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Chapter 40: Hide it
Last Updated:
2025-03-17 10:50:33
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My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 41: Pressure
His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that sent a shiver down my spine. “Just get here. We need to talk.”I felt my heart race, unsure of what was waiting for me when I arrived. The drive to Richard Rhodes' mansion felt like it lasted an eternity, the long, winding road only adding to the unease that had settled in my chest.I parked the car and slowly made my way to the front door, each step heavy with the weight of what was to come.As I stepped out of my car, my hands trembled slightly as I gripped the keys to the mansion. The estate before me, grand as it was, felt far more imposing tonight. The shadows stretching from the towering trees only added to the heavy feeling pressing down on my chest.I took a deep breath and made my way toward the front door, which swung open before I even reached it. He stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable. Without a word, he nodded toward the hallway and turned, expecting me to follow.He led me to the room, the familiar sound of
Last Updated : 2025-03-18My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 42: Ryan
ATHENA'S POV“Do you think Daniel has a chance with you?” she asked, her tone casual, but her eyes betraying quiet desperation.I didn’t know how to respond. I wasn’t even sure if I had an answer. It was a simple question on the surface, but it carried so much weight. Daniel. His name lingered in the air, and I felt the tightness in my chest when I thought of him. Part of me wanted to say yes—he was kind, thoughtful, and made me feel safe in a way I hadn’t in a long time. But when my mother spoke again, all that calm vanished.“What about Callum?”The question hung in the air like a dark cloud. Callum.“Callum will always be there for you,” she’d told me countless times. And every time, my stomach churned with an emotion I couldn’t name—anger? Resentment? Confusion?“How can you even ask me about him?” I replied, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to stay calm. “You know what he did, Mom. You know how he betrayed me. How many times do i have to tell you?”Her face softened, bu
Last Updated : 2025-03-18My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 43: Priority
The sight of Ryan struggling to breathe sent a fresh wave of terror crashing over me. My heart pounded as I knelt beside him, my fingers trembling as I reached for his clammy hand."Ryan, stay with me, okay? Just hold on." My voice cracked, but I forced myself to stay steady for him.I heard my mother on the phone, her voice urgent, but all I could focus on was Ryan. His lips had turned a terrifying shade of blue, and each breath was labored, as if his lungs were failing him."Mom! He's getting worse!" My panic clawed at my throat. My mother turned to me, her face etched with worry as she tried to keep calm."The doctors are on their way," she assured me, but it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough until I saw Ryan safe, until I heard his voice again.Then, his body went still. Too still."Ryan? Ryan!" I shook him, my breath coming in gasps. "Please wake up! You can't do this to me, please!"I barely noticed Callum bursting into the room, his voice a blur in the background. He was
Last Updated : 2025-03-19My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 44: Close to him
"What did you say?" Callum asked, his brow furrowing."I know you're just using Ryan to get close to Athena," Daniel accused.Callum's fists clenched, his body going rigid beside me. "You don’t get to question my intentions, Daniel. Where were you when Athena was falling apart, trying to hold her family together alone? When she needed someone to step up for Ryan? I was there. Not you."Daniel flinched but quickly recovered. "And what? You think that makes you the hero? That just because you showed up now, she owes you something?""I don’t want anything from her," Callum snapped. "But I won’t let you waltz in here pretending you’re the one she should trust—not when you've barely been around.""I was giving her time!" Daniel shot back, his voice rising. "Unlike you, I know when not to push."Callum's expression darkened. "And yet, here you are," he said coldly. "Showing up when she’s at her weakest, expecting what? Gratitude?" His gaze flickered to me. "Athena doesn’t need a man who wai
Last Updated : 2025-03-19My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 45: Rollercoaster
The seconds stretched on, each one pulling me deeper into a spiral of confusion and uncertainty. Callum’s words echoed in my mind—I still love you—but they only seemed to make everything worse. The distance between us wasn’t just physical anymore; it was something heavier, something that weighed on my chest every time I tried to make sense of it all. I had no idea what to do with the emotions swirling inside me.Callum took another step closer, his presence overwhelming. I could feel his warmth, and my heart raced. But even that didn’t make things clearer. The closer he got, the more questions flooded my mind. I wanted to ask him everything—the reasons, the motivations, the why behind the cold distance he’d been keeping lately. If he didn’t want to lose me, why was he acting like this?Before I could gather the courage to voice the question that had been burning in me, I suddenly stepped back, breaking the silence."Callum," I said, my voice unsteady."Why have you been so distant? So
Last Updated : 2025-03-20My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 46: Suffocating
The seconds felt like hours as I stood frozen in the middle of the office, feeling as though every eye in the room was focused on me, watching the aftermath of my failure. The weight of the humiliation Callum had thrust upon me felt like a physical burden. My chest ached with a mixture of frustration, confusion, and disbelief. I could still hear his voice echoing in my ears, sharp and unforgiving, his words a bitter reminder of how far I’d fallen from grace in his eyes.I wanted to scream. I wanted to tear into him, confront him, demand an explanation for this sudden, brutal shift in his behavior. But I couldn’t. I stood there, paralyzed by the sting of his words and the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes. I wasn’t sure if I was angry at him for the way he treated me or at myself for letting it get to this point. The powerlessness I felt in that moment was suffocating.The office buzzed around me—people pretending not to notice, the hushed whispers lingering in the air. The l
Last Updated : 2025-03-21My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 47: Protection
The silence that hung in the office after Claire's departure felt suffocating, as if the weight of all my unanswered questions had filled the room, pressing down on my chest. I stared at the screen before me, my eyes unfocused. The numbers, the emails, the work—everything had lost meaning. Nothing seemed important in that moment except Callum, and the rift that had grown between us.I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when my phone buzzed, breaking my thoughts. It was a message from Callum—an invitation to meet him in his office. My heart skipped a beat. He had never reached out like this since the incident in the elevator, since the words he had thrown at me that had cut so deeply. He had been so cold, so distant, almost as if he wanted me to disappear. But now, he wanted to meet? It didn’t make sense.The buzz of my phone was almost surreal, like a lifeline I wasn’t sure I wanted to grasp. But I had no choice. I couldn’t ignore this. I had to go.Standing up, I gathered my things
Last Updated : 2025-03-22My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 48: Callum's POV
CALLUM'S POVThe glass shattered against the far wall, the sharp sound echoing through the vast emptiness of my bedroom. The amber liquid of my whiskey bled into the expensive carpet, but I barely registered it. My fists clenched at my sides, my chest heaving as I reached for another bottle, barely feeling the weight of it in my grasp.This was my prison.A grand, luxurious cage made of marble and lies, suffocating me with its emptiness. I could have anything—except the one thing that mattered. Athena.I squeezed my eyes shut, but the image of her haunted me. Her pained expression. The way she looked at me with betrayal, anger, and worst of all—disappointment. She didn’t understand. How could she? I had pushed her away, broken her heart with my silence, my cruel words, my distance. But it was the only way to keep her safe.My father-in-law, Emilia’s father, was a powerful man. Ruthless. Controlling. He had me in his grasp the moment I married his daughter. I had been young and foolish
Last Updated : 2025-03-24
Latest chapter
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 61: Enough
The days that followed my decision were anything but easy. Even though I had chosen to stay with Callum, to lean on the bond we had built over the years, the weight of my choice pressed down on me like an iron vice. I had rejected Daniel’s offer, but in some quiet, hidden corner of my heart, I still questioned whether I had made the right decision. I hadn’t fully embraced the idea of the future without his help, his promise of an escape from the suffocating reality I had been living in.But as I spent more time with Callum, as I saw the way he fought for us, fought for Ryan, I began to feel that flicker of hope grow a little brighter. Maybe we didn’t need Daniel. Maybe we just needed each other.Ryan’s condition was still precarious. Some days, he seemed like he was doing better, his color returning to his cheeks, his voice stronger when he spoke. But those moments were fleeting, like sunshine breaking through a storm, only to be swallowed by clouds once more.We had a good day here a
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 60: Scared
The days that followed my meeting with Daniel were some of the hardest I had ever faced. I couldn’t shake the weight of the decision that loomed over me, pressing down with increasing force. The tension between Callum and me was palpable, thicker than ever. He hadn’t asked about the meeting, not directly, but I knew he could tell something had changed. My silence was heavy, my distraction obvious. And still, I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth.Ryan’s condition was worsening. Every day, there were moments when I thought the fight would be over, when I would watch him sleep and wonder if I was seeing him for the last time. And yet, in the same breath, I clung to the hope that we could make it through, that things could get better. But the uncertainty was suffocating. Every medication administered, every round of treatment, felt like a reminder that we were running out of time.I wasn’t sure what I was searching for. Maybe I was looking for a sign, something that would make th
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 59: Evident
The days that followed my conversation with Callum were a blur, but they weren’t a peaceful blur. Every moment felt like it was suspended in the tension of what could be, what might come, and the relentless weight of the choice that was looming over me. I could feel Daniel’s presence pressing in from the outside, waiting for me to make a decision, but I was trapped in this space between past and future, between trust and doubt.Ryan’s treatment continued, a rhythm I had grown all too familiar with. The sterile smell of the hospital, the beeping of monitors, the soft hum of nurses moving through the halls—it had become a part of my life, an unchanging backdrop to the turbulence of my emotions. I tried my best to be strong, to hold it all together for Callum, for Ryan, for myself, but there was a crack in my resolve, and it seemed like it was getting wider with each passing day.Callum’s worry was evident in his eyes every time he looked at me. His attempts to shield me from the weight
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 58: Could I trust him?
The days that followed Daniel’s unexpected call were a blur of conflicting emotions. Ryan’s treatment continued, and the routine of hospital visits, medication schedules, and sleepless nights persisted. But now, between the sterile walls of the hospital and the sterile walls of my mind, I couldn’t shake the unease that Daniel’s presence had stirred. His offer had been made in a seemingly harmless tone, yet something about it unsettled me.Callum and I fell into a strained silence, our once easy conversations now punctuated with awkward pauses and unspoken tension. He noticed my withdrawn demeanor, my distracted gaze, the way I’d stare off into space when he wasn’t looking. He could tell I was carrying something, a secret or a weight, but he didn’t press. It was as if he was giving me space to figure it out on my own, but I knew he was growing more and more concerned. The strain was evident in the way he would look at me, the edge in his voice when he spoke, but I didn’t know how to ex
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 57: Dangerous
As the days stretched into weeks, the rhythm of hospital visits, treatments, and restless nights became our new normal. There were moments of relief when Ryan showed signs of recovery, but just as quickly, there were those dark moments when we feared the worst. We spent our days waiting—waiting for tests, waiting for updates, waiting for the next treatment round. Each day was a fragile thread, and we clung to it, not knowing what the next one would bring.It was during one of these long, quiet evenings that Callum and I found ourselves standing outside the hospital, our faces bathed in the faint light of the setting sun. The world felt so distant, so out of reach, and yet, in that moment, we were still tethered to each other, even if we didn’t have words to say.“Do you ever think about what comes after?” Callum asked, breaking the silence. He didn’t look at me, but I could hear the question in his voice—the same uncertainty I’d been carrying with me since the moment Ryan had been dia
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 56: With him
But in that moment, with Callum by my side and Ryan lying peacefully in front of us, I allowed myself to believe that we could face whatever came next. Together.The next morning, the whirlwind of medical appointments, phone calls, and endless forms began. It was almost like I was on autopilot—nodding along, signing papers, answering questions I didn’t fully understand. The pediatric oncologist arrived, a woman named Dr. Thompson, with a warm smile and a calm presence that somehow made the chaos feel less overwhelming. She explained in greater detail the specifics of Ryan’s chemotherapy regimen, the medications, the rounds of tests, and the side effects we’d need to prepare for. She outlined the schedule for the first round of treatment, which would begin the following week.I couldn’t quite bring myself to listen to all of it. I kept looking at Ryan, small and fragile in his hospital bed, his tiny fingers curled into a fist. His innocence seemed so out of place in the sterile, harsh
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 55: Brother's battle
Dr. Patel’s eyes softened, her voice gentle but firm. “We start treatment immediately. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, is aggressive, but it's also one of the most treatable forms of childhood leukemia, especially with early intervention. We have options. The sooner we begin, the better his chances.”My mind struggled to process the words, each one a weight that sank deeper into my chest. Ryan. Leukemia. It was too much to take in all at once. I felt like I was drowning in the wave of panic that threatened to engulf me.Callum squeezed my hand, his voice steady. “What does treatment look like?”Dr. Patel nodded, glancing down at the chart in her hands before answering. “The first step is chemotherapy. We’ll start with an intensive induction phase, which will last about a month. During that time, Ryan will need to be monitored very closely. After that, there will be consolidation and maintenance phases, which will continue for the next two years.”Two years. The word echoed in my
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 54: He's with her
Callum’s grip on my hand was firm yet hesitant, like he was afraid I’d pull away. But for the first time in a long time, I didn’t. We sat in silence, watching the steady rise and fall of Ryan’s chest as he drifted off to sleep. The beeping of the monitors was a steady, rhythmic reminder of just how fragile he was.I exhaled slowly, exhaustion pressing down on me like a heavy weight. My body ached, but my heart ached more.Callum’s thumb brushed against my palm absentmindedly. It sent a ripple of warmth up my arm, an old familiarity that both comforted and unsettled me.“Athena,” he murmured after a long pause.“I meant what I said earlier. I don’t know how to be what you need.”I turned to face him, searching his expression for deception, for walls, for the Callum who always pulled away before I could hold on. But all I saw was a man who looked just as lost as I felt.“Then learn,” I said softly. “Because I can’t keep doing this alone. And Ryan—” My voice broke. “Ryan needs you, wheth
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire Chapter 53: Way back
Callum’s eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought he might actually say something real—something honest. Instead, he just clenched his jaw and looked away, hands shoved deep into his pockets. “That’s your choice,” he finally said, his tone clipped, almost robotic. I couldn’t help but scoff, shaking my head. “Right. My choice. Just like it was your choice to walk away when I needed you the most. Your choice to send that heartless message when Ryan was in the hospital. Your choice to keep pushing me away while I’m still standing here, trying to pick up the pieces.”His eyes flashed with something—regret, maybe? Anger? I couldn’t tell. But whatever it was, it faded as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the same cold mask he always wore these days.“You don’t understand, Athena,” he said, voice strained. “No, Callum, I think I understand perfectly,” I shot back. “You’re mad because I’m trying to move on. Because for once, I’m not just waiting around for you to decide whether you wan
