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52: Office Gossip 2
Last Updated:
2024-12-24 23:22:12
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The 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 2024-12-30The 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
Last Updated : 2024-12-31
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The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 134: Comfort Of His Love
[Arella]The door to the bathroom pushes open, and I can feel the urgency radiating off my husband before I even see him."Arella."His voice snaps me out of the haze of nothingness in my head."Huh?" I reply absentmindedly, barely registering him, my toes peeking above the surface of the water in the tub."You've been in here for more than an hour, love.""I have?" The answer slips out automatically, my voice distant.Today has dragged on forever. From Ava—her confession—to Deric and his memories… it all feels like too much. Like a storm swallowing me whole. My brain feels numb, detached, floating somewhere outside my body.After storming off with Lincoln in hand, I had barely registered coming home, nor the process of stepping into the bath. I don’t even recall undressing. The only real thing is the ice-cold bite of the water against my skin—sharp, unforgiving.That’s it. That’s the only sensation I feel.I barely register my naked body being lifted from the tub. My head swings slig
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 133: The Truth Unleashed
[Arella]“My memories are back.”The words sound in my head like a bad omen, curling around me like smoke, thick and suffocating. For a moment, my heart stops.There was a time when I dreamed of this—of him remembering, of him looking at me the way he used to, of the boy I fell in love with in my sophomore year coming back to me.But things change.People change.And Deric? He became something else entirely.Apart from the small, fleeting shock that zips across my skin, I feel nothing now. Nothing but pure, numbing apathy.But beside me, there’s something else—something sharp, electric.Lincoln.The energy radiating from him is different, dangerous. A nervous, explosive energy, coiled tight like a wire about to snap. I can feel his restraint, the way his muscles lock in place, his breathing steady but tense.He’s waiting. Holding back.For me.For my move.Keeping my face blank, I yank my hands away with force, stepping back a few inches. My voice comes out steady, deceptively cold.“
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 134: back
[Arella]Vivian is the first to notice me. Her eyes widen, not just from the sting of Deric’s slap but from the fact that I saw it happen. Despite the firestorm raging inside me, a self-satisfied smirk tugs at my lips. Trouble in paradise? I wonder what woman is strong enough to break these two apart.I ignore her. She’s insignificant. My gaze zeroes in on Deric, and he’s already looking at me. His eyes also wide but hold something foreign—something sickening. Like I’m the light in his dark world. Like… how he used to look at me.Disgust coils in my stomach.He steps closer, his fingers twitching as if reaching for me. But, all I see is him, drenched in a drunken haze, tossing money at my foster mother’s dying body like she was some disposable trash.“Arella…” His voice cracks. “It’s… you. I’m not dreaming, am I?”My hand moves before I even think. The sharp crack echoes through the room, my palm meeting his cheek with enough force to tilt his head to the side. But I don’t feel the s
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 131: Need To Kill
[Arella]The ringing in my ears is deafening, a sharp, unbearable screech that drowns out everything else. My heart pounds against my ribs, hammering so hard I swear it might break through. What did she just say?"What?!" I sputter, the words barely forming as the world tilts on its axis. My throat is dry, my pulse a wild, erratic mess. I watch Ava’s lips move, the syllables barely escaping before her eyes dim."It was...Deric Smith…"Then, she collapses against my shoulder, her body going limp like a marionette doll with its strings cut.A strangled sound escapes me. Panic—raw and unforgiving—roars through my veins, squeezing my lungs like a vise."Doctor! Doctor!" I scream, my voice breaking, my hands gripping her lifeless body. It feels like an eternity before the door bursts open and the doctor rushes in, a nurse trailing behind her. They don’t hesitate. I’m shoved aside, my arms suddenly empty, and I stumble back, disoriented.My breathing is erratic, the walls pressing in, the h
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 130: I Remember Everything
[Arella]Giving Lincoln one last look of reassurance, I follow the doctor into Ava’s ward. Two nurses are flocking around her, checking her pulse. The sterile scent of the hospital room fills the air, mixing with the anxiety that seems to hang in the atmosphere. Ava’s eyes jump around, frantic, her movements tense like she’s scared that even the slightest touch will hurt her. It twists something deep inside me—this isn’t my Ava.Her eyes instinctively catch mine, and I feel a lump rise in my throat. The tears in her eyes are like a punch to the gut. She’s lost, broken, and it feels like the world has fallen apart for her."Ava?" I say softly, my voice cracking as I step closer."Ella?" she asks, her voice so fragile it feels like she’s whispering to the air, unsure if she’s truly seeing me or if I’m just a figment of her shattered mind."Hi, baby," I coo gently, moving closer. I sit on the bed beside her, wrapping my arms around her trembling body. Her arms respond immediately, but th
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 129: The Doctor's Warning
Cold, sterile stench of the hospital clings to me like a second skin as I hurry down the dimly lit corridor, my pulse pounding so loudly it drowns out the sound of my heels clicking against the floor. The bright overhead lights feel too harsh, the air too cold, and my whole body is tight with panic. "Calm down," Lincoln whispers beside me, his hand finding mine, his grip firm and reassuring. Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down when my sister is in critical condition? When I am supposed to be on my honeymoon, yet here I am, sprinting toward a doctor’s office like my life depends on it? My chest heaves as I force myself to breathe, trying to push back the overwhelming fear clawing at me. Then I spot My mother-in-law, She sits stiffly in a chair outside the doctor’s office, her hands clasped so tightly in her lap that her knuckles have turned white. Her usually warm eyes are clouded with worry, her lips pressed into a thin, trembling line. The second she sees me, her expres
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 128: What Have I Done?
[Deric]This migraine will be the death of me."Bring me more bottles!" I roar at the bartender, my voice thick with alcohol and fury. The dim lighting of the bar barely does anything to soothe the pounding in my skull, the ache digging in deep like a knife.The bartender flinches, his face paling. “S-Sir, I think you’ve had enough,” he stammers, his Spanish accent tangling with his words.Enough?I jerk up so fast the stool scrapes against the floor, the sound grating against my ears. Grabbing him by the collar, I twist it hard, pulling him close enough to see the panic flashing in his eyes."Listen here, buddy. If you don’t get me more bottles of beer right now—""Whoa, whoa!"A strong grip yanks me back. My vision sways. The migraine slashes through my skull, and I almost collapse right there if not for the thick, muscular arms shoving me down onto my stool.A man looms over me—a huge guy with a thick mustache and a jagged gash running across his left eye. He mutters something in S
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 127: Mom's Call
[Arella]"Oh, c'mon, Lincoln, not this again."My eyes roll as a pout tugs at my lips. I know he can’t resist when I do that."Our honeymoon’s almost over—we should make the most of it," I plead, tugging his arm repeatedly like a child."We should," he finally turns to face me, a scowl on his handsome face, his deep honey brown eyes flickering with something sinful. "Like every other normal honeymooners, we should be in bed all day for the next two days before we go back."A look of horror flashes across my face, and Lincoln immediately chokes on his suppressed laugh.I take a step back, my core tightening at the memory of last night—his punishment. The way he handled me like I was nothing but his to ruin, the way his voice dropped to that deadly whisper before…No. No way in hell.His laugh settles, but his gaze doesn’t waver. He knows. He knows exactly what I’m thinking about, and I hate that. Heat rushes to my cheeks, and he clicks his tongue, his lips curving into that wicked smir
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 126: Almost Identical
[Arella]Pulling out the towel Lincoln packed for me, I wrap it around her shivering frame. Her skin is cool to the touch, damp with seawater, and her breath is still uneven from the near-drowning."Thank you," she whispers softly, almost as if she’s still in shock.“You're welco—”“Thank you!” she repeats, louder this time. But her eyes aren’t on me anymore; they’re locked onto Lincoln.My socially awkward husband, who doesn’t even acknowledge her. He just brushes past us like she doesn’t exist, heading straight for his phone on the table. No glance. No nod. Just complete, ice-cold disregard.I want to facepalm myself.Her face falls slightly, her shoulders drooping just a bit before she looks back at me with an uncertain expression. "Help me thank your brother. I really do appreciate it."My brows furrow. Brother? Did Lincoln and I look… alike? I let out an awkward laugh, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "He's my husband actually, and don't worry—he's glad to help. Jus
