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105- A gold crest wristwatch.
Last Updated:
2025-04-05 14:47:47
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After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 106- Victor is on borrowed time.
MICHELL POV.I snapped a picture of the wristwatch first, making sure the gold crest emblem was sharp and clear in the frame. Then, carefully, I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket. No way in hell was I going to leave my fingerprints on this. If Victor was involved, I wasn’t about to make it easier for him to twist this into something else. Using the cloth, I lifted the watch, turning it over in my hands. It was old, worn in places, but still held an air of prestige—something only a man with status, or one desperate to prove he had it, would wear.My jaw tightened. Victor had no need to claw his way up the ranks. He was already born into power. So why the hell did he have this? I exhaled through my nose, then wrapped the wristwatch in the handkerchief before slipping it into my pocket. If Victor had anything to do with Emilio’s death—if he had a hand in taking away the only person who ever truly gave a damn about me—then he was already living on borrowed time.I turned towar
Last Updated : 2025-04-06After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 107- Let’s make him slip.
MICHELL POV.FIVE DAYS LATER.I leaned back in my seat, the scent of aged whiskey and the faint sting of cigar smoke clinging to the air of Ethan’s house. Floor-to-ceiling windows cast a panoramic view of the city, the neon glow of streetlights stretching into the distance. Ethan sat across from me, rolling his glass between his fingers, his usual smirk in place. “Your girl really did it, huh?” he mused, shaking his head. “From a competitor to a damn judge at one of the biggest ballet competitions. That’s wild.” I took a slow sip of my drink, the amber liquid burning a path down my throat. “Not wild. Earned.” Ethan chuckled, lifting a brow. “Look at you. Almost sounded proud there.” I shot him a look, but he only laughed. “Come on, man. Admit it,” he pressed. “Audrey worked her ass off, and now the whole world is watching. You can’t tell me you don’t feel something about that.” I exhaled through my nose, glancing at the ice swirling in my glass. Feel something? I felt eve
Last Updated : 2025-04-06After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 108- I’m whatever she needs me to be
AUDREY POVThe faint echo of pointe shoes tapping against the polished studio floor filled the air, rhythmic and sharp like raindrops on a quiet street. I watched my students from across the room, arms folded, hearts quietly swelling as they moved—some clumsily, some gracefully—but all of them were trying. That was what mattered. That was always what mattered.It had been a good week. No, a great one.Just two days ago, I sat behind the velvet-draped judge’s panel at one of the biggest ballet competitions in the country. Me—a judge. I still caught myself blinking in disbelief sometimes. If someone had told the Audrey from years ago that this would be her life... she probably would’ve laughed and danced away.A soft smile tugged at my lips as I corrected a young girl’s posture with a gentle nudge of her shoulder. “Lift your chin, Elina. You’re a star, not a shadow. Let them see you.”She nodded with wide eyes, absorbing every word like gospel. That was what I loved about teaching—see
Last Updated : 2025-04-07After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 109- What do you mean? I’m not following you, Hector
MICHELL POVHer hand was small in mine, but steady—warm in a way that grounded me, even as a dozen thoughts clawed at the back of my mind. I opened the car door for her, waiting until she was settled before circling to the driver’s side.Silence stretched between us at first, thick and laced with all the things we weren’t saying.I started the engine and pulled away from the curb.The city hummed outside the windows—cars, lights, a world that kept spinning even as mine felt like it was winding tighter, piece by piece.I glanced at her.Audrey stared out the window, her arms crossed, her profile lit softly by the dash lights. I could see the tension in her shoulders. The way she was trying to breathe through it.“Sorry you had to see that,” she said suddenly, her voice low.I kept my eyes on the road, jaw tight. “Don’t apologize. He had no right.”“He’s been following me. For weeks now,” she muttered. “I didn’t want to stress you out more than you already are.”That made me glance at
Last Updated : 2025-04-07After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 110- Checkmate
MICHELL POV.The afternoon sunlight bled through my office window, a gold-tinged warmth that didn’t reach the ice tightening in my chest.My phone buzzed.Father.I let it ring once before answering. “Yes?”“Come to the estate,” he said without preamble. “Victor’s here.”I stood slowly. “Why?”There was a pause. “Because I asked him to be. And I want you both present.”He hung up.I stared at the silent phone for a beat, jaw locked. Then I grabbed my jacket and left.By the time I stepped into the drawing room of the estate, the sun had begun to crawl lower behind the tall arched windows, casting long shadows over the polished floor. The silence of the room was only broken by the quiet ticking of the grandfather clock—the kind of silence that didn’t soothe, only stretched tension taut like a wire.I found him in the sitting room, legs crossed like he belonged there, his blazer casually draped over the side of the armchair. His fingers tapped lightly against his glass of scotch. He w
Last Updated : 2025-04-08After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 111- Audrey is worried.
MICHELL POVIt had been ten minutes since Victor left.Ten minutes since he’d gone to “change.” Ten minutes since the farce began.I drained the last of my scotch, set the glass down with a soft clink, and stood. The amber liquid still burned at the back of my throat, but it did little to quell the deeper fire simmering beneath my skin.The corridors of the penthouse were dim, and quiet, like the house itself was holding its breath.As I turned down the west hallway, voices drifted into earshot. One of them clipped and curt.Victor.“…Are you sure no one’s been in there?”Rose’s warm, familiar tone answered with calm certainty. “Only Mr. Michell, sir. He stepped in days ago.”I reached the edge of the corridor just as their eyes met mine.Rose, flustered, dipped her head. “Excuse me.” She vanished down the hall without waiting for permission.Victor and I stood there. No words. Just the low hum of air conditioning and the kind of silence that didn't beg to be broken—it dared you to.
Last Updated : 2025-04-08After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 112- Ferrum
MICHELL POVThe smell of leather and cedarwood greeted me as I stepped into Father’s penthouse.It was colder than usual.Not the kind of cold that came from overworked air-conditioning, but the quiet, metallic kind—the one that pressed into your skin, coiled around your bones, and whispered, “Don’t forget why you’re here.”I didn’t.The chessboard from yesterday still sat untouched on the coffee table, pieces frozen mid-game. A metaphor, maybe. Or a warning.The moment the elevator doors slid open, I knew I was walking into something calculated.I adjusted my cufflinks as I walked down the marble hallway, each step echoing faintly, measured like the beat of a war drum. The double doors to the conference room were slightly ajar. I pushed the door open.The conference room in my father’s penthouse was always too cold—sleek marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows that opened up to the skyline.Victor was already seated at the far end of the sleek, obsidian table, one ankle crossed ove
Last Updated : 2025-04-09After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 113- I don't want more bad blood in the family
MICHELL POVI swallowed, reading it over again. Ferrum. It felt like a punch to the gut, the name slithering into my mind and pulling me deeper into the shadowy world I’d been avoiding. But I couldn’t let Audrey see it. Not yet. I locked the phone and set it back on the table, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in my stomach.“What’s wrong?” Audrey’s voice was soft, her eyes flicking up from the pages of her book, sensing the change in the air. I forced a smile, trying to mask the tension. “Just more work. My father… he wants me to help with a big deal, involving some new technology. Thalyon, I think it’s called.” She blinked, clearly interested but not pressing. “That sounds important.”I nodded, keeping my tone light. “It is. I just need to make sure everything goes smoothly.”She seemed satisfied with the answer and didn’t pry further, which was both a relief and a reminder of just how much I couldn’t share with her. Audrey was a part of my world I wanted to protec
Last Updated : 2025-04-09
Latest chapter
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 113- I don't want more bad blood in the family
MICHELL POVI swallowed, reading it over again. Ferrum. It felt like a punch to the gut, the name slithering into my mind and pulling me deeper into the shadowy world I’d been avoiding. But I couldn’t let Audrey see it. Not yet. I locked the phone and set it back on the table, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in my stomach.“What’s wrong?” Audrey’s voice was soft, her eyes flicking up from the pages of her book, sensing the change in the air. I forced a smile, trying to mask the tension. “Just more work. My father… he wants me to help with a big deal, involving some new technology. Thalyon, I think it’s called.” She blinked, clearly interested but not pressing. “That sounds important.”I nodded, keeping my tone light. “It is. I just need to make sure everything goes smoothly.”She seemed satisfied with the answer and didn’t pry further, which was both a relief and a reminder of just how much I couldn’t share with her. Audrey was a part of my world I wanted to protec
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 112- Ferrum
MICHELL POVThe smell of leather and cedarwood greeted me as I stepped into Father’s penthouse.It was colder than usual.Not the kind of cold that came from overworked air-conditioning, but the quiet, metallic kind—the one that pressed into your skin, coiled around your bones, and whispered, “Don’t forget why you’re here.”I didn’t.The chessboard from yesterday still sat untouched on the coffee table, pieces frozen mid-game. A metaphor, maybe. Or a warning.The moment the elevator doors slid open, I knew I was walking into something calculated.I adjusted my cufflinks as I walked down the marble hallway, each step echoing faintly, measured like the beat of a war drum. The double doors to the conference room were slightly ajar. I pushed the door open.The conference room in my father’s penthouse was always too cold—sleek marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows that opened up to the skyline.Victor was already seated at the far end of the sleek, obsidian table, one ankle crossed ove
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 111- Audrey is worried.
MICHELL POVIt had been ten minutes since Victor left.Ten minutes since he’d gone to “change.” Ten minutes since the farce began.I drained the last of my scotch, set the glass down with a soft clink, and stood. The amber liquid still burned at the back of my throat, but it did little to quell the deeper fire simmering beneath my skin.The corridors of the penthouse were dim, and quiet, like the house itself was holding its breath.As I turned down the west hallway, voices drifted into earshot. One of them clipped and curt.Victor.“…Are you sure no one’s been in there?”Rose’s warm, familiar tone answered with calm certainty. “Only Mr. Michell, sir. He stepped in days ago.”I reached the edge of the corridor just as their eyes met mine.Rose, flustered, dipped her head. “Excuse me.” She vanished down the hall without waiting for permission.Victor and I stood there. No words. Just the low hum of air conditioning and the kind of silence that didn't beg to be broken—it dared you to.
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 110- Checkmate
MICHELL POV.The afternoon sunlight bled through my office window, a gold-tinged warmth that didn’t reach the ice tightening in my chest.My phone buzzed.Father.I let it ring once before answering. “Yes?”“Come to the estate,” he said without preamble. “Victor’s here.”I stood slowly. “Why?”There was a pause. “Because I asked him to be. And I want you both present.”He hung up.I stared at the silent phone for a beat, jaw locked. Then I grabbed my jacket and left.By the time I stepped into the drawing room of the estate, the sun had begun to crawl lower behind the tall arched windows, casting long shadows over the polished floor. The silence of the room was only broken by the quiet ticking of the grandfather clock—the kind of silence that didn’t soothe, only stretched tension taut like a wire.I found him in the sitting room, legs crossed like he belonged there, his blazer casually draped over the side of the armchair. His fingers tapped lightly against his glass of scotch. He w
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 109- What do you mean? I’m not following you, Hector
MICHELL POVHer hand was small in mine, but steady—warm in a way that grounded me, even as a dozen thoughts clawed at the back of my mind. I opened the car door for her, waiting until she was settled before circling to the driver’s side.Silence stretched between us at first, thick and laced with all the things we weren’t saying.I started the engine and pulled away from the curb.The city hummed outside the windows—cars, lights, a world that kept spinning even as mine felt like it was winding tighter, piece by piece.I glanced at her.Audrey stared out the window, her arms crossed, her profile lit softly by the dash lights. I could see the tension in her shoulders. The way she was trying to breathe through it.“Sorry you had to see that,” she said suddenly, her voice low.I kept my eyes on the road, jaw tight. “Don’t apologize. He had no right.”“He’s been following me. For weeks now,” she muttered. “I didn’t want to stress you out more than you already are.”That made me glance at
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 108- I’m whatever she needs me to be
AUDREY POVThe faint echo of pointe shoes tapping against the polished studio floor filled the air, rhythmic and sharp like raindrops on a quiet street. I watched my students from across the room, arms folded, hearts quietly swelling as they moved—some clumsily, some gracefully—but all of them were trying. That was what mattered. That was always what mattered.It had been a good week. No, a great one.Just two days ago, I sat behind the velvet-draped judge’s panel at one of the biggest ballet competitions in the country. Me—a judge. I still caught myself blinking in disbelief sometimes. If someone had told the Audrey from years ago that this would be her life... she probably would’ve laughed and danced away.A soft smile tugged at my lips as I corrected a young girl’s posture with a gentle nudge of her shoulder. “Lift your chin, Elina. You’re a star, not a shadow. Let them see you.”She nodded with wide eyes, absorbing every word like gospel. That was what I loved about teaching—see
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 107- Let’s make him slip.
MICHELL POV.FIVE DAYS LATER.I leaned back in my seat, the scent of aged whiskey and the faint sting of cigar smoke clinging to the air of Ethan’s house. Floor-to-ceiling windows cast a panoramic view of the city, the neon glow of streetlights stretching into the distance. Ethan sat across from me, rolling his glass between his fingers, his usual smirk in place. “Your girl really did it, huh?” he mused, shaking his head. “From a competitor to a damn judge at one of the biggest ballet competitions. That’s wild.” I took a slow sip of my drink, the amber liquid burning a path down my throat. “Not wild. Earned.” Ethan chuckled, lifting a brow. “Look at you. Almost sounded proud there.” I shot him a look, but he only laughed. “Come on, man. Admit it,” he pressed. “Audrey worked her ass off, and now the whole world is watching. You can’t tell me you don’t feel something about that.” I exhaled through my nose, glancing at the ice swirling in my glass. Feel something? I felt eve
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 106- Victor is on borrowed time.
MICHELL POV.I snapped a picture of the wristwatch first, making sure the gold crest emblem was sharp and clear in the frame. Then, carefully, I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket. No way in hell was I going to leave my fingerprints on this. If Victor was involved, I wasn’t about to make it easier for him to twist this into something else. Using the cloth, I lifted the watch, turning it over in my hands. It was old, worn in places, but still held an air of prestige—something only a man with status, or one desperate to prove he had it, would wear.My jaw tightened. Victor had no need to claw his way up the ranks. He was already born into power. So why the hell did he have this? I exhaled through my nose, then wrapped the wristwatch in the handkerchief before slipping it into my pocket. If Victor had anything to do with Emilio’s death—if he had a hand in taking away the only person who ever truly gave a damn about me—then he was already living on borrowed time.I turned towar
After Divorcing My Ex-husband, I Returned And Shined 105- A gold crest wristwatch.
MICHELL POVThe text came in just after mid-afternoon.PI: Got something. Check your email.I sat up, rubbing a hand over my face before reaching for my laptop. The screen glowed in the dim light of my office as I pulled up the file.A picture loaded first.A golden watch, sleek and polished, but it wasn’t the watch that mattered. It was the crest engraved on the band—intricate, ornate. A symbol I didn’t recognize.I scrolled down.The PI had attached a short message.“It’s not just any crest. It belongs to an elite group—some underground cult, invitation-only. Been around for decades. No official records, no digital footprint. But I found a list.”I clicked the next file.A series of names—except they weren’t real names. Just aliases.AegisVanguardFerrumDaemonSpecterAnd dozens more.I exhaled sharply, leaning back in my chair. A secret society? A cult? This wasn’t just a back-alley hit—this was planned by someone with wealth, influence, and a network to cover their tracks.I gra
