Walking Away While Pregnant: Dear Ex-Husband, I Don't Love You Anymore novel Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Chapter 144

Fleur received Ryan Simpson’s call in the late afternoon. By this time, the plagiarism scandal was spreading like wildfire online. For the past few days, she hadn’t stepped foot out of her house, terrified that journalists were staking the place out.

Ryan’s raspy, deep voice carried a hint of smug triumph. "Fleur, that little favor you asked of me? It’s a done deal."

Delight flared in Fleur’s chest. The corners of her lips curved upward, and she replied in a sweet, coquettish voice, "Ryan, you’re amazing! I knew you were the only one in this world who truly cares about me."

"It was nothing," Ryan laughed. "Honestly, I was worried Selin’s family wouldn’t cooperate. Who would have guessed her younger sister is a mute? When I tracked her down, she told me Selin passed away from an illness a year ago and left the short-video account credentials in her will. The sister probably realized a mute has no use for an account like that anyway. The moment she heard the high price I was willing to pay, she agreed without a second thought."

"You really are incredible, Ryan," Fleur praised. "But even if she’s a mute, she can still read and write. Did you make sure all the contract paperwork was properly settled with her?"

"Don’t worry, I was extremely careful. Besides, that mute has no family left to lean on; what kind of waves could she possibly make? Plus, you’re abroad right now. A little mute like her isn’t going to pay any attention to domestic affairs anyway."

That was true. Fleur was just a video blogger; no matter how famous she got, her reach was mostly domestic. This was exactly why she had dared to lie to her manager, Anna, in the first place.

Fleur was completely relaxed.

"Fleur, you said before that you’d come back to see me once things settled down over there. It’s already been months. When are you coming back?"

A flash of disgust crossed Fleur’s eyes. Ryan was nothing but a useless, horny leech. Every time she was with him, she couldn’t enjoy herself at all and had to put on the performance of her life. She much preferred the young foreign men she met at bars.

But those men were just fleeting amusements for when she was bored. Her ultimate target was Dylan. Only a man of his stature was worthy of her lifelong devotion.

At the thought of Dylan, a genuine smile surfaced in her eyes. She truly loved him. To claim him for herself, she had calculated every single step, enduring humiliation and bidding her time for five years, all for the day she would become the only woman by his side.

Even though Dylan and Elise hadn’t officially finalized their divorce yet, she believed that with enough effort, he would soon grow entirely sick of Elise. Once the divorce papers were signed, the title of Mrs. Bennett would finally be hers.

"Fleur?"

Ryan’s voice snapped her out of her beautiful daydream. Remembering his hypocritical, greedy face, she knit her brows in annoyance. She had already successfully integrated herself into the Bennett family. Shielded by her status as the eldest young mistress of the family, she enjoyed Dylan’s protection—why would she ever go back abroad?

Besides, Ryan was all show and no substance. His only saving grace was being stupid enough for her to manipulate. But right now, she still needed his help. She had to keep him placated.

Softening her tone, she said, "Ryan, as soon as I finish filming this show, I’ll request some time off from the company to come back and see you. Truthfully, I’ve missed you terribly during this time."

Hearing this, Ryan couldn’t help but laugh out loud. "Fleur, your mouth is as sweet as always. Why don’t you stop working so hard? Just come back to me, and we can go back to how things were before. What do you say?"

"But I can’t just rely on you forever. You have a family, Ryan. I’m already deeply grateful just to maintain this kind of relationship with you. Please don’t say things like that anymore, it makes me feel so guilty. You’ve already given me all your love. If you go and abandon your wife because of me, my conscience will never give me peace."

Fleur knew Ryan inside out. She was acutely aware that he only owned shares in that private hospital because of his wife’s powerful family. He would never dare let his wife find out about his infidelity, let alone get a divorce. It was precisely because she knew he was too cowardly to leave his wife that she felt perfectly safe saying those things.

Predictably, Ryan ate it up.

"Alright, alright, just treat it as my nonsense," Ryan coaxed warmly. "Fleur, you’re just too kind-hearted. If your sister-in-law had even half of your gentle, considerate nature, I wouldn’t constantly be thinking about divorcing her. But you’re right. I’ve given all my love to you, but as a husband and a father, I still have duties to her and the kids. To set your mind at ease, I’ll just make do and keep living with her."

On her end of the line, Fleur rolled her eyes, her face a mask of cold contempt. "Thank you, Ryan. You’re so good to me."

"Fleur, you’re the woman I love most. Of course I’m good to you."

"I know, you’re the best..."

Enduring a wave of nausea, Fleur engaged in a few more minutes of flirtatious banter until she had him thoroughly wrapped around her finger. Only then did she make an excuse to hang up.

The moment the call disconnected, she spat on the floor and muttered, "Disgusting!"

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