Semua Bab Betrayed by One CEO, Married to Another: Bab 11 - Bab 20

Sigmund snapped back to his senses. What was he even thinking? Emily was the woman he’d chosen.How could Michelle ever compare to her?“I was just thinking about how to tell Michelle the truth. Once she’s back, I’ll make everything clear to her. Then I’ll start preparing for our wedding.”He reached out to wipe away Emily’s tears, his voice softening. “Why are you crying again? How many times do I have to tell you, Emily? You’re the only one I love. Every other woman has just been a compromise.”This was the woman he’d waited three long years to come back.How could he let her feel hurt or insecure now?In the days that followed, Sigmund and Emily were inseparable. They held each other, kissed, and went on dates.It was as if time had rewound, taking them back to the early, perfect years of their love.Sigmund personally cooked her every meal, remembering her exact preferences even after all those years apart. He carefully tended to her wounds, carried her up and down the stairs,

Sigmund drove through the night, scouring every place Michelle might have gone.He searched the bars she liked, her favorite restaurants, and the little cafés she used to frequent, but she was nowhere to be found. There was not a single trace of her.He finally tracked down the real estate agent who’d handled the sale of the house. The man spoke nervously, avoiding Sigmund’s gaze. “Miss Lowe listed the property more than two weeks ago. She seemed in a hurry to sell and let it go for a low price. “After she signed the papers, she handed everything over to me and... I never saw her again.”Michelle had bought the house for him. She’d once told him that no matter how bad things got, she would never sell it because it held all their memories.And yet, she sold it. The home they’d shared for three years was gone, just like her.Sigmund didn’t sleep a wink that night. When dawn came, he drove straight to the Lowe residence, only to find it empty. Even her father was gone.Then he reme

A violent shudder ran through Sigmund’s chest.She knew who he really was?Then… did Michelle know, too?Her friend’s eyes burned with contempt as she looked at him.“Don’t think you can get her whereabouts out of me. Truth is, I don’t know where she went, but wherever it is, it’s better than being anywhere near you. “You lied to her for three years. Feel proud of yourself? Watching the woman who loved you fall apart while you stood by and did nothing? What kind of man does that make you?”Her words hit like bullets, sharp and unrelenting.“But it doesn’t matter now,” she went on coldly. “Michelle has her own path to walk. She’s gone for good, and you’ll never find her.”Sigmund’s nerves snapped tight; his blood boiled. He kicked over the trash can beside him, sending debris flying, but no one even looked his way.Her friend came back out moments later, carrying a small paper bag, and dumped the contents over his head.“These were the things she left behind her last night here. Junk

“Sigmund, I heard something... about who Michelle’s arranged fiancé is. Word is... it’s someone from the Shaw family of Westbridge.”Finally, someone couldn’t hold back and revealed the rumor he’d just heard.Sigmund’s face instantly darkened.Among the Shaws in Westbridge, the only eligible man was Nathan Shaw.“Sigmund, it’s not too late. If you really love her, go after her. Honestly, Michelle’s not that bad. At least she gave you everything she had...”...Westbridge.In fact, Michelle last saw Nathan five years ago.After being picked up at the airport by the Shaw family, she was left waiting in the hotel for three whole days. She knew she had no leverage in this arrangement; the Shaws agreeing to the marriage was already a concession.Still, Michelle didn’t mind the quiet. After all, this wasn’t a marriage she had chosen. If there’d been any other way out, she would never have agreed to put a price tag on herself.Her friend called. “Michelle, how’s it going there? Are they tr

When Michelle’s burn had mostly healed, Nathan began taking her to meet his friends from the circle.He took her out for meals, shopping, and movies; sometimes they went for quiet walks and talked about work, but he never once mentioned what happened five years ago.She noticed how much he’d changed, yet deep down she was constantly on edge, afraid that when he grew tired of the act, they’d go back to the cold distance they once had.One night, just as Michelle was about to fall asleep, she received a call from an unknown number.“Michelle, you’d better come pick Nathan up. He’s drunk and won’t stop making a scene.”When she arrived, Nathan was leaning against the window, smoking one cigarette after another.One of his friends pulled her aside and whispered, “He’s like this every year on this day—drunk out of his mind. “No one knows why, he never talks about it. My guess is this date means something to him. He already threw up once, not sure he’s even sober now.”Michelle nodded and t