My Ex-wife Is A Big Shot

WELCOME HOME

CHARLOTTE

"You are free to go," a voice said to me thirty minutes later as the door to my cell was opened again.

I walked out, my expression somber because I felt ashamed to face my family.

"Grandfather," I said as I stood behind a broad-shouldered man sixty years older than me. Despite being so old, his physique was still the best I had ever seen.

He turned and stared at me. I saw my elder brother, Jake, my sweet cousin, Bliss, and my best friend, Paris. They almost had tears in their eyes as they saw the state I had been reduced to.

My grandfather stared at me silently and I recalled the past; the night I had told everyone I was in love with Bill and was going to be his wife, come what may.

They had all been against it and my grandfather had reminded me of the feud between both families. I was my family's most prized treasure. Blessed with an exceptional IQ, I had learned everything at a very young age. I became a professor at twelve, excelled tremendously in martial arts and business, and became the best hacker in the world.

Our company which has been pushed to the bottom by Bill's grandfather, rose to the top, thanks to me and I became the backbone of everything. But it all changed when I turned sixteen. I saw Bill once and fell hopelessly in love with him.

I lived in the shadows and rarely showed my face to the public. My grandfather would have happily shown me to the world but I hated publicity with a passion. I chose to work from the shadows while my brother, Jake, Bliss, and Paris were at the forefront.

A few people had heard that the Johnsons had a daughter but there were rumors that I had died with my parents and uncles in a plane crash and my family kept things that way until the day I saw Bill.

I fought my feelings for him, knowing how much my family would kick against it but it soon became uncontrollable. He was the very breath I took and I couldn't go a day without secretly watching him.

I begged my grandfather to take a marriage proposal to Bill's family and put an end to the family feud. Our company was already number one, it didn't seem like a bad idea but he wouldn't have it.

When I was almost eighteen, I called the family together at night and told them I was going after Bill. Everyone kicked against it, including my best friend but I turned a deaf ear.

In anger, my grandfather told me to choose between Bill and my family. I chose Bill and broke everyone's heart. That was how I left my family.

I stayed in a hotel, did my research, and realized that Rose's family was very close to Bill's. I decided to make Rose my friend. So, I hacked into the database of the college she attended and made myself a student in my final year, just like her.

I learned about her likes and dislikes and changed myself. Dyeing my red hair black, I began to wear glasses and dressed poorly, even though I was one of the richest people in the world.

I successfully became Rose's friend. Even though she treated me as her lackey because she thought I was poor, I bore through it because I wanted to get close to Bill.

I did get close to his family but discovered he was in love with Rose, he had loved her for years and wanted to be with her. She didn't feel the same way but still agreed to marry him.

I felt heartbroken and cried a lot. There had been no news about a girlfriend or love interest for him so I had assumed he was available. It was all my fault so, I gave up my dreams of marrying him.

I was willing to be by the sidelines, helping him however I could and being the best friend of his wife. At the very least, I could get to see him every day for the rest of my life.

However, it was all in vain. Now that I stood in front of the people who truly loved me, I realized my actions had been foolish. I was a fool for love but not anymore.

My grandfather opened his arms wide and I threw myself at him, hugging him as tears rolled down my eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Grandpa," I sniffled.

He held my face and wiped my tears, "It's all in the past, my child. Welcome home."

I hugged my best friend whom I had missed for so long as well as my brother and my cousin. Afterward, we all went back home.

"Home,"everything still looked the same but then came the question, "What happened? How did you end up in a cell when your dreams of marrying Bill were fulfilled?"

The three people seated in front of me bombarded me with questions but my grandfather said, "Let her eat her dinner first. You can all ask her questions later."

"It's okay, Grandpa," I told him. "I might as well get it off my chest."

I narrated everything that happened and when I was done, they were all furious, especially my brother, Jake.

"How dare that good for nothing swine put his hands on you?" He bellowed.

"It's okay, Jake," I replied. "I would never give anyone that privilege again. Now, I am going to live my life to the full. I'll become the Disney Johnson everyone knows. I am done living in the shadows."

"Yay!!!" Paris exclaimed. She had always been eager to show me off to the world as her best friend but I never allowed it. Now, I was going to be in everyone's faces and no one would be able to do anything about it.

"Your decision is a good one," Jake told me. "There's an auction in ten days. Our family will be bidding for the most prominent art piece of the legendary Sam Knowles. So many other wealthy families will be there to bid as well.

We have to get that art piece because it holds sentimental value for Grandfather. You know of his relationship with the late Knowles right?"

I nodded, "Yes, I do."

"How about you take the lead during the bid?"

I understood what my brother was trying to do and for some reason, I was happy about it. "I'd be honored, Jake," I replied.

Paris could not contain her excitement and kept clapping happily. Seeing her enthusiasm, I smiled, "Now, I will only look forward and never look behind again."

After eating, I went to the trash bin and stood in front of it as I took out Bill's ring. I stared at the gold ring briefly and broke it into two, "Bill, you are now my past. You and everyone linked to you are dead to me and will remain buried, no matter what happens."

During the days leading up to the auction, I changed the color of my hair back to its original. I went shopping with Paris and got clothes and jewelry befitting of my status. I acquainted myself with a lot of things I had not paid attention to and helped my family's company gain one billion dollars from buying the right stocks.

Days later, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I had gotten dressed and my makeup and hair had been done. We were leaving for the auction in thirty minutes and despite all the things I had said, I was apprehensive because, even though no one said it, I knew Bill was going to be there and I was going to face him as a different person. Still, I was looking forward to it.

We arrived at the venue of the auction which was a luxurious hotel. I walked in, arm in arm with my brother while Paris followed behind us, arm in arm with Bliss.

The hotel was bustling with reporters and photographers as so many big shots and celebrities were expected to be there and a lot of other activities and award presentations were going to take place. I only cared about the art piece because my grandfather wanted it.

"Who is that beautiful lady?"

"Has Jake Johnson finally found someone?"

"What family is she from?"

"Is she his girlfriend or fiancée?"

"It must be serious if he's showing her off publicly like this."

"Why have I never seen her in any social gathering?"

"Her dress costs at least a million dollars."

"She looks so young and exceptionally beautiful."

"Aren't all redheads beautiful?"

I listened to different people say different things about me as I kept going inside with my brother. After Bill got married, my brother became the most sought-after bachelor in the City. He was hardly seen with any woman as he liked being alone. This probably explained why everyone was so surprised by my presence.

Camera lights kept flashing at me. I felt so uncomfortable because I wasn't used to getting so much attention. My brother squeezed my hand affectionately as though he could sense my unease.

However, this caught the attention of one of the people I disliked the most in the world.

"Jake? Why are you with a girl?" It was no secret that Bill's sister was head over heels for Jake but he never gave her the time of day. She always did whatever she could to get his attention whenever she saw him while ignoring the feud between both families. Paris had filled me in on all the details.

The moment I saw her, I spotted Bill's mom and brother as well and rolled my eyes. Almost immediately, Bill appeared as well, arm in arm with Rose.

I turned my face away, not wanting to look at them even for a second.

Bill's sister acted like she had a relationship with Jake and tried to hold his hand as she asked in an aggrieved tone, "Who is this woman?"

Jake pulled his hand away so she couldn't touch him and turned his focus to Bill as he said, "Keep your sister away from me, Bill."

I turned my attention to Bill at this point and noticed that both he and Rose were staring at me. Bill's face looked like he had seen a ghost while Rose looked pale, making me wonder if she was still pretending to be sick."

"Let's go," Jake said to me.

I nodded and took a step forward when Bill gasped, "Charlotte?"