All Chapters of Better Late Than Never Loved: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

Timothy Gibson froze for two seconds. There was a flicker of surprise in his eyes.His gaze dropped to my flat stomach before he snorted."Naomi, you'll really make up anything just to turn me down?"Who would want you apart from me? Even your biological parents abandoned you."Abandoned… That was such a familiar term.He hadn't changed at all. He just couldn't stop stomping on my pride.Memories from ten years ago suddenly came rushing back.When I was first brought to the Jackson family, my adoptive father had said in front of everyone, "You grew up in the countryside and are uncouth. Follow Esther's example from now on and don't embarrass the Jackson family."Later, when Maria Jackson, my adoptive mother, found out that Timothy and I were together, she said bluntly, "You've already taken enough from Esther. You should learn to give in to her."Confused, I asked what exactly I had taken from Esther.She replied, "The marriage, of course. The Gibson family was supposed to ar

Chapter 2

After leaving that street, I returned to my bookstore.Seven years ago, after I left the Jackson family, it was my husband, Ian Parker, who took me in. He was also the one who opened this bookstore for me.My fingers absentmindedly traced the wood grain of the desk as my thoughts drifted back to seven years ago.Back then, I was pregnant with Timothy's child.Esther's chest hurt, and Timothy insisted on staying by her side.I grabbed his arm and told him I wasn't feeling well. I asked him to take me to the hospital.However, he shook me off and impatiently said, "Naomi, why are you so dramatic? Esther isn't feeling well. What's wrong with me taking extra care of her?"The force of his shove threw me off balance. I tumbled down the stairs.My stomach slammed into the sharp edge of a step. Pain shot through me, and I curled up on the ground.He didn't even look at me once before turning around and leaving.Lying on the floor, I felt something warm flowing out of my body. There

Chapter 3

Esther stood in the doorway. Her hair was curled into large waves that cascaded over her shoulders, making her face look even paler and smaller.When she looked at me, her eyes were filled with provocation and smug satisfaction."Naomi, it's been a long time."I ignored her and continued organizing the books on the counter.She wasn't bothered. Instead, she wandered around the store."Naomi, have you really fallen this far? Running a little bookstore like this? How much can you possibly make in a month?"She turned around, looked at me, and smiled."I heard Timothy came to see you today. He even asked you to go back and have a baby for him, didn't he?"I paused and looked at her in confusion.My gaze made her falter for a second, but she quickly recovered and continued smiling."Don't get the wrong idea. He just needs a womb. You know better than anyone who he actually loves."She stopped in front of me. She didn't even try to hide how proud she was."Naomi, you're nothing

Chapter 4

Esther threw herself directly into Timothy's arms. Tears streamed down her face."Timothy, I was only trying to persuade Naomi to return to the Jackson family and apologize."I just told her she shouldn't have married another man and gotten rid of your baby. Then she got angry and pushed me–"Timothy steadied her by the shoulders. His cold gaze landed on me."Naomi, was what Esther said true?"Were you cheating on me all along? You got rid of my child for another man?"I stood where I was. My entire body was shaking with anger."She's lying!"Timothy frowned and looked at Esther.She immediately pressed a hand to her chest. Her face turned pale as she leaned weakly against him."Timothy, my chest hurts. Naomi pushed me earlier. I might've gotten hurt–"Timothy wrapped an arm around her. When he looked at me again, there was even more disgust in his eyes."Naomi, why would you push her?""I didn't push her!""If you didn't, why would her chest hurt?""Are you blind, Timot

Chapter 5

Timothy stared at David for several seconds before snorting."Whose kid is that?"Ian answered calmly, "He's my son."The expression on Timothy's face looked as though someone had punched him. His eyes filled with disbelief."Naomi, when did you start seeing him? Was this going on before we were even divorced?"Timothy stared at the back of David's head for a few moments. He then kept looking back and forth between David and me, as if trying to confirm something.Ian took a step forward. He placed himself between David and us."Mr. Gibson, you're scaring my son.""Your son?" Timothy's lip twitched."Ian, you seem awfully happy taking another man's leftovers."Ian didn't get angry. He simply set the box of cake on the counter."Mr. Gibson, you have it backward. Naomi was the one who left you."Timothy choked on his words, and his face turned pale.I stood up with David in my arms and held him closer so he wouldn't have to watch the confrontation between the adults.I then

Chapter 6

The following afternoon, an unexpected visitor came to the bookstore.Maria stood at the entrance and looked around with a frown. The first thing out of her mouth was criticism."So this is how you're living? Naomi, you've really let yourself go."I stood behind the counter and looked at her coldly.As she walked farther inside, the disgust on her face only deepened."What do you want, Mrs. Jackson?""What do I want?" She raised her voice."You've got the nerve to ask? Mr. Gibson's condition keeps getting worse. Do you even know that?"The Gibson family is in complete chaos right now. Timothy's so busy that he's barely sleeping. Meanwhile, you're hiding away in this little bookstore and living comfortably."She paused. Her tone softened slightly as if she was doing me a favor."Naomi, listen to me. Get rid of this baby and go back to the Gibson family."If you give birth to a Gibson heir, your position as Mrs. Gibson will be secure. The Jackson family will accept you again t

Chapter 7

Ian drove me straight to the hospital.Lying on the gurney, I kept one hand over my stomach and repeated the same plea over and over in my mind. 'Please don't leave. Please don't leave. I'm begging you. Please don't leave.'Seven years ago, I hadn't been able to protect that baby.This time, I would do everything in my power to keep this baby safe.Thankfully, we made it to the hospital in time. The baby survived.The doctor explained that the dosage of the drug had been relatively small, and because I had received treatment quickly, there was no irreversible damage. Still, they wanted to keep me in the hospital for a few days for observation.Lying in the hospital bed, I rested my hand on my stomach. I could still feel the warmth there. Only then did the tears finally stop.Ian sat beside me and held my hand. His eyes welled with tears.David had been brought over by our nanny. He had cried nonstop since earlier and had eventually fallen asleep on Ian's lap from exhaustion.T

Chapter 8

After Timothy left the hospital, he drove straight to the Gibson family estate.The butler was about to lock up when he saw Timothy's bloodshot eyes. He froze."Mr. Gibson, are you–""Pull up the security footage from seven years ago."The butler's expression changed instantly.After hesitating briefly, he lowered his head. "Mr. Gibson, that footage was deleted."Timothy froze. "Who had it deleted?"The butler stammered for several moments before finally speaking softly. "It was Ms. Esther. She was the one who told us to erase it."Timothy's pupils became constricted.He stared at the butler for a long time. Suddenly, he turned around and walked away.That same night, he hired a team of expert technicians. He delivered the estate's surveillance hard drives and ordered them to recover every deleted file they could.Timothy sat in the hallway of the tech company. One cigarette after another burned between his fingers.His hands shook so badly that he had to flick his lighter

Chapter 9

By the time Timothy got home, the sun was already up.Esther was sitting on the couch waiting for him. The moment she saw the injury on his hand and the redness around his eyes, panic appeared on her face.She quickly forced a smile and walked over."Timothy, you're back?"Timothy threw his phone onto the coffee table in front of her.The screen was frozen on the surveillance footage. It was the exact moment she had looked into the villa from outside."You saw her fall down the stairs. You never told me. You even deleted the footage."Esther froze for several seconds. Tears immediately streamed down her face.This time, she didn't pretend to be weak.She clenched her jaw and looked up at Timothy. Her eyes were filled with resentment and rage."Yes, I saw it. I didn't tell you. So what?"Timothy, you're the one who pushed her away and caused the miscarriage!"She stood up. There were still tears on her face, but her expression had turned sour."Now that you know the truth,

Chapter 10

Ian and I arrived at the hospital.Leon lay in bed. He had become so thin he was little more than skin and bone.The moment he saw me, his eyes lit up."Naomi, you're here."I walked over and took his hand.It was cold, thin, and covered in age spots."Grandpa, I came to see you.""Sweetheart, the Gibson family wronged you. I wronged you." Tears trickled down his cheeks."Grandpa, none of this was your fault." I squeezed his hand gently."None of it."He took a shaky breath before slowly turning to face Ian.For a long time, he simply looked at him. Finally, he nodded."Good. Good. You have someone taking care of you now. That gives me peace of mind."After a pause, he added, "That useless grandson of mine doesn't deserve you."Don't forgive him. Don't look back. Go live your life."Tears slipped down my cheeks and landed on the back of his frail hand."Naomi, live well."He slowly closed his eyes.His hand was still in mine, but he no longer had the strength to squee

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