Chased By My Billionaire Ex-husband
Chapter 172: What wrong had I done?

Chapter 172: What wrong had I done?

Susan’s POV

I couldn’t sleep last night after my conversation with Angel. Her words cut deeper than I wanted to admit, making me question everything. I needed answers—real answers. Was I truly abandoned, or was it all in my head?

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, waiting for the first rays of sunlight to break through the darkness. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and scenarios, making it painful for me. When morning finally came, I decided to call him. I needed to hear his voice, to know why he had been so cold to me.

But his response was too blunt, and I was not prepared for that at all. His words hit me like a storm, leaving me frozen. The tears came naturally, streaming down my face as I couldn’t fathom why he was so cold to me. How could he talk to me like that? Had he forgotten what Colten had told me?

If not for Colten, I would have been with Evander long ago. I had worked so hard and planned so carefully, only to see everything fall apart. And Gloria—she was the one who ruined everything.

To Gloria, Colten was her golden child, her favorite son. She didn’t care about anyone else —not Elijah, not Evander. I never understood why she adored Colten so much. Evander was strong, healthy, and undeniably charming, while Elijah was virtuous and dependable. But Colten? What was so special about him?

When Colten asked me out, I saw my chance. I didn’t love him, but I couldn’t say no. He was my ticket to getting closer to Evander. Through him, I could become a part of the Kensington family. That was all I ever wanted.

But then I saw how Gloria treated Evander. She acted as if he didn’t exist, as if he wasn’t worthy of the Kensington name. It infuriated me. I knew then that Evander wouldn’t get a penny of their fortune. So, I tried to settle with Colten. I convinced myself that it was enough because, in the end, all I needed was the Kensington name to rise above my station.

Yet here I was, left with nothing but broken dreams and shattered pride. Evander had slipped through my fingers, and Colten was gone. The world saw me as nothing more than an actress and model, but they didn’t understand. They didn’t know how much I sacrificed or how much I endured to get where I was.

I wasn’t crazy. I wasn’t wrong. I was simply a woman who refused to accept defeat. But now, as I wiped the tears from my cheeks, I was not ready to accept defeat.

"Tell me. You never cared about me, right?" I asked, struggling to steady my trembling voice.

"Never," Evander replied without hesitation, his voice cold and unyielding. "I never cared about you. The only reason I tolerated you was because of my deceased brother’s words. I cared for you and Gloria because of him, but you both... you hurt me like no one else ever did."

I scoffed bitterly, wiping the tears that had begun to blur my vision. "Hah! So you think that after everything that’s happened, Claire will come back to you? Do you honestly believe she would even consider it?"

Evander fell silent. His lack of a response spoke more than his words. It seemed he was barely containing his fury that I could feel it through the line.

I wiped at my cheeks again, savoring this moment. If I couldn’t find peace, I wouldn’t let him have his either. "You see, Evander, Gloria and I did so much to hurt you and Claire that I don’t think she could ever forgive you."

"What do you mean by that?" he growled, his voice sharp, barely masking the rage simmering beneath it.

I smiled to myself. I had his attention. He was furious, irritated, and desperate. Exactly how I felt last night. "Do you know why Gloria didn’t let me marry you? It wasn’t because you lied about liking me. It was because I belonged to Colten. She wouldn’t let me have you because you were reserved for someone else. She chose Claire because she knew you loved her."

"What?" Evander’s voice cracked, the disbelief palpable.

Evander’s POV

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My mind was a whirlwind of confusion and anger. Each word from Susan’s mouth was making me want to strangle her. The more she spoke, the more I felt like my sanity was slipping away. If Claire weren’t sitting beside me, grounding me with her presence, I might have completely lost control.

"Tell me," I demanded, my voice barely steady. "What are you trying to say? Gloria never said she knew I loved Claire. That’s impossible!"

Susan’s bitter laugh echoed through the phone. "Oh, it’s very possible, Evander. You nearly fooled her, but before the wedding, I told her everything. I thought if I confessed, she might let me marry you."

"And?" I asked, my grip on the phone tightening to the point of pain. Claire’s hand touched mine gently, but I couldn’t look at her for now.

"And," Susan continued, taking a deep, deliberate breath as though relishing my torment, "she said she wanted to give you hope. She said she wanted to see you at your happiest moment—when you thought everything you’d ever wanted was finally yours—and then take it all away."

I froze, my heart pounding so hard it was deafening. "What did you just say?"

"She wanted to see you broken," Susan said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "She thought it would be the perfect revenge for Colten. Claire was her tool, nothing more."

My knuckles turned white as I clenched the phone. Every time I thought I was fine, someone comes up with such a heinous truth. My chest ached as I looked at Claire, her face pale with concern. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came.

"Why are you telling me this now?" I demanded, my voice a low, dangerous growl.

"Because," Susan said, her tone shifting to one of mocking sweetness, "if I can’t have you, neither can she. Misery loves company, after all."

"You are wrong!" I shot back, my voice firm and unyielding. My arms tightened protectively around Claire, who was trembling beside me. "Claire is mine, and even if I have to beg on my knees, I will win her back with my love. No scheme, no manipulation, nothing you or Gloria have done will change that."

"Pfft!" Susan’s laughter rang cold and sharp through the line, dripping with mockery. "Love? You? Evander Kensington and love in the same sentence? Don’t make me laugh."

"What’s that supposed to mean?" I asked, raising my brows, though I kept my emotions in check. Claire had already professed her love to me and she had come back to me despite everything. I wouldn’t let Susan’s words shake my confidence.

"First of all..." Susan’s voice turned venomous, "You are incapable of love. You are too damaged, too broken, too self-centered to ever truly love anyone. And secondly..."

I could hear her exhale deeply, as she paused to build suspense. "Do you really think Claire will stay with you after she finds out the truth? After she realizes that everything that happened to your child was because of you?"

Susan’s words hit me like a thunderbolt. My mind blanked for a moment, unable to process what she had just said. "What? What are you talking about?" My voice dropped, almost a whisper. "What does our child have to do with me? What are you trying to say?"

Claire’s body stiffened against mine. I felt her shudder, her quiet sobs breaking the silence. My heart clenched as I looked down at her, her tears flowing freely as she was in deep pain.

"Susan," I said, my voice low and dangerous, "explain yourself. Now."

Susan chuckled. Her laugh was hollow and chilling. "Oh, Evander. Always so desperate for answers. Do you really want to hear this? Or should I stop, out of respect for your little reunion with Claire?"

"Say it," I demanded, my jaw tightening as anger simmered beneath the surface. For Claire’s sake, I should have stopped this conversation. But for her, I also needed to know the truth.

"Fine," Susan said, her tone almost gleeful, as if relishing the pain she was about to deliver. "You see, Gloria wasn’t just controlling your life—she was controlling your future. When Claire was pregnant, Gloria knew the child would bind the two of you together. She couldn’t have that. She didn’t want you to have happiness, Evander. She wanted you to suffer, to feel the weight of losing everything you cared about. So she..."

Susan paused, her words hanging in the air like a noose tightening around my throat.

"She sabotaged Claire’s car."

"What?" My voice cracked as the realization hit me like a freight train.

"Yes," Susan continued, her tone cruel and unapologetic. "That accident wasn’t just bad luck. It was Gloria’s plan. She ensured Claire would lose the baby, thinking it would be the ultimate punishment for you daring to defy her. And guess what? It worked. Because Claire left you after that, didn’t she? She blamed you for everything."

"No," I breathed, shaking my head as if I could deny the truth. But deep down, I couldn’t believe that Gloria was my mother! How could she be so cruel toward me? What wrong have I done? After all, I too came out of her womb.

Why did she have to hate me so much? What wrong had I done?

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