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Chapter 9
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2025-03-17 23:50:28
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RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 10
Chapter 10Alexander's study was dark except for the massive screen on the wall. Mona sat rigid in her leather chair, watching the video his butler had recorded at Samuel and Lora's engagement party. Her hands gripped the armrests so hard her knuckles turned white."Look at her trying to use the right fork!" Emily's voice rang through the surround sound speakers. "Like a monkey at tea time!"Laughter echoed through the room. On screen, the Caldwells and their guests were enjoying their champagne and cruelty in equal measure."Tell them about the necklace," Emily urged Lora. The camera zoomed in on her triumphant face."Oh yes!" Lora's laugh cut like glass. "That tacky little key pendant she always wore. Called it her father's last gift or something equally melodramatic. I told her I might wear it at the wedding, you know, something borrowed?"More laughter. More mockery. More pain.Mona's chest felt too tight. She could barely breathe as she watched these people, people who had preten
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-17RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 11
Chapter 11The study was dark except for a single lamp, its warm glow barely reaching the corners of the massive room. Alexander Kane stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, an untouched glass of thirty-year-old whiskey in his hand. Outside, his vast estate stretched into shadows, but his eyes fixed on the old oak tree silhouetted against the setting sun.Twenty years. The weight of those years suddenly felt heavy on his shoulders.With movements that seemed almost reluctant, he moved to his desk and opened the bottom drawer, the one he never let anyone else touch. Inside lay a battered tin box, its blue paint chipped and faded. His hands trembled slightly as he lifted it out.The first photo hit him like a physical blow. A dark-haired boy grinning proudly next to a half-built treehouse, his clothes clearly secondhand but his smile bright enough to light up the world. His father's handwriting on the back: "James Jr - Summer, 2004. Dreams under construction."Dreams. He almost laughed a
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-20RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 12
Chapter 12The nightmare always started the same way."Look at her, trying so hard to belong," Emily's voice echoed through the grand ballroom. "Like a monkey in designer clothes."In her dream, Mona stood frozen as the crowd closed in around her. Their faces twisted with cruel amusement, champagne glasses raised in mocking toasts."Did you really think Samuel loved you?" Lora's laugh cut like glass. "You were just a convenient stepping stone."The red wine felt hot against her skin as it soaked through her expensive dress. But this time, in the nightmare, it wasn't wine at all. It was blood. Her blood. Their cruelty made physical."Garbage belongs in the gutter," Emily's voice again, closer now. Hands grabbed at Mona's clothes, tearing, ripping away her dignity piece by piece."Please," dream Mona whispered. "Please stop."But they never stopped. The laughter grew louder. The hands grew rougher. Samuel stood watching, his arm around Lora, not even seeing her anymore."Time to take ou
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-20RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 13
Chapter 13"Again." Alexander's voice echoed through the private training room.Mona tried to keep her hands steady as she poured the tea, fighting exhaustion. They had been at this for hours - the same movement, over and over. Her arms ached from holding the heavy silver teapot at the perfect angle."Your elbow is too high," he said, walking around her. "A true lady never shows strain."The tea splashed slightly as she adjusted her position. A drop landed on the pristine tablecloth."Now we start over." Alexander's voice stayed calm, but Mona heard the steel beneath it. "Every detail matters. Every movement must be perfect."Mona bit back her frustration as servants rushed to replace the tablecloth. This was her life now - endless lessons in everything from table settings to corporate finance. Dawn to dusk, Alexander pushed her harder than anyone ever had."I don't understand," she said, watching the staff reset the table. "Why does it matter how I pour tea? I thought we were plannin
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-21RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 14
Chapter 14The silk dress felt like water between Mona's fingers. It shimmered under the bright boutique lights, its fabric soft and smooth against her calloused hands. Weeks of wearing secondhand, scratchy shelter clothes made her feel like this dress was from another world. Just touching it sent her heart racing. The price tag dangled tauntingly, the number enough to feed everyone in her shelter dorm for an entire month."Miss? Are you alright?" Lisa, her shopping companion, touched her arm gently, her voice pulling Mona back to reality.Mona blinked and forced herself to nod. "Yes, I’m fine." But her fingers trembled as she placed the dress back on the rack.Behind them, glass shattered.The sharp sound echoed through the boutique, turning heads. Mona’s stomach sank as she turned to see Sarah Caldwell standing near a display table. Champagne spilled onto the floor around her designer heels, the bottle lying broken at her feet. Her face twisted into a mask of disgust as her cold eye
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-21RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 15
Chapter 15The Caldwell mansion's front door exploded inward with enough force to crack the frame. Lora burst in like a hurricane, her perfect composure shattered, mascara streaming down her face. Her heel caught on the antique rug, the first gift Emily had let her choose for the house, and she ripped it apart with her bare hands."I'll kill her!" The scream was primal, barely human. "I'll destroy that worthless bitch!"She grabbed a crystal vase from the entryway table and hurled it against the wall. Water and roses scattered across imported marbleSarah stumbled in behind her, ashen-faced, phone buzzing constantly with social media notifications. #CaldwellMeltdown was already trending."That bitch!" Lora screamed, kicking off her Louboutins. One heel shattered a mirror in the foyer. "That worthless, pathetic...""The Ming vase," Emily whispered in horror as Lora grabbed the priceless heirloom. "Lora, that's been in the family for-"The crash echoed through the mansion. Three hundred
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-22RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 16
Chapter 16The St. Regis ballroom glowed under massive crystal chandeliers. Mrs. Harrison's annual charity gala filled the space with the city's most powerful families, their jewelry catching light like stars, their laughter echoing off marble floors.Mona stood in the shadows by the entrance, her hands cold despite the warmth. Lisa, her assistant, touched her arm gently."You don't have to do this," Lisa whispered.Mona watched Emily Caldwell holding court near the champagne fountain, Lora and Sarah flanking her like ladies-in-waiting. Just months ago, Mona had stood in that same spot, trying desperately to win Emily's approval."Yes," Mona said softly. "I do."She stepped into the light.The change rippled through the room like a stone dropped in still water. Conversations stopped mid-sentence. Glasses froze halfway to lips. Every eye turned to stare at the woman in the red dress.The dress itself was a weapon, one of only three made, its silk the color of fresh blood. Diamonds drip
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-22RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 17
Chapter 17Alexander's study was dark except for the glow of multiple screens. Each one showed a different angle of Mona's confrontation at the event, Emily's attempted assault, Lora's meltdown, their humiliating retreat. The videos had gone viral within hours."Look at their faces," Alexander's voice held quiet satisfaction. "The moment they realized you weren't their victim anymore."Mona watched herself on screen, back straight, chin high, that black card glinting like a weapon. Was that really her? This composed woman who made Sarah Caldwell, Emily Caldwell and Lora Bennett lose control?"The internet is quite entertained," Alexander clicked through various social media posts. "#CaldwellKarma is trending citywide. Every society matron who ever snubbed you is now scrambling to get on your good side.""They're all vultures," Mona said softly. "Ready to feast on whoever shows weakness.""Exactly." Alexander turned to face her, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "And you just
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-23
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RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 52
Chapter 52Mona stood before the massive digital wall display, her reflection ghosting over maps of financial connections, company logos, and transaction records. At the center of this web glowed the Caldwell family crest, surrounded by red X marks where once-solid business relationships had been severed.Her finger traced a path from the Caldwell logo to a navy blue square marked "Miller Financial.""Their money lifeline," she said. "Miller Financial has backed the Caldwells for three generations. They've extended credit when no one else would. Without Miller, the Caldwells can't survive another month."Alexander's eyes gleamed with appreciation from the leather sofa. He'd been testing her, letting her identify the next target herself."James Miller and Richard Caldwell were college roommates," Alexander noted, rising to join her. "Old loyalties run deep.""Loyalties can be broken," Mona replied, the memory of her confrontation with Lora the previous day still fresh. The sight of her
RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 51
Lora Caldwell pulled her designer coat tighter as she stepped out of the taxi in front of Bennett Tower. The building's glass and steel structure reached toward the sky, a monument to her family's power, the family she was born into, not the one she had married. A family that had now turned its back on her.For the fifth time this week, she had come to see her grandmother. And for the fifth time, she hoped the outcome would be different.Rain threatened in the dark clouds above. Her once-perfect hair now hung limp around her face, her designer clothes wrinkled from days of stress. The woman who had once moved through society with effortless grace now looked hunted, desperate."You can do this," she whispered to herself. "She's your grandmother. Blood. She has to listen eventually."The lobby doors loomed before her, polished and perfect like everything else in the Bennett empire. Lora straightened her back, lifted her chin, and walked forward with all the confidence she could fake. Th
RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 50
Chapter 50The Roosevelt Grand Hotel's ballroom glittered like a jewel box. Crystal chandeliers cast golden light over six hundred of the city's elite, gathered for the annual Children's Hospital Benefit Gala. Women in designer gowns and priceless jewels mingled with men in tuxedos discussing million-dollar deals while pretending to care about charity.Mona Kane stood at the entrance, Alexander's hand at the small of her back. Her midnight blue gown caught the light, tiny crystals twinkling like stars. A year ago, she had been homeless. Now she commanded attention just by entering a room."Ready?" Alexander whispered.Mona spotted Harold Jenkins, CEO of Pacific Partners and the Caldwells' second-largest client."Ready," she replied, her voice steady despite the storm inside her.They descended the marble staircase, heads turning. The whispers followed, not mocking whispers like those that had once trailed her at Caldwell events, but awed murmurs acknowledging their power."Alexander a
RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 49
The crystal vase shattered against the wall, spraying water and roses across the imported wallpaper. Emily Caldwell stood with her arm extended, chest heaving, hair falling from its perfect arrangement."Four generations!" she screamed. "Four generations of building something magnificent, and you've destroyed it in less than a month!"Samuel sat at the far end of the dining table, head in his hands. The newspaper before him proclaimed: "CALDWELL INDUSTRIES FACES FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AS STOCK PLUMMETS 70%.""Say something!" Emily demanded, grabbing another vase."What would you like me to say, Mother? That you were right? Would that fix anything?"The second vase exploded against the wall in a shower of glass and lilies.Lora entered in a silk bathrobe, eyes swollen from crying. "The Governor canceled our dinner. Said something about a scheduling conflict."Emily snorted. "Coward. He's been coming to our Christmas party for twenty years.""Everyone's abandoning us," Lora whispered, si
RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 48
The Bennett Corporation headquarters stretched toward the clouds, a monument of glass and steel. In the corner office on the top floor, nineteen-year-old James Bennett slouched in his grandfather's leather chair, spinning in slow circles as Mona reviewed financial documents."This is so boring," James groaned. "When do I get to do the fun stuff? Like fire people or buy a yacht."Mona looked up, hiding her irritation behind a patient smile. James had the same entitled attitude she'd once found in Samuel, the casual arrogance of someone who had never earned anything."Running a company isn't about yachts, James. It's about responsibility. Thousands of people depend on Bennett Corporation for their livelihoods."James snorted. "That's what I have executives for. To handle the boring parts."Mona walked to the window. The city sprawled below them, a maze where ordinary people lived ordinary lives. She'd been one of them once, after the Caldwells threw her out."Let me tell you about a wom
RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 47
Chapter 47The Caldwell Industries boardroom, typically a place of ordered power and quiet confidence, had transformed into a battleground. Twelve men and women in expensive suits sat around the gleaming mahogany table, faces tight with worry. The floor-to-ceiling windows that normally showcased the impressive city view now seemed to emphasize how far they all might fall.Samuel Caldwell stood at the head of the table, his silk tie crooked and hair disheveled. Dark half-circles hung beneath his eyes. The stock ticker displayed on the wall-mounted screen showed numbers bleeding red - each minute bringing fresh losses."Our shares have dropped another fifteen percent since market open," he said, his voice struggling to maintain steadiness. "That brings our total losses to nearly sixty percent in two days."Gregory Wilson, the oldest board member and former college roommate of Richard Caldwell, removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "In plain numbers, Samuel. How much hav
RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 46
Chapter 46Mona stood on the penthouse balcony watching the sunset paint the sky in fiery oranges and deep purples. The city stretched below her, a sprawling empire of glass and steel where somewhere, the Caldwells were scrambling to save themselves. A smile touched her lips as a warm breeze caught her hair.Behind her, the penthouse was unusually quiet. Alexander had sent the staff away hours ago, something he rarely did. She'd spent the afternoon in meetings with the Bennett Corporation, helping young James navigate his new responsibilities while cementing the Kane-Bennett partnership. The work kept her busy, but her thoughts constantly drifted to the chaos unfolding at Caldwell Enterprises."Enjoying the view?" Alexander's voice came from behind her.She turned to find him standing in the doorway, his tie loosened, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked less like the fearsome business titan the world knew and more like the man only she got to see."The city looks beautiful toni
RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 45
Chapter 45The morning sun bathed the Caldwell mansion in golden light, but inside the grand dining room, storm clouds gathered. Samuel Caldwell's phone rang for the fifth time in thirty minutes. He glanced at the screen, grimaced, and silenced it again."Will you answer that infernal thing?" Emily snapped, tapping her perfectly manicured nails against her teacup. "The noise is ruining my breakfast."Samuel loosened his tie. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the room's perfect temperature. "It's Jim Harrington. Our biggest investor."Emily's fork clattered against fine china. "And why would he call at this ungodly hour?"Before Samuel could answer, Sarah burst into the room, still in her silk pajamas, clutching her tablet. Her face was pale, eyes wide with panic."Have you seen the news?" She thrust the tablet toward her parents. "Davidson Shipping is under federal investigation!"The blood drained from Samuel's face as he grabbed the device. The headline screamed across the screen
RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 44
Chapter 44Five days had passed since Mona sent the evidence to the regulators. Five days of checking news sites, of Alexander making quiet phone calls, of waiting for the first spark to catch fire. On the morning of the sixth day, Mona woke to the sound of her phone buzzing repeatedly on the nightstand.She reached for it, eyes still heavy with sleep. Twenty-three notifications. Her heart jumped."Alexander," she said, turning to wake him, but his side of the bed was empty.She slipped on her silk robe and padded barefoot through the penthouse. The sound of voices.... several voices speaking over each other guided her to the media room. Alexander stood in the center, remote in hand, surrounded by news on every screen."It's happening," he said without turning around.Mona froze in the doorway. The largest screen showed Davidson Shipping headquarters, where reporters crowded outside the main entrance. The scrolling headline read: "BREAKING: Davidson Shipping Under Federal Investigatio
