Semua Bab Ex In, Me Out: Bab 1 - Bab 10

10 Bab

Chapter 1

Chuck Fedor and I had been married three years—no kids. The day I found out I was pregnant, I prepared perfectly: decorations, balloons, the whole deal, waiting to surprise him.He ghosted me all night.I kept texting. He kept saying, "Babe, just wait. I've got a surprise too."Something felt off. When I finally heard the door, I bolted.Chuck walked in holding a little girl. A woman stood next to him.He went full dead-serious mode. "Babe, this is Ella Vator. And her daughter, Lucy. She's cool with Lucy calling you godmother—Momma."Then he actually turned to the kid. "Go on, say 'Momma.'"Lucy just stared up at me with those big, blinking eyes.I laughed—cold and sharp. "Yeah, no. Not interested in playing stepmom."Chuck's face dropped. "Who said anything about stepmom? Just godmother. You can't even have kids. Ella's being nice here."I was still holding the pregnancy test in my hand. That surprise? Dead on arrival. I'd barely had time to enjoy the thought before I knew I

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Chapter 2

I shoved his hand off me. No way I was letting him touch me—especially not now."If you wanna play stepdad, be my guest. But I'm not signing up to be your the tolerant wife. And she's not moving in like some side chick with benefits."Chuck's face darkened. "Diana Drew, can't you talk like a decent human being? Women should lift each other up. You're a woman too—why make life harder for her? I'm just trying to help. Ever heard of compassion?"I almost laughed. Three years by his side, helping him build from nothing. And the second I finally got pregnant, he pulled this stunt—marched in with his ex and her kid like he was doing some noble act, then acted like I was the problem.Then he flipped into command mode. "Tomorrow, set up a room for Ella and Lucy. Actually, make it two."I smiled. "Why bother? I'll just move out. Let your little family shack up together. Saves space."The room went dead quiet. He shot me a look that could kill and stormed out.***The next morning, while

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Chapter 3

I refused to apologize, so Chuck grabbed my arm and dragged me to the car.I hadn't eaten all day. After the hospital tests, it was already late afternoon. His grip was tight—I couldn't shake him off. I ended up going with him.When we pulled up, it wasn't just Ella waiting. He'd invited a whole squad—his buddies, her besties. A full ambush.The second I walked in, they came for me.Randy gave me this disapproving look. "Diana, no offense, but you're being unreasonable."Chuck's just helping his ex out. She's a single mom. And now you're bullying her and her kid? You're a woman—you should get it."Do I seriously have to spell this out as a man?"Funny. Same guy who'd commented under Ella's post, [Congrats! Wishing you a happy life together.]The more they talked, the more suffocated I felt.Then Ella's friend Poppy jumped in. "Yeah, Diana, try stepping into Ella's shoes. You wouldn't get how painful this is unless it happened to you."I snapped. "Great idea. Why don't you tak

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Chapter 4

In the haze, I heard the doctor ask if I wanted to keep the baby. Chuck heard it too.While he stepped out to handle paperwork, the doctor came over. Quiet, but firm.The baby couldn't be saved.I signed the consent form.When I came to, the room reeked of antiseptic. Cold. Silent.The doctor didn't hold back. "Reckless. Drinking while pregnant, then trauma to the stomach? Where's your family? You've been out for a day. Your husband came by once. Once. What kind of person does that?"I looked around. No one.I shook my head. "We're getting divorced."The doctor just nodded and told me to rest before discharge.Still stuck in the hospital, I called a lawyer and had the divorce papers drafted.When I called Chuck, he sounded flustered."Babe, just wait a little longer. Once I've handled everything, I'll come take care of you."I smiled. "What's there to wait for? By the time you're ready, it'll be too late.""Don't be like that. Let me get Ella and Lucy settled first—gotta g

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Chapter 5

I left the hospital a day early. My mom came to help with the discharge—and ran right into Chuck.He'd shown up late, burst into my empty room, totally panicked. Started grilling the nurses.One of them frowned. "Who are you? What's your relation to the patient?""I'm her husband," he said, rushing.She actually laughed. "Husband? What husband? That woman didn't have a husband around the whole time."He kept asking around until someone finally snapped, "She was discharged. After a miscarriage. And you didn't even know?"My mom told me everything. Her voice was calm, but I could feel the fire under it.Just as she finished and stepped outside with my dad, there was this pounding on the front door.Chuck.He was shouting like a man on the edge. "Diana! Come out! Babe, come out!"I opened the door calm as ever and tossed the divorce papers in his face. "Perfect timing. Sign this."He skimmed the agreement and instantly pushed back. "I'm not signing."I narrowed my eyes. "Think

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Chapter 6

When Lucy started preschool, it just so happened a few of the kids there were ones I'd been sponsoring.Back when I couldn't get pregnant, I figured doing some good might earn me a little karma. So I started sponsoring kids at the preschool. One day, I got a call from the teacher—the girl I sponsored had gotten into a fight.When I showed up, I found her and Lucy standing toe to toe. Braids a mess, faces streaked with dirt, both of them fuming.Turns out, the director had shown the kids a PowerPoint that day, introduced me with a photo—explaining I was the sponsor.Lucy pointed at me and yelled, "Bad woman! You stole my dad! My mom said you're a homewrecker!"That line had Ella written all over it.All I ever did was write checks for a few kids, but Ella had been trash-talking me across the whole preschool. Even Lucy always called me a homewrecker in front of everyone, some of the parents actually believed it.Word was going around that I was using sponsorship to flirt with th

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Chapter 7

The second I said "divorce," Chuck clammed up and rubbed his forehead. "I'm tired. Let's just drop it. Hope it doesn't happen again."I gave him a calm smile. "Drop it? Who said anything about dropping it? Who's owning up to the baby I lost?"You forced me to drink, made me say sorry, while she posted those pics like she was queen and I was the joke—how's that just something to forget?"He froze, mouth twitching like words might show up but bailed. "I... what happened with the baby, that's on me. I said sorry."It's late, I'm done fighting. Get some sleep. Ella and Lucy are gone. I cut them off. You saw—haven't brought them back."Yeah, because he bought them their own house.And somehow, he still slept just fine.***Next morning, I marched straight to Ella's. "You've got half a day to move. Call someone or I will. Out of pity for your sad single-mom act, I won't even charge you if I do it myself."She bolted to the balcony, shaking, voice cracking into the phone. "Come quick

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Chapter 8

Lately, Chuck had been sniffing around, trying to figure out where I'd disappeared to.I was busy gearing up to sue him into oblivion. When someone won't listen to reason, you hit them with the law.Meanwhile, my parents tried setting me up with a few "nice guys." Met them. Yawn. I'd rather be single than bored.Somewhere in there, I took a trip overseas.When Chuck realized I was off-grid, he started sucking up to my parents.My mom went to play poker with her friends—she was basically famous for losing. Her friends loved it; she might as well have been handing out cash.So Chuck paid them off to lose on purpose.At first, Mom was over the moon—until she found out Chuck had rigged the game. She scooped up every dollar and stormed his office.Right there, in front of everyone, she chucked the cash in his face."I don't want your dirty money. Back off and leave my daughter alone."Chuck just stood there, head down. The same guy who used to flex in boardrooms got roasted in fro

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Chapter 9

Outside the courthouse, he showed up in a suit and shiny shoes, wedding ring flipped to his right hand, clutching a bouquet of roses.The second he started walking toward me, my mood soured.He lifted the flowers and dropped to one knee. I felt... nothing. His eyes were a mess of panic and hope.It was only the second time I'd ever seen him shake—the first was when I miscarried and he rushed me to the hospital. Even then, he ditched me to go take care of Ella and Lucy.He started spilling his guts. "Babe, I messed up. I never gave you a real wedding, and that left too much space for everything to fall apart. I trusted the wrong people. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Will you marry me again?"Voice soft. Eyes begging.We never had a proposal. No wedding. Just a piece of paper that made us legal.Three wasted years.But whatever was supposed to happen back then? That moment's gone.He stared at me. I hit him with a cold, sarcastic smile.The smile in his eyes died. "Please... fo

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Chapter 10

I'd heard about Chuck's downfall, but since he never showed up, I acted like I didn't know a thing.Next time I saw him was at an auto shop. My belly had a soft curve by then. He was under a car, covered in grease. When he slid out and saw me—frozen.That one look felt like it stretched forever.Only six months had passed.He awkwardly wiped his hands and sweat off his face.We ended up in the waiting area. He glanced at my stomach, gave this bitter little smile. After a pause, he finally asked, "You... got married?"I took a sip of water. "No. IVF."Rich, pregnant, no husband—it's a solid life.I added, "What? You're not with Ella?"Chuck shook his head. "I... didn't love her. I only looked after her out of pity. Don't get it twisted. After we broke up, it was over."He kept going, but I shut him down. "Save it. I don't care. Half that money was yours. If you really need help, I'll lend you some. Basic human decency. I'm not as vicious as you claimed."His face went red at

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