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Stand Up For All Of Us
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE It Was Me
EZEKIELAs soon as the door shut behind my parents, I let out a long sigh. The house was quiet again, but my mind wasn’t. Guilt ate up my whole system. Had I been too harsh? I’d defended Vince, of course, but my dad and mom were still my parents. Maybe I should’ve handled things differently, maybe talked it through better instead of letting it blow up the way it did.But then I thought back to how my dad had yelled at Vince. The way Vince had looked, terrified, standing there, trying to explain himself while being accused of something he probably didn’t fully understand. I clenched my fists. No, I’d do it all again. I’d stand up for my son, no matter what. No one, not even my own parents, had the right to hurt my kids, whether with words or actions.I shook off the guilt. It was the right call.As I turned back in Vivienne’s direction, I noticed how she still looked furious even after my parents left. I could see the tension in her face and the fire in her eyes. I knew this wasn’t
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE It’s Between Us
“IT WAS ME.”Ezekiel felt his stomach drop. His own son had hacked into his company’s website. He couldn’t believe what he just heard, but at the same time, a strange sense of understanding settled in. Vince was smart—brilliant, even. Ezekiel had always known that. But he never imagined Vince would do something like this."Why?" Ezekiel asked, trying to keep his voice steady. "Why would you do that, Vince?"Vince hesitated, clearly struggling to explain himself. Then he finally broke down. Tears started streaming down his face. His small body shook as the weight of everything he had been holding inside finally came crashing down. Ezekiel’s heart ached as he watched his son cry, the sight almost unbearable. Vince had been holding it in for so long, and now, seeing him so vulnerable, Ezekiel realized just how much his son had been struggling.He knelt down in front of Vince, not saying anything at first, just letting him cry. The confession had come out, but Ezekiel hadn’t reacted yet
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE I’ll Stay
VIVIENNEIt was a long day. After Ezekiel and Vince talked about something, Vince fell asleep. It might be his inconvenient way of dealing with what his grandfather did to him. My son was not the type to cry so he must have slept to calm himself. I was worried the whole time. As I sat on the couch, I could feel the weight of everything that had happened today pressing down on me. The house was quiet now, but my mind was anything but calm. I couldn’t help but think about Ezekiel’s parents, especially the way Leonardo had yelled at Vince. Even though they had left hours ago, I still couldn’t rest. I glanced at the clock. It was late, and I should have been home by now. I didn’t plan on staying here this long, but after everything that happened, I couldn’t bring myself to leave. Vince and Vera were supposed to spend the night here with Ezekiel, as we had agreed, but after seeing how upset Vince was earlier, I felt uneasy about going home. What if Ezekiel’s parents came back? What i
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Let Me Eat You
VIVIENNE“So,” Ezekiel said, breaking the silence, “have you decided where you’re sleeping tonight? Guest room or... somewhere else?”As soon as the kids were finally asleep, his house grew quiet. I stood in the hallway with Ezekiel, both of us facing each other. My eyes met his, and there was a silence between us. As far as I could tell, the familiar pressure that seemed to surface when we were alone together took the place of the day's stress.Ezekiel leaned casually against the doorframe, his gaze flickering down to my lips. It was subtle, but I noticed it right away. He was thinking about kissing me. I could see it in the way his eyes lingered, the way he stayed just a little too close, his body language betraying the calm look on his face.I raised an eyebrow, knowing exactly what he meant by “somewhere else.” He wasn’t being subtle at all, and part of me found it amusing. I glanced away for a moment, pretending to think about it. But when I looked back at him, I couldn’t help
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Oh, I Do
VIVIENNEWhen I woke up, Ezekiel's arm was around my waist, providing me with a comforting warmth. The morning light peeked through the curtains, hinting it was already morning. I remained motionless for a brief period, sensing his calm breathing beside me. Memories of last night flooded back, warming my heart. It had been so long since I felt this way. Ezekiel and I, cuddling together, as if the years apart hadn’t happened. The way he kissed me, held me... it felt familiar, like something we had once had but lost. Being with him again, like this, made me realize how much I missed it—us.I glanced over at him, still sound asleep, his face peaceful. It was strange, waking up next to him again after all this time. Most of the time when we ‘hook up’, I’d wake up with him already awake or vice versa. My mind drifted back to when we were married. There were mornings just like this, where I’d wake up in his arms, feeling safe and loved. But that was years ago, before everything fell apa
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Under One Roof
EZEKIEL“Where are the kids?” Mr. Ronaldo, Vivienne’s father, asked as he shifted in his seat and turned to me. His voice was calm but curious.Sitting in the grand living room of my house, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit of irritation washing over me. Vivienne sat across from me with her parents, Ronaldo and Alice, and then there was Jeremy, sitting comfortably as if he had every right to be here. The guy’s audacity was unbelievable. He had no business being in my house, especially under these circumstances. Couldn't he read the room? I clenched my jaw, trying to maintain my composure. But the mere sight of him was starting to grate on my nerves.“They’re still asleep,” I replied to Vivienne’s father while forcing a neutral tone. I didn’t want to give away the annoyance I felt. The last thing I needed was more tension in the room, especially with Jeremy here.Vivienne’s mother, Alice, however, wasn’t as laid-back as her husband. She eyed me with suspicion as her lips pursed.
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Cold Look
EZEKIELI felt my stomach drop when I saw Caroline step forward. She smiled sweetly at me. “Ezekiel,” she said warmly.I blinked, trying to process the situation. Why was she here? This was not the time, not the place. My parents must have invited her—probably to stir up trouble. It wasn’t a coincidence that she was here, not with everything going on. You know what’s a coincidence? My parents had brought Caroline just like Vivienne’s parents had brought Jeremy. Nice!This was starting to feel like the universe was conspiring against us. “Caroline,” I said stiffly, forcing a polite smile. “I didn’t expect to see you.”She gave a small laugh, completely oblivious to the anxiety I was feeling. “I’m here with your parents. They thought it would be nice for us to catch up. We didn’t get to see each other yesterday so I thought of coming back today.”This was going to be a nightmare. Having both families in the same room, Caroline thrown into the mix—I could only imagine how much worse
CHASING THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUBSTITUTE EX-WIFE Bring Up
VIVIENNESeeing Caroline’s hand on Ezekiel’s arm sent a sharp pang through my chest, and no matter how much I tried to act indifferent, I knew I couldn’t hide the coldness in my eyes. It shouldn’t have bothered me—I told myself over and over again that we were just co-parenting and flings, nothing more. But seeing her there, so familiar with him, reminded me of the distance that had grown between us. I had moved on from that pain... or at least I thought I had.I tried to focus on my breathing, willing myself not to react. But my heart didn’t listen. It felt too much, and my face betrayed me. I hated that. I hated how even after all this time, something as small as Caroline clinging to Ezekiel could stir up old wounds.Then again, maybe this was the same feeling Ezekiel had when my parents brought Jeremy with them earlier. I could imagine what was going through his mind when he saw Jeremy—a man who had always been a little too interested in me—show up in his house unannounced. I cou
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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
