Divorce my prentened poor Billionaire husband

"Everest, what the hell are you doing?"

Annika found herself suddenly hauled onto Everest’s lap, a sharp jolt of discomfort shooting through her as every muscle in her body locked up. Even after all they’d been to each other, even after knowing every inch of one another’s bodies, her thin jeans couldn’t hide the hard, firm muscle pressing against her through his perfectly tailored trousers. The heat rolling off him was equal parts intoxicating and torture. She bit down hard on her lower lip, fighting to steady the way her breath had already picked up.

She wanted to yank free, to put as much distance between them as she could get. But no matter how hard she tried, her body wouldn’t move. She tried to struggle, but Everest’s thick, strong arms banded around her waist held her tight, not giving an inch of room to escape.

Annika clenched her fists until her nails bit into her palms, frustration coiling hot in her chest. "Everest, we’re done."

Everest’s reply dripped with so much sarcasm it stung. "You showed up the second I called. Don’t go playing all innocent on me now."

He leaned in closer, his sharp, chiseled jaw only inches from her face. "You mad I’m getting in the way of all those little ambitions you’re chasing?"

The words cut so deep Annika’s eyes burned. If she hadn’t been desperate for cash, if she hadn’t taken that five million dollars from him, she never would have ended up trapped in this hellish mess.

How much worse did her life have to get before he’d finally put this cycle of revenge to bed?

Zeke and half a dozen of his rich friends stared, stunned out of their own conversations, because Everest had Annika Voss sitting on his damn lap. Everest was their leader, for Christ’s sake—he’d always been the poster boy for self-control, never the type to waste time on stupid playboy games.

A guy who’d always hated being touched by anyone… and here he was, letting someone sit right on his lap, about to feed him drinks?

They immediately ducked their heads into their group chat, fingers flying:

[What the hell is Everest doing? Getting hands-on with Annika himself? Isn’t that going way too easy on her?]

[Too easy? This is revenge for his sister. This is way more satisfying than anything else we could do. Besides, Everest’s harder on her than any of us would be. She’s not walking out of here with her pride intact. Acting all innocent? Please, spare me.]

[Remember that social-climbing ex-wife he dumped? Maybe he’s finally had enough and decided to play the game himself this time. We should drag her ass in here, let her see Everest surrounded by chicks. That’ll make her regret every damn thing she did!]

Selena’s fingers twisted the fabric of her designer dress until her knuckles turned white, rage boiling under her skin. Annika. How dare you? How dare you try to seduce my brother, cloud his judgment? You’re disgusting.

Everest didn’t care about Annika, she told herself. Intimate little games meant nothing to him. Selena pasted a soft, forced smile on her face and tilted her head.

"What’s with all this dramatic passion, anyway? Annika’s not some naive little girl. Aren’t you being a little too harsh on her?"

The other rich socialites immediately fussed over Selena, sliding her snacks and topping up her wine glass like the little princess she was.

"Selena, you’re way too nice for your own good. Annika’s only here for the paycheck. You wouldn’t stand in the way of her getting paid, would you?"

Selena put on her best look of soft, world-weary concern.

"Annika, doing this for money already puts you in a tough spot. C’mon, it’s not like this is your first time, right? What’s different now?"

Every word was a deliberate jab, calculated to get under Annika’s skin. She knew exactly what she was doing.

"Annika, is money really that important? You’d sell yourself, betray your friends, even the people that love you? That’s just… so low. Don’t let it blind you, honey."

Every line was carefully aimed at Everest’s worst triggers. Selena knew he detested that kind of betrayal more than anything.

Sure enough, a dark cloud of anger settled over Everest’s handsome features.

Annika saw right through her act. She knew Selena’s sweet, innocent-sounding words were meant to turn the whole room against her, to make all these rich brats hate her even more, to crank up their cruelty another notch.

Annika’s fingers curled into a tight fist in her lap. Crying foul now would get her nowhere. Everest and Selena would never believe her anyway.

If she called them out on their little revenge plot, that would just tell them she knew what they were up to—they’d only ramp it up, and things would get even worse for her.

All she wanted was to keep her head down and get out of here in one piece. So she bit her tongue and absorbed the jabs, refusing to give Selena the reaction she wanted.

She answered coolly, "Ma’am, do we even know each other? I don’t think we’ve ever met."

Selena smirked. She knew Annika was just pretending not to recognize her. They’d been in the same art and dance program back in college, both the darlings of the department.

Selena kept up her innocent act and tilted her head, batting her lashes. "Oh, Annika, you’re still pretending you don’t know me? We had dance class together for two whole years. Oh, never mind that… sitting on a man’s lap like this in front of everyone? It just doesn’t look very dignified, does it?"

"Honestly, the undignified one is this guy. I came because he called me, and now he won’t let me leave."

Annika leaned in a fraction closer to Everest, her anger simmering so hot she could barely contain it—until their eyes locked, and a crackling, invisible tension snapped between them, holding both of them still.

Annika held her ground, meeting the dark intensity of his gaze head-on, her voice steady and unwavering. "Won’t let me leave… is this to keep your sister happy, while she slanders my name behind my back?"

Maybe it was how close she was, but the second Annika spoke, her unique soft scent wrapped around Everest, filling every inch of his senses.

Everest’s stomach clenched involuntarily.

He cursed under his breath. Goddamnit, this stubborn woman.

"Pour me coffee," he said, voice cool and unaffected. One hand slid discreetly to press against his abdomen, hidden from view under his shirt.

Annika bit her lip so hard she tasted copper, holding back the urge to snap at him. Right now, she was a lamb waiting for the slaughter. Pushing him would only make escaping that much harder.

Selena watched Annika refuse to rise to the bait, holding onto this eerie calm no one expected. She noticed Annika wouldn’t call Everest out, wouldn’t expose what they were doing to the whole room. Everest never had any intention of letting Annika walk out of here anyway. Selena swallowed down her burning jealousy and resentment. There was nothing she could do to change this. Everest never backed down from a decision. Even if she faked a fainting spell right now, he’d still keep holding Annika close without a second thought.

Annika spent three years running from them, avoiding their little games. Now she’d been dragged right into the middle of her own personal nightmare. Just you wait.

The quiet guy in the corner, who’d been watching the whole thing unfold, could tell Annika wasn’t the type to play these twisted rich kid games. He thought about stepping in to help her, but Zeke pulled his attention away before he could. Zeke, usually so carefree and reckless, pulled him into a serious discussion about an upcoming business deal.

"Hey, can you walk me through this section of the project plan? I’m not getting it."

The quiet man shifted beside Zeke, his expression turning serious, and the two dove into the details. Annika was completely alone now, no one to have her back.

All she cared about was protecting the baby growing inside her. She stopped struggling. She knew this time, no matter who was behind it—Zeke or Everest—she wasn’t getting out early. Her only hope was that once the round of drinks was done, they’d keep their stupid promise and let her leave.

All the wealthy people in the room leaned forward, eyes glued to Annika, eager for the second her innocent mask slipped and they got the juicy, scandalous show they’d come for.

They watched Everest pick up a bottle, pour a generous, full glass of deep red wine. His long, elegant fingers wrapped around the stem of the glass, swirling the crimson liquid slow and graceful.

Everyone was waiting for Annika to feed it to him straight from her hand. But Everest surprised them all. He tilted his head back and drained the entire glass in one go.

Annika stared, stunned. Did he suddenly grow a conscience? Was he actually not going to force her to humiliate herself?

Before she could even draw a breath in relief, Everest reached out, his hand wrapping tight around the back of her head. Her eyes went wide with dread. This bastard wasn’t done with her. Not even close.

Sure enough, he leaned in, and pressed his wine-wet lips right to hers. The warm liquid poured straight down her throat before she could even react. Before she could swallow it all, he took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, his tongue tangling with hers. His lips were demanding, relentless, laced with all his anger and frustration. Only when Annika was almost completely out of breath, her cheeks flushed bright pink, did he pull back.

She was gasping for air, tears stinging the backs of her eyes, her whole face dazed and wrecked. Everest’s gaze darkened seeing her like that, his voice gone rough and hoarse.

"I’ll give you one chance to talk. What do you have to say for yourself?"