The Billionaire Heiress Who Bankrupted Her Cheating Husband Chapter 1

My husband was sobbing his heart out at my best friend’s wedding.

My best friend, Chloe, was so rattled she rushed over to clarify. “Avery, I swear, your husband and I? We are not a thing! We’ve never been a thing!”

Fueled by alcohol, my husband, Dean, slammed his hand on a table in the reception hall, pointed a finger at me, and bellowed.

“Avery Harrison! I want a divorce!”

Every guest instantly looked at Chloe’s husband, who instinctively reached up to feel the top of his head for imaginary cuckold horns.

“What, did your girlfriend dump you?” Chloe’s husband muttered, confused.

Of course, I knew exactly why Dean was having a public meltdown today.

The woman he was sleeping with—the woman he claimed was his soulmate—was getting married right now, just down the hall in the ballroom next door.

* * *

I’d seen their texts. I’d read every single one.

Savannah: Dean, I’m getting married tomorrow. Will you be there?

Savannah: No, you shouldn’t come. I’m scared I’ll see you and won’t be able to stop myself from running away with you. But I know you’d never divorce her for me.

Savannah: If there’s a next life, I promise I’ll find you first. I’ll hold you when you’re in pain and tell you I love you.

Savannah: I love you, Dean!

Then, she’d blocked him.

Dean kept frantically sending messages into the void, knowing full well she couldn’t see them.

Dean: Babe, I love you too!! I love you!! I love you more than anyone!

Dean: But I owe her, Savannah. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I don’t love her anymore. All I feel is guilt!

Dean: Can you just wait for me a little longer? I love you so much. I love you, I love you.

Dean: If I came and crashed your wedding tomorrow, would you run away with me?

Such deep, passionate love. A tragedy for the ages.

It almost made me feel like the Wicked Witch of the West, the old crone keeping the star-crossed lovers apart.

At my best friend’s reception, Dean was throwing off all pretense, ripping the veil off our life, and demanding a divorce.

He was willing to lose his dignity; I was happy to oblige.

All our mutual friends looked at him with sympathy. They patted his shoulder. “Hey, Dean, you’ve put up with Avery’s… diva attitude for years. Just talk to her. Make her change. Divorce is too harsh, buddy.”

Chloe, ever the mediator, also stepped in, her smile strained. “What did Avery do? I’ll make her apologize. You’re a grown man, Dean. You must be deeply hurt to be crying like this.”

Chloe’s husband, now certain his marriage was safe, joined in. “Seriously, man, this is my wedding. Show some respect. Don’t blow up your life on my dime.”

Only a completely unhinged person would announce a divorce at someone else’s wedding. The fact that Chloe’s family hadn’t physically thrown him out was a testament to their restraint.

But Dean had already chosen his path.

“It has to happen today! I’m divorcing you! Avery, I’m sick of you! The thought of spending the rest of my life with someone like you makes me sick!”

He drove the knife in deep. He clearly wanted no turning back. He wanted a divorce, and he was determined to drown me in his filth while doing it. He thought I was clueless.

Chloe nudged my arm. “What did you do to him? Why is he so furious? Go mollify him, Avery. He looks serious.”

Even my closest friend thought I was the problem. Everyone in the room was urging me to apologize, assuming my high-maintenance attitude had finally pushed the poor man over the edge.

I was an only child. I’d grown up pampered, and yes, I had an entitled streak. I knew it. But over the years, I’d consciously scaled back my temper, especially with Dean.

I remembered when my father warned Dean, “My daughter has a difficult, demanding personality. Please be patient with her.”

And Dean’s response? “Avery is perfect! A little attitude? Who cares? If she didn’t have a single flaw, I’d never have a chance with her! Besides, I think Avery has a great temperament!”

Now, Dean’s main reason for divorce was my temper—I was too strong, too bossy, and suffocating him.

Once the love is gone, the virtues that once charmed them become the fatal flaws.

The first time Dean mentioned divorce, I was completely blindsided. One moment, we were wrapped up in a tender, morning embrace, the next, he was on the phone, and suddenly, he said, “Avery, I think we need to talk.”

I sat up, pulling the duvet around me, and looked up at him. “Talk about what? Our weekend trip? I booked us a lovely boutique hotel upstate. I even did all the research on the best vineyards. Isn’t that great? I’m so organized!” I waited for the praise I was sure would follow.

Dean stared at me for a long time. Then he said, “I want a divorce. I’m exhausted being with you. Avery, even in a marriage, there has to be a boundary. I need my own space. I want to spend a weekend alone sometimes. We don’t have to do everything together.”

“Your temper is awful, and I’m always the one accommodating you. But have you ever thought about my feelings? I get angry too. I need to vent. I need to be accommodated sometimes.”