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156: Defying Tradition
Last Updated:
2025-03-05 23:57:53
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The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 157: This Isn't Over
[Arella]The heavy silence that follows is deafening.The chessboard they so carefully arranged just lost its most valuable piece.Lisa.“Goddamn it!” Thompson barks, his voice slicing through the tension like a whip. The sound of his chair scraping against the polished floors is harsh, grating, a violent punctuation to his fury. He surges to his feet, his face a livid shade of red, veins bulging at his temple as he whirls toward my father-in-law.Something silent passes between them—something dark. A look, a shift in the air, an understanding that makes my father-in-law visibly pale. His throat bobs in a nervous swallow, his knuckles tightening on the armrests of his chair.Thompson’s voice drops into a deadly rasp. “This isn’t over.”And then he storms out, his shoes striking the ground with force, the echoing stomp of a man unwilling to accept defeat. His furious command ricochets off the high ceilings, filling the grand dining hall with his rage.“Lisa! Get back here right this in
Last Updated : 2025-03-06The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 158: I Wanted To See You
[Arella]Weeks have passed. It’s almost laughable how life just moves on, sweeping away the chaos like it never happened. The whole ordeal with the Thompsons feels like a distant nightmare—something surreal and vague.And yet… the unease remains.Clement has gone quiet, too quiet. Too clean, too perfect. And if life has taught me anything, it’s that silence like this isn’t peace. It’s the eerie calm before the storm, the kind that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.But the real cherry on top? Lincoln.My husband—the ever-capable, ever-in-control Lincoln—has been on edge. Stressed. Distracted. His eyes are shadowed, his movements tense, his hands constantly rubbing at his temples like he's battling some unseen war. And despite my best efforts, despite the poking, the prodding, the strategic wife-level interrogation, he won’t tell me a damn thing.Trust me, I’ve tried.Repeatedly.It’s like prying open a steel vault with a butter knife.“Are you even listening to me,
Last Updated : 2025-03-07The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 159: Gummy Bears Over Greens
[Arella]The rich scent of aged parmesan and balsamic vinaigrette punches me in the face the moment the waiter sets down our plates. My poor, overworked nose immediately revolts. Across from me, Lisa casually spears a cherry tomato from her fancy Italian salad, chewing like it’s the best thing in the world.Meanwhile, my stomach? It’s waging a full-blown war against me.God, I want apple-flavored gummy bears. Not this overpriced monstrosity of lettuce and misery. Lincoln always keeps a stash in my car, but of course, I left it parked on the other side of the building. Tragic.Lisa had insisted on this lunch. Dragged me out like a woman on a mission. And despite my better judgment, here I am—sitting across from the woman who is or should I say once was betrothed to my husband.A bitter part of me—the one I don’t particularly like to acknowledge—wants to punch myself for agreeing to breathe the same air as her. What the hell was I thinking?I stab my fork into my identical salad, not re
Last Updated : 2025-03-10The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 160: Lust And Lies
My feet move of their own volition as I pace the bedroom, anxiety clawing at my insides like a caged animal. My nails dig into my palms, my heart hammering against my ribs with every step. The thick air in the room does nothing to soothe me, nor does the dim glow of the bedside lamp casting long, eerie shadows across the cream-colored walls.I had begged that old fart, Mr. Thompson, to convince Deric to hand over Ames Finances to him. With the big merger looming just weeks away, we didn’t stand a chance without it. And Deric—that lovesick fool—wasn't listening to me. Not one damn bit.The idiot had only been discharged from the hospital a few days ago, and what did I get for all my trouble? A thank-you? A nod of appreciation? No. The only thing I received was him shoving me to the ground like a worthless piece of trash, his venomous eyes burning through mine as he rained down insults on me in front of the entire hospital staff.It’s okay. So maybe he’s still angry with me. That’s fine
Last Updated : 2025-03-11The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 161: Scheming And Scotch
[Vivian]My feet tiptoe quietly down the grand staircase, the cold marble floor sending shivers up my spine. The dim chandelier above barely lights the long hallway, casting eerie shadows against the deep mahogany walls. Clements’ office is downstairs, somewhere he forbade me from going, but when has that ever stopped me? It’s not like I’m eavesdropping or anything—their loud voices could be heard from a mile away.Leaning against the wall beside the door, my breath barely a whisper, I listen.“You stomp out of the Sawyers like your tail is on fire, ignore my calls, and fucking ruin my plans—and now you’re back here to do what?!” Clement sounds furious, his voice filled with an edge of barely restrained rage.What really catches my interest, though, is the mention of the Sawyers.“I had a perfectly good reason for that, Dad.” The word Dad is bitten out like it physically pains her to say it. Her voice is calm, but there’s venom buried beneath the surface, a silent threat wrapped in ev
Last Updated : 2025-03-12The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 162: Tea And Tension
[Arella]"That’s the last of it!"My mother-in-law cheers, dropping a cute lemon plushie into the baby crib.I take a step back, surveying the nursery. It looks… warm. Lived-in. The soft pastel colors, the delicate curtains framing the windows, the plush toys arranged neatly—it doesn’t feel like something out of a magazine. It feels like home."This was hard work," Ava grumbles, rubbing her tired eyes. But despite her exhaustion, there’s a glow on her face—a happiness she can’t quite hide.I smirk, arms folding across my chest. "Well, after all that lemon pie you ate for dessert, you deserve to burn off some energy."I tap her nose playfully. She snorts.I turn, only to find my mother-in-law watching us, her expression soft—too soft. It’s a look I haven’t quite learned how to read yet. Ever since we returned from my antenatal appointment today, she’s been sticking close, helping me add final touches to the baby’s room.Lincoln had offered to hire designers, but I wanted to do it mysel
Last Updated : 2025-03-13The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 163: Unwelcome Surprises
[Arella] It’s been two days since the text from Lincoln. Two days of silence. No calls. No replies. His number? Switched off. Janet’s number? Airplane mode. That’s never happened before. A slow, uneasy tension builds inside me, creeping up my spine like icy fingers. I try to shake it off, tell myself that I’m overthinking, that Lincoln’s fine, but it doesn’t work. Because this isn’t normal. Lincoln never disappears like this. Something isn’t right. A sharp exhale leaves my lips as I clench my fists, forcing myself to focus on the document in front of me. The proposal is urgent. I need to finish it. But the words blur. The numbers, the data, the structured paragraphs—all of it fades into the background as my mind replays that night. My mother-in-law’s words still haunt me. The things she admitted. The hesitation in her voice. The truth. A shiver runs down my spine, and my stomach tightens with a fresh wave of nausea—not the pregnancy kind. No, this nausea is
Last Updated : 2025-03-14The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 164: Turn Yourself In
[Arella]I think this is karma finally biting back at me.Maybe the universe took one look at my life and thought, You know what? She’s had it too easy. Let’s spice things up with some unwanted drama.I mean, I was stupid enough to stop Zach and the others from following me to the office. But in my defense, it’s just the office. Everyone here is family—mostly. It’s not like I expected to be cornered like a damn criminal for the second time in what… weeks? Months? Who’s even counting at this point? All I know is my patience is dangling by a thread, and my teeth grind as I spit out a sharp, deadly,“Move. Out. Of. The. Way.”And would you believe it? He doesn’t.Nope. Instead, he has the audacity to thrust a bouquet into my unwilling arms, as if a couple of pretty flowers will magically erase everything. His expression twists like he’s in pain, but honestly, I’m fresh out of sympathy.“Arella…” His voice is hoarse, raw, and dripping with something pathetic. “At least talk to me. Say som
Last Updated : 2025-03-15
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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
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 190: Boardroom War
[Arella]I don't think we can afford to waste any more time. "Sister-in-law, give us permission. Benson and I will go in your stead." Jordan states worriedly.Pacing my office, overlooking the bright San Diego skyline, I press my fingers to my temple, exhaling sharply. Why now, of all times? Why does everything seem to be unraveling all at once?"You know what? Yes. Let's do that," I say decisively, straightening my posture. "I'll send the location and details to you. Please do a thorough search—anything, no matter how small, might help us. Don’t leave any stone unturned."I meet both their gazes, ensuring they understand the weight of my words. They nod in unison, standing up, their expressions determined."Zach will be with you also," I add.Benson shakes his head. "I'd feel better if he could stick by your side for now, Arella. We don’t know what troubles might arise in today’s meeting."I nod, conceding the point. I should be en route to Florida by now, chasing Grandfather’s lates
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 189: Heartbreak And Longing
PRESENT DAY[Lincoln]"Lincoln, could you please help me with my towel, honey?" Chloe calls from the bathroom, her voice carrying a sweet lilt."Okay," I say simply, standing from the bed and grabbing the towel before walking to the bathroom door. As soon as she opens it, her eyes gleam with something sultry, a slow, teasing smile curling her lips. She reaches out, wrapping her fingers around my wrist, attempting to pull me inside with her. Her bare skin glistens with moisture, steam curling around her in a thick haze, the scent of shampoo and body wash clinging to the air inside.I stand firm, my grip tightening slightly on the towel as I push it toward her instead. "I need to, uh... take my meds," I say awkwardly, retracting my hand swiftly and shutting the door before she can say anything else.My heart pounds slightly as I retreat to the bed, rubbing my temple before grabbing the small pill bottle on the nightstand. The little capsules spill into my palm, and with a resigned sigh,
