Goodbye Cheater Hello CEO’s Wife by Payne Walter

Chapter 51

Rihanna smiled as Isabella tilted her head and said, “I told you that you look good when you smile. You should smile more often.”

Rihanna remained silent, focusing on washing the fruits, while Isabella ignored her.

They busied themselves in the kitchen, preparing fruit juice before bringing it to the coffee table, each with a glass in hand.

On that autumn evening, a slight chill lingered as they snuggled on the couch, wrapping themselves in a light blanket, and sipping fruit juice. Sleep cluded them as both had someone on their minds.

Finding solace in conversation, Isabella soon realized that Rihanna’s tale was a poignant one.

Rihanna was only three years old and Coles nine when their mother passed away.

Their stepmother, Karen, later entered their lives, showing exaggerated respect in the presence of their father, Gregory Vaughn, and others, almost as if she were a servant, fearing any criticism of her treatment of the stepchildren.

However, behind the scenes, Rihanna endured constant intimidation and mistreatment, her injuries concealed beneath her garments. She grew increasingly timid and fearful, trembling at the sight of Karen.

Rihanna displayed complete submission to Coles, always deferential. For a significant period, Coles remained unaware of the mistreatment Rihanna endured. When he eventually discovered it, he was filled with shock and outrage. He rebelled, publicly exposing Karen’s true nature. Unfortunately, he fell into her trap, leading to a severe beating from Gregory.

Subsequently, when Karen became pregnant, she frequently expressed concerns that Rihanna’s actions startled her unborn child. Consequently, Gregory’s affection shifted from reprimands to physical violence, gradually erasing the love he once showed her.

As Coles defended her and confronted Gregory with anger, he faced harsher punishments.

Over time, Rihanna transitioned from a cherished little princess to a fragile, emotionally vulnerable individual, while Coles, driven by his desire to shield her, his resentment toward Gregory’s injustices, and the rebellion of adolescence, neglected his studies. He became hot- tempered and fell in with a rough crowd, all in his quest to become a hero to safeguard Rihanna.

The birth of a daughter by Karen brought great joy to Gregory. However, Karen’s tendency to see unclean things and the constant crying of the baby caused unrest in the household.

Upon advice from Karen’s maternal family, Gregory consulted a home geomancy coven. The coven deemed Rihanna a jinx, destined to bring calamity upon her parents. They attributed her mother’s demise to her influence, predicting Gregory was next. However, because of Karen’s arrival, troubles befell her and her daughter first. Consequently, Gregory’s business would falter, leading to the family’s eventual downfall under Rihanna’s perceived curse, ultimately resulting in ruin and demise.

Soon after, one of Gregory’s ventures indeed failed, resulting in significant losses. That reinforced his belief in the coven’s words.

Even before turning seven, Rihanna was deemed a jinx, facing disdain from housekeepers who blamed her for any mishaps.

Feeling sensitive and internally wounded, Rihanna grew increasingly timid.

Coles was the sole protector who fiercely shielded her, enduring torment after torment on her behalf, offering comfort and cherishing her. He was the only source of warmth she had.

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Chapter 51

With Rihanna hospitalized once more, Gregory decided to send her to a convent to seek atonement for their family’s sins and blessings for

their entire household.

day Rihanna was sent away, Coles was confined.

in the convent

abbess of the convent, a distant relative of Karen,

and withdrew completely, refusing to communicate. The only good thing

lost the ability to speak, showing no recognition toward anyone. Her daily activities revolved around daydreaming and sleeping. Despite being twelve years old, she looked like a seven- or

attending to her. It had taken him three years to coax Rihanna into uttering her first word, which

“brother.”

the 21–year–old Coles cried and held her in his arms,

Atharia. He sent her back to their homeland, enabling her to slowly adapt to her

listened in astonishment.

cotton pajamas, her long hair flowing over her shoulders. Bathed in the soft light, her delicate face carried an

sorrow and aloofness.

tinged with coldness and melancholy, she stirred feelings of both pity and a

hardly engaged with anyone besides Isabella.

with Rihanna, she

taking three more years to regain

her emotions, Isabella leaned in and hugged Rihanna. Though initially resistant, Rihanna quietly

embrace.

must have suffered greatly during those years searching for you,” Isabella remarked, sensing

pain than Rihanna.

nodded gently in Isabella’s arms.

a madman, but he was just a 13–year–old child, with

and secretly confined to a psychiatric hospital, enduring

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Chapter 51

at the psychiatric hospital, he managed to escape, but exhaustion overcame him, and he

rescuers turned out to be his estranged uncle, banished from the family by

found Rihanna and took her to Atharia. By then, she was barely recognizable. Although his uncle urged him to abandon her, Coles refused, opting instead

cared for Rihanna while managing his uncle’s underworld and legitimate enterprises, leading

Rihanna, sighing at the siblings‘ fate, thinking, “Rihanna was fortunate

that something will happen to him. I often dream of him drenched in blood. Just now, I dreamt that he

it would be too unjust if anything happened to him. Rihanna, don’t fret. Our mother is watching over us from heaven. They won’t allow harm

leaned on Isabella’s shoulder and said, “I don’t remember my mother anymore. I was too young when she passed away. After five years of inhuman suffering, Coles is

were in your shoes, I would only remember Coles, too. Having a brother like him would be truly wonderful.”

The

Rihanna. “Didn’t Edmund mention he’s your brother? And based on

bitterly and sighed. “I can’t recall anymore. Before I turned 12, all I remembered

contract?” Rihanna asked, surprised.

betrothal for me when I was a child. However, not long ago, during our engagement party, I saw a

surprise and looked