Semua Bab A Ruthless Revenge: the Billionaire's Ex Wife Is Back: Bab 21 - Bab 30

Damien’s POVGenevieve’s words hung in the air, her voice coated with just the right amount of confidence and conviction. My mother’s lips pursed, deep in thought, while my father simply watched me, unreadable.I could already see the wheels turning in their heads.Then Genevieve delivered the next blow."The only reason Damien hasn’t finalized the divorce yet is because he’s making sure Celeste doesn’t walk away with more than she deserves," she said smoothly, her tone almost matter-of-fact. "He’s ensuring that every asset, every cent, remains right where it belongs—within the Vaughn family."I was astonished, to say the least. And quite impressed. My mother’s expression shifted, her disapproval easing into something more contemplative. "Is that true, Damien?" she asked, tilting her head. "You’re making sure the damage she caused is contained?"I didn’t answer immediately.Because the truth was—I hadn’t even thought about it.I should have. That’s what I had done in the past, securi

Celeste’s POVTheo’s words hung between us heavily. I won’t leave you again.I wasn’t prepared for them.I had always known Theo as my rock—the steady, dependable presence who had once been my closest friend. But something about the way he said those words now made my breath catch.There was no hesitation, no room for doubt.I met his gaze, and for the first time, I realized something had changed. Or maybe… it had always been there, and I had been too blind to see it.The way he looked at me now intensely, like I was the only thing that mattered—was different.Too different.My heart began to beat crazily. What’s going on? Had I misread him all these years? Or was it just now that I was truly seeing him?My pulse became a bit erratic, my emotions beginning to get tangled in knots. This was unfamiliar territory for me. But then, he moved past me, setting a bag down on the counter, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and pastries wafting into the air. He had come prepared, as always."

Celeste’s POV I agreed to Damien’s request to meet, trying to sound calm while my heart beat like crazy. After ending the call, I stood there dazed in the living room, phone still in my hand, the weight of what was to come already pressing on my shoulders. It all felt surreal. Theo glanced up from the couch, concern showing on his face. “You’re going to meet with Damien?” he asked, already knowing.I nodded. “He wants to talk about the divorce.”Theo’s expression didn’t change much, but I noticed the slight tightening of his jaw. “Do you want me to come with you?”There it was—his instinct to protect. He always offered that quietly, never forcefully. And yet… I shook my head.“No. I need to go alone. I have to do this by myself, Theo.”This time, it wasn’t because I didn’t want to trouble him, or because I feared the press would twist something out of nothing. Well, maybe that too. But more than anything, I didn’t want him dragged into my mess.He had already done enough.“You’ve h

Celeste’s POVThe bar was dimly lit and the air was tinged with the stale scent of spilled whiskey and forgotten regrets. People spoke in hushed tones, but none of it registered. The world felt muted, like it was trying not to disturb me.I sat alone at the counter, the amber liquid in my glass almost all gone. It burned going down—but that was the point.Alcohol was the best anesthetic. It numbed the ache in my chest, dulled the sharp sting of memories I wasn’t ready to confront.It's over, damn it. The marriage. The façade. The illusion that maybe, just maybe, he’d come to love me.I had given everything to that man. And in return, he’d given me humiliation.My god! The betrayal and accusations... The imprisonment in that goddamn asylum like I was something to be hidden and left to suffer and rot. I’d looked down at my own trembling hands once and seen blood. My blood. A quiet scream for help no one ever heard.Back then, I promised myself—if I ever got out, I would cut him out of

Damien’s POVI sat in silence for a long time, the document still open on my desk, the edges curling beneath my fingers.Genevieve’s name stared back at me, bold and inarguable in transaction logs and email metadata.I couldn’t reconcile it. The woman who had stood beside me through everything and had been such a great friend—why would she involve herself in something like this? Why target Celeste?I groaned, my head swimming with confusion, my heart constricting from the rising emotions. And yet, I couldn’t just go to her—not when she had walked away with that terrifying calm, as if everything between us had meant nothing. Not when she had thrown away her ring and hadn’t looked back.But I could fix this. I could clean up the mess, silence the voices, and push back against the vultures circling her name.I can protect her. Even if she doesn’t want me to.I leaned back in my chair, my gaze drifting to the edge of my desk—where a photo sat half-obscured beneath a folder.Oh, Celeste…