All Chapters of After Ninety-Nine Rejections: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

As I left the temple, I ran into Hayden Lane again.His gaze lingered on my swollen, red eyelids for a brief moment before he calmly looked away.It was Samuel Langley beside him who broke the awkward silence."Ms. Johnson, are you heading back?"My throat was hoarse from crying. Speaking hurt, so I simply nodded.Then I walked to the ticket counter, planning to take the cable car down the mountain.Samuel's puzzled voice came from behind me."Ms. Johnson, you're taking the cable car down? You're not walking?"I turned around and met the confusion in both Samuel's and Hayden's eyes. A bitter feeling rose in my chest.For three years, ninety-nine visits to draw a fortune stick. Every time, I had climbed the mountain on my knees. Then I limped all the way back down. All of it was to show heaven how sincere I was. I thought if I was sincere enough, I would eventually receive a supreme blessing.But no matter how sincere I was, I could never receive the blessing Hayden had no i

Chapter 2

Selena shrank into Hayden's arms, looking frightened.Hayden seemed a little stunned."You two..."Selena grabbed Hayden's hand."Hayden, please don't ask, okay? I..."I didn't want to watch Selena's act any longer, so I turned around to leave.Hayden grabbed me again."I don't care what your relationship is. You bumped into someone, so you should apologize. Selena is a doctor. Her hands are very important, and they almost got hurt just now."The burn on the back of my hand throbbed like tiny bites. The pain spread all the way to my chest. I raised my hand and showed him the bright red skin."The aisle is this wide. I was standing next to my own table. She was the one who walked over and bumped into me. And I'm hurt too. This wasn't my fault, so I won't apologize."Hayden's gaze fell on the back of my hand, and his calm eyes wavered for a brief moment.I pushed past them and asked a staff member for an ice pack.As I walked out, I turned back for a quick glance.By the win

Chapter 3

I couldn't help thinking Hayden was like a robot.After that, I almost threw away the scriptures he had been copying for half a month, and his expression didn't change a bit.I even learned some cheesy pickup lines online to flirt with him, but he still barely reacted.I thought he really was detached from everything. And now, he got angry over something I said about Selena.Dad heard my words and jumped up, slapping me across the face again."You don't get to decide anything in this house!"Then he ordered the servants to throw out all of my and Mom's things.I tried to stop them, but Dad grabbed my hand and shoved me outside."If you can't stand Selena and me, then you and your mother can move out!"The door slammed shut. Mom crouched on the floor, crying quietly.Soon, the door opened again. Selena came in carrying my things, a triumphant smirk on her face."My dear sister, why bother? Look at this. You're kicked out of your own house now!"My eyes caught the small cla

Chapter 4

Helena's eyes were red, and her breathing was uneven. It was clear she was upset for me.Everyone in our circle knew the truth. I had pursued Hayden for three years and gotten nothing. Then, Selena returned. Not only was I kicked out of my house, but Hayden was swept up by her too.So, everyone was laughing at me.I let out a small, careless laugh and patted Helena's shoulder."Relax. The one I'm marrying is Caleb York. Not Hayden. By then, those people laughing at me will be green with envy."The York family had far deeper business roots than ours. They even had connections in politics. In Ashford City, very few people dared to mess with them.Helena's face lit up with pride."That's right. When the time comes, you'll wipe the smug looks off all their faces!"Her eyes then caught something through the glass display. She pointed at a pale aqua-blue gown."Try this one! You'll be the most beautiful woman in the room!"I glanced at it and felt a flicker of awe. The next second,

Chapter 5

The moment the words left my mouth, the elevator doors closed. I caught a flash of surprise on Hayden's face before it disappeared.The elevator quickly reached the top floor, where Mom was waiting at the door.She glanced at me as I arrived, and when she saw I wasn't acting out of the ordinary, she finally relaxed.I smiled at her, then we walked into the party together.Caleb arrived in a hurry, slipping on his suit jacket at the very last second. He stood next to me and gave a casual whistle."Looking good."I laughed and looped my arm through his."Do I? I think I look pretty good too. But honestly, I like seeing you in a racing suit more than a suit. It suits you better."A flicker of surprise crossed Caleb's eyes."You've seen me race?"I nodded."Last year's National Supercar Championship. You were trending for three days straight. Hard not to notice."Caleb's interest piqued."Want to go for a spin after this?"I nodded without hesitation.The ceremony moved quic

Chapter 6

I nodded."Yes, I knew. If I had known you found me so annoying and were trying to make me back off with tricks like this, I would have given up long ago. So Hayden, I'm not going to like you anymore."Hayden's eyes went wide in disbelief, and his face drained of color.After a long pause, he murmured, "I-I didn't... I never thought you were annoying..."I didn't bother listening to his excuses. I turned and stepped into the elevator.Hayden stayed silent and watched me go, a flicker of pain in his eyes.Outside the hotel, I ran right into Selena.She was clinging to Dad, grinning from ear to ear.When she saw me, arm linked with Caleb, a flash of jealousy crossed her face.Dad froze for a second when he saw Caleb, then quickly masked it with a smile and stepped forward to greet him.I tugged on Caleb's hand. He opened his mouth to greet my dad, but when he saw my annoyed expression, he swallowed his words."Mr. York, pleased to meet you."Seeing my arm linked with Caleb, D

Chapter 7

The car beside us slowed to a stop.Hayden's dark, unreadable gaze landed on Caleb's arm around me.Next to him, Selena glared at me with obvious frustration.Caleb leaned close, his voice teasing in my ear."If you'd worn this dress while chasing Hayden earlier, I'm pretty sure the abstinent monk would've broken his vow by now."I shot Hayden a glance, then back at Caleb."Jealous?" I asked.Caleb froze for a second, then quickly slipped back into his carefree grin."Who's jealous? You're standing here in that dress, smiling like that by the race cars, and tell me which guy wouldn't be staring? Even Hayden, whom you chased for three years and got nowhere, got distracted. You really have a way of pursuing someone..."His words died in his throat. A faint blush spread across his face because my hand was at the back of his neck. I pulled him down sharply and whispered in his ear."You don't need to be jealous now. I wore this dress for you, and only you."A loud bang came from

Chapter 8

"What happened, Selena? What's wrong?"Selena cried pitifully. She covered her face and whimpered, claiming I had suddenly slapped her.I rolled my eyes and signaled for the race track manager."Excuse me, I'd like to check the nearby surveillance footage. Is that possible?"Selena's eyes widened in surprise.The manager knew I had come with Caleb, and he quickly sent someone to retrieve the footage.Selena panicked and tried to stop it."No... you can't!"Catching Hayden's puzzled look, she stammered an excuse."Hayden, you don't believe me? Why do you need to check the cameras?"Hayden frowned slightly but said nothing.Selena's eyes darted around in desperation. Realizing she couldn't stop it, she reverted to her usual act, looking innocent and pitiful."Hayden, if you don't believe me, fine! I'll go! It's not like it was a big deal. She just got upset and slapped me. I'm fine."Hayden's hand instinctively reached for hers.Selena shot me a smug smile.Then, the manag

Chapter 9

Hayden's eyes flickered with hurt.I scoffed."Hayden, it's just a broken jar. No matter if you made it yourself, it's not the one from before."Before I could open the door, he grabbed my hand again. This time, there was a pleading look in his eyes."Sydney, I-I was wrong. I didn't understand my own heart before. I'd already fallen for you without even realizing it."He said he liked me, but his face was still so certain, as if he expected me to happily keep trailing after him once I heard those words.Caleb's timing was perfect. He wrapped an arm around my waist."Hayden, Sydney is my fiancée now. Confessing in front of me seems... unwise, don't you think?"Hayden froze for a moment, glancing unhappily at Caleb's hand around my waist before turning back to me."Sydney, I said I like you."I laughed."So what? I don't like you anymore."The color drained from Hayden's face instantly.Seeing the seriousness in my eyes, Hayden finally panicked.He hurriedly pulled the fort

Chapter 10

ExtraHayden first saw Sydney in the temple's backyard.She was tossing a wish she'd written onto a tree, and jumped a little too high, twisting her ankle.Hayden hurried over to ask if she was okay. Her face was red, and though she looked like she might cry from the pain, she still managed a smile.After that day, Sydney announced she would pursue him.Hayden couldn't understand why she suddenly liked him.When he had walked her home, she had whispered that he was cold, like a robot.Then the next day, she was smiling and approaching him.As always, Hayden refused her advances.But Sydney was stubborn. No matter how indifferent he was, she kept coming back.Hayden didn't know what else to do, so he let her draw the fortune sticks. He said if she got the supreme blessing, he would marry her.Sydney's face lit up with a bright, happy smile.Watching her so happy, Hayden felt a strange flicker inside him. He had taken the supreme blessing fortune stick himself, and she would

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