All Chapters of Love That Drifted Away: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

My mind went blank in an instant.I stared at Gina Hall, the daughter I'd poured my heart into. Cameras flashed, capturing my humiliation.Finally, I found my voice. "Do you have to ruin me like this?"Plagiarism was the greatest stain on any designer's career. Now I was accused of it, and the one making the accusation was my daughter.This was something we had made together. She had watched me painstakingly work on it.She'd only spoken to Veronica Kelley briefly before the ceremony. That was all it took for her to slander me before the whole design world.Julia Russo, my mentor and the award presenter, eyed me with scrutiny. The trophy I'd dreamed of was within reach.I forced a smile, reaching out my hand. "Thank you, Julia."Her expression froze, and she stepped back, leaving my hand hanging in mid-air.A chill spread through me, and my lips started to tremble."You're a thief!" Gina screamed. "I don't have a mother like you."She pushed me and collapsed, sobbing. "My te

Chapter 2

I woke up alone in the hospital.The doctor frowned. "Mrs. Hall, you're pregnant, but it's unstable. We couldn't reach your husband. Someone needs to sign the papers now."I placed my hand on my abdomen. Tears of pain rolled down my cheeks.The child had come at the wrong time.I started, "Doctor, the baby..."Just then, Jeff entered with Gina.Jeff's stern expression suggested his bad mood, but he softened slightly at my pallor."This is your fault, Ingrid," he sighed. "Apologize to Veronica, and I'll convince her not to sue."The doctor sensed the tension and quietly left.I remained silent, distraught over the baby's fate. When I didn't respond, Jeff's voice rose. "Ingrid! Even kids know to own their mistakes. Why don't you?"He adjusted his glasses, his gaze cold as he pinched the corner of his eyes. "Coming from a small mountain village, you really are petty.""What did you say?" I was stunned. "You jerk!"I was so angry that my abdomen ached, and cold sweat dripped do

Chapter 3

"Was it you?" I asked, knowing the answer.Pain gripped my abdomen, and I felt the baby slipping away."Dad, I'm scared," Gina cried, wrinkling her nose. "Mom is so mean. I don't like her. Veronica is waiting. Let's go."Jeff went over to comfort her. Then he shot me a disapproving look. "Why take it out on her? If it were yours, how could Veronica have the patent?"At the awards ceremony, I had planned to wear this necklace and praise Gina's creativity, but she had betrayed me and ruined it.Now I was desperate to know what had driven her to help Veronica frame me."What did I teach you?" I got out of bed, the discomfort in my abdomen making me gasp, but I forced myself to squat in front of Gina.Her tearful face softened me. I tried to persuade myself that maybe Veronica had deceived her. She was just too young to understand the adult world."Tell your dad that we made this necklace together," I pleaded, staring at her. "Okay?"She pushed me away, screaming, and threw hersel

Chapter 4

"Veronica, let's go home together!" Gina exclaimed.Desperate, I rushed up to them. "Wait!"But then, the pain hit me again.I frowned and pressed my hand to my abdomen. "Veronica, they say you have a patent for that necklace. Show it to me!"I clenched my fists and stood tall, unwilling to show any sign of weakness in front of her."You're still messing around!" Jeff shielded her. "Is there any point in arguing now? Do you think Veronica would risk her career just to frame you? Come on. Not everyone is as selfish as you."I leaned against the wall, smiling bitterly. To him, Veronica was perfect, while I was vile.Ignoring them, I stared at Veronica and insisted, "Show it to me!""Enough!" Jeff snapped, his patience gone.The harshness in his voice pricked me. My heart felt cold, exhausted.My daughter helped Veronica set me up, and my husband also scolded me for her. The betrayal hurt me deeply.Veronica chuckled, her voice crisp. "Chill, Jeff. Ingrid is just awake from her

Chapter 5

Jeff took a step back. "I'll come see you tomorrow. Take the time to cool off."They walked away, leaving me without any help.The little life slowly drained from me. By the time the doctor on duty found me, it was too late.The embryo slipped away, and so did my love for Jeff.Gina's betrayal still stung, but it no longer mattered to me. I didn't want to give anything more to them.The next morning, I dragged myself home.As expected, no one was there.I silently changed out of the blood-soaked dress, removed the necklace from my neck, and placed it on the table in the living room.Tears welled up in my eyes, but I blinked them back, looking up at the sky.Girls from the mountains shed blood, not tears.Years ago, Jeff's family asked if I'd leave with him. I chose him, leaving my village.They supported me through school and college. After graduation, I naturally became a designer and married Jeff.In those three years, I suffered a lot before I got pregnant and gave birth

Chapter 6

Panic rose in Jeff. It felt like a dull knife sliding through his chest.It was not fatal but painful.A pregnant woman sat by the flowerbed, caressing her abdomen with a loving smile. Her husband stood nearby, fanning her carefully.The scene reminded Jeff of when I gave birth to Gina. The situation had been dire.It was hard for me to conceive, so we tried it many times. The delivery had been difficult, and I had almost died on the operating table.After that, he made up his mind. Gina would be our only child.His phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. Thinking it was his assistant, he quickly answered, "Did you find anything?"What came from the other end was Gina's voice. "Dad, I'm home. Are you and Mom coming back?"Jeff felt a wave of unspoken disappointment. He suppressed it and replied, "Almost. Go play house with the nanny for a while. We'll be home soon."Hanging up, he pulled out a cigarette and lit it. The long-missed taste of nicotine helped him relax."Why is th

Chapter 7

Jeff sped home, hoping that it was all just a bad dream and that I was still waiting for him to come back.The rims of his eyes reddened. He pounded the steering wheel. "Ingrid, let me make this right."If he had known about this, he wouldn't have left me alone in the hospital.Just as he was about to get home, his assistant called. "Sir, we couldn't find Mrs. Hall anywhere, but we've figured out the case with Miss Kelley."Jeff rasped impatiently, "What's with the rambling? Get to the point!""The patent images that Miss Kelley asked us to skip ahead on seem like the necklace Mrs. Hall was wearing yesterday," stammered the assistant.He had been there yesterday to witness everything.I didn't have a lot of works, while Veronica, backed by Jeff's wealth, churned out a new patent every week. So, he had naturally assumed it was Veronica's creation."I see," Jeff said calmly instead of losing his temper.He realized he had wronged me, deciding to make it up to me. He believed I w

Chapter 8

Jeff's lips trembled, and his face turned pale."It's my fault," he muttered.Veronica felt the subtle change in his attitude. She asked tentatively, "Jeff, what's wrong?"Jeff removed his glasses and stared her down. "Why did you frame Ingrid?"Veronica was taken aback, but she wouldn't admit it. "I didn't. I've applied for a patent. Legally, it's mine."Jeff laughed bitterly, slamming his fist down on a display case.Veronica and Gina jumped. "What are you doing?""Get out!" Jeff roared, pointing at them. "Both of you!"Gina snuffled. "Dad, I'll behave. Please, don't do this."Veronica had always been pampered by Jeff, so she couldn't stand being treated this way."What's the use of you being mad at us?" she shouted defiantly. "Ingrid miscarried because of you!"Feeling Jeff's cold stare, she quickly covered her mouth."So, you knew about it all along?" he growled. "You played me! It makes you feel so good to see me like a fool, doesn't it?"Now that everything was laid

Chapter 9

Karl fumbled for the right words. "Anyway, it's not your fault."He grabbed my hand and looked at me seriously. "I'm sorry for your suffering. I've been waiting for you to come back."His sincerity touched me, and my nose started to tingle.If I hadn't met Jeff and gotten support from the Hall family, I would have been with Karl now.But I'd been through too much. I didn't want to hurt Karl. "I'm sorry. I can't accept that."Karl lowered his head. "It's okay. You'll see my sincerity."Suddenly, a cold voice cut through. "What are you doing there?"I looked up and saw Jeff standing there with a dark expression. His air was out of place in the mountain village.Gina stood next to him, her face pale from the mountain trek."Mom, we finally found you," she cried, running toward me.Before I could react, Karl stepped in front of me. "Who are you? What do you want with Gigi?""Gigi?" Jeff muttered, scoffing, "What a bumpkin! Ingrid is such a beautiful name, and you call her someth

Chapter 10

Jeff wasn't a good-natured man. If he were, he wouldn't have been able to control the Hall family.He snapped, "Step aside! Or you'll never work in Valeaonport again!"Karl didn't budge. "Even if I end up farming at home, I won't let Gigi suffer anymore."Inside, I leaned against the door frame, touched by his words.I had been married to Jeff for a long time, and we had a daughter, but our relationship had only grown distant.Veronica had stirred things up countless times, and he had always taken her side. For the sake of Gina and our love, I had endured it all.Now, such direct, passionate words were long lost, and they melted my heart."Ingrid won't be farming with you," Jeff scoffed, "She is my wife and will be the top socialite in Valeaonport.""A top socialite who steals your mistress's necklace?" Karl shot back.Jeff's bravado shattered. He shouted in panic, "No, it's not like that. Ingrid, I'm sorry for wronging you."He grabbed Gina. "Quick, apologize to your mother.

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