She Shows Up Pregnant, I Rise Stronger

After that, I walked out of the gala.

“Finally! That guy’s outta here,” I heard someone laugh behind me.

“Ugh, remember how he used to boss us around all the time? We always got stuck with the grunt work.”

“Well, glad that’s over. Miss Morgan and her family are taking over the company now. Things are finally looking up.”

“Yeah, I heard they’re giving out bonuses and all kinds of perks. Unlike that guy—always tightening the screws on us.”

“He had it coming. Total control freak. No wonder Miss Morgan dumped him.”

I let out a bitter laugh as I passed by. They had no idea.

All those perks they were raving about? I was the one who fought tooth and nail to make them happen.

If it hadn’t been for me, they’d still be stuck under the Morgans’ penny-pinching ways.

Nicole’s parents—tightfisted to the core. They never wanted to spend a dime on the staff.

I had to make promises, argue my case, even swear I could get the company listed—just to get the bare minimum approved.

But I guess that just made them hate me more. So when Nicole said she wanted a divorce and brought Drew back with her, of course her parents were all for it.

In their minds, the company was stable now. What could go wrong? They didn’t need me anymore. So they were happy to cut me loose.

Outside, I pulled out my phone and made a call.

“It’s happening. I’m divorced,” I said flatly.

“I told you it would end this way,” the voice on the other end replied. “You knew about them years ago. Now that you’re no longer tied to them, come home.”

“We’ve spent years setting traps for the Morgans. And now that you’re not one of them anymore, we can finally start the takedown.”

“I’m ready, Dad,” I said. “I’m coming home.”

Nicole had no idea.

What Nicole didn’t know was that years ago, my birth parents found me. They wanted me to come back and take over the family business. But I turned them down—I was still in love with her.

They left disappointed.

Then they came back with proof—photos of Nicole and Drew overseas. All over each other.

So yeah, I knew. For two whole years, I knew. But I still held out hope. I thought maybe—just maybe—she’d come back to me. I guess love makes you stupid. 

But I also knew what kind of people the Morgans were. That’s when I started planning. If they ever turned on me, I’d be ready. Now it was time.

Now, I’m going back to where I belong. My parents were thrilled. Dad even offered to pick me up himself, but I said no. I told him I’d handle the Morgans myself.

“Alright,” he said. “Come home, Ryan. You’ve been away from us for too long. There was never any reason for you to be someone’s lapdog. When you come home, I’ll find you a good wife—someone worthy of you.”

The next morning, I waited at the courthouse.

Nicole showed up holding Drew’s hand.

She sneered as soon as she saw me. “Ryan, look at you. Do you honestly think you can compare to Drew?”

“He’s younger—and better than you in every way.”