All Chapters of Left Before You Looked Back: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

By the time Tina stepped out of the restaurant, her vision had gone hazy with tears.Footsteps rushed up behind her, and a hand caught her arm.Sadie's voice cut sharp. "You think I'm a homewrecker? Let me make this clear: there's nothing going on between Jonathan and me. I haven't spent a cent of his money.""I'm not blind or deaf." Tina shook her off.Right then, a van screeched to a stop right behind Tina."Ah!"The sound barely left her throat.Two masked men moved in fast. One clamped a hand over her mouth while the other grabbed her arms. In seconds, they forced her into the van and drove off.Just like that, Tina disappeared.Sadie stood frozen. Her body swayed, then she dropped hard onto the cold ground, her elbow slamming against the steps.When people from the restaurant came out looking for her, they found her sprawled there in a mess.Two of them hurried over and helped her up. The skin on her elbow was scraped raw, and her prosthetic leg had come loose, lying of

Oliver quickly gathered the photos and stepped past Tina into the room, bringing Andy Farrow out.The boy wore a small white shirt with suspenders, a workbook tucked in his arms. His round face still held a trace of baby fat, his expression quiet and distant.The first time Tina had met him, she had thought he was adorable. Andy had delicate features and a calm temperament. He reminded her of Jonathan, and she felt an easy fondness for him.Now, as she looked at him again, a chill ran through her. Cold sweat broke across her skin as the shock hit all at once, a sharp headache rising with it. Her body gave out, and she slammed into the shelf behind her.A crash rang out as a vase toppled and shattered across the floor, breaking into jagged pieces.The sound tore through the room, sudden and piercing, like something driving straight into her nerves.Andy froze. His workbook slipped from his hands and hit the floor. He clamped his hands over his ears, his body starting to shake as h

After running through the full routine several times, it was almost 6 in the evening when Oliver sent Tina a message.[We're here.]Tina got up, changed in the locker room, then took the elevator down.On the first floor, a group of girls from the rehearsal rooms had gathered behind a wide column, peeking toward the entrance, their faces flushed with excitement.A man stood there, tall and lean, waiting quietly. He had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs outlined by tailored slacks. His gaze was lowered, his posture relaxed but composed, carrying an easy, natural presence.Most of the girls at the arts center had high standards and rarely paid attention to ordinary men. Now, they couldn't look away."He's ridiculously hot. Who's he waiting for? If no one claims him, I'm going over!""I want to, too, but that back… It kinda looks like Tina's husband.""No way! If her husband looked like that, she wouldn't just post some random back-view photo. That had to be from the

Instead of getting angry, Tina let out a faint smile. "Professor Donovan sent you, didn't he?"Ben shot her a sideways look, his tone edged with sarcasm. "Oh, you know Professor Donovan? Figures. With his reputation worldwide…" He trailed off as something clicked. "Wait. How do you know he sent me…"His eyes widened."You're Johanna…"Tina nodded. "Yeah. That's me. Are you going to take me in?""That's impossible…" He stared at her for a long moment, then let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "Don't tell me you heard some rumor and came here pretending…"She raised her phone and showed him her messages with Edward.Ben froze. Color rushed to his face. "Y-You're really the one who took first place globally at 12…"She didn't wait for him to finish. She walked past him. "Lead the way, or you can wait for security to throw me out."That shut him up. He fell in behind her, still trying to process it, seeing her differently for the first time.Tina was Johanna Trede.Did Jonatha

The next morning, Tina woke with a splitting headache and soreness in every muscle.She pressed her fingers to her temples and stayed like that on the cold floor for a long time before she registered where she was.Her phone kept ringing. It was the alarm she used to wake up and make breakfast for Jonathan.She turned it off, then deleted it.Karen happened to step out and froze when she saw her. "Mrs. Reed, I'm sorry. I tried to bring you inside last night, but Mr. Reed wouldn't allow it. He told me to leave you outside."She seemed to be waiting for tears.Instead, Tina pushed herself to her feet. Her voice was rough but steady. "I got drunk and went to the wrong place." She paused, then added, "You don't need to call me Mrs. Reed anymore."She turned to leave, then stopped as something occurred to her. "Tell him to prepare the divorce papers."Outside, she checked her phone and saw multiple missed calls from Cecelia. She called Cecelia back. "Hey.""Don't tell me you