All Chapters of The Mourning of Love: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

At home, I picked up an old family album. Inside, there was a sonogram photo with a note. "Hi, baby, daddy loves you."Following the address on the note, I ended up in a quiet, dimly-lit bar. There, I spotted Adrian Johnson.I couldn't believe my eyes. This man, who always prided himself on being refined and respectable, was in a shirt that was half-open. He was sitting in front of a woman, her lips pressed against his chest in full public view.He used to call me graceful and said I was the perfect wife. But now, it seemed like those words had tied me down, while he was free to indulge in his desires.His friends nearby backed off, giving the couple space to kiss without any interruptions.They began to whisper among themselves."I heard Mr. Johnson loved his wife, but now he's got Rosie wrapped around his finger.""Rosie had stayed a virgin and waited for Adrian for three years. She had it worse.""Then why doesn't he divorce his wife? He should at least take responsibili

Chapter 2

Pregnancy. The third wheel. Those words kept swirling in my mind, causing my eyes to fill with tears.I kept gulping down glass after glass of liquor, thinking maybe I could gather the courage to march up to them and throw it in their faces. But my body wouldn't listen. I remained frozen on the spot, trembling with hurt, and my voice was stuck in my throat.The people at the next table, tipsy from their drinks, suddenly started calling out to Adrian."Mr. Johnson, are you too scared to tell Colleen? Don't worry, we've got your back. We'll tell her about it. Just don't let Rosie and the kid suffer for it."Adrian's hands, which had been holding Rosalind, fell away all of a sudden. Rosalind's face turned ashen as she shot a sharp, accusing look at the friend who had spoken.Adrian stood up, calmly adjusted his clothes, and walked over. Then, he punched the friend in the face. His voice was cold when he spoke."If you dare tell my wife about this, you'll pay for it dearly."The

Chapter 3

After saying that, he wanted to accompany me to leave, but the nurse called out behind him."Hey, Rosalind's husband, we need your signature here."Adrian gave me a hesitant look.I looked up and smiled at him."Go ahead."Seeing me smile, he felt relieved and left.At night, Rosalind sent me a message asking to meet at the bar.When I arrived, Adrian was, of course, there as well.Rosalind's face was still pale from the scare earlier in the day. She stood on stage, looking at us and saying she wanted to thank us for our help.Then, she sang a song, its melody soft and its lyrics sorrowful, with every word filled with unrequited love and overflowing with her feelings for Adrian.In their world, it felt like I was the one who was the homewrecker instead.The crowd cheered, and Rosalind smiled as she sat down at our booth.Adrian was excitedly teaching me how to drink tequila.Rosalind stroked her belly and smiled smugly. "Adrian used to drink very little, you know. I was

Chapter 4

"Since your dad went bankrupt, we've had to take you in. You're just used goods. Poor Adrian, he's been suffering all these years."I sneered."You're a cultured and well-educated family? Yet, you allowed your son to cheat and marry a bar hostess?"Jessie shouted angrily, "Shut your mouth! How dare you call my future sister-in-law a bar hostess? Rosalind may sing at the bar, but she's independent and doesn't rely on men. She has remained faithful to my brother by staying a virgin. A shameless slut like you can never measure up to her."I couldn't help but laugh."She's a virgin? What, did you witness that when they had sex the first time?"Hearing this, Adrian's father was so enraged that he lifted a trembling finger at me."You vulgar woman! Get the hell out of my house."I was about to say that I paid for this house, and if anyone should leave, it should be them.Before I could say anything, the door opened, and Adrian walked in with an arm around Rosalind.When he saw ever

Chapter 5

I slammed the door shut. Whatever feelings I once had for Adrian were completely gone.Outside, I could hear the Johnsons talking. "Hmph! Once she runs out of money, she'll come begging Adrian anyway."By the floor-to-ceiling windows, the bodyguards finished packing everything up for me."Ms. Lamb, Mr. Lamb's helicopter will arrive on the rooftop tomorrow. We apologize for the inconvenience of having you stay here for the night."…On my last day there, just as I was about to head out, my best friend called and told me to turn on the TV immediately.It was still early. I opened my laptop, and a live interview featuring Adrian popped up.Turns out that after I kicked them out last night, Rosalind had suddenly developed severe stomach pain and was rushed to the hospital.A reporter recognized Adrian as the rising star of the industry and immediately sensed a juicy story.Rosalind was inside the hospital on bed rest, while Adrian was being interviewed right outside her ward.Cle

Chapter 6

The helicopter hadn't lifted off yet. I held the laptop in my hands, ready to make everything public.Just then, Adrian's call came through.His voice was choked as he asked, "Colleen, where are you? You saw the news, didn't you? I just wanted to explain. I didn't want it to look this messy, but Rosie's in the hospital. I can't let her worry, and I don't want anything to happen to the baby. I hope you understand."By the way, why aren't you at home? I plan to give you this apartment as compensation, leave you some money, and even help you get a nursing job at a top hospital. Don't worry. Even if I marry Rosie, I wouldn't just abandon you."Listening to his endless rambling, I suddenly felt irritated. "Adrian, you don't need to do that."I hung up decisively and handed my laptop to Dad's secretary, Abbie Burke, signaling it was time to leave.Seeing that I was finally free, Abbie scooted over. "Ms. Lamb, ready?"I nodded. Smiling, she opened the laptop and slammed the send button

Chapter 7

Dad never questioned Caleb's decisions. Not once.But I froze, staring at the hand Caleb was holding. A strange flutter rose in my chest.Inside the room, Caleb gently pressed me onto the couch and handed me a laptop. His broad frame loomed behind me."Colleen, this is what's happening back in Aleria. Take a look."The screen filled with Adrian's face.Unlike the calm, polished man from the last interview, he now looked wrecked with dark circles under his eyes and desperation written all over him.He was pleading with reporters. "Please, Colleen is missing. Can you help me find her?"Days earlier, Abbie had sent the full truth to every major media outlet.The teenage abduction case from three years ago resurfaced as well.That night, several young ladies had been abducted. Rosalind was one of them.After receiving the mysterious order, I disappeared from the wedding venue. By the time I ended up with the kidnappers, they were discussing ransom, then killing us afterward. The

Chapter 8

Rosalind laughed, covering her face. "Yes, I'm a bitch. But Adrian, you're no saint either. You destroyed your own happiness. How's that my problem?"After that day, she vanished.My friends in Aleria told me that whenever they passed by the Johnson residence, screams of a woman could sometimes be heard from inside.Adrian's company, which was about to go public, collapsed. His business partners abandoned him, and the Johnson family's empire stalled completely.I was surprised. In just a few days, things had escalated far beyond what I imagined.I looked at Caleb. Light reflected off his glasses, and a faint smirk appeared on his lips.Suddenly, I jumped. "Caleb, did you leak all this? What exactly are you?"He scratched the tip of his nose, looking awkward."Colleen, about that, I owe you an apology. I was the one who asked for your help for the rescue three years ago. But I'd prepared everything. I would never have let you get hurt."I was too stunned to speak.Caleb had an

Chapter 9

It didn't stop there. Adrian's company completely collapsed. He didn't realize that most of his past business partners had only worked with him out of respect for my dad.Once he publicly abandoned me, every partner reacted the moment I left Aleria. They terminated all contracts with Johnson Corp and demanded immediate settlement of every outstanding payment.Adrian drowned in grief over losing me, and his haughty parents struggled daily with creditors, living miserably.They sold every car and property, but it wasn't enough. They had to live in hiding, constantly on the run.The matrimonial home eventually ended up back in my hands. But since filth had lived in it, I wanted nothing to do with the place. I had Caleb sell it at a bargain.The Johnsons' chaotic downfall truly began.Meanwhile, I enjoyed an unprecedentedly peaceful life abroad, occasionally glancing at their miserable news. Life had never been sweeter.Months passed, and Rosalind finally gave birth.Adrian never m

Chapter 10

Finally, the truth seemed to dawn on Adrian. He looked at me, his eyes wide with terror. "Caleb Lamb? You two have the same surname. Colleen, who exactly is he to you?"I smiled. "Oh, you didn't know? Caleb is my godbrother, but starting today, he's my husband."Adrian's eyes reddened, and his body wobbled. "So… The Lamb family was never bankrupt… I've been the fool all along…"I nodded. "Who told you the Lamb family went bankrupt? How do you think your startup took off so fast if not for the power behind it? You're destined to be a nobody, Adrian. Even when opportunities came, you couldn't hold onto them. How pathetic."Then, right in front of him, I called out to Caleb sweetly, "Honey, let's head upstairs. Don't keep our guests waiting."Our wedding ceremony was about to begin. I couldn't be bothered to waste another word on Adrian. Linking my arm with Caleb's, I turned and walked away.Behind us, Adrian let out a low, pained groan. He slumped by the door, slowly sinking to his

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