Reina Halls thought her marriage to billionaire Ethan Brooks would lead to love, but instead, she found herself trapped in a cruel, loveless union. After enduring years of humiliation, she walks away from Ethan-hiding a secret that could change everything. Now, with her newfound independence, Reina has rebuilt her life. But when Ethan discovers her whereabouts and the truth she's been hiding, he will stop at nothing to bring her back. As old flames ignite and hidden desires resurface, Reina must decide if she can trust the man who once broke her heart or if she's better off without him. His Rejected is a captivating tale of second chances, passion, and redemption.
Chapter One: The Beginning of the End
Reina Halls sat at the long, gleaming dinner table, surrounded by the polished members of the Brooks family, but feeling more alone than ever. The weight of the evening pressed down on her like a suffocating cloak. Her husband, Ethan Brooks, sat at the head of the table, his attention fixed elsewhere. Beside him, Anna Wells giggled, twirling a lock of hair around her finger, her gaze locked on Ethan.
Reina's heart twisted painfully. The humiliation was a familiar sting by now, but tonight it was worse-far worse. Every sideways glance from the Brooks family felt like a dagger to her chest, a reminder that she didn't belong. She was the outsider, the unwanted wife.
"Reina, darling, why don't you serve us some drinks?" Anna's voice cut through the room like a whip, dripping with false sweetness.
Reina blinked, her stomach knotting. Serve them? She hesitated, glancing at Ethan, hoping for a word of defense. But he didn't even look her way. His cold indifference had become her reality. His betrayal, constant.
Without a word, Reina rose from her seat, her bruised body protesting every movement. She'd been in a minor accident earlier that day-knocked down by a car as she ran from the same house, overwhelmed by the hurt and rejection that had become routine. Yet here she was, back in the thick of it. How foolish she had been to think he would care. Even after the doctor had told her the news...
Her hand trembled slightly as she poured the wine, and her mind drifted to the secret she carried now. She hadn't told Ethan yet. She had hoped, against her better judgment, that the news might change something. That telling him about the baby might make him see her differently, might soften that hard look in his eyes that seemed permanently fixed.
But no-he was as distant as ever, if not worse. Reina placed the glasses in front of Ethan and Anna, who continued to flirt shamelessly. Anna's hand brushed his arm, and he didn't move away. Reina felt the familiar burn of jealousy mixed with deep-seated pain.
She clenched her fists by her side. This couldn't continue. Not anymore.
"You're looking a bit pale, Reina," Anna said, her lips curving in a smirk. "Are you feeling alright?"
Reina's jaw tightened, but she refused to give Anna the satisfaction of a reaction. She sat back down, her hands in her lap, and stared at her plate. She felt sick, the pain inside her chest twisting tighter. This wasn't the life she imagined when she married Ethan. She had loved him-truly loved him-and all she ever wanted was for him to love her back. But now, after everything he had done, after the countless nights of loneliness and tears, she knew it was never going to happen.
The sound of laughter brought her back to the room. Anna was laughing again, a mocking sound that grated on Reina's nerves. She couldn't sit through this any longer.
"I think I'll head to bed," Reina muttered, standing abruptly.
"Leaving so soon?" Anna quirked a brow. "But the night is just getting interesting."
Reina ignored her, moving toward the hallway, but just as she reached the doorway, Ethan's voice cut through the room.
"Reina."
She paused, her heart skipping a beat. For a moment, hope flickered. Maybe, just maybe, he would ask her to stay, to talk to her, to care.
But when she turned around, she saw nothing in his eyes but contempt. "Don't come back down," he said, his voice flat. "You're not needed here."
Her heart shattered. Without another word, she left the room, her mind racing. How had she become so invisible, so worthless in his eyes?
As she ascended the stairs to their bedroom, the weight of the day finally caught up with her. She was done being treated like this. Done hoping for a man who only ever wanted to break her.
Inside the bedroom, she sank onto the bed and reached into her purse, pulling out the pregnancy test she had taken earlier that day. She stared at the two pink lines, feeling a mixture of fear, sadness, and... a small spark of hope. This baby was hers, no matter what Ethan wanted.
Reina clutched the test to her chest, her tears falling freely now. She had tried so hard for so long. But it was time to stop trying. She had to think of herself-and now, the life growing inside her.
Tomorrow, she would pack her things and leave. She couldn't stay in this house, this marriage, any longer. Ethan Brooks had made it clear that she wasn't part of his world. But that didn't mean she had to stay a part of his cruelty.
And as the tears streamed down her face, she made a silent promise to herself: No more waiting. No more hoping. I'm leaving, and this time, I'm not coming back.
Chapter 1 The Beginning of the End
19/10/2024
Chapter 2 The Escape Plan
19/10/2024
Chapter 3 No Where to Run
19/10/2024
Chapter 4 Shadows of the Past
19/10/2024
Chapter 5 On the Run
19/10/2024
Chapter 6 Hidden Truths
19/10/2024
Chapter 7 The Unraveling
19/10/2024
Chapter 8 The Decision
19/10/2024
Chapter 9 Taking charge
19/10/2024
Chapter 10 Fate to Challenge
19/10/2024
Chapter 11 The Confrontation
31/10/2024
Chapter 12 The Game of Deceit
31/10/2024
Chapter 13 The Edge of Betrayal
31/10/2024
Chapter 14 A stolen Moment
31/10/2024
Chapter 15 An Unexpected Visitor
31/10/2024
Chapter 16 A Past Unraveled
31/10/2024
Chapter 17 A Web of Lies
01/12/2024
Chapter 18 A Dangerous Expression
01/12/2024
Chapter 19 A Choice in the Shadows
02/12/2024
Chapter 20 Echos of Silence
03/12/2024
Chapter 21 Shadows of Betrayal
03/12/2024
Chapter 22 Shadows in the Mist
05/12/2024
Chapter 23 Beneath the Mask
05/12/2024
Chapter 24 Unto the Next
06/12/2024
Chapter 25 The Banger on the beat
06/12/2024
Chapter 26 Unmasking The Truth
08/12/2024
Chapter 27 Shadows unveiled
08/12/2024
Chapter 28 A Glimpse of Shadows
10/12/2024
Chapter 29 The Forgotten Letter
14/12/2024
Chapter 30 Shadows in the crossfire
18/12/2024
Chapter 31 The Unexpected Ally
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Chapter 32 A Game of Shadows
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Chapter 33 Fractured Bonds
19/12/2024
Chapter 34 At the Edge
21/12/2024
Chapter 35 The unveiling
21/12/2024
Chapter 36 Shattered Trust
21/12/2024
Chapter 37 Threads of Betrayal
21/12/2024
Chapter 38 Shadows at Dawn
21/12/2024
Chapter 39 From Behind
24/12/2024
Chapter 40 In a bit
24/12/2024
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