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55 A costly mistake

Penulis: Ria M
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-12-01 19:21:18

Collins’ POV

We sit in the private room of a quiet, upscale café, waiting for the other party to arrive.

My client, Mark, shifts nervously in his seat, glancing around, clearly uncomfortable. I wonder why. Maybe it’s because he’s about to face the woman who gave him a solid beating.

I tap my fingers on the table, trying to keep my thoughts in check. Finally, the door swings open, and the other lawyer enters, followed by the woman.

At first, I think my eyes are playing tricks on me. Aria? After all these years of seeing her from a distance, here she is, just a few feet away. She doesn’t know me—of course, she doesn’t—but I’ve memorized every detail. And now, she’s looking at me for the first time. My heart pounds, and I grip the table, trying to steady myself.

What are the odds? Of all the cases, of all the women, it had to be her.

I quickly dart my eyes to Mark, who’s staring at his hands, biting his lip, avoiding eye contact. My voice drops, barely controlled. “Did you say you did no
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  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    56 Unexpected guest

    Isabel’s POV“So, you’re saying you did beat him up because he refused to apologize, huh?” I ask, walking towards my office desk, gently placing my iPad on it and sinking into my chair. Since yesterday I got back from the office, Aurora hasn’t let me rest, she keeps following like some child. Ranting about some jerk she came across with when she was out with the kids and Aria. The lady my mom introduced as her friend’s daughter at my welcoming party.I narrow my eyes on her as she starts talking, her voice animated, recounting what happened yesterday and how it happened.“Yeah, me and the kids were out with Aria after you left for the office yesterday,” she begins, pacing as she does so. “Then this jerk from the street thought he could sexually play around with us, you know? I asked him to apologize, but he refused and started mouthing off, calling me weak and throwing disgusting words about my body.” She clenches her fists. “I couldn’t take it anymore, Sis. I had to teach him a less

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-02
  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    57 Facing Sabrina

    Isabel’s POVThe door swings open, and as Sabrina steps inside, her presence fills the room.She’s dressed in a tailored black dress, elegant but sharp, the kind that screams power. Her red lips curl into a subtle smirk, the same confidence that her son, Alexander King always carries. She’s the chairman of the King’s Empire, after all.I lean back in my chair, watching her with a cool, calm expression.Aurora glances between us, clearly sensing the tension in the air. She’s not one to start drama, but she certainly knows when to step out of the line of fire. And without a beat, she rises from her seat and starts to head out.“Uh,” she parts her mouth open, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I’ll, uh, be leaving now,” she mumbles, gesturing vaguely toward the door. “I think I got some stuff I need to get done.” She adds, practically sprinting out of the office before I can say anything.As the door closes behind Aurora, I take a breath and turn my attention back to Sabrina. “So, you’re

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-03
  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    58 Stranded and Surprised

    Aurora’s POVI leave the office, finally stepping into the elevator.As the door closes, I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. The soft “bing” of the elevator signals that I’ve reached the ground floor, and as the doors slide open, I step out into the lobby. It’s filled with executives in tailored suits, striding confidently across the gleaming marble floor, their sharp heels clicking with purpose as they head to meetings or greet clients.“Hello, thank you,” I reply to the greeting of the hundredth person today since I arrived at the office with Isabel. Argh! It’s stressful.As I leave the building, the cool breeze from outside greets me. I stop, gazing out at the skyline, watching the bustle of people moving in every direction.The freedom of being outside hits me, but then, as reality sets in, I frown and kick my foot into the air.“Of all days, she has to show up now…” I mutter, annoyed. Of course, Sabrina makes an appearance earlier than expected—today, of all days

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-04
  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    59 Words left behind

    Isabel’s POVI make my way down the stairs, dressed in my silk pajamas. The sound of my flip-flops barely making a whisper against the polished wood. Tea. I need tea.The events of the day wash over me, Sabrina King’s visit still weighing heavy on my mind. Her veiled threats replay in my thoughts, sharp and lingering. But instead of feeling victorious, I’m restless, my nerves stretched thin.As I reach the bottom of the stairs, I spot Aurora coming down as well, a sheepish smile plastered on her face. She seems lost in thought, her eyes sparkling with some hidden amusement.I pour myself a cup of tea and take a small sip, letting the warmth spread through me. I lean back slightly, watching her from the corner of my eye. I wonder what on earth has her smiling like that. “Hey girl,” I call, taking a seat on the couch, crossing one leg over the other as I gently place my teacup on the table. My eyes widen with curiosity, a grin spreading across my face. “You left the office early and c

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-05
  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    60 What’s coming…

    Isabel’s POVThe morning light streams through the window as I try to wake, stretching before rolling out of bed.Today’s a big day—the kids’ first day at their new school. At first, I’m worried that they might find it hard to adapt, given how much they loved their old school in New York. But to my surprise, they’re bouncing with excitement, as if this is an adventure they’ve been waiting for.I smile to myself as I help them into their school uniforms—Sterling in a sharp pair of grey trousers, a crisp white shirt, and a light pink tie, which adds a soft touch of color to his otherwise polished look. Scarlett, in her matching grey pleated skirt and light pink blouse, completes the outfit with a bow at the collar, her hair neatly done. Their little shoes are also polished.I have to admit, I’m amazed at how well they’re taking everything in stride. I guess I must’ve done something good in my past life to be blessed with such incredible kids.They finish dressing quickly, their faces glo

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-06
  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    61 What’s her plan?

    Cynthia’s POVI step into my office, my heart thudding against my chest, anger already flushing over me. I take a deep breath, sinking into the leather chair, but I can’t seem to calm down.Her face—Isabel’s face—keeps flashing in my mind. That smug look she gave me, like she’s already won, like she’s got everything under control. Who does she think she is?Bluffing, saying her PA would text me? I scoff, tilting my head to the side. I see she’s playing some kind of rich brat game, isn’t she? She’s really starting to get on my nerves. Or should I just do away with her once and for all? My lips twist into something sly.Argh! Relax Cynthia. You are still getting to know this new Isabel. I try to calm my nerves. Besides, this new Isabel seems to have a lot of interesting stuff on her. I blink, letting a smile play on my lips. Again, my mind flashes to what she said. Damn it! I can’t believe I was stupid enough to sign that damn contract without reading it properly. So now what, huh?

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-07
  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    62 The Tension

    Alexander’s POVI smile faintly as I dress, the cool fabric of my shirt sliding smoothly against my skin. The tie sits perfectly, the cuffs are crisp, and everything feels in place.For a moment, I feel lighter, like I’ve achieved something—though I can’t quite place what. My mind races through the tasks ahead, then I catch myself in the mirror.Why am I smiling? I pause, studying my reflection.Just then it hits me again. My Mother’s sudden decision. It’s strange how easily she handed me the CEO title at King’s Empire after her visit to LM Group. It’s not like her to make choices without a reason. What could she have discussed with Claire Montgomery? I shake my head, pushing the thought aside. I won’t let it gnaw at me. Today is about moving forward, proving that I’m the right choice.I grab my cologne from the counter, the familiar scent filling the air as I spray it lightly—warm cedarwood with a hint of spice. Isabel used to love this scent.Before I can stop myself, I spray a lit

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-08
  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    63 Falls for my trap

    Isabel’s POVI approach him slowly, the scent of his cologne hitting me before I even reach his side. My favorite. Of course. I wonder if he thinks wearing it will somehow make me admit to being Isabel, somehow soften me, and fall at his feet like I used to.As if a mere fragrance could undo the damage. I scoff under my breath but force a neutral expression as I stop by him.“Hello, Mr. Alexander,” I say evenly, offering a faint, professional smile.His gaze sharpens. “Isabel—”I arch a brow slightly, letting my lips curve into the faintest smile. “Claire,” I say coolly, correcting him with practiced ease. My gaze remains steady, piercing through his calm façade, daring him to challenge me.I hold the moment for just a beat longer before brushing past him to take my seat, knowing full well he’s still watching, his tension palpable.The murmur of conversation fades as I settle in. A quiet tension hangs in the air as the meeting begins. I offer a composed smile, flipping open the folder

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-09

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  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    196 Storm in her silence

    Alexander’s POVThe moment Susan steps in and sees my hand clamped tightly around Isabel’s arm, the look on her face says it all—shock, confusion, maybe even fear. I release her instantly. Not because she asked me to. But because I don’t want this to be misread. I don’t need anyone forming conclusions that aren’t true.I clear my throat, jaw tight. “What is it I have to see?”Susan’s body stills like a paused frame, her eyes flicking between Isabel and me, her lips parted but words refusing to come out. I catch her hesitation, the way her fingers tighten around the phone in her hand.“It’s okay. Go ahead,” I tell her, forcing calm into my voice.Isabel crosses her arms as Susan steps forward, her face blank, almost like she’s suddenly detached. She stretches the phone toward me like she doesn’t care how it lands.I take it and press play.My breath stills the moment Isabel’s face appears on screen—teary, delicate, almost too damn convincing.“I and Cynthia have been friends for long n

  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    195 Not until I’m done

    Isabel’s POVI walk through the glossy marbled floors of the King’s Empire building, each step echoing with purpose. The air is thick with quiet power—assistants darting between elevators, phones ringing in clipped urgency, polished shoes tapping rhythmically against glass floors. But none of it touches me. My focus is razor-sharp.Strike when the iron is hot.Perfect timing isn’t just a tactic—it’s an art.And right now? The fire’s raging.I don’t stop to greet anyone. I don’t pause when heads turn. I know where I’m going.Alexander’s office.When I reach the door, I don’t knock. I push it open with a practiced ease. Bold. Unapologetic.His face lifts from the document he’s reading, surprise—or is that shock?—etching deep into his features. Understandable. I’m not the type to show up uninvited. But today?Today, I’ll bend the rules.If only to twist the reaction I want out of him.He stands slowly, like a lion woken from his throne, cautious but alert. I wrap my arms around my chest,

  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    194 Not safe

    Isabel’s POV I’m in the middle of a meeting with the team, my fingers tapping lightly against the polished table surface as voices buzz around me. But my mind… my mind drifts elsewhere. It drifts back to that moment at The Elites, to Cynthia’s face—her expression shifting like crashing waves. Shock. Anger. Confusion. Disbelief.The thrill of it makes me scoff under my breath, an involuntary laugh slipping through. A few heads snap in my direction. I quickly adjust in my seat, placing my hand over my lips like I’m clearing my throat. Too late.“Ma’am?” one of the team leads leans in, cautious but direct. “What are we going to do about the event location? Time’s running out. As of now, we still don’t have a confirmed venue.”I nod, slow and thoughtful. Their concern is valid. “We were supposed to partner with The Regency,” I say, voice calm but clipped. “Carl turned us down at the last minute.” My jaw tenses slightly. “Now, it’s either we go back to partnering with The King’s… or we se

  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    193 What am I?

    Cynthia’s POVHe walks toward me calmly, like a man who didn’t just have his secret ripped from the shadows and laid bare. Without a word, he plucks the photo from my trembling fingers, bends slowly to pick up the book, and straightens with a sigh like this is nothing more than an inconvenience. Like my entire world hasn’t just shifted.He turns his back to me, facing the far end of the room with that irritating stillness he always uses when he’s trying to dismiss a situation.I blink. Once. Twice. The coolness in his posture stuns me—it’s a stark, calculated contrast to what I expected. No shouting. No denial. Just silence. But I refuse to let him act like he doesn’t owe me an explanation.“If you’re here to ask for money again,” he says, his voice hard and sharp, “then just leave. I’m not wasting my money on you—especially not when you’ll end up spending it on shopping sprees.”He doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t even turn. And that’s what sends my pulse spiking. He’s ignoring it. All of it.

  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    192 The secret between us

    Cynthia’s POVI slam my leg into the air, nearly losing balance as rage swells inside me like a storm. My fists clench tightly by my sides, nails digging into my palms. My mind won’t stop replaying the scene—her smirk, her voice, the smug way Isabel claimed ownership of the flagship store like it was hers all along. And the audacity—the unforgivable nerve—to send me out like I was nothing. Canceling my membership card like I was some common outsider.I scream, the sound raw and guttural, before slamming my hand against the tire of my car. “Damn you, Isabel. Damn you!” I shout again, louder this time. “Who the hell do you think you are?!”My chest heaves, and I pause for a second, my rage momentarily paralyzed by the weight of humiliation. Then, without thinking twice, I yank the car door open and slide in, slamming it shut behind me. My foot hits the gas like I’m crushing every ounce of rage Isabel left behind, and I tear out of the parking lot.Minutes blur together before I’m pul

  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    191 Real feast

    Isabel’s POVI smooth my hand over the silk fabric hugging my body, taking in the sight of myself in the mirror. A slow, calculating smile tugs at my lips. “Today,” I murmur to my reflection, “I’m going to reveal a part of me Cynthia never knew about. A part I placed in her life for a moment exactly like this.”My fingers graze the velvet box on the vanity, lifting it to reveal a set of emerald-encrusted earrings—bold, elegant, quiet power. As I slip them on, I think of her. I know how much of a big spender Cynthia is. Shopping is her escape when the walls start to close in, when the guilt begins to whisper. But how will it feel when she finally discovers the mastermind behind the elite group she so shamelessly parades around in? The very empire she thought was her playground—mine.Just as I pick up my bracelet, the door bursts open.“Well, well…” Aurora says, arms crossed, eyes twinkling. “I guess today’s the day. I’ve been waiting for this moment forever. Do you know how annoying it

  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    190 Bitter crown

    Cynthia’s POVThe glow of the TV screen is the first thing I see when I wake up. The news stares back at me, unrelenting. The same interview that has been flooding the internet since yesterday plays on loop, as if daring me to react.I sit up slowly, pulling my knees to my stomach. My fingers thread through my hair, pushing it back as I take a deep breath. But the words keep replaying, burning themselves into my mind.“It’s true that my daughter Claire is also known as Isabel—the name she has been known for since she was separated from us. We decided to hide the fact that she’s Isabel for her safety.”Victoria Montgomery’s voice feels distant, but it still hits me like a blade.I throw the covers aside, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. My throat feels dry, my chest tightening with something I refuse to name. I reach for the glass pitcher on the nightstand, pouring water into a glass with unsteady hands. The water swirls as I lift it to my lips and down it in one swift gulp,

  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    189 A moment to hold

    Isabel’s POVI glance down at my phone again, rereading the message.Don’t worry about picking up the kids, I already got them. Just hurry up to Rosewood Terrace.My brows pull together. Why would Mom want me to hurry up to her? A quiet sense of unease stirs in my chest. I hope there’s nothing wrong. I thought she was still in the middle of that interview?“Change of plans,” I say, breaking the silence. Christine looks over at me, but I don’t elaborate, and she doesn’t push.Travis nods, adjusting his grip on the wheel as he accelerates toward the given location. The hum of the car fills the space, but my mind is restless, running through possibilities.Soon, we pull up to Rosewood Terrace. I take in the surroundings—the warm glow of string lights draped over the outdoor space, the scent of fresh roses lingering in the crisp evening air. There’s an intimacy to the atmosphere, something quiet yet deliberate.Stepping out, I spot her. “Mom.” My voice carries a hint of urgency as I walk

  • Ex-husband’s Regret: Revenge So Sweet    188 Heavy and unanswered

    Isabel’s POVI step into the newly built condo, my heels clicking against the polished marble floors. The scent of fresh paint and new beginnings lingers in the air, but all I can think about is the past.This place was once nothing but a blueprint, an idea buried under countless arguments and power struggles with Alexander. The battles over design choices, the endless boardroom meetings, the silent wars we waged in between. I still remember the night before the launch party, standing on the balcony, exhausted yet victorious, knowing that despite everything, I had left my mark on this building. And now, here I am again—without him, but still standing.Christine walks beside me, flipping through her tablet, reading out company updates as we move through the hallways. Her voice is a distant hum in my ears until something—someone—catches my eye.A figure. A fleeting glimpse. Familiar.My breath catches as I turn sharply, my gaze locking onto the spot where I swear I just saw her. Aurora.

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