# Chapter 133: The Kiss That Almost Was
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 133 of "The Untouchable Ex Wife." This chapter is a quiet, intimate one—a night of vulnerability, bittersweet memories, and a moment where two lonely souls almost crossed a line. It is filled with deep introspection, sharp words of truth, and a tender scene that will leave you wondering: is Renee truly ready to open her heart again?
So sit back, and let me tell you the story of a night under the stars where past and present collided, and where Renee Everheart found herself questioning everything she once believed.
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The night air was cool and gentle as it danced through the garden, carrying with it the subtle fragrance of flowers. Renee stood by the swing, her fingers brushing through her hair and tracing the outline of her lips. It was a rather enchanting scene—a beautiful woman, dressed in the quiet darkness, lost in a world of memories that seemed to swallow her whole.
She looked up at the glittering starry sky, and her mind drifted far away, back to the days of her childhood. She could almost see her father and grandfather sitting on old rattan chairs, deeply absorbed in an intense game of chess. Her mother, graceful and warm, would wander through the garden picking fresh roses and peonies, carefully placing them into a delicate porcelain vase. And little Cutie, the family dog, would trot happily around her mother's feet, keeping her company with soft whimpers and playful barks.
Renee could almost hear their happy laughter echoing in the air.
But when she blinked, the laughter faded, and the silence returned.
"How did things turn out this way?" she whispered into the night.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she leaned her head against the rough rope of the swing. They rolled slowly down her cheeks, one after another, carrying the weight of her sorrow. She sobbed quietly, her voice breaking the stillness of the garden.
"Dad, Mom... are you guys okay? Did I make a mistake? I was only seeing things my way. I wanted a perfect ending, a reconciliation... but I never considered Quinton's feelings." Her voice trembled. "Maybe, deep down..."
Her words trailed off, lost in the wind.
Before her thoughts could consume her entirely, a familiar voice cut through the night. It was Haze—playful, teasing, and somehow always appearing when she needed a distraction.
"You know, your compliments aren't too bad either," he said with a cheeky grin.
They bickered like an old married couple, their words sharp yet affectionate. And slowly, miraculously, Renee's heavy mood began to lift. She knew what he was doing. He was trying to distract her, to pull her out of that dark spiral of grief and guilt.
For the first time that night, she smiled. "Haze, to be honest, you're not that bad when you're not behaving like a scumbag... Thank you."
Haze's eyes sparkled with amusement as they smiled at each other, like two long-lost soulmates reunited by fate. But Renee's mind was still troubled, and she sought clarity.
"Haze, do you really think I'm biased?" she sighed, hoping he could help her see her own heart from the perspective of a third person. "Do you want to hear the truth?" he asked with a faint smile. "Yes. It's okay, you don't have to worry about upsetting me."
Haze looked at her thoughtfully, his gaze sharp and perceptive. "Well, on the surface, you seem to be partial towards Quinton. But in actual fact..."
He paused, tilting his head as if weighing his words carefully. Then he pursed his lips and said, almost strangely, "...you're more partial towards Stefan."
Renee frowned, ready to defend herself, but Haze continued with a knowing smirk. "But it's normal. After all, he's your ex-husband, and of course lovestruck women like you would put their husbands above everything else!"
"No, that's not it!" Renee protested, her cheeks flushing. "I just feel that Quinton is having a very hard time. He's living with so much hatred, and all he can think about is taking revenge. What's more, the Hunt family won't be an easy enemy. If he keeps provoking them, he'll get into serious trouble."
Haze's expression turned serious, and he raised a brow. "You're not him, and you've never walked in his shoes. What right do you have to ask him to let go of his grudges?" His voice grew heavier. "If it were me, I wouldn't be able to reconcile with my enemy so easily. The business he worked so hard for was ruined, and his face... You know, my family also has a rule of seeking revenge and never letting bygones be bygones."
Renee looked down at her hands, wrestling with her conscience. "Yes, you're right, but... my family was on friendly terms with the Hunt family. I feel that Grandpa, Dad, and Mom wouldn't want to see us fight against them."
Haze scoffed, his tone sharp and cutting. "That's just an excuse! If the Hunt family was on such good terms with the Everheart family, why didn't they do anything when the Everheart family was facing trouble back then? When your family fell, the Hunt family immediately replaced yours and became the head of The Great Eight of Beach City."
He leaned in closer, his eyes piercing through her defenses. "To be honest, I don't think they were on very good terms with your family at all."
Renee shook her head, still clinging to her beliefs. "It was unexpected. My family went bankrupt so fast, and nobody even had time to react. I guess it was the same with the Hunt family too. It was already very hard for them since Stefan was forced to marry me..."
She has always been an ungrateful person. She had never wanted protection or charity. But she knew the truth: when the Hunt family allied themselves with the Everhearts through her marriage to Stefan, they had indirectly made a lot of enemies. She didn't blame them. She understood the weight of that burden.
Haze looked at her and sighed in admiration. "You're an exemplary person, so of course it would be their gain if Stefan married you." Then he paused, a note of regret creeping into his voice. "Back then, Grandpa immediately offered support to your family when he learned that they were in trouble. He even forced me to marry you and protect you... but unfortunately, I had my heart set on Phoenix, so I missed the chance of being with you."
He nearly slapped himself just thinking about it.
Leaning closer to her, Haze spoke half-jokingly, but there was a hint of longing in his eyes. "Do you think all this nonsense wouldn't have happened if you married me instead back then? It would have been easy for us to crush the Hunt family, and you wouldn't have had conflict with your mother-in-law. What's more, those homewreckers wouldn't have forced you to divorce your husband."
For a long moment, Renee was silent, contemplating his words. She studied him—Haze, the man who was always there, always teasing, always pushing her to see the lighter side of things. And maybe, just maybe, there was truth in his words.
She reached out and placed her hand gently on his cheek. "Maybe. You're indeed handsome and come from a powerful background. The most important thing is that we share the same trade. We can compete against each other in writing codes too." She smiled wistfully, a faraway look in her eyes. "Sometimes I wondered... would I be happy if I married you instead back then?"
Haze's breath caught. He lifted her chin softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Well, it's never too late... we can always start now."
He closed his eyes, moving closer to her, ready to capture her lips.
And this time... Renee did not pull away. She did not slap him or create distance. Instead, for the first time, she tried to accept it, to embrace this possibility of new love.
They were like two lost souls, seeking warmth in each other.
Renee's mind wandered to a strange scientific fact she had once read: human beings needed roughly seven years to have a full cell metabolism. Every cell in the body replaced itself completely within that time. In a way, a person could transform into someone entirely new in seven years.
Renee knew that she had loved Stefan wholeheartedly for more than ten years. Her cells had already completed their metabolism, and by all logic, she should have moved on. She should be ready for a new lover. After all, a vague love affair would probably just fade with time, washing away the pain of the past.
Their lips gently came into contact—a delicate, tentative touch that promised something new. But just as they were about to deepen the kiss, a cold breeze swept across the garden, sharp and uninvited, breaking the spell between them.
They pulled apart, the moment shattered.
Haze closed his eyes again, gathering himself, then gave a low, playful chuckle. "You know, it takes seven years for a full metabolism. How long can your passion last? Don't bite off more than you can chew."
Renee blinked, trying to process his sudden change in tone. But Haze continued, his confidence unwavering. "You don't have to worry about it. My passion can last for a very long time. After all, didn't I soldier through after so many years? Probably, the reason that I failed to make you warm up to me is..."
He smirked wickedly, and before she could react, he gave her a quick, unexpected peck on the lips. "...maybe I'm not hot enough."
He pulled away before she could even protest, but there was a gleam of victory in his eyes. "Don't worry, we'll fall in love with each other sooner or later... After all, I've managed to win over my future brother-in-law. As for you..."
He said confidently, "You'll soon be mine!"
After that night, the Carmine Pawnshop began its official cooperation with the Baldwin family. However, the pawnshop had suffered a gigantic loss previously because of the shipwreck, so they could not transport the treasures back on time. The wheels of fate were turning, and both love and business were heading into uncertain waters.
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## Reader's Impressions & Star Rating
What a deeply emotional and beautifully introspective chapter! This one truly tugged at my heartstrings. Watching Renee mourn for her parents and wonder if she made the right choices was devastatingly relatable and moving. Her vulnerability on that swing, crying under the stars, felt so raw and honest.
The conversation with Haze was another highlight. He acts like the playful, teasing friend, but his words cut deep. This is the first time someone truthfully tells Renee that she's not as impartial as she thinks—that deep down, she still favors Stefan. That revelation sets the stage for so much emotional turmoil ahead.
And that almost-kiss... my heart was pounding! Renee finally opening herself to the possibility of love again, only to be interrupted by the cold wind—it felt like fate itself was telling them to slow down. But that mischievous peck from Haze at the end? Absolutely swoon-worthy! He is confident, charming, and completely determined to win her heart.
This chapter masterfully blends grief, guilt, difficult truths, and a spark of new romance that could change everything.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars
## Next Chapter Prediction
Now that Haze has boldly declared his intentions and even won over Quinton's approval, the stage is set for a dramatic shift in relationships. The partnership between Carmine Pawnshop and the Baldwin family is just beginning, but with the past loss from the shipwreck still haunting them, trouble is brewing. Meanwhile, Stefan might soon catch wind of Haze's growing closeness to Renee—and knowing his possessive nature, without a doubt, jealousy and conflict are bound to erupt. Will Haze genuinely break through Renee's walls, or will Stefan's shadow still loom over her heart?
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