After She Abandoned Me for Her First Love, I Married Her Billionaire Boss

On the day of my wife’s first love's wedding, she went completely mad. She stormed the altar with a knife, stabbing him dozens of times until he was dead, and then she slit her own throat. Standing in the crowd, watching the bloodbath, I was frozen in shock. That was the moment I realized the woman I had loved for five years had never actually loved me. Her heart belonged to someone else. So when I woke up back in time, reliving this life, she didn't hesitate. She threw me away like trash to chase after him. I thought we would never cross paths again. I was wrong. Six years later, our paths crossed again at the Grand Plaza Mall. She was now parading around as the wife of the mall’s General Manager, Derek Vance. He was doing a walk-through inspection with her by his side. The moment she spotted me, her lip curled in disgust. “Stalking me now, Ethan? Let me make this clear: I’m married. You and I are ancient history. Get over it.” I didn't even bother to reply. I turned around and headed toward the baby section to grab some diapers for my daughter. But she chased me down, snatched the pack of diapers from my hands, slammed them onto the floor, and stomped on them with her high heels. “You’re married with a kid? You used to swear you'd never marry anyone but me! You liar!” 0

I never expected to run into Chloe at the Grand Plaza Mall. She was clinging to Derek’s arm as he did a routine inspection of the luxury boutiques. The sales associates were practically tripping over themselves to serve her. “Mrs. Vance, this is our latest arrival. It’s a limited edition. If you like it, I can offer you a twenty percent discount.” “Just make sure you reserve the best spot for our brand next season,” Chloe said, playing the part of the powerful manager's wife. “Of course! And the diamond necklace you asked about last time? I saved it just for you.” Derek glanced at the jewelry case and nodded. “Take it. It’ll look perfect on you at our engagement party next week.” “Engagement party? I see you and Mr. Vance together all the time. I thought you guys were already married!” one of the salesgirls asked innocently. Chloe’s smile froze. Realizing her blunder, the salesgirl quickly backpedaled. “Oh, I just meant you look so perfect together, like a happily married couple!” Hearing them kiss her feet, I couldn't help but let out a soft, mocking chuckle. In our past life, Chloe had gone completely insane when she saw Derek marrying someone else. She had crashed his wedding, slaughtered him, and killed herself to join him in death. I never understood it. If she loved him that much, why did they ever split up in our first life? But after we were reborn, she didn't hesitate to dump me instantly to chase her happily-ever-after. Yet, here we were, six years later, and they still weren't married. They were only just getting engaged now. “Derek has been so focused on his career these past few years,” Chloe said, gazing up at him with dripping adoration. “He asked me to marry him so many times, but his career is on the rise. I didn't want my own happiness to get in the way of his future.” Wow. She sure knew how to play the supportive partner for him. Back when she was with me, she did nothing but look down on me, constantly complaining that I was a broke loser. It turned out she wasn't incapable of empathy. She just didn't love me. I lowered my eyes, completely ignoring her, and turned toward the baby store to buy some supplies. “Ethan? What are you doing here?” Chloe's sharp voice cut through the air behind me. I stopped and turned. Chloe was standing right there, glaring at me. The salesgirl looked at us, confused. “Is this gentleman a friend of yours, Chloe? If he’s shopping here, we can give him a discount too.” Chloe smirked, her eyes dripping with disdain. “A friend? Please. He’s just a dirt-broke ex of mine. Back then, he couldn't even afford a hundred-dollar necklace. There’s no way he can buy anything in this mall.” “An ex?” The salesgirl glanced nervously at Derek. Derek didn't seem to care; instead, he pulled Chloe tightly against his waist, looking down his nose at me like a conquering king. “Did you even check the price tags before walking in here? Don't make a fool of yourself when you realize you can't afford a single thing,” Derek sneered. “Whether I can afford it or not has absolutely nothing to do with you,” I said coldly. Chloe's face instantly twisted in anger. “If you’re that desperate, maybe I can throw a little charity your way. Or wait... did you hear about my engagement and stalk me here on purpose?” Chloe mocked. Hearing this, Derek stepped forward, standing right beside Chloe and sizing me up with a condescending glare. “Ethan, Chloe told me all about how you used to harass her. I thought she was just being nice, but you really are a creep.” “You didn't appreciate her when she was yours. Now that she’s marrying me, you’re drowning in regret?” Derek’s face flushed with anger, glaring at me like he wanted to pick a fight. Only because Chloe held his hand did he restrain himself from throwing a punch. “Ethan, I made it crystal clear when we broke up. There is absolutely no chance for us. Why can't you just let me go?” “I know you’re broke, and seeing me doing so well makes you bitter, but this is just sad.” Derek scoffed. “A man with no real skills trying to leech off his ex-girlfriend. Absolutely pathetic.” “Just look at what you’re wearing. Not a single designer label.” I looked down at my custom suit. It was a bespoke Italian piece, hand-tailored and literally one of a kind. A low-level mall manager like Derek obviously didn't have the class to recognize true luxury. Seeing my silence, he smugly pulled out his wallet, grabbed a few bills, and slapped them against my chest, letting them flutter to the floor. “This should cover your groceries for a month. Now get lost and stop bothering us.” The hundred-dollar bills scattered on the floor. Chloe smirked. “What? Still not enough?” She glanced down at her own empty designer clutch. “Well, people don't really carry cash these days. How about I transfer it to you? How does ten grand sound?” “That’s probably more than you can save in two years of hard labor.” I remained silent. Chloe pulled out her phone, opened Snapchat, and tried to send the cash transfer. But the second she hit send, a bright red exclamation mark popped up on her screen. 0

“Ethan!” Chloe suddenly shoved her phone screen in front of my face and shrieked, startling the shoppers around us. “You actually blocked me?!” I found her outrage ridiculous. Isn't blocking your ex standard procedure after a breakup to avoid drama? Besides, I had a family and a child now. My wife, Audrey, was already a bit insecure due to her past trauma; keeping an ex on my Snapchat was just asking for trouble. “Why wouldn't I block you? We broke up years ago. We have nothing to say to each other.” Chloe’s smug face instantly turned incredibly dark. “Nothing to say?” she spat, her teeth gritted. I nodded calmly. “It’s been six years, Chloe. Keep your money. I don't need a single dime from you.” My refusal made her look even more monstrous. “Ethan, who do you think you’re fooling? Act like a big shot all you want, but I know exactly how broke you are.” “Do you even know who my fiancé is? He’s the General Manager of this entire mall, and this place is owned by Summit Enterprises! Don't embarrass yourself.” Derek grinned proudly, puffing out his chest. “Chloe, why bother talking to this loser? A peasant like him has probably never even heard of Summit Enterprises.” “He’s destined to rot at the bottom of the food chain forever.” I stared at the smug Derek. He seemed to have completely forgotten how he secured this GM position in the first place. Derek used to be a low-level cubicle drone at Summit. He had zero talent but loved to brag that he was the company's rising star, claiming they'd go bankrupt without him. Chloe’s parents were respected college professors—dignified, rational people. They saw right through his lies and absolutely despised him. But Derek’s cheap, sweet-talking charm worked like magic on a naive girl like her. She refused to leave him, and it took her parents threatening to end their own lives to force her to break up with him. During that dark period, Chloe was like a hollow shell. I was the one who stayed up night after night, taking care of her and piecing her back together. Naturally, we ended up dating. But while we were together, my business proposals would mysteriously vanish from my laptop. Meanwhile, Derek’s career at Summit suddenly took off like a rocket. I brought this up to Chloe multiple times, but she always brushed it off as a coincidence. Once she agreed to marry me, I finally let it go. I thought she would change after marriage. But the moment she heard Derek was marrying another woman, she lost all sanity. She slaughtered him and died for him. Her love for him was bordering on psychotic, unmatched by anyone. So, after being reborn, the first thing she did was dump me. She used her memories of my past proposals from our previous life to help Derek climb the corporate ladder. The moment she asked for a breakup, I agreed without a single second of hesitation. Because I knew I couldn't stop her, and frankly, I didn't want to. I just didn't expect our paths to cross like this. “I’m sorry, but how I live my life is none of your concern. Now, please move. I have shopping to do.” Derek stepped in front of me, blocking my path. “What’s the matter? Exposed, so now you want to run?” “Stalking Chloe just so she’ll take pity on you and throw you a bone, huh?” The salesgirls nearby began whispering, shooting me disgusted looks. “What a shameless ex-boyfriend. He’s still harassing her after all this time.” “It’s sickening. He probably saw how rich she got and crawled back to leech off her!” Derek smirked, enjoying the peanut gallery. “Tell you what. Since you’re Chloe’s ex, if you promise never to bother us again, I can pull some strings and get you a job here at the mall.” “Oh my god, Mr. Vance is too kind! He’s actually offering her pathetic ex a job!” “What a gentleman. Unlike this shameless loser!” Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw a Snapchat message from my wife: *'Babe, didn't I ask you to grab some diapers from our mall? What’s taking so long?'* 0

Before I could even reply, Chloe snatched my phone and slammed it onto the hard marble floor. *Crash.* “Ethan! Are you even listening to us?” “Derek is offering you a job! You should be begging on your knees in gratitude! People would kill for this opportunity!” I looked down at my shattered phone on the floor. “I don't need a job, and I don't need his charity. But you are going to pay for my phone.” She let out a scoff. “Look at you, crying over a cheap phone. How much could it possibly cost?” “Are you unemployed and too proud to accept our help?” “Don't worry, we’d only put you on dishwashing or janitorial duty anyway. You don't need to feel guilty.” She was completely convinced I was asking for money because I was broke. What she didn't know was that I owned this entire mall. When my wife, Audrey, first took over as the CEO of Summit Enterprises, the greedy board of directors tried to overthrow her. I took over this failing mall, completely turned it around, and secured her position. Since then, she had left the mall’s operations entirely in my hands. “I’m asking you to pay because you broke it. That’s just basic accountability. It has nothing to do with my financial status,” I said, too tired to explain. Even if I told her I owned this entire mall, she’d just think I was lying. In her eyes, I would always be inferior to her precious Derek. “As if a wealthy person would cry over a stupid phone,” she sneered. “Is that so?” Before she could even blink, I stepped forward, reached into Chloe’s pocket, snatched her phone, and slammed it onto the marble floor. *Smash.* It shattered with a loud, satisfying crunch. The salesgirls and shoppers gasped in horror. “Since you’re so rich, you shouldn't care about a stupid phone, right?” I asked, echoing her words. Chloe’s face turned red, then green with rage. “Ethan! Are you doing this on purpose? Is my phone the same as your cheap piece of trash?” “I just got this! It’s the latest iPhone and cost over fifteen hundred dollars!” “Well, fifteen hundred dollars is pocket change to you. Surely, Chloe, you won't hold a grudge over something so small?” Chloe looked around at the onlookers. To save face in front of the salesgirls, she gritted her teeth and forced a stiff smile. “Of course not. I’m not like you, crying over pennies.” “Perfect. Since you don't mind, I do. I’m just a broke guy, remember? You still owe me for my phone.” Chloe’s fake smile shattered instantly. “Ethan, I have never seen anyone so shameless and greedy!” “You smashed my phone and still expect me to pay you? In your dreams!” “You said you didn't care about the money. I never said I didn't.” “You...!” She was completely speechless, her chest heaving with rage. “Fine! It’s just a phone. I’ll pay you. But since my phone is broken, I’ll transfer it to you once I get a new one!” she spat. I nodded. “Great. My number hasn't changed. Remember to send it.” I bent down, picked up my broken phone, and turned to leave. But behind me, Chloe burst into a smug laugh. “I knew it! You broke my phone just so you could have a valid excuse to get my Snapchat again.” “If you wanted my contact info, you could have just asked. Why play these childish games?” “And keeping your number the same all these years... were you waiting for me to come back to you?” Derek’s face went extremely dark. He stepped forward and yelled, “Ethan! I’m telling you, you and Chloe are over! Don't even dream about it!” “If you try to ruin our lives, I’ll make sure you regret it!” “Do I need your mercy? Let me repeat myself: Chloe and I broke up. We have no relationship now, and we never will.” “Everything she’s saying is just her own delusional fantasy. Running into you today was a pure accident.” “Don't worry, the moment I get the money, I’ll block her again. I won't pose any threat to your precious marriage.” I paused, looking Derek dead in the eye with a smirk. “Are you warning me because you’re afraid she’ll fall back in love with me?” “Are you insecure because you know you’re inferior to me?” “Bullshit!” Derek roared, his face contorting. “Inferior to you? Then why did Chloe choose me over you in the end?” He looked like he was about to swing at me. Chloe noticed his anger and quickly hugged his arm. “Derek, don't let him get to you. He’s just trying to provoke you. A worthless man like him isn't even worth your pinky finger.” “I chose you, and I will always choose you.” “No one can ever replace you in my heart.” Hearing this, Derek’s chest puffed up again, and his expression softened. I didn't even bother to roll my eyes. I walked past them and straight into the baby store next door. But Chloe wasn't done. She followed me right in, looking absolutely furious. While I was carefully picking out diapers and baby formula, she marched over, ripped the package out of my hand, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it. “Ethan! You refuse a good job from us, but here you are buying diapers? What, are you working as a male nanny now?” “How pathetic. Look what you've reduced yourself to.” “I’m warning you, if you ever dare to speak to Derek like that again, I’ll make you pay!” “Weren't you the one who started this ridiculous conversation?” I asked, unimpressed. Before she could scream back, a store clerk interrupted us. “Mr. Carter, your wife sent me to ask when you’ll be done. She wants to know if you've got everything.” Chloe froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief. “What... what did you just call him?” “Mr. Carter?” 0

“Why did you call him Mr. Carter? Does a loser like him even deserve that title?” Chloe pointed at my face, her voice rising in anger. “Look at him! He’s just a nobody who needs my charity to even get a job!” The clerk looked at me, thoroughly confused. I met Chloe’s gaze. She let out a dry laugh, crossing her arms as she leaned against a display shelf. “Ethan, did you hire this actor to play a part?” “You knew I’d be here today, so you staged this whole drama just to show off? To prove you’re doing great without me?” “You want me to regret leaving you, don't you?” “This trick is so outdated. It's pathetic.” I looked at her smug face. “You think way too highly of yourself.” I ignored her and went back to picking diapers. Audrey was waiting at home, and she’d worry if I took too long. “Ethan! Are you seriously ignoring me?” “What is with that stupid, silent treatment!” “Diapers! Why are you so obsessed with these stupid diapers!” Chloe lost her temper and tried to push past, but the clerk stepped in, blocking her path. “Ma'am, please stop causing a scene. If you continue, I’ll have security escort you out.” “Also, Mr. Carter is not a nanny. He is buying diapers for his own daughter.” Chloe glared at the clerk, her eyes wild with fury. “Get out of my way!” “I said, move!” The clerk stood firm. Chloe raised her hand and— *Slap!* A harsh slap landed right on the clerk’s cheek, the sound echoing through the store. I immediately stepped in, pulling the clerk behind me. “Chloe! Have you lost your mind?!” “Me? Lost my mind?” she pointed at the clerk. “He’s the one who was disrespectful first!” “Doesn't he know the customer is king? Look at his attitude! Does he even know who my fiancé is?” “My fiancé is the General Manager of this mall! He wants to kick me out? I’ll make sure he gets fired today!” I turned and patted the clerk's shoulder. “I’m sorry you got dragged into this.” “Go back to the back office. I’ll handle this.” The clerk nodded, holding his bruised cheek. “Mrs. Carter said your daughter is waiting. Please hurry home, Mr. Carter.” “I will. I’ll be right out.” As the clerk walked away, Chloe suddenly blinked, as if waking from a trance. “Wait... what did he just say?” “For your own daughter?” “Ethan, when did you get married?!” I nodded calmly. “Yes, I’m married.” “I told you that already, but you refused to believe me. You just love to twist everything to make it about yourself, Chloe. You’re incredibly delusional.” “Delusional? If you got married, why didn't you tell me? Why?!” “Why should I? Are we close? Do we even have a reason to speak?” Chloe stared at me, her voice trembling. “When... when did you get married?” I met Audrey by accident. It was about a year after Chloe and I broke up. To escape the heartbreak and clear my mind, I volunteered to do community work in a remote, off-grid mountain community. On my very first day, I crossed paths with Audrey. She had been kidnapped by a trafficking ring and held captive there, terrified. She begged me to help her escape. I did some digging, realized how dangerous and corrupt the local off-grid group was, and secretly contacted the FBI and local authorities. We successfully raided the compound and rescued her along with several other victims. After her rescue, Audrey suffered from severe trauma. I stayed by her side at the hospital, helping her through her recovery and therapy. Over time, we fell in love. We got married a year later. It was only on our wedding day that I discovered her true identity: she was the sole heiress of Summit Enterprises. I thought her powerful family would reject a nobody like me. Instead, they were incredibly grateful for saving her life. They welcomed me with open arms and eventually handed the mall's operations over to us. Though the greedy board of directors gave us a hard time at first, we faced them together and won. True love is forged in fire. My bond with Audrey grew stronger every single day. She made me realize my own worth. Real love doesn't require you to beg or lose your dignity. “Chloe, it doesn't matter when,” I said coldly. “I never wronged you. I only married after we were completely over.” I grabbed the bag of diapers and turned to leave, but Chloe blocked the exit. “How could you do this to me? You swore you’d only love me in this lifetime! How could you marry someone else?” “You even had a kid with some random woman! Ethan, how could you betray me like this?!” Before I could even open my mouth, a cold, elegant voice rang out from behind her. “Really? He swore all that to you? How come I never heard about it?” Chloe and I both turned. Standing there was Audrey, looking stunning and incredibly composed. She walked up to me, naturally wrapping her arm around mine, and raised an eyebrow. “Is what she’s saying true, Ethan?” “Not a single word,” I replied instantly, looking down at my beautiful wife. Chloe’s face twisted in fury. “You’re lying! In our past life, you—” She screamed, but suddenly realized she was about to expose her regression and slapped her hand over her mouth. “Either way, you can't do this to me!” she shrieked, resorting to a childish tantrum. I let out a cold laugh. “Chloe, don't you think you’re being ridiculous? You’re about to get married, yet you’re trying to control my life?” “I have a wife and a daughter now. I suggest you stay out of my way, and we stay out of each other's lives forever!”

? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "NovelMaster" app ? search for "462010", and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster