All Chapters of When I Discovered Husband Was Billionaire, I Divorced Him: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"It's Daddy!" Three-year-old Jamie came running over to call me for dinner, but the moment he saw the photo on my phone, he squealed with delight.My mind went completely blank.In six years with Derek Sterling, I had never once seen him smile like that -- completely carefree, relaxed in a way I didn't recognize.Because our life together had always been defined by poverty and hardship.Derek and I met during our sophomore year of college. After sharing an elective class, he started showing up around me, always flashing that wide, easy grin.He was good-looking. The hoodies he wore never showed a brand name, but they fit him well.People that easy to be around are usually either deeply loved or loaded.I guessed it was the latter.At the time, I was consumed with worry over my dad's health and the mounting medical bills. I wasn't in the headspace for some guy flirting with me.Later, we were randomly assigned to the same group project. I assumed he'd be the type to coast and leech off

While I sat there staring at my phone, Jamie toddled over on tiptoe, reaching for it.He was practically bouncing: "Who's that next to Daddy?"I panicked, locked the screen, and pressed the phone against my chest. My throat tightened."...Go tell Grandma and Grandpa dinner's ready."Jamie ran off obediently. I moved through the motions mechanically -- setting out the food, fixing plates, coaxing my son to eat.But the images I'd just seen kept flashing through my mind.Four years.I had always felt like I owed Derek's parents. I took on every household chore without being asked.Shortly after he left, I discovered I was pregnant.My first instinct was not to keep the baby. We were in no position to raise a child.But Derek came home, held me, and wept. He said he felt useless for not being able to save my father. He begged me to keep our child. He swore he would work himself to the bone to give us a good life.Once again, his tears and his sincerity moved me. I kept the baby.Believing

Despite barely sleeping, my body clock woke me at dawn.After making breakfast for Derek's parents, I said casually, "Mom, Dad -- Derek mentioned that the next time he comes home, he'd like to take me to get our marriage license. I hope you'd be willing to come as witnesses."The two of them exchanged a glance, their expressions unchanged. "We'll see when he gets back."I nodded and didn't press further.Even though we'd lived under the same roof for years, we rarely had real conversations. We only sat together at meals, and whenever I tried to warm up to them, they always pulled away.When Jamie was born, Derek hadn't made it home, but they had stayed at the hospital.Still, they never seemed particularly close to Jamie either.I used to think nothing of it. I didn't want to assume the worst about two people who had helped me, and I chalked it up to personality.Now, looking back, the red flags were everywhere.They never once asked about our marriage plans.There wasn't a single chil

Derek arrived the next afternoon.When the doorbell rang, I checked my reflection in the mirror: pale, eyes swollen and red, lips cracked. The picture of a woman broken by grief and exhaustion.Derek stood in the doorway, travel-worn and visibly anxious.I noticed his clothes -- cleaner and more put-together than usual.He must have been in too much of a rush to throw on his usual delivery-guy clothes."Where's Jamie?" He walked straight past me into the house. "How is he? Is he any better? You said the doctor wanted to admit him -- if you're worried, let's go together."I stood behind him and closed the door."The doctor said this morning that admission would be best, but they need a five-thousand-dollar deposit first. I couldn't come up with it on such short notice." I looked at him, shrinking into myself.He paused, apparently thinking. "I already sent you everything I had this month. Let me see if I can borrow from a coworker..."He was still pretending. Even with his child suppose

"Second condition." I looked at him coldly. "I'm taking Jamie. You will never see him again. Child support -- five million dollars, lump sum.""Ella, don't push it!" Derek jabbed a finger at me. "Jamie is my son too!""Perfect. Then I'll take Jamie straight to the Ashfords and let them know that their future son-in-law already has a child. Let them watch their daughter raise her fiance's secret kid before they've even walked down the aisle.""You--!" Derek flushed with rage, but then a calculated calm settled over him. "In families like ours, a secret kid is hardly a scandal. You can't threaten me with that.""Is that so? That only works if your family actually values you. If you had nothing, would the Ashfords still choose you?"Derek had two older siblings above him and a favored younger brother below. His current position was entirely thanks to the Ashford family's backing. If they pulled their support, he would be finished.He had assumed that by the end of the year at the latest,