My Heart Found You

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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Wednesday, 10th August

Aliana's POV

"You're a dumb, stupid bitch!" She screeched as her fist came in contact with my face. I didn't see it coming so yes, I lost balance and fell flat to the ground, and that was the last thing I remembered.

I stood up from the ground in front of the clubhouse thirty minutes later, my head ached and the sound of the loud music didn't do anything to help with the headache. I winced as I struggled to get up, regretting all of my life choices, I already knew I messed up.

The last thing on my mind was holding back the tears that threatened to burst out. I allowed it to leak as I stood up and dusted my dress.

Firstly, who came to a confrontation dressed like a princess duty, second of all, who fought over a man who didn't want to be fought over.

I was disgusted with myself and for the first time since it all happened, I wondered why and how I had allowed myself to get to this point. I was standing here lost, in an unfamiliar city, with no money and no contact. I had two actually, but one of them just punched me in the eyes.

I sat back on the grass in front of the club house and I cried for how much my life changed in the last two days. My best friend had stolen my fiancée, cheated with him publicly five days before our wedding and then beat the daylight out of me when I dared to confront her.

I checked the time, it was a few minutes past seven, it was around this time two nights ago, that I had gotten the message that changed it all for me.

****

Monday, 7th August, 7:22

I had just finished my shift and I was already planning how my night would go, a bubble bath and a book. It was officially my last day at work as a single woman.

My best friend and Fiancée were away on business trips and I was okay with it, they were returning before the wedding.

My phone beeped and I picked it up immediately not knowing it carried a life changing message, something that was going to change my life in a way I had not imagined.

It was an attachment sent from an unknown number.

I opened the message in a light mood and loaded the photo, I removed my apron and placed my cap on the tabletop before I looked back at the phone.

A clear photo of Robert and Lola in each other's arms stared back at me, I saw without doubt that it was my bestfriend and fiancée sharing mouth fluids and I remained fixated to the ground, unable to move or utter any word.

I stood there for over an hour, confused and unable to comprehend what was staring right back at me.

My coworker had walked in and tapped me out of my trance.

"Are you okay?" She asked me and instead of answering I picked up my bag and hurried out of the building.

The cold night air had slapped the rein of my emotions out of me.

The phone vibrated in my hands again and it was from the same number, a text that looked like an address, the only name I recognized there was New York.

It hit me then, both business trips had been to NYC, I didn't know who to call because they were both my best friends, it turned out I was the odd one out.

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