\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing this, Kai\u2019s face went dark instantly. He snapped:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho hit the thousandth like?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The messenger looked confused and explained nervously:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t me! Lia borrowed my phone when she came to get her resignation papers. She clicked it herself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cResignation? Who authorized her resignation?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Sterling is one of the company shareholders. She can decide her own employment status. That\u2019s the rule you set, sir. Did you forget?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, she can kiss her company shares goodbye then.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Sterling withdrew all her investments a few days ago.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWithdrew? That\u2019s impossible!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A flash of panic crossed Kai\u2019s face. But Olivia, completely missing his distress, kept running her mouth:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLia\u2019s just playing games to make you cave. Classic manipulation tactics. Kai, don\u2019t let her fool you again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kai didn\u2019t respond, just kept staring at his phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He tried to text me, then remembered he\u2019d blocked me ages ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing this, Olivia sighed softly and said with fake concern:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI could tell from the beginning that Lia wasn\u2019t right for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s paranoid and controlling. Can\u2019t even handle you having normal friendships.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNow she\u2019s trying to force you to apologize. Obviously she doesn\u2019t give a damn about your feelings.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kai\u2019s finger froze, something stirring in his chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suddenly he remembered all the things I used to do for him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Warming his hands in winter, holding umbrellas for him in the rain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even running across half the city when he was down, just to get his favorite wine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
These memories hit him like needles, making him inexplicably irritated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLiv, don\u2019t talk about her like that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He finally spoke, his voice stiff.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Olivia looked stunned, then hurt: \u201cKai, I\u2019m just worried about you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, it\u2019s scorching hot, you\u2019re here suffering, and she won\u2019t even text you back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it were me, I\u2019d never let you go through this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou deserve so much better.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kai unblocked me and dialed my number directly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But all he got was a cold automated message: \u201cSorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His heart sank, fingers trembling slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He tried several more times. Same result.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sick feeling crept over him as he opened Instagram.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He tried sending me a DM, but it bounced back immediately-I\u2019d blocked him there too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2026 blocked me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kai muttered to himself, his face going pale.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Olivia leaned in, feigning shock: \u201cNo way! Lia\u2019s really that heartless?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKai, don\u2019t be upset. Someone like that isn\u2019t worth your pain.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe it\u2019s better this way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kai\u2019s anxiety spiked. He suddenly shoved her away: \u201cShut the fuck up!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ignoring Olivia\u2019s shocked expression, he immediately dialed my father\u2019s number.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2661 (0)\u00a0<\/p>\n
(0)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 6\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 6\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the call connected, my father\u2019s voice sounded exhausted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Kai, what\u2019s up?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Sterling, is Lia\u2026 has she left the house today?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe hasn\u2019t shown up at the office in days. Is everything okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kai asked desperately, still hoping against hope.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silence on the other end for a few beats.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My father let out a heavy sigh: \u201cKai, didn\u2019t Lia tell you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe flew to Seattle for an arranged marriage.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCaught the morning flight. She\u2019s probably already there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kai felt like he\u2019d been hit by a truck. His phone almost slipped from his grip.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Voice cracking, he stammered: \u201cWhat? Arranged marriage?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about us? Our engagement?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHow could she just\u2026 marry someone else without telling me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My father\u2019s tone was cool and detached: \u201cKai, us parents try to stay out of you kids\u2019 business.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Lia means it this time. I really hope you\u2019ll respect what she wants.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the line went dead, Kai just stood there while his world collapsed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His ears were buzzing as our entire history flashed before his eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My soft smile, all those little things I did for him without asking for credit, and that final look of pure disappointment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKai, you alright?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Olivia tried to touch his arm, but he jerked away violently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Joseph King is an editor and storyteller who ensures every chapter is clear, polished, and engaging for readers.<\/p>\n
Hot Shower, Cold Heart by Mark Twain 35 \u00a0 Chapter 5\u00a0 Chapter 5\u00a0 Hearing this, Kai\u2019s face went dark instantly. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22903","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-giving-my-husband-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22903","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22903"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22903\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22903"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22903"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22903"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}