Boss Lady: My Ex-husband Wants Me Back

"Nobody picked up. Are we sure she's Kenneth's wife?"

"How could I mess that up? She's definitely married to Kenneth Powell. I'm certain of it!"

"I've called him multiple times and sent messages saying we have his wife. So, why no response?"

Selena Powell had been abducted.

She had gone out last night for a business meeting, thinking it was just about business. However, it turned out to be a setup.

A night had passed, and with the ransom deadline drawing closer, the kidnappers grew nervous.

"Why isn't Kenneth reacting? Doesn't he care about you?" one of the kidnappers snapped at Selena.

Trying to stay strong, Selena replied with a smirk on her bloodied lips, "Kenneth Powell is not the type to pick up any call. Give me my phone, and I'll call him. He'll answer it."

The kidnappers exchanged glances. Their goal was clear; they were after the money, and were not interested in actually harming anyone. So they decided to give Selena's idea a shot.

"Mr. Powell" was the name that topped Selena's contact list, meaning it was Kenneth.

With growing anxiety, she initiated the call.

It took three persistent attempts to call, but Kenneth eventually picked up.

"Mr. Powell, I've been kidnapped. Please help me." While Selena tried to sound composed, the quiver in her voice betrayed her mounting fear.

There was just a brief pause from Kenneth before he hung up on her without uttering a word.

The abrupt end to their conversation left Selena reeling.

Though accustomed to Kenneth's cold and distant demeanor, his blatant disregard for her predicament still left her deeply shaken.

"Damn, I should've known she'd be of no use!" One kidnapper seethed, his rage evident in his eyes. As he lifted his hand, poised to strike Selena, the other quickly intervened. "Wait! Isn't that Kenneth on the TV?"

Selena's eyes darted to the screen.

A sharply dressed man in a suit and polished leather shoes escorted a stunning woman into a restaurant. As she whispered something, he inclined his head, the epitome of tenderness.

Their marital bond spanned five years. Even though the TV only captured their silhouettes, Selena instantly recognized the man. It was her husband, the foremost heir of the Powell Group and Friesey's top magnate.

Selena was also all too acquainted with the woman beside him.

It was Giselle Adams, the true holder of Kenneth's heart.

Five years ago, Friesey's biggest business giant, the Owen Group crumbled overnight, leading to the tragic suicide of Mr. and Mrs. Owen. The Powell Group, a behemoth in the same sector, swiftly acquired the fallen Owen empire.

In a bid to project the Powells' righteousness, the patriarch, Joshua Powell, orchestrated a marriage between his eldest grandson, Kenneth, and the daughter of the Owen family, Selena.

This union drove a wedge between Kenneth and Giselle, condemning them to the agonizing fate of star-crossed lovers.

It became clear to everyone now that Kenneth's indifference towards Selena's plight was due to the fact that he was with his true sweetheart.

After recovering from the initial shock, a surge of bitterness welled up within Selena. Drawing a deep breath to steady herself, she stared straight at the kidnappers' eyes.

"Judging by the lengths you've gone to, kidnapping me must have taken considerable effort. If something happens to me, not only will you leave empty-handed, but all your efforts will be for naught. A real shame, truly. Perhaps it would be in your best interest to let me go. I have my own funds, after all."

Knowing her phone was still active, Selena was confident Joshua could trace her. She just needed to buy some time. Help would surely come.

"How much can you offer? It's easy to make claims now! It seems like only the woman on TV could truly make Kenneth part with a significant sum for her rescue."

"If Kenneth won't negotiate, perhaps we should take matters into our own hands. But before any rash decisions, maybe we should... enjoy our time with our beautiful captive. I wouldn't want to waste such a fine figure!"

Selena felt a cold dread seep into her as her face lost its color.

The kidnapper's determined approach was unnerving, and with each step he took toward her, her heart raced faster.

Suddenly, the room's atmosphere shifted. Windows shattered, allowing a flood of bodyguards in black uniforms to pour in. They efficiently tackled and subdued the kidnappers in mere moments.

The leader of the bodyguards, exuding authority, walked up to Selena and spoke with a tone of regret. "Mrs. Powell, our apologies for the delay in our arrival. Mr. Powell is waiting for you at Halfhill Villa."

Within the luxurious confines of Halfhill Villa, Joshua stood tall and imposing, the weight of his years doing nothing to diminish his aura. Upon laying eyes on Selena, his stern demeanor shifted, replaced by a look of deep concern.

"Selena, please tell me they didn't harm you. I've summoned a doctor to ensure your well-being. This oversight weighs heavily on me."

Selena, gathering herself, replied with a hint of weariness, "There are just some minor injuries, nothing more."

"Rest assured; those responsible will be found and punished for what they did to you!" Joshua said.

Recognizing the ripple effect this incident could have on the reputation of the Powell Group, Selena nodded in agreement. "Very well."

After a thorough examination, the doctor confirmed Selena's injuries were superficial. This news eased some of Joshua's tension.

Having received treatment, fatigue overtook Selena, pulling her into a deep sleep.

She didn't wake up until it was already evening.

The distant sound of a car horn reached her ears, soon followed by the soft creak of her bedroom door opening.

The room filled with the comforting aroma of polished wood, offset slightly by a gentle perfume.

Selena's eyes briefly betrayed a depth of emotion, a sentiment quickly hidden behind her usual poise.

Before, she would have promptly switched on the light, greeting him with a flattering tone and saying, "Mr. Powell, welcome home."

However, tonight was different. She remained still, feigning sleep with eyes tightly shut.

Shortly after, she felt the mattress dip behind her, followed by a large hand encircling her waist.

The sudden touch was icy cold, causing Selena to involuntarily furrow her brow. Instinctively, she edged away to create distance.

To her surprise, the man paused only briefly before yanking her back with force.

In the process, her existing injury throbbed sharply, whitening her face from the intense pain.

All the pent-up frustration and resentment she'd been harboring threatened to erupt.

In defiance, she thrust out her arm, shoving him away.

Kenneth's expression grew stormier. He seized her by the shoulder, drew her close, and pinned her beneath him.

"No more games," he snapped. "You had Grandfather summon me home to see you. Are we playing this game of cat and mouse yet again?"

His emphasis on "again" wasn't lost on her.

There was a clear impatience in his voice, a disdain for what he perceived as her past antics.

In his eyes, she had manipulated Joshua into forcing this confrontation.

And he was convinced she was employing the same tactics this time around.

Beneath the night's shade, both Selena's bruises and her heartache were hidden. She clenched her fingers, showing her inner turmoil.

She stared deep into his eyes and put on a smile. "If my tactics bring you back to my side, isn't it worth the effort?"

He wore a smirk devoid of warmth. "Interesting. It seems you've got enough guts this time to admit that you're scheming. But what about the business partnership you compromised?"

Selena found herself at a loss for words.

The playful curve of her lips faded, replaced by a look of surprise and hurt. The trap, the scheme, it all stemmed from the botched deal. She bore the brunt of the kidnapping. Why was the blame now on her again?

His words revealed his ignorance of the fact that she had been abducted.

Yet, she recalled reaching out to him, only to be met with silence.

Was he actually wishing for her to be gone so as to make room for another as Mrs. Powell?

Chilled by the thought, Selena responded with a restrained tone, "I'll address the matter with the board myself."

"Is that so? Perhaps you should be considering how to make amends in other ways." All the while, his intentions became unmistakably clear as he began to undress her.

Kenneth's gaze was indifferent and devoid of warmth.

For him, their interaction seemed like an obligation he resented.

Recalling his cold demeanor during their earlier phone conversation when she actually begged for help, Selena tried to pull away.

However, Kenneth swiftly held her wrists, pinning them above her head. His voice was cold and firm. "Selena, don't test my patience," he said.

The second he finished speaking, he drew closer toward her.

Selena was in so much pain that she almost burst into tears. To stop herself from making any sound, she bit her lip, causing her body to tense up.

When Kenneth saw how she reacted, his eyes turned ever darker. He then grabbed her waist, pinned her down, and proceeded to do whatever he wanted to her body.

Once they were done having sex, Selena thought that he would leave right away, just like he always did. However, something about him seemed different tonight. He pressed her head against the pillow and started fucking her again.

Halfway through what he was doing, he whispered to her, "If you cause trouble for me again, I will make sure that you're banished from my household, Selena!"

As the minutes passed by, Selena passed out because she could no longer bear what he was doing to her.

For the rest of the night, she had trouble sleeping.

In her nightmare, she dreamt that the kidnappers asked her why Kenneth didn't care if she lived or died. And she told them that he didn't care about her life simply because he didn't love her.

Thereafter, the kidnapper pushed her off a cliff.

Stirring awake, Selena sat upright, breaking into cold sweat.

When she looked at the pillow and the bedsheet, she found that they were drenched in sweat. She sat there, staring at an empty space for a few minutes before she took a shower, despite her injuries.

Upon finishing breakfast, Selena drove to the company.

The second she got off the elevator, she heard one of her colleagues. "Miss Adams, I've finished cleaning your office!"

Selena stopped in her tracks and looked up ahead to see what was going on.

There was this woman standing at a distance, her elegant attire accentuating her long, cascading black hair.

Selena had often seen Giselle from behind, shielded by Kenneth, but never her face.

She found herself curious about the features of the woman who held Kenneth's undivided attention.

Feeling Selena's gaze, the woman gracefully turned to face her.

When their eyes met, a realization dawned on Selena. The contrast between her and Giselle was stark.

Where Selena radiated a brightness akin to the sun, Giselle exuded the serene glow of moonlight. They were indeed worlds apart.

"Miss Adams, meet Miss Owen," a colleague introduced warmly. "And Miss Owen, this is Giselle Adams."

Giselle's eyes held a fleeting, knowing look, but she greeted Selena with a soft smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Owen."

Selena responded coolly, "It's still quite early for a visit, Miss Adams."

Giselle's composure faltered slightly, sensing Selena's sarcasm.

Even though she hated the very idea of it, she maintained her kind demeanor.

"Ken brought me here early today. My apologies."

Even though she was apologizing, she sounded so conceited.

The familiar way she referred to Kenneth wasn't lost on Selena.

Sensing the tension, the female colleague decided to lighten the mood between the two.

"Miss Owen, Miss Adams will be joining as the new Marketing Department Director. She'll hold a position equivalent to yours. However, Mr. Powell mentioned that Miss Adams will directly report to him," she said to Selena.