Divorced, Then Bankrolled My Ex's First Love

"I never felt a thing for you," he sneered. "What’s the point of trapping me in this marriage?" It took the return of Kaelan’s first love for him to realize the truth.

He never loved me. I stared at the floating digital gauge above his head. His affection level hovered at a pathetic fifteen percent. My chest deflated in a long, silent exhale.

Finally. I’d been waiting ages for him to drop the act.

Kian wrapped his small arms tightly around Kaelan’s leg. "I want to live with Dad and Cleo!" The second the words left my son’s mouth, a familiar mechanical hum vibrated in my skull. "Target unlocked," Zenith chimed in. "You're free to move on, User." Chapter 1 "I’ll wire your alimony to this card every month." Kaelan handed the card to me.

I snatched it.

I forced tears to well up, blurring his sharp jawline. "Promise me you’ll both take good care of yourselves without me." "Just leave already," Kian snapped. "You’re making Dad and me late to pick up Cleo!" I spun on my heel.

Click. Clack. My high heels clicked crisply against the floor. The heavy oak doors of the mansion slammed shut behind me.

An icy wind bit at my cheeks. "New target locked," Zenith announced. "Cleo. Initial affection level: ten percent." I lifted a finger and swiped away the fake tear.

A slow smirk stretched across my lips. It takes a woman to truly understand another woman.

I pulled my phone from my trench coat and dialed a private number. "I’m looking to sink fifty million into Cleo’s new movie.

Does she have time for dinner tonight?" The agent on the other end nearly choked on his own spit. "Yes! Absolutely, Livia. Cleo is canceling everything.

She’s all yours tonight." I ended the call. Time for some retail therapy. Hours later, I lounged in a dimly lit VIP room at the club.

A lineup of shirtless, sculpted male models poured me vintage Merlot. The heavy velvet door swung open. A chubby middleaged man shoved a scantily clad Cleo inside.

She stumbled forward, her face a mask of utter dread. Then she looked up. Her eyes darted around the room, landing on me.

Shock rippled across her features. "A… woman?" I pushed myself off the plush leather sofa and extended a manicured hand. "Cleo. I’m Livia.

I’m your biggest fan." The rigid tension in her shoulders vanished. She exhaled a shaky breath. I waved her over.

The man caught the hint immediately, ushering the eyecandy out and pulling the door shut behind them. "Livia…" Cleo hovered near the edge of the seat. "Why are you backing my movie with fifty million dollars?" "Because I just got divorced." I took a slow sip of the heavy red wine. "And I’m in a terrible mood." She froze.

Her mouth opened, then snapped shut. She clearly wanted to offer sympathy but looked terrified I might pull the funding if she said the wrong thing. "Don't worry.

I’m not actually heartbroken." I swirled the dark liquid in my glass. "I just want to bleed my exhusband dry. That’s all." Cleo slid into the seat directly across from me.

She grabbed a fresh bottle of Merlot and popped the cork. "Livia, I’m yours tonight," she declared, filling her glass. "We’re getting completely wasted." While Cleo and I drowned ourselves in expensive wine, Kaelan and Kian stood shivering on the frozen sidewalk outside the club.

Both of them gripped massive bouquets of red roses. Snowflakes drifted down from the black sky. Kian shivered in the cold.

He tilted his freezing face up toward the VIP balcony. "Dad," Kian whimpered. "Is Cleo really up there?" "Yes," Kaelan replied, his voice painfully stubborn. "I confirmed it with her agent.

She’s just busy networking.

We’ll wait." Back in the heated velvet booth, I let out a loud, drunken wail. "I gave them my blood, sweat, and tears!" I sobbed, burying my face in my hands. "And what do I get?

That toxic ex and my ungrateful brat of a son ditched me for his first love. I have literally no one!" Cleo shifted closer.

She rubbed my back in soothing circles. "Livia, listen to me," she cooed. "Why cry over a walking red flag? There are billions of men on this planet.

If the first playthrough sucked, you just hit reset and start a new game." I peered at her through wet, clumpy lashes. "You really think so?" "Absolutely," Cleo scoffed. "A divorced guy dragging around a spoiled brat?

Only a desperate idiot would touch that dumpster fire." A watery laugh bubbled up my throat.

I reached behind me, grabbed the mountain of shopping bags, and shoved them straight into her lap. "Bestie, you are so right." I sniffled. "Retail therapy cures everything.

And if it can’t fix my life, it can at least upgrade your closet." Cleo’s jaw practically unhinged. She stared down at the Hermes and Chanel logos.

I had raided Rodeo Drive before coming here.

Each of those bags cost a minimum of fifty grand, and I had bought eight of them. "You’re… giving all of this to me?" she whispered, her voice cracking. "Of course." I patted her cheek. "Take them.

Never lower your standards or let some trash man buy your dignity for designer leather. It breaks my heart." For a second, she just stared at me, searching my face for the catch.

When she found none, her tough exterior completely crumbled. Tears welled in Cleo’s eyes.

She threw her arms around my neck, crushing me in a tight hug. "Livia," she choked out. "You are literally my sister now." Chapter 2 I sniffled.

A glowing digital panel materialized in my line of sight. "Target affection increased by twenty percent," Zenith announced. "Current level: thirty percent." Cleo's phone rang incessantly.

The screen lit up with a caller ID. Kaelan. She swiped a manicured thumb across the screen. Declined. Seconds later, it buzzed again.

This time, Kian called from his kids' smartwatch. She killed the call.

And the next one. "You’re not going to answer that?" I arched a brow. "Nothing important," she lied smoothly, pouring us another round of heavy red wine.

We drank until the world blurred and the bottles ran dry. Sunlight stabbed through the penthouse windows. I groaned, digging my knuckles into my pounding temples.

The smell of black coffee and sizzling bacon dragged me into the kitchen.

Cleo stood by the marble island, sliding a plate of greaseheavy hangover food toward me. "Livia," she flashed a bright, eager smile. "You drank a lot last night.

Did you actually mean what you said?" "Of course." I grabbed a piece of bacon. "I never back out on a deal. You just focus on acting.

I’m your bankroll now." Cleo shot me a double thumbsup. My own phone shattered the morning quiet.

Zenith’s mechanical voice drawled in my head. "Logging seventeen missed calls from Kaelan and five from Kian." The system flashed a quick recap.

Kaelan and Kian froze in the blizzard for three hours waiting for Cleo. High fevers wracked both their bodies now.

I glanced at the system log, completely unfazed. "Zenith, drop it," I muttered under my breath. "I cut ties with that walking red flag.

Stop feeding me updates on him." "User," Zenith replied flatly. "Former target’s affection level just rebounded to thirtyfive percent." A dry, bitter laugh scraped its way up my throat.

He only chased what rejected him. Absolute trash. I picked up my ringing phone. The caller ID flashed 'Husband', a word that now felt like a sick joke. My chest tightened.

Six years of unwavering devotion. I poured my soul into Kaelan for a pathetic fifteen percent on a digital meter.

Yet, handing over a few designer bags to a stranger doubled that number in a single night. What a massive joke. The ultimate power move for a woman?

Stay sharp, stay independent, keep your edges soft but your boundaries made of steel. I gripped the steering wheel of my own life now. Fuck love. Men are utterly worthless.

I hit accept. "Livia." Kaelan’s voice crackled through the speaker, thick with exhaustion and irritation. "Where the hell did you go all night?" I scoffed. "You get to chase your first love, but I can’t have a night out?" "Kian caught a fever," he snapped. "I stayed up all night with him." "Did you forget we signed the divorce papers?" I leaned against the counter. "You demanded full custody.

Deal with it." A sharp, bratty voice yelled in the background. "I don't want her as my mom anyway!

Let's go find the movie star!" After six years of raising him, hearing those words leave my son's mouth still made my chest ache. "Don't you employ a fulltime nanny?" My voice turned to pure ice. "Take him to the ER.

Are you both helpless manchildren? Do you just sit around waiting to die if a woman isn't around to spoonfeed you?" Shock radiated through the dead air. He froze.

I never spoke to him like this. Whenever he had thrown one of his narcissistic tantrums, I had always folded.

I had always swallowed his abuse just to keep the peace. "Livia, do you really need to throw a tantrum over this?" Kaelan gritted out, audibly fighting to keep his temper in check. "I just went to see Cleo.

And I didn't even get to talk to her." Chapter 3 Zenith’s mechanical chime vibrated in my skull. "User, you fired the entire mansion staff—maids, drivers, everyone—the second the divorce papers were signed." Right.

I bankrolled Kaelan’s entire life. Every paycheck for that massive estate came straight out of my pocket. Not my circus anymore.

Not my monkeys. "The entire staff vanished overnight," Kaelan rasped through the speaker, his voice tight with exhaustion. "Don't play dumb with me, Livia.

I want you back at the house in thirty minutes. Kian needs you." A dry laugh scraped up my throat. "And? Are you ordering your exwife to come play maid for you two?

I owe you precisely nothing." "You are Kian’s mother," he barked. "Taking care of him is your goddamn job." Next to me, Cleo slid a steaming mug of herbal detox tea across the marble counter. "Livia, is your head still pounding?" she murmured. "Drink this.

It’ll help." The soft voice bled through the phone receiver. Panic exploded on Kaelan’s end. "Who is that? Is that Cleo?

Livia, swear to God, if you touch her—" "Touch her?" I let out a full, mocking laugh.

I took the steaming mug from Cleo, my eyes locking with hers. "Kaelan, listen to how violently unhinged you sound," I drawled into the mic. "Why would I ever hurt my favorite idol?

But seriously, shouldn't you be rushing your precious heir to the ER right now?" Dead silence.

I heard his breath hitch. "How… how can you be this cold?" Kaelan stammered, the rage cracking. "He’s just a little boy, Livia. Stop being petty.

He needs his mom." "He needs a pediatrician." I interrupted him. The last trace of warmth faded from my voice. "Not the mother he and his father literally kicked to the curb.

Did you get amnesia, Kaelan? Kian looked me in the eyes and demanded a new mom. I gave you exactly what you both begged for. Stop whining." I hit a raw nerve.

He slammed the phone down. I didn't even blink. I blocked his number with a vicious swipe of my thumb. Men just dragged down my progression stats anyway.

The world was completely quiet. I tossed the phone onto the plush sofa and dug my fingers into my temples. I picked up the steaming mug Cleo made from scratch.

The hangover was still there, but my mood was strangely relaxed. I took a long swallow. "Thanks for looking out for me." The hot liquid burned down my throat.

It actually tasted incredible. "Sorry for traumadumping on you last night," I muttered. "I hope you like the bags." "Livia, please don't apologize—" Cleo slid into the barstool across from me.

She chewed on her bottom lip, hesitating. "Last night… the guy saved as 'Husband' blew up your phone. He sounded really worried about you." "Oh?" I set the mug down on the marble.

Hard. "He wasn't worried." My voice went dead flat. "He just couldn't track down his first love.

He needed his livein maid to come back and do his dirty work." I shifted gears instantly. "Speaking of your movie.

Did they lock in the female lead yet?" Cleo rubbed the back of her neck, looking intensely uncomfortable. "Not yet.

The investors are… clashing over the casting." I snatched my phone back up.

I didn't even look at her as my thumbs flew across the screen, firing off a text to Shelby. "From now on, you are the lead in every single project I bankroll," I declared. "And I’m fully sponsoring your entire wardrobe for the shoot.

Toptier luxury only." Cleo froze completely.

She forgot to breathe, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Livia," her voice cracked. "I’ve clawed my way through Hollywood for years.

I’ve seen every predatory contract, every dirty trade. No one has ever just… backed me.

Without wanting something nasty in return." She sniffled, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. "Why are you doing this for me?" Chapter 4 I met her gaze. Softened my expression.

Time to spin some utter bullshit. "I actually had a younger sister. Just like you." I let my voice crack perfectly. "Looking at you… it’s like seeing her again.

We survived some brutal years together, but I failed her as an older sister—" "Livia, did she—" I forced two pristine tears to spill over my lower lashes. "She passed away." A sharp gasp ripped through Cleo’s throat.

She lunged forward, dragging me against her chest. Her fingers dug into my spine. "I’m so sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I didn't know." Of course you didn't.

The girl literally never existed. "From now on, whatever happens, you come to me." I patted her back. "I am your family now." That broke her.

Tears flooded Cleo’s face, soaking into my designer silk top. "Livia, I grew up in the system," she sobbed, her chest heaving against mine. "After I got adopted ten years ago, Gwen treated me exactly like this.

She raised me. Paid for my schooling.

But then… the doctors found the tumors…" I already knew all of that. "Target affection increased by five percent," Zenith pinged in my skull. "Current level: thirtyfive percent." I just thrived on the pure adrenaline rush of burning cash.

Especially burning Kaelan’s money. Throwing millions to bankroll his first love, only to make her exclusively loyal to me. The dopamine hit was intoxicating.

Zenith’s mechanical voice glitched in my ear. "Target affection increased by one percent. Target affection increased by one percent. Target affection increased by one percent.

Current level: fifty percent. System Note: Target is developing strong psychological dependency." Perfect. A violent pounding rattled the heavy front door.

Someone hammered on the wood, leaning on the doorbell relentlessly. "Livia!

Open the damn door!" Kaelan roared from the hallway. "Abandon your own son if you want, but Cleo is innocent!

Don't take your toxic anger out on her!" A fresh migraine spiked behind my eyes. Cleo wiped her face. She marched over to the entryway and peered through the peephole.

She took a deep breath. She yanked the door open.

A sharp edge of annoyance instantly hardened her features. "Cleo—" Kaelan gasped. "Kaelan," she cut him off, her tone freezing over. "What do you want?" Relief violently crashed across Kaelan’s face. "Cleo!

Are you okay?" He reached out, his eyes frantic. "Did she try to—" "I’m perfectly fine." Cleo swatted his hand away. "If that’s all, you need to leave right now.

I’m a public figure. If the paparazzi catch you harassing me at my door, it’s a PR nightmare for both of us." Kaelan recoiled.

Total disbelief shattered his expression. "Cleo, what’s going on?" he pressed, his voice dripping with desperation. "Did Livia brainwash you? Did she threaten your career?

Don't be scared. I’m right here—" "You are the only one I'm scared of." Cleo took a hard step backward, using her body to block the entrance.

Kaelan stared at her, then his gaze moved past her shoulder and looked at me. I lounged on the plush velvet sofa, taking a slow, deliberate sip of my herbal detox tea.

The raw shock in his eyes rapidly curdled into grievance and fury. "Livia!" Kaelan roared past Cleo. "Are you going to drag yourself out here and explain this?" I set the ceramic mug down and pushed myself up from the cushions. "Explain what, exactly?" I drawled. "Kian is burning up!" he snapped. "I’ve been awake for twentyfour hours straight!

You completely abandoned your sick child to go partying all night!" Chapter 5 I stood shouldertoshoulder with Cleo.

A cold, sharp laugh slipped past my lips. "I spent years trapped in that house raising your kid while you stayed out all night," I snapped. "Your little sidepieces literally texted me photos of you together.

Did I ever say a word? And you know exactly whose fault it is that Kian got sick. Let me spell it out for you one more time. You demanded full custody.

You stripped away my visitation rights." Cleo’s eyes went wide with shock. "Livia… is he—" "Yep." I gestured lazily at Kaelan. "Meet the bargainbin exhusband." The shock vanished from Cleo’s face.

She instantly stepped in front of me, shielding me with her body.

Her eyes were full of disgust as she looked at Kaelan. "Did you seriously track down my address just to harass a divorced woman, Kaelan?" "No—that's not—" Kaelan choked on his words.

Cleo’s gaze dragged over his pathetic, exhausted frame. "If your kid is sick, take him to a doctor. If you're tired, go to sleep.

Stop trying to use blood ties to guilttrip a woman who has already been thoroughly hurt." Kaelan stared back, completely paralyzed.

The first love he worshipped for years was aggressively defending the exwife he threw out like garbage. "But Kian needs his mom. He’s been crying for hours.

Please, just come back and check on him." All of his arrogant, toxic energy evaporated. He practically begged. I had never seen him lower himself like this.

For six years, he had been nothing but a ruthless, overbearing narcissist who had never given a damn about anyone else's feelings.

The power of the "one who got away" was undeniably lethal. It was already noon when we returned to the villa. The massive estate was incredibly empty.

Kian stood in the center of the living room. Dark, feverish circles bruised the skin under his eyes.

Kian's face was twisted in an angry scowl. "Where were you all night?" I let out a dry scoff. "Didn't you two literally kick me out?

Plus, my schedule is zero percent your business anymore." Kaelan stepped forward and scooped Kian into his arms. "Look, I know the divorce is final.

But I expect you back here at least three days a week. He’s too young. He can't survive without his mother." Kian turned his head away. "Who even wants her?

I don't want this useless mom! I want my superstar mom!" I stared at him. Cold.

Unblinking. "Who exactly brainwashed you into calling me useless?" I closed the distance and locked eyes with the kid. "If I’m so useless, then why are you falling apart the second I step out the door?" "That doesn't count!" he shrieked defensively. "Aunt Cleo was just too busy working!

We only got sick because we waited in the snow for her!" A light chuckle slipped past my lips. "Here’s the funny part, Kian.

Aunt Cleo spent the entire night with your 'useless mom.' And honestly?

She likes me a lot better." I paused, letting the silence stretch. "She purposely ignored every single one of your calls." Kian’s pupils dilated.

His flushed, feverish face crumbled into pure devastation. "You’re lying! She was working! Dad said so!" I just crossed my arms and smirked. Pure panic hijacked the kid’s features.

He whipped his head toward Kaelan, fat tears spilling over his lashes. "Dad, tell her she’s lying! Tell me she’s faking it!" Kaelan’s jaw worked silently.

He couldn't force a single word out to defend himself. "I’m calling Aunt Cleo!" Kian wriggled out of Kaelan’s grip.

He hit the freezing marble floor barefoot and sprinted toward the landline on the glass console. Kaelan lunged forward to grab him. I moved faster.

I stepped right into Kaelan’s path, blocking him completely. Right on cue, the heavy oak doors swung open. Cleo stepped into the foyer.

Chapter 6 The bratty rage instantly evaporated from Kian’s features, replaced by a massive, triumphant grin that stretched from ear to ear.

He lunged forward, wrapping his tiny arms around Cleo’s designerclad legs. "I knew you came to see me, Cleo!" he cheered, shooting me a venomous glare. "This bad woman is just trying to ruin our relationship!" He tilted his head back, his eyes practically sparkling. "Will you be my new mom?" Cleo pushed Kian away in disgust. "Hard pass." Her voice dripped with pure ice. "I have zero interest in playing evil stepmother." The color drained from Kian’s face. "Why?" he squeaked, his voice shrinking. "First off, I'm single," Cleo drawled. "Second, why would anyone willingly adopt a spoiled brat who disrespects his own mother?" She completely dismissed him and strutted over to me.

The ice melted instantly. "Livia," she murmured softly. "Are we done here?" I gave a single, curt nod. She linked her arm intimately through mine, pulling me toward the front door.

Kian stood frozen on the marble floor. A single tear slipped free, landing silently on his bare foot. Kaelan stood to the side, his face pale.

He opened his mouth, but zero sound came out. I paused in the doorway. I met Kaelan’s shattered, chaotic stare. "You see that?" I drawled. "Your kid completely loathes me.

I’ll text you the contact list for the old estate staff. Take it from here." I brushed an invisible speck of dust off my lapel. "And do not call me. Ever.

Even if the house is burning down." I spun on my heel and walked out. Over the next few months, I practically became Cleo’s exclusive bankroll and ultimate bestie.

Once her blockbuster went into production, I visited the set frequently. I flooded the crew with Michelinstar catering and luxury wrap gifts.

Everyone in Hollywood knew 'Livia' aggressively protected her. When she shot grueling night scenes, I camped out in her milliondollar trailer.

When a wirestunt snapped and left a nasty bruise on her ribs, I lost it.

I bypassed the director completely and dragged the top sports medicine doctor in Los Angeles straight to the lot. Until one afternoon.

My phone buzzed with a call from Kian’s kids' smartwatch. He sobbed violently into the tiny speaker. He missed his mom. The new nanny cooked garbage food.

Dad screamed and punched the walls every night. I stared out the window of my penthouse.

My pulse didn't even spike. "Kian, you literally begged to live with your father," I replied, my voice completely dead. "Actions have consequences. Adapt. I have a new life now.

Goodbye." I killed the call. Zenith stayed completely silent in my skull. Even the AI realized Kaelan held exactly zero emotional value anymore.

Meanwhile, Cleo’s psychological dependency on me hit critical mass.

She traumadumped industry gossip, ranted about toxic costars, and curled up on my sofa whenever she felt overwhelmed by the fame. She skyrocketed to the top of the Alist.

Her new movie shattered global box office records, pulling in a cool billion. We were admiring the night view from the Eiffel Tower. Cleo’s phone vibrated against the railing.

Kaelan. She stared at the screen, her eyes completely devoid of warmth, and sent it straight to voicemail. Reality finally crushed Kaelan’s delusions. The desperate spiral started.

He flooded my inbox with manic emails. He abused burner phones to spam my line.

The toxic, demanding rage rapidly decayed into pathetic, gutwrenching begging. "Kian is having panic attacks. He cries for you every night. Are you seriously abandoning him?

Livia, I was out of my mind. Let’s just start over. Please. I swear I’ll never speak to Cleo again!" Looking at these messages, I just found it ridiculous.

I tapped the screen, typing out a single, brutal reply. "Host," Zenith chimed. "Rerouting visual feed to the target estate." Chapter 7 Kaelan stared blankly at his phone screen.

The brutal text message shattered his last shred of hope. He collapsed onto the leather sofa, completely hollowed out.

Kian cried so hard he hiccuped, his small hands tightly grabbing Kaelan's collar. "Dad," the kid choked out. "Did Mom really abandon us?" Kaelan’s throat tightened.

The words wouldn't come. He just awkwardly patted the boy’s shaking back. He carried Kian to the floortoceiling windows.

Staring out into the empty driveway, reality finally hit him. Livia was gone. The submissive, doormat of a wife he had taken for granted had never actually existed.

The night we flew back to the States, the studio investors threw a massive welcomehome gala. Champagne flowed. Hollywood’s elite packed the ballroom.

I mingled with the Alist crowd. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Kaelan. He aggressively cornered Cleo near the VIP lounge.

Meanwhile, tonight's special performer, Gemma, was whispering intimately with someone nearby. Minutes later, a piercing scream shattered the jazz music. It came from the west wing.

My pulse spiked. I shoved my way through the growing crowd bottlenecked outside the private VIP suites. I broke through the front line.

Cleo launched herself at me, burying her face in my shoulder. "Livia!" she sobbed, trembling violently. "This complete piece of trash!

He cornered me… he reeked of alcohol and tried to…" Cleo looked as though she had just been dragged through a living nightmare.

Her designer gown hung off one shoulder, the silk violently ripped. Her perfect blowout was a mess.

Marjorie and a few other wealthy socialites fluttered around her, looking horrified. Venomous whispers rippled through the elite crowd. "What a complete psychopath.

He plays the perfect CEO on camera, but behind closed doors? Cleo is literally Hollywood's itgirl right now. This is a massive scandal!" Cleo dug her manicured nails into my arm.

She held up a massive diamond ring—Kaelan's wedding band. "Since when does discussing details involve tearing a woman's dress?" a socialite mocked, her gaze sweeping over Cleo's messy collar.

Cleo choked back a sob. "He told me if I just slept with him, he’d guarantee my Alist status. He promised to make me his wife, or else he’d destroy my career… Livia, you know me!

I would never want his toxic money. And I definitely don't want to be a stepmom to his brat!" Kaelan's face turned livid.

He lunged forward and snatched the platinum band from her trembling fingers. "You literally just asked to look at this!" "Why would I want your wedding ring?

It's not like I can't afford one!" Cleo cried. She buried her face in my neck. "Livia, you know exactly how toxic he is. He slept with half his executive assistants!

He’s a walking red flag who can't keep his hands to himself!" I stood there in stark silence, watching the trainwreck unfold. I mentally pinged Zenith.

The system immediately fed me the playback from five minutes ago. Kaelan cornered Cleo, desperately begging her to convince me to come home.

Cleo had played along, lured him into the suite, and completely framed him.

She had directed this entire horror show herself. "The hotel has security cameras in the hallway," Kaelan barked, desperation sharpening his voice. "Pull the damn footage!

You’ll see the truth!" Genuine panic flashed in Cleo’s eyes. She shot me a terrified, pleading look