My Billionaire Ex-Husband Bought Me Back, But I Only Wanted His Money

Five years after our divorce, Ethan Vance suddenly tracked me down. Seeing me in my cheap, oversized hoodie, he frowned and threw a cold offer at my feet: "If you agree to remarry me, I'll give you a hundred thousand dollars a month." I agreed much faster than he expected. The woman who used to get jealous over his childhood friend, who used to scream and fight with him all night, seemed to have vanished completely. He told me not to check his schedule, so I didn't. He told me to leave Chloe alone, so I did. I even cooked for Chloe when she moved into our marital home. Yet, Ethan only grew more and more uneasy. Until Chloe personally told me. "Why do you think he suddenly wanted you back?" "Because I'm infertile, and he needs you to carry a baby for me." I touched my lower abdomen, where my uterus had long been destroyed by his own hands, and smiled. So this entire remarriage was just for another woman. Too bad he didn't know. I could never have his child again in this lifetime. And he had no idea that his so-called "deep love" could never compare to the man who had loved me with his very life. When Ethan found me, I was picking out a burial plot for my deceased husband, Julian Hayes. Julian had died in a car crash, shielding me with his own body. Guilt, self-blame, and overwhelming grief had almost swallowed me whole. Ethan looked me up and down. I used to wear nothing but haute couture; now, I was wearing a stretched-out hoodie and faded jeans. I looked so pathetic that you couldn't see a single trace of the wealthy woman I used to be. He frowned. "Is this the miserable life you live now that you've left me?" I stared at him for a moment before recognizing him. My ex-husband of five years. Seeing my silence, Ethan assumed I was too stunned by joy. He said calmly, "Apologize to me, and we'll get remarried. How about it?" I wanted to refuse, but then I remembered the burial plot I had just selected. It cost seven figures. Even if I delivered food for the rest of my life, I'd never be able to afford it. With that in mind, I asked cautiously, "If we remarry, is my monthly allowance still fifty thousand dollars?" Ethan stared at me in silence, a flash of pain in his eyes that I couldn't quite decipher. He said, "If you behave, I'll make it a hundred thousand. But if you act up and get paranoid like you used to, I'll..." Before he could finish, I quickly raised my hand. "I understand. I'll behave." Ethan seemed surprised. "Have you really thought this through? You... you weren't this easy to talk to before." I let out a helpless smile. "Like you said, Ethan, that was before." Before, I was the pampered Mrs. Vance, envied by everyone in the city, and a highly celebrated, talented designer. Whether relying on him or myself, I could live exceptionally well. But now, my reputation was ruined. His childhood friend had blacklisted me from the industry, making it impossible to find a decent job in the city. If I hadn't met Julian, I probably would have ended up as a pile of broken bones at the bottom of a cliff. How could I still have my old pride? Ethan's expression shifted slightly. He frowned. "What did you just call me? Ethan?" Looking at me, obedient yet so distant, Ethan felt as though his heart had been submerged in cold water. Heavy, suffocating... Afraid of losing the hundred thousand dollars, I quickly explained, "Did you forget? You were the one who forbade me from calling you by your first name." Ethan's face went pale. He remembered. He remembered we had a secret marriage back then. I was the lead designer at his company. On the surface, everyone thought I was just a valued employee. To keep our secret, he never allowed me to call him "Ethan" in public. So, I had always called him "Mr. Vance." Ethan looked frustrated, rubbing his temples. "That was back when you worked at the company and we needed to keep our distance. We don't need to do that anymore." A sharp ache flared in my chest. Yes, we didn't need to do that anymore, because the career I was once so proud of had been completely destroyed by him. I never had to play the part of his employee again. Unable to stand my silence, Ethan stood up irritably. "Let's go home." I got up obediently and followed him to his Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Once inside, I froze. The interior was completely pink, covered in photo booth pictures of Ethan and Chloe. Chloe was his childhood friend, and the catalyst for our divorce. Seeing me stare at the photos, Ethan explained with a hint of panic, "Chloe got hurt recently. My mother insisted she stay at my place so I could drive her to and from work." "You know how childish and imaginative she is. She loves these silly things, so..." Before he could finish, I smiled and cut him off. "It's actually quite cute." Ethan stared at my calm, unbothered face. "You don't mind?" I shook my head and smiled. "Why would I mind? You two grew up together. You're like brother and sister." "If anything were ever going to happen between you two, it would have happened long before I came along, right?"I thought saying this would make Ethan happy, but his face darkened instead. I didn't understand what he was angry about. These were the exact words he used to tell me whenever I got jealous. Unfortunately, back then, I never believed in pure platonic friendship between men and women. Even when he said it, I still demanded he keep his distance from Chloe. He agreed to my face, but behind my back, he was always with her, until I caught them together at a gala. I had lost my mind, screaming and hitting him, only to end up suffering the consequences myself. Did he forget all of that? But I didn't care about his mood. I looked down at my phone, calculating how long it would take to save up enough for the burial plot. Ethan felt an absurd sensation washing over him. He didn't expect that after five years, I would accept his relationship with Chloe so easily. But... it shouldn't be like this. Shouldn't I be criticizing him for crossing the line? Looking at my peaceful profile, Ethan reassured himself: She must be so afraid of losing me again that she doesn't dare to get angry. Suddenly, I remembered that Julian's photos were still at my old apartment. I asked Ethan to drive me there first. Ethan refused instantly, his face full of disgust. "Do you think our estate has room for your trash?" "Just call your landlord, terminate the lease, and tell them to throw everything away on eBay or something." I opened my mouth, wanting to tell him that it wasn't a rented apartment. But on second thought, I simply nodded in obedience. That tiny, twenty-square-meter apartment was the inheritance Julian had left me. No one else needed to know about it. The rest of the drive was silent. Half an hour later, I stood in front of my former home. In the yard, the sycamore tree I had planted with my own hands was thriving, having weathered five years of wind and rain. I was surprised. I remembered that when I left, Ethan had threatened to tear it down. Yet, five years later, it was still standing strong. Ethan walked up to me, looking slightly uncomfortable. "I had a landscaper look at it. He said the tree was good for the estate's layout, so I didn't dig it up." I nodded, wondering why he felt the need to explain. I wasn't delusional enough to think he kept it out of lingering feelings for me. In fact, I was still waiting for him to tell me the real reason he wanted me back. Soon enough, I got my answer. It turned out his sudden desire to remarry was still for his precious childhood friend. The front door opened from the inside. Pale-faced Chloe stood there, supported by a maid, smiling. "Ethan, you're back?" I already knew she was staying here, so I greeted her naturally. "Hi, Chloe. Long time no see." Chloe didn't seem to expect me to be this calm. Her face wore her usual fake smile as she said warmly, "Eliza, it's been so long!" "I made a birthday wish that Ethan would get back together with you. I can't believe he actually found you!" "I guess Ethan really is my Santa Claus. He always makes my wishes come true." If this were the old me, I would have been devastated. To know that my return was just a fulfillment of another woman's birthday wish. But now, far from being upset, I felt incredibly grateful. "Thank you, Chloe. Ethan told me you were injured. Don't worry, I'll take great care of you." This time, Chloe completely lost her composure. She stared at me in shock, utterly speechless. Ethan was also stunned. He tried to search my eyes for any sign of pretense, but he only found absolute sincerity. That strange, unsettling feeling in his chest grew even stronger. He quickly explained, "Chloe is just joking. You're my wife. Of course I wanted to remarry you after careful consideration." I smiled and flattered him, "You're the CEO of the Vance Group. Every decision you make is, of course, thoroughly calculated." "Chloe's words were probably just a reference. I understand. I get it completely." Even though I said exactly what he should have wanted to hear, Ethan still wasn't satisfied. He glared at me with a dark face, his eyes filled with a deep scrutiny I couldn't understand. I stared back at him, utterly confused. Defeated by my blank, innocent gaze, he turned and walked into the living room in frustration. I went to follow him, but Chloe blocked me at the door. She whispered in my ear, "Five years away, and your acting skills have really improved." "Too bad playing hard to get won't work when it comes to absolute favoritism." "Let me tell you the truth. Ethan only brought you back because I can't get pregnant. He wants you to have a baby for me so I can marry into the Vance family smoothly." My heart shook. Have a baby? I slowly traced my hand over my lower abdomen. There had been a child there once. But its father had personally destroyed it.I still remembered the disgust in Ethan's eyes back then. He had said, "A malicious woman like you doesn't deserve to carry my child." Now, five years later, he wanted me to give him a baby. But... I couldn't have children anymore either. If Ethan found out, would he kick me out? What about the burial plot... With that thought, I silently vowed never to let Ethan find out the truth. Suddenly, Chloe screamed and took a few steps back, her eyes red. "Eliza, if you don't like me, you can just say so... Why did you step on my foot?" The maid beside her pointed at me accusingly. "Ma'am, Chloe already has a foot injury! Stepping on her like that... she's going to be in pain for days!" "How could you..." Confronted by these two drama queens, I raised an eyebrow in surprise, then immediately apologized. "I'm so sorry, it was an accident." I was long used to Chloe's double-faced antics. In the past, I used to complain to Ethan about how manipulative she was. Of course, Ethan never believed me. He always accused me of being crazy with jealousy, claiming I was maliciously misinterpreting an innocent girl. Even though this "innocent girl" was a month older than me. So, I didn't bother explaining to Ethan. I just offered a sincere apology. Not far away, Ethan's face darkened. Seeing him look over, and assuming he was about to berate me like the old days, I said proactively, "I know it was an accident, but I did hurt Chloe." "I accept my punishment. I'll go to the attic now." With that, I turned toward the attic stairs. There was a small confinement room in the attic, a punishment room Ethan had specially built for me to "reflect" on my actions. Every time I "hurt" Chloe or disobeyed him, he would lock me in there. Twenty-four hours, with no food or water. At first, I would fight and scream. But later, because I lost my baby in that room, I developed severe claustrophobia. Since then, I would only sob and beg on my knees. Fortunately, I was no longer afraid of the dark. During the earthquake, I had been trapped in a tiny, pitch-black space shielded by Julian's body, covered in his blood. Yet, in those final moments of his fading life, I had felt the most passionate, unconditional love. He had cured my deepest psychological trauma. Only, the price had been far too high. Without realizing it, my eyes welled with tears. When Ethan grabbed my wrist, this was what he saw: standing meekly with no resentment, only a faint hint of vulnerability. Like a lost fawn abandoned in the wild. A sharp pang hit Ethan's heart. The anger that had just flared up was instantly extinguished. He asked helplessly, "When did I say I was sending you to the attic?" I looked flattered and surprised. "Oh? I really don't have to go?" My reaction pierced Ethan's eyes. He actually felt a wave of regret for how he had treated me in the past. He explained awkwardly, "I locked you up back then because you were too stubborn. You refused to admit your mistakes, so I wanted to teach you a lesson." "Now, you didn't do it on purpose, and you apologized sincerely. There's no need for punishment." Saying this, he looked at Chloe, who was standing nearby, and smiled gently. "Besides, Chloe is so kind. How could she want you punished over something so minor?" Chloe's mask almost cracked. She looked at me with a strange, unfamiliar expression. A stiff smile pulled at her lips as she nodded. "Yes, Eliza. You're making me look like the bad guy here." I shook my head and quickly explained, "I didn't mean it that way. I'm just used to..." Chloe immediately looked aggrieved. "I knew it. Eliza still blames me. It was my fault back then for being immature and lacking boundaries, which caused problems between you two." "Eliza, I'm sorry. I formally apologize to you." Ethan looked at me suspiciously. I knew he was wondering if I was about to stir up drama again. Having just escaped punishment, I wasn't about to let Chloe drag me back down. I said with utter sincerity, "Of course not! I stopped caring about those things a long time ago." "By the way, didn't you always love my steak?" "I'll go to the grocery store right now, buy the ingredients, and make it for you." "Once you eat my steak, you can't bring up the past anymore, okay?" My words stunned Chloe, stopping her performance right in its tracks. She watched in awkward silence as I rushed out the door. Before she could even speak, Ethan walked right past her and chased after me.Ethan caught my wrist and frowned. "I brought you back to be the lady of this house, not a maid." I shook my head, completely unfazed. "It's fine. I used to cook for Chloe all the time anyway." Ethan opened his mouth, but his throat felt as if it were blocked by a wooden plug. He remembered how, a few years ago, Chloe had fallen down the stairs and blamed me. To make me "atone," he had forced me to act as Chloe's maid for three months. Chloe was a picky eater. I wasn't good at cooking back then, and she would constantly knock over my plates, forcing me to cook again and again. Back then, my hands were covered in burns and blisters, yet he had never shown an ounce of pity. Three months later, I resolutely demanded a divorce. He blamed me for being unrepentant and signed the papers in a fit of rage. That was how our five-year separation began. Ethan sighed. "You still blame me, don't you? You're saying these things on purpose to remind me of how I treated you for Chloe's sake." "But Eliza, you were the one in the wrong back then. If I didn't give the Sterling family an explanation, the partnership between our families would have been affected..." "I'm not just your husband; I'm also the CEO of a corporation." I hadn't expected that a simple cooking offer would launch Ethan into another long-winded speech. But I had no interest in listening. I just wanted to know if he could drive me to the supermarket, since it was quite far. When I made my request, I noticed Ethan's face looked incredibly bitter. There was even a trace of sorrow. I didn't understand what was wrong with him. I urged, "Come on, if we go too late, the fresh fish will be sold out." Ethan silently got into the car. He drove me to the supermarket, quietly watched me buy groceries, and quietly drove me back. When we returned, he went to join a video conference. Chloe clung to him like a helpless kitten, feeding him fruit from time to time. I, on the other hand, was in the kitchen preparing dinner while plotting: How can I get Ethan to give me my allowance? The real estate agent had just texted me. Someone else was eyeing the burial plot. I needed to pay the deposit as soon as possible. ... An hour later, the three of us sat at the dining table. I cut a piece of steak for Chloe and asked, "How is it?" Chloe raised an eyebrow in approval, ordering me around just like old times. "Not bad. Tomorrow, I want Australian lobster." I immediately pulled out my phone to take notes. "No problem. Um... Ethan, do you have time to go to the supermarket with me tomorrow? If not, could you wire me some money?" "Otherwise, I won't have enough to buy groceries." Ethan stared at me in shock. He pulled out his phone and transferred the money while turning to Chloe. "Chloe, she's not a chef. If you want something specific, tell the maid." Chloe's face stiffened, turning pale as she looked on the verge of tears. "I understand. I'm sorry for bothering you both." With that, she stood up to leave. "I think I should go home. Otherwise, I might say the wrong thing again." As she spoke, she tripped and fell to the floor. Her knee hit the hardwood with a loud, hollow thud. Just from the sound, I knew it hurt. Ethan rushed over to lift her up. With red eyes, she tried to push him away. "Let me go. I don't want you to hold me." "Now that Eliza is back, everything I say is wrong, and everything I do makes you unhappy." "I should just go home." Ethan patiently comforted her, "What are you talking about? I didn't mean it that way." His gaze fell on her knee, filled with concern. "Your knee... I'm taking you to the hospital right now." He carried Chloe and rushed out. At the door, he suddenly turned back, only to see me eating my dinner as if nothing had happened. The explanation he wanted to offer died in his throat. He said coldly, "Wait for me at home." I said obediently, "Okay." As soon as they left, I immediately wired the eighty thousand dollar deposit to the agent via PayPal. Over the next few days, Ethan didn't return. I thoroughly enjoyed my peace. One afternoon, while I was having tea, the butler suddenly brought in a group of people. He said Ethan had ordered them to bring over the latest collections from all the major luxury brands for me to choose from. I selected a few bags that held their value well and some clothes, planning to sell them on eBay later to see how much cash I could get. That night, I went to sleep early. In my dream, I saw Julian. He was standing in a field of flowers, smiling and waving at me. I ran over and hugged him tightly, saying excitedly, "Julian, I made a hundred thousand dollars today. Aren't I amazing?" He hugged me back, his eyes full of tenderness. "Don't compromise yourself for my sake." I shook my head. I didn't feel compromised at all. Besides, compared to what he had done for me, this was nothing. Suddenly, I felt a cold, wet sensation on my skin, accompanied by heavy breathing that slowly shattered my dream. I opened my eyes in annoyance, only to find Ethan hovering over me, hungrily kissing my earlobe. A wave of intense disgust surged inside me. Instantly, I pushed him away, ran to the bathroom, and began to throw up.