All Chapters of After the Divorce, My Ex Husband Came Crawling Back: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The question came out so softly, so casually, it took a moment to register.My heart stopped."What did you just say?"Before she could answer, my phone rang, cutting through the tension like a knife.I didn't move. Couldn't move. Just stared at her, waiting for an explanation that I already knew wasn't coming.The phone rang again. Louder this time.Juliana glanced at it, then back at me. "You should answer that.""We're not done.""Yes," she said quietly. "We are."She stepped around me and walked toward the elevators, leaving me standing there with my phone vibrating in my hand and her words echoing in my head.‘Are you?’I looked down at the screen. Unknown number.My hands were shaking as I answered. "Hello?""Mrs. Cox?" A man's voice. Professional. Familiar."Yes.""This is Marcus Simmons. I'm calling on behalf of Victor Cox. I need to schedule a meeting with you. As soon as possible."I glanced back toward the elevators. Juliana was gone."What is this about?""I'd rather discu

The divorce. Detectives who looked at me like I might be guilty. Maxwell choosing Selene over and over. My siblings treating me like a ghost. Juliana's cruelty turned legal.And Dad.He'd finally seen me. Finally apologized. Finally tried.And now I couldn't see him.My phone was in my hand before I realized what I was doing.I scrolled past Maxwell's name, past my siblings who never called, past people I used to think were friends.And stopped at Durrell.He'd tormented me in high school. Singled me out with that infuriating smirk. Been everything I wasn't: confident, wanted, surrounded by people who chose him.But he'd also texted me about Dad. Checked on me. Offered help without asking for anything.And right now, he was the only person I could think of who might actually answer.I hit call. It rang once. Twice."Ariana?" His voice was surprised but not annoyed."Hey." My voice cracked. I cleared my throat. "Hey.""What's wrong?"Straight to the point. No small talk. Somehow that m

ARIANAVictor Cox’s office did not try to impress anyone.It didn’t need to.The building itself was glass and quiet steel, rising above Lakebridge like it owned the skyline. The receptionist didn’t smile when I gave my name. She just nodded, as if she had been expecting me long before I walked in.“Mr. Cox will see you now.”Of course, he would.His office was larger than my old apartment. Floor-to-ceiling windows. Dark wood. No family photos. No clutter. Just order.Victor stood when I entered.Not out of warmth. Out of habit.“Ariana.”“Mr. Cox.”He gestured to the chair across from his desk. “Sit.”I did.For a moment, he simply looked at me.As if calculating.“You look tired,” he said.“My father was shot.”“Yes.”No sympathy. Just acknowledgment.“How is Theodore?” he asked.“Recovering.”He inclined his head once. “Good.”Silence settled between us. Heavy. Intentional.“You received the final confirmations,” he said.“Yes.”“And you understand that the transfers are complete.”

He laughed once. Sharp. Disbelieving. “You’re doing this to humiliate me.”“No,” I said calmly. “I’m doing my job.”“You don’t know anything about running this place.”“I know enough to know you were bleeding assets to keep your mistress comfortable.”His eyes darkened. “You need to be very careful with the words coming out of your damn mouth.”“I’d say the same to you,” I replied. “I have access now.”He stayed silent for a while.“You’re still living in my house,” he said finally.“Our house,” I corrected.“You think I won’t kick you out?”“I think your father would enjoy that conversation.”He stared at me, something uncertain flickering behind the anger.“You planned this,” he said.“No,” I said honestly. “You did.”His phone buzzed but he ignored it.“For heaven's sake, you don’t belong here,” he said, raking his hand through his hair unconsciously in frustration.“Neither did I in your marriage,” I replied. “Yet I managed.”He turned and left without another word.By noon, the b

The text came in at nine in the morning.'He's awake. Vitals stable. Will be discharged within a week.'I sent the text before I'd even set my phone down.'Doctors say he'll be discharged in a week as long as his stats keep improving.'Her reply came fast. 'Thank you.''Anytime.'I set the phone down and leaned back.I'd been up since five, couldn't sleep, kept replaying the way Ariana had looked at the ice rink two days ago.Shattered.Not just sad. Broken in a way that made me want to find everyone who'd ever ignored her and make them pay.I'd seen her cry before. Once. Senior year. Same spot in the rink.I'd climbed the bleachers and sat three rows below her."You good, Chase?"She'd flinched. "Fine.""You're a terrible liar.""And you're a terrible person," she'd shot back.I'd laughed.She'd wiped her face, annoyed I was still there."What do you want, Durrell?""Nothing. Just didn't feel right leaving you up here alone."She'd looked at me then, like she was trying to figure out