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I’m Not Playing Anymore
Last Updated:
2025-01-16 21:26:56
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Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging Rumors
Maya's POVI'd been staring at my phone since dawn, refreshing the page where the article had been. Now it was gone, like it never existed. If only rumors disappeared that easily.My blouse hung perfectly pressed on the doorframe, exactly as I'd left it last night. Simple, elegant, armor for my first day. In the mirror, I looked different somehow. Maybe it was the way I held myself now, or maybe just the light."Early start?"Martha stood in the doorway with coffee. She'd been the mansion's housekeeper longer than I'd been alive, and nothing got past her."First day," I said, taking the cup. The warmth helped steady my hands.She clicked her tongue, reaching over to fix my collar. "Don't let them see you flinch."I smiled, as her simple words helped reinforce my confidence.The drive to Thorne Designs was too short and too long. I rehearsed my face in the rearview mirror - professional, calm, unbothered. The article might be gone, but people's memories weren't.The lobby looked the sa
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging Not My Mother
Maya's POVThe usual morning bustle of the lobby froze the moment I stepped out of the elevator. My mother stood in the center like a gathering storm, designer handbag clutched like a weapon. Ten years hadn't changed her much - same perfectly coiffed hair, same expensive clothes that probably cost more than most people's monthly rent."So this is where you've been hiding," she announced, voice pitched to carry. "Playing career woman while your poor husband sits at home alone."My stomach turned at the sight of phones being raised, at the eager faces of my coworkers pretending not to stare. First day on the job, and already my past was here to haunt me."We should talk somewhere else." My voice came out quieter than intended, but steady."Don't you dare walk away from me." Her voice rose sharply. "I'm not done-""Either we talk privately," I cut in, heat rising in my cheeks, "or security escorts you out. Your choice."She laughed, that brittle sound I remembered from childhood. "You th
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging Glass Beads
Alex's POVI watched Maya's reflection in the office window until it disappeared around the corner. The professional mask I'd worn slipped, just slightly, as I pressed my forehead against the cool glass. Below, the city sprawled like a glittering promise - the same view I'd fought so hard to earn.My fingers found the small scar at my temple, usually hidden by my hair. A souvenir from my stepmother's diamond ring, from a time when I'd dared to speak at dinner without permission. Strange, how certain memories stayed fresh no matter how many years passed.The pendant Maya wore today had caught the light during the lobby confrontation. Those beads - so similar to the ones I'd been turning over in my mind since our first meeting. The same intricate patterns, the same way of catching light...The memory rose unbidden, as it often did in quiet moments.I'd been twelve, though I looked younger - all knees and elbows and hunger that went deeper than missed meals. The mountain resort had been
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging Sweet Victory
Maya's POVI couldn't help but laugh at the memory of Daniel stumbling through Grandfather's mansion last night, all scotch-soaked bravado and empty threats. It was the kind of laugh that caught in your throat - not quite bitter, not quite amused. Just real.The morning commute was oddly peaceful. Traffic flowed smoothly for once, giving me too much time to think about everything and nothing. About how his threats didn't land the same way anymore. About the competition piece I'd submitted last week - "Eden" - and how the name had just felt right.At my desk, I lost myself in current projects. The design for Emma's spring collection needed tweaking, and there was something not quite right about the stone setting in the latest prototype. Normal problems. Safe problems."Ms. Russo?"I jumped, nearly knocking over my coffee. Alex's assistant stood there, apologetic."Sorry to startle you. Mr. Thorne would like a word."My stomach did an odd little flip. Probably about the prototype revisio
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging The Price of Truth
Maya's POV"DESIGNER EXPOSES SISTER'S BETRAYAL: The Truth Behind 'Eden'"The words blurred as I stared at James' phone screen. Behind Fiona's perfectly orchestrated tears, I could see my sketches - the raw, unfinished versions of what would become "Eden." Drafts I'd left scattered across my bed that day, right before everything went dark."You okay?" James' voice seemed to come from far away. "You look like you've seen a ghost.""I need to make a call." My voice sounded steadier than I felt. "Would you excuse me for a moment?"I barely registered his concerned nod as I stepped into what could have been my new kitchen. My fingers shook slightly as I dialed Olivia."Please tell me you're seeing this." The words tumbled out before she could speak."I am. Maya, listen - Fiona's name isn't anywhere in the competition records. I've checked three times. She never even submitted an entry."Something cold settled in my stomach. "She doesn't want to win. She wants to make sure I lose.""Maya-"
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging Evidence
Maya's POVIt's funny how spaces can change overnight. The same office that had buzzed with competition excitement yesterday now felt like a minefield of whispers. Every conversation died as I passed, replaced by the heavy silence of people trying too hard to look busy."...can't believe they're sisters...""...guess that explains the interview...""...heard she and the CEO..."The fragments followed me down the corridor. I kept my steps measured, my spine straight. The morning light caught on my design tablet, and I held it like a shield as I made my way to my desk."Did you see the livestream?" Sarah from marketing didn't even try to lower her voice. "The poor sister, crying like that. Makes you wonder what really happened.""Well, you know how she got this job." Claire's response carried just far enough. "The CEO personally-""Stop." I hadn't meant to speak, but suddenly the words were there, cutting through the whispers. Heads turned - some guilty, some curious, some already deci
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging Control
Daniel’s POVThe scotch trembled against my fingertips as I rewatched the press conference footage. My empty chair in the background spoke volumes - a visible gap in the carefully crafted image we'd built. Amateur mistake, leaving Fiona to flounder alone."What were you thinking?" I kept my voice measured, the same tone I used in board meetings when someone had spectacularly failed. "Did you even consider the implications before staging this little performance?"Fiona perched on my office sofa, her designer dress wrinkled from hours of damage control meetings. "Danny, I was just trying to-""To what?" Ice clinked as I set the glass down. "If it had been any other designer, we could have handled this. Money talks. NDAs exist for a reason." I studied her tear-streaked face, seeing it clearly for the first time. "But Maya? You chose to publicly attack the one person whose silence we actually needed?""I thought-""No." I kept my voice soft, final. "You didn't think. You acted on emotion,
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging Rain
Maya's POVI felt Daniel's presence behind me in the hallway, heavy as storm clouds. For once, I didn't turn around. Let him watch my back, for a change. The box in my arms - filled with design journals and old sketches - felt like armor against his silence.Three years of marriage, and only now did I understand what real power felt like: the ability to walk away. Each breath came easier than the last, like my lungs were finally remembering how to work properly.My shoes whispered against hardwood floors that had never felt like home. Each step carried me further from the girl who used to flinch at raised voices, closer to someone new. Someone real. I passed the living room where we'd hosted countless dinner parties, the kitchen where I'd learned to make myself small, the study where he'd locked away my designs. Memories ghosted through the halls, but they felt distant now, like watching scenes from someone else's life.Thunder rolled outside as I reached the front door. Through sheet
Last Updated : 2025-01-31
Latest chapter
Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging Desperate Measures II
FionaThe Fashion Week venue thrums with pre-show energy. I've changed three times—finally settling on Valentino, because armor should be perfect. My hands still smell of hospital antiseptic beneath Chanel No. 5."Five minutes to the investor presentation." Emma materializes like a well-trained ghost, clipboard in hand. My Cartier pen glints at her throat, transformed into a necklace. Creative. "They're particularly interested in the authentication process."The venue's transformed into a maze of white panels and strategic lighting. Through gaps in the temporary walls, I catch glimpses: Daniel with Laurent's CEO, Catherine's perfectly tailored silhouette, manila envelopes passing between manicured hands."I'll handle the investors." I step forward, but Emma shifts, a subtle block."Mr. Russo suggested I take this one." She checks her phone. "Perhaps you'd like to rest before—""Move."She doesn't. When did servants learn to disobey?The investor group has already gathered around Maya'
Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging Desperate Measures
FionaFive-fifteen. Daniel's Peloton whirs to life in his home gym, precise as a German train. I count his footsteps across Italian marble, the quiet click of the gym door. For a man so careful with his schedule, he never noticed I memorized every minute.His office still smells of last night's scotch. No cleaning staff today—I made sure of that. The morning light hasn't reached his desk yet, but I know its contents by heart. Mont Blanc pen holder, left side. Patek Philippe box for his evening watch, centered. Everything measured in millimeters of perfection.The safe clicks open with his mother's birthday—he never was creative with passwords. Inside: folders organized by quarter, each tab perfectly aligned. Too perfect. My fingers find a slight gap behind them, where the metal's warmer. A false back.I check my watch. Five-twenty-three. He'll be on his second sprint interval.The hidden compartment yields a single folder, unmarked. My phone's camera shutter sounds too loud in the dar
Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging Shadows III
FionaLaurent & Cie's lobby gleams with old-world sophistication. Not a fingerprint on the brass doors, not a scuff on the marble. I count security cameras while pretending to check my lipstick—four visible, probably more hidden. My Louboutins click precise rhythms across the floor."I have an appointment with Catherine Laurent." The lie flows smooth as silk. The security guard's eyes flick to his screen, then back to me. No recognition. That's new."ID, please."I slide my driver's license across the counter, watching his face. He's young, probably new. Doesn't know I used to have permanent clearance."Ms. Kingston." A voice cuts through the silence. Jean-Paul, Laurent's head of security. His smile doesn't reach his eyes. "I'm afraid Mrs. Laurent is unavailable.""Is she?" I match his tone, professional to professional. "That's odd. We just had lunch."Movement catches my eye—Catherine herself, crossing the atrium. Our gazes meet. For a moment, something like panic flashes across her
Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging Shadows II
FionaLa Grenouille's private dining room smells of white lilies and old money. I watched the staff rearrange the flowers three times from my car—they used to know my preferred arrangement by heart. Now they're following someone else's instructions.I time my entrance precisely—fifteen minutes late, just enough to establish dominance without seeming rude. The maître d' hesitates before pulling out my chair. He used to leap at the chance.Catherine Laurent's shoulders tense slightly as I approach. Her Chanel suit is pristine but slightly dated—last season's cut. She never used to make such mistakes. Good."Fiona, darling." Her air kisses land too close to my ear. Chanel No. 5, but not quite masking something else. Daniel's cologne. "I was surprised to get your invitation.""Were you?" I signal the sommelier. He hesitates, glancing at Catherine before pouring my usual Puligny-Montrachet. Even the staff know something's shifted. "I thought we were overdue for a proper catch-up."Catherin
Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging Shadows I
FionaMorning light creeps across Italian marble, turning my home office into a museum of memories. Everything precisely where it should be—Asprey crystal paperweight catching the sun, Montblanc pens arranged by size, last season's lookbooks stacked by color on my Armani Casa desk. A perfect tableau of success.Except for the scattered contents of my Hermès laptop bag now defiling the Persian rug.I've been here since dawn, after another sleepless night replaying every moment of the gala. My Carolina Herrera gown lies discarded on the chaise, diamonds returned to their vault. No point in armor when there's no one to impress."Find anything interesting?"I startle, nearly spilling my third espresso. Maria, my housekeeper of five years, stands in the doorway. When did she get so quiet? Or have I become less observant?"Just organizing." The lie falls flat. Papers surround me like autumn leaves—board meeting minutes, event photos, email printouts. Five years of carefully documented succe
Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging Cracks III
FionaThe Metropolitan Museum's marble steps glitter with New York's elite. Three hours of preparation: a session with my makeup artist (who took four tries to return my call), my hairstylist (suddenly "booked" until I doubled her rate), and the Carolina Herrera gown in midnight blue (his favorite color). Harry Winston diamonds catch light like captured stars. I've swept my hair up, exposing the vulnerable curve of my neck—the old tricks. The ones that used to work.I scroll through I*******m one last time before entering. Maya's latest post: a behind-the-scenes look at her new collection. Thirty thousand likes in an hour. I delete the scathing comment I'd drafted. Not tonight. Tonight, I'm above it all."You look stunning," Daniel murmurs, but his eyes scan the crowd over my shoulder. His hand rests at my waist, warm through silk, but somehow distant. Like touching through glass. The photographers who used to swarm us now focus their lenses elsewhere.Laurent & Cie executives cluster
Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging Cracks II
FionaThe days blur like watercolors on silk—expensive, but losing definition. I track time through Daniel's responses: how many rings before he answers (three, then five, then straight to voicemail), how many minutes before he replies to my texts (eighteen, forty-two, three hours). Numbers don't lie. I've always known this, counting calories, followers, carats. Now I count seconds between his kisses.Wednesday morning finds me in the private salon at Bergdorf's, buried in a fortress of shopping bags. Elena, my personal shopper for the past three years, hovers nearby, less eager than usual. Even she's seen the headlines."The new Valentino collection just arrived," she offers, but her eyes keep darting to her phone. Probably reading about Maya's latest triumph. "Though perhaps something more... conservative?"I ignore the implied judgment. "Show me everything."Each piece is a calculated move: Valentino dress (for the charity gala), Jimmy Choo stilettos (half an inch higher than usual—
Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging Cracks I
Fiona"Tell them to pull the story." My voice carries the precise tone that usually makes people scramble to obey. Alessandro from Vogue has always been putty in my hands—a carefully timed lunch invitation here, an exclusive there. "This is ridiculous. Maya Russo stealing designs? Please. We both know better."But Alessandro's voice comes back cool, professional. "Actually, Fiona, the evidence is quite compelling. Perhaps you'd like to comment on—"I end the call, fingers trembling slightly on my Hermès phone case. Three other fashion editors have already declined my calls. Since when do they decline my calls?My heels strike precise rhythms down the corridor to Daniel's office. This will all blow over. A few strategic moves and everything will realign. Like adjusting a couture dress—small, careful alterations until it fits perfectly.His new secretary—Emma? Emily?—rises as I approach. "Mr. Russo is—"I sweep past her. "Busy. Of course. But he'll see me."He always sees me.The leather
Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging Paying Old Debts
Maya's POVThe Thorne Designs building felt different at night. Empty halls, security lights casting shadows across marble floors. My footsteps echoed as I made my way to the executive floor, files clutched to my chest like armor.Sophie waited in the conference room, her Chanel suit exchanged for jeans and an oversized sweater. It made her look younger, more real. Less like the polished enemy I remembered."You brought everything?" I set the files on the table. Years of documentation - every design Daniel had stolen, every contract he'd manipulated. "Your turn."She pulled out her laptop. "Remember that USB drive someone sent Alex? The one with hospital footage?"My fingers stilled on the papers. "How do you know about that?""Because I'm the one who sent it." She typed quickly, pulled up a video. "And that's not all I have."The footage was clearer than what Alex had shown me. Different angle. Same scene - Daniel with Fiona's doctor. But this time, I could hear the conversation.*"
