Godfather

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

Alexa's POV

Tears stung at the corners of my eyes as his words reverberated through the large office space, bouncing back to my ears. I couldn't bear the harshness, nor could I bear the man from whom those words were coming.

"You're a worthless piece of shit! Just take a look at what you have caused! We lost all those millions because of you!" he screamed.

"Dad..." I began.

"What is it, Alexa? Are you ready to explain how these documents were signed?" he demanded, flinging the papers at my face.

The tears that had stung at the corners of my eyes now clouded them, threatening to spill down my face. "I don't know anything about those papers, Dad. I wasn't the one who signed them."

He snorted at my words. "But those are your damn signatures! If you weren't the one who signed them, then who did? Who freaking did?"

His eyes burned with fury as he glared back at me. I had to bend my head when I could no longer stand the heat of his gaze.

Just then, the office doors opened, and the familiar sounds of heels clicking on the floor announced who had entered. I didn't bother raising my gaze from the floor, knowing it was none other than Elsie, my step sister.

Her confident steps told me she was more than excited about the issue I was having with our father. It's not that I was expecting her to be anything else but happy.

Elsie hated my guts with everything within her and hadn't hidden it even for one day.

"Here are the papers you asked for, Daddy," she said in an excited tone.

"Hand them over to your sister," Dad replied to her.

She came closer to where I was and gave me the papers. "Take, Alexa."

The amusement underlying her tone told me that whatever was in those papers wasn't good for me.

My eyes widened as I scanned through the words written on it, "you want me to resign from my position as the CEO?"

"That's right," Dad confirmed, "I've lost enough millions all because of you. I need you to sign those papers right now."

"But Dad..." I began.

"I said now, Alexa! I don't want to hear any more of your silly excuses," he stormed over to where I was and landed a thunderous slap on my cheek, "the damages you have done to the family business are enough!"

I held the side of my cheek where the slap had landed and signed the papers with shaky hands.

"Good," he scoffed, "This is the only good thing you have done in a long time."

I heard Elsie squealing excitedly behind me. I thought she was being the typical Elsie until Dad motioned for her to take a seat.

She rushed to my former chair with a speed faster than that of light and relaxed in the chair.

Read Now