The Billionaires Secret A Second Chance Mafia Romance

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

Download the Book on the App

Hello guys,

Thank you for choosing to read this book. Before you begin, I want to give a big warning. This book is dark; it’s messed up and explicit. Don’t say I didn’t warn you because I am doing it now.

This Story Contains

- Physical and Sexual Abuse

- Violence

- Mature Themes

- Sexual Content

- Strong Language

please leave if you are uncomfortable with any of the mentioned. I will repeat if you are not comfortable with the explicit contents I have mentioned. Leave. Thank you to those who decide to continue.

Enjoy reading the book

*******

Melina adjusts her bag on her shoulder and pulls open the restaurant's back door. She walks inside to the employee changing room. The place is painted gray with blue lockers. Putting in the code for her locker, she pulls it open, takes out her apron, and ties it around her waist over her uniform. She’s wearing a white button-up shirt and a black skirt. Pulling her beautiful blonde hair into a tight ponytail, she walks out to the kitchen. A sigh escapes her lips as she remembers what time she’d be clocking out that night.

The sweet aroma of Italian food hits her as she enters the kitchen. She says hi to her co-workers as she approaches the door that leads to inside the restaurant. Someone beats her to open the door and steps into the kitchen.

"Hi Melina," Jane says, smiling. Jane is a lovely twenty-one-year-old with brunette hair and brown eyes. She’s the same age as Melina, and they work together.

"How’re you doing today, Jane?" Melina smiles back at her.

"I'm good. How're you?"

"I'm good."

"Get any sleep last night?"

"Yeah, why?"

"You have some pretty serious bags under your eyes."

"Really?" Melina puts her hand in her apron and fetches a hand mirror. She was positive the bags under her eyes weren't visible when she left the house. She checks the mirror to see if that's still the case. Her face didn't look bad, but she could still see them.

"Had a nightmare last night?"

"Yeah, I couldn't go back to sleep."

Melina and Jane had grown close working together for the six months since Melina moved to Portland from LA.

"Sorry to hear that; how long have you been up?"

"Since three a.m." It's now five p.m.

"Wow, you must be exhausted."

"I'm used to it," Melina says. She hardly gets enough sleep anymore because of her recurring nightmares. It’d been six months, but she still dreamt about the accident every night.

"I heard talking about it helps," Jane prompts. She’s tried to get Melina to talk to her about the nightmares since the first day Melina told her.

"I know. Hopefully, one day, I’ll be open enough to talk about it." Melina feels too ashamed to tell Jane what happened. Melina also avoids talking about it because it brings back a lot of pain she’s managed to heal from.

"I hope so. If you feel too ashamed or guilty to talk to me, there’re professionals who can help."

"I know." Melina smiles softly at Jane, grateful to have a friend like her. She really cares about Melina and it’s hard to find good friends like that..

"That's good. I wanted to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"My mom is flying in today and needs me to pick her up from the airport. Could you cover for me at the bar and lock up afterward?"

"Sure."

"I knew I could count on you, thank you." She pecks Melina's cheeks.

Read Now