Lahat ng Kabanata ng Betrayed by Ex, Married to Billionaire : Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 70

“Don’t wait for me tonight.” Leonard’s voice was calm, too calm, as he adjusted his cufflinks by the doorway. Aruna paused mid-step, her fingers still resting on the back of the chair. She didn’t turn around immediately. “You’re working late again?” she asked. Leonard nodded once. “A meeting. Out of town.” Silence stretched between them—thin, fragile. “I see,” Aruna replied quietly. She moved toward the window, staring at the fading sunset instead of him. The glass reflected her face—composed, distant, unreadable. Leonard hesitated, as if expecting her to say more. But she didn’t. After a moment, he picked up his coat. “Get some rest.” The door closed with a soft click. Aruna exhaled slowly, her shoulders slumping the moment she was alone. “So this is how we do it now,” she murmured. “Pretending we don’t notice.” --- The distance between them hadn’t come from anger. It came from fear. Leonard feared attachment. Aruna feared loss. And so, without a single argument, th

“Why are you still awake?” Leonard’s voice cut softly through the quiet corridor. Aruna, who had been standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, flinched slightly. Outside, City A glowed under a blanket of midnight lights, distant and cold. “I could ask you the same thing,” she replied without turning. Leonard stopped a few steps behind her. He had loosened his tie, his jacket draped over his arm—an unguarded look she rarely saw these days. “The board meeting ended late,” he said. “You should be resting.” Aruna smiled faintly. “You sound like my doctor.” Silence stretched between them. The space that had grown over the past weeks—carefully constructed, deliberately maintained—hung heavy in the air. They had been polite. Civil. Distant. Too distant. Leonard set his jacket down on a nearby chair. “You didn’t eat dinner,” he said. “I wasn’t hungry.” “That’s a lie.” Aruna finally turned, crossing her arms. “You’ve become very observant.” Leonard met her gaze, his eyes unreadabl

“Did you see this?” The sharp whisper cut through the quiet of the morning lounge. Aruna paused mid-step, her fingers tightening around the tablet she had just picked up from the table. Across from her, two junior executives fell abruptly silent, their faces stiff with unease. “See what?” Aruna asked calmly. The woman hesitated, then forced an awkward smile. “N-Nothing, Mrs. Arken.” Aruna didn’t press. She already knew. She turned on the tablet. The headline exploded across the screen. > EXCLUSIVE: THE TRUE FACE OF MRS. LEONARD ARKEN — FROM ABANDONED WOMAN TO POWER HUNTER? Her reflection stared back at her from the black glass—unmoved, unreadable. Leonard’s voice echoed from the doorway. “Turn it off.” Aruna looked up. Leonard stood there in a dark coat, his expression cold, controlled—but his eyes burned. “You saw it,” she said. “Yes,” Leonard replied. “And I’m already handling it.” Aruna didn’t move. She scrolled. Photos flashed across the screen—old images of her cra

“Turn it off.” Aruna’s voice was calm—but her fingers were trembling. Leonard froze mid-step, the tablet still in his hand. The large screen in the living room was filled with flashing headlines, bold red letters screaming her name. MRS. LEONARD ARKEN — FROM MISTRESS TO MASTER? DARK PAST OF CITY A’S MOST POWERFUL WOMAN EXPOSED DID LEONARD ARKEN BUY HIS WIFE’S REPUTATION? “Aruna—” Leonard started. “I said turn it off,” she repeated, sharper this time. Leonard pressed the button. The screen went black. Silence followed. Heavy. Suffocating. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, rain fell relentlessly, tapping against the glass like impatient fingers. Aruna stood slowly from the sofa. “So,” she said quietly, “this is what it looks like when they finally attack.” Leonard watched her carefully. “The articles are coordinated. Someone paid for this.” Aruna let out a hollow laugh. “Of course they did.” She walked toward the window, her heels echoing softly. Her reflection stared

“Watch your step!” Leonard’s sharp voice cut through the chaos of the corporate event hall. Aruna’s heels clicked against the marble floor as she navigated between clusters of guests, her mind elsewhere. She had just concluded a high-stakes negotiation, but instead of exhilaration, a heavy weariness pressed against her chest. “I’m fine,” she muttered, barely audible, brushing past a waiter carrying a tray of champagne glasses. Leonard’s eyes narrowed, his hand reaching out instinctively. “Aruna, don’t ignore me. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard. Step back.” She forced a faint smile, turning to him, but her legs faltered. Her body swayed slightly. “I… I just need a moment.” Leonard didn’t hesitate. He moved closer, his hand steady on her elbow, preventing her from tipping over. “No. Not a moment. You need to breathe. Sit down.” The room’s chatter dimmed in her ears, her vision blurring as the pressure in her head grew. Guests passed by, oblivious to the subtle crisis unfoldin