Cerita Pendek Feel-Good Story & Novel Homewrecker Mind Reading

The day I learned the family's secretary had been Richard's mistress for three years, I called off the wedding without a second thought. Heartsick, I took a family flight and moved out to the West Coast, only to walked straight into an ambush. When they had me surrounded, Richard appeared out of nowhere and threw himself in front of the bullet meant for me. He ordered his most trusted guards to keep me alive, whatever it cost. Dying, he stared deep into my eyes. "Elise, I have no right to ask your forgiveness. Just live. Live well, and let me love you properly in the next." The sea ran high and wild that day, and they never found his body. By the time the rescue boat pulled me out of the water, I had already cried myself hoarse. After that I lived to eighty, carrying the guilt of him every single day. Then I opened my eyes again and found myself back, before he had ever betrayed me. This time, before I could even speak, he fired Charlotte right in front of me. Apart from family business, his greatest interest was cooking dinner for me. Everyone marveled at it. The Don himself, Richard, loved Elise nearly to the point of madness. And then, the night before our wedding, I heard his thoughts. [I'm finally about to have Elise.] [This time I can't let her find out Charlotte exists.]

I can hear what animals are thinking. Not even my husband, Corbin Whitmore, knows that secret. On our fifth anniversary, he gave me a limited-edition bag, pulled me close, and made me a promise. "From now on, I'll buy you one every year." For the past few years, he'd been swamped with work, while I'd been tied up at the animal rescue center. We hadn't even had time to celebrate our anniversaries. I thought he was just busy. I thought he still loved me. Then Banjo, the cat I'd had for seven years, jumped up on the dining table, stared at the bag, and spoke. "Mom, the lady with the red bracelet came again last night. "Every time she kisses Dad, Dad buys her a bag. "And her bracelet's missing a diamond." My heart sank. I'd given that bracelet to my cousin, Tamsin Weir. Just last month, she'd told me one of the diamonds had fallen out. When I looked up, Corbin smiled at me. "Do you like it?" I pushed down the chill in my chest and took the bag from him. "I love it." They wanted to use this bag to cover up their affair. Fine. I'd start with the bag and tear their lies apart, one by one.