All Chapters of Bitter Was the Love, Quiet Was the Goodbye: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

When I woke up choking on thick smoke, I instantly realized I had been reborn. My eyes darted around as I looked for Hades Emerson, and sure enough, he was trying to break down a door to save his non-biological niece, Olivia Emerson. "Hades!" I shouted. He looked at me, unhappy, but he didn't stop moving. "You won't be able to talk me out of it. Although Olivia and I aren't related by blood, she sees me as her uncle. "I have to take responsibility for her well-being! You can leave if you want, but I'm not going anywhere. And if you don't intend to help, then don't stay here just to get in the way!"In this life, instead of stopping him, I readily agreed. "Alright."Hades froze, momentarily stunned, but quickly snapped back to his senses and continued trying to break down the door. I didn't hesitate any longer and rushed out of the building. Half an hour later, Hades emerged carrying Olivia in his arms.I noticed sharply that he was limping, and blood was pouring from his

When I returned home, I immediately began sorting through my belongings and mailing them to the school's address where I'd be volunteering. When Hades came back and noticed how empty the house looked, he frowned and asked, "Why is so much stuff missing?"I answered nonchalantly, "Oh, I donated them all to the rural villages.""What do you mean you donated them? We bought all those decorations for our new home, and Olivia handpicked every one of them!"He was clearly upset, but his tone and expression softened as he considered my feelings. "Forget it. You're the lady of the house, so you have the final say."With that, Hades headed into the kitchen. It turned out he had returned home to cook some soup for Olivia. An hour later, he limped out of the kitchen with a small smile. "Here. I made an extra bowl just for you. I shouldn't have lost my temper with you in front of Olivia. I was just so anxious about her injuries. I hope you won't hold it against me."I knew Hades was try

Once the plane landed, I had to travel quite a distance before finally arriving at the school where I was volunteering. The surroundings were simple and basic, but the fresh mountain air helped me relax completely.The next day, I stood inside the drafty classroom and smiled gently at the innocent, slightly dirt-smudged faces gazing back at me.I adapted quickly to the environment. I spent my mornings and afternoons teaching students in three different grades, then came home to cook dinner after work.There was no cafeteria in the school, so if I wanted to buy anything, I had to hike down the mountain to a nearby town.Soon, I got to know the other teachers in my dormitory. Most had signed the minimum three-year commitment and were counting the days until they could return to their hometowns.I was the only one who had signed a ten-year contract. In fact, I was beginning to consider staying permanently.In my second week, a newly arrived volunteer resigned and returned to the c

I took two steps back, putting distance between Olivia, Hades, and me."The two of you can talk it out. I won't be joining you," I said. Just as I turned to leave, I heard Olivia sobbing behind me. "Cassandra, why are you leaving when I just got here? Are you doing this on purpose? I know you're still angry at Hades, but you shouldn't have left without saying a word. "Even if you didn't want to marry him, you could have told him beforehand. Now he's been humiliated in front of his friends and family!"I had no interest in her passive-aggressive remarks, so I shot back, "Didn't I leave my wedding dress for you? Since you're so obsessed with Hades, you should just marry him instead."I've already given you such a golden opportunity, so how could you waste it just like that?"Olivia's eyes brimmed with tears as she began to sob. "Cassandra, how can you slander me like that? There's nothing going on between Hades and me. If I'm the reason you won't come back, then I promise to leav

Hades chose that exact moment to show up. He disguised himself as a farmer delivering vegetables to the school and entered the grounds with two baskets. When he saw all the unopened letters tossed into the fire pit, his eyes instantly turned red. "Cassandra, I poured my heart into those letters. How could you burn them all? Do you really care so little about my feelings?"His words made me laugh. "Hades, you and Olivia are already married. Your feelings for me only disgust me. What's there for me to care about?"He tried to retrieve the charred remains of the letters, but burned his hand in the process. Ashamed, he turned to me and roared, "Cassandra, why are you nitpicking over the fact that I'm married?"I've already said I'll divorce her. Didn't you promise to love me forever? If you love me so much, shouldn't you feel honored and happy now that I've come to find you?"I never thought Hades could be so shameless. How could a person sink so low? I didn't want to continue argu