Lahat ng Kabanata ng Rejected by my Husband: Kabanata 121 - Kabanata 130

KARLINE'S POINT OF VIEW The music swelled slowly, like the hall itself was inhaling before a performance. Glasses chimed, heels clicked, laughter floated in polished bursts that sounded rehearsed rather than real.That’s when I saw him.Reid.He was walking in with James beside him, tall as ever, shoulders straight, suit perfectly tailored, black, expensive, effortless. The kind of man who belonged in rooms like this. The kind of man who had once belonged to me.My chest tightened before I could stop it.His eyes found me almost immediately.They always did.His expression softened, just a little, and then he smiled. Not the corporate smile. Not the one he gave investors or reporters. The one he used to give me when he wanted to check if I was okay without making it obvious.He stopped in front of me.“How’s Ethan?” he asked gently.For half a second, I almost forgot where we were.“He’s doing good,” I replied. My voice came out even. Controlled. “Doctor allowed him to stay home for

KARLINE’S POINT OF VIEW He didn’t ask me where I wanted to sit. He just carried me straight through the glass doors, out onto the terrace, where the noise of the party faded into something distant and dull. Cool night air brushed against my skin, sharp and grounding. The city lights below shimmered like they had nothing to do with us. Reid lowered me onto the outdoor sofa carefully, like I might shatter if he moved too fast. I immediately crossed my arms. “Oh, don’t look so heroic,” I snapped. “You’d think you just rescued a kitten from a tree.” He ignored the comment. Which irritated me more than if he’d snapped back. “You’re rolling your ankle,” he said, kneeling in front of me. “Don’t move.” I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. “I said I’m fine.” He didn’t reply. He just turned and walked away. “For God’s sake,” I muttered. “Unbelievable.” I tried to stand. The second my foot touched the ground, white-hot pain shot up my leg and I sucked in a breath, clutching the sofa.

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW Karline thought it was reid but stiffened when the servant appeared instead. “Miss Russo, Mr. Carter. Mrs. Carter has requested everyone to gather in the main hall. There will be an important announcement.”Daniel and Karline exchanged a look.“What now,” Karline murmured under her breath, exhaustion lacing every syllable.Daniel frowned. “Whenever Mum says ‘important announcement,’ it’s never anything good.”Karline let out a quiet breath, straightened her spine, and nodded once. “Let’s get this over with.”They followed the servant back inside.The moment they entered the grand hall, Karline felt it. The shift in the air. The tension. The anticipation humming through the room like an exposed wire.Margaret stood on the stage, perfectly composed, as if nothing chaotic had happened earlier. Her black dress was immaculate, her posture regal. Beside her stood Natalie.Natalie’s face had clearly been scrubbed clean. Too clean. The makeup reapplied, the lipsti

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEWThe morning unfolded slowly, wrapped in golden sunlight and the soft hum of countryside life. Smoke curled lazily from the old grill in the backyard, carrying the rich, mouthwatering scent of marinated steaks. Matteo stood there with an apron tied a little too tight around his waist, sleeves rolled up, one hand gripping the tongs like they were an extension of him. He turned the meat carefully, nodding to himself in approval as it sizzled. “This,” he announced proudly, “is how real food is made.” Karline snorted softly as she stood at the wooden table nearby, washing freshly picked vegetables. “You say that every single time.” “And every single time, I am correct,” Matteo replied without looking back. Isabella stood beside Karline, drying herbs with a clean cloth, her movements calm and practiced. “Let him enjoy his moment,” she said gently. “He’s been waiting all week to grill.” Karline smiled faintly, the tension of the past days easing just a little

THIIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEWKarline watched Reid from where she stood, Ethan still clutched tightly to her shoulder, small fingers fisted into her shirt as if letting go would make everything collapse again.Reid looked… bad.His cheek was already swelling, a dark bruise blooming beneath the skin. There was dried blood at the corner of his mouth, and the way he stood, still, careful, told her he was hurting more than he admitted.And Ethan was crying because of it.That was the part she couldn’t ignore.Karline exhaled slowly, pressing a kiss into Ethan’s hair. “Hey,” she murmured softly, rocking him. “It’s okay now, baby. Nonno’s gone. No one’s angry anymore.”Ethan sniffed, his voice tiny. “Uncle… got hurt.”“I know,” she said gently. “Mommy will make it better.”She looked up then, eyes meeting Reid’s.“For Ethan’s sake,” she said, measured and controlled, “come inside. I’ll clean that.”Reid blinked, clearly not expecting it. “Karline, you don’t have to..”“I said for Ethan,” she