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CHAPTER 5
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2024-11-13 21:48:36MEETING
ROWAN'S POV The sun glaring through the windows when I wake up, Bella curled up next to me with her hand on my chest. She reminds me so much of Ivy sometimes. It's been seven years since Ivy left, seven years since I got Bella back, but I still feel this emptiness inside. Like Ivy's still here, haunting me. I know I messed up, treating her the way I did. But part of me just can't let it go, can't believe she didn't love me for my money. "You love her," a little voice in my head whispers. "Shut up," I growl back. "I could never love her." But even as I say it, I know it's a lie. Ivy got under my skin in a way no one else ever has. After I divorced her, I thought she'd come crawling back in a year, tops, begging me to take her back. But she didn't. Last I heard, she was in Europe, chasing that fashion designer dream of hers. I hate it, hate the thought of her out there, building a life without me. Even if she's not mine anymore, I don't want anyone else to have her. She's supposed to be mine, only mine. When I heard about her dad, it hit me hard. He and I, we had this secret business deal going on, even before my accident. It's why the whole marriage thing threw me so bad. I knew the danger Ivy would be in if the people we screwed over came looking for payback. They wouldn't hesitate to use her to get to me. I sent my guy Jack to look into her dad's death. He found out the old man was shot, but they made it look like a random attack. I told him to keep digging, to let me know if he found anything else. But I couldn't stop thinking about Ivy. The way she touched me, kissed me... Bella's got nothing on her. Even when I'm with Bella, it's Ivy I'm picturing. Now that Bella's back, I can hardly stand to kiss her. It's like Ivy took a piece of me with her when she left. "Good morning, sunshine," Bella purrs, snapping me out of my thoughts. I'd almost forgotten she was here. "Morning," I mutter, rolling out of bed. Bella's trying her best to get me going, chattering away, but I'm miles away. I smile and nod, but I'm not really hearing her. "I was hoping you could take me and the girls shopping today," she says, slipping into her clothes. We had this wild, angry sex last night, and I hate myself for what I did. What kind of man screams his ex's name when he's in bed with his girlfriend? Bella was pissed, and I don't blame her. I gave her my black card, promised to take her shopping, just to smooth things over. "I've got somewhere to be," I tell her, yanking on my shirt. "But Rowan, you promised!" she whines, giving me those puppy dog eyes I can't stand. "Like I said, I've got a meeting. You've got my card, buy whatever you want." I don't give her a chance to argue, just head downstairs and out the door for my morning run. Fifteen minutes later, I'm still pounding the pavement, but I can't outrun my thoughts. Ivy's face just keeps flashing through my mind. By the time I get back, Bella's long gone, my card with her. I'm just finishing my coffee when my alarm goes off. I'm supposed to head over to the Sharps' place, pay my respects to Ivy's mom. It doesn't take me long to get ready. I throw on my Tom Ford suit, the one I wore the day I picked Ivy up all those years ago. Black shoes, black tie, black mood. Feels fitting. I take the Rolls, pulling up to their house ten minutes later. I'm climbing out of the car, heading for the front door, when it swings open and I freeze. It's Ivy, standing there looking more beautiful than I remembered, more put together. And there's a kid peeking out from behind her, a boy who can't be more than five or six. "Ivy," I choke out, my eyes glued to the boy. "Rowan? What are you doing here?" she asks, and I can tell she's not happy to see me. I clear my throat, trying to get my bearings. "I came to give your mom my condolences. Wait, is that... is that your son?" Her eyes flash with something I can't read. "Don't you dare ask me about him. It's none of your damn business." I hold up my hands, stunned by the venom in her voice. This isn't the Ivy I remember. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry. I'm just surprised, that's all." But I can't take my eyes off the boy. He looks so much like I did at that age. I thought no one would want to settle down with her after me. Thought she wasn't good enough for anyone else. But I was wrong. So wrong. She's trying to leave, but I can't let her go. Not yet. "Ivy, wait. We need to talk about this." But she just shakes her head, her face hard. "There's nothing to talk about, Rowan. I'm here to bury my father, not dig up the past." And then she's walking away, the boy's hand in hers, and all I can do is watch her go. I feel like I've been punched in the gut. She's moved on, started a family with someone else. And it's all my fault. I screwed up, let my pride and my ego get in the way, and now I've lost her for good. But as I stand there, watching her disappear down the street, I know one thing for sure. I'm not ready to let her go. Not again. Not without a fight. I don't know how, but I'm going to find a way to make this right. To prove to her that I've changed, that I'm not the same selfish bastard I was back then. Even if it takes me the rest of my life, I'm going to earn her forgiveness. Her trust.
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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
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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.
