Dirty Billionaire: Own Me

Chapter 1: Loss

|Grace|

[“Is the news fvcking true, Grace?! You're fvcking getting a divorce?!”] one of my best friends exclaimed on the other line.

I had to wince as I stepped on the break of the car. The stoplight goes red. And I can't believe that I would actually hear those words first from my best friend's lips after I hadn't heard any from her for an entire month.

“Really, Jade?” I asked in disbelief.

[“Oh my gosh? So, it's actually true?!”] Jade exclaimed once again. And it seemed that she didn't hear any of my complaints about her MIA, or had she actually heard it, but she purposely ignored it?

“I haven't heard any from you for the entire month and that's the first thing I would hear from you?”

[“What? I'm sorry if I was too late to hear the news about your divorce! But heck, is what your soon-to-be ex-husband claims true? That it was you who cheated on your marriage?!”]

“What do you think?” I asked in return, waiting for the signal to go green.

[“What the hell, Grace Collins! How could you fvcking—”]

“I didn't alright,” I heaved an exasperating breath. “Do you think I’m that kind of woman? I may have a bitchy face, but I don't fvcking cheat.” I said in distaste as I maneuvered my car when the signal changed to green.

I focused my entire attention on the road. I'm on my way home from a short taping for today. My manager was ready to take me home with my van, but I decided to drive and go home alone.

I wanted some time to think, even for a while.

And now that my best friend Jade suddenly mentioned the divorce I am currently facing, I can't help but feel hurt and bitter.

I was reminded of how the news spread like wildfire in the entire country, a month ago, that it stepped on my dignity and pride.

And it's all thanks to that damn Keith, my husband—rather—my soon-to-be ex-husband. We'll be divorcing as soon as the court approves of it anyway. And before this week ends, I will be officially Gracelyn Collins again.

Everything started with a rumor, of course. That I, Grace Collins-Servanchez, was cheating on my husband, Keith Servanchez. I couldn't believe that the bastard had the audacity to do that when it was the other way around.

Keith and I are well-known actor and actress of the show-business industry of the country. We were a well-known ‘loveteam’ a few years ago. That means that in every acting project, let it be movies or television series, we are instantly paired as leading actors.

We had good chemistry. The public viewers love both of us. They demand another movie or series where Keith and I would star together. And so, being the favorite of the public viewers, the talent agency secured projects for us, which brought us to the peak of our fame within a couple of years.

And maybe because of the influence of the media and the public, and the fact that Keith is the only man whom I had a romantic relationship with, the two of us tie-the-knot after a couple of years of working together.

Our marriage was publicized and was almost considered as the wedding of the century. And after that we were so in love, and we were inseparable after a year.

But then… when we accepted lone projects after our marriage, to grow and challenge ourselves as an actor and an actress, it was when I realized that our relationship was starting to drift apart.

The very reason why we still don't have kids during our marriage was we maturely decided not to. Not because we don't want children, but if we still want to flourish in our career even more, a child in between was a must no.

And I don't even know if I should blame myself for it, especially that I was the one who asked to work for an individual, so I could grow and enhance my potential as an actress.

Or subconsciously, I might be blaming myself.

Keith made the same decision after a month. I was getting busy with a movie at that time. And I supported him in that decision. As a result, we immediately faced controversies because Keith and I had a misunderstanding.

But we both handled the media expertly as if nothing was really happening to us. We were not awarded in our field for nothing. We fooled the media that nothing was going on with us, that we were still happily loving each other. When the truth is… the wall between had started building up as months passed by of our hectic schedule.

I tried to communicate with him in order to rekindle the fire. There were times that the two of us would be alright. But most of the time we would always end up in a heated argument.

I understand that the misunderstanding between us was normal. We were husband and wife. And our friends, families and people around us would always advise that Keith and I should communicate and compromise.

And so I did. I declined a new project in order to fulfill my duties as his wife.

Yet… Keith changed.

He turned cold and indifferent. He became short-tempered and restless. I don't know the reason behind that. Or maybe, he was already that kind of person, yet I failed to see him because he was good at hiding his true nature.

And indeed, it was the latter. His true nature started to show as I spent more time with him.

He was vain. All he thinks about is himself. And he would easily disregard me as if we were not husband and wife. He's very obedient when there's a camera, but his true nature shows off when the camera's off.

I don't know if the reason behind the sudden cold treatment between us was because of me? Or was it because I confronted him about his behavior to his co-actress when I caught him getting touchy with her.

Keith explained that he was only doing it because of work. That I should not overthink and get jealous.

Jealous? Of course, I'd be jealous because I was his wife.

But…a woman's hunch is, indeed, terrifying.

Because one certain night, I caught the bastard cheating on me. I caught him kissing the new actress he was working with. And of course, as my right as Keith’s wife, I confronted the two.

I attacked the pitiful actress out of anger. I directed my frustrations toward her, when I should be giving it to Keith. But then, I was just so blinded by the feeling of being betrayed that it did not cross my mind.

And that was the start when I was branded as the crazy and obsessive wife.

A public video was released of how I hurt his mistress the very same night.

That should be the start of my downfall, but surprisingly, I was offered another number of projects to act as the villain in every TV series and movie.

Of course, I declined again.

How could I accept another project if I was busy saving my marriage? Keith and I were already the favorite topic of the media, so how could I turn my back and ignore everything?

Yet…it seemed I was only wasting my efforts on that bastard. I should have known that, in the end, our marriage could not be saved when the bastard cheated for the third time. And worse of all, when he mistreated me when he was drunk.

We were having an argument about his woman when the bastard slapped me. The stinging pain made me speechless. And Keith seemed to be taken aback by what he did that he immediately apologize.

But that was my cue to give up on him and our marriage. I'm not that kind of person who would sit around and endure the pain if a man lifted a hand on me, even once.

After two years of giving my entire effort to save the marriage, I finally filed for a divorce.

I talked to Keith in private about our divorce, since I didn't want another scandal. Yet… I must have hurt Keith's ego that he started spreading rumors about my infidelity. I don't know what he did to the media that he was able to turn the tables for his cheating issues.

I should be saving my name and press charges against Keith. But I was too tired to do it.

I was done with the dramas and issues I encounter almost every day. I've been handling and enduring most of the issues in my name for a couple of years. And if the public sees me as the bad guy, then I will be the villain of their story.

[“Then does Nina know about your situation?”]

Jade's question brought me back to reality. I heaved a deep breath as I continued on driving.

“Yes. She was the one who volunteered to handle my divorce case.” I simply replied.

[“Of course she will volunteer. She was the one who's been pushing you to divorce the bastard after you told us he was cheating.”

“Then how come you almost believe that I was cheating on that bastard?”

[“Well, who knows the possibilities, right?”] Jade said, and she barked into laughter as if she found my situation amusing. I just shook my head in disbelief and did not feel offended by it. Jade has been like that, and I'm used to her behavior.

Jade continued to express her disappointment towards Keith. And just like how Nina reacted the very first time she read the news, Jade cursed my soon-to-be-ex-husband until she was satisfied.

I didn't know how long our talk lasted when she decided to end the call. I also saw the tower where my new home is located when I received a call.

It was from an unknown number.

My forehead creased as I stared at the unregistered number. I bought a new number and I only shared it with a few trusted people. I was about to ignore the call and end it thinking that it might be media or just a spam call, when I received a message from an unknown number.

*Unknown Number:

Miss Grace, this is Thelma. Please answer my call. I have some urgent matters to tell you.*

Relief washed over me when the unregistered number introduced herself as my financial adviser.

“Yes, Thelma?” I asked as I drove to the basement of the building, wondering what the urgency might be about.

[“Miss Grace.”] My brows furrowed when I heard the carefulness in her voice. My heart skipped a bit, suddenly feeling a bit nervous. I swiftly parked my car when I saw a parking space, so I could give her my full attention.

“What is it, Thelma?” I urged.

[“Did you make a transaction in your account? In the past few days?”]

My brows furrowed even more at her question. “Of course, I went shopping.”

[“No, Miss Grace. What I mean is, did you make a sudden payment transaction worth more than 20 million dollars? When you usually make a transaction like this, you personally call me—”

“What the fvck, Thelma! I didn't make any transaction like that!” I exclaimed in sudden shock and anger.

[“And y-yet, this has been reflected in your account, Miss Grace. Also… I received emails from some companies regarding the fact that they received your payments. And some of the transactions were sent to private accounts…”]

My financial adviser continued informing me about the sudden transactions I had made. When in fact, I don't remember doing some transactions in the past weeks.

I shifted to my seat, my mind was in haywire, thinking about who could be the reason behind the loss of my finances. My body was trembling in weakness and in anger. And what made my body freeze was when Thelma revealed how much was left in me.

[“You only have roughly less than a hundred thousand left on your account, Miss Grace. I think—”]

“I'll call you back later, Thelma.” I huffed as I shut my eyes tight. I ended the call without waiting for any reaction from her. And with trembling hands, I started the engine of my car and swiftly drives my way out of the basement.

There is only one person in my mind who's behind those transactions.

And that's one and only my fvcking soon-to-be-ex-husband.

Keith.