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CHAPTER 41
Last Updated:
2025-03-28 17:45:04
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RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 42
I should have walked away.After that dance, after the way he held me like he was proving a point, I should have put as much distance between us as possible.But Nolan had other plans.And unfortunately, so did Anthony Carter.***After the dance, Nolan guided me toward a private lounge tucked away from the main gala. Plush velvet seating, dim lighting, and a bar stocked with the rarest liquors.Anthony Carter was already there, lounging in one of the leather chairs, a glass of whiskey in his hand.I shot Nolan a sharp look. “What is this?”“A conversation.” His smirk was infuriating. “Sit.”I didn’t. Instead, I crossed my arms. “If you think I’m going to sit through whatever twisted plan you two have—”“Demi.”The way Nolan said my name made my stomach twist. Not with fear, but with something worse.Something dangerous.Anthony chuckled, swirling his drink. “You’ve got fire, I’ll give you that.” His gaze flicked to Nolan. “I can see why you like her.”I clenched my fists. “Get to the
Last Updated : 2025-03-28RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 44
The moment Nolan hung up, I dropped my phone onto my desk and let out a slow, shaky breath.Two weeks.That was all the time he’d given me.It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.For now, I needed to focus on my father.Everything else—Nolan, the engagement, the contract—I’d deal with later.—I spent the rest of the morning at the hospital.My father was awake but still weak, his body slowly recovering from the weeks spent in a coma.Even so, his sharp mind was still intact.And it didn’t take him long to notice something was off.“You’re distracted,” he commented, watching me over the rim of his coffee cup.I forced a smile. “Just tired.”He hummed, unconvinced. “Chelsea’s worried about you.”Of course, she was.Chelsea had spent the entire night pestering me, demanding to know what Nolan had said when I called him.When I told her he’d agreed to wait, she was relieved.But she also knew it was only temporary.“I’m fine,” I assured him. “I just have a lot on my plate.”My f
Last Updated : 2025-03-29RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 45
I didn’t sleep that night.Instead, I sat in my office, my fingers tracing the edges of Nolan’s contract as if the ink itself could burn me.Four weeks.That was all I had.And the longer I waited, the more suffocating the inevitability became.I was running out of time.The thought made my stomach twist as I reached for my phone, scrolling through my contacts until I landed on the one name I had been avoiding for weeks.Jeff.My pulse quickened. I knew this was reckless. Stupid. But I needed answers.I needed to understand why he had resurfaced. Why he was suddenly lurking in the shadows of my life again, like a ghost refusing to be forgotten.Before I could second-guess myself, I pressed call.The line rang once. Twice.Then, he picked up.“Well, well,” Jeff’s voice dripped with amusement. “I was beginning to think you’d never call.”I swallowed hard, gripping my phone tighter. “We need to talk.”A pause. Then—“Are you sure about that, Demi?” he asked, his tone laced with something
Last Updated : 2025-03-30RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 46
I spent the next few days rewriting the contract, making sure every clause benefited me instead of Nolan. If he wanted me as part of his empire, he would have to do it on my terms.But I knew one thing—Nolan wasn’t stupid.He wouldn’t accept these changes without a fight.And that fight was coming.⋆⋆⋆The moment I walked into Nolan’s office, his eyes locked onto me.“Demi.” His voice was smooth, but there was a sharp edge beneath it. “I was beginning to think you were avoiding me.”I tossed the contract onto his desk. “I made some changes.”Nolan arched a brow and leaned back in his chair. “Changes?”I folded my arms. “Read it.”His eyes darkened with intrigue as he picked up the papers. Silence filled the room as he skimmed the pages, his expression unreadable.Then, after a long pause, he let out a low chuckle.“You’re bolder than I expected.”I lifted my chin. “You thought I’d just roll over and accept your terms?”His smirk widened. “I hoped.”I clenched my jaw. “You wanted contr
Last Updated : 2025-03-30RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 47
I didn’t sleep that night.Even after I agreed to Nolan’s ridiculous demand, my mind refused to settle.Every scenario, every worst-case outcome, played on a loop in my head.I wasn’t stupid.I knew Nolan was doing this for control.He had already taken over my engagement, my future, and now—my home.And I had let him.I stared at the ceiling until the first light of dawn peeked through my windows.Then, without giving myself time to overthink, I got up and packed.Chelsea nearly exploded when I told her.“Are you insane?” she hissed, pacing my bedroom. “Living with Nolan? Do you have any idea what you’re walking into?”I rubbed my temples. “It’s temporary.”Chelsea shot me a sharp look. “That’s exactly what people say before they get stuck in a situation they can’t escape.”I sighed. “I don’t have a choice.”“You always have a choice, Demi.”I swallowed hard. Not this time.She exhaled, shaking her head. “At least tell your dad.”I flinched. “No.”“Demi—”“No,” I repeated, my voice h
Last Updated : 2025-03-31RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 48
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my phone vibrating against the nightstand.I groaned, rubbing the sleep from my eyes before grabbing it.Chelsea.I exhaled sharply, already knowing this wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation.“Hello?”“You didn’t call me last night,” she snapped.I sighed, sitting up. “I was tired.”“You were avoiding me,” she corrected.I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Chelsea—”“Tell me you’re okay,” she cut in.I hesitated.Because was I okay?No.Not even close.But I also wasn’t about to admit that.“I’m fine,” I said instead.Chelsea sighed. “I don’t believe you.”I forced a laugh. “Shocking.”There was a pause.Then, her voice softened. “Demi, you don’t have to do this.”A lump formed in my throat.“Yes, I do.”“Demi—”“I have to go,” I murmured. “I’ll call you later.”Before she could protest, I ended the call.Then, I buried my face in my hands.This was my life now.And I had no choice but to live it.By the time I made my way to the kitchen
Last Updated : 2025-03-31RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 49
Sleep didn’t come easy that night.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Jeff’s face—contorted in pain, eyes filled with fear.Fear of Nolan.It should have scared me.But the only thing that truly terrified me was how much I didn’t feel afraid of Nolan.He had done something violent, something brutal.And yet, a part of me—the part I didn’t want to acknowledge—felt a twisted sense of satisfaction.Jeff had deserved it.And Nolan had delivered it without hesitation.What did that say about me?I shoved the thought away and turned over in bed, forcing myself to focus on the future.Jeff would return the money in three days.I could finally put this behind me.But something told me it wasn’t going to be that simple.Because nothing in my life ever was.The next morning, Chelsea was already waiting for me when I walked into my office.She had that look—the one she always wore when she knew I was hiding something.“So,” she said, crossing her arms. “Are you going to tell me what happened las
Last Updated : 2025-03-31RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 50
I stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, my mind racing with the weight of what I had done.I had moved in with Nolan.Not because I wanted to.But because I had no choice.His penthouse was sleek, modern, and everything I had expected—cold, controlled, and completely impersonal. It was the kind of place that didn’t feel lived in. The kind of place that had no warmth, no real comfort.I sat up, brushing my fingers through my hair, exhaling slowly.It had only been a few hours since I arrived, and already, I felt trapped.The door to my room opened without a knock.I turned, narrowing my eyes as Nolan stepped inside."Ever heard of knocking?"He ignored the jab, crossing the room like he owned it—like he owned me. "We need to go over a few things."I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Can it wait? I barely got settled.""You can settle in after we go over the rules."My lips parted, heat flashing up my spine. "Rules?"He nodded, completely unfazed. "If you’re going to live here, there need to be
Last Updated : 2025-03-31
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RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 101
Around noon, I found a note taped to my computer monitor. Simple, clean handwriting. I didn’t need to ask who it was from."Dinner. Your place. 7PM. You don’t have to say anything. Just let me try. –J"I stared at it for a long time.It wasn’t a plea. It wasn’t a demand.It was... a hope.A quiet one. One I hadn’t earned yet. One I wasn’t sure I could accept.But when seven o’clock rolled around, I was home. I had lit candles. Put on soft music. Worn something that wasn’t just lounge clothes.And I waited.At 7:02, there was a knock.I opened the door, and there he was—holding a bag of takeout from my favorite Thai place, rain in his hair, uncertainty in his eyes.“Hi,” he said softly.“Hi,” I replied.He stepped inside, and we moved through the motions like a dance we hadn’t forgotten. Plates. Chopsticks. Steam curling from cartons. But the real heat in the room wasn’t from the food.It was the tension.I finally broke it.“Who was that message from?” I asked, voice even but my heart
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 100
I didn’t go far. Just to the small park down the block from Jeff’s condo unit—the one with the crooked benches and a fountain that hadn’t worked since spring. I sat there, my coat tight around me, watching the early evening swallow the sky whole.I didn’t cry. Not really.I was too tired for tears. Too wrung out from constantly stitching together the pieces of us, only to watch them come loose again.I pulled my phone out, stared at the blank screen. No texts. No calls. And maybe that was the point. Jeff had said he wouldn’t stop trying, but he hadn’t come after me. Not this time.Maybe he was learning to give me space. Or maybe he was just as exhausted as I was.A gust of wind tore through the branches above, scattering brittle leaves across my boots.Why does love feel like this sometimes?Not soft and soothing, but raw. Like walking barefoot on broken glass, hoping every step doesn’t cut too deep. Hoping the bleeding stops before the next fight.But despite everything, I didn’t wan
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 99
Around noon, I found a note taped to my computer monitor. Simple, clean handwriting. I didn’t need to ask who it was from."Dinner. Your place. 7PM. You don’t have to say anything. Just let me try. –J"I stared at it for a long time.It wasn’t a plea. It wasn’t a demand.It was... a hope.A quiet one. One I hadn’t earned yet. One I wasn’t sure I could accept.But when seven o’clock rolled around, I was home. I had lit candles. Put on soft music. Worn something that wasn’t just lounge clothes.And I waited.At 7:02, there was a knock.I opened the door, and there he was—holding a bag of takeout from my favorite Thai place, rain in his hair, uncertainty in his eyes.“Hi,” he said softly.“Hi,” I replied.He stepped inside, and we moved through the motions like a dance we hadn’t forgotten. Plates. Chopsticks. Steam curling from cartons. But the real heat in the room wasn’t from the food.It was the tension.I finally broke it.“Who was that message from?” I asked, voice even but my heart
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 98
By Monday, we were back in the city.Jeff dropped me off at my place, and though we kissed goodbye with a promise to see each other soon, something lingered between us—something unspoken and tense, like a storm hovering just beyond the horizon.I tried to shake it off as I stepped into my apartment. I unpacked slowly, letting the quiet settle around me. But my thoughts refused to sit still.Why now? Why was Stella suddenly trying to reappear? And why did Jeff hesitate before telling me?It wasn’t fair—he’d done so much to regain my trust. He’d been showing up, loving me in all the right ways. But one whisper from the past, and the walls I’d slowly let fall started climbing back up.I turned on some music, something soft, just to quiet the noise inside my head. And that’s when my phone buzzed.It was a message. From an unknown number.Unknown: "You can believe him if you want. But you should know he came back to me once before. Right after the first time you left."I stared at the scre
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 97
There’s something strangely intimate about folding laundry with someone you love. Not the kind of love that’s still wrapped in red ribbons and candlelit dinners, but the kind that shows up in the quiet domesticity of Sunday afternoons—barefoot, soft music in the background, mismatched socks everywhere.Jeff held up one of my oversized sweaters, the sleeves drooping like tired arms. “This still smells like that coconut shampoo you use.”I glanced up from the pile of towels. “I haven’t used that shampoo in months.”“Must be haunted,” he smirked, then tossed it gently to my side of the bed.I laughed, but it came with a soft ache. This was good. Easy. Comfortable. Almost too comfortable.Maybe that’s why it blindsided me when the tension returned—sharp and unexpected like stepping on glass in a room you thought was safe.It happened that evening.We were cleaning out the hallway closet when Jeff’s phone buzzed on the console table. Once. Twice. Three times.He didn’t reach for it.I woul
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 96
Demi's POVI stared at the message long after Jeff disappeared down the stairs, heading toward the beach. The wind outside had picked up, brushing against the glass like a warning. I hated that this had happened—now, of all times. Things were just starting to feel steady again.I didn’t even know how he’d gotten my number. I’d deleted it all—his texts, his name, his presence from my life the moment I realized he was a distraction from what I really wanted.From Jeff.And now he comes crawling back, like the past didn’t already do enough damage.I grabbed my phone and typed a response, my fingers moving fast and sharp.“Do not contact me again. This is inappropriate and unwanted. I’m with someone I love—don’t ruin what little decency you have left.”Send.Block.Delete.My chest heaved as I placed the phone face down on the railing of the porch. The waves crashed in the distance, but I couldn’t hear them over the thud of my heart. This wasn’t fair—not to Jeff, not to me, not to what we
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 95
Chelsea popped her head into my office later that day.“You look like someone ran over your optimism.”“Not now, Chels.”She walked in anyway, plopping down on the chair across from me. “Okay. Spill.”I told her.Everything.From the breakfast to the journal to the half-confession that landed like a gut-punch instead of a step forward.Chelsea didn’t say anything right away. Then: “Do you regret telling him?”“No. But I hate that it hurt him.”“Demi, listen.” She leaned forward. “You did what most people wouldn’t have the guts to do. You gave him the full picture. He asked for proof you were in this for real, and you gave it. He needs to sit with it, sure—but that doesn’t mean he’s leaving.”“I know,” I said quietly. “But I can’t help feeling like I poked a hole in something just as it was starting to feel whole again.”“Maybe,” she said. “Or maybe that hole is where the light gets in.”I groaned. “Did you just quote Leonard Cohen at me?”She grinned. “Absolutely.”I managed a smile,
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 94
Demi's POVIt wasn’t the phone call that broke me.Not really.It was the pause. That flicker of hesitation in Jeff’s eyes. The microsecond where I saw him debate whether to tell me the truth. It was the weight of everything we were trying to rebuild pressing on one fragile moment.And I hated that it felt familiar.That split-second uncertainty—the one that made me question whether I was still the girl who could be forgotten. Set aside. Replaced.But I didn’t spiral. Not this time.Because I’d promised myself something too: that I wouldn’t run anymore. That I would stay. That I would speak instead of shut down.Even if it hurt.The morning after he blocked Stella, we went through the motions like nothing had happened.Coffee. Shower. Quiet music playing from my phone as I tied my hair up.But my stomach still twisted when I caught him staring at me—like he was trying to read between the lines of my silence.“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked, gently.I thought about lying. I re
RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK CHAPTER 93
Trying is one thing.But staying?That’s the real test.And for the next week, Jeff and I tried.Not in grand, sweeping gestures. Not in dramatic confessions under the rain or fairy tale moments. But in the quiet decisions—the daily check-ins, the shared silences, the soft compromises that slowly stitched us back together.I started trusting him again. Not all at once, but in fragments. Like handing him pieces of a puzzle that used to be whole, asking him to rebuild without the picture on the box.And Jeff?He never once complained.He didn’t push when I asked for space. He didn’t flinch when I brought up Ethan, or Stella, or the silence that had almost swallowed us whole. He listened. He showed up. And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel like I was walking alone.Until Thursday.We were supposed to meet at the gallery.My newest commission piece had just been installed, and Jeff offered to help me with the lighting setup before the weekend preview. It was a simple ask—sh
