Ex-Wife's Revenge: Falling For His Greatest Enemy

The clink of polished silverware echoed faintly in the silent dining room. Candles flickered in their crystal holders, casting long shadows across the table set for two.

Naomi Swift sat upright, her posture poised, a soft smile curving her lips.

Across from her, Kael Rhodes sat in his usual composed stance-immaculate suit, not a wrinkle out of place, his face unreadable.

She reached to pour him a glass of wine, but froze when he slid a folder across the table.

"Naomi," he said flatly. "Let's not drag this out. I want a divorce."

The smile on her lips faltered.

Her hand hovered midair before she slowly set the bottle down. Her eyes dropped to the folder, then lifted to his face-searching. But there was nothing. No hesitation. Not even a flicker of guilt.

"I made mushroom risotto," she said softly, not touching the envelope. "Your favorite."

Kael didn't answer. His gaze stayed on her-cold, detached, clinical. As if she were just another item to strike off his to-do list.

She stared at the folder. Cream-colored. Heavy paper. The kind they'd once used to write love letters in college.

With quiet grace, she picked it up and opened it. Lines of sterile legal language blurred in her vision, but the message rang clear: her name. His. And the reason-irreconcilable differences.

"That's it?" she whispered. "You couldn't even wait until after dinner?"

Kael spoke as if reading from a contract. "As compensation: the Old Town villa, your shop in the city center, ten million in cash, and the car."

She gave a soft, bitter laugh. "So that's what my youth is worth to you."

He looked down at his plate, untouched. Steam still curled from the risotto.

"You knew this was inevitable, Naomi. You know how this marriage came to be."

"No," she said, voice steady but quiet. "I knew I was losing you. But I didn't think you'd toss me out like last year's business strategy."

Years ago, when the Rhodes family teetered on the edge of collapse, Naomi had offered him a deal: marry her, and the Swift family would rescue his.

They'd signed the marriage certificate in silence. He hadn't touched her since. He left the country the next day. In four years, he returned only five times-just for a single meal each time, before disappearing again.

But she had once known a different Kael-the warm, chivalrous boy who'd walked her home in the rain. Who remembered her birthday before even she did.

That boy was gone. In his place stood this hollow man-cold and calculating.

She often wondered: if she hadn't proposed the marriage... could they have had something real?

But regrets don't rewrite the past.

Kael reached into his inner jacket pocket. She tensed-expecting more paperwork. Custody for a pet they never had, perhaps. Instead, he placed a pen next to her plate.

"Sign it tonight. We'll finalize it at the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow. Ten sharp."

She stared at the pen. Then lifted her wine glass and took a long sip, her eyes burning into his.

"Tell me something, Kael. Is this about Danna again?"

He didn't answer. He didn't have to.

"Of course it is," she murmured. "She gets a fever or a flat tire, and you drop everything. But when I cried on our anniversary, you walked out mid-sentence."

"This isn't about her," he said, jaw tightening.

"Then who is it about? Me?"

Silence.

She nodded slowly. "I get it. The problem wasn't that I was lacking-it was that I was too much. Too loyal. Too inconvenient."

Kael looked away. "I've signed the papers. I'll see you at 10."

Without another word, he rose from the table and walked out. The risotto sat there, untouched, going cold with the rest of the room.

...

The next day. 10:00 a.m.

Naomi stood alone in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau, the wind tugging at the hem of her coat. She glanced around-no sign of Kael.

Frowning, she pulled out her phone and dialed his number.

One ring. Two. Three.

Straight to voicemail.

Her brows furrowed. She hesitated for a moment, then tapped on Mario's contact instead.

"Miss Swift?" Mario answered after a beat, his voice cautious.

"I'm here at the bureau," she said, voice clipped but calm. "Where's Kael?"

There was a pause on the other end. "I'll try to contact him," Mario replied. "Please wait a moment."

He hung up before she could say anything else.

Naomi stared at her phone, lips pressed in a tight line.

Of course. She couldn't reach Kael-but Mario always could.

How pathetic.

After waiting for what felt like fifteen minutes, a sleek black car finally pulled up in front of her. The engine hummed quietly before cutting off, and the door opened.

A man stepped out.

Her breath caught.

"...Mario?" she asked, blinking.

Kael's assistant gave her a strained smile. "Miss Swift."

"Where's Kael?"

Mario hesitated. "Mr. Rhodes asked me to handle the process on his behalf. He had... pressing matters."

Her fingers clenched at her sides. "Pressing matters... Danna?"

Even for their divorce, he wouldn't spare her a final glance.

Mario watched the color drain from her face. "Are you alright, Miss-?"

"I'm fine." Naomi smiled. It didn't reach her eyes.

He looked as if he wanted to say more. "Miss Swift, maybe I can call-"

"No need," she interrupted, voice trembling but firm. "You're here. Let's get it done."

...

Ten minutes later, she stood on the courthouse steps, blinking against sunlight that felt far too bright for a day like this.

The divorce certificate still smelled like fresh ink.

Naomi Swift sat behind the wheel of her car, staring at the official seal on the paper beside her. Her signature was clean. Precise. Controlled-everything she no longer felt.

She had expected tears. Hoped, maybe, for a release.

But now, all she felt was weightless. Like a thread had snapped inside her chest, unraveling everything she used to be.

The beloved daughter of the Swift family. Once cherished. Once doted on.

Now discarded, like a forgotten promise.

She had cut ties with her family for this love.

And now, she had nothing.

She couldn't even go home.

The world was vast, yet she had nowhere to go.

She turned the key, and the engine rumbled to life. Pulling out of the parking lot, tires crunching over gravel, she merged onto the busy street. Her thoughts raced faster than the car. Memories. Regrets. Echoes of everything she'd lost.

Then-

Bang!

A blinding impact. Metal slammed against metal. Her body jerked forward, caught by the seatbelt.

Screams.

A jolt.

Glass shattering.

"Ah! A car accident!" a voice cried from somewhere nearby.

***

Naomi's head snapped to the side as her car collided with another at the intersection. Her vision blurred. Her ears rang. The world spun-then slowed, as if underwater.

Smoke curled from the hood.

The windshield fractured into a spiderweb of cracks.

Her hands trembled on the wheel.

People gathered outside. Someone banged on the window. Their voice was muffled, distant.

"Miss? Are you okay? Can you hear me?"

Naomi blinked. The rising wail of sirens surged in the distance, growing louder, closer.

A sharp pain lanced through her skull. Her vision dimmed.

The screech of tires, frantic shouts, and the scream of sirens bled into the haze.

At that very moment-whether it was the man drinking alone in a private club in Elaris or the one thousands of miles away-both suddenly clutched their chests, seized by an inexplicable pain.

In a hospital overseas, Danna noticed Kael's fleeting expression and asked gently, "Kael, what's wrong? Have you been at the hospital too long because of me?"

Kael glanced at the frail woman in bed and offered a soft smile. "I'm fine. Just focus on getting better. Don't worry about me."

He brushed off the discomfort tightening in his chest.

Meanwhile, in the VIP lounge of a high-end club in Elaris, a similar scene unfolded.

A flirtatious companion leaned toward the man beside her, smirking. "What's wrong? Lost your edge already?"

Atlas stared into his glass, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he pulled out his phone.

"Find out where she is."

The person on the other end didn't need clarification. The call ended without another word.

Atlas took a slow sip of wine, his tone drawling, "How's the Rhodes Group doing?"

Melvin clicked his tongue. "Naomi doesn't even acknowledge you anymore. In her eyes, you're probably not even a friend. Is it really worth it?"

Being part of the same elite circle, Melvin knew all too well how Naomi once adored Atlas, following him like a shadow in their younger years. Back then, everyone thought she was just another foolish girl trailing after a golden boy.

No one realized when the wolf started watching the little rabbit.

"It's only natural she resents me for what happened back then," Atlas murmured. "But Kael Rhodes? He's not worthy of her."

Melvin licked his lips, pressing his tongue against his molars. "Fine, but Kael really went overboard this time. He actually ran off to another country for that slut."

The air in the private room suddenly felt heavy.

"Then take back the land in the west side of the city from the Rhodes Group." Atlas's tone was indifferent, but Melvin thought he was being ruthless. That land was Rhodes family's key project this year.

The top families of Elaris-Knox, Swift, Anderson, and Rhodes-had maintained peace for centuries. Though the Rhodes family had been declining for years, they managed to stay afloat because their son married well.

In recent years, aside from the initial support Naomi's family gave Kael after their marriage, the two families had practically severed ties.

"Are you serious? If this balance gets broken..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a distinctive ringtone interrupted him-a voice recording of a little girl, around seven or eight years old.

Melvin felt like he had heard it somewhere before. Just as he was about to ask, he saw the man across from him freeze-his face shifting through shock, disbelief, pain, nostalgia, and an array of complex emotions.

Even Melvin tensed. Had something happened?

Just as he was about to remind Atlas to answer the call, the man picked up hastily, as if afraid it would be cut off.

"Hello, this is Elaris Hospital. Your wife has been in a car accident. Please come as soon as possible."

The man, already tense, suddenly exuded a sharp and commanding aura. He shot up from his seat and strode toward the door. "What did you say?"

"Hey! Where are you going?" Melvin called after him, but received no response.

The person on the other end of the line hesitated at his overwhelming presence before cautiously asking, "Aren't you Miss Naomi Swift's husband?"

Atlas's steps faltered for a split second. "I'll be there immediately."

As soon as he got in the car, another call came through. Naomi had finalized her divorce today. On the highway, she had gotten into an accident but was now in stable condition.

Atlas's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his speed showing no signs of slowing.

A man who always remained in control of everything was now consumed by chaos.

That ringtone hadn't played in years. He didn't know why Naomi had called him, why she told the doctors he was her husband. But above all...

He was worried about her.

Everyone in their social circle knew that the once wild and untamed rose of the Swift family had transformed into the perfect wife for Kael.

Naomi had loved Kael madly. That was no secret.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, the woman in question lay weakly in bed, anxiously looking at the nurse beside her. "Nurse, when will my husband arrive?"

The newly assigned nurse looked at her-an oval face, bright fox-like eyes that seemed to speak, exuding an irresistible charm even in her frailty. The kind of beauty that made one's heart soften instinctively.

"I heard him sound really anxious on the phone. Don't worry, your husband will be here soon. He cares about you a lot."

Something in that last sentence seemed to ease Naomi's anxiety. She smiled. "My husband and I grew up together. We've known each other since we were kids."

"Oh, then you two must really love each other!"

Naomi nodded. They were indeed a loving couple. Atlas treated her so well.

She just couldn't quite recall what had happened before the accident. Where was she going? What was she planning to do?

Just as she tried to remember, a sharp pain stabbed through her head.

The nurse quickly comforted her. "This might be a post-accident symptom. Don't think too much for now."

***

When Atlas arrived, he saw Naomi lying alone on the hospital bed, her eyes gazing out the window, lost in thought. Her profile was serene and gentle.

The man clenched his hands tightly. This scene felt like something from a past life.

"Naomi!"

His voice was unsteady, because even now, he couldn't figure out why Naomi, who had vowed never to have anything to do with him again, had suddenly called him.

Hearing the voice, Naomi instinctively turned her head. For some reason, the voice felt both familiar and unfamiliar to her.

When she saw who it was, her lips trembled, and tears quickly welled up in her eyes, on the verge of falling. She looked pitiful as she whimpered, "Babe, sobs, it hurts so much."

Atlas's deep eyes locked onto the woman lying not far away. He neither stepped forward nor spoke, standing there motionless.

Seeing that her husband wasn't coming over to comfort her, Naomi's tears finally spilled over. "Babe, what's wrong?"

"What did you just call me?" His voice was gritted, his gaze like a whirlpool pulling Naomi in.

"Babe, what's wrong with you? I'm injured, and you're still not coming over to comfort me?"

At that moment, Naomi looked like a wounded child, reaching out for a hug from her lover. Atlas stared at the woman who was extending her hands toward him. Regardless of his inner turmoil, he slowly walked over-but instead of embracing her, he simply sat down at the edge of the hospital bed.

"Naomi, what's wrong with you?"

Atlas wasn't a fool; he could tell something was off about her.

Naomi, however, assumed he was asking about the accident. "I don't know. I just woke up and forgot what happened before the crash."

"You forgot?"

Atlas looked into her doe-like eyes. "Do you still remember who I am?"

His heartbeat pounded wildly, as if it were about to burst from his chest. Even he wasn't sure what answer he was hoping for.

"Of course, I remember you! No matter what I forget, I'd never forget my Atty!"

The girl giggled, her voice light and sweet, her eyes full of Atlas.

For some reason, her husband suddenly looked like an idiot. What was going on? She was the one who had been in an accident, so why did it seem like he had lost his mind?

Before, her husband had always been... always been what? She suddenly realized she couldn't quite recall how he used to be when they were together. But she remembered him clearly as a child-her Atlas had always been very smart.

Atlas exuded an intimidating aura, but upon closer look, there was a faint redness at the corner of his eyes. "Naomi, say it again."

"Atty!"

Naomi responded immediately.

Seeing the unease in his expression, her heart clenched. "Atty, what's wrong? Are you scared that something will happen to me? Don't worry, I'll always be with you."

Her soft voice and absolute trust finally shattered Atlas's composure.

He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as if he had just recovered a lost treasure. Though the force of his embrace was slightly uncomfortable, Naomi remained obedient in his arms, her small hands gently patting his back, as if reassuring him that she was here.

After a long while, Atlas slowly stood up and carefully placed Naomi back onto the bed. "Rest for now. I'll go ask the doctor."

Naomi felt uneasy. "Atty, can you give me a kiss? You haven't kissed me since you arrived."

Atlas' body instantly stiffened.

Looking at the small hand clutching his sleeve, he slowly leaned down and finally placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Then, without any hesitation, he immediately left the room.

Naomi, who had expected a deep kiss: "..."

Is her husband... incapable?

She realized she had no memories of being intimate with him at all.

Little did she know, outside the room, Atlas stood frozen at the door, unable to say a word.

The doctor looked at the elegant yet intimidating man and didn't dare to slack off. "Miss Swift previously had a car accident that caused some blood clots in her brain. While this time she wasn't seriously injured, her head was still impacted. Based on what you've told me, she's experiencing memory confusion."

The doctor swallowed nervously under Atlas's blank gaze. "Memory confusion won't affect her physical health. The best approach is to let things happen naturally. She likely suffered emotional trauma before the accident, leading to selective amnesia-she only remembers what and who she likes."

Atlas murmured, "Who she likes...?"

...

When Atlas returned, Naomi had already fallen asleep in the hospital bed.

He slowly sat by the bedside, gazing at the woman he had longed for day and night. The nickname 'Atty'-how long had it been since he last heard it?

A nurse quietly entered the room, pausing at the sight before her. A soft smile crossed her lips-Mr. Knox truly loved Miss Swift.

"Sir, this is Miss Swift's bag."

Atlas took it, gesturing for the nurse to lower her voice. She nodded and quietly exited the room.

He intended to place the bag on the table, but as he moved, it slipped from his grasp. The contents nearly scattered onto the floor, but he caught them just in time.

His first instinct was to check if the sleeping woman had stirred. Seeing that she remained undisturbed, he let out a breath of relief.

Then, his gaze landed on the item in his hand. A flicker of emotion flashed through his dark eyes, shifting between light and shadow. After a pause, he slipped it into his pocket.

At one o'clock in the afternoon, Naomi woke up-driven by hunger.

"You're awake. I had someone bring you a bowl of vegetable broth and soft mashed potatoes with a slice of warm rye bread."

She spotted the insulated food container on the bedside table and beamed. "Thank you, baby!"

The man's posture stiffened for a brief moment before he casually remarked, "Didn't you call me 'Atty'?"

Naomi opened her mouth to respond, but Atlas calmly added, "I just think it sounds more intimate."

...

Isn't 'baby' even more intimate?

Naomi couldn't quite follow his logic, but she played along. "Alright, Atty."

Sure enough, she saw his expression relax, a hint of happiness surfacing.

"Can we go home this afternoon? I don't want to stay in the hospital any longer." Naomi disliked the sterile scent of disinfectant.

Atlas gazed at the woman clinging to him and calling him 'baby.' His brows furrowed slightly, but deep inside, he thought-

'Naomi, if this is just a trick to fool me, then lie to me a little longer.'

Naomi blinked, and in a moment of impulse, pressed a kiss against his Adam's apple. "Atty, let's go home. I don't like hospitals."

Atlas gently wiped a breadcrumb from the corner of her lips. "Alright."

***