All Chapters of Love Blown Away: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Less than thirty seconds after I posted to my feed, Cassidy Solen's call came through."I told her to go pick you up, not sleep with you."Her voice came through clenched teeth, sharp with fury and past caring what she said."You act so above it all, and this is how long it takes before you can't stand being lonely?"I listened to the barbs in her voice and felt strangely calm. Probably had been that way ever since I found out just how hard she'd been trying to get rid of me.Three years ago, Cassidy had started seeing other men. I'd fought her on it at the time. All she'd given me was, "You're overstepping. Worst case, we get a divorce." Every question I had died in my throat after that.But I couldn't let it go. So many years together, and she'd changed her mind just like that. I'd fought to save it. She was the one who grew tired of it first, growing more and more impatient with me, and then came the cold shoulder.Then, three months ago, she'd started sponsoring Faith Came

I stood alone outside the county clerk's office for a few minutes, cold wind cutting into me. I thought I'd feel free. Instead, my chest just went hollow.In a daze, I noticed Cassidy's car pulling back around. I figured she had something else to say. The window rolled down, showing half her face."Come with me somewhere," she said, cold."Where?" I frowned."Preston's welcome-home dinner. He said it's not every day he gets back into the country, and you used to be his best friend. You can't just skip it."The word "friend" hit like a needle straight to my temple.Not many people knew that Preston Crowe and I used to be thick as thieves. Back then, Cassidy had been an unpolished nobody, chasing after Preston relentlessly. Preston hadn't wanted anything to do with her, so to shake her off, he'd pushed her onto me.He'd told me with a grin, "Arnold, Cassidy's a good one. Why don't you give her a try?"I hadn't known anything about the history between the two of them at the time.

After that day, I took Faith away from her village and into a city in a neighboring state. I rented a two-bedroom apartment there and got Faith enrolled as an auditing transfer student at the best university in the area, to prepare for next year's exams.Time moved fast. Before I knew it, a month was almost up.My phone buzzed with a text from the county clerk's office.[Mr. Kempton, your divorce procedures with Ms. Cassidy Solen will end in three days. If neither party objects, the system will process your divorce automatically, and an electronic certificate will be sent to your email. To withdraw the filing, please visit the registration office within three days.]I looked at the message, my finger hovering over the screen for a second. Then I swiped it away and turned my phone off.In Vampton City, Cassidy sat in her living room, empty bottles scattered around her feet.She'd been dragging Preston all over the world, from yacht parties to galas to auctions, indulging in every

I climbed down off the ladder, brushed the dust off my hands, and said evenly, "It's clean here. I like living here just fine. To what do I owe the honor of your visit, Ms. Solen?"Cassidy swept her gaze over the cramped little studio before it landed on Faith, thick with contempt."So this is what a few years of college on my dime gets me? You learned how to seduce your benefactor's husband?"Faith's expression cooled, her hands curling into fists. She took a slow breath and lifted her chin to meet Cassidy's eyes head-on."Ms. Solen, all I've ever felt toward Mr. Kempton is respect and gratitude. Please don't use that kind of language to insult him.""Insult him?" Cassidy let out a laugh like she'd just heard a joke.She pulled a bank card out of her bag and slapped it down at Faith's feet."There's fifty thousand dollars on that. More than enough for someone like you to live on for a few years. Take it and get out of here. Disappear for good."Faith looked down at the card ly

The words had barely left his mouth when two police officers, who'd clearly been waiting outside, pushed through the door.As they led Faith away, she looked back at me, eyes red-rimmed. "Mr. Kempton, believe me. I really didn't do it."I watched them put her in the police car, my mind a tangled mess, but I nodded at her anyway."I believe you."The boy shot me a smug look and swaggered off after the officers.The studio emptied out, leaving just me, and the silence of it set my nerves on edge. I took a slow breath and pulled out my phone to start looking for a lawyer.That was when footsteps sounded at the door. A group of thugs with tattooed arms shoved their way in, the one in front eyeing me with open malice."Well, look who it is. You're the owner of this place? Business looks like it's doing pretty well."I stepped back on instinct, gripping my phone tight."What do you want?""Nothing much. Just don't like the look of you. Thought we'd rough you up a little."The thug