All Chapters of The Billionaire's Strained Wife: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Hezekiah was sprawled on the floor, her eyes puffy and red from hours of crying. The empty apartment was bizarrely silent, except for the faint buzzing of her phone, which she ignored until a louder banging at the door startled her awake. Groaning, she sat up, rubbing her aching neck from the uncomfortable position on the hard floor. “Hezekiah! It’s me! Open up!” Eva Grace’s voice called from outside. Hezekiah shuffled to the door, wiping at her face hastily. The moment she opened it, Eva Grace Harrington burst in, her vibrant energy filling the small apartment. “There you are! Goodness, what on earth happened to you? You look like you’ve been hit by a truck!” Eva exclaimed, setting down a large paper bag filled with food and a beautifully wrapped gift. Hezekiah attempted a weak smile. “Hi, Eva.” “Don’t ‘Hi, Eva’ me,” Eva said, narrowing her eyes. “Why is your phone off? And why were you sleeping on the floor? ." She saw the pillow near her and her things. "Also—” She stopped mid-

Hezekiah walked into the office the next morning, her heart heavy and her mind clouded with guilt. She was wearing sunglasses, trying to hide the exhaustion in her eyes and the turmoil within. It was difficult to face the day after everything that happened with Darius, but she had no choice. Work was calling, and she had to push through. As she made her way to the coffee machine, her coworkers eyed her curiously. They noticed the shift in her demeanor—the usual cheer and energy she brought to the office was gone. Instead, she was distant, quiet, and seemed almost... defeated. One of her colleagues, Sarah, who was always the first to notice anything out of the ordinary, leaned over the counter as Hezekiah prepared the coffee. "Hey, are you okay?" Sarah asked, her voice soft. "You don’t look like yourself today." Hezekiah forced a smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. "Yeah, just a little tired. I watched this intense true story documentary last night about the lost children in the

Hezekiah tried to shake off her unease as she drove to Sandro’s condo. His message earlier, saying he had cooked dinner for them, had caught her off guard. She hesitated at first but eventually agreed, knowing she couldn’t avoid him forever.As she parked her car and made her way up to his unit, the weight of guilt pressed harder against her chest. She couldn’t stop thinking about the night she’d spent with Darius. It haunted her—the way she’d betrayed the man who loved her so deeply.When she entered the condo, the smell of freshly cooked pasta greeted her. Sandro was bustling around the kitchen, setting the table with a content smile on his face."There you are," he said warmly, looking up as she entered. "Perfect timing. Dinner’s almost ready."Hezekiah forced a smile. "Smells amazing, Babe. You didn’t have to go through all this trouble.""It’s no trouble," he replied, waving her off. "You’ve had a tough week, and I wanted to do something special for you."Her heart ached at his w

A woman—probably in her mid-thirties—hurried over, relief evident on her face. “Sweetheart, you can’t just run off like that.”“Sorry, Mommy,” Arielle said, standing up and dusting the sand off her dress. She turned to Hezekiah. “This is my mommy.”The woman looked at Hezekiah with a warm yet apologetic smile. “I hope she wasn’t bothering you.”“Not at all,” Hezekiah assured her. “She’s very sweet.”The woman ruffled Arielle’s hair. “She has a habit of talking to strangers if she thinks they’re sad.”Arielle nodded enthusiastically. “Mommy, she’s like a princess who needs saving!” The woman laughed before turning back to Hezekiah. “I don’t know what’s on your mind, but I hope things get better for you.”Hezekiah was taken aback by the woman’s kindness. She nodded with a grateful smile. “Thank you.” As Arielle and her mother walked away, Hezekiah sat there for a few more minutes, watching the waves roll in and out. Maybe Arielle was right. Maybe she did need saving.But she couldn’t wa

Hezekiah sat at her desk, staring blankly at the computer screen in front of her. The usual hum of the office felt distant, muted by the thoughts racing through her mind. How was she supposed to tell Sandro? Would he be upset? Would he understand?She exhaled sharply and reached for her phone, hesitating before finally typing out a message.Hezekiah: Hey babe. I have to go on a work trip. Leaving tomorrow morning for Boston. Three days.She hovered over the send button, her stomach twisting, before finally pressing it. Within seconds, her phone buzzed.Sandro: Wait… what?Sandro: This is sudden. Since when?Sandro: Why didn’t you tell me sooner?She squeezed her eyes shut, knowing this wasn’t going to be easy. She typed quickly.Hezekiah: Just found out today. Darius told me last minute. I don’t have a choice. Sandro: Only the two of you? I'm not thinking something else but still....It makes her think, what should she say to him? She needs to find a better excuse or solution.Hezekiah