Chapter 2 Mr. Desmond , Im so sorry . I sprained my ankle getting out of the car , and now we cant celebrate Christmas together . Ella , dont say that . A sprained ankle is serious . Of course , Im worried about you . Besides , we can just treat this as celebrating Christmas at the hospital . I already bought the diamond necklace you wanted . Oh , stop it … Arthur coaxed her in a soft voice , completely oblivious to my presence in the corner . Overwhelmed by sorrow and rage , tears streamed down my face . While his own daughter was lying in a hospital bed with a high fever , Arthur was busy on a date with his assistant ! He didnt care about our daughters life at all ! And to top it off , while he was lavishing expensive gifts on Ella , he had never even thought of buying his wife of seven years a necklace worth $ 300 . Arthur and I had been college sweethearts . After graduation , he wanted to start his own business , and I took $ 20,000 from my family to fund his .startup . During those early years , I pinched pennies and lived as frugally as possible to support him . As his business started to take off , I still couldnt bear to spend on myself , thinking it was more → important to secure our future . Especially recently , with Arthurs company facing financial trouble , I had become even more frugal haggling with vendors over vegetables at the market . Yet , despite all woman . my sacrifices , he had no regard for my efforts and turned to flirt with another I wiped my tears hastily and clenched the $ 10 million lottery ticket in my pocket . Yes, I had won $ 10 million . I was planning to tell Arthur tonight during our Christmas celebration at home . hapter 2 was also going to tell him that I had resigned from my job so I could stay home and take care of Lila full time . But now … Now , its better this way . Theres no need to tell Arthur Desmond about the money , This seven year relationship of mine has finally reached its end . After a restless night , Lila was discharged from the hospital the next day . Back at home , I prepared her milk formula and coaxed her to sleep . Exhaustion from the sleepless night overwhelmed me , and I collapsed onto the couch and fell asleep fully dressed . When I woke up , it was already noon . I was about to cook lunch when the doctors words from the day before suddenly came back to me . He told me to check the surveillance at home . What did he mean by that ? Could it be that Lilas ingestion of sleeping pills wasnt an accident but deliberate ? The thought sent shivers down my spine . 、 There were only two people in the house : Arthur and me . Could Arthur have fed Lila the sleeping pills ? No , that was impossible! Although Arthur had cheated on me , I didnt believe he would harm his own daughter . But with a sliver of doubt in my mind , I decided to check the surveillance footage anyway . It didnt take long before rage welled up inside me . The footage was crystal clear , Arthur crushed the sleeping pills and mixed them into Lilas bottle of milk ! Ella , dont worry . Ill be at your doorstep right on time . That little brat wont stop crying , so I just made her quiet for a bit . sest Villed For His Mistresss Christmas hapter 2 He must have thought the surveillance cameras were off , otherwise , he wouldnt have dared to be so Drazen . But I never expected him to be this cruel to Lila his own flesh and blood ! Tears blurred my vision again , but this time , it wasnt out of sorrow ; it was pure anger . No mother would stand by and let anyone hurt her child , not even the childs father ! I wiped my tears and forced myself to calm down , continuing to watch the footage . To my shock , I discovered that during my working hours , Arthur , who was supposedly working from home , had brought Ella Throne over multiple times . They had their illicit rendezvous on the very couch in our living room , completely ignoring Lila , who cried her lungs out nearby ! So , Arthurs infidelity had started long before I even suspected . Just perfect . I saved the footage and calmly dialed my lawyers number . Manson , hello . I need you to draft a divorce agreement for me . I was resolute . I would leave Arthur Desmond and take Lila away from this vile man ! In "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die" by CrushReel, Zoe Hale takes a daring step by marrying Ashton Cross, a man under suspicion for her sister's mysterious demise. As their relationship evolves, hidden truths unravel, intertwining love and suspense in this captivating romance novel. Exploring the complexities of loyalty and deception, the story delves deep into Zoe's quest for justice while navigating the unexpected twists of her heart. The enigmatic bond between Zoe and Ashton unfolds against a backdrop of secrets and revelations, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with each turn of the page. Set in a blend of romance and drama, "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die" stands out for its intricate character dynamics and the seamless fusion of passion and intrigue. With every chapter, CrushReel skillfully crafts a narrative that immerses readers in a world where love confronts darkness, leaving them yearning for more. Discover the enthralling saga of Zoe and Ashton, available to read at CrushReel. Immerse yourself in this unique tale that defies conventions and promises an unforgettable literary experience.