The Ex-Wife's Ruthless Playbook

"Where is the baby?" Dawson slammed the crumpled medical file onto the desk. "We had a baby." His eyes were entirely bloodshot, the veins pulsing against his temples.

Even his breathing hitched with violent tremors. I leaned back in the chair, meeting his manic stare with deadpan precision. "Yes.

We did." A month ago, a convenient little car crash left him with "amnesia." His brain had performed a flawless surgical deletion of his wife, yet somehow perfectly retained every memory of Delphine—his precious childhood sweetheart who had just finalized her own divorce.

I dropped the divorce papers in front of him. He hadn't even blinked before signing his name. Now, his gaze was glued to my flat stomach.

His voice scraped out, raw and desperate. "Where is it?" I looked down at his crumbling facade and let out a sharp laugh. "I already threw the cheating trash out with the rest of the garbage.

Why the hell would I keep your genes? The very same afternoon we walked out of the courthouse, I booked the appointment.

I had it scraped clean." Chapter 1 My husband got into a car crash. He was on his way to celebrate his childhood sweetheart's divorce.

He barely had a scratch on him, except for a hit to the head. When he finally woke up, he had amnesia. His brain miraculously remembered everyone else. It just forgot me.

Delphine cried a river beside his hospital bed. He whispered soft, comforting words to her.

I stood there, watching this pair of starcrossed lovers put on a cheap, pathetic soap opera. I turned around.

Without a single ounce of hesitation, I dumped the homemade chicken soup I had spent hours brewing for him straight into the trash.

It took two full days to clear out the circus of visitors at home.

I watched him rub his temples. "The doctor said you'd experience dizziness and nausea on and off," I stated, my voice flat. "You should lie down." Dawson opened his eyes.

He stared at me in dead silence. Just when I thought he wasn't going to speak, he opened his mouth. "Did I marry you because I loved you?

Why are you the only one I forgot?" The question hit me. I hadn't expected that. "No," I replied smoothly. "We went to the same college.

After graduation, your family pressured you to settle down.

I happened to like you, so we tied the knot." His brow furrowed, a flicker of confusion crossing his features. "You liked me?" I stepped closer to him.

My fingers brushed against his collar, straightening the loose fabric of his pajamas. "Yeah. I was crazy about you back then. You were handsome, top of the class, talented.

Who wouldn't be?" I caught the genuine bewilderment pooling in his eyes. A cold smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. "Go lie down.

Before you start feeling sick again." I watched his back disappear down the hallway. The final piece of my resolve clicked into place. I didn't want this man anymore.

No matter how much I used to love him, I was done. I shut the master bedroom door with a sharp click. I walked straight to the study.

Dawson had a massive floortoceiling bookshelf. Whenever he wanted to read something, he would pull it out in advance and place it in the middle shelf on the far right.

I pulled out a thick notebook. I flipped it open, letting my eyes skim the ink. October 16, 2014 Wow. That senior playing the violin at the freshman orientation is gorgeous.

His name is Dawson. I think I have a crush. The pages were filled with years of pathetic adoration. Right in the middle, clipped to a specific entry, was a faded ultrasound scan.

January 19, 2023 Dawson and I are having a baby. I have to tell him the good news. January 20, 2023 Dawson didn't come home last night.

I wanted to text him about the pregnancy, but doing it in person feels better. He's going to be thrilled. He always wanted a kid.

January 21, 2023 Dawson said he's on a business trip and forgot to tell me. Fine. I'll tell him when he gets back. January 22, 2023 I saw Delphine's Instagram story.

I don't know if she deliberately made it visible just to me. Dawson is with her. They're on a trip together. So much for a business trip. January 23, 2023 Delphine called me.

She said she was getting divorced and demanded I give Dawson back to her. Hilarious. Back then, she was the gold digger who dumped Dawson to climb the social ladder abroad.

Now that she couldn't cut it overseas and got kicked to the curb, she wants to come back and pick through the trash? Who the hell does she think she is?

The sheer rage triggered a stabbing pain in my abdomen. I ended up in the ER. The doctor warned me I was at risk of a miscarriage. This vicious bitch.

I will never let her get exactly what she wants. Chapter 2 February 24, 2023 Delphine announced her divorce. Dawson is going over to celebrate with her.

A sharp cramp twisted my stomach, followed by a wave of nausea. I forced down my prenatal vitamins. They tasted like ash.

February 26, 2023 Dawson told me there was a company party and he wouldn't be coming home tonight. He went to see Delphine. I know. Hey baby, you might not have a dad anymore.

Mommy can't compete with his precious childhood sweetheart. February 27, 2023 Dawson got into a car crash in the middle of the night. He woke up today. He remembers everyone but me.

I'm done. I slid the diary—a meticulously logged record of his betrayal—perfectly behind the row of books he reached for most on the far right shelf.

It wouldn't take long for him to uncover his own damning evidence.

As for the cold, clinical abortion records, I locked them inside the third drawer of the desk—the private drawer where only he knew the combination.

I wanted him to unearth this bloody truth with his own hands. I wanted him to taste the crushing despair. All of this sickening garbage was finally coming to an end.

I was cutting out every toxic parasite in my life. Delphine, Dawson, and his snobbish, statusobsessed parents.

A cheating bastard never changes his stripes, and I certainly wasn't holding my breath for a sudden redemption arc.

But once I walked out that door, I had absolutely no intention of making their lives easy. March 1, 2023. I set breakfast on the dining table.

Dawson emerged from the bedroom right on cue. I pasted a pleasant smile on my face. He didn't even glance at me. He just pulled out his chair and sat down. I gave a slight shrug.

It didn't matter. Ever since Delphine announced her divorce, he had been treating me like empty space. This was exactly why I didn't buy this "amnesia" crap for a single second.

I had tested him for two days, and the conclusion was crystal clear: Dawson was faking it.

He was weaponizing the silent treatment and a convenient memory wipe to force me out, waiting for me to break and file for divorce.

It totally tracked with the disgusting question he threw at me yesterday, asking if he actually married me out of love. Breakfast passed in suffocating silence.

His phone buzzed against the table. Dawson checked the caller ID, and a sickeningly sweet smile instantly stretched across his face. "Delphine. Yeah, I'm up.

Head's still spinning a bit, but it's fine." "Make sure you dress warm today. Yeah, I'm home.

You can drop by whenever." Once breakfast was over, I cleared the plates and told Dawson I was heading out. "Okay.

Delphine said she's coming over to take care of me later, so you don't need to worry," he casually replied. I flashed him a bright nod. "That's perfect. I won't worry at all.

I have something to tell you when I get back tonight. Wait for me for dinner." Dawson's eyes locked onto mine, searching my face for some kind of crack. I'm sure I disappointed him.

My expression was an impenetrable wall of calm. "Alright," he agreed. I grabbed my keys, walked out the door, and drove straight to my best friend Roxanne's law firm.

Chapter 3 "So, you're getting a divorce?" Roxanne stared at me, eyes wide. "You two have been the poster couple for years.

How did it end up here?" I took a sip of my coffee. "He cheated.

His precious childhood sweetheart got divorced, and he wants to play house with her." "Are his parents okay with that?" I let out a cold scoff. "His snobbish, vain parents have been obsessing over Delphine for years.

She's the perfect golden girl who can boost their egos with her fancy life abroad. To them, I'm just a free, bottomtier maid." "This works out perfectly.

Let them bend over backwards to serve their highclass, overseas daughterinlaw.

Let's see how long they stay happy." Roxanne snatched the coffee cup right out of my hand. "Aren't you pregnant?

Are you supposed to be drinking this?" I tilted my head. "Who said I'm keeping it? The second they jetted off on their little romantic getaway, I made up my mind. Dawson is tainted.

I refuse to let anything of mine be tied to him." "Not even a kid.

Especially not one carrying his blood." I grabbed the cup back and took another swallow. "I just don't have the time right now. Draft up the divorce papers for me.

Fast." "I need to squeeze every last drop of leverage I have and bleed him dry. He walks away with nothing." "If you've really thought this through, I won't stop you.

A cheating bastard isn't worth saving anyway. Let's get to work. Follow me." I spent the entire day practically glued to the law firm.

Roxanne and two other associates hammered out the ironclad divorce agreement. At nine that night, I walked back into the house with the papers in hand. I pushed the door open.

A dining table covered in halfeaten leftovers immediately assaulted my vision.

Dawson and Delphine both snapped their heads toward me. "If you weren't coming back for dinner, why didn't you call?" Dawson demanded, his brow furrowed. Bullshit.

I was too busy plotting his ruin to remember.

I pulled out my phone and flipped the blank screen toward him. "You didn't bother calling to ask me, either." Delphine pasted on a sweet, conciliatory smile. "Oh, come on.

There's nothing a married couple can't talk through. I'll leave you two to it. Dawson, your cooking was absolutely amazing. Bye!" "You can cook?" I raised an eyebrow.

I walked over to the dining table and scanned the mess. A full spread of dishes. It looked completely professional. Dawson nodded, oblivious. "I've always known how to cook.

Have I never cooked for you? That doesn't make sense. I love cooking. I used to make meals for Delphine all the time." A sharp laugh escaped my throat.

So, for all these years of our marriage, his total incompetence in the kitchen was just an act. "Got it. I know you don't love me anymore.

You love your precious Delphine." I strode over to the couch, sat down, and slapped the divorce papers down hard on the coffee table right in front of him. "Since your brain is broken and you don't remember a damn thing, make this quick and sign.

I've been a stayathome wife these past few years.

I haven't saved a dime." "But since I'm graciously making room for your epic, earthshattering romance, I'm taking the cars and the savings under your name.

You walk away with nothing. Your precious Delphine makes big money overseas anyway. I'm sure she won't mind covering your little breakup fee, right?" Dawson didn't even flinch.

He skimmed the pages and slashed his signature across the bottom line. "I'm really sorry. I just can't remember you at all.

We clearly can't keep living together like this, so I agree to your terms." I snatched the signed papers back with a smirk. "We hit the courthouse tomorrow morning.

This house is under your parents' names, so I won't be staying here tonight. I have plans tomorrow afternoon.

I'll see you at the courthouse in the morning." I waved a hand dismissively and turned my back on the house I had lived in for years. "I'm not taking my stuff.

None of it matters anyway. Throw it all out if you want." Chapter 4 I didn't let the laughter rip out of my throat until I was safely in the back of a cab.

That went way too smoothly. For the past few years, I had been running side hustles and quietly building an investment portfolio.

I was actually saving up to buy that downtown penthouse Dawson was obsessed with, planning to surprise him. Funny how things work out.

I hadn't even hit the savings goal before the marriage went up in flames. I leaned against the window, a smirk playing on my lips.

I wondered if Dawson would still be this smug once he found out Delphine's family had gone totally bankrupt years ago.

What would his elitist parents do when they discovered their golden girl didn't even have a real job abroad? She never even finished her degree.

The only reason she got to stay overseas was because she latched onto a rich foreign husband. Would that shatter their fragile little egos?

After all, in their eyes, Delphine was the absolute standard of perfection. In reality, she was completely worthless. Honestly, I understood her sheer desperation.

She was backed into a corner and needed a new sugar daddy to fund her lifestyle. Dawson was the ultimate easy target.

That was exactly why she was foaming at the mouth to get us divorced. Trash belongs in the dumpster. Delphine dragging Dawson to the curb was actually doing me a massive favor.

Early the next morning, I pulled up to the county courthouse to file the papers. I thought I was eager, but clearly, someone else was practically vibrating out of their skin.

Dawson stood right by the entrance. Delphine was glued to his left side, her arms wrapped around his like a clinging vine.

The second his eyes landed on me, he yanked his arm out of her grip. I casually pushed my sunglasses up the bridge of my nose. "Careful.

People might think you two are the ones getting married today. Keep it in your pants.

Don't start breeding on the courthouse steps, it's a bad look." Delphine's face twisted in outrage. "What the hell is wrong with you?

You're such a toxic, bitter bitch." I gave a careless shrug. "Just congratulating you on your inevitable wedding. Is that a crime?" Dawson's brows snapped together.

His jaw tightened, clearly taken aback by the absolute venom in my voice. Filing the paperwork was a breeze.

The clerk behind the glass kept shooting sideways glances at the two of them.

I leaned against the counter, completely in my element, while Dawson and Delphine looked like they were sitting on a bed of nails. "No need to rush the wedding bells," the clerk drawled, stamping the files. "There's a mandatory thirtyday waiting period for the divorce decree.

Once those thirty days are up, you can come grab the final certificate and run straight to the altar." The casual roast hit its mark. A dark flush crawled up Dawson's neck.

Delphine shot the clerk a lethal glare, grabbed Dawson by the sleeve, and practically dragged him out the doors. I couldn't hold it back anymore.

A sharp laugh escaped me. "How did you know they were together?" The clerk slid my copies across the counter. "My brother went to college with them.

The whole scandal where she dumped him to marry some guy overseas was legendary. My brother used it as a punchline for years." "I've even seen photos of them.

I just can't believe the guy actually got married and is still out here simping for her. Sister, you made the right call dumping him.

I have never seen a man simp so hard in my life." "Thanks," I grinned, sliding the papers into my bag. I genuinely appreciated her throwing a wrench in their perfect morning.

Stepping out of the courthouse, I checked the time on my phone. Perfect. I hailed another cab and headed straight for the clinic.

After the procedure, I spent half a month recovering in my new leased apartment. I had locked down the lease the second I found out Delphine was getting a divorce.

My original plan was to drop the divorce papers on Dawson the moment he came home from celebrating her newly single status.

I had run the simulations in my head a thousand times, calculating exactly how to play him to walk away with the maximum payout.

I just never expected his little "amnesia" stunt to hit the fastforward button on the whole operation.

Chapter 5 During my recovery, my friend Clementine came over to take care of me. She was a writer.

She showed up at my door, clutching her laptop against her chest. "I seriously want to turn this whole mess into a novel.

I am overflowing with inspiration right now." I took a slow sip of the warm water she handed me. "Write it. The marriage is dead anyway.

Why not monetize the trash?" Clementine flashed a wicked grin. "Oh, I'm writing it. I'm elevating this to pure art. But are you really just walking away?

Are you actually okay with this? Usually, people want blood. Don't you want revenge?" I shook my head, my expression perfectly blank. "He walked away with nothing.

There's no point in dragging it out and making it ugly." Catching the immediate disappointment dropping onto her face, I just gave her a soft smile. I lied