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CHAPTER 17
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-07 21:28:57
Bab terkait
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 18
I yanked my wrist free, the contact between us leaving an invisible imprint that I despised. "It doesn’t matter, Nolan," I said, my voice sharper than I intended. "You shouldn’t be here."His jaw tightened, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he stepped back, shoving his hands into his pockets, his expression unreadable. "Fine," he said after a long moment. "I’ll back off—for now. But don’t fool yourself into thinking this is over."A sharp retort was on the tip of my tongue, but before I could respond, my phone buzzed in my clutch. I glanced down and saw Brent’s name flashing on the screen. I exhaled, grateful for the distraction.“I have to take this,” I muttered before answering. “Brent?”“Demi, we have a problem,” his voice came through, low and urgent.Instantly, my entire body went on high alert. “What kind of problem?”“There’s been a leak.”My breath caught. “What do you mean a leak?”“The details of our investment plan—someone released them early. And not just to one outlet
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-08RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 19
The morning after the event, I sat with Chelsea in the conference room, waiting for Brent to arrive. Though the initial panic over the project’s leak had subsided, a weight still lingered on my chest. I couldn’t shake the memory of last night—the tense confrontation between Brent and Nolan, the way Brent had pulled me away without hesitation.Brent finally walked in, exuding his usual confidence. He tossed a folder onto the table and leaned against the chair, arms crossed. “Crisis averted,” he said simply.Chelsea and I exchanged a glance before I spoke. “What do you mean?”He sighed and rolled his shoulders back. “Turns out the leak was a weak attempt at sabotage. Someone tried to twist the narrative about the missing permits, but we had everything properly documented. Legal and PR worked overnight to release a statement before the media could spin it out of control.”Chelsea leaned forward. “So, it’s settled?”Brent nodded. “We traced the source back to a competitor trying to rattle
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 20
I woke up the next morning with a sense of excitement buzzing beneath my skin. Today was going to be fun. I had convinced Chelsea to go shopping with me under the pretense of helping her find a dress for dinner, but in reality, I had an entirely different plan in mind. Chelsea needed a little push, and I was more than willing to give it.I found her in the kitchen, sipping on a cup of coffee, looking as if she were still half-asleep. "Morning, sunshine," I teased, sliding into the seat across from her.She gave me a drowsy glare before sighing. "You better not pick anything crazy for me today. I know how you get when it comes to fashion."I placed a hand over my heart, feigning offense. "Me? Crazy? I have impeccable taste. And besides, you need to dress well for this dinner. First impressions matter."Chelsea groaned but didn’t argue further, which meant I was already winning. Finishing her coffee, she resigned herself to the inevitable as we got ready to leave.At the boutique, Chels
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 21
The moment Chelsea’s eyes landed on me sitting across from Brent, her expression shifted from confusion to devastation. I could practically feel the air crackling with tension as realization dawned on her. I wasn’t supposed to be the one sitting there. It was supposed to be her.She didn’t move. She didn’t blink. She just stood there, her hands clenched into tight fists by her sides. And then, without a single word, she turned and walked away.Panic surged through me like a tidal wave. “Chelsea—wait!” I shot up from my chair, barely registering the look of surprise on Brent’s face. But Chelsea was already heading towards the exit, her heels clicking against the floor in sharp, quick steps.I bolted after her, weaving through the other restaurant guests and ignoring the curious stares. When I finally caught up to her outside, she had already hailed a cab.“Chelsea, please, let me explain!” I reached for her arm, but she yanked it away as if my touch burned her.“You don’t have to expla
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-11RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 22
The plane ride was silent. Not the comfortable kind of silence we used to share, but the heavy, awkward kind that made my chest tighten. Chelsea kept her eyes on her laptop, her fingers furiously typing away, while I kept sneaking glances at her, wondering if there was any way to break the ice."Do you want some coffee?" I finally asked, gesturing to the flight attendant. It was a small attempt, but an attempt nonetheless."No, thanks," she said curtly, not even looking up.Strike one.When we landed in Seattle, we took a cab straight to the hotel. We were booked in separate rooms, but we still had to spend the majority of our time together prepping for the meeting."We should go over the presentation one more time," I suggested after we checked in."I already did," she replied, flipping through her notes. "You should make sure you're ready."Strike two.By the time we reached the client’s office, the tension between us was palpable. I tried to focus on work, but it was hard not to no
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-11RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 23
The next day, our work obligations continued, but the weight between us remained. I could tell Chelsea was trying, but the awkwardness was still there. I wanted things to go back to normal, but I knew I couldn't force it.Then fate intervened in the most unexpected way.We had just finished a long day of meetings and were heading back to our hotel. Instead of taking the stairs, Chelsea and I both stepped into the elevator at the same time. The doors slid shut, and I pressed the button for our floor. But before the elevator could even move, there was a sudden jolt, and then—nothing.The elevator was stuck.Chelsea immediately pressed the emergency button. Nothing. She tried calling reception. No signal."You've got to be kidding me," she muttered, rubbing her temples.I sighed. "Guess we're stuck together."She shot me a look but didn’t say anything. For a while, we just stood there in tense silence, waiting for the power to come back or someone to notice we were missing. But the longe
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-12RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 24
The air between Chelsea and me was lighter after our talk in the elevator, but that didn’t mean everything instantly went back to normal. If anything, it felt like walking on newly mended glass—fragile, uncertain, and requiring careful steps. I knew Chelsea wanted to believe me, but years of hurt feelings don’t just disappear overnight. And if I wanted things to truly go back to how they used to be, I had to prove to her that our friendship was still worth fighting for.The morning after the elevator incident, we had a business conference to attend, one that required both of us to work together seamlessly. The problem? We weren’t quite there yet. Chelsea was professional, efficient, and sharp as always, but there was a hesitation in the way she spoke to me. Like she was holding back. Like we were just colleagues, not best friends. And that stung.During the coffee break, I made an effort to bridge the gap.“You did great back there,” I said, offering her a small smile. “You carried th
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-12RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 25
The relief of stepping out of that elevator with Chelsea felt like the weight of weeks of tension finally easing off my shoulders. But even though we'd had a breakthrough, I knew it wasn’t going to be that easy. Forgiveness wasn’t a switch you could just flip on. I could tell Chelsea was willing to move forward, but regaining her trust? That was going to take time.And I was ready to put in the effort.The next morning, we had back-to-back meetings with the clients. The tension had simmered down between us, but the ease, the natural flow we used to have, wasn’t there yet. Chelsea still kept a polite distance, only engaging with me when necessary. I caught her staring at me a few times, as if she were still weighing my sincerity.I hated it. I missed the way we used to be.During lunch, I tried to close the gap. “Hey, want to grab a bite together?”She hesitated, her eyes flicking between me and the café across the street where some of our team members were heading. Then she gave a sma
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-13
Bab terbaru
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 59
The gunshot shattered the silence like a thunderclap.I didn’t think—my body reacted before my mind could catch up.Move.I dove behind a stack of rusted crates as the shot echoed through the warehouse. My breath came fast and sharp as I pressed my back against the cold metal.Another shot rang out, this one sparking against the concrete floor near Nolan’s feet.I peeked out just in time to see him move—his body twisting as he pulled his own gun from his jacket. He wasn’t running. He wasn’t hiding.He was aiming.At who?I couldn’t tell.The warehouse was too dark, the shadows stretching long and deceptive. The only light was the flickering bulb above us, offering nothing but disorientation.Footsteps.More than one set.Who the hell else was here?Nolan fired a shot in return, his expression calm—too calm for someone who had just been ambushed.I didn’t trust him, but I also knew one thing for certain.Whoever was shooting at us wasn’t working for him.Because if they were, I’d alrea
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 58
I should have walked away.Should have turned my back on Victor and whatever game he was playing.But I didn’t.Because his words were still echoing in my head."He wasn’t hiding it from you. He was hiding you from it."And I needed to know what the hell that meant.I forced myself to meet Victor’s gaze. “Then tell me. If Nolan and Lorenzo aren’t running this, who is?”Victor smirked, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “That’s the right question. But you already know the answer, don’t you?”A slow chill crept up my spine.No. No, that wasn’t possible.I shook my head. “If I knew, I wouldn’t be standing here asking you.”Victor’s smirk faded. He studied me for a beat, like he was weighing something in his mind. Then he took the folder, flipped it open again, and pulled out a single page.I felt my stomach drop the second I saw the name printed at the top.My father.My hands curled into fists at my sides. “What does he have to do with this?”Victor let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head.
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 57
My heartbeat pounded in my ears, a frantic rhythm of anger, fear, and something I refused to name.Lorenzo's words settled over me like a vice, tightening with every second of silence."This has always been about you."I forced my breathing to stay even, controlled.Nolan didn’t move.Didn’t speak.Just stood there, watching me with that impenetrable gaze, like he was waiting.Like he was gauging my reaction.I hated that.I hated that he still had power over me, even now.I took a slow step back, distancing myself from them both. “What the hell does that mean?”Lorenzo smiled, slow and knowing. “Exactly what it sounds like.”I turned to Nolan.He owed me this.After everything, after all the lies, I deserved the truth.But Nolan—Nolan just sighed, rubbing his temple like this conversation exhausted him.Like I exhausted him.“Demi—”“No.” I cut him off. “No more stalling. No more vague bullshit. Tell me the truth.”A flicker of something passed through his expression.Something like
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 56
I didn’t have to wait long.Jeff replied almost immediately.Jeff: That was fast. Have a change of heart, sweetheart?My fingers tightened around my phone.Demi: Where are you?Jeff: Somewhere fun. Want to join?I didn’t have time for his games.Demi: I’m serious, Jeff. Where?A pause. Then:Jeff: My place. Half an hour. Come alone.I had no intention of obeying that last part.But I was going.Because if I wanted to destroy Nolan, I needed a new ally.Even if that ally was a snake.Jeff’s apartment was exactly what I expected—expensive, sleek, and deliberately impersonal.The kind of place a man like him never really called home.He was waiting for me, sprawled lazily on his couch, a whiskey glass in one hand and a smirk already in place.“Demi,” he drawled. “That was quicker than I thought. What changed?”I didn’t sit.Instead, I pulled out my phone, opened the screenshot I’d taken of Nolan’s text conversation with Lorenzo, and tossed it onto the table in front of him.Jeff picked i
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 55
I gripped the flash drive so tightly that the edges dug into my palm. The weight of it felt heavier than it should, as if the truth it carried had already begun pressing down on me before I even plugged it in.I didn't go straight home. I couldn't.Instead, I drove around aimlessly, my fingers tapping against the steering wheel, my mind spinning with possibilities.Jeff was a liar. A manipulator. But so was Nolan.I didn't trust either of them, but I needed to know what I was up against.Eventually, I pulled into the underground parking lot of my apartment building, shutting off the engine. My stomach churned as I stared at the device in my hand.I had a choice.I could throw it away and pretend this meeting never happened. Pretend Jeff never reached out. Pretend that I was still in control.Or I could plug it in and open Pandora’s box.I inhaled sharply, grabbed my bag, and stepped out of the car.By the time I reached my apartment, my hands were trembling. I locked the door behind m
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 54
Nolan leaned back in his chair, his smirk lingering as he watched me.“Go on,” he said, steepling his fingers together. “What’s on your mind, sweetheart?”I ignored the endearment, keeping my expression neutral.“We need to set some boundaries,” I said. “Rules.”His brows lifted slightly, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. “Rules?”“Yes.”I took a steadying breath, forcing myself to remain calm. I had spent the whole night thinking about this—about what I could control in a situation where I had already lost so much.If I had to play this game, I needed to be clear about my terms.“No unnecessary public displays of affection,” I said firmly. “Nothing more than what’s required to sell the engagement.”Nolan hummed, tapping his fingers against the desk. “You do realize we’ll need to be convincing, right?”I met his gaze without flinching. “Convincing doesn’t mean excessive.”His lips twitched like he wanted to argue, but instead, he just nodded. “Fine. What else?”“No unannounced vi
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 53
The gala was a blur of expensive suits, designer gowns, and the clinking of champagne glasses. Laughter echoed around the grand ballroom, but it was all a carefully constructed illusion—just like everything else in my life.I smiled when I was supposed to. Laughed at all the right moments. Nodded along as people talked about stocks, mergers, and the latest scandals.But inside, It felt like I was drowning.Chelsea hovered nearby, keeping an eye on me like she always did. I appreciated her concern, but there was nothing she could do to fix this.Nolan was here somewhere.I had yet to see him, but I could feel his presence.And then—A hand brushed against my lower back.I stiffened, my breath catching in my throat.“You look stunning,” a deep voice murmured.I turned my head, my heart pounding.Nolan.He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his tie crisp, his posture effortless.And his eyes—they held that same dark amusement, like he knew something I didn’t.I swallowed hard
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 52
We left the warehouse in a convoy of black SUVs, Nolan’s men securing every angle as if Lorenzo might try something last-minute. My father was weak but stable, his head resting against the seat as he exhaled heavily. I held his hand, my fingers gripping his like a lifeline.The drive back was silent.I kept replaying the night in my head—Lorenzo’s threats, Nolan’s calculated control, the way the power shifted so quickly. My mind was spinning, trying to process what it all meant.But one thought stood out among the chaos.This isn’t over.Not by a long shot.We pulled up to a private estate—one of Nolan’s, no doubt. The moment we entered, medical staff was waiting for my father. They whisked him away into a large, well-equipped room that looked more like a high-end hospital suite than a bedroom.Chelsea was already there.She rushed forward the second she saw me. “Oh my god, Demi—”I barely had time to react before she pulled me into a tight hug.“You’re okay,” she whispered, her voice
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 51
I spent the entire drive to Nolan’s penthouse gripping the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles ached.I had rehearsed what I was going to say. Over and over again.But none of it would matter if Nolan was playing me.Because if he was—if he had been working with Lorenzo this whole time—then I wasn’t just walking into a confrontation.I was walking into a war.By the time I reached his building, my anger had settled into something colder. Sharper.I didn’t bother waiting for permission. I stormed through the lobby, ignoring the concierge’s startled look, and stepped into the private elevator that led to Nolan’s penthouse.He had given me access weeks ago.He probably thought it was a gesture of trust.I pressed the button and watched the numbers climb.Liar.Manipulator.Traitor.The doors slid open, revealing Nolan standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, a whiskey glass in hand. He turned at the sound, his sharp gaze flicking over me.A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
