After Divorce, I Became His Boss

Isabella Bennett stared at the candlelit dinner table, trying to convince herself that her husband would still come home. The food was getting cold. The candles were burning low, and the anniversary cake she had spent three hours decorating remained untouched. Today marked their third wedding anniversary. Three years of marriage. Three years of loving a man who barely acknowledged her existence. Yet she had still hoped tonight would be different. Isabella glanced at the clock. It was already 8:15 p.m. Alexander had promised to be home by seven. She picked up her phone and reread their last conversation. Isabella: Don't forget, today is our anniversary. I'll be waiting for you. Alexander: I haven't forgotten. Those three words had made her smile all afternoon. How foolish she had been. Her phone vibrated, and a notification appeared on the screen. ALEXANDER STERLING AND VICTORIA HAYES REUNITE AT CHARITY GALA. IS LOVE BLOOMING AGAIN? Isabella's fingers froze. She opened the article. A photograph showed Alexander standing beside Victoria Hayes, his former girlfriend. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, while Victoria rested her hand on his arm in an elegant red gown. They looked perfect together. Alexander was smiling—a genuine smile Isabella had spent three years trying to earn. She had known he loved Victoria before their marriage. Everyone in their social circle knew. They had planned to marry until circumstances separated them. When Alexander's grandfather insisted that he marry Isabella, he had agreed to protect his family's interests. Still, Isabella had believed things might change. She thought that if she loved him enough, he would eventually love her back. Three years later, she was still waiting. Her phone rang. Alexander's name appeared on the screen. "Alexander?" she answered. "What is it?" His voice sounded impatient. "Where are you?" "At the charity gala. I told you I had something important to attend." "No, you said you had a meeting." "I don't have time for this, Isabella." She looked at the anniversary cake. "Do you remember what today is?" "Of course I do." "Then why aren't you home?" He sighed. "Victoria needed my help. She's dealing with some personal problems, and I couldn't abandon her." Isabella closed her eyes. "She's your ex-girlfriend, Alexander." "And you're my wife. What's your point?" The question hurt more than she expected. He remembered she was his wife whenever it suited him, but he had never treated her like someone he loved. "You promised to spend tonight with me." "I said I'd try." "You promised to be home by seven." "Why are you making such a big deal out of this? It's just an anniversary." Just an anniversary. Isabella stared at the food she had prepared, remembering how carefully she had arranged everything. She had even changed her dress three times, hoping he would notice her effort. But he hadn't come home. "Are you coming back tonight?" she asked quietly. "I don't know. Stop calling me about this." "Alexander—" "I have to go." The call ended. Isabella lowered her phone. For several seconds, she sat motionless. Then she laughed softly, although there was nothing funny about her situation. For three years, she had defended him. When his mother called her useless, she remained silent. When his sister accused her of being a gold digger, she swallowed her anger. When Alexander ignored her, she blamed his demanding schedule. She had made excuses for every wound because she believed love required patience. But patience had become another word for suffering. And she was tired of suffering. --- Isabella entered the bedroom and stood before the mirror. Her blue dress fitted perfectly, and her dark hair fell over her shoulders. She had spent the afternoon making herself beautiful for a man who hadn't even bothered to come home. She removed her earrings and placed them on the dressing table. Then she pulled a suitcase from the wardrobe. She packed a few dresses, her passport, and some personal documents. She left behind the expensive jewelry Alexander had bought her and the designer handbags his mother had given her as though they were charity. Finally, she opened her bedside drawer. Inside lay a black envelope bearing a golden crest. The Blackwood family emblem. Isabella removed the letter inside. It was from her grandfather, written shortly before her wedding. My dear Isabella, I respect your decision to build a life of your own. But never forget that you are a Blackwood. You were born into a family that built its empire through courage and determination. You do not have to endure humiliation to prove that you can love someone. Whenever you are ready to return, your family will be waiting. Grandfather. Tears filled her eyes. For three years, she had refused to return to her family because she wanted to prove that her marriage could succeed without the Blackwood name. She wanted Alexander to love her for herself, not her wealth. But she could no longer ignore the truth. She couldn't force someone to love her. And she didn't need to destroy herself trying. Isabella picked up her phone and dialed a number. "Miss Blackwood?" a familiar voice answered. "Daniel." "Is everything all right?" "No. But it will be." "What can I do for you?" "Please arrange a car. I'm returning to the Blackwood estate." "Of course. Shall I inform your grandfather?" "Yes. Tell him I'm coming home." She hesitated before continuing. "And Daniel, contact our family lawyers tomorrow morning." "Certainly, Miss. What should I tell them?" "Prepare my divorce papers." Silence followed. "Are you certain about this decision?" Isabella looked at the wedding ring on her finger. For three years, she had worn it as a promise that Alexander might eventually love her. Now it felt like a chain. "I've never been more certain about anything." She ended the call and removed the ring. Then she placed it inside the black box containing Alexander's anniversary gift. Her marriage was over. Perhaps it had been over long before tonight. --- At 10:40 p.m., Isabella stood at the mansion's entrance with her suitcase. The housekeeper, Mrs. Collins, hurried toward her. "Madam, are you going somewhere?" "Yes, Mrs. Collins." "Should I prepare something for you before you leave?" "No, thank you. I won't be coming back tonight." The older woman looked concerned. "Will the master be returning soon?" Isabella managed a faint smile. "You should ask him." A black luxury car pulled up outside the gates. The driver stepped out and opened the rear door. "Welcome home, Miss Blackwood." Mrs. Collins froze. "Miss Blackwood?" Isabella had forgotten that nobody in the household knew her true identity. She turned toward the driver. "Let's go, Daniel." He placed her suitcase in the trunk. Before entering the car, Isabella looked back at the mansion. She had arrived three years earlier, determined to build a happy marriage. Now she was leaving with a broken heart but a clearer understanding of her worth. She didn't know whether Alexander would regret losing her. She didn't know whether she would ever love again. But she knew one thing. She would never beg a man to choose her again. The car pulled away, and the Sterling mansion disappeared into the distance. For the first time in three years, Isabella felt free. --- Alexander Sterling returned home shortly after midnight. He loosened his tie and handed his jacket to the housekeeper. "Where's Isabella?" Mrs. Collins hesitated. "Madam left, sir." Alexander frowned. "What do you mean, she left?" "She departed around ten forty. A car came to pick her up." He glanced toward the dining room. The anniversary dinner remained untouched. Beside the cake sat a black gift box. Alexander opened it and found a silver wristwatch and Isabella's wedding ring. His expression darkened. "What is this?" "I believe Madam left it for you, sir." He picked up the ring. For a moment, he stared at it. Then he scoffed. "She's being dramatic." His phone vibrated. An unfamiliar number appeared on the screen. He opened the message. Mr. Alexander Sterling, this is a formal notice that Isabella Bennett intends to dissolve her marriage to you. Our office will contact you regarding the necessary proceedings. He read it twice. "Divorce?" He tossed his phone onto the table. "She'll come back tomorrow." He had seen Isabella cry before. He had watched her become upset whenever he ignored her, but she always forgave him eventually. She loved him too much to leave. At least, that was what he believed. He slipped the wedding ring into his pocket. "When she returns, I'll deal with it." But Isabella wasn't coming back. And Alexander had no idea that the woman he had dismissed as an ordinary housewife had just returned to the family that controlled one of the largest business empires in the world. The next morning, his world would begin to change. Because Isabella Bennett was no longer the woman who waited for him at home. She was the heiress of Blackwood International. And soon, she would become his company's most powerful potential investor. The next time Alexander Sterling stood before his former wife, he would have to call her Madam Chairwoman. END OF CHAPTER ONE