Five Years Wasted Novels & Stories

Jayden’s POV I already knew that the day had started wrong as soon as I stepped into my office building. “Goodmorning, Mr. Jayden,” someone said as I passed. I nodded without really looking at who greeted me“Morning.” But there was nothing “morning” about this day. The Five-Year City Project. That was all everyone had been talking about for weeks. It was the kind of project that only came once every five years in New York. The project was going to give big money and bigger expectations. The kind of project that could either push the company to the top or ruin everything we had built.

I won't let Sebastian and Natasha win. What do I do now? My mind races as I try to come up with a backup plan. I need something bigger. I need something that will destroy Sebastian’s image so completely that no amount of “lovey-dovey” couple photos can save him. And right then, the answer hits me. Vanessa. The bitch he left me for in the past five years ago. Quickly, I grab my laptop and open the folder I have been keeping for five years. There it is. The video of Sebastian proposing to Vanessa five years ago on that live television show.

I stared at the message for a long time before replying, "You're the one who chose this path, Simon. You had plenty of chances to turn back. You could have stopped what was happening when Lydia married me, or when she got pregnant, or when Lindsey was born. "However, you chose the worst possible path. You can't blame anyone for your decisions." I blocked Simon's number after sending the message, finally ending the most painful chapter of my life. My phone lit up a few minutes later. I had just received a new message in the work chat. The project I was working on in my new company was proceeding smoothly. The director, Vincent Ellis, declared he would treat us to a celebratory meal. "Got it.

"What are you talking about? What kindergarten? Who's Dottie?" My hair stood, my tears threatening to run down my face. "What are you saying? Dottie, our daughter—Dorothy Grant!" A helpless sigh escaped him. "Honey, we've been married for five years. Both of us work and decide not to have children. You've never even given birth." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had never given birth? Who was that girl this morning who clung to my neck and smelled like milk and honey? What about the scar on my belly, the one I got from giving birth to her?

He was afraid that a scheming, calculating woman like me would bully his innocent fiancee. My fingers brushed over the documents, and a soft chuckle escaped me. I'd devoted ten years to him, even risking my life more than once. In the end, it was only worth this much. As it turned out, I was barely worth anything to Jared. "Take these back," I said calmly. "And pass along a message for me. Tell Mr. Sheppard that we'll just pretend nothing ever happened over these past few years. I'm done messing around, too."

I clutched the copy of the signed divorce papers tightly against my chest, the paper crinkling under my fingers. The tears finally came, spilling over my cheeks as I sat alone in the dark, empty house. "Five years," I whispered through my sobs, the sound echoing off the high ceilings. "I wasted five whole years loving a man who never chose me.” If that wasn't pathetic, what was?

"We partied too hard last night and forgot to use protection—don't forget to buy morning-after pills for your wife." Looking at the woman's smooth bare back and the red mole on her neck in the photo, I felt absolutely nothing. Again. Five years of marriage, and this wasn't the first time. Kathy liked to test me this way. She called it her "little experiment." The first time, she "accidentally" left a receipt for condoms on the nightstand. I got angry and confronted her, but she just smiled with contempt. "Why are you so petty? My girlfriends and I bought that on purpose just to see how you'd react." The second time was on our wedding anniversary. A guy showed up at our door with a bouq

It was a mockery. Every time he proudly told others we were in an older woman–younger man relationship, underneath that pride was nothing but disgust. When he swore he’d take care of me, that I’d never need to touch my dad’s money, it wasn’t love. He was just afraid I’d compete with Dawn. What a ridiculous five years it had been. Next year, I’d be thirty, and my entire twenties would end in lies and betrayal. I stood in front of the mirror and smiled faintly. A fine line had appeared at the corner of my eye. As I lifted my hand and touched my reflection, the line seemed to disappear for a moment.

While I packed Jack’s briefcase, I found a marriage certificate tucked inside. The official seal had been stamped across the document. In the photo, Jack and another girl smiled at the camera, looking happy and perfectly at ease. My hands trembled as I grabbed the certificate and placed it in front of him. Jack only glanced at it. His expression did not change as he calmly continued eating. “Layla Watson. You know her. She’s the daughter of a minor business associate. “She was attacked last year. Her parents happened to be away, so I stepped in and helped her. Her family’s business has been struggling lately, and they wanted to force her into an arranged marriage to secure some money. S

My older sister was suffering from severe hemorrhaging during a traumatic childbirth, and her life was in danger. On her deathbed, she called for me. Looking at her pale face, I wept and swore that I would take good care of her child. However, she shook her head weakly. “I don’t need you to take care of him. Chloe, the baby belongs to your husband.” In an instant, my world fell silent. My husband, Ethan, stepped forward and took my sister’s hand. With bloodshot eyes, he dropped to his knees right in front of me. “We never wanted to hurt you, so we kept it a secret,” he sobbed. “Now that she’s dying, we only ask for your blessing.” Numb with shock, I stiffly picked up a pen and signed th