All Chapters of Only After I Was Gone: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

Charles Smith's phone rang. It was the special ringtone he had set just for Melissa Jones. He picked up instantly, a bright smile tugging at his lips."Melissa, just cooperate with the checkup, okay? I'll be right back to keep you company."When it came to my calls for help, he had declined them again and again. The life-and-death struggle in the delivery room had already drained me of any strength to argue or cry. All I felt then was numb.Charles turned to me and said, "I'll have the housekeeper come over to take care of you. I only asked Melissa for half an hour off, using work as an excuse."To visit me, his wife who had just lost our child, he still needed to ask Melissa for permission. His attitude cut into my heart like shards of glass. I could not even find the words to comfort myself anymore.When his hand brushed against my pale face, he seemed to hesitate. He sat back down beside me and spoke softly, "I'll wait until you fall asleep before I go. I picked your favorite s

Chapter 2

The cab could only take me as far as the security gate. From there, it was still another mile up to the villa at the top of the hill.A car sped past me, and I recognized the license plate instantly. The window rolled down just a little. Melissa was sitting in the passenger seat of my husband's car.Charles did not even see me.By the time I reached the front yard, I was soaked through. Charles was standing outside, handling a work call. When his eyes met mine, he said into the phone, "Have the proposal ready and send it to me tomorrow."Then, he turned, took off his suit jacket, and moved to drape it over my shoulders. "Why didn't you bring an umbrella?"His tone grew sharper. "Shirley, you're not a three-year-old. Melissa came to visit Grandpa today. You should head back first."Wherever Melissa appeared, I had to disappear—like I was something that belonged in the shadows, never meant to be seen.As soon as Charles stepped closer, his brows knitted together. "Are you wearing

Chapter 3

For a moment, I thought Charles had overheard the part about the divorce. However, the first thing he said was, "Shirley, you're dropping out of the Nebula City Perfume Competition."It was not a discussion. It was an order."There's no need for you to enter just to get our attention. Melissa wants to apply to Brighton & Co. in the second half of the year. If she wins first place, she'll get in directly."Brighton & Co. was the most authoritative perfume company in the country."Winning that title won't do anything for you. However, for Melissa, it's different."Whenever Melissa wanted something, she never even had to ask. Charles would fight to get it for her. He always expected me to step back.However, the reason I was going to Nebula City… was to go home.I pulled my arm free from his grip. "That's not why I—"He did not even let me finish a sentence. "You're still holding a grudge over that child who didn't make it, and now you're taking it out on Melissa. Don't forget, sh

Chapter 4

While packing my luggage, I found the outfit I had hidden deep in the closet. It had been meant as a birthday surprise for Charles this year.The only reason I even knew his birthday was that I had secretly checked his ID.The first time I prepared a surprise for him, the house was filled with balloons and a cake. He had looked at everything and said he had never celebrated his birthday on that day.His mother had died giving birth to him, and his father had never recovered from it. I thought that was why, so I softened and promised that from then on, I would celebrate with him every year.For seven years, I ran around making plans, preparing everything. He never once corrected me on his birthday.Only now did I understand that his real birthday was reserved for someone else, and the date he gave me was a fake.I had been blind to the truth all along.The doorbell rang, and when I opened the door, my mother, Jessica Shaw, was standing outside. She was supposed to be thousands of

Chapter 5

The moment Charles picked up the divorce decree, his hand began to tremble as a memory hit him all at once. The divorce agreement had been kept at his grandfather's place all this time. When I went over that day, it must have been to sign it.He turned to the housekeeper. "Where's Mrs. Smith?"The answer came quickly. "Mrs. Smith left this morning with a suitcase. She said she was going home."Charles grabbed his keys and rushed out, heading straight for the Jones family's home. All his usual composure was gone. Driven by urgency and impulse, he did not even think to call and confirm first. He went straight to Maverick. "Did Shirley come back?"However, the answer he got was that I had never shown up.They had forgotten something.Ever since Melissa lost her memory, every time I wanted to visit the Jones family, I had to call in advance and ask for permission. Even though it was my home, meeting my own family felt like sneaking around.Over time, I simply stopped asking to come

Chapter 6

The necklace around Melissa's neck was impossible to miss. Jessica recognized it at a glance. It was the one meant for me. Her voice turned sharp. "Melissa, where did you get that necklace?"Melissa stepped closer and linked arms with her, smiling. "Someone delivered it today. I knew it, Mom. You must've prepared this for my competition. The other sets are too flashy. I'll wear them next time."No.That necklace had been something Jessica personally bought at an auction in Cascade City, just to make her biological daughter happy. Jessica's gaze turned icy. "Take it off."Melissa had never seen that side of her before. Even when she learned she was not biologically related to the family, Jessica had been more sad than angry. "Why?" Melissa asked."Because it was never yours to begin with." Jessica's voice was icy. "You've been taking a place that doesn't belong to you. Do I really need to explain something so basic? There's no need to wait another three months. I'll arrange for y

Chapter 7

My dad looked at me seriously and said, "Shirley, this is all my fault. I made you suffer."Back then, he had been so stubborn, insisting on sending me back to them. However, I knew the truth. He had just been afraid of becoming a burden. Once chemotherapy started, the costs would be endless.I smiled and looped my arms through both of theirs. "That's not true. Without you, I probably wouldn't even have a home."Teresa gently patted my head. "Nonsense. This will always be your home."…I had only been back in Nebula City for a few quiet days before someone showed up to disturb my peace.Seeing Samuel sitting in my yard, casually enjoying afternoon coffee, I could not help but ask, "How did you know I was back?"He grinned. "With everything blowing up like this, I'd have to be deaf not to know."By the way, how about being one of the judges for the perfume competition tomorrow?"My hand paused mid-pour. "Weren't the judges already decided?"Samuel waved it off like it was noth

Chapter 8

Watching Samuel and Charles look like they were about to go at each other, I turned and headed straight backstage to pack up my things.A couple of people from the organizing team waved at me. "Ms. Johnson, you're leaving already?""Aren't you staying for dinner with us?""Could you leave us some of that new perfume sample? It smells amazing. We all love it."They were all young women who had just graduated not long ago.I smiled and nodded. "Sure."As I stepped out with my bag, I saw my biological mother standing outside the dressing room, holding a bouquet of flowers. It was probably meant for Melissa.I greeted her calmly, "Hello, Ms. Shaw."She hesitated, like she wanted to say something, but no words came out. After a long pause, she finally asked, "Shirley, why won't you even call me Mom?"I had given her what she asked for, but she was not satisfied.Back then, she had said with a pained expression that she did not want Melissa's talent in perfumery to go to waste. Yet

Chapter 9

The next time I saw Charles was at a Brighton & Co. product launch. I was the one in charge of the entire event.The Smith family's business had nothing to do with perfume, yet there he was. Halfway through the presentation, Charles suddenly had an allergic reaction so severe that he had to use the on-site medical support we had prepared.There were plenty of media outlets present that day. He almost ruined a launch I had spent months preparing.For a moment, I even wondered if he had come to get back at Samuel for cutting Melissa's chance to join the company.Noticing the way my brows tightened, Charles spoke up immediately, even though his throat was swelling. "Shirley, I'm sorry."I didn't mean to."I turned to the doctor, keeping my voice calm. "Treat him as quickly as possible. If the reaction gets worse, send him to the hospital right away."Charles looked anxious, like he was trying to prove something. "Don't make me leave."I can take allergy medicine."However, that a

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