My Ex-husband Regretted it after Divorce

On my birthday, my husband, Colton Thomas, told me to take a trip to a top tourist destination with me.

Just as we were about to board the plane, he suddenly received a call. Then he said, "Sorry, honey, but my mom has suddenly been sent to the ICU. I have to rush back."

In a rush, he got off the plane, leaving me to fulfill the promise we made to each other ten years ago.

I slowly stood up and said to the flight attendant, "I'm not flying."

Watching his eager departure, I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

I was genuinely curious to see how my supposedly deceased mother-in-law could have come back to life.

1

I was shocked after following Colton to a villa I had never visited.

At that moment, the villa was brightly lit, and the entire house was decorated in a warm pink. The courtyard was filled with my favorite flowers.

Digital fireworks hung on either side of the main gate, clearly waiting for someone to set them off.

It was my thirty-second birthday that day.

Just this morning, Colton held me and said, "Honey, I promise to give you a surprise for your birthday this year."

Looking at the scene in front of me now, I was suddenly amused.

Was Colton planning a birthday surprise for me?

He secretly bought a villa, decorated it, and set it up. Then he waited for me to come back in a huff for a huge surprise?

Even though we had been married for so many years, he was still romantic.

Thinking back, I remembered that Colton did mention investing in real estate last week. He told me that he had his eye on a villa in Silverport, with a reasonable price and a good location.

At the time, I was dealing with a company acquisition, and funds were tight, so I didn't approve it immediately.

But I distinctly remember saying, "I'll transfer the money to you once the project funds come in this month."

He had kissed my forehead and said, "You're the best, honey."

I took out my phone and called my assistant. "Ricky, withdraw eight million dollars in cash from my personal account and deliver it to Villa No. 8 in Silverport."

"Right now, Ms. Murphy?" Ricky asked, a bit surprised.

"Yes. Now."

I looked at the warmly lit house and couldn't suppress a smile at the corners of my mouth. "My husband has prepared a surprise for me, and I also need to surprise him with a gift."

After hanging up, as I was about to get out of the car, a flashy red Ferrari sped up and stopped in front of the villa.

The car door was opened upward, revealing a pair of long, slender legs.

I froze.

It was Kenzie Shaw.

She was the new intern at Colton's company, and her father was the cleaner I hired who worked at my house.

Her family wasn't well-off, and she had barely managed to complete her education with my sponsorship.

Yet here she was, wearing a dress that cost more than her entire four years of college tuition. She coquettishly asked those inside to open the door.

The villa door opened.

Colton stepped out. He was also well dressed, and his clothes were even more formal than those on our wedding day.

Seeing him, Kenzie glided into his arms happily.

Her voice was cloyingly sweet. "Thank you, honey, for such a big surprise. This villa is gorgeous."

Colton wrapped his arm around her waist and planted a kiss on her cheek. "As long as you like it. I promised to give you a home."

Colten and Kenzie walked into the villa hand in hand. Those young men and women, who had been waiting at the gate, immediately surrounded them and started cheering. Their voices were loud enough to be heard even from a distance.

"Kiss her! Kiss her!"

"Mr. Thomas is so generous to Kenzie."

"How much is this villa worth? At least twenty million, right?"

I stood in the corner and stared at the scene intently.

And my heart ached with every beat.

It turned out that I was deluding myself all along. Thinking about how ecstatic I had been earlier, I wanted to slap myself.

A few seconds later, I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down before walking straight towards them.

Two security guards stood at the villa entrance and stopped me as I approached.

One of them said, "Ma'am, please show your invitation."

I looked at him and said, "Why do I need an invitation to enter my own home?"

The guard gave me a once-over, and his eyes were filled with undisguised disdain.

I had no expensive clothes on me that day. I wore a simple beige trench coat, a white knit top, and jeans. I hadn't put on any makeup for the flight, and my hair was tied in a low ponytail casually.

Compared to the glamorous guests inside the villa, I indeed didn't look like I belonged in such a setting.

The guard said, "Do you even know what this place is? How dare you come here? If you offend them, a single word from them could ruin you."

I ignored him and went straight to the keypad, trying several passwords.

The date of my wedding day, my birthday... Finally, it was the one I didn't want to remember-Kenzie's birthday.

The lock clicked open.

I stared at the lock and couldn't help giving a self-deprecating smile.

Kenzie's birthday was just a few days ago, and she had posted on social media, showing off a property deed with the caption, "Thanks to my darling husband for the big surprise."

She had even specifically reminded me to check her post. And I had thought she wanted to share her joy with me.

I kindly left a comment below. "Congratulations. When will you bring your boyfriend over to meet us?"

Kenzie had replied with a cryptic emoji, saying, "There will be a chance."

Now I understood that it was clearly a mistress's provocation, but I had foolishly worried that the young woman whom I sponsored would be deceived by an older man and had gone so far as to write a heartfelt reminder.

I couldn't even imagine what an idiot I was to them.

"Ma'am, please leave immediately." The guard stepped forward and said in a threatening tone," Or I'll have to call for help."

Just as I was about to speak, an ear-piercing screech of brakes came from behind.

The car stopped less than ten centimeters from my legs. The window rolled down, and a young man with dyed hair stuck his head out and started cursing. "Are you blind? Do you know where you are? Are you looking to get killed standing in the middle of the road?"

The young woman in the passenger seat sneered, "Another one dreaming of striking it rich in the wealthy district. Can't you even dress properly? How do you have the guts to come to Silverport dressed like that? Do you even know how much the villa here costs? You can't afford to replace a single tile if you break it."

The young man with dyed hair, Jaxton Curtis, stepped out of the car. He was decked out in trendy brands with a thick gold chain around his neck.

He looked me up and down with disdain in his eyes. "Probably you are just a housekeeper hired by one of the owners. Hey, old lady, you got the wrong place."

I couldn't be bothered to respond and was about to get inside when the gate opened.

Colton and Kenzie walked out, followed by a few curious onlookers.

"What's going on?" Colton asked with a frown.

Jaxton quickly put on a grin and jogged over. "Mr. Thomas, this woman was sneaking around your gate, and I was worried she might have bad intentions, so I was about to drive her away."

Colton's gaze landed on me.

In that instant, all color drained from his face.

His pupils constricted sharply, and his lips pressed tightly together. His arm slipped from Kenzie's waist.

Kenzie clearly recognized me, too. Her face turned ashen instantly. Her fingers instinctively tightened around Colton's arm. They exchanged an anxious glance for a short moment.

The air fell silent for a moment.

Everyone watched us.

I stared at Colton and asked, "Colton, aren't you going to explain?"

Colton took a deep breath.

I saw his Adam's apple bob, and his eyes flickered as if he was quickly strategizing.

After a few seconds, he wrapped his arm around Kenzie's waist again and turned to Jaxton, saying, "I don't know her."

He was not loud, but his voice was clearly heard by everyone present.

I couldn't help but laugh at his words and nod. "Alright. Let's pretend we don't know each other."

Jaxton blocked my path. "Did you hear? Mr. Thomas says he doesn't know you. Get out of here."

He shoved me impatiently, and I stumbled back, falling to the ground suddenly.

My knee hit the curb, and the pain made me gasp. I looked down to see blood already seeping from my leg.

Colton watched me coldly, unmoving.

Kenzie gave a smile before quickly feigning fear. "Honey, she won't try to scam us, will she?"

Jaxton crouched down and patted my face. "Old lady, that's not how you stage an accident. Who is Mr. Thomas? Would he be interested in you? Get lost before you embarrass yourself."

Several guests around us laughed.

"Exactly. She is dressed like a cleaning lady. She's worlds apart from Kenzie."

"She should take a look in the mirror. No one would even take her in from the street. How can he try to scam Mr. Thomas?"

"Mr. Thomas, shall we call security?"

Colton took a deep breath and tightened his hold on Kenzie. "Forget it. Don't bother with her. Kenzie, let's go back and continue celebrating."

The two of them were about to leave.

I gritted my teeth against the pain and got up from the ground.

My eyes fixed on them, and the pain in my knee was nothing compared to the ache in my heart.

I watched Colton's back and said, "Colton, you're really guarding her well. Are you afraid that I'll make a move on her?"

Colton halted for a moment.

Kenzie quickly pulled him. "Honey, don't pay any attention to that lunatic. Let's go inside."

Colton clenched his jaw and turned back. "I don't know what you're talking about. You've got the wrong person."

With that, he hurried into the villa.

Before Jaxton followed them inside, he took out a banknote and threw it in my face. He sneered with contempt, "I've seen plenty of women like you. Someone with your looks isn't even fit to shine our shoes in our circle. Get lost!"

The gate slammed shut with a bang.

I stood outside, stared at the closed gate, and suddenly laughed.

Well, that was interesting.

Did they really think shutting me out would keep me away?

I walked to the side of the villa and pressed a decorative brick.

With a click, a hidden door leading inside opened.

I walked straight in.

The lively atmosphere in the living room vanished the moment I appeared.

The music played on, and the champagne tower still sparkled, but everyone seemed frozen, staring at me, the uninvited guest.

I stood in the center of the living room, and my gaze slowly scanned the room.

My blood boiled with anger instantly. I understood why I found the decor pleasing now. Every valuable item had come from my own collection.

The crystal cups in the cabinet were heirlooms from my grandmother, a set of six, each one unique.

Last year, Kenzie's father told me that he accidentally broke one of them and cried to me. Out of respect for his years of service, I let it go. But I never expected to see them there.

The painting on the wall was a private commission my grandfather arranged through a friend. After he passed, I stored it away to avoid the memories of him.

Now they shamelessly displayed it there.

Even the ashtray on the coffee table was an art piece I had acquired years ago. It seems they didn't want to spend a single penny of their own.

"How did you get in here?!" A sharp voice shattered the silence.

Kenzie was the first to rush over. Her eyes nearly popped out at the sight of me standing in the living room.

Colton was right behind her, his face turned livid with anger.

Jaxton and the other guests crowded in, blocking the doorway completely.

"Security. Where's security?" Jaxton shouted, "How did this woman get in? Did she climb the wall?"

I ignored them. I walked straight to the cabinet and opened the glass door to pick up a crystal cup.

The cup caught the light, shining brilliantly as it always had. It was the same as before.

"This is my grandmother's private collection. How did it end up in your home?" I tilted my head and smiled at Kenzie. "Oh, right. Your father is a cleaner, and it must have been easy for him to sneak things out of my villa."

I looked again at Kenzie's cabinet filled with luxury items. There were handbags, shoes, and a collection of limited-edition cosmetics.

Each one came from my business partners. Kenzie and Colton seemed to have swept up every item I disliked each season.

I clapped my hands with a smile and said, "Impressive. You are really something. You are sure that I never look at the things I don't like, so you've been shamelessly rummaging through my leftovers. That's all you're good for-picking up things I don't want."

"Elianna!" Colton finally exploded.

He rushed in front of me and snatched away the crystal cup. His voice trembled with anger. "You've trespassed into my home and meddled with my things. Get out immediately!"

"Your home?" I looked at him and enunciated each word slowly. "Colton, who paid for this house?"

The living room fell silent for a moment.

Every guest's eyes turned toward Colton and me. Those young people who were laughing and joking just moments ago now held their breath.

Colton's gaze started darting around. He was clearly guilty.

He then leaned in and whispered a warning, "Stop making a scene. Go home quickly. Remember, the company's stock prices have been volatile lately. It's only stable because of me."

Suddenly, it all clicked. So that was why he was so bold.

I had intended to restructure the company's shares, so I had collaborated with the upper management on a year-long scheme to make everyone think I was losing influence in the company.

Even my poor husband, Colton, could overshadow me.

I hadn't yet caught the seasoned schemers in the company, but unexpectedly, I uncovered Colton's affair.

He was so eager to control me after he just got 30 percent of the shares.

I was amused by my discovery. But before I could say more, Jaxton interrupted us. "Mr. Thomas, who exactly is this woman?"

Colton gritted his teeth.

I saw cold sweat forming on his forehead as his fingers unconsciously clenched. His suit sleeves trembled slightly.

But in the next moment, he took a deep breath and seemingly made up his mind. He said loudly, "She's the caregiver I hired when my mother was ill."

"What?" A collective gasp filled the room.

Everyone looked at me with shock and disdain in their eyes. They seemed to be watching an overambitious fool.

Colton seemed to start a good story and continued more smoothly, "She looked after my mom for three years. We pitied her and took extra care of her. But when she saw my family's wealth, she started pestering me relentlessly."

He pointed at me and said firmly, "She insists on using the favor of caring for my mother as leverage to force me to marry her. I've rejected her multiple times, yet she is not willing to give up. She even chases me here today."

Kenzie immediately played along. She squeezed out tears as she clung to Colton's arm and said with trembling sobs, "Is that true? Colton, why didn't you tell me sooner? Have you been harassed by her for three years? Oh my God. That's terrifying..."

She turned to me, and her eyes were filled with tears. "Please, ma'am, stop pestering him. We're truly in love. Could you let us be?"

Her acting was impressive.

If it weren't for the inappropriate setting, I'd want to applaud her with my hands on her face.

Jaxton's gaze shifted from disdain to disgust. "I knew it. She is dressed so poorly, just aiming for something out of reach."

His female companion chimed in, "Take a look at yourself. Mr. Thomas would never be interested in a caregiver like you. Just leave now. Stop embarrassing yourself here."

"Where's the security? Aren't you going to throw her out?" Jaxton's gaze shifted from disdain to disgust. "I knew it, dressed so poorly, just aiming for something out of reach."

His female companion chimed in, "Take a look at yourself. A man like Mr. Thomas would never be interested in a caregiver like you. Just leave already. Stop embarrassing yourself here. Where's the security? Aren't they going to throw her out?"

Colton took a deep breath and seemed to have made up his mind. He avoided my gaze and gestured towards the door.

Jaxton caught on immediately and showed a ruthless expression. He shouted towards the door, "Security, are you deaf? Didn't you hear Mr. Thomas's words? Drag this troublemaking woman out."

Several uniformed security guards quickly streamed in, armed with batons. They surrounded me with unfriendly expressions.

"What are you doing?" I asked coldly.

"What are we doing? We're escorting you out." The lead guard reached to grab my arm.

I sidestepped, but another guard shoved me from behind.

I stumbled forward, and my knee slammed onto the floor. The pain from the freshly healed wound turned my vision dark.

"Hold her down," Jaxton shouted from the side. "Don't let her touch anything here again."

Several guards swarmed over and eagerly twisted my arms and dragged me towards the door.

My coat was torn in the struggle, and my hair was disheveled.

"Let go of me." I struggled desperately. But against their numbers, my efforts were futile. In the chaos, someone jabbed a baton into my abdomen, and it was activated. The dull pain caused me to curl up instantly. I convulsed and lost strength.

They pushed me into the villa's courtyard fiercely.

I landed heavily on the stone path outside. The old wounds compounded with new ones made me gasp out of pain. I couldn't muster the strength to stand. Watching the blood spread from my knee, I almost fainted.

The music in the living room had stopped. Those guests crowded at the door and the large windows. They were pointing at me like I was a spectacle.

A few seconds later, Colton seemed to make up his mind.

He pushed through the crowd and walked towards me, step by step.