LOGINShare
CHAPTER 24
Last Updated:
2025-03-12 00:07:00
Related chapters
RUTHLESS 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
Last Updated : 2025-03-13RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 26
The moment my phone rang, I knew something was wrong.Chelsea and I had just started to find our rhythm again, working together like we used to. It had taken effort, but we were finally in sync. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could breathe. But that breath caught in my throat when I saw the caller ID.Brent.“Excuse me for a second,” I told Chelsea, stepping away from our impromptu strategy meeting. We had just wrapped up the ordeal with Mr. Landon, and we were planning our next steps when my phone vibrated.Brent never called me during business trips unless it was urgent.“Brent?” I answered, pressing the phone to my ear. “What’s wrong?”His voice was strained. “Demi… it’s your father. He was rushed to the hospital.”I felt my body go numb.“What?” My voice was barely above a whisper, my mind already spiraling. “What happened?”“They don’t know yet,” Brent said, his words rushed. “But it’s serious. You need to come back now.”My entire world stopped.I turned back t
Last Updated : 2025-03-14RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 1
(Demi’s POV)The divorce papers were glaring back at me from the mahogany table like some sort of a nasty reminder of my shortcomings as housewife. My trembling fingers brushed over the ink where my husband, Jeff Ortega’s, signature glared at me, bold and resolute. His decision was final, and it was unyielding just as the man himself.However, Jeff was standing in front of the window even as I turn and witnessed how the soft afternoon light shining on his erect figure. His eyes were as cold and far away as before, and his sharp facial features were etched with resolve. The distance between us was heightened by his coldness, even with his back facing my direction. “I’ve already signed the papers. You should hurry and sign them too,” he said, his tone devoid of emotion. “I want everything finalized before Stella returns.”Stella. The name cut through me like a blade. My throat tightened as I fought back tears.Jeff didn’t even glance in my direction. “We’ve agreed on the partition of
Last Updated : 2025-01-10RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 2
Jeff’s POVThe moment I stepped out the manor and into my car, I felt overjoyed. For some reason, i couldn't control the excitement building within me as I drove to the airport. Within my head it scream so loud that at last, my first love, Stella Magno, was returning from Italy.My desire for her continued to spring even stronger over the years. I had always believe that our temporary separation was just for a while and that a time would be available for us to be together again—and that time is now. As for Demi? She was a mistake. A fleeting obligation forced upon me by my father’s incessant demands. Marrying her had been a sacrifice for me and as well as the Ortega family’s image, nothing more. I’ve endured so much as I’d given her the required five years, but now, I was free. And I would claim back the lost years I should have spend with Stella.As I pulled the car at the airport, I quickly spotted Stella waiving her hand. She was radiant, her delicate physique and warm smile was
Last Updated : 2025-01-15RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 3
DEMI's POVThe Hermosa Villa, a majestic estate that had always seemed more like a museum than a house, towered over me. Under me, the black Camaro's engine hummed as it moved effortlessly up the driveway. As Brent walked forward with a sneer already on his lips, I looked out the tinted window. As soon as the car halted, he swung the door open with his usual dramatic flair.“Welcome back, princess!” he said, extending a hand toward me.My heels clicked on the sidewalk as I stepped outside, a sharp contrast to the sneakers I had been wearing before. I had changed in the car, swapping comfort for elegance, stepping into the role everyone expected of me. In the warm light of the villa's entrance lights, I was certain that I looked like the queen I had taught myself to be."Brent, how have things been going while I was away?" I asked, arching an eyebrow at him.“Better now that you’re back,” he replied smoothly. “Did you enjoy the fireworks? My birthday gift to you attracted the whole ci
Last Updated : 2025-02-22RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 4The murmurs in the hallway reached my ears before I even stepped inside the building."I heard the new chairman is a young woman.""The acting chairman is being replaced? By a woman? That’s insane!""The last four general managers failed to turn this company around. What makes her any different?""I heard she’s Mr. Perez’s daughter…""Chairman Perez has many wives. She must be an illegitimate child sent here to clean up his mess."I chuckled under my breath. People never failed to amuse me."She’s here! The new boss is here!"A sleek Porsche rolled to a stop at the entrance, followed by a procession of Ferraris. The air was thick with curiosity as all eyes turned toward the arrival. When the car door opened, a pair of black high-heeled shoes with red soles touched the ground first. Then, I stepped out.The murmurs stopped.My long, dark hair hung down over my shoulders as I stood tall. I selected a navy blue power suit because it was expertly tailored and perfectly fit my cu
Last Updated : 2025-02-24RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 5
They always talked behind my back."How dare they say that! You're the Perez family's only daughter, and the daughter of the first wife, the one and only legitimate heiress. Are they out of their minds?" Sabrina fumed beside me, her hands clenched into fists.I sighed, barely looking up from the glass of wine I had been swirling absentmindedly. "Come on. That mindset is old-fashioned. Who cares about whether I’m the first wife's daughter? I don’t care, so why should you bother?"Sabrina blinked at me, her cheeks puffing slightly with frustration, which only made her look cuter. Unable to resist, I reached out and pinched her face gently. Her skin was soft beneath my fingers, and immediately, her face flushed a deep red."Demi!" Brent groaned from across the room, shaking his head. "You're the future president of Hermosa Group. Can you at least act with dignity? Stop teasing Sabrina."I chuckled, releasing my secretary. "What’s the matter? Big bosses are allowed to tease their secretar
Last Updated : 2025-02-28RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 6
The phone continued to ring, the sound piercing through the silence in my office. My fingers twitched, but I clenched them into a fist, refusing to let old habits take over. I wouldn’t answer. Not yet.Brent arched an eyebrow. “You sure? He’s persistent.”“He can keep waiting.” I turned to Sabrina, who was shifting nervously by the door. “Tell me everything about Adam Ortega’s condition.”Sabrina cleared her throat, pulling out her tablet. “He was admitted early this morning. Another stroke, but not as severe as the last one. The doctors say he stabilized after emergency treatment, but he’s still under observation.”I drummed my fingers on my desk, thinking. Adam Ortega had been a formidable businessman in his prime, but age had worn him down. And yet, I couldn’t ignore the unease settling in my stomach. The Ortega family had been quiet for too long.“Has Jeff been seen at the hospital yet?”Sabrina nodded. “Yes. He arrived about an hour ago. He hasn’t left the VIP ward since.”I scof
Last Updated : 2025-02-28
Latest chapter
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 26
The moment my phone rang, I knew something was wrong.Chelsea and I had just started to find our rhythm again, working together like we used to. It had taken effort, but we were finally in sync. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could breathe. But that breath caught in my throat when I saw the caller ID.Brent.“Excuse me for a second,” I told Chelsea, stepping away from our impromptu strategy meeting. We had just wrapped up the ordeal with Mr. Landon, and we were planning our next steps when my phone vibrated.Brent never called me during business trips unless it was urgent.“Brent?” I answered, pressing the phone to my ear. “What’s wrong?”His voice was strained. “Demi… it’s your father. He was rushed to the hospital.”I felt my body go numb.“What?” My voice was barely above a whisper, my mind already spiraling. “What happened?”“They don’t know yet,” Brent said, his words rushed. “But it’s serious. You need to come back now.”My entire world stopped.I turned back t
RUTHLESS 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
RUTHLESS 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
RUTHLESS 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
RUTHLESS 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
RUTHLESS 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
RUTHLESS 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
RUTHLESS 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
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
