Reborn Twice The Billionaire's Wife Strikes Back

I let out a cold laugh.

"No divorce? So you'd rather let your son run around behind my back, dragging the family name through the mud?"

"As for the risks and losses you mentioned, the Henson family can afford them. Save your concern."

In my last life, I'd been nothing but careful and attentive. I treated her like my own mother. And she repaid me by finding a mistress for her son behind my back.

When I was bedridden and dying, she told me I was too domineering, that it was no wonder my husband despised me. She said I should learn from Fiona Prescott in my next life, learn how to keep a man's heart.

And Fiona? She waltzed right into the president's chair at the Henson Group and ground my family beneath her heel.

On the day I died, I clung to Dominic's arm with the last shred of strength I had and demanded an answer.

"Why?"

"Why did you do this to me?"

Dominic just let out a long sigh.

"Ava, you really were wonderful. But Fiona was pampered her whole life. She can't handle hardship. I couldn't bear to let her suffer."

That was the moment I stopped breathing. I died right there in that hospital room.

My soul drifted above the bed. I watched my son throw himself into Fiona's arms and call her Mommy, and only then did I understand how deep Dominic's love for her ran, how far he'd been willing to scheme for her sake.

How utterly tragic my life had been.

My mother-in-law stood there with my words lodged in her chest, her face mottled purple.

Fiona sprang to her feet immediately, rubbing the old woman's chest, eyes rimmed red.

"Ava, how can you say something so cruel? Just because the Prescott family fell on hard times, you think you can humiliate us?"

"Dominic was only worried about me being all alone in the world. He just wanted to help the Prescott family get back on its feet, and you're so overbearing you'd slander us over it."

She lowered her head, tears spilling down her cheeks in a perfect picture of wounded innocence.

Something shifted on Dominic's usually glacial face. He crossed the room and pulled Fiona into his arms, his voice tender.

"Fiona, don't worry. As long as I'm here, no one touches you."

Then he turned to me.

"Ava, the Calloways and the Prescotts are old-money families. When someone's in trouble, you lend a hand. That's loyalty. You've always been sensible and generous. Why are you making such a scene this time?"

"This kind of selfish, cold-blooded behavior will drive everyone away from you. Or was all that grace and virtue just an act?"

I looked him dead in the eye and spoke slowly, every word a blade.

"Dominic Calloway. I get up at six every morning to manage this household. I deal with your parents, your relatives, your endless social obligations. I smooth things over with your business partners. I calm your shareholders. At night, I organize your contracts and files. And through all of it, I'm expected not to care that you never come home."

"You think someone can fake that? Go ahead. Try it yourself."

I pulled the divorce papers from my bag and set them on the dining table.

"Dominic, we've been married one year. I held up my end to the Calloway family and to you. You're the one who kept dragging me through the filth."

"A man this rotten? If I don't divorce you, what am I supposed to do, keep you around until you stink up my whole life?"

His expression darkened to something murderous.

"You... you're completely unreasonable. Vulgar. Keep this up, and I'll only despise you more."

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. After everything, did he actually think I still cared what he thought of me?

I turned, my voice dropping to ice.

"Your precious Fiona is so refined, so above it all. She's certainly not above spreading her legs underneath you to save the Prescott family, though."

"So stop forcing yourself to pretend you ever loved me. Go marry your little two-faced princess."

Crash.

A cup shattered against the floor. "Ava Henson, I truly misjudged you. All that love you showed me was the real act. You were only ever after the Calloway fortune."

"You've destroyed this partnership. I'd love to see how you explain it to the shareholders. To the board. Are you going to tell them it's because I helped the Prescott family?"

I lifted my gaze to meet his, and I knew he was seething. After all, I'd always been the obedient one, soft-spoken and compliant.