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Chapter 44: Close to him
Last Updated:
2025-03-19 00:47:50
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My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire   Chapter 45: Rollercoaster
The seconds stretched on, each one pulling me deeper into a spiral of confusion and uncertainty. Callumâs words echoed in my mindâI still love youâbut they only seemed to make everything worse. The distance between us wasnât 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 didnât make things clearer. The closer he got, the more questions flooded my mind. I wanted to ask him everythingâthe reasons, the motivations, the why behind the cold distance heâd been keeping lately. If he didnât 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 Iâd 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 couldnât. I stood there, paralyzed by the sting of his words and the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes. I wasnât 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 meâpeople 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 workâeverything had lost meaning. Nothing seemed important in that moment except Callum, and the rift that had grown between us.I wasnât sure how much time had passed when my phone buzzed, breaking my thoughts. It was a message from Callumâan 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 didnât make sense.The buzz of my phone was almost surreal, like a lifeline I wasnât sure I wanted to grasp. But I had no choice. I couldnât 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 anythingâexcept 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 allâdisappointment. She didnât 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, Emiliaâs 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 : 2025-03-24My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire   Chapter 49: He needs him
ATHENA'S POVThe dimly lit bar was nearly empty, save for a few scattered patrons drowning their sorrows in liquor. I sat at the counter, a half-empty glass of whiskey in front of me, my fingers tracing the rim absentmindedly. My vision blurred as I fought back tears, but they refused to be contained. My life felt like it was spiraling out of control, and no amount of alcohol could numb the growing pain in my chest.I let out a shaky breath, gripping the edge of the bar counter. The doubts, the loneliness, the weight of it all bore down on me like an unbearable storm. I had thought marriage would bring me happiness, but instead, it had only shackled me to uncertainty. Franco's cold demeanor, his distant presence, the way he barely looked at meâit all stung deeper than I cared to admit.Just as I was about to take another sip of my drink, my phone vibrated on the counter. I glanced at the screen, my heart lurching at the sight of my mother's name."Mom?" I answered, my voice slightly s
Last Updated : 2025-03-26My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire   Chapter 50: Moment
The hospital room was quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of the monitor beside Ryanâs bed. The little boy was finally sleeping peacefully, his tiny fingers still loosely curled around Callumâs hand. The tension in my body slowly eased as I watched his chest rise and fall steadily. He was okay. The worst had passed.I exhaled softly and turned to Callum. He sat beside Ryanâs bed, unmoving, his gaze fixed on my little brother as if ensuring he wouldnât disappear the moment he looked away.âYou donât have to stay,â I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.Callum finally looked at me, his blue eyes filled with something unreadable. âIâm not leaving him.âSomething about the quiet conviction in his voice made my heart clench. He wasnât saying it just to comfort Ryan. He meant it.I swallowed, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. âYou should at least get some rest.âCallum shook his head. âIâm fine.âI sighed, running a hand through my hair. Exhaustion weighed heavily on my shoulders,
Last Updated : 2025-03-27My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire   Chapter 51: Different
Days passed by, and life slowly returned to normal. I went back to my job, trying to focus on my tasks and push aside the lingering thoughts of Callum and that morning at the diner.As expected, Callumâs behavior changed the moment we stepped inside the company building. Gone was the gentle, almost tender man who stayed by Ryanâs side through the night. In his place was the cold, arrogant CEO everyone knew. He passed by my desk without so much as a glance, his jaw clenched, and his eyes focused straight ahead.I hated it. Hated how he could switch from being that caring man who watched over Ryan to this indifferent boss who treated me as if I were just another employee. I gritted my teeth, reminding myself that this was how it had to be. Callum had his reasonsâreasons I couldnât fully understand but knew were tied to the company, his reputation, and his father-in-law, the chairman, who would take everything from him at the slightest hint of weakness.But just because I knew why didnât
Last Updated : 2025-03-31My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire   Chapter 52: His Question
Staring at the message on my phone, I felt my heart twist painfully. Callum’s words were like a punch to the gut—unexpected, sharp, and leaving me breathless. Despite everything, a part of me still loved him, but love shouldn’t feel like this—like drowning in a sea of confusion and hurt.I wiped my eyes, refusing to let more tears fall. I didn’t have the luxury of breaking down, not when Ryan needed me. My son was still in the hospital, fighting, and I couldn’t afford to fall apart now. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to get ready for work. One step at a time. That’s how I would get through the day.As I stepped outside, I almost jumped when I saw Daniel leaning against his car, waiting. His warm smile chased away a bit of the cold that had settled inside me.“Good morning,” he greeted, his voice gentle. “I thought I’d give you a ride to work—if yo
Last Updated : 2025-04-01
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My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire   Chapter 75: Public scandal
The next morning, I woke to the vibration of my phone against the nightstand. Not a message this timeâa call. Unknown number.I hesitated.Then answered.âHello?âA pause, and then: âYou really told him no?âCallum.His voice was rough, low, and there was something brittle beneath it.âYou talked to him,â I said.âOf course I did,â he said. âHe didnât mention the twenty million.ââI figured he wouldnât.âSilence stretched.âHe had no right,â I said, voice cracking just a little. âTo do what he did. To offer that. To talk about Emilia like sheâââHeâs desperate,â Callum cut in. âThatâs what this is. A final swing. But itâs not about you or me. Itâs about guilt. His, mineâŠâI closed my eyes. âAnd hers.ââI loved her, you know,â he said softly. âJust⊠not the way I should have.ââI know.ââI told her about you. Before we got married. She said she didnât care. That sheâd rather have part of me than none of me at all.âTears pricked the back of my throat.âShe wasnât wrong,â I whispered. â
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire   Chapter 74: Richard Rhodes
The sky outside the kitchen window was a dull, overcast grayâclouds sagging like they carried secrets too heavy to keep. I stood by the sink, phone in hand, staring at the message Iâd read over and over again.âI need to speak with you. Today. In person. â Richard Rhodes.âThe name alone sent a knot curling in my stomach. Richard Rhodesâfather of the late Emilia Rhodes, ruthless tycoon of Rhodes Industries, and the man who made sure I lost my job the moment my relationship with Callum went public. Heâd always been a shadow in the distance. Now he was calling me into the light.I didnât tell Mom or Ryan about the message. My mother was folding laundry in the living room, humming an old tune under her breath. My brother Ryan was sprawled on the couch, eyes glued to his phone, earbuds in. Peaceful. Ordinary.I didnât want to worry them. Not when things were already tight. Iâd been unemployed for weeks. The severance package had been insulting, and my name had been quietly dragged through
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire   Chapter 73: It was over
We thought it was over.The trial. The sentence. The fire pit where we burned his letter. We thought that would be the end of Daniel's reachâthat prison bars could hold obsession the way they hold people.We were wrong.Because Daniel didnât want me back. Not really. He wanted to destroy the version of me that lived without him.He wanted to ruin what he couldnât own.He started small againâhe always did. A new Instagram profile that followed both me and Callum, no posts, no bio. Just a name I recognized from a story we once told together. A callback, like an inside joke only we would get.I blocked it. Thought that would be the end of it.Then Callum started getting emails.At first, they were harmless. Vague phrases like, âDo you really know who she is?â or âAsk her what she isnât telling you.âSpam folder stuff. Cowardly.But then came the photos.Old ones of me and Daniel. Ones I never remembered being taken. Private ones. Intimate. A weaponized version of nostalgia designed to tw
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire   Chapter 72: Real love
It was a Tuesday when I realized Daniel hadnât stoppedâhe had simply changed tactics.The gifts started small. A bouquet of roses on the hood of my car, no card. A song request on the local radio stationâour old song, of courseâdedicated to âthe one who got away.â A flash drive in the mail containing nothing but footage of us from years ago. Silent videos. Muted laughter. Kisses preserved in pixels like relics from a war only one of us was still fighting.He wanted me to remember, but all he did was remind me why I left.The police were sympathetic, but careful. âUntil he breaks the order, we canât make a move,â they said. But Callumâs friend, Miles, was less restrained.âHeâs escalating again,â Miles told me one night over coffee and code. âYouâre his fixation. He doesnât care if he gets caughtâhe just wants you to see him.ââAnd if I wonât?â I asked, already knowing.Miles leaned back, lips tight. âThen heâll try to make you.ââIt was the podcast that changed everything.I hadnât p
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire   Chapter 71: Crossing the line
The first time I found the photo, I thought it was a mistake.It was tucked into my coat pocketâan old picture of me and Daniel at his sisterâs wedding. My dress was too tight, his tie was crooked, and we were laughing like the world didnât know how to hurt us yet. I hadnât seen that picture in years. I didnât even remember it being taken.But Daniel did.He was making a point. This wasnât about nostalgia.It was about control.I burned the photo in the sink that night. Watched the edges curl and blacken like the past finally giving up.Callum stood behind me, silent, his hand resting at the small of my back.âHeâs crossing lines,â he said.âI know.ââWe should call someone.âI turned. âWhat would we even say? âMy ex is acting weird and persistentâ?âCallumâs jaw clenched. âHeâs not just being persistent. Heâs stalking.âI exhaled shakily. âThen we gather proof. We do it smart. He wants a reaction. I wonât give him one.âBut I felt it. That old, familiar fear, creeping in like a draft
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire   Chapter 70: Daniel
Athenaâs POVI shouldâve known peace never lasts.It had been a year since Ryan whispered my name in that hospital bed. A year since Callum came back into my life and refused to leave. A year of healing, slow mornings by the water, shared laughter over burnt pancakes, and kisses that melted every last memory of heartbreak.We had a rhythm now. A life. Something we didnât dare imagine before.But I shouldâve known that the past has a habit of clawing its way back. Especially when itâs wearing a three-piece suit and a smile that never quite reaches his eyes.His name is Daniel Grant.And once upon a time, he was the man I almost married.âThe first time I saw him again, it was like my lungs forgot how to breathe.I was in town, picking up fresh flowers for the little cafĂ© table Callum and I had dragged home from a garage sale. It was a small thing, but it made breakfast feel like something sacred.The florist was tying twine around a bouquet of wildflowers when I heard his voice.âAthe
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire   Chapter 69: Whisper
The day Ryan whispered my name was the same day the sun finally broke through a week of gray clouds. I stood at the hospital window, watching light spill over the parking lot like a quiet promise, while inside, my brother blinked slowly at me, his lips dry, crackedâbut alive.âYou came back,â I murmured, tears gathering fast.His throat worked, but he couldnât say much else yet. Still, it was enough. That one wordâmy nameâwas everything. And when I held his hand this time, I could feel the strength slowly returning beneath the fragile skin.I sent a voice message to Callum. I didnât trust myself to talk without sobbing. âHe said my name,â I whispered. âCallum, he said my name.âHe called me back immediately, and when I answered, I could hear it in his voiceâheâd stopped whatever he was doing. âIâm on my way.ââNo,â I said quickly, though my heart clenched at the thought. âYou have work.ââScrew work. I told you, Iâm in this. Iâll catch the next flight. Just⊠stay with him. Iâll be the
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire   Chapter 68: Struggle
The storm between us quieted.He didnât say anything else for a while, and neither did I. The only sounds were our breathing and the tick of the wall clock, each second reminding me that peace like this wasnât promisedâit was chosen, earned, fragile.Callum's fingers curled around mine slowly, deliberately. A silent act of truce.I leaned into his shoulder, resting my forehead against the curve of his neck. He smelled like sun-warmed cotton and faint traces of my lavender soap. Iâd missed this. Not just the feel of himâbut the safety of him. The softness that still existed beneath the sharp edges life had carved into both of us.âI didnât mean to ruin this morning,â I murmured.He sighed. âI know.âWe sat like that for minutes or maybe hoursâit was hard to tell. The past still hummed in the corners of the room, but something new was blooming too. Fragile, but real.Eventually, he spoke again. âWhat if this doesnât work out?âI pulled back slightly. âUs?ââNo,â he said, shaking his hea
My Ex, the Widowed Billionaire   Chapter 67: Come back
He stepped closer, not touching me, not demanding anythingâjust close enough that I could feel the heat of him in the chilled wind.âYouâll find her,â he said softly. âI know you will.âHis voice was full of something reverent. Like belief. Like hope. Like he saw a version of me I hadnât fully stepped into yet but he already loved anyway.We stood there like that for a while, the waves crashing far below, the clouds slowly drifting across a sky painted with late afternoon gold. And then I did something I hadnât planned.I reached for his hand.It felt like stepping off a ledgeâbut instead of falling, I found solid ground.His fingers threaded with mine instinctively. Familiar. Easy. And when I looked up at him, something shifted. Deep and quiet and real.âCome back with me,â I said.His brows lifted slightly, surprise flickering behind his eyes.âJust for tea,â I added quickly. âDonât make it weird.âHe grinned, and for a moment, we werenât two broken people trying to figure out how t
