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Still a Blessing When I Start Over Novel Cover

Still a Blessing When I Start Over

For twelve years, she never missed a birthday, marking five years of dating and seven of marriage with unwavering devotion. Twelve past gifts remain preserved in a storage closet, symbolizing her long-term commitment. Yet, as a new year arrives, the thirteenth gift signals a departure from their established life. Still a Blessing When I Start Over is a modern romance exploring the fragile nature of marital bonds and the consequences of a love that has reached its breaking point.
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Chapter 5

The day Matthew was discharged from the hospital, Jenna picked him up.

The two of them had just gotten into the car when his phone started ringing non-stop.

Matthew glanced down, emotions secretly surging in his eyes. His Adam's apple rolled as he apologized to Jenna, "Jenna, I'm sorry. There's an urgent matter that I need to deal with at the office. Shall I ask the driver to take you back first?"

It was a question, but he did not even wait for Jenna to respond. He hurriedly kissed her on the forehead, got into another car, and drove off.

On her way home, Jenna received an unfamiliar text message as soon as she turned on her phone. It was a screenshot of a chat that included a photo.

In the photo, Luna was wearing a spaghetti-strap slit dress and leaning against a huge floor-to-ceiling window behind her. Her left leg was slightly bent as she looked hazily into the camera.

Luna: [Mr. Simmons, you just recovered from a serious illness. Now, it's time to make your choice.]

Luna: [Are you going to teach me a lesson or are you going home with your wife?]

Matthew only replied with five words: [I'll teach you a lesson.]

Then, Jenna received another text.

[Ms. Scott, I believe we'll meet soon. I look forward to it. ]

Jenna turned off the screen and closed her eyes, trying hard to suppress the pain in her heart. She thought she would get used and grow numb to it after experiencing Matthew's countless lies and betrayals. However, the uncontrollable pain still engulfed her body and seeped into her bones.

Matthew came home late, and Jenna was already asleep. He lay down behind her, wrapping her in his arms as usual. "I missed you so much even though we were only apart for just a while." He nuzzled her neck with the tip of his nose as he spoke. "My darling Jenna, did you miss me?"

Jenna shifted slightly, rejecting his touch and struggling out of his embrace.

Matthew paused. "What's wrong, Jenna?" It was the first time she had rejected his touch. An indescribable sense of panic could not help surging in his heart.

She mumbled as she had her back against him, "It's nothing. I might have caught a cold. I don't feel well and don't want to pass it on to you. You should sleep in the guest room for the next couple of days."

She could not bring herself to share a bed with him any longer. She was afraid she would not resist stabbing him with a knife in the middle of the night.

Sensing the firmness in her tone, Matthew only hesitated for a moment and did not refuse. "Alright. I'll have the family doctor come check on you tomorrow."

Matthew went to sleep in the guest room.

Soon, Jenna's phone vibrated again. It was another message from Luna.

Luna: [Does he never touch you?]

Luna: [Look at what he's done to me. He nearly wore me out. Oh...]

Soon, Jenna received Luna's selfies. All these photos had one thing in common—her neck and collarbone were covered with red marks.

They were so glaringly red that they made Jenna's eyes redden involuntarily. She sat up in bed and quietly gazed at the moon hanging high outside the window.

Matthew had left, but his scent still lingered in the bedroom. It was a minty lemon scent from the cologne that Jenna had personally commissioned for him. However, it was mixed with the cloying scent of jasmine perfume. She smelled it when he hugged her. It was Luna's scent.

Jenna opened the window to let the cool night breeze in. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, sat at the desk, took out a notebook, and recorded the date.

'Matthew, since you've betrayed our marriage, I'll record the process of your betrayal and lies. This will be the final gift I give you,' Jenna thought.

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