All Chapters of The Club Star Ex-Wife He Wants Back: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Mandy’s POVSitting at the edge of my bed, I stared at the chipped mug in my hands. It was one of those small, stupid things that you don’t realize holds meaning until it’s too late. The faded lettering on it—Queen of Everything—mocked me in the dim light of my room. Grandma Claire had given it to me when I was still in high school, a little reminder to never let anyone make me feel less than I was worth. Back then, it was a joke. Now, it felt like a taunt. Lucas had apologized last night. A real apology, the kind where he didn’t just say the words but looked me in the eye, laid himself bare, and admitted he’d screwed up. It wasn’t something Lucas did often—admit fault, I mean. He was the man who had everything figured out, the one with the answers, the solutions, the damn checklist for how the world should work. But last night, he’d been different. Raw. Real. Vulnerable, even. And I... I didn’t know how to feel about it. I turned the mug over in my hands, my thoughts circ

Mandy’s POVI shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was. It was a quiet Monday morning when I walked into the club and saw the look on Dan’s face. He didn’t even have to say anything—his expression said it all. I knew the moment I’d been informed about my canceled performances, the ripple effects were inevitable. I hadn’t expected it to be this bad, but there it was. “Mandy,” Dan started, his voice cold, even though I’d worked for him for over two years. “Can you explain to me why you’re not following through on your contract? The club needs you. You know that.” Hearing this, I stood there for a moment, trying to steady my nerves. My hands had started shaking, and I hated that. I hated feeling so out of control. The last thing I wanted to do was disappoint anyone—especially not Dan, who had always been fair with me. But the truth was, I couldn’t go on like this. “I know,” I said, my voice quieter than I intended. “It’s just... I need a break. Things have been rough lately. I’m

Mandy’s POVI sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the phone in my hand. The screen was lit up, but I didn’t touch it. I hadn’t called Emily in what felt like weeks. I missed her voice—her laughter, her little jokes, the way she’d say “I love you” before hanging up, like it was the most natural thing in the world. I knew I should call her, but something inside me held me back. There were too many things I was hiding from her. Too many things I didn’t want her to worry about. But today, I couldn’t ignore it any longer. I needed to hear her. I needed to feel that connection, that bond I’d built with her over the years. So, I finally tapped my phone screen and selected Wendy's name from my contacts, waiting for the call to connect. I didn’t know what I’d say once Emily answered, but the thought of hearing her voice was enough to push past the hesitation.When Wendy picked up, it was as if a weight I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying lifted off my chest."Hi Wendy, sorry for disturb

Lucas’s POVIt had been weeks since that conversation with Mandy. I’d spent most of those weeks walking on eggshells, trying not to overstep, trying to be more patient, more understanding. But what I’d learned in all that time was that patience wasn’t something I was particularly good at. I was used to getting what I wanted, to making things happen with a push, with influence, with money. But none of that worked with Mandy despite knowing her all my life. She wasn’t like everyone else. She was stubborn, but not in the way I was. She wasn’t built to rely on anyone, not even me.I leaned back in the chair in my office, staring out the window. The view was the same—tall buildings, busy streets—but today, it felt different. More distant.Maybe because I wasn’t feeling as in control as I usually did. The business, my life, everything had always been about control. But Mandy, she wasn’t someone I could control, and that had been a hard lesson for me to learn.I picked up the phone, about

Lucas’s POVDriving myself away from Mandy's apartment, the city lights blurred into streaks of gold and white as the weight of the evening pressed heavily on my chest. My hands gripped the steering wheel, tighter than necessary, but I couldn’t seem to loosen them. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—frustration, confusion, and a gnawing helplessness that refused to let go. "What went wrong?" I wondered to myself.One minute, Mandy and I were laughing, sharing a moment that felt almost normal, almost like the way things used to be. And then—just like that—everything shattered. She froze, her face turned pale and her eyes became distant, like she wasn’t even in the room anymore. I’d seen fear before, but not like this. This was something deeper, something that reached into the darkest parts of her. And I had no idea how to help. I replayed the moment over and over in my head, searching for the trigger, the thing that had sent her spiraling. But nothing stood out. Was it someth