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2024-10-29 19:42:56
Azria ZeiHello, everyone! If you like this story of mine, don't forget to rate this novel 5 stars. Also, I have another completed novel you might wanna try. Its title is "Hired By My Ex's Billionaire Uncle." Advance thank you for reading! Love y'all xoxo
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CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Unexpected Visitors
VIVIENNE“You know, I’m still in shock,” Piper said as she sat across from me on the grand sofa, her eyes occasionally flicking to the kids, who were busy with the gifts she’d brought from Paris. She just came back from Paris. She said she made a sudden decision after hearing the news. Since I was so stressed at those times, I wasn’t able to inform her about what happened. So, ending, my best friend just recently found out. It was comforting having her around after everything that had happened.Piper shook her head as she watched Vera excitedly unwrap her new French Barbie. “I can’t believe the kids were kidnapped. How did that even happen, girl?”I sighed, feeling the weight of her concern. “It’s all in the past now,” I said, trying to sound reassuring. “Alex is rotting in jail where she belongs. We don’t have to worry about her anymore.”Piper’s eyes softened as she looked back at me. “I’m so glad you’re all okay. I just... I can’t even imagine how terrifying that must have been
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Long Visit
VIVIENNEI stood by the doorway, watching as Emily and Robert—or rather, Leonardo, as he liked to be called—walked around my house, their eyes scanning every corner like they were evaluating something they had the right to criticize. And, of course, it didn’t take long for the comments to start.I wanted to roll my eyes. One of my pet peeves was people arriving in my house unannounced, especially if they were the people I didn’t like. Two perfect examples were them—Emily and Leonardo. “This place has quite the charm,” Leonardo said, but there was something in his tone that made it sound more like a backhanded compliment. His gaze lingered on the artwork hanging on the walls and the furniture, as if mentally tallying the cost of everything.Emily, never one to hold back, chuckled lightly as she ran her fingers over the edge of a decorative table. “Well, well, Vivienne,” she said, her voice dripping with condescension. “You’ve certainly come a long way from where you started, haven’t
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Talk Back
VIVIENNEI couldn’t help myself anymore and as I stood in the corner of the living room, I quickly tapped out a message to Ezekiel, making sure no one noticed. ‘Your parents are here. At my house. Please come ASAP,’ I typed, my fingers moving fast over the screen. I hit send, then tucked my phone away and took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.What a way to have your day ruined! I focused my attention back on the kids being bothered by their grandparents. Emily and Leonardo were sitting with the kids, trying their best to be friendly, but it felt forced—at least to me. Vince was sitting quietly, keeping a bit of distance, as usual. Vera, however, was happily playing with the new doll Piper had given her, obviously unaware of the tension steaming in the room.“Isn’t she pretty, Grandma?” Vera said, holding up the doll to show Emily. Her face was lit up with excitement, and I could see how much she loved the gift from Piper.Emily glanced at the doll, her nose wrinkling slight
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Vince’s Stand
VINCE SAT ON the floor, cross-legged, completely focused on the puzzle his Aunt Piper had given him. It was one of those complicated puzzles with tiny, intricate pieces that fit together to form a beautiful picture once completed. Vince liked these kinds of challenges. They made him think, kept his mind sharp. He liked the way his brain worked when he solved them, and Aunt Piper always knew exactly what to give him to keep him entertained.But even though he seemed focused on the puzzle, his mind was elsewhere. His grandparents—Ezekiel’s parents—were in the room, and he didn’t like them much. He found their attitude annoying. They acted like they were better than everyone else, always making snide comments and pretending to be nice when it was clear they didn’t mean it. He especially didn’t like the way they looked down on his mom. He noticed it right away, the way they always had something critical to say, even when it wasn’t necessary. Vince didn’t like that.He shifted slightly,
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Sudden Trip
EZEKIEL“What?! Damn it!”As I read Vivienne's message, I couldn’t help but be frustrated. I just found out that my parents had shown up at her house without any warning. After everything that had happened, the kids just gotten home from the hospital, and the last thing I needed was for them to cause trouble. I had told my parents about the kids coming home, thinking they would understand and give us some space. I did that for the sake of them, not being offended if ever I didn’t tell them the truth again. Since they could go back to the hospital and eventually find out the truth, I just told them myself to avoid any further unnecessary fights. But, damn! I didn’t expect them to go straight to Vivienne’s house without even telling me. It was typical of them to do what they wanted without thinking about how it affected others, especially Vivienne.My parents weren’t terrible people, but they had their ways. My mom always had something to say, whether you wanted to hear it or not. And
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Make It Happen
EZEKIELAlright. To be honest, we hadn’t planned any trip, but it was the first thing that came to mind, and I was sticking with it.“A trip?” my mom asked, raising an eyebrow. “Since when?”“Since today,” I said, trying to sound convincing. “It’s kind of last-minute, but we figured the kids needed a break, and so do we.”I glanced at Vivienne, secretly asking for a back up so she nodded and said, “Y-Yes. We did.” “Really?!” Vera clapped her hands, excited about the idea. “Are we going to the beach, Dad? I want to go to the beach!”I smiled at her, relieved she was going along with it. “Maybe, sweetie. We’ll see,” I said. Since she’s already excited, I might as well make it come true, I guess.Vince, however, wasn’t as excited. He just went back to his puzzle, focused and uninterested. I knew he didn’t care much about the trip itself—he just didn’t want our grandparents to stay.Emily didn’t look pleased, but she nodded. “Well, I suppose if you’re going on a trip, there’s nothing w
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE We All Needed
EZEKIEL Vivienne was watching me and Vince closely, her arms crossed, clearly caught off guard by where this conversation was heading. I could see she hadn’t expected the lie to turn into an actual plan, but she didn’t say anything to contradict me.Vince thought for a moment, then slowly nodded. “Okay,” he said quietly, turning back to his puzzle, though he wasn’t as focused on it as before. I could tell the idea of a family trip had caught his interest, even if he was trying to play it cool.As for me, I felt like I’d just made a split-second decision that could either end in disaster or turn into something good. I glanced at Vivienne, trying to read her expression. She looked back at me and she was probably wondering how I was going to pull this off.Before we could say anything more, Vera came rushing back downstairs, her arms full of clothes, toys, and who knows what else. “I’m ready, Dad! When are we leaving?” she asked, her face flushed with excitement.I chuckled, feeling
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Beach Day
VIVIENNEIt was a sudden and impulsive decision to have a vacation but Ezekiel actually made it happen for the kids’ happiness. The very next day, we drove to his private resort, which I never knew he had. As soon as we arrived, I could already hear the waves crashing softly in the distance. The car pulled up to the entrance, and I saw a group of staff standing in a line, ready to greet us. They all smiled warmly, especially at Ezekiel. It was clear that they had been expecting us.“Welcome back, Mr. Lancaster,” one of the staff members said, stepping forward. “We’ve closed the entire resort just as you requested.”I raised an eyebrow at Ezekiel, who just shrugged casually, like closing an entire resort was no big deal. Of course, it wasn’t for him. He had the kind of resources that allowed him to do things like this without a second thought.“Thanks, Steven,” Ezekiel said, nodding at the staff member.Vera, on the other hand, couldn’t hold back her excitement. As soon as we got ou
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CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Special Chapter IV
EZEKIEL NEVER THOUGHT he’d feel so nervous, yet here he was. He couldn’t help but pace back and forth in the hospital room while Vivienne lay on the bed, breathing deeply as another contraction hit. His palms were sweaty and his heart was racing so damn fast. He couldn’t even sit down for a second. This was nothing like the business meetings, nothing like the deals he’d spent his life preparing for. This was something else. He’d missed the birth of the twins, and he knew he couldn’t miss a second of this moment with Vivienne.He’d missed the birth of the twins, and he knew he couldn’t miss a second of this moment with Vivienne. Back then, he hadn’t been there to hold her hand, to see the twins take their first breaths. This time, he’d promised himself he’d be present, no matter how terrifying it felt. Vivienne noticed his restless pacing and reached out to catch his hand, tugging gently. “Zeke, calm down,” she said, chuckling despite her pain.He stopped, looking down at her, his
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Special Chapter III
VINCE WAS SITTING alone in the school canteen while he was lost in his own thoughts. Unlike his twin sister, he wasn’t worried at all about having a new sibling. In fact, he was excited. He couldn’t wait to have someone younger around to teach things to, especially about computers and coding. He’d already planned it out in his head that he’d show their new sibling all the basics, and someday, they’d be able to talk about complex stuff too. Just the thought of it made him smile.As he stared into space while planning all the lessons he’d someday teach, someone placed a small box in front of him. Vince blinked when his train of thought was interrupted. He looked down at the box, noticing it was wrapped neatly with a bow on top. Then he looked up and saw Maesei, the little girl he, Vera, and Genesis had helped when she was being bullied a while back.Maesei was standing there, looking shy and nervous. Her cheeks were red and she avoided his gaze, looking down at the table instead.Vin
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Special Chapter II
GENESIS SPOTTED VERA sitting alone on the bleachers, looking lost in thought as she watched Vince at his soccer practice. She was unusually quiet, her small frame slumped forward, and her chin rested on her hands. Genesis found this strange. Usually, Vera was energetic and loud, always cheering for her brother or chatting away.With a grin, Genesis walked over and sat down beside her. “Hey,” he said, nudging her gently. “Why do you look so sad? Thinking too hard?”To his surprise, Vera’s lip started to tremble, and before he knew it, tears spilled down her cheeks. She let out a small, choked sob, and then it came—all the tears she had held back, spilling out in big, messy drops.Genesis's eyes widened and he instantly panicked. “Whoa, hey, hey—what’s wrong, Vera?” He fumbled, trying to figure out what to do. He’d never seen her cry like this before. “Did something happen?”Vera shook her head but kept crying, covering her face with her hands. Feeling helpless, Genesis reached over
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Special Chapter I
THE AFTER-PARTY was winding down and Piper was more than a little tipsy. She leaned heavily on Jeremy, her bubbly personality even more vibrant after a few too many glasses of champagne. Jeremy sighed, his arm steady around her as he led her through the crowded room.“Come on, Piper,” he said while rying to sound patient. “Let’s get you home.”Piper let out a laugh as she rolled her eyes. “Oh, Jeremy, you’re so lame! Why didn’t you drink anything tonight? There were bottles of wine that cost more than you’d make in a month! You could’ve at least had one!”Jeremy shook his head, guiding her carefully through the doorway. “I don’t drink much. Besides, someone had to be responsible for you,” he said in a calm voice. She threw him a mock offended look, then smirked. “Oh, please. Responsible? You’re missing out! Once-in-a-blue-moon kind of party, and you’re just standing there, drinking water. So boring.”He just nodded, too tired to argue. He knew she was half-joking, half-serious, but
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE EPILOGUE IV
EZEKIELForgiving isn’t easy. It’s one of the hardest things you can do, especially when the person who hurt you is someone you once trusted, someone you loved deeply. I’d always respected people who could forgive the ones who wronged them, who could find it in their hearts to let go of pain and bitterness. And tonight, watching Vivienne, I felt my admiration for her grow even more.I thought I’d reached the limit of how much I could love her, but seeing her forgive my mother—that changed things. Vivienne had already forgiven me before, a forgiveness I never thought I deserved but clung to, knowing how lucky I was to have it. And now, she was doing the same for my mother. I looked at Vivienne, her calm expression, her steady gaze, and I couldn’t help but feel grateful. She was truly incredible, a woman who could forgive despite the hurt, and in that moment, I knew I was the luckiest man alive.After my mother’s apology, we found a quieter spot away from everyone else. I turned to V
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE EPILOGUE III
VIVIENNEIt was never too late to rise up again after you’ve hit rock bottom. I’d learned that lesson over and over, but standing here now, it finally felt real. So many times, I thought that scandal with Aton would destroy everything I’d worked for. I worried people would only ever see me as the woman caught up in a messy scheme, but here I was, with a new chapter in front of me. This was my second chance—not just to clear my name, but to make it stronger than ever. Viatrix. That name still had power, still had life.I looked around the room, taking in all the smiles and congratulatory handshakes. Ezekiel and I had just launched our fashion line that we had been working on, and the event couldn’t have gone any better. Everywhere I turned, there were people celebrating with us, praising the collection, the designs, the way we had merged our ideas and brought something beautiful to life. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly proud of myself and what I had accomplished ag
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE EPILOGUE II
EZEKIELIt was never too late to change. I knew that now. I wouldn’t deny to myself or to anyone else that I had made mistakes before. Too many to count, honestly. I’d been an ass. I didn’t know what I really wanted back then. I wasn’t sure of what the right thing was or how to treat Vivienne the way she deserved. I’d lost sight of things, caught up in my own mess, letting my insecurities and past hold me back. But now, standing here in Switzerland, away from the noise and all the misunderstandings, I felt something I’d never felt before—a clear sense of certainty. I loved her. I loved Vivienne in a way that was different, in a way that wasn’t clouded by doubt or fear. She was the woman I wanted to spend my life with, and I’d failed to see that in the past. But I had the chance to make it right, and I wasn’t going to let it slip by.The soft breeze carried the scent of lilies as I stood at the end of the aisle, waiting for Vivienne. My heart pounded, and I could feel the tears gather
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE EPILOGUE I
VIVIENNEBefore, I was just dreaming of a good husband. A husband who would love me, who would prioritize me, who would stand by my side no matter what. It felt like a faraway wish, something I’d only imagine late at night. When I first married Ezekiel, it wasn’t like that at all. He only married me because he felt he had to; it was a shotgun marriage after all, coming right after the surprise of my pregnancy.Back then, Ezekiel couldn’t even get over his ex, Alex. I knew it. Everyone knew it. I always felt like a stand-in, a shadow, never really the one he wanted. I was just a substitute. But now, looking at him today—seeing him boldly defend me, even against his own parents—I can’t ignore how deeply he’s changed. Before, Ezekiel always followed his parents’ words without question, like he was bound by some invisible chain. They had such a hold over him, and I’d come to accept that their influence would always come first. So now, seeing him stand up to them—for my sake, no less—fe
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Finally Free
EZEKIELMy fists balled as I scanned through each line of conversation on Vince’s laptop. Each word felt like a punch. And I gritted my teeth, trying to contain the anger boiling within me. Genesis had been right. It was real that the contents from Aton’s phone had transferred over. Everything was here—messages, plans, and schemes that Aton and my own fucking father had discussed. Each message was worse than the last, detailing how they intended to bring down Vivienne and tarnish everything she’d worked for. I could feel Alice and Ronaldo leaning in, reading over my shoulder. Alice gasped, covering her mouth as her face turned pale. She shook her head. “I can’t believe they could plan something so evil,” she whispered, horrified.Ronaldo’s expression darkened, his eyes sharp and filled with rage. “This won’t slide,” he said firmly, his voice low and steady. “I won’t let them get away with this.”His words fueled my resolve. I nodded, swallowing hard, though my mind was racing. Ju
