All Chapters of All That Was Lush Is Lost: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

"Mom looks like a freaking ghost! I'm not going out with her! What if she scares someone?" Declan Vaughan yelled at Charlie Vaughan, on the verge of losing it.His words seemed to slam into me, knocking the air right out of my lungs.Charlie reached over and flicked both Declan and Dylan Vaughan on the forehead."I'm the one who failed her. She'll always be my wife, as long as she wants to be," he said."What if she wants to leave?""If she finds out we like Kelly, she'll probably walk away on her own, won't she?"Charlie's expression hardened. "She can't find out. And neither of you is going to tell her. I've made my choice to spend the rest of my life making it up to her. So just let her hold on to what peace she has."Tears spilled down my cheeks as I felt my heart crack wide open. I had to hide somewhere to dull the ache those words had left behind.Back in the bedroom, I spotted a photo album on the nightstand that hadn't been there before. I was drawn to it by something I

Chapter 2

Charlie took my hand, his gaze steady and earnest."Lucia, I can't go with you to the consultation today. The competition results just came in. I've got to take Declan and Dylan to the finals. You know how much this means. You said it yourself."We'll reschedule the appointment, alright? Just take it easy today," he said gently.I looked up at him. His expression was one of complete honesty, but that didn't fool me anymore. I ran a hand over my cheek, the loneliness creeping into my eyes.Still, I didn't look away. I pressed my lips together."Does it have to be today, Charlie?" I asked.It felt like one last chance for both of us to change our minds. Hope still clung to me, faint but stubborn.But Charlie just smiled. He reached up, gently smoothing my hair, his voice firm and resolute."You're the one who said Declan and Dylan's competition mattered more, remember? This could actually change their future. We'll come straight back when it's done. And then, I'm making that crea

Chapter 3

I pressed my lips together, staring at the document Kurt had sent. It was the divorce agreement he'd dug up, all ready to be printed and signed.I was done with Charlie.…The next afternoon, I got a call from the competition organizers. Declan and Dylan had won first place, and I was expected to attend the award ceremony.I hardly ever went out. And if I did, I steered clear of crowds.I stood there for a long time, feeling torn.They'd had so many milestones over the years, and I hadn't been there for any of them. As I was afraid they'd be let down again, I threw on a cap and a mask before stepping outside.…The moment I arrived at the awards hall, I spotted one of the organizers by the entrance. He noticed me right away and started walking over."I was told to come to the award ceremony. My kids are in it—"Before I could finish, he gave me a sharp, suspicious look. His stare made my stomach twist."Which kids are yours? All the parents are already inside. You need to le

Chapter 4

When Charlie's eyes met mine, a chill shot straight through me, but then he slowly recognized me."Lucia? What are you doing out here? Are you following me?" he questioned.I started to answer, but a piercing cry cut through the air."Lucia! I know you're jealous I won first place in the modeling competition, but how could you do this to me? I just wanted to catch up with you!" Kelly shouted. Charlie's expression darkened, and his gaze was cold and unforgiving as they locked on mine."You crossed the line! That first place was always meant for Kelly. You've got no one to blame but yourself for not making it in. What kind of competition would take someone who looks like you? And now your heart's just as twisted!" he defended her.At that moment, it felt like my heart was ripping in two.As my eyes stung with tears, I looked at him. "No one to blame but myself? Charlie, do you even have a heart?"He looked shocked and wouldn't meet my eyes."You—"He started to speak, but Kel

Chapter 5

Charlie had been bustling around the hospital. It wasn't until things finally slowed down that he noticed Declan and Dylan had shown up too.That was when it hit him—I'd gone home alone.Still, he didn't feel even a hint of panic. In his mind, I was easy to win over. He always believed one hug would be enough to make me come right back to him.But when none of his calls went through, he felt his stomach drop. And when he noticed I had blocked him on WhatsApp, he finally realized something was wrong.He grabbed his phone and ran out the door with Declan and Dylan close behind, not bothering to look back.As he drove home, he spotted a hot dog truck parked on the side of the road. That was when he remembered that I'd said that I was craving something with stronger flavors.Without a second thought, he pulled over, ordered two hot dogs, and got back on the road.But the moment he stepped inside the house, he knew something was off. The lights were off, which was strange—they were a

Chapter 6

Charlie knew how much I loved modeling, and yet he still went and blew up my whole career for Kelly.He slapped himself hard, but it didn't do a thing to ease his guilt. He would've kept hitting himself if Tom hadn't stopped him."Get it together, Mr. Vaughan! We've got to deal with the fallout."Tom shook his shoulders hard enough to snap him out of it."Mrs. Vaughan has returned to Gladstone Group and is now serving as CEO of one of its subsidiaries. She came forward with evidence, revealing that the fire back then wasn't an accident. It was arson."She'd been drugged with sleeping pills, which explained why she hadn't been able to escape."Charlie staggered. He seized Tom's arm as his bloodshot eyes burned into him."But wasn't she just the maid's daughter? How the hell could she…" Memories from the past rushed through his mind. "And that fire was supposed to be an accident!"He still couldn't make sense of any of it."Mrs. Vaughan is Raymond Gladstone's youngest daughter.

Chapter 7

The video captured the moments just before the fire. Kelly was holding a match and setting the curtains on fire.They must have been soaked in something, because the second the flame touched them, the whole room went up. And there I was, still slumped over the desk, out cold."Being a Gladstone already makes you lucky, and now you're going for first prize too? Let's see you try! Even if you drop dead, who cares? The Vaughan twins will clean up my mess."I'm taking everything from you. That first prize you wanted? It's mine now. And Charlie, the man you're so hung up on? He's nothing but a loyal mutt who does whatever I say."And you? You'll be watching it all fall apart, completely powerless to stop it!"The video cut off there.Charlie shot Kelly a cold glare as she sat on the bed. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her down to the floor."You bitch!" he snarled.He slapped her repeatedly, each blow fueled by the years she'd lied to him and used him to hurt me.Kelly

Chapter 8

I stared at Mom and Dad, expressionless. I was already halfway out the door in my mind, but then Mom stepped forward and wrapped me in a hug."Lucia, Kurt told us everything. Why didn't you ever come home? We haven't had a moment's peace since we found out what happened to you. We kept thinking about when we'd see you again."We didn't see it before. We thought as long as we raised you and gave you what you needed, that was enough. But now your dad and I truly see how wrong we were," she said.Mom and Dad had tears in their eyes, but I didn't feel a thing.I was born during the worst year of their marriage. So from the start, I was more of a burden than a blessing.Mom and Dad pushed Kurt to pick up every skill under the sun, but when it came to me, they couldn't have cared less. Kurt was the only one who paid me any attention.As soon as I left for college, I moved out and never looked back.I grew up always wishing for the warmth of a real home, thinking that if I ever had kid

Chapter 9

I looked down at Charlie."Tricked, huh? Charlie, you make me sick! My face wouldn't be ruined if it weren't for that solution you gave me! And wasn't it you who threw Maxwell in jail just to get Kelly off the hook?"Now you're acting like the victim just because things didn't go your way? How pathetic! The public's not on your side, so you want me to back you up and clear your name?" I sneered.He scrambled to his feet, still trying to come after me. "Lucia, I know I messed up. I really do. I'll make it right, I swear. Please, don't let this end in divorce!"I rolled my eyes at his pathetic little performance."Spare me. Just looking at you makes me sick. What's the point of your apology now? It's too late. Did you really think a half-assed 'sorry' would magically undo everything? Charlie, why don't you just drop dead?"He staggered like I'd struck him, then slowly sank to his knees.Declan and Dylan suddenly rushed over and threw their arms around my legs, crying and begging m

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP