Her Burning Desire

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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CHAPTER 1

(Kia's point of view)

I woke up because it felt like someone was patting my cheek so I opened my eyes and I was not mistaken because the face of the conductor appeared to me.

"Lady! we are here in Manila, wake up and come down." Said the conductor, so I looked out the window to see if I was actually in Manila.

When I looked out the window, I was already in Manila because of the tall buildings and the many people walking and the many cars on the road.

so I quickly got off the bus, of course I thanked the conductor for waking me up, if you're wondering if I paid, of course, before I fell asleep on the bus, I gave the money.

"Wow, it's beautiful here in Manila." That's all that came out of my mouth because I'm actually in Manila, I can't believe I've set foot here.

I hope I can find a good job here right away, Manila is so big where I can rent, I said in my mind and sighed.

I started walking so that I could find something to eat. While I was walking, I saw old lady picking up her purchases. I said in my mind that there was a hole in her container so I quickly ran to her place.

"Manang let me help you." I offer to manang so she looked at me and smiled so I smiled back and helped her pick up her shopping.

"Thank you for helping, because this plastic has a hole." She said while pointing to the torn plastic so I smiled at her.

"That's not there, I have a basket here made of straw." I said to her, holding out the straw basket, "My mother made that." I smiled back to Manang.

"You're a very kind young lady, thank you for your straw basket." Manang said to me so I asked her. "It looks like you're new here in Manila ah" Manang said to me again.

"Ah yes, I'm new here, I'm looking for a place to rent, so tomorrow I'll start looking for a job because I really need a job....hmm, do you know of anyone I can rent to?"I made a long conversation to Manang, and Manang looked at me with a smile.

"Do you want to work together and live somewhere?" Manang asked me.

"Yes manang, do you know anything?" This is my answer.

"My boss is looking for a new secretary, I can offer you there."Manang said to me with a big smile, so I couldn't help but smile because I was going to work.

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