She Shows Up Pregnant, I Rise Stronger novel
And she didnt come alone.
Right behind her was a manher assistant, Drew Hastings.
Also known as her long-time true love.
The crowd turned to watch me, like they were waiting for a good show. Their eyes were full of mockery. After all, Nicole had been overseas for the past two years. And now here she was, back in town, carrying another mans child.
Even my in-laws just stood there in silence, staring at me.
Nicole walked up and announced to the whole room, Ryan, Im pregnant with Drews baby. But Im still your wife. And Drews child will take care of you when youre old. Im only having this one childever.
Then she added, cold and proud, You should be grateful. Lets be realif it werent for my family, you wouldve starved to death a long time ago, Ryan. Youre just a live-in son-in-law.
I looked at this whole twisted family, then let out a small laugh. In that case say goodbye to the Morgan family business.
Drew stepped forward, sneering, Youve gotta be joking. Everything you have came from the Morgans!
You really think you can take us down? Nicole burst into laughter. I was going to let you keep some dignity. My parents actually said you were capablethat we should let you run the company and work yourself to death for our family.
But I think Drew can do a much better job than you ever could. So today, Ryan, Im divorcing you. And you can pack your things and get out of the company.
Her eyes were icy as she looked at me. You signed a contract when you married into our family. If I want a divorce, you have to accept itno questions asked. And you walk away with nothing.
I turned to look at her parents. They kept their heads down, silentbut the guilt in their expressions said it all.
The rest of the company stood around whispering, watching the drama unfold. Not one person stepped in to defend me. They were still waiting for the punchline.
I knew what they all thought of me. I was just the kept husband, someone they never respected. The only reason I got to be CEO was because I made the company money.
Since marrying into the Morgans, I had given everything to their businesstransforming it from a small operation into a publicly traded company.
Nicole had volunteered to expand the business overseas.
And now she was back, pregnant by another man.
I looked at her. At Drew, standing proudly behind her.
I chuckled. Fine. You want a divorce? Lets do it.
The second I said that, Drew grinned and pulled Nicole closer. Dont worry, Nicole. Ill make sure everything runs smoothly from now on.
She gave him a sweet smileone Id never seen her give me.
Even after everything I gave up for hereven after marrying into her familyI never got her real love.
Nicole held out a document. Ive already drawn up the divorce agreement. Sign it and well get the papers finalized tomorrow.
I glanced at it and gave a slight smile.
It was simple. I leave with nothing. Not even a toothbrush.
I looked at her one more time. After years of loyalty, this was how it ended.
Without hesitation, I signed.
Ill meet you at the courthouse tomorrow morning.
After that, I walked out of the gala.
Finally! That guys 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 thats over. Miss Morgan and her family are taking over the company now. Things are finally looking up.
Yeah, I heard theyre giving out bonuses and all kinds of perks. Unlike that guyalways 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 hadnt been for me, theyd still be stuck under the Morgans penny-pinching ways.
Nicoles parentstightfisted 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 listedjust 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 didnt need me anymore. So they were happy to cut me loose.
Outside, I pulled out my phone and made a call.
Its happening. Im 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 youre no longer tied to them, come home.
Weve spent years setting traps for the Morgans. And now that youre not one of them anymore, we can finally start the takedown.
Im ready, Dad, I said. Im coming home.
Nicole had no idea.
What Nicole didnt 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 downI was still in love with her.
They left disappointed.
Then they came back with proofphotos 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 maybejust maybeshed come back to me. I guess love makes you stupid.?
But I also knew what kind of people the Morgans were. Thats when I started planning. If they ever turned on me, Id be ready. Now it was time.
Now, Im 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 Id handle the Morgans myself.
Alright, he said. Come home, Ryan. Youve been away from us for too long. There was never any reason for you to be someones lapdog. When you come home, Ill find you a good wifesomeone worthy of you.
The next morning, I waited at the courthouse.
Nicole showed up holding Drews hand.
She sneered as soon as she saw me. Ryan, look at you. Do you honestly think you can compare to Drew?
Hes youngerand better than you in every way.?
You know, the moment Drew took over the company yesterday, he landed a huge deal. Things are only going up from here!
She scoffed. Seriously, you thought the company couldnt survive without you?
I listened to Nicoles sneer and gave a faint smile.
After all, I knew exactly what deal she was talking about.
It was one I had been working on before I left. I always had a bad feeling about it. The client's deadline was insanely tightso tight that there was no way we could produce the volume they needed in time.
If anything went wrong, the penalties would be astronomical.
Any company with common sense would never take on that deal.
But I hadnt expected Drew and Nicole to be reckless enough to go through with it.
Standing there, watching the two of them gloat, I couldnt help but laugh. They had no idea that if this went south, it could drag the entire Morgan Group down with it.
But honestly? That had nothing to do with me anymore.
I signed the divorce papers and right after that, I watched Nicole pull Drew to the side and walk straight into the county office. Ten minutes later, they walked out holding a marriage certificate.
Im Mrs. Hastings now. Waving it in my face, Nicole couldnt wait to rub it in. As for you? Just a washed-up loser. Good luck finding a real job.
I didnt respond. I just turned and walked out of the building.
Behind me, Drew called out with a smug grin, Hey, Mr. Anderson, I have a message from all the staff you used to work with. They said, Good riddance. According to them, you were all bark and no biteand the companys better off without you.
I glanced back at him. He looked so damn proud of himself.
I just smiled. Got it.
There was no point getting angry. I was strangely calm.
The moment I stepped outside, a sleek luxury car pulled up at the curb.
Out stepped my fathers assistant, Lauren Scott.? Id met her a few times before. This time, my father had clearly sent her to pick me up.
She gave me a polite nod and opened the door. Mr. Anderson, your father is waiting for you.
Thanks, Lauren, I said with a nod and got into the car.
But just as we were about to drive off, Nicoles voice rang out from behind.
Ryan, wowyouve really learned how to put on a show.
You think renting a luxury car and hiring some woman to play along is gonna make me regret dumping you?
I turned to look at her.
She was clinging to Drews arm, smirking at me like she was the one who had won.
Lets be real here. Youre an orphan, Ryan. Youve got no money. You spent all those years working your ass off for my familys business and ended up with nothing. No way someone like you could afford a car like that.?
I just smiled. I didnt say a word. I didnt have the energy to argue with Nicole anymore.
When I didnt respond and simply got in the car, her smile faded and her voice sharpened.
Let me guessyou spent every last dime you had on this rental, didnt you?
I cant wait to see what happens to you now. If you end up starving on the streets, dont come crawling to us!
I turned my head and looked at her. She still had that arrogant expression, like she thought she had everything figured out.
And I just smiled. Dont worryI wont. But if you two run into trouble later on dont come knocking on my door either.
The words had barely left my mouth when Nicole suddenly barked, Ryan, do you even hear yourself right now? What makes you think youre in any position to talk like that?
You really think our lives fall apart without you? Let me tell you somethingDrews way more capable than you ever were. With him around, the companys only going up. And you? Youre nothing. A pathetic loser wholl never amount to anything.
I didnt say a word. Just smiled to myself.
Id heard that kind of garbage more times than I could count.
Even after I took over the Morgan Group and business started booming, Nicoles parents never missed a chance to belittle melike it was their way of keeping me in check.
I knew why. They were scared. Afraid I might get ideas. That I might actually have a voice. So they kept trying to keep me small, thinking they still had control over me.
And now that Nicole was back, they tossed me aside without hesitation.
Four years of marriage, four years of giving everything I had to that familyand this was how it ended.
I ignored Nicole and asked Lauren to drive me home.
When I got there, my parents were waiting. Dad looked especially pleased. He told me hed already prepared everything for my return and handed over the majority of the companys operations to me.
He said just having me back was enough. He and Mom were ready to retire. The company was mine now.
With his help, I took over smoothly. In no time, I had things running better than ever.
Then one day, I got a call from Nicole.
Ryan, where are you? The moment I picked up, her voice came through, tense and frantic.
Where I am doesnt concern you, I said calmly.?
I could guess what was happening. One of those brilliant business deals she and Drew had taken on was starting to go sideways.
And Nicole? She had no idea how to fix it.
As for Drewhell, even when he was just an intern, I knew exactly how useless he was. There was no way he could handle something like this now.
Nicole sounded increasingly desperate. Ryan, get back to the office. Now!
Did I miss something here? Have you forgotten that I dont work for you anymore, Nicole? Were divorced. I have zero obligation to step foot in your company ever again.
Youre unbelievable, she snapped. Im giving you a chance here because I didnt want to see you end up jobless and starving!
I chuckled. Thanks for your concern, but Im doing just fine. You dont need to worry about me.
I was about to hang up when she suddenly yelled, Wait! That contract you signed before you lefttheres a problem with it! If you dont come fix it, Ill sue you for causing damages to the company!
Her voice was practically shaking with rage.
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