All Chapters of RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The dry Arizona heat was something I was slowly getting used to, but the weight of my decision to leave everything behind still clung to me. Every morning, I woke up expecting something—an old memory clawing its way into my mind, a call from someone I no longer wanted to hear from—but nothing came. And that silence, that absolute quiet from my past, was both terrifying and liberating.Brent had made it clear from the moment we arrived that this wasn’t going to be a vacation. If I wanted a fresh start, I needed to build something for myself, not just run away from what I left behind. I thought I had done enough rebuilding after escaping the Ortegas, but Brent had other ideas.“This is your chance, Demi,” Brent said one evening over dinner at the mansion. “To build a life where you don’t have to look over your shoulder. Where you call the shots. No Jeff. No Adam. Just you.”I poked at my food, knowing exactly where this was going. “And you think throwing me into a corporate empire is th

The morning after the chaotic incident at the hotel, I was determined to move on. I buried myself in work, sitting in my office at the Hermosa Group’s headquarters, reviewing reports, and making decisions that solidified my place in the company. Last night’s events weren’t something I wanted to dwell on. But as I walked out of the building later that day, I found myself face-to-face with the last person I expected to see again—Nolan Sanchez.He was leaning casually against a black sports car parked near the entrance, his expression unreadable. Dressed sharply in a fitted button-down and dark slacks, he looked entirely different from the drunk, unruly man who had caused a scene at the hotel the night before.I debated turning around and pretending I hadn’t seen him, but he noticed me before I could make an escape.“Demi,” he called out, pushing off the car and walking toward me.I sighed, adjusting my purse strap over my shoulder. “you again? Mr. Sanchez, whatever it is you're up to, I

The following days were a whirlwind of board meetings, contract reviews, and site visits. If Chelsea was supposed to be an asset, she certainly wasn’t making it easy. She challenged my every decision, countered my every argument, and tested my patience at every opportunity. But I refused to back down. If she wanted a battle of wits, I’d give her one.It was during one of our site inspections that Nolan Sanchez reappeared.I was reviewing architectural models when I felt someone watching me. I turned, expecting to see Chelsea’s scrutinizing gaze, but instead, I was met with Nolan’s dark, amused eyes.“Fancy seeing you here,” he said, hands in his pockets, his stance relaxed but unreadable.I sighed, already exhausted. “What do you want, Nolan?”Chelsea, who had been speaking with one of the architects, glanced between us with mild curiosity but didn’t interfere.Nolan smirked. “I heard about your little project. Thought I’d drop by and see what all the fuss was about.”I folded my arms

The next two days were a blur of back-to-back meetings, finalizing partnerships, and confirming logistics. Chelsea and I barely had time to eat, and Brent was constantly checking in to make sure neither of us collapsed from exhaustion.By the evening before the expo, we had finally crossed off every item on our to-do list.Chelsea leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms. “I can’t believe we pulled this off.”I sighed, closing my laptop. “Well?” I teased. “Who knew teamwork could actually work?”Chelsea grinned. “Careful, Demi. You might actually start to like having me around.”I rolled my eyes but smiled. Truthfully, I had grown to respect Chelsea more than I thought I ever would. She wasn’t just an employee. She was someone I could trust.“Since we survived this madness, I’m going to treat you to dinner after the expo,” I said. “You deserve it.”Chelsea looked surprised but then shook her head. “You don’t have to do that. This wasn’t about money or favors. It was about making

The morning after the event, I sat with Chelsea in the conference room, waiting for Brent to arrive. Though the initial panic over the project’s leak had subsided, a weight still lingered on my chest. I couldn’t shake the memory of last night—the tense confrontation between Brent and Nolan, the way Brent had pulled me away without hesitation.Brent finally walked in, exuding his usual confidence. He tossed a folder onto the table and leaned against the chair, arms crossed. “Crisis averted,” he said simply.Chelsea and I exchanged a glance before I spoke. “What do you mean?”He sighed and rolled his shoulders back. “Turns out the leak was a weak attempt at sabotage. Someone tried to twist the narrative about the missing permits, but we had everything properly documented. Legal and PR worked overnight to release a statement before the media could spin it out of control.”Chelsea leaned forward. “So, it’s settled?”Brent nodded. “We traced the source back to a competitor trying to rattle