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97: A Sign From Her
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-01-27 23:55:23
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The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 98: Trust Me
[Arella] “Arella,” the old man—my grandfather—says softly. It feels strange, foreign even, referring to him like this, the weight of it settles in my chest, but I swallow the lump forming in my throat and mutter a, “Hello, sir,” instead. His face falls slightly at my response, disappointment etched in his expression. I keep my gaze steady on his features, noting the stark differences from the last time I saw him. He looks healthier today—his face fuller, no longer sunken. He’s wearing an expensive, custom-made suit, one that practically screams wealth and authority. It’s the same polished look Lincoln usually carries. Who was this man? The aura around him, the commanding tone of his voice—it was overwhelming. My thoughts spiral as his expression softens. He gestures for us to come inside, his gaze briefly flickering to Lincoln. The moment his eyes land on my husband, his brows furrow slightly. I sit down across from him, and Lincoln does the same beside me, visibly uncomfor
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-28The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 99: Confrontation
Author's Note:Hey, my loves!I’ve made a few tiny changes to this chapter, and yes, I know, this is a repetition of the previous one. But please promise me you’ll read it anyway! My editor is on a much-needed break right now, but rest assured, I’ll edit it and cut off this chapter to make it perfect soon.Thank you so much for your patience and for being the absolute best readers ever! You guys are my sunshine on the cloudiest days, and I can’t tell you how much I adore every single one of you.Sending you all the love and hugs! (♡˶ˆ ³ ˆ˶)♡*** [Arella] “Arella,” the old man—my grandfather—says softly.It feels strange, almost wrong, to think of him as my grandfather. The word feels heavy, like it doesn’t belong. My chest tightens, and I swallow hard to push down the lump in my throat. Forcing myself to speak, I manage a quiet, “Hello, sir,” instead. His face falls slightly at my response, disappointment etched in his expression. I keep my gaze steady on his feature
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-29The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 100: Hold On
[Arella]I tense instinctively. Did I hear him right, or was it just my imagination?"What do you mean, by—"My words halt as we stop abruptly in front of a massive, dome-shaped building. My brain scrambles to process, my heart still rattling from whatever bombshell he was about to drop. I recognize this place instantly—a public center. Well, public in name only.In reality, only the rich and famous got to step foot inside. But why the hell were we here?The car door opens on his side, and immediately, a wheelchair is waiting. A man, dressed in all-black attire—suit crisp, glasses perched in that bodyguard-ish way—moves to assist him down. His movements are fluid, professional, like he’s done this a hundred times before.A soft buzzing noise catches my attention as he presses something into the intercom.From the corner of my eye, I see another car pull up. My stomach loosens slightly when I recognize it—Lincoln’s. A small sigh escapes my lips. At least I’m not completely alone in wha
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-29The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 101: The New Heir
[Arella] Shock. Utter shock. That was the look on the brown-suit man’s face—his pale complexion standing stark against the blinding overhead lights. A dash of horror flickers in his expression, his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. “B-Brother?” he chokes out, the words barely escaping his lips. Oh. So, they’re brothers. The entire dome falls into a tense, suffocating silence. The only sounds left are the constant flashing of cameras and the electric tension crackling between them—so sharp, it could slice through steel. The air feels thick, oppressive, like it’s been drawn out of the lungs of everyone in the room, leaving only the harsh hum of anticipation. “It seems that there must’ve been a misunderstanding,” Grandfather says smoothly as I stop at the base of the stage, trying to steady my shaking hands on the cold, unforgiving handles of my wheelchair. A spotlight shifts toward us, casting an intrusive glare over my skin. My body heats up, though I can’t q
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-30The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 102: He's Here
[Lincoln]How could one woman suffer so much, man, in such a little amount of time?A small, irrational part of me is beginning to think I’m the jinx in her life. She hasn’t had a moment of peace since I came into it. Logically, I know that’s ridiculous, but I can’t shake the feeling. It’s like the universe took one look at her finally catching a break and said, Oh? You thought?Confusion, anger, and pure shock roll off my wife in waves as she sobs in my arms—her safe space. The weight of her emotions presses into my chest, each shudder of her body resonating deep within me. I hold her tighter, my grip firm yet reassuring. I’m glad she’s letting go with me, trusting me to keep her safe.The soft glow of the car’s interior light casts a dim halo around her trembling form, highlighting the tear tracks staining her flushed cheeks. Outside, the world continues as if nothing just shattered inside her—city lights blurring past the tinted windows, horns blaring in the distance, the occasiona
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 103: Won't You Invite Me In?
[Arella]Six black cars roll up our front yard in a dramatic fashion, kicking up dust as they glide to a halt with an air of untouchable importance. For a second, I feel like I’ve been transported into one of those over-the-top telenovelas Ava always forces me to watch with her these days. How did he even find my home?Then again, he’s a Walcott—I’m sure he can get whatever he wants with the snap of a damn finger.Lincoln comes up beside me, his body rigid, a tense energy rolling off my husband, his presence like a storm waiting to break. I don’t even have to look at him to feel the sheer force of his unspoken disbelief and fury vibrating off him in waves.And yet, strangely enough, I feel calm.I mean, sure—I woke up today as the sole heir to one of the biggest conglomerates in America. But yeah, it’s nothing much.The first to step out of the vehicles are the bodyguards. Their confidence is practically identical to the men Lincoln has stationed throughout the compound—rigid, sharp,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 104: Her Mother
[Arella]"It is your right," he shifts, staring directly into my eyes. "I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I’d let it slip away into unworthy hands."I wipe a hand over my face, frustration bubbling up. "And you think I’m a worthy hand? For God’s sake, you don’t even know me. What if all this turns out to be fake, and I’m just some doppelganger? I mean, this kind of thing happens all the time, right? People walk around pretending to be someone else, living someone else’s life."His look is… unimpressed. Typical. He doesn’t get it, and honestly? I don’t get it either. I mean, who would? I barely know myself right now, let alone understand why any of this is happening. If I didn’t feel like I was already drowning, I’d probably laugh at how ridiculous this whole thing is.He sighs, bitterness thick in his voice. "I’m sorry," he says, his tone laced with annoyance. "But the guy who wrecked my life was about to hand the whole business over to his kid—the same kid who can’t ev
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 105: Her Mother II
[Arella]Was a drug addict... was a drug addict... was a drug addict.The words spin in my head, tumbling over each other before I even make sense of them. I can't process what I'm hearing. Lincoln stiffens beside me, his posture rigid, as if my shock is somehow his own. This certainly isn't the first thing I imagined he'd say.“You see,” my grandfather begins, his voice unexpectedly thick with something I can’t place, “your grandmother—my late wife—was always sick. Even before I married her, she had a weak body, a fragile constitution, and nothing we tried worked. I mean, literally everything.”His words seem to linger in the air, heavy and full of sorrow. I can see it in his face, the lines of regret etched deeper than the years themselves. “Odette was my only child. The pressure from my family for my late wife to give birth to a son... it crushed her. It ate her alive. She fell into depression."He pauses, as if trying to keep his composure, but I can tell it’s slipping. I swallo
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31
Bab terbaru
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
