Divorced the CEO Who Broke Me Now He Begs on His Knees

Start Reading

To save my dying mother, I took the $500,000 from Aileen Gilbert and broke up with her son.

Julian Gilbert refused to accept it. Right in front of me, he jumped from the fifth floor.

He shattered his leg, lying in a pool of blood, yet still clutched my hand, eyes full of desperate devotion.

Doris Harding, if I can't marry you, I'd rather die!

He threatened death to get what he wantedand he got it.

But on our wedding day, in front of everyone, he swapped my gown and ring for cheap knockoffs from a street stall.

"You love being a gold digger so much? In my eyes, you're just as worthless as this junk!"

After the wedding, women flocked around him. Every one of them showered with luxury cars and jewelry.

But meMrs. GilbertI needed approval to spend five dollars.

When my mother's condition turned critical, I applied to him for 0-00,000 for her surgery.

I knelt the entire night. All I got was a hundred-dollar bill and a casual sneer.

"A gold digger like you? That's all you're worth to me."

I clutched that hundred dollars and collapsed sobbing beside my mother's body.

Meanwhile, he was at an auction, releasing sky lanterns for his new lover.

When I woke, I didn't cry or make a scene. I brought him divorce papers.

He just smiled, calm as ever.

"All this drama over ten thousand dollars? Was it really worth it?"

I gripped those divorce papers and stumbled toward the CEO's office, hollowed out inside. But his assistant raised a hand to stop me.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Gilbert. Per company policy, you can't enter without an appointment."

I stared at that heavy door and laughed bitterly.

Five years of marriage, and every single time I came here, I was stopped.

Make an appointment. Go home and wait. I could recite the whole tedious process in my sleep.

Three days ago, my mother was dying.

I tried to force my way in like a madwoman, but security guards pinned me to the floor.

My collar was torn open. I clawed at the ground, dragging myself toward his office.

All ten fingernails broke off. I left a trail of blood across the floor.

When Julian found out, he opened the door and looked down at me.

No pity in his eyes. Only cold contempt.

"A gold digger is a gold digger. You'll do anything for money."

"How much do you want this time? Fifty thousand? A hundred thousand? Or the same five hundred thousand as before?"

"You want money? Fine. Show me your sincerity. I could use a guard dog at my door. Kneel hereone dollar per minute."

Naked humiliation. And I couldn't say a word against it.

I could only endure the mocking stares and kneel there like a wretch.

To torment me further, he called his new lover to come over.

Right in front of me, he carried her into his office.

That night, I knelt until dawn.

His lover moaned all night long.

The next morning, he opened the door and casually handed Eve Fox a check for ten million.

Then he turned and tossed me a hundred dollars.

He said that was all I was worth. Then he picked her up and walked away without looking back.

Even as I wept until my lungs gave out, begging him to save my mother, I couldn't get a shred of mercy.

By the time I reached the hospital clutching that hundred dollars, my mother had already stopped breathing.

Her eyes were still open. She died waiting to see my face.

I held her and cried until I blacked out.

The first thing I saw when I woke was a trending headline: Julian Gilbert, lighting sky lanterns at an auction, making a grand romantic gesture.

The media praised his generosity. Even his casual tips to the waitstaff were $50,000.

No one knew that Mrs. Gilberthis own wifecouldn't scrape together 0-00,000, and had to watch her mother die right in front of her.

With a heart turned to ash, I called Julian and asked for a divorce.

All she got was a cold laugh.

"Done throwing your tantrum? What, upset you didn't get your money? Now you're resorting to threats?"

"Doris, you can't even figure out how to be a proper dog. I told youI like obedient dogs!"

"Your mother's medical bills, her nursing carewho do you think paid for all of that? If you want her to keep breathing, you'll shut up and deal with it!"

Through the receiver came a woman's breathy moans.

Julian's breathing grew noticeably heavier.

The line went dead.

I hadn't even had the chance to tell him my mother was already gone.

The pain in my chest was unbearable.

Five years as Mrs. Gilbert, and every moment had been humiliating.

Even delivering divorce papers required me to wait in line.

Seeing the icy contempt in the assistant's eyes, the last of my composure shattered.

I grabbed a box cutter from the desk and pressed it against my throat.

Tears poured down my face as I screamed, "Get out of my way! I said I want to see Juliannow!"

The assistant didn't dare stop me. He could only watch as I stumbled past him into the office.

The moment I pushed open the door, I couldn't breathe.

What I saw destroyed whatever dignity I had left.

Eve sat naked on Julian's lap. The floor was littered with used condoms.

When she saw me, she shrieked.

Julian's face twisted with rage. He pulled her protectively against his chest and grabbed a decorative piece from his desk, hurling it at me.

"Get the hell out! Who let you in here?"

It struck my temple. Blood mixed with tears and ran down my face.

It hurt. But not even a fraction as much as what I felt inside.

I looked up at the two of them, tangled together, skin against skin. A bloody smile crept across my lips.

"I won't take much of your time."

"These are divorce papers. I'd appreciate it if Mr. Gilbert could take a look and sign them as soon as possible."

Julian snatched the papers. He didn't even glance at them before tearing them apart and throwing the pieces in my face.

"Doris, I already told youI don't like these games."

Eve draped herself across his chest and laughed mockingly.

"The old hag will try anything for a little cash, won't she?"

She bit Julian's ear right in front of me, her voice dripping with disdain.

"Julian, just give her some money. Think of it as tipping a beggar."

"A couple thousand at mostyou spend more than that on tips anyway."

Julian's lips curled. His eyes were ice as he looked at me.

He pulled a stack of bills from the drawer and threw them at my face.

"You just want money, don't you? Drop the act."

"Take it and get lost. I don't want to see your disgusting face for the next few days."

Bills scattered across the floor. I didn't bend down to pick them up.

"Mr. Gilbert, I told youI don't want money. I want a divorce."

The mockery in Julian's eyes deepened.

"Divorce? You're just a dog I bought. What makes you think you have the right to ask me for a divorce?"

He grabbed my collar and dragged me to the desk.

Ignoring my struggles, he forced me down onto its surface.

"You don't want money? Then you must want me instead, is that it?"

"Fine. I'll give you what you want."

He tore my clothes apart and bent down, his lips finding my neck.

Humiliation crashed over me like a wave. I screamed with everything I had.

"Stopget off me! Don't touch me!"

Julian's eyes were bloodshot.

"You're just a gold digger. Don't pretend you're above this."

"Make me happy, and I'll give you whatever you want."

In a panic, I bit down hard on his shoulder.

Julian shuddered from the pain and shoved me to the ground.

Blood dripped down his shoulder.

For a moment, I saw him as he'd been at eighteen.

The boy who'd rush in when I was being bullied, fighting until he was covered in blood.

Back then, Julian would have given his life for me.

How did we end up like this?

It didn't matter anymore. Misunderstandings, revengenone of it.

Mom was gone. It was time to let go of the past.

All I wanted now was to escape this cage.

Before I could gather my thoughts, a hand clamped around my throat and yanked me up.

Julian's eyes were cold with rage.

"I give you an inch and you take a mile. Since you don't know what's good for you, get out!"

My clothes were torn to shreds. He shoved me out the door with nothing to cover myself.

I pounded on the door, my voice raw, begging himbut all I got was an icy snarl.

"I said get out. Stop bothering me!"

People filled the hallway.

Under their mocking stares, I clenched my jaw and walked away.

I wandered the streets in a daze, enduring every leering glance.

The early autumn air was cold, but not as cold as my heart.

I didn't snap back to reality until a group of thugs surrounded me.

No matter how desperately I tried to cover myself, there was no hiding my exposed body.

Their eyes crawled over me, naked with want.

I stumbled backward, but they grabbed my hair and dragged me back.

Hands groped every inch of me. One of them pulled me close and sank his teeth into my flesh.

He bit through skin. Blood ran down my body.

Struggling was useless. My screams only excited them more.

In that hopeless moment, I thought of when I first met Julian.

At eighteen, I was working three jobs to pay for my mother's medical bills.

One night, walking home late from a shift, a group of drunk men cornered me.

I was frozen with fearuntil Julian charged in and fought them off.

They beat him bloody, but he still smiled at me.

The day I said yes to him, he knelt before me with such sincerity, swearing he'd never let anyone hurt me again.

Now, every wound I carried came from him.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips. I closed my eyes and stopped fighting.

Thentires screeched behind me.

Julian and his bodyguards rushed over. He kicked the man on top of me so hard the thug went flying.

"Get lost! Who gave you the guts to touch her!"

He pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around me, his hands trembling.

I must have been hallucinatingI could have sworn I saw a flicker of pain in his eyes.

It vanished in an instant, replaced by his usual contempt.

"Doris, I really didn't misjudge you. You're exactly as cheap as I thought!"

"Seducing street trash just to get sympathy? Have you no shame?"

He let go. I crumpled to the ground.

A sneer curled his lips.

"Then again, someone who'd throw away years of love for five hundred thousand dollarswhat shame could she possibly have?"

I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood. I didn't say a word in my defense.

Back when we were together, Aileen had come to me many times.

Pressuring me to leave him, raising her offer each time.

Every single time, I refused without hesitation. I told her, word for word: I don't want your money. I only want Julian.

It wasn't until I got the call from the hospital that everything changed.

My mother's kidneys were failing. She needed surgery immediately.

Five hundred thousand dollars. It might as well have been five million.

Julian was overseas on business. His phone went straight to voicemail, again and again. I couldn't reach him, and my mother couldn't wait.

So I went to Aileen.

She didn't say a word. Just smiled that cold smile of hers and threw a document at my face, along with a check. A breakup agreement.

My hands wouldn't stop shaking as I signed my name. I grabbed the money and rushed to the hospital.

That's when the doctor told me it had been a misdiagnosis. My mother's kidneys were fine. She'd never needed a transplant at all.

I stood there, frozen, unable to process what I was hearing.

The doctor leaned in before I could leave. "Miss Harding, Mrs. Gilbert asked me to pass along a message. What happened today stays buried. Otherwise..." He paused. "No one can guarantee your mother will survive her next medical emergency."

A threat. Naked and ugly. And I didn't have the strength left to fight it.

I clutched that check and sobbed until I couldn't breathe, but there was nothing I could do. So I gritted my teeth and told Julian it was over.

When he jumped off that building right in front of me, I truly believed he understood my pain.

I didn't learn the truth until our wedding day. His so-called devotion had been revenge, planned from the start.

Five years. That's how long it took him to break me. To strip away my pride piece by piece and grind my dignity into dust. Using my mother's life as his leverage.

I wanted to die, but I could only clench my jaw and endure.

At least now, finally, I was free.

I couldn't bear his hatred anymore. I refused to carry accusations I didn't deserve.

I forced myself upright, calmly removed my coat, and set it in front of him.

I turned to leaveand strong arms yanked me backward into his chest.

Julian's eyes burned with fury.

"Where do you think you're going, looking like that? Have some dignity."

"Drop the hard-to-get act and come home with me."

I opened my mouth to refuse. Blood sprayed out instead.

When I woke, I was in a hospital bed. Bandages covered my body. Every movement sent pain screaming through me.

I struggled to sit upand found myself staring into Julian's bloodshot eyes.

"Doris, why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?"

My whole body went rigid. My hand drifted to my stomach without thinking.

Back when we loved each other most, we'd dreamed of having a child together.

After the wedding, all that remained between us was torment and revenge.

I never imagined I'd have a child now. Not like this.

Julian loomed over me, something dark and red flickering in his gaze.

"Since you're carrying my child, I'm willing to forgive what happened before."

I looked up at him, a bitter laugh catching in my throat.

Forgive me? I didn't need that anymore.

I'd waited five years to hear those words.

When I first discovered his affair, I'd been devastated. Desperate. I'd grabbed his sleeve and begged him, over and over.

"Julian, please believe me. I had no choice."

"Forgive me. Can't we stop hurting each other?"

I'd humiliated myself completely. And all I got in return was his cold sneer.

"What choice could you possibly have had? You sold out our relationship for five hundred thousand dollars. Tell mewhat choice?"

I'd opened my mouth. Nothing came out.

What could I say? My mother's medical records had been destroyed. Every trace of the misdiagnosis, gone.

And I'd never dared gamble with her life.

All that caution, all that sufferingand it still hadn't kept her safe.

I drew a deep breath, ready to finally tell him the truth.

But Julian wasn't paying attention to me. He just kept talking.

"I won't bring anyone around to upset you anymore."

"Doris, just stay home and be Mrs. Gilbert like you're supposed to. As for your mother, I'll add more money for her treatment!"

I laugheda cold, mocking sound.

The doctor happened to walk in to change my bandages. Hearing Julian's words, confusion spread across his face.

"Mr. Gilbert, your wife's mother passed away three days ago. Did you not know?"

Julian froze as if struck by lightning.

I just smiled, calm as still water.

"I already told you. I don't want your money. I want a divorce."

Something in my eyes must have cut him, that quiet finality.

He shot to his feet, so rattled his voice shook.

"I will never divorce you. The only way this marriage ends is if one of us dies!"

"Doris, just focus on recovering and the baby. I'll come see you in a few days."

I didn't ask him to stay. I just watched him leave, my face blank.

When I finally dragged myself to the funeral home to arrange Mom's burial, I couldn't even claim her body.

It was almost funny. Five years as Mrs. Gilbert, and I couldn't scrape together five hundred dollars for cremation.

I turned to leave the hospital and ran straight into Eve.

She smiled at me, eyes glittering with mockery.

"Well, well, the old hag. I hear you're pregnant? What a coincidenceI just found out I am too!"

I pressed my lips together and said nothing.

Her gaze flicked to the morgue behind me. Her smile widened.

"A piece of trash who can't even afford to bury her own mother, still clinging to the title of Mrs. Gilbert!"

I laughed toountil the tears came.

She didn't know. I'd stopped wanting that title a long time ago.

To earn enough for the burial, I took a job as a waitress on a yacht.

That night, I arrived at the marina as scheduledand the sight in front of me stopped me cold.

On the deck, Julian held Eve in his arms, his face soft with tenderness, accepting congratulations from the crowd.

To celebrate their hundredth day together, he'd arranged a fireworks show.

Explosions of color filled the sky as they embraced.

And me? Mrs. Gilbert was hiding in the shadows, face expressionless, handing champagne glasses to passing guests.

I'd tried to stay out of sight. It wasn't enough. Julian spotted me anyway.

Our eyes met. His filled with disgust.

Eve clapped a hand over her mouth in theatrical shock.

"Mrs. Gilbert! What are you doing here?"

"Dressed like thatare you trying to humiliate Mr. Gilbert in public so you can squeeze money out of him?"

I ignored her taunts and turned to leave, but someone grabbed my wrist.

Julian was barely containing his rage.

"Haven't you caused enough trouble? I told you to stay home and be Mrs. Gilbert!"

I wrenched free, my stare ice-cold.

"Mr. Gilbert, I'm just trying to earn enough to bury my mother. Is that a problem for you too?"

Disappointment flooded his eyes. He waved his hand, and someone emerged from the cabin carrying an urn.

"Drop the act. I had my assistant notify youyour mother's arrangements are already taken care of. What burial costs could you possibly need?"

Before he finished speaking, Eve took the urn and walked toward me.

As she got close, she pretended to stumbleand slammed it against the deck.

"No!"

I screamed and lunged forward, but I was too late.

The urn hit the ground and split in two.

A gust of sea wind swept through. The ashes scattered everywhere.

I scrambled on my hands and knees, grabbing at nothing, catching nothing.

It felt like something inside my chest was being ripped apart. The pain was blinding.

My eyes burned red as I stared at Eve.

"Why? Why won't you even let her rest in peace?"

She just giggled, sweet as poison.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Doris. It was an accident!"

I couldn't hold back anymore. I threw myself at her, ready to slap her across the face.

But before I could touch her, someone grabbed my collar and yanked me back.

Julian's eyes were full of venom as he slapped me hard.

"Enough! It's just a pile of ashgone is gone!"

"Eve already apologized to you. What more do you want?"

"Look at yourself. Who is this pathetic act for?"

He tore open my collar and tossed me onto the deck like garbage.

"Lock her up. No one lets her out without my order."

I lay there, clothes torn, barely covering me. But he didn't look back. He just lifted Eve into his arms and walked away.

He didn't turn around, so he didn't see the men dragging me into the cabin, grins spreading across their faces.

My wounds tore open. My fingernails ripped back. I left a trail of blood across the deck.

Three days later, the yacht docked.

As they prepared to disembark, Julian finally remembered me.

He frowned, a mocking smile curling his lips.

"Go bring Doris out. She's coming home with me."

"A few days locked up should've taught her a lesson. Tell her to stop making trouble."

The next moment, Godfrey dropped to his knees at Julian's feet, face white, voice shaking.

"Sir, your wifeshe can't come back. She jumped overboard three days ago."