MasukShare
144: Taking Her Home
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-28 23:54:49
Bab terkait
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 145: Marigolds And Memories
[Arella] The cemetery is still. The only sounds are the distant rustling of autumn leaves as they’re carried away by the wind, whispering secrets through the trees. The late evening sun stretches long shadows across the grass, its golden hues draping the place in an eerie kind of warmth—like even the universe is trying to soften the edges of our grief. Ava crouches down in front of the headstone, her small hands carefully arranging the marigolds at its base. She brushes away a few stray leaves, but then—her fingers linger. They trace the stone’s surface, slow and deliberate, as if memorizing the way it feels beneath her touch. Then, she swipes at her face, trying to stifle a sniffle. But I still hear it. "H-Hi, Mom," she says, her voice trembling, but there’s a watery smile on her lips. "How are you feeling these days?" She pauses. Waits. Stares at the engraved name like she’s expecting an answer. And then— "I feel awesome these days, you know?" she continues, her voice
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-28The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 145: Desperation And Disgust
[Arella] Panting, Deric Smith straightens, dragging a hand through his already disheveled hair—like some tragic movie hero—before flashing a smile that makes my stomach churn. Seeing his smile, I nearly gag. Disgust churns violently in my belly, a slow, festering heat curling at the pit of my stomach like a beast waking from its slumber. The sheer audacity of this man is beyond unbelievable. "I came to see you," he says, as if those words are supposed to mean something. As if they hold weight. As if I’d ever believe a damn thing that leaves his mouth. My skin crawls. "Are you stalking me?" I bite out, venom lacing every syllable. He falters. Just for a fraction of a second. It’s quick—barely noticeable—but I catch it. The subtle twitch in his jaw. The way his fingers flex at his sides before he forces himself to relax. But then, like the cockroach he is, he recovers. That grin returns. And he takes a step forward. My fingers rise instantly, a silent warning. A
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-28The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 146: Lesson On Stalking
[Arella] I watch as, one by one, shadows begin to shift. Silent. Calculated. 1… 2… 3… By the time I finish counting, seven more men emerge from the darkness, their movements crisp, their presence suffocating. They wear gear similar to Zach’s, but their aura? Different. Powerful. Dangerous. Lethal. Seven plus Zach makes eight. This must be the elite bodyguards Lincoln mentioned. Ava stirs in the car, the slight movement catching my eye. She tries to poke her head outside, curiosity flickering in her expression. I shake my head immediately. Not because I don’t want her to witness a good show. But because I don’t know how she’d mentally react to seeing Deric again. I’m not in the mood to deal with that mess. So I turn back to the approaching men, and when I see the way Deric’s face drains of color, I smirk. Even under the moonlight, he looks pale—like a vampire. And trust me, not the good kind. The men stop just a few feet from me, their sheer presence
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-28The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 148: Arson Confirmed
[Lincoln] Italians were hot-blooded. Normally, that was a damn fine trait in business—passion, persistence, a little well-placed ruthlessness—but when you were on the receiving end of that fire? Yeah. Not so much. And in this case? That unfortunate target was me. A million dollars’ worth of industrial products under the Sawyer Group, burnt down to nothing but rubble, ashes, and the lingering stench of deliberate destruction. And no, despite the forensic team’s oh-so-helpful assessment, this wasn’t some accidental wildfire attack. It was arson. Plain and simple. I could fucking smell it all the way down to my gut, that deep, instinctive knowing that told me this wasn’t just business—it was personal. And the worst part? This wasn’t even about the money. Sure, I could pull out more cash, replace the damaged goods, rebuild the property, patch up whatever superficial losses came out of this. That wasn’t the issue. The real problem? The trust had been broken.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-28The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 149: Nothing Left
[Vivian] The morning sun filters through the blinds, its golden rays stretching across the room like delicate fingers, caressing everything in sight with an unearned softness. I groan, rolling onto my back, arms stretching wide against the sheets, the warmth of sleep still clinging to my limbs like a second skin. My body doesn’t feel like moving. Doesn’t feel like facing the day, the reality, or anything in between. For a few blissful seconds, my mind drifts, floating somewhere between dreams and the waking world. My fingers reach out instinctively, searching for the familiar warmth beside me—until they brush against something else. Something warm. Something… furry. My brows furrow. Deric’s chest isn’t this hairy. Slowly—painstakingly slow—I force my heavy lids open, my gaze dragging to the side as a sinking feeling churns deep in my stomach. And then I freeze. The graying hair. The slack jaw hanging open. The faint wheeze of breath escaping his lips, slow and s
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-28The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 150: Unwanted Hands
[Vivian] I don’t even wait for his response. My body moves on autopilot, frantic energy charging my limbs as I throw on my clothes, barely aware of the rustling behind me, of the shifting mattress, of the thick, fat hands that suddenly wrap around my waist from behind. A breath—hot and heavy—fans against my ear, sticky against my skin. "Isn’t it too early to leave me all alone, my sweet?" Revulsion slams into me so hard I have to bite down on my tongue to keep from visibly recoiling. My stomach clenches, bile creeping up my throat, my lungs tight as if the very air has turned toxic. Don’t shudder. Don’t flinch. Don’t let him see how much you want to claw your way out of your own skin. Swallowing the disgust threatening to choke me, I force a slow smile, my lips curling into something soft, something pleasing. My lashes flutter as I turn in his grip, tilting my head just enough to feign a pout. "You know I would love to stay, Mr. Thompson," I croon, my voice dripping in sy
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-28The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 151: A Vision In Red
[Lincoln] The signboard in Arella’s hands is impossible to miss. Welcome Home, Hubby! The bold letters stretch obnoxiously across the board, playful and dramatic, a perfect reflection of the woman holding it. The bright yet crisp morning sun filters down, casting a golden glow around her dark hair, making her look almost ethereal. If I were a lesser man, I’d probably get lost in the way the light kisses her skin, but I am not a lesser man. A slow grin tugs at my lips as I step off the private jet, my boots hitting the pavement with an easy confidence. There’s an entire security detail flanking me, their presence a necessary but wholly uninteresting formality. My gaze barely flickers over them because, frankly, they don’t matter. Only one person does. Arella. She’s scanning the crowd, her head tilting slightly as she searches through the sea of black-suited men, her gaze flitting restlessly over the unnecessary muscle. And then—she finds me. The shift is immediate. Her eyes
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-28The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 152: Unspoken Worries
[Arella] Lincoln doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, there’s a moment—a brief, almost imperceptible hesitation—where his entire body stiffens, like he’s bracing for something. It’s subtle, but I catch it. And then, just as quickly, he recovers, sliding on that small, tired smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Everything’s fine, Ella. Why do you ask all of a sudden?” I narrow my eyes, unimpressed. Liar. “You look like shit,” I deadpan. Silence. A single beat of it. And then— Laughter. A deep, rumbling sound that vibrates straight through his chest, warm and infuriatingly infectious. It fills the car, making the space seem smaller, more intimate. Across from us, Ava briefly lifts her head from her phone, shooting us the kind of look people reserve for things they don’t understand—like watching a documentary about alien life forms or trying to solve advanced calculus. Then, just as quickly, she returns to whatever she was watching, completely unbothered. Lincoln, h
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-28
Bab terbaru
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
