Love Renewed: Winning Back His Ex-wife

Linsey Wheeler sat on the bed, lost in thought. Suddenly, she was snapped back to reality by a man's cold voice.

"Forget everything about last night. I don't want anyone else to find out about it!"

No sooner had the man finished speaking than Linsey noticed a piece of paper flung in front of her. It was a cheque for three million dollars.

As she regained her composure, the events of the previous evening began to come back to her. She had gone out for dinner with a client who, with ill intentions, had spiked her wine. In a state of panic, she attempted to flee and unexpectedly ran into her husband, Bryson Higgins, whom she had married for three years but never laid eyes on. Surprisingly, they ended up having sex.

Judging from Bryson's reaction, however, Linsey realized he didn't know she was his wife. Furthermore, he appeared to think she had played some trick on him.

Linsey quickly explained, "It's not what it looks like. Last night was just an accident. I was..."

She was about to reveal that she had been drugged and that she was his wife when his phone rang and interrupted her.

Glancing at his phone, Bryson stepped out onto the balcony to take the call.

Left alone in the room, Linsey could barely make out his conversation outside.

"Draft a divorce agreement and send it to the Wheeler family... It's been three years. She had taken enough... If she refuses to sign, don't hesitate to apply pressure if necessary." Bryson's voice was detached and tinged with disgust.

Linsey's heart dropped as she listened. She hadn't anticipated that her husband despised her so deeply, to the point of planning a divorce.

On their wedding day three years ago, Bryson had abruptly left for abroad, refusing to acknowledge Linsey as his wife and turning her into a laughingstock in Ekarora. Three years had passed, and his resentment toward her seemed to have only deepened.

At the thought of this, Linsey refrained from revealing her identity. Disclosing the truth might lead to further misunderstandings. It was better to keep it hidden.

After Bryson finished his call, he returned to the room. His frown deepened upon seeing Linsey still there. Clearly, he thought Linsey had ulterior motives. He became even more convinced that Linsey had deliberately seduced him the night before, and his disdain grew.

"Why can't you just leave with the money?" Bryson said irritably. "I don't want to see you again."

After that, he walked straight out of the room, not sparing Linsey another glance.

Linsey held the cheque in her hand, finding the situation painfully ironic. She got intimate with her husband, yet he didn't know she was his wife.

Observing the hickeys that marked her, Linsey sighed internally, mustered her strength, and dragged herself out of bed to shower.

Exiting the bathroom, her phone rang. She checked the caller ID. It was Asher Harper, a reliable client she had previously worked with.

She picked up and was greeted by Asher's cheerful voice. "Ms. Wheeler! How have you been lately?"

After a brief exchange, Asher got to the point.

Linsey had recently secured a favorable outcome for Asher in a lawsuit, working diligently on his behalf. In appreciation, Asher wanted to refer a significant client to her.

When Asher mentioned business, Linsey pushed aside her tangled emotions about Bryson and asked earnestly, "What's the situation? Give me the details."

Asher said, "Here's the deal. A friend of mine has landed a major overseas project, but his shipments are stuck at customs. I'm hoping you can help him out, given your reputation as a leading lawyer in this field."

Realizing this was a promising opportunity, Linsey responded with a polite smile, "I'm flattered."

Knowing Asher's connections, she anticipated a substantial case. She instantly felt happy and said, "Thank you for introducing me to this client."

Asher acknowledged her and continued, "I'll send you the address where my friend wants to meet. You can head over now and discuss it with him directly."

Though still feeling sore and drained from last night's passion, Linsey agreed without hesitation. She received the address, quickly got ready, and went to Twilight Bar.

But upon arriving and entering the designated room, she was shocked to find Bryson, her husband, the very one she'd had an unpleasant encounter with this morning!

What a preposterous twist of fate. Bryson again!

Scenes from their intimacy last night and his indifference earlier this morning flashed in Linsey's mind.

Linsey's first instinct was to turn around and hightail it out of there. She was in the process of turning away when she paused and reconsidered.

While she had no interest in getting involved with her so-called husband in any capacity, it would be a pity to let this lucrative opportunity go. Securing a connection with the Higgins Group would certainly help advance her career.

Besides, it was quite clear that Bryson had no idea about her being his legal wife. It posed no problems for them working together.

With renewed resolve, Linsey took a deep breath and strode over to Bryson's table. She slid into the seat across him and said, "Mr. Higgins. It's nice to see you again."

Bryson scowled when he laid eyes on Linsey. Hadn't he compensated her enough for the previous night? Why had this woman followed him all the way here? She was really starting to get on his nerves.

Bryson's eyes flashed with disdain as he smirked at her. "Do you want more money? Is that why you're here?"

Linsey sat up straight. "I'm afraid you've misunderstood. I'm here to meet a prospective client."

Bryson felt even more repulsed when he heard that. He got the wrong idea that she was some prostitute. It hadn't even been a day since they had shared a bed, and she was already seeking out a new client?

His gaze traveled down Linsey's slender figure. Could she really handle such strenuous activities?

"Aren't you pushing yourself too hard?" he asked. "Won't you even rest before offering your services to another client?"

Linsey blinked, baffled by his words. "Why rest when there is money to be made?"

Bryson's view of her was getting worse and worse by the second. This woman was something else! How could she be so proud of her depravity? How utterly shameless!

Linsey, on the other hand, thought that Bryson was simply underestimating her skills as a lawyer. She tried to reassure him, "Don't worry, I've dealt with similar matters countless times before. I'm quite proficient at my job if I say so myself."

Bryson narrowed his eyes at her. For a moment, he said nothing and just scrutinized Linsey. Proficient, she said? But she seemed inexperienced last night during their intimate moments. Was it all pretense on her part?

Linsey met his skeptical eyes and went on, "I'm more than willing to fulfill the client's specific needs. My goal is to ensure customer satisfaction. If you have any requirements, all you need to do is let me know, and I'll see to it that they are met."

The Higgins Group was a major conglomerate, a top player in various business enterprises. Even the mere possibility of working with them was not something to be taken lightly, and Linsey was determined to seize this chance for herself.

Bryson raised an eyebrow. "So, your industry provides such well-rounded service now?"

Loathe as he was to admit it, he was rather impressed by her zeal. With the way she was selling herself, he almost believed that she truly was the best in her line of work. This annoyed him, for some reason, even more so than he had been a while ago. Bryson turned away with a sharp intake of breath. "I do not need your services. You may go."

Linsey bristled. How could he reject her outright?

Asher had been direct about the tricky points of the case, which was mainly why he had turned to her for help.

For Bryson to dismiss her without even giving her a chance to prove herself was indicative of his lack of trust in her.

"I have handled my fair share of economic disputes and international trade cases for various companies. I assure you that my portfolio is extensive, and my experience will surely serve you well. I reviewed the previous lawsuits faced by the Higgins Group on my way here, and I am confident that I can win this one for you."

Bryson's eyes widened in astonishment. "You were talking about the case?" he blurted out, his voice rising slightly.

It was Linsey's turn to narrow her eyes, this time with confusion. "What else could it have been?"

What the hell did he think she was talking about?

As an afterthought, Linsey added, "Mr. Harper introduced you to me. Asher Harper, that is."

Bryson almost clicked his tongue. A female lawyer who built her career by seducing clients and sleeping with them... It looked like Asher was becoming increasingly unreliable these days. How could that punk introduce him to an opportunistic wench when he needed a true professional!

Bryson stewed and said nothing, making Linsey think that he was still doubting her abilities. "Mr. Higgins, I am aware that a batch of goods from your company has been impounded by Behland Customs. As I said, I have experience in these matters. In fact, I've handled a similar case before. I hope you will give me a chance. Even a single day wasted without settling this issue could mean heavy losses for the Higgins Group."

Bryson sneered, "You're quite dedicated, aren't you? You've been thorough with your research. I'll give you that."

"Of course," Linsey responded without batting an eye. "In our line of work, the client's interests and well-being are always the priority."

Bryson's expression darkened once more. Why did she keep blabbering on and on about pleasing her damn clients?

"Even the top legal team hired by the Higgins Group couldn't solve this," he said in a snarky tone. "Do you honestly believe you can take care of it?"

Linsey couldn't help but feel irritated by his tone, especially since he was basically questioning her professional skills. It didn't take a genius to know that Bryson underestimated her.

"The reason for the embargo is not because of the goods. Your lawyers were looking into the wrong angle and dragged themselves to a dead end. You need a fresh perspective, a thorough one." At this point, Linsey completely dropped her courteous demeanor.

She was no longer an amicable woman marketing herself for a profitable business venture, but a cutthroat lawyer who was dealing with a cumbersome client. The change was so abrupt and so stark that it left Bryson momentarily stunned.

Unfortunately, this wasn't enough to convince Bryson. Bryson chuckled and cast Linsey a condescending look. "You're quite confident in yourself, but words are merely words. What I need is a person of action, someone who is truly capable of solving this problem without a hitch. Do you really think that person is you?"

Bryson didn't even wait for Linsey to reply before dismissing her yet again. "You should leave, Miss... Well, you should go."

Linsey took a deep breath. She could tell from his attitude that she couldn't make any progress today. She took out a business card from her purse and offered it to him. "Mr. Higgins, if you ever change your mind, do feel free to give me a call."

"Oh, I'm pretty sure I won't be needing that," Bryson said, glancing at the card without making a move to take it.

Linsey gritted her teeth at his arrogance. As much as she wanted this project, her tolerance for his disrespect was limited. Unable to hold back any longer, she spoke sharply at him. "Article 328, Clause 14 of the Customs Administrative Penalty Implementation Regulations. Take a look at it if you can spare some time. I'd like to see if you can still be this pompous once the Higgins Group's overseas operation collapses!"

With that, Linsey grabbed her coat and strode away without a single glance.

If Bryson's legion of lawyers were half as good as he claimed them to be, then this matter should have been settled in less than a week. He wouldn't have to enlist Asher's help in seeking her out in the first place!

Linsey was so irritated that she failed to pay attention to the person approaching her from the opposite direction.

It wasn't until Linsey felt her arm getting grabbed that she finally snapped back to reality. Linsey glared up at the man in front of her, but her annoyance quickly turned into panic.

It was Devin Sullivan, the owner of a real estate business and the client she had met with last night, the very man who had drugged her.

Devin was already in his forties, a state that was more or less evidenced by his thinning hair and pot belly. Linsey had noticed early on during their business meeting that he was looking at her strangely, but she had never expected him to do anything about it. She had certainly never imagined that he would spike her drink! Now, seeing him face to face gave her an urgent need to flee.

Devin leered at her, his grip tightening around her arm. "Hello, Miss Wheeler. You may have managed to escape last night, but I'm not letting you go this time!"

Linsey swallowed the lump in her throat and told herself to calm down. "Don't you dare do anything to me, or I will sue you!"

Her threat was met with a bark of laughter. "Go ahead, be my guest! With my connections, I'll make it look like you're the one who seduced me. Let's see who will believe you then!"

Linsey grew frantic. She struggled against him, desperate to break free. "Let go of me! Help! Someone, please help me!" she cried out.

"Keep screaming for all I care! This bar is part of my turf. Even if you scream your lungs out, no one is coming to save you!" Devin smirked at Linsey, his lecherous gaze wandering up and down her body. "If you know what's best for you, you'll stop resisting and do as I say. Serve me well, and you will be rewarded."

Devin leaned closer, trying to land a big, wet kiss on Linsey's lips. Devin had been eyeing her for as long as he could remember, and he finally got the chance to get her alone last night. Needless to say, after his initial plans had been foiled, there was no way he was letting her slip through his fingers again.

Linsey tried to fight him off with all the strength she could muster. In her struggle, the top two buttons of her blouse came undone, exposing her neck and upper chest.

When Devin saw the fresh hickeys on her skin, he exploded in possessive anger. "You bitch! Who the hell did you fuck last night? You should be honored that I even gave you the time of the day, yet you went away and tumbled around with another man!"

Frightened now, Linsey took a step back and pulled as far away as she could. "What's wrong with sleeping with my husband?" she blurted out without thinking. "I'll have you know that I am married to Bryson Higgins! Touch me, and he won't spare you!"

"Bryson Higgins? Stop lying, you wench, and take a good look at yourself before you make such ridiculous statements. Someone of his caliber wouldn't even spare a glance at someone like you." Devin sneered and tightened his grip further, so much so that Linsey was sure his hand would leave a mark on her skin. "Did you think I would fall for your stupid lies? I'll show you just how wise and capable I am!"

His other hand began to reach for Linsey's chest. Linsey screamed and turned away, her eyes shut tight in terror of what was to come.

But Devin's hand never touched her.

Linsey risked a peek and looked up. "Bryson!"

"Mr. Higgins!" Devin knew who Bryson was, of course. To say that he was shocked to see Bryson there and then would be a gross understatement.

Devin's mind raced. Had Linsey told the truth? Was she really Bryson's wife?