Return of the Heiress I Married My Ex Husbands Brother

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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"Mrs. Elliot, Sir is currently in a meeting and cannot take calls," said the secretary in a chilly voice.

Before Elena could respond, the person on the other end hung up.

Elena stared at her phone's blank screen and felt a sharp, throbbing pain run through her body.

Important meeting - two words that shattered the thin veil of hope she had left.

The cold evening air bit at her cheeks and tears welled in her eyes.

When Andrew informed her earlier that he was running late for the dinner, Elena did not take it to heart.

Andrew's work always took precedence.

During their five years of relationship, she had always been accommodating and never been an unreasonable person.

But tonight was their anniversary, and she hoped that for once, he would put their love before his demanding career.

Alas...

Elena stubbornly waited for him even though she knew he wouldn't show up.

Because part of her still hoped he would not abandon her.

The minutes seemed to last forever.

Three hours had passed with no sign of Andrew.

After a while, the manager approached. "Are you okay, ma'am? You've been here for more than three hours. Do you want to order anything while you wait?" He inquired.

With a heavy heart, she finally accepted that Andrew would not show up and stood up to leave.

Andrew's absence deeply disappointed Elena.

She felt a sinking heaviness in her chest, and it hurt so much that it was suffocating.

As she left, the diners around her blurred into a mosaic of hazy faces.

The cold wind outside matched the chill in her heart as she walked outside the farmhouse restaurant.

Tonight, she had expected a night of fun and shared memories, but instead, she got this lonely walk of shame.

She turned her gaze to the empty streets in front of her.

The desolation mirrored the void Andrew's absence had created.

Only then did she realize that it was difficult to hail a cab in this remote place.

With a sigh, she returned to the entrance, her heels clicking on the cobbled path.

The receptionist at the entrance looked at her. "Is everything alright, ma'am?"

Elena shook her head, the lump in her throat making it difficult to speak. "My ride isn't here. Is it possible to hail a taxi or something?"

The receptionist gave her a sympathetic smile. "I'm afraid it's difficult to get a cab around here, especially at this hour. However, there is a bus stop down the street. You can take a bus from there."

Elena thanked her and left the restaurant.

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