The Ex-Wife's Redemption: A Love Reborn Chapter 270

Catherine lay naked on the cold carpet, completely broken. Both men she had loved had abandoned her without hesitation.

In this moment, she finally understood a brutal truth: for men, self-interest always trumped sentiment. Love was merely a convenient fiction.

Oliver's thirty slaps—not one fewer than required—still burned across her face.

For years, she had loved him desperately, even stealing from the Harding family to fund his business ventures. And what had it earned her?

Curled up on the icy carpet, Catherine touched her swollen face, now so puffy she could barely see through her eyes.

A wave of grief suddenly overwhelmed her. She began to sob, weeping for nearly an hour before finally dragging herself up, finding some clothes, and silently walking out of the hotel into the city streets.

Seven days after her disappearance, news spread that Oliver had been stabbed.

The blade had pierced his abdomen, missing his heart by less than an inch.

No one knew who was responsible, but rumors circulated rapidly through New York's elite circles.

In the Harding mansion, Grace knelt before her father, her face a mask of contrition.

"Dad, I know giving Mom the key was wrong," she admitted, "but I told you immediately after I discovered she'd escaped. Doesn't that count for something?" She paused before adding, "And I heard Oliver was injured by a woman. Do you think... could it have been Mom?"

The Harding household had been in constant turmoil lately, and Grace had matured considerably through it all. When Catherine had begged her for the key, Grace had immediately understood her mother's intention to escape.

She was torn between filial duty and loyalty to the Harding name. Her solution had been to give Catherine the key, then immediately inform Richard about it.

This decision had led to Oliver falling into Richard's carefully orchestrated trap. Now, he sighed deeply as he pulled his kneeling daughter to her feet.

"Get up," he said wearily, "Given that no major scandal erupted, and considering your ultimate loyalty to the family, I'll forgive you this once."

"Then I'll call Mom," Grace said eagerly, "and maybe find out if she knows anything about Oliver's injury."

Richard didn't respond verbally, just waved his hand, signaling her to leave.

Grace rushed back to her room to call Catherine.

Meanwhile in Denver, Alexander was preparing to take Billy and me to an amusement park.

After several days of intense academic conferences, they needed to unwind.

Henry intercepted the three of us before we could leave. "Where do you think you're going?" he demanded. "Why didn't you consult with me first? Wherever you want to go, I'll take you. No need to trouble Mr. Sanders."

Alexander stood there, one hand casually tucked into his suit pocket, eyeing Henry with undisguised contempt.

"Sophia said she's going out with me. What does that have to do with you?"

Henry refused to back down. "She's my son's mother. Of course she's coming with me. Have you ever seen a child go out with some uncle who isn't even related to him?"

Their argument escalated quickly, following us from the hotel room door all the way to the hotel entrance.

Billy and I exchanged exasperated looks as the two men continued their childish bickering. With Billy growing increasingly eager to start our fun day, I made a decision.

I hailed the taxi I'd previously arranged and ushered Billy inside, leaving both men behind.

The taxi roared away, quickly disappearing into Denver's busy streets.

Henry and Alexander stood dumbfounded, glaring at each other with mutual disgust.

"Pathetic!" Alexander spat.

"Disgusting!" Henry retorted.

They immediately turned away, standing back-to-back like feuding children.

Henry clenched his jaw, forcing himself to ask: "Did you catch the license plate?"

Alexander laughed loudly. "Why would I tell you? I'm going after Sophia now. You can stay here and entertain yourself."

He promptly called his assistant to bring his car. Within minutes, a flashy yellow Lamborghini pulled up beside Alexander.

He slid into the driver's seat and waved mockingly at Henry. "Goodbye, Mr. Harding! Enjoy your solitude—I've got better places to be!"

Henry watched the ostentatious yellow sports car speed away, angrily kicking a small stone on the sidewalk.

"As if Sophia would ever fall for you," he muttered. Shortly afterward, a sleek black S-class Mercedes pulled up beside him.

Henry barely waited for the door to open completely before jumping in. "Follow that yellow Lamborghini!" he commanded.

Free from both men's suffocating attention, I felt genuinely relaxed for the first time.

The amusement park entrance was just ahead, and Billy spotted a cotton candy vendor—he always got distracted by these food stalls. After purchasing the cotton candy, I realized an embarrassing fact—I had left both my wallet and phone at the hotel!

Embarrassed, I asked the vendor if I could use his phone to make a call.

Meanwhile, Alexander was zipping through the streets in his conspicuous yellow Lamborghini, desperately searching for me, with Henry's black Mercedes following relentlessly behind. No matter how fast the Lamborghini accelerated, it couldn't shake the persistent black car.

Suddenly, Alexander's phone rang—an unknown number. Thinking it might be a business associate, he frowned slightly before answering.

"Hello? Who's this?"

The other end was filled with wind noise and the chaotic sounds of a busy street. After a moment, he heard a familiar voice: "Alexander? It's Sophia."

His face lit up instantly. "Sophia! Where are you? Send me your location and I'll come right away!"

I laughed awkwardly, explaining my embarrassing predicament. "I'm so sorry to trouble you like this."

Having to ask Alexander to bring me just ten dollars was mortifying, but Alexander chuckled warmly.

"Don't be silly! The fact that you're asking me for help means you consider me a friend, someone you can count on. That makes me happy."

"Great, I've got your location. Give me a few minutes—I'll be right there." After hanging up, Alexander couldn't suppress his smile, instructing his driver to head for the amusement park.

Ten minutes later, Alexander parked by the roadside. He approached the vendor with a hundred-dollar bill in hand.

"I'm so sorry for the inconvenience," he said politely, paying the man and buying several cotton candies—one each for me, Billy, his driver, and himself.

Seeing Alexander's generosity, the vendor complimented: "Miss, you've got yourself a fine boyfriend! Handsome, well-mannered, and generous. You're one lucky lady!"

This comment delighted Alexander, who promptly bought several more treats. "I have to say, sir, you have excellent taste. My wife is indeed beautiful, capable, and kind-hearted."

My face immediately reddened, and I was about to clarify our relationship when a black Mercedes came speeding toward us. The car executed a perfect drift before stopping directly in front of me.

Before the vehicle had completely stopped, Henry jumped out. He had clearly overheard the vendor's words, and a feeling of jealousy burned inside him.

He quickly positioned himself beside me, possessively wrapping an arm around my waist as he addressed the vendor: "Sir, this is MY wife. Are you blind? We're the married couple, and that boy is MY son!"

The vendor looked between Henry and Alexander, utterly confused. "How am I supposed to know what's true? If you're really her husband, why didn't she call you for help instead of this gentleman?"

"The first gentleman arrived so quickly, looking genuinely concerned—surely he must be her husband? And if this young lady is truly your wife, why is she pushing your hand away from her waist?"

The vendor's pointed questions left Henry speechless. As I wriggled out of his grasp, he stood frozen, his heart sinking.

Henry clearly realized he was no longer my first choice!

I shot him a disgusted glare. "Henry, what's wrong with you now?"

When he grabbed my wrist, his voice caught in his throat.

"Why didn't you call me first?"