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🔞🔥Click to Read more about📜<The Billionaire's Ex-Wife (Her Ex-Husband's Regret)>📜

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Lereader-Excellent Novel

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PERSON_PROFILE

Please, baby. Help me change Daddy's heart.

I march towards my husband's office on the top floor of Steele Corp Building, carrying a present in my hand. It's our third anniversary and I thought I'd give my husband a surprise. I just came back from the OBGYN. I placed my ultrasound photos inside a small box and wrapped it with a ribbon.

"Excuse me, Miss Carlisle. You need an appointment to see the CEO," Tara, my husband's secretary, blocks the entrance to my husband's office. "Or do you want me to call your supervisor?"

She raises a haughty brow at me, acting like she's above me.

Well, I suppose she is above me. She is the CEO's executive secretary, sitting in the office at the top floor, while I'm just a graphic designer with a cubicle on the third floor.

I have been married to Steele Corp's CEO, Kayden Steele, for three years. But sadly, no one in the office knows about it.

"Umm..." I force a smile on my face. "Mr. Steele called my extension and personally asked me to bring the present that arrived for him." I motion at the box in my hands.

"A present? From whom?"

"His wife, maybe," I reply nonchalantly.

Tara smirks. "You know he's still single!" See? Not even his secretary has a clue. "Although, I wonder if it's from that woman he asked to be picked up at the airport."

"What?" Now, it's my turn to be surprised. "What woman?"

Tara raises a skeptical brow at me again. "That information is none of your business," she replies. Then she turns to open the door to Kayden's office. "The graphic artist is here to see you, Sir?"

"Let her in," I hear Kayden say.

As I walk past Tara, I can't help smiling at her smugly. If she only knew what I'm carrying in my hands right now.

This gift, this wonderful news, is going to bring my husband closer to me.

This baby will change everything!

I close the door behind me, and with wobbly legs and a big smile of anticipation on my face, I walk towards Kayden.

He looks up from the papers on his desk as he watches me intensely. I almost lost my nerve as I remembered how devilishly handsome he was, with his midnight black hair, and blue-gray eyes. We've been married for three years, but he still takes my breath away.

"Kayden," I call, my voice almost squeaking. "I have... some news for you."

"Before you say anything, I have something to say to you, too," he says in a voice laced with ice. When he speaks so coldly to me like that, I wonder if he's the same man who makes hot love to me at night.

"Oh, okay. What do you want to tell me?" I ask.

He stands up from his seat. I cannot read the expression on his face as he stares back at me in silence.

"Kayden, what is it?"

He sighs heavily before turning away from me, as if he can't bear to look at me when he says what he needs to say.

"You see, when I was young, I vowed to marry someone," he mumbles. "But unfortunately, I couldn't because..." he trails off, heaving another sigh. "But now, she's back in town. And I don't think I can do this anymore, Cassie."

Wait, what did he mean by that?

He turns around. His eyes look distant, devoid of any emotion. "This is not working out for both of us. I want a divorce."

Divorce?

The word keeps ringing in my head like a deafening siren. Sure, this marriage was far from perfect. But in the years that I've been married to Kayden, I tried to be the perfect wife. I made sure I gave him no reason to regret ever marrying me.

"But... why?" Tears begin to brim my eyes.

“Come on, Cassie. Did you really think this marriage was going to last?” he asks. His voice was ice cold, and his face almost stoic. “You know it wasn’t my choice to get married. You drugged me and threatened to expose my indiscretion the same week that I was going to be announced as CEO of Steele Corp! What was I supposed to do? Of course, I had no choice but to marry you!"

I shake my head. "No, Kayden! I told you before that I didn't drug you. That night, somebody drugged me, too! I-I was framed. I don't even remember how I got to your room that night! Somebody made it seem like... like I staged it all!"

He sighs heavily. I doubt that he heard anything that I just said. Or maybe he did. He just doesn’t care. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I managed to gain control of my father’s company. Your family got whatever it is you wanted to gain out of this marriage. Maybe it’s better we walk away now, while we still can. Before we tear each other apart.”

“I gave my life to this marriage, too, Kayden!” I tell him evenly. “I didn’t plan on marrying a stranger as soon as I graduated university! This was against my will, too. I also have dreams I gave up because of this marriage.”

“How could I believe you? Your father was too eager to give you away. And his business suddenly boomed, didn’t it? I was desperate to gain control of my father’s company. And you just took advantage of my vulnerable situation.”

I can’t believe I’m hearing this. In the three years that we’re married, I can hardly remember when Kayden showed me any affection. He’s always been reserved and indifferent. It wasn’t a perfect marriage, but I never thought he’d ask me for a divorce so soon.

My hands tremble. The box I'm carrying drops to the floor. My wonderful news, my little ray of hope, completely forgotten. "Tricking you into marriage is the last thing I would do!”

He scoffs. “But that’s exactly what you did, didn’t you? I dreamt of building a family for myself. On my own terms and at the right time. Marrying you felt like I wasn’t given a chance to choose what I wanted for myself.”

I shake my head, unable to control the tears that's flowing from my eyes. I realize that no matter what I say or do, Kayden will never believe me.

"Is that why no matter how hard I tried to be the perfect wife... even after the many nights we made love, you... you never learned to love me?"

Kayden's face remains relentless as he stares back at me. "Love? When you trapped me in this marriage, were you thinking about love at all? Your father bagged his biggest clients at the mere mention of my name, remember? It’s all about money and power. Of course, I could never love you!”

I inhale deeply. It's painfully obvious now what the man I had desperately loved for three years thought of me: a gold-digging, scheming bitch!

Looking back at that night, I know that somebody had spiked my drink, and somehow, I ended up in Kayden's penthouse. And the morning after, somebody had tipped the paparazzi and made it look like I blackmailed Kayden into marrying me. I know that somebody had set me up. I just don't know who.

Kayden inhales deeply. “How could I love anyone who robbed me of my will?”

"You're wrong, Kayden," I sob. "It seems that after all these years, you never saw me for who I really am."

Kayden shakes his head. "It doesn't matter now. My lawyers are already preparing the divorce papers as we speak. Let's do this as quietly as possible," he says. "Anyway, there are only a few people who knew you were my wife."

I nod, feeling numb. "Yes. You did an excellent job keeping me a secret."

That was his first request to me: keep quiet about the marriage. Thinking about it now, he must have been planning to divorce me since then. Why did he wait three years to do this?

I wipe the tears on my cheeks as I struggle to compose myself. I know that when Kayden makes a decision, there's very little chance that he'll change his mind. "An—anything else you want to say?"

"One last thing," he replies.

I look up at him, pretty sure that there's nothing he can say that would make me feel any worse than I do at this moment.

He takes a deep breath and announces, "I don’t want to see you around the office. You're fired!"

..............................................................................
Hold on, baby! Mommy’s here. I will do everything to protect you.

This was not how I imagined this day would end.

Somehow, when I got the news that I was pregnant, I was so overjoyed that finally, something good came out of my marriage to Kayden Steele. For the first time in three years, I do not feel alone.

But suddenly, my life takes a one-eighty. Not only did I lose my husband, but I also lost my job and my health insurance, all in the space of two hours.

I can still remember the HR Manager's apologetic smile when I signed my termination papers.

"Can... can I at least keep the insurance for another eight months?" I plead.

She shakes her head slightly and gives me a sad smile. "It's company policy, sweetheart. Once you're terminated, all benefits, including insurance, will cease."

"But... I was fired without a reason!" I argue.

"That's why you're getting severance pay," she counters. "And two months’ worth of salary. Otherwise, you walk away with nothing."

The severance pay and two months’ worth of salary won't be enough for my food, vitamins, prenatal checkups, and hospital bills when I deliver. I must find a job soon.

When I get home, and by home I mean the mansion where Kayden and I live in, Kevin, the fifty-year-old family butler meets me at the main entrance. He, too, cannot hide the pity in his gray eyes.

"This is as far as you can go. I've been told to pack all your belongings. They're all in the car now." Kevin whispers softly. "I'm just following instructions." I can almost hear the tears in his voice.

"It's okay, Kevin." I raise my chin and paste a smile on my face. That smile that I always wear like a uniform. The armor that hides my real emotions. "You've been so good to me these past three years. I will never forget that."

Kevin nods gracefully. Then he holds his arm out for me. "For the last time, Madam Steele. Let me escort you to your car."

Holding back my tears, I take his arm and let him escort me to the car that will carry me and what little belongings I have for the next chapter of my life.

As the car drives away, a wave of sadness washes over me.

I gently place my hand on my abdomen, picturing the life growing inside of me. This baby is Kayden's own flesh and blood. It deserves to live and be raised in that grand mansion. But like me, this little one has been denied Kayden's love and all the privileges that came with it.

"I'm so sorry, little angel!" I can no longer hold back my tears. "I'm so sorry!"

I don't know what I'm going to do next, or how I'm going to do it. But I know that I will never let this baby suffer. I will make sure that it will live a happy, comfortable life. I will not deny it its birthright!

Even though Kayden may not be ready to hear it now, I will make sure to tell him about our baby in the future.

He may not have been able to love me. But I'm sure he will love his own baby.

Kayden may be cold and ruthless, but I don't think he's a complete monster. There were times during our marriage that I actually felt that he was trying to make it work.

Maybe I just wasn't good enough. Or maybe we were just not meant to be.

Then suddenly, I remember what he said.

‘You see, when I was young, I vowed to marry someone…’

My heart feels like it's breaking into a million tiny pieces as if it wasn't already completely shattered. What Tara said about Kayden having someone picked up at the airport all makes sense now. I completely understand why after all these years, no matter how hard I tried to be the perfect wife, Kayden just couldn't love me.

He's in love with someone else. And he felt that I robbed him of his future with her.

He must have been secretly loathing me because he thought I masterminded this marriage. When in truth, I was as much a victim as he is.

"Aargh!" Something in my abdomen throbs and I feel a little jolt of pain.

Is my baby feeling my heartbreak, too?

The driver stops in front of a house in a very familiar neighborhood. It is far from the posh neighborhood where the magnificent Steele Mansion sits, but somehow, this place, this house brings back so many memories of my childhood. Perhaps Kevin made a good decision to send me back here to my parents' home.

There was a time when this house used to be a picture of bliss. It is made of wood carvings and sculptures that add to its unique charm. No one has lived here for years, but I come here occasionally. This reminds me so much of my mother.

"I'll bring your things inside, Ma'am?" the driver asks.

"No, it's alright. You can just leave them by the door."

The driver leaves, and I take my keys to open the main door when I realize that it's unlocked.

"Huh? Did someone break into this house?"

I push the door slightly, careful not to make a sound. When I step inside the house, I find that the lights are turned on.

"Shit! Someone's here!" Panic starts to grip me.

I know I should call the cops, but somehow, something possesses me, and I grab the dusty golf club sitting behind the door instead. Then I walk towards the corridors, ready to swing at the potential burglar. But suddenly, I hear a familiar voice coming from the living room.

"My lawyers told me that this house is still in her name, Kayden. I thought we agreed that this was going to be mine!"

I know that voice perfectly well even though I haven't heard it in years.

Wait, what? Did I hear it right? Was she talking to Kayden? As in my Kayden?

I sneak towards the living room, deliberately trying to overhear her phone conversation.

"You're the most powerful man in the country, Kayden Steele! Didn't you promise to make me happy? Well, this house was my parents'. It should also be mine. It will really make me happy!"

Mine? How dare she?

My father, who is an architect, remodeled this house for my mother before she died. This belonged to my mother even before she got married. So, it's only right that it gets passed on to me! Why is this bitch claiming the house as hers?

"Alright, love. I trust you. I'll see you at dinner. Love you!"

What the ?

Realization hits me like an ice-cold bucket. This is the woman that Kayden asked to be picked up at the airport. She is the reason why Kayden is divorcing me. She's the reason why my baby will not have a complete family.

I drop the golf club in my hand as I clutch my belly, feeling a flush of anger and betrayal. The woman must have heard the thud as she turned around to see me.

She gives me a proud smirk, not even ashamed that I heard her conversation with my husband.

"Well, well. Look who's here," she snickers. "Happy to see me again, my dear stepsister?"

..............................................................................
'Mommy! Cassie pushed me!'

'Mommy! I want Cassie's toy! Take it from her!'

'Daddy! Cassie won't let me borrow her dress!'

'Mommy! Cassie stole my boyfriend!'

Unpleasant memories flood my brain. My stepsister's relentless whining while we were growing up still echoes in my ears, even after all these years.

My father married Megan's mother when I was eight years old. I tried my best to make Megan feel at home with us, to form a sisterly bond with her, but she never really liked me. She constantly watched me, the things that I had, and the stuff that my father bought for me. I could feel that envy that simmered within her whenever I got a new toy, no matter how small or inexpensive it was.

As we grew older, the rivalry only got more complex. We were no longer fighting over toys or material possessions. I felt that we were competing for the same affection and attention. She made sure to steal every guy that I ever dated, making me feel like I was insignificant and undatable. She even made my father dislike me.

And now...

"Were you... talking to Kayden just now?" I ask in a shaky voice.

"Oh, you heard that, huh?" she asks, smirking. "Well, I guess there's no point keeping it a secret now. Yes, I was just talking to Kayden." She holds out her left hand in front of me, showing me a gold ring with a huge rock in the center. "Do you agree that this ring is perfect for the future Mrs. Kayden Steele?"

As I stare at the sparkling ring on Megan's finger, my heart sinks. I know she expects me to salivate over how huge the rock is, or how expensive the ring must have been. But the only thought that runs through my mind is, 'She gets a ring?'

Because Kayden just signed our marriage license. He didn't bother to get me an engagement ring, not even a wedding ring.

"Oh, you poor thing,' Megan puts on a pout that is supposed to be apologetic, but clearly, she is just rubbing her affair with my husband in my face. "Your marriage with Kayden was never going to work out. I knew it."

"How... how long have you known my husband?"

"Too long. I have always thought we'd end up together. But then you stole him from me like the scheming, sneaky gold digger you are! But he would never love you. The two of us share a bond since we were kids. No amount of scheming or seduction from you could take him away from me.”

My blood boils as I hear Megan's tirade. How could she flaunt her affair with my husband and have the audacity to accuse me of stealing Kayden from her?

"That's not true!" I cry. "We were building a family! We were doing okay until you came back to the picture. If you didn't, I know he would stay with our little family."

"Family?" she hisses. "What family are you talking about?"

I don't reply. Instead, I raise a brow at her triumphantly. Her eyes widen in shock, and her glance goes to my tummy.

"You're..." She shakes her head in disbelief. "No way that baby is Kayden’s.”

This time, I feel a little victorious. It's good to see Megan fall from the high table for a change.

"Believe it or not, Megan," I continue to taunt her. "When Kayden decided to marry me, I did believe he was willing to try. He wouldn't do that if he completely hates me, would he?"

“So, you managed to seduce him to go to bed with you? He must have been wasted to even sleep with you.”

It’s my turn to smirk at her. "What are you scared of Megan? The fact that Kayden isn’t completely immune to my charms? Or that this baby might change everything between us?”

Megan takes a step closer, her eyes looking livid. “How will a bastard change anything?”

What the did she just call my baby?

My blood boils as Megan's words hang in the air.

The audacity, the cruelty!

I ball my hands into fists as I try my damnedest to stay calm and composed.

"This baby is not a bastard! This baby could just well be the heir of Steele Corp. Remember, we're still married. And Kayden has yet to find out about this baby. He just might rethink his decision about divorcing me."

Anger flares in Megan’s eyes when she hears my words. I can tell that she realizes just how vulnerable her position is.

"You're just like your mother! A shameless, scheming slut!"

She raises her hand and swings, but I anticipated that move, as she has always done this to me in the past. I catch her arm before her palm can land on my cheek.

"I'm not going to tolerate you calling my baby a bastard, and my mother a slut, Megan! You are way out of line!"

I push her arm away, giving her a small shove. Megan stumbles backward, but her eyes remain filled with anger. She groans in frustration and swings her arm to to knock off the gas lamp on the table. Then she grabs the nearest vase and throws it at me.

"Bitch!" she screams.

Acting on instinct, I dodge the vase but lose my balance. I fall to the floor.

Just then, I feel a gush of blood flow from between my thighs. I look down and realize that I'm sitting in my own pool of blood, while my vile stepsister looms over me, smiling triumphantly.

"No, no! My baby!" I cry out in agony and pain.

Suddenly, everything feels hot. That's when I realize that the fire has quickly escalated. My mother's house is going down in flames.

"Oh, God, please no!"

I know that Megan will never help me. It will be better for her if I were to lose this baby. I know I must call for help, or I will lose everything—including my and my baby's life.

I reach for my cellphone and press the first key on my speed dial. Kayden's phone rings several times but he never picks up.

'Kayden... please!'

'Pick up the phone. Our baby... our baby needs you!'

But all I hear is the ringing tone from the other line.

Oh, God! I know I haven't been lucky in this life. But please... spare the life of my baby!

This baby is all I have now. Please save it! That's all I ask. That's all I need!

Kayden, if you can't be there for me, at least be there for our child.

But even after another try, there's nothing. Once again, Kayden has chosen to ignore me.

Coming back to my senses, I dial 911 instead.

"Help! Bleeding... pregnant..." The smell of smoke threatens to choke me. "Fire!"

I fall to the floor, almost passing out. When I open my eyes again, I see a devilishly handsome face staring back at me.

"Kayden..." I would recognize that face everywhere.

Amidst the raging inferno, Kayden miraculously appears and finds me lying on the floor, bleeding.

"Jesus Christ, Megan!" he curses. "What happened here?"

Kayden approaches me, and for the first time in years, I see a glimmer of worry in his eyes.

"Cassie..." He kneels in front of me. But then, we hear a shrill scream and then a thud. We both turn around and discover that Megan has collapsed onto the floor.

Kayden's driver appears and he turns to him. "Take Cassie out of here!" Then he walks toward Megan and gathers her in his arms, while his driver lifts me from the floor.

The taste of defeat lingers on my tongue as I watch Kayden carry Megan out of the blazing house.

I doubt that she's seriously injured. I bet she fainted to get Kayden's attention!

Megan seems unscathed, and I can't help but think that she just pretended to faint when she saw Kayden coming to my rescue.

Even in spite of my pitiful state, Kayden chose to abandon me.

It seems... the three years we spent together really meant nothing to him!

Whatever concern I thought I saw in his eyes is all gone now. And in the end, it's all the same. Kayden has chosen Megan over me.

Lereader-Excellent Novel

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