Taming The Wild Duke

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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"Hello everyone! I apologize for the delay but we have gotten word from the groom. And, due to some personal, unforeseen circumstances, the wedding has been canceled. We are sorry for the inconvenience, everyone. Do have a nice day."

That was Miguel Santiago, Carlos's best friend.

If anyone had told Carlos Aston that he would be happy to hear Miguel's annoying voice any day, he would have punched the joker. But as Carlos heard the words he had been waiting so impatiently to hear, a slight smile found its way to his lips.

"That Ferrari better be hot and waiting for me because that was the scariest thing I've ever done in my life," Miguel warned in a stern voice as he quickly boarded the waiting vehicle Carlos came with.

Carlos didn't need to be told before he started the engine of his Audi and sped out of the event center. The last thing he needed was for his father to start a drama before everyone. So Carlos knew better than to waste any more time at the wedding venue.

"But seriously dude! I never knew you had it in you. You just gave me the best idea ever. Abandon my future wife at the altar haha!." Carlos began to say, dramatically clutching his heart.

"Remind me why I'm the getaway driver again!" he said as he shot his best friend a glare, and pressed his leg down on the clutch pedal.

"Anyway, since you jilted your hot bride..." Miguel began, but Carlos cut him short immediately and said.

"Impudent! That's the right word. She's an impudent woman, that one." Carlos corrected immediately, making Miguel roll his eyes.

"Well, whatever. Can I have her now that you've jilted her?" Miguel asked, smiling mischievously. The smirk on Miguel's face irritated Carlos and made his blood boil.

How dare Miguel want to take over his abandoned bride?

Angrily, Carlos pulled over and gave his friend his deadliest glare ever. He quickly unlocked the passenger door and tried to push him out, but Miguel wouldn't budge.

"Get lost!" Carlos growled.

"Nope. You know Carl, if your beautiful bride should see the way you are currently feeling me up because of her, she would know the reason for your dramatic rejection." Miguel advised, putting on a pitiful face. Carlos dropped his hands, as he ran his fingers through his hair angrily.

"Get out of this car now or I will blame you when Dad starts ranting." Carlos threatened. Before he could finish the sentence, Miguel was out of the car and hailing a cab.

"Good riddance," Carlos said as he drove to the family house.

Carlos was so satisfied with what he had done that he got himself a bottle of wine. He had disgraced the bitch most embarrassingly, he hadn't even shown up to his wedding and never planned to. His sweatshirt and sweatpants he's putting on confirmed it.

The only problem Carlos had now was explaining to his father why he decided to ditch the sloven. Not that he cared what his father thought. He had called off the wedding and that was all that mattered. He would celebrate later with Vivian; the only woman he could tolerate.

Carlos was still thinking about how he planned to celebrate his victory by going to his favorite club that night when the sight of his father's housekeeper, Mr Barnes interrupted him. Mr Barnes has been their butler and housekeeper even before Carlos was born and he was always uptight and grumpy.

"Hey Mr Barnes! How's the arthritis coming along?" He asked the housekeeper, with a dazzling smile on his lips.

Mr Barnes turned to face Carlos with his signature stoic face and bowed.

"Hello, Mr Aston. I regret to inform you that I do not experience any pain in my joints." He answered in his monotonous voice.

"Well, grow older, man! I have been fantasizing about seeing you wobbling. Wanna see how you do that with that stick up your backside." Carlos whined as he took out the bottle of Pinot Grigio he got for himself.

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