All Chapters of Fifty Grand Bought My Goodbye: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

Ronin Dudley was obsessed with cleanliness, so even at three months pregnant, I scrubbed the floors on my hands and knees every day.That morning, my nausea hit so hard I didn't make it to the bathroom. Two drops of liquid splashed onto the floor.He frowned and shoved me outside."It reeks. Stay out there and think about what you did. You can come back in when you learn to keep things clean."The icy December wind made my lower stomach ache, but for the first time in five years, I didn't pound on the door and beg.The night before, Kelly Choney—the girl Ronin treated like a sister—got drunk and puked all over him, ruining his favorite silk rug.He wiped her mouth with his expensive shirt, eyes full of concern."Kelly, you'll feel better once it's out."She reeked, but he held her all night.I stared at the closed door, one hand on my cold stomach.A while later, Ronin opened it. Wearing disposable gloves, he held out a rag."Done with your tantrum? Scrub the living room rug

Chapter 2

I didn't go far. I sat in the convenience store downstairs for two hours.Once Kelly left, I went back up.Ronin sat on the couch, focused on his laptop. He didn't even look up when I walked in."Finally come to your senses?"I ignored him and headed to the bedroom.I pulled a black suitcase from the closet and started packing.I didn't have much. Just a few cheap clearance finds. Ronin's custom suits took up most of the space."What are you doing?"He stood in the doorway, frowning.I shoved in my last two sweaters and zipped the suitcase."Packing."He eyed the suitcase and laughed coldly."This pathetic stunt isn't fooling anyone. You think packing your junk and leaving will make people feel sorry for you? Forgot who dragged you out of the gutter? Walk out that door, and where will you go? You're pregnant, you reek, and you can't survive on your own. You won't last three days. Quit the drama and put your crap back."I unzipped my bag, pulled out a bank card I'd prepared

Chapter 3

I stared at Ronin, who was so sure I was a thief.I felt nothing."I'll say it once more. I didn't take it." I raised my suitcase handle. "Think I did? Call the cops."Ronin blocked the door, eyes cold."The cops?" He laughed. "Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough? Kelly only told me because she wanted to spare you the humiliation. Don't be ungrateful."Before I could answer, my phone buzzed.Felicity.The second I picked up, her panicked voice came through the phone."Helen, check social media. Kelly's lost it!"I opened the app.Kelly had just posted a long update.[I always thought treating people well would keep things peaceful, but some people are rotten to the core. Losing a necklace isn't a big deal. Living with someone who has severe depression, manic episodes, and a habit of stealing is terrifying. I hope a certain someone gets help before she hurts anyone.]She attached a stock photo of her Bulgari necklace and a medical record from the Metropolitan Center for

Chapter 4

Ronin stared at me.The irritation in his eyes turned to contempt."Divorce?" He scoffed. "You think that's supposed to scare me? Leave me, and you won't even have a place to stay. How are you going to survive?"He walked to the bar and poured himself a glass of water."Quit the drama. Put your stuff back. I have a meeting this afternoon, and I expect the floor clean when I get home."He took a sip, calm again."Behave, and I'll take you shopping for a new bag tomorrow."He was sure I'd never leave.Sure I'd stayed for five years because I had nowhere else to go.I pulled a manila envelope from my bag and set it on the coffee table."I already signed the divorce papers. I don't want a dime. I'm leaving with nothing."His hand, still gripping the glass, froze halfway to his mouth.He looked at the envelope but didn't touch it."You're serious?""Yes." I grabbed my suitcase. "Your rug and your precious Kelly aren't my problem anymore."I opened the door and walked out with

Chapter 5

The heart monitor beeped steadily.Cold anesthesia slid through my veins, pulling me under.The anesthesiologist pushed the final dose.Then everything went black.***Third-Person POVDudley Tower, CEO's OfficeRonin sat behind his desk, glaring at the [Not Delivered] notice beneath his message.Helen's signed divorce papers lay in front of him.His lawyer had already reviewed them. No tricks. No loopholes. She was walking away with nothing—not even the old car in his name."Mr. Dudley, the minutes from this afternoon's meeting."Patrick carefully set the file on his desk.Ronin yanked at his tie and pointed to the bank card details beside him."Freeze every card under Helen's name. I don't want her able to afford a hotel room tonight."Patrick hesitated, checked the records on his tablet, and frowned."Mr. Dudley... there's nothing to freeze.""What do you mean?""Mrs. Dudley barely used the cards. The only recent charges were groceries and..."He paused."Your cus

Chapter 6

The next morning, Ronin sat in the hospital hallway after having blood drawn. People rushed past, and the sharp smell of disinfectant got on his nerves.He called Helen again.Still turned off.He scoffed and started to put his phone away.Then he spotted the OB-GYN department down the hall.Liam was helping Helen walk out.She wore an oversized puffer coat. Her face was ghost-white, and she could barely stay on her feet.Ronin shot to his feet.He stormed over.***Helen's POVSomeone grabbed my arm.Ronin."What are you doing here?" His voice shook with rage. "You disappeared all night and shut off your phone. Was it all so you could be with him?"He yanked me hard enough to make me stumble.Pain tore through my lower stomach. I gasped as cold sweat broke out across my forehead.Liam caught Ronin's wrist, shoved him back, and pulled me behind him."Back off, Ronin. Helen's in no shape for you to manhandle her."Ronin glared at the way Liam shielded me."This is bet

Chapter 7

Liam set me up in an empty apartment he owned in the suburbs.It was quiet.I stared at the bare branches outside and rested a hand on my flat stomach.Away from Ronin, the endless scrubbing, and the constant humiliation, I felt like I'd died once—and finally come back to life.***Third-Person POVMeanwhile, the CEO's office in Dudley Tower looked wrecked.Files and decorations littered the floor. Ronin stared at Patrick with bloodshot eyes."Did you verify it?" His voice came out raw."I—I checked everything." Patrick handed him a thick file, his hands shaking. "Mr. Dudley, the sixty grand Mrs. Dudley sent you didn't come from selling the necklace. And it wasn't your money, either. Not one dollar."Ronin ripped the file from his hands.Inside were five years of bank records, showing hundreds of small deposits."For the past five years, Mrs. Dudley waited until you fell asleep, then took freelance interpreting and translation jobs from overseas clients. She worked all nigh

Chapter 8

Kelly stepped inside wearing the same sweet, innocent look, oblivious to the tension choking the room."Ronin, why are there files everywhere? Did something happen at the company?"She bent to pick up a page. The second she saw "Luxury Resale Purchase Agreement," all the color drained from her face.Ronin sat in the shadows, staring at her like she was already dead."Go ahead. Keep pretending." He gave a cold laugh. "Did you really think crossing state lines would hide it? Your assistant's transaction records are right here. Kelly, you've got some nerve using me to do your dirty work."Her knees buckled, and she collapsed, ghost-pale."Ronin... please, let me explain! I was desperate for money. I never meant to frame Helen! I was going to buy the necklace back in a few days—""What about her medical record?"Ronin rose and stopped inches from her, looking down at her."You didn't just accuse her of stealing. You posted her most humiliating medical record from five years ago an

Chapter 9

Helen's POVAfternoon sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, warming the room.I wrapped up the final details of a deal with several international clients, switching effortlessly between languages. Five years of sleepless nights, brutal overtime, and three dead keyboards had finally given me confidence no one could take away.I wasn't the Helen who used to kneel on Ronin's cold apartment floor, quietly wiping up dust.Once the contracts were signed, my business partner, Liam, walked over with coffee. I took it with a smile.One look between us said it all.Everything was on track.I glanced up and spotted someone outside the glass door.Ronin.He gripped the handle so hard his knuckles turned white. The CEO who once looked down on everyone, sure his money could crush me whenever he wanted, now stood there in a wrinkled shirt, reeking of booze.His bloodshot eyes locked on mine, but he still couldn't open the door.He didn't dare come in, and I wasn't letting him

Chapter 10

The next morning, I arrived outside the Family Court Clerk's Office at exactly ten.Ronin showed up ten minutes late. He stumbled out of the car, unshaven and wrecked. Nothing like the polished CEO he used to be.The process went fast. I set the neatly organized divorce papers on the clerk's desk without a word.The judge approved the settlement. When the clerk handed us the final decree, Ronin's hands shook so badly that he dropped his copy. It hit the desk with a soft slap.The document hit the desk with a soft slap."Helen..." His voice was raw as he reached for me. "Can we start over? I'll give you everything. My assets. My shares. I just want you—"I tucked away my copy and stepped aside."Mr. Dudley, don't make me even more disgusted than I already am."Then I walked into the bright morning sun without looking back.Liam's car waited at the bottom of the steps. He smiled, opened the passenger door, and handed me a warm black coffee.We pulled away.In the rearview mirr

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