All Chapters of The Billionaire’s Abandoned Wife Is Back: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Elena’s POVThe woman he hates more than anyone in the world?For a brief moment, his words rattled me. His words were like sharp knives right to my heart. I hated that his words were affecting me so much, but I honestly hadn’t expected him to speak so vehemently about me.Leon took a step towards me and protectively put his hand on the small of my back in a show of support. His warm hand felt comforting. Leon knew better than anyone the upheaval to my life caused by Lucian all those years ago. He’d borne witness to Lucian’s cruel treatment of me with his own eyes that day at the hospital. I was grateful to have Leon’s support in this moment. “That’s a bold statement,” I said to Lucian, careful to keep my tone under control. I couldn’t let Lucian see that his words had flustered me. “What did this woman do to deserve so much hate?”“She betrayed me,” Lucian replied, his eyes dark and stormy.Betrayed him?I did no such thing! It was him who had betrayed me! He’d forced me to get an a

Elena’s POVLetting out a sharp, cold laugh, I shook my head.“No thank you,” I said curtly. Then I turned to Leon, offering him my arm. “Shall we head over to the bar for a drink?”Linking my arm in Leon’s, we brushed past Lucian. Once we were seated at the bar, I allowed myself a deep breath. I’d come very close to losing my composure, and that was something I couldn’t afford to do.The soft silk lining of Leon’s suit jacket was cool against my skin as Leon draped his jacket over my shoulders. He rubbed my tense shoulders as he waved over the bartender.“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” he said, pre-empting what I was about to say. “You maintained a calm façade under extraordinary pressure. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”Leon sat down at the bar stool beside me and I flashed him a helpless smile. “It doesn’t feel that way,” I told him. “My father taught me the importance of keeping a ‘poker face’. But I don’t know, Leon. I’m not sure I can. I didn’t expect Lucian

Elena's POVIt didn’t take a rocket scientist to know what Lucian was thinking. It was written all over his face, clear as day. The look of betrayal.The same look I’d borne the day I found him with Lydia at the hospital for a pre-natal check-up.“It really is you,” he said under his breath, his whisper incredulous.I neither confirmed nor denied his whisper. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was that he’d underestimated me. I’d been personally groomed for the business world by his very own grandmother. She was a legend in high society circles. A no-nonsense, cutthroat business tycoon and she’d taught me everything she’d known.Did Lucian forget all that? Did he forget that I had skills that extended beyond making his eggs and ironing his shirts? I’d given up my business pursuits for him, willingly. I’d lived in his shadow as his housewife.But all those skills I’d learned…they didn’t just vanish into thin air. He’d forgotten what I was capable of. It was almost laughable. The men

Elena’s POV“I should be happy,” I whispered. Looking up at the familiar gravestone, my heart lurched. The clouds shifted and the moon came into full view, casting its glow down onto the gravestone.“I mean, I won the bid. The development project is mine. And I worked so hard to get to where I am. It’s just that…”Pausing, I felt the hot prick of a tear in my eye. Swiping at it, I sighed heavily. On the one hand, I was very proud of myself and I knew Lizette would be proud of me too. I’d finally stepped into the role she’d groomed me to be. I was powerful, rich, successful.But on the other hand, the role I stepped into just happened to be for her family’s biggest rival company. The weight of that sat heavy on my chest.“What would you have done?” I whispered into the night. “Did I do the right thing? I can’t help but feel that I’ve disappointed you.”Still on my hands on knees, I lowered my eyes. I’d loved this woman so much, with my whole heart really. And this was how I repaid her

Elena’s POVLucian stared at me, dumbfounded by what I’d just done. I let out a low, callous chuckle.There was a time when I would have cried over Lucian’s accusations. I would have cowered and recoiled. But I wasn’t that woman anymore. I was strong and more than capable of defending myself.I wasn’t sure what shocked Lucian more: the fact that I had slapped him, or the fact that I wouldn’t back down.“You’re the pot calling the kettle black,” I said, my voice dripping with derision. “You were the one who had the affair. You were the one who got another woman pregnant. It’s your shame to bear, not mine. Just because you’re a liar and cheat doesn’t mean you can paint everyone else with the same brush.”It felt good to finally put Lucian in his place. I realized that I’d been holding onto those words for a long time. Seeing the red handprint of my slap on his face I bristled with a quiet pride. This is what I should have done three years ago, that day in the hospital.Lucian’s face twi