Calder

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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FX International Group, a leading company in S City, had a number of businesses from many sectors; from hotel chains, construction industry, large department stores, entertainment firms to amusement parks. People who lived in S City might not know their mayor, but they had surely heard of Edward Mu, the leader of his big family businesses and one of the most sought-after business giants. Mr. Mu was not only successful and rich, but he was also an absolutely fascinating man who looked more gorgeous than most women. It sounds unreal, but one should see him to say this was true.

In addition, he was so smart and intelligent that he could defeat his competitors without them noticing. People tagged him as a "playboy" because he appeared in many various magazines. Not many knew about his secrets but rumors had it that Jessica Lin is Mr. Mu's favorite girl.

The hall of FX International Group was lavishly furnished with statues, colorful inlaid marble, and a gilded bronze ceiling. A female officer with a five-year-old boy stood at the front desk. The woman with good features looked very cold and serious. She wanted to meet the CEO without an appointment. The company had a regulation that no one could meet the CEO without an appointment. This situation had never happened before and this caused the staff member serious trouble because the female officer insisted on meeting the CEO at once. After she convinced the visitor about their policy, the staff member finally called the CEO's secretary on the 88th floor for help.

"Mr. Qiao, there is a female officer who wants to see our boss. May I let her in?" The staff member said.

"What? A female officer?" Aaron Qiao quipped to his surprise. 'Oh God, What's going on? I know boss has a lot of girlfriends, but when did he have a girlfriend that worked for the military? It's too hard to be an assistant. Why should I be responsible for both the daily work and the private life of my boss?' He complained silently. Although hesitant, Mr. Qiao still walked into the CEO's office to ask his boss.

"Boss, there is a female officer who wants to see you urgently, but she hasn't got an appointment. Do you want to see her or not?" Aaron Qiao smiled. His bright eyes were brilliant with delight.

"A female officer?" Edward Mu raised his head from the papers he was reading. He could not seem to remember any female officer in his past. "What does she want here?" He said as he focused on the papers again.

"She didn't say anything but she wants to see you immediately." Aaron Qiao grinned at his boss teasingly.

"Really? She must be very confident to demand to see me with such short notice. Let her come in." Edward Mu started to become curious about this woman.

The female officer whose name is Daisy Ouyang, was actually a little nervous as she tried to pacify herself. She was not sure whether Edward Mu still remembered her or not. She was already nervously rubbing her palms together as she waited for the CEO. Nervous as she was, Daisy never forgot the words that he shouted to her on their wedding night.

"You won't have me even if you married me. You are just my wife as stated on a piece of paper. My heart and my love will never belong to you. You drugged me in order to have sex with me. How dare you! I promise I'll never let such a thing happen again!" The man said angrily.

He left with the sound of slamming doors. Daisy Ouyang felt completely lost and embarrassed at the same time as she didn't know anything about giving drugs. She just remembered that she slept in his arms without any clothes, body aching. The man accused her of these things she knew nothing about. What happened then was unclear in her thoughts.

What happened that night was too blurry for her. She could only remember feeling hot and helpless, unable to move. Maybe she was drugged too. Over the past six years, Daisy Ouyang had to deal with hearing gossips and rumors about Edward Mu including his affairs with his many girlfriends and female stars. Worst, she would hear from the news whom he was dating or sleeping with.

Despite all these, she never contacted him. His words were forever stuck in her head, she could not forget when Edward said that she was only a nominal wife. Whatever happened to him was none of her business. Actually, it seemed as if he had already forgotten her for a long time. She would not find him if there was no unexpected situation like this one. Both of them were victims of their family interests. It seemed that this marriage had a price to pay.

"Mommy, you're hurting me." The little boy interrupted his mommy's thoughts as he tried to squirm out from the tight grip of his mommy's hand. Daisy Ouyang got lost in her thoughts for a while and didn't realize she held her boy's hand too tightly.

"I'm sorry, Justin. I was thinking about something that happened before." Daisy squatted in front of the boy and whispered to him. This little boy was her son. She never thought that she would get pregnant after that night. Thanks to his genes and excellent skills, she now had this charming baby boy. Justin was Daisy's life and she would not know what to do if she ever lost this boy.

"It's all right, I'm fine, mommy. What's wrong? Is it my Daddy? Did he refuse to meet us?" Justin asked with a soft voice. He looked at his mommy with bright eyes.

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