Godfather

While I Was Bleeding Out, He Lit Lanterns For Her

Katie Oettgen

As I lay on the floor of our manor, bleeding out from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, I used my last ounce of strength to call my husband, Cole. I begged him for help, my vision blurring. But the only thing I heard was the clinking of champagne glasses and his mistress's giggle in the background. "Stop the drama, June," Cole snapped, his voice cold. "We're about to go on stage. Don't call again." He hung up, leaving me to die alone on the Persian rug while he accepted an award with another woman on his arm. I woke up in the hospital days later. My baby was gone. They had removed my fallopian tube. Cole finally arrived, smelling of expensive scotch and his mistress's perfume. He didn't hug me. He didn't cry. Instead, he leaned over my hospital bed, pressing his knee into the mattress until my fresh stitches tore open and bled. "You embarrassed me by calling an ambulance," he hissed. "My mistress, Alycia, says you're faking it. Clean yourself up." He left me bleeding again to go announce a $10 million donation to Alycia's "groundbreaking" medical research. I stared at the TV screen, numb. The research Alycia was taking credit for? It was mine. I wrote that patent years ago under a pseudonym. They thought I was just a poor, orphan housewife who needed Cole's money to survive. They had no idea I was actually a billionaire scientist hiding my identity. I pulled the IV needle out of my arm. A drop of blood fell onto the divorce papers I had been hiding. I didn't wipe it off. I signed my name right over it. Then I walked into the bank, reactivated my dormant account with $128 million, and bought the penthouse directly overlooking Cole's house. The mourning widow is dead. The avenger is born.

Romance Crime Revenge Pregnancy Enemies to Lovers Pregnancy Personal Growth

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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.

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