All Chapters of After the Divorce, My Ex Husband Came Crawling Back: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The house was silent when I came back. I expected to hear footsteps or the sound of dishes. Usually, his assistant would be on the phone. But tonight the silence was heavy.I took off my shoes at the door. I was tired down to my bones. The business trip had been exhausting, three days of presentations, negotiations, and smiling until my face ached. All of it to secure a deal that would reflect well on him, on his company, on the carefully constructed image of our marriage.My head was aching. I knew this feeling well as the beginning of one of my episodes. I looked for my medicine in my bag, then paused."Shit," I had forgotten to take my morning dose, but the afternoon dose I usually never miss.I decided to wait until I changed. I wanted to wash off the day and let myself pretend, just for a moment, that this house felt like home.I walked up the stairs. The wood was rare and very costly. All of it was pretty but cold. The hall was full of silver frames. One of them was our wedding

“So you called a lawyer because of this?” Maxwell asked, his voice tight with anger.His hands were clenched into fists at his sides, and his jaw looked like it could crack from how hard he was holding it. The funny thing was that he looked offended, like I had done something unforgivable, like I was the one who betrayed him.I should have been excited today. I should have been holding my pregnancy test in my hands, smiling like a fool, waiting for the perfect moment to tell my husband that I was carrying his children. Twins. Two tiny lives that had already started growing inside me without anyone’s permission.But instead of joy, I was standing in front of him with divorce papers on the table, while his mistress sat comfortably in my home like she belonged there.What else did he expect me to do?I had suspected his cheating long before today, but I kept lying to myself because I didn’t want to believe the truth. It started with calls from friends who sounded excited and happy for m

I leaned back on the couch, one hand resting unconsciously on my stomach. "I'm taking my life back.""You already have more money than most people will ever see.""And you still have your reputation," I replied. "Your father. Your companies. Your future. You never once lost any of it."There was a tense pause on the line."Is there another man?" he asked suddenly.A laugh slipped out before I could stop it. "You really can't imagine me standing on my own, can you?"He let out a low, derisive chuckle. "I'll look forward to seeing how long you last on your own. Don't bother crawling back. I won't accept you."Crawling back? He really thought that highly of himself.What the hell did he think he was?My mind was made up. I was done waiting here like a fool while he enjoyed his life with other women. I just needed to make a call, and I’d get the hell out. I was going to resume my career. It was time to stop being the pathetic bride.“Don’t worry,” I said, my voice cold. “I’m not some desp

"Mrs. Chase," he said quietly. "I came as soon as I got your message."Juliana looked up, her face tight. She nodded, then glanced around before leaning in close to whisper something I couldn't hear.The lawyer's expression didn't change. He opened his briefcase and pulled out a manila folder, setting it on the chair beside her.A folder.My stomach dropped."Ariana," Maxwell said, hand on my arm. "Let's go."But I couldn't move. I stared at my mother and the lawyer, their heads bent close, sharing secrets in the corner while my father lay unconscious upstairs, fighting for his life.Why was the lawyer here? Dad wasn't even awake yet.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MAXWELLThe hospital smelled like failure.Earlier when I stood in Theodore Chase's ICU room, watching machines breathe for him. Tubes everywhere. Monitors beeping. The old man looked sm

*ARIANA*Durrell texted me at ten in the morning.‘Your dad's awake. Thought you should know.’I stared at the message, sitting alone at breakfast.Of course, it was Durrell who told me, not my mother, not my siblings, but Maxwell's cousin, who had no obligation to care.I didn't know what to make of him.In high school, Durrell had been insufferable. Ice hockey captain, tattoos, always surrounded by swooning girls. He'd had this infuriating habit of singling me out."Chase," he'd call out, that lazy smirk on his face. "Still pretending you're invisible?"I'd hated him for seeing through me.And now, years later, he was the one looking out for me. I didn't understand it.I typed back. ‘Thanks.’His response came immediately. ‘You going to see him?’‘Yes.’‘Good.’I grabbed my keys and headed out.The ICU nurse checked her computer. "You're all set. Room 304. Keep it brief."Through the window, I could see them. Juliana is sitting closest to the bed, Gemma is standing beside her, and J