The Billionaire’s Regret
Chapter 2 –

Several years later...

IVY

The annoying beep of my phone shatters the peacefulness around me. But I couldn't

be bothered to check it. What's the point? I already knew it was from my

too-good-to-be-true husband.

I let out a sarcastic chuckle and allowed myself to relax. However, the incessant beeping of the phone started to irritate me.

I reached over to the side table and glanced at the screen. Letting out a deep sigh, I tossed it aside. Just as I suspected, nothing new. The text message was from my husband.

A grimace formed on my face as I read the word "husband," reminding me that I needed to go to the hospital and donate blood.

Fantastic.

Donating blood had become a regular part of my life with Wyatt Reed.

My phone beeped once again, and when I checked it, I saw a notification from the bank. It informed me that my husband had transferred more money into my account. The amount was enough to make my jaw drop, but who needs money anyway?

After three years of marriage to Wyatt Reed, all he ever made me do was go to the hospital and donate blood. He seemed to be quite enthusiastic about it.

I donate, and he pays. Is that what a normal married couple does? I highly doubt it. And the ironic thing was he treated me like a stranger. If it weren't for my blood, I would be nothing to him.

And the blood that I donated or sold as he was paying for it, I gave it to Alice-the-bitch-Perez. And this month, they took blood from me three times. It's too much; I can feel my body getting weaker.

Yesterday, I got drenched in the rain, which caused me to catch a cold and fever. That's why I stayed home, trying to get a good sleep on my soft, comfortable bed.

Just as I was about to close my eyes again, my phone beeped for the third time. Annoyed, I grabbed it, and my forehead furrowed as I read a message from an unknown number: "There's no such thing as a real Mrs. Reed. For the past three years, you've shamelessly held that title. But did you really have Wyatt's full attention? If I were you, I'd go out and hang myself. Remember, you're nothing but a slut!"

A slut? Am I really a slut? I sacrificed my family and friends for three years because of this marriage, and now someone has the audacity to call me that. The shock and anger consumed me, and I wished I could punch the person who sent that message. That kind of word is completely uncalled for, especially since I know it's not true. I tightened my grip on the phone, and suddenly, I heard another beep.

When I opened the message, I saw a picture of my husband peacefully sleeping, his handsome features making me swoon. And there, resting on his shoulder, was Alice Perez. Even though their eyes were closed, I could spot a disturbing difference. Why was the corner of Alice's lips slightly raised? Man, I keep imagining things. Just as I was about to put my phone down, it started ringing. I frowned when I saw the caller's name. It was Eva Reed, Wyatt's mother.

"Ivy! Have you forgotten what day it is? Hurry up and cook. The servant is off today!" she exclaimed, which made me smirk. Then she hung up without saying anything else.

People around me who were connected to my husband treated me like a servant.

When it comes to Wyatt, I've always been cautious.

Everyone at Wyatt's company thought I couldn't be a secretary, but I proved them wrong by giving it my all.

Wyatt's mother and even his sister treat me like their maid. They're strange and picky with me. They make me cook, clean, and do their chores. And I don't dare tell Wyatt to avoid any trouble.

I've gotten used to it at this point.

I'm willing to endure the mockery of others for the sake of Wyatt. But it seems like Wyatt has forgotten about me, his wife. He only remembers me when he needs me to work for his company, asking me to donate blood and sending me money. I took a deep breath and sighed heavily. I'm so tired that I feel like I can't hold on anymore.

When I saw that photo and message, I knew it was Alice who sent it. This isn't the first time Alice has gotten under my skin. I could brush off the cruel comments from others, but that photo of Wyatt and Alice completely shattered my self-esteem. I felt embarrassed and lonely. Could it be that our three years of marriage was just a joke?

An idea crossed my mind, and I frowned. This fake relationship between me and Wyatt should come to an end. I went back to Wyatt's message, and without hesitation, I sent him these words: "Let's get a divorce." Then I tapped the send button.

When I saw that it was delivered, I felt confident in my decision, even though I was in a daze. After a few seconds, my phone rang, and the word 'husband' flashed on the screen. I can imagine his face right now-confused and angry.

"Ivy..." my eyes widened as I heard the coldness in his voice, "What's wrong?" he asked. It made me smirk. Suddenly, his voice changed; it became warmer. But his next words ignited a fire of anger within me. "You can set your price. According to the doctor, Alice is still in danger-"

After hanging up the phone, she abruptly interrupted my thoughts with a text message. It stated that Wyatt had just transferred another one million dollars to my bank account, which honestly made me burst out laughing. Amidst my laughter, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

After a few minutes, I composed myself and decided to change my clothes. Time was of the essence, and I didn't want to prolong this any further. I had reached my breaking point.

Despite feeling under the weather with a fever and a cold, I managed to leave the house and hail a cab towards the New York Supreme Court.

Wyatt tried calling me twice during the journey, but I ignored his calls. It wasn't until I arrived at the court building that he finally stopped attempting to reach me.

Sitting in the waiting area, I anxiously waited for Wyatt with a pale face. After an hour, he appeared with a cold expression, his eyes fixed on me. As he approached, I noticed the tension in his jaw.

"What's your problem, Ivy? Why are you suddenly bringing this up? What's the issue?" His voice carried a hint of madness, but I refused to look away from his gaze. He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes momentarily, attempting to calm himself. When he locked eyes with me again, I couldn't help but gasp, my lips parting in surprise. I didn't want to see the coldness in his eyes or endure his blank stares, but I knew I had to face it in order to get what I wanted.

"Listen, I know you've been overly generous with your donations this month, but I did compensate you-" I interrupted, lifting my head since I was seated while he stood in front of me.

I didn't need to say anything more. All I wanted was a divorce. "Let's get a divorce. It's a straightforward process since we don't have kids. We can get it done within an hour-"

I couldn't help but scoff at his words. Wyatt is always the same. He may have had a face that could rival a Greek god, but he never saw me as his wife. It shattered me.

I don't want to anger him, but things have to change now.

Three years of being his submissive partner is enough.

"If there's one thing, I'll regret the most," I said with a wistful smile. I've thought about this countless times, and I wanted to get straight to the point. "It's marrying you three years ago," I uttered, standing up when I heard my name being called. "Let's go. It's our turn now," I added, making my way towards the judge's office where our divorce certificate will be granted.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Wyatt suddenly asked, matching my pace.

I glanced at him and nodded. I'm already here; there's no turning back.

The pain is too much, and I need to choose myself over him.

I wanted to burst into laughter and cry out loud.

Wyatt and I had reached an agreement on the divorce. It wasn't that I wanted him to try and change my mind. I had already made up my decision, especially after all I heard was, "Alice needs blood, she's ill..." It became clear to me that I was nothing more than a source of blood to him.

As I held the pen, I scribbled my signature above my printed name. My hand trembled, causing me to let go of the pen. When I glanced at Wyatt, I noticed his forehead crease as his gaze shifted to my hand. Quickly, I hid it behind my back. Wyatt picked up the pen and swiftly signed above his name.

The judge then pressed the seal and signed the document. There it was, the golden paper with our signed divorce certificate.

Obtaining the certificate was easy since it was an uncontested divorce. We didn't have to attend a hearing since we both agreed, and we didn't have any children.

Once we received the divorce certificate, I left the room without looking back. I walked straight ahead until suddenly, someone forcefully grabbed my arm, causing me to stop. Irritated, I cursed silently before turning to face him. "Alice needs a blood transfusion today. I texted you earlier about it. You need to give-"

I scoffed, interrupting his words. "Wyatt, I won't waste another drop of blood for her. I don't care if she dies," I uttered, causing his grip on my arm to tighten. It felt as if he wanted to drain all the blood from my arm. I squirmed, and eventually, he let go. I could see anger in Wyatt's eyes and the way he clenched his jaw. "Alice is sick, and you dare to curse her like that?"

I couldn't help but let out a sarcastic laugh. Does Wyatt really think I've forgotten my worth as Alice's human blood bank? Seriously?

He reminded me of the condition we agreed upon when we got married three years ago-that I would donate blood whenever Alice needed it. It hit me like a slap in the face, and the pain was unbearable, like a knife piercing through my heart.

Yes, I married him, knowing I would be the one to supply Alice with the rare human blood she needed. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. I met his cold gaze with my own glistening eyes, and my laughter turned haughty and callous. Tears streamed down my cheeks.

Looking back, I should have realized that I was nothing more than a lowly human blood bank. I wiped away my tears and nodded. "Don't worry, I'll make one final donation of my precious blood and settle any outstanding debt," I declared, which only made him grin. I glanced at Wyatt one last time, unsure of the meaning behind his grin, before turning away and leaving him behind.

As I stepped out of the building, I hailed a cab and rushed to the hospital. I paid the fare and hurriedly made my way inside. I walked towards Alice's private room in the left wing, pushing the door open to replace nurses and doctors surrounding her bed, checking on her health.

When our eyes met, Alice flashed a smile at me. I couldn't help but wonder if it was genuine or laced with sarcasm.

As I approached her side, she called out my name, "Hey Ivy, you're finally here. Look, I'm still not feeling great. I apologize if my health is bothering you. I'm also worried about your well-being, you know."

"You sent the text, didn't you?" I walked over with a sad expression on my face. I didn't want any distractions and went straight to the point.

Alice was the only person I knew who would send that message. And the photo was undeniable proof.

The room fell silent except for the beeping of the machines. Without waiting for her response, I swiftly slapped her face, causing her to scream in surprise.

WYATT

Feeling

frustrated, I rub my temple with a scowl. I curse silently in my mind.

Something is definitely wrong with Ivy-why would she suddenly want a divorce?

We had agreed from the start that she would donate blood.

I don't know what to think anymore; I have too many problems to deal with. I never imagined that Ivy and I would reach this point.

After three years of marriage, I thought I knew her well. I never thought I would be in this situation.

I did feel guilty when Ivy had to donate blood three times this month, but I assumed she was fine with it since she never complained.

Ivy is beautiful and kind. She's the perfect wife for me despite being Alice's blood donor. But now she's filed for divorce, and it's really upsetting.

However, divorce doesn't matter to me.

I shake my head and let go of the frustration from what just happened. I know Ivy will come running back to me if she's in need. I'm certain she'll seek my help if she requires it.

When I couldn't replace Ivy, I drove to the hospital and headed straight to Alice's room. As soon as I opened the door, my eyes widened in shock as I saw Ivy slap Alice across the face.

Anger fills me as I take a step closer to Ivy and grab her arm. "What do you think you're doing, Ivy?!" I exclaim angrily, staring into her eyes. However, she remains silent.

I glance at the medical staff in the room and dismiss them. They quickly leave.

I glanced over at Alice and noticed a hint of panic in her eyes. Suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes as she glanced at Ivy.

"Why are you accusing me? I didn't do anything. Y-You just misunderstood-"

"Don't play innocent anymore. I know it's you," Ivy interrupted, sneering at Alice.

I furrowed my brows as Ivy fidgeted, causing me to let go of her. She glared at me before taking out her phone from her sling bag and typing something into it. Then, she threw it onto the hospital bed in front of Alice. My eyes widened as I looked at the phone's screen. I stared at the photo in complete surprise.

Frowning, I glanced at Alice. Her face displayed an unpleasant expression.

I knew that photo had been taken secretly because I couldn't recall giving anyone permission to take it.

Yesterday was a hectic day for me, with numerous projects and meetings at the company. When I visited Alice, I couldn't resist taking a short nap.

I glanced at Ivy and saw her snort a sly smirk. "Like I said, I'm here to settle everything," she said, her eyes piercing into Alice. "This is what you owe me, Alice," she uttered.

I could sense the madness in her voice.

Ivy laughed, but it was clear that her laughter was sarcastic. "Don't worry, Alice... Wyatt and I have already separated. I hope you're satisfied now. I wish you all the best in the future," she asserted.

This time, even if I tried to be foolish, I already understood how the photo ended up with Ivy. My eyes turned cold as I looked at Alice's fragile face.

"I... I... Wyatt, it was just a misunderstanding. Ivy misunderstood it. I didn't do anything. I didn't take this photo," she stammered, grabbing Ivy's phone. "Someone framed me!" Alice exclaimed, causing me to furrow my brows.

Alice tugged at my polo, catching me off guard. "Wyatt, I can apologize to Ivy. I swear, I really don't know who sent the picture."

I sighed and rubbed my temples, trying to stay calm. "Why are you blowing this out of proportion, Ivy?" I questioned, looking directly at her. "It's just a photo. You don't have to jump to conclusions and make life-altering decisions based on it. Did you really want a divorce over this?" I asked, searching her eyes for answers.

I clenched my fist and took a deep breath. "Let's discuss this after you donate blood for Alice," I suggested, walking towards the table to call the doctor.

Within moments, the doctor arrived with a nurse by his side.

"Are you certain Alice needs another blood transfusion?" I inquired, causing the doctor to pause for a moment.

The doctor glanced at Alice before nodding at me. "Y-Yes, Miss Perez experienced dizziness and even collapsed earlier, resulting in an injury to her leg. She truly requires a blood transfusion today," the doctor explained.

I raised an eyebrow. "Injured? Well, what are we waiting for?"

The doctor nodded. "Yes, of course... we'll proceed with it immediately, Sir," he assured.

I nodded and turned my attention to Ivy, who was now staring at me. I noticed a faint smile on her lips, but there was also a hint of pain in her eyes.

Did that photograph truly hurt her enough to consider ending our marriage?

And how would Alice react if she were here?

What if Alice was right and someone framed her?

Unless I gave Ivy a reason, she shouldn't be making decisions on her own. That picture is meaningless.

My forehead furrowed as I watched her close her eyes and rub her temple. I couldn't help but notice that her temperature felt unusually high when I touched her earlier. It was at that moment that I took a closer look at her. Something was definitely off. Is she sick?

I shook my head, trying to dismiss the thought. Maybe I was just overthinking things.

Suddenly, Ivy moved closer to Alice.

I saw her lift and lower the white blanket, her eyes cold and commanding.

My eyes widened when I noticed Alice's leg wrapped in a bandage.

"What are you doing?" Alice asked, trying to move away from Ivy. But Ivy smirked and swiftly removed the bandage from Alice's leg.

I stared at the wound. It was clear that it was just a scratch.

"So, this is serious enough for a blood transfusion?" Ivy's mocking tone was evident in her voice.

"Ivy, you-Wyatt, it's not what you think," Alice said, turning towards me. "My body is weak and... and the blood transfusion helps me recover faster," she added, trembling slightly. It seemed like Alice was hiding something.

I was about to speak when Ivy burst into laughter.

"Injured again? Three or four times a month?" she sarcastically asked, causing me to frown. "I see," Ivy nodded and smiled. "You're trying to drain my blood, aren't you?" Her voice turned cold. "Well, sorry, but I won't give you another chance," she added, looking directly at me. "Let Wyatt marry someone else to take my place," she declared before leaving the room.

IVY

I collapsed onto a chair in the hallway as soon as I left the room, feeling completely abandoned by the world. Tears streamed down my face as I dialed someone's number, my voice trembling with exhaustion as I tried to convey my anger about what had just happened.

"Cooper," I managed to say, my breath heavy. After a moment of silence, I wiped away my tears.

"I just wanted to go home," I muttered as I walked away from Alice's room. I didn't care if people were staring at me, witnessing my misery.

Cooper let out a soft groan, his voice filled with cunning. "Where are you? I'll come get you."

I hung up the phone and continued making my way out of the hospital.