Married To My Ex-Husband’s Greatest Enemy!

The velvet box felt heavier than it should have. Ava Hart traced her thumb over its soft navy surface as the taxi crawled through the evening traffic. Outside, the city glowed beneath thousands of lights, every skyscraper reflecting against the rain-slick streets. She barely noticed the view. Her thoughts were fixed on one man. Ethan. She smiled to herself. Three years ago, they had stood in a courthouse wearing borrowed clothes because they couldn’t afford a wedding. Ethan had slipped a simple silver ring onto her finger and promised that one day, when they had built the life they dreamed of, he would give her everything she deserved. She had never cared about the money. She had only wanted him. Tonight was proof that every sacrifice had been worth it. Carter Technologies had secured a two-hundred-million-dollar investment that morning, transforming Ethan from a struggling entrepreneur into one of the city’s most promising CEOs almost overnight. The anniversary gala was meant to celebrate both his success and their marriage. At least, that was what Ethan had told her. “Wear the blue dress,” he had texted that morning. “You always look beautiful in blue.” The memory warmed her heart. She glanced down at the satin gown she had spent months saving for. It wasn’t designer, but it fit her perfectly. She had paired it with delicate pearl earrings—her late grandmother’s only heirloom—and a pair of silver heels she rarely wore. The taxi pulled to a stop beneath the glittering entrance of the Grand Crescent Hotel. Ava stepped onto the red carpet, taking a slow breath as she admired the lavish decorations. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling inside the lobby, casting warm golden light over polished marble floors. Elegant floral arrangements lined the hallway leading to the ballroom, and waiters carrying champagne moved effortlessly through the growing crowd. Everything looked exactly like the future Ethan had once described during the nights they shared instant noodles in their tiny apartment. Back then, they had counted every dollar. She had worked overtime to pay the rent while Ethan poured everything he had into his company. When investors laughed at his ideas, she reminded him why he had started. When he wanted to quit, she stayed awake until sunrise helping him rewrite business proposals. She had sold the gold necklace her grandmother left her so he could afford the deposit on his first office. Not once had she regretted it. His dream had become hers the moment she married him. A familiar excitement fluttered in her chest as she tightened her grip on the small velvet box. Inside was the watch she had secretly saved for over eight months to buy him. It wasn’t the luxury brand he admired in magazine advertisements. She simply couldn’t afford it. But she hoped he would understand what it represented. Every extra shift. Every skipped coffee. Every little sacrifice. It was a gift bought with love. As she approached the ballroom entrance, she noticed something unusual. People were looking at her. Not the polite glances exchanged between strangers at elegant events, but lingering looks filled with curiosity… and something else she couldn’t quite place. Sympathy. A group of women near the entrance fell silent as she walked past. One man quickly looked away the moment their eyes met. A faint knot formed in her stomach. Before she could make sense of it, the lights inside the ballroom dimmed. A hush settled over the room. Then a single spotlight illuminated the grand staircase overlooking the stage. Applause erupted. Ava’s face brightened immediately. Ethan appeared at the top of the stairs wearing a perfectly tailored black tuxedo. He looked confident, successful, every bit the man she had always believed he could become. Pride swelled inside her. That’s my husband. Then another figure stepped into the light. A young woman wearing an elegant white gown slipped her hand into Ethan’s as naturally as though she belonged there. Ava’s smile disappeared. Victoria. Her stepsister. For a long moment, Ava simply stared, convincing herself there had to be an explanation. Perhaps Victoria had invested in the company. Perhaps she was introducing a new partnership. Perhaps… “Ladies and gentlemen,” Ethan’s voice echoed through the ballroom, silencing every whispered conversation. “Thank you for joining me tonight. Your support has helped Carter Technologies reach a milestone I once thought impossible.” The audience applauded again. His gaze swept across the room before settling briefly on Ava. She smiled, expecting him to invite her onto the stage. Instead, he turned toward Victoria. “There is one more announcement I’d like to make.” He intertwined his fingers with hers. “I want everyone to meet the woman who has stood beside me through the most important chapter of my life.” The words stole the air from Ava’s lungs. No… No, he couldn’t mean— “My fiancée.” The room exploded into applause. The velvet gift box slipped from Ava’s trembling fingers. It struck the marble floor with a sharp crack, the expensive watch inside shattering beneath the heels of passing guests. No one noticed. No one except Ava. She stared at the broken pieces, unable to understand what had just happened. Three years of marriage. Three years of sacrifice. Three years of loving a man with everything she had. Reduced to a single sentence. When she finally looked up, Ethan was already walking toward her, Victoria’s hand still firmly clasped in his. There was no guilt in his eyes. No hesitation. Only impatience. He stopped a few feet away, his voice low enough that only she could hear. He slipped a sealed envelope into her hands. “The divorce papers are inside.” He looked at her one last time before delivering the final blow. “I suggest you sign them tonight.”