My ex is a cheat

1

Ashley's hands trembled as she clutched the lab report. The words blurred before her eyes, but their meaning was painfully clear. Without chemotherapy, she had less than a year to live.

A suffocating silence filled the room as she pulled out her phone, hesitating before pressing the call button. Her lips, pale and dry, quivered as she struggled to keep her voice steady. Finally, she swallowed hard and forced a casual tone.

"Izaiah, come home for dinner tonight."

Her heart clenched the moment she ended the call. A sharp, stabbing pain coursed through her chest, making her legs weak. The world around her spun, and for a moment, she thought she might collapse right there on the cold hospital floor.

Somehow, she made it home. The apartment was empty, the silence heavier than usual. On the dining table lay a hastily scribbled note:

You're on your own for dinner tonight.

Not even a text message.

A bitter smile tugged at Ashley's lips, her vision clouding with unshed tears. Was I expecting too much?

Shaking from exhaustion and hunger, she stumbled toward the mirror. Her reflection stared back-a pale, frail woman with a scar running down her cheek. Slowly, she traced the mark with her fingers.

So ugly.

No wonder Izaiah couldn't stand the sight of her.

She had spent the entire afternoon preparing his favorite dishes. Now, they sat untouched on the table. She reheated the food again. And again. The minutes stretched into hours, the warmth of the meal fading each time she set it back down.

Why isn't he back yet?

Then, suddenly-

A car screeched to a stop outside.

Ashley's heart pounded. She hurried to the door, ignoring the pain shooting through her body. Was he drinking again?

The moment Izaiah stepped inside, the stench of alcohol and cigarettes hit her. He barely glanced at her before shoving her aside.

"Get inside," he ordered. His voice was cold, clipped-like she was nothing more than an annoyance.

Ashley forced a smile, masking the ache in her chest. She poured him a cup of coffee, her hands steady despite the turmoil within.

"Izaiah, have some coffee to sober up."

He scoffed, his dark eyes scanning her with disdain.

"Cold coffee? Even the maids can do better than this."

The mocking words cut deep, but Ashley didn't flinch. She had learned long ago how to smile through the pain.

He turned to leave, knocking over the cup in the process. Scalding liquid splashed onto the floor. Ashley stared at it, momentarily dazed. Then, without a word, she bent down to clean up the mess.

But before she could finish, Izaiah grabbed her wrist and dragged her onto the balcony.

The cold air bit at her skin. Behind her, the city lights flickered through the floor-to-ceiling window-a cruel contrast to the darkness suffocating her heart.

Without warning, Izaiah stripped her of her clothes. His touch was rough, indifferent.

Ashley's breath hitched. She was terrified that he would recoil at her thin, scarred body.

"Why do you look so weak and sickly?" he muttered, disgust lacing his tone.

Ashley clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She didn't resist. She never did.

She had loved this man for so long. Was this her reward?

Tears burned her eyes as she whispered brokenly, "I love you... Izaiah..."

Her words only seemed to fuel his anger. His grip tightened, his gaze darkening.

"Love?" he spat. "Your so-called love ruined my life."

Ashley flinched but held onto him, pressing herself closer.

"Lie to me," she pleaded, her voice raw. "Even if it's a lie... just tell me you love me. I can't survive without you."

Izaiah wrenched himself free, disgust flashing in his eyes. Without hesitation, he shoved her onto the bed.

Ashley curled into herself, biting her lip to hold back a sob.

Not even a lie... he won't even give me that.

When he was done using her, he stood up, adjusting his clothes with practiced indifference.

"Why do you treat me like this?" Ashley's voice was barely above a whisper. She turned her tear-streaked face toward him. "This scar on my face... wasn't it because of you? All I ask for is a little love."

Izaiah's expression hardened.

"Don't even think about it," he said coldly.

Ashley's breath caught in her throat.

He hated her.

Despised her.

He wished he could erase her from his life entirely.

A broken laugh bubbled up from her chest. So this is love?

"Izaiah," she murmured, staring at the ceiling with empty eyes. "Do you still think I was the one who hurt Katelynn?"

His face twisted with anger.

"When I wasn't looking, she trampled on Katelynn's dignity," he said, his voice like ice. "And now, she's begging me for kindness?"

Ashley closed her eyes, her heart crumbling into dust.

There was no kindness left for her.

No love.

Only pain.

Izaiah had once stood by and watched as Ashley tumbled onto the jagged edge of a rock, her face slashed open, blood streaming down her cheeks. She had cried out for help, only for him to shove her into a dark, locked room. Without medical attention, the wound scarred her permanently.

But even in her worst moments, Ashley knew one thing-she had never ordered anyone to hurt Katelynn. And yet, Katelynn had emerged from her ordeal as flawless as ever, untouched by scars, still the perfect, delicate beauty that Izaiah worshipped.

Ashley exhaled, her emotions deadened.

"Izaiah, I think... we should get a divorce."

The words left her lips like a final breath.

Izaiah stilled, his fingers hesitating on the buttons of his jacket. His dark eyes flickered toward her disheveled figure on the bed, an unreadable emotion flashing across his face before it was smothered by disdain.

"What did you just say?" His voice was sharp, edged with mockery.

Ashley forced herself to meet his gaze. "Divorce. Just like you wanted."

Pain lanced through her chest the moment she said it, a needle stabbing into her heart.

A slow, cruel smirk twisted Izaiah's lips before he grabbed her and yanked her off the bed. She crashed onto the freezing hardwood floor, her skin burning from the impact.

"You really think you can come and go as you please?" he sneered, his grip tightening around her wrist. "You think you have a choice? You're mine, Ashley. For life."

His voice was low, threatening, each syllable dripping with venom.

Ashley barely heard him over the ringing in her ears. A sharp sting spread across her abdomen as she scraped against the floor, her skin splitting open. Blood trickled down her legs, leaving stark red trails against her pale skin.

Izaiah's gaze darkened when he saw the crimson pooling beneath her. His fingertips twitched at his sides. But before anything else could happen, a soft, high-pitched ringtone filled the silence.

That sound.

Ashley's stomach twisted violently.

That cursed ringtone. The one he had set exclusively for Katelynn. The one that had haunted her for years, marking every moment before Izaiah turned crueler, colder.

Ashley didn't need to guess-she knew Katelynn had said something to trigger this. She always did.

Izaiah's gaze flicked toward her, his expression unreadable. Then he scoffed. "Jealous of Katelynn again? You'll never touch her, Ashley. Not as long as I'm alive."

Without sparing her another glance, he picked up his phone and pressed the speaker button.

"Izaiah, please, come quick!" a woman's frantic voice filled the room. "Katelynn-she's not eating, she's self-harming again! I don't know what to do! Katelynn, put down the knife! Please!"

Cold sweat beaded on Izaiah's forehead. "I'm on my way."

Ashley's heart plummeted.

It had always been like this.

She had spent years swallowing her pain, hiding her suffering in silence. But today, the doctors had given her a death sentence-stomach cancer. Less than a year to live.

And still, even as she was dying, he wouldn't stay.

Her vision blurred with rage, desperation. No. No, he couldn't leave her like this.

Ignoring the burning pain in her leg, she lurched to her feet and ran after him, a blanket slipping from her grasp.

"Izaiah!" she cried, stumbling forward.

He got into his car, slammed the door shut with a deafening bang, and sped down the driveway.

Ashley chased after him, her breath ragged, her bare feet pounding against the cold pavement. But how could she possibly outrun him? How could she ever catch up?

Her body gave out, collapsing onto the rain-soaked ground. She barely felt the icy water seep into her skin. Her vision swam as she watched the taillights disappear down the road.

"Izaiah..." Her voice was barely a whisper now. "Why do you treat me like this?"

The rain fell harder, blurring the world around her. The distant roar of an engine, the splash of tires against water-it all felt like a cruel symphony of abandonment.

Izaiah rolled down the window, watching her silhouette in the rearview mirror.

That eerie, frail figure waving her hands in the storm.

He clenched his jaw, shaking his head.

This was what she deserved. A woman like Ashley-manipulative, vile-could never be trusted. He refused to believe anything else.

Still...

Why did his chest ache?

Why did something inside him twist painfully at the sight of her crumpled form in the rain?

No.

He cranked up the speed, his grip tightening on the wheel.

He had something far more important to take care of.

Katelynn.

The memory struck him like a blade. That stormy night. The frantic phone call. The moment he burst into Katelynn's bedroom to find her bound, broken, and sobbing.

She had been brutalized. Ravaged. Stripped of everything but her pain.

And she had refused to name her attacker.

For the longest time, Izaiah had believed her silence was out of fear.

But then the truth unraveled itself, thread by thread.

Surveillance footage. Witness accounts. A confession from one of the perpetrators.

All of it led to the same name.

Ashley.

Ashley Flores.

The woman who had claimed to love him. The woman who had sworn her loyalty.

And yet, she had orchestrated the worst kind of suffering for an innocent girl.

Izaiah's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his nails digging into his palm.

A woman like that didn't deserve mercy.

She deserved to lose everything-her love, her life, her hope.

She deserved to drown in the same misery she had inflicted on Katelynn.

And he was going to make sure of it.

At Katelynn's house, the tension was suffocating.

The grand mansion was ablaze with lights, but there was nothing warm about the atmosphere inside.

"Mr. Izaiah will be here soon!" Connor, Katelynn's personal attendant, reassured anxiously. "I-I don't think Miss Katelynn is really going to-"

Anna, Katelynn's mother, turned to him with a sharp glare. "Shut up. Or I'll have Izaiah fire you."

Connor swallowed hard, resuming his cleaning in silence.

A moment later, the front door swung open.

Izaiah stepped inside, his presence commanding, his expression unreadable.

Anna's gaze met his, a flicker of unease passing through her eyes.

"She won't come out of her room," she sighed, feigning distress. "Please, go talk to her."

Without hesitation, Izaiah took the stairs two at a time, knocking gently on the door.

"Kathy?" His voice softened. "I'm here now. Everything's going to be okay. Open up, let me see you."

The door creaked open.

And then Katelynn was in his arms, trembling.

"Izaiah..." Her voice was weak, laced with fear. "I-I remembered everything again. I thought... I thought Ashley wouldn't let you come."

Her name was venom on Katelynn's lips.

Her face was streaked with tears, her usually perfect features marred by swollen eyes and smudged mascara. She looked fragile. Devastated.

Izaiah held her tighter, his expression hardening.

"Ashley will never hurt you again," he whispered darkly.

She wouldn't even get the chance.

Not if he had anything to do with it.

"Izaiah..." Katelynn twisted her fingers, her reddened eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She pouted, but no words left her lips.

Izaiah reached out, gently wiping the tear streaks from her face. His voice softened. "Let's eat."

"Alright," she murmured, nodding obediently. "I've been doing well lately, so don't worry."

She looked every bit the fragile, helpless girl, clinging to the one man who constantly worried about her. To an outsider, they would seem like a perfectly loving couple.

Anna, watching the exchange, gave her daughter a subtle glance before setting down a steaming bowl of chicken soup. She ladled some into Katelynn's bowl, her expression carefully neutral.

Izaiah sat beside Katelynn, his gaze filled with affection as he watched her. But just as he reached for his spoon, his expression darkened. "Has that woman been bothering you lately?"

At the mere mention of Ashley, his voice turned cold, thick with hatred.

Katelynn hesitated, lowering her gaze. "No... Why would Ashley care about someone like me? I..." Her long lashes fluttered, and suddenly, a tear slipped from her eye, plopping into the bowl of sweet soup.

Anna stiffened at the sight, then quickly turned toward Connor, signaling him. Understanding the unspoken cue, Connor cleared his throat and hesitantly said, "Miss... didn't that day-"

He stopped short, leaving just enough unsaid to stir Izaiah's imagination.

Katelynn lifted her eyes, her delicate features shadowed by sorrow. Her lips trembled as her eyes welled up again.

Izaiah's jaw clenched. His face turned pale with anger. "Ashley came here to harass you?"

Katelynn immediately shook her head. "No! No one did! It's my fault... I don't blame anyone else."

But her voice wavered, her frail form trembling. Izaiah saw the struggle in her eyes, the pain she tried so desperately to hide.

His anger erupted. "That vile woman! She never stops!"

The room fell into a tense silence.

Then, in a sudden, jarring movement, Katelynn reached behind her and grabbed a fruit knife, pressing it against her wrist.

Anna gasped. "Katelynn, no!"

But before she could act, Izaiah lunged, wrenching the knife from Katelynn's grip and hurling it to the floor. The sharp clang echoed through the dining room.

Katelynn stood frozen, her body trembling as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.

"I... I don't want to ruin things between you and her," she whispered, voice shaking. "Even though we... love each other, she's still your wife. I... I'm just the other woman." She swallowed hard, her sobs breaking through. "I can't live like this anymore... If Ashley finds out, I-"

Her voice cracked, and she covered her face with her hands, shoulders shaking violently.

Izaiah's grip tightened into a fist. His veins pulsed with fury.

Katelynn reached up and suddenly slapped herself across the face.

"I'm sorry!" she cried. "It's not Ashley's fault!"

Izaiah caught her wrist mid-air, his grip ironclad. His voice was sharp, commanding. "Enough!"

Ashley? How dare she even think she could still stand against him?

"That despicable woman," he spat.

Without another word, Katelynn pushed away from the table and fled to her room, disappearing behind the door.

Anna sighed, stepping forward hesitantly. "You know how fragile Katelynn is," she said sorrowfully. "She can't handle being slandered like this..."

Izaiah's cold gaze swept over her, his chest still heaving with rage. Without another word, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the house.

Slander? That wretched woman planned to frame Katelynn again? No, he wouldn't allow it.

He needed to protect Katelynn, to move her somewhere safer. But before that, Ashley needed to be taught a lesson.

Yet, what Izaiah did not expect-what he could never have anticipated-was Ashley's disappearance.

Why did she, a woman like her, dare to slip out of his sight without making a sound? Did she think this was a hotel?

Light from the house streamed out as usual, and Izaiah dashed inside, but he couldn't find Ashley anywhere.

The usual lights, the sofa, the TV wall, the sofa wall, the blue chandelier... it seemed to be missing something...

That woman, that woman didn't even wait for him today. A smirk appeared at the corner of Izaiah's mouth. In the past, no matter how late he came home, that woman would always curl up on the sofa, quietly waiting for him to have a late-night meal. But today, he didn't see her at all.

Indeed, she couldn't pretend any longer.

Fine, he would let her experience the taste of being humiliated and bruised all over her body later.

Izaiah was starting to feel tired. He changed his shoes, took a bath, but there was still no sight of Ashley, and her voice couldn't be heard either.

It seemed... she was really not home.

A sudden fury erupted in Izaiah's heart. Hastily wrapping his bath towel around himself and slipping his shoes on without care, he searched from the bedroom to the guest room, from the closet, even to the basement... every corner where a person could hide was turned upside down, and he still couldn't find her.

Unable to find her, Izaiah's anger grew. This woman, her performance tonight was infuriating!

He tried to calm down, forcing a smile on his lips, though his expression was far from pleasant.

This woman's heart was growing more wild, doing as she pleased.

Good.

Leaving, are you? Then don't bother coming back.

Izaiah bolted the front door and even locked his bedroom securely before turning in for the night.

Without Ashley's nightly declaration of love before bed, without her scent, without her nauseating words, Izaiah found himself sleeping particularly well - better than he had ever slept before. Except for a faint sense of loss when he woke abruptly, and except for the icy cold temperature of his bed linens.

The next day, Izaiah woke up not knowing how long he had slept.

His eyes still held traces of sleep as he reached for his cellphone. To his surprise, it was almost eleven o'clock.

"Ashley, are you courting death?!" Izaiah shouted habitually towards the doorway. If it was like before, Ashley would always bring him a glass of milk, with a disgustingly dutiful look as though she were a good wife and mother.

Damn it, why didn't that woman wake him up today?

He cursed inwardly as he snapped back to reality. Ashley had disappeared last night. After declaring that she wanted a divorce, she was gone.

He wouldn't believe it. He simply wouldn't believe this woman could escape from his control. In no time, Ashley would beg him to return to her, to give her a little love, and yes, even to keep her.

Ashley, that despicable woman.

It was better without her. There would no longer be anyone to trouble him.

Izaiah went to his company as usual. After all, he was the CEO of Flores Enterprise. What if he was late? Who dared to question his being late?

From being an insignificant nobody to become the president of such a big company like Flores, There was no one in New York who would not envy him. They would be more envious of the fact that he had married the Flores' beautiful daughter, he had become a winner in life at a young age. However, life was not always so simple and perfect.

Izaiah laughed bitterly, adjusted the tie around his neck and strode into the company.

"Ashley, the company is still in my hands. Where can you run off to?"

With familiar greetings in the background, Izaiah walked expressionlessly into his office. As soon as he sat down, however, the door was pushed open again.

Joey said, "Good day, Mr President."

Joey is a thorough "badass", the heir to the Gomez's Corporation. He has spent his entire childhood with Izaiah, and because of that, their relationship waxed quite strong till date. Despite being indifferent towards his family assets, Joey spends every day sucking up to Izaiah.

Izaiah glanced at Joey and asked, "What's up?"

Shaking off his joking demeanor, Joey threw a stack of documents at Izaiah, saying, "These are some psychological analyses regarding mental illness. You should take a look. I believe that Katelynn's condition is actually quite normal..."

Izaiah glared at Joey who wisely chose to shut his mouth.

Ashley is after all, Izaiah's wife in name. All high society was present for their wedding, and they all knew about their relationship.

Of course, there were also those who knew that Ashley did not seem to get along with Izaiah.

However, almost no one knew about Izaiah's relationship with Katelynn. The psychologically "fragile" Katelynn was terrified of rumors, so Izaiah seldom appeared with her alone, let alone allowing others to know of their relationship.

Joey thought for a moment and said, "Is Ashley becoming jealous because you care so much about 'Katelynn'..."

"Shut up," Izaiah replied without even raising his head.

"Ah, it's such a world of contradictions, filled with affection yet so merciless!" Joey lamented.

Izaiah glared at Joey a few times. Picking up a few files, he threw them at Joey and said coldly, "You've got too much free time, huh? Get your things done first before saying anything else, and go find some more work to do."

Joey wisely took the files and slipped away.

Izaiah rubbed his temples, feeling a slight headache.

Over the years, he had sought advice from many well-known psychologists both locally and internationally, even the authoritative experts in the field were helpless regarding Katelynn's condition.

But he had never given up. He had Joey reach out, and gathered information from numerous psychologists.

Izaiah flipped through some documents, then dialed the number of a psychologist, scheduling a suitable time for a therapy session to take place at Katelynn's house.

As customary, Izaiah had lunch in a high-class restaurant where he had his private room, and the food he dined on were all exquisite delicacies.

Joey came running in to mooch off Izaiah's food, sidling up to him and peering at Izaiah's phone as he ate.

"Shoo, don't disturb me. Go eat in your own place. Aren't the folks at your house feeding you enough?" Izaiah said disdainfully, pushing Joey away.

Joey gave another glance at Izaiah's phone, saying, "Haven't you seen the trending news? I bet the women behind you are ready to pounce and kidnap you."

Izaiah threw his fork on the table, asking, "What are you saying?"

"Paparazzi revealed that CEO Izaiah Conway drove out to a suburban mansion on a late-night rendezvous with a lady. There are even photos, and that mansion is under CEO Conway's name," Joey leaned in closer, a mysterious smile on his face, "When did you buy this house? Even I didn't know about it. A golden nest for a lovebird?"

Izaiah's expression grew increasingly livid. He neither admitted nor denied, saying instead, "Find out who did this. I'm giving you half a day. It shouldn't be too complicated to find out. A common journalist wouldn't dare to expose me."

There was a trace of darkness in Izaiah's eyes.

To give Katelynn a peaceful and scandal free environment, he had spent a significant amount of money each month on privacy measures. He hadn't expected some paparazzi to find the tiniest clues.

Izaiah was recalling the location where he was photographed when Joey leaned in again, saying, "Oh, Ashley hasn't called yet. Has she already given up on you?"

"Get lost! Say any more, and I'll have you clean up this mess!"

Joey fell silent.

Izaiah didn't pick up his fork again, looking at the quiet phone lying to the side. This woman, truly strange. If it had been before, she would have already bombarded him with countless calls.

This woman, why the sudden change of heart and increased temper? Izaiah sneered, he was just waiting for her to come begging to him.

"Joey, you don't seem to have much going on these days, how about coming with me to unwind tonight? What do you say?"

"Sounds good. If Isaiah Conway makes the offer, why not?" Joey replied while enjoying his food, "But where are we going to have fun?"

"Peach Temptation." A hint of smugness showed on Izaiah's face. Ashley, such a pretentious woman who knew how to put on an act, maybe she couldn't stand seeing the man she loved betraying her. If she could put up with the trending search, then he could add a bit of juicy news.

Peach Temptation, not many people knew this club, only the very wealthy could afford to spend here. The women here, they were all curvy and sexy, with money, they could be made to do anything.

This was also the most luxurious club in New York. Many wealthy people would choose to conduct business here during the day, and find a few beauties to have fun with at night. They could play however they wanted, which was simply the height of pleasure.

To put it plainly, this was a place for men to have fun.

On the day Izaiah got married to Ashley, he had also spent the night here. He didn't want to give Ashley the satisfaction of having a perfect wedding night. That was when news of his discord with Ashley soon got out.

Thinking about this marriage made him feel it was ludicrous. He lifted his wine glass and took a light sip, his eyes full of contempt.

"Boss"

A seductive voice came from his side, Izaiah hooked his lips, and his laughter was particularly hearty.

Indeed, days without Ashley were refreshing.

The woman in his arms was wearing a super short skirt, leaning against him with a coquettish smile. Her heavy makeup and intense fragrance were somewhat overpowering. Seeing that he had no intention of refusing, she sat directly next to him.

The lights in the private room were dim, flashing with a sense of decadence and debauchery, manifesting in colors of wine and green.

Holding his wine glass, Joey was both enjoying the woman's flirtations and lost in thought. He couldn't help but wonder, if Ashley were to suddenly appear here, that would be quite a show.

Izaiah glanced at Joey, planning to go to the restroom to wash his face and sober up. He didn't intend to get entangled with these women till the next day. He stood up and walked straight out.

"Mr. Izaiah wait for me. What's the rush? I'm not done enjoying myself yet." The woman jogged to catch up.

Really? He's leaving already?

When Joey heard the woman's soft voice, he felt goosebumps all over and kindly warned, "Izaiah remember to cover your tracks this time. We don't need another news headline..."

The door slammed shut with a "bang", and Izaiah had already left.

A provocatively dressed beauty clung to Izaiah. As he was pushing away this nauseating woman, he never expected to meet an acquaintance here - Scott Murray

Without a single word, Scott hurled a fierce punch.

With lightning reflexes, Izaiah dodged, narrowly avoiding a punch to his head. Despite that, Scott's punch hit thin air. Nevertheless, his face darkened immediately.

Upon seeing the handsome and rugged face, Izaiah said "Scott, are you out of your mind?"

Many years ago, when Izaiah was an orphan, he was adopted by the Flores' Seeing his exceptional brilliance, they let him be a study companion to Ashley. Back then, Scott always liked to follow Ashley. Later, he frequented the Flores' house to meet Ashley. Now thinking about it, those times feel like a past life.