The Barren Ex-Wife of the Billionaire

As the hospital doors closed behind me, I turned to Mason. His concerned eyes searched mine, but I forced a small smile. "You can go home now, Mason. I’ll be fine."

He hesitated, his brow furrowed. "Are you sure, Ms. Straton? I can take you home."

I shook my head politely. "Thank you, but I need some time alone. Please, go."

Mason sighed, defeated, but before he left, he pulled out his phone and sent a quick text. He glanced at me one last time. "If you need anything, call me. I'll take my leave, Ms. Straton."

As Mason walked away, the silence felt deafening. When I stepped outside, the rain greeted me, soft at first, then quickly turning into a downpour. It soaked through my clothes, plastering my hair to my face. I didn’t care.

The tears I’d held back in the hospital finally spilled, mixing with the rain. I staggered to a nearby tree, gripping its trunk as a scream ripped from my throat, raw and anguished.

Why hadn’t I listened to my parents? To my brothers? They’d warned me about Elijah, begged me to reconsider marrying him. But I’d been blinded by love, so desperate to believe in him, to prove them wrong.

Now, standing alone in the rain, I could see how foolish I’d been.

Through my sobs, a resolve began to form. I had nowhere else to go but home. My parents’ home.

The journey to the Straton mansion felt endless, the rain chilling me to the bone. When I arrived, the sight of the brightly lit house brought a fresh wave of tears. The laughter and warmth spilling from within were a stark contrast to the cold emptiness I’d been living in.

I crouched by the gutter, hugging my knees as I stared at the house. My tears wouldn’t stop, my chest heaving with the weight of my regret.

"Alyssa?"

The soft voice startled me. I looked up, blinking through the rain. My mother, Rebecca Straton, stood before me, holding an umbrella. Her face was a mixture of concern and shock.

"Why are you out here in the rain, sweetheart?" she asked gently, crouching down beside me. "Did someone hurt you?"

At her words, the dam broke. I cried like a child, the pain and humiliation pouring out of me. Without hesitation, my mother wrapped her arms around me, not caring about the rain soaking through her dress.

"Come inside," she whispered, stroking my hair. "You’re safe now."

She helped me to my feet and guided me toward the house. As we entered, the warmth of the mansion enveloped me, but it was the sight of my father, George Straton, and my brothers—Axelle, Robin, and Gabriel—standing in the entryway that truly broke me.

I sank to my knees in front of them, sobbing. "I’m sorry," I choked out. "I was so foolish. I chose Elijah over all of you, and I’ve been so stupid. Please forgive me."

There was a long silence before my father knelt beside me, his strong hands helping me sit up. His face was stern but kind. "Alyssa, there’s nothing to forgive. You’re our daughter. We’ll always be here for you."

His words unraveled me, and I cried again. My mother knelt on my other side, holding me close.

"Have you eaten?" my father asked after a moment. His simple question caught me off guard, and I shook my head, the lump in my throat too big to speak.

"I'll ask the chef to prepare something for you," he said, helping me to my feet.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the familiar curtains of my childhood room. The pastel walls and soft bedding brought a strange sense of comfort, and I realized I was home—truly home.

I freshened up and made my way downstairs. The maids greeted me with warm smiles. "Welcome back, Miss Straton," one of them said cheerfully.

"Thank you," I murmured, my voice still hoarse from the night before.

In the dining room, my family waited for me. The long table was set with breakfast, and the sight of them—my parents and my three older brothers—brought a small, hesitant smile to my lips.

"Come sit," my father said, gesturing to the chair beside him. "Let’s eat together."

I took my seat, feeling a warmth I hadn’t felt in years. As we began to eat, Axelle, my eldest brother and a successful businessman, leaned forward. "We know what happened, Alyssa. Now, tell us—what are you going to do?"

His words hung in the air, heavy with expectation. My other brothers, Robin, a doctor, and Gabriel, an artist, watched me intently.

I set my fork down and straightened my back. The weight of my family’s support gave me strength.

"I’m going to take everything back," I said firmly. "Everything I gave to Elijah—my time, my love, my sacrifices—I’ll make sure he loses it all. Piece by piece."

A spark of approval lit in Axelle’s eyes, and Robin gave me a small nod. Gabriel smiled softly.

"You’ve always been strong," my mother said, her hand resting on mine. "And you have us now. You’ll never face anything alone again."

For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt hope. I wasn’t just a woman scorned. I was Alyssa Straton, and I was taking my life back.