What Love Once Carried
- Reads 322
- Votes 31
- Parts 5
Ongoing1h 34m
Last published Fri, May 23, 2025
What if the person you loved most was the one you forgot how to fight for?
After ten years of marriage, Alexander Clarke believes he and his wife, Gwen, have grown too far apart to ever find their way back. Convinced he's fallen out of love - and into the arms of another - he asks Gwen for a divorce.
Gwen doesn't fight.
She doesn't cry.
Instead, she makes a simple, heartbreaking request: for the next three months, Alex must carry her to bed every night, just as he did the night they became husband and wife.
As Alex honors Gwen's strange request, the past slowly seeps back into the present - the laughter, the memories, the love he thought he no longer needed. But even as old feelings awaken, Gwen seems to slip farther away, her once-bright spirit dimming before his very eyes.
Will Alex finally realizes the depth of his love - and the devastating secret Gwen has been hiding - he races against time to fight not only for her heart, but for her life. Along the way, buried betrayals come to light, forcing Alex to confront the truth about everything he thought he knew.
Can love that was nearly destroyed by pride and betrayal ever be rebuilt?
Or will Alex's second chance come too late?
What Love Once Carried is a deeply emotional novel about heartbreak, redemption, and the enduring strength of a love that refuses to be forgotten. Where second chances are earned, not given. Perfect for fans who love slow-burn healing, and stories that stay with you long after the final page.
Inspired by a prompt read on Facebook.
All Rights Reserved
#35
past-trauma
Join the largest storytelling communityGet personalized story recommendations, save your favourites to your library, and comment and vote to grow your community.
You may also like
His Favorite Secret
Chloe Marlow thought she had buried the past for good, the man she once loved, the choices that shattered them, and the truth she swore never to speak aloud. Vienna was supposed to be a fresh start. A quiet life. A safe one. But the past doesn't stay buried forever. Especially not when it wears a tailored suit and walks back into your world like it never left. Liam Ashford was never just a mistake. He was everything, brilliant, ruthless, and dangerously unforgettable. She left without explanation. Now, he's not the same man she remembers. Colder. Sharper. And looking for answers he doesn't even know he's missing. As proximity forces them into uneasy orbit, old chemistry resurfaces with a vengeance, and so do the secrets Chloe has fought to keep buried. But the truth has a heartbeat of its own. And when it finally breaks through, no one will walk away unscathed. Now face to face one last time, the question remains, can they rewrite their ending, or are some betrayals too deep to ever come back from? This Is Their Final Crossroads Fate doesn't offer infinite chances. This is it, their last shot at healing what's been broken... or watching it shatter once and for all. This is Book 3 in His Favorite Book Series: Book 1: His Favorite Investment Book 2: His Favorite Obsession Book 3: His Favorite Secret ***Content Warning*** This story contains mature themes including sexual content, emotional manipulation, morally complex relationships, cheating, and adult language. Reader discretion is advised RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 18+ Copyright Disclaimer © MaryRose 2025 This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and settings are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or real events is purely coincidental. No part of this story may be copied, reproduced, or distributed in any form without the author's signed authorization.Complete
Before Dawn: a Prequel Novella to Where the Stars Fall
Olivia's perfect life fell apart in an instant. Now she's left to pick up the pieces and move on, but that's easier said than done when the image of her long-time boyfriend in the arms of another woman is so fresh in her mind. Brian Anderson thought he knew what the future would bring - until he was betrayed by the man he looked up to like a father. On a personal quest to right the wrongs done, the last thing he's looking for is a serious relationship. That is, if life wasn't so full of unexpected surprises. Heartbroken and distraught, Olivia's sworn off love for good. But a chance encounter with Brian, the man her heart never forgot, sends her life into an emotional whirlwind. Now the 28-year-old doctor is faced with a choice: take another chance on love or walk away never knowing what could have been... *** Dear readers, This is a complementary prequel to Where the Stars Fall, a friends to lovers second chance romance. You do not need to read it to enjoy the next instalment. It's simply an extra I wrote for those of you who want to know Olivia a little better. Also, for everyone who would like to get a feel of the storyline and the characters before diving into the next book. While WSF is entirely told through Brian's eyes, Before Dawn introduces you to Olivia's world before her return to London and revisits the day she meets Brian again, ten years after their story was left unfinished. Some passages will be found in both books. xo, AnaComplete
Hazelnut and Vanilla☕✨
He was a stranger I saved. He became the man I loved. And then...the man who broke me. ...................................................................... For Freya Reed, love was supposed to be simple. But one late summer morning, fate collided-literally-with Alex Blackwood, the kind of man who could turn a quiet life into chaos. Three years later, Alex isn't just her first love-he's everything she wished for. But a confession shattered everything she thought she knew about him, and about them. When love tastes like hazelnut and vanilla-warm, comforting, unforgettable-can it ever truly disappear? Or will betrayal always leave its bitter aftertaste? A short story of love, betrayal, and the fight to heal when everything falls apart.Complete
Paper Rings & Poisoned Promises
He was the love she lost. Now, he's the husband she never wanted. Ava Sinclair's life was never hers to control. Born into a powerful but crumbling empire, she's forced into a marriage of convenience to save her father's legacy - and herself from a cage of abuse. The twist? Her new husband is none other than Grayson Hale - the man who shattered her heart years ago. Once, they were inseparable - until betrayal tore them apart. Now, Grayson is a cold, calculating billionaire with a ring in one hand and revenge in the other. Ava is just a pawn in his plan... or so he thinks. But nothing is simple when love, lies, and legacy collide. Behind every glance hides a memory. Behind every touch, a secret. And behind every promise... a price. Trapped in a mansion filled with luxury and poison, Ava and Grayson must navigate a world of family betrayal, corporate deceit, and a past that refuses to stay buried. In a marriage built on paper rings and poisoned promises... can love survive the lies, or will it burn everything down?Complete
The Gathered Fragments of Us (Available on Kindle)
The complete book is only available on Kindle and can be found at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS181BKW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2C1BY8TCDSU9G&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.UYq_PSgfmkivAIc6YRMNNQ.bASV0Mjw-veYDv83E4xEEOQOz5ORQXBkqztBnt-J9BM&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+gathered+fragments+of+us&qid=1758560347&s=books&sprefix=the+gathered+fragments+of+us%2Cbooks%2C46&sr=1-1 I will keep some of the early chapters here live, but the conclusion, changes to story line, and additions will only be available to read through Kindle once published. Until then, happy reading! 🥰 Felicity Barrett thought she had everything: a marriage to a man she loved and a beautiful future. But when years of neglect and unspoken grief collide with her husband's devastating mistake, everything begins to crumble. Caden Barrett has always been the fixer-at work, at home, and in his marriage. But some things can't be solved with late-night apologies or expensive gifts. To win back Felicity's trust, he'll have to face his failures, fight for their future, and learn what it truly means to not only love his wife, but to show that love. Together, they must navigate family turmoil, betrayal, and the painful echoes of the past. Through chaos, heartbreak, and unexpected joys, Felicity and Caden discover that love isn't about perfection-it's about persistence, forgiveness, and choosing each other again and again. This is a story of brokenness and healing, of second chances and the quiet work of love. It is a novel that explores modern marriage, blended families, and courage while asking: when everything shatters, can love be rebuilt stronger than before?Complete
SCOPTOBER: DARK DECEMBER
I know you have got lightning in you. Stop acting like a drizzle.
Knowing Us
"We were bound to break at some point. So might as well be fucked up together." Catherine Welles had always been good at keeping secrets - soo much so that her entire life was a lie. She was well versed in the tragedy of men and money and demons that took control of every aspect of her life leaving her utterly alone and closed off. Desperate for an escape she runs at the first opportunity to Highton University to try for a second chance at life and solidify her fashion career. But things were not quite how she planned when she runs into her ex-boyfriend Greyson Reid. Scared and broken Catherine does everything to make sure her walls never shatter - even as she finds herself losing her heart. Greyson Reid was destined to become the world's greatest footballer. With intensive training and a captaincy, nothing was going to stand in his way to win the Championship and secure his place in the League. That was until Catherine storms back into his life and creates a sense he never knew he would experience again - even if she hates him. Cautious and careful he tries to make amends for his past mistakes whilst making sure he doesn't lose himself, or worse his career. With desperate attempts pushing around him he finds it hard to not uncover the mystery of the closed-off girl he once knew without wavering. Hearts break and paths forge defiantly in a mix of emotions that lead them both to unravel not only themselves but the haunting of their paths that threaten to destroy their futures. With past feelings flickering around them can they withhold themselves from shattering or will they go back to what they once were - strangers with no hopes?Complete
𝐁𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐞
Mia Brown believed she had her heart safely guarded, wrapped tight under layers of resilience. Life had taught her that trusting too deeply could lead to heartbreak, and dreams didn't always come true. She knew it was safer to rely on herself, to focus on her work and keep her emotions locked away. But a quiet longing stirred beneath her resolve, whispering dreams of a love so deep and true that it would feel like home. And then, there was Alex Walker. From the moment their paths crossed, something shifted in Mia-a warmth, a spark she couldn't ignore. Alex was magnetic yet grounded, a man of strength and subtle tenderness, with eyes that seemed to see into the guarded corners of her heart. He had a way of challenging her walls with every smile, every unspoken word, breaking down the defenses she'd built over time. Mia didn't believe in fairy tales, and yet, as she looked out into the future, there was a flicker of hope, fragile yet undeniable, that maybe she had found something real. Something she hadn't known she'd been searching for. But what if love was more than a feeling? What if it required trust, patience, and a vulnerability she had never allowed herself? Mia's journey would ask her to let go, to be open, to choose love even when it felt uncertain. And in the quiet moments, as she dared to hope, a single, fervent thought lingered in her mind: Could he be mine? ꧁༒☬ ʙᴇ ᴍɪɴᴇ ☬༒꧂ 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐖𝐖𝐌 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤. 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 • 𝟕 • 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐄𝐧Complete
Chloe Marlow thought she had buried the past for good, the man she once loved, the choices that shattered them, and the truth she swore never to speak aloud. Vienna was supposed to be a fresh start. A quiet life. A safe one. But the past doesn't stay buried forever. Especially not when it wears a tailored suit and walks back into your world like it never left. Liam Ashford was never just a mistake. He was everything, brilliant, ruthless, and dangerously unforgettable. She left without explanation. Now, he's not the same man she remembers. Colder. Sharper. And looking for answers he doesn't even know he's missing. As proximity forces them into uneasy orbit, old chemistry resurfaces with a vengeance, and so do the secrets Chloe has fought to keep buried. But the truth has a heartbeat of its own. And when it finally breaks through, no one will walk away unscathed. Now face to face one last time, the question remains, can they rewrite their ending, or are some betrayals too deep to ever come back from? This Is Their Final Crossroads Fate doesn't offer infinite chances. This is it, their last shot at healing what's been broken... or watching it shatter once and for all. This is Book 3 in His Favorite Book Series: Book 1: His Favorite Investment Book 2: His Favorite Obsession Book 3: His Favorite Secret ***Content Warning*** This story contains mature themes including sexual content, emotional manipulation, morally complex relationships, cheating, and adult language. Reader discretion is advised RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 18+ Copyright Disclaimer © MaryRose 2025 This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and settings are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or real events is purely coincidental. No part of this story may be copied, reproduced, or distributed in any form without the author's signed authorization.
More detailsContent Guidelines