All Chapters of Her Name on the Deed: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

I slid the deed across the table to Asher Terrell. Crystal Hayden's name on the paper was glaring.Asher's face drained of color. His hand reached for the paper, an instinctive move to hide the truth, but it froze mid-air."Tabitha, I can explain," he stammered, his voice raw.His eyes reddened with the familiar look of remorse he'd used to soften me before. His vulnerable expression could always melt me, but not today."I'm listening," I replied, lifting my mug of water to my lips.He stared, a flicker of unease crossing his features. My composure seemed to throw him off balance."Crystal... has had a rough time," he stammered. "You know how it was back then. My parents despised her and forced us apart. She spiraled into severe depression and had to drop out of college. She lost everything."He swallowed, continuing, "This house is my way of making things right. It's a debt I owe her."I nodded, my face unreadable. "I see. But what about the debt you owe me?"He blinked, caug

Chapter 2

"Tabitha, can we discuss something?" Asher asked, his voice tentative. "Crystal's landlord evicted her after a dispute. She's got nowhere to go. Could she stay here, just temporarily?"The absurdity of his request hit like a slap. I stared at him, incredulous. "You think that's appropriate?""Why not?" he muttered, impatience flaring. "When did you get so small-minded? I've told you a hundred times. Crystal is in the past. You're my only priority."He leaned closer, insistent. "She is alone out there. Helping her is just decency. You know I'd never betray you."His assurances rang hollow. He had betrayed me the moment he signed our home over to her."Asher," I said, each syllable sharp, "do you think I'm some doormat? That you can trample me after all I've endured with you?"His jaw clenched, his gaze dropping to the floor.Finally, he sighed, rubbing his temples. "You're overreacting. She is just a friend in need. It's settled. I'm picking her up."He stormed out, the door sla

Chapter 3

Days earlier, Asher had wasted no time moving Crystal into our home.Then he placed her in the company, right by his side. When I confronted him, he brushed it off with a flimsy excuse. "She's new to the corporate world. I'm just helping her get up to speed."Now, at the family dinner, his face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and defiance. He waved off further argument. "Crystal is outside with an urgent file. I'll bring her in."He didn't wait for objections, striding to the door and flinging it open.Crystal glided in behind him, her flowing white sundress accentuating her delicate frame. Her wide eyes darted nervously to play the part of a fragile damsel.Asher stepped in front of her. "Ease up, Mom. She's here for work. Don't scare her with that look."I remained silent, watching with cold eyes."This is a family gathering. Maybe I should leave," Crystal murmured, but not moving an inch."You've earned a break," Asher insisted, guiding her to the chair beside him. "Stay

Chapter 4

"It hurts so much. I can't breathe," Crystal grunted.Asher's irritation vanished, replaced by panic. He leaned back. "What's wrong?""I think it's my peanut allergy," she choked out.Asher turned around, glaring at me. "You knew about her allergy. Why didn't you warn the kitchen?"I was stunned by the absurdity.He had never told me anything, and it wasn't my responsibility to manage Margaret's menu for an uninvited guest. Furthermore, the food had been served when we arrived."I didn't know," I said, my voice cold as ice."That's bullshit!" he yelled. "You did this on purpose. Are you so jealous?"A hollow laugh escaped me. "So what? You expect me to take responsibility for her?""I'll let it slide this time," he said through gritted teeth. "But she's living with us. Be careful when you cook, no more mistakes."He expected me to cater to his ex. The gall was staggering.Before I could respond, Crystal let out another pained whimper. In an instant, Asher's focus snapped bac

Chapter 5

The debt notices were scattered across the floor, each one a silent accusation.Asher's face cycled through shame, anger, and desperation, his composure crumbling under the weight of truth."Tabitha!" he roared. "I never thought you'd be so materialistic. We're married. Why keep score like this? I grind every day for this family, and you're obsessing over petty debts? You're impossible!"The doorbell rang, cutting through the tension. Asher opened it to reveal Crystal, who took one look at the scene and conjured tears."Asher works so hard," she said, her tone accusatory. "He is under constant pressure. Why can't you be more understanding? He's such a good man. Why don't you cherish him?"Her saccharine words hit their mark, stroking Asher's ego. His gaze at me went icy with disdain, as if I were the villain in this twisted narrative.Her audacity ignited something in me. A scornful laugh escaped as I brushed past him, my hand flashing out to deliver a sharp slap across Crystal's

Chapter 6

Asher's trembling hands lifted the agreement, my signature stark against the page. He sank to the floor, a raw cry escaping him.Memories crashed over him like a tidal wave: the moment I'd shown him the deed, his insistence on Crystal moving in, the family dinner where he'd abandoned me, and the roadside where he'd left me stranded.Each choice was a self-inflicted wound. He had foolishly torched the one true thing in his life for a misguided sense of obligation.Clutching the ring, he swore to find me.The doorbell rang, interrupting his spiraling thoughts. Crystal stood outside, her eyes gleaming at the sight of the divorce agreement."Perfect!" she exclaimed, rushing to embrace him. "After all these years, we can finally be together. I'll take care of you, and we'll start fresh."But there wasn't any hint of joy on his face.He recoiled, shoving her away. "Who said I wanted you? I've never thought about divorcing Tabitha. She is my only wife."Crystal's smile faltered. "What

Chapter 7

One day, my lawyer called. "Mr. Terrell is drowning in regret. He's offering all marital assets just for a chance to meet you.""Tell him to sign the agreement," I replied. "I'm not meeting him."I severed all ties to the past, diving into a solo journey across the globe. I visited galleries in Paris, the Colosseum in Rome, the blue-domed villages in Santorini, and many other places Asher and I had dreamed of visiting together.The pain lingered at first, but every new city, vibrant market, and unfamiliar horizon dulled it, replaced by the thrill of discovery.Alone, I found a strength I'd forgotten and a joy that didn't depend on anyone else.My final stop was a village nestled at the foot of Interlaken. It was peaceful and beautiful, like something out of a fairy tale.Years ago, Asher and I had planned it as our honeymoon destination. I'd said, once we had money, we had to come here and rent a cabin with a view of the snow-capped peaks where we'd feed pigeons, take walks, and

Chapter 8

Asher's unraveling drew a wry chuckle from me."No excuses now?" I scoffed. "You seemed happy with Crystal. Thought I'd never find out? Or were you hoping to have it all—the wife at home and the lover on the side? You dreamed too big."He staggered back, his defenses crumbling. Leaning against the picket fence for support, he looked like a man unmoored."I..." His voice faltered, the truth an insurmountable barrier.No words could erase what he'd done."Asher," I said, my eyes locked on his defeated form. "Seeing her name on that deed exhausted me more than those triple-shift days. I lived in that basement, ate scraps, and paid off your millions. I carried you through the worst, and for what? So, you could take our money and hand it to her?"I paused and continued, "Margaret was right. You're ungrateful. I was too good to you, and you forgot our path."He shook his head frantically. "No, it's not like that. You saved me in those days. I'd never forget. It was just a moment of we

Chapter 9

Life after the divorce unfolded with a serenity I hadn't anticipated. The freedom was intoxicating.I sold our properties and poured capital into promising startups as an angel investor. My time and money were mine alone, answerable to no one.My travels continued. I watched the aurora dance across the Arctic skies, trekked through the scorching sands, and dove into the turquoise depths. Each experience reshaped me, expanding my world beyond the confines of my past.Asher faded into irrelevance, his name surfacing only in fleeting finance headlines.His company, once a rising star, was crumbling with failed projects, broken funding chains, and plummeting stocks. The mogul I'd helped build was facing ruin.Crystal, predictably, left him for a wealthy playboy. That affair collapsed afterward, leaving her scraping by in obscurity.I scrolled past their stories, untouched.During my trip, I received a call from Margaret. Her voice was a mix of fatigue and familiar warmth. "Tabitha,

Chapter 10

Margaret squeezed my hand, her touch warm and firm. "You're my daughter, always."Her words wrapped around me like a blanket."You thought I judged your roots, didn't you?" she teased.I nodded sheepishly. "The Terrell family was so grand.""Silly girl," she laughed, shaking her head. "We built our life from nothing, clawing our way up through hard times. I know what struggle is. How could I judge you for yours?""And Crystal?" I asked, curiosity breaking through."Different," she replied, her voice hardening. "The moment she stepped into our house, her eyes screamed ambition. I didn't oppose Asher's relationships, but I opposed her poison. He was too blind to see it."She sighed, then smiled. "But you? Your love for him was pure. No agenda. Just devotion and care. I knew you were the one for him."Her acceptance, from the very beginning, warmed me to my core."So, even without him," she continued, her eyes earnest, "you are family. You can continue to call me Mom or by my ori

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