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Chapter 18
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2025-03-23 16:02:18
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RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 19
Chapter 19The soft bristles of the makeup brush against her skin transported Mona back in time.*Five Years Ago*"Hold still," Emily's voice had cut through her excitement. "God, don't you know anything about proper engagement presentation? Here, let me do it."The makeup brush had felt like a weapon then, as Emily erased and redrew her face to Caldwell standards. Too much blush - "We're not hosting a circus." Too little lipstick - "Try to look somewhat sophisticated." Every stroke a reminder that she wasn't good enough.*Present Day*"You have amazing bone structure," the stylist's gentle voice pulled her back. "Such elegant features. This highlighter will make you glow like a queen."Mona focused on her reflection. The woman in the mirror was both familiar and strange. Perfectly styled hair, expertly applied makeup, but something else too. Something in her eyes that hadn't been there five years ago.Power.The dress they unzipped took her breath away. Deep midnight blue that made h
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-24RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 20
Chapter 20The television's glow cast harsh shadows across the Caldwell mansion's living room. Emily stood rigid, champagne glass trembling in her grip as she watched her worst nightmare unfold on every news channel."Breaking news: Business titan Alexander Kane announces engagement to Mona Smith in what's being called the society event of the decade..."The crystal glass shattered in Emily's hand. No one moved to help her as blood mixed with spilled champagne."That whore!" Emily's scream was primal. "That conniving little gold-digging whore!"On screen, Mona glowed in midnight blue silk as Alexander slipped a massive diamond onto her finger. The reporters couldn't stop gushing:"Fifteen carats of flawless diamond...""Estimated value over ten million dollars...""The dress alone costs more than most homes...""Turn it off," Lora whimpered from the couch. "Just turn it off!"But no one moved. They watched, transfixed, as their humiliation played out in high definition."Sources say t
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-24RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 21
The amber liquid in Samuel's glass couldn't drown out the memories. Not tonight. Not after seeing her face plastered across every screen in the city. He sat alone in the dark corner of his favorite bar, where even the bartender knew better than to disturb him."Hell of a ring Kane got her."Jerome's voice cut through his drunken haze. His oldest friend, the only one who'd ever called him out on his treatment of Mona, slid into the seat across from him, uninvited and unwelcome."Not now, Jerome."But the memories came anyway, triggered by the whiskey and guilt:*Five Years Ago*Mona in that simple white dress, eyes shining with love as she walked down the aisle. He'd actually felt something then - a warmth in his chest he'd never admitted to anyone."I love you," she'd whispered after their first dance. "I'll always love you."He'd kissed her instead of responding. Easier than lying. Easier than admitting he was already planning to use her father's company.*Present Day*"Fifteen carat
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-25RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 22
Chapter 22"What do you mean you won't help us?" Emily's voice could have frozen fire as she stared down the priest. "After everything our family has done for this church?"Father Michael stood firm in the empty cathedral. "Mrs. Caldwell, spreading false claims about Miss Smith's mental state to block her marriage would be not only unethical but illegal.""Illegal?" Emily's laugh was sharp. "Like you care about legal when my donations pay for your new roof!"But the priest just shook his head. "Alexander Kane has already made it clear any interference will result in immediate legal action. Now, if you'll excuse me..."As he retreated, Emily's phone buzzed. Another text from her security contact: "Sorry, Mrs. C. Kane's team offered triple pay + year-long contracts. Can't help.""Try the backup team," she snapped at Lora. "Everyone has a price."Lora's fingers trembled as she dialed. "They're not answering. None of them are. It's like... it's like they're afraid.""Afraid? Of what?""Ka
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-25RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 23
Chapter 23The gourmet restaurant's private exit felt different now. Five years ago, Mona had stood here with Samuel, planning their wedding menu while Emily rejected every choice she made. Now she walked out alone, confident in her own selections, no one questioning her taste."Mona."She froze at his voice. Samuel stood blocking her path to the car, looking disheveled in a way she'd never seen before. His usual perfect appearance was gone - replaced by stubble and wrinkled clothes that reeked of whiskey.*Five Years Ago*"Your taste is embarrassing," Emily had snapped, throwing away Mona's carefully planned menu. "Really, Samuel, control your little project before she humiliates us all."Samuel had just laughed, letting his mother take over. Mona had stood silent, fighting back tears.*Present Day*"You can't be here," Mona's voice was cool, controlled. No trace of the woman who used to tremble at his disapproval."Please." He stepped closer. "I just need five minutes."Her security
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-26RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 24
Chapter 24The cathedral had been transformed beyond recognition. Not the simple elegance of Mona's first wedding, but a display of pure, overwhelming power. A hundred crystal chandeliers created a ceiling of light, each one worth more than most homes. Ten thousand rare white orchids draped every surface, their perfume mixing with imported French roses. The aisle was paved with white petals and real gold dust that sparkled with every step.Outside, crowds gathered twenty deep behind velvet ropes, straining for a glimpse of society's greatest revenge story. Police held back hundreds of paparazzi as a parade of Rolls Royces and Bentleys delivered the elite of the elite - governors, senators, billionaires who rarely showed their faces in public. Private security firms formed a human wall around the cathedral entrance, each guard wearing an earpiece worth thousands.In the bridal suite, Mona stood before a three-way mirror imported from Paris just for this day. Her wedding dress made her
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-26RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 25
Chapter 25The Caldwell mansion's living room felt like a tomb. The family sat in frozen silence as every TV channel broadcasted their worst nightmare:"Breaking News: The Wedding of the Century - Alexander Kane weds Mona Smith in what experts are calling the most expensive ceremony in city history..."Emily's crystal glass shattered in her grip, blood mixing with spilled whiskey. No one moved to help her."Look at them," Lora's voice shook with rage. "Look at how they're fawning over her like she's some kind of queen!"On screen, Mona floated down the aisle in a dress that made Lora's chosen wedding gown look like something from a department store. The camera lingered on her tiara, once worn by European royalty."Ten million dollars," the reporter gushed. "Just for the dress. Sources say the total wedding cost exceeds the annual budget of most small countries...""Turn it off," Sarah begged. "Just turn it off!"But they couldn't look away. Like watching their own execution, they sat
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-27RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 26
Chapter 26Morning sunlight filtered through silk curtains, slowly pulling Mona from champagne-hazed dreams. The first thing she registered was warmth, a strong arm draped protectively over her waist, a solid chest pressed against her back. Then came awareness of her own nakedness, and with it, memories of the night before...*Last Night*The reception had finally ended near dawn. They'd stumbled into their suite drunk on victory and hundred-year-old champagne, laughing at some private joke about Emily's face when she saw the wedding photos."To revenge," Alexander had toasted with yet another glass, his eyes dancing with mischief she'd never seen before."To power," she'd corrected, the alcohol making her bold.His eyes had darkened as he moved closer, one hand cupping her face with surprising gentleness. "To us."The kiss that followed wasn't like their calculated public display. This was raw, hungry, years of loneliness meeting desperate need. But even in their passion, he'd been a
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-03-28
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RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 75
Chapter 75"Twenty-one percent," Alexander murmured, eyes fixed on the financial news display. "Their stock is in free fall."Mona stood beside him, watching the numbers drop in real time. Morning sunlight flooded their penthouse, contrasting with the darkness of what they witnessed, the systematic destruction of the Caldwell empire."Did you see Samuel's interview?" she asked, sipping her coffee.Alexander smiled coldly. "I did. He couldn't have damaged his company more if he'd tried."On screen, the business anchor dissected Samuel's performance, highlighting his evasive answers, visible distress, and abrupt exit. The hashtag #CaldwellMeltdown scrolled across the bottom alongside the plummeting stock figures."He was never the strong one," Mona said distantly. "Emily would drill him before any appearance. Without her guidance, he falls apart."Alexander moved to his laptop showing a live feed of Caldwell Industries headquarters where reporters gathered in growing numbers. Security b
RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 74
Chapter 74The electronic stock ticker in Samuel Caldwell's office blinked mercilessly, each update delivering another blow. Red numbers flashed across the screen with downward arrows tracking their free-falling fortune.Samuel stood frozen before it, clutching a tumbler of scotch despite the early hour. His tie hung loose and his normally perfect hair stuck out in several directions."Fifteen percent," he whispered, watching the numbers tumble again. "Fifteen percent in three hours."Behind him, financial news played on mute. The crawl showed the same disastrous numbers, but the main image was Maya Chen's article, with occasional cuts to Caldwell family photos from happier times.His personal phone buzzed. The screen showed "Mother.""Yes?" he answered, voice rough from lack of sleep."Turn on CNBC immediately." Emily's voice was tight with barely controlled fury.Samuel switched channels and unmuted the sound."....largest investor in Caldwell Industries has announced they're sellin
RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 73
Chapter 73Mona sat alone, a cup of coffee growing cold beside her as she stared at the newspaper spread before her. Her fingers traced the headline: "EMPIRE OF LIES: THE CORRUPT BUSINESS PRACTICES OF CALDWELL INDUSTRIES."Maya Chen's article filled the front page and continued for three more inside. The journalist had done what Mona once thought impossible, exposed the Caldwells' decades of wrongdoing for the entire world to see.Mona's phone buzzed with another notification. She'd lost count of how many people had sent her links to the story since it broke at dawn. Yet unlike the warm satisfaction she had expected to feel, Mona found herself caught in a storm of conflicting emotions.She read the section about employee pension funds again, picturing Frank Donovan's weathered face as he described his wife's illness and their lost medical coverage. The article detailed how Emily had personally authorized the transfer of these funds to offshore accounts, using the money for family vaca
RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 72
Chapter 72The headline sprawled across the front page of the Boston Investigator in bold black letters that seemed to shout from the newsstand: "EMPIRE OF LIES: THE CORRUPT BUSINESS PRACTICES OF CALDWELL INDUSTRIES."By 7 AM, the digital version had already crashed the newspaper's servers twice due to unprecedented traffic. By 8 AM, three national news networks had picked up the story. By 9 AM, the Caldwell family's phones wouldn't stop ringing.The Caldwell mansion vibrated with tension. Emily paced the study, newspaper crumpled in her fist, while Samuel sat motionless, staring at the article displayed on his tablet. Sarah slouched in an armchair, refreshing social media with growing horror. Lora stood by the window, face pale, watching reporters gather at the gates."This is worse than we thought," Sarah said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's everywhere. Twitter, Instagram, news sites. #CaldwellCorruption is trending nationally."Emily stopped pacing. "How bad?"Sarah scroll
RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 71
Chapter 71Maya Chen clutched her bag tighter as she entered Caldwell Tower. Once buzzing with life, the marble lobby now felt hollow. Empty. Just like the company's promises to its workers."Ms. Chen? Mr. Caldwell will see you now."The elevator ride to the top floor gave Maya time to steady her nerves. For weeks, she'd dug through the Caldwells' dirty laundry. Now she'd face Samuel himself.He stood by the window, gazing at Boston Harbor, a king surveying his crumbling kingdom."Ms. Chen." His smile never reached his eyes. "Welcome to what's left of the Caldwell empire."Maya took him in expensive suit hanging loose, dark circles under bloodshot eyes. The family's fall from grace had clearly taken its toll."Thank you for meeting me, Mr. Caldwell.""Samuel, please." He motioned to a chair. "Water?"As he poured, Maya noted the empty spaces on the walls where artwork had hung, likely sold off to cover mounting debts."My lawyers advised against this," Samuel said, settling into his c
RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 70
Chapter 70Alexander Kane stood at the window of his office, high above the city streets. Rain streaked the glass, blurring the lights below into a smear of colors. Behind him, the large screen on his wall displayed a photo of Maya Chen, the investigative journalist whose recent inquiries into the Caldwells had caught his attention."Tell me more about her," Alexander said, not turning from the window.Victor, his head of security, tapped his tablet. "Maya Chen, thirty-four, graduated top of her class from Columbia School of Journalism. Won a Pulitzer two years ago for exposing pharmaceutical price-fixing. Known for being thorough, uncompromising, and impossible to bribe.""Perfect." Alexander finally turned. "And she's already investigating the Caldwells?""For nearly a month now. She's been interviewing former employees, reviewing public records. She received our anonymous document package yesterday."Alexander's lips curved slightly. "And she doesn't know the source?""No. The deli
RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 69
Chapter 69Maya Chen's desk looked like a battlefield. Stacks of documents, newspaper clippings, and hastily scrawled notes covered nearly every inch of the wooden surface. Three empty coffee cups formed a line at the edge, marking the hours she'd spent without leaving her chair. Her computer screen glowed in the dim light of her apartment, the only real source of illumination as evening settled over the city.She pushed her dark-rimmed glasses up on her nose and leaned back, stretching arms that had gone stiff from typing. The wall beside her desk told its own story - a collage of photos, headlines, and sticky notes connected by red string. At the center hung a large photograph of the Caldwell family, taken at some gala before their recent troubles. Their smiling faces seemed to mock her from behind glass.The laptop chimed with an incoming email. Another document from her source inside the courthouse - records of the latest lawsuit filed against Caldwell Industries by former employe
RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 68
Chapter 68Mona stood before the wall of screens in Alexander's private study. Her lips curved into a smile as she watched the news unfold across multiple channels."Breaking news this morning as over three hundred former Caldwell Industries employees have filed a class-action lawsuit against the company and the Caldwell family personally," announced the reporter. "The lawsuit claims unpaid severance, benefits, and damages after the company's collapse left many without compensation despite decades of service."The camera cut to Frank Donovan, standing tall despite his weathered appearance, speaking to a crowd of reporters. "I gave thirty-two years to Caldwell Industries. When they let us go, they promised severance that never came. Many of us can't pay our bills or medical expenses. We're not asking for charity, we're asking for what we earned."Mona tapped her finger against the glass of champagne in her hand, savoring each word as Frank continued."Mrs. Kane has been kind enough to
RISE OF THE EX WIFE : Mona's Revenge Chapter 67
Chapter 67The morning newspaper landed on the Caldwell breakfast table with a thud that seemed to echo through the half-empty mansion. Emily, already dressed for the day in a navy suit that had seen better days, glanced up from her tea with annoyance. The household staff had been reduced to a single maid and a part-time gardener, and neither seemed to understand the concept of a quiet entrance."Is it too much to ask for a peaceful breakfast?" she muttered, reaching for the paper.Then the headline caught her eye, and the teacup froze halfway to her lips."TERMINATED CALDWELL WORKERS FILE CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT: 500 FORMER EMPLOYEES SEEK UNPAID SEVERANCE AND DAMAGES"The china cup slipped from her fingers, shattering on the table and sending tea splashing across the newspaper. Emily didn't notice. Her eyes remained fixed on the headline, visible even through the spreading stain."Samuel!" Her voice rang through the mansion. "SAMUEL!"Footsteps hurried down the hall. Samuel appeared in
