Todos los capítulos de Reclaiming My Worth: The Rejected Plus-Sized Wife: Capítulo 21 - Capítulo 30

GarethI wasn’t looking forward to tonight. I stood outside my mother’s front door longer than I needed to, already wondering how I was going to get through dinner with her and Viviana.Maybe today I would finally say what I’d been holding back. I had decided on my way there that I wasn’t leaving tonight without making myself clear to Viviana, and most especially my mother, that her subtle hope of Viviana and I somehow getting back together wasn’t happening. I knocked once before letting myself in.“There he is,” my mother called from the dining room, already standing to greet me. “We were starting to think you weren’t coming.”“I said I’d come. I keep my word.” I kissed her cheek, then looked toward the couch area, where Viviana sat looking as put-together as she always did, as though she already knew tonight would end in her favor.“Garett.” Viviana smiled warmly. “You look dashing.”“You don’t look bad yourself.”Viviana pulled me into a hug, then took my hand.“Dinner will be se

CamilleI could feel my heart racing as Gareth pulled me closer, his lips taking all of mine.Everything about the moment felt charged. Heat swept across my body as I felt his every touch, and there was no pretending this was just a kiss or that I didn’t know where the night was heading. I craved it. I wanted it to go even further. His hand moved to my waist, pulling me closer as he pressed sweet kisses along my neck. I moaned softly, feeling like everything Gareth was doing to me was what I had been denied and starved of for so long.When his fingers caught the edge of my top, I suddenly stiffened.Gareth noticed immediately and pulled back slightly to look at me.“What is it? Do you feel uncomfortable?”I looked away, suddenly conscious of my body, and insecure because it wasn’t the ideal of anything sexy, and showing another man that part of me still made me nervous.“I just…” I hesitated. “I don’t know how to bare all of myself to you.”He gave me a reassuring look, his eyes hold

CamilleThe flight over had been nothing like the cramped commercial flights I was used to. Gareth’s private jet made the whole journey feel like part of the getaway itself rather than something we had to endure before it began.Gareth’s hand found mine as we made our way through the small airport, and I let myself lean fully into the moment. We were actually here. Santorini.“Enjoying the view?” Gareth asked, catching me looking out toward the horizon.“It’s hard not to.”The drive from the airport wound along cliffside roads, the Aegean Sea stretching endlessly on one side, whitewashed buildings with their signature blue domes dotted the hills, looking almost unreal against the bright sky.“This is beautiful,” I breathed, taking it all in.“Wait until sunset. Then you’ll really understand why I had to bring you here.”When we arrived at the villa, I could only stare. It was private and perched high above the caldera, with a view that stole what little breath I had left, I was alre

CamilleThe silence stretched between us, the sound of the waves suddenly too loud in the space where his response should have been.“Camille—““I’m not trying to start a fight,” I said. “I just need you to actually hear what bothers me. ““I do hear you.” “Then why does it feel like you’re more concerned with defending yourself than understanding why I’m upset?”He paused, visibly recalibrating. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I should have told you about her before now.”“You should have told me the moment she came back into the picture. Not after I found out by accident, mid conversation.”“I know. I wasn’t trying to keep you in the dark. I just didn’t think it warranted any weight you’re giving it.”“It warrants weight because your mother is involved. And from what you’ve said so far she’s the woman your mother would want for you.”“My mother doesn't get to decide for me.”Gareth, be realistic. Yes, she cannot decide for you but she wouldn’t accept your choice either.”“Let’s not think

GarethMr. Sterling?”“How is my mother?”“She’s stable at the moment. We’ve run some in initial tests, and we’re waiting on a few more results.”“Was it her heart?”“We’re not certain yet. Her symptoms suggest we take a closer look, which is why we’re keeping her under observation.”“Can I see her?”“Briefly. She’s tired, but stable enough for a short visit.”I walked into the room and pushed the door open quietly.My mother was lying in the hospital bed, looking pale and worn out, the usual sharpness in her expression missing.“You finally show up,” she said, her voice weaker than usual. “I almost thought you didn’t care about your mother.”“I got here as fast I could. I was away on a trip.”“A trip?” she raised an eyebrow. “I never knew you were out of town, Gareth.”“It was just a quick getaway, which I had to cut short. I took the next available flight down here when I received word from Viviana.”“Viviana. You see how amazing she is, right?”“Give me a break, Mother. Anyone coul