The Billionaire Ex-Wife Takeover

Ten years.

​I looked at the gold bracelet on my wrist.

Lucas gave it to me on our wedding day. For ten years, I believed we had a perfect marriage. Tonight was our anniversary, and I wanted it to be special.

​I wore a cream outfit. It was expensive but simple. On my dresser was a small box.

Inside was a gold tie pin with Lucas’s initials. I had spent weeks finding the right gift. I wanted to show him that I still cared as much as I did on day one.

​

My phone buzzed. It was Tessa.

​

Tessa: Don’t forget to take photos tonight! I want to see everything.

​

Me: You know Lucas. He hates photos. He says they are a waste of time.

​

Tessa: It is your 10th anniversary. He can survive one photo. Have a great time, Maya.

​I put the phone down and went downstairs.

A delivery person was at the door with white lilies. I opened the card.

​

To my Little Sister. Don’t let him take you for granted. You deserve the best. – Damien.

​I shook my head. Damien always thought

Lucas was not good enough for me. He was protective and sometimes too loud about it. I snapped a photo of the flowers and sent it to him.

​

Me: They are beautiful, Damien. Stop worrying. Everything is fine.

​

Damien: If he makes a mistake tonight, call me. I mean it.

​I laughed and grabbed my bag. I drove to the restaurant and arrived fifteen minutes early. I wanted to be there first. I wanted to see the look on Lucas’s face when he walked in.

​

The waiter came to the table. "Would you like to order, Mrs. Vale?"

​"I will wait for my husband," I said.

​

Ten minutes passed. Lucas did not arrive. I checked my phone. There were no texts.

​

Twenty minutes passed. The restaurant was full of happy couples, but my table was empty. I felt a cold knot in my stomach.

Lucas was never this late without calling.

​I dialed his number. He picked up on the third ring.

​"Maya?" His voice sounded fast. He sounded like he was in a hurry.

​"Lucas? Where are you? I’ve been waiting for twenty minutes."

​

"I can't make it," he said. He didn't even sound sorry. "Something came up at the office. A big meeting. I have to stay."

​I gripped my phone. "A meeting? Lucas, it’s our tenth anniversary. We had a reservation for months. You promised."

​"I know, I know," he interrupted. "It's work, Maya. You know how important this contract is. I'll bring some dessert home later. We can celebrate then."

​"But—"

​"I have to go. See you at home."

​The line went dead.

​I stared at the empty chair across from me. I looked at the gift box in my purse. He didn't care. He didn't even try to explain. He just hung up.

​The waiter returned. "Is your husband coming, ma'am?"

​I felt the eyes of the other people in the restaurant on me. They saw me sitting alone. I felt a flash of heat in my face, but it wasn't just sadness. It was anger.

​"No," I said clearly. "He isn't coming. Give me the check for the water."

​I paid and walked out. I didn't cry. I didn't want to be the woman who cried in a restaurant.

​I got into my car and sat in the dark. My phone buzzed again.

​Tessa: How is the dinner going? Did he love the pin?

​Me: He didn't show up. He said there was a meeting at the office.

​Tessa called me immediately. I answered.

​"He did what?" Tessa shouted. "Maya, it is ten years! Nobody has a surprise meeting at 8:00 PM on their anniversary. He is lying to you."

​"He sounded busy, Tessa," I said, but I didn't believe my own words.

​"Go to the office," Tessa said. "If he is really there, then fine. But if he isn't, you need to know where he is. Stop being so nice. Go find him."

​I looked at the road leading to the office.

Usually, I would just go home and wait. I would be the patient wife. I would forgive him like I always did.

​But something felt different tonight. The way he hung up the phone was too cold.

​"I'm going," I said.

​"Good," Tessa said. "Call me when you get there."

​I drove toward Lucas’s office building. My heart was beating fast. I kept telling myself that I would find him at his desk. I would find him working, and I would feel bad for doubting him.

​When I pulled up to the high-rise, I looked up. The building was almost completely dark. Only the top floor had a few lights on, but those were the cleaning lights.

​There was no meeting.

​I parked the car and walked toward the lobby. My hands were steady now. I didn't feel nervous anymore. I felt like I was finally waking up.

​The receptionist looked up as I walked in.

She looked surprised.

​"Mrs. Vale? What are you doing here?"

​"I'm looking for Lucas," I said. "He said he was in a meeting."

​The woman looked uncomfortable. She looked down at her computer. "Mr. Vale left over an hour ago, ma'am. He said he had a private appointment."

​A private appointment. Not a meeting. Not work.

​I felt a chill go down my spine. "Did he say where?"

​"No, ma'am. He just left."

​I walked back to my car. My mind was working fast now. I remembered that Lucas’s car had a GPS tracker for the company's insurance. I had the app on my phone because I managed the family accounts.

​I opened the app. I saw a red dot. It wasn't at a restaurant. It wasn't at our house. It was at an apartment complex across town.

​I didn't hesitate. I started the engine and drove toward the red dot.

​The "patient wife" died in that parking lot.

The woman who replaced her was ready to see the truth.