and reveal your scars. Make sure he feels every bit of guilt and regret. Help him choose his suits, plan the wedding, and send out the invitations."In short, give him the perfect wedding he's been hoping for. Then, on the day itself, walk away and throw the recording in his face. I guarantee that it will destroy him."I followed Tonya's advice and agreed to Beck's sudden request to move the wedding up. I spent the wh

Chapter 4

Early the next morning, Beck returned with a bag of funnel cakes in hand. He said, "Babe, I brought your favorite breakfast. I stood in line for over an hour to get them."Just like he did in the early days of our relationship, he took one out and tried to feed me. I was tired and hungry, so I didn't refuse.Midway through the meal, the furniture craftsman we had arranged arrived to begin the installation.While Beck stepped away to supervise, I took the chance to unlock his phone. His password was the date we first became a couple.I had trusted Beck completely. His love seemed so real that I never thought to check his phone. But now, the truth struck me like a sudden blow.In a chat labeled "Katie Cuddle Bug", the messages were shockingly explicit. There were bold invitations from the previous night, and a message from just ten minutes ago."Hey, sweetie, I made these funnel cakes myself. They're filled with all my love. You had better eat every last one."The funnel cake slip

Chapter 5

Still, I hadn't anticipated a hitch in my plan.Ten days before the wedding, Emmett called. "Beck's cheating on you," he said flatly.Worried he'd make a scene and derail everything, I agreed to meet him at a café. The moment I sat down, Emmett shoved a thick stack of photos toward me.However, I didn't even look at them. "So? What's your point?" I asked.He blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard. Suddenly, his shock gave way to rage. "You knew he was cheating all along, yet you still chose to marry that worthless loser! Maren, have you lost your mind?"I remained calm as I took a sip of my coffee. "If I don't marry him, are you suggesting I should remarry a mama's boy like you? I've already lost my daughter. Why should I lose everything else, too?"Emmett's confidence crumbled in an instant. "No, please don't say that… Maren, I love you. I haven't been with anyone else in the four years you've been gone. I—"I let out a low, bitter laugh. "Do you guys have some secret sc

Chapter 6

I landed eight hours later. The moment I unlocked my phone, I saw that Beck had flooded my WhatsApp and every social media account with messages.I didn't open any of them. Instead, I played a voice message from Tonya. She told me that Beck's face turned pale the moment his mistress appeared on stage in a wedding dress. He immediately lost his temper, shouting at her to leave before storming home.When he saw the miscarriage report and heard the recording exposing his scheme to "test" my loyalty, he broke down, clutching the torn wedding dress as tears streamed down his face.Overcome with grief, he fainted and was rushed to the hospital.At that moment, a wave of satisfaction surged through me. Beck had broken my heart, so it was only fair that he tasted the same heartbreak.After careful consideration, I decided to block him on all channels. I also asked Tonya to remove any evidence of my departure from the country.…Four years had passed before I returned home again.With s

Chapter 7

Beck had known me for ten years. He understood better than anyone how deeply I hated betrayal.Tears instantly filled his eyes. Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees before me. He took my hand and pressed it against his cheek."Maren, I lost my way for a moment. You can yell at me, hit me—do whatever you need—but please believe me when I say you're the only one I've ever truly loved…"When I remained silent, he swallowed his pain and started slapping himself repeatedly. His face soon became swollen and bruised.Blood dripped slowly from the corner of his mouth, his hair tangled and unruly. Finally, he stopped and lifted his head, meeting my eyes with a desperate, pleading gaze."Maren, I'll give you everything I have. Please come back to me. Life without you is worse than hell…"I stared at him with cold, steady eyes, unmoved by his desperate pleas. As he fell silent, I popped the lid off my coffee and splashed it right on his face."Get lost. This is on you. You don't des

Chapter 8

Henry was preparing to launch a nationwide design exhibition. As one of his most trusted team members, the job naturally fell to me.I rented a spacious penthouse right in the heart of the city.To my surprise, Beck offered the neighbors across from me five times their usual rent to move out. Once they left, he moved in himself.Every morning at 7:00 am, he stood there, waiting outside my door.In one arm, he held a bouquet of fresh roses. In the other, a bag of warm pretzels and sugary donuts.He wore the black V-neck sweater I liked, a faint smile playing on his lips.No matter how late I stayed up working on my designs—even if I just stepped out for a moment to take out the trash—he was always there.The gifts kept coming, each one different from the last. His constant presence was suffocating.Eventually, I lost it. "Beck, enough with the obsessive 'devoted protector' act. I'm not buying it anymore!""Maren, I'm serious. Jealousy took over me, and I was wrong. I hurt you

Chapter 9

The sudden scolding from Beck hit me like a slap, and a wave of injustice rose in my chest.Just as I was about to protest with a frustrated pout, Henry stepped in, steadying me. "If I'm not mistaken, Maren ended things with you. So what right do you have to boss her around now?""Maren?" Beck snarled. "Who the hell gave you the right to address her so casually?"His fists clenched, ready to strike, but Henry stepped in, blocking him without a flinch."Maren's single, and I'm the one who's pursuing her."It's pathetic how you've twisted our relationship into a cheap ploy for attention. If you can diminish the person you claim to love to nothing, it's no surprise that Maren walked away from you."Those final words had lingered in Beck's mind like a relentless curse, tormenting him without mercy for four long years.They dragged him back to that doomed wedding day—the bride who vanished, the torn wedding dress, and the blood-stained miscarriage report...Back then, he kept tellin

Chapter 10

I never expected things to take such a sharp turn.On the day of the exhibition, Henry drove me to the venue. I was in a good mood during the ride, mainly because Beck hadn't shown up. But to my shock, he was already there, waiting at the entrance.As soon as I stepped out of the car, he appeared from behind, holding a large bouquet of roses. Nestled among the petals was a diamond ring.Without saying a single word, he handed over a property transfer agreement, his signature already on the page."I love you, Maren. I'm willing to admit my past mistakes in front of everyone here. I'm offering all my assets as compensation. Please, just give me one more chance," he said earnestly.The exhibition was attended by the most prominent media outlets in Anderville.As the CEO of Wilder Group, Beck's reputation already preceded him. His public display immediately made us the center of attention.Camera shutters snapped like machine guns as over a dozen reporters went live, instantly dra

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