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Life has no background music unless you are Sebastian Michaelson. He was a young man with the ambition and skills to change the music industry and had practically written a song for every significant moment of his life. Until life sent him a memo that it was just not meant to be, he had to put down his instruments to live life with the buzzing gossip of Green Valley as its soundtrack. But what if a stormy night changed all that in the form of a woman representing everything Sebastian avoided but gravitated to? Would he remain a bystander or sing his way through life like it was a musical number? NOTE: I do not own any songs used in this novel. This non-fiction was inspired by music by several artists, particularly Ed Sheeran and Tori Kelly. Enjoy!
"It's my decision!"
"No!" He screams. "This is my family, my house-"
"Your house?" The woman laughs, "This is my house; you pay bills!"
"Why you-"
"Do it! Hit me, and I'll have you arrested!"
A 12-year-old boy held onto his little sister, asleep in his arms, covering her ears with his tiny hands, shielding her from downstairs chaos.
"Our kids are better off without you."
"I have the right to them!"
"You lost that right when you started sleeping with other women!"
"I told you, I never slept with anyone!" The man groaned, "You believe everyone in this town except the person who should matter."
"Cause all you do is lie! Where's that promotion, huh? That raise you were bragging about?"
"Krista, that's management...." He sighed, "They told me that I would get it-"
"Well, you didn't! Your daughter's sick, and moping around won't pay the bills."
"What do you want me to do? Leave them here alone at night while we both work?"
"We can get a babysitter-"
"You don't have time to look for one!" He snapped, "You don't want to leave them with your mother, and you won't let me choose either."
"Cause you'd probably get the easy young girl."
The man gave a tired laugh, "You know what, Krista? I can't do this anymore."
"What?" She watched as her husband walked to the door, "Wait, Ma-"
"Just..." He opens the front door, trying his best not to look back. "Just let me think, Krista."
Hearing the front door made the young boy sit up, setting his sister back in bed; he ran down the stairs past his mother, who was nursing a glass of wine; he threw the door open and ran out.
"Dad! Dad!"
Unlike his wife's, this is a voice the man would always respond to. He turns around and sees the boy standing a few feet away, tears brimming as he catches his breath. He waved his son over, and in an instant, the boy held on as if his life depended on it.
"Please don't go, Daddy."
"I'm sorry, buddy, but I don't want you and your sister to see me and your mom like this."
"Then we'll go back to how it was!"
"I'm not sure that that's possible, buddy." His voice was laced with so much kindness it was impossible to think he was in a screaming match with his wife moments ago.
"Where will you go?" The boy asks, looking at his dad.
"I don't know, maybe stay over at your uncle Jerry's place for the night."
As much as he'd like to keep the innocent look in his son's eyes, the boy already knew what was happening; he had heard enough parents separating stories from his friends that he felt left out of the trend.
Welcome to the club.
"Will you be getting a divorce?"
He sighed and wiped off the tears on the boy's face, "Go back inside buddy; I'll see you tomorrow."
"I have school." He sniffled.
"And who picks you up from school?"
His son gives him a toothy grin, "My rock star dad."
"That's right." His dad tousled his hair and kissed his forehead before lightly pushing him toward the house.
His wife stood by the door; the annoyed look on her face caused him more pain than it should.
"Good night, Dad."
"Good night, son; kiss your sister for me." He faked a smile and watched his son run up the door.
"I will; I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, Johan."
The boy watched his dad drive off as the rain started to pour.
That was the last time he saw him.
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."
Madison had always believed that she would marry Colten. She spent her youth admiring him from afar, dreaming of their future life together. But Colten was always indifferent to her, and when he abandoned her at a time when she needed him most, she finally realized that he never loved her. With renewed resolve and a thirst for revenge, Madison left. Endless possibilities lay ahead, but Colten was no longer part of her plans. Colten rushed to her place in a panic. "Madison, please come back to me. I’ll give you everything!" It was his powerful uncle who answered the door. "She's my woman now."