All Chapters of The Hidden Tycoon: My Ex-Husband Is a Billionaire: Chapter 1
- Chapter 10
53 chapters
Chapter 1
The dining room table gleamed under the soft chandelier light, each dish arranged with meticulous care. Dylan stepped back, surveying his work—roasted chicken with herbs, garlic mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, and Rachel's favorite strawberry cheesecake positioned at the center. He glanced at his watch: 9:47 PM. The food had long since gone cold.He pulled out his phone and stared at the screen. Twelve missed calls. Zero responses.The front door suddenly burst open, and Rachel stumbled inside, her designer heels clicking unevenly against the hardwood floor. The sharp scent of alcohol preceded her into the room. Her hair, usually immaculate, hung loose around her flushed face, and her eyes were glassy."Rachel," Dylan said quietly, moving toward her. "Are you alright?"She waved him off with an irritated gesture, nearly losing her balance. "I'm fine. Stop hovering.""I've been calling you all evening. I was worried—""God, Dylan!" Rachel's voice cracked through the air like a whip.
Chapter 2
Rachel's fingers trembled as she scrolled through her contacts, the phone pressed against her ear. The dining room behind her remained a disaster zone of shattered plates and spilled food, but she'd already stepped over the mess into the kitchen. On the third ring, a groggy voice answered."Rachel? It's almost midnight. What's wrong?""Karen, that bastard wants a divorce!" Rachel's voice cracked with indignation. "Can you believe it? After everything I've done, sacrificing my youth to marry him, and now he has the audacity—""Wait, wait." Karen's tone shifted instantly from sleepy to alert. "Dylan asked for a divorce? Dylan? Your househusband Dylan?""Yes! Out of nowhere, just like that. 'We should get a divorce.' As if he's doing me some kind of favor!"A laugh erupted from the other end of the line—sharp, delighted, almost gleeful. "Oh my God, Rachel. This is perfect. This is absolutely perfect."Rachel blinked, momentarily thrown by her friend's reaction. "Perfect? Karen, what are
Chapter 3
Dylan's expression remained impassive as he looked at Karen, his eyes cold and distant. "How I provide for my daughter is none of your concern."Karen's lips curled into a sneer, her earlier triumph making her bold. "None of my concern? Oh, that's rich coming from a man who just signed away any claim to financial security. What are you going to do, Dylan? Get a job flipping burgers? Maybe you can be a janitor somewhere?" She laughed, the sound grating and cruel. "I'm sure Emma will love visiting Daddy at his studio apartment in the worst part of town.""Karen, that's enough—""You're a joke, Dylan. A complete and utter joke. No wonder Rachel couldn't stand the sight of you. What woman wants a husband who's worth absolutely nothing?"A small voice cut through Karen's mocking laughter. "You're a bad woman!"Both adults turned to see Emma standing at the bottom of the stairs, her face flushed with anger, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her hands were clenched into tiny fists at her side
Chapter 4
Karen stood frozen in the doorway, her face a mask of confusion and dawning horror. The luxury vehicles lined the street like a presidential motorcade, their engines purring softly in the morning air. She watched as James Crawford held open the door of the Rolls-Royce, waiting patiently for Dylan.Dylan paused at the threshold, Emma's small suitcase in one hand, his daughter's hand in the other. He turned back to Karen, and the look in his eyes made her blood run cold—not anger, but something far more dangerous. Contempt."Karen," he said, his voice quiet and measured. "If I ever hear that you've insulted my daughter again—if I even hear a rumor that you've spoken her name with anything less than respect—I will make you regret it. Not as a threat. As a promise."Karen's mouth opened, but no sound came out. Her throat had gone dry, and something about the absolute certainty in his tone paralyzed her vocal cords. This wasn't the meek househusband she'd been mocking minutes ago. This was
Chapter 5
Victor studied Dylan's face carefully, noting the tightness around his eyes, the set of his jaw. The phone call with Rachel had clearly affected him more than he was letting on. The old man's expression darkened with protective fury."Young Master," Victor said, his voice low and serious. "What about the cooperation with Ms. Bennett's company? Do you still wish us to proceed with the contract signing?"Dylan stared out the window for a long moment, watching the city streets blur past. When he finally spoke, his voice was flat, emotionless. "I only help my wife's company, Victor. Not my ex-wife's."The words hung in the air like a death sentence. Victor's lips curved into a thin smile—not of pleasure, but of understanding. The message was clear: Rachel Bennett had just lost the most powerful ally she never knew she had."I understand completely, Young Master," Victor said, pulling out his phone. "I'll make the necessary arrangements."Emma, sensing the tension but not understanding it,
Chapter 6
Dylan looked at Rachel—at the woman he'd once loved enough to give up everything for—and felt only a cold, detached amusement. A slight smile played at the corners of his mouth, though there was no warmth in it."That's an interesting accusation coming from you, Rachel," he said, his voice carrying just enough edge to cut. "Considering your relationship with Tyler here seems far more intimate than appropriate for a simple business partnership. Tell me, when exactly did this 'cooperation' between you two begin? Before or after you started coming home late reeking of alcohol and expensive cologne?"Rachel's face went white, then crimson. The crowd around them murmured with renewed interest, their eyes darting between Rachel and Tyler with speculation."How dare you!" Rachel's voice cracked like a whip. "How dare you try to twist this around on me! I've been working—building my company while you sat at home doing nothing! Tyler has been a professional colleague, nothing more. Unlike you,
Chapter 7
Tyler and Rachel had tensed when Patricia first approached, uncertainty flickering across their faces. But the moment the hotel manager ordered security to remove Dylan and Sophia, relief and triumph flooded through them. Their nervous laughter filled the lobby, harsh and vindicated."I told you!" Rachel exclaimed, her voice carrying that sharp edge of satisfaction. "I told you he was lying! Even the hotel manager confirmed they're frauds!"Tyler squeezed her hand, his pudgy face split by a wide grin. "The man's a complete fantasist, darling. Absolutely delusional."Four security guards closed in on Dylan and Sophia, their movements professional but firm. The lead guard—a tall, broad-shouldered man with a crew cut—reached for Dylan's arm. "Sir, ma'am, you need to come with us. Please don't make this difficult."Emma burst into tears, her small hands clutching desperately at her father's leg. "Daddy! Daddy, what's happening?"Sophia's face had transformed from its earlier serenity to s
Chapter 8
Patricia remained on her knees, her whole body trembling violently. Cold sweat poured down her face, soaking through the collar of her pristine white blouse. Her carefully maintained composure had shattered completely, leaving behind only raw terror."Please," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Miss Sterling, Mr. Pierce, please forgive me. I didn't know. I swear on everything I didn't know who you were. I made a terrible mistake. Please, I'm begging you—""Silence." Victor's voice cut through her pleading like a knife. He hadn't moved from his position near the entrance, but his presence dominated the entire lobby. The fury in his eyes had crystallized into something colder, more terrible. "You claim to know every member of the Sterling family personally, Patricia. You've worked at this hotel for twelve years. And yet you couldn't recognize my own granddaughter?""She's been abroad, sir! She's been studying overseas since she was young. I've only seen photographs, and they were from
Chapter 9
The moment Michael Hayes disappeared through the banquet hall doors, the guests swarmed around Rachel and Tyler like moths to a flame. The temporary absence of the Sterling family representative only seemed to heighten their eagerness to ingratiate themselves with Rachel—after all, she was about to become one of the most powerful businesswomen in the city."Ms. Bennett, your vision for the company is truly remarkable," gushed a thin man in an expensive suit. "I've been following your progress for months. The IPO is going to be spectacular.""Rachel, darling," cooed a woman dripping in jewelry, "we simply must have lunch next week. I'm on the board of several charitable organizations, and I think your company would be a perfect partner for our next gala."Tyler preened under the attention, his chest puffed out like a peacock's. "Rachel's success is well-deserved. She's worked tirelessly to build this company from the ground up.""And you've been instrumental in that success, Mr. Richm
Chapter 10
Rachel's face had drained of all color, leaving her complexion a sickly gray that made her expensive makeup look garish and clownish. But she forced her lips into a trembling smile, her voice coming out higher pitched than usual, almost hysterical."Mr. Chen, please. This isn't funny." She gestured around the room with a shaking hand. "There are journalists here. Photographers. This is being documented. You can't just... you can't just make jokes like this. The contracts are ready. Everything is arranged. We're supposed to sign today."Michael's expression remained cold, carved from stone. Not a trace of his earlier warmth remained. "I'm not joking, Ms. Bennett. The Sterling family has made their decision. There will be no partnership. There will be no contract signing. Consider all previous negotiations null and void.""But—" Rachel's voice cracked. "But why? What changed? Everything was perfect just an hour ago!""The circumstances have changed," Michael replied flatly. "That's all