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Lahat ng Kabanata ng Side Chick Tax: Everything: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

28 Kabanata

Chapter 1

Ravenport, CarmoriaLyra Leighton sat in the VIP room of the nail salon while the technician shifted awkwardly. "Ma'am, the store credit on your account isn't enough."Lyra froze. Last month, her husband, Wesley Cheswick, had handed the loyalty card to her and said it had three thousand dollars on it.This was her first time using it.The technician checked the screen again. "Ms. Leighton, there was a twenty-eight-hundred-dollar charge last Thursday afternoon.""Last Thursday? Twenty-eight hundred?" Lyra's fingers stilled. "I was at the office that day."The technician hesitated. "M-Mr. Cheswick brought a woman in. Before leaving, she said to count twenty-six hundred as a tip for one of our staff."Lyra's heart slammed, a sharp buzz filling her ears.Last Thursday, Wesley had told her he was meeting a client. He hadn't come home until eight and complained nonstop about how exhausting the meeting was.She remembered cutting her own meeting short just to rush home and make him h

Chapter 2

Lyra lay there, staring at the ceiling light.Wesley had picked it, saying the glow would be easier on her eyes.She rolled over and buried her face in the pillow, breathing in the familiar laundry detergent.Wesley had switched brands too, claiming this one was gentler and wouldn't irritate her skin.She closed her eyes, but the security footage flashed anyway.Wesley with the girl in the light blue dress. Smiling down at her. Fingers brushing through her hair.That smile. Lyra knew it by heart.Three years ago, he'd looked at Lyra the same way when they first met.Back then, Wesley was the newly acknowledged illegitimate son of the Cheswick family. Ignored at the gala. Still, he worked up the nerve to approach her, ears burning red."Ms. Leighton, may I have this dance?"She ignored him.He didn't quit. Every day, he waited outside her office with home-cooked meals, even when she never looked his way.Three months later, she finally agreed to a date. He lit up like a kid.

Chapter 3

Rain hammered against the windows.He pounded on the door, shouting through the downpour. "Lyra! Let me explain!"Lyra sat in the driver's seat, fingers tapping lightly on the steering wheel. Watching the two of them soaked in the rain, she suddenly found it a little funny.She slowly rolled the window down. Wesley's voice rushed in. "When did you get here?""Just now." Her smile was cold.Wesley's expression shifted. The words tumbled out fast. "She's the one—Mrs. Brook's daughter. Her power went out, so I came to check on her."Lyra reached for the window switch. She didn't want to hear another word."Lyra!" Irene ran over and planted herself in front of the car. Rain soaked her white dress, leaving her looking fragile and pitiful. "This is all my fault. There's really nothing between us. Please don't be mad at Wesley."Lyra frowned and turned the wheel, ready to drive around her.Bang.Irene suddenly threw herself onto the hood, stumbled, and collapsed onto the wet ground.

Chapter 4

When Lyra opened her eyes, the harsh white light made her lift a hand to block it."Lyra!" Wesley's face filled her vision, eyes bright with excitement. "You're pregnant!"She went still, fingers settling against her flat stomach.Her period had been late, but she hadn't let herself think about it."Lyra, this is on me." Wesley sat on the edge of the bed and reached for her hand, his voice gentle. "You got it wrong. Irene's baby is from her ex. I just felt bad she was all alone."Lyra pulled her hand away and let out a quiet, cold laugh. She didn't say a word.Wesley sighed and stood. "Get some rest. I'll go grab you something to eat."He left. His footsteps faded down the hallway.Lyra stared at the closed door, her hand drifting back to her stomach.Laughter suddenly spilled in from the next room.That soft, sweet voice—it was Irene's.Then Wesley spoke, low and warm, the same tone Lyra knew by heart.She grabbed her phone and called her bodyguard. "Bring me the divorce p

Chapter 5

By the time the play ended, Wesley and Irene were gone.A dull ache spread through Lyra's chest. She took a cab home, her face blank.Once inside, she started packing. Her phone buzzed.It was a message from Victor.[The withdrawal paperwork is done. It takes effect in three days. I'll send someone to pick you up then.]She replied with a simple [Okay] and kept folding clothes into the suitcase.Wesley didn't come back that night.He only sent one text:[Something came up. Go to bed early.]***The next morning, Lyra had just finished getting ready.The bedroom door slammed open. Wesley rushed in, eyes bloodshot, and grabbed her wrist. "Come with me!""What are you doing?" She stumbled as he dragged her along.He didn't answer. He shoved her into the car.The car tore down the road, blowing through several red lights.Lyra recognized the route. Irene's school.A crowd was packed around the gate.Irene sat on the ground, clothes smeared with dirt, tears streaking her fa

Chapter 6

Lyra woke to the sharp bite of disinfectant. A dull ache lingered low in her abdomen. She reached down on instinct, fingers grazing the cold IV line."Awake?"Wesley's voice came from her right.She turned her head. He sat beside the bed.He leaned in, reached toward her stomach, then stopped halfway."Do you know what you did wrong?" he asked.Lyra closed her eyes.When she didn't answer, Wesley cupped her face. "If you'd been this obedient earlier, none of this would've happened."His thumb brushed her dry lips, his voice soft. "You wouldn't have had to suffer.""For a neighbor's daughter, you forced your pregnant wife to the floor." Lyra turned away. "Does that actually make sense to you?"Wesley's hand froze. He frowned. "I judge right and wrong, not feelings.""I need to rest." Lyra pulled the blanket higher. "Please leave."Wesley looked thrown.He stared at her for a few seconds, then checked his phone. "There's an emergency at the company. I'll come back later."A

Chapter 7

Lyra was jolted awake.When her eyes opened, Wesley's face was right there. Dark. Empty. Not a trace of warmth."Irene lost too much blood. She needs a transfusion," he said flatly. "You have the same blood type. Get up."Lyra went still, then shook her head. "I'm already anemic. If I give blood, something will go wrong."Wesley laughed under his breath, cold and sharp. "When you hurt her, did you think about consequences?"Her eyes flew open. "I hurt her?""Drop the act." Wesley flicked his hand in irritation. Two bodyguards stepped in at once, gripping her arms. "Once the blood's drawn, we're even."Lyra struggled, but she was no match for two grown men.They hauled her out of bed and dragged her toward the transfusion room, her steps unsteady.The hallway lights were harsh. Her vision swam, and a memory surfaced from when they'd just gotten married.She'd been dizzy from anemia back then. Wesley had made tomato soup, feeding her one spoonful at a time, worry filling his ey

Chapter 8

Lyra lay on the hospital bed, her whole body freezing.The soup Wesley had sent sat on the nightstand. Cold now. She reached for it, trying to sip, but her hands shook too hard to keep the spoon steady.Pain knifed through her lower stomach, sharp and relentless.She grit her teeth. "Doctor," she called, barely loud enough to hear.The door swung open. The doctor took one look at her color, lifted the blanket, and froze.The sheets were soaked through with blood."You're severely anemic," he said, voice tight. "This level of blood loss is dangerous—especially after donating so much. We need emergency surgery, now, or your life's at risk."She closed her eyes and nodded. "Okay."After a beat, she added quietly, "Don't tell Wesley."***Lyra lay on the cold operating table, her awareness slipping. It felt like being dragged back five years.The first time they met, Wesley had waited for her in the rain, eyes soft, full of warmth.At their wedding, he'd held her hand and promi

Chapter 9

The elevator doors slid shut as Wesley helped Irene up the stairs.She leaned fully into him."Wesley, I can't walk anymore," she whispered, sagging against his chest.He frowned, arm stiff as he held her up. "Hang in there. We're almost there."His eyes flicked to the elevator, a sharp sting hitting his chest."What is it?" Irene tipped her face up at him."Nothing." He looked away. "Get some rest. I've got an important meeting this afternoon."Irene bit her lip. "When will you come see me?""After the meeting." He opened the room door and helped her onto the bed. "Behave. Don't keep calling me.""I know." She nodded sweetly, fingers tightening in the blanket."Oh, right." She glanced at him. "Lyra was the one who gave me blood yesterday, right? Should I thank her?"Wesley froze halfway to the door. "Yeah. Just don't let it slip about us.""I get it." Irene smiled, all sugar.Wesley checked his watch, his frown deepening. "I have to go. The project team's waiting."As he

Chapter 10

Wesley kicked the hospital room door open.The bed was empty, the gown folded neatly on top. A stack of papers sat on the nightstand.His hand shook. The second his fingers brushed the page, he flinched like it burned.[DIVORCE AGREEMENT] jumped off the top page. The signature at the bottom locked him in place."That's impossible."He snatched the documents and flipped through them, then went still.His name was signed at the end.Wesley's mind snapped back to that night at the theater.The play. Lyra slipped him a stack of papers.He remembered keeping hold of Irene's hand behind Lyra's back, then glancing up to find Lyra already turned away. He'd panicked, assuming it was just another one of her harmless promise notes.He hadn't even read it before signing.He'd smiled, leaned in, kissed her forehead. "When have I ever failed to keep my promises to you?"The realization slammed into his chest.She knew. She must've found out about the affair."Wesley!" Irene peeked in t

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