The 100-Point Divorce Plan

4
Chapter 5 img
Chapter 6 img
Chapter 7 img
Chapter 8 img
Chapter 9 img
Chapter 10 img
Chapter 11 img
Chapter 12 img
Chapter 13 img
Chapter 14 img
Chapter 15 img
Chapter 16 img
Chapter 17 img
Chapter 18 img
Chapter 19 img
Chapter 20 img
Chapter 21 img
Chapter 22 img
Chapter 23 img
img
1   /   1
img

Chapter 4

Ariana led the way into the restaurant, which was the same one where the accident had happened. It had been quickly renovated and reopened. She pointed out the new decorations, her hand resting possessively on Blake' s arm.

"I always dreamed of having a place like this, Blake," she said wistfully. "A space for art and beauty."

"I remember," Blake said, his voice soft. "You wanted high ceilings, exposed brick, and a crystal chandelier right in the center. You said it would 'drip starlight.' "

Ariana looked at him, amazed. "You remember that? I said that when we were seventeen."

"I remember everything you' ve ever said," he replied, and the sincerity in his voice was a knife in Caroline' s gut.

They were seated in a private booth. Blake took the menu, his eyes scanning it with practiced ease. "We' ll have the seared scallops, the truffle risotto, and the duck confit."

Ariana laughed, a light, tinkling sound. "Blake, you ordered all my favorites. You should ask Caroline what she likes." She said it with an air of sweet concern, but her eyes, when they met Caroline' s, were sharp with malice.

Blake turned to Caroline, a blank look on his face. He pushed the menu towards her. "Sorry. I... I don' t know what you like to eat."

Three years. For three years, she had cooked for him, ordered for him, packed his lunches. He had eaten the food she prepared every single day, and he didn' t know. He didn't know the simplest thing about her.

The humiliation was a physical force, pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe. She saw the smug satisfaction in Ariana' s eyes, the casual indifference in Blake' s. It was all too much.

"Excuse me," Caroline said, her voice tight. She stood up and pushed her way out of the booth. "I need some air."

She walked quickly towards the exit, desperate to escape the suffocating weight of their shared history. She heard footsteps behind her. It was Ariana.

"Let me show you the way to the powder room," Ariana said, her voice dripping with false kindness.

In the empty corridor, Ariana dropped the act. She blocked Caroline' s path.

"You should just give up, you know," Ariana said, her voice low and cold. "You see how he is with me. He remembers every little thing about me. He doesn' t even know your favorite food. You' re just a placeholder, Caroline. A temporary solution until I was ready to come back to him."

Every word was a confirmation of a truth Caroline already knew, but hearing it spoken aloud was still devastating.

"He loves me," Ariana continued, her smile turning cruel. "He built his career for me. He ran into a burning building for me. He' s giving up his future for me. What has he ever done for you?"

Caroline felt a wave of dizziness. The walls seemed to be closing in.

"What do you want, Ariana?" Caroline asked, her voice shaking.

"I want you to leave," Ariana said simply. "He' s mine. He has always been mine. You' re just in the way."

As she spoke, there was a loud creaking sound from above. Both women looked up. The large, ornate chandelier-the replacement for the one that had fallen before-was swaying ominously.

A collective gasp went through the restaurant, followed by screams.

Blake came running. His eyes darted between the two women and the falling chandelier. There was a split second of hesitation. A choice.

He lunged for Ariana.

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back, shielding her with his body as the massive fixture of crystal and metal crashed to the ground right where Caroline was standing.

The last thing Caroline saw before the world exploded in pain and went dark was Blake holding Ariana, his back to her, protecting the only person who mattered.

She woke to the blinding lights of a hospital ceiling. Every part of her body screamed in agony. Her head was bandaged, her arm was in a cast, and a sharp pain radiated from her abdomen. The room was empty. There were no flowers. No concerned husband. She was alone.

A nurse came in, her face grim. She checked Caroline' s vitals.

"You' re very lucky, Mrs. Santos. You have a concussion, a broken arm, and multiple lacerations. But you' re alive."

Caroline looked at the empty chair beside her bed.

She reached for the small purse on her nightstand. Inside, wrapped in a silk cloth, was the black journal. She found a pen. Her hand ached, but she wrote with grim determination.

-15 Points: He watched a chandelier fall on me and didn' t even try to help. He chose her.

A young nurse' s aide came in to change her IV bag. She saw the notebook. "What' s that?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"It' s a scorecard for my marriage," Caroline said, her voice flat. "When it hits zero, the game is over."

The aide leaned closer, her eyes wide. "Wow. You' re almost there. Only five points left."

Just then, the door opened, and Blake walked in. He looked tired and disheveled. He had been with Ariana. Of course, he had.

"What are you two talking about?" he asked, his gaze falling on the open journal in Caroline' s hand.

you_might_like

FALLING FOR HIS DADDY

Romance Author Jossy

He had never truly believed in her. Never loved her like he claimed. Then, he cheated on her with her only and best friend. Lost and broken, Leylla ran into a stranger in the hospital parking lot. One mistake led to a moment of wild passion. But the morning after... She discovered that the man she had slept with was none other than her ex's father and the senior surgeon at the hospital. Now her ex would rather die than see her become his stepmother, while his father is willing to lose everything for her. In the span of a moment, everything changed. A love once sweet turned sour. Two lovers turned into mortal rivals. Sweet promises turned into cruel threats. And threats? They are starting to turn real, one by one. And finally...what?

Puck Me, Stepbrother

Romance Jane Melody

Bryson POV Blackridge University was already a nightmare before I dumped hot coffee all over Julian Hayes. He's tall, built, with this perfect smirk that makes me want to punch him. Captain of the hockey team and the biggest asshole I've ever met. He destroyed me in front of everyone. Made sure I knew exactly where I stood. But then I joined the hockey team to make my mom happy, and suddenly everything changed. I could actually play. And Julian? He started looking at me like he wanted to destroy me in a whole different way. Now every practice feels like war. Every time we're alone in the locker room, I can barely breathe. I hate him. I want him. And I'm pretty sure he knows it. Julian's POV I run Blackridge University. Team captain, golden boy, everyone wants to be me or be with me. Then some transfer kid crashes into me and ruins my shirt. Bryson Miller. Smart mouth, cheap clothes, and eyes that look at me like he's not impressed. I should've crushed him and moved on. But the little shit joined my hockey team and turned out to be good. Really good. Now I can't get him out of my head. Every practice, every fight we have feels like something else entirely. Something I don't want to think about. I thought that was complicated enough. Then I walk into my house tonight and find Bryson unpacking boxes in my living room..

Impermissible Desires!

Romance Queen Muliana's Pen

This is a compilation of several spicy, steamy tales of outlawed feelings and seggs. Kitten has always loved her stepbrother, but helplessly had to hide it for fear of the consequences. She didn't want him to see her as some freak. However, an accident led to the blossoming of their intense and passionate love tale. Andrienne always liked her stepdad, but did her best to hide it. However, being caught trying to retrieve the phone her mom had seized led to a series of passionate moments. Of course, it was best to make the bed creak at night helplessly, especially since Mommy wasn't around! Isabelle was heartbroken after her mother fell in love with her new stepfather. No, she didn't have a crush on him. She had long crushed on his son, who was now her stepbrother. What would she do now that they were family? Would she be able to bottle up her feelings forever? Be sure to dive in and quench that thirst! A rollercoaster ride awaits you.

Billionaire's Unlikely Bride

Romance NovaBlaq

The Barrett family and Prescott family agreed to ally with each other 20 years ago. The son of the Barrett family was to marry the first daughter of the Prescott family. But what happens when Mason refuses to marry the unknown girl his family chose for him? In an attempt to escape this alliance, he ends up marrying the second daughter of the Prescott family, Raven. This causes the first daughter, Blair, to despise her little sister even more. Blair and her mother, Lenora, try desperately to make Mason divorce Raven, but will they succeed? What happens when a new problem arises as Mason's obsessed ex wants him back? Find out in this thrilling tale.

Billionaire's Regret: Ex Returns

Romance Joy Daniel

The day Ava Smith discovered she was pregnant, her husband handed her divorce papers. Cold, cruel, and heartless, Logan Smith claimed he never loved her and that their marriage was nothing but a deal forced by his grandparents. His true love, Arabella, had returned... and Ava was no longer needed. Heartbroken and cast out, determined to change everything. Ava thought she had lost everything, until fate led her back into the arms of the powerful brothers she thought were gone forever. When they learned the truth, they vowed to destroy the man who broke her. The forgotten had come back with more than a broken heart. She came back with a child and a legacy. Now, Logan wants her back, claiming to repay for the past years. He fell on his knees saying, "You can't marry him, I still love you. I am sorry."

Wrong Sperm Right Love

Romance Happygirl

Elara Lawson only wanted one thing: a child to love. A medical mix-up gave her more than she bargained for. Now she's pregnant with the heir of Adrian Knight cold, ruthless billionaire, and the last man she ever wanted in her life. Adrian doesn't believe in love, but he'll do anything to claim his child. His solution? A contract marriage. But Elara has her own secret: the child may have come from the wrong sperm... Yet somewhere between fiery clashes and stolen kisses, the wrong sperm may just lead to the right love. --- "Marry me." The words fell like a command, not a request. Adrian's voice was steel under velvet, the kind of tone that built empires and ruined enemies. I laughed bitterly. "You don't even know me." His eyes burned into mine, dark and unyielding beneath the soft glow of his penthouse chandelier. "I know enough. You're carrying my child. And I don't share what's mine." "This isn't business, Mr. Knight. This is my life." "Exactly," he said, stepping closer, his breath brushing my cheek. "Which is why you're going to be my wife."