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Home / Romance / No Longer Theirs: The One They Can't Replace / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of No Longer Theirs: The One They Can't Replace: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

434 Chapters

Chapter 1

Winter Everhart lay weakly on the bed, feeling the cold probe glide over her aching lower abdomen. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Is… Is the baby still around?""It's a threatened miscarriage. I'm sorry, but the baby didn't make it," the doctor said with a regretful sigh.Winter clutched the bedsheet tightly as her heart twisted in agony."Even if it had been saved, we wouldn't recommend keeping it. You inhaled a lot of smoke from the fire, which could severely affect the fetus. It wouldn't be good if you ultimately gave birth to an unhealthy child."Two hours earlier, an electrical fire had broken out in Stroud Group's new energy R&D lab. Winter had rushed into the flames without hesitation to save the latest microchip prototype. She'd managed to do it, but she'd collapsed due to smoke inhalation.When she was rushed to the emergency room, her body was covered in scrapes, and she was bleeding from below. It was a heartbreaking sight.Exhausted from juggling family and work, i

Chapter 2

Joshua and Terence had a simple yet warm birthday celebration with Jessica.Originally, Terence had wanted to go all out, but considering Jessica had just recovered from an illness after returning from medical treatment abroad, they kept it low-key. Instead, they pinky-promised to plan a big surprise for her next year.As night fell, it wasn't until bedtime that Joshua and Terence realized they hadn't heard from Winter all day.Every evening, she would prepare a herbal soup for Joshua, set the bathwater to the perfect temperature, and light his favorite scented candle.She would help Terence brush his teeth, feed him warm milk, and even massage his legs to promote growth, ensuring he would grow tall and strong.But that night, Winter was absent, leaving Gretchen to fill in. She scrambled around like a spinning top being whipped back and forth."Gretchen, is this what you call bathwater? Are you sure it's not water to cook me alive?" Joshua, wrapped in a bathrobe, stood tall at th

Chapter 3

Jessica wore a white knee-length dress that day, showing off her slender waist and graceful posture. She looked like a flower blooming in the morning mist with dewdrops glistening on the petals."Aunt Jessie!" Terence excitedly threw himself into her arms, hugging her waist tightly.The maids exchanged glances and silently marveled at the serious charm she had. Not only did Joshua allow her free access to Rippleview Court, but even Terence, who was hard to please, was so close to her. It was as if they were true mother and son.After all, Terence usually barely paid attention to Winter, his own mother. It seemed Jessica had truly tamed him.Jessica gently stroked Terence's hair, radiating maternal warmth. The crystal bracelet he'd given her sparkled on her wrist. She smiled gently at Joshua and said, "Josh, I came to see Winter. Is she home?"Joshua frowned. "Your sister didn't spend the night at your parents' house last night?""No, she didn't. Wait, she didn't come home all nig

Chapter 4

The hospital director entered with a bright smile, bypassing Winter and heading straight for Joshua and Jessica. "Mrs. Stroud, please don't worry too much. I personally led our team of experts in examining your son, and he's fine now. He can be discharged after some rest."Jessica flushed when she realized the director had gotten the wrong person, but she didn't immediately correct him. Joshua merely stood there, cold and indifferent. He was about to speak when Winter cut in sharply."Doctor, I'm Terence's mother." She didn't call herself Joshua's wife because in her heart, she was already done with him and his callousness.The atmosphere turned painfully awkward.The director gaped at Winter, who was dressed simply in athletic wear. Then, he glanced at Jessica, who was decked out in designer clothes. His mind buzzed as he hurriedly apologized. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Stroud! Your son is fine, so please don't worry!"Jessica lowered her eyes, pursing her lips as a trace of resentment

Chapter 5

"What are you doing, Winter?" Joshua wrapped an arm around Jessica's waist, steadying her. He glared at Winter, whose face was pale from the pain.Winter coldly eyed the pair, her right hand clutching her injured arm as a bead of sweat slid down her cheek. Her voice was devoid of warmth as she said, "I didn't touch her. She grabbed me first.""You pushed her because of that?" Joshua simmered, his emotions barely restrained. "Jessica is your sister, and you're family. Why do you keep targeting her?""My sister?" Winter let out a soft, mocking laugh, her gaze as sharp as a blade. "We don't share a mother or a last name. How is she my sister? Don't even think of linking me to her."She'd originally been a Lynch. But when she was 18, her father, Steven Lynch, had insisted on selling her mother, Victoria Everhart's old house in Jeston to fund his company.They'd had a fierce argument, and he'd slapped her in front of Jessica and her mother. From that day, Winter had vowed never to carr

Chapter 6

Winter's eyes widened in surprise. For five years, she'd planned Joshua's birthdays meticulously, starting a month or two in advance. She would carefully select gifts and hide them deep in the wardrobe for a surprise.Hand-polished tie clips, hand-stitched suits, custom-blended fragrances… But he would barely spare the gifts a glance before stashing them away.Instead, he carried the fountain pen Jessica had given him everywhere—it was engraved with "JSJL", their initials intertwined. He fiddled with it constantly.And in those five years, Winter had never received a single gift from Joshua. Now, on the verge of divorcing him, he'd suddenly changed.Winter stared at the box in her palm, her fingers curling slightly as her long lashes fluttered.Joshua lowered his gaze, looking down at her imperiously. His thin lips curled slightly when he saw the emotion flicker across her delicate face.Women were all the same, after all—especially someone like Winter, who hadn't seen much of th

Chapter 7

Terence's brows knitted together tightly when he saw Winter treat him like he didn't exist. She was back? When did she come home? How did he not know?In the past, the first thing she would do upon returning was search the villa for him, her face lighting up with a gentle smile when she found him. She would hug him and kiss his forehead.Later, after he grew close to Jessica, he noticed how sad she looked whenever he was affectionate with Winter. Gradually, he distanced himself from Winter, even rejecting her kisses.Even so, her eyes would still sparkle with joy at the sight of him. Never had she been this indifferent, like now."Terry? Are you still there?" Jessica asked."Aunt Jessie, let's talk tomorrow, okay?" Terence hung up and shouted, "Mom!"Winter stopped and glanced back, her expression calm.Terence hopped off the couch, putting his hands behind his back and walking toward her with a maturity beyond his years. "Why didn't you tell me that you were back?"Winter was

Chapter 8

Winter lowered her eyes. "He doesn't know.""Hah! Joshua Stroud is supposed to be a genius who entered university at 15 and the youngest PhD holder from Halford Business School. All these accolades, yet he's still blind to the truth!" The man's voice was thick with indignation and heartache for Winter's struggles."Win, I know how much you poured into opening the market for Stroud Group's new energy vehicles. The JS9 Mate series you designed became a sell-out the moment it launched, sending Stroud Group's stock soaring. Joshua raked in millions and basked in glory, but he has no idea how much you burned yourself out behind the scenes."You're Nora, the muse of automotive design and a genius in AI. You gave up a brilliant future to cook and clean for him, yet he's messing around with your sister and looking down on you! He needs to take a good look at himself in the mirror and see what a piece of shit he is!""Alright, alright. That's enough." Winter took a deep breath and shook her

Chapter 9

Michelle muttered indignantly, "Winter's worked her butt off for the past two years without taking a single day of annual leave. Now, she's been injured on the job. What's wrong with taking a few days off?""Ha! Like it's some big deal that she hasn't taken leave! As if anyone in the R&D department gets to take time off—even I haven't!" Connie snorted. "Then again, Ms. Everhart is a special case who was parachuted in here. I can't say I'm surprised that you want special treatment, really."The surrounding colleagues shot Winter looks of disdain. They looked down on her because she'd been dropped into the department without going through the grueling assessments they had.They were elite graduates from prestigious universities and industry hotshots who prided themselves on their credentials. So, having to work with someone like Winter grated on their nerves. She was an eyesore to them.In their eyes, she was just an incompetent nepotism hire who was unworthy of standing shoulder-to-

Chapter 10

Winter's legs ached from crouching for so long, and they trembled at the sound. Even without turning around, she could tell the steady, deliberate footsteps approaching belonged to Joshua.Although they'd been married for five years, Joshua had moved to a separate bedroom after Terence was born. He'd claimed it was to make it easier for her to care for Terence.Countless nights, Winter had stood foolishly at the door, her heart pounding as she'd listened to his footsteps nearing her room, only for him to pass by without a moment's pause.Thinking back on her desperation, she felt like a discarded mistress who yearned day and night for her lover to bestow her with his favor.She was a legend in automotive design and a tech genius, yet she'd become a lovesick fool in this warped marriage. She'd allowed her mood to be constantly swayed by Joshua's every move.It wasn't until Jessica had waltzed into their lives and shown up everywhere with Joshua that Winter had belatedly realized al

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