My Ex Wife’s Rival Claimed Me

I used to hide my relationships from my parents. Now, I hide them from my wife.

The day my soft-spoken, younger girlfriend changed her profile picture to a spiteful image of a demon just to get a rise out of me, I was sitting in the passenger seat of my wifes car. I didn't dare show a single spark of emotion. I didn't even dare to breathe too loudly, let alone cry.

My wife, Morgan, glanced at my bloodshot eyes and assumed I was upset because shed spent another night at her latest boy-toys penthouse.

She tossed a check for two million dollars onto my lap, her voice cool and clinical. "You know how I feel about the people I see on the side. Theyre just... distractions. Novelties. Youre different. Youre the master of the Montgomery estate. Youre the one who shares my name."

I just nodded, feigning a calm I didn't feel. Later that night, I followed her to the exclusive lounge she frequented. I stood outside the heavy mahogany doors, paralyzed, as I heard her best friends mocking laughter.

"Morgan, honestly, how many is this now? Aren't you worried youll finally push your husband too far? What if he actually runs off with some little girl?"

I could almost see Morgan swirling the ice in her scotch, her smile indifferent. "Miles loves the lifestyle. As long as the 'compensation' is adequate, hed never dream of giving up the Montgomery title."

The room erupted in laughter. I pushed the door open, the sound dying in their throats as I walked in. Morgan didn't miss a beat; she reached out to pull me into her lap, her touch possessive.

"What, two million wasn't enough? You had to hunt me down for more? Careful, Miles. Playing hard to get only works if you know when to stop."

I pulled away from her hand, my skin crawling. I reached into my coat and handed her the folder.

"The girl I'm seeing is making things difficult. Sign the papers. I need to give her an answer."

...

The silence in the VIP lounge was deafening.

The smirk slowly slid off Morgans face. she leaned back into the velvet sofa, her eyes narrowing into icy slits.

"Miles, Ive let you play your little games. I haven't said a word about your flings. But this? This is a bit much, don't you think?" she sighed, looking at her friends for validation. "Whats the matter? Did some nightclub waitress get greedy? You need me to up your allowance?"

A chorus of snickers broke out. Their eyes roamed over me like I was a piece of property under inspection.

They all knew how "wild" Id been acting for the last six months. In a desperate attempt to retaliate against Morgans blatant infidelity, Id become a fixture at the citys most expensive clubs, burning through cash, always seen with a different woman on my arm. Morgan never stopped me. She saw it as a tantruma pathetic plea for her attention.

I didn't flinch. I pushed the divorce papers closer to her on the marble table. "Im serious, Morgan. Sign them."

Just then, a head popped up from behind Morgans shoulder. It was a boy with messy, bleached-blonde hair, a lollipop tucked into the corner of his mouth.

"So this is the husband?" he asked, his voice dripping with faux-innocence. "He looks so... refined. Why the temper, big guy?"

He leaned into Morgan, draped over her like a boneless cat. "Morgie, I told you. You can't spoil men like this. Look at himyou give him an inch, and he thinks he can threaten you with a divorce whenever he wants a new watch."

His name was Parker. He was Morgans latest obsession. He wasn't the slick, predatory type I expected; he was just a bratty kid who knew exactly how to play her. And Morgan ate it up.

"Hear that?" Morgan said, her voice dropping an octave. "Even Parker can see you're being ridiculous. Tell mehow much is it going to take to make this go away?"

Parker laughed, took the lollipop out of his mouth, and shoved it directly into Morgans. "Here, Morgie. Have some sugar. Cool that temper."

Morgan frowned, but she didn't spit it out. She sucked on the candy, looking at me with a sickening, half-smile. "Miles, take your pathetic little papers and get out. Ill pretend this never happened. Don't make me say it twice."

The sight of them together made my stomach turn. "If you won't sign, Ill take it to court. Ill make it as messy as you want."

I turned to leave. Behind me, the sound of a crystal glass shattering against the floor echoed through the room.

"Miles! If you walk out that door, theres no coming back. Think very carefully."

I didn't even pause. My hand was on the brass handle when I heard Parkers exaggerated gasp.

"Oh, Morgie, don't be mad! Hes just so... stiff. Not like me. I just want to make you happy. If I were you, Id stop the wire transfers. Cut off his cards for a few months. Lets see how 'serious' he is when he can't pay for his dry cleaning."

Morgans cold laugh followed me out. "Youre right, Parker. Some people really do need a lesson in humility."

I hadn't been out of the club for five minutes when my phone began to vibrate incessantly. Notification after notification popped up: Card Frozen. Account Suspended.

Strangely, I felt a wave of peace wash over me.

Suddenly, a familiar red Ferrari roared to a halt beside me. The window slid down, and Parker let out a sharp whistle, jerking his chin toward the curb.

"Hey, Hubby. No car? Need a lift? Too bad this is a two-seater. You could probably squeeze into the trunk, though."

He cackled, and Morgan leaned over from the driver's seat, her eyes cold. "Miles, it's not too late to apologize. Tell everyone youre sorry for ruining the night, and Ill take you home."

I tightened my trench coat against the evening chill. "No thanks. Id rather walk than get into something that feels this dirty."

Parker pouted, slapping the steering wheel. "Morgie, did you hear that? I was being nice, and he called me dirty! My feelings are hurt. Does your husband think hes better than me just because were friends?"

Morgan reached over and ruffled Parkers hair. "Miles, Ive been incredibly restrained since your last outburst. I kept Parker around because hes fun, hes uncomplicated. Hes like a little brother. We haven't even slept together."

"Uncomplicated." "Like a brother." The lies were so practiced they almost sounded like the truth.

When I first found out she was cheating, I lost my mind. I screamed, I broke things, I even forced her to terminate a pregnancy when I found out the child wasn't mine. She hadn't fought me then. She let me rage, let me hit her, and promised shed never sleep with another man.

Then I caught her in the office with her secretary.

That was the day I went cold. That was the day I started my six-month spiral into the nightlife. She thought I was imitating hertrying to win her back by making her jealous.

She was so, so wrong.

Seeing my silence, Morgan turned to the two bodyguards who had followed us out. "Since my husband thinks were so 'dirty,' he can walk home. Make sure no one gives him a ride."

With a deafening roar of the engine, the Ferrari tore away. The guards stepped up behind me, blocking the view of the curious onlookers.

I had no choice. I took off my designer loafers and began to walk.

It took me three hours to reach the house. By the time I walked through the front gates, my feet were covered in blisters that had already burst, stinging with every step.

The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon when I pushed open the front door. Parker was lounging in the living room, wearing my silk bathrobe, his head resting in Morgans lap.

"Look whos back! Nice cardio, Hubby. You training for a marathon?"

Morgan looked at my feet, stained with blood and grime. She froze for a split second, a flicker of somethingguilt? annoyance?crossing her face. "Do you understand now? Theres a bowl of oatmeal on the table. Parker made it for you. Eat it, and well forget all this."

I looked toward the kitchen. The bowl was sitting there, but it was filled with cigarette ash, dregs of old wine, and a half-eaten lollipop floating in the center.

I ignored them and headed for the stairs.

"I told you to eat it!" Morgans voice turned lethal.

Parker hopped off the sofa, barefoot. "Hey, I worked hard on that! I don't usually go into the kitchen, you know. Its the thought that counts."

He came toward me, grinning, shoving the bowl toward my face. The sour, rancid smell hit me instantly. I jerked my head away.

Parkers hand "slipped." The cold, gritty mess splashed all over my chest and neck.

"Oops! Im such a klutz. My hands must be shaky from... taking care of Morgie all night. She just wouldn't let me go. Morgie, tell him its your fault! Come blow on my poor hands!"

Morgan marched over, but she didn't help me. She shoved me out of the way. I was already unsteady on my feet; I slammed hard against the entryway cabinet.

She didn't even look at me. She actually took Parkers hands and began to blow on them gently.

"Miles, he tried to do something nice for you. If youre going to act like a corpse, do it somewhere else. Apologize. Now."

I looked her dead in the eye. "Ill apologize. As soon as you sign the papers."

Morgan snapped. "Miles! Are you seriously going to keep this up? Who do you think you are? You were a nobody from a trailer park when I found you. Without the Montgomery name, you are nothing!"

Parker hid behind her, making a face at me, his lips silently mocking: Loser.

I laughed. I pulled off my ruined coat and tossed it into the trash. "If you hate looking at me so much, sign the papers. You think I enjoy looking at you two?"

The slap came so fast I didn't see it. My vision blurred; half my face went numb instantly.

Morgan pulled back, breathing hard. She reached into her bag, pulled out the signed document, and threw it at my face.

"Fine. You want out? Youre out. Im done with your moods."

Parker cheered, jumping up and down. "Yes! Go Morgie! Thats how a real woman handles business!"

I clutched the papers, the sting on my cheek feeling like a badge of honor. It was worth the slap. I turned around and walked out the door, my bloody feet leaving tracks on the white marble.

I had no money, no ID, nothing but my phone. I stared at the screen. Should I call her? If I did, shed lose control. Shed burn Morgans world to the ground.

Before I could decide, my phone rang. It was Parker.

"Hey, Hubby," he whispered, his voice dripping with malice. "Morgie was so mad after you left. She just had your favorite catwhat was his name? Marshmallow?thrown into the alligator pond out back. Oh man, it was so graphic. Im literally crying right now."

My heart stopped. My hand shook so hard I nearly dropped the phone. "What did you say?"

Marshmallow. He was a Ragdoll cat, the last thing my father gave me before he died. He told me that looking at that cat was like looking at him. For seven years, Marshmallow had been my only real companion in that cold house. He wasn't a pet; he was family.

Parkers heartless laughter echoed through the line, and in the background, I heard a faint, agonizing cry.

Then, Morgans voice came on. Cold. Detached. "Miles, the cat is just the beginning. Tomorrow is Parkers birthday gala. if you don't crawl back here and beg for forgiveness, the next thing going into the pond is your grandfather. I hear the nursing home has very lax security."

"Morgan! You signed the papers! Its over! Why won't you let me go?"

She hung up.

I ran to the nursing home as fast as I could, but his room was a wreck. The monitors were overturned, the IV lines ripped out. There was blood on the floor.

The nurse was trembling. "Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Montgomerys people came. They said they were transferring him. they had legal authorization signed by her... we couldn't stop them."

The world spun. He was my only living relative. He was my life.

By the time I got back to the villa, the air was filled with music and laughter. A crowd of wealthy socialites was gathered around the back patio, cheering.

When I walked in, Parker clapped his hands. "See, Morgie? I told you it would work. Hes back to say hes sorry."

I saw my grandfather. He was tied to his wheelchair, pushed right to the very edge of the stone embankment over the alligator pond.

I was shaking violently. "Morgan, stop this. What do you want? Do whatever you want to me, just let him go!"

Morgan looked up, sipping her champagne. "I didn't like your attitude last night, Miles. You want to save him? Fine. Get down on your knees. Crawl from the door to my feet and beg for forgiveness in front of everyone."

The crowd started chanting.

"Do it, Miles! Did you really think you could leave Morgan for some girl?"

"Hes probably got some disease from the streets anyway. Why do you want him back, Morgan? Parkers right here!"

Morgan walked over and hooked her arm through mine. "Men have their little tantrums. Miles, just apologize, and well go get the marriage reinstated tomorrow morning. But if you want to be difficult..."

A bodyguard at the pond gave the wheelchair a sharp nudge. It rolled forward, the front wheels dangling over the dark, murky water.

"No!" I shrieked. My legs gave out, and I hit the stone floor.

Morgan smiled, satisfied. "Thats a good boy. Everyones watching, Miles. I have a reputation to uphold. Youve had me wrapped around your finger for too long." She leaned in, her voice a cruel whisper. "If you really hate Parker that much, once you apologize, Ill let you scar his face yourself. How does that sound?"

She stepped on my back, her heel digging into my spine, forcing my head down toward the floor.

I wanted to vomit. I wanted to kill them all. But the wheelchair wobbled.

My rage turned into cold, hollow despair. "Fine. Ill beg. Im sorry."

The crowd cheered, phones coming out to record the humiliation. "Boss move, Morgan! Thats how you break a man!"

Just as I was about to touch my forehead to the ground, a thunderous crash echoed through the estate. The front gates had been rammed open.

A voice, low and sharp as a razor, cut through the noise.

"You Montgomery trash really have some nerve."

"Touching my man?"