All Chapters of After Letting Go of Love, I Got My Life Back: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

The moment the marriage certificate landed in the trash, the entire room went silent.Everyone knew how close my wife and I were. Back when we first got together, I had even given up the chance to study abroad for her.After a long pause, my wife, Vanessa Reed, was the first to react. Her face tightened with irritation.“Enough, Ethan Carter. Tyler only made a few offhand comments. Do you really have to take it this far? No one even needs dinner anymore. They’re already full from watching your attitude.”One of Vanessa’s close friends quickly stepped in to smooth things over, smiling as she tried to lighten the mood.“Oh, come on. He’s only acting like this because he loves you too much. He’s jealous, that’s all. Honestly, I wish I had your touch when it comes to keeping a husband in line. Mine could never...”The men at the table all turned to look at me and laughed, clearly ready to brush the whole thing aside.But Tyler Wells, the college student Vanessa had been sponsoring, still l

Chapter 2

Vanessa’s face went stiff. She clearly had never expected those words to come from me.After all, in the past, whenever divorce came up, she was always the one who said it.I thought she would fly into a rage because of what I had said.Instead, she frowned, picked the ring out of the trash, wiped it clean, and handed it back to me.Then she turned to the guests with an apologetic smile.“Sorry, everyone. Ethan can’t hold his liquor. He’s had too much and he’s talking nonsense.”After that, she turned back and glared at me.I knew what that look meant.She was giving me a way out.If I refused to take it, I would be punished with months of silent treatment.But now, I no longer cared about any of that.I stepped forward, looked her in the eye, and said seriously, “I’m not joking. Let’s get divorced. You can keep the ring as my wedding gift to you and Tyler.”With that, I turned and left without hesitation.Just as I reached the entryway, Vanessa suddenly grabbed my hand and frowned.“W

Chapter 3

When Vanessa saw me come back, she did not stop what she was doing. She only glanced at me and said, “I thought you weren’t coming home. Whatever. I won’t lecture you. There’s some takeout left. Heat it up yourself. Oh, and don’t touch the imported lobster on the table. That’s for Tyler.”I set my things down and looked up to see Tyler wearing his new shoes, smiling at me with open provocation.I let their little performance play out, then looked at the table.One plate of stir-fried greens.One plate of lobster.But by now, I was used to it.Ever since Tyler stepped into our home, my wife had made sure to prepare something special for him at every meal.When I asked about it, she answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.“He’s like a younger brother to me. What’s wrong with me treating him well? Besides, he’s still growing. What, are you upset because I spent a little of your money?”But when it came to me, even my birthday gifts came from roadside stalls.Once, she

Chapter 4

His clothes were pressed right up against Vanessa’s, intimate and close, as if they belonged to a married couple.Behind me, Vanessa had just opened her mouth when Tyler barged in first and said casually, “Those clothes of yours are basically rags anyway. They were just taking up space. Might as well throw them out.”Just then, Vanessa saw the shattered photo frame in my hand and frowned.“I’ll have someone print another copy of that photo in a couple of days. Tyler is young and careless. Don’t take it personally.”After saying that, she turned to Tyler at the door and reminded him with concern, “Don’t come in yet. The room is a mess. You might hurt yourself on the broken glass.”I let out a cold laugh in my heart.I suddenly remembered the time Vanessa and I went hiking.We had already agreed on the route, but halfway through, Tyler insisted on changing paths and taking an unmarked trail.I tried to stop him, but Vanessa blamed me for ruining a young person’s sense of adventure.Later

Chapter 5

Even when I walked out, Vanessa only frowned. She did not stop me.She still did not know that once I left this time, I would never come back.Two days later, I was dealing with the onboarding paperwork for my new position when Vanessa suddenly called.“Ethan, where are you right now? The property manager said a pipe burst at home and the place is leaking. Go back and deal with it. The new computer I bought for Tyler is still there. Don’t let it get soaked.”When I said nothing, her voice grew even more impatient.“Did you hear me? I’m talking to you. I’m busy right now, so hurry back. If you don’t handle this properly, don’t even think about me forgiving you.”Then she hung up.I could not help giving a self-mocking laugh.I had been gone for two days, and she still had not noticed.So this was what she called loving me.How hypocritical.With that thought, I blocked Vanessa’s number.But the next second, another message popped up on my phone.It was from Tyler.He had sent me a photo

Chapter 6

I turned around and saw Vanessa.But at this hour, wasn’t she supposed to be out on a date with Tyler?She shoved me aside and glared at Lily.“You shameless little tramp. How dare you seduce someone else’s husband?”As if that still was not enough, she raised her hand to slap Lily.I quickly pushed her hand away.“What are you doing here?”I had not expected her to be wearing heels. She lost her balance and fell to the floor in front of everyone.Then she actually burst into tears.Vanessa, who had always been proud and stubborn, looked at me with reddened eyes and questioned me in a wounded voice.“Ethan, you promised we would be together forever. How could you? How could you go behind my back and find someone else?”Looking at the stubborn hurt in her eyes, I should have felt sorry for her.Instead, I only found it ridiculous.Once, when she spent the night at Tyler’s place, I had questioned her the same way.And what had she said to me?“Ethan, I already married you. What more do y

Chapter 7

“I bought Tyler new shoes that day, and you didn’t like the watch I gave you. So I bought these especially for you. Try them on and see if they fit.”I looked at her helplessly.“Vanessa, you do realize we have nothing to do with each other anymore, right?”She froze, then let out a soft laugh.“I know. You’re just angry with me for now. You loved me for so many years. How could you suddenly stop loving me? I don’t believe it.”For a moment, I did not know what to say.Once, I had been just as blindly devoted as she was acting now.We had loved each other for so long. We had even gotten married. So how had she been able to betray me with Tyler so easily?But that was the truth.Whether we believed it or not, it had happened.I pushed the shoes away.“I’m sorry. I don’t need them anymore.”Then I turned and went upstairs. Before I left, I looked back at her and said, “Sign the divorce papers as soon as possible. Dragging this out won’t do either of us any good.”For the next few days, I

Chapter 8

Only then did Vanessa notice the extra place setting across from me.I pulled the dishes back and could not be bothered to respond.As if declaring his territory, Tyler ordered a plate of lobster. Then he softened his voice in an exaggerated way and said, “Vanessa, I want shrimp, but I don’t know how to peel it.”Vanessa naturally picked up a piece and began peeling it for him with practiced care.Watching how focused she looked, I suddenly remembered the time my stomach condition had flared up and I had taken one bite of shrimp from the table.Forget peeling shrimp for me. Vanessa had immediately flown into a rage.“You’re a grown man. How do you have no self-control at all? I made this shrimp especially for Tyler. He’s still young and still growing.”In the past, never mind peeling shrimp, she had never even served me food or filled a bowl of rice for me.When I came back to myself, Tyler was deliberately mocking me.“Ethan, you were married to Vanessa for so long. Don’t tell me she

Chapter 9

He laughed, then mocked me again.“There’s nothing here for you. If you don’t leave soon, I’ll call security and have you thrown out.”His voice was neither too loud nor too soft. Just loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.For a moment, everyone froze.Then the way they looked at me changed.They could tell at a glance that the suit I was wearing was nothing special.Whispers spread through the crowd.“Who is this guy? How did he get into Mr. Dawson’s birthday banquet?”“Don’t tell me someone like him is here to compete for the project too.”“Who knows? How did someone that low-class even get let in?”Tyler was clearly enjoying himself. He raised an eyebrow at me and said, “Ethan, long time no see. Let me toast you.”Just then, Vanessa walked over too.The moment she saw me, a flicker of light flashed in her eyes.Then she put on a reserved expression and said, “Ethan, even if you followed me all the way here, I still won’t forgive you.”I was about to refuse, but Tyler had alr

Chapter 10

Only then did I slowly relax.Mr. Dawson asked about my situation, then about my ambitions and goals.It was not until the end that he finally revealed his true purpose.He smiled kindly.“Lily likes you. I can see that. As for me, I’ll be honest. At first, I didn’t think much of you.”My heart gave a sharp thud.Then he continued, “But now, I choose to trust my granddaughter’s judgment.”I could hardly contain the excitement in my chest. I had no idea how I had managed to earn his approval.But now, it really felt as though my life had taken one step straight into the clouds.We talked for a long while before I finally went back.When we returned home, Lily leaned against my chest and said softly, “From now on, no one is allowed to bully you.”A sour ache rose in my heart. I held her tightly, as if I were holding the barren pieces of my own soul.Thank God I had not missed her.Life had a strange way of circling back.Back when I was with Vanessa, I thought I had found the happiness o

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