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88: A Challenge
Last Updated:
2025-01-23 23:59:13
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The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 89: Talk To Me
[Arella]My mother-in-law’s gaze lingers on me, still heavy with concern, as she follows Ava and me to the car. The late evening sun casts long shadows across the driveway. “Are you sure he didn’t yell at you?” she asks, her voice firm yet warm. “Just say the word, and he’ll get an earful from me.”I blink at her, momentarily stunned. This woman was nothing short of an angel. My heart softens, and I offer a small smile to reassure her.“He didn’t do anything, Mom,” I reply, my tone light but stiff as I fumble with the car keys. “I just need to pass on some files to Lincoln.”Her sharp eyes narrow, clearly not buying my excuse, but she sighs in reluctant acceptance. “If you say so.”She leans down to hug Ava, and they share a quiet moment that makes my chest ache. “Be good, Ava,” she says gently, brushing a strand of hair from her face.As we settle into the car, my mother-in-law waves enthusiastically from the driveway. “Don’t worry about tickets to the big game!” she yells, her voic
Last Updated : 2025-01-24The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 90: Slithering Snake
[Lincoln]Something was wrong. I could feel it rattling my bones, gnawing at the edges of my mind like a shadow that refused to disappear.“I was told you went to the Sawyer estate,” I say, my voice low as my fingers trace a slow, deliberate path along her cheek. Her skin feels soft and warm under my touch, tiny goosebumps arise where my fingers touch. “Did something happen?”“Well…” she begins, her voice hesitant as her gaze flickers away. “It’s nothing big, actually. Maybe I’m just overthinking it all.”The way her eyes drift, refusing to meet mine, makes me frown. She’s holding back—I can feel it.“My grandma wasn’t home, she's at a retreat” I say, leaning closer, watching for any subtle change in her body language. “That could only mean Aunt Trixy or my father. Tell me, who made you mad?”Her nose scrunches adorably, and a small tilt to her lips hints at amusement. “Hold on, Mr. Macho Man. There was no drama…like that,” she says lightly. Then, after a beat, she adds, “But I did ha
Last Updated : 2025-01-25The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 91: The Doctor's Call
[Lincoln] “Thank you so much, Bridge,” Arella’s voice drifts into my thoughts as I descend the stairs. Her words feel like a soft echo in my chest, but there's a heaviness to them. It's the kind of tone you can't ignore, the one that quietly nags at your soul. As I reach the bottom, my gaze lands on her—her eyes, those deep blue eyes—now cast downward as she puts down her phone. They’re sad. Too sad. There's something in them I don’t quite understand, but it's there, staring back at me. “Good morning,” she says, but it's not quite right. Her cheerfulness feels... off. Forced, like a smile you put on because you think it’s expected. It doesn’t reach her eyes. Across from her sits Ava, slumped against the couch, eyes glued to the TV. The soap opera flickers on, but it’s clear it’s only there to fill the space. Ava’s mind is somewhere else. I've always wondered why these two sisters look so different. I mean, besides their personalities—Ava with her black eyes and auburn hair, and
Last Updated : 2025-01-25The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 92: Worn Out Locket
[Arella]Black is never a color I’d voluntarily choose to wear. Maybe because of what it represents in my life—the demise of the one closest to my soul. The wrapped black blouse and matching skirt I wear today cling to me like the grief I refuse to let go of. It’s suffocating, as though the weight of loss has woven itself into every thread.My gaze shifts to Ava.I want to ask her how she has survived these two long years with me in a coma. How did she manage without Mom? What did she endure? Who did she turn to?The questions sit heavy in my chest, gnawing at me with sharp, unrelenting edges. Guilt and shame churn inside me, a storm I can’t quiet. How could I have left her all alone? I thought she’d be fine with Deric’s family, but I should have known better. We’ve never really talked about it.For now, though, I need her to recover. She adjusts the bouquet of marigolds—Ma’s favorite flowers—freshly picked from the garden this morning. Her movements are tender, almost as if she’s cra
Last Updated : 2025-01-26The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 93: Uncanny Resemblance
[Arella]Dark, cascading hair frames a face that mirrors striking blue eyes—eyes that look so familiar it's almost unsettling. My breath stumbles, my chest heaving as if the very sight of them has stolen all the air in the room. A wave of dizziness washes over me, my knees threatening to buckle beneath the weight of emotions I can’t even name. It feels like the ground beneath me is crumbling, leaving me suspended in this feeling of disbelief and...fear? Inside the locket is an aged photo, worn and fragile. The faces are clear despite the years. A younger version of this man... and me? No. That can’t be right. It’s impossible. But it's like staring into a fucking mirror. "I... you..." I stammer, my throat dry, the words sticking as I struggle to form a coherent thought. My vision blurs, my heartbeat thumping loudly.The woman in the photo looks so happy, her smile so bright it’s almost contagious. Her eyes shine with pride as she clings to his arm, wearing a graduation gown that cat
Last Updated : 2025-01-27The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 94: Taking Care Of Her
Present.[Lincoln]Grandfather?That same sense of dread I’d been carrying all morning tightened its grip. Something wasn’t right.Did she know? She’d never once mentioned having a grandfather. Was this supposed to be good news?Right?No.Deep down, I knew it wasn’t.After I’d spoken to Jack, things became clearer—and more terrifying. He told me Arella had forbidden him from following her. She’d taken the car. Driven off on her own.The detail that hit me hardest? She was wearing an all-black ensemble.That wasn’t her.And Ava? Jack mentioned she’d been clutching marigolds.My mind raced. Pieces clicking together in a horrible, suffocating realization.No other option. I turned on the GPS in her car.It was moving at insane speeds. My heart stopped.What happened? Where was she going?Then the car stopped. Abruptly.My stomach dropped.An accident?“Fuck,” I hissed, slamming the accelerator.Now, with her fragile frame in my arms, I finally breathe. Really breathe. Relief crashes int
Last Updated : 2025-01-27The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 95: Her Past
Ten Years Ago. [Arella, Age 14]Trigger Warning: This chapter contains childhood trauma. Viewer discretion is advised. --- Madam Lora’s cookies were always dry, barely edible. They weren’t even real chocolate—just brown food coloring she mixed in to make them look the part. After seeing her fake it one day, I stopped bothering with them altogether. What was the point?The so-called cafeteria wasn’t much better. We were outside under an old umbrella, the cracked tables surrounded by dry grass and dirt. The kids were too busy laughing and playing to notice the untouched plates of food. That’s how awful the meals were—nobody cared about eating. And the worse part was that our caretakers did even care about keeping us fed. Suddenly, a handful of sand smacked into me, hitting my face and hair, the grains mixing with my food. My ‘lunch’ was ruined in an instant. Great. Just perfect.I froze. My stomach sank as I felt it. The laughter from the other kids grew louder. My head tilted sl
Last Updated : 2025-01-27The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 96: Her Past II
Ten Years Ago. [Arella, age 14] Trigger warning: This chapter contains childhood trauma. Reader discretion is advised. ---Dread filled my spine, an icy pain that made my body feel heavy. I faked the flick of the door shutting, the soft ‘click’ echoing faintly in the room. He heard it and gave me a satisfied smile, one that churned my stomach in disgust and nausea. "Come sit my pretty doll," he ordered. My legs felt like jelly as I moved awkwardly to the high chair opposite him. It creaked faintly as I sit, my back stiff, my hands gripping the armrests tightly. I hated this chair. I hated this room. I hated him. "Why do you look so nervous?" he began, standing up slowly. His tone sounds innocent, even concerned, but there’s something behind it. Something dark. My breath quickened as he moves closer, looming over me. My voice felt trapped, like a bird in a cage, fluttering wildly but unable to escape. "I just want to talk," he said, his lips curling slightly. "You alway
Last Updated : 2025-01-27
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
