Todos los capítulos de Half a Life of Love, Half a Life of Regret: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 9

When I woke again, I was completely alone.I checked myself out of the hospital and went home.Lily was sitting on the couch like she owned the place, hugging one of my throw pillows.Diane sat nearby, telling James stories about Lily's childhood.The three of them looked perfectly at ease together.If I hadn't walked in, they could have stayed that way.I accidentally bumped a vase by the entryway.All three of them looked over.The warm atmosphere vanished instantly.Diane stood up awkwardly. "Mrs. Mercer, you're back. I'll make you some tea."Lily frowned and gave James a hurt look.James leaned back on the couch, idly playing with Lily's fingers."No need, Diane."Then he added, "You're not the housekeeper anymore. You're Lily's mother."Diane wouldn't meet my eyes.I had no interest in forcing myself into their cozy little scene, so I went straight to the home office.I still had paperwork to finish for my PhD program. I was leaving for Ashford the day after tomorrow, so I needed

I hired an attorney and gave him every note I'd made about my inspiration, along with records of my painting process.After looking through everything, he shook his head."It's going to be difficult."My heart sank. "Why? Isn't this enough to prove the paintings are mine?""I'm afraid not."He looked over the documents again."Your name isn't on any of this. They could even turn around and accuse you of copying her."All the strength drained out of me."I understand."A storm was raging outside.I walked through the rain alone and made my way to Hillside Memorial Cemetery.Rain streamed down my face until I couldn't tell whether I was crying anymore.I reached out and brushed my fingers over my mother's faded photograph on the headstone."Mom, I can't get them back. What am I supposed to do?"The only answer was the sound of rain falling over the hillside.I stood there for a long time. By the time the rain stopped, my legs had gone numb. I took a deep breath and turned to leave.That

The moment the cold automated voice came through the phone, James froze.It felt as though he'd been hit hard in the chest. He swayed on his feet and nearly lost his balance.The house manager quickly caught him."Are you all right? Should I call a doctor?"James waved him off, still dazed."No. Leave me."A few minutes later, everyone had cleared out of the house.James sat alone on the couch, dialing the same number over and over again.Within seconds, his face went from tense to deathly pale.Raina was gone.He couldn't find her.The thought cut through his heart like a blade.Without hesitation, he shot to his feet and ran outside.On the way, he kept trying her number, but every call failed.He floored the gas and sped toward Hillside Memorial Cemetery.She had to be there.James's hands trembled on the steering wheel.She had to still be there. She had to be waiting for him.The screech of brakes shattered the quiet outside the cemetery.The gate attendant barely had time to reac

Raina's POVSeasons came and went, year after year.To me, time had become little more than sunrises and sunsets, tides coming in and going out.Before I knew it, I had been in Ashford for five years.In those five years, I earned my PhD, held my own exhibition, and traveled farther than I ever had before.I witnessed the great migration across the savanna.I saw breathtaking northern lights and stood before endless stretches of open sea.They were all things I never would have dared dream of during the years I was married to James.There was only one thing that still weighed on me.The divorce.Over the years, the attorney I'd retained back home had told me more than once that James was fighting the divorce every step of the way.Whenever my attorney tried to move the case toward a final judgment after years of separation, James's legal team filed another motion or found another way to delay the proceedings.And so, five years later, I still didn't have a final divorce decree.At firs