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Author: Tarina
last update Last Updated: 2025-03-31 23:00:32

[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
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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

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  • 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

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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

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  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    1. Who Are You?

    [Arella] "Doctor, her vitals are coming around—come quick!" Everything around me feels hazy, like I’m trapped underwater. Urgh, why is there so much noise? My limbs are heavy and sore, my mouth unbearably dry. My mind feels foggy and I try to open my eyes, but my lids won’t obey—just like the rest of my body. What happened to me? The last thing I remember was…the truck slamming into our car! A gasp escapes my mouth, raw and faint, as my eyes peel open wide. “Deric!” My voice sounds bruised, almost alien, as if I haven't used it in years. “Calm down, Mrs. Smith. You’ll be fine,” a voice reassures me, calm and gentle, but my panic refuses to settle. A quick sting hits my arm, and a wave of sleepiness washes over me, pulling me back into darkness. •°•°•°•°•°•°•° “What do you mean I’ve been in a coma for two years?!” My voice is still hoarse, strange and rough to my own ears. Looking around, my head spins as I try to process his words. “This is the situation, Mrs Smi

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  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    2. No One On My Side

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  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    3. Choices To Make

    [Arella] When my eyes finally flutter open, I find myself alone in the lounge. My skin feels prickly, my body hot and uncomfortable. What’s going on? My mind is sluggish as I rise, trying to leave, but I realize I don’t have my phone, no way to call anyone for help. I stagger out, the heat intensifying, a flush creeping over my cheeks as a tingling builds low in my stomach. A horrible thought crosses my mind—have I been… drugged? I might need to stay here; I can’t risk going out like this. As I stumble toward the receptionist’s desk, I collide with a solid wall of muscle, a small whimper escaping me. I look up and feel relief wash over me as I meet an unexpected familiar gaze. "Arella?" His deep voice washes over me, sending a shiver through my body. Clutching onto his suit for balance, my voice comes out barely more than a whisper. "Please… help me." He looks down at me, his brows drawing together in concern. “Arella… what happened?” His voice softens as he steadi

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  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    4. A Bitter Goodbye

    [Arella]"Please, don't sign it!" It’s Vivian’s voice, loud and clear. My blood boils with anger. What does she want now?Deric frowns and narrows his eyes at her. "Babe, what are you doing?""Just let me talk to her, okay?" She looks at me, her eyes wide and pleading. Her voice is soft and shaky."I should explain myself. I never intended to make him fall for me, I swear. It just happened, I was only trying to help him. Y-you can take him back. Please, don't fight because of m-me." She hiccups and tears fall from her eyes, looking fragile and helpless."Why can’t she just let them be happy? Such a crazy woman," I hear someone sneer from the crowd.That’s all it takes to make me snap. I lunge at her, grabbing her by the shoulders. Rage burns inside me, and my voice shakes as I speak. "What’s the use of all this? You’ve already ruined my life! Why didn’t you clarify right away? Why didn’t you try to stop him, to tell him about me? I treated you like a friend, Vivian—no, like a sist

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  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    5: A Sister's Pain

    [Arella]"Ava, please get down! Please listen to me, Ava. I'm sorry. It's all my fault! Please, you're all I have left. Don't do this to me! Take my hand, please!"My voice cracks with desperation, trembling with fear and guilt as I scream up at her.She doesn’t listen. She doesn’t even look in my direction. Her vacant stare sends a chill down my spine, and my heart feels like it’s breaking in two.The hot summer wind slaps against my face, drying the tears on my cheeks almost as quickly as they fall. My hair flutters wildly around me, mirroring the chaos in my heart."Please, don’t jump! Mom wouldn’t have wanted this!"That stops her. She turns to me slowly, her eyes hollow, her face streaked with tears that glisten under the harsh sunlight.She doesn’t say a word, and it breaks me even more. Her silence screams louder than any words ever could."Talk to me, Ava! Yell, scream, hit me! But please, don’t jump! I’ll avenge you. I won’t let them hurt you. Please, come down."My voice r

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Latest chapter

  • 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

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