Home / Seventeen Years Waiting, Fourteen Years Betrayed / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of Seventeen Years Waiting, Fourteen Years Betrayed: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

It was only when everyone noticed Huntley Gray's terrible expression that they followed his gaze toward me.When they spotted me, their eyes darted away uneasily.My best friend, Nova Willis, was the first to walk over, a stiff smile plastered on her face."Ains, we only kept this from you for your own good. I mean, everyone knows you care about Huntley more than life itself."Besides, Quinn really isn't as mean-spirited as you used to make her out to be. Think about it. Your mom was her dad's mistress, and her mom ended up jumping off a building because of it. Anyone would have a problem with the mistress' daughter after that, right?"And let's be honest, you can't live without Huntley anyway. And since your mom is used to being the other woman, I'm sure a marriage certificate isn't really that big of a deal to a mistress' daughter like you."Her tone was so sincere, so full of gentle reasoning.It was just like in high school, when Quinn Pallard had locked me in a bathroom and

Chapter 2

Huntley pulled his hand away from Quinn's waist. After asking the crowd to leave first, he started to walk toward me, only to stop halfway."I'll take everyone home first," he said. "I'll explain everything once I get back later."One by one, the guests shook their heads and sighed, looking at me as if I were the unreasonable one who kept pushing.As the crowd dispersed, Quinn walked over to me with a bright smile. "I told you a long time ago—the daughter of a mistress doesn't deserve happiness. From now on, whenever you're in front of me, the legal wife, make sure you keep your head down."Mom went deathly pale. She steadied herself before shouting furiously at Quinn, "Your father was the one who tried to assault me back then! He failed, and that's why he made up those rumors! I'm not the mistress, and there's no way my daughter will ever be one!"Quinn crossed her arms and let out a cold laugh."Rumors? Is a detail as specific as the mole on your waist just a rumor, too? Do you

Chapter 3

Thankfully, there were plenty of kind strangers at the restaurant, and they helped me get Mom to the hospital.She'd suffered a brain hemorrhage brought on by sudden, extreme emotional distress.When she finally came out of the operating room, I couldn't stop crying as I listened to the steady beeping of the heart monitor and stared at her pale, bloodless face.I stayed by her bedside all night, but Huntley didn't call me even once. Nova, however, posted an update on her social media.The photo showed Quinn's father solemnly placing Quinn's hand in Huntley's, while the caption read, "Seeing my bestie find her happily ever after… I think I'm happier than she is!"It wasn't until my body was about to give out that the door to the hospital room finally opened. Huntley had finally arrived.He steadied me as I swayed on my feet. "Why didn't you hire a private nurse? Look at the dark circles under your eyes. Are you trying to worry me to death?"The concern in his eyes left me dazed f

Chapter 4

The arms holding me went rigid. Huntley's heart pounded so frantically it felt like it might burst out of his chest.He kissed me, wild and desperate. "You don't want to love me anymore? How can you be so cruel as to say such words?"I clenched my jaw shut, feeling nothing but utter disgust. Unable to take it any longer, I bit down hard on his lip.He wiped the blood trickling from his mouth and let out a cold laugh."Don't forget, Ainsley. All your money is in our joint bank account. If you leave me, how are you going to pay your mom's medical bills?"My whole body shuddered as I stared at him in utter disbelief.He knew. He knew exactly how I'd scraped together every penny, all so we could save enough to buy our future home as quickly as possible.But now, that money had become a weapon for him to threaten me.Overwhelmed by grief and rage, my voice naturally grew louder. "What the hell do you want from me? Just what do I have to do for you to let me go?"He looked at me."

Chapter 5

Quinn and I plunged through the tree branches and thick bushes before crashing onto the soft, rain-soaked ground below.Bystanders rushed us to the ER.When I came out of surgery, Huntley stayed glued to my bedside, refusing to leave. His deep-set eyes were filled with regret and anguish.Unable to stand it any longer, Titus came looking for him, grabbed him by the collar, and glared at him furiously."What did you promise me when you first got together with Quinn?" he growled. "You knew damn well I had feelings for her, but for the sake of our friendship, I stepped aside. And what did you do?"Quinn is lying in another room, fighting for her life! She's the one you married, and you're not even going to go take a look at her?"Huntley went rigid.His mind flashed back to when they had just graduated high school. He and Titus had been out carefully picking a birthday gift for me when they happened to see Quinn being dragged off by several delinquents.One glance was enough to te

Chapter 6

Nova froze on the spot.Right. When did she start leaning toward Quinn?Back in high school, Nova was always right beside me, ready to throw down like a soldier. She fought so hard to protect me.Yet I was the one up on the podium giving speeches. I was the one the teachers praised. And I was the one both Huntley and Titus shielded.Even though she came from a better background, Titus' eyes never once settled on her.At that thought, her gaze flicked over to Titus, only to follow his eyes straight to Quinn in the hospital bed.Her heart sank, and her face went pale.Huntley turned to Aaron and Jessie. "We might not have been married these past 17 years, but didn't Ains constantly urge me to visit you two?"Didn't you both swear to treat her like your own daughter? Her mother died. The only family she had passed right in front of her. How the hell do you expect her to stay calm? How could she not lose her mind?"Aaron and Jessie went completely blank.They remembered how I use

Chapter 7

Huntley continued to care for me, never leaving my side. He constantly caressed my pale face, reminiscing over every little detail of our 17 years together.It was only when he went to get water for me that on his way back, he caught Quinn sneaking into my hospital room.His chest tightened, and he quickened his pace.Reaching the doorway, he saw Quinn glaring at me, venting her rage."Ainsley, since I woke up and you're still in a coma, it means God is on my side. You're honestly ridiculous. Your best friend unconditionally took my side and believed your mom was the mistress who killed mine, all over a few tearful sob stories from me."And Huntley too. Just because he never posted about me on social media, he felt so consumed by guilt that he thought me bullying you for three years was totally understandable. They have no idea that during a rare moment of clarity, my dad told me the truth about back then."Turns out it was just like you said. My dad tried to force himself on you

Chapter 8

Titus stared at Quinn, his voice heavy with interrogation. "So when you came to me in private, saying what happened with Huntley was all a huge misunderstanding, that you had feelings for me and wished I'd been the one to save you that night…"For 14 years, I showered you with everything I had, and you never once turned me down. Was all of it just a lie?"Quinn let out a cold, contemptuous smirk. "You actually bought it? What are you, an idiot? Why would I turn down a door-mat who gives me everything with zero boundaries?"Titus' face went pale as he stared at her in stunned disbelief.Nova pulled her hand back from supporting Quinn as well. "You knew all along that Titus was in love with you, yet you kept saying you wanted to set us up. Was that a lie too?"Quinn fired back with pure scorn, "I swear, I have no idea how someone as clueless as you ever became friends with Ainsley. Back in high school, she got on her knees and begged me just to keep me from taking things out on you.

Chapter 9

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Huntley's drawn, exhausted face.At the sight of me waking, a wave of desperate joy washed over him. His hands trembled as he gripped mine tight."Ains, it's been a month. You're finally awake. I thought I lost you forever…"Watching his intense display of devotion, I felt a strange sense of detachment."Where's my mom?" I asked.Huntley's hand went rigid, and a forced smile cracked on his face. "Ains, I took care of everything. She's been laid to rest. It's a beautiful plot in the city's finest cemetery, surrounded by greenery. You don't have to worry."Silent tears slid down my cheeks.Right. Mom was gone. She was killed by Quinn.She died on the very day she thought I was finally going to be happy.I closed my eyes. "Get out. I don't want to see you.""Ains…" Huntley's voice cracked, choked with agonizing desperation.I gave him no response.From the moment I woke up, Huntley acted like a terrified child who knew he'd mess

Chapter 10

According to what Huntley had told me, I made my way to Mom's grave.As I traced the photo on her headstone, my vision blurred with tears all over again.I remembered how she had held me tightly back when those nasty mistress rumors first started spreading."I've got a clean conscience, sweetie. Lies don't last forever. I just hate that you have to suffer because you've got a single mom."I remembered the day Huntley agreed to meet her to discuss our wedding. She had spent hours trying on outfit after outfit. Her voice had trembled with excitement and anxiety."This is the biggest day of your life. I've got to look my absolute best so I don't embarrass you."I remembered waiting in that private room for three hours, only for Huntley to never show. I watched Mom's bright anticipation fade slowly into quiet disappointment.Even then, she comforted me instead, saying, "He's probably just tied up at work. It's okay, Ains. There's always tomorrow. We'll just reschedule for another ti

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