Chasing My Innocent Ex-wife Back novel Chapter 4

FLORENCE’S POV

His face didn’t change as he said those words, but my heart fluttered. Had he really been waiting for me all these years? Why?

I felt like he could see the cracks I tried so hard to conceal for so many years. Just as I opened my mouth to ask what he meant, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

I grabbed it, my stomach twisting when I saw the caller ID—unknown number. I already knew who it was.

“Florence Hart,” came the sharp, no-nonsense voice on the other end. Marco’s man. “The transfer was due yesterday. Mr. Hart’s situation here is… unstable. You wouldn’t want anything unfortunate to happen, would you?”

A lump lodged itself in my throat. Mason still hadn’t answered my message, which only further confirmed he was ready to end our marriage.

“You have until midnight,” the voice continued. “No excuses.” The line went dead.

As I pocketed my phone, I could see Raiden’s face turn to concern.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

He didn’t believe me. “Florence.”

I swallowed hard, forcing a neutral expression, but the guilt was already pressing down on my chest. How could I ask him for money after everything I’d done? After the way I left?

I had walked away from him, from our work, from a future I had once built with my own hands—all for Mason. And yet, here I was, coming back not as a brilliant PR executive but as a desperate woman with zero options.

I had abandoned him. He had every right to turn me away, but he didn’t.

And my father’s situation was out of time. No matter how much pride I had left, it wasn’t worth losing his life.

I took a deep breath. I would repay Raiden ten times over. I would prove to him, to myself, to everyone that I wasn’t just a woman who married a billionaire and faded into the background.

“I need money.”

The words tasted like defeat.

Raiden didn’t say anything at first. He simply watched me, assessing me.

Finally, he sighed, reaching for his phone. “Guess you’ll have to work extra hard for me now,” he chuckled.

He didn’t ask why. He didn’t demand an explanation. A few taps, and the money was in my account. Just like that.

I stared at him, part grateful, part embarrassed, but mostly exhausted. I hated owing him.

But I hated the alternative more.

***

Once home, I noticed Mason hadn’t been back since he left on his birthday. And for the first time in my marriage, I wasn’t sure if he ever would return.

Cutting my losses, I pulled up a rental app on my phone and rented a small studio apartment outside the city. A temporary safety net in case Mason actually kicked me out. I’d been blindsided pretty much our entire marriage with his mood swings. If I didn’t take proactive steps now, I would truly be the fool.

I packed up all the designer stuff I’d been gifted over the years with the intention of selling everything, bit by bit, to make the money to pay back Raiden and continue ensuring my father’s safety.

It didn’t matter, anyway. I told myself I wouldn’t actually need the apartment. That Mason would eventually come crawling back, realizing how good he had it.

But that only happens in movies. This is no movie.

***

The next day, Blake called me into her office.

“I need you to assist with an ad shoot,” she said, barely looking up from her phone. “Urbanite is launching a new luxury campaign. It’s a big deal.”

Urbanite. One of Mason’s brands under Eternity.

“Absolutely. I’ve got it!” I said, keeping my voice steady.

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