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CHAPTER 7
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-07 04:03:36
Bab terkait
My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 8
Alex POV "Rachel, I said no." My voice came out sharper than intended, cutting through the morning quiet of my office."But Ms. Lane, Mr. Coleman is very insistent–" Rachel's voice through the speaker was honey-sweet, almost pleading which was sickening to the least like a whining a child. "I don't care if he's the Emperor of China. The answer is no." I ended the call and slumped back in my chair, the familiar leather cooling my tension-hot skin."That bastard still won't take no for an answer?"I looked up to see Sally in my doorway, a vision in black silk and red-soled heels. The sight of my best friend brought the first real smile to my face all morning."What gave it away?" I asked, gesturing for her to come in."That vein in your forehead that only appears when you're dealing with supreme idiots." Sally dropped onto my office couch with practiced grace. "Or when you're thinking about Michael Coleman.""Same thing, isn't it?""Want to talk about it?"I rubbed my temples, feeling
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-10My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 9
Alex POVThe atmosphere in the seminar hall crackled with possibility—bright LED lights casting a crisp glow over the sleek mahogany tables arranged in a horseshoe formation for breakout sessions. Two hundred pairs of eyes fixed on me as I wrapped up my talk on disruptive innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship. The space hummed with the energy of young minds eager to reshape the world, their notebooks filled with hastily scribbled ideas and dreams too big for their pages. I thrived here, drawing strength from their raw ambition and unfiltered enthusiasm. This was my element now—inspiring change, not playing trophy wife at cocktail parties.Then the double doors burst open with a crack that felt like a gunshot.The unmistakable rhythm of Italian leather shoes striking marble flooring echoed across the room—a sound I hadn't heard in five years but would recognize anywhere. My heart stumbled over its next beat, but my expression remained fixed in a practiced smile, the kind that had
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 10
Alex POVThe late afternoon sun slanted through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the downtown conference center, casting long shadows across the marble floor. I stood there, my hands trembling slightly as I gathered my materials—a betrayal of the composure I fought to maintain. The tablet screen flickered as I powered it down, reflecting my face for a moment: flushed cheeks, lips pressed into a thin line, eyes bright with barely contained fury. Michael Coleman's presence had turned what should have been a triumphant seminar into a battlefield of old wounds. The room still crackled with the electricity of our confrontation, though the young entrepreneurs who'd witnessed it had long since filed out, their whispers trailing behind them like smoke.My fingers brushed against the smooth leather of my Hermès bag—a gift to myself when Lane International landed its first Fortune 500 client. Everything I owned now, I'd earned. Every single thing.The click of my heels against the floor echoed
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 11
Alex POVThe neon-drenched streets of New York pulsed beneath a darkening sky as I stepped out of Lane International's headquarters. The city's familiar chaos wrapped around me like a well-worn blanket—a symphony of honking horns, chattering crowds, and the distant rumble of trams. I paused, letting the cool evening air wash over my face, carrying with it the mingled scents of street food and salt breeze from the harbor.My Louboutins clicked against the pavement, each step a quiet reminder of how far I'd come from the wide-eyed teenager who first arrived in this city. Richard, my driver of five years, stood beside the gleaming black Mercedes, his weathered face creasing into a familiar smile."Miss Lane," he greeted, his voice carrying the warmth of a father figure rather than an employee. His silver-streaked hair caught the glow of the street lights as he opened the door."Thank you, Richard." I slipped into the leather sanctuary of the backseat, finally allowing my shoulders to dro
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 12
Michael's POVThe slam of my car door echoed through the underground parking garage, the sound as hollow as the ache in my chest. My fingers found their way to the steering wheel, gripping until my knuckles blanched white against the black leather. The faint scent of her perfume still lingered in my nose—jasmine and something else, something uniquely Alexandra. Even after all these years, she hadn't changed that.Alexandra Lane.The name tasted bitter on my tongue, like expensive whiskey gone bad. I could still see her standing there in that corner office, backlit by the Manhattan skyline, power radiating from her in waves. The same woman who used to wait up for me with dinner growing cold on the table, who used to trace her fingers along my jaw and whisper that I was her everything—she'd just laughed in my face. Not a gentle laugh, not even a cruel one. Worse. It was dismissive, as if I was nothing more than an amusing footnote in her story.The memory played on loop in my mind, a to
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-18My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 13
Michael's POV The morning headlines felt like a physical blow, each word a reminder of another failed marriage. Michael Coleman Divorces Maria – A Short-Lived Love Story? splashed across my tablet screen, the third such headline I'd seen today. I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose as I sat in the back of my Mercedes, the leather seat no longer providing the comfort it once did. The familiar scent of success – leather, cologne, and power – now carried an undercurrent of desperation I couldn't quite shake. The ink had barely dried on the divorce papers, my signature still fresh and decisive. Maria had cried when I told her it was over, but her tears hadn't moved me. They weren't the right tears. They weren't her tears. Maria was never meant to last – I had known it with crushing certainty the moment I slipped that overpriced ring onto her finger. The diamond had been bigger than Alexandra's, a detail that had seemed important at the time. Now it just felt pathetic. Maria
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-18My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 14
Alex POVThe Shanghai gala sparkled with the same artificial brilliance as every other high-profile event I'd attended over the years. Crystal chandeliers catching on diamond necklaces and gold cufflinks. The ballroom was filled with elites as they chit chatted about their latest accomplishments. Maybe a yacht or a historian building. But I was already internally groaning from the way my feet was starting to kill me – I'd broken my own rule about wearing stilettos to these gatherings, and now I was paying for it with every step. The constant smile was giving me a headache.A waiter passed by with fresh champagne, and I grabbed a glass more quickly than was strictly elegant. The alcohol wasn't helping my headache, but it was making the endless small talk more bearable. I'd already forgotten half the names of the people I'd met tonight, something that would horrify my PR team. Sally was so much better at this part – she actually enjoyed these events, remembered everyone's spouse's name
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-18My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 15
Alex POVI arched a brow, trying to ignore the way my heart was racing. Years of subtle therapy after Michael, and apparently all it took was one dangerous man in a well-cut suit to send my pulse skittering like a teenager's. Dr. Chen would have a field day with this. "And why is that?"He took a step closer, the space between us shrinking just enough to feel deliberate. His cologne – something expensive and subtle – teased my senses, but underneath it I caught the faint smell of cigarette smoke. A secret vice, perhaps? His perfectly manicured image cracked just slightly."Because power attracts power, Miss Lane."The way he said my name – smooth, deliberate, almost like a caress – felt like a test. A challenge. I fought the urge to smooth my hair or check my lipstick again.I didn't flinch, though I wanted to. "That sounds dangerously close to flattery, Mr. Vale."He chuckled, a low sound that held genuine amusement rather than the practiced mirth I'd heard all evening. His laugh lin
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-18
Bab terbaru
My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 26
JAMES' POV Ring! The sharp chime of my alarm sliced through the silence, pulling me from the depths of sleep. My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim glow of morning light filtering through the curtains. I exhaled deeply, running a hand over my face before stretching my arm to switch off the alarm. 8:00 AM. For a moment, I simply lay there, staring at the ceiling, letting the quiet hum of the city seep into my room. Mornings weren’t what they used to be. There was a time when I would wake up with warmth beside me, the soft sound of her breathing a comfort. But now, all that greeted me was the cold emptiness of my bed. Shaking off the thought, I sat up, rolling my shoulders and stretching my arms before cracking my neck. Routine. That’s what kept me going. I got up and dropped to the floor, settling into my usual morning workout. Pushups first. The familiar burn in my muscles was grounding, a reminder that I was still here, still fighting. "10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15," I counte
My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 25
ALEX’S POV “What’s wrong? You have nothing to say now?” Michael’s voice rang through the phone, smooth yet laced with smugness. My grip tightened around the device as I swallowed hard, my mind racing for a response. "You know I—" I cut him off before he could get another word in. “Jeez, the photo was taken just a few minutes ago, and you already know about it? I’ll have to hand it to you—you’re quick,” I said, forcing my tone to stay light, masking the unease simmering beneath my skin. “The world is about to know your biggest secret, and that’s what you’re worried about?” Michael challenged. “Wrong,” I countered smoothly. “The world—alongside you—is about to come up with more stories to bring me down.” “Stories?” He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “I’ve told you this so many times, Alexandra. You can lie to the whole world, but not to me.” Again, I didn’t let him finish. “Who said anything about lying? So, just because I decided to take my friend and her son out, the wh
My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 24
"Mommy, can I get two scoops today? Pleeeease?" He asked in that baby voice that was so hard to say no to.His looked up at me with those big and expectant eyes—the same eyes that had the power that could bend me to his will so easily.I pretended to think about it, tapping my chin dramatically. "Hmm... two scoops? I don't know, buddy. That's a lot of sugar." I crouched down to his level, watching his little face shift from being hopeful to the beginning stages of negotiation. His mother was a businesswoman, so that’s quite expected."But it's Saturday," he pointed out matter-of-factly, his small hands gesturing emphatically. "And you said Saturdays are for fun. You promised, remember? At breakfast?"Sally, who was standing beside me in her thick sunglasses and oversized denim jacket, smirked. "He's got you there, Alex. The kid's already developing good negotiating skills. Wonder where he gets that from?"I shot her a look before sighing dramatically. "Fine. Two scoops. But—" I held
My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 23
Alex POV"Mommy, can I get two scoops today? Pleeeease?" He asked in that baby voice that was so hard to say no to.His looked up at me with those big and expectant eyes—the same eyes that had the power that could bend me to his will so easily.I pretended to think about it, tapping my chin dramatically. "Hmm... two scoops? I don't know, buddy. That's a lot of sugar." I crouched down to his level, watching his little face shift from being hopeful to the beginning stages of negotiation. His mother was a businesswoman, so that’s quite expected."But it's Saturday," he pointed out matter-of-factly, his small hands gesturing emphatically. "And you said Saturdays are for fun. You promised, remember? At breakfast?"Sally, who was standing beside me in her thick sunglasses and oversized denim jacket, smirked. "He's got you there, Alex. The kid's already developing good negotiating skills. Wonder where he gets that from?"I shot her a look before sighing dramatically. "Fine. Two scoops. But—
My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 22
Alex's POV"Mommy, can I get two scoops today? Pleeeease?" He asked in that baby voice that was so hard to say no to.His looked up at me with those big and expectant eyes—the same eyes that had the power that could bend me to his will so easily.I pretended to think about it, tapping my chin dramatically. "Hmm... two scoops? I don't know, buddy. That's a lot of sugar." I crouched down to his level, watching his little face shift from being hopeful to the beginning stages of negotiation. His mother was a businesswoman, so that’s quite expected."But it's Saturday," he pointed out matter-of-factly, his small hands gesturing emphatically. "And you said Saturdays are for fun. You promised, remember? At breakfast?"Sally, who was standing beside me in her thick sunglasses and oversized denim jacket, smirked. "He's got you there, Alex. The kid's already developing good negotiating skills. Wonder where he gets that from?"I shot her a look before sighing dramatically. "Fine. Two scoops. Bu
My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 21
Alex's POVI should have seen it coming.The moment I stepped into my office that morning, the tension hung in the air like a physical presence. My assistant, Erin, stood unnaturally still near my desk, her fingers hovering over her tablet with obvious hesitation, as if caught between urgency and dread. The morning sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows did nothing to warm the chill that had settled in the room."How bad is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer from the look on her face.She swallowed hard before answering. "It's... everywhere, Ms. Lane. Every platform, every outlet." Her voice cracked slightly. "Twitter is having a field day. Instagram's flooded with the photos. Even the more reputable publications have run with it."With a resigned sigh, I crossed the room and took the tablet from her trembling hands. One glance at the screen confirmed my worst fears."SCANDAL: Alexandra Lane Spotted Getting Cozy with Infamous Ex-Convict James Vale!""Billi
My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 20
Michael’s POVAlex thought she could escape the past. She thought she could run from me. But the past isn’t something you run from. The past is something that clings to you so tightly like a second skin, wraps its fingers around your neck. The past is something that follows you.And Alexandra? She is mine. Always be mine. She belonged to me. She just needed a reminder. She needed things that would keep glaring at her face and displaying the absolute truth to her.And all of that was easy to arrange.I mean I’m not Michael Coleman for nothing. Even if my company was going down by numbers, I still had power. A “chance” encounter at one of her favorite spots was something that came to mind. Since her outburst about the gift I’ve been sending her, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Thinking about the fire in her eyes. This particular place was a quiet, exclusive lounge tucked away inside the Phoenix Hotel. It was somewhere she used to frequent those days, and my source there told me tha
My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 19
Michael's POVI watched the morning headlines scroll across my tablet screen, each one more sensational than the last. The coffee in my hand had gone cold, forgotten as I absorbed the media storm I'd carefully orchestrated. James Vale's past splashed across every major outlet, old wounds torn fresh again.But Alexandra wasn't reacting the way I expected.When I'd orchestrated this little media circus about James Vale, I'd been certain she would crack. That those perfectly curated headlines about his wife's death would send her running for safer ground. Alexandra had always been obsessed with her pristine reputation—it was one of the things that had driven us apart in the end.But she didn't run.Instead, she stood by him. Publicly. Defiantly.I caught a glimpse of them in some society photographer's lens—her hand on his arm, chin lifted, eyes challenging anyone to question her choice. The image made something twist in my gut. Jealousy? No. Something darker.That's when it hit me—Alexa
My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit CHAPTER 18
Alexandra's POVMy phone buzzed against my desk, interrupting the steady rhythm of keyboard clicks that had filled my office for the past three hours. I almost ignored it—another email, another crisis, another demand for my time. But something made me look.James's message glowed on the screen, deceptively simple:"Dinner. Just us. No distractions."My finger hovered over the screen as my heart did that annoying little skip it had started doing whenever his name appeared. I caught my reflection in the window—cheeks flushed, despite my best efforts to maintain composure. God, I was acting like a teenager.Everything about him screamed danger. Not the reckless, impulsive kind that I'd learned to spot a mile away—but something far more insidious. The kind of danger that wore custom Italian suits and spoke in measured tones. The kind that made you question whether you were walking into something you might never want to walk away from.And yet, I found myself typing "Yes."The restaurant w
