Hailey meticulously plans a Valentine's Day surprise for her husband, Leo. It's supposed to be a day to mend the growing chasm in their relationship, but fate has a different plan. As Hailey steps into their home, the sight that greets her shatters her world: Leo, entangled in a passionate affair with a woman, right in their bedroom. The betrayal is like a knife to her heart, twisting deeper as the truth unravels. This is not a one-time indiscretion but a web of deceit spun over the years. Hailey's mind races as the reality of her situation settles in. Determined not to be a victim, Hailey vows to seek vengeance. But how? Should she reveal her long-hidden identity as the sole heir to a vast fortune? Or should she embrace the affections of the attentive suitor who has been vying for her heart? As Hailey embarks on her journey for retribution, will she discover a new self amidst the ruins and start anew? From a Divorcee to a Billionaire is created by Ivan TaleSmith, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
View MoreThree days of relentless work didn't spare me from the surgeries that followed, but I reached out to my boss, seeking a break to head home early. Tomorrow was Valentine's Day, and I needed to carve out time to pick out a special gift for my husband.
Seeing me choose a men's watch valued at around thirty thousand dollars, the saleswoman quipped, "Oh, you must love your boyfriend very much. I can tell."
"Actually, I'm buying a watch for my husband. We've been married for two years," I corrected with a smile.
Surprised, the saleswoman remarked, "You look so young."
Grateful for the comment, I swiftly made my way home with the elegantly wrapped present. Driving back, I couldn't resist stealing glances at the gift box, envisioning Leo's reaction. Perhaps this time, his excitement would shine through, setting the stage for a romantic evening.
Leo had been distant for months, likely due to my demanding job. Despite the lack of affection, his support and kindness hadn't gone unnoticed, leaving me torn between gratitude and guilt.
Pulling up to our driveway, I noticed Leo's SUV with a red sports car parked right behind it, occupying my usual spot. Furrowing my brow, I found an alternative place to park.
Determined not to let anything mar the evening, I clutched the gift box and headed for the door, keys in hand. Keeping my early return under wraps was my way of surprising him.
Sneaking into the living room, I caught groans emanating from the bedroom.
"Oh, come on, Leo! Faster!" A feminine voice echoed.
"No prob, Babe. God, you feel incredible!" Leo's voice responded.
I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me as I struggled to comprehend what I was hearing. Drawing from years of rigorous surgical training, I tried to remain composed, though the situation felt like a living nightmare.
Peeking through the partially open door, I witnessed the unsettling scene.
"Oh, no, Leo! Slow down a bit," the woman pleaded.
"Don't you want it in a rough way?" My husband's tone was aggressive as he thrust vigorously. "Answer my question, you slut!"
The woman, lost in ecstasy, cried out in pleasure, her eyes rolling back.
My feet felt rooted to the ground as if encased in cement. Confusion engulfed me, rendering me incapable of summoning anger or jealousy.
This wasn't the Leo I knew—my genteel, courteous husband had never uttered such coarse words, and the sight of him engaged in such crude behavior shattered my perception of him.
Over our two years of marriage, Leo had never even embraced me after sex—no hugs, no gentle kisses, no moments of tenderness. Yet here he was, pouring out his all to a stranger.
If someone had told me a whole century had gone by, I'd have bought it in a heartbeat. Leo's words hit me like a ton of bricks, making me feel like I was in the worst spot ever. All the efforts I'd put in since our wedding felt utterly pointless.
"Hey, Babe, Valentine's Day's on the horizon. Got us a spot at a restaurant and a hotel. When are you done with work? I'll swing by to pick you up." Leo nuzzled into her chest, the sounds of her breasts being sucked reaching my ears.
Giggles escaped the woman as she tugged his hair playfully, drawing his face up for a deep, lengthy kiss.
"Remember, you've still got a wifey," she reminded with scorn in her voice, mentioning me in passing.
"You mean, Hailey? Oh please, Elisa, don't talk about her now. She's a mood killer. Oh, Sweetheart, just thinking about you is getting me all fired up. Ready for another round?" Leo said with a lustful smile.
Their jabs were aimed at painting me as a spouse who couldn't please her man.
"So, when's the divorce happening? My dad lined up some great catches for me, and I turned them all down for you," the woman named Elisa asked.
"Oh, Babe." Leo was visibly touched. However, the moment he brought me up, his tone soured, "Marriage to Hailey was the worst mistake I've ever made. She's 28 and still just a medical intern, a complete failure."
"Your judgment wasn't on point back then," Elisa commented.
"My father mentioned she was very close to Mr. Aesthete, and I thought there might be some inheritance in it for me. That was why I married her," Leo explained.
"Well, that explains it." Elisa flipped him over, showing her dominance. "My family's well-off, but compared to the Aesthete family, we're small fry. If you snag some of their inheritance, we'll be shooting up the social ladder." She positioned herself above him, letting out a groan, inquiring while moving her hips, "When's Mr. Aesthete kicking the bucket?"
Leo thrust upwards, his tone matching his rough movements. "That old fuck owes his life to my father. My father's as irritating as Hailey. Does his principle outweigh his son's happiness? Ridiculous! I've always known that he never really cared about me."
Elisa was rendered speechless as Leo's movements grew more intense. The sounds of their pleasure echoed through what was once my sanctuary. I couldn't bear to witness this torment any longer. My heart broke, tears streaming down my face. The realization that Leo never truly loved me, especially as he brought his lover into our home to desecrate our bed, was crushing.
What hurt more was his anticipation of Mr. Aesthete's demise. While no one understood the significance of Mr. Aesthete to me, everyone knew the respect and care I had for him, as well as Leo's father, who was a doctor too. How could Leo speak so harshly about him?
I tried to grab my phone to capture this disgraceful moment, but it was dead, out of battery. Fuming and trembling, I left the house.
Sitting in the car, I realized I had no destination in mind. Charging my phone, I checked Leo's Instagram for Elisa but found nothing. While scrolling, I noticed he had only shared our wedding pictures and a few date nights.
He had mentioned he wasn't active on social media, so we never followed each other. Then it hit me. I switched to another account and found all kinds of hashtags without even searching, such as #MorningWithElisa, #SeineRiverDate, #CouplesKissChallenge, #NightOfPassion, etc.
It was evident—Leo had blocked me on his social media, only showing me the facade he wanted. He hadn't bothered to keep things discreet. How foolish of me to believe he was working late when he was with another woman.
Tears flowing, I rested my head on the steering wheel. A knock on the window startled me. Looking up, I saw the woman from the bedroom, smiling at me through the glass.
My mind raced. How could this be happening?
She gestured for me to lower the window. I could even catch Leo's scent on her when she touched her lips and asked, "Ma'am, do you need help?"
"What?" I muttered.
"You look unwell," Elisa said, flashing a shameless smile, revealing kiss marks on her neck. "Can I help you with something?"
In a numb voice, I replied, "Just leave, now."
When I received the hospital notification, even though Ethan would be back soon, I couldn't wait and called Ethan."Hey, sweetheart. I need your help," not only did I hear Ethan's of course, but also a loud howling of the wind, and I faintly heard the sound of waves crashing against the rocks. But every road from home to Lily's house was not coastal.Hesitating for a moment, I stammered, "Are you busy? Maybe I haven't disturbed your important matters."Ethan answered almost without thinking. "You are the only important matter, sweetheart. I can't think of anything more important than you."I heard a very soft sorry, guessing Ethan was covering the phone when he said it. Within a few seconds, there was a muffled sound of a car door closing, and the sound on the phone became clear and clean. Ethan said, "I ran into Nicola. He's with a few Idalian friends.""What's going on?""Nothing, I guess. Back to the point, sweetheart, do you need help?""Uh..."During the fifteen minutes Et
Hailey POVThe facts I could ascertain were these. Ethan and Elisa had no secret connections, nor was there any evidence of Ethan's instigation toward Elisa.When I created a distraction for Leo, Elisa sensed a certain signal from Ethan.It was hard to describe specifically, but it was a certain characteristic of Ethan's. Those who fell into his gaze were in a state of relaxed intoxication, unable to resist entrusting all important decisions to him. When he nodded, it was the right decision. Even without a nod, his silent consent was the greatest affirmation.I could not criticize Ethan for suggesting Elisa take a fatal step. He did it for me.There were all kinds of protectors in the world. Lily would support and encourage me with her soft heart, and Duncan, being considerate and gentlemanly, always found the best solution to problems, ending everything within the stipulated time.What about Ethan?He was a silent executioner, and those subtle clues had long revealed everything
The arrival of the police made Leo even more unstable. I wasn't sure if he realized what he was doing, as his expression was like that of a sleepwalker, yet his hand was getting closer to Elisa.Elisa's neck was nicked by Leo's knife, and blood trickled down her neck. Screams immediately shattered the tranquility of the night, echoing in the empty warehouse.Her clothes were disheveled, her face full of fear, her eyes panicked and helpless, her body trembling uncontrollably from extreme terror. Ethan took this opportunity to pull me out of the warehouse, where we met the police who were ready to spring into action.At that moment, my judgment was to leave the matter temporarily to the police. I thought it was a reasonable decision. Leo had cornered himself, and his evidence of guilt didn't even need me to have Duncan send it to the court. The police had already arrived, and the prosecutors would be eager to take action.If things went smoothly, Leo would vanish like a boiling table
Hailey POVWhen I woke up, the symptoms I had previously overcome began to resurface. My head was buzzing, and the dizziness made me want to vomit several times.I couldn't take on too much burden. The doctors had warned me repeatedly.My vision was a bit blurry, but I knew I had to see Edward. I remembered trying to calm Edward's anger toward Ethan. I wasn't sure if Edward's emotions had eased because as soon as I tried to say a few words, I passed out...Edward must be very worried about me. I took a deep breath, propping up my weak body, and slowly made my way to Edward's room.As I approached the room, I heard voices inside."We've located Leo." Ethan's steady voice carried through the room, and for a moment, I almost mistook him for Duncan discussing work."I still find it hard to believe." Edward's voice followed. He did not participate in the discussion of Leo. Instead, he focused entirely on Ethan. "Who would have thought? When you came to America from Idalia as a child,
Ethan POVIn the hospital room, Hailey was quietly sleeping. The sunlight streaming through the blinds cast a serene and beautiful glow on her face.Shifting my gaze back to the hallway, I saw a stern, formally dressed man. His suit was immaculate, and the light in his eyes as he adjusted his glasses was one I despised.I wanted to turn and walk away, but I couldn't. I had to deal with this man, Duncan, to solve this mess for Hailey.This was going to be a serious conversation. I could feel the tension in the air, each word cautiously released from our mouths."Your numerous private actions have caused unnecessary complications when I'm handling matters for Mr. Edward," Duncan said in a businesslike tone. "I need to have an open and honest conversation with you.""I thought it would be Edward or Uncle Tommy giving me trouble," I muttered.He nodded. "It was supposed to be them, but Hailey persuaded them otherwise. She believes in you, which I've always opposed."That was one of
"How did you sleep last night, Ms. Aesthete?""Pretty well.""Any discomfort?""Aside from some occasional dizziness, not much. I did some rehab exercises yesterday and felt really good. You know, finally moving again made me feel alive. I've been bedridden for too long.""Did you feel dizzy while exercising?""Not really. It was very light exercise, you know, basically like walking. It didn't feel strenuous.""Your physical condition is truly remarkable, Ms. Aesthete. Many patients experience mild fatigue after being in a coma for such a long time," said my attending physician, a neurology expert at this private hospital. "You seem to have no such issue. In fact, when I passed by the rehab area yesterday, you completely startled me. You looked like you were in better shape than I am."I blinked at him. "Does this mean I can be discharged soon, Doctor? I'm desperate to get back to my shabby nest.""If there's no dizziness, maybe. But it's still a cloud hanging over us, right?"
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