Caring for a Monster in Disguise のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 8

The day after the funeral, the sky was oppressively gloomy.I went to the crematorium to collect Delilah's ashes, wrapping the urn carefully in the white shirt I had bought for her but never got the chance to see her wear. The moment I returned home and pushed the door open, I froze.The place had been completely transformed. All the cheap furniture Avery had ruined over the past two years was gone, replaced by a luxurious custom-made couch.Avery sat on the couch, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, her hair immaculately done. Beside her sat Jacob Colton, her childhood friend.When she saw me carrying the urn, she stood and flashed a gentle yet condescending smile."Oliver, you're back." She walked toward me, her tone casual, as though everything were perfectly fine. "Don't be surprised. I'm completely recovered now. Thank you for taking care of me all this time."Jacob snorted and looked me up and down, his gaze lingering on my pale, exhausted face."Oliver, Avery put a lo

After leaving the apartment, I checked into a cheap motel. For three days, I stayed locked inside the room with Delilah's ashes, never once stepping outside. During those three days, Avery practically blew up my phone.At first, her calls were filled with arrogance and certainty. Then, they became angry and frustrated. By the end, they sounded close to pleading.I didn't answer any of her calls. In the end, I removed the SIM card from my phone and flushed it down the toilet.On the fourth day, I found myself staring at the giant LED screen in the city center. A news announcement played on repeat—Moore Group would soon be hosting a grand gala to celebrate the recovery and return of the Moore family's heiress.The report also hinted that, during the event, Avery would propose to the mysterious boyfriend who had stood by her through her darkest years.I knew that it was the "gift" Avery had prepared for me. She probably believed that as long as she dangled the title of "the Moore f

The next day, I received a notice that my landlord was reclaiming the shop. Soon after, every supplier at the flower market refused to sell to me, and the town's only shipping company stopped handling my deliveries.Avery had rented an entire building directly across from my flower shop. Every day, she sat by the floor-to-ceiling windows with a glass of wine in hand, watching me like a hunter watching its prey.Then, she had a truckload of premium imported roses delivered and spread across the entire street, drawing the whole town's attention.She was trying to force me to give in.However, I just calmly called an old recycler and sold the remaining flowers for 50 dollars a truckload.Over the past year, I had saved enough money to get by for a while. I also spent my spare time making handcrafted woven flowers and selling them at a small beachside stand.Every day followed the same routine—eat, sleep, and watch the ocean. The only thing I refused to do was acknowledge Avery's exi

Startled, Marie took a step back, frowning at the lunatic who had just charged into the shop."Avery! Have you lost your mind?"I hurried over, grabbing Avery's wrist and pulling it away. Then, I shielded Marie behind me.The force sent Avery stumbling backward. The movement pulled at the wounds on her back, causing the color to drain from her face.But she didn't care about the pain. Her eyes were locked on me—on the way I was protecting Marie. She looked as though she'd been struck by lightning."Oliver… You're protecting her? You're actually protecting another woman?"She pointed at Marie, trembling from head to toe as tears spilled down her face."I was willing to die for you! I gave up Moore Group! I jumped into the ocean for you! I shielded you from that glass! I even threw away every ounce of my pride! Why won't you even look at me, but you can smile at another woman?""Because she's a human being. And you're a monster," I said, meeting her gaze without hesitation. "Aver