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Lahat ng Kabanata ng They Celebrated ‘Freedom’ — So Did I: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

10 Kabanata

Chapter 1

Natasha Bates did not get home until two in the morning, and the dinner I had made had gone completely cold. She had just finished meeting up with her guy best friend, Stanley Rogers, and even posted on social media.[True happiness is celebrating Independence Day with your bestie!]She did it on purpose. She knew I had her notifications turned on, so I got the notification the moment she uploaded something.She watched me silently clear away the cold food and said indifferently, "I already told you I wasn't coming home. What's with that expression?"I stayed quiet. She used to say she did not want anything fancy for the holidays, just a homemade meal from me. Nonetheless, that was a long time ago. People would change, and clearly, she had forgotten everything she once said.As the heiress of the Bates family, Natasha had men constantly pursuing her even after our marriage. She had always ruthlessly rejected them all.Yet, Stanley was different. He was her childhood friend and ma

Chapter 2

I swallowed the bitterness in my heart and kept my voice calm. "He's a man who doesn't know how to mind his boundaries with my wife, and I'm supposed to be the one apologizing?"Natasha was incensed, glaring at me as she growled, "First of all, there's nothing between us, and second, Stanley is the young heir of the Rogers family. What gives you the right to offend him?"She demanded, "Now, go apologize immediately!"Her tone was domineering, her eyes cold and distant, carrying that superior attitude she always had.I stared at her angry expression, feeling somewhat dazed. Borned with a silver spoon in the Bates family, she had always been overbearing. Back in college, she was already involved in company affairs, going to business dinners, negotiating deals, and securing contracts.Later, she smoothly inherited the company and became an admirable female CEO. Meanwhile, I was just an orphan who had lost both parents young and was lucky enough to be sponsored by her for my educati

Chapter 3

Natasha and I stared at each other in silence, and the room fell into a deathly quiet.She seemed shocked I would actually bring up divorce. After all, I had once sworn to her I would never leave her.Then again, that was several years ago, when Natasha had just taken over the company and was preparing to land a major project. There were many competitors, and one ruthless company had orchestrated a car accident.When the crash happened, I instinctively threw myself over her to shield her from most of the impact. While we waited for rescue, I was barely breathing and told her, "If I die, you have to forget about me and find someone new to start over with!"She cried and shook her head, making me promise I would never leave her. As long as I did not leave her, she was willing to do anything.It seemed she had long forgotten what she said, and I had broken my promise.Still, I said it. I asked for the divorce.After those words left my mouth, I slowly stood up and walked toward t

Chapter 4

From that day on, Natasha never came home. It felt like she was deliberately giving me the cold shoulder to make me apologize first. Unfortunately for her, I would not cave anymore.A week passed in a blink. One of the senior figures in our social circle, Yosef Schmidt, was throwing a birthday gala, and both Natasha and I received invitations. We were supposed to attend the event together, but since I could not reach her, I had to go alone with a gift in hand.The moment I stepped into the ballroom, I saw Natasha and Stanley dressed in matching outfits. I thought I had moved on, but the sight of it still hurt, and my face instantly turned pale.Stanley had his arm wrapped around Natasha as they danced. He caught my eyes mid-spin and flashed a smug, taunting smile.Everyone in the room recognized the three of us, and the atmosphere shifted instantly. Before long, curious stares and whispers surrounded us. Many looked at me with mocking eyes, as if ridiculing how I had worked so ha

Chapter 5

The next day, I buried the heartbreak deep inside and went to work like nothing had happened.Stanley showed up at my office while Natasha was not there. Without outsiders around, he dropped his act, showing his true self.He sneered, "Nattie doesn't love you anymore, so if you're smart, you'll step aside quickly! Otherwise, getting kicked out later will be far more humiliating."I stared at his smug face without reacting. Natasha once taught me that when dealing with enemies, you had to move like a leopard, calm and calculating. Then, set everything up in the dark before striking with one fatal blow.I had lived by that principle for years. Watching Stanley rant like a fool in front of me only made him look like a clown. He had danced around me for long enough, and it was time to end this."Let's see if you're still smiling after the board meeting," I said coldly, brushing past him and walking out.From behind me, his voice rang out in frustration. "You're just a freeloader with

Chapter 6

"You're back. Go wash up... Dinner's ready," said Natasha as she stood up.Looking at this scene, I felt somewhat dazed. It was as if we had returned to our sweetest times together.At the table, the food tasted like ash in my mouth. When dinner ended, I finally said, "Let's find a time to go to the courthouse and get the divorce finalized."Natasha was carrying plates to the kitchen when she froze. The plate slipped from her hands and shattered on the floor.She quietly swept up the pieces, then forced a smile and said, "You already kicked Stanley out of the company, and I'm no longer the chairwoman. I'm not going back to the office anymore. I'll stay home with Ollie and focus on being there for him."Let's just forget everything and move on."She continued, "I know I messed up, Kieran. Can we please not divorce?"Without waiting for my response, she went on, "It's been so long since we went out together. Why don't the three of us take a little trip to the countryside this week

Chapter 7

Clinging to the last bit of hope, Ollie and I waited all day and night in the small yard of the farm resort.It was not until the next morning that Natasha finally called. She said, "Stanley's injuries are worse than I thought. He can't be alone right now. Just wait a little longer…"I listened to her explanation in silence, then quietly hung up the phone.Stanley might be younger than us, but he was nonetheless a grown man. Besides, he had a family of his own.If something really happened, why did he call Natasha instead of them?Everyone could see exactly what was going on, yet Natasha was still enabling him.I never should have had any expectations of her. I was deeply mistaken.Nonetheless, I had truly let go this time.I had given her so many chances, and she had not taken any of them. No point in trying to hold onto a woman whose heart was not here anymore.I did not return to the house I had carefully decorated for us. Instead, I took Ollie to a newly purchased apartmen

Chapter 8

I mailed the divorce papers to Natasha, but she did not sign them.After a month of back and forth, I finally went to see her. She was much thinner and did not look like she had been doing well. It was as if she had been having a rough time.I said, "Just sign them already. There's no point dragging this out!"You know how I am. Once I've decided on something, I don't change my mind. I didn't take a single thing that wasn't mine. None of the post-marriage assets I wasn't entitled to."Natasha appeared exhausted and pale. She stared blankly at the divorce papers in front of her for a while before saying bitterly, "I'll sign them, but I have one condition.""What is it?" I asked, looking straight into her eyes. "Move back into the house and live with me for one more month. Let's go back to how things were, just for that month."I was taken aback by the request. After a brief silence, I gave a quiet nod. "As you wish." I moved back to the old home with Ollie, and our family of t

Chapter 9

Back at our old house, I lay alone on the big bed, feeling a wave of coldness I had never experienced before. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Natasha's gentle silhouette and caring gaze from that final month together.She clung to my thoughts like a shadow I could not shake. I could not sleep at all.I stared at the dark ceiling, silently wondering, 'Is this your final act of revenge? You knew I still loved you. So even in your exit, you had to leave a mark I'd never forget!'I stayed awake until dawn. The next day, I went to work as usual.I called a moving company to transfer Ollie's and my belongings to another house. I had originally wanted to sell our marital home to avoid the painful reminders, but I hesitated just as I was about to list it with a realtor.'Keep it…' I thought.After moving to the new place with Ollie, I gradually adapted to single life. It was just a bit lonely, nothing more. Fortunately, I had Ollie with me, keeping me from feeling too isolated.Befor

Chapter 10

I did not even remember how I made it home.The living room felt unbearably empty, and I stared at the urn sitting on the coffee table, still unable to accept it.I mumbled, "Nattie's dead? How's that possible..."I would rather she lived happily abroad with Stanley than see her contained in this small urn.I sat numbly in the room all night. Finally, I found the courage to open the envelope and insert the DVD into my computer.Her figure appeared on the screen. She was wearing a blue and white hospital gown, looking awfully thin.She was sitting in a wheelchair and murmuring to herself, "Kieran should've gotten over the heartbreak by now, right? He's always been responsible. With Ollie by his side, even if the pain hit hard at first, I know he's already picked himself up and moved forward."He'll be just fine without me. He and Ollie can still live a good life. But I miss him so much. I really wish I could go back and see him one more time."But I can't. I can't let him know t

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