CEO Goes Mad After I'm Gone

"Jayden, you're so sweet. You're so busy, yet you still found time to come with me to the hospital." The soft voice floated through the closing elevator doors, catching Isabelle's attention. She instinctively looked across the lobby. A heavily pregnant woman was walking toward the obstetrics department, accompanied by a man whose refined presence was impossible to ignore. Isabelle froze. That man was none other than her husband, Jayden Turner. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Wasn't he supposed to be at work? And who was that woman? Heart pounding, Isabelle stood there, stunned. But as the two entered the obstetrics office, she snapped out of her daze. Bracing her heavily pregnant frame, she hurried after them. When she reached the door, it had already closed. Left standing in the hallway, she pulled out her phone and called Jayden. He declined the call. A message popped up immediately after. Jayden: In a meeting. Her fingers trembled as she stared at the words, feeling the blood drain from her face. 'He's lying,' she thought, her temples throbbing. Earlier that day, Jayden had promised to meet her at the hospital for her check-up. But on the way there, he called to cancel, saying an urgent meeting had come up. Isabelle didn't push it—she wasn't the type to demand his constant attention. She'd assumed he was genuinely busy with work. And yet here he was, with another woman. Just as Isabelle was about to barge in, the woman emerged from the office alone. To Isabelle's surprise, she smiled as if expecting her. "Isabelle, while Jayden is speaking with the doctor, why don't we have a little chat?" Without waiting for an answer, the woman walked into a nearby lounge, exuding an air of smug confidence. Isabelle hesitated, glancing at the closed office door. After a moment's pause, she followed. "Who are you?" Isabelle asked bluntly as she entered. The woman let out a mocking laugh. "Oh, drop the act. You know exactly who I am." Isabelle's heart sank. "Ellie Nelson?" "Bingo," Ellie replied, her smile radiant and triumphant. Isabelle's breath hitched. Of course, she recognized the name. Ellie was Jayden's college sweetheart from his time in Lynelle. They'd broken up shortly before graduation, after which Jayden had returned to Mirabelle. Her gaze dropped to Ellie's swollen belly, which was even larger than her own. A pang of bitterness twisted in her chest. 'Didn't they end things years ago?' she thought. 'Why are they here together now?' "My baby is already full-term," Ellie said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "Much further along than yours." Ellie's glowing smile only deepened Isabelle's despair. She felt the chill seep into her bones as her body trembled uncontrollably. Doing the math, Isabelle realized Ellie must have gotten pregnant when she and Jayden were deeply in love. Back then, Isabelle had been working as Jayden's executive assistant, accompanying him on a business trip to Lynelle. On their last night there, he'd gone to a reunion with his college friends while she packed their luggage. He'd come back in the middle of the night, reeking of alcohol, barely making their early flight the next morning. Isabelle had even teased him about it. But now, the pieces fell into place. That night, he hadn't just been reconnecting with old friends—he'd been with Ellie. They'd slept together. And now there was a child. Pain stabbed through Isabelle like a blade. She collapsed onto the sofa, her strength gone. Ellie tilted her head, her tone smug. "Name your price. How much do you want to leave Jayden?" Isabelle's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Funny, Ellie. I was about to ask you the same thing." Ellie's expression darkened before she sneered. "Jayden told me everything. He doesn't love you. The only reason he married you was because you tricked him into it by getting pregnant." "He's only with you because he didn't want to upset his mother. The truth is, he's always loved me. He's never stopped. And now that our baby is about to be born, he's finally ready to tell his family the truth. He's leaving you to be with me." Isabelle clutched the fabric of her dress, her knuckles white. She couldn't believe what she was hearing—that this was how Jayden truly felt about her. Yet Ellie wasn't entirely wrong. Their marriage had been far from a fairy tale. Two years ago, Isabelle had been a new hire at Turner Group when her family suffered a devastating blow. She'd attended a company party, trying to drown her sorrows in alcohol. Jayden had also been drinking heavily that night. The next morning, they woke up in the same bed. What began as an accidental fling had turned into something more. Jayden had been attentive, considerate. They'd spent two years together, building what Isabelle thought was a solid foundation. But now, Ellie's appearance shattered that illusion. Ellie's voice cut through her thoughts. "Face it, Isabelle. You're nothing to him. You're just a convenient distraction. My baby is proof of his love for me." Her words were a dagger to Isabelle's heart. "If you know what's good for you, you'll walk away. Spare yourself the humiliation, and we'll make sure you're compensated." Isabelle's blood ran cold. 'Two years,' she thought. 'Two years I gave everything to this man, only to find out I was the only one who cared.' Ellie lifted her hand, flashing a dazzling ten-carat diamond ring. "This is from Jayden," she said, smirking. "He gave you nothing but a marriage license. That's all you'll ever be to him—a free playtoy."