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102: He's Here

Penulis: Tarina
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-01-31 17:36:52

[Lincoln]

How could one woman suffer so much, man, in such a little amount of time?

A small, irrational part of me is beginning to think I’m the jinx in her life. She hasn’t had a moment of peace since I came into it. Logically, I know that’s ridiculous, but I can’t shake the feeling. It’s like the universe took one look at her finally catching a break and said, Oh? You thought?

Confusion, anger, and pure shock roll off my wife in waves as she sobs in my arms—her safe space. The weight of her emotions presses into my chest, each shudder of her body resonating deep within me. I hold her tighter, my grip firm yet reassuring. I’m glad she’s letting go with me, trusting me to keep her safe.

The soft glow of the car’s interior light casts a dim halo around her trembling form, highlighting the tear tracks staining her flushed cheeks. Outside, the world continues as if nothing just shattered inside her—city lights blurring past the tinted windows, horns blaring in the distance, the occasiona
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  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    103: Won't You Invite Me In?

    [Arella]Six black cars roll up our front yard in a dramatic fashion, kicking up dust as they glide to a halt with an air of untouchable importance. For a second, I feel like I’ve been transported into one of those over-the-top telenovelas Ava always forces me to watch with her these days. How did he even find my home?Then again, he’s a Walcott—I’m sure he can get whatever he wants with the snap of a damn finger.Lincoln comes up beside me, his body rigid, a tense energy rolling off my husband, his presence like a storm waiting to break. I don’t even have to look at him to feel the sheer force of his unspoken disbelief and fury vibrating off him in waves.And yet, strangely enough, I feel calm.I mean, sure—I woke up today as the sole heir to one of the biggest conglomerates in America. But yeah, it’s nothing much.The first to step out of the vehicles are the bodyguards. Their confidence is practically identical to the men Lincoln has stationed throughout the compound—rigid, sharp,

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31
  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    104: Her Mother

    [Arella]"It is your right," he shifts, staring directly into my eyes. "I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I’d let it slip away into unworthy hands."I wipe a hand over my face, frustration bubbling up. "And you think I’m a worthy hand? For God’s sake, you don’t even know me. What if all this turns out to be fake, and I’m just some doppelganger? I mean, this kind of thing happens all the time, right? People walk around pretending to be someone else, living someone else’s life."His look is… unimpressed. Typical. He doesn’t get it, and honestly? I don’t get it either. I mean, who would? I barely know myself right now, let alone understand why any of this is happening. If I didn’t feel like I was already drowning, I’d probably laugh at how ridiculous this whole thing is.He sighs, bitterness thick in his voice. "I’m sorry," he says, his tone laced with annoyance. "But the guy who wrecked my life was about to hand the whole business over to his kid—the same kid who can’t ev

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31
  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    105: Her Mother II

    [Arella]Was a drug addict... was a drug addict... was a drug addict.The words spin in my head, tumbling over each other before I even make sense of them. I can't process what I'm hearing. Lincoln stiffens beside me, his posture rigid, as if my shock is somehow his own. This certainly isn't the first thing I imagined he'd say.“You see,” my grandfather begins, his voice unexpectedly thick with something I can’t place, “your grandmother—my late wife—was always sick. Even before I married her, she had a weak body, a fragile constitution, and nothing we tried worked. I mean, literally everything.”His words seem to linger in the air, heavy and full of sorrow. I can see it in his face, the lines of regret etched deeper than the years themselves. “Odette was my only child. The pressure from my family for my late wife to give birth to a son... it crushed her. It ate her alive. She fell into depression."He pauses, as if trying to keep his composure, but I can tell it’s slipping. I swallo

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31
  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    106: Closure?

    [Arella]"You mother scammed me out of some shares and ran away," he says, the words heavy, his voice shaking slightly, as though even the memory of it stings. My fingertips dig into my palm as I squeeze harder, the tension in my body building with each word. My nails bite into my skin, desperate to ground me in the present and not get lost in the past.“And as fate would have it, her lover boy scammed her out of that too and dumped her.” he deadpans, running a frustrated hand through his thick hair. “One year. A year of intense, grueling searching. I looked everywhere for my child. Everywhere. And eventually I found her in the underground slums, worn out, dug laced and utterly unrecognizable. That was the first time I laid eyes on you.”A small smile tugs at his lips, nostalgia coating his features you were so small, so beautiful. While your mother….”He shakes his head, "She was already far gone. Surviving on drugs like it was her next meal.I knew I had to take you away. I knew

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31
  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    107: Moral support

    [Arella]"Oh thank God you're okay!"Bridget breathes out in relief, her voice cracking slightly as her arms envelop me in a warm, tight embrace. I melt into it, feeling the tension of the morning begin to ease."I'm fine, I'm fine," I mutter into her shoulder, trying to assure her, though her hug is like a balm to my frazzled nerves."Bridge… the baby," I add with amusement, the words slipping as her hug tightes like she isn't sure I'm here. It’s the only way to bring her attention back, to pull her away from her worry.Her eyes widen in surprise before she steps back, the realization hitting her like a wave."Sorry, sorry!" She apologizes, her cheeks flushing with the slightest hint of embarrassment. “I hope I didn't squish my little gum drop!” she pouts and I laugh pushing her face away as I mutter a “No, no, you didn't" But she doesn’t step away completely. Instead, she watches me with intense concern, her eyes still searching me for any sign of distress.I hear huffing and puff

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31
  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    108: How Dare He?

    [Arella]"Not helpful," Bridget says, nudging Sasha’s side, and a dry laugh escapes me."Yep, this is my life now.""Wait, is he the same old man you saved that day from the accident?" Bridget asks, her eyes widening with disbelief."Yeah, it’s him, alright," I confirm, my voice tinged with surprise at how everything has come full circle."What a turn of events," Bridget says with a small shake of her head. "You’d be too busy to work at Chanax now."I stiffen, sending a small glare her way. "W-what do you mean? Of course I’ll work at Chanax. I haven’t accepted anything from him yet. I’m still your vice president."Sasha’s face softens, a teasing yet sad smile on her lips. "But for how long though? You can only run from your destiny for so long. You were born for something much greater than Chanax Enterprises.""Hey!" Bridget pouts in mock anger."No offense," Sasha quips with a giggle, "but you know what I mean."She turns her attention back to me, her gaze softening as she waits for

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31
  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    109: I Need Your Help

    [Lincoln]"I never thought we'd cross paths again, boy."Mr. Walcott—my grandfather-in-law—speaks as I push his wheelchair toward the waiting car. The early afternoon sun is warm against my skin, casting long shadows over the polished driveway.I offer him a small smile, though my words are edged with dry amusement. "I never thought my wife would turn out to be a Walcott, sir."The nervous, awkward energy from earlier seems to melt away, replaced by something calmer—an unspoken understanding between two men who know what it means to carry the weight of a family name."How’s your father?" he asks, his tone neutral, but I don’t miss the weight behind the question.I stiffen slightly before forcing out a clipped reply. "As fine as he can be."He chuckles, glancing at his wrist as he flexes it, his watch catching the sunlight. His bodyguards flank us, ever watchful as one of them moves to open the car door."Hope he's staying put… and away from bad decision-making?" His brow arches knowin

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31
  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    110: Consequences Be Damned

    [Deric]Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.Anger rolls off me in violent waves as I hurl my phone to the ground, watching it smash into pieces. The screen cracks, the battery pops out, but the fury in my chest doesn’t settle. Three times. I tried three more damn times after she cut the call, and the number wouldn’t go through.Did she block me?How fucking dare she?But the even bigger problem, the one clawing at my sanity, is—why did I even want to call her in the first place? Why did I want to speak to her, to know how she was doing? I know it’s wrong. I know. But I couldn’t help myself.I saw her on the news yesterday.Calm demeanor. Porcelain skin. Eyes so fucking clear I felt my heart skip a beat. What is wrong with me?!I stopped taking those stupid tablets Vivi got for me. Something about them felt off. Sure, they helped with my raging migraines, but they also made me forget things—important things. Family stuff. Memories that felt like they were slipping through my fingers like sand.Ever sin

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31

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  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    Author’s Note

    Wow. What a journey it’s been, right? Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sticking with me through this wild, emotional journey. Arella and Lincoln's story has been so close to my heart, and I hope it’s touched yours too. Your support means more than words can say, and I’m so grateful for every single one of you, you guys are the real MVPs. ❤️ P.S. If you loved this story, I’d be over the moon if you gave my future books a read. Trust me, more heart-tugging, exciting stories are coming your way!Until next time, Tarina (⁠◠⁠‿⁠◠⁠)⁠—⁠☆

  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    Epilogue II

    [Arella]I whip around, eyes widening as I practically leap off Lincoln's lap in surprise."You're here!" I blurt, caught off guard but grinning. "I thought you said you couldn’t make it."Standing there, looking sheepish and a little road-worn, is Deric. He scratches the back of his head, wearing that same awkward, harmless smile he has these days."I wouldn’t have made it," he admits, voice a little raspy from travel, "but my flight was delayed... so I thought, what the hell, why not crash the party anyway?""Deric," Lincoln says, stepping up beside me, his hand still resting easy at my waist."Lincoln," Deric replies with a short nod, his voice even.There's a brief pause—more out of old habits than real tension—before Deric extends his hand. Lincoln studies him for a beat, then accepts the handshake without hesitation, the corners of his mouth lifting in a faint, civil smile.The tightness I hadn't even realized was clenching my chest slowly eases."This is, uh, for your son," Der

  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    Epilogue

    3 MONTHS LATER[Arella]"Grandpa really outdid himself this time, Mila," I laugh under my breath, wide-eyed as I take in the mansion decked out like something straight out of a storybook. I should’ve known better when he said he’d ‘take care of everything.’ With Grandpa, that’s just secret code for ‘go big enough to make even fairy tales jealous.’Mila giggles, but then her face goes pale. "Well, we all know how–"She cuts herself off, rushing to her son, who’s happily stuffing his face with edible flowers."Oh my God, Wayne! Spit that out!" she yells, running after him."No no! Cakeee!" he laughs, trying to run away.I roll my eyes and snatch the small board of tasks from her hands. "Looks like you’ve got your hands full already with this little turd," I mutter, pinching Wayne’s chubby cheeks. He sticks his tongue out at me, playful as ever. I shake my head and take the board from her, walking around the room, coordinating with the staff to make sure everything’s perfect.****"Why a

  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    213: Final Verdict

    [Arella]TWO MONTHS LATERThe courtroom is cold, Not physically—but emotionally. It's almost too quiet.My hands sit frozen in my lap, unmoving for the past five minutes. A dull, anxious ache hums beneath my skin, but I can’t bring myself to shift. Lincoln sits beside me, our fingers tightly laced, grounding me. His other hand works swiftly over his phone, typing out what I’m sure are urgent work emails.Work had only gotten busier since he resumed.You’d think having two CEOs would make things easier. It only doubled our workload.I had tried to argue my way into stepping down, maybe becoming his VP or something less suffocating—but Lincoln wasn’t having any of it.Apex Conglomerate was clawing its way into the world’s elite, growing bigger, louder, more powerful by the day—and Lincoln made it crystal clear he wouldn’t let me miss a second of it.I blink myself back to the present as the judge adjusts his glasses, his stern gaze dropping down to the man standing trial.The man who a

  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    212: Finally Home II

    [Lincoln]The car pulls up to Witmoore Gardens, a private area owned by the Sawyers for intimate family events, tucked away from the noisy chaos of the outside world. The afternoon sun kisses the neatly trimmed hedges and the white blossoms that line the entrance sway gently in the breeze.I can't help the heavy thump of my heart at the thought of seeing my family again. A real, physical ache throbs inside my chest as the driver cuts the engine and we step out.We exist the car and take a slow walk down the stone-cobbled path, the soft crunch of gravel beneath our shoes filling the warm, floral-scented air. Arella’s hand is securely locked in mine, her presence grounding me even as my nerves threaten to tangle my steps."Your palms are sweaty, Linc. Are you nervous?" she teases softly, giving me a look so warm and tender it makes my heart trip in my chest like a reckless drum."Maybe," I reply, my voice coming out lower and raspier than intended.Her grin only grows. "Aww, they don't

  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    211: Finally Home

    [Lincoln]I mean, sure, Arella and I appeared on TV a few days ago when the Mayor of Chicago wanted to publicly appreciate our efforts, and I knew—rationally—that everyone must know I'm alive now. But I didn't expect this.I didn't expect the entire airport to already be flooded like a damn concert just to catch a glimpse of us. The jet had barely touched the runway, the tires still hissing from contact, and yet-it’s like the whole damn city of San Diego decided to show up for a party.From the distance, the sharp staccato of camera shutters echoes through the thick, humid air, flashes popping like fireworks across the runway. The chaotic chorus of reporters shouting questions and calling our names roars louder with every step we descend.A cheeky, loopsided grin spreads across Arella’s face as we start down the stairs of the jet, her hand still tightly locked with mine, her spirit practically buzzing with unbothered amusement. Her entire energy screams: I own this moment."You're lov

  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    210: Mile–High Confessions

    [Lincoln]I never thought I’d be lucky enough to marry a superheroine, but here I am, with the most incredible woman by my side.The night wraps around us like a soft, comforting robe. The jet hums beneath us, its quiet rhythm like a lullaby carrying us away from the chaos. We’d spent another three, exhausting days in Chicago, collaborating with the police and drug enforcement agencies to dismantle one of the city’s most dangerous syndicates, ensuring every production of that deadly injection was stopped in its tracks. But now, as I watch my wife sleeping peacefully-her face bathed in the gentle glow of the cabin lights—a rush of emotions fills me. It’s more than warmth. It's something deeper, something that settles in my soul and touches every fractured part of me. It feels like a healing, like a light that’s always been missing inside me, now shining so brightly it threatens to overflow. Heaven knows, if the roles were reversed, if I’d been the one forced to raise a child alone f

  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    209: The End Of It All

    [Arella]“Fuck you, Lincoln Sawyer!” Thompson’s voice tears through the air, cracked and furious, soaked in desperation as he launches backwards with one final burst of rage. His boot slams into Lincoln, sending him staggering back a few steps and before I can even think, he’s charging at me—wild-eyed, unhinged, like something that’s crawled straight out of hell and decided it wants to drag me back with it.But Lincoln doesn’t go down easy.He moves like something deep inside him just snapped back into place. One moment he’s stumbling, breathless, the next he’s lunging like a damn freight train, grabbing Thompson mid-sprint and twisting with enough force to rattle the concrete under our feet. Thompson’s body slams into the ground with a sickening thud, the gun flying from his hand and skittering across the floor with a metallic scream as the punches from Lincoln connects with his face.“Arella!” Lincoln’s voice cuts through the chaos, raw and real.With thinking anymore I run to him,

  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    208: Violence And Vengeance

    [Arella]“No no no!” Lisa screeches, stumbling back like the floor beneath her just cracked open. “H-how did you find us?!”Her voice pierces the air like shattered glass, high-pitched and filled with the kind of desperation only obsession can birth. She's shaking now, her wild eyes darting from me to the little vial still pinched between my fingers.“You conniving bitch!!” Thompson barks, his neck veins bulging as his gaze swings to Vivian.His hand trembles violently as he points between us, rage bleeding into fear. Then he sees Deric. And he pales.“It was only a matter of time before I found you, Thompson,” I say, calm, steady, like the reaper arriving with a smirk. “I’m sure you knew that too.”He begins to back away, every inch of arrogance fleeing his body like air from a punctured balloon. He stumbles until his back hits Lincoln’s bed—and that’s when everything freezes. My blood stops in my veins as he suddenly swings a gun out of his pocket, his hand shaking but deadly, and p

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