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I Bet on My Divorce

I Bet on My Divorce

Short Story · Romance
By:  Afterlife RiotCompleted
Language: English
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8Chapters
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Synopsis

Tragic Love

Plot Twists

Melodramatic

Bias

Scumbag

Mistress

Marriage

Winning Back the Wife

Regret

At Port Calloway's biggest racetrack, a wager is underway. But it isn't on the horses. It's on a person. Everyone is betting on when I, Mallory Abernathy, the disgraced Ridgemont heiress who won't stop clinging to Alden Van Alstyne, will finally divorce him and get lost. They mock me and laugh, and every one of them is betting I won't leave. Alden raises an eyebrow. "Where's the fun in a bet with no suspense?" At that moment, I'm standing behind a pillar just thirty feet away, clutching my pregnancy test results. My heart keeps sinking. I call him. He answers, but he sounds thoroughly irritated. "You've called five times today to check up on me, Mallory. Don't you have any self-respect?" After he hangs up, he takes another call, and his face softens so much it leaves me dazed. "Why are you crying? I'm sending someone to get you right now. As long as I'm here, no one in Port Calloway can touch you." I stare at him, lost. The courage I've clung to for so long seems to burst all at once. I find the bartender nearby and hand him my debit card. "Place a bet for me. Put it on Mallory Abernathy getting divorced."

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8 Chapters
Chapter 1
The mask hid my face well enough that the bartender didn't recognize me.He paused for a moment, then offered a gentle warning. "Miss, are you sure you picked the right side? Even I know Mallory Abernathy isn't going to divorce her husband."A bitter smile tugged at my mouth.Of course he knew. Everyone in Port Calloway knew how shamelessly I'd clung to Alden Van Alstyne, how little dignity I seemed to have left.Five years ago, Alden had looked me in the eyes and promised to make me the happiest woman in the city.And now? The only thing I was famous for was being its biggest joke."I picked the right side," I said, my voice turning cold. "Put every dollar on Mallory Abernathy getting divorced."The bartender looked baffled, but he didn't argue. He took my card and went to place the wager.Around the private lounge, the wealthy heirs and their friends erupted in laughter."Who's the idiot throwing away that much money?""They must be from out of town. Everybody knows Mrs. Va
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Chapter 2
My grandfather's voice sharpened with worry.My grandparents, Walter and June Ellison, had raised me. Few people in the world understood me better."Mallory, you listen to me. Your grandmother and I are right here. Divorce him, come home, and let us take care of you."I swallowed hard and promised I would.Then I called Alden.There was none of my old pleading in my voice now. Only a cold, exhausted calm."I had an abortion."Silence.For one foolish second, I thought he might ask whether I was okay.Instead, he scoffed."Mallory, have you lost your mind? You used that same story six months ago to trick me into coming home for your birthday."My throat tightened. "This time it's true."He laughed without a trace of belief.Behind him, the others were snickering too."Come on, Mrs. Van Alstyne," one of his friends called. "You're going to have to come up with something better than that."The call ended.The last thing I heard before he hung up was Alden's gentle voice, s
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Chapter 3
I didn't argue. I simply walked past them and headed upstairs.Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Alden staring after me in surprise.I couldn't blame him. In the past, a situation like this would have ended with me screaming, crying, and making another spectacle of myself. I'd earned my reputation as Port Calloway's most unhinged wife one public meltdown at a time.When I came out of the bathroom, Alden was in our bedroom.He studied me for a long moment before speaking."Sabine is staying here. You really have nothing to say about it?"I didn't turn around."Actually, I do. Tell the chef to make something she likes. It doesn't have to be my favorite food every day."Alden frowned. He opened his mouth once, then again, as if searching for the argument he'd expected."Suit yourself," he muttered at last, and went into the bathroom.I took the medication Dr. Corwin had prescribed earlier that day.No sooner had I swallowed it than someone knocked.Sabine stood outside our
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Chapter 4
I woke the following day in the hospital.My shoulder had been treated, and someone had placed me in the hospital's most expensive private suite.Alden sat beside the bed, head bowed. I couldn't read his expression.The moment he heard me stir, he stood."You're awake. Does your shoulder still hurt? I asked Dr. Corwin to give you something for the pain."I looked at him without speaking.His voice grew quieter."I'm sorry, Mallory. I wasn't thinking when it happened."No. He hadn't needed to think.His body had made the decision for him. His first instinct had been to protect Sabine, even if it meant putting me in harm's way.He reached behind him and took out several documents."You've always wanted to bring Abernathy Holdings back, haven't you? I'll provide the investment."He placed another set of papers on the bed."I'll transfer five percent of Van Alstyne Group's shares into your name, too. Consider it compensation. All right?"I almost laughed.I'd pleaded with hi
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Chapter 5
The tires shrieked across the highway as Frank Doyle, Alden's driver, slammed on the brakes.He glanced back, startled by Alden's expression."Mr. Van Alstyne? What's wrong?"Alden couldn't answer.He stared at the notification from the betting pool, his mind suddenly blank.He'd lost.Every cent of the nearly three million dollars he'd wagered was gone.But the money wasn't what mattered.He'd bet that Mallory would never divorce him.If he'd lost, that meant she had.How could he be divorced without even knowing it?Messages flooded the private group chat."What the hell happened? Did the track get the result wrong? Mallory would never leave Alden!""Forget the money. How did we all lose?""Alden, say something. Is it true? Did Mallory actually divorce you?"Alden scrolled through the messages, struggling to make sense of them.The racetrack hosted the biggest private betting events in Port Calloway. Its staff verified every result before releasing a payout, no matter
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Chapter 6
Alden didn't let Frank drive. He took the wheel himself and sped toward the hospital.He tried Mallory's number over and over. Each call went unanswered.Sweat gathered on his palms against the steering wheel.If his worst suspicion was true, how long had she been planning to leave him?How had he missed it completely?The hospital was normally an hour from the racetrack. In his panic, he made the drive in half that time.The brakes squealed outside the entrance. People turned to see a man climb out and hurry inside with an unsteady stride.He rushed down the corridor and pushed open Mallory's door."Mallory! What the hell did you..."His demand died in his throat.The room was empty.Not merely unoccupied. It was spotless, as if no patient had ever stayed there.A dull roar filled his ears.He grabbed Dr. Neil Corwin, Mallory's doctor, as he passed in the hallway."Where is Mallory?"Dr. Corwin blinked. He didn't know when she'd left. But faced with Alden's expression,
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Chapter 7
By my third day back in Ridgemont, Port Calloway already felt like another lifetime.When Abernathy Holdings collapsed, almost all my family's property had been taken. The only place left was a small house on the outskirts of the city.It wasn't much. But my grandparents were here, and for the first time in years, I felt safe.That morning, I slept until nearly noon.Grandma came into my room and found me curled beneath the comforter."Come on, sleepyhead. Get up and go outside once in a while. Stay in here any longer and you'll start growing mushrooms."I rolled over."We're too far inland, Grandma. It's way too dry for mushrooms."She gave a helpless sigh.Grandpa appeared behind her. The two of them exchanged a look. They clearly had something they wanted to ask, but neither was sure how.Finally, Grandpa spoke carefully."Mallory, what happened between you and Alden?"When you went to Port Calloway with him five years ago, he promised us he'd take care of you for the re
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Chapter 8
I frowned, puzzled, and followed Grandma outside.Alden was standing near the front door, looking as though he'd traveled without sleep. His clothes were rumpled, and exhaustion had settled into his face.My first impulse was to turn around and go straight back inside.He caught my wrist."Mallory. We need to talk."I glanced at my grandparents. They stood by the doorway, watching us with open concern.I didn't want an argument on their front steps.So I led him to a wooded park nearby.We stopped beside a lake. I sat on a bench facing the water."Go on," I said. "Say whatever you came to say. I'm supposed to be home for lunch."Alden's jaw tightened.His usual air of indifference was gone. He looked almost afraid to meet my eyes."Why did you divorce me behind my back?"I didn't turn toward him."I'm guessing you've already seen the security footage from the racetrack."I gave a humorless laugh."You know I was there. You know I heard everything. So stop pretending you
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