All Chapters of THE LOVE I GAVE HIM : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Dinner ended on a surprisingly gentle note.After the plates had been cleared and the last traces of warmth lingered in the dining room, both Amelia and Ricardo retreated to their separate rooms, bound by an unspoken agreement to give each other space.Yet Amelia’s heart felt lighter than it had in weeks.She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying the evening in her mind. Ricardo’s calm praise echoed softly in her ears—“The food was good.” Coming from him, those words meant more than any flowery compliment. For the first time since the contract marriage began, she felt seen… appreciated.A small smile curved her lips as she reached for her phone.Bianca.Amelia typed quickly, her fingers dancing across the screen as excitement bubbled inside her.Amelia: Bianca! Dinner was a successBianca: I told you! What did he say?Amelia: He actually liked it. Like… really liked it.Bianca: Girl, that’s progress!Amelia hugged a pillow to her chest, rolling onto her side as she continu

Stella sat alone at the corner of the bar, her fingers wrapped loosely around the stem of a wine glass. The dim lights above cast a soft glow on her flawless face, highlighting the slow, satisfied curve of her lips. The wine inside the glass shimmered a deep red as she gently swirled it, watching the liquid move as though it were alive.She took a slow sip.Rich. Smooth. Perfect.Just like the plan she had executed earlier that day.Her smile widened as her thoughts drifted back to Ricardo’s office—to the phone lying innocently on his desk, to Amelia’s hopeful message glowing on the screen. Stella closed her eyes briefly, savoring the memory.Are you free later tonight? I have two tickets. Let’s go see a movie.“How naïve,” Stella murmured under her breath.She imagined Amelia standing at the cinema entrance, clutching those tickets with trembling fingers, checking her phone again and again. Waiting. Hoping. Believing.The thought sent a thrill through her veins.Stella leaned back ag

Working hours finally came to an end.Amelia let out a quiet sigh of relief as she shut down her computer, the tension in her shoulders easing for the first time that day. The office buzzed with the usual end-of-day chatter—chairs scraping back, colleagues exchanging goodbyes—but all Amelia wanted was to leave. The strange heaviness that had followed her since morning hadn’t lifted, and exhaustion clung to her like a second skin.She packed her bag quickly, her movements efficient and hurried.I just want to go home, she thought.As she stood and turned toward the exit, she felt it again—that familiar sensation of being watched. Her steps faltered for a brief moment, but she didn’t turn around. She didn’t need to.Davis.The team manager stood a short distance away, pretending to be absorbed in his phone, but his attention was unmistakably on her. His eyes followed her every move, sharp and assessing, as though he were studying something that didn’t quite belong to him.Davis took a s

The evening sky was already painted in soft shades of orange and gray when Ricardo’s car finally turned into the long, winding driveway that led to the Kingsley family mansion. Tall iron gates stood proudly at the entrance, slowly opening as the guards recognized the familiar vehicle. Amelia sat quietly in the passenger seat, her hands folded neatly on her lap, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window.She had been here before, yet the mansion still felt overwhelming every time. The carefully trimmed hedges, the glowing garden lights, the grand structure that stood ahead like a silent reminder of wealth and power—it all made her chest tighten slightly. She inhaled softly, steadying herself.Ricardo, on the other hand, didn’t seem to notice her unease.His eyes drifted toward Amelia almost unconsciously. The soft glow of the dashboard lights reflected on her face, highlighting her calm expression and the gentle curve of her lips. Her hair was neatly styled, falling over

Amelia and Ricardo stared at each other in stunned silence after Grandpa Kingsley’s question. For a brief moment, the world around them seemed to pause. The soft clinking of cutlery, the faint hum of the chandelier above, even Stella’s presence—all of it faded into the background.Amelia felt her face warm instantly.Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the dining table as she struggled to steady herself. She hadn’t expected such a question, especially not so suddenly and not in front of Stella. The idea of children—of becoming a mother—had always been something distant, something she never allowed herself to think deeply about. Now, it was placed directly before her, leaving her uncertain and exposed.Ricardo felt the same unease.He turned to Amelia instinctively, only to realize she was already looking at him. Their eyes met for a fleeting second, filled with awkwardness and confusion. Neither of them knew what to say, and the silence that followed was loud enough to m