Too Late to Beg, Mr. Billionaire: Your Ex-Wife Has Moved On

Abyndale, 9 a.m. The air was already stuffy with heat.

A colleague at the funeral home pushed in a young girl's body. She was badly damaged, multiple parts torn up, with gaping holes revealing raw flesh. It was gruesome enough-until everyone realized something worse.

The corpse was mutilated beyond recognition.

"Victim: female, aged 23. Manner of death classified as homicide. Autopsy findings indicate perimortem torture. Estimated post-mortem interval exceeded 72 hours at scene discovery. Next of kin requested craniofacial and soft-tissue reconstruction."

"Victoria, as our lead reconstruction specialist, you're assigned to this case. PD demands craniofacial restoration within 48 hours-they specifically requested your expertise. Handle with extreme caution: high-profile victim, compromised remains.."

Hearing this, a woman in the corner stood up.

Her soft waves of dark hair brushed her shoulders. She wore a crisp white shirt and jeans-slim frame, maybe too slim, though it couldn't hide her sharp, elegant features.

A few senior staff nearby exchanged troubled looks. "That's impossible. Minimum three days to fix something like this."

Victoria Ellis looked at the disfigured corpse for a beat. "Give me a day."

Everyone turned to her, stunned. This girl thinks she can finish that mess in a day?

The supervisor seemed pleased, handing her a new assistant.

"This is Chloe, just joined. Help her out, okay? The reference photo will be sent over shortly."

Victoria gave a quick nod and said nothing else.

People here were used to her silence by now. She'd been with them nearly six months-amazing skills, but distant. Always kept to herself.

Chloe followed her, helping push the body into a small clean room lined with equipment.

Victoria changed into a lab coat, tied her hair into a low ponytail, and rolled up her sleeves, pale wrists and slender fingers showing. She slipped on white gloves and pressed her hand onto the corpse.

It was cold-frozen solid kind of cold. Made your skin crawl.

She stared at the body, lashes lowered, side profile calm but distant.

"First, clean out the body fluids and dirt."

She glanced at Chloe, who looked like she might puke. Pale, trembling.

"Use forceps. Stuff cotton into the nose to stop leakage."

Even though she was new, Victoria didn't coddle her. Straight instructions, no sugarcoating.

Chloe hesitated, surprised by the directness, but obeyed. Her hands shook a little, but she managed.

Despite being scared, she worked carefully. It went okay.

Victoria, being the best in the field, could recreate an entire face from just a single photo-even with parts missing.

But the moment that photo arrived, something cracked in her expressionless face.

It was a picture of a smiling girl.

That smile... those eyes... stabbed straight into her heart. Her hands trembled uncontrollably.

That was her sister. Gina Ellis-the richest man's long-lost heiress in Abyndale, reunited with her birth family only two years ago.

Now she was gone.

"Victoria, are you okay?" Chloe noticed her strange look and stepped closer.

Snapping out of it, Victoria's face turned cold again. "Focus on your task."

She shut down the emotion and buried herself in work.

A day later, Gina's body had been fully restored.

In the break room, the TV was playing local news. The latest update on Gina's murder case. Then a middle-aged man showed up on screen-his face full of grief. He offered a reward of ten million for the capture of the suspect.The silver strands at his temples pricked at Victoria's heart a little-just a few years had passed, and he already looked worn out.

The supervisor walked in, praising her a bit before saying, "The family wants to meet you."

She paused, something unreadable flashing in her eyes.

"I'll pass. Just wanna go home and rest."

She declined plainly, not bothering to read his changing expression. Pulling off the white lab coat, her demeanor stayed as detached as ever.

She showered and headed home.

The moment she left, whispers started buzzing around the office.

"What's she got to be so high and mighty about? What's her background anyway? She's been here a year and the bosses treat her like royalty!"

"She's pretty though-maybe she's someone's kept woman?"

They all chuckled with a knowing look, already convinced Victoria had taken some shady path to get her position.

-

Drained to the bone, Victoria stepped through the door and had just changed out of her shoes when she heard movement.

Turning around, she saw Theodore Chambers walk in.

Clad in a sleek black suit with canary diamond cufflinks, the light carved sharp edges on his handsome face.

He caught sight of her, his gaze cool and distant as he loosened his tie.

Even with some space between them, she could smell the faint cologne on him-and the heavy scent of alcohol.

She frowned slightly and walked toward him. "You've been drinking?"

Theodore's eyes softened for a moment before he pulled her into his arms, his grip tightening around her waist.

Maybe it was the alcohol, but tonight, he felt a bit different.

She looked up, caught his dark eyes, and before she could say a word, his lips were on hers.

Still overwhelmed from dealing with Gina's body reconstruction, she clung to that sudden warmth-responding with a rare intensity.

His jacket and her white shirt hit the ground. The air between them grew thick with desire. They didn't even make it to the bedroom, tangled up right there on the living room couch.

Things spun out fast.

"Your safe days?"

Victoria nodded, already ignited by desire.

Her hair tumbled like silk over her shoulders, catching the faint light with every movement. Her skin, luminous and delicate, seemed to glow in the shadows. Theodore's hands found her waist with quiet authority, steady and assured-just like every part of him. In his touch, there was no hesitation, only the unwavering control he carried like a second skin.

But then, something hit her nose-another scent. Light but sharp, it shot straight through to her core.

Another woman's perfume.

She'd had her eyes closed, but now they opened-slowly.

Her fingers trembled slightly against his shoulder. Biting her lip, she forced herself to ask with red-rimmed eyes, "Theo, do you know who I am? Look clearly... I'm not her."

In everyone else's eyes, she was always composed. But only with him did she come undone-lost in emotion, overwhelmed by longing, stripped bare by everything she tried to hide.

And that name-she never even dared to say near him.

Whatever heat they had instantly shattered.

He stopped. Just stared at her, before his lips curled into something cruel.

Then Theo asked, "And you? Are you sure you weren't picturing Elijah Brooks too? That's why you were so into it, right?"

Every word stabbed like a knife straight through her chest.

Especially now-with them still caught in such an intimate position.

She didn't respond. Just gathered the broken pieces inside her, pushed herself off him, and with shaky hands, grabbed the white shirt from the floor.

As she stepped upstairs, his cold voice chased after her.

"Isabella is back. Let's get a divorce."

Victoria froze mid-step, fingers curling slightly as she struggled to stay upright. Even her breathing was all over the place, but she forced herself to pull it together.

Then she heard Theodore speak again. "Have you hated me all this time for dragging you away from Elijah?"

Under the dim light, his indifferent gaze was fixed on her back.

She really didn't hide it well. The second he said Elijah's name, her body gave a visible jolt.

Heh. Theodore let out a quiet, cold chuckle. Just a name, and she still reacts like this?

Victoria didn't dare turn around-afraid he'd see the tears that were already streaming down her face.

"Yeah. I've always hated you."

Back in her room, Victoria curled up tightly in the comforter, hugging her trembling body like it was the only thing keeping her from falling apart.

She reached up and touched the necklace at her neck. The shaking only got worse.

Elijah's voice echoed in her mind again. "Vicky, when I'm gone... have my ashes made into a necklace. One day, give it to Grace."

Her nose burned, and her delicate fingers kept brushing away tears as she whispered, barely audible, "Elijah, once I find Grace, I promise I'll give it to her. You can rest now."

Grace was Theodore's sister and had already gone missing.

...

Victoria didn't waste any time. The next day, she asked for leave from the station. While Theodore was at work, she packed up all her belongings, left the signed papers behind, and left.

She didn't dare drag this out-she was afraid she'd just get in deeper.

Pulling a small suitcase behind her, Victoria returned to the place Elijah had left her. After moving in with Theodore, the place had been empty.

She never thought she'd end up back here-tying on an apron, filling a bucket with water, and starting to clean up like it was her first day all over again.

In the afternoon, just as she sat down to catch her breath, her phone rang.

It was Old Mrs. Chambers.

Victoria hesitated for just a second before picking it up, her voice softening slightly. "Grandma, what's wrong?"

"Vicky, I'm not feeling well at all. I honestly don't think I have much time left. I need to make an announcement. You and Theo-come to the hospital now."

Victoria's brows knitted together. They were already divorced-did it still make sense for them to show up together?

"Vicky?"

More coughing came through the line, rough and sharp.

Her heart tightened. Worried for Grandma's health, she didn't think too much and just said yes.

Right after hanging up, she got a text from Theodore.

[Come.]

One simple words-cold and sharp, just like him.

Victoria blinked in surprise, walked to the balcony window, and looked out. A black Bugatti was parked on the street.

How did he know she was here?

Did he investigate everything about her after the divorce?

Frowning, she grabbed a denim jacket and let her hair fall down to cover the faint, lingering signs of last night on her skin.

Downstairs, she approached the car and tapped on the window. It slid down, revealing Theodore, his eyes fixed on her.

Victoria was wearing a light floral dress that went just past her knees. The fabric was soft and flowy, and with her figure, even simple clothes made her look effortlessly stunning.

But her face was pale-so pale it made people want to shield her from the world.

"Get in."

He kindly opened the passenger door for her.

"Thanks."

Despite how intimately tangled they were just last night, now every move between them felt awkward and distant.

Victoria leaned in to get in the car, and as she turned her head, the curve of her neck and the faint marks on her shoulder caught the light.

Theodore's fingers tensed slightly-images from the night before started flashing through his mind. Her boldness, his crazed desire... The thought of it all made his chest inexplicably warm. He forced himself to look away, trying to tamp it down.

Silence filled the car as it moved steadily down the road.

"Grandma's health isn't great. Once we're at the hospital, don't mention the divorce. If we need to, just play along."

"I've already signed the divorce papers. You can pick them up when you have time."

"Okay."

And just like that, they both lapsed into silence again.

His phone rang. Theodore glanced at the screen, tapped to answer with his long fingers.

A sweet, girlish voice came through the receiver.

"Theo, can I see you tonight? I miss you so much."

"I'm stopping by the hospital for Grandma tonight. Might not work."

His voice, usually distant, carried a rare hint of tenderness now.

For some reason, Victoria let out a faint smile.

So Theodore knew how to be soft. He just saved all that gentleness for Isabella Waters. Nothing left for anyone else.

She turned to face the window, caught a glimpse of her reddened eyes and his sharp profile in the reflection.

She blinked quickly, brushing off the tears. Swallowed everything.

"I'll come pick you up after I visit Grandma."

He ended the call.

Victoria leaned against her hand, pretending to nap. Inside, it felt like a tsunami, but she stayed frozen, as if none of it mattered.

Then, all of a sudden, a coat was draped over her.

She opened her eyes. Theodore's oversized coat was resting on her. She shot him a confused look.

"Sleep. I'll wake you when we're there."

His voice was detached but polite-flawlessly courteous, yet far away.

Her heart skipped a beat. Her fingers tightened around the coat. This kind of kindness only made things worse.

At St. Augustine Hospital's exclusive VIP ward, every single member of the Chambers family had shown up.

Old Mrs. Chambers was still asleep, and no one dared disturb her.

Theodore's parents stood up front. The others waited quietly to the side.

Among them was a woman with a striking figure, sunglasses hiding her eyes, pale oval face framed by brown curls-a serious head-turner.

It was none other than superstar actress Isabella Waters.

As soon as she ended the call, she rushed to the hospital hoping to surprise Theodore.

She hadn't expected he'd show up with Victoria.

When their eyes met, it felt like Victoria's heart got slashed open. She quickly looked away, avoiding Isabella's gaze.

It's hard to rise when your heart has never been held.

Davina Chambers spotted Victoria and instantly stiffened. She stormed over, and before anyone could react-smack. A hard slap to the face.

"Because of you, Grace is gone! You ruined everything-and you still dare come here?!" Her voice was low but full of venom. Rage burned in her eyes.

Isabella's heart dropped. From the corner of her eye, she saw Theodore's expression darken, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. That slap. had it really gotten to him?

Victoria stood there motionless, head dipped, silent. She let Davina hit her without a word.

"You stole Grace's fiancé and still had the nerve to marry my son? Victoria, what kind of madness is this!"

A cold intensity settled over Theodore's face. He reached for Victoria and pulled her behind him, every movement sharp with control.

"That's enough, Mom."

His tone was sharp, barely hiding his anger.

Victoria was stunned. She hadn't thought he'd defend her in front of everyone.

"Enough? If something happens to Grace, she's a murderer!"

Davina screamed, her voice breaking, eyes full of pure hatred.

Isabella stepped forward just in time to support Davina, her tone soft and gentle. "Davina, I'm sure Victoria has her reasons. Please don't be too hard on her."

The rest of the Chambers family didn't bother hiding their annoyance. Aside from Old Mrs. Chambers, none of them ever truly accepted Victoria.

To them, Isabella was the only one worthy of Theodore.

Even Amelia Brooks couldn't help but sneer, "Ever since she married Elijah while she was abroad and Grace vanished, and now the moment he died, she turns around and gets with you? What kind of heartless woman..."

She stopped mid-sentence, the rest of the words dying in her throat when she caught sight of Theodore's cold, dark stare.

His gaze was sharp, his expression unreadable, and the mood in the room instantly dropped several degrees.

Just then, the weakened voice of Old Mrs. Chambers cut through the silence. "I'm still alive, aren't I? What's all this fuss about?"

Everyone turned toward the bed at once.

"How are you feeling? Should we get the doctor?" Carlos Chambers quickly asked, eyes full of concern.

But she ignored him. Her gaze went right past everyone else and landed on Victoria. Finally, a faint smile touched her wrinkled face. She slowly lifted her hand. "Victoria, come here."

Even Isabella, who was usually the center of attention, found herself overlooked. Behind her sunglasses, her expression shifted slightly-obviously displeased.

Victoria walked over. The moment she was close, Old Mrs. Chambers grasped her hand tightly, then motioned for Theodore to come closer too.

She clasped their hands together, her eyes full of warmth and hope. "I've had one foot in the grave more times than I can count lately, but I'm still here-waiting on you two to give me a great-grandbaby! You two better put in the effort, got it? "

Victoria stared at the floor, not knowing how to tell her about the divorce. That wish...wasn't going to come true. She just stayed quiet, letting the words hang in the air.

Davina clenched her fists. "She's not fit to carry a Chambers child!"

She stepped forward, clearly ready to pull Victoria away, but Carlos subtly stopped her with a press of the hand and a shake of the head-now wasn't the time.

Then came the shocker-something no one in the room saw coming.

Old Mrs. Chambers reached under her pillow and pulled out an exquisitely crafted velvet box. Her fingers trembled as she opened it.

Inside lay a gemstone brooch, its surface glimmering with rich, vibrant hues. The setting was delicate yet intricate, and the jewel itself flawless-radiant, translucent, and breathtakingly refined.

This wasn't just any bracelet. It was the Chambers family heirloom-worth a fortune now.

"This is my gift to you," Old Mrs. Chambers said firmly. "To me, you're the only granddaughter-in-law who counts."

It was a pointed message-and clearly meant for Isabella to hear.

The room fell into silence. Reactions varied.

Davina looked like she'd just witnessed betrayal. After all those years of catering to the old woman, not once was she offered the heirloom. And Victoria? In just three years, she'd managed to earn the ultimate token of favor.

Davina shot her a look filled with venom. What a calculating woman.

Isabella bit her crimson lip. Seeing Theodore remain silent, a wave of anxiety flooded her chest.

"I'm really sorry, but I should get going. There's something I need to take care of."

Without waiting for a reply, she turned and left.

Theodore didn't hesitate for a second. He pulled his hand away and strode out after her.

The sudden emptiness at her side hit Victoria hard.

Theodore noticed the smallest changes in Isabella-the fleeting tension in her gaze, the silence that lingered just a moment too long.

But her? She had to keep pretending, had to swallow every rising lump in her throat.

Old Mrs. Chambers saw her grandson bolt like that and was furious. "Theodore!"

She coughed violently, her anger barely contained.Everyone took the chance to chime in.

"Mom, have you forgotten who she really is? How could you hand over our family heirloom to her? She's not even worthy of laying a finger on it!"

"Exactly! Don't let her go out there embarrassing the Chambers name. You're just too soft-hearted and got fooled by someone like her."

The noise bubbled around her. Old Mrs. Chambers frowned, and with just one cold glance, silenced everyone. "This is my decision. If any of you got a problem with it, keep it to yourself."

The room quieted down. Victoria spoke up on her own accord.

"Grandma, this is way too valuable, I really can't accept it. Please keep it."

"Nonsense. No matter how valuable it is, what matters is that I want you to have it."

Without sparing a glance at the others, Old Mrs. Chambers took the brooch and fastened it to Victoria's dress with quiet finality.

Victoria barely had time to protest, the cool metal was already resting above her heart, its vivid shine impossible to ignore.

...

Around the corner in the hallway, two figures stood closely together.

Victoria stopped without thinking, frozen in her tracks.

Isabella trembled slightly, her voice shaky and soft as she cried, all her frustration pouring out.

"Your grandma gave the heirloom to her... But what about me? Am I just the one who came between you and her? If you've made up your mind to choose her, then you can just go back to her..."

Smart people know how to pull back just enough to push harder.

Theodore gently ruffled her hair, his eyes shadowed with something deep, though the emotion quickly faded.

He said calmly, "Victoria and I are divorced. After things settle down with Grandma, I'll go public with our relationship."

Hearing that, the tension in Isabella's shoulders eased a little.

So he did care-only about her.

With joy lighting up her face, she threw her arms around Theodore and leaned her chin on his shoulder. She glanced at Victoria from afar, the faintest smirk playing on her lips.

Victoria held her head high as she walked away, teeth clenched. Every step echoed with the weight of words she refused to say, her fury pulsing just beneath her skin.

This time, she was done with Theodore.

The moment she reached the ground floor, her phone rang. A familiar number flashed on the screen.

She gripped her phone tightly, hesitating before finally picking up.

She didn't speak first, just waited for the voice on the other end.

"Gina's funeral is coming up. Bring Theodore with you."

The voice was low, hoarse, carrying the weight of sorrow-it hurt just to hear it.

Victoria didn't want to go. But now, she hesitated.

There was silence, then William Ellis sighed. "I know you've already heard what happened to Gina. Your mother... she's barely holding on. You're all she has left now. Come see her, okay?"

Victoria wanted to say something comforting, but the words stuck, and all she could manage was a stiff, "Take care."

"The funeral will be the day after tomorrow, nine in the morning. I'll text you the location."

"Okay."

In the end, she just couldn't say no.

But now another problem-how was she supposed to bring Theodore to the funeral?

After a minute of quiet frustration, she sighed and headed to Theodore's place.

She figured he was having some romantic dinner with Isabella. He wouldn't let her feel neglected, right? Probably brought her here just to spite Victoria.

So, she grabbed the divorce papers and came to drop them off-then she'd be gone.

With that thought, she pushed open the door.

The sight stunned her.

The living room lights were dim, the warm glow casting a soft, ambiguous mood.

She froze in place, immediately sensing something was off. Just as she turned to leave-

"Victoria."

A voice stopped her, and she had no choice but to look back.