Chapter 1

...The reply came quickly. "What? You're calling me to play plumber?"After a beat, his tone turned playful. "You're not pulling my leg, are you? That's fine. I'm booking a flight back in two days to fix your pipe.""I'll hold you to it," I grinned, hanging up the phone and glancing at the clock.The minute hand settled on 12. The anniversary passed in quiet solitude.My phone buzzed with a call from my husband, Daniel Knapp.I answered, my face blank."It's late," he whispered. "I'm crashing elsewhere tonight. Happy anniversary!"His voice was thick with desire, underscored by Vivian Duffy's exaggerated moans in the background, loud enough for me to hear every syllable."Slow down!" she whined. "By the way, isn't today your anniversary with Jesse? Tell her I said happy anniversary."I let out a bitter chuckle, the absurdity stinging.The call ended, leaving me alone in the hollow house. The decorations I'd spent the afternoon arranging mocked me, as empty as our marriage h

Chapter 2

"The kid will call you Mom, too," Daniel went on. "Vivian wants no title. Just take care of her, and you'll still be the hostess of the house."I stared at Vivian's flat belly, a glaring testament to Daniel's betrayal. Yet he expected me to play nanny.Vivian puffed out her belly, almost gloating. "Don't be jealous, Jesse. A baby in the house brings luck. Maybe when they're born, you'll have one, too."I met Daniel's gaze, memories flooding back. Countless times, I'd broached the idea of having kids, only to be met with his dismissal. "Kids would disrupt our lives. It's not the right time yet."I'd let go of that dream, even lying to my dying mother to cover for him, claiming I didn't want children.I had been such a fool.It wasn't that he hated kids. He just didn't want them with me.The truth of love, or its absence, was painfully evident....Daniel led Vivian to the master bedroom, where she sprawled on my bed and under my quilt.Her cloying rose perfume saturated the ai

Chapter 3

Daniel sank back, sneering, "Just her petty tricks. If she wants to play victim, let her."Pain seared like ants devouring my flesh. I poured cold water over the burn, biting back screams.Daniel was unmoved. The man who had once panicked over a paper cut on my finger was gone, replaced by a stranger....I limped out of the kitchen and placed the bisque on the table.Vivian beamed triumphantly. "Thanks for cooking through all that pain for me and the baby. Daniel, let's dig in."Ignoring their cozy display, I hobbled to the guest room, agony pulsing with each step, and searched for the medical kit.Daniel burst in, holding it. He frowned at my blistered, bruised leg. "Sit. I'll treat it."I tried to refuse, but he pressed me down on the bed, his touch surprisingly gentle as he applied ointment.His eyes flickered with concern, but he had caused this pain, giving me hope only to crush it again.The pitiful act now felt hollow.I gritted my teeth, fighting tears as the pain p

Chapter 4

Daniel branded me a liar and a viper.Words of defense died in my throat as I knew he wouldn't believe me, no matter what.To him, my voice was just noise.I stayed silent, but it only confirmed his verdict.A doctor emerged. "Ms. Duffy lost too much blood. The blood bank is low."Daniel nodded, pointing at me. "Use hers. She caused this, and she pays the price. Drain her if you have to."I thrashed, but the guards pinned me down.My blood flowed through tubes to Vivian, my lips paling as dizziness set in.The doctor signaled enough, but Daniel waved him off.Before I blacked out, I saw him kiss Vivian's forehead so tenderly, as if she were his soulmate....I came to at night, discarded on a bench.Pain was still radiating through me. The IV needle dangled from my arm, blood pooling on the floor.Gritting through pain, I yanked it out and limped home.Daniel and Vivian were already there. He pushed her wheelchair, her face pale but smug.She hadn't miscarried, but she n

Chapter 5

...Daniel sped through red lights, rushing Vivian to the hospital.Relief should've come, but his chest felt hollow.Unbidden, my despairing gaze haunted him. It was the same look I had shown when my abusive father beat me.He'd vowed to erase my pain, yet he'd failed.Frantic, he dialed my number, but it went to voicemail. He then called his bodyguard, who reported that I had left.Relieved, he assumed I was just pissed because he hadn't saved me first.A doctor emerged, telling him that Vivian had woken up.Daniel set down his phone, abandoning the thought of having his bodyguards search for me. He believed I would be back in a few days.He walked to her bedside, but staring at her face, he couldn't help but think of me.He shook his head, trying to shake off the distracting thoughts.Vivian weakly opened her eyes, but panic set in. "The baby!"He dropped a kiss on her forehead and stroked her belly. "Safe. Don't worry."Her face twisted with grievance. "I was so scared

Chapter 6

Daniel imagined my despair, thinking of his slap, the burn on my leg, the blood drawing, and the fire.Each moment replayed relentlessly in his mind. He collapsed, tears streaming down his face.At the noise, Vivian and the doctor rushed out, only to see a burning fury on Daniel's face."Daniel, I can explain," Vivian stammered. "It's not what you think."A cold glare was all his response.That night, the two people were taken away by debt collectors, but no relief came.Daniel scoured the city for me, but to no avail. I had vanished into thin air.Years ago, I had told him, "Daniel, cherish me. If you stop loving me one day, I will leave and disappear from your world forever."Not heeding my warning, he had pushed me away with his own hands....I woke up in a hospital in Syleastan, my hands bandaged.I couldn't help but recall the fire's aftermath. When doom was certain, a familiar figure saved me.I looked around and saw a head resting on the edge of the bed.I reached

Chapter 7

I stared at Daniel silently, then shook my head firmly.For seven years, I'd waited for him to choose me over Vivian. My hope had turned to ash.My heart, once wild for him, was dead.As I turned to leave, he grabbed me and bowed his proud head."Jesse, forgive me," he pleaded. "I love you. I can't live without you."I tilted my head, watching his waterworks.He sounded so desperate, as if I were the love of his life, but in the face of life and death, he had abandoned me.This reborn life was for me and those who truly cared.I shook off his grip. "But I don't love you anymore."His eyes burned with jealousy as I took Enzo's hand. "Meet my husband, Enzo Larsen."Before Enzo could respond, I pulled him closer and kissed him deeply.Daniel shook his head in disbelief. "No, you're just doing this to spite me. He is an actor, isn't he? You loved me so much before. Even though I hurt you, you never left."He rambled about our past, but it only amused me now.At a glimpse of En

All Chapters of Love Fades at Dusk: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7