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CHAPTER FOUR
Last Updated:
2025-02-07 09:02:03004
JOANA’S POV I caught sight of the bone of contention and pushed her aside, stomping towards him. “Clinton! You asked me to keep our divorce a secret while you already…” I didn't finish my words before I heard Louisa's soft yelp. My hand which was holding his arm, as I tried to turn Clinton around, slipped off, and wine splashed all over my body, same time I lost my footing and crashed to the floor. I blinked in shock; my surprise overshadowed the pain I felt at colliding with the hard floor. Clinton had caught Louisa and was fervently wiping off the little smudge of wine from her gown, totally ignoring me. “Clinton,” I whispered, my voice filled with pain and disbelief. “You bitch! You can't wait a day without causing trouble, is that it? Apologize to Louisa immediately!” Clinton growled, giving me a deadly stare. I caught sight of Louisa's smug smile and immediately realized what happened. She noticed that I wanted to confront Clinton about the things she told me and rushed to turn the table on me. Once again, she managed to prove that she was the one in Clinton's heart while I was nothing. I forced myself to my feet, ignoring the sharp pain in my waist. The wine had discolored my beautiful silver gown, but that was the least of my worries at the moment. “Apologize to your mistress? Why don't you make me? What? Are you going to beat me because of her?” I screamed in my loudest voice, making everyone's attention turn to us. Since they wanted to humiliate me, I will rub off that same shit on them, let's be embarrassed together. “Joanna, have you lost it?” Clinton whispered, clutching my arm in a painful grasp. His nails dug into my skin, his eyes full of threat. I pushed him away with all my strength and took a few steps back, pointing at them. “She's the reason I signed those divorce papers, isn't it? And now, you want to humiliate me to please your lover? Did a dog eat your conscience? You couldn't even wait for the divorce to be processed officially before you shamelessly flaunt her before me.” “Joanna!” I ignored the warning in his voice and continued. “Is it fun? I have to listen to her tell me about the things you do together in bed. I could ignore her telling me about how you couldn't stop sucking her pu*sy, I could ignore her showing me the hickeys you left on her body, I could ignore her telling me she will throw me out of your house naked when she comes to take her place as Mrs. Gates, I could even ignore her splashing wine on me and pushing me to the floor. But now, you want me to grovel before her and make her happy?” “Mrs Gates, you misunderstood,” Louisa whispered, mortified. She didn't expect someone of my status to act shamelessly and expose all she did. But she was in for a rude awakening. Since she wanted to mock me, I will let everyone hear it and revel in their mockery. I shifted her hair away without warning, exposing her hickeys. “When you showed me the hickeys he left on your body, I also thought it was a misunderstanding. Until he proved your words right with his actions. In your words Clinton, I was only a tool to help your company. Now, I finally understand everything. And no, I won't wait for your mistress to come throw me out, I will leave on my own.” I shouted and removed the wedding ring. Clinton looked at her in anger, and I saw her cower for a while, giving me a strange sense of satisfaction. I threw the ring at him and ran out of the banquet hall, leaving the stunned audience behind me. A car stopped before me the moment I got to the entrance. “Joanna, hop in, I will drop you off at your parent's house.” The soft baritone whispered. It was Caleb, Clinton’s cousin, and my childhood best friend. The doors of the Lamborghini Aventador slid open, and I got in. Soon the paparazzi will be here because of the drama I created, and I don't want to be entangled in them. Clinton and Louisa are better suited to enjoy their camera flashes. “Annie, are you alright?” He whispered, wiping my tears off with his free hand while he drove with the other. “I'm so sorry if I knew that he was treating you badly, I would have taken you away from him.” He whispered as he watched me. However, I didn't give much thought to his words and nodded, looking out the window. In a few hours, some piece of dirty news will hit the internet. Clinton and I would be the topic. Or rather, the Gates and Henshaws. ***** The moment Caleb parked the car before the portico at Henshaw mansion and opened the door, tears rushed to my eyes. I felt like the prodigal daughter returning home as I wondered if all the strings I pulled to marry Clinton were worth it. I ran inside and met two of my brothers pacing in the sitting room, the last one was abroad. Otherwise, he would also be there with them. They must have seen the tabloids and rushed home. “Big brother!” I wailed, making them turn around. “Anna.” My first brother Justin, the CEO of Henshaw Group shouted and opened his arms. “Jo baby,” Michael whispered, watching as I approached them with tears streaming down my face. The moment Justin pulled me into his arms, I broke down, bawling loudly. “Don't cry baby, I will deal with him. I will make him kneel before you and apologize.” Michael the CEO of M-tech whispered, caressing my back. “Just leave him, it's useless. He… he… waaaah!” I found myself bawling again before I could finish my sentence. “Don't cry baby, don't cry. We are here now.” They whispered together. I could feel their barely restrained anger as they comforted me. As the last child of the Henshaw family with three older brothers, I have never felt so wrong. Only Clinton has ever bullied me to such a point. After fifteen minutes of crying, with my two brothers, Caleb, and my parents around, I began to recount my tale of woes. “He never came home, he's always outside, making me think it's work. Who knew he was cheating on me? He even divorced me and told me to keep it a secret to avoid upsetting Grandma, but he still told his mistress about it.” “That bastard!” Michael growled, punching the sofa in anger. “I'm going to kill him,” Justin muttered. “There will be no need for that. The elders in his family have given him a good scolding before everyone at the party, in addition to slaps from your father. The negative news will also have some effects on the Gates group, killing him is not required. Just let it go, alright? It's good that our baby girl is back home.” My mom said, with a deep sigh. “Mom! You don't understand! I'm pregnant! What am I going to do with a baby? Becoming a single mother at my age…” “You're what?” Caleb whispered wide-eyed, making more tears roll down my cheeks.
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005SIX YEARS LATERJOANA’S POV“Mom, this is where you grew up?” My son, Japheth, asked, making me smile. After the drama with Clinton, I decided to open a fashion company with my family's support. To my greatest surprise, Caleb decided to help me, and even became my partner, even though he had his own companies to manage. In the early years of serendipity fashion, Caleb and I encountered dating rumors due to the fact that he was always with me. Some people accused me of dating my brother-in-law while playing the victim to make my ex-husband get bashed. The jealous Clinton who once came to make a scene at the studio made it even worse. So, we decided to move the head office abroad and finally returned today. The kids recognize Caleb as their dad since he's the one who has been there from the beginning.I felt someone pulling at my sleeves, making my attention return to the present. “Mom, what do you think?” I immediately felt confused because I had not been listening to them. B
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007 Clinton's POV I got home and met Louisa at my house. " Hey, I got something for you," She said. There was this anger I suddenly felt towards her, I brushed her aside and went into my room. I was surprised to see Joana that way. She changed so much after the divorce. She had to leave this city after the news of her being with Caleb. I could not believe that they were still very much together, and she was back like she never left. I fell on the bed; there was something about her; she looked different; she looked more beautiful than I ever knew she was. I got into the shower and then made my way to the dining room. The food that was brought to me did not look like the usual food I was used to. "What's this?" I asked. " I made it," Louisa jumped and answered. I felt upset. " You did what?" " I made it for you; you should taste it; you will love it," she said, smiling at me. I was in no mood to smile at her. " I never asked you to cook for me."
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008 JOANA'S POV Life has returned to normal. I was able to control the way I felt whenever I saw Clinton. It has not been easy for me, but I have been able to pull through. I made sure I talked to the school and asked them to protect my kids; I would not take it lightly with them if anything happened to my kids. They promised they were going to do that for me. My business was going well, I had everything I wanted for my life. For some time now, I have not seen Clinton close to me or tried to see what I was doing with my life. Maybe I was the one who was not seeing him; he was trying so hard to make me not see him, which was the best. I did not want to stumble upon him any day. " Are you okay?" Caleb brought me back. I was lost in thoughts. " Of course, I'm okay," I said. It was getting dark, and I had a lot of work to do. There was still so much. I got up and went to the other side of the building. I wanted to check the dresses that were made newly. " I love t
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010 CLINTON'S POV After she would not give me an answer, I grew concerned for her. Maybe she was still interested in me, or she never wanted to see me. It left me confused. There was no way I would go back there and ask her for the second time; I knew she would not want to see me there, so I did not go back there. After I got back to the hospital, I was told she had gone, and I was happy that she was fine. The accident had happened on the day I was stalking her. I had followed her everywhere on that day, and before the accident happened, I suspected a car following her, two cars, actually. It happened right before my eyes, and I could not leave her there. I knew she was going to be mad at me, but it was going to be for a while. I was fast to get into the car, take her from there, and drive her to the hospital. I knew that the accident was planned. I got dressed and was about to leave the house when I saw Louisa at the door. I gasped. What the hell was she doing there?
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127 JOANA'S POV Standing there before the jury, a pen in my hand that wasn’t just a pen, but a voice recorder hidden up my sleeve, the courtroom buzzed in tense silence. The weight of the moment felt heavy on my shoulders, but I didn’t flinch. As the storm brewed in me, I said, “I have one more piece of evidence.” Mr. Hartley, the opposing lawyer, immediately half rose to his feet, his tone sharp and accusing. "Your Honour, this was not submitted before trial." It should be inadmissible!” Eleanor, always calm but stern, raised a brow at him. “Mr. Hartley, sit down. So let’s hear what Ms. Joana Henshaw has to say.” The judge’s gavel gently hit the wood. No further sounds were heard in the courtroom. Stepping forward, I handed the pen to the bailiff, who brought it to the judge. “This is a voice recording device,” I said. It contains a conversation between me and the defendant, Anita Delgado, when I went to the hospital. The woman admitted she faked her mental healt
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126JOANA'S POVThe day of the court trial had finally come. My heart was quick like a racehorse as I stood before the grand courthouse. All that preparation, and still my chest swirled anxiously with nothing to stop it. As people filtered in and found their spots, the crowd began to gather, the cold morning breeze whisping my hair against my face.I saw the grand oak doors, and the pressure in my chest doubled. Silence was their reassuring presence, but still, Caleb and Clinton flanked my sides.We were led by the court officers into the courtroom, and the air grew suffocatingly tense. My eyes roamed the room, taking in the jury, the reporters; scribbling, the murmuring spectators.And then I saw her.Anita.Her body slumped lifelessly in her chair as if she were just a ghost of herself. Pale. Motionless. Her eyes were glassy, and her head leaned weakly to the side. She looked like someone who was about to shrivel up and die to a stranger. But I knew better. That manipulative woman h
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125JOANA'S POVI placed my fingers on the rim of the glass vase on the corner table, which began shaking slightly from my touch and tipped over, falling down and breaking. Silence was torn by the sound of shattering glass, like a gunshot.Damn.I dived to pick up the shards and heard footsteps running towards the hall."Did you hear that?" Caleb's voice was somewhat urgent, but low."Yeah. Clinton replied, 'It came from the hallway.' "Stay behind me."Panic flared inside me. Before I could think too long, I jumped up and took off up the stairs. I didn’t look back. I didn’t stop until I was safely behind my closed door in my room, and my chest was heaving from my sudden sprint.Breath stuck in my throat, I stood against the door, trying to unskin my palm as I willed the adrenaline to calm. I touched my chest with my hand. My heart had leapt to my throat and refused to return.Their footsteps halted downstairs. They were murmuring, looking, maybe even checking. However, I remained stil
TAKE ME BACK EX WIFE CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOUR
124 JOANA'S POV “We also need to consider the media,” Clinton added. “Your name is known, Jo. All it takes is one article to twist this story and make you look like you're the villain.” “I’m already ahead of that,” I said. “I have a PR team ready to release a statement if anything leaks. We’re keeping the narrative tight—no emotional outbursts, no public fights.” “Smart,” Caleb murmured. “Real smart.” “I’m trying,” I replied softly. The three of us each sat in silence for a while and brooded over our thoughts. Caleb continued to look at me like he still had more to say, but holding it back, while Clinton leaned back into the chair and scanned the room. Pushing the blanket aside, I said, ‘I’m going to get the files I’ve compiled.” “No,” Clinton said quickly, standing. “Rest. I’ll get them.” I hesitated, then nodded. “In the brown folder, top drawer.” He nodded with a tilt of his head and left. “Are you scared?” he asked. Lying would have been to pretend, but I w
TAKE ME BACK EX WIFE CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE
123 JOANA'S POV The air turned still. It wasn’t even silence in the room that made it that way. It was the amount of unspoken words, the emotion stuck between me and Clinton like a thick cloud that would not budge. The door creaked open just after I had removed my hand from his grasp. Instinctively, my head turned to see Caleb. Between his open hands, he stood, eyes raking the room as a seasoned detective might look for the gaps in the story between the lines. He looked at Clinton, then looked at me and ended his goat stare at Clinton again. His jaw tightened. Clinton slowly stood, and a knowing expression passed over his features. He gave her a neutral tone, but I noticed the twitch in his cheek, and I answered, “I’ll go get some water.” He was never good at hiding his emotions from me. I didn’t say a word. Neither did Caleb. One could faintly hear the tap running in the kitchen and then the retreating footsteps of Clinton in the hallway. When he entered the room, closi
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122JOANA’S POV“What?!”I stared blankly at my phone, the text message replaying in my mind like a broken record. Confusion swirled into concern and then to anxiety; it became a whirlwind of different emotions that left me still.My gaze drifted from the screen to the road ahead, but my mind was still fixated on the message. I didn’t even notice the red light in front of me until I almost crashed with the car in front.My heart skipped a beat as I quickly slammed on the brakes, the sudden stop jolting me back to reality. For a moment, the only sound was my uneven breathing and the loud pounding of my heart.Once the light showed green, it took me a while to register until a honking sound behind me brought me back to reality.I shook my head, tapping my face, trying to calm my nerves, “calm down, Jo,” I took in deep breaths, stepping on the accelerator to get home.What was Mr. Gates trying to pull?___I flopped on my bed, rubbing my temples to calm myself down after that distur
TAKE ME BACK EX WIFE CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-ONE
121JOANA’S POV“Ass?”Clinton glared at Caleb, “I’m older, remember that.” Caleb ignored him, returning to face me.“I’m managing him because you asked to,” he said softly.I smiled softly. I knew it would take a bit of time, but I was ready to build that brotherhood and leave their lives for good.“Now, what’s the plan?” Clinton said softly, breaking the silence, “Now that Anita is faking her condition, this will definitely affect the court hearing,” he said with caution.“Didn’t they say the court might reschedule the court hearing?” Caleb crossed his legs, his face expressionless while scrolling through his phone.“Umm about that, the court still left the date as the day scheduled, but I requested for a jury.”The sudden pause hung in the air when Caleb and Clinton landed their gaze on me, “I thought you were contemplating the jury.” Clinton said calmly.“Wait, you knew about her thinking about requesting for a jury?” Caleb tried to stay calm, but his tone betrayed him.“Ca
TAKE ME BACK EX WIFE CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY
120 JOANA'S POV “Stop…” I muttered quietly, taking a deep breath, I yanked my hands away from Caleb's, causing a shock in his gaze. “Caleb, I want you to just stop it,” “But–” “But nothing,” I snapped. “Can you just stop fighting for a minute? I hate it. It's discomforting, I really am tired of this. Just stop…” I tried to catch my breath, I wanted to unite the two brothers before anything else, but as long as I was in their midst. It would be impossible. Without saying a word, I got in my car and drove away. My phone kept buzzing with calls from Caleb. I ignored it, pressing the accelerator, I went faster than usual and suddenly pressed the brakes, hitting my head on the steering wheel. “Ouch…” I muttered gently, slowly touching the side of my head. Blood stains on the tips of my fingers. An exhausted breath escaped my lips, I turned on the engine, but the busted engine gave me a sign that I was done for. I called up my last caller without thinking, and
TAKE ME BACK EX WIFE CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN
119JOANA'S POVAnd on cue, she screamed so loud that the bodyguards, attending doctors and nurses, ran to her attention.I scoffed, walking away from the scene.But a force stopped me; I turned slightly and saw Mr Gates raging, his eyes flaring with anger.“What did you say to her?” He roared in anger.I smacked my hands off his grasp, rubbing my wrists to numb the pain.“I didn't say anything to her. Why would you assume I said something?” A nonchalant tone escaped my lips.Clinton drew me behind him, “Grandpa, this is a public space. Go check on your beloved Anita.”Mr Gates gritted his teeth, pointing his finger out to me and Clinton, “If anything should happen to her, things will get ugly.”I scoffed, a smirk growing on my lips, “typical Gates behaviour.” I slowly removed my hand from Clinton’s grasp, moving away from him.The Sergeant walked in, “Truly, what did you say to her?” I turned to look at him, “Just a few words; too bad I didn't have a camera; she might have been nomi
