He called her the "one" for a night? My dice made sure he paid with his life

Crushed But Goodbye by Austen 27 Summary In "Crushed But Goodbye," the story begins with Nina Brown reflecting on the choices that led her to sever ties with Cedric Smith seven years ago. In a moment of impulsivity, she married another man, leaving Cedric shocked and heartbroken. He quickly left the country, cutting all connections, while Nina faced a downward spiral in her life, losing her family and eventually her marriage. Struggling to make ends meet, she worked tirelessly at a company that barely supported her.

Fate intervenes when Nina's boss invites her to a gathering where she encounters Cedric, now a powerful figure known as President Smith. The moment is filled with tension as Cedric dismisses her presence and blacklists her company, leading to her immediate firing. This rejection sends Nina into a tailspin, culminating in her eviction from her home. Alone and vulnerable, she faces the harsh winter and reflects on her choices, trying to muster hope amidst despair. When Cedric finds her on the streets, he offers her a stark choice: marry him or face homelessness again.

After much internal conflict, Nina agrees to the marriage, which is lavish and filled with whispers of envy from onlookers. However, beneath the surface, she realizes that this union is more about Cedric's desire for revenge than love. He quickly helps her clear her debts but makes it clear that the terms of their marriage are dictated by him alone. On their wedding night, Nina's heart sinks when Cedric arrives with another woman, showcasing the transactional nature of their relationship.

As she lies alone in her room, the sounds of their laughter echo through the walls, a painful reminder of her reality. Nina grapples with the truth of her past and the choices that led her to this moment, feeling trapped and unable to voice her true feelings about their history. The chapter ends with her internal struggle and the realization that her life has taken a turn she never anticipated.

Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below **Crushed But Goodbye by Austen** **Chapter 1** Seven years had slipped by like water through fingers, and in a moment of impulsive decision-making, I had severed ties with Cedric Smith and turned my back on our shared future. The very next day, I had married another man, a choice that seemed to shock Cedric to his core. He left the country almost immediately, cutting every thread that connected us, leaving me to navigate the aftermath alone.

When fate conspired to bring us together again, Cedric had transformed into President Smith, a figure of success and respect, his name whispered in reverence among the elite. The once-familiar boy I had known was now a powerful man, commanding respect from all corners of society. As for me, life had taken a harsh turn. My family had crumbled into financial ruins, both of my parents had passed away, and I had found myself divorced for two long years. To make ends meet and pay off the debts that loomed over me like dark clouds, I slaved away at a company that barely kept me afloat.

One fateful day, my boss, brimming with excitement, decided to bring me along to a gathering where Cedric would be present. "President Smith," he said, raising his glass of wine with an eager glint in his eye, "I have long admired your reputation. Here's my business card. I hope we can explore opportunities for cooperation in the near future." His voice wavered with anticipation as he awaited Cedric's response. As Cedric's gaze flickered toward me, I felt the heat of embarrassment flush through my cheeks. I instinctively tried to shrink behind my boss, hoping to remain unseen.

My heart raced as I took a cautious sip from my glass, the wine barely quenching my nerves. Cedric, however, accepted the business card with an air of indifference, glancing at it for just a moment before tossing it over his shoulder to his assistant with a dismissive flick of his wrist. "Remember this company and add it to our blacklist," he instructed, his voice cool and commanding. I watched in horror as my boss's face drained of color, his confidence evaporating in an instant. He lunged forward, grasping at Cedric's arm in desperation. "Mr.

Smith, is there some misunderstanding here?" he pleaded, his voice trembling. Cedric's disdainful gaze shifted to me, and I felt the weight of his judgment. "If a company like this can even hire her, what good can it be?" he retorted, his words cutting deeper than any knife. **Chapter 1** That very night, I received the news that would change everything: I was fired from the company. The ripple effect of Cedric's disdain swept through the industry, and soon I found myself blacklisted. The whispers of my name, Nina Brown, echoed with the weight of my offense against him.

With the loss of my job came the loss of my income, and soon after, I faced the harsh reality of eviction. The landlord, with no sympathy to spare, tossed my belongings onto the street, and I stood there, shivering in the biting winter air. As I gazed at the distant bridge archway, I shook my head in disbelief. "I guess I can survive one night out here without freezing to death, right?" I murmured to myself, trying to muster some semblance of hope. Just as I had finally set up my makeshift bed, ready to brave the cold, a pair of finely crafted men's leather shoes appeared in my line of sight.

I looked up to see Cedric standing there, his brow furrowed, his tone as icy as the air around us. "So this is the kind of life you were so eager to embrace when you went to such lengths to break up with me," he remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. That day, against my better judgment, I found myself following him back to his lavish villa. He presented me with a stark choice: either he would throw me back onto the streets, or I could marry him. I spent two long nights wrestling with my thoughts before I finally acquiesced to his second proposal.

The wedding that followed was nothing short of grand, a spectacle that drew envy from all who attended. People whispered that I was fortunate to have snagged a wealthy bachelor like Cedric for my second marriage, praising my so-called skills. Those who were aware of our tumultuous past would exclaim, "The power of a first love is truly unbeatable!" But beneath their words, only I understood the truth: Cedric was orchestrating this grand charade as a response to the way I had cast him aside years ago.

After I agreed to marry him, he swiftly helped me clear the debts that had haunted me, a gesture that felt more like a transaction than an act of love. My heart sank with the realization of the conditions that accompanied his generosity. Sensing my hesitation, he fixed me with a steely gaze. "Don't worry," he said, his voice smooth yet firm. "I'm not doing this out of kindness. I have conditions as well. No matter what happens in the future, only I will decide when our marriage ends." I nodded, the weight of his words settling heavily on my shoulders.

On our wedding night, I returned to the villa alone, my heart pounding with uncertainty. An hour later, he strolled in, his hand clasped around the delicate wrist of a stunning young woman. Seeing me, the girl leaned into him, an unmistakable challenge in her posture. Cedric instinctively wrapped his arm around her, planting a kiss on her cheek, a gesture that felt like a dagger to my heart.

He then turned to me, his voice commanding as if I were merely a subordinate, "Nina, you sleep in the next room." That night, as I lay in the darkened room, their laughter and merriment seeped through the walls, a cruel reminder of the life I had chosen. My hands, hidden beneath the covers, clenched tightly, leaving crescent-shaped marks on my palms. I had intended to share the truth of why I had broken up with him all those years ago, but the words remained trapped in my throat, suffocated by the weight of my reality.

Conclusion In the aftermath of my impulsive decision to marry Cedric, I found myself entangled in a web of regret and unfulfilled dreams. The grand facade of our union, praised by the world, stood in stark contrast to the loneliness that enveloped me in the quiet moments. Each day was a reminder of the choices that led me here, as I grappled with the realization that I had exchanged one form of despair for another. The laughter that echoed through the villa, once a symbol of joy, became a haunting melody, a constant reminder of the love I had lost and the betrayal I now endured.

My heart, once filled with hope, now lay heavy with the burden of a life dictated by Cedric's whims, and I was left to ponder the true cost of my decisions. Yet, in the depths of my despair, a flicker of resilience ignited within me. I understood that I had the power to reclaim my narrative, to rise from the ashes of my past mistakes. The coldness of Cedric's actions, the laughter that mocked my presence, and the weight of his control could no longer define my existence. I resolved to find my own voice, to confront the shadows of my past, and to seek a path toward healing.

As she navigates this treacherous emotional landscape, readers can expect poignant revelations about her past choices and the impact they have on her present. Moreover, the dynamics of Nina and Cedric's marriage will take center stage, as the conditions of their union loom large over her every decision. Will she find the strength to assert her own voice and reclaim her identity, or will she continue to be a pawn in Cedric's game?

As secrets from their shared history threaten to resurface, the chapter promises to unveil new layers of complexity in their relationship, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. With each twist and turn, the stakes will rise, and the question of whether Nina can truly escape the shadows of her past while forging a future with Cedric will linger tantalizingly in the air. Dex Morgan Dex Morgan works to elevate each story with clean writing, emotional balance, and thoughtful flow for readers.