The Ex-Wife’s Billion Dollar Comeback Novel

---- Chapter 199: The Pattern ~ Calum ~ Calum frowned. He repeated, "What did you say?" Jacob was sitting behind his desk. He pulled out an envelope and handed it to him. "Think about it. The only person standing in Marvin's way of getting projects and procurements approved was Soraya. That's because she was very meticulous with every document that went onto your desk." "While he still managed to steal money over the years, including you in the signatories would make you liable," Jacob added. "So, Claire approached Rose and convinced her to charm you.

That way, not only could they get rid of Soraya, but also have someone influence your decisions." "Although you were close with Claire and Roger, at some point, you were also guarded. Having Rose as the woman beside you changed everything." Jacob motioned to the envelope and said, "Before meeting you, Rose was previously in a relationship with the heir to the Whitmore Group in Stoneford, Declan Whitmore." "This is nothing new to me. | was aware of this," Calum admitted. "Great. Were you also aware that Declan was the one who. initially funded Rose's fashion line?

And no, your wife didn't get to where she is because of her capabilities. Declan took shortcuts. He bought designs from fashion designers and gave them to Rose. In fact, some of your wife's best-selling ---- dresses weren't designed by her at all, but by others," Jacob shared. Calum went through the documents and found copies of confidential contracts between other designers and Rose. Declan Whitmore was also a co-signatory. "Where did you get this?" Calum asked. "Declan and Rose didn't exactly part on good terms.

But he didn't dare bring this up with you because you threatened him, remember?" Jacob pointed out. Calum frowned. Yes, it was true. After he and Rose hit it off, his now-wife had shared how Declan Whitmore was bothering her despite their breakup. So, Calum had personally warned him to stay away from Rose. Declan was nothing compared to Calum. His family's total assets amounted to less than a hundred million dollars. Moreover, they were renting some of the Montclair Group's commercial spaces. So, after that confrontation, Rose's ex backed off.

"What you didn't know was that Declan had a fiancée before Rose came into his life. Rose broke off Declan's relationship with his girlfriend to become the new one," Jacob shared. " And before Declan, Rose was also in a relationship with another committed man, whose relationship she also ruined." Calum frowned, flipping through photos of Rose and another man he recognized. It was Michael Reed, a local from Cedar Heights known for his pawnshop business. "Wait." Calum frowned deeper. "The Beckets were in the pawnshop business." ---- "Yes, that's right.

Rose and Michael were together during her senior college years. He allowed the Beckets to venture into the same business as his family-pawnshops. He paved the way, even funded their initial capital, only to be betrayed and replaced later by Declan Whitmore," Jacob explained. Jacob leaned forward, helping Calum go through the documents and photos. He said, "Before Rose and Michael got together, Mr. Reed was betrothed to his childhood friend. However, after meeting Rose, the engagement was dissolved." "Do you see the pattern?" Jacob pointed out. "Rose seems to like taking committed men.

Aside from that, she upgrades to aricher man with every replacement." Shaking his head, Jacob suggested, "It won't be long before Rose tries to look for someone better than you." "You--" Calum shot back, but Jacob cut him off sharply. "| don't care if you don't believe me. I'm only trying to tell you that Claire chose Rose for a reason," Jacob said. "Your wife seems to be good at taking men that don't belong to her." Motioning toward him, Jacob added, "It's up to you what you decide to do with this information." "But that's not the reason | asked to speak with you," Jacob continued.

"I want to clear Soraya's name." Jacob then opened his laptop and played a video for Calum What he saw shocked him. Jacob had his men corner the manager at Butter & Crumb Café and pressured him to tell the truth. "Don't you know that Soraya is Mr. Steel's wife? How dare you spread false stories about her! Tell us the truth now!" It was ---- Dante, Jacob's trusted bodyguard. "| swear, | didn't know. Had | known, | wouldn't have lied about what happened," the manager cried. "It was Miss Becket.

She paid me money to change the appointment schedule so Miss Azar would miss the meeting." The manager frantically opened his phone, saying, "I still have our text exchange." Dante took the phone and said, "I'm confiscating this phone." Then, Jacob grabbed something from his drawer and handed the same phone to Calum. He said, "Read their text communication, Rose's instructions, and all. It was a ploy, and you readily believed her lies over the woman who raised your child." Calum's hands shook as he read the text messages. He rechecked the number and confirmed it belonged to Rose.

"Anything that involved Rose and Claire, | suggest you recheck everything," Jacob said. "We'll never know what lies and schemes they orchestrated behind your back. Better yet, | suggest you talk to Claire. You're already accepting her plea bargain anyway, you might as well make the most of it." Calum stood up, holding the documents in his hands. He looked at Jacob and said, "I will verify this." "lexpect nothing less,' Jacob replied. Calum then brought everything with him, making his way to the study's door. Just as he turned the knob, he glanced back at Jacob.

"Why did it have to be Soraya?" Jacob cleared his throat and said, "It just happened. You don't choose who you fall in love with, Calum. | owe you for giving ---- her freedom, and this is my way of returning the favor-by telling you the truth about the woman you married. It may be too late for you and Soraya, but it's not too late for you, Calum. You can still free yourself from the poison in your life. And that poison is... Rose." As Calum walked back to Nexa Hotel, he remembered the watch Jacob gave him. He stopped in the middle of the road, recalling the engraving behind it.

'In return for what you've given me. Now, we stand even.' He recited the words in his head. He still didn't know if he could accept it. A bitter smile left his lips. "Did it really make us even now?"