Dear Ex-husband, My Stepbrother is Your Replacement. のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 181 - チャプター 190

SILVANI have lived with the guilt of the crime I was forced to commit for years. Deep down, I always knew it would come back to haunt me. I knew it was only a matter of time before I had to pay for my sins.I guess I was right. Pay back time has arrived in the form of Diane Melbourne. The living, breathing sister of my victim.I kick my car into gear, guilt burning in my throat as I ease into the deserted street. I’m still struggling to come to terms with the fact that the entire scandal was my fault. Astrid and her company are suffering because of my mistakes. Astrid…We haven’t spoken in almost two hours and I can already feel my chest tighten with discomfort. I need her. I need to hear my wife’s voice. I reach for my phone but it rings the moment I pick it up. My lips curl in a reflexive grimace when I glance at the caller ID. Henry fucking Montessori. Could my day get any worse?A part of me is tempted to throw my phone out the window or just let the call go to voicemail, but

ASTRID“Ma’am, Ms. Diane just arrived. Shall I send her in?” Thea’s voice drifts into the room.I look up from the pile of paperwork on my desk and nod. “Sure, please do.”Excitement thrums in my veins as I try my best to organize my makeshift work station. After our main office was temporarily closed down, Silvan gave us one of his properties — the top floor of a fifty storey high rise building in the centre of the city. At first, he wanted to transfer ownership of the entire property to me, but I vehemently refused. It was too much. Instead, I opted for the top floor and he let us use it without paying rent.Colour me surprised when a hefty file jacket appeared on my table the next morning with the words; “OFFICIAL TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP” clearly written on it.Silvan had gone ahead and transferred ownership of the building in my name behind my back. When I confronted him, his only response was;“I’m a wealthy man, Angel. What is the use of my money if I don’t give my woman the bes

ASTRID“Ma’am, should I call Mr. Rourke?” Thea hovers by the door, her forehead wrinkled with frown lines. “Who was that woman anyways? What did she want?”I look up and her lips part in a shocked gasp when she notices my tear-stained cheeks. Thea appears before me in an instant, her eyes shooting sparks;“Okay, what did that bitch do? She hasn’t gone far. There’s still time to drag her back here and beat her ass—““Silvan killed someone.” I blurt, wiping roughly at my cheeks. The temperature in the room drops by a few hundred degrees. Thea staggers backwards, nearly tripping on the sofa behind her.“What?!” I’m pretty sure her voice can be heard two buildings down.“Thank you for not overreacting.” My tone is a tad too sarcastic but right now, I cannot bring myself to care.“Ma’am, you cannot possibly believe —““She had evidence.” I interrupt, reaching for the box of tissue, “she has videos, Thea. I saw him do it with my own two eyes.”Thea shakes her head, her ponytail bobbing a

SILVAN“And swollen.” Zara completes.“She said it was because she watched a sappy movie on the plane, but we don’t believe her. Right, Zara?”Zara nods enthusiastically and I feel like shit all over again. This is all my fault. All my fucking fault. “You know what? How about you two go with Alice while I try to make mommy feel better. Is that okay?”“Sure!” They chorus, their voices high-pitched and excited.After dropping another thousand kisses on my cheeks, they saunter off, dribbling the maid on their way to the indoor playground. For the first time in years, my insides swirl with anxiety as I approach the huge entrance doors.I’ve barely taken three steps into the polished house when a female voice stops me in my tracks,“Are you here for Astrid?”I spin on my heels to find an older, beautiful woman staring at me, her soft green eyes shimmering beneath the indoor lights. I recognize her instantly. She played a huge role at our wedding. “Mrs. Manuel.”Her lips curl in a sma

SILVAN“That was when the domestic violence started.” I clench my teeth, my chest bubbling with rage. “Henry hit my mother at the slightest provocation. Sometimes they argued for hours, and through it all, I sat downstairs helpless until he stormed out of the house after leaving her unconscious yet again.It became worse when my mother proposed a divorce. Henry was furious. The beatings got worse. He refused to let her go, even when she begged to leave. One day, I recall I had just turned seven and they were arguing as usual. I made up my mind that I wouldn’t stand back and watch Henry abuse my mother anymore. This time, I was ready to fight him to death.”My chest tightens with guilt.I press my forehead to the cool glass, blinking rapidly to ease the stinging pressure behind my eyes.“I did try to help her. I screamed at Henry to leave her alone. I clawed at his legs. I even begged at some point. But he threw me out of the house, into the freezing rain. I was abandoned outside for