All Chapters of Echoes of an Unsettled Heart: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

When I returned home after the procedure, my lower abdomen throbbed, and I felt as if tens of thousands of ants were gnawing at me.I looked at the thousandth "gift" Carter Gresham's mistress had sent that day.In fact, the entire storage room was filled with photos of them—looking at each other, holding hands, kissing, and sharing intimate moments.The moment I stepped inside, a sultry scent hit me.Carter had just returned from his business trip.My eyes landed on the stains on the three-thousand-dollar couch. I covered my mouth, struggling to hold back a gag."This is a gift Jodie brought for you," he said. "What's with the disgusted face?"Looking up the stairs, I caught sight of Carter, steam still clinging to him from the shower.Following his gaze, I noticed a small gift box on the coffee table. Next to it lay an empty condom box.I quickly averted my eyes. Ignoring the sharp pain in my abdomen, I slowly slowly walked in.Carter made his way down the stairs. "I heard y

Chapter 2

A dull pain throbbed in my lower abdomen. It was likely from the strain of throwing the ring just moments ago.I sank back onto the couch on the balcony, my hand gently pressing against the sore spot."I didn't hear her," I said casually. "From now on, no one is allowed in my room unless I say so. Not even you."I pointed at Carter, watching the shock in his eyes.Every piece of furniture in this room had rounded corners. There wasn't a sharp edge in sight.Whenever I lost control during an episode, I would lock myself in here.Back then, Carter would stay by my side, holding me close. He'd bury his chin in the curve of my neck, gently trying to calm me down.At one point, I couldn't imagine my life without him. The thought of him leaving was my worst nightmare.But now, things were no longer the same. He had changed, and so had I.After being surrounded by the constant beeping of hospital machines, I began to see everything in a new light.Carter didn't look away from me for

Chapter 3

Jodie gently patted Carter and Michael on the shoulders. "Let's not be too quick to judge. Maybe something came up that made Regina late."As she spoke, she handed me a lit candle. "Don't mind them, Regina. They're just joking."With the way Jodie carried herself, I almost believed she was Carter's wife.I looked up at her, fighting the urge to explain myself. Sometimes, leaving a misunderstanding unspoken was its own kind of goodbye.Just as I reached for the candle, Michael stepped in front of Jodie. "Jodie, you'd better stay away from her. I'm afraid she might hurt you."When Carter first got involved with Jodie, I couldn't stand it. I did everything I could to tear them apart. But to my dismay, Carter said it was impossible.The day after, I even staged a kidnapping.That night, Carter pressed a knife to my neck, demanding to know where Jodie was. "You've been depressed and suicidal, haven't you? If you don't tell me where Jodie is, I'll make sure you die right now."As the

Chapter 4

At the hospital, Carter sat beside Jodie while she received her IV drip. For some reason, his mind refused to settle.Before leaving the cemetery, he had asked the security guards to keep an eye out for me. He had even left his phone number with them to make sure they could reach him.But by now, the night had fully settled in. To Carter's growing concern, his phone lay eerily silent, untouched by a single call or message.Jodie, on the other hand, was completely unaware of Carter's anxiety. She was still lost in the memory of his courageous actions earlier that afternoon.Suddenly, a knock echoed at the door, and Michael walked in, a smile lingering on his lips. He pulled out a divorce agreement and handed it to Carter."Regina has added her signature," Michael said.Carter took the document and skimmed through it. As soon as his gaze fell on my signature, his heart skipped a beat.He could hardly believe I was willing to make such a compromise. But with the hard evidence laid

Chapter 5

When Carter returned home, he walked straight toward the guest room upstairs. But as his hand touched the doorknob, he hesitated and pulled back.My warning from the night before rang in his mind. "From now on, no one is allowed in my room unless I say so."Taking a moment to steady himself, he called gently, "Honey, are you in there? I'm sorry for what happened today. I was wrong. Please, open the door. All I need is a chance to explain and make things right."Honey, I know I haven't been there for you lately. I regret what I said yesterday. Will you come out and talk to me?"But inside the room, there was nothing but silence.Carter assumed I was just angry. He stood outside, apologizing for everything he'd done over the past year.Half an hour passed, but still, there was no reply. His throat had gone dry from speaking. His voice broke with each word, choked by unshed tears.Inside, the room remained eerily silent.Finally, it hit him—something was wrong. No matter how furio

Chapter 6

Four years had passed since I left Bellmont, but now, I was back to settle something important.The moment the plane landed, memories rushed through my mind.Right beside me was my daughter, Abigail Avanzini. She gripped my hand tightly, her eyes sparkling with excitement."Mommy, this place is so beautiful!" she exclaimed.While waiting for our luggage, a surprised voice came from nearby."R-Regina? You're alive?"I adjusted my sunglasses and turned toward the man who had spoken. He looked familiar, though I couldn't quite place him.Noticing my wary expression, he hurriedly pulled out his phone and showed me an old graduation photo. "It's me, Roman Norwood. I was the class president during our university days!"I removed my sunglasses and extended my hand toward him. "Hello. It's nice to see you again.""It's such a relief you're alive. Carter's been going crazy searching for you all these years!"Suddenly, Roman gestured toward Abigail, standing next to me. "And this is…"

Chapter 7

I no longer saw Carter the way I used to.Four years ago, just catching a glimpse of him would've made me ridiculously happy. But now, things were different.Abigail took a few steps forward, ready to say hello to him. But before she could, I quickly pulled her aside.Kneeling down, I straightened her collar. "Abigail, this man isn't very fond of me. You need to keep your distance, alright?"While surprise and joy flickered in Carter's eyes, my attitude toward him stayed cold and guarded."Let's talk outside," I said.Before he could respond, I grabbed Abigail's hand and led her toward the rooftop garden.This place was familiar to me. Even after four years, I could still remember the moment Carter proposed here.It was like something out of a dream. No words could truly capture how perfect it felt."Regina… I can't believe it's actually you. How have you been all these years? Is your mental health any better now?"What happened back then was my fault. I shouldn't have behave

Chapter 8

The first time I met Owen was in the hospital. At the time, I was undergoing both psychological and physical treatment, and Owen had brought a gift to my hospital room in an effort to make amends.It turned out that Quinton was an executive at one of Owen's subsidiary companies.Carter's lawsuit had pulled both Quinton and Owen's parent company into a legal storm. The case stirred significant controversy for Owen, leaving him no choice but to step in and clean up Quinton's mess.He acted quickly—offering compensation for damages, issuing a public apology, and dismissing Quinton from his position.Thanks to Owen's intervention, Carter and I managed to pull our company back from the brink.Before leaving, Owen took care of the bill for the ice cream Abigail had just eaten.As Carter reached for his phone to pay, his hand froze. After a beat, he awkwardly put the device down.Before long, we were back at the hotel. I nervously fiddled with the hem of my clothes, sneaking a glance a

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