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Chapter 36
Last Updated:
2025-02-05 23:37:11
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DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK Chapter 37
Olivia The boardroom was silent as everyone took their seats. The air was thick with anticipation, the kind of tension you could almost feel physically. I sat at the head of the table, my gaze fixed on Lucas as he prepared to present the figures. The chart he was about to show us would give us all a glimpse into how well Nexus had been doing with its recent investments. It was supposed to be a victory, a moment of pride for the company, especially for Lucas. The projector hummed to life, and the numbers appeared on the screen. Lucas's voice filled the room as he explained how Nexus's little investment had grown. The graph was steady, showing a positive trend. The board members leaned forward, their eyes widening as they saw the results. It was impressive—there was no denying that. But as I watched them react, something inside me stirred. This wasn’t about numbers or growth anymore. It was about me, about Lucas. It was about what I had learned over the past few weeks, what had
Last Updated : 2025-02-06DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK Chapter 38
OliviaThe moment I stepped into my office, the weight of my decision finally settled over me like a heavy blanket. I had just made a move that would alter Nexus’ course, cutting ties with Lucas’ company without hesitation. My heart pounded with the realization that there was no undoing what I had done. It was final.For the sake of my peace and the integrity of Nexus, I had to do it. I needed Lucas out of my life in every way. There was no way I could run this company while constantly dealing with him. Business and personal life had to stay separate.Vivian sat on the office couch, gently rocking Aiden in her arms. His tiny hands were curled into fists, resting against her shoulder as he slept soundly. His little chest rose and fell rhythmically, undisturbed by the chaos of the world around him.I let out a deep breath, walked over to my desk, and placed my laptop and files on the table. My body felt drained, as if all my energy had been zapped away in that boardroom. I pulled ou
Last Updated : 2025-02-07DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK Chapter 39
OliviaMy fingers were lingering over the trackpad. The proposal to Robert Miller had been sent, and now all I could do was wait. I exhaled slowly, rubbing my temples as exhaustion started to creep in.Across from me, Vivian sipped her iced coffee, watching me with that familiar knowing look. “You need a break, Liv.”I shook my head, barely glancing at her. “I’ll rest when Nexus is stable.”She rolled her eyes. “You keep saying that, but when will it ever be stable enough for you to stop running yourself into the ground?”I sighed, leaning back in my chair. She wasn’t wrong. Lately, I had been drowning myself in work, using it as a distraction. But the weight of today’s decisions—the tension in the boardroom, the confrontation with Lucas, and my father’s call—still lingered in my chest.“I just need to stay ahead,” I murmured. “I can’t afford to be careless.”Vivian set her cup down, leaning forward. “Olivia, you’re burning out. You already sent the proposal. Trust that you’ll
Last Updated : 2025-02-08DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK Chapter 40
Lucas’ POVLying on my bed, I stared at the ceiling. My mind was in turmoil as the past few days had turned my entire life upside down.My company was facing an inevitable downfall. My contract with Nexus had been terminated. The board members were furious, and shareholders had been calling non-stop, demanding an explanation. My inbox was flooded with emails, each one screaming the same thing: What the hell is going on?I didn’t have an answer.I had switched off my main phone hours ago, hoping for some peace, but it never came. The feeling of failure pressed down on me, threatening to crush me entirely. Not having the biggest share in my own company meant that, at any moment, I could be voted out as CEO. The thought alone made my stomach churn.For the first time in a long while, I felt entirely powerless, and I hated it.A knock.I wasn’t in the mood for visitors. I just wanted to be alone. But, as expected, the door creaked open anyway."Lucas," my mother’s voice filled the
Last Updated : 2025-02-09DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK Chapter 41
Olivia’s POVDinner was warm, lively, and exactly what I needed. Sitting at the table with Vivian and Aiden filled the emptiness that had been lingering in my house for weeks. It had been so long since I felt this kind of joy—simple, uncomplicated happiness. Watching Aiden’s tiny hands struggle to cut his food while Vivian helped him, laughing at his exaggerated expressions, made me realize how much I missed moments like this.“You’ve barely touched your food,” Vivian pointed out, eyeing me as she fed Aiden a piece of chicken. “Are you okay?”I blinked, realizing I had been lost in thought. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just... happy you’re both here.”Vivian smiled warmly. “We’re happy to be here too, right Aiden?”Aiden nodded enthusiastically, his cheeks stuffed with food. “Mhm! Aunty Liv, your food is the best!”I chuckled, reaching over to ruffle his curls. “I’m glad you like it.”Just as we finished dinner, Vivian’s iPad rang from the table. The screen lit up with Marcus Calling. Befo
Last Updated : 2025-02-10DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK Chapter 42
Olivia The air in Robert Miller’s office was heavy with anticipation. I had spent the morning going over every possible scenario, rehearsing my pitch, and convincing myself that I was ready for this. Nexus needed this deal, and after everything that had happened, I needed a win. I stepped out of the elevator, my heels clicking against the polished marble floor as Robert’s assistant greeted me with a polite smile. “Mr. Miller is expecting you, Ms. Smith. Please, follow me.” Ms. Smith. It was the name I had chosen to use professionally—the name I had taken from my mother. But as I walked into the spacious office, and saw the infamous Robert Miller sitting confidently behind his massive desk, I had the unsettling feeling that it was going to be a long day of negotiations. “Olivia,” he greeted me warmly, standing up and extending a hand. “It’s been a long time.” I hesitated for a moment before shaking his hand. “Mr. Miller, thank you for meeting with me.” “Robert, please,
Last Updated : 2025-02-13DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK Chapter 43
OliviaThe moment Robert left the room, silence settled between me and Preston like an unspoken challenge. The weight of the past, the shock of the present, and the uncertainty of the future pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe.I clenched my hands in my lap, willing myself to stay composed. I wouldn’t let him see how much his presence unsettled me. Not here. Not in a professional setting.“So…” His voice was lower than I remembered, steady but cautious. “How have you been?”I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze. “Busy.” My response was clipped, but I had no energy for small talk.His lips pressed into a thin line, as if he expected my reaction but still found it disappointing. He exhaled slowly. “I figured.”Silence again. A heavy, suffocating kind of silence.He shifted, adjusting his cufflinks, and I caught the subtle movement of his throat as he swallowed. The sight of it irritated me. I didn’t want to notice these small things about him. I didn’t want to be here, sit
Last Updated : 2025-02-14DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK Chapter 44
OliviaI inhaled deeply, trying to steady myself. The encounter with Preston had left me shaken, and my hands still gripped the contract a little too tightly. I had spent months avoiding him, and now, in one afternoon, I had been forced to sit across from him, listen to him speak, and acknowledge that our lives would be entangled again—at least professionally.I exhaled and walked toward my car, my heels clicking against the pavement. I needed to get out of here, away from the weight of his presence, away from the suffocating reality that we would be working together again.I slid into the driver’s seat and inserted the key into the ignition. I turned it. Nothing.Frowning, I tried again. The engine gave a pathetic sputter before falling silent. My heart sank. Not now. Not here.“Great,” I muttered under my breath, slumping against the seat.A soft knock on my window made me stiffen. I turned my head, already knowing who it was.Preston stood outside, hands in his pockets, watc
Last Updated : 2025-02-16
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DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK CHAPTER 144
Olivia's POV A week had passed since I’d seen Lucas’s text, its words—“Please visit again. I have something for you”—etched into my heart, a constant ache I fought to ignore. Each day was a battle to keep my resolve, to stay away from him, to honor the promise I’d made to Austin and myself to let Lucas go. The decision to cut personal ties, to limit our interactions to business, was a wound that hadn’t healed, a choice driven by the reality of Amelia’s pregnancy and his mother’s hatred, but it tore at me, a longing for his voice, his touch, that lingered like a ghost. My chest ached with the effort to move forward, my heart torn between love and duty, and I threw myself into distractions to keep the pain at bay. Austin, bless him, was my anchor, filling our days with outings and adventures—hiking trails, art galleries, quiet dinners—that brought a fleeting joy, his laughter a balm to my fractured spirit.That morning, I woke to the scent of coffee and pancakes, my eyes fluttering
DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK CHAPTER 143
Lucas's POV The hospital walls of the hospital room wall a prison, its sterile walls and incessant beeping a constant reminder of my fragility, my confinement. Over a week had passed since I texted Olivia—“Please visit again. I have something for you”—and the silence that followed was a weight crushing my chest. Each day without her reply deepened the ache, a mix of worry, longing, and confusion that gnawed at me. What was going through her mind? Had she given up on us, pushed away by Amelia’s pregnancy, my mother’s venom, or the chaos that seemed to follow me? My heart clung to the memory of our reunion—her tears, her hands steadying me, the warmth of her presence—but the lack of response felt like a door slamming shut, leaving me to wonder if I’d lost her for good. My body was healing, the fractures in my spine and shoulder less agonizing, the concussion’s fog lifting, but my spirit was battered, trapped in this room with the two women who made every moment a trial: my mother
DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK CHAPTER 142
Olivia's POV The kitchen was a quiet haven after Dad’s departure, the clink of dishes was a gentle rhythm as Austin and I stood side by side at the sink. My hands moved mechanically, scrubbing plates, rinsing mugs, but my heart was a storm of emotions—gratitude for Austin’s steady presence, guilt for the unanswered question about our marriage, and the raw ache of letting Lucas go. Dad’s directive to cut ties with Lucas echoed in my mind, a confirmation of my own resolve, but it didn’t ease the pain, the longing for a love now out of reach. Austin’s stunned reaction to Dad’s mention of meeting his father lingered, a puzzle I couldn’t solve, stirring an unease that gnawed at me. My chest tightened, my breath shallow as I focused on the dishes, hoping the task would anchor me against the turmoil threatening to spill over.Austin’s voice broke the silence, soft but piercing, catching me off guard. “Olivia,” he said, his tone cautious, his hands pausing in the soapy water, “why do yo
DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK CHAPTER 141
Olivia's POV The morning light filtered through the kitchen windows, casting a soft glow over the counter where I stood, the scent of sizzling bacon and fresh coffee filling the air. My hands moved with purpose, cracking eggs, flipping pancakes, arranging fruit on a plate, but my heart was a tangle of resolve and lingering pain. Last night’s decision to let go of Lucas weighed heavy, a choice that felt both necessary and devastating, like severing a piece of my soul. His face—his desperate hug, his whispered relief in the hospital—haunted me, but so did the reality of Amelia’s pregnancy, his mother’s hatred, the family he was building without me. I couldn’t be the mistress, the shadow in his child’s story, and that truth had solidified my resolve to step back, to protect my heart, to honor the marriage I’d made with Austin, even if it was born of convenience. My throat tightened, my chest aching as I stirred the eggs, the clatter of the spatula a distraction from the tears threa
DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK CHAPTER 140
Olivia's POV The car was a pressure cooker, the air thick with tension, Austin’s words—“You’ll end up a mistress, a second woman”—still burning in my ears, fueling a rage that pulsed through me like wildfire. My hands shook, my chest heaving with a mix of anger and hurt, my tears streaming down my cheeks as I glared at him, his profile rigid against the city lights blurring past. His accusation had struck a nerve, igniting a fury I hadn’t expected, a defiance against the idea that my love for Lucas could be reduced to something so degrading, so small. But beneath the anger was a gnawing fear, a whisper that he might be right, that my place in Lucas’s life was precarious, shadowed by Amelia’s pregnancy and his mother’s hatred. My throat tightened, my heart aching.The guilt of hurting Austin, and the stubborn love for Lucas that refused to let go.Austin’s hands gripped the steering wheel, his jaw clenched, but his voice broke the silence, low and sharp, pushing the tension higher.
DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK CHAPTER 139
Olivia's POV My heart pounded, my breath shallow, my eyes fixed on Amelia, crumpled on the floor, her hands curled around her belly, her sharp cry echoing in the sterile corridor. Lucas was on his knees beside her, his face pale with guilt and panic, his trembling hands reaching to lift her despite his own weakness, the IV line swaying precariously. My chest ached, torn between the love that had surged during our brief, stolen moment—his arms around me, his lips on my forehead—and the crushing guilt of witnessing this fallout, the chaos my presence seemed to ignite. My throat tightened, tears stinging my eyes as I stepped forward, instinct driving me to help Lucas, to steady him as he struggled.“Lucas,” I said, my voice trembling, my hands gripping his arm, supporting his weight as he tried again to lift Amelia, his breath ragged, his eyes wild with fear. But Victoria’s hand shot out, shoving me back with a force that made me stumble, her glare venomous. “Stay away!” she spat,
DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK CHAPTER 138
Lucas's POV “She’s a married woman, she doesn’t belong to you”His statement hung in the air, a cold reminder of the boundaries I’d crossed. My chest tightened, a mix of embarrassment and defiance flooding me as I realized the scene we’d made, my arms around Olivia, my lips on her forehead, all under the hospital’s fluorescent glare. Faces turned our way—nurses, visitors, their eyes curious, judgmental—and I felt heat rise to my cheeks, a flicker of shame for letting my emotions override caution. My body ached, the IV line tugging at my hand, the pain in my spine and shoulder a constant throb, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my heart, the desperate need to hold onto Olivia, to keep her close after nearly losing her.I pulled back, my hands dropping from her face, my voice low, apologetic. “I’m sorry,” I said, my eyes flicking to Austin, then back to Olivia, my throat tight with regret. “I didn’t mean to… I just—I thought you were gone, and I couldn’t—” My words falter
DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK CHAPTER 137
Lucas's POVThe hospital room felt like a cage, its sterile walls closing in, the incessant beep of the heart monitor a mocking reminder of my fragility. My body ached—my spine and shoulder throbbed with every breath, my head pounded with the lingering fog of the concussion—but the real pain was in my chest, a raw, searing ache that came from Amelia’s words: “Olivia’s dead. She died in the explosion.” The memory of her venomous lie, the way it had shattered me before I lost consciousness, haunted me, a wound that refused to heal. I lay propped against the pillows, my hands clenched, my heart a battlefield of grief, doubt, and a stubborn flicker of hope that Olivia was still out there, alive, despite Amelia’s cruelty. The room was a prison, and the two people in it—Amelia and my mother—were the most unbearable company I could imagine, their presence a suffocating weight that made me dread every moment.Amelia sat in a chair by the window, her arms crossed, her face a mask of sullen
DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK CHAPTER 136
Olivia's POV The hospital lobby was a crucible of judgment, every pair of eyes boring into me like a spotlight, their stares heavy with suspicion and curiosity. Victoria stood before me, her face twisted with grief and rage, her voice still ringing in my ears—“Murderer!”—a word that branded me, searing into my heart. My chest heaved, my breath shallow, my legs trembling as I stood frozen. My throat tightened, tears stinging my eyes as guilt and fear churned within me, a relentless storm that whispered I was to blame, that my presence was a curse, dragging death and destruction to everyone I loved. The whispers of onlookers—nurses, visitors, staff—grew louder, a chorus of judgment that made my skin crawl, my heart pounding with a panic I couldn’t quell.Austin’s hand was on my arm, his presence a steady anchor, but before he could speak, a commotion broke through the crowd. Two police officers pushed their way toward us, their faces stern, their steps purposeful, led by an older
