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Kicked Out, Broke, and Jailed My Ex Paid the Ultimate Price

NovelMaster · English · Theater: NovelMaster, Lang: English, Genre: Realistic, Genre: Romance, Genre: Reborn, Genre: Male Fiction ·

Kicked Out, Broke, and Jailed My Ex Paid the Ultimate Price

Theater: NovelMaster  |  Language: English  |  NEW

Synopsis

Just as I got home from a business trip, a notification popped up on my phone: a seventy-dollar charge at a gas station.
I texted my husband, Marcus: "I've been gone for three days. Did you go on a road trip?"
He replied almost instantly: "Just went fishing out in the western suburbs with the guys."
My stomach dropped.
The gas station on the receipt was on the complete opposite side of town—way out east.
Marcus was lying. I called him immediately.
"I need the car. I have to head back to the office tonight."
Thirty minutes later, he walked through the door. I grabbed the keys from his hand and walked out before he could say another word.
I got in and checked the dashcam. It was completely wiped. Cleaned out.
He couldn’t have made his guilt more obvious if he tried.
I drove straight to our usual auto detailer. The owner smiled when she saw me pull in. "Back already? You guys sure love keeping this car clean. Your husband was just here yesterday!"
I arched an eyebrow. "Yeah, I can’t stand dirt. Give it a deep clean. By the way, how much is left on our prepaid card?"
She snapped on her rubber gloves and gestured with her chin toward the counter. "Ledger's right there. Take a look."
I flipped through the logbook where customers signed off on their balances.
Right next to my license plate number, in yesterday’s slot, was the signature: *Chloe Jenkins*.
Our balance was down to fifty bucks.
Marcus usually washed the car twice a month. There was no way he burned through hundreds of dollars that fast.
I flipped back through the previous pages. The car had been washed almost every single day this past month. And Chloe's apartment building happened to be right in the middle of a massive road construction zone, surrounded by mud and dust.
I snapped photos of the pages, then casually asked, "My husband brought my friend along yesterday, and she dropped a perfume sample in the car. Mind checking if it's there?"
"Perfume? Isn’t she pregnant? Pregnant women shouldn't be wearing strong scents!"
Her words hit me like a slap to the face. I masked my shock with a calm nod. "Right. It was a gift for someone else. Could you check the security footage to see if they dropped it?"
"Help yourself, the computer’s right there."
Since I was a regular, she went back to work while I pulled up the surveillance footage.
Yesterday at 1:30 PM.
Chloe and Marcus got out of the car, laughing and flirting.
They kept their distance at first, but when Marcus got back into the driver's seat, Chloe leaned through the passenger window and kissed him deeply on the lips.
I recorded the screen on my phone and saved it.
Next, I went straight to the bank to pull the statements for our joint account.
The balance was sitting at roughly eighty-nine thousand dollars. Every month, I deposited a thousand, and Marcus put in five hundred. But like clockwork on the fifth of every month, six hundred dollars had been automatically transferred to Chloe's personal account.
We had an agreement: that joint account was strictly for family emergencies.
Yet here he was, secretly financing his side piece.
The transfers had started three months ago.
Chloe was a girl I had personally sponsored.
When she was a struggling college kid, I gave her part-time work at my firm and wired her an extra two hundred bucks every month so she could finish her degree.
She constantly cried about wanting to repay my kindness.
Turns out, she decided to repay me by sleeping with my husband.
I scoffed, printed all the evidence, and marched straight into Marcus’s office at our company. I slammed the papers directly onto his desk.
"Explain this."
Marcus stared at the bank statements and the photos. His face went from pure panic to defensiveness in a split second.
"You tracked me? You’re spying on me?!"
"Tracking you? The fishing spot is out west, but you bought gas on the east side. You were making out with Chloe at the car wash yesterday. Do you really think I need to hire a private investigator to see through your bullshit?"
"And what right do you have to touch our joint emergency fund?"
Marcus took a deep breath, trying to play it cool. "Natalie, babe, you’re misunderstanding everything. She’s the one who recommended that fishing spot. The main road was blocked, so I had to take a detour to the east side. I even ran into Mr. Harrison there—he can vouch for me!"
"And that kiss? Total optical illusion. It was just the angle of the camera."
"As for the money... didn't you always tell me to look out for her? She just started her career and asked to borrow six grand for a condo down payment. I didn't have that kind of cash upfront, so I sent it in monthly installments!"
"Babe, I swear to God, you're the only woman in my life!"
I sat back in my chair, looking down at him. Marcus dropped to one knee before me, tilting his face up at a rehearsed, flattering angle.
Too bad he was pushing thirty-five. All I could see were the crow’s feet around his eyes. It was utterly pathetic.I exhaled slowly. "Marcus. She's pregnant."
Marcus froze. Pure terror flashed across his face.
"Do you know who the father is?" I asked, tilting my head.
"H-How would I know?!" he stammered. "She's just a young girl. I'm a married man, Natalie! Why would I know anything about her personal life?"
Marcus grabbed my hands desperately. "Babe, do you really not trust me? You know my only hobby after getting married has been fishing!"
I smirked. "Just kidding. Why are you sweating so much?"
He visibly exhaled in relief.
I smoothed my blazer. "Speaking of which, Mr. Harrison's deal has been dragging on for way too long. Why don't we invite him to dinner tonight and push for the contract?"
His shoulders tensed right back up. "No need!"
I stared at him.
Marcus quickly scrambled for an excuse: "I just talked to him while fishing. The contract is in the bag. If we take him out for dinner now, we’ll look way too desperate."
"Fine. Do whatever you want."
I stood up to leave. Just then, his assistant knocked and hurried in. "Mr. Vance, we just got word from Harrison Group. They’re meeting with Sterling Corporation right now!"
Marcus turned as white as a sheet.
I crossed my arms. "Mr. Harrison is meeting with our biggest competitor? Marcus, is this what you meant by 'in the bag'?"
"Get me their exact location right now," I ordered the assistant. "I'm heading over."
The assistant forwarded the restaurant address to my phone. I grabbed my designer bag and headed out, with Marcus scrambling after me like a lost dog.
When we pulled up to the upscale private club, Chloe was standing right outside the private dining room. Seeing us, she immediately walked over with a sweet smile.
"Natalie, you're here!"
I nodded coldly. "Is Mr. Harrison inside?"
"He is," Chloe said, stepping directly in front of me. "But Natalie, you don't have an appointment. I can't let you in."
Her posture seemed polite, but the smug satisfaction in her eyes was glaring.
"If you're here about the contract, I might be able to put in a good word for you," she added condescendingly. "Though, of course, it all depends on what Mr. Harrison decides."
Marcus quickly chimed in, "Thank God you're here, Chloe. Please, go talk to him. This deal is crucial for our firm. If this goes through, I’ll make sure you get a massive bonus!"
"Oh, Marcus, don't mention it. We're way too close for formalities," she cooed. Then she smiled at him. "By the way, Mr. Harrison said he had a wonderful time fishing with you. He’d love to go again whenever you're free. I've already cleared it with the fishery owner."
Listening to them openly flirt right in front of me, I let out a dry laugh.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Mrs. Harrison directly.
"Hi Evelyn, it’s Natalie. I’m on the ground floor. Perfect, I’ll head up right now."
I hung up and moved forward. Chloe reached out to block me, but I stepped back immediately.
"Careful now," I warned, staring at her midsection. "You're pregnant. The last thing you want is a little shove causing a tragic miscarriage."
Chloe’s expression froze. She bit her lower lip, tears welling up in her eyes on cue. "Natalie, please don't make my job difficult. Mr. Harrison is meeting with an extremely important VIP!"
I scoffed. "No VIP books out the entire building. I have a meeting with an important guest of my own. Are you really going to stand in my way?"
Chloe gripped her lip tighter. As I brushed past her, she let out a dramatic gasp and deliberately threw herself backward.
Marcus caught her just in time, holding her against his chest.
Chloe trembled, clinging to his shirt with teary eyes. "Natalie, how could you..."
Marcus lost his temper completely. "Natalie! Have you lost your damn mind?! Take your anger out on me if you have to—she’s pregnant!"
I glanced at her with cold contempt, my glare sharp enough to make her flinch backward.
"In broad daylight, surrounded by people and security cameras, you think I'd touch a pregnant woman? Why don't we call the cops right now? Let's have the police check the footage to see if I pushed her, or if she threw herself down like a cheap actress.""No... it's fine, Natalie," Chloe whimpered, lowering her gaze. "I just lost my balance."
I looked at her with pure disgust.
Just then, Mrs. Harrison's personal assistant walked over. "Ms. Vance, this way, please."
I nodded and followed her without sparing Marcus or Chloe another glance.
They stood there, looking utterly humiliated. Marcus hurriedly tried to follow me.
"Natalie! You were meeting Evelyn Harrison?! Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Excuse me, sir," the assistant said, stepping firmly in front of Marcus. "Mrs. Harrison is only seeing Ms. Vance. The private lounge is ladies-only."
I didn’t even bother looking back as the elevator doors slid shut.
I saw Marcus clenching his fists in frustration, and I didn't miss the venom in Chloe's eyes.
I ignored it. Chloe was running out of time. Her belly would start showing soon, and there was no way she’d let her baby be born a bastard without a fight.
The more desperate she became, the calmer I felt.
My meeting with Evelyn went smoothly, and we shook hands on the deal. When I finally stepped out of the VIP lounge, Chloe suddenly jumped out from around the corner, clutching her stomach with tears streaming down her face.
"Natalie! I didn't mean to borrow his money! Marcus told me you found out and that you're suspicious of him. It’s my fault! I just wanted to buy a home so my baby would have a roof over its head!"
"And what about the father?" I sneered. "He's making you do this as a single mom?"
"He is not!"
Chloe snapped, her voice trembling with emotion. "He promised to give me the best life! I am the love of his life!"
I let out a mocking laugh. "The love of his life makes you scrounge for pennies to buy an apartment?"
"Chloe, high-value men aren't just sitting around on clearance. If you thought this pathetic loser was your ticket to the top, you bet on the wrong horse."
"Trash belongs in the dumpster. Don't go picking up garbage I'm done with—you'll only dirty your own hands."
Her face twisted with rage.
I leaned in, whispering into her ear, "Do you really think I don't know what you and Marcus have been doing behind my back? If you're so confident, convince him to divorce me. Otherwise, that bastard in your belly will stay a dirty secret forever."
She went deathly pale. "No... I don't believe you. Marcus told me I'm his one true soulmate!"
"Is that so? Where’s your proof, Chloe? Keep dreaming."
I dug my nails into my palms, waiting.
Right on cue, Chloe whipped out her phone, aggressively showing me photos of them in bed together, and even a video of them exchanging rings in a church behind my back.
"You've been married to Marcus for six years and couldn't even give him a child! This is his firstborn! I’m willing to start a family with him! I love him a thousand times more than you ever could!"
"Let me tell you the truth—we’ve been together for months. Marcus was just too polite to break it off with you. But I’m not! Natalie, you’re an old hag, and it's time for you to step down!"
I actually laughed. "Really? So he rented your uterus for six hundred bucks a month?"
My mockery completely pushed her over the edge. "What do you know?! A barren woman who can't even get knocked up has no right to judge me! What makes you so special anyway? If it weren't for your family’s money, you think Marcus would've stayed with you this long?!"
I smiled faintly. "Exactly. It's because of my money and family that Marcus will never dare to leave me. Want to bet? If he sees you right now, he'll tell you to get lost, and I will always remain his legal wife."
Chloe snapped. Clenching her teeth, she glanced down the hallway behind me, suddenly grabbed my arm, and raised her voice to a shriek: "Natalie, I'm sorry! But just because you have money doesn't give you the right to treat me like dirt! Ahhh!"
She threw herself backward toward the staircase.
This time, I didn't let her stage it. I gripped her wrists, shoved her with all my strength, and sent her tumbling down the marble stairs.
She crashed to the landing below. A dark stain of blood slowly seeped through her skirt.
Chloe's face was completely drained of color as she gasped in agonizing pain.
"Chloe!"
Marcus sprinted from around the corner, dropping beside her in a panic. He glared up at me, his eyes wild with fury. "Natalie, are you fucking insane?! How could you be so evil?!"
"She's just a kid!"
"She's just a kid?" I scoffed, staring down at him from the top of the stairs. "Then how dare you sleep with her, Marcus? How dare you knock her up?"
His lips trembled. His face went entirely white.
"Marcus," I said coldly. "We're done. I want a divorce."

Chapters (3)

Chapter 1   Chapter 2   Chapter 3

Chapter 1

Just as I got home from a business trip, a notification popped up on my phone: a seventy-dollar charge at a gas station. I texted my husband, Marcus: "I've been gone for three days. Did you go on a road trip?" He replied almost instantly: "Just went fishing out in the western suburbs with the guys." My stomach dropped. The gas station on the receipt was on the complete opposite side of town—way out east. Marcus was lying. I called him immediately. "I need the car. I have to head back to the office tonight." Thirty minutes later, he walked through the door. I grabbed the keys from his hand and walked out before he could say another word. I got in and checked the dashcam. It was completely wiped. Cleaned out. He couldn’t have made his guilt more obvious if he tried. I drove straight to our usual auto detailer. The owner smiled when she saw me pull in. "Back already? You guys sure love keeping this car clean. Your husband was just here yesterday!" I arched an eyebrow. "Yeah, I can’t stand dirt. Give it a deep clean. By the way, how much is left on our prepaid card?" She snapped on her rubber gloves and gestured with her chin toward the counter. "Ledger's right there. Take a look." I flipped through the logbook where customers signed off on their balances. Right next to my license plate number, in yesterday’s slot, was the signature: *Chloe Jenkins*. Our balance was down to fifty bucks. Marcus usually washed the car twice a month. There was no way he burned through hundreds of dollars that fast. I flipped back through the previous pages. The car had been washed almost every single day this past month. And Chloe's apartment building happened to be right in the middle of a massive road construction zone, surrounded by mud and dust. I snapped photos of the pages, then casually asked, "My husband brought my friend along yesterday, and she dropped a perfume sample in the car. Mind checking if it's there?" "Perfume? Isn’t she pregnant? Pregnant women shouldn't be wearing strong scents!" Her words hit me like a slap to the face. I masked my shock with a calm nod. "Right. It was a gift for someone else. Could you check the security footage to see if they dropped it?" "Help yourself, the computer’s right there." Since I was a regular, she went back to work while I pulled up the surveillance footage. Yesterday at 1:30 PM. Chloe and Marcus got out of the car, laughing and flirting. They kept their distance at first, but when Marcus got back into the driver's seat, Chloe leaned through the passenger window and kissed him deeply on the lips. I recorded the screen on my phone and saved it. Next, I went straight to the bank to pull the statements for our joint account. The balance was sitting at roughly eighty-nine thousand dollars. Every month, I deposited a thousand, and Marcus put in five hundred. But like clockwork on the fifth of every month, six hundred dollars had been automatically transferred to Chloe's personal account. We had an agreement: that joint account was strictly for family emergencies. Yet here he was, secretly financing his side piece. The transfers had started three months ago. Chloe was a girl I had personally sponsored. When she was a struggling college kid, I gave her part-time work at my firm and wired her an extra two hundred bucks every month so she could finish her degree. She constantly cried about wanting to repay my kindness. Turns out, she decided to repay me by sleeping with my husband. I scoffed, printed all the evidence, and marched straight into Marcus’s office at our company. I slammed the papers directly onto his desk. "Explain this." Marcus stared at the bank statements and the photos. His face went from pure panic to defensiveness in a split second. "You tracked me? You’re spying on me?!" "Tracking you? The fishing spot is out west, but you bought gas on the east side. You were making out with Chloe at the car wash yesterday. Do you really think I need to hire a private investigator to see through your bullshit?" "And what right do you have to touch our joint emergency fund?" Marcus took a deep breath, trying to play it cool. "Natalie, babe, you’re misunderstanding everything. She’s the one who recommended that fishing spot. The main road was blocked, so I had to take a detour to the east side. I even ran into Mr. Harrison there—he can vouch for me!" "And that kiss? Total optical illusion. It was just the angle of the camera." "As for the money... didn't you always tell me to look out for her? She just started her career and asked to borrow six grand for a condo down payment. I didn't have that kind of cash upfront, so I sent it in monthly installments!" "Babe, I swear to God, you're the only woman in my life!" I sat back in my chair, looking down at him. Marcus dropped to one knee before me, tilting his face up at a rehearsed, flattering angle. Too bad he was pushing thirty-five. All I could see were the crow’s feet around his eyes. It was utterly pathetic.

Chapter 2

I exhaled slowly. "Marcus. She's pregnant." Marcus froze. Pure terror flashed across his face. "Do you know who the father is?" I asked, tilting my head. "H-How would I know?!" he stammered. "She's just a young girl. I'm a married man, Natalie! Why would I know anything about her personal life?" Marcus grabbed my hands desperately. "Babe, do you really not trust me? You know my only hobby after getting married has been fishing!" I smirked. "Just kidding. Why are you sweating so much?" He visibly exhaled in relief. I smoothed my blazer. "Speaking of which, Mr. Harrison's deal has been dragging on for way too long. Why don't we invite him to dinner tonight and push for the contract?" His shoulders tensed right back up. "No need!" I stared at him. Marcus quickly scrambled for an excuse: "I just talked to him while fishing. The contract is in the bag. If we take him out for dinner now, we’ll look way too desperate." "Fine. Do whatever you want." I stood up to leave. Just then, his assistant knocked and hurried in. "Mr. Vance, we just got word from Harrison Group. They’re meeting with Sterling Corporation right now!" Marcus turned as white as a sheet. I crossed my arms. "Mr. Harrison is meeting with our biggest competitor? Marcus, is this what you meant by 'in the bag'?" "Get me their exact location right now," I ordered the assistant. "I'm heading over." The assistant forwarded the restaurant address to my phone. I grabbed my designer bag and headed out, with Marcus scrambling after me like a lost dog. When we pulled up to the upscale private club, Chloe was standing right outside the private dining room. Seeing us, she immediately walked over with a sweet smile. "Natalie, you're here!" I nodded coldly. "Is Mr. Harrison inside?" "He is," Chloe said, stepping directly in front of me. "But Natalie, you don't have an appointment. I can't let you in." Her posture seemed polite, but the smug satisfaction in her eyes was glaring. "If you're here about the contract, I might be able to put in a good word for you," she added condescendingly. "Though, of course, it all depends on what Mr. Harrison decides." Marcus quickly chimed in, "Thank God you're here, Chloe. Please, go talk to him. This deal is crucial for our firm. If this goes through, I’ll make sure you get a massive bonus!" "Oh, Marcus, don't mention it. We're way too close for formalities," she cooed. Then she smiled at him. "By the way, Mr. Harrison said he had a wonderful time fishing with you. He’d love to go again whenever you're free. I've already cleared it with the fishery owner." Listening to them openly flirt right in front of me, I let out a dry laugh. I pulled out my phone and dialed Mrs. Harrison directly. "Hi Evelyn, it’s Natalie. I’m on the ground floor. Perfect, I’ll head up right now." I hung up and moved forward. Chloe reached out to block me, but I stepped back immediately. "Careful now," I warned, staring at her midsection. "You're pregnant. The last thing you want is a little shove causing a tragic miscarriage." Chloe’s expression froze. She bit her lower lip, tears welling up in her eyes on cue. "Natalie, please don't make my job difficult. Mr. Harrison is meeting with an extremely important VIP!" I scoffed. "No VIP books out the entire building. I have a meeting with an important guest of my own. Are you really going to stand in my way?" Chloe gripped her lip tighter. As I brushed past her, she let out a dramatic gasp and deliberately threw herself backward. Marcus caught her just in time, holding her against his chest. Chloe trembled, clinging to his shirt with teary eyes. "Natalie, how could you..." Marcus lost his temper completely. "Natalie! Have you lost your damn mind?! Take your anger out on me if you have to—she’s pregnant!" I glanced at her with cold contempt, my glare sharp enough to make her flinch backward. "In broad daylight, surrounded by people and security cameras, you think I'd touch a pregnant woman? Why don't we call the cops right now? Let's have the police check the footage to see if I pushed her, or if she threw herself down like a cheap actress."

Chapter 3

"No... it's fine, Natalie," Chloe whimpered, lowering her gaze. "I just lost my balance." I looked at her with pure disgust. Just then, Mrs. Harrison's personal assistant walked over. "Ms. Vance, this way, please." I nodded and followed her without sparing Marcus or Chloe another glance. They stood there, looking utterly humiliated. Marcus hurriedly tried to follow me. "Natalie! You were meeting Evelyn Harrison?! Why didn't you tell me?!" "Excuse me, sir," the assistant said, stepping firmly in front of Marcus. "Mrs. Harrison is only seeing Ms. Vance. The private lounge is ladies-only." I didn’t even bother looking back as the elevator doors slid shut. I saw Marcus clenching his fists in frustration, and I didn't miss the venom in Chloe's eyes. I ignored it. Chloe was running out of time. Her belly would start showing soon, and there was no way she’d let her baby be born a bastard without a fight. The more desperate she became, the calmer I felt. My meeting with Evelyn went smoothly, and we shook hands on the deal. When I finally stepped out of the VIP lounge, Chloe suddenly jumped out from around the corner, clutching her stomach with tears streaming down her face. "Natalie! I didn't mean to borrow his money! Marcus told me you found out and that you're suspicious of him. It’s my fault! I just wanted to buy a home so my baby would have a roof over its head!" "And what about the father?" I sneered. "He's making you do this as a single mom?" "He is not!" Chloe snapped, her voice trembling with emotion. "He promised to give me the best life! I am the love of his life!" I let out a mocking laugh. "The love of his life makes you scrounge for pennies to buy an apartment?" "Chloe, high-value men aren't just sitting around on clearance. If you thought this pathetic loser was your ticket to the top, you bet on the wrong horse." "Trash belongs in the dumpster. Don't go picking up garbage I'm done with—you'll only dirty your own hands." Her face twisted with rage. I leaned in, whispering into her ear, "Do you really think I don't know what you and Marcus have been doing behind my back? If you're so confident, convince him to divorce me. Otherwise, that bastard in your belly will stay a dirty secret forever." She went deathly pale. "No... I don't believe you. Marcus told me I'm his one true soulmate!" "Is that so? Where’s your proof, Chloe? Keep dreaming." I dug my nails into my palms, waiting. Right on cue, Chloe whipped out her phone, aggressively showing me photos of them in bed together, and even a video of them exchanging rings in a church behind my back. "You've been married to Marcus for six years and couldn't even give him a child! This is his firstborn! I’m willing to start a family with him! I love him a thousand times more than you ever could!" "Let me tell you the truth—we’ve been together for months. Marcus was just too polite to break it off with you. But I’m not! Natalie, you’re an old hag, and it's time for you to step down!" I actually laughed. "Really? So he rented your uterus for six hundred bucks a month?" My mockery completely pushed her over the edge. "What do you know?! A barren woman who can't even get knocked up has no right to judge me! What makes you so special anyway? If it weren't for your family’s money, you think Marcus would've stayed with you this long?!" I smiled faintly. "Exactly. It's because of my money and family that Marcus will never dare to leave me. Want to bet? If he sees you right now, he'll tell you to get lost, and I will always remain his legal wife." Chloe snapped. Clenching her teeth, she glanced down the hallway behind me, suddenly grabbed my arm, and raised her voice to a shriek: "Natalie, I'm sorry! But just because you have money doesn't give you the right to treat me like dirt! Ahhh!" She threw herself backward toward the staircase. This time, I didn't let her stage it. I gripped her wrists, shoved her with all my strength, and sent her tumbling down the marble stairs. She crashed to the landing below. A dark stain of blood slowly seeped through her skirt. Chloe's face was completely drained of color as she gasped in agonizing pain. "Chloe!" Marcus sprinted from around the corner, dropping beside her in a panic. He glared up at me, his eyes wild with fury. "Natalie, are you fucking insane?! How could you be so evil?!" "She's just a kid!" "She's just a kid?" I scoffed, staring down at him from the top of the stairs. "Then how dare you sleep with her, Marcus? How dare you knock her up?" His lips trembled. His face went entirely white. "Marcus," I said coldly. "We're done. I want a divorce."

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