All Chapters of Panicking Over His Newfound Freedom: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

I received a message that read, "You mean it?"A happy emoji followed the text, but I locked my phone. For now, I had no plans to reply to the sender.The laughter in the living room did not stop. "If Elena aborts the baby, you can drive my new car for three months!""Only three? I say a whole year!""You're on!"The voices rose to a clamor, and everyone in the living room began to cheer on the bet.I returned to the room and frantically packed my stuff, taking everything I saw and shoving it into the suitcase. It wasn't until my calf bumped into the corner of the table that a sob escaped me.Hayden Baxter fell for Lola Dunbar, a woman seven years his junior. He bought her a house and a car, and took her on fabulous holidays around the world.However, Lola refused to even let him hold her hand. She brandished her talent for waterworks and whined, "You're married. I can't do this to Elena!"Hayden's heart had cracked at her tantrum, and he immediately returned home to divorce m

Chapter 2

I did not head over to the new place Hayden arranged for me, and instead returned to the old neighborhood I lived in before I married him. As I breathed in the familiar scent of my past, I found myself reminiscing on the days when I first met Hayden.I'd been an orphan since I was young, and a lady I'd never met remotely sponsored my upkeep. When she found out I'd moved into the abode she'd bought in an old neighborhood and successfully got into college, she cut off all contact with me.One winter, Hayden and his family happened to move into the unit below mine. He'd loved coming up to my place and seeking out my company.When he found out I loved roasted chestnuts, he'd show up outside my door with a paper bag of piping hot, roasted chestnuts and knock on the metal grille until it rattled. I'd open the door and see his bright smile behind the subtle steam from the chestnuts.Hayden would squeeze past me through the door and peel a chestnut. After that, he'd blow on it to cool it.

Chapter 3

Since that day, Julian had become considerably chattier. When we were in high school, I never thought that he would be so capable of being a chatterbox. Every day, he'd ask me what I was doing, what I was eating, and send me cute stickers of puppy-eyed characters to tell me that he missed me.Life didn't seem so lonely anymore with Julian in it.Three days passed before Hayden sent me a picture. From the looks of it, he'd gone home to have a meal with his parents. He said, "Hey, honey, it's been two days since we last saw each other. Why haven't you called me? How's the new place? Have you been losing sleep because I wasn't there to hold you?"If I weren't mistaken, the fair, slender arm that somehow made it into Hayden's picture belonged to Lola.I did not mince words with my reply. "You and Lola seem to be having a great time.""She insisted on tagging along. It's not like I had a choice. But my parents like her and find her charming. I should have her show you a trick or two

Chapter 4

After I'd sat in Julian's car for what felt like ages, I finally came to my senses.Julian was quiet beside me. I mutely lifted my gaze to him, only to see that his left cheek was slightly swollen. Wincing in embarrassment and guilt, I asked, "Are you okay?"The man who had been staring out the window suddenly turned toward me, looking aggrieved. "No, my face hurts!"So, I'd hit him after all. I caught the wide-eyed shock that flickered over the driver's face, but as if eager to avoid looking at me and Julian, he fixed his eyes on the road ahead. I bet the driver had a lot to say about me and Julian.Julian was a little disgruntled as he turned my face toward him. "Eyes over here, Elena.""Okay." We held each other's gaze for a long moment before I broke the silence. "I'm sorry… I didn't know what came over me. I didn't mean to lash out at you."Sympathy welled up in Julian's eyes. He stroked my hair and said, "It was my fault. I remembered that you loved roasted chestnuts in hig

Chapter 5

It had been exactly a minute since Julian left my side when Mr. Sawyer grabbed me by my wrist. I was so terrified that I began to panic and struggle, shouting furiously, "Let go of me!""No can do, Elena. You're worth riches right now! I have to call Hayden and have him come get you so I can get my reward!"With that, Mr. Sawyer dragged me to the lounge next door while he dialed Hayden's number. "Hey, man, I've got Elena here with me! I guarantee you it's the real deal! Here, say something to Hayden!"Mr. Sawyer pressed the phone into my hands while he paced around the lounge excitedly. I glanced at Hayden's enlarged face on the phone screen and tossed the phone aside out of fear. My breathing grew quick and shallow."Elena Crawford! Pick up the phone right now! You neither answered my calls nor came home! Where are you now? Tell me!" Hayden demanded.My voice trembled as I said, "H-Hayden… We're divorced anyway. Can't we just part ways for good?"Hayden was silent on the other e

Chapter 6

Upon returning home, Julian took care of John and pulled a few stunts to annihilate the entire Sawyer family. John ended up serving a life sentence.After the incident, Julian wouldn't let me out of his sight and insisted on taking me everywhere he went. Sometimes, he was so paranoid and dramatic that he expected me to follow him into the bathroom.I eyed him with mild exasperation and pointed out, "Even couples have boundaries, you know."He took my hand and pressed it against his sculpted chest. The strong column of his throat bobbed as he said, "I'd like you to cross mine."Rendered speechless, I drew my hand back and slammed the door in his face. After that, I bolted into the kitchen and splashed ice-cold water on my face to cool my heated cheeks. Julian was becoming more of a rogue each day, but I still wasn't ready to take things to the next level!While waiting for Julian to emerge from the bathroom, I tapped into my Instagram account. It had been some time since I last che

Chapter 7

I had become an excuse for Hayden to dump Lola, only for him to show up at the dinner party with another woman on his arm. It made me sick.I linked arms with Julian and entered the dinner hall with him. I couldn't shake the feeling that someone's leering gaze was burning holes into the back of my head wherever I walked, and this continued until the owner of said leering gaze approached me.He clinked glasses with me. "My, what a familiar face. You look just like my wife, who ran away."I didn't want to speak to Hayden, lest I retch in disgust. When I ignored him and tried to leave, he gripped my wrist. "Where are you hurrying off to? Did you choose to come here so you can play hard to get with me?"I cut him an icy look. "I don't know what you're talking about, Hayden.""For all that temper, you still showed up as promised." Hayden pulled up a conversation on his phone and showed it to me. "See? This is your number, right?"I'd been so busy learning the ropes at work and taking

Chapter 8

The crowd went still. After all, none of them had expected Julian to have quietly gotten married, and to an unheard-of woman like me, no less!Hayden's smile began to slip. "You must be joking, Mr. Langley—"I cut him off in a steely tone, "Hayden, we're divorced. I never thought any of this was a game. The hurt you caused me was real. We're over, and there's no way we're getting back together, you hear me? Leave me alone. You're getting on my nerves."Julian wrapped his arm around my shoulders and led me toward the lounge. "Sorry, but my wife's feeling unwell. Please excuse us."With that, he paid no mind to the others around him and led me out of the hall.My hands were still shaking when we returned to the room we'd booked. I glanced at Julain, who was nearby taking water for me from the cooler. I sheepishly asked, "Did you think I was rude for interrupting you like a child when you were in the middle of a conversation?"Julian handed me the cup of water and waited until I'd d

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