My Divorced CEO Wife Is Begging for Me Back

"Love Conan? Are you kidding? I only married him because Daven left."

Conan Ashworth stopped outside the VIP room of Gold Bar, his hand hovering inches from the door.

His wife, Rhea Voss, was speaking.

He had brought her homemade porridge after she complained about her stomach earlier that evening. Through the partially open door, he saw Rhea reclining on a velvet sofa, a glass of wine in her hand.

Beside her sat Lana, her closest friend, who had never bothered hiding her contempt for Conan.

Lana laughed.

"Seriously? I thought you two were getting along pretty well."

"Getting along doesn't mean I love him," Rhea replied, taking a sip of wine.

"Well, Daven's coming back tomorrow. Three years abroad, and he's finally returning." Lana leaned closer. "What are you going to do about Conan? You know Daven hates cheaters."

Rhea lowered her glass. After a brief silence, she answered casually.

"I'll divorce Conan when Daven gets back. We only got together because he went abroad. I never expected it to drag on for three years."

Conan's fingers tightened around the paper bag.

*Drag on for three years?*

Three years ago, Daven had left the country, leaving Rhea heartbroken. She was the one who approached Conan, confessed her feelings, and asked him to marry her.

He had believed every word.

After graduation, when Rhea wanted to start her own jewelry business, Conan gave her five million dollars from his personal savings. He also quietly used his family's connections to bring investors and clients to Voss Sparkles Enterprises.

During the company's difficult early years, Rhea attended business dinners almost every night, often coming home with severe stomach pains. Conan stepped away from his responsibilities at Ashworth Diamond Group, concealed his identity as its president, and took care of nearly everything at home.

He'd always believed they simply expressed love differently.

Now he understood why she had never looked at him the way she looked at Daven.

Lana laughed again.

"Poor Conan. He's spent three years following you around without a career of his own. What's he going to do after the divorce?"

"I'll give him a huge amount of money," Rhea replied.

"You're too generous! He could work his entire life and never earn that much. He should be grateful you kept him around."

Rhea frowned at the remark but offered no objection.

Conan looked down at the porridge he'd spent an hour preparing.

It had already gone lukewarm but he cared less of it.

He pushed open the door.

The conversation stopped as he entered. Rhea's smile vanished, and her eyes immediately flicked toward the doorway behind him.

"Conan? How long have you been there?"

He walked over and placed the porridge in front of her.

"You said your stomach was hurting. I brought you something to eat."

Rhea looked at the paper bag, then back at him.

"Conan, about what you heard, Lana and I were just..."

"You want a divorce?" Conan interrupted. "I'm free tomorrow morning. We can get it done then."

Rhea stared at him, taken aback. "What?"

"I'll move out myself. You won't have to worry about anything."

"Conan, are you serious?"

"Yes." He turned toward the door.

For three years, Conan had always been the first to apologize after an argument. Even when Rhea ignored him for days, he would eventually find some excuse to approach her.

She had expected the same tonight.

"Conan, wait!" She rose from the sofa to go after him, but Lana caught her arm.

"Your husband has quite a temper. Let him cool off."

Conan walked out without looking back.

Rhea remained standing, staring at the closed door.

He had left without reminding her to take her stomach medication or asking her to drink less. Usually, he would wait outside until she was ready to go home.

Tonight, he had simply walked away.

"He'll come back," Lana said. "You know how much he loves you."

Rhea sat down, but her eyes kept drifting toward the door.

She had seen Conan angry before, yet he'd always wanted to talk things through. Tonight, he'd agreed to divorce her without even asking why.

Her phone vibrated.

A message from Daven appeared on the screen.

{ I'll land at ten tomorrow morning. I've missed you, Rhea. It's been three years. I don't know if you still want to see me. }

Rhea stared at the message, unsure what to write.

Lana leaned over and immediately recognized the sender.

"Oh my God! It's Daven!" She snatched the phone from Rhea's hand and began typing.

"Lana, give it back!"

But the message had already been sent.

{Of course I want to see you, darling. I've missed you so much. You're the only man I've ever loved.}

"Lana!" Rhea grabbed her phone. "I'm still married!"

"Only until tomorrow." Lana laughed. "You've loved Daven for years. I'm just giving you the push you need."

Rhea looked at the message, her lips pressed together. Truly, she had waited three years for Daven to return. Now that he was coming back, she should have been delighted.

Instead, Conan's expression when he left kept returning to her mind.

Lana raised her glass. "Come on. To Daven's return!"

Rhea hesitated before joining the toast.

Soon, their conversation returned to Daven and his plans after arriving in Milan City.

The paper bag Conan had brought remained untouched on the table.

***

Outside Gold Bar, Conan stopped beside the road.

Only then did he realize his hands were shaking. He shoved them into his pockets, but the tightness in his chest remained.

He had given Rhea three years of his life, convinced they were building a future together.

He had walked away from the Ashworth family, abandoned his position at the group, and invested his savings in her company. His grandfather had opposed the marriage, wanting him to marry from an high-class family, but Conan had chosen Rhea anyway.

The Ashworth family controlled one of Milan City's largest business empires. As its designated heir, Conan could have returned to his former life at any time.

Instead, he'd spent three years helping Rhea build hers.

He had secretly arranged business opportunities for her company, while spending his days preparing her meals and managing their home.

He had never regretted those choices until tonight.

To Rhea, their marriage had simply been something that dragged on while she waited for Daven.

Conan took out his phone and dialed a number he hadn't contacted in three years.

The call connected almost immediately.

"Master Conan?" The man's voice carried an unmistakable surprise.

"Mr. Kole," Conan said. "End all assistance to Voss Sparkles Enterprises. Effective immediately."

There was a brief silence. "All assistance, sir? Including the investment support and business connections?"

"Everything. Honor existing contracts, but provide nothing further."

"Understood, sir." Mr. Kole hesitated. "But weren't you planning to reveal your identity to the young madam today and bring her home to meet the Old Master?"

Conan turned toward Gold Bar.

He had planned to tell Rhea the truth tonight. He'd even arranged for his grandfather to meet her, hoping to finally reconcile with his family.

"There's no need anymore. Don't bring it up again."

"Master Conan, has something happened?"

Conan ended the call before the man could ask another question.

He looked back at the bar one last time.

Three years of marriage had been enough.

Tomorrow, he would give Rhea the divorce she wanted.