Love Struck Me Down

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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The plane steadily rolled down the strip, slowly coming to a halt. At the gate, there were already a swarm of reporters waiting, all holding a camera or microphone of some sort. Passersby stopped to take a look at the commotion, thinking that maybe a big star was about to step out of the plane. They craned their necks and stood on their toes, eager to see who it possibly could be.

A group of people wearing black suits first came out -- they were most probably privately hired bodyguards. After which, a small, dainty figure wearing white appeared. Huge, tinted sunglasses covered nearly half of her face. The reporters clamored around her, flashing their cameras and trying to get their microphones as close to her as possible.

"Miss Xu, are the rumors true about you and your fiance?"

"Can you confirm that Mr. Ben Ming, CEO of the Ming Group, cheated on you with your sister nearly two weeks ago?"

"Miss Xu! What will happen to your wedding? Will you be cancelling the engagement?"

"What happens now, Miss Xu? Will the Xu Group and the Ming Group continue to work together despite this unexpected setback? Will this affect how the next round of directors to be chosen for the Xu Group?"

"Our sources say that your sister and Mr. Ben grew up together. Could it be possible that you are the reason why the relationship between two very prominent families has been completely destroyed? What do you have to say about all of this, Miss. Xu?"

All the voices of the reporters overlapped with each other as they threw one blunt question after the other.

The bodyguards tried their best to keep everyone a safe distance from her petite figure. Despite the uproar, the woman kept her calm.

Bystanders were quick to realize that woman who had just gotten off the plane was Armani Xu, CEO of the Xu Group.

Armani Xu had been on the headlines of countless tabloids, newspapers and magazines over the past few days. It all started when the photos of Ben Ming surfaced, showing that he was kissing Armani Xu's sister in a hotel elevator.

To make matters worse, Ben Ming came forward to make a public statement, saying that Armani Xu had actually been the mistress all this time and that she was the one who came in between his relationship with Jessie Xu

Everyone was dying to know how Armani Xu would respond to these accusations, to find out if anything Ben Ming had said was in fact true.

"Frankly speaking, I don't know much about it," Armani Xu said indifferently. "I had been busy with company finances when I was in E Country. But if all of this is true, if they truly love each other, then they have my blessing."

"So are you admitting that you had gotten in the way of their relationship?" someone continued to ask.

Armani Xu took off her sunglasses, her eyes staring maliciously at the reporter. "Do I look like the kind of person who needs to step into anything?" she countered, her pink lips arching up into a sarcastic smile.

Mary Song, the assistant who was carrying Armani Xu's bag, couldn't help but sigh.

On the other hand, all of the media reporters were taken aback by her arrogant and imposing answer.

However, after giving it some thought, they couldn't help but agree with her.

Armani was the eldest daughter of the Xu Group, a big family name in SH City. At a young age, she had become the CEO of their family's company. Ever since then, she had done nothing but make the company more and more successful. It was inevitable since she was one of the most notable alumna of the Royal Business School in E Country.

On an international scale, she was well-known not only for her business savvy, but also for her incomparable beauty.

With the media left speechless, Armani flashed a half smile, turned around and left.

A car was already waiting for them outside. As soon as they got in, Mary Song tentatively looked over at Armani. "Don't you think you were a bit too... pretentious earlier? I mean is that really the kind of impression you want to give off to other people?"

Armani sighed, "What choice do I have but to put up a strong front?"

Away from the public eye, the haughty look she had earlier was now replaced with sadness.

Of course she was heartbroken. Ben had made so many sweet promises to her. Never did she expect that he would go behind her back and hook up with someone, much less with her own sister.

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