I’m a Billionaire Heiress, My CEO Ex Begged

Chapter 3

I sidestepped her easily. Mrs. Thorne sank back onto the sofa, huffing and puffing. "You've really gotten too big for your britches, haven't you? Running around with other men behind my son's back. You married into this family, so you must follow our rules—or the Thornes will have no place for you!"

"Enough, Gwen. Stella knows she messed up. One apology and we'll let bygones be bygones." Mr. and Mrs. Thorne had always done this—good cop, bad cop.

All these years, they'd done nothing but force me to reflect on myself and apologize. After the wedding, they'd imposed a strict curfew on me. I had to prepare foot baths for both of them every single night. I was forbidden from working or showing my face in public, and I was expected to be obedient and deferential to them in everything.

Mrs. Thorne insisted I was cheating on Lucian and ranted at me nonstop. Calmly, I pulled out a stack of photos and tossed them onto the coffee table. Every single one showed Lucian and Wren being intimate—wrapped around each other by the pool, kissing on the street, cuddling and chatting.

Mrs. Thorne picked up the photos, her face turning every shade of pale and green. She looked absolutely ghastly. She tore the photos to shreds. "Don't you dare slander my son!" So furious she could barely breathe, Mrs. Thorne clutched her chest and collapsed back onto the sofa—faking a fainting spell.

Mr. Thorne's face darkened. "Call 911, now!" I ignored them and headed straight upstairs to pack my things. I heard Mr. Thorne roaring insults, calling me a cold-blooded animal. My expression remained blank. I didn't care. Mrs. Thorne had always been good at these little tricks—faking illness for sympathy was her go-to move.

I packed only what belonged to me. I didn't touch a single thing the Thornes owned. That night, Lucian called. The moment I picked up, he unleashed a torrent of abuse. "Do you have any idea you made my mother sick? Get to the hospital right now and take care of her! There's a limit to how long you can keep playing hard to get!"

I laughed—sharp and bitter. "She's your mother, not mine. Pick a time and we'll finalize the divorce." A long silence stretched out on the other end of the line. I blocked his number and hung up. I was on my own—just me, a glass of wine, and an adorable little dog. Life was free and easy.

Free from the Thornes' constraints, I could buy whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I did as I pleased. Silas hosted a birthday gala, and everyone in attendance was from the upper echelons of society—old money, power players, the elite.

Lucian spotted me immediately in the crowd, marched over, and dragged me to a quiet spot just outside the venue. "Where's that ring? The diamond ring that sold for 10 million at auction the other day."

"What ring? It was never meant for you anyway."

"Stop playing dumb. I know you bought it to please me. 10 million is nothing. Stop being petty. Give me the ring, and I might consider forgiving you and taking you back."

I rolled my eyes, couldn't be bothered to respond, and turned to walk back inside. Lucian wouldn't let it go. He stared at me intently, waiting for me to pull out that diamond ring.

I looked up at Silas on the stage. Tall and poised, every movement radiated that effortless, cold elegance of old money. "How did you end up with that ring?"