The Ugly Wife’s Stunning Comeback novel Chapter 37

Felicia stared at her phone for what felt like forever before finally setting it down.

“Are you heading back?” Jeremy’s voice was gentle, but she could hear the concern there. He must have caught some of what Max said on the call.

She hesitated for a second, then nodded. “Yeah, I should. I want to see what he wants.” There was no use putting it off.

Forty minutes later, the car pulled up outside the villa gates. Jeremy looked over at her. “Do you need to stay here tonight?”

Felicia shook her head. “I don’t think so. Can you wait for me here, Mr. Milman?” She tried to keep her voice even. Max never cared if she stayed or left. Every conversation with him felt like an obligation, something to get over with as quickly as possible.

Jeremy just nodded.

Felicia stepped out, keyed in the code at the gate, and slipped inside. The lights in the living room were bright, almost glaring. Max was on the sofa, his posture perfectly straight, every inch of him radiating this cold, unapproachable pressure.

She walked over, trying to keep her steps steady. “What do you want?” she asked.

Instead of answering, Max slid a document across the coffee table. “Sign this.”

Felicia’s chest tightened. She curled her fingers into her palms, took a deep breath, and sat down across from him. When she picked up the contract, her heart thudded. It wasn’t divorce papers. It was a non-compete agreement, blocking her from working in the same field for three years. In exchange, the company would pay her at least half of her previous salary.

She’d been working in a lower position for months now, but she used to be Max’s assistant, and she still knew so much about the company’s inner workings. This was the kind of thing Max could have asked someone else, like Sandy, to handle. The fact that he was doing it himself felt like a warning. He was worried she’d end up working with Jeremy.

“Felicia, so someone treats you with a little respect, but don’t fool yourself into thinking you have the right to judge anyone here. You mean nothing to me.”

His words hit her like a punch to the gut. All the color drained from her face. She could almost feel his words cutting into her, sharp and merciless.

Max just stared at her, face unreadable.

Felicia’s hands shook as she stood up. Her voice was barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry.”

She turned away, desperate to get out of there, but her legs felt leaden. It was like every step took all her strength. When she finally reached the door, she had to grab the frame to steady herself. A dull ache twisted in her belly, and she realized the baby must have felt her stress, giving a little kick in response.