Burning Desire My Ex-Husband Wants Me Back

The golden sun in the sky dazzled and blurred Nicole's sight as she stepped out of the prison gate. She placed a hand on her forehead, shielding her eyes from the scorching rays, as she waited for her vision to adjust to the bright sunlight.

She had been locked up for two long years, and now she was free. This was the first time in all that time that she had seen such bright light.

Despite the pain she had endured in prison, she had no regrets. Her five-year sentence had been unexpectedly cut short. Thanks to the new president, who had announced the release of all female inmates who were not guilty of murder, Nicole found herself among the lucky few set free.

Nicole took a moment to survey her surroundings, the fresh air and the sight of the world outside the prison filling her with a sense of relief. Her mind wandered to her husband, Abel Copper, and a soft smile spread across her face. She couldn't wait to surprise him with her unexpected release.

"Just a few minutes, baby, and I'll be home," she whispered to herself, though her voice was weak from months of neglect.

Life in prison had changed her. She looked frail and malnourished. But none of that bothered her. She had endured the suffering for Abel, and now she was free. Soon, she would be in his arms again.

A taxi pulled up beside her and stopped.

"Need a ride?" the driver asked.

"Yeah, Mallory Avenue," she replied.

"Hop in," the lanky man in the front seat said, waiting for her to get in before he drove off.

Minutes later, the car pulled up in front of Skylar Villa, Abel's home. Nicole paid the fare and stepped out, her heart racing with excitement. She never thought she'd be back here so soon.

As she opened the front gate and stepped into the living room, her gaze fell on Abel. He stood tall and composed, dressed in his signature luxurious suit, as though nothing had changed. He was about to head out.

Abel Copper, the renowned CEO of Abcop Conglomerate, had always been the picture of perfection. Hot, handsome, and unshakably composed. Nicole had missed him desperately. When he looked up and saw her, his eyes met hers with a cool, detached gaze.

"Nicole, you're home," he said, his gray eyes scanning her disheveled appearance without a flicker of surprise or warmth.

His frosty demeanor made her stomach flutter with both excitement and unease. She had always been unable to decipher his emotions. His presence filled the room with an air of coldness that sent chills down her spine. She couldn't stop looking at him-his chiseled features, his lips... how sweet they would taste, she imagined.

"Abel, are you already going out?" she managed to ask, forcing a smile.

Abel, noticing the faint disappointment on her face, didn't seem to care. His thoughts were elsewhere. He reached for a pile of papers neatly stacked on the table.

"Yes, I was planning to visit you at the prison," he said, adjusting his tie as though the conversation were of little consequence.

"You wanted to visit me at the prison today?" Nicole couldn't believe her ears. Abel was dressed and ready to visit her-this was the first time since she'd been locked away that he'd even considered it. A flicker of hope stirred in her chest.

Since her incarceration two years ago, he had never once made the effort to visit. Her heart softened at the thought. Could it be that he finally cared? Maybe her sacrifices hadn't been in vain.

"Look, Nicole, there's something important I need to discuss with you," Abel continued, completely unfazed by her emotional reaction. "I wanted to see you before heading to the office, but since you're here, let's get this over with."

He handed her the papers he'd been holding. "It's a divorce statement. I've already signed it. You can sign yours and we'll have it finalized by next month."

The words hit Nicole like an avalanche, brutal and devastating. She took the papers from him, her hand shaking as she stared at the document. It was a divorce statement.

Her world seemed to tilt as she struggled to keep her balance. She staggered backward, her back pressed against the wall for support. A sharp pain struck her chest as the reality of the situation sank in.

Clutching her heart, she looked down at the paper, her eyes drawn to the spot where Abel's name was neatly written. Tears blurred her vision, and her breath became shallow.

Her heart raced as the devastating truth became clear. All the sacrifices she had made-everything she had endured in prison for him-meant nothing to Abel.

How could he do this? How could he end their marriage so easily? Her mind raced back to the horrors of the past two years, to the torment she had suffered in prison for his sake.

In prison, Nicole had been beaten and bullied by a group of female inmates. There had been one night when she was forced to sleep on the cold marble floor while rain poured down from above. The women had shown no mercy-one of them even took her blanket and poured urine on her.

Nicole had contracted pneumonia as a result and was still suffering from it.

Her waist had been injured by one of the inmates during a brutal beating. That was the day they had taken her food away and forced her to go without for days. When she tried to fight back in hunger, they had beaten her viciously, striking her with a chair. Since then, she had been plagued by severe pain in her waist, unable to bend without agony.

The scars on her back were a constant reminder of her suffering-the sacrifices she had made for Abel. But what did she receive in return?

A divorce statement.

Nicole had always hoped that her journey to prison would bring her the love she sought from Abel, but that was not the case.

As she stared at him, tears flooded her eyes. Abel stood before her, his face as immaculate as ever, his features cold and unfeeling. A chilling aura surrounded him, sending an icy shiver down her spine. He saw the tears but felt no remorse. His eyes only darkened, becoming more indifferent.

"Please, Abel, can we not get divorced?" Nicole begged, her voice trembling.

She dropped to her knees, grabbing the fabric of his tuxedo in desperation.

"Please don't do this to me. I beg you. I still want to be your wife, even if you don't want me."

Her pleading only fueled his anger. He lifted his leg and kicked her to the ground, watching with disdain as she fell.

"You're just a gold digger," Abel sneered. "You would stay married to me even if I didn't love you-just for my money."

Nicole's heart shattered. She had hoped for more-for love, for understanding-but all he saw in her was greed.

"Your pleading won't change anything," he continued, his voice cold and final. "I can't live in this nightmare any longer. A marriage without love is nothing but a nightmare."

Nicole's lips quivered as tears continued to stream down her face. "I... I love you, Abel. Please don't leave me."

Abel's expression remained unchanged. "We had an arrangement. The three years we agreed on are over. But I haven't forgotten my promise. I'm leaving one of my estates, worth 100 million, in your name, and I'll also transfer money into your account once you sign the divorce papers. Isn't that what you always wanted? Now you have it. Just take it and leave."

Nicole couldn't believe what she was hearing. After all this time, Abel still thought she had married him for the money, for the compensation he had promised.

Summoning what little strength she had left, Nicole asked the question that had haunted her: "Did Grandpa know about your decision?"

Abel's eyes hardened. "Do you think his knowledge would change anything? Even Grandpa can't stop me this time. So don't rely on him to save you."

"But I didn't want-"

"Yes, I know you didn't want this marriage. But I'm done with it. Tired of this nightmare. Now that your job is done, I don't need you anymore. Just sign the divorce papers."

Nicole's heart sank as she wiped away her tears. Her three years of sacrifice, her love-nothing had mattered to Abel. To him, she was nothing but a burden, a gold digger to be discarded.

With trembling hands, she picked up the pen from the table and signed the divorce papers.

"You can stay here until the divorce is finalized," Abel said, his tone still indifferent. "Afterward, you can move to one of the houses on the estate."

Just as he finished speaking, his phone rang. Nicole saw the name on the screen, and her heart tightened. It was Riana-Abel's first love.

Nicole slumped onto the couch, her chest tightening with an unexplainable pain. This wasn't the reunion she had hoped for. This wasn't the love she had dreamed of.

Three years ago, Nicole had agreed to marry Abel, believing that love would grow between them. Back then, he had made it clear that their marriage would only last for three years. After that, they would part ways.

Nicole had agreed, thinking that in time, Abel would learn to love her. She had hoped that by giving him everything, by being faithful and devoted, he would eventually see her for who she truly was and return her love.

But it wasn't to be. Abel had always seen her as nothing more than a gold digger-a woman who had married him only for the wealth and the privileges his name brought.

Then, eleven months into their marriage, Riana came to her with an offer she couldn't refuse: she promised to leave Abel if Nicole would go to prison in his place. At the time, Abel had been falsely accused of money laundering.

Nicole and Abel had worked at Meghan's Group, a company owned by Riana's family. Riana, who was head of finance, had the power to shift the blame onto Nicole. In a desperate attempt to save her marriage, Nicole agreed to take the fall and was sent to prison.

What Nicole didn't know was that Abel had no idea of the truth. Riana had lied to him, claiming that Nicole was guilty of fraud. Abel, always suspicious of Nicole and believing her to be a gold digger, believed the lie without question.

To him, their marriage had always been a contract-nothing more. Nicole had only been in it for the benefits, for the money. And because his grandfather had favored her over Riana, Abel had tolerated her presence.

Nicole had been naive, believing that Riana would leave Abel for her. The reality was a crushing blow, one that shattered her already fragile heart. Two years of sacrifice, two years of love, were nothing but a waste to him.

Abel answered the call, his voice soft and tender as he spoke to Riana.

"Riana, dear, how are you?" he asked, his tone so different from how he had just spoken to Nicole.

In the past, he had always treated Riana with love and respect, something Nicole had never experienced.

"Abel, I have a big surprise for you," Riana's voice chimed from the other end of the line.

"A surprise? What could that be?" Abel said with genuine interest.

Nicole felt a sharp pang of pain in her chest. The realization hit her like a blow-Abel would always love Riana, not her. She had never stood a chance.

"I am back at Mallory"

What! Aren't you supposed to come back in a month?" Abel asked and was beaming at the news.

So that was it, Riana was coming back and that was why he wanted a divorce and wanted it finalized in a month. Nicole thought.

"Yeah, but I want to surprise you"

"Wait for me at the airport, I will be right there"

Quickly, Abel stormed out of the house.

Nicole was disheartened. She was crushed and broken. The joy on Abel's face a while ago when answering Riana's call made her realize that she had lost the man she loved. Despite all her efforts, she was not able to win his heart instead all her sacrifices were thrown back at her face. She smiled wryly at her foolishness.

Later in the day, Abel came back home with Riana, his hand wrapped around her waist as he led her into the house. Nicole's heart dulled in pain. Abel had never treated her with such love and it hurt her soul.

When their eyes met, Abel's face quickly turned to disgust.

"She never gets tired, when will she ever get it, that no matter what she does, she will not get my attention" Abel murmured and pulled Riana closer.

At the same time, Nicole's phone beeps, and a text message pops up.

"I am in your backyard," she read.

She gently dropped the plate of food in her hand on the table and left through the back door.

"Oh Riana, you are back. Welcome home honey" Nora Abel's stepmother greeted and hugged Riana.

"Abel, you should take Riana inside to freshen up before joining us at the table." Nora continued. But Abel's mind was on something else. His gaze was on the woman who slipped out through the back door.

"Excuse me, I will be back in a moment. Abel mumbled and hurried up to the back door. Just then a black Rolls Royce pulled up and Nicole entered. The car zoomed off, shortly after Abel came out.

"Such a despicable woman, she just came back from prison and was already in a relationship even before we could divorce. Yet she claims to love me" Abel said, clenching his fist and anger pouring within him. Even though he never loved Nicole, he still can't believe that she could move on so quickly as if he never existed.

"Didn't I tell her to stay here until after the divorce is over? She is not only a criminal but also a professional harlot. How could she cheat on me in that manner"

He quickly called his assistant Jason.

"My wife left the house a few minutes ago, find out the owner of the black Rolls-Royce E3546 she boarded."

"I thought you got divorced this morning? Why bother about her?"

"Shut up and hurry before they go far"

Jason chuckled and went out in search of Nicole.

Inside the Rolls-Royce, Nicole rested her head on Sebastian's shoulder. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead.

"I am glad you are back"

"I know, you never wanted me to be out in the first place"

"Your decision was stupid, you even went to jail because of that crap, yet he treated you with contempt"

"Whatever I did, I did it because I loved him. But it's all in the past now"

"Of all the days, he chooses to divorce you on your wedding anniversary. What a hunk he is"

As soon as the words left Sabastian's mouth, Nicole's heart tightened. She swallowed the lump in her throat and shut her eyes. The thought of that night, when she signed a contract agreement with Abel came to her memory. Old Bennett wanted a decent woman for his grandson and would not stop bothering him. Riana the only woman he loved was not worthy of the old man's blessing.

Abel reasoned that since Riana would be traveling abroad for her studies, he would use that opportunity to enter a contract marriage with Nicole, whom his grandfather adored. Nicole saved the old man's life and won his heart on that day. He would get her divorce immediately after Riana returned home. Without wasting time, Abel divorced her as soon as Riana came back.

Riana also ensured they were never together all the while she left by making her go to jail in Abel's place. She had been a fool to believe that Riana would leave Abel for her.

"I am sorry sis, but you shouldn't have done that. You throw everything away just because of that fool including your identity" Sebastian continued. Then Nicole had to change her identity just to win Abel's heart, but that has changed now because from now on, Nicole Miller no longer exists but instead Avery Clinton has emerged.

Immediately the car pulled at Clinton Manor, blue and red fireworks lit up the sky and the word Welcome home Princess appeared in the dark cloud.

Nicole smiled and looked at Sebastian.

"You set up fireworks for me?"

"Not me, Adam did. He wanted to surprise you and lighten up your mood" Just then, Adam appeared from the door and hugged Avery.

"Welcome home Princess," he said.

"Thank you, Adam, that fireworks were so thoughtful of you"

"Anything for my big sister"

"Where is Father?" Avery asked.

"In his study, he can't wait to see you" Adam replied and led them to their Father's study,