All Chapters of AFTER MY DIVORCE, I HAD A SON FOR A COLD BILLIONAIRE : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

CLAIRE The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was the harsh glare of the hospital lights and the steady beep of the monitors beside my bed. The brightness stabbed through my skull, which throbbed as though someone had driven nails into it. My body ached, heavy and unresponsive, each muscle screaming in protest. Even breathing felt like a battle I wasn’t sure I wanted to fight. I tried to move, but my arms trembled violently, as if they belonged to a stranger. “Claire?” The voice was soft, trembling. I turned my head with effort and blinked against the brightness. Lena sat in a chair beside me, her hand gripping mine so tightly it almost hurt. Her eyes were swollen and red, her face pale with exhaustion, but when she saw me awake, her lips broke into a quivering smile. “Lena…” My voice cracked, raw and hoarse, as though it had been scraped by glass. “How long…?” “You’ve been out since yesterday,” she whispered, wiping at her cheek quickly as though ashamed of the t

CLAIRE Four years had passed since my world had shattered. Claire Darlington—the woman who had been humiliated, betrayed, and discarded—was gone. In her place stood Clara Everson, CEO of Erebos Pharmaceutical. Sharp, focused, unyielding. Every scar, every sleepless night, every moment of pain had carved her into someone who could survive… and even thrive. My company had grown from a modest lab into a powerhouse, and every achievement reminded me that I could exist on my own terms. That I could command my life, and no one could take that away. And yet… nothing grounded me like Liam, my son. His laughter could melt even the heaviest shadows in my chest, his trust a fragile, beautiful tether that reminded me why I fought so fiercely. The afternoon sunlight poured through the apartment windows, dust motes floating lazily in the golden glow. Liam was crouched on the living room floor, engrossed in his fortress of blocks. Knights, dragons, and towers rose under his careful hands, each p

CLARA The sunlight streamed through the curtains, brushing against my face until my eyes fluttered open. For a moment, the room spun around me in a lazy blur. I stretched my arms above my head and felt a dull ache in my shoulders from yesterday. My body was awake, but my mind still floated somewhere between dreams and reality. A soft buzz from the nightstand made me jump a little. I reached for my phone, blinking against the brightness of the screen. > Hope you slept well, beautiful. Last night was amazing… can’t wait to have another time with you. —Your love, Edward. A small smile touched my lips. Edward always knew what to say to make me feel wanted. But as I read the message again, my smile faded. Last night had been wonderful—until that stranger showed up. He had ruined the mood with just one look. Those sharp eyes, that mocking smile… I could still feel the sting of his words, bold and teasing. I didn’t even know why it bothered me so much. I sighed and set the phone

CLARA The hallway of Anderson Holdings gleamed under the soft lights, each reflection on the marble floor making my steps feel louder than they should. My heels tapped lightly, but somehow… it sounded like an echo bouncing inside my chest. Elena walked beside me, my laptop bag over her shoulder and the case of presentation materials in hand. Always efficient. Always steady. “Miss Everson,” she murmured, almost a whisper, “everything is ready on my end. Mr. Dever is waiting just ahead.” Her calm voice was like an anchor, pulling me away from the spinning mess in my head. I nodded. “Thank you, Elena. Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without you.” She smiled faintly, the kind of smile that made things seem manageable. “You’ll do great. Like always.” The glass doors of the boardroom stood just ahead — tall, clear, intimidating. Through them, I could see Mr. Dever waiting, hands clasped, that warm, encouraging smile of his fixed in place. “Clara,” he greeted as I stepped in. “Welco

CLARA We left Anderson holding and headed back to the lab. Mason drove quietly, hands steady on the wheel, the hum of the tires over asphalt blending with the low buzz of the city. I stared out the window, mind circling Paris, Erebos, and the impossible decisions waiting for me. A tight knot of anxiety twisted in my stomach, my fingers pressing against the seat. Every red light felt like a countdown, every honk a reminder of the mounting pressure. The lab greeted us with its familiar, controlled chaos. Fluorescent lights reflected off stainless steel counters and glass equipment. Scientists moved between workstations, adjusting instruments, checking samples, scribbling notes. The faint scent of chemicals and antiseptic hung in the air, mingling with the low hum of centrifuges and computers. For a moment, the world outside—Anderson’s impossible conditions, Paris’ hesitation—faded, replaced by the rhythmic pulse of work that made sense. A young scientist looked up from her microscope