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51: Office Gossip
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2024-12-23 23:59:47
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The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 52: Office Gossip 2
[Arella] “Did you just say husband?” Bridget clarifies, her voice climbing an octave. She looks more like a giddy high school teen than the royal princess and polished CEO of this company. Her perfectly tailored white blazer gleams under the soft glow of her office lights, and the pearl earrings she always wears bob slightly as she leans forward. I nod, avoiding her gaze. Sasha, in her signature emerald-green jumpsuit, remains too stunned to speak, her wide eyes reflecting her disbelief. “But how did it happen? How come you never told us?” Bridget presses, her tone teetering between curiosity and excitement. She brightens up, a smile spreading across her face. “I didn’t want anyone to know,” I admit quietly. “Even his parents don’t know. You know how it is with me in the media.” Bridget nods understandingly, reaching out to hold my hand. The warmth of her gesture is comforting, but the memories of Deric's scandal still linger at the edges of my mind. “Is this about the Deric s
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-24The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 53: Under His Desk
[Arella] “You’re welcome, ma’am.” I look up with a smile to find Janet, Lincoln’s assistant, walking toward me. She’s dressed in a crisp navy-blue pantsuit that somehow looks effortlessly chic on her middle-aged frame. Her brown hair is tied into a neat bun, and her smile lights up the parking lot. “Hi, Janet. Sorry for disturbing you like this,” I say, feeling a little awkward. “It’s okay, ma’am.” “Please, just call me Arella,” I say, trying to ease the formality. Her smile widens, softening her features even more. “Okay,” she says simply. “I hope Lincoln isn’t aware, I want to…surprise him” “No, no one is, ma’am—I mean, Arella,” she replies quickly with a small chuckle, gesturing for me to follow. She guides me to a separate elevator, one tucked discreetly away from the main lobby. The polished steel doors gleam, and the faint hum of machinery fills the quiet space. “Don’t worry,” she assures me as the elevator doors close. “This is Sir’s private elevator, and it
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-25The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 54: Under His Desk 2
Pregnancy hormones are clearly making me reckless, and watching him try to stay composed is just too amusing. “Out, Jordan,” Lincoln finally says, his tone clipped. “What?” the other man asks, clearly confused. “You heard me,” Lincoln deadpans. “Okay, okay. Sheesh. See you after lunch,” Jordan mutters before the door clicks shut. It takes all of two seconds for Lincoln to grab me and lift me out from under the desk. I land on his lap with a startled yelp. “Jesus. Arella” His voice is filled with disbelief. “it’s really you?” I nod meekly, feeling a blush creep up my neck. “Sorry for teasing you,” I mumble. He palms my cheeks, his hands warm and firm, as if he can’t quite believe I’m here. “What are you doing here?” “I…” My words falter as I notice something that has been blushing a deep red, something hard poking my backside. He gives me a smirk. “You can't do what you did and not expect a reaction from me, Ella,” he deadpans. Great, just what I needed—a smirk from Lincoln
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-26The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 55: Grandma's Birthday
[Arella]Tugging at my dress for the umpteenth time, I swallow hard, holding onto Lincoln's hand as the nerves eat away at me like an insatiable beast. My stomach feels like it’s been invaded by a swarm of butterflies, all fighting for dominance. I’ve been repeating my mantra over and over in my head, clinging to it like a lifeline. You’ve got this, Arella. You’re fine. It’s just people. Judgy, rich people… but still just people.I must have squeezed Lincoln’s hand too tightly because he turns his gaze to me, his brows furrowing with concern, his thumb brushing against the back of my hand in a way that nearly undoes me. "You okay?" His voice is gentle, yet firm, like he’s holding me together with those two words. I nod, letting out a shaky breath that barely makes it past the lump in my throat. "Yeah, just nervous." He stops walking and gently cups my cheek, the warmth of his palm grounding me as his thumb strokes my skin in soft, soothing circles. The air between us feels cha
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-27The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 56: Meeting The Sawyers
[Arella]“Lincoln!”The older lady chirps out his name before I can even fathom what’s happening or what to say. She stands up, taking a few steps toward him and hugging him. The faint scent of her floral perfume lingers as they embrace.“Happy birthday,” Lincoln mutters softly.“Thank you, child.”“Happy birthday, ma’am,” I add, tearing my gaze away from the middle-aged lady still seated.Play it cool, Arella. Don’t look too awkward. Breathe.As they separate, her eyes finally land on me. She doesn’t say anything at first, just scrutinizes me, her gaze sharp and assessing.Her piercing gaze feels like it’s stripping away every layer of pretense I’ve ever built. I clutch the hem of my dress, trying not to fidget, but it feels like she’s peering into my soul.“This is Arella, my date,” Lincoln says simply, his hand encircling my waist in a possessive manner as he draws me to him.Her eyes are still locked on me, dissecting every fiber of my existence like she’s deciding if I’m worthy o
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-28The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 57: Heated Confrontations
[Lincoln]Suddenly, the air feels heavy and almost suffocating as Clement Thompson approaches, his polished shoes clicking sharply with each step.His smile is sharp, like a blade ready to shatter the fragile peace of the evening. My jaw clenches so tight it feels like my teeth might break.“Clement,” Grandma says, her voice chirpy but carrying an unmistakable edge. Strained, almost… scared.I shift my gaze to Dad, who stands rigid like a statue, his fists clenched at his sides. He doesn’t move to stop Clement, though the tension radiating from him is palpable.“My, my, Bertha. I really can’t believe you let this young man here get married,” Clement says, his tone oozing mockery.“It’s not…what it looks like,” Grandma replies quickly, her voice betraying a flicker of panic.“Isn’t it now?” Clement stops in front of me, but his gaze slides past me as though I’m insignificant, zeroing in on Arella like a predator sizing up prey.“What a pretty wife you got here,” he sneers, his voice dr
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-29The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 58: Exactly Who She Belongs To
[Arella]Lincoln’s mother reaches us, her breath labored as if she’d been chasing us down. I glance at Lincoln, whose grip on my hand tightens briefly before he releases it.“I just want to have a word with her,” “Mom, you–” “Please.”Her single word is almost a plea, and he relents with a nod, stepping away and sliding into the car.Turning to face her, I brace myself for the onslaught of judgment or accusations. My heart pounds, a mixture of defensiveness and fatigue swirling within me.“Ma’am, I—”“Mother-in-law,” she interjects, her tone soft but insistent.“Call me mother-in-law.”Her hands come up, cupping my cheeks in a gesture so tender it almost undoes me. The cool night air brushes against my skin, carrying with it the faint scent of blooming jasmine.“I know you must be hurt and sad over what happened,” she begins, her voice warm and earnest, “but trust me, it’ll all be fine. Mother in law will come around.”I nod mechanically, the words barely registering. I feel hollo
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-30The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 59: Forget Everything But My Name
[Arella]Lincoln’s lips crash down on mine again, hunger-filled, like a man starved for years. I feel the heat radiating off his body, his need pressing against me, demanding my surrender. His hands grip my waist possessively, as though letting go would shatter him. I give in—totally and freely—to my husband. The intensity of his kiss burns through me, melting every coherent thought. His grip tightens, lifting me with ease, and the world blurs around us. My back meets the bed with a soft thud, the plush mattress barely cushioning the force of our passion. “Were you thinking of leaving me, Ella?” he asks, his voice rough and low, the sound vibrating straight to my core. He unbuckles his belt with deliberate slowness, his dark eyes locking with mine. I shake my head fervently, my breath hitching as the tension in the room thickens. As he inches closer, my dress—once so carefully chosen—is now forgotten on the floor, a mere casualty of our feverish need. “No, I just—” His hand
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-30
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The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 180: His Promise
[Arella]Lincoln looks conflicted, his jaw tightening like he’s holding back a war inside himself. His body is tense, his breaths uneven, like he’s trying to convince himself of something even he doesn’t believe. Then, suddenly, he presses a lingering kiss to the top of my head. It’s warm, firm—full of something unspoken. It should calm me. It should tell me everything will be okay.But it doesn’t.Not when I don’t know what’s coming next.Not when something in my chest screams that this moment is slipping away—slipping through my fingers like sand.“I swear, I’ll come back.”His voice is rough, almost torn. There's something final in the way he says it, something that sends an icy wave crashing through my veins. Before I can respond, he steps back, pulling free from my grasp. My fingers, weak and trembling, try to hold on, but it’s like trying to catch smoke.No.A frail voice breaks through the tension. "Are you sure about this, son?"The words barely register, but I know that voice
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 179: Smoke And Cyanide
[Arella]“Lin…coln…” My voice is dry and coarse, barely more than a whisper, but he hears it.He’s kneeling beside me in an instant, his face twisted in a mixture of fury and raw pain as his gaze lands on the gash at the side of my head. His touch is gentle but trembling, like he's afraid to hurt me more."Who did this to you? How did you—" He coughs violently, the sound wet and ragged.A drop of blood falls from his lips.My heart clenches.Tears well in my eyes, blurring my vision as they spill like heavy rain. A thick, metallic scent clogs my nostrils, and my stomach turns."What’s that smell, Linc?" I murmur, my body swaying.Before I can process anything, I feel myself lifted, cradled in his arms. My body is too weak, too heavy, but the movement jolts another coughing fit from my burning throat.A firm hand presses something against my nose. His handkerchief.“Cyanide,” he rasps.My heart sinks into my stomach.My body tenses, horror gripping my chest like a vice.I know what cya
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 178: Under Attack II
“We’re under attack!” my father rasps between violent coughs, his voice hoarse, barely audible over the chaos erupting around us. His eyes are bloodshot, his face paling by the second as the toxic air claws its way into his lungs.“Who would dare do such a thing?!” Grandfather barks, his voice raw, but the words barely make it out before another violent cough racks his body.My heart slams against my ribcage as I take in the horror unfolding around me. My mother suddenly appears, her face pale as a sheet, her breathing labored. She looks frantic, her eyes darting around until they land on me.“Lincoln—”“Don’t say anything, Mom. Reserve your breath.” My tone is sharp, commanding, but I can’t afford for her to waste energy. “Where’s Arella?”Her eyes widen. Panic flickers across her face. “I—I don’t know. We were all just having a conversation, and she wanted to ease herself. Then, after a while, fumes started pulling out of the vents—” She breaks into a coughing fit, struggling to fin
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 177: Under Attack
[Lincoln]My father and I settle into the dimly lit study of my grandfather-in-law. The heavy scent of old books and polished mahogany fills the air, mixing with the faint aroma of cigar smoke that seems embedded in the very walls. The room is grand—intimidating even—with its high ceilings, dark oak shelves lined with legal tomes, and an air of quiet authority that only men like my Harold Walcott can command.My father shifts in his chair beside me, his hands clasped tightly in his lap, his shoulders stiff. He’s nervous—hell, even I’m a little uneasy. Grandfather sits across from us, his expression unreadable, but the slight downturn of his lips is enough to tell me this won’t be a pleasant conversation.He clears his throat, his voice steady and sharp. “There are some matters that still need settling, and I’d like us to be clear on the Clement Thompson situation before we move on.”Straight to the point, as always. No sugarcoating, no unnecessary pleasantries.My father exhales, nodd
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 176: Locked In
[Arella]"Are you okay, Arella? I heard voices."Mila’s voice startles me as I turn around to see her standing at the top of the stairs. My chest is still heaving, my breathing erratic from Deric’s antics, but my heart warms at the thought of Lincoln keeping me safe—even at a party like this.I force a breath, shaking my head. "It's nothing, don't worry. Just some random stranger."Mila doesn’t look convinced. Her brows furrow in skepticism, but she lets it go."Oh… okay," she says slowly. "What are you doing up here anyway? Looking for Lincoln?" She smirks, throwing in a cheeky wink.I palm my face, shaking my head. "I came to pee, and I didn't want to use the guest restroom downstairs. Could you point me to the one here?""I mean, I could follow you. I just peed now myself," she offers after pointing the way.I roll my eyes. Why is everyone trying to babysit me?"Don’t act like my husband, Mila. You look like you could explode any minute. Go sit down," I tease, shoving her playfully
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 175: Everything Is Ruined
[Deric]This is fucking crazy. No—this is batshit insane.What the hell am I doing? If we get caught, Harold Walcott will make sure neither of us walks out of this alive. The only sliver of comfort I have is that security seems to be lax. No guards in sight. No cameras that I can see. If we pull this off, I can grab Arella, get her out of here, and we’ll start over—somewhere far, somewhere safe.But the empty hallways around me don’t feel empty. They feel like they’re watching. The dim lighting flickers slightly, the walls are too still, the air is too damn thick—like the entire house knows what we’re about to do and is waiting to expose us.I'm so lost in my thoughts, drowning in the weight of what I’m about to do, that I don’t realize when I collide with someone. Hard. My body jerks, and a startled squeak escapes my lips before I can stop it.Shit.Panic claws at my throat, making it impossible to breathe. My stomach drops, twisting into something violent and gut-wrenching."Are you
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 174: Change Of Plans
[Vivian]“Fuck, this is taking forever.”Deric is restless beside me, his jaw tight, hands clenching and unclenching like he’s trying not to lose his shit. "When is Arella coming up?!" His voice is sharp, low, impatient.We’re tucked into a small corner upstairs, near the bathroom, hidden just enough to watch without being noticed. Well, he's watching. I'm not.I can’t stop looking at him. The way his beautiful brown hair is a total mess, disheveled and wild, nothing like the usual sleek, controlled way he keeps it. Stress has taken its toll on him, and somehow, it makes him look even better. His side is pressed against mine, the heat of his body sinking into me like a slow burn, and for a moment, I let myself remember.I want it back. The way things were before. The way he used to look at me, used to touch me, used to—"I can’t wait for everything to go back the way it was between us."The words slip out. I don’t even realize I said them out loud until Deric snaps his head toward me.
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 173: Thompson's Fury
[Lincoln]How did she know?My chest tightens, a slow, suffocating coil of tension wrapping around my ribs as I try to comprehend how Arella knows about the secret my father has been trying to keep from me for years.It makes no sense.Before I can even fully register her last statement, the sharp shatter of glass pierces the ballroom.Mr. Thompson’s champagne flute crashes to the ground, splintering into a thousand jagged pieces."You have got to be kidding me!" he bellows.Fuck.Everything’s ruined.He strides forward, his eyes blazing with venomous intent, and then—he points a rigid, accusing finger straight at Arella."You!"A guttural sound, low and primal, rumbles from my throat before I even realize it. Instinct. Possession. Protection.Before Thompson can get any closer, I grab Arella’s wrist, pulling her behind me, my stance rigid, muscles coiled, ready for whatever the hell comes next."Watch it, Thompson," I growl, my voice dipping into something dangerous, something that w
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 172: The Proposal
[Arella]I don’t even bother sparing Lisa or Mr. Thompson another glance. They don’t deserve it.We move on with our conversations, ignoring them so thoroughly it must sting. But they still try to wedge their way in, their voices lingering like an unwanted aftertaste.Utterly pathetic. But something feels off. My gaze flickers across the room. Where the hell is Vivian?She’s nowhere in sight, and that sends a cold, uneasy ripple through my spine. She’s not the type to disappear quietly.Whatever.Eventually, we’re all guided back into the grand ballroom for gift presentations.This room screams old money—the crystal chandeliers dripping gold, the marble floors reflecting the warm glow of candlelight, the air thick with the scent of vintage cologne and wealth. A true battleground where status is the only weapon that matters.Lincoln leans in as we walk. His voice brushes against my ear, low and teasing.“So, a surprise, huh?”I smirk, locking eyes with him as I make an exaggerated mot
