All Chapters of My Billionaire Ex-husband Won't Call It Quit: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Alex's POVI should have seen it coming.The moment I stepped into my office that morning, the tension hung in the air like a physical presence. My assistant, Erin, stood unnaturally still near my desk, her fingers hovering over her tablet with obvious hesitation, as if caught between urgency and dread. The morning sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows did nothing to warm the chill that had settled in the room."How bad is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer from the look on her face.She swallowed hard before answering. "It's... everywhere, Ms. Lane. Every platform, every outlet." Her voice cracked slightly. "Twitter is having a field day. Instagram's flooded with the photos. Even the more reputable publications have run with it."With a resigned sigh, I crossed the room and took the tablet from her trembling hands. One glance at the screen confirmed my worst fears."SCANDAL: Alexandra Lane Spotted Getting Cozy with Infamous Ex-Convict James Vale!""Billi

ALEX’S POV"What's wrong?You have nothing to say right now?" Michael's voice slithered over the phone, silky as silk yet sharp as a dagger. My knuckles turned white around the gadget, and a chilly knot formed in my gut. "You know I—" "Impressive timing," I said, trying a nonchalant tone that didn't match the pounding in my chest. "The shot was taken what, five minutes ago? And you are already on my case. I'll grant you this: you're efficient. "The world is about to discover your biggest secret, and that's what concerns you?" Michael challenged, lowering his voice one octave. I shifted my weight, surveying the park as Griffin remained blissfully unaware. "Wrong," I said, my voice firm. "The world—and you—are about to spin another wild tale to try and bring me down." "Another tale?" His chuckle was brittle and hollow. "We have been here before, Alexandra. "You can lie to everyone else, but we both know better." "Who said anything about lying?" I watched Griffin pursue a butterfly, choco

Alex POVThe restaurant James had chosen was tucked away on the top floor of a historic building downtown, the kind of place that didn't bother with signage because those who belonged there already knew. I smoothed down my navy dress—professional enough if this turned out to be strictly business after all, but with just enough elegance to acknowledge it might not be."Ms. Coleman," the hostess greeted me with practiced warmth. "Mr. Dean is waiting for you."Of course he'd arrived early. Another power move in what was beginning to feel like an elaborate chess match.James stood as I approached, his eyes taking me in with undisguised appreciation. He'd traded his business suit for dark jeans and a charcoal button-down that somehow looked more expensive than his formal wear."You look beautiful," he said simply."Thank you." I accepted the compliment without deflection—another lesson hard-learned from my marriage. Michael had hated when I couldn't take a compliment, until eventually he s

Michael POVThe expensive whiskey in my crystal glass remained untouched, the hand-carved ice slowly melting into a diluted amber pool as I stared with growing intensity at the high-resolution photograph displayed on my phone's screen.Alexandra.My wife. My wife, regardless of what legal papers might claim to the contrary.Even after all these years of calculated distance and deliberate indifference, the unexpected sight of her sent a violent, uncontrollable rush of heat through my veins like molten steel. But this time, it wasn't just her familiar silhouette that captured my attention—it was the impeccably dressed man standing confidently beside her in the dimly lit street.James Dean.Billionaire entrepreneur. CEO of the rapidly expanding Dean Holdings. A man whose carefully cultivated name carried significantly more weight in elite boardrooms than mine ever had, despite my own considerable success. And there he was, his manicured hand resting possessively on the small of my wife's

James POVThe children's section of the Natural History Museum buzzed with the controlled chaos of weekend visitors. Excited voices echoed off the vaulted ceilings as parents chased energetic children between exhibits. Through it all, I focused on one small figure in a paleontologist vest, currently pressing his face against the glass of a fossil display with reverent attention."The Archaeopteryx is my third favorite," Griffin informed me solemnly, pointing to the delicate impression of feathers preserved in stone. "It proves the evolutionary link between dinosaurs and birds.""Third favorite?" I asked, genuinely curious. "What are the first two?""Triceratops is second because of the defensive capabilities," he explained with the air of a military strategist. "And Ankylosaurus is first because it has the best armor and a tail club that could break a T-Rex's leg with one hit.""Practical choices," I nodded. "You've thought about this carefully."Griffin beamed at the recognition of h