SUPREME STYLIST: RETURN OF THE HUMILIATED GENIUS

Chapter 0019: Ex-husband's betrayal

Meanwhile, Fifty miles away across the sleeping city, at a place called the Royal building, all glass and steel and old money that comes from building an empire from scratch and through pain.

At the top floor inside of a room that looked like it was ripped out from a sick dream, occupied with domestic infrastructures that cost fortunes. The door of the bedroom squealed silently as it opened and a young woman stepped out, white towel wrapped around his waist, long hair cascading behind her back dripping water on the marble that followed her steps into the bedroom.

She was beautiful in the way art is beautiful— untouchable and Stunning. Despite the weariness in her eyes, her posture was sharp, the kind of uprightness needed for boardroom battles.

Joyce Lang.

Her phone buzzed on the bed. She grabbed it.

"Knox." She called, phone pressed to her ear.

"Good morning, Mrs. Lang." He greeted with respect. "Mr. Rowan is making moves already. Compilation of businesses transferred to his name."

Joyce smiled. "I know he will. It's expected sooner."

"He's digging, Mrs. Lang. Into your personal business."

Joyce smile wavered. She walked to the window, staring at the darkened skyline that gave away nothing but stars and moon that won't see what tomorrow morning would bring.

"Don't give away anything. It's dangerous for him. You know that, Knox."

"I know, Mrs. Lang. I gave nothing away." He said. "What if he finds out?"

"Then, I would have settled every scores with my ex-husband." She turned away from the window.

"He's smart, Mrs. Lang." Knox admitted. "The Logistics casualties two years ago at Royal thread. He's reopening the case and he's probably going to reinvestigate. He's assuming it was schemed and disguised as casualties."

"He's what—" Joyce Lang paused after a gasp. Her voice trembled with concern that plastered across her face like another skin. "— this is dangerous for him if Gerald finds out about him."

"What do we do, Mrs. Lang?" Knox asked.

Mrs. Lang slumped to the bed, finger pressed over her head as though something bigger than just thoughts was passing through her head.

She raised her head. "Do everything you can to always keep him safe. Gerald is watching. I know. He's still bittered he got nothing after the divorce he initiated because he thought everything was registered under my name. I was smart to transfer half of everything to Rowan."

Joyce Lang paused.

"Make sure he's protected. At any cost. If Gerald finds out about him, he'll come for him and that'll be dangerous."

"I'll keep him under watch, Mrs. Lang."

The line went dead.

Mrs. Lang dropped the phone, her mind processing the call he just received. She knew Rowan would dig. She vanished after signing half of her wealth worth billions away to him but she wasn't expecting him to make the move so fast.

She stood up, grabbed a bottle of wine from the house bar and filled a glass.

She leaned over the polished counter, took a sip from the glass like liquor would drown every thought spiralling through her mind, everything that happened in the past weeks that nearly made her lose everything she'd built if she hadn't been smart to save half of her empire from getting snatched by the only person she trusted and loved.

The memories felt bitter and they came back bringing moments she once cherished but now regretted.

Five years, she was married to a man who promised affection and support and everything a woman would need in a good marriage.

She had no family— meaning she's the only survivor of a brutal car accident that took every member of her family and she had been living with that sorrow for years.

She built her family wealth, expanding every operations across the world and she was just a second to handling everything to Gerald.

He was her husband after all.

She thought Gerald Langston was there to stay, she thought the promises of TILL WE DIE came from his heart, she thought he was going to be her only family and together they'll make families and families into generations not until he caught him cheating on her with her best friend two months ago, something that had been happening right under her nose for a long time but hadn't noticed.

The realization that Gerald Langston was there to shattered her world completely tore her heart. He was there to snatch everything she'd built and leave her crippled with her best friend.

She didn't give anything away for suspicion that she knew about his betrayal even though she was dying to confront him because the discovery was breaking her in silence.

She took another sip, wine and memories tasting like ashe and betrayal.

She wanted to give him an excuse.

Maybe her best friend forced herself on him.

But after a deeper investigation, she found what she never saw all along. They'd been in a secret relationship for a long time and he was planning to steal everything she built away from her.

The discovery made nearly made her lose her mind. But she knew better, crying don't solve problems. If anything, It makes you vulnerable.

Her CEO instinct kicked in.

Smartly, she took one step to be ahead of his plan, found Rowan whom she believed was worthy and transferred half of her wealth to him.

If Gerald crumbled the marriage, she won't allow him snatch everything she built.

As expected, Gerald suddenly wanted a divorce stating reasons that were never there. He said she was controlling, unsubmissive and every other cruel vocabulary to step out of the marriage. She'd given him everything, supported him even when it cost her blood, but he decided to ruin her, not knowing he was one step ahead of him.

The court declared Fifty percent of her wealth as compensation as stated in the divorce settlement.

Only twenty percent of her wealth was registered under her name, a few was under her father's name and largest percentage was under Rowan's control, and when Gerald finally realized that he'd been outplayed that he was only entitled to Ten percent of every she owned,

his blood boiled.