CHAPTER FOUR
After Divorce, Ex Husband Fell In Love With Me
"Mr Ethan Richardson.""And he had came with the right documents to claim everything."Jasmine tightened her fingers. Her Uncle Ethan had always despised her parents especially her father when they were still alive, and ever since they died, he had transferred the anger to her.She wondered what he had manipulated to have the company in his name now. If not, her grandfather had always hated him due to his ways of life and had willed his company to her father many years ago before they crashed in an accident. And now that grandfather had died, she was supposed to continue from there as her birthright.Then she figured out something swiftly.She could just get the documents and stand against him from taking what belonged to her. Then she realized their old house was burnt down to ashes as soon as her parents died.Just like a scissors cutting through graphics, pains pierced through her chest she tightened her fist in agony.It was all over. Everything was gone. There was no proof or evidence that she owned her grandfather's company.The fact that her uncle might bring the company to it's doom crushed her heart to several pieces.But what could she do now? she wallowed in pain as streams of tears poured down her eyes.Just in a blink, life had become alot more difficult for her. "Are you there??" It turned out Mrs Ray hasn't hung up all this while."Thank you Mrs Ray." She sniffed. "After your divorce, maybe you can stay with me, you remind me of my lost daughter and I just wish to make it easy for you.""Thank you Mrs Ray, I'll just go to our house, you don't need to worry about me, I'll be fine." She spoke with tears streaming her eyes."I'm sorry Jasmine, you wouldn't be allowed there, your Uncle took everything."More tears dripped her eyes.She nodded in acceptance. Yes, this was what life had brought upon her for now."Thank you Mrs Ray, I appreciate your concerns, my regards to your family and I'll come around to finalize the divorce tomorrow." She muttered."Yes I will, and if you ever change your mind on staying with me, come right away." Mrs Ray muttered and then hung up.Mrs Ray was someone she met a long time ago when her mother was still alive, she was her mother's friend. Even though she never mentioned anything to her, Mrs Ray seemed to know what was going on in her life including her marriage. She stood up slowly and began packing her dressesLucas had declared to not meet her at the house tomorrow, hence she had to leave before he sued her.
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When it was morning, she waited for Lucas to leave, then she began taking out her belongings in a box. She had no plenty stuffs which made it more easier for her. At night while she was choked up in tears, she realized she had saved up some money from her grandfather before she got married. Since the Greywood family was full of wealth, she forgot she has it until this throes befallen her, she decided she would use that to rent a single room that she could afford and next she would look for a job.Just few hours into it, she secured a small room and came back with a taxi that helped her packed into the car.And just like a dream, she was finally saying goodbye to the place she had called a home for the past five years of her life.Tears threatened to stream her eyes, but she dared not drop a thing as this was all for the best. Atleast she was getting away from the ever horrible guy she had dreaded all her life.
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She was in a midst of arranging her small but fancy room when her phone came bickering."Hello Mrs Ray." She muttered."Can you come now? and if you're busy we can reschedule it.""No no, I'm on my way right now, I'll be there in some minutes." She dropped the bag of shoes in her hand and hurried out immediately, but not after dressing her hair to atleast look like a normal human being.The area was where she doesn't have to wait a long time to get a taxi since it wasn't an estate, hence she jumped into one and they drove off. If anything, she had to get this over with as soon as possible and began picking up the pieces of whatever remains in her life."You came right on time.""Yes Mrs Ray.""You can have your sit, your husband and his lawyer are on their way."She nodded her head.Just as she was about to sit down, Lucas arrived with his lawyer, his face as cold as an ice, his jaw was clenched together along with a tightened fist while his face was thrown away from Jasmine's direction and never looking at her. "Welcome." Mrs Ray muttered as they took their sit.His eyes never darted to her side while she couldn't remove her's from him concluding he must've hated her more than before now, but why? He was supposed to be happy since she was leaving his space."Mrs Jasmine Richardson Greywood, here's our agreement." his lawyer spoken and Mrs Ray nodded for him to continue."That you'll not bear Greywood as your last name from now on."That was nothing to Jasmine as she had never even used it anywhere before."That, after this agreement is signed, you'll never have to contact any of the Greywood including Lucas."How many of Greywood does she know except Lucas and his grandfather? and contacting them after this was something she would never do even if she had to die.She nodded instantly."May I add something too??" "Yes go ahead.""And that Greywood or anyone in their family should never contact me either."She could see Lucas head tilted aside but still never looking at her."Yes, definitely." The lawyer muttered."And that if you had a second thought about this and wished not to continue, you can say it now."The lawyer muttered and it was this moment Lucas turned his head to look at Jasmine.While everybody anticipated her answer, she was lost in thoughts."{Yea, of course I want this, right? Lucas also wants this. He never liked me anyways and now he can bring his girls to the house as he wished. He must be so happy. What's there to change mind about or regret..}She continued until Mrs Ray tapped her."Jasmine?""I want it." She finally muttered.Lucas jaw clenched the more. "Alright, your divorce grants is a thousand dollars.""I don't want anything." He declared which got everybody's brows furrowed."Tell her to collect the money, she literally had nothing in her name, the company had just being dragged from her, she had no dime. Just tell her to collect it." Lucas talked to his lawyer."And that's absolutely none of your business, I don't want your money or your sympathy, it's my problem to worry about." She voiced, anger sprinting from her breath.He was the same person who treated her like she was invisible in the house for the past five years, why was he behaving as if he cared all of a sudden?"Then that is all, you can now sign."She collected the papers and put on her signature immediately.Lucas also put his signature without any hesitation, and just then, it was all over, their five years old marriage was over in a swift.Without a second glance at her, he wore his glasses which brought out his cold demeanor along with his fierce jaw and dashed out of the premises.
CHAPTER FIVEJasmine stood frozen for a moment after Lucas left. The sound of the door shutting echoed through the room, snapping her out of her daze. She tightened her grip on the divorce papers, her emotions caught somewhere between relief and sorrow."Are you okay?" Mrs. Ray asked, her tone gentle yet concerned.Jasmine gave a small nod. "I’m fine, thank you for everything, Mrs. Ray. I should get going now."Mrs. Ray hesitated but eventually let her leave. Jasmine stepped outside, greeted by the cool afternoon air. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. It was over, but the weight of what she had lost—and what she had yet to face—felt heavier than ever.She hailed a cab and gave the driver her new address. As the car sped through the city, her mind wandered to the last few years of her life. Memories of her grandfather’s warmth, the suffocating silence in her marriage, and now the uncertain future—all seemed to blur together.When the cab pulled up to her modest apartmen
CHAPTER SIXJasmine spent her morning at the bookstore rearranging the new arrivals. The work gave her a sense of satisfaction, even if it was tiring. Her life had taken on a steady rhythm, and she welcomed the predictability. But just as the day seemed to be passing uneventfully, an unexpected visitor shattered her calm.The bell above the door jingled, and Jasmine glanced up from the counter. Her hands froze mid-motion. Lucas stood there, looking out of place among the stacks of books."Lucas?" Jasmine's voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed her confusion. "What are you doing here?"He stepped closer, his gaze scanning the small store. "I was in the neighborhood," he said, his tone casual but his expression anything but.She placed the book she was holding back on the counter. "The neighborhood?" Her disbelief was evident. "You don’t even read."He smirked faintly. "People can change.""Lucas, cut to the chase. Why are you here?"He hesitated, his eyes searching hers for a moment
Chapter 7 Counter The bookstore had just opened, and Jasmine was busy dusting the shelves when the doorbell chimed, signaling the arrival of a customer. She glanced up and froze. Lucas stood in the doorway, his suit impeccably tailored as always, but his face carried an unusual hesitancy. Her fingers tightened around the cloth in her hand, and she swallowed hard. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice steady but cold. Lucas stepped further inside, his hands stuffed in his pockets. "We need to talk." Jasmine sighed, placing the cloth on the counter. "I don’t have time for this." "You always seem to have time for everyone else," he said, his tone tinged with frustration, "but never for me." She gave him a hard stare. "You lost the right to demand my time when you signed those divorce papers. What do you want, Lucas?" He glanced around, noticing Mrs. Henderson shuffling books behind the counter. "Somewhere private," he said, his voice quieter now. Jasmine crosse
Chapter 8 Overview Lucas’s words lingered in the stillness of the bookstore. Jasmine stood behind the counter, unsure whether to walk away or confront him. There was something in his tone—firm yet vulnerable—that made her hesitate. "What could you possibly have to say to me now, Lucas?" she asked, crossing her arms to shield herself from the flood of emotions threatening to surface. Lucas took a step closer, his gaze unwavering. "I don’t expect you to forgive me, Jasmine. I’ve messed up too much for that. But I can’t ignore this anymore. I... I miss you." Her stomach twisted at his confession. She wanted to laugh, to scoff at the audacity of his words, but her throat tightened instead. "Miss me?" she echoed, her voice laced with disbelief. "You didn’t care about me for five years. What could you possibly miss?" He exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. "You’re right. I didn’t care the way I should have. I didn’t even realize what I had until it was gone." Jasmine shook her
Chapter 9 Jasmine woke up early in the morning, sunlight streaming through her small window. She had spent most of the night thinking about Lucas and Ethan. Lucas’s sudden visit and Ethan’s threats left her feeling uneasy. She had moved away to escape all this, but trouble seemed to follow her everywhere. She promised herself to focus on the present. Today was another chance to build a better life, even if it felt impossible sometimes. At the bookstore, Jasmine tried to stay busy. Mrs. Henderson, the kind old woman who owned the shop, greeted her with a smile. “Good morning, dear,” Mrs. Henderson said cheerfully. “Good morning,” Jasmine replied, forcing a smile. As Jasmine arranged the books on a shelf, the shop doorbell rang. She turned to see a man in a sharp suit walking in. He looked calm, but something about him made her uneasy. “Can I help you?” Jasmine asked, keeping her voice polite. The man smiled faintly. “No, just looking around.” He moved through the sho
Chapter 10 Jasmine woke up restless, her mind still spinning from everything that had happened. The day before, Lucas had handed her the folder filled with Ethan’s dirty secrets. It was proof that Ethan was using her grandfather’s company for illegal activities. Now, she had a choice—fight back or let Ethan win. But fighting back came with risks. Ethan wasn’t just greedy; he was dangerous. Her phone buzzed on the small table next to her bed. She picked it up and saw a text from Lucas: *“I found something important. Meet me at Kingston Café at 3 PM. Don’t tell anyone.”* Her stomach turned. What had Lucas uncovered now? --- At exactly 3 PM, Jasmine entered Kingston Café, scanning the crowd nervously. Lucas was in a corner booth, his face serious as he stared down at a coffee cup. “Jasmine,” he said, standing as she approached. “Lucas,” she replied, sitting across from him. “What’s this about?” Lucas slid a folder across the table. “You need to see this.” Jasmine op
CHAPTER 11Lucas stood near the large window in his penthouse, staring out at the city. Usually, the view calmed him, but tonight, it didn’t help. Jasmine was in the guest room, but being with her wasn’t comforting at all, it only made him more restless.He couldn’t forget the look on her face when she showed him the brick and the note Ethan had sent. She had acted brave, but he could see her fear, even if she tried to hide it.The sound of the door opening broke his thoughts. He turned to see Jasmine standing there, her arms crossed. She looked tired, her face pale and serious.“I couldn’t sleep,” she said softly.He nodded and gestured toward the couch. “Me neither. Come sit.”Jasmine hesitated, then slowly walked into the room and sat on the couch. Lucas stayed in his chair across from her, leaning forward.She studied him for a moment. “Why are you doing this, Lucas? You don’t owe me anything. The divorce papers are signed. We’re done.”He met her eyes. “It’s not about owing you.
Chapter 12Jasmine stood by the window. She stared out into the quiet street below, she was completely lost in her thoughts. Instantly Lucas stepped into the living room, his footsteps were barely heard.He clearly remembered his conversation with Jasmine the other day, and he really doesn't know what he truly knows, they he knew Jasmine parents were already dead, and she's all alone after they divorced, but him requesting for a second chance from her, is sometimes he definitely knows might not or might work out, it's like a game of chance and luck for him.“They’re finally asleep,” Lucas said, referring to their twins. He walked closer, his presencev both calming and firm. “What’s on your mind, Jasmine?” She turned slightly, glancing at him before looking back out the window. “Ethan,” she admitted. Her voice was quiet but laced with worry. “I keep thinking about what he’ll do next. He doesn’t give up, Lucas. You know that.” Lucas nodded, his jaw tightening as a flicker of anger p
Chapter 17Jasmine sat by her window, staring out at the quiet street below. The world outside looked calm, but her mind wasn’t. Ethan’s threats, Lucas’s sudden reappearance, and Mrs. Ray’s warnings were all swirling inside her. She tried to focus on the small notebook in front of her, filled with goals and ideas for her future, but her thoughts kept drifting. Her phone buzzed, breaking her concentration. She glanced at the screen—it was a message from Mrs. Ray. *“Call me when you can. I have something important to tell you.”* Jasmine sighed and picked up the phone, dialing Mrs. Ray’s number. “Good morning, Jasmine,” Mrs. Ray greeted warmly. “Morning,” Jasmine replied. “I got your message. What’s going on?” Mrs. Ray’s tone turned serious. “I’ve been hearing things about Ethan. He’s been reaching out to some dangerous people. I don’t know the details, but it sounds like he’s planning something.” Jasmine felt her stomach twist. “What do you mean, dangerous people?” “I me
Chapter 16Jasmine sat by the window of her small apartment, staring blankly at the city lights outside. Her notebook lay open on the table beside her, filled with unfinished plans and reminders of the new life she was trying to build. But no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept circling back to Lucas. The man she had spent five years with was suddenly everywhere—at the bookstore, at her apartment, and now in her thoughts. She didn’t want to care, but his apology had stirred something inside her. Was he being sincere? Did it even matter? Before she could dwell further, a sharp knock on the door jolted her. She hesitated, her mind racing. “Who is it?” she called, trying to steady her voice. “It’s Mrs. Ray,” came the reply. Relief washed over her as she hurried to open the door. Standing there was Mrs. Ray, holding a large tote bag and wearing a warm smile. “I thought you could use some company,” Mrs. Ray said, stepping inside. “And I brought dinner. You can’t keep l
Chapter 15Jasmine sat on the worn-out couch in her small apartment, staring at the notebook on the coffee table. Its pages were filled with half-scribbled plans—ideas for a fresh start, notes on businesses she wanted to explore, and affirmations reminding her to stay strong. Yet, tonight, those words felt like empty promises. The silence in her apartment, usually comforting, now felt heavy.Lucas’s sudden reappearance at the bookstore lingered in her mind. His apology had been unexpected, and though she wanted to dismiss it, the sincerity in his eyes was hard to ignore.A sharp knock on the door startled her from her thoughts. She froze, her heart leaping to her throat.Who could it be at this hour?Peering through the peephole, she sucked in a breath. Lucas stood there, his broad shoulders slightly hunched as though bracing himself for rejection. His tailored suit, always a symbol of his confidence, now seemed out of place against the backdrop of her modest hallway.She debated igno
Chapter 14 Lucas stood near the window of Jasmine’s apartment, his tall frame tense as he stared out into the quiet street. Jasmine sat on the couch, her knees pulled up to her chest, hugging a throw pillow. Her thoughts were racing, but Lucas broke the silence. “We can’t let Ethan get away with this,” he said, his tone firm. Jasmine looked up at him, tired and skeptical. “How exactly do you plan to stop him? He has everything—money, power, connections. What do I have? Nothing.” Lucas turned to her, his blue eyes sharp and determined. “You have me.” She scoffed, shaking her head. “You? Since when, Lucas? Since when do you care about what happens to me?” His jaw tightened, but he didn’t back down. “I’ve made mistakes. I’ll admit that. I should have done better by you, Jasmine. But right now, I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.” “Why?” she asked, her voice cracking with the weight of her emotions. “Why now? After everything?” “Because I can’t stand to see him ruin you,”
Chapter 13Jasmine stared at the tiny crack in her apartment ceiling, the dim light of her bedside lamp casting shadows across the walls. She had moved to this modest room to start over, to rebuild her life piece by piece. But tonight, the weight of everything pressed down on her. Ethan’s threats, Lucas’s sudden interest in her life—it all felt like too much. A sharp knock on the door made her sit up quickly, her heart skipping a beat. She wasn’t expecting anyone."Who is it?" she called, her voice steady despite the unease crawling up her spine.“It’s me,” Lucas’s voice came through, firm and familiar. Her stomach tightened. Why was he here? She considered ignoring him, but the persistent knock came again.Jasmine got up and opened the door slightly, peeking through the gap. Lucas stood there, tall and imposing, his blue eyes piercing as they met hers. His expression was serious, his jaw set like he was ready for a fight.“What do you want?” she asked, not bothering to hide the irr
Chapter 12Jasmine stood by the window. She stared out into the quiet street below, she was completely lost in her thoughts. Instantly Lucas stepped into the living room, his footsteps were barely heard.He clearly remembered his conversation with Jasmine the other day, and he really doesn't know what he truly knows, they he knew Jasmine parents were already dead, and she's all alone after they divorced, but him requesting for a second chance from her, is sometimes he definitely knows might not or might work out, it's like a game of chance and luck for him.“They’re finally asleep,” Lucas said, referring to their twins. He walked closer, his presencev both calming and firm. “What’s on your mind, Jasmine?” She turned slightly, glancing at him before looking back out the window. “Ethan,” she admitted. Her voice was quiet but laced with worry. “I keep thinking about what he’ll do next. He doesn’t give up, Lucas. You know that.” Lucas nodded, his jaw tightening as a flicker of anger p
CHAPTER 11Lucas stood near the large window in his penthouse, staring out at the city. Usually, the view calmed him, but tonight, it didn’t help. Jasmine was in the guest room, but being with her wasn’t comforting at all, it only made him more restless.He couldn’t forget the look on her face when she showed him the brick and the note Ethan had sent. She had acted brave, but he could see her fear, even if she tried to hide it.The sound of the door opening broke his thoughts. He turned to see Jasmine standing there, her arms crossed. She looked tired, her face pale and serious.“I couldn’t sleep,” she said softly.He nodded and gestured toward the couch. “Me neither. Come sit.”Jasmine hesitated, then slowly walked into the room and sat on the couch. Lucas stayed in his chair across from her, leaning forward.She studied him for a moment. “Why are you doing this, Lucas? You don’t owe me anything. The divorce papers are signed. We’re done.”He met her eyes. “It’s not about owing you.
Chapter 10 Jasmine woke up restless, her mind still spinning from everything that had happened. The day before, Lucas had handed her the folder filled with Ethan’s dirty secrets. It was proof that Ethan was using her grandfather’s company for illegal activities. Now, she had a choice—fight back or let Ethan win. But fighting back came with risks. Ethan wasn’t just greedy; he was dangerous. Her phone buzzed on the small table next to her bed. She picked it up and saw a text from Lucas: *“I found something important. Meet me at Kingston Café at 3 PM. Don’t tell anyone.”* Her stomach turned. What had Lucas uncovered now? --- At exactly 3 PM, Jasmine entered Kingston Café, scanning the crowd nervously. Lucas was in a corner booth, his face serious as he stared down at a coffee cup. “Jasmine,” he said, standing as she approached. “Lucas,” she replied, sitting across from him. “What’s this about?” Lucas slid a folder across the table. “You need to see this.” Jasmine op
Chapter 9 Jasmine woke up early in the morning, sunlight streaming through her small window. She had spent most of the night thinking about Lucas and Ethan. Lucas’s sudden visit and Ethan’s threats left her feeling uneasy. She had moved away to escape all this, but trouble seemed to follow her everywhere. She promised herself to focus on the present. Today was another chance to build a better life, even if it felt impossible sometimes. At the bookstore, Jasmine tried to stay busy. Mrs. Henderson, the kind old woman who owned the shop, greeted her with a smile. “Good morning, dear,” Mrs. Henderson said cheerfully. “Good morning,” Jasmine replied, forcing a smile. As Jasmine arranged the books on a shelf, the shop doorbell rang. She turned to see a man in a sharp suit walking in. He looked calm, but something about him made her uneasy. “Can I help you?” Jasmine asked, keeping her voice polite. The man smiled faintly. “No, just looking around.” He moved through the sho