《After the Divorce, My Billionaire Husband Lost His Mind》全部章節：第 11 章 - 第 20 章

The flashes hit me before the questions did.Blinding. Relentless. Invasive.“Mr. Ashford! Is it true—”“Are you here to stop Miss Ashford’s company—”“Did your divorce influence her decision—”I didn’t answer.I couldn’t.For the first time in years, I stood in the middle of a storm I hadn’t created… and couldn’t control.And somewhere behind those doors, Elara was watching.I could feel it.Every instinct in me screamed to walk away. To shut this down. To protect my name, my company, my reputation.But something deeper—something reckless—kept me rooted in place.Because leaving now would mean one thing.She had won.I straightened my shoulders, my expression hardening into the cold mask the world knew.“Step aside,” I said calmly.The reporters didn’t.If anything, they pressed closer.“Mr. Ashford, is your ex-wife targeting your business directly?”“Is this a personal vendetta?”“Did you underestimate her during your marriage?”That one hit.Hard.My jaw tightened.Underestimate he

His hand didn’t move.That was the first thing I noticed.Daniel’s hand rested lightly on Elara’s back—casual, effortless, like it belonged there. Like it had always belonged there.And she didn’t pull away.My chest tightened.No.Not tightened.It burned.“Everything okay?” he repeated, his gaze flicking between us, calm and controlled.Elara nodded. “Yes.”One word.Simple.Final.Like whatever this was between us… didn’t even qualify as a problem anymore.My jaw clenched.“I asked you a question,” Daniel said, his tone polite but firm, his attention now fully on me.There was no hostility.No aggression.That somehow made it worse.Because he wasn’t threatened by me.Not even a little.“I’m Julian Ashford,” I said, my voice cold.Recognition flashed briefly in his eyes.Of course it did.Everyone knew my name.But it didn’t change anything.“Daniel Reed,” he replied smoothly, extending a hand.I stared at it.Didn’t take it.Something dark twisted in my chest.Because this man.Th

The paper crumpled slightly in my grip.I didn’t realize how tightly I was holding it until the edges dug into my palm.A partnership agreement.Not just with anyone.With one of my biggest competitors.I looked up slowly.“Elara…”She didn’t flinch.Didn’t second-guess.Didn’t hesitate.She just stood there—calm, composed, completely certain of herself.“You’re not serious,” I said.“I am.”The simplicity of her answer made it worse.“You’re aligning yourself with them?” I asked, my voice dropping.“Yes.”“Do you even understand what that means?”Her gaze sharpened.“Perfectly.”I let out a short, disbelieving laugh.“No. You don’t.”I stepped out from behind the desk, closing the distance between us.“That company has been trying to undermine mine for years,” I continued. “Every deal, every expansion—they’ve been waiting for an opportunity to get ahead.”“And now you’ve handed them one.”Her expression didn’t change.“No,” she said calmly.“I’ve created one.”The distinction hit har

The room emptied.Slowly.Quietly.Chairs slid back. Papers were gathered. Low voices murmured polite congratulations that had nothing to do with me.I didn’t move.I stood there, staring at the contract she had just signed—her name etched into the bottom like a line drawn across everything we used to be.Elara Ashford.Not my wife.Not mine.Just… her.My fingers brushed the edge of the table, grounding myself as something unfamiliar settled in my chest.Not anger.Not desperation.Something heavier.Something colder.Regret.“Mr. Ashford?”I didn’t turn.One of the lawyers lingered behind, hesitant.“Yes?” I said flatly.“If there’s anything further you’d like to discuss regarding this partnership—”“There isn’t.”My tone cut clean through the rest of his sentence.He nodded quickly and left.The door clicked shut behind him.And just like that—I was alone.I exhaled slowly and ran a hand through my hair.You’re still late, Julian.Her voice echoed again.Over and over.Relentless.

The silence he left behind was louder than anything he said.I stood there, staring at the closed door, his last words looping in my head like a problem I couldn’t solve.Stop trying to win.It sounded simple.It wasn’t.Because winning was the only thing I had ever known.Winning meant control.Winning meant certainty.Winning meant I never had to feel like this—Unsteady. Exposed. Late.I sank into my chair slowly, staring at my reflection in the darkened glass of the window.For years, that reflection had been enough.Confident. Untouchable. In control.Now?All I saw was a man who had built everything—Except the one thing that mattered.My phone buzzed.I ignored it.It buzzed again.Then again.Relentless.Just like everything else lately.I picked it up with a quiet exhale.My assistant.“Sir,” she said, her voice tight, “you need to see this.”“What is it?”“There’s a new release from Miss Ashford’s company.”My chest tightened.“Send it.”A second later, my screen lit up.Pre