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CHAPTER 015
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-11-17 19:28:35
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Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 016
AVA'S POV The dinner with Alex Grey lingered in my thoughts the next day, but it wasn’t the food that stayed with me. It was the moment—the silence between Alex and Laura. Something was strange and suspicious about the way they interacted, it was as if an unspoken secret hung between them. The thought nagged at me, leaving a knot in my stomach. I wanted to question Alex again, to get to the truth, but I couldn’t let myself get distracted—not right now. Work had to come first, and besides, Alex was just a business partner, I didn’t have the right to ask him about his personal life. As I entered the office, I pushed the thoughts aside and decided to focus on the designs for Alex’s upcoming jewelry show. Models would be showcasing my work alongside Alex's soon, and this was my shot to leave a lasting impression. Still, Laura’s pale face and guarded expression intruded on my thoughts, like a weight I couldn’t shake. I tried to push it away, but the questions remained,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-17Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 017
AVA’S POVI knew what I had to do, but that didn’t make it easier. Every part of me screamed to leave, to stand up for myself, to stop being Jason's second choice. But I couldn’t. Not with everything at stake—the designs, the show, everything I’d worked hard for. I had to keep going. For the work I’d put in, even though I still didn’t know where I stood with Jason. I promised myself that after this project, after Grey’s jewelry launch, I’d file for a divorce. I would walk away and let Jason be with Laura. I’d stop pretending this marriage was anything but a lie. But for now, I had to play along. I had to finish the job. So, I agreed to meet Marcus. When I walked into the restaurant, my stomach twisted. The last place I wanted to be was here with Marcus Hale, but I couldn’t back out. Marcus was known for not respecting women, but since we were meeting in a public place, I didn’t think anything would happen. The waiter led me through the dining room, down a hallway, an
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-18Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 018
ALEX'S POVI stormed out of the private dining room, my chest heaving with anger. Seeing Ava lying helpless in my arms, looking vulnerable and defenseless, had ignited something deep within me that I didn't expect. I assumed it was Laura who would attend the meeting. That was why I sent a representative instead of going myself. I couldn’t stand the sight of her again. But then, my representative informed me that it was Ava who had shown up. He detailed how the meeting unfolded, and I could sense the unease in his voice. For Laura to let her subordinate handle such a high-stakes meeting in her place, there had to be an ulterior motive. And knowing Marcus’s reputation and his ties to Laura, I immediately knew something was off and rushed over here. If I had been just a minute late, I didn't want to think about what might have happened to Ava. Jason was the one who should have been protecting her, not me. But now, I couldn’t bring myself to leave her side. “Max,” I said
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-18Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 019
AVA'S POV I slowly regained consciousness, a pounding headache clouding my thoughts. I blinked, realizing I wasn’t at home. My eyes darted around, and then I saw him, Alex, sitting by the window. I quickly sat up, the blanket slipping off me. “Mr. Grey?” My voice was weak, barely more than a whisper. He immediately stood, his expression a mix of relief and something I couldn’t quite place. “You’re awake,” he said, stepping closer to the bed. “Why… why are you here?” I stammered, flashes of the previous night returning in pieces. “You don’t remember?” His voice was calm. I frowned, trying to recall everything. I remembered the dinner with Marcus, the strange feeling after I’d drunk the wine he offered, and then everything going hazy. The last thing I remembered clearly was being scooped up and carried out by Jason. “Jason…” I blurted out. “Why isn’t he…” Alex’s jaw tightened. He didn’t answer right away, and the silence stung more than words could. It wasn't Jason who had com
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-19Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 020
AVA'S POV My hands trembled as I sat there in the car. Watching him answer the phone felt like a slap on the face. How could he take her call? After everything I had been through, after I was nearly raped, how could he just sit there and act like it didn’t matter? His wife was almost violated, and yet he answered Laura's call, knowing exactly how I felt about her.” He was accusing me of cheating, speaking to me with an angry tone but here he was speaking to Laura with a soft voice. Tears threatened to spill, but I held them back. I was tired of crying because of him, yet I couldn’t stop myself whenever they welled up in my eyes. He should have been consoling me, comforting me, helping me forget the horrible experience I had just endured. Instead, he was here, answering the call of the woman who had turned us into strangers. Did this mean he didn’t have even an ounce of feeling for me anymore? The fact that he doesn’t trust me and assumed I was cheating with Alex—cou
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-19Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 021
JASON'S POVI couldn’t get Ava's face out of my mind, the way she looked at me when I accused her of cheating. It wasn’t anger, it was pain. And maybe that’s what made it worse. I hated seeing her like that, but I couldn’t help myself. Alex’s presence in her life gnawed at me like an open wound. The man seemed to show up at just the right or wrong time, and it didn’t feel like a coincidence. But now, sitting here in my office with the footage from the restaurant playing on my laptop, I felt like something wasn’t adding up. I went through the video again, watching Ava enter the private dining room, looking as poised as ever. I ran a hand through my hair, frustration building. “Think, Jason,” I muttered to myself. That’s when it hit me. Marcus didn’t seem surprised to see Ava. He looked… prepared. Almost as if he’d expected her. Why? He should have been shocked to see her instead of Laura. I leaned back in my chair, staring at the screen. Laura had insisted on Ava going
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-22Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 022
LAURA'S POV The sound of the lock clicking sent a chill down my spine. My heart thudded faster in my chest, and for a split second, I froze, clutching my glass of juice. My pulse quickened as the door creaked open. When Jason stepped inside, I was surprised but then I couldn't contain the joy that bubbled up inside me. This was the first time he was here without me having to pull any stunts. I set my glass of juice on the table, unable to stop the wide smile spreading across my face. “Jason,” I said softly, my voice full of warmth. “What are you doing here?” His face was hard, his eyes cold. “We need to talk,” he said, his voice low and cold. I tilted my head slightly. This wasn’t the reaction I expected, my expression full of concern. “Of course. You seem upset. Sit down, let me get you a drink…” “I’m not here for drinks, Laura,” he interrupted sharply, his tone cutting like a blade. I paused, confused by his reaction, then gestured for him to continue. “Alright. Wha
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-22Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 023
LAURA'S POV I needed to see Marcus to release the anger building up inside of me. So, I headed straight to the hospital where he was being treated. The sterile, cold corridors seemed to match the chill in my bones. The scent of disinfectant lingered in the air, strong and overwhelming. I walked with purpose, the sharp clicks of my heels echoing in the silence, a rhythm that mirrored the simmering rage inside me. Marcus was in Room 310 according to the nurse at the front desk. I already knew why he was here—Alex’s assistant had made sure of that. But I didn’t care about his broken ribs or any other injury they had to patch up. He’d failed me, and that failure would cost him dearly. In my mind, he deserved what he got. For all his bluster, he couldn’t handle such a simple task. I pushed the door open without knocking, letting it crash against the wall. Marcus flinched, turning his swollen face toward me. One eye was almost shut, the bruises around it dark and angry. His arm
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-24
Bab terbaru
Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 0191
JASON’S POVI leaned forward and rubbed my face with both hands. My eyes burned from reading too many headlines. I picked up my phone again, even though I already knew it would just make things worse. Another headline popped up. “Jason Campbell’s Silence Makes Him Look Guilty.” I tossed the phone onto the desk like it had burned me. I stood up fast, the chair sliding back behind me. Enough. I couldn’t just sit here and do nothing. Everything was falling apart around me, and I was just stuck – frozen like a deer in headlights. I grabbed my phone again and typed out a message to Ben. “Call a meeting. Everyone. 30 minutes. Executive floor.” I didn’t know exactly what I’d say. I didn’t even have a plan. I just needed to do something. Anything. Sitting around wasn’t helping. Every second we waited, the company died a little more. I threw on my blazer and stood in front of the mirror. I looked like hell. My eyes were bloodshot, my jaw was tight, and my tie was crooked. I fixed
Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 0190
AVA’S POVBy the time I got to the office that morning, the building was buzzing. People didn’t say anything directly to me, but I could feel it in the way they paused their whispers when I walked by. A few glanced at their phones and then at me, their eyes full of questions they wouldn’t dare ask.I already knew what it was about.Laura’s arrest was everywhere. Online. In the news. Even trending on Twitter. Her mugshot was floating around, and so were screenshots of her chats with the blogger who tried to ruin me. Some posts even claimed that Campbell Group’s stocks were starting to dip. Investors were nervous. Some were pulling out.All because of her.I walked straight into my office and gently shut the door behind me. My heels clicked quietly against the floor as I walked toward the window, taking a moment to breathe. The city looked the same – cars moving, people in a hurry – but everything was different now.I had told Rose earlier that morning to keep Emma and Mason home so the
Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 0189
JASON’S POV The morning after everything exploded was a disaster. I woke up to the blaring sound of notifications and headlines. “Laura Martinez Arrested for Defamation,” “Campbell Group Tied to Scandal,” “CEO Jason Campbell Linked to Controversial Figure.” The words hit me like a slap in the face. The chaos was everywhere – on social media, in the news, across every single online platform. Laura’s name was everywhere, and unfortunately, my name was tied to it. No one seemed to care that I wasn’t the one behind the rumors; they only saw me as the man who had defended her, the one who was still somehow connected to her and engaged to her, even though she had ruined everything. First the Milan fashion show crises and now this. I felt my stomach turn. Investors were pulling out left and right. Clients were dropping off, and the stock price was plummeting faster than I could track. I’d never seen anything like this in my years as CEO. It wasn’t just the company at risk anymore – it
Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 0188
AVA'S POV Still holding the edge of the staircase, I let out a tired breath. I walked back down slowly, half-expecting Ben again. Maybe he forgot to give me something. I opened the door and called out, “Ben, did you forget..." But it wasn’t Ben. It was Naomi. Ohh... It should already be 6 PM since she was here. She stood there in a sharp black blazer and heels, a leather bag slung over one shoulder. Her hair was in its usual sleek bun, and her makeup looked like it hadn’t moved since this morning. She was always put together like that, the kind of woman who never looked flustered, even if the sky was falling. Her eyebrows lifted slightly as she looked at me. “Ben?” she repeated. “Who’s that?” I blinked, caught off guard. “No one,” I said quickly. “Never mind. Just… someone from earlier.” I didn’t want to explain. Naomi might be my lawyer now, but I’d known her for years – since college, actually. Back then, it was always me, Sally, and Naomi. We had our little trio. Sal
Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 0187
AVA'S POV Mason’s question hit me like cold water. I stood there, frozen halfway on the staircase, staring into his sleepy eyes. My throat felt tight like something was stuck there. I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t tell him the truth. That his mother was sitting in a police station right now, facing consequences for all the chaos she’d caused. And Jason? He was probably still at the station trying to clean up the mess Laura made — and on top of that, he still had the Milan International Fashion Show problem and the contract issues with Storm’s Management to deal with too. I took a deep breath and forced a gentle smile. “They’re just… really busy, Mason,” I said softly, crouching to his eye level. “They’ll come to pick you up later, okay?” He frowned. “Can I call them now?” I quickly shook my head. “Not right now. It’s a bit late. Why don’t you go back upstairs, hmm? Get some rest. I promise I’ll call them for you later.” He looked at me for a second, like he didn’t q
Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 0186
AVA'S POVThe air outside the police station felt heavier than when I walked in. Cold. Stiff. Like the world knew something had changed. I didn’t waste time. The second I stepped out, I reached into my purse and pulled out my phone. My fingers gripped my phone like a lifeline, but I pressed the number anyway. Naomi picked up quickly. “Ava? What’s going on?” “I need you to come over to my house tonight,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “If you’re free.” “Are you alright?” she asked, voice laced with concern. “No. But I will be,” I said. “Can you come around six?” “What’s going on?” she asked. “I’ll explain everything when you get to the house,” I said. “I just… I really need you there.” “I’ll be there,” she said gently. I hung up just as I reached my car, and that's when I saw them – Jason and another man walking beside him. I froze for a second, my hand still holding the car keys. It wasn’t that I was scared or shocked. I just thought he would’ve left the stat
Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 0185
AVA'S POVI sat in the cold, sterile room for what felt like an eternity. My legs were starting to cramp from sitting still for so long, and the silence seemed to echo against the walls. The quiet was unbearable except for the faint hum of the overhead lights, which only made the air feel heavier.Twenty minutes passed. Maybe longer.I wasn’t nervous anymore, but the weight of the situation pressed down on me. I wasn’t here because I’d done something wrong. I wasn’t the criminal. But somehow, I felt trapped — like this was all spinning out of my control.The door finally opened, and Officer Mike stepped in. He gave a quick nod, almost apologetic, but he didn’t say anything right away. Instead, he pulled up the chair and sat down.“Sorry for keeping you waiting,” he said, his voice smooth but carrying the kind of calm that only came with practice.I didn’t care about the apology. I didn’t care about his calm tone or polite manners. “It’s fine,” I muttered, trying to sound casual as I
Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 0184
LAURA'S POVThe door slammed behind him, and I just sat there – staring at the cold wall like it had answers. My heart thudded in my chest, heavy and loud, like it was trying to knock some sense into me. But it was too late. Jason walked out. He actually walked away from me after seeing me locked up in here. I blinked, but the hot angry tears kept coming anyway. My cheeks were already wet, but I didn’t bother wiping them. What was the point? The man who used to defend me no matter what – who always came back no matter how bad things I did get – just told me to sort myself out. Just like that. Like I was some random stranger who messed up too many times. And deep down, I knew… this time, he meant it. It wasn’t like before. Jason had always been my shield, even when he didn’t want to be. Even after his divorce. Even when I knew he was still in love and married to Ava. He still had my back. But now, he looked at me like I was nothing. Like I had burned the last bridge I had left.
Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please CHAPTER 0183
JASON’S POV I stood straighter, my eyes narrowing. “Yeah. That’s me.” He nodded once. “I’m Officer Mike.” Before I could even process that, Mark cut in beside me. “Your full name, officer?” The man didn’t blink. “Michael Barone.” That name hit something in the back of my head like a light switch. "Barone." I knew that name. I knew it. “Barone?” I repeated, frowning. “Wait… Nah, that can’t be right. Not him.” Mark raised an eyebrow at me, but I didn’t explain. It couldn’t be the same Barone I’d heard of. Could it? Barone was a powerful family in America — or should I say, the world. Baron Barone, the head of the Barone family, wasn’t the kind of man you saw in magazines or Forbes lists. He didn’t need the spotlight, and he damn sure didn’t chase it. But the people who mattered — presidents, governors, senators, CEOs, even certain folks in the Pentagon — they knew his name. Nobody really knew how much he was worth. Some said he started in mining. Others whispered about pr
