Getting with My Ex's Wife's Ex After Breakup

Lily's POV

"You may now kiss the bride," the priest declared, and the hall exploded with loud cheers.

The groom, my handsome fiancé Vincent, leaned down to kiss his blushing bride. I fought back tears and watched from outside the church as their lips met.

Vincent pulled back and gazed down at her with love in his eyes—the same way he had looked at me that morning when I handed him his lunch before he left for what I thought was a normal workday.

Not his wedding.

I could see our employees in the pews, people I had once called family, cheering him on as he betrayed six years of love and painful sacrifice.

His new bride, Stacy Monroe, squealed as he swept her into his arms and carried her down the aisle.

The excited crowd began to trickle out of the church, the sound of their celebration filling the street.

Unable to handle the humiliation of being discovered, I turned and walked back to my car.

I could barely get the key into the slot with how hard I was sobbing, but somehow I managed.

I set the car to reverse but was stopped by a knock on the window.

It was a man in a suit who introduced himself as the assistant to the man behind the anonymous text that led me to discovering Vincent's deceit.

Sebastian Jones, the tragic billionaire and philanthropist who lost the use of his legs after an accident that claimed his parents' lives. And, most importantly, Stacy Monroe's fiancé—or should I say ex.

His assistant, Matthew, informed me that Mr. Jones would like to speak to me. I didn’t get the chance to protest before the phone was handed over to me.

"Miss Lily Hart," a deep baritone voice came through the phone.

The title was like salt on a fresh wound, but I was a businesswoman above all else, so I pulled myself together before responding.

"Mr. Sebastian Jones." I cringed when my voice cracked. "It's a pleasure speaking to you."

"The pleasure is all mine, considering we're both in the same boat."

We weren't. Not when every tabloid around went crazy when his engagement to Stacy was announced to the public.

'Beauty weds the crippled Beast' were some of the tamer headlines.

I could only imagine what he was going through, knowing the humiliation about to come once people found out his soontobe wife picked an upstart from a small company over him.

"Vincent has hurt and humiliated you, Lily, just as Stacy has done to me. Isn't it only fair we make them pay?"

I was more bitter than vengeful because, deep down, I was tired.

Tired of the relationship, tired of having to swallow my jealousy when Vincent let women rub themselves against him with playful touches.

And tired of pretending I was fine after what happened months ago.

But I was also curious.

"How do you propose we do that?"

"Marry me."

My eyes widened. I was sure I misheard him.

But then he repeated those two words as casually as you would talk about the weather.

Like a true businessman, Sebastian responded to my silence by explaining why it would be mutually beneficial for us to get married.

It all sounded so logical when he said it, yet I couldn't say yes.

Unlike him and Stacy, I actually loved Vincent, and marrying just to get back at him felt too much too soon.

He left me with his number on a piece of paper that I immediately tossed into the glove compartment to be forgotten.

Then I drove back home.

The house was hauntingly silent as I began packing everything important into a suitcase.

The smell of Vincent cologne still lingered in the air. The sheets were rumpled from last night, his tie drawer was wide open after him getting dressed a mere three hours ago.

It was all a glaring reminder of how suddenly my life had fallen apart. Or maybe it had been falling apart, but I was too busy trying to convince him that I would one day be the perfect wife while running the company to notice.

Packing away our photo albums, I paused to flip through them, and it led to me curled up on our bedroom floor, crying over our memories.

He had been there after my parents died, helping me pick up the pieces and even offering to assist me in running the company they had left behind.

We had something good. We were the envy of our friends because it was so pictureperfect, and he ruined it.

For real love or a chance to build a relationship with Stacy's father, I could not tell.

I snapped the book closed and tossed it into the trash can. My eyes fell on my hand as it hovered over the garbage, and they narrowed on the ring on my finger.

It was a plastic ring Vincent had won from a vending machine four years ago. He proposed to me with it, and still high off the excitement of our date, I had immediately said yes.

Compared to Stacy's ring—a beautiful silver piece with inlaid diamonds—my ring was less than worthless.

I pulled it off without a second thought and tossed it in with the photo album.

Then I made my way to the study to grab the last of my things from the safe.

Spreading out the files, I began sorting through for the deed to our house, share certificates, articles of incorporation, and a few other documents for properties I owned or jointly owned with Vincent.

It didn't take long for me to discover a disturbing theme.

They were all in Vincent's name

Lily's POV

I called twelve different lawyers, and none could help me.

My own team of legal advisors, men and women I thought were on my side and Hart Inc.'s, quickly proved who they were truly loyal to

Vincent.

After half an hour of listening to them try to manipulate me into thinking I had knowingly signed away everything I had, I ended the call and tossed my phone aside.

I didn’t care about the other properties or the house. All that mattered was the company.

My parents' brainchild started in our garage a few months after I was born. I had worked with them to keep it going my whole life up until they died and continued until I had made it a small but honest empire.

Vincent became the face of the company because he had said a man taking the lead would be a better image, but I had always been the brain behind the whole operation.

And now he had stolen it from me.

Vincent forged my signature or somehow got me to sign away my rights to my own parents' company.

I wanted to scream and rip through the study from the injustice of it all, but all I could do was hold back frustrated tears.

If I walked right now like I wanted to, I would lose it all and be penniless.

I had to find a way to get what was mine back, but with no one I could truly trust to not be on Vincent's side, I didn’t know where to begin.

My mind flashed back to my encounter with Sebastian Jones.

I was unsure if he would be willing to help after I turned him down. But he was powerful and possibly the only person who could help me get what was rightfully mine back.

But was I willing to enter a loveless marriage to save my parents' business?

The answer came easy.

I left the study and headed straight for my car, hoping I could still find his number in the glove compartment.

The doorknob turned before I could grab it. There was no time to hide as the newly wedded couple walked into the house.

Vincent's smile dulled when he caught sight of my redrimmed eyes, and Stacy's smile did the exact opposite.

"Did you find out from the news?" She asked with a cheerful giggle. "You know our wedding was the talk of the town. Even ‘G’ Entertainment covered the reception, and people couldn't shut up about my ring."

She shoved her hand in my face to show off what had been bought with the hard work stolen from me.

Impatient to get Sebastian's number, I slapped her hand away and tried to walk past her.

Stacy screamed like she had been burned. I watched, stunned, as she crumbled to the ground while clutching her hand.

It was a ridiculous display, something only a fool would believe.

Vincent hurried over and began fussing while she whimpered and her eyes filled with fake tears.

He turned to me with a glare.

"I understand you're upset, but you have no right to put your hands on Stacy."

"I don't have time for this," I mumbled, trying to head to the door.

Vincent blocked my path, his eyes—that had once gazed at me with tender affection—burning with rage.

"Don't ruin this for me, Lily. Marrying Stacy is the best thing for me. For us," he said, reaching out to touch my cheek. I slapped his hand away.

"I wish you a happy married life, no hard feelings. Now if you’ll excuse me..."

He blocked me again. "Apologize to her. She's my wife, and I refuse to let you disrespect her—"

"This is my house, and I'd be damned if I let you order me around in it," I hissed, all the rage and frustration I felt bubbling up to the surface.

"You think Vincent letting you squat here makes you the owner?" Stacy laughed, her tears nowhere to be found.

Confused, I turned to Vincent, who had a deerinheadlights look.

Realization dawned on me, and I couldn't hold back my smile. "You told her I'm squatting in your house, Vincent?"

"Stop talking," he growled, too prideful to beg me to stay quiet.

"Why should I?" I challenged him. "Don't you want your bride to know how much her successful husband is really worth...?"

His hand was suddenly in my hair, and I screamed from the pain, causing me to drop my keys.

I scrambled to get them, but his hold was unrelenting as he dragged me to the door.

"I wanted to be civil about this, maybe even keep you for when Stacy became too much," he whispered as he opened the door. "But now I see you're not worth the trouble."

He tossed me out into the cold and slammed the door in my face.

I banged on the door, screaming for my keys and wallet, but Vincent ignored me.

I was left outside with no way to get into my car and no money to get a hotel room.

With nothing left to do, I made my way into the street, hoping to hitchhike my way to a friend's house.

A car pulled up beside me, and I sighed in relief when I saw the familiar face of Sebastian's assistant, Mattew.

I got into the car, and he drove me away from the life I had worked so hard to build, with nothing but the clothes on my back.

Lily's POV

We arrived at Sebastian's home a few hours later.

I was welcomed with a warm shower, fresh clothes, and dinner he insisted on having with me.

Sebastian rolled into the dining room as casually as he would have strolled in.

I tried not to stare at his legs, covered by a blanket, as he took his place at the table.

He had saved me from spending the night on the street, and I was about to ask him to stick his neck out for me. The least I could do was be respectful about what might be an insecurity for him.

After dinner, we moved to the lounge to drink and talk over a crackling fire.

I told him everything, and he listened, patient and attentive.

I couldn't help but compare him to Vincent, who always became the busiest man in the world when I wanted to talk, even though I was the one doing most of the work.

"Unless you can get proof he forged your signatures, the only way to get everything is to buy them back."

I sighed, exhausted both physically and mentally. "I don't have the money to buy back everything."

And I wouldn't pay Vincent a dime for what was rightfully mine.

"But I do. As well as the resources to have Vincent investigated for fraud."

I stared at him, contemplative. "You would do that for a stranger?"

He brought out a ring box from his housecoat pocket and held it out to me. "I would do that and more for my wife."

I took the box and opened it to reveal a stunning ring. It was a little more subtle than Stacy's ring, but to me, it was far more beautiful.

I slipped it on, and it fit, the heartshaped emerald complimenting me perfectly.

"I can't get on my knee, unfortunately..."

"It doesn't matter," I brushed off easily, looking away from the ring to give him a soft smile.

He smiled back, and it lit up his face, making him appear twice as handsome under the fire's glow.

"Will you marry me, Miss Hart?"

"I will," I responded with a soft laugh at the absurd situation.

We spent the evening getting to know each other.

Sebastian was a reserved man, but I could tell from the way he spoke that there was warmth under the tough shield he kept up to protect his heart from the world's harsh judgment.

It was all going so well until he mentioned wanting children, and the onceburning whiskey in my belly turned cold.

Thankfully, he did not notice my silence about the topic, and we moved on to other things. Though that glimmer of hope in his eyes caused guilt to haunt me for the rest of the night.

The next morning, I left Sebastian's home to get the rest of my things.

The house loomed ahead, and Mattew and I shared a look when we saw the black smoke rising from the front yard.

I was out of the car the second he parked, my feet leading me past the gates.

Standing on the lawn was Stacy with a determined look on her face as she stared down at the dying flames of a blackened heap by her feet.

In one hand, she held lighter fluid, and in the other, a box of matches.

I marched over to inform her she couldn't just burn things on my carefully groomed grass.

However, my steps slowed when my eyes caught something peeking out from the blackened lump.

It was a familiar pink fabric that looked just like the suit my mother had worn during her court marriage.

My heart dropped to my stomach when I caught sight of the wheel of the luggage I had packed my things into yesterday.

"No," I whispered, watching as the dying embers consumed the last of my parents' things.

The photo album my mother had meticulously recorded all our memories in, my father's lucky cufflinks, and every other trinket that would be useless to everyone else but meant everything to me.

"Wwhat have you done?" I wailed as I crumbled to my knees, tears pouring down my cheeks.

Stacy smiled, her eyes filled with sadistic pleasure. "You acted so high and mighty yesterday, and that didn't sit right with me.”

“I don't think it's fair you keep anything bought with my husband's hardearned money, so I made sure you can't."

Lily's POV

Rage like I had never felt burned inside me.

However, before I could act on my violent thoughts, a glint of gold among the ashes caught my eye, and I realized from its shape that it was my mother's locket.

Without a second thought, I reached into the pile and began digging it out with my hand.

Stacy gasped in horror and stumbled away from me.

The pain was almost unbearable, but I didn’t stop until I successfully pried it out and held it up in my blistering red hand.

The necklace was fine. That was all that mattered to me even as Matthew hurried to my side, panicking about my wounded hand.

His furious yelling at Stacy drew Vincent out of the house.

She immediately ran to his side, looking innocent, and he began comforting her, even as I was the only one visibly injured.

Vincent turned to me with a glare that wavered when he saw me in the arms of another man.

His jealousy reared its ugly head.

"YOU BRING YOUR NEW BOYFRIEND TO STIR UP TROUBLE IN MY HOUSE?!"

"It's my house, and I'll prove it when the police get here to kick you out and arrest her for destruction of property."

I pointed at Stacy, who cowered behind him with a pitiful whimper.

My words flipped a switch, and suddenly Vincent had on his professional smile.

"Calling the police is extreme, don't you think? Let's go inside and discuss this like adults. There's no reason all three of us can't be together peacefully."

"Vincent!" Stacy squawked, staring up at him in disbelief and betrayal.

I sneered, wondering how I had let myself be strung along by a plastic ring from a man like him.

"The police are on their way, Mr. Collins. I suggest you both get changed before their arrival."

Matthew helped me to my feet with gentle care, then led me into the kitchen.

There, we ran water over my hand while we waited for the police and ambulance to arrive.

Vincent tried to convince me to drop the charges, promising we would go back to what we used to be.

He still believed I was the little fool who would rather be a mistress than lose him. I was glad to prove him wrong.

When the police led Stacy away in handcuffs, kicking and screaming, I watched with hollow victory, knowing what I had lost to gain it.

Vincent chose to follow Stacy to the station while I was taken to the hospital. Not once did he stop to ask how I was doing.

My burns were seconddegree, so I was discharged from the hospital soon after with a bandaged right arm.

When I stepped into the car with Matthew, he informed me that Sebastian was away on a trip and would be gone indefinitely.

I felt stirrings of longing and sorrow at the news.

We had just met, yet I craved his steady presence for comfort. The thought of returning to an empty house didn't sit right with me, so I decided to make better use of my time.

One phone call later and I had the house put up for sale.

I refused to let Vincent play house with Stacy in the home I had made for us.

I would need substantial evidence for a lawsuit against Vincent. And to get that evidence, I would have to find every single document that could incriminate him.

Knowing he was still with Stacy at the station, I had Matthew drive me back to the house.

The blackened lump was still on the lawn when I arrived. My heart ached from the loss, but I refused to pay it any mind as I made my way to the study, then to the safe, and began to rifle through it for what I needed.

The documents were just as I had found them, but further searching revealed a hitch in my plans.

The transfer of ownership and other documents within name were present, but the originals—the ones that had my name and signature—were nowhere to be found.

I searched through every cabinet and drawer but still, nothing.

Vincent was smarter than I gave him credit for.

He had planned ahead and made sure if I ever discovered his fraud, I'd have a hard time getting proof of it.

Months ago, Vincent had installed a safe in his office, behind a portrait. What he forgot was that I was notified of every change, down to new light bulbs in the company.

At the time, I had thought nothing of him having a safe he didn't tell me about. Now I knew it was the perfect hiding place for the original documents, and I was determined to get into that safe.

I stuffed the files into his briefcase and made my escape, returning to Matthew waiting in the car.

From there, we headed for the Hart Inc Head office, where it had all started.

Lily's POV

I could feel the stares when I walked into the lobby, the whispers of my employees following after me.

But I was a woman on a mission, and I didn't stop and chat with a few of them like I used to do.

Not when I was not sure of how deeply the rot that’s Vincent had eaten into my company.

He had been in charge of hiring for the last few years, as well as laying off staff. I shuddered at the thought of how many traitors and backstabbers I had treated like family.

I took the elevator and it opened up to the top floor, all of which belonged to Vincent as 'CEO'.

I made my way across the expansive space towards the door at the end of it.

Just before it was his assistant, Clarissa’s station, and I was forced to a stop when she suddenly jumped out from behind her desk and stepped in my way.

"Mr. Smith isn't in right now, but I can schedule an appointment for when he returns."

I stared at her with wide eyes, struck dumb by her audacity.

Like most things, I held my employees to very high standards, and the short minute I had been in her presence showed how little Vincent cared about Hart Inc's principles.

However, I had more important things to focus on than her poor communication skills.

"That won't be necessary." I tried to move, but she blocked me again, her plastic smile turning into an annoyed look.

"I can't let you go into Mr. Collins’ office without him present."

For a few seconds, I thought I misheard her.

Clarissa stared back defiantly, and a flash of realization made me understand why she was so bold.

Beautiful and fashionable, Clarissa looked more like a model about to step onto a runway than the secretary of a business executive.

So this was his ‘late nights at the office’.

My voice was low and level as I spoke.

"Excuse you, Clarissa, but I own Mr. Collins’ office just like I own your job. And if you don't get out of my way right now, I'll make sure this is the last time you ever step foot in this building."

Fear flashed over her face as she realized she wasn't in any position to mouth off when her sponsor wasn't there to protect her.

Clarissa mumbled a strained apology and stepped to the side.

I said nothing in response, knowing that when I purged the company of Vincent’s puppets, I would make sure she’d be the first to go.

I marched up to the doors and they opened to Vincent’s large office.

Stopping at the threshold my eyes swept over the extravagance with distaste and anger toward myself for letting it happen.

In one room was a pool table, a massage chair, as well as a couch, a TV and console so he could “destress” by playing video games.

The cherry on top was the door to the right.

It led to a small bedroom that Vincent insisted he needed for when work kept him at the office till it was too late to return home.

Like a dummy, I believed, ignoring Clarissa's flowery perfume that clung to his sheets the few times I had gone in there.

The safe was hidden behind a portrait on the far wall, and I got in on my first try.

My hand hovered midair as I stared, dumbfounded, at the only thing sitting in the large safe—a box.

Bringing it out, I began to search through it until I found what I was looking for and then some.

A draft of a contract for a merger was what caught my attention because I had never agreed to such.

The company proposing to merge with Hart Inc. was even more distressing.

It was Monroe Industries, Stacy’s dad’s company.

Mr. Monroe was infamous for his mergers that were really just violent takeovers of smaller businesses.

Vincent had come to me with the offer before, and I had turned it down because, unlike him, I knew who I was dealing with.

Our advisors should have warned him about this, and the fact they didn’t made me very suspicious.

My leading theory was that Mr. Monroe had planted his people in Hart Inc., and that created a bigger problem than I was ready for.

Vincent forging documents was one thing. Going up against a man as powerful as Mr. Monroe was another.

I quickly packed up everything and left the office, too disturbed by my discovery to notice the satisfied smile Clarissa sent my way.

"Ready to go home?" Matthew asked with a pointed look at my bandaged arm.

Home. Butterflies fluttered in my belly at the mention of Sebastian's home being mine too.

We had only known each other for a few days, yet Sebastian was a steady force I found myself drawn to.

He was there to help me, and I knew that if it came to it, I wouldn’t be going up against Mr. Monroe alone.

My anxiety calmed. I smiled. "Let's go home."

I settled into the seat for a calm ride, lazily watching the city go by.

The light turned red and we were forced to stop and wait.

My eyes casually drifted out my window and I stilled when I met the intense stare of the man in the car on the right.

It was impossible to ignore, and I turned to inform Matthew about it, only to find him in a staring match of his own with the guys in the car on our other side.

A foreboding feeling grew in the car and my heartbeat picked up.

"What's going on?" I asked, watching Mathew study the car behind us through the rearview mirror.

His eyes suddenly widened as he saw something in the reflection.

"Get down!" he yelled as the windscreen suddenly exploded in a shower of broken glass.