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Chapter 44: I Dare You
An hour or two crawled by, each tick of the clock echoing in the empty room. Slowly, I took a deep breath, willing myself to pull it together. Fighting back the lingering tears, I splashed water on my face, hoping to erase any evidence of my breakdown. A quick look in the mirror confirmed my eyes weren't bloodshot anymore. Reaching for my red lipstick, I swiped it across my lips. A final touch of red on my nails completed the transformation. Staring back at me was a woman who looked strong, unbothered, anything but broken.
That's exactly how I wanted them to see me.
Downstairs, the sounds of the mansion bustling back to life pulled me from my self-imposed exile. The family was preparing for their berry picking. Taking a fortifying breath, I ventured downstairs.
The sight that greeted me was a sea of smiling faces, all gathered with baskets in hand. But something about those smiles felt forced. Living amongst these wealth
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Dust motes danced in the afternoon sunlight filtering through the lace curtains. I was standing on the porch, waiting. My attention was snagged by the hushed whispers coming from behind me.Peeking out, I caught a glimpse of two maids, their uniforms crisp."Did you see her?" one, a young woman with bright, curious eyes, whispered. "Sir Regan's wife? Yes. God, she’s so gorgeous. Now, I know why Sir Regan married her?”The other, older and more wizened, scoffed. "Hardly wife material, if you ask me. All stiff and proper, not a smile to be found. Remember Miss Zarina?"“Yes”“Now that was a perfect match for Mr. Regan. They used to laugh together all the time. Always running through these halls, picking flowers, stealing kisses in the garden…"“Really?”"They were like two peas in a pod," the older maid sighed. "Such a shame things didn't work out."I took a deep breath and ignored them but failed anyway. Their words were engraved in my mind.Soon after, the chatter and laughter grew lo
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I sighed as I glanced out the window, watching Regan, Zarina, and his cousins laughing and drinking outside. The middle-aged group had decided to go out on the lawn and have a bonfire there. I wanted to join them, but I knew it would be awkward. Besides, I didn't drink beer—I never liked the taste. Feeling a bit parched and seeing that it was already 8 PM, I decided to head down to the kitchen for a drink.As I walked into the kitchen, I was surprised to see a young boy standing near the microwave. It was Ethan, a quiet seven-year-old who rarely spoke or joined the other children. His face was still adorned with a pair of thick eyeglasses. I was sure the other kids were in the movie room with their nannies right now.I frowned, remembering that the boy was not at the dinner earlier. Seeing him alone now, I wondered why he wasn't with the others. I watched as he fiddled with the microwave, sighing to himself while his other hand was holding his iPad. With a gentle smile, I walked over
The Unwanted Wife Chapter 47: You're A Lucky Man
Regan's POVMe and my cousin were gathered on the terrace, the evening air filled with the scent of pine and the distant chirping of crickets. I leaned back in my chair, a cold beer in hand, as Reila launched into another one of her stories. She's talkative that's for sure."...and then, remember when Uncle Frank tried to impress that girl by riding Dad's old motorcycle?"Everyone burst into laughter. "He nearly broke his leg!" Tim added, slapping his knee.Zarina, sitting beside me, chuckled softly. Her laugh was like music, soft and light."He didn't walk right for weeks," she added, shaking her head and turning to me. "Right?""How did you know that?" Reila asked, laughing.Zarina pointed at me, "He told me.""I knew it," Reila said.I shrug, "It's not meant to keep a secret."Zarina laughed and I looked at her. She has a pretty smile and just an angelic face that made me fall for her even now unlike Anastasia who has this fierce and tough expression she always has. They are even d
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Anastasia’s POVSoon after we finished the delicious meal, Ethan and I sat on the stools at the counter, facing each other. He was a little messy eater, but his tiny chomps were full of such enthusiasm that it was hard not to smile. "So, how's the food, champ?" I asked, leaning forward to get a better look at his cute, sauce-covered face.He stopped mid-chew, his brow furrowed in deep concentration for a moment, before offering a reluctant nod. A bubbly laugh escaped my lips, and I reached over with a napkin to wipe the red streak of tomato sauce from around his lips.Just then, a voice cut through our little moment. We both turned towards the door to see Regan leaning on a door frame, arms crossed, looking a little flushed but definitely not drunk. I felt a sudden rush of nerves, wondering how long he had been standing there watching us. My cheeks flushed as I straightened up, trying to maintain composure."Hey there," he said, "What's going on?"Ethan and I exchanged a glance, an
The Unwanted Wife Chapter 49: Hunting
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Soon after, I found myself in front of the mirror in our bedroom. I had just stepped out of the shower, steam still clinging to the air, when the bedroom door creaked open. My mother-in-law entered, holding an outfit in her hands."Anastasia, dear, I brought you something for the hunt," she said, handing me the hunting gear. "You'll look perfect in this. Good luck later.""Thank you"She placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry about a thing. Hunting is more about patience and being in the moment. Just enjoy yourself and stay close to Regan.""Will do. Thanks again," I said, feeling a bit more at ease.After she left, I changed into the outfit. The rugged fabric felt strange against my skin, but I admired the way it looked in the mirror. The gear consisted of a fitted camo jacket and pants, sturdy boots, and a wide-brimmed hat that framed my face nicely. My dark hair, usually worn loose, was pulled back in a practical braid t
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“He says he hates you,” she continued, her voice dripping with venom. “That he’s sick of your presence.”I shrugged, forcing a nonchalant smile. “Really? I don’t care what you say. He’s still with me, and that doesn’t change the fact that I am his wife.”Zarina’s eyes flashed with anger. She stepped closer, her teeth gritted. “You’re thick-faced, aren’t you? Why don’t you just let him go?! He doesn’t love you!”“I don’t care. I expected as much when I married him. And honey I’ll decide when to let him go, and I don’t have any plans to do so anytime soon.”Her face twisted with rage. “You’re delusional,” she hissed. “You’re living in a fantasy.”“Maybe I am. But it’s my fantasy, and as long as I’m his wife, I’ll fight for it," I pointed at her. "While you will be stuck as his side piece. A woman he can never be proud of. A woman he will never show off to parties or show to his business partners."Tears formed in her eyes as she gl
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"He'll be back, Anastasia. He will be back" I muttered to myself.Minutes passed, each one stretching longer than the last. I tried to calm my racing thoughts, focusing on the sounds of nature around me. The leaves rustling, the distant calls of birds, and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot. But the longer I stood there alone, the more the fear began to creep in. I glanced around, trying to catch a glimpse of Regan. I was now anxiously tapping my foot on the ground.Then, suddenly, another gunshot rang out, much closer this time. I jumped, my breath catching in my throat. Panic started to set in, and I had to force myself to stay calm. Regan had told me to wait, and I had to trust that he would come back for me.As the minutes dragged on, I hugged my arms around myself, trying to fend off the chill that seemed to seep into my bones. I sat on the root of the tree, waiting. Two hours had already passed, and my nerves were fraying as the shadows grew lon
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- The Unwanted Wife Chapter 44: I Dare You
