The CEOs Personal Stripper

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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Theodore

"Isa wait. Let's talk about this baby, you can't say something like that and just leave," I plead with my wife softly, trying to get her to rethink her decision. Isabel has always been much too stubborn for her own good.

"No! There's nothing to talk about Theodore and you know it," she says calmly while staring at me, daring me to fight her on this.

Usually, at this point I back off and let her have her way but not this time. This time I have to be more stubborn than she could ever be.

"You're not leaving Isabel, I won't let you. How could you even think about leaving us? Are you even thinking about me? Our family? Our children?!" I ask with quiet anger.

She laughs loudly and that makes my blood boil. She knows that Ethan and Emile are in the next room but she makes no effort to avoid disturbing their sleep. Another instance of Isabel being too selfish to be a good mother.

"Am I even thinking about us?" she asks incredulously after her deep laughter. "We both know there is no 'us' Theodore. The farce has gone on for as long as it can and I can finally call quits."

"Isa-"

She puts her hand up to cut me off while pacing up and down the large master's bedroom. I look out the door, concerned that her loud voice is causing a disturbance to our twins.

"And our families? They have gotten what they wanted after forcing us into this loveless marriage. Why keep on going with it when they have moved on?!"

Her sea blue eyes stare at me defiantly.

I want to oppose her, but even I can't deny it. The business between the Renaults and Thompsons that made both families decide to have their heirs marry each other has long since been concluded, leaving Isabel and I to live out the consequences.

I would never have agreed to the arrangement if Isabel wanted no part of it so we both agreed to resign ourselves to a loveless marriage. We have been comfortable going about our lives living under one roof for the past three years. At least, that's what I thought.

"This-this is not what we agreed to Isa," I say quietly as I think of her request for a divorce.

Even though we never fell in love, we developed a unique friendship surrounding our situation and her decision to leave feels like a betrayal.

Her eyes soften as she holds my gaze. "Theodore, I'm sorry for going against our initial agreement. You're a wonderful friend...but I want more. I want my freedom."

I stare into her eyes and I see just how serious she is. If I let her leave, she won't come back. This isn't one of her usual hasty decisions.

"You want your freedom? If I let you leave what do I get from that?" I ask quietly as I walk out of the French windows while massaging my head. I can already feel the headache coming.

Isabel's heels announce her joining me on the balcony.

"Do you remember your life before we got married?" She asks behind me. "Don't tell me you've forgotten that carefree young boy who was in love. You can go back to that time, Theodore. You can leave everything, the kids, the businesses, our families. You don't have to pretend anymore."

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