Love or Leave Behind Novel

Love or Let Go

Chapter 1

“Are you really going to divnice Samuel? Isabelle burst into Shelmaine’s studio, grabbing her and bombarding her with questions. “Are you serious? You’re just going to divorce him and hand Sarl over to Natasha on a silver planer?

“You’re practically pushing him into her arms! That witch, Natasha, will be laughing in her sleep! How could you be so foolish?”

Shelmate was still working on the design draft that the client had kept rejecting. No matter how many times she revised it, they were never satisfied

The truth was, they just wanted to get the most expensher jewelry at the cheapest price, and this was just something Shelmaine couldn’t deliver. So, she was stuck with endlessly hegotiating and revising the proposal.

Shelinaine massaged her temples and found a moment to respond to Isabelle. She said, “The divorce is already done. It’s too late to regret it now.”

“You“Isabelle clutched her chest, feeling like she might have a heart attack. “No, listen, everyone knows Natasha’s feelings for Samuel are one–sided, Samuel just sees her as a

“Even if there’s a chance, as long as you don’t divorce him, you’re his wifel Natasha can’t touch your position!” Isabelle said.

shelmaine remained silent, her eyes fixed on the computer scree.

Upon seeing how calm she was, isabelle grew even more frustrated. “Are you really just going to let it end like this? You’re not even a little bitter?Weren’t you two petting along

Isabelle asked this because she knew how deeply in love shelmaine and Samuel had been. They were the perfect couple, so how could they divorce over someone like Natasha?

“We got along well because there was no love,” Shemaine calmly replied. “Ite doesn’t love me, so it doesn’t matter who he marries. After all, I don’t want to spend my life with someone who doesn’t love me.”

Isabelle’s eyes widened. “He told you that he doesn’t love you

Shelane’s voice was soft and almost detached as she said, “One time, when he was drunk, hecalled out someone else’s name.

“I wasn’t mine”

Isabelle was speechless. She hadn’t known about this, and Shelmaine had never mentioned it before either.

She looked at Shelmaine’s expressionless face and sighed. “I should have stopped you from mushing into the marriage…

Shelmaine fell silent as memories began flooding back to her

She had met Samuel at a party where she had been drunk and mistook him for a driver. She’d asked him to take her horse, and after he dropped her off, they added each other on WhatsApp

Later on, a month of chatting tumed into feelings.

Shelmaine liked Samuel and he’d agreed when she’d asked him out for dinner. They had a few drinks, and she invited him upstairs, and one thing led to another.

The next morning, Shelmane had felt a hint of regret.

had been her first time with a man, but she told herself that they were both adults and could move on without expecting anything more. She told him they could pretend it never happened.

But Samuel was serius. “Some things can’t be undone once they happen. 1 believe you can’t ignore that either, he hat said.

He then suggested they get married, but Shelmaine didn’t agree right awa

“Then I want you to take responsibility for me,” Samuel said, and he wasn’t joking

Eventually, they got married, and Shelmaine couldn’t denyi–she had fallen for him.

event that only af

radewother

They registered their marriage quickly and get married without a wedding nor a banquet. They hadn’t invited any friends. It was such a small event close friends, including Isabelle, knew about it

After the wedding, they bought a place, which was now the Hasting residence. Samuel had paid for it and had refused to the contribute. So, she took on the response of removing their home with her own savings.

In

wys, Samuel was the ideal husband–gentle, comiderate, with a respectable job and no bad habits. He was even though thil enough to send gifts on special occasions.

He wasn’t the other men–he was a bit of a clean treak and almost barely tuly. Their the together was filing and there wasn’t anything to complain about shelmaine had even considered the possibility of hiring a child with him despite not being fond of children herself. But when she brought it op, his expression turned cold.

“You’re still young, practically a child yourself. There’s no rush, “he’d said.

At first, she’d agreed with him. After all, he did have a point. So, she dropped the idea

Alter that, Samuel started staying out late and often went on business trips.

This went on for months, and soon, Shelmaine began heating remors. Someone added her on Whatsapp and sent her messages saying that Samuel was seeing someone else and arged her to divorce him.

At first, she thought that it was a prank. Besides, how could a man like Samuel not have a few ours?

Then, earlier this year, Samuel returned from a trip with traces of another woman–perfume on his clothes. There were also late–night calls that she’d answered, and she’d found out that Samuel had married her out of spite

Hedidn’t want to build a life with her; he just wanted to use their marrige to hurt someone else.

And that someone was Natasha.

There was no point in holding on to a man like that,

that the past few years, Shelmaine had gained something too

amuel’s body was incredible- and moslar. It wasn’t a bad deal to have spent these nights with han

With that in mind, she found some comfor

Chapter

As for him and Natasha, Shelmaine didn’t want to dwell on it anymore.

She had truly invested her emotions in the marriage, and now that the marriage was over, it felt like a part of her soul had been ripped away.

Isabelle could see Shelmaine’s thinly veiled despair and felt a pang of sympathy. “Don’t worry about it, Shelly. Scumbags like him deserve to be with trashy women. We don’t need him just forget about it. Don’t let it get to you”

“I’m not sad,” Shelmine quietly said. “I’m just grateful I didn’t have a child with him.”

Shelmaine had a difficult childhood–her parents divorced when she was ten years old, and she was placed with her father. Later on, he had left her in the care of a nanny while he remarried and started a new family.

Despite that, her father had never let her down financially. But once she turned 18 and started college, she stopped taking a cent from him, and they only met up for dinners during the festive seasons. Otherwise, they had no contact.

That was part of the reason why she didn’t want a big wedding with Samuel–she didn’t want to involve her family.

Isabelle knew all this and felt deeply sorry for Shelmaine. She said, “Don’t worry. There’s plenty of fish in the sea. You’ve got looks and money. You’ll find someone better.” Shelmaine couldn’t help but smile.

Upon seeing this, Isabelle finally felt a bit relieved. “So, what’s your plan now? What about the house you two shared?”

Shelmaine said, “I’ll move out of the Hasting residence first As for the house, I won’t be living there. I’ll selli

“Delle, you have a friend who’s a realtor, right? Can they help me sell it?

“Of course! Leave it to me.” Isabelle patted her chest confidently “just wait for the good news!”

“*9.00 night, Samuel’s welcome dinner. Are you coming?”

Shemaine Clarke was still at the studio working overtime when she received the message from her best friend, Isabelle Zach. She was dealing with a difficult client who had rejected her design draft seven or right times.

Alter half a month of time, she glanced at her phone screen, momentarily lost in thought.

He was back?

But before Shemaine could feel any excitement, she checked her phone again–there were no messages or calls from Samuel Hasting

She had been so busy lately that she thought she might have missed something, but it turned out that no one had informed her.

*Shelly, I have more bad news–Matasha is here too.”

belle sent another message.

Shelmine paused for a moment, a faint, self–deprecating smile on her lips.

Even now, she was the last to know he had returned.

“Have fun without me I’m not going.”

Shelmaine replied to Isabelle, burned off the lights, and locked the door. Then, she left the studio.

shelmaine returned to her apartment in the early hours of the morning After a quick shower, she went to bed

Not long after, Samuel cante back

shelmaine was a light sleeper, and the sounds outside wake her up.

Samuel reeked of alcohol as he sat on the sofa smoking aciparette.

His books were slightly furrowed while his shirt collar was unbuttoned, revealing a glimpse of his pale skin and the faint one of his chest muscles. His features were sharp and defined, and the way his Adam’s apple moved as he exhaled the smoke was a tempting test for the eyes.

“You’re back “Shelmaine said.

Samuel lailymed his eyes at the sound of her voice and responded with a set hum. His gaze was cold and enfamiliar, as if he didn’t recognize her.

Concerned, Shelmaine said, “Why did you drink so much as soon as you got back? You low your liver isn’t good Please don’t drink so much next time.” She then turned to pour him a glass of honey lemon bea

However, Samuel didn’t take it and instead pointed to the table for her to set it downL

“Sam” shelmane began.

Samuel pinched the bridge of his nose, his facial features starkly highlighted by the light and shadow. “Let’s get a divorce,” he said

The words hit Shelmaine like a punch, and her heart instantly tightened. She swallowed, thinking she must have misheard.

She stayed silent.

“I won’t leave you with nothing. If you have any demands, feel free to ask, Samuel added.

Shelmaine remained calm, though her breathing was unsteady. “I have no demanda.”

“None” Saul didn’t seem to believe her, his brows knitting together as he studied her.

Shelmine nodded lightly “None”

“Is there anything else you want to say to me?

Her voice and expression were eerily calm, and it surprised Samel. It wasn’t what he had expected. “I thought you’d cry or make a scene,” he said.

“Twon’t.” shelmaine had always known that fored love was bitter. She’d known it from the start, clinging to a husband who didn’t love her would be too humiliating, and it was something she couldn’t bring herself to do.

She couldn’t explain why, but she’d had a gut feeling ever since t they got married that this day would come.

She just hadn’t expected it to come so soon.

Three years of marriage, over just like that.

have Willam send you the divorce agreement tomorrow. If you have any concerns, you can discuss them with him,” Samuel said.

“Alright.” Shelmaine nodded, not deigning to say anything more.

Upon seeing Samuel’s red expression, she stood up. Then she poured him another glass of honey lemon tea, and gently reminded him, “You really should stop drinking so much.

with that, she went back to her room and closed the door behind her.

Soon after, she heard the door open and close–Sammelhad left.

Shelmaine bit down heed, her chest tightening in pain. Her that felt Blocked, and it made it hard to breathe.

Shelmingend her social media and saw some photos posted by Samuel’s friends.

The man in the platos was her soon to be ex–husband, accompanied by a young, beautiful woman

2/2

That woman was Natasha Green, the person who had saved Samuel during the darkest time of his youth.

Shelmaine had taken advantage of the situation then, stealing the nest that Natasha should have occupied. But now that the rightful owner was back, it was only natural for her to

The next day, the divorce agreement arrived at Shelmaine’s studio.

Without even looking at it, Shelmaine flipped to the last page and signed her name

? Just in case-

William Lloyd, the lawyer, observed this and asked, “Mrs. Hasting, shouldn’t you review it first? |

“He’s always been generous. He won’t shortchange me. And even if he wanted to take advantage of me, I wouldn’t stand a chance against your company’s legal team.” Shelmaine handed the agreement back to him and reminded, “Willem, I’m no longer “Mrs. Hasting.“”

William didn’t argue and simply smiled slightly, with his task complete, he then exchanged a few pleasantries with Shelmaine and prepared to leave.

However, just as he was about to go, shelmaine suddenly stopped him. “One moment.”

a

After a moment of serious thought, Shelmaine asked, “I’m going on a business trip in a few days. Could you check if he has time to go to the courthouse tomorrow or the day after to finalize the divorce?”!

“In such a hurry? I’m not sure. Mr. Hasting didn’t say.” William was a bit surprised

Who was in a rush to get divorced here? It seemed like Mrs. Hasting was more eager than Mr. Hasting.

“Please ask him for me,” Shelmaine requested.

“Sure”

The next time Shelmaine would see Samuel was at the courthouse to finalize their divorce.

Samuel seemed to be in a rush. His phone was ringing non–stop, unable to stay silent for even a moment

Meanwhile, Shelmaine quietly waited without saying a word nor looking at him.

Only when he’d finished his call did she say, “Everything’s ready. Just sign them.”

While Samuel was on the phone, Shelmaine had already taken a number to queue and submitted the paperwork.

That day most have been a popular day for weddings because the neighboring windows were crowded with couples getting married. In contrast, there were only a few there for divorces.

Shelmaine bucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her serene and graceful visage.

Today, she wore light makeup and a bright red dress that accentuated her figure. She didn’t notice Samuel’s gaze lingering on her for a moment. When she turned around, his gaze had already shifted away, and she didn’t notice a thing.

“Please take these. Here are your divorce certificates,” the courthouse officer said.

Shelmine carefully took her copy and tucked it away in her bag.

The feeling she had now was completely different from what she’d felt when she had first gotten her marriage certificate

Samuel’s car was parked by the curb. As they walked out of the courthouse, he turned to look at her.

However, Shelmalne spoke first, “Goodbye,”

Samuel suddenly asked, “You’re just going to leave that?”

Shelmaine looked at him, puzzled

Samuel had one hand in his pocket, and despite his casual posture, he had a striking appearance that commanded attention from some people nearby. But he was used to the attention by now and was indifferent to others‘ gazes.

His deep eyes studied Shelmalne. “You really don’t want anything from me?”

“Him?” Shekmaine was confused. “Are you worried that I’ll pester you? Don’t worry, I won’t, I hope you’ll f

find true love.” Η

Samuel was about to say something when his phone rang again. He was busy and had only carved out some time to finalize the divorce. He hadn’t expected shelmane to be in such a hurry. It was as if she couldn’t wait to move on.

Meanwhile, Shelmine didn’t say anything more. Everything that needed to be said had been said

Soon, her ride arrived, and she left without looking back,

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