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.

was sent away,

in the convent until Coles

the convent, a distant relative of Karen,

those five years, Rihanna spoke to very few people and withdrew completely, refusing to communicate. The only good thing was that

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 eight–year–old

him three

“brother.”

cried and held her in his

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

listened in

hair flowing over her shoulders. Bathed in the soft

sorrow and aloofness.

beauty, exuding a classical and distinctive aura. Despite her aloof demeanor, tinged with coldness and melancholy, she stirred feelings of both pity and

hardly engaged with anyone besides

if she didn’t initiate a conversation with Rihanna, she might go an entire

had spent five years in silence, taking three more years to regain

leaned in and hugged Rihanna. Though initially resistant, Rihanna quietly

embrace.

have suffered greatly during those years searching for you,” Isabella remarked, sensing that Coles might have borne

pain than Rihanna.

gently in Isabella’s arms.

about his frantic search efforts after she was taken away. He acted like a madman, but he was just a 13–year–old child, with limited abilities. Consequently, he

unjustly labeled as mentally unstable and secretly confined to a psychiatric hospital, enduring four years of mental and physical torment alongside adult patients. Despite numerous attempts, each escape effort during those

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Chapter 51

outage at the psychiatric hospital, he managed to escape, but exhaustion overcame him, and he collapsed in an alley where two

turned out to be his estranged uncle, banished from

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

his

the siblings‘ fate, thinking,

will happen to him. I often

saying, “Don’t think too much. He’ll be fine. After all you’ve endured, it would be too unjust if anything happened to him. Rihanna, don’t fret. Our

young when she passed away. After

I would only remember Coles, too.

The

brought some solace to Rihanna. “Didn’t Edmund mention he’s your brother? And based on what his parents said over the phone, it seems like your families are very

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

contract?” Rihanna

when I was a child. However, not long ago, during our engagement party, I saw a video of my fiancé betraying me with

sat up in surprise