Lahat ng Kabanata ng My Ex-wife is a Hidden Heiress!: Kabanata 131 - Kabanata 140

The Fall ApartValenticia’s POVI woke up to my phone vibrating nonstop. At first, I thought it was an alarm or maybe a reminder about something I had forgotten. But when I reached for my phone and saw the screen… my stomach tightened.Hundreds of notifications.Messages. Missed calls. Emails. Alerts.I opened one, then another, then more, and my hands began to shake.There were insults. Threats. Articles about me. Videos with my name in the caption. People talking about me like they knew me.“She ruined the wedding.”“She destroyed Natasha’s life.”“She stole someone else’s man.”“She deserves the downfall coming to her.”I sat up fast, breathing hard.My name was everywhere.I whispered, “No… not today… please.”But it didn’t stop.My company board sent messages too.EMERGENCY MEETING – TODAY.We need to address your involvement in the lawsuit. Your connection to Stefan is damaging the company.I pressed my hands to my face. I wanted to scream. I wanted to throw my phone away. Every

Signed ContractValenticia’s POVI woke up early, even though I barely slept at all. My head felt heavy, and my chest hurt from stress. The board’s message from last night kept ringing in my mind. They were ready to remove me as CEO. Everything I worked for was slipping out of my hands, and I felt powerless.I sat up slowly and rubbed my face. I could still hear Nona’s weak voice from the hospital. I could still feel Dimitri’s arms around me. I could still see Stefan’s hurt eyes. Everything in my life was falling apart at the same time, and I didn’t know where to stand anymore.My phone buzzed and when I checked, It was Lucas.With a short message attached. “Time is almost up. We need to talk.”I stared at the screen for a long moment. My heart beat fast, and my hands shook a little. His contract marriage offer kept repeating in my mind. It didn’t feel like love. It felt like a rescue rope I didn’t want to touch, but it was the only one left.I walked to the living room and sat on t

A Man Falling ApartStefan’s POVWhen I woke up that morning, I didn’t know what day it was.My head felt heavy, my mouth was dry and the smell of alcohol hung thick in the air around me. It was the first thing I noticed before I even opened my eyes.Then I felt the pain.It ran through my skull like a dull hammer. Every small movement made it worse.I groaned and forced my eyes open.The room was dark even though the curtains were half open. Sunlight pushed through them in thin lines, but it only showed the disaster around me.My living room looked like a storm had passed through it.Empty bottles covered the tables and glasses lay on the floor. One of them had shattered. Papers were scattered everywhere. Some were reports from the company. While others were legal documents.My jacket was lying on the couch. My shirt was wrinkled and stained.I slowly sat up.My body felt weak. My back hurt from sleeping on the couch and my mind felt slow.For a moment I just stared at the mess. This

A Knock in the SilenceValenticia’s POVI stood in front of the mirror in my bedroom and stared at the woman looking back at me.For a long moment, I did not move.My hair fell loosely around my shoulders, slightly messy because I had not bothered fixing it that morning. My eyes looked tired, and faint shadows had formed beneath them over the past few days. At first glance my face looked calm, but the longer I studied my reflection, the easier it became to see the strain hiding underneath.Everything in my life had changed so quickly.Just weeks earlier, my biggest problem had been the complicated feelings between Stefan and Dimitri. That situation alone had already felt exhausting and confusing.Now everything felt heavier.Now everything felt like it was pressing down on me from all directions.Nona was gone.Even thinking those words made my chest tighten painfully.The house still felt strange without her presence. Sometimes I expected to hear her voice calling my name from the liv

A Father’s PresenceValenticia’s POVThe words police custody echoed again and again inside my head.For a moment I simply stood there, staring at Lucas while my mind tried to process what he had just said.Stefan, in police custody.I knew Stefan had a bad temper. I had seen his anger before. I had watched him lose control during arguments. But even knowing that, I never imagined things would go this far.My thoughts raced quickly.What could have pushed him to that point?What could have made him attack Lucas in public?Then suddenly the answer struck me.The engagement, of course.It had to be the engagement announcement.The realization made my stomach tighten. Stefan had seen the news just like everyone else. He must have watched the headlines spreading everywhere.Valenticia Dykstra engaged to Lucas Ryder. I slowly exhaled.“Yes,” I murmured quietly to myself.“That must be it.”Stefan had always struggled with his emotions where I was concerned. Even after everything that happe