His Ex Girl Novel – “Let’s get married.” “Married! I just divorced. Is this some kind of joke to you?” I told him. “Think about it, what better way to get revenge on him than dating the very guy he hates.” “What would you get out of this?” “My parents are threatening to make my life miserable if I don’t marry soon.” This was the most crazy deal I’ve ever been offered…I remembered he scene that Ethan had said about me cheating on him, and I made up my mind. “Fine, I’ll do it.” Rafael’s eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and relief as he gazed at me. “You won’t regret this, Yasmin, it’s the perfect revenge.”
Yasmin’s POV: I eagerly scooped a generous portion of the steaming pasta onto my fork, its inviting aroma filling the air. As I brought it to my mouth, the vibrant explosion of flavors burst onto my taste buds, igniting a symphony of sensations. The perfectly cooked pasta mingling with the rich sauce left me utterly satisfied with myself. This wasn’t the first meal I’ve made. It likely wouldn’t be the last, but it was one of the most significant because it was for my husband. Our one-year anniversary was officially here and even though this was just the anniversary of when we became a couple, I still wanted to make it special.
Married life was different, to say the least. It could be stressful as a normal person, but when you’re married to a billionaire and you constantly face criticism from his family, it moves from being different to stressful and on some days; it was downright unbearable. Today was thankfully not one of those days and I could enjoy myself without having to look over my shoulder, or so I thought. The front door opened. “Yasmin!” he yelled. My name echoed in the empty house as he tossed his coat to the side and slipped out of his shoes. “Yasmin! Where are you?” I was just about to shout a response when it dawned on me what he said. He definitely sounded angry, surprisingly he sounded angry at me. The second he burst into the kitchen, his eyes locked on me. The beautiful brown of his iris was a shade darker, more menacing. I’ve never seen him this way before.
“I’m so glad you’re home.” I jumped to my feet, ignoring the waves of anger that seemed to radiate off him. I was in front of him in record time, tossing my arms around his neck for a warm embrace. “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t make it. I made all of your favorite food and I even grabbed a bottle from the cellar. I hope you don’t mind, but we are celebrating, after all.” “Are we?” he grunted, his arms which hung loosely at his side reached up to grip my arm, shoving me away from him. “What!” The sudden movement startled me. My hand held onto the nearest chair so I wouldn’t fall to the floor. That’s how hard he pushed me- until I was seconds away from being a mere puddle on the ground. “Ethan, what are you doing?” “What am I doing?” his voice was deeper still. “What are you doing?” He advanced on me. “How could you do this to me?”
I could only stare at him, hoping that my eyes showed the confusion I felt. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “You don’t know what I’m talking about,” he mumbled to himself, eyes downcast, fingers clenched tightly into fists. He was furious and, for the second time tonight, I wondered why. What’s made him so angry and why was he taking it out on me? Taking a deep breath, I once again asked him what this was about. Maybe there was a misunderstanding. “I’m not sure what your problem is, but if you tell me what happened, we can work it out.” “I don’t want to work it out!” he barked. “You betrayed me.” I watched as he reached into his inner suit pocket to pull out photos- photos that he tossed in my direction- each one even more graphic than the last. I immediately knew they were fake. Not only were they obviously staged, but they were so photoshopped it was ridiculous. I slowly looked over at him, the shock of the situation making me numb to everything else.
“What are these?” I asked him, not at all oblivious to the way he tensed before me. “Who gave them to you?” “Who gave them to me?” he laughed humorlessly. “Does it matter? You’re cheating on me. After everything we’ve been through, you’re cheating on me.” I rolled my eyes, unable to listen to him disrespect me any longer. “I’ve never cheated on you, Ethan. You know that. I don’t know what this is or why someone went to these lengths to portray me as a cheater, but I’m not one. I’d never cheat on you.” “Then how do you explain the pictures?” he continued, not giving me a chance to speak. “Mom said you would deny it. She even said act like you knew nothing about it.” I couldn’t help it. I rolled my eyes again. I sat in the nearest chair and reached for the fork so I could indulge in the delicious meal I made before it got cold.
When I caught sight of Ethan still standing there fuming, I almost stopped everything to reassure him yet again, but I was so tired of being labeled a gold digger and a cheater. “Aren’t you going to say anything to defend yourself?” I contnued eating, which aggravated him more. “There’s proof of you being a bimbo and you have nothing to say for yourself.” “I am not a bimbo!” I snapped back, letting the fork fall out of my hand. It hit the plate hard, shattering the side closest to me. I shot to my feet and stormed over to him. He was taller than me, but I sized him up, my voice laced with venom. “I’m only going to say this once more. I’m not a cheater. I can’t believe you’d let your mom fill your head with lies about me, especially when you know how much the bimbo hates me.” I could have avoided what happened next, only I was too stunned to do so.
The second he swung his arm in my direction, I lost it. All of my thoughts seemed to be jumbled together. My head still turned to the left of me as I processed what happened. He hit me. In all my twenty-four years on earth, no one has ever slapped me across the face. I slowly straightened, shifting my body so I was facing him yet again. Wide eyes greeted me as I stared him down. I could tell he was remorseful, but the longer I stared, the more he seemed to think he was right for what he did. His lips pressed into a firm line as he watched my every move. He was about to lose me. There was no way I could ever forgive him for this, for the way he spoke to me, the name calling, the physical abuse. All I could think about now was making him pay for the pain he and his family inflicted. All I could think about was revenge and my revenge started now.
Without another thought, I drew back my arm as far as I could and swung forward with all the strength I could muster, slapping him hard across the face. “Prick!” he groaned out in pain. “Are you crazy?” “You left a handprint on my face,” I smiled, once again ignoring my stinging cheek. “I’m just returning it.” “Screw you!” He reached for his briefcase and pulled out a set of papers that almost brought me to tears. Divorce papers. My smile widened even more when he handed them to me with a pen in tow. At least he saved me the trouble of having to go through the process myself. “Thank you.” I took the papers, signed them and shoved them into his waiting arms. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m about to finish my meal and then I’ll be out of your way.” “I want you out of this house right now.” I ignored him, sat in my chair and continued as if nothing happened. I was calm and collected on the outside, but on the inside I was a mess, and I so badly wanted to cry.
He was my first love, my husband, and now he was nothing to me. “No can do, soon to be ex-husband,” I took a generous sip of the spirits. “I spent hours on this meal. I’m well going to enjoy it. Unless you want me to report you to the police for domestic violence, then we’ll have guests to join us.” I set the glass down so I could have another mouthful of the pasta. “The more the merrier.” He took a deep breath, eyes turned to the ceiling as if asking the Lord for strength. I seriously doubt the Lord would answer him after what he just did, but I kept that to myself. He finally cast a glare in my direction. “You better be gone by the time I get back.” I simply shrugged, not giving him the satisfaction of a verbal response. He left the room, taking the divorce papers with him. With no one here to witness my downfall, I breakdown, crying my heart out. I felt as if he tore my heart from my chest and stomped on it repeatedly to make sure I was as broken as shattered glass.
The sound of his car leaving the driveway did nothing but widen the hole in my heart. *** Rafael’s Pov: “Rafael, this is serious. You can’t go on like this for much longer. You need to find a wife.” I shrugged on my jacket, preparing to leave my impromptu interrogation session. When I agreed to have dinner with my parents, I made it clear I wasn’t about to entertain any conversation about my marital status. For the last three years, my parents, mostly my mother, have made it their mission to always remind me I’m not getting any younger and I need to marry someone soon. The conversations have been bearable for the most part, but when I turned twenty-eight, it caused a ripple effect that I could have never seen coming. Marriage was no longer the annoying topic I could easily ignore. Now it’s become a virus that spread all the way to my boardroom and now even my board members were on edge. “I don’t need to find a wife,” I spoke calmly, hoping they would listen to me for once.
“Why are you guys so hellbent on marrying me off to someone?” Dad sighed, his fingers running through his luscious brown hair. “It’s bigger than us now, Rafael. You’re almost thirty and you’re still a bachelor who picks up women, has casual hookups and all your relationships end at the three-month mark.” “So?” I shrugged, unable to deny any of what he said. “What does my dating have to do with the company?” “It has everything to do with the company,” he continued. “The board doesn’t want a playboy running a multibillion dollar company and neither do I. I hate to be the bearer of bad news son, but if you don’t find a wife by the end of the year, then they’re voting against you as the CEO of the company.” Voting against me? Everything he said sounded like a thinly veiled threat and, as much as I loved my father, I didn’t like feeling threatened.
I held the majority shares in the company- a whopping forty percent. My parents owned ten percent each, while my sister had five percent. That left thirty-five percent of the shares, which were spread out among the board. If they wanted to strip me of my position, they wouldn’t be able to do it without my parents’ consent and by the way they’ve been pestering me, it was safe to assume that they were not on my side. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” They shared a look, one that screamed they would do whatever it took to make me obey them. “You know what we’re saying,” Mom spoke up. “I just hope you’ll play this smart and really think about it. Would it be the worst thing in the world to settle down and start a family?” I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. She was right. It wouldn’t be the worse thing in the world to settle down. In fact, I would say I’m almost ready to do just that. Almost. Having kids was an entirely different thing. I left without another word.
I mean, what could I have said? I either get married or risk being demoted. I’ve spent years building the company into what it was. I’d rather be in a loveless marriage than move down the corporate food chain or have someone else reap the benefits. I pulled out my phone, about to call my best friend, when someone bumped into me, knocking the phone out of my hand. Slender arms immediately reached out to grab the phone mid-air, successfully saving it from plummeting to its death. “I’m so sorry,” she rushed out, her silky dark hair covering what I already knew were beautiful gems that could pierce through my soul. Time seemed to stand still as I processed my ever troubled thoughts. Beautiful gems? For god’s sake, when did I become a poet? And when was the last time just a woman’s voice turned me on? “Here,” she lifted her head, her beautiful long hair parted, allowing me the privilege of having her stunning hazel eyes locked on me.
“I’m sorry for bumping into you, but at least I saved your phone, right?” I wanted to mumble a response, say anything to not appear a robot, but I was frozen in place, unable to move. Her eyes drew me in, but it was the tears in them that made me pause. Even in this terrible lighting, I knew this wasn’t the first time I’ve seen her. Seeing her for the first time in person was unexpected, especially at this hour at night. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to feel about meeting my ex-best friend’s wife on the street, but I was quickly getting used to it. “You’re Ethan’s wife, right? Yasmin Alarie?” She took a step back, her grip on my phone tightening even more. “H-how do you know who I am?” I couldn’t help the tiny smirk that graced my lips. “I know everyone important in the city.” “Is that so?” she titled her head towards me, her earlier nervousness nowhere to be seen.
“Are you flirting with me, Mr…” “Amato, Rafael Amato and not at all. I’m simply stating the obvious.” She smiled slightly, then looked away. A chilling breeze swept by, enveloping us in his coldness. Yasmin, who was not at all dressed for a night out, was shivering. It was a subtle movement that likely could have gone unnoticed if I wasn’t paying attention to her. “Here,” I shrugged off my coat and leaned forward so I could drape it over her shoulders. She stood perfectly still. A faint smile graced her lips as she watched me take a step back. “Why is a stunning woman like you doing here all alone? Where’s your husband?” “Ex-husband,” she corrected me before I could even think to say anything else. “Sorry,” she sighed, as she ran a hand through her hair. “This is a touchy subject for me.” I glanced at the scenery in front of me, taking in the cars that drove by.
“No need to apologize…” I snuck a peek at her again. “I’m guessing Ethan was the one at fault.” “How’d you know?” I shrugged, not giving anything away. “He’s a lying piece of prick who’s easily manipulated by his family.” Her eyes widened in surprise. “I almost forgot he was your best friend.” I responded immediately. “And you’re his ex-wife after just months of marriage… I’m guessing he was a lying piece of prick to you as well.” I wasn’t ready to end this conversation, not when I decided we could be of mutual benefit to each other. “How about some tea?” *** Yasmin’s POV: This certainly was not how I expected to spend my anniversary—in the hotel suite of another man. T I glanced at Rafael, who had just shut the door behind him and walked over to me.
For the second time tonight, I couldn’t help but admire his gorgeous face. His face was shaped by the gods, with wavy brown hair and beautiful brown eyes to match. It was a wonder some lucky girl hadn’t snatched him up yet, but with a face and body like that, it was obvious why he was a bachelor. No man like him would ever want to be tied down to one woman, at least not while he’s still young. “Please make yourself at home,” he gestured for me to follow him. My feet moved on their own as I admired the beauty of his home. It was the typical bachelor pad, but the view of the city made it special. “You have a beautiful home,” I spoke carelessly, beyond captivated by the city lights. “Thank you,” he spoke calmly. “I know I offered you tea, but would coffee work instead?” “I’m sure it’ll be fine.” “Okay, give me a minute, and I’ll be right back.” I didn’t answer; there was no need to. While he was busy making the coffee, I continued to admire the city I’d grown to love in the last two years.
Being raised in France really made me appreciate the architecture and history of places I visit. I knew I would eventually have to confess everything to my parents and tell them everything that’s happened, but I also wanted to hold out for as long as possible. I wasn’t in a rush to face the truth, no matter if it was already slapping me in the face. All I wanted to do now was focus on getting revenge. “Here we are,” I slowly turned around to watch him bring in a coffee maker, two cups, spoons, and what I assumed was a packet of sugar and milk, all balanced on a tray in his hands. I walked over to him, helping him to set the tray on the coffee table. I sat on the couch opposite him, eyes focused on everything he brought in. “What’s all this?” He shrugged. “I thought it was best I let you watch me make your coffee.” I arched a brow in his direction. “Are you afraid you can’t resist the urge to poison me?” He laughed as he started the machine. “Not at all, I just know all the messed up things your ex-husband is capable of. I would hate for you not to trust me because of whatever he did.”
Okay, I was not expecting him to say that and honestly there was nothing I could say in response. As the coffee brewed, the tension in the room eased a bit. Rafael poured the coffee into the cups and handed one to me. I reached for two packets of the milk, pouring it into my steaming cup. With a cup stir of the spoon, I took a sip, savoring the rich flavor. “You make a good cup of coffee,” I admitted, beyond pleased by the taste. “Thank you. So, Yasmin, is it okay if I ask what happened between you and Ethan?” I sighed, knowing this was a conversation I couldn’t avoid, not after following him to his suite. “Ethan accused me of cheating, and that’s why we got divorced.” Rafael’s eyes widened in surprise. “Did you cheat?” “No, it was just a lie orchestrated by Ethan’s mom and sister.” His expression turned serious. “I always knew those snakes would continue making him miserable.” When he saw the confused expression I was sporting he continued.
“His sister told him that I was planning on stealing a deal from him, a deal that I wasn’t even aware of. He wouldn’t even listen to my side of the story, as soon as she finished talking he was already against me.” Ethan mentioned that Rafael and him were no longer friends but he never went into details and now I knew why. How embarrassing was it that he ended a long term friendship because of false accusations. “I had no idea.” “Yeah, it’s for the best,” he set his cup aside and stared at me. “I have a proposal for you.” I could only look at him. “What kind of proposal?” “Let’s get married.” “Married!” the word alone left a bitter taste on my tongue. “Is this some kind of joke to you? If it is, it’s not funny.” I leaned further back into my seat as he pushed forward, making him closer to me. His eyes were wide with what I could only describe as glee as he outline what should be a brilliant plan.
“Think about it, you’re probably mad at him and want him to pay for what he did, what better way to get revenge on him than dating the very guy he hates.” I opened my mouth to retort but found that I couldn’t. He had a point, I wanted to get revenge on him anyway and this would be a great way to do it. “What would you get out of this? There has to be a reason for you even suggesting it.” “My parents are threatening to make my life miserable if I don’t marry soon. I don’t want to call their bluff with this.” I snorted at how cliche that sounded, of course, his parents wanted to squash his bachelor image. It must not be good for business, especially if he has an aging board. This was the most crazy deal I’ve ever been offered… maybe I like the craziness.
“Fine, I’ll do it. Let’s get married.” Rafael’s eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and relief as he gazed at me. “You won’t regret this, Yasmin.” “But what about the actual marriage? Won’t it be weird? How will we make it believable?” Rafael smiled, revealing a set of pearly white teeth. “We’ll have to make it convincing, won’t we? We can fake a whirlwind romance, a spontaneous proposal, and a small, intimate wedding. Let the rumors spread like wildfire.” I sighed, already feeling an headache forming. “I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this.” He chuckled. “Trust me, Yasmin, it’s the perfect revenge. Ethan will see what he lost, and my board will see that I’m a stable, committed man. We’ll both come out on top.”