Divorce After Husband's Betrayal

The soft glow of crystal chandeliers bathed the restaurant in warm light as I guided my grandfather through the entrance of what I thought was our family's special place. The upscale buffet restaurant in downtown Seattle had always been a source of quiet pride for me—a place where I'd secretly invested my heart and resources, believing it was something special Hugo and I had built together. "Welcome back, Ms. Meyer," the hostess greeted me with a genuine smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "It's been a while since we've seen you." "Just been busy with work, Lily," I replied, squeezing her hand briefly. "My grandfather's been feeling under the weather, so I thought a change of scenery might do him good." Grandfather stood beside me, his posture still remarkably straight despite his seventy-eight years. His eyes, sharp and intelligent, surveyed the elegant surroundings with quiet appreciation. "A quiet table near the window would be perfect," I requested. "Somewhere where my grandfather can enjoy the view of the city lights." Lily nodded understandingly. "Of course.

Chapters

Chapter 2

The blessed bracelet gleamed under the chandelier light, a silent testament to my husband's betrayal. I stared at it, unable to process how it had ended up on this woman's wrist.

"Well?" Scarlet's voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and mocking. "Are you going to pay for your grandfather's theft, or should I call security?"

Grandfather stood beside me, his weathered face a mask of quiet dignity despite the humiliation. His eyes, normally bright with intelligence, now held a flicker of confusion and hurt.

"This is ridiculous," I said, finding my voice at last. "My grandfather is a respected scientist who has contributed to our nation's agricultural advancement. He deserves better than this treatment."

Scarlet laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "Respected scientist? Here, he's just a thief." She turned to the growing crowd of onlookers. "Ladies and gentlemen, it seems we have a situation where entitlement has overridden decency."

Heat rushed to my face as whispers rippled through the watching crowd. Some looked uncomfortable, others curious, and a few seemed to enjoy the spectacle.

"I think," Scarlet continued, her voice rising dramatically, "that before we discuss payment, an apology is in order." She pointed to the floor. "On your knees, old man."

Grandfather's shoulders straightened. "I will not."

"Kneel and apologize for your theft," Scarlet repeated, her eyes glittering with malice, "or I'll have security remove you both."

I stepped forward, placing myself between them. "You will not speak to my grandfather that way. This has gone far enough."

"Oh, it hasn't even begun," Scarlet said, her smile widening. She snapped her fingers, and a young male staff member appeared at her side. "Marcus, please assist our elderly friend in demonstrating proper respect."

The young man—Marcus—looked uncomfortable but nodded. "Yes, Ms. Oliver."

"Stop this!" I demanded, my voice shaking with anger. "You cannot force an elderly man to kneel!"

Scarlet's eyes narrowed. "Either he kneels and apologizes, or you pay the million-dollar fee. Those are your options."

I reached into my purse, pulling out my wallet. "How dare you—"

"I won't do it," Grandfather interrupted, his voice quiet but firm. "Isabelle, don't give this woman a single dollar."

Scarlet's face hardened. "Marcus, escort the gentleman to that table." She pointed to a nearby table where a large bowl of water sat, part of a seafood display. "Perhaps some cooling off will help him reconsider."

"No!" I moved to block Marcus, but Scarlet stepped between us.

"You have five seconds to decide," she hissed. "Either pay or watch your precious grandfather learn some manners."

I fumbled for my phone. "I'm calling Hugo."

"Hugo is busy," Scarlet sneered. "And even if he were here, he'd side with me."

Marcus gently guided Grandfather toward the table with the water bowl. My heart pounded as I dialed Hugo's number, praying he would answer.

"Put him down!" I shouted, watching in horror as Marcus positioned Grandfather's head above the water. "Stop this immediately!"

Scarlet stepped closer to me, her voice dropping to a whisper. "If you continue to resist, I'll have my staff strip you naked right here in front of everyone."

My blood ran cold. "You wouldn't dare."

"Try me," she replied, her eyes gleaming with cruel anticipation.

The phone rang once, twice, three times as Marcus held Grandfather's head inches from the water.

"Please, Hugo, answer," I whispered desperately.

Grandfather's eyes met mine across the room, filled with a quiet strength that broke my heart.

"I'm sorry, Isabelle," he said softly. "This is my fault."

"No, Grandfather, it's not," I said, tears welling in my eyes.

Scarlet watched our exchange with obvious enjoyment. "Such a touching moment," she mocked.

The phone continued to ring as Marcus looked to Scarlet for direction. She nodded slightly, and I watched in horror as he began to lower Grandfather's head toward the water.

"Stop!" I screamed, lunging forward only to be blocked by another staff member.

Suddenly, I noticed the soft glow of phone screens around the restaurant. Several diners had pulled out their devices, recording the scene unfolding before them.

"Perfect," Scarlet said, noticing my gaze. "Now everyone can see what happens when you steal from our establishment."

The humiliation burned through me as I watched Grandfather's head being pushed closer to the water, while simultaneously hearing the clicking of camera shutters capturing every moment of our disgrace.

I pressed redial on Hugo's number, my finger trembling uncontrollably.

"Please answer," I begged silently. "Please come and stop this nightmare."

Continue to next part

The steady beep of monitors pulled me from darkness. I blinked against harsh fluorescent lights, my body feeling hollow and strange. The hospital room was pristine—white walls, white sheets, the antiseptic smell burning my nostrils. My hand instinctively moved to my stomach, and that's when the emptiness hit me. Twelve weeks. Our baby was gone. The door opened, and Damon strode in, his tailored suit unwrinkled despite the early hour. His eyes flickered to his watch before settling on me. "You're awake," he said, his voice neutral. No embrace.

Billionaire Modern Romance

8.0

Betrayed by Twin Lovers

8.0

The weight of the briefcase pulled at my arm as I stepped into the elevator of Vance's luxury high-rise. One million dollars in cash. Three years of my life compressed into stacks of bills, representing countless nights of degradation, fake smiles, and silent tears at that upscale nightclub. But it was worth it. For him, anything was worth it. My hand trembled slightly as I pressed the penthouse button. After today, Vance's financial troubles would be over. We could finally start building our future together—the one we'd planned for ten years, the one I'd sacrificed my dance scholarship to Paris for. The elevator doors opened to unusual silence. Normally, Vance's housekeeper would be bustling about, or his sound system would be playing soft jazz.

Billionaire Modern Romance

9.5

His Mistress Moved In While I Was Hospitalized

9.5

I stared at my phone, reading Michael's text for the fifth time as if the words might somehow rearrange themselves into something more thoughtful: 'Stuck in a meeting. Don't wait up. Happy birthday.' Thirty-five years old today, and I was celebrating alone in our cavernous Manhattan apartment. The space felt hollow despite the designer furniture and original artwork that Michael's mother, Eleanor, had insisted upon. 'A Zhou residence must reflect proper taste,' she'd said, dismissing my art history degree as if I couldn't possibly understand true sophistication. The Tiffany box sat on the glass coffee table, its robin's-egg blue a cheerful mockery against the apartment's muted grays and whites. I'd been eyeing it all evening, nursing a glass of wine that had long since warmed to room temperature. Part of me wanted to believe that this year would be different—that the box contained something chosen with care, with me in mind. My fingers traced the white satin ribbon. Ten years of marriage had taught me to lower my expectations, but hope was a stubborn thing.

Billionaire Modern Romance

9.4

Placeholder Wife Decides to Leave

9.4

Camila Hoffmann, the impeccably composed wife of billionaire Vincent Müller, has spent two years perfecting the art of being invisible—smiling through Vincent's affairs, managing his scandals, and polishing his public image to a high shine. But when compromising photos of Vincent with his ex-lover Becky surface, followed by Becky's brazen invasion of their home, Camila's carefully constructed facade begins to crack.

Billionaire Modern Romance

7.6

Reborn To Claim My CEO Husband

7.6

Elliana Lewis lay dying on the freezing concrete of a federal penitentiary, her ribs shattered by a guard's heavy boot. She had been flawlessly framed for murder by the one person she trusted with her life: her sweet, innocent stepsister, Jovita. During her final prison visit, Jovita wore their mother's diamonds and smiled cruelly behind the glass. She revealed she had liquidated the family company, caused their father's stroke, and paid the guards to ensure Elliana suffered a grueling, agonizing death. "Your marriage was a joke from day one, Ellie. You have nothing left." As her lungs stopped, the tragic truth finally dawned on Elliana. She had spent months screaming for a divorce and publicly humiliating her billionaire husband, Damon Stirling, believing his silence was weakness. She didn't realize until it was too late that his endless tolerance was the deepest form of protection. She had pushed away the only man who would have burned the world down to keep her safe. Why had she been so incredibly stupid? Why did she blindly trust a monster and destroy the only person who truly loved her? Then, a blinding light pierced her retinas. Elliana bolted upright, gasping for air on a massive, king-sized bed. There was no pain. No broken bones. The digital clock on the nightstand flashed a date from exactly ten years ago. It was the morning after her disastrous wedding night. This time, she would tear Jovita's life apart piece by piece. And she would hold onto Damon so tightly that nothing could ever pry them apart.

Billionaire Modern Romance

8.1

The Dominant Ceo's New Contract : The Ruthless Tycoon's Fifty Shades Contract

8.1

Nora has just been cleared from two weeks in a hospital after her body gave out from overwork and stress. The morning she is discharged, her doctor tells her she is lucky to have such a devoted boyfriend, someone who came to see her every day without fail. She leaves the hospital feeling genuinely hopeful for the first time in weeks. She decides to surprise Derek at his apartment before going home. When she gets there, the door is slightly open. The apartment is out of order in small ways that feel wrong immediately, because Derek is meticulous about everything. She finds a dress on the floor she recognizes from three days ago when her best friend Sienna came to visit her at the hospital. She walks into the bedroom and finds them together. What follows is not a screaming match. It is worse. Sienna does not apologize. She lays out the facts the way a person delivers news they have been sitting on for too long. Eight months. A wedding in two weeks. An invitation that arrives on Nora's phone before she even makes it out of the building. Derek tries to stop her in the hallway, tries to explain, but the elevator closes between them and she hears Sienna's voice behind her saying she will forgive him because she always does. Nora walks out into rain she does not notice for several minutes. Her phone rings five times with her father's name on the screen. She ignores it. Her father only calls repeatedly when he needs something managed, and she is not available to be managed today. Yuna finds her eventually and picks her up. In the car, Yuna starts to say where she has been and stops herself. Nora tells her Derek is her ex now without looking up. Yuna's phone rings. It is Nora's father, and his voice is different. Quiet in a way she has never heard before. He asks them to come to the mansion immediately. When they arrive, her grandfather is dead. He passed in his sleep, her mother says. The doctor had already been and gone. The paperwork was being handled. Her uncle was in the hallway with his coat on and his phone in his hand, already making calls, already moving. Her father calls her into the study and tells her the company is closer to collapse than anyone outside the family knows. There is one deal that could save it. One man. Callum Voss. The problem is that no one gets a meeting with Callum Voss. His schedule is locked, his gatekeepers are impossible, and he is in the city for a limited time only. Yuna tells her something that changes everything. He is on the guest list for Derek and Sienna's wedding. Nora does not want to go to that wedding. She would rather do almost anything else. But she does not have a choice, and she refuses to walk in alone. She tells Yuna to find her a fake date, someone tall and convincing and immediately impressive. She will handle everything else herself.

Billionaire Modern Romance

Divorce After Husband's Betrayal

Chapter 2

You may also like