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For ten years, Beatrice had known Louis, but that day, he seemed like a stranger. This wasn't Louis. Louis would never strip naked and sleep with her best friend, Kylie. Damn it, her tears almost fell for such cruel people. "I want a divorce." Beatrice didn't mean it when she said it. She still hoped Louis would beg, at least ask her to stay and forgive him. But Louis had changed. "I agree. Let's divorce. I don't want to be with a useless woman like you."
CHAPTER 1
Beatrice POV
"Let's get a divorce."
I knew my voice was shaky when I said those words to Louis-my husband. Damn, I even felt disgusted having to call him "husband" after everything I found out he's done to me.
"Sure." Louis stood up from the sofa, pulled a pen from his black suit pocket, signed the divorce papers I handed him, and shoved it back at me. "Let's end this marriage right here."
"Louis."
My eyes were burning. I held back the tears threatening to spill, keeping them inside for my own damn dignity.
"You know, I'm actually thankful you're giving me this," Louis said, raising the divorce papers in the air, shaking them before throwing them down on the table. "At least I didn't start this. You did, and I'm just finishing it."
What did he just say? He didn't start any of this?
"You slept with Kylie, you bastard!"
Louis went silent, just staring at me. But again, it wasn't the kind of stare I used to know. He wasn't the Louis I loved anymore. He was a stranger now. Then he smirked, hands shoved deep in his pockets.
"We're done now. Don't bother Kylie."
"What?" I could barely hold it together. I yanked his arm and shot him a death glare. "You slept with my best friend, cheated behind my back, and now you're defending her? What the hell does Kylie have that I don't, Louis? Am I not better than that bitch?"
Louis just stared at me, then his gaze dropped to our hands. He gently shook my hand off, just a tiny move, but it hurt like hell.
"Beatrice, all this time I've been with you, you couldn't give me a child."
"And Kylie can give you a kid? That's your excuse for cheating? Really, Louis?!"
Louis sighed, turned away, and said, "You can leave the mansion whenever you're done. Say hi to your parents in the village for me. Sorry I couldn't meet them."
I snorted and spat on the floor. "Screw you, Louis!"
Two years. I thought I gave it all-my heart, my life. I really believed Louis was going to be my last love. But I was wrong. He wasn't even close.
"Where we heading, Miss?"
The taxi driver asked as I quickly hopped into his car. He was in his 40s, I saw his ID on the dashboard.
"Moonlight Village, please."
The driver raised an eyebrow. He checked me out in the rearview mirror. I had my suitcases beside me.
"You going there alone? It's pretty far. Should I turn off the meter to make you more comfortable, Miss?"
I scoffed, crossing my arms. "If you think I can't pay the bill, just drop me off here."
The driver awkwardly apologized and started the engine. We were off to Moonlight Village, the place my grandparents chose to retire.
Louis always thought they were my real parents, and I let him believe that. I didn't care if Louis thought I was poor-I believed he'd love me forever, just like he promised in our vows: in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer.
But Louis broke that promise.
"We've arrived at Moonlight Village, Miss," the driver said, pulling up.
I pointed to a house at the end of the street. "You can drop me here."
"Sure, Miss."
True to my word, the driver dropped me off in front of my grandparent's house. I could tell he wasn't comfortable asking for the fare with the way he kept looking down. I handed him a few hundred-dollar bills.
"Wow! This is too much. Thank you so much, Miss."
I smiled as I got out of the cab after he helped with my bags. He was still thanking me as his car pulled away. Guess it was his first time getting a tip like that.
"You just gonna stand in the middle of the road like that, Beatrice?"
That voice caught me off guard. I turned around and smiled when I saw my grandpa, John, grinning and opening his arms wide to welcome me.
"Grandpa!"
"My beautiful granddaughter!" We hugged tight. Oh, I squeezed him so hard. This was the first time I'd seen him in two years since I last visited. "Oh, I can barely breathe, sweetie."
"Grandpa," I muttered, pulling back from the hug. John caressed my cheek. "Louis and I-"
"I already know, Beatrice," he interrupted.
"How did you know?"
"Did you think I'd leave you alone in the city? Not happening!" I never expected my grandpa had this all planned. I smiled. "Let's get inside before the snow starts falling."
"Good idea."
We all sat down at the dining table. Me, John, and my grandma, Sophia. I couldn't believe they already knew Louis and I were divorced. John even said he knew the moment he saw me dragging my two big suitcases into the taxi. He'd secretly hired a bodyguard for me. I felt so lucky they cared about me like that.
"So, what's your plan now?" Sophia asked.
"I don't know, Grandma. I spent most of my time waiting for Louis to come home, hanging out with Kylie sometimes. But now they're dating, and I'm all alone. I've got no idea what to do."
John finished his pie, then sipped his hot chocolate before saying, "You don't need to waste your time like that. Grandpa wants you to run the company."
"The company? You mean the 'Dimitri Group?'"
"Yep."
I raised an eyebrow, looking back and forth between them. "But hasn't Ben been running the company just fine?"
Grandpa and Grandma exchanged glances. Then John began explaining, "Ben's done a great job running the company. He doubled the profits, and we're planning to open a new branch in London. Bennedict will handle that. So, we thought you could take over Bennedict's position in New York."
I was stunned. My mouth dropped open. "I'm gonna be the CEO?"
Sophia patted my shoulder gently. "We know your abilities. You just 'forgot' because you married the wrong guy, Beatrice."
"We plan to announce the new CEO tonight."
I couldn't hold back my shock. "Tonight?!"
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