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All Chapters of Better Broken Than Bent: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

I pulled the bangle off my wrist. It was a size larger, so doing so was easy.My husband, Xavier Marshall, noticed what I did and turned around, furrowing his brows. “Jennie, what are you doing?“There are so many relatives around, and they all saw me give this bangle to you. What would they think, seeing you take it off?”I felt my blood turn cold at his words, and I subconsciously tightened my grip over the prenatal checkup report in my bag that I hadn’t shown him.“The bangle is too large, and I don’t feel comfortable wearing it, that’s why I took it off,” I explained, making up an excuse.Xavier clearly didn’t believe me. “Jennie, don’t overthink things, alright?“You’re small and skinny in stature, and it’s hard to find a bangle in your size. I could only find something slightly bigger. Why can’t you just make do with it?”I looked right into his eyes, suddenly finding his face that I had seen for a decade so unfamiliar.Xavier would never behave like this in the past.Du

Chapter 2

“You know that I have a severe seafood allergy. The only thing I can eat at this table is bread.”His best friend, Melissa Shanks, who was tucking into the food heartily, put her spoon down with some hesitation. She first looked at Xavier, and then at me.“Sorry, Jennifer. I just came back from a coastal city and can’t really stomach anything else aside from seafood. Xavier didn’t do it on purpose.“He remembered you can’t eat seafood.”As she spoke, her bangle hit the side of the table with a clear, sharp clink.Everyone’s attention was drawn to it.She slowly pulled the bangle off her wrist and put it on the table, tugging Xavier’s sleeve. “And the bangle.”She paused for a while before continuing, “I don’t really need a bangle, but since you’re upset, please take it back!”The veins on Xavier’s forehead popped. He looked at me and said, “I can’t just be thinking of you all the time. It’s a family gathering, after all.”“But you can just give in to her?” I questioned.Frust

Chapter 3

When I rushed to the hospital, I registered myself at the emergency department. However, because there were two patients before me, I had to wait by the side.I didn’t expect to bump into Xavier and Melissa as I waited.When Xavier saw me, he was stunned for a few seconds before his arms that were around Melissa’s shoulders dropped awkwardly.Melissa smiled at me as though nothing had happened. “Jennifer, Xavier is here with me to get my injury checked and treated. There’s no need to panic, and you didn’t have to rush over.”I tightened my grip over my queue slip and said nothing.“Didn’t I tell you to wait for me to go home and pick you up? Why did you come here yourself? Do you feel very bad?”Xavier walked to me and took my queue slip.“Oh, Xavier. Jennifer was worried about you. Can’t you tell?” Melissa leaped to Xavier’s side and plucked my queue slip from his fingers.“Oh, Jennifer. You’re really well-prepared. But it doesn’t seem good to pretend to be sick and make use o

Chapter 4

I forced myself to stand up. I didn’t want to waste my breath on them and wanted to go into the consultation room first.But Melissa suddenly stuck her foot out.I didn’t notice it at first and tripped on it. The impact made Melissa lose her balance as well, and she fell forward, too.Xavier instinctively caught Melissa.I fell hard on the ground, hitting my belly along the way. The pain was so excruciating that I couldn’t get up.Xavier turned around and made a move to pull me up, but he was distracted by Melissa, who yelped in pain.“It hurts! Xavier, I hit my injured leg,” she said as she choked back tears, as though trying to bear with the pain.His attention immediately returned to Melissa as he hauled her up in his hands and walked into the consultation room.Some other patients in the waiting area pitied me and helped me up.As I thanked them, I stood up slowly and calmly took another queue number again.Just then, my phone buzzed with incoming texts.I clicked them o

Chapter 5

“Her husband picked her up?” Xavier exclaimed, stunned. He walked away from the counter and started to call me. However, I had just come out of surgery and was still unconscious. Naturally, I couldn’t answer his call.He started to panic and hurried home. Yet, when he pushed the door open, he didn’t see anyone in the living room.There wasn’t anyone in the bedroom, study, or kitchen either.However, the bangle that didn’t fit me was lying on the dressing table, drawing his attention immediately.At the thought of what happened today, he grumbled rather indignantly, “Is this necessary, over something so trivial?”It was already the next morning by the time I saw his messages. I struggled to sit up on the bed and saw a man seated at my bedside.I paused for a few seconds before saying, “Thanks, John.” That was when I realized how hoarse my voice was.John looked deeply at me before pouring me a glass of water. It was frighteningly silent in the house until he finally said, “Jenn

Chapter 6

“I’ve printed the divorce papers,” I said as I signaled to John to help me take the papers out. “It’s just a draft, though. You can raise any questions you have.”Xavier’s hand shook as he gripped his phone tight. “It’s just two bangles, Jennifer. I’ll have two more made in your size tomorrow. Can we not proceed with the divorce?”I almost laughed out of sheer frustration. After a moment’s pondering, I said, “That reminds me of something.”I went on as he looked at me with hope reignited in his eyes, “The gift that Melissa received is considered joint marital property. I have the right to get it back.“But this doesn’t have anything to do with you anymore. I will get my lawyer to contact her.”Xavier’s face darkened with displeasure. “Jennifer, must you really be so ruthless?”I looked up at him. “Am I? At least I didn’t give a friend a bangle worth hundreds of thousands or prioritize my friend when you needed to see the doctor.”Xavier fell silent.I shut my eyes, feeling tire

Chapter 7

I took out some papers. “This is the divorce agreement which I had shown you the last time. Since you didn’t raise any objections, please sign it.”I paused for a moment before going on, “I’ve had my lawyer calculate the money you used for buying gifts. All the details are in the agreement.”He took it and slowly flipped through the document, his head bowed. A moment later, he looked up and said, “According to this agreement, I need to compensate you $50,000 for the bangle alone. However, Melissa damaged the bangle, and by right, I shouldn’t be compensating you the full amount, should I?”I leaned back into the chair. “That’s why I asked you to arrive at an agreement with Melissa.” Melissa’s face was dark with displeasure.“Xavier Marshall, I didn’t force you to buy the bangle. Why should I be bearing the cost of compensation?” she asked.As I observed the look on Xavier’s face, I could guess that they must have been at odds with each other for a long time over the compensation of

Chapter 8

When I heard Melissa’s threat before she left, I knew Xavier would be in trouble.I just didn’t expect that trouble to explode right in front of me.I was surprised to receive a call from Xavier’s mom.The first thing she said through her tears was, “Jennie, please, I’m begging you. Help Xavier out!”She cried, “I was wrong about Melissa. She went all the way to Xavier’s office and kicked up a fuss there just over the bangle!“She accused Xavier of sexually harassing her while he was married and even tricking her into running up debt.“His company has now suspended him from his job. Please, Jennifer. Help him out and clear his name. You know that Xavier didn’t do any of that!“Jennifer, you were the one who gave him this job opportunity. If you step forward and help clarify the truth, I’m sure you’ll be able to clear his name!”“I’m sorry, but I can’t help.”Silence ensued on the other end of the line.I went on, “This is between Xavier and Melissa. It’s not appropriate for m

Chapter 9

I bowed my head and looked at the two very beautiful bangles as I felt the anger in my heart that I had been suppressing all along finally dissipate.“There's no need for this,” I said without any hesitation as I pushed the bangles back to him.“If I see something I like, I can buy it for myself.” I lifted my arm to show him a glass-grade jadeite bangle hanging on my wrist.I bought it with money I had originally saved up for the baby.Before sizing the bangle, the jeweller told me, “You have a smaller wrist size, ma’am. If I were to size it according to your wrist, it might be harder to resell it next time.”I nodded immediately. “Yes. Please customize the bracelet based on the measurement I gave you.”The custom-made bangle was beautiful and fitted me perfectly. It didn’t scrape my wrist when I wore it, and I didn’t need to worry it would drop off when I lowered my arm.I should be living a life where I refused to settle for less, but I had been ensnared by love.Thankfully,

Chapter 10

After another week, I received an email from the school abroad that I had applied to.I was accepted.I told John the good news, and he was happy for me, even offering to help me pack.“John, I’m not a child. I can pack my own luggage,” I said jokingly, but the look on his face suddenly turned solemn.“Actually, I… wish to go with you,” he said.I stood stunned, at a loss for what to think. I looked at him, unsure of what to say.“Jennie, I’ve been waiting for you all along,” he said as he looked me in the eye. “I like you and love you. That has never changed since the past until now.“So, you…”“I’m sorry, John,” I cut him off as I stood up slowly. “I think I’m not ready for a new relationship just yet.“It’s not fair to you, and it makes me uneasy,” I said as I bowed my head. I was the one who asked him for his help, so rejecting him made me feel guilty.He looked to be in a daze for a moment before he smiled.“I’m the one who should be apologizing,” he said tenderly. “I a

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