Chapter 3
Angelina worked late into the night, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she answered inquiries. It wasn’t until the baby kicked hard enough to make her wince that she finally stopped to take a break.
Selling second–hand luxury goods was a hassle. People asked tons of questions, but only a few actually placed orders. Still, the sales she managed to close that day added up to about 12 thousand dollars. That kind of money could keep her going for a while.
The pile of bags and clothes that had seemed like junk earlier suddenly felt like a goldmine. After looking up their resale value, she realized they were worth enough to buy a house. Angelina’s excitement grew as she rested her hands on her belly, her thoughts racing.
If Chester could rebuild his life from nothing, selling all this could speed up the process. He’d bounce back even faster, right?
Just as she reached for a glass of water, a call lit up her phone.
“Have you signed the divorce papers with Chester yet?”
Angelina frowned at the unknown number. Since wiping her phone earlier, she only had Chester’s contact saved. She asked, “Who is this?”
On the other end of town, Kierra Harper lounged in a bar surrounded by older men. Her long legs were propped up on the table, and her tight dress left little to the imagination. She froze when she heard the reply.
“What’s wrong with you? You don’t recognize me now?”
Memories hit Angelina like a freight train. Kierra Harper! Of course. She was the worst of the so -called friends the female side character had surrounded herself with-a full–blown disaster. If anyone had led to the female side character’s downfall, it was Kierra.
“Kierra?” Angelina asked.
Kierra’s jaw dropped. “What did you just call me?”
The Angelina in the novel had never called her by her full name. It was always “babe“, sweetheart“, or something equally fake.
“Sorry, Kierra. What’s up?”
Kierra’s reply came fast. “Did you sign the papers or not? We agreed you’d call me once it’s done. I’ve got someone lined up who loves this kind of thing. It’s way easier than finding someone on your own. You’ll get money for the abortion too, so it’s not like the kid’s a total
waste.”
Angelina barely made it to the sink before she started retching. The nausea hit so hard that she
Chanvia
doubled over, coughing into the sink.
“What’s going on? You good, Mrs. Whitmore?” Kierra’s tone dripped with mockery. She had always been jealous of Angelina’s success in marrying Chester. To see it all fall apart was sweet
revenge.
“I’m fine, Kierra. I’m not getting divorced.”
It took Kierra a second to process that. She stood up, lit a cigarette, and motioned for the music to stop. The room went silent, and she stepped away.
“What do you mean, you’re not getting divorced?” Kierra asked.
The private room fell silent.
is wrong
Kierra?”
Kierra said casually, “It’s nothing. A friend ran into some trouble. I’ll handle it–don’t let it ruin the fun.”
Tossing her sleek, straight black hair over her shoulder, Kierra stepped outside the private room. Her tone turned sharp as she replied to Angelina on the phone, “Are you out of your mind? Chester’s gone bankrupt! Why haven’t you divorced him yet? What are you even thinking?”
Angelina was about to explain when Kierra said, “Oh, I get it. You’re trying to hold on to the Mrs. Whitmore‘ title to boost your worth, aren’t you? Smart move–I should’ve thought of that myself…”
Angelina interrupted, “That’s not what I mean. I’ve decided to stay with Chester and work things out.”
Kierra frowned deeply as she fixed her fake lashes, her voice dripping with disbelief. She let out a cold laugh and said, “You’re kidding, right? Did he threaten you? That loser dares to push you around? I’ll take care of him!”
Angelina said, “I’m planning to stay with Chester and build a life together. I’ve changed. I’ll have this baby.”
“You’re insane!” Kierra snapped. “Do you think he’s still the multimillionaire Mr. Whitmore? Times have changed. Now, everyone’s looking to trample on him, and that includes you. Mark my words–you’ll come begging me for help.”
“I’ve made my decision, and I won’t regret it,” Angelina said firmly.
Unbeknownst to her, Chester had planted a listening device on the couch during their earlier conversation. He was desperate to know what she truly thought, to understand what was in her heart.
And to his surprise… she was serious this time.
Chap 3
Sitting in his car, he stayed silent for a long time and eventually lit a cigarette.
Meanwhile, Angelina had just finished her shower. Her belly had grown so large that she couldn’t get her nightgown on, and she had forgotten to turn on the A/C. Sweating and frustrated, she was running out of ideas. Then, it hit her she was alone in the house.
“Right, I’m alone. Why am I even stressing about clothes?” she muttered to herself.
Wrapping herself in a towel, she left the bathroom. The towel was snug under her arms, exposing her smooth shoulders and the gentle curve of her collarbone.
Upon stepping out, Angelina froze. Chester wasn’t faring much better than her.
He quickly turned his back to her. “I–I’m sorry. I didn’t know you, uh, wouldn’t be dressed…”
“I–I didn’t know you were here! I’m so sorry!” Angelina stammered, clutching the towel. tighter as she darted toward the bedroom.
Once the door shut, she glanced in the mirror, her cheeks still flushed.
They might be husband and wife, but the female side character had only been with the male lead once–after drugging him. Ever since she got pregnant, she started living a lavish, revenge- -fueled lifestyle, buying everything in sight and indulging in every pleasure while showing him nothing but disdain.
Chester, for his part, had thrown himself into his work. A driven man like him, who always worked so hard, still ended up bankrupt. Life was unpredictable–hard work didn’t always
guarantee success.
Out on the balcony, Chester paced nervously. If Angelina truly wanted to make things right, he’d have to let go of the past and give their marriage a real shot. The past didn’t matter
anymore.
But just now…
His face turned red again. He realized he couldn’t calm down enough to think straight.
Years ago, his parents brought Angelina into their home because they had taken pity on her. She had no family in the city, so they let her eat and sleep at their house and even taught her
life lessons.
The first time she ate at their table, she avoided the meat dishes entirely, sticking to the végetables. Isadora couldn’t help but ask, “Why aren’t you eating the meat? Don’t you like it?”
Angelina had shaken her head. “I’ve never had it before.”
The look on his parents‘ faces was unforgettable. From that night on, they made sure every meal she had was hearty and full of the things she had missed growing up.
Angelina’s innocent appearance charmed everyone at first. Her big, clear eyes made it easy to trust her. But the longer you knew her, the more you saw the truth. Her sweetness was just skin -deep.
Chester sighed, thinking back to the night everything changed. She had waited until his
parents were out of town, then slipped something into his drink. When he woke up, she was in his bed, clinging to him.
The memory made him sick.
Angelina came out of the bedroom, now dressed and ready to face him. “Chester…” she started, but when their eyes met, he blushed again.
Angelina had just gotten her emotions in check, but seeing him flustered made her blush too.
“We’re supposed to be husband and wife,” she thought. “Why does this feel so awkward? If it weren’t for the baby, I’d think he was some bashful teenage boy.“
