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Ready

Penulis: Jenne Lopes
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-03-25 04:56:39

"Hold still," Troy muttered around the pins in his mouth, making final adjustments to the dress he'd insisted on creating for my first public appearance since the scandal broke. "If you fidget, I'll stab you, and blood ruins silver lamé."

The dress was his masterpiece—asymmetrical silver with structural elements that echoed my jewelry designs. One shoulder bare, the other draped in a metallic sleeve that caught the light when I moved. The silhouette was deceptively simple, but the details were pure Troy: hand-stitched metal beading along the neckline that mirrored my signature glass-and-metal fusion technique.

"It's already perfect," I said, watching him fuss with the hem.

"Perfection is subjective. Revenge is specific." He stood, circling me critically. "When you walk into that gala on Giuseppe Russo's arm, every person who's whispered about you these past two weeks needs to choke on their champagne."

It had been sixteen days since Grandfather's offer and my acceptance. Sixteen days
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  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging   A Public Coup

    "Giuseppe!" A tall woman in her sixties approached, air-kissing Grandfather before turning her assessing gaze on me. "And the famous Maya Russo. Or is it Maya Vega these days? I can never keep up with the rebranding.""Maya is fine, Mrs. Harrington," I replied, recognizing the owner of one of America's largest luxury retail chains."Margaret, Maya will be making an exciting announcement later this evening," Grandfather said. "One I think will interest Harrington's buyers considerably."Mrs. Harrington's perfectly sculpted eyebrows rose. "Intriguing. I look forward to it." She lowered her voice. "And may I say, my dear, that those photos did you no justice. You're far more striking in person."Before I could respond, Grandfather was steering me toward another group of ind

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-26
  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging   The Sister’s Appearance

    The Guild president took the stage, tapping her microphone for attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, before we move to dessert and our awards presentation, we have a special announcement." She smiled, a practiced expression that revealed nothing. "It's my honor to welcome to the stage Giuseppe Russo, founder of Russo Designs, for what I'm told is a historic moment in the company's evolution."A ripple of interest moved through the room. Unscheduled announcements at the Guild Gala were rare—the program was typically planned to the minute. I caught snippets of whispered speculation from nearby tables."—retiring perhaps?" "—heard rumors of acquisition—" "—why is she here with him instead of Daniel?"Grandfather rose with deliberate slowness, the room quieting as he made his way to the podium. The spotlights followed him, leaving the rest of the room in dramatic shadow. Even in his eighties, he commanded attention—his posture straight, his movements purposeful. He adjusted the microphone, su

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-26
  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging   The Goat still Fights

    Fiona stood swaying in the center of a cleared space, her designer dress rumpled, her makeup smeared. She was gesturing wildly as she spoke, voice too loud, words slurred."—just sits there, accepting awards for designs she stole! Ask anyone who really knows her work!" She spotted me and pointed dramatically. "There she is! The fraud herself!"Silence fell as every head turned toward me. I froze in the doorway, unprepared for Fiona's sudden appearance after weeks of her complete absence from my life."Maya," she called, lurching forward. "Tell them! Tell them how we worked on those designs together! Tell them how you took all the credit!"Grandfather appeared at my side. "Security is on the way," he murmured. "Say nothing."But Fiona was advancing through the crowd, her intoxication evident in her unsteady gait. "You're all being fooled! She's not a genius—she's an opportunist! First Daniel, then Alex Thorne, now Giuseppe. She sleeps her way into every opportunity!"A few uncomfortabl

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-26
  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging   Family Matters

    I woke to the insistent buzz of my phone vibrating against the nightstand. Squinting at the screen, I saw twenty-seven missed calls, forty-two text messages, and over a hundred social media notifications. It was 7:18 AM."What the fuck," I mumbled, scrolling through the texts. Troy had sent eighteen of them, each more dramatic than the last:WAKE UPTHE VIDEO IS EVERYWHEREYOU'RE TRENDING #TeamMaya vs #TeamFionaINDUSTRY CIVIL WARCALL ME IMMEDIATELY YOU GLORIOUS VIOLENT QUEENI opened Instagram to find my feed flooded with clips of last night's confrontation. Someone had recorded Fiona's drunken accusations, Alex's defense, and my slap—the moment captured in high definition, my silver dress catching the light as my hand connected with Fiona's cheek. The most popular version had over 200,000 views already.Comments ranged from supportive to vicious:This is the energy I'm bringing to my next design review meetingRich people fighting over jewelry. Eat the rich.Russo family drama is b

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-27
  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging   The Goat’s Explosion

    I stepped into the room, keeping my distance from Daniel, whose body radiated tension like heat."What matters?" I asked, though I already knew."The scene at the gala last night," Grandfather replied. "And its aftermath."Daniel made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a snort. "The scene? You mean her assault on Fiona in front of the entire industry?""I mean Fiona's drunken disruption of an official announcement, followed by Maya's admittedly dramatic response," Grandfather corrected. "Which has resulted in quite the media situation.""She slapped her sister across the face," Daniel said through clenched teeth. "After you ambushed me with this ridiculous 'transfer of power' stunt. The board will never—""The board has already approved the transfer," Grandfather interrupted. "The paperwork was completed yesterday afternoon. The announcement was merely a formality."Daniel's face went pale, then red again. "You did this behind my back.""I did this through proper corporate channels

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-27
  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging   Confirmation

    I sank back into the chair, adrenaline leaving my body in a rush. Grandfather returned to his seat more slowly, his composure unchanged but his breathing slightly labored."Are you alright?" I asked him."Perfectly fine. Are you?"I nodded, though my hands were shaking. Daniel had never attempted to physically harm me in front of witnesses before. Always in private, always deniable."He'll challenge the transfer," I said."He'll try." Grandfather straightened the folder Daniel had knocked askew. "He won't succeed."Martha appeared in the doorway. "Mr. Giuseppe, security confirms Mr. Daniel has left the premises.""Thank you, Martha. Tea, please."After she left, Grandfather regarded me thoughtfully. "I apologize for my grandson's behavior.""You're not responsible for him.""In some ways, I am. I raised him after my son died. Perhaps too indulgently." He sighed. "I knew he was controlling, temperamental. I didn't know the extent of his abuse toward you."I said nothing. What was there

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-27
  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging   Break In 

    I spent the rest of Sunday at Mami Lulu's bedside, reading to her unresponsive form from design magazines, describing the gala and its aftermath. The nurses said talking to unresponsive patients could help, that they might hear even if they couldn't respond. I chose to believe it, needing some connection to the woman who had truly raised me.Evening found me back at my apartment, reviewing the briefing materials Grandfather's assistant had sent over. Board member profiles, financial summaries, pending contracts—hundreds of pages of information I needed to absorb before Thursday.My phone buzzed with a text from Troy: Dinner? I have gossip about the industry fallout.I agreed, grateful for the break and the company. Troy arrived with Thai food and a bottle of wine, settling cross-legged on my couch as he unpacked containers."It's deliciously messy out there," he reported gleefully. "The industry is completely split. Old-guard designers are clutching their pearls over your 'violent out

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28
  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging    Dealing with Trauma

    The glass rod glowed orange-red under the flame, softening until it drooped like honey. I twisted it carefully around the metal mandrel, just as Mami Lulu had taught me."Steady hands," her voice came from behind me. "Let the glass tell you what it wants to be."The small workshop smelled of propane and hot glass, with undertones of the pine forest surrounding our cabin. Sunlight streamed through the windows, catching dust motes and turning them golden. The rough-hewn wooden walls felt solid and permanent around me."There," I said, holding up the mandrel to show her the perfect round bead I'd formed. Blue glass with swirls of green, like the deep pools in the creek behind our cabin.Mami Lulu smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling. "Beautiful, mija. Now let it cool slowly."I placed the mandrel in the cooling rack, satisfaction warming my chest. Through the open window, I could hear the creek bubbling over rocks, the rustling of pine needles in the breeze, the distant call of a ha

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28

Bab terbaru

  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging   Obsession

    AlexI made it to my car before my composure cracked. Sitting behind the wheel, I slammed my palm against it hard enough to hurt, cursing under my breath. I'd handled that all wrong. Again.The look on Maya's face when I admitted hiring a PI—pure betrayal. Rage. Fear. All justified.I started the engine but didn't move, just sat there staring up at the lights of her apartment building. She'd tried to slap me. Again. I couldn't blame her."Not investigating you anymore." Christ. As if stopping was some kind of favor I'd done her. No wonder she'd exploded.The envelope of evidence sat on the passenger seat where I'd placed a second copy before heading up to her apartment. I'd known she might destroy the first one. Might not believe me. Might throw me out.I'd been right about all of it, and still managed to fuck up the execution completely.The dashboard clock read 8:47 PM. Not even nine, but I felt as if I'd aged a decade in the last forty minutes. I pulled away from the curb, forcing

  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging   The Mountain Cabin

    I slept poorly that night, dreams shifting between the peaceful cabin workshop and nightmarish scenarios where faceless figures stood watching through windows, calculating, waiting.By dawn, I'd made my decision. I would go to the mountains, to the cabin where I'd been truly happy. I would seek answers on my own terms, without Alex's theories coloring my perceptions or Daniel's threats hanging over me.I finished packing quickly, loaded my car, and left a message for Grandfather explaining my need for a brief leave of absence. He'd understand—might even approve of the strategic retreat while Daniel's legal situation developed.As I drove toward the mountains the next morning, I kept checking my rearview mirror, unsure if I was afraid of being followed or being alone with these new thoughts.

  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging   Not Anymore

    That night in my apartment, unable to sleep again, I opened my laptop and did something I'd been avoiding—I searched for our old address in the mountains. The cabin wasn't technically ours; Mami Lulu had rented it for years from an elderly couple who'd never bothered to raise the price or ask questions about the woman raising a child in the remote location.To my shock, the property appeared in current real estate listings. FOR SALE: Rustic 2BR Mountain Cabin with Workshop. The photos showed a structure slightly more weathered than in my memories but essentially unchanged—the wooden porch, the stone chimney, the clearing surrounded by tall pines.The coincidence felt significant, almost supernatural. I'd been dreaming of the cabin for weeks, and now it was available, as if waiting for me to return.Witho

  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging    Dealing with Trauma

    The glass rod glowed orange-red under the flame, softening until it drooped like honey. I twisted it carefully around the metal mandrel, just as Mami Lulu had taught me."Steady hands," her voice came from behind me. "Let the glass tell you what it wants to be."The small workshop smelled of propane and hot glass, with undertones of the pine forest surrounding our cabin. Sunlight streamed through the windows, catching dust motes and turning them golden. The rough-hewn wooden walls felt solid and permanent around me."There," I said, holding up the mandrel to show her the perfect round bead I'd formed. Blue glass with swirls of green, like the deep pools in the creek behind our cabin.Mami Lulu smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling. "Beautiful, mija. Now let it cool slowly."I placed the mandrel in the cooling rack, satisfaction warming my chest. Through the open window, I could hear the creek bubbling over rocks, the rustling of pine needles in the breeze, the distant call of a ha

  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging   Break In 

    I spent the rest of Sunday at Mami Lulu's bedside, reading to her unresponsive form from design magazines, describing the gala and its aftermath. The nurses said talking to unresponsive patients could help, that they might hear even if they couldn't respond. I chose to believe it, needing some connection to the woman who had truly raised me.Evening found me back at my apartment, reviewing the briefing materials Grandfather's assistant had sent over. Board member profiles, financial summaries, pending contracts—hundreds of pages of information I needed to absorb before Thursday.My phone buzzed with a text from Troy: Dinner? I have gossip about the industry fallout.I agreed, grateful for the break and the company. Troy arrived with Thai food and a bottle of wine, settling cross-legged on my couch as he unpacked containers."It's deliciously messy out there," he reported gleefully. "The industry is completely split. Old-guard designers are clutching their pearls over your 'violent out

  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging   Confirmation

    I sank back into the chair, adrenaline leaving my body in a rush. Grandfather returned to his seat more slowly, his composure unchanged but his breathing slightly labored."Are you alright?" I asked him."Perfectly fine. Are you?"I nodded, though my hands were shaking. Daniel had never attempted to physically harm me in front of witnesses before. Always in private, always deniable."He'll challenge the transfer," I said."He'll try." Grandfather straightened the folder Daniel had knocked askew. "He won't succeed."Martha appeared in the doorway. "Mr. Giuseppe, security confirms Mr. Daniel has left the premises.""Thank you, Martha. Tea, please."After she left, Grandfather regarded me thoughtfully. "I apologize for my grandson's behavior.""You're not responsible for him.""In some ways, I am. I raised him after my son died. Perhaps too indulgently." He sighed. "I knew he was controlling, temperamental. I didn't know the extent of his abuse toward you."I said nothing. What was there

  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging   The Goat’s Explosion

    I stepped into the room, keeping my distance from Daniel, whose body radiated tension like heat."What matters?" I asked, though I already knew."The scene at the gala last night," Grandfather replied. "And its aftermath."Daniel made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a snort. "The scene? You mean her assault on Fiona in front of the entire industry?""I mean Fiona's drunken disruption of an official announcement, followed by Maya's admittedly dramatic response," Grandfather corrected. "Which has resulted in quite the media situation.""She slapped her sister across the face," Daniel said through clenched teeth. "After you ambushed me with this ridiculous 'transfer of power' stunt. The board will never—""The board has already approved the transfer," Grandfather interrupted. "The paperwork was completed yesterday afternoon. The announcement was merely a formality."Daniel's face went pale, then red again. "You did this behind my back.""I did this through proper corporate channels

  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging   Family Matters

    I woke to the insistent buzz of my phone vibrating against the nightstand. Squinting at the screen, I saw twenty-seven missed calls, forty-two text messages, and over a hundred social media notifications. It was 7:18 AM."What the fuck," I mumbled, scrolling through the texts. Troy had sent eighteen of them, each more dramatic than the last:WAKE UPTHE VIDEO IS EVERYWHEREYOU'RE TRENDING #TeamMaya vs #TeamFionaINDUSTRY CIVIL WARCALL ME IMMEDIATELY YOU GLORIOUS VIOLENT QUEENI opened Instagram to find my feed flooded with clips of last night's confrontation. Someone had recorded Fiona's drunken accusations, Alex's defense, and my slap—the moment captured in high definition, my silver dress catching the light as my hand connected with Fiona's cheek. The most popular version had over 200,000 views already.Comments ranged from supportive to vicious:This is the energy I'm bringing to my next design review meetingRich people fighting over jewelry. Eat the rich.Russo family drama is b

  • Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging   The Goat still Fights

    Fiona stood swaying in the center of a cleared space, her designer dress rumpled, her makeup smeared. She was gesturing wildly as she spoke, voice too loud, words slurred."—just sits there, accepting awards for designs she stole! Ask anyone who really knows her work!" She spotted me and pointed dramatically. "There she is! The fraud herself!"Silence fell as every head turned toward me. I froze in the doorway, unprepared for Fiona's sudden appearance after weeks of her complete absence from my life."Maya," she called, lurching forward. "Tell them! Tell them how we worked on those designs together! Tell them how you took all the credit!"Grandfather appeared at my side. "Security is on the way," he murmured. "Say nothing."But Fiona was advancing through the crowd, her intoxication evident in her unsteady gait. "You're all being fooled! She's not a genius—she's an opportunist! First Daniel, then Alex Thorne, now Giuseppe. She sleeps her way into every opportunity!"A few uncomfortabl

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