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114: Dinner At The Sawyers
Huling Na-update:
2025-02-03 23:59:30
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The 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
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-05The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 116: Costa Rica
[Arella]“You’ve proved to be a worthy asset to my family and my son, Arella.”The words came the moment I stepped into his office, my father-in-law wasting no time, his tone sharp and deliberate. His eyes, always cold and unreadable, held something different this time—a glint of something almost resembling approval.My lips pressed together, barely resisting the urge to roll my eyes. Oh, finally. The great William Sawyer acknowledging me for more than just my name. What an honor.I cleared my throat, a weight settling on my chest. Was this how Lincoln grew up? With a father who measured every relationship based on its benefits, who saw people not as individuals but as assets? The thought made my stomach tighten. Did Lincoln ever feel truly loved?His gaze on me was calculating, measuring. It wasn’t affection—it was recognition. I was no longer just Arella. I was Arella, the granddaughter of the great Harold Walcott. And somehow, that made the weight of being a Walcott feel even heav
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-05The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 117: Blurred Memories
[Deric]"You know I've always wanted to date you. I can't hide my feelings for you anymore, babygirl. Please… say yes."I urge, my voice filled with raw emotion as I kneel on one knee in the middle of the cafeteria floor. The chatter around us fades into a low hum, the world narrowing down to just the two of us. I'm dressed sharply, a crisp navy-blue suit hugging my frame, polished shoes gleaming under the bright fluorescent lights. In my hands, I hold out a beautifully crafted velvet case, and inside it, nestled like a secret, lies a sapphire-blue diamond necklace. The gemstone catches the light, sending brilliant shards of blue scattering across her skin.My heart pounds against my ribs, anticipation tightening in my chest. My fingers tremble slightly as I stare at the woman before me, but her face… I can’t see it. It’s blurred, like a memory slipping through my fingers, just out of reach."Oh, Deric…" she whispers, her voice thick with emotion.She sniffles softly, wiping away the
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-06The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 118: Tres Leches And Tender Moments
[Arella]Costa Rica is beautiful—so, so beautiful. Vibrant wildlife, wonderful warm people… even if I only understood two percent of what they're saying. Lincoln does most of the talking, his deep, confident voice smoothing over every conversation like he was born to speak Spanish. Still, this is the vacation of my dreams—being stranded in a warm country with my hunk of a husband, who was currently hurling up shopping bags like the macho man he is."You know, I can handle some bags, right, Linc?" I tease, rolling my eyes as he gives me a snort.Seriously, how can he carry so many bags without breaking a sweat? If I wasn’t already pregnant with his child, my ovaries would be tingling right now.Curbing my unhealthy thoughts concerning my ridiculously attractive husband, I point to a cute café by the road as we stroll back the short walk to our hotel—or should I say resort, owned by none other than Lincoln Sawyer himself."Let’s go in there! It looks wonderful!" I squeal, unable to co
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-07The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 119: Churros And Surprises
[Arella] "Don't you dare." My scowl is ominous enough to freeze Lincoln mid-phone call. He turns to me slowly, his expression caught somewhere between guilt and mild amusement—like a deer in headlights, if that deer also had the audacity to be breathtakingly handsome. If I wasn’t so ‘pissed’, I’d take a second to appreciate how adorable he looks right now. But no, I’m furious. Absolutely livid. Well… as livid as one can be while staring at their incredibly attractive husband. Without breaking eye contact, I yank the phone from his grasp, pressing it to my ear. "Never mind, sir. We won’t require that uh.. service" My voice is all sugar and honey as I swiftly end the call. I hope the guy on the other end understood English. Lincoln frowns, lips parting like he’s about to argue, but I cut him off with an accusing glare. "Lincoln Sawyer," I begin, hands on my hips, one brow arched. "How could you?" He blinks at me, clearly unbothered. "How could I what?" "You wanted to cl
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-08The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 120: Uninvited
[Arella]What in the actual fuck?Deric?!The shocked gasp that escapes my lips has him frowning, his dark brows knitting together. The sight of him here—now—sends a sharp chill down my spine.Deric’s frown deepens. “What? Not excited to see me?”My heart cools instantly, like ice water poured over my veins. Excited? I stare into his sad, unreadable eyes, struggling to grasp the insanity of this moment. Like I should feel exhilarated that my ex-husband just crashed my honeymoon, as if this is some long-lost lovers' reunion in a fucking rom-com.My lips part, but all that rolls out is;"Are you… insane?"The words sound so small compared to the roaring disbelief in my head.His eyes flicker with something wild before anger settles in their depths. He steps forward suddenly, gripping my shoulder with an urgency that makes my skin crawl."I went through all the trouble of bypassing your husband's numerous security and traveling this far just to see you," he says, his voice measured but s
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-09The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 121: Jealousy Burns
[Lincoln]That surge of possessiveness I always try to tame around my wife comes spiraling up in full force. The image of his form pressed against her scratches at my skin like claws.God, I hate this man in front of me. "Seems our little talk the other day had no effect on you, Mr. Smith."I crouch, gripping a fistful of his hair, yanking his head back as another groan rips through his throat. More blood spills from his already broken nose, dripping down his lips."Do you want me to ruin you, Deric Smith?" I growl, my voice laced with a quiet, deadly promise.He scoffs, arrogance dripping from every pore. Even with his face beaten to a pulp, he still manages to be insufferable."You can't do shit. Your days are numbered, Lincoln Sawyer. We're onto you. It won't be long before San Diego becomes mine!"A humorless laugh escapes my lips, sharp and cutting. "We, huh?" So that explains his sudden bout of courage and the hurdles that have been disturbing the Sawyer group since we came t
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-10The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 122: Make It Right
[Arella]My feet ache from my hurried steps as I turn around the last hallway, my breath coming in quick, shallow pants. Nothing.It’s like he just disappeared into thin air, leaving nothing behind but the heavy weight of regret pressing against my chest. My shoulders slump, and a deep, exhausted sigh escapes me as I force myself to turn back toward our suite.How could he even think that? It’s absurd. I’d hesitated only because I was about to laugh at how ridiculous it was—how insane it sounded—that I’d ever go back to that douchebag, Deric. I only want to be with Lincoln.A sharp kick from my baby startles me, the sudden movement sending a dull ache through my stomach. I press my palm to the curve of my belly, caressing it gently, my lips pressing into a small, sad smile."You also think I fu—messed up, right, baby?" I whisper, my voice barely audible over the soft hum of the air conditioning.The silence that follows feels like an answer, one that settles heavily in my chest. I gna
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-11
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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
