Redamancy

No Longer Mrs. Cooley: The Architect's Return

Xiao Xiaosu

I went to the City Clerk’s office for a routine copy of my marriage license to finalize a trust fund audit. I expected a simple piece of paper, but the clerk’s pitying look told me my entire life was a lie. "The license was never finalized, Ms. Oliver. In the eyes of the state, you are single." The three-hundred-guest wedding at the Plaza and the Vogue features meant nothing. My husband, Gray Cooley, had intentionally filed the documents with a "procedural defect" so he could discard me without a legal divorce. Moments later, an iCloud invite titled "Our Little Secret" popped up on my screen. It was a photo of my best friend, Brylee, holding a positive pregnancy test at our Hamptons estate. Gray’s text to her was the final blow: "Happy anniversary, babe. This baby is the best gift. Once the trust unlocks today, we’re done with the charade." I soon discovered they were even stealing my career, reassigning my architectural masterpiece to Brylee while preparing my eviction notice. Gray's mother called me a "barren mule" in a leaked recording, mocking the infertility I suffered after saving Gray’s life in a construction accident. I wasn't a wife; I was a three-year placeholder used to secure his inheritance. How could the man I bled for treat me like a disposable prop? How could my best friend carry his child while pretending to comfort me through my darkest moments? The betrayal burned until it turned into a cold, hard stone of fury. I didn't cry. Instead, I walked into the penthouse of the Barretts, the Cooleys' most powerful rivals. I signed a marriage contract with Kane Barrett, the man the tabloids called the "Beast of Wall Street." "I want a wedding," I told his father, my voice steady and lethal. "Bigger than the one I had with Gray." If they wanted me gone, they would have to watch me become the woman who owns their world.

Modern Revenge Divorce Revenge Female-centered Divorce

Download the Book on the App

The night was quiet outside. However, inside the villa, the moans and groans echoed in the household. The sound of bodies slapping with one another filled the room.

However, even then, the man didn't show any pleasure on his face. Once they were done, he could only look at the woman with deep disgust.

Without another word, he shot her one more look before stepping out of the room. This was her husband, Aron Gu.

Her hair was disheveled, with strands falling down her face. She was half naked, except for the night gown that covered half of her body. She looked pathetic. Tears welled up her eyes and her lips trembled.

Aron Gu had never loved her for the last three years.

In fact, she felt more like a tool for him to vent out his anger. He could do anything to her as he pleased, and he could even throw her away once he was done with her.

Even then, Aron never felt sorry for what he had done to her. Yolande Su closed her eyes, wanting nothing more than this entire nightmare to end. Aron Gu had never been worried of her feelings, but even then she couldn't bear hurting the man in front of her.

The room was as quiet as the gardens outside. Everything had finally settled down. Aron Gu was already lounging in the living room. However, he wrinkled his nose as a strong scent finally hit him. The odor made Yolande Su uncomfortable. With great pain, she picked up the clothes scattered across the bed and stood up from the cold plank, intending to clean herself up in the bathroom.

The pain was becoming more intensive with each step she took. Facing the huge mirror, she couldn't help but not recognize herself. Her hair was a mess and her eyes were red from crying the entire time. She trembled, bringing a hand to touch her face.

As the eldest daughter of her family, she was the most appropriate woman for Aron. She didn't know how it came to this. Perhaps it was her love for him that lasted for over ten years that made her endure these three years of his seemingly endless torture.

Holding back her tears, her eyes flashed with regret.

Yolande Su had made a promise to herself that she'd take care of everything for three years, such as fixing all the things he'd needed, yet still be his perfect wife. If she was not able to change him, then she'd leave.

Yolande didn't want a penny of the Gu family's fortune. She'd leave her hometown if she had to. She was not planning to come back here again anyway.

Today was the anniversary of their three-year marriage, and it was also the last day of her promise.

Yolande raised her head up high as she cleaned herself, summoning the little pride and courage she had left as she walked out of the room.

"Aron, I have something to tell you."

Aron glanced up at the woman in front of him, gazing indifferently. There was a scornful glint in his eyes as he lit up his cigarette.

"Do you remember what day it is today?" Her heart clenched at the sight.

"You have the nerve to bring that up?" Aron puffed out a cloud of smoke.

"How many fucking times do you want to bring up what happened three years ago?" Slap!

Suddenly, everything seemed to have frozen into place.

The moment her hand connected with his cheek, it felt as if he was stunned to silence. How dare she? His gaze narrowed, eyes darkening when he finally registered what had happened.

He towered over her like a bull ready to turn over its first human. Yolande took a step back, her body trembling at the harsh stare. However, she didn't turn away. Instead, she stood her ground and faced him, accepting what was about to happen.

"You dare hit me?" Aron growled, raising up his knee to strike her.

Yolande choked, a hand grasping her stomach. A sharp wrenching pain sent waves over her abdomen as she fell heavily on the ground, panting as if she'd just run a marathon. She choked, beads of sweat sliding across her skin. Her vision was already getting blurry. It was so painful that she could almost faint at the pain. Yolande stared up at the man who hit her, eyes wide open.

Read Now