Chapter 1

A chuckle came through the other side of the phone. I could hear Samantha Thompson's voice, crisp and cheerful."I'm so sorry, Ellena. My heart is acting up again, and Theo insisted I stay in the hospital for a few more days out of worry. Once we're back, I'll make sure he apologizes to you."I didn't respond and simply listened to Theodore Stewart's indifferent voice."You're just too soft-hearted. You won't even realize it when people walk all over you. Don't take it too seriously, Ellena. Sammy has always had poor health. As for the marriage registration today, we'll talk about it next time."Not that he forgot about our marriage registration today. He simply chose not to even text me because he was too busy accompanying the one he truly cared about.In the past, I would have already broken down. I would have begged Theodore for an explanation in hysterics.But now? I simply felt calm.I coolly said, "It's fine. I'm hanging up now."Theodore thought I'd finally learned to re

Chapter 2

I asked the maid to prepare breakfast for me. Then, while eating, I started my visa application online.Once everything was sorted, I subconsciously tapped open Samantha's Facebook page again.She had posted two new updates.The first one read, [You drove straight over as soon as I said I wasn't feeling well! I'm so lucky to have met you! You really love me! I love you too!]The photo was of Theodore taken from the side as he held Samantha's hand tightly, as if he was worried she would leave him soon.I suddenly remembered that a few years ago, I would practice the piano through the night and even forgot to eat because of work. The stomach ache was so bad that I couldn't even stand up straight. I dragged myself to the sofa before pleading with him, "Theo, can you take me to the hospital? My stomach hurts."He didn't even glance at me as he was busy gaming. "Can you stop making a scene? How bad can it be? Just drink some water."In the end, I called for the ambulance myself becau

Chapter 3

The moment I stepped out of the arrival terminal at the airport, my senior Leene gave me a big, warm hug.She joyfully clapped my shoulder and said, "Everyone's been waiting for you! You've turned us down for so many years, and now you're finally back!"I knew she meant the members of the band.I sobbed, and I couldn't help but bury my face in Leene's shoulder. I whispered, "Thankfully, I'm back.""That's all that matters now."In the beginning, I had many friends in the band. But thanks to Theodore's subtle and overt influence, we gradually drifted apart. In the end, I was locked in a gilded cage called family, and my social ties were almost completely severed. My world had revolved around Theodore alone.After Leene took me back, all the band members were thrilled and congratulated me for finally ditching that sorry excuse of a man. All of them hated how prideful and holier-than-thou Theodore was all those years ago.That evening, all of them threw a big welcoming party to cel

Chapter 4

Ever since I made that call, my life had been turned upside down again.When Theodore couldn't reach me, he began to harass everyone who could contact me and made them harass me instead. They would keep on asking me when I would go back to marry him.Even Leene had been harassed as Theodore asked her where I was, to the point that she was so furious that she scolded both him and Samantha before blocking them.Leene clapped my shoulder and said, "That sorry excuse of a man only remembers how good you are after losing you! Let me arrange a bodyguard for you. It will be bad if he kidnaps you back instead."I gave Leene a look and then looked at her younger brother, standing at 6 feet 3 inches, towering in front of me. Leon Smith said confidently, "Don't worry, Ellena. I've learned some mixed martial arts. You can count on me!"I looked at my new bodyguard and wasn't sure if I should laugh or be upset about it. "I don't think it'll come to that, since we live in a civilized society af

Chapter 5

I called the police and got rid of Theodore for trespassing. Even as the police took him away, he screamed hysterically, "I'll be back, Elle! Just you wait! We're meant to be together! Didn't we promise to get married?!"I shouted back, "I'm telling you this the last time! We have no future! It's impossible between us! I'll never marry you! So stop harassing me!"But I never expected with how brutal I was, he still wouldn't let go.One month later was my first public performance.I had poured my blood and sweat into the preparation for an entire month, practically living in the practice room. Luckily, I wasn't alone. Leon had been by my side the whole way as my most devoted audience.I would remember Theodore sometimes, but since he did nothing, I was wondering if he was going to prepare something huge.Before going on stage, I felt a little nervous as I stood there in my gown.It had been years since I last performed. I wonder if I could still perform well."Good luck!" Leon c

Chapter 6

Murmurs began to spread among the audience, yet Theodore remained kneeling, trying to force me into giving in.Leene and I immediately apologized to the audience before having security drag him off the stage."Are you done?!" I said as I glared at him furiously. "Must you ruin me before you're satisfied?"Theodore tried to slip the diamond ring onto my finger in a panic. "I'm not… I didn't mean to. Elle, please don't refuse me."Leene shoved him away. "Stop the act. You wasted a decade of Elle's life while you're still involved with Samantha. What right do you have to ask her to forgive and marry you?"The ring dropped to the ground and rolled in a circle. I simply gave Theodore a cold stare. He almost ruined my first performance!Theodore quickly knelt to pick the ring up before apologizing, "It's all my fault. It's my entire fault. I've never thought about your feelings…"Then he crawled to me and grabbed my hand, trying to smack himself with it. "If you're that angry, just hi

Chapter 7

Neither Theodore nor Samantha were good people, and the netizens tore them apart while calling them a scumbag and home wrecker, and how they deserved each other.Meanwhile, many of Steward Corporation's business partners believed Theodore's character to be questionable as he abandoned the woman who had stayed with him for a decade and ended their cooperation.Everything crumbled, and Steward Corporation was in chaos. I heard Theodore was busy fixing things and trying to hold everything together.However, Theodore still tried to paint himself as a victim as well and revealed to all the netizens that Samantha's heart condition had already been treated abroad! He was simply deceived when she came back to the country and used it to appeal to his sympathy.Then Theodore tagged me on Facebook using the company's official account. [You're the love of my life, @Ellena Brook! You're also the only wife the CEO of Stewart Corporation will ever have! Please marry me!]I sneered as I treated a

All Chapters of Giving Up After the 100th Time: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7