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55: Grandma's Birthday

Penulis: Tarina
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-12-27 22:39:28

[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
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  • The 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 : 2024-12-28
  • The 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 : 2024-12-29
  • The 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 : 2024-12-30
  • The 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
  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    60: Overworked Her

    [Lincoln]My eyes peel open to the soft sunlight filtering through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the room. It feels warm and peaceful, the kind of morning that tempts you to stay in bed forever. I feel groggy, my limbs heavy, but there’s a comforting weight pressed against me on my right side.I glance down and find the source—a smile spreads across my face like the sun hitting the horizon. Arella, curled up against me, her head resting on my chest, her soft breaths tickling my skin. She’s completely wrapped in my embrace, her wild dark hair fanned across the pillow, and honestly, I can’t think of a better sight to wake up to.With a sense of possessiveness I can’t quite shake, I tighten my arms around her waist. She stirs, her body shifting slightly, and the way her lips brush against my jaw sends a ripple of warmth coursing through me. Her eyes flutter open, hazy and drowsy, and damn, I’ll never get tired of looking into those stormy blue orbs.“What a way to wake up

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-31
  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    61: Taking Ava Home

    [Arella]We’re stopped at the door, and I turn back to the doctor. Please don’t say anything about last night, I scream in my head. Internally, I cringe at the memory. It’s already bad enough that I fainted because I was "overworked," and Lincoln, being Lincoln, had to make such a big fuss about it. I can still feel the flames on my cheeks, a heat that refuses to die down.The doctor’s office smells faintly of antiseptic, mingling with the soft hum of machinery in the corner. Sunlight filters through the blinds, casting long shadows on the polished floors. Her eyes twinkle with mischief as she scribbles something on a notepad.“Get this down at the pharmacy,” she says, handing me the sheet. “It’ll help your, uh, libido since your husband here has quite a large amount of it. I don’t want you fainting again, okay?”Libido? Oh, God. I stare at the paper in horror, willing the ground to swallow me whole.“Okay, thank you,” I mutter quickly, trying to mask my embarrassment. My voice is ba

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-31
  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    62: The Conference Room

    [Arella]*Good luck at the meeting.*Lincoln’s text reads, and I smile. A warmth spreads through me as the corners of my lips lift into a subconscious smile. He always knows how to make me feel supported, even with the smallest gestures.I step into the small but intricately designed establishment, the scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of polished wood. The receptionist at the desk, dressed in a sharp navy-blue uniform, offers me a polite smile.“Good morning,” she says, guiding me to the elevator with a slight tilt of her head.The silver elevator doors gleam under the soft overhead lighting. They open with a quiet ding, and I step inside, pulling out my phone. My manicured fingers quickly type a response to Lincoln’s text.*Thank youu*Then, with a rush of impulsiveness, I add: *hubby.*The moment the word leaves my fingertips, I close the text bubbles quickly, feeling my face heat up like I’ve just stepped into a sauna.Really, Arella?

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-31
  • The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife    63: The Conference room 2

    [Arella]There's a glint of something dark and dangerous in Vivian's eyes as she meets mine, but it flashes by as quickly as it came. The fluorescent lights above cast a sharp gleam on her immaculate makeup, highlighting her high cheekbones and glossy red lips. She quickly morphs her expression into an innocent smile, one I know better than to trust, as she greets the other board members with sugary sweetness.Bridget’s fists clench at her sides, her nails biting into her palms. “They're not even an analytical company. Why the heck do they want this deal?” she hisses under her breath, her voice sharp with frustration.I scoff, leaning slightly toward her so only she can hear. “They're going bankrupt, so of course, they'll latch onto any deal available—like a bunch of leeches.”The conference room is cold, with sleek gray walls and a polished glass table that reflects the soft glow of the overhead lights. The faint hum of the air conditioning is the only other sound in the room as Br

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-31

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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

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