I Was Never Part of Their Story novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6

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Third-person POV

Caleb returned home as though he were on autop lot. The moment he opened the front door, a familiar scent washed over him.

It was the sweet and tantalizing aroma of beef stew, Melissa’s signature dish.

His heart skipped a beat as surprised delight flashed in his eyes.

“Melissa? Have you returned?”

He darted toward the kitchen, almost tripping over his own feet. Joy and anticipation shone in his eyes, yet the instant he spotted the woman standing at the stove, the happiness faded. Even the smile quirking at the corner of his lips vanished.

It wasn’t Melissa.

Dressed in a white silk nightgown, Aria was slowly stirring the stew in the pot. Upon seeing him, she smiled sweetly.

“Caleb, you’re back!”

All the hope and anticipation in Caleb dissipated like smoke, causing his expression to turn icy.

“Didn’t you leave the country already?” He distinctly remembered seeing her off and had even watched as she boarded the plane.

“I came back.” Setting down the ladle, Aria took a few steps closer to him before gently brushing her slender fingers across his chest. “Caleb, I couldn’t bear to part from you… I want to be with you, so this time, I’m not leaving.”

She tilted her head back to look up at him, firm resolve burning in her gaze. “Let’s get married.

As though he had heard some sort of joke, Caleb shoved her away. “Get married? Aria, just who do you think you are?”

Aria’s smile froze.

“What do you mean by that?”

“What I mean is,” Caleb said, his voice as chilly as winter, “I want to marry Melissa, not you.”

“That’s impossible!” Aria shrieked. “Caleb, you’ve already dumped Melissa for me so many times, so what’s with the passionately loyal act now?”

A pained look flickered in Caleb’s eyes, but it was swiftly replaced with icy indifference.

“I divorced her only because I didn’t want your reputation to be ruined, not because I loved

Chapter 6

you. If it weren’t for your constant pestering all these years, Melissa wouldn’t have left!”

All the color drained from Aria’s complexion, but in the next instant, her cheeks flushed bright red.

“That’s nonsense! If that’s true, then why did you always remarry her on time?”

“Because” Caleb abruptly stopped talking, a dazed look entering his eyes. “Because I promised her…”

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As it turned out, it was Melissa who would always wait expectantly for him to come home. And

she was the one who he truly cared about.

Aria suddenly laughed, the sound shrill and grating to the ears.

“Caleb, are you done pretending?” She slowly came closer to him. “Who was the one who hugged and kissed me in his office? Who was the one who always came running impatiently to me after his divorce? Do you think you can deceive yourself? You clearly love me!”

Caleb’s hand darted out to seize her wrist, the force of his grip almost enough to crush her

bones.

“Shut up!”

“I hit the nail on the head, didn’t I?” Forcing herself to endure the intense pain, she hissed

with a vicious light in her eyes, “Now that Melissa has gotten fed up with your pretentiousness and left, you’ve suddenly remembered to act all affectionate and loving?”

A hysterical note entered her voice as she screeched, “Serves you right if you can’t find her for the rest of your life!”

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