Dumped By Ex Married To CEO

There was no longer any warm pile of french fries served on the plate. That fried snack remained untouched, still whole.

"Cel, why are you daydreaming? What's wrong?" Jenny asked worriedly, placing her hand on Celine's shoulder.

"Is there a problem?" Tiffany chimed in, sensing that Celine was holding something back. It wasn't like Celine to space out like this.

Celine lowered her head, hiding her tear-filled eyes. She looked up at her two best friends. "I... miss Zack," she whispered, her voice weak. Her heart pounded, struggling to contain the longing.

Jenny and Tiffany exchanged glances.

"Zack again? Still no word from him?" Jenny asked as if this wasn't the first time. Something felt different now.

Celine nodded weakly. "His number's not active. It's been over two days. I've sent him countless texts, but all of them failed to go through. I just hope he's okay, if he's really that busy lecturing at campus."

"Take it easy, Cel. Don't overthink it," Tiffany said, trying to calm Celine's growing panic. "Maybe once he's less busy, he-" Before Tiffany could finish, Celine cut her off.

"Busy? Or just no signal? We're in a modern age, Tiffany. Surely he could send one chat in a day. I'm just... worried. What woman wouldn't be? Once you're comfortable, once you care, once you love-you need reassurance!" Celine's voice rose slightly. She was frustrated, disagreeing with what Tiffany had said.

"And... I'm jealous of you both. You're always texted back, loved, celebrated. Meanwhile, me? Hah, I only felt all of that at the beginning. It hurts! Is this what falling in love is-just temporary?" All the emotions Celine had been suppressing finally broke through. Without realizing it, tears streamed down her cheeks.

"But... didn't you already introduce Zack to your parents? He must be serious about you-Om Adiwangsa has high hopes for him," Jenny reasoned, trying to reassure Celine that everything would be fine.

Tiffany's phone rang. She answered the call, and her face-once calm-instantly turned pale. She pulled the phone away from her ear as if the voice on the other end had dealt her a crushing blow.

"Wh...what? My mom got into an accident?" Tiffany screamed in shock. Her eyes immediately welled up. Her grip on the phone tightened, her knuckles turning white. Her mind raced, imagining the worst-case scenario. She prayed her mother would be okay.

Tiffany looked at Jenny and Celine. She stood up from her chair. "I'm sorry, I have to go to the hospital," she said coldly, her voice trembling with unshed tears.

"Cel, maybe you should head home too? I want to follow Tiffany to the hospital," Jenny said uneasily. She couldn't let Tiffany go through this alone-Tiffany needed support, strength.

"Y-yeah, I'll head back to the office too. I'll go now, Jen," Celine said, excusing herself. She felt guilty. This wasn't the time to be selfish. Things had gotten complicated-Zack's silence and now Tiffany's mother's accident.

---

Footsteps echoed through the hospital corridor as Jenny ran, searching for Tiffany in the waiting area. Finally, she spotted her-leaning against the wall, staring blankly into space.

"H-how's your mom?" Jenny asked nervously, sitting down beside Tiffany.

Tiffany remained silent.

"Tiffany? You can hear me, right?" Jenny tried again. She could tell something was wrong from Tiffany's stillness.

But then, a doctor stepped out of the room.

Tiffany immediately stood and bombarded him with questions. "How is my mother? Is she okay? She'll recover, right, Doctor?"

The doctor sighed, and the sound alone made Tiffany's heart race. She wasn't ready.

"I'm sorry, but your mother has fallen into a coma. Her condition is critical. Please be patient, and pray for a miracle. Excuse me." The doctor delivered the devastating news and walked away.

Tiffany covered her mouth, her tears breaking free. Jenny immediately pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her fragile frame close.

Jenny herself was swept up in Tiffany's grief. "Shh... your mom is strong. She'll make it."

Meanwhile, at the other end of the dark hospital corridor, a man paced in confusion, running his hand through his hair in frustration. He bit his fingernail, anxiety and fear hitting him hard.

"Damn it! Why did I have to hit that woman!" He shouted angrily. It was his fault-speeding recklessly just to avoid traffic.

"Argh! I don't care! What matters is I don't have to pay damages." He planted his hands on his hips, a smug smile curving on his lips.

Click.

The voice recording had finished. A figure dressed entirely in black, standing from behind the wall, slipped the phone back into their pocket.

Having finished recording the confession, the figure-hood pulled over their head-curled their lips into an arrogant smile. They pulled out a photograph.

"Just wait. I'll have my revenge. Your life will never be at peace." After muttering that, they quickly shoved the photo back into their pocket and hurried away, unknowingly dropping something behind.

---

Grabbing her phone, Celine checked the last message she had sent. She let out a tired sigh. Zack still hadn't come online. Cold sweat beaded on her back. Her thoughts spiraled into dark speculation.

"What if Zack just... disappeared?" Celine muttered, shaking her head. No. That couldn't be.

That afternoon, Celine still had four documents piled on her desk to finish. She was almost done. She'd be going home soon.

"You're still not done?" A familiar deep voice. A tall man in a black suit-Adiwangsa, her father.

"It's already late afternoon, and you're the only one still in the office. Why is your performance so slow?" Adiwangsa asked, half irritated. He hadn't been able to leave because Celine hadn't finished the documents.

"Be patient, Father. I'm trying-" Before she could finish, Adiwangsa cut her off.

"Trying? You're useless, Celine! Aren't you embarrassed? Even an intern can finish ten documents in three hours. And you?" He raised an eyebrow, looking at her with disdain. "You're far behind them!"

"If this continues, don't ever expect to inherit this company, Celine! Or maybe-are you deliberately ruining the family reputation over some worthless man?" Adiwangsa accused, his anger simmering. Zack had clearly clouded Celine's judgment to this extent.

Celine's slender fingers clutched the documents tightly, channeling her frustration. Her position was at stake. Inheriting Adiwangsa Property had always been her dream.

"Why do you keep comparing me to an intern?" Her gaze was filled with disappointment. This was the first time Adiwangsa had spoken to her like this-not encouraging her, but belittling her abilities.

"I just don't understand who you've become, Celine. You used to be fast, professional-never this slow. What's going on? What are you even thinking about?" Adiwangsa's breath came fast and heavy.

Celine stayed silent.

"It's your boyfriend, isn't it?" Adiwangsa guessed, as if he could read her mind.

"Don't just blame Zack, Father!" Celine snapped, standing from her chair. But she knew what Adiwangsa said was partly true-she couldn't focus because she'd been too preoccupied thinking about Zack.

"I don't care! If you stay like this, don't expect me to give my blessing or accept Zack!" Adiwangsa delivered his painful ultimatum, then turned and walked away, slamming the door behind him.

Celine clenched her fists. Damn it. There was no way she was losing Adiwangsa Property.

Her phone buzzed. She grabbed it from the desk. An unknown number.

Curious, Celine opened the message-there was a photo attached.

The image loaded, revealing the face of the man she had been longing for.

**Unknown Number**

[Photo of Zack]

Zack is fine.

That place... Celine recognized it. So Zack hadn't disappeared after all.

"I'm going to the restroom first," Jenny said, getting up from her seat, leaving Tiffany sitting alone once more.

The sound of Jenny's footsteps faded, growing dimmer, as if pulling away the only support Tiffany had at that moment. The room felt cold; the AC blasted bone-chilling air, yet Tiffany felt a burning heat in her chest. Her mother still lay helpless behind that white door, connected to tubes and machines that pulsed softly, sustaining a life now hanging by a thread.

Her hands trembled as she pulled her phone from her jacket pocket. Dozens of times she had tried calling her father, but only voicemail answered.

"Dad... why won't you pick up my calls?" she whispered hoarsely, tears she had been holding back now forcing their way out, streaming down her cheeks.

The mounting hospital bills also loomed over her, crushing her with bitter reality.

---

Meanwhile, at the end of the corridor, Jenny halted when her foot stepped on something.

Jenny picked it up, her eyes studying it in confusion. "A button?" Her fingers traced the texture of the button. She felt an intricate engraving and discovered the letters "AV" etched in the center of a royal crown silhouette. This was no ordinary button. Its deep black onyx material emitted a mysterious gleam, and its size-slightly larger than typical suit buttons-made it feel significant in her palm.

Jenny glanced behind her, scanning the surroundings to make sure no one else was around.

But the dim, shadowy corridor made it hard to see clearly. Only a faint glow from the emergency light at the far end illuminated the space.

"No one's here. Whose shirt button could this be?"

---

Staring at his reflection in the mirror, his sharp eyes narrowed as he realized he had forgotten to fasten his button.

"W-what? Ah, it must be in my jacket." He strode over and grabbed the jacket lying on the bed. Upon inspecting it, he found the button missing. It was the last button from a special set given by his late grandfather-a symbol of lineage that could never be replaced.

"Oh no! I swear I had the button with me earlier. Why isn't it here now!" He grumbled in frustration, tapping his forehead, trying to think back. Cold sweat began to bead on his temples. He clearly remembered the feel of the button in his hand when he was in a hurry earlier.

"What if... the button fell there?" His eyes widened in shock. He nodded confidently, certain that he had dashed out of the room.

That button was vital. The royal crown logo was exclusive to his family crest.

"No one must find my button! If my family identity is exposed, it'll be a disaster!" he muttered, pressing the gas pedal, accelerating his car.

---

"Empty?" Celine stared blankly into her empty refrigerator. She clicked her tongue in annoyance. If this was the case, she'd have to go shopping at the minimart.

Since the minimart was quite far, Celine chose the red sports car her father rarely used.

After arriving at the minimart, Celine picked up several ingredients for cooking.

A smile lingered on her lips. After double-checking that she had everything, she carried a basket filled with vegetables to the cashier.

Celine took her wallet from her shoulder bag and handed a gold card to the cashier.

After swiping Celine's card, the cashier looked at her hesitantly. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but your card can't be processed. Do you have another card? Or would you like to pay with cash?"

"Huh? What do you mean it can't be processed? Try again," Celine snapped. That gold card was the only asset she always carried with her.

Again and again-the third time-the cashier shook her head. "It's not working. Do you have another card? It seems this one has been blocked." She returned the gold card to Celine.

Celine let out an exasperated sigh. *'Great. All my money is transferred to this gold card,'* she muttered inwardly.

"I'll pay for it. How much is the total?"

Celine quickly turned to see a tall man, his face hidden under a cap.

"Four hundred and fifty thousand rupiah."

He handed over five hundred-thousand-rupiah bills, then simply walked away.

"Wait!" Celine called out, clutching her plastic bag as she chased after the man.

But the stranger who had helped her had already gotten into a taxi and left.

"Whoever he was, I owe him one," Celine breathed a sigh of relief. She had almost been embarrassed, unable to pay for her own groceries just because her gold card was blocked.

Meanwhile, sitting in the back seat of the taxi, the man smiled to himself.

"So... she really is that beautiful."

His voice was unfamiliar, yet it carried a note of satisfaction.

---

It took Celine two hours to cook the stir-fried vegetables. Once it was done, she plated it, garnishing it with sausage and egg toppings shaped into a sweet smiley face.

"I hope Zack likes it," Celine murmured proudly. The taste was perfect. She planned to give it to him for lunch, her beloved boyfriend. The smile on her lips wouldn't fade as she imagined Zack's reaction.

At the University of Indonesia. Celine made her way to the Faculty of Economics. At 9 a.m., Zack would surely still be teaching.

And sure enough, when Celine peeked through the window, Zack was lecturing his students. Her eyes sparkled with affection-finally, she could see Zack again. She had missed him so much. Not long after, the class ended. Several students filed out, glancing curiously at Celine standing in front of the economics classroom as if waiting for someone. Whispers began to ripple among them, making Celine feel slightly uncomfortable, but she ignored it-all for Zack.

Zack walked with his head lowered, adjusting his glasses, until he bumped into someone. He looked up at the person, and Celine?

"You?" Zack asked in surprise, his tone flat, devoid of emotion, causing the smile on Celine's lips to fade slightly. Her sudden appearance made him wary; he glanced around nervously, as if afraid someone might see them together.

"Follow me," Zack said, walking ahead. He had already noticed several students alternating their gazes between him and Celine, clearly curious about who she was.

But the way Zack spoke and walked-as if Celine was a disgrace-pierced her heart.

"Where? Don't run away from me!" Celine called out, annoyed, jogging to keep up with Zack from behind. The man stood around 195 cm tall.

At a secluded spot behind the campus. Only Zack and Celine. Silence filled the space between them, but this time it was suffocating, thick with unspoken tension. Zack kept his back to Celine, his shoulders rigid, as if unwilling to face her.

Unable to bear the silence any longer, Celine gathered her courage. "I brought you lunch," she said, holding out the stacked food container-three tiers-toward Zack.

Zack raised an eyebrow, eyeing the container Celine offered. But he quickly looked away.

"Why are you here?" Zack asked seriously. His voice was colder than before.

"I miss you. Is that not allowed?" Celine replied weakly, tilting her head up to look at Zack, who refused to meet her gaze. She longed to wrap her arms around him, but she held back.

Zack let out a long sigh, a gesture of frustration that made Celine's heart sink. "Celine, you know the situation, don't you?" His voice was soft, but each word struck like a heavy blow. "I can't act like this on campus. It's... dangerous."

Celine furrowed her brow. "Dangerous? What do you mean?" Her eyes revealed confusion and a hint of pain. She didn't understand what could be so dangerous about a girlfriend bringing lunch.

"I've told you, don't come see me here," Zack finally turned around, looking at Celine, but it wasn't the longing gaze she had hoped for. It was a hard look-there was even a hint of annoyance. "Do you understand what could happen if someone sees us?" Zack's tone was filled with warning, as if an invisible threat lurked nearby.

"I... I just wanted to bring you lunch," Celine's voice shrank. She felt so small in front of Zack, who had suddenly turned so cold. Was it wrong of her to want to see him? The longing that had swelled in her chest now turned into anguish.

Zack examined the food container again, this time with an unreadable expression. "Keep it. I'm not hungry," he said with a firm refusal. His eyes showed no trace of pity-just emptiness.

"But... I made it especially for you," Celine tried to persuade him, her voice fragile with hope. She thought Zack would accept her food, but instead, he rejected it outright along with her emotions.

"I said, I don't need it." Zack grabbed the container from Celine's hand with a rough motion, as if it were a burdensome, repulsive object. "And don't ever come here again."

Celine flinched, her chest tightening as Zack roughly snatched the container from her. She closed her eyes, hiding the tears that were about to spill.

Celine could only stare blankly at Zack's back as he disappeared behind the building. She didn't know what to feel. Angry? Sad? Disappointed? Everything swirled together into one painful mess. She looked down, her eyes fixed on the spot where Zack had stood, as if wishing he would come back.

Her gaze followed Zack, who grew smaller and smaller at the corner of the hallway. But she could still see him clearly.

Suddenly, from a distance, she saw something. She saw Zack's arm move. A throwing motion. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

After Zack left, Celine rushed forward and ran. No! He threw her food away!

She ran, tears streaming down her cheeks. Celine sobbed brokenly.

Her feet stopped right in front of the green trash bin. There it was-her stir-fried vegetables, complete with the sausage and egg toppings she had arranged with so much love, now lying discarded beside a pile of garbage. As if it were trash. Something worthless. Something repulsive to even touch.

Celine's breath caught. The world around her suddenly spun. She felt a blow far more painful than Zack's direct rejection. Zack... threw away her food?

Celine's body crumpled to the floor. She wept over her meal, which had ended up in the trash. Really, was this the Zack she knew? The man who had always been warm, gentle, and attentive? Why had he become this cold and harsh? Was there something wrong with her? Or had Zack never truly loved her?

---

Her slender fingers reached for the pink Teddy bear, the small stuffed toy Zack had given her on their first date. A gift that once felt so sweet now tasted bitter in her grasp.

She cradled the bear in her arms, imagining it was Zack holding her. The incident earlier kept replaying in her mind-her food container thrown away as if it were rotten trash unfit to eat.

In the early hours of the morning, Celine couldn't sleep. The clock showed 12:17 a.m., yet her eyes remained wide open, staring at the dark ceiling of her room. She checked her phone again. Rows of unsent apologies remained unread, alongside her old messages from three days ago. She was confused. Why was Zack avoiding her?

"Sweetheart, please don't ever hate me, okay?" Celine whispered, her voice trembling. She wanted to cry again. Her index finger traced the wallpaper photo of Zack from their first date, when she had accepted his love. In that photo, Zack was smiling warmly, holding her tight, gazing at her with so much affection.

A sound came from Celine's stomach. She pressed her hand against it-empty. She hadn't eaten anything all day.

Not because there was no food, but because her throat felt tight. Her appetite had vanished along with her shattered heart. She felt hollow, empty, as if there was a gaping hole in her chest. Should she apologize? But for what? She didn't feel she had done anything wrong. Was this a sign that their relationship was on the verge of collapse?

---

Meanwhile, at an internet café, someone had just finished clicking and uploading chat contents that should never have been made public.

"He'll find out who Zack really is. Tch, this despicable man doesn't deserve to be loved," they breathed a sigh of relief after hacking into Zack's phone. Remembering the tears still preserved in their memory, that beautiful face crying over Zack.

---

Celine decided to open social media, hoping to find a distraction. She scrolled through her Instagram feed, looking at her friends' posts. Suddenly, her eyes stopped on a story recently uploaded by Zack's account. Her heart pounded. This was strange-Zack rarely posted stories.

Celine tapped on the story. The screen displayed a screenshot of a chat conversation. The conversation appeared to be from a messaging app, with the sender's name unknown. But the content of the messages made Celine stop breathing.

It was a blatant proposition. An offer from a woman with a very sexy, beautiful profile picture, set against the glittering lights of a nightclub. The words in the chat were so explicit:

*Hi, darling... when can we meet again? Last night was so fun, I want more... There's a special offer for you tonight at The Black Dahlia. Come, I'll be waiting.*

And Zack's reply confirmed it.

*Yes, sweetheart, wait for me tonight. Don't worry, you're the most expensive of all the women I've met.*

A sly smile formed on Celine's lips as she nodded in understanding. "So this is why you've been inactive and rarely texted me," she muttered, her voice steadier now. Her fingers moved, replying to Zack's story.

*So this is your bad behavior behind my back? Cheating on me with another woman?*

And as it happened, Zack was online. On the other side, Zack, receiving Celine's sharp interrogation, was shocked beyond belief.

When Zack read Celine's message, his eyes narrowed as he thought curiously. A chat story? As far as he remembered, he hadn't posted anything like that.

Zack's eyes widened. He immediately hurled his phone violently, shattering it beyond recognition. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead, his heart racing. He looked around anxiously.

"Damn it! Who the hell dared to hack my phone?" Zack muttered, running his hands through his hair in frustration. The story had already been viewed by thousands of people.