MasukShare
71: Smiles And Jitters
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-01-05 23:55:16
Bab terkait
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 72: Meeting His Grandmother
AUTHOR'S NOTE Hey, lovelies! (≧◡≦) Just a quick update: Chapters 69, 70, and 71 are getting a little makeover right now, so they'll be shiny and perfect for you! I have already uploaded them, but please give the system 24 to 48 hours to update them. I promise it'll be worth the wait, and this way, you won’t miss out on the juicy storyline or waste your precious coins! Thank you so much for your endless support and patience—you’re seriously the best! Love you all to the moon and back! (♡˙︶˙♡) Stay tuned; the fun continues soon! *EDIT: THE CHAPTERS HAS BEEN FIXED!(^^)* CHAPTER 72: [Arella] "Hello, ma’am. My name is Alfred, head butler of the Sawyers." The man standing before me is the epitome of professionalism—middle-aged, with a sturdy build, his uniform pressed to perfection. "I already know you, sir," I say, managing a polite smile. "And please, call me Arella." His brow twitches, as if I’ve committed a social sin. "Sorry, I cannot do that." I nod, b
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-07The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 73: Name Your Price
[Arella]Apart from the soft clinking of chopsticks and the hum of distant conversations, the restaurant is fairly quiet. The smell of soy sauce and stir-fried vegetables fills the air, mixing with the faint aroma of jasmine tea. I sit on a wooden chair, its deep red cushion elegant.It's been roughly two minutes since I sat down, and she hasn't said a word. Not one word. But her eyes—sharp and judgmental—tell me all the things her mouth doesn't. They rake over me with open disdain, as if I’m something unpleasant she’s forced to tolerate.“I can see why my grandson got charmed by you. You're a pretty little thing indeed," she begins, her voice smooth but icy, like a blade cloaked in silk.Anger, slow and hot, burns up my chest. Pretty little thing? What am I, a doll on display? The way she says it, like I'm no different from... from—I clench my fists under the table, the nails digging crescents into my palms. I force those thoughts out of my mind, swallowing the bitter retort ri
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-08The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 74: Public Humiliation
[Arella]My blurry gaze shifts to the man storming toward us, his sharp footsteps echoing in the tense atmosphere. His expression is thunderous, a storm of rage written on his face. Not just any man, but… Deric Smith? You've got to be kidding me.For a second, I’m too stunned to move. The scent of spilled soup mingles with the faint aroma of soy sauce from nearby tables. My wet hair clings to my face, soup trickling down my neck, adding to my humiliation.His eyes don’t meet mine; they’re laser-focused on Lincoln’s grandmother, burning with fury."Why the fuck would you do that to her?" he yells, his voice slicing through the air like a blade. Heads turn at the commotion. I feel the weight of their stares, making the heat on my cheeks even worse.Lincoln’s grandmother freezes, her lips parting in surprise before she recovers with a smirk. She turns her sharp gaze back to me, her smile venomous."Is this one of your lackeys?" she sneers.I want to retort, but my throat tightens. Before
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-09The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 75: Awake
[Lincoln]“C'mon, Ella, open your eyes,” I plead, shaking her slightly. My voice cracks, betraying the panic clawing at my chest. Her face is so pale, so unnervingly still, I almost feel like I’m holding a lifeless doll.“Drive faster!” My voice thunders, raw with urgency, urging the driver on. The air in the car feels suffocating, thick with tension and the metallic scent of blood. My hands tremble as I cradle her closer.She’s bleeding. She’s fucking bleeding! What had they done to her?My mind is a whirlwind, flashing back to the vision of her in Deric’s arms. My blood boils in my veins, rage simmering just below the surface. What had they planned? What the hell kind of sick game were they playing?Gritting my teeth, I whisper more to myself than to her, “C'mon, Ella, stay with me.”Her head lolls against my chest, her warmth slipping away by the second. A small part of me is screaming that I’m losing her, and that terrifies me more than I’ll ever admit.“You’ll be fine, Ella. You’
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-11The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 76: Remember anything?
[Deric]“What do you mean by he’s having flashbacks?”“Yes, ma’am, that can be the only reason behind his violent behavior.”“What can I do to...you know, stop them?”Their words blur together, echoing like a distant hum in my ears. The pounding in my head grows unbearable, each throb feeling like a hammer against my skull. My chest feels heavy, like someone is sitting on it, as I fight to pull myself back to consciousness.A sliver of light seeps through my eyelids. I force them open, but the brightness sends sharp pain shooting through my temples.“Ow, fuck.” My voice comes out hoarse, barely above a whisper.“Deric!”Vivian’s voice rings out, sharp and frantic, cutting through the haze. I hear the rustle of hurried footsteps before her hands grip my arms, warm and trembling. She pulls me up gently, her scent, vanilla and cherries, wafting into my nose.“What happened to me?” I manage to rasp, blinking at her blurry figure. Her face freezes, the usual softness in her features replac
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-12The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 77: Anger? Pain? Jealousy?
"Yes, you did all that!" Vivian yells, her voice cracking, then clenches my shirt tightly, her knuckles turning white. There’s a slightly crazed look in her eyes, a mix of desperation and something darker that makes my stomach twist. "Remember what you t-told me. Remember what you promised, Deric! You can only be with me, okay? Please… please don't go back to her. I can't live without you. I won't!" Her chest heaves, rising and falling so fast it looks like she might collapse any second."It's okay, Vivi. Come here."I pull her against me, her trembling body fitting awkwardly against mine. My mind flashes back to the crazed look in her eyes, and a shiver skates down my spine. That look… it clings to me, like an unwanted ghost in the back of my head."Nothing of that sort will happen," I say, forcing my voice to stay even. "I'm all yours, okay? Just yours."She sniffles, her tears soaking into my chest like raindrops on parched earth. For the first time, irritation sparks somewhere
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-13The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 78: A Cosy Morning
[Arella] "Ouch!" My yelp is instant as the burning sensation spreads through my finger, sharp and biting. The sting blooms, leaving a fiery trail across my skin. My thumb immediately finds my lips, and I nibble on it, desperate to soothe the hot pain. Tears prickle at the corners of my eyes, but I blink them back, annoyed at my clumsiness. "Ella, what's wrong?" Lincoln’s voice calls out. He’s by my side in an instant, his large hands gripping my shoulders and cradling my face. His sharp, honey brown eyes dart over me, searching worriedly. "Are you okay? Are you fine?" His concern is so raw, so palpable, that it cracks my heart a little. The kitchen, with its warm lighting and faint aroma of bacon, feels suddenly stifling under his intense worry. I turn off the stove with and face him, cupping his cheeks. A chuckle escapes me, soft but genuine. "I'm fine, Linc. Just a little scalding here and there." "Are you sure?" he presses, his brows knitting tightly. He takes my ha
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-14The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 79: Crashed
[Arella] "What's wrong?" Lincoln pulls me closer, his strong arms encircling me like a fortress. My head finds solace against his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat grounding me. "She's getting better, Linc. She's actually getting better." My voice cracks with emotion, and my fingers clutch at his shirt as if holding onto this moment will make it last forever. I feel his smile, warm and reassuring, as his jaw rests gently on my forehead. "Is that why you're crying?" he asks softly, his deep voice laced with curiosity and a hint of amusement. A small laugh escapes my lips, shaky and tear-streaked, as I lift my head. "It's the damn pregnancy hormones. I'm actually very happy. Too happy." I sniffle, swiping at my cheeks, embarrassed but too overcome to care. "You're adorable," he says, his eyes glimmering with an emotion so intense it steals my breath. Heat floods my cheeks, and I look away, suddenly self-conscious under his gaze. Why does he always manage to look at
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-15
Bab terbaru
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife Author’s Note
Wow. What a journey it’s been, right? Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sticking with me through this wild, emotional journey. Arella and Lincoln's story has been so close to my heart, and I hope it’s touched yours too. Your support means more than words can say, and I’m so grateful for every single one of you, you guys are the real MVPs. ❤️ P.S. If you loved this story, I’d be over the moon if you gave my future books a read. Trust me, more heart-tugging, exciting stories are coming your way!Until next time, Tarina (◠‿◠)—☆
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife Epilogue II
[Arella]I whip around, eyes widening as I practically leap off Lincoln's lap in surprise."You're here!" I blurt, caught off guard but grinning. "I thought you said you couldn’t make it."Standing there, looking sheepish and a little road-worn, is Deric. He scratches the back of his head, wearing that same awkward, harmless smile he has these days."I wouldn’t have made it," he admits, voice a little raspy from travel, "but my flight was delayed... so I thought, what the hell, why not crash the party anyway?""Deric," Lincoln says, stepping up beside me, his hand still resting easy at my waist."Lincoln," Deric replies with a short nod, his voice even.There's a brief pause—more out of old habits than real tension—before Deric extends his hand. Lincoln studies him for a beat, then accepts the handshake without hesitation, the corners of his mouth lifting in a faint, civil smile.The tightness I hadn't even realized was clenching my chest slowly eases."This is, uh, for your son," Der
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife Epilogue
3 MONTHS LATER[Arella]"Grandpa really outdid himself this time, Mila," I laugh under my breath, wide-eyed as I take in the mansion decked out like something straight out of a storybook. I should’ve known better when he said he’d ‘take care of everything.’ With Grandpa, that’s just secret code for ‘go big enough to make even fairy tales jealous.’Mila giggles, but then her face goes pale. "Well, we all know how–"She cuts herself off, rushing to her son, who’s happily stuffing his face with edible flowers."Oh my God, Wayne! Spit that out!" she yells, running after him."No no! Cakeee!" he laughs, trying to run away.I roll my eyes and snatch the small board of tasks from her hands. "Looks like you’ve got your hands full already with this little turd," I mutter, pinching Wayne’s chubby cheeks. He sticks his tongue out at me, playful as ever. I shake my head and take the board from her, walking around the room, coordinating with the staff to make sure everything’s perfect.****"Why a
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 213: Final Verdict
[Arella]TWO MONTHS LATERThe courtroom is cold, Not physically—but emotionally. It's almost too quiet.My hands sit frozen in my lap, unmoving for the past five minutes. A dull, anxious ache hums beneath my skin, but I can’t bring myself to shift. Lincoln sits beside me, our fingers tightly laced, grounding me. His other hand works swiftly over his phone, typing out what I’m sure are urgent work emails.Work had only gotten busier since he resumed.You’d think having two CEOs would make things easier. It only doubled our workload.I had tried to argue my way into stepping down, maybe becoming his VP or something less suffocating—but Lincoln wasn’t having any of it.Apex Conglomerate was clawing its way into the world’s elite, growing bigger, louder, more powerful by the day—and Lincoln made it crystal clear he wouldn’t let me miss a second of it.I blink myself back to the present as the judge adjusts his glasses, his stern gaze dropping down to the man standing trial.The man who a
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 212: Finally Home II
[Lincoln]The car pulls up to Witmoore Gardens, a private area owned by the Sawyers for intimate family events, tucked away from the noisy chaos of the outside world. The afternoon sun kisses the neatly trimmed hedges and the white blossoms that line the entrance sway gently in the breeze.I can't help the heavy thump of my heart at the thought of seeing my family again. A real, physical ache throbs inside my chest as the driver cuts the engine and we step out.We exist the car and take a slow walk down the stone-cobbled path, the soft crunch of gravel beneath our shoes filling the warm, floral-scented air. Arella’s hand is securely locked in mine, her presence grounding me even as my nerves threaten to tangle my steps."Your palms are sweaty, Linc. Are you nervous?" she teases softly, giving me a look so warm and tender it makes my heart trip in my chest like a reckless drum."Maybe," I reply, my voice coming out lower and raspier than intended.Her grin only grows. "Aww, they don't
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 211: Finally Home
[Lincoln]I mean, sure, Arella and I appeared on TV a few days ago when the Mayor of Chicago wanted to publicly appreciate our efforts, and I knew—rationally—that everyone must know I'm alive now. But I didn't expect this.I didn't expect the entire airport to already be flooded like a damn concert just to catch a glimpse of us. The jet had barely touched the runway, the tires still hissing from contact, and yet-it’s like the whole damn city of San Diego decided to show up for a party.From the distance, the sharp staccato of camera shutters echoes through the thick, humid air, flashes popping like fireworks across the runway. The chaotic chorus of reporters shouting questions and calling our names roars louder with every step we descend.A cheeky, loopsided grin spreads across Arella’s face as we start down the stairs of the jet, her hand still tightly locked with mine, her spirit practically buzzing with unbothered amusement. Her entire energy screams: I own this moment."You're lov
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 210: Mile–High Confessions
[Lincoln]I never thought I’d be lucky enough to marry a superheroine, but here I am, with the most incredible woman by my side.The night wraps around us like a soft, comforting robe. The jet hums beneath us, its quiet rhythm like a lullaby carrying us away from the chaos. We’d spent another three, exhausting days in Chicago, collaborating with the police and drug enforcement agencies to dismantle one of the city’s most dangerous syndicates, ensuring every production of that deadly injection was stopped in its tracks. But now, as I watch my wife sleeping peacefully-her face bathed in the gentle glow of the cabin lights—a rush of emotions fills me. It’s more than warmth. It's something deeper, something that settles in my soul and touches every fractured part of me. It feels like a healing, like a light that’s always been missing inside me, now shining so brightly it threatens to overflow. Heaven knows, if the roles were reversed, if I’d been the one forced to raise a child alone f
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 209: The End Of It All
[Arella]“Fuck you, Lincoln Sawyer!” Thompson’s voice tears through the air, cracked and furious, soaked in desperation as he launches backwards with one final burst of rage. His boot slams into Lincoln, sending him staggering back a few steps and before I can even think, he’s charging at me—wild-eyed, unhinged, like something that’s crawled straight out of hell and decided it wants to drag me back with it.But Lincoln doesn’t go down easy.He moves like something deep inside him just snapped back into place. One moment he’s stumbling, breathless, the next he’s lunging like a damn freight train, grabbing Thompson mid-sprint and twisting with enough force to rattle the concrete under our feet. Thompson’s body slams into the ground with a sickening thud, the gun flying from his hand and skittering across the floor with a metallic scream as the punches from Lincoln connects with his face.“Arella!” Lincoln’s voice cuts through the chaos, raw and real.With thinking anymore I run to him,
The Billionaire's Forgotten Ex-wife 208: Violence And Vengeance
[Arella]“No no no!” Lisa screeches, stumbling back like the floor beneath her just cracked open. “H-how did you find us?!”Her voice pierces the air like shattered glass, high-pitched and filled with the kind of desperation only obsession can birth. She's shaking now, her wild eyes darting from me to the little vial still pinched between my fingers.“You conniving bitch!!” Thompson barks, his neck veins bulging as his gaze swings to Vivian.His hand trembles violently as he points between us, rage bleeding into fear. Then he sees Deric. And he pales.“It was only a matter of time before I found you, Thompson,” I say, calm, steady, like the reaper arriving with a smirk. “I’m sure you knew that too.”He begins to back away, every inch of arrogance fleeing his body like air from a punctured balloon. He stumbles until his back hits Lincoln’s bed—and that’s when everything freezes. My blood stops in my veins as he suddenly swings a gun out of his pocket, his hand shaking but deadly, and p
