All Chapters of When My Husband's Number Hit Zero, I Left: Chapter 11 - Chapter 17

Austin still refused to believe that he and Livia would never see each other again.He used every connection he had and ordered his men to search the whole city. He even walked every street they'd once visited together.Whenever he spotted a woman who looked like Livia from behind, he rushed after her. After he'd mistaken a few strangers for her, people started treating him like some creep who harassed women.He once waited at Livia's favorite coffee shop for an entire day. He hadn't eaten or rested properly in days, and in the end, he passed out right outside.But he still didn't find her.Two months later, a news story about an archaeological dig finally mentioned Livia.An archaeology team had made a major breakthrough at an underwater shipwreck. They'd found physical evidence matching the ship's log and overturned a theory about its route that scholars had accepted for a century.Livia's name appeared on the published list of team members.Austin's hand shook as he opened the artic

But it was far from over.As the archaeology project progressed, Livia's expertise drew attention across the field, and she was fast becoming one of its most talked-about young archaeologists.At the same time, the story of her marriage to Austin and their split became public.Intimate photos of Austin and Bianca began appearing online: Austin carrying her into a hospital, taking in the night view with her and Ron on a cruise ship, renting her an expensive apartment, even kissing her outside the estate.Public outrage spread fast.Some accused Austin of betraying his wife. Others suspected he'd had a trusted crewman killed so he could have the man's wife. Rumors even claimed Ron was his son with Bianca.Soon, the crew summoned Austin to an emergency board meeting.The scandal had enraged several board members. The smuggling routes Austin controlled had drawn police attention, and their partners were wavering. Worse, even his longtime men had begun to wonder if he'd betrayed one of thei

Livia's POVAfter the attack, Bianca was arrested for assault.To get out of the charges, she claimed she was mentally ill. But Austin looked into it and found that her so-called condition was just another act."Every time Livia and I had plans, you found a way to lure me away," Austin said. He threw the fake diagnosis on the table and glared at her. "You lied to me from the start."For once, Bianca had nothing to say.Then her eyes reddened, and she gave him that pitiful look again."I lost my husband. I just wanted a little attention, someone Ron and I could lean on. Is that so wrong?"Austin clenched his fists."If you wanted money or a stable life, I could have given you both. Why did you have to destroy my marriage to Livia?"Bianca stared at him, then laughed until she cried."Don't act innocent, Austin. If you loved her so much, why didn't you turn me down even once? If you'd had any self-control, could I have climbed into your bed wearing Livia's nightgown?""Shut up." Austin w

Livia's POVAfter the divorce, Austin sank into regret and emptiness.He could barely sleep. Even when exhaustion overtook him, he'd jolt awake from dreams of watching me walk away.In his dreams, he could never catch up to me.Each time he woke, reality felt even crueler than his dreams.He'd once had countless chances to win me back. He'd used them all up.Eventually, he stopped trying to find me.Austin returned to his old city and sorted out what remained of his businesses. He put the money he could legally use into a program that offered temporary housing and support to people who were homeless or struggling.At first, he just wanted something to fill the emptiness in his life.Only after he got involved did he begin to understand: helping someone didn't give him the right to cross their boundaries. It didn't mean they had to go along with his plans, either.He'd claimed he was looking after Bianca and Ron, but he'd brushed off my feelings again and again and confused his responsi