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107: Moral support
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2025-01-31 17:38:17
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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 : 2025-01-31The 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 : 2025-01-31The 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 : 2025-01-31The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 111: Confusion And Jealousy
[Deric]“Thank you so much for agreeing to see me, Mr. Martinez.”I eye the bald Italian sitting across from me, clad in a ridiculous blue jersey with the words “Go Strike Force” stretched across his broad chest. A flag flutters in his hand, and in the other, a pom-pom cheerleader prop waves like he’s ready to march into battle. A football stadium? Really? This is where I’m supposed to seal a deal?The Saturday big game—packed with a rowdy crowd and blaring music—was never where I imagined myself trying to convince a high-profile client to sign a contract with Ames Finances. But here I am, desperate to make this deal before the news about our newly acquired reputation reaches his ears. And when it does, who knows if Mr. Martinez will even entertain the idea of doing business with me. I can’t afford to wait around.Something tells me I’ll have a much better chance of securing this contract if the team Martinez is rooting for actually wins the game.“So, you support the Strike Force, hu
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 112: Slapped
I’m frozen, my heart hammering in my chest, the pulse throbbing painfully in my neck as Deric drags me into the dimly lit hallway. His grip on my wrist is so tight, I can almost feel the blood cutting off circulation. He’s pulling me away, like he owns me, like I’m some possession that he can just take. I can’t breathe. What the hell is he doing here? Why the hell is he touching me like this?"Let me go," I hiss through clenched teeth, the anger rising up like a storm in my chest. I try to yank my arm out of his grasp, but he holds on, forcing me to walk faster, farther from the noise and chaos of the party. My stomach churns, the air feeling heavier with each step. His scent, a mix of expensive cologne and that familiar, irritating arrogance, surrounds me. It makes me want to gag.“What the hell is wrong with you? Are you out of your goddamn mind?!” I demand, my voice shaky but laced with venom. The words are like acid in my mouth, but it’s nothing compared to the boiling rage I’m fe
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 113: Congratulations!
[Arella]I slip back into the private booth with a practiced smile on my face, one that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. The hum of the crowd and the blow of cheer trumpets in the background should be soothing, but all I feel is that knot in my stomach, tight and suffocating.Lincoln and my mother-in-law, who had been chatting quietly animatedly with grins on their when I left, both look up at me the moment I walk in. I can feel their eyes on me, sharp, concerned, knowing something’s wrong even though I’ve been doing my best to hide it.My mother-in-law, the ever-gracious woman she is, gives me a gentle smile. "Are you okay, sweetheart? You don’t look too well. Did something happen?"I force another smile, this one even more practiced than the last. It feels like I’m wearing a mask now, and with every second it feels heavier, more suffocating. "I’m fine, really," I say, my voice smooth, but there’s an edge to it. I know she can tell something’s off, but I’m not ready to let this spill ove
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 114: Dinner At The Sawyers
[Lincoln]Anger was hot. Jealousy was hotter. But the surge of protectiveness that bubbled in my chest was hotter than anything else I'd ever felt. It was a living, breathing thing, pulsing like an instinct, a primal urge that demanded action.The drive back isn’t as gloomy as my mood, though. Mom and Ava are chatting incessantly, their voices filling the car like an soft melody. It’s honestly the most I’ve ever heard Ava speak, and despite the tense silence between me and Arella, a warm feeling of hope and pride blooms in my chest. Maybe she really was leaving her MDD behind.“...Right, Ella?” Mom suddenly asks.“Huh?” Arella responds absentmindedly, snapping out of her reverie.What was she thinking about?No doubt the loving conversation she’d just had with her ex-husband. Her first love.That tiny, poisonous voice in my head whispers, and my hands on the wheel tighten.Like I said, this possessiveness wasn’t just a feeling—it was alive."Is everything okay?" Mom asks, her eyes
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-03The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 115: Say Yes
[Lincoln]The urge to follow them is intense, clawing at my insides like an itch I can’t scratch. But I steel myself, forcing my feet to carry me upstairs instead.I barely make it a few steps before I stop again—Grandma stands just a few inches away, her eyes gleaming with something far too smug for my liking.“Glad you didn’t follow them,” she muses, voice sickly sweet, laced with something unreadable.That has me stiffening instantly. My gaze locks onto hers, scanning her face—soft white hair neatly pinned back, dark calculating eyes, wrinkles that deepen as she grins.Only… it isn’t a warm, comforting grin.It’s the kind that puts me on edge, a silent, uncomfortable edge.I narrow my eyes. “I don’t know what kind of game you and Dad are playing, Grandma, but I won’t stand for it.” My voice is low, edged with warning. “There’s only so much I can handle. Just because you’re family doesn’t mean I’ll keep letting your schemes slide.”Her smile doesn’t waver, but something sharp flicke
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-05
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The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 199
[Arella]Vivian ran like the devil himself was on her heels.Her bare feet slapped against the filthy concrete, the sharp sting of debris cutting into her skin. The air was thick with the scent of rotting dough and mildew, the remnants of a bakery long abandoned, its glory days buried under dust and decay. Her breath came in ragged gasps, each one hitching in her throat as she weaved through the narrow corridors, her frantic movements sending old flour sacks tumbling to the ground.She was fast, I’d give her that. Desperation had a way of making people move like cornered rats, a blend of terror and pure survival instinct. But I wasn’t about to let her scurry away. Not this time.I chased after her, vaulting over overturned crates, my boots thudding heavily against the grimy floor. My pulse thundered in my ears, my lungs burning with exertion, but the fire only fueled me. Every step I took, every inch I gained, I thought about what this woman had done to me seven months ago.Seven. Fuc
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 198
[Arella]Two days later, we finally located the only bakery in Backwater Alley.True to the city’s name, the place was utterly demented. The snarls and sneers we received from passersby sent a chill slithering down my spine, despite the heavy security flanking me. It wasn’t just the people that made this place hell—it was everything. The very air felt wrong, thick with the scent of rot and dampness, like misery had been ground into the pavement for generations. The streets reeked of filth and desperation, a choking combination of decay and stale piss, and even with the promise of protection, a thick wave of unease clung to my skin like a second layer.Deric, on the other hand, was visibly cowering, his head ducked so low I half-expected him to burrow into the ground. He flinched at every sound, his breath coming in shallow gasps as we passed through each ‘checkpoint’—clusters of men loitering with sharp eyes and even sharper knives, their silent appraisal as damning as a blade against
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 197
[Arella] Deric leads us to a restaurant that's just as rundown as that bar, but at least the air inside isn't nauseating. The dim lighting does little to hide the grime-streaked walls, and the wooden chairs creak ominously as we settle down. The stench of stale grease lingers in the air, but it’s a small mercy compared to the overwhelming stench of alcohol from before.I speak first, my voice sharp. "Where have you been? What are you doing all the way in Chicago?"He clears his throat, his eyes locked onto mine with an emotion I can't quite place—adoration, maybe? Like he can't believe I'm sitting right in front of him. That only makes my patience thinner."You're going to have to start talking, Deric, because trust me, I have other ways to make you talk.""Water... please," he croaks out, his voice dry and weak. Zach signals to one of his men, never leaving my side for a single second. The moment the bottle is placed in front of him, Deric chugs it down like a man starved, gulping i
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 196
[Arella]We pass through the back, and the stench immediately assaults my senses—an overwhelming mix of stale alcohol, damp wood, and rotting garbage. Dirty bottles are strewn everywhere, some stacked haphazardly in corners, others being washed with a half-hearted effort. The entire place reeks of neglect. Dust clings to every surface, thick enough that I can practically taste it in the air. A few workers loiter around, loading crates onto a rusty truck that looks like it's one pothole away from falling apart.The sight of it all makes my skin crawl. My fingers twitch at my sides, an instinctive reaction to the unease curling in my stomach. This place feels wrong. Like a trap waiting to be sprung.A man with decayed teeth—yellowed and jagged, a testament to years of neglect—flashes me a grin as we draw closer. The smile is anything but friendly; it's lecherous, the kind that makes my skin prickle in revulsion. "Who's this fine little birdie, Isla?" His eyes drag over me from head to t
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 195
[Arella]“How may I help you?" The bartender slurs his words, his bleary eyes raking over me. So much for being insecure—he doesn’t even attempt to hide his once-over. His gaze lingers too long, his lips quirking up like he’s amused by something. But then, something shifts. He must have noticed Zach’s piercing gaze because he suddenly straightens, feigning a sense of professionalism, shoulders squaring as he averts his gaze. My lips twitch in amusement, but I don’t let it show too much."I'm looking for the owner of this number." I thrust a crumpled piece of paper into his hand, unwilling to risk handing over my phone. My fingers tighten slightly as I pull back, watching his face carefully. His brows furrow as he glances at it, then at me, before letting out a dry chuckle."You're looking for the owner of this number... in a bar?" He shoots me an incredulous look, the kind that makes me feel every bit as ridiculous as I probably seem right now.I nod anyway, knowing full well how absu
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 194
[Arella]The private jet hummed softly beneath my feet as I approached, Zach and his men flanking me on either side like silent sentinels. My heart hammered a little harder than usual, but I ignored it, my focus locked on the mission ahead. I knew I should probably wait for Benson and Jordan to return from Florida—playing it safe would be the smart thing to do. But what if this lead went cold? What if this person changed their mind?The IP address traced back to a woman’s phone—a bartender. She ran a shady little dive bar, the kind of place where secrets slipped out between shots of cheap whiskey and whispered conversations in the dark. Maybe she’d seen Lincoln with Lisa or Thompson? Maybe she knew something crucial? Or maybe… something about that desperate message didn’t sit right. If she was just giving me information, why did it feel like a cry for help?I’d responded, asking for a time to meet. No response. Nothing. Just silence.I exhaled sharply, shoving those nagging doubts asi
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 193: A Trap Or A Lead?
[Arella] "Clement came back seven years later," Father in law continues, his voice calm, but there’s an edge to it—something bitter, something restrained. "By then, I had married Gladys. I had everything I wanted—a wife, my son, a growing empire, a future laid out exactly as it should be. And Clement already had a wife of his own. Lisa’s mother." He scoffs, shaking his head. "He claimed he wanted to make amends. That the past was behind us. That friendship meant more than old grudges. I should have known better. I did know better. But I let him in anyway, like a fool." A slow exhale, his fingers tightening around his glass. "He didn’t ask for money. Didn’t come with some grand business proposal wrapped in false generosity. No, he played it smarter this time. Said he only wanted to invest in my company, that he believed in my latest vision. And like a fool, I let him buy in. Gave him a seat at my table. Trusted that maybe, just maybe, he had changed." He shakes his head, his jaw
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 192: A Father's Regret
[Arella]Have you ever longed for something so deeply, only to be denied it over and over again? And then, when you finally get it, you feel... nothing?Because tell me why I’m sitting across from my father-in-law and grandmother-in-law in the dimly lit study of the Sawyer estate, their faces grim and pale, like they’re afraid to speak in my presence. The heavy scent of old books and polished wood lingers in the air, wrapping around us like a suffocating blanket. My father-in-law clears his throat, his Adam’s apple bobbing with unease."How have you been, Arella?" he asks, his voice measured, like he's trying to sound casual.I raise an eyebrow. "How have I been?" I repeat, the bitterness curling around my words before I can stop it.Seven months. Seven months of silence. Not a word from either of them. Every single family gathering between our families—declined. No messages, no explanations, nothing. And now, my father-in-law suddenly shows up at work, requesting my presence, expect
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 191: Boardroom War II
[Arella]"N-not yet, President," one of them stammers, shoulders hunched in defeat. "But we can assure you, with our budget handed over to us, we can—"I tsk, shaking my head. "Greedy, greedy, greedy—just like Deric. You won’t see a single cent from me. And if you dare make another move to disrupt my peace like this, I won’t just cut you off—I’ll reduce Ames Finances to nothing more than scraps in a flea market bargain bin."A stunned silence settles over the room. The weight of my words crushes any lingering defiance."If accountability is truly what you seek, then start by holding yourselves responsible for your own failures. I have no time for empty demands or misplaced outrage. So do us all a favor—take your so-called accountability and escort yourselves out of my conference room immediately before I make that decision for you."The man in the brown suit reddens with anger, jabbing an accusing finger in my direction. "You… you—"But no words come. I watch as they all file out, dej
