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CHAPTER 20
Last Updated:
2025-03-13 14:06:50
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THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 21
IVY’S DILEMMA IVY’S POV Noah was gone. My heart nearly stopped when I stepped outside and saw nothing but an empty sidewalk. Panic rushed through me. I spun in every direction, my breath coming fast. He had been right here. One second he was here, the next, he was gone. Oh God! My fingers trembled as I fumbled for my phone, dialing Gabe’s number. It rang. And rang. No answer. I clenched my teeth, forcing myself to breathe. Think, Ivy. Think. Noah wasn’t reckless. He wouldn’t just run off, not unless he had a reason. Or someone gave him one. I swallowed hard. Rowan. I didn’t want to believe it, but after the way Noah had been asking about his father, after the way he looked at Rowan earlier today… What if he followed him? What if Rowan let him? The very idea made my blood boil. I took another shaky breath and tried calling Rowan. Although it's been ages since we spoke, I couldn't bring myself to delete his number. This time, it barely rang before a small
Last Updated : 2025-03-13THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 22
A BATTLE OF WILLS ROWAN'S POV It's been a few days since I found out that I have a son and all I could think was how I could get to know him. Obviously, I knew that was going to be a new level of difficult seeing how Ivy is trying to make sure that we don't get I stay away from the boy. It's not like I blamed her or anything. It was my fault after all. I was the one that tossed her out for a stupid reason. It was Saturday evening and I didn't have it in me for any social calling. So, I sent the servants away and sat in the living room while flipping through TV stations that barely held my attention. Lost in my thoughts, I barely notice when someone knocks on the door. I was about to call for one of the servants to come get the door but then I remembered there was no one around. With a grunt, I went to get the door. The moment I opened the door, my system was hit with shock that I almost fell to my knees. The usual floral scent of Ivy filled the air, robbing me of the ability
Last Updated : 2025-03-13THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 23
PRESSURES FROM THE PAST Ivy’s POV I sat in my office, glaring at the email on my screen like it might burst into flames. I read it again, hoping I’d misunderstood. Nope. “Vanguard launches new summer collection.” My collection. Their press release was bold, complete with photos of the exact designs I’d planned to release next month. The different shades of soft colors, and unique styles on the dresses—every single detail—identical to my sketches. I clenched my fists. Bella. It had to be her. Only a few people had access to those designs, and one of them included my former employee and mentee, Eric. The son of bitch betrayed me and leaked my other designs to her. It hadn't been too long that I caught wind that he was the one responsible for Vanguard stealing my designs before they even got the chance to see the world. And it had happened again. But by God, this will be the last time. Not if I can help it. My pulse thudded in my ears. I needed to act fast, but legal actio
Last Updated : 2025-03-13THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 24
NOAH'S BIG QUESTION Ivy’s POV The soft hum of the TV was the only sound in the living room, but I wasn’t paying attention to the cartoon flickering on the screen. My eyes were locked on Noah, who was sprawled out on the couch with his tablet in his lap, his little face furrowed in concentration. He hadn’t said much since we got home earlier, and I couldn’t blame him. After everything that had happened over the past few days—after everything with Rowan—I wasn’t sure how to begin untangling it for him. “Mom?” His voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “Yeah, sweetheart?” He set the tablet aside and sat up, his serious expression catching me off guard. “Can I ask you something?” I smiled, trying to push down the anxiety curling in my chest. “Of course. You can ask me anything.” He hesitated for a second, then looked at me with those wide, honest eyes of his. “Why isn’t Rowan around? Like… in our lives?” The question hit me like a punch to the gut. My breath caught, and for a secon
Last Updated : 2025-03-13THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 25
WARNING GABE’S POV I found him leaning against his car, hands stuffed in his pockets, staring up at the darkened windows of Ivy’s house. There was something about the way he stood—too casual, too comfortable—that set my teeth on edge. He had no right to stand there like he belonged, like he hadn’t left her to pick up the shattered pieces of her life. I took a deep breath, my boots crunching against the gravel as I closed the distance between us. His head lifted at the sound, and when his eyes met mine, I saw the flicker of recognition, then caution. “Gabe,” Rowan said, his voice calm, almost too calm. “Didn’t expect to see you here.” Right back at you asshole. “Yeah, well,” I crossed my arms, standing tall. “Figured it was about time we had a little chat.” Not that it was my plan to talk to him. I came to see Ivy and Noah but his appearance just set me off. His brow arched. “A chat?” Was I supposed to repeat myself? What was it with this rich pricks? “About Ivy,” I said fla
Last Updated : 2025-03-13THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 26
BREAKING POINT IVY’S POV The boardroom buzzed with a nervous energy I couldn’t quite place. My investors sat around the long table, eyes on me, waiting for answers I wasn’t entirely sure I had anymore. I swallowed the lump in my throat and smiled through it. “Thank you all for being here,” I began, clasping my hands together tightly to keep them from shaking. “I know there have been… setbacks recently, but I want to assure you that the launch is still on schedule. The designs are ready, and the marketing team is already preparing the final campaign strategy.” A couple of the investors nodded, but most of them looked skeptical. I could practically hear their thoughts. Another crisis. Another excuse. How long until this business collapses? I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t. I’d worked too damn hard to get here. Just as I was about to continue, the glass door to the boardroom swung open. A woman I vaguely recognized—short hair, sharp suit, and a notebook clutched in her hand—w
Last Updated : 2025-03-13THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 27
A MOMENT OF TRUTH Ivy’s POV The apartment was unusually quiet, except for the rhythmic ticking of the wall clock. It filled the silence between Sarah and me, almost like it was counting down to something inevitable. She sat across from me on the couch, one leg tucked under her, her sharp eyes studying me like she knew I was about to spill something big. “Alright,” Sarah said, tilting her head. “You’ve been pacing for the last five minutes, and I’ve already watched you open and close your mouth at least three times. Just say it.” I stopped in my tracks, chewing on my bottom lip. My palms felt clammy, and my heart was racing. I had no idea where to begin, but the weight in my chest refused to let me keep quiet any longer. “It’s Rowan,” I finally blurted out, sinking onto the couch beside her. “I can’t stop thinking about him.” Her eyebrows shot up. “Rowan?” she repeated, her voice cautious. “As in the Rowan? The one who—” “Yes,” I cut her off quickly. “That Rowan.” Sarah folded
Last Updated : 2025-03-13THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 28
DINNER FOR THREE Rowan’s POV The table was set—casual but thoughtful. A bowl of pasta, fresh salad, and garlic bread sat in the center, steam rising into the warm air of the kitchen. I wiped my hands on a dish towel, glancing at the clock. Ten minutes until they arrived. I couldn’t remember the last time I was this nervous. Business meetings, tough negotiations—I could handle those with ease. But waiting for Ivy and Noah to walk through my door felt like I was preparing for an ambush. I wasn’t even sure how I convinced Ivy to agree to this dinner. Maybe it was pure desperation, or maybe she saw something in my eyes earlier when we talked—something that made her want to give me a chance. Either way, I wasn’t going to waste it. The knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts. Showtime. I opened the door, and there they were. Ivy stood just outside, her hand resting on Noah’s shoulder. She looked hesitant, her eyes flickering past me and into the house. Noah, on the other hand
Last Updated : 2025-03-13
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THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 45
PEACE OFFERING Rowan's POV Noah stared at the ball for a moment before his eyes shifted back to me. He didn’t reach for it, but I saw the hint of curiosity in his gaze. It wasn’t much, but it was something. “You really think I’ll just forgive you because you bring me a stupid ball?” he asked, his voice tinged with frustration. I shook my head, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. “No, I don’t. But I think it might be a step in the right direction.” Noah’s lips twitched, like he might have wanted to smile, but he held it back. “I’m not sure it’s that simple.” “I don’t expect it to be,” I said, my voice steady. “But I’m willing to try.” Noah finally stood up, crossing the room to take the ball from my hands. “Fine. We’ll start with this. But don’t expect me to suddenly act like everything’s okay.” “I don’t expect you to,” I said. “I just want a chance.” He looked at me for a long moment, as if deciding whether or not to trust me. Then, with a reluctant nod, he walke
THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 44
ROWAN'S RESOLVE (Rowan’s POV) I had heard everything. I had been sitting outside Ivy’s apartment, just a few feet away, my back pressed against the cold brick of the wall, listening to every word that passed between her and Noah. I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop. But the door was open just enough, and the sound of Noah’s voice, trembling with confusion and hurt, drew me in like a magnet. The words struck me harder than anything I had ever felt before. Ivy had been keeping the truth from him. The truth about me. About who I was—or rather, who I wasn’t. A father. I hadn’t meant to be this way. I didn’t want to be the kind of man who walked away, but life had a way of throwing curveballs that knocked you sideways. I didn’t know how to love Ivy, and I had convinced myself that kicking Ivy out was the best option. For Ivy and for me. But hearing it from Noah, hearing the pain in his voice, broke something inside me. He wasn’t a little boy anymore. He was growing up, becoming someone wh
THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 43
THE TRUTH ABOUT NOAH Ivy’s POV The sound of Noah’s laughter echoed through the house, a sound that usually brought me comfort, but today it just felt like an intrusion. I needed quiet. I needed time to think, to prepare myself for the conversation I knew was coming. The conversation I had been avoiding for months. Noah was playing video games in the living room, as he always did when he needed to relax. I couldn’t blame him. I wanted to relax too. But today, escaping wasn’t an option. I had promised him that I would tell him the truth, and now, I had to keep that promise. I took a deep breath and walked toward the living room, my footsteps heavier than usual. Noah didn’t notice me at first. He was too absorbed in the screen, his fingers flying over the controller. But when I stood in the doorway, he looked up, his face lighting up with a smile. “Hey, Mom. You want to play?” His voice was full of excitement, but I saw the underlying weariness in his eyes. I smiled back, though
THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 42
THE LINES WE DRAW Ivy’s POV The room was dark, lit only by the faint silver of moonlight peeking through the blinds. The sheets tangled around my bare legs, still warm from the heat we’d created. My breathing was finally steady, but my heart… my heart was a mess of contradictions. Gabe lay beside me, his arm draped across my waist. He traced slow circles against my skin, the silence between us soft and heavy. “I missed this,” he whispered, lips brushing the curve of my shoulder. “You. Us.” I closed my eyes. Trying to embrace this moment. To forget every other thing. I wanted to say it back. I wanted to mean it. But every time I tried, Rowan’s face pushed through my thoughts and messed everything up. “Tell me something real, Ivy,” Gabe murmured, lifting himself to lean over me, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Now that all this mess with Ethan and Bella is over… what happens next?” I turned to look at him. His eyes were still that same soulful brown—earnes
THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 41
A SPARK REKINDLED Rowan’s POV The gavel hit the bench with a sharp finality. “Case dismissed. Charges against Ms. Ivy Sharp and her company are hereby dropped, with prejudice. Furthermore, an investigation into Ms. Bella Kelly and Mr. Ethan Sharp will proceed under federal review.” Just like that—it was over. I didn’t even hear the murmurs in the courtroom. Everything around me blurred, tunneled, and narrowed in on the woman sitting two rows ahead of me. Ivy. She sat completely still, like she was afraid if she moved, it would all be a dream. I could see the rigid line of her shoulders, her fingers clenched around her purse so tight, her knuckles were white. Then, slowly, she turned her head. Our eyes met. I didn’t smile. I didn’t have to. She blinked once, like her brain needed a second to register the truth, and then, finally, her shoulders sagged. She exhaled. A long, trembling breath. And I saw it the a crack in her armor she used to protect herself. Finally. I rose
THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 40
NOAH'S GROWING CURIOSITY Noah had been watching. I should have noticed sooner. The way his eyes tracked Rowan whenever he walked into the room. The way his little brows furrowed whenever I spoke to him in hushed tones. My son was sharp, too sharp for his age. But tonight, I couldn't avoid his questions. It was late, past his bedtime, but Noah wasn’t asleep. I found him curled up on the living room couch, a book resting open on his lap, though his eyes weren’t moving across the pages. Instead, they were locked on me. I tried to pretend like I didn't notice him staring but it was hard. I didn't want to indulge him. I wanted to order him to his. But I didn't have the heart to do that. I sighed and sat down next to him, brushing a hand over his unruly curls. "You should be in bed." He didn’t argue. I guess he too understood but obviously he was on to something. Instead, he closed the book and looked up at me. "Is Rowan going to be around forever?" The question was so direct, so c
THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 39
A FAMILY'S FIGHT The boardroom was suffocating. I hadn't felt this way in a long time. Eleven investors sat in their high-backed chairs, their polished shoes tapping against the floor, their eyes filled with barely concealed doubt. The air smelled of coffee and tension. I sat at the head of the table, back straight, shoulders squared, refusing to let them see even a flicker of hesitation. Rowan sat to my left, Sarah to my right. Both of them were quiet, but their presence was my anchor. I don't know why I let Rowan into my life again. But in this moment, in this time, I was grateful. I took a slow breath, then spoke. “We’re moving forward with legal action against Ethan and Bella.” Murmurs erupted. Gregory Whitmore, the oldest and loudest investor, leaned forward. “Ivy, let’s be reasonable. A lawsuit will draw attention—bad attention. We have enough problems without dragging your personal matters into the public eye.” I clenched my jaw. “My personal matters? Ethan and Bell
THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 38
CONFESSION Rowan's POV I found Ivy sitting in her office, her hands gripping the edge of the desk like it was the only thing holding her together. Her back was stiff, her shoulders taut with tension. She hadn't looked at me since I walked in. The air between us was thick, heavy with everything left unsaid. And there was so much to be said. After the kidnap of her son and her finding out that her brother was working against her, I figured this will be a lot to take for her. But she needed to hear this. I didn't know how she would react to my presence today. Yesterday, she almost hurt me with her ceramic cup. It's good thing she hasn't started hurling things at me. At least she was in control of her rage this time. I cleared my throat. “Ivy, I need to talk to you.” “Not now, Rowan.” Her voice was flat. Tired. She didn't even bother to look up at me. I ignored her dismissal and stepped closer. “It’s about Ethan.” That got her attention. Her head snapped up, eyes locking onto
THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX WIFE CHAPTER 37
THE PAIN OF TRUTH Ivy's POV As I stood in my office, staring at my phone, my pulse hammered in my ears. The article was right there, the words blurring together as I reread them for what felt like the hundredth time. What's going on? This can't be true. He will never do such a thing. Could it be Bella is trying to pull another one of her tricks? "A source confirms that the recent attacks on Ivy Sharp’s business were orchestrated by an insider—her own brother, Ethan Sharp." My stomach twisted. This had to be a mistake. Ethan wouldn’t—couldn’t—do something like this. I knew he never really wanted me around him, but going the extra mile to sabotage my business was unthinkable. Could he be working with Bella? That's not possible. He wouldn't stoop so low. But as I scrolled further, the article listed transaction records, emails, and phone logs. Evidence. Proof. I covered my mouth with my hand, trying to stop the sudden wave of nausea. This wasn't just a bad joke. It was real.
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