The Aftermath Of Us

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

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"What wedding gown did you think look more better?"

"I like the long one laced with diamonds better!" Samantha Cruz said to her mother in a house with just the two of them.

She was laying on the sofa with her head placed on her mother's lap. One can tell the mother and daughter had a really tight bond.

"Why are you even asking me? You look like you made your decision already." Her mother Ema Cruz replied and she chuckled widely.

"Even so, you should still make some guesses." she shrugged as she scrolled through her gallery with varieties of wedding gown images on them.

"You're really excited, Mrs Cruz or should I say Erwin?" Her mother teased.

"That'll be in a week's time. You can call me that in a week's time, for now... Let me hear "Cruz" all I can!" Samantha said and her mom nodded.

"Come to think of it, who buys their wedding gown a week before the wedding?" Her mother suddenly brought up making her seat up instantly.

"If you're that concerned then, you should have bought it. That's why I have a mom! If I am busy you should take care of that. It's not like I have a friend to take care of that for me", she snapped at her mom who smacked her head immediately.

"What for mom?" She whined and held on to her head with pouty lips.

"Then get yourself a friend, I'm not your errand girl, you know!" Her mother snapped in return.

They were in that position for a while staring into each other's face and they both bursted into sudden laughter.

"It's so nice seeing you smile again, Sam. I'm so worried about you all this time, I thought you'll never break out of your shell because of your father cold murder."

"You suddenly turn dark hearted back then, you rarely eat, you don't even laugh, you rarely talk! Same as your sister."

"I thought I was going to lose both of my daughters, thanks for coming back to me Samantha! Mom is really grateful!" Ema Cruz, who suddenly got emotional after seeing her daughter's happy smile, said to Samantha.

"Katrina will come back to us as well. She indulged herself in the investigation days and nights, that was why she took up the cop profession."

"She's not letting go of her resentment and she keeps on losing herself every day. I lost my cute daughter to researching of violent crime and cold murder case... So, this mother feels aggravated! However... I have you Samantha."

"I would have ended my life, if you two grew up the same way. Thank you!" Her mother added and Samantha dived into her arms immediately.

"Mom, sometimes I feel like a bad daughter for neglecting my own father's murder case. But seeing how Katrina is really indulged in it, I feel like that's more than enough. Katrina will be fine... She's gonna be okay! I'll never leave you again so, worry not!" She soothed her mother.

Ema felt the sincerity in her daughter's hug and a joyful tear escaped her eyes which she wiped immediately as they disengaged from the hug.

"How's Ryan? I haven't seen him in a while." Ema suddenly brought up trying to brush the painful topic behind.

"He's fine, he asked_ _

Samantha was about to say when her phone started ringing.

"Speak of the devil!" She smiled and waved the phone at her mother's face as the caller turned out to be Ryan.

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