\u201cGoodbye, my ex.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hung up and switched off my phone decisively.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the roar of the plane\u2019s engines filled my ears, I finally felt it\u2013a true, deep relief. It was over.\u00a0<\/p>\n
All of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Orlando stood frozen in Kristen\u2019s living room, staring numbly at the disconnected phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice was low and rough, like he was holding back some inexplicable emotion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is Gretch?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kristen crossed her arms and let out a cold laugh. \u201cOh, so now you\u2019re suddenly interested?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s gone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Purchase completed\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGone? What do you mean, gone?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did she go?\u201d Orlando pressed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kristen shrugged, a sly smile on her face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really think I\u2019d tell you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Orlando\u2019s gaze turned sharp. \u201cKristen, I don\u2019t have time for games.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, look at you, all worked up,\u201d she said, rolling her eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then she walked to the door and pulled it open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLeave. You\u2019re not welcome here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Orlando didn\u2019t move. His expression shifted, conflicted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGretch and I agreed to remarry today. She wouldn\u2019t just disappear.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRemarry?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kristen let out an exaggerated laugh.\u00a0<\/p>\n
0.00%\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:18\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
288 Vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is your marriage certificate to you\u2013a coffee loyalty card? Buy seven divorces and get the next one free?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Orlando\u2019s pupils shrank, as if her words had hit a nerve he didn\u2019t want to acknowledge.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But he quickly steadied himself. \u201cTell me where she is,\u201d he demanded, his voice cold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe blocked you. Haven\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
you figured it out yet?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kristen lifted her chin mockingly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOrlando, Gretchen isn\u2019t coming back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He finally snapped, slamming his hand hard against the sofa.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wouldn\u2019t just leave! And you have no right to interfere!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, really?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kristen clicked her tongue, then grabbed a stack of documents from the drawer and threw them right at him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTake a look. Then tell me if you still have any right to ask where she is.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Orlando looked down. As his eyes scanned the papers, his breath caught.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was my resignation confirmation, closed bank accounts, and\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
A one\u2013way ticket with the destination blacked out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGet it now?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kristen\u2019s smile was merciless:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOrlando, Gretchen is completely done with you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His knuckles turned white, fists clenched tight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe cannot leave,\u201d he gritted out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t get a say anymore.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kristen pushed him firmly out the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, get out!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
31.33%\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:18\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the airport.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My plane was already in the air.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1288 Vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Orlando had sped the whole way, running every red light until he screeched to a halt inside the airport\u2013only to be stopped by security.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSir, you can\u2019t be in here!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His face was pale as he shoved his business card toward them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m the Chairman of the Wagner Group. Stop all outgoing flights. Now!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The staff member replied helplessly, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, sir. We can\u2019t do that. If you need to make arrangements, you\u2019ll have to contact the airline\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Orlando shoved the staff member\u2019s hand away and called his assistant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFind out where Gretchen went. Now!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His assistant\u2019s voice trembled on the other end of the line. \u201cMr. Wagner, Ms. Todd purchased her ticket anonymously\u2026 I\u2019m afraid we can\u2019t trace her destination.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A cold dread washed over Orlando.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He couldn\u2019t believe my resolve to vanish without a trace.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without wasting another second, he contacted a private investigator.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFind her\u2013whatever it takes!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice was raw, his eyes bloodshot. For the first time, it seemed to hit him\u2013I really didn\u2019t want to be with him anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
67.35%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
Crater Lanterns Glimmered Over Tidelands by Axton Reed 5 \u201cGoodbye, my ex.\u201d\u00a0 I hung up and switched off my phone […]<\/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":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23894","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-paper-trail-of-our-failures-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23894","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=23894"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23894\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}