I'm the Obsession of My Cold-Hearted Ex Free Preview

"Easton, your precious wife is in my hands. Prepare five billion dollars and transfer it to my account. If you don't, you’ll be dealing with her corpse in 24 hours!"

A harsh male voice came through the phone, causing Easton to frown in annoyance.

He didn’t recognize the caller, but they were using Ellis’ phone number.

Lately, Ellis had been trying various tricks to get his attention after their recent argument. This was likely another one of her plots.

Easton had only answered the call by accident, his finger slipping and hitting the answer button.

"Tell Ellis that whether she’s alive or dead is of no concern to me. She should stop these silly games."

He hung up immediately and returned to his work.

Meanwhile, in a dark, isolated warehouse, Nolan, his face twisted in frustration, glared at Ellis, who was bound and unable to move.

With the phone on speaker, Ellis heard Easton’s response clearly.

A cold sense of hopelessness washed over her, and the prayers she had been holding onto now seemed like a cruel joke.

Nolan had kidnapped her, hoping to extort money from Easton. Trembling in fear, she had been praying that Easton would come to her rescue. But instead, Easton didn’t care about her safety, assuming she had orchestrated the whole thing.

Nolan, enraged by his failed attempt, angrily threw the phone aside.

Just then, the door swung open. Nolan glanced over as two men entered, hauling a human-sized sack.

Ellis' attention was also drawn to it.

Did Nolan kidnap someone else too?

"Nolan, we’ve brought the person!" the two men announced, approaching him excitedly.

"Well done!" Nolan nodded approvingly at his men’s work.

Luckily, I had a backup plan. Otherwise, the whole effort would have been pointless.

Nolan directed his men to take the person out of the bag.

When the person was finally revealed, Ellis’s eyes widened in astonishment.

It was Victoria!

That woman was someone Ellis would recognize even if she were turned to dust.

She couldn’t deny that Victoria’s presence made her feel uneasy.

After all, in Stonebridge’s elite circles, everyone knew that Victoria was Easton’s first love.

The two had been close since childhood and had even been engaged. If Easton hadn’t lost the brutal heir competition in the Hudson family and if Victoria’s parents hadn’t called off the engagement and sent her abroad, Ellis would never have had a chance to become Mrs. Hudson.

Now that Victoria was here, Ellis couldn't help but wonder.

When did Victoria return to the country? Had she been in touch with Easton? Was Easton's recent cold attitude toward her because of Victoria?

As Victoria finally freed herself from the bag and was about to struggle, she noticed Ellis, and her panic immediately turned into disdain and contempt.

At that moment, Nolan grabbed Victoria’s phone from her handbag.

Forcing her to unlock it, he quickly found Easton’s number in her contacts.

The call history revealed that the two had been calling each other frequently.

So, it was true. Victoria still held a special place in Easton’s heart.

Nolan let out a pleased chuckle.

He felt relieved that he had prepared a backup plan and didn’t rely solely on Ellis.

After dialing, Nolan ripped the tape from Victoria’s mouth and motioned for her to speak.

Victoria had realized she’d been kidnapped, but she hadn’t expected the kidnappers to contact Easton rather than her family.

"Easton, I’ve been kidnapped! Help me!" she cried.

Just as Easton hung up the earlier call, his phone rang again. Assuming it was Ellis, he nearly ignored it, but then he noticed it was Victoria calling.

Hearing her cry for help, he frowned. "What’s happened? What’s going on?" he asked.

Learning from his earlier experience, Nolan chose not to speak right away. Instead, he struck Victoria hard across the face.

The loud slap echoed in Easton's ear, and he heard it distinctly.

He quickly set aside his paperwork, his attention fully captured by the call. “Is the one hitting you the kidnapper? Let him talk!”

“Mr. Easton, don’t be surprised. It’s me again!” Nolan grabbed Victoria’s chin. “Your wife may not be worth much, but your beloved surely holds some value, right?”

Initially, Ellis was confused about why Nolan had taken both her and Victoria, but as Nolan continued to ask Easton for money, a glimmer of hope rose within her.

Surely, Easton would realize she was genuinely in danger and would come to save her.

“Five billion? Send me your account number,” Easton stated, his demeanor shifting as he caught the key point.

“No, no, no! The price has increased. Your beloved must be worth at least ten billion.” Alan tightened his grip, making Victoria scream in pain. “Did you catch that? If you don’t hurry, your beautiful darling might just...”

Nolan paused deliberately before concluding, “Be abused and killed.”

“Don’t harm her! I will transfer the money immediately,” came Easton’s frantic voice.

Ellis’s faint hope and expectations were completely shattered in that instant. Her entire body went cold as blood drained from her face.

Easton believed the kidnapping involved both her and Victoria, yet he didn't care about her at all. He didn't even mention her name; all his focus was on Victoria.

“If you harm her, I will find you no matter where you hide and tear you apart! I will make sure you pay the price!”

His voice remained calm, filled with confidence, with no trace of panic.

Ellis felt her heart shatter into pieces in that instant.

She realized she had never truly mattered to him. Despite being his wife for three years, she was no match for his ex-fiancée.

Though both were kidnapped, Easton ignored her entirely. He quickly agreed to the ransom, concerned only for Victoria, while she felt like nothing more than a joke.

Once the call ended, Nolan wasted no time in sending over the payment details.

During the wait, Victoria carried herself with the arrogance of a wealthy heiress, negotiating with the kidnappers. As long as she was unharmed, she assured them that in addition to Easton’s money, the Brooks family would also give them a large sum.

Driven by greed, the kidnappers turned their attention to extorting the Brooks family.

Meanwhile, Ellis stayed unnaturally quiet.

On the outside, she seemed calm, but inside her spirit had already crumbled.

Half an hour later, after receiving both payments, Nolan signaled his accomplice to proceed.

The man grabbed a club they had prepared in advance.

Ellis, seeing the man standing behind her with the club raised, was overtaken by terror. In a trembling voice, she barely managed to speak, “Are you going to kill me?”

Before she could finish, a heavy blow hit the back of her head.

Ellis woke up an unknown amount of time later, her head pounding with pain.

It was pitch-black around her, with a horrible stench in the air.

Was I dead?

Shaking in fear, Ellis moved her hands and realized they were still tied up, confirming she was still alive.

As her vision adjusted to the darkness, she saw that the kidnappers and Victoria were nowhere in sight.

What was going on?

At that moment, a glaring light suddenly flickered on.

“Mrs. Hudson is here!”

Who said that? Has Easton finally come to rescue me?

Ellis, filled with hope, tried to stand but couldn’t due to her bound hands and feet.

Seeing her struggle, the man holding the flashlight rushed over, helping her up and asking, “Mrs. Hudson, are you alright?”

“My head hurts,” Ellis replied. She didn’t recognize the man, but since he addressed her as Mrs. Hudson and untied her, she assumed he was here to rescue her. “Are you one of Easton’s men? Is Easton here? Where is he?”

“I’m Mr. Easton’s bodyguard. He’s here, he... he’s…”

The bodyguard’s hesitation made Ellis uneasy.

“What happened? Did he get hurt fighting the kidnappers?” She asked, her worry growing.

“Uh, Mr. Easton is outside. Let me help you out.”

The man’s reluctance to answer made Ellis frown.

As they stepped out of the abandoned warehouse, Ellis saw an open field with many parked cars. A black Bugatti with the license plate A999999 stood out. It was Easton’s most frequently used vehicle.

“Is Easton in the car?” she asked.

Before she could get a response, her eyes were drawn to a couple standing not far away.

It was Easton and Victoria, locked in an embrace!

Victoria had her head nestled in Easton’s chest, her arms clinging to him.

Easton stood there, his lips moving as he spoke to her. His normally cold expression was softened by the night, filled with a rare tenderness. They looked like a couple deeply in love, with Easton soothing his scared lover.

Around them were police officers, doctors, and members of the Brooks family, all looking concerned.

The scene hit Ellis with unbearable force, shattering her fragile hope.

Easton might have overlooked me, but in the end, he showed up to save me. Maybe he cared about me just a little, right?

But the brutal reality was clear.

Easton hadn’t come for her at all. She was merely an afterthought, an extra in his rescue mission for Victoria.

From the start, she had only been Mrs. Hudson in name, never truly in Easton’s heart.

It was obvious who Easton truly loved.

Ellis’s heart felt as though it was being slashed to pieces, and tears shimmered in her eyes.

The bodyguard holding Ellis noticed her reaction and understood why she felt this way.

After all, Ellis was Easton’s rightful wife, Mrs. Hudson. Yet Mr. Easton was holding another woman, paying no attention to his wife at all. How could she not be affected? It was only natural for her to feel devastated.

The bodyguard quickly stepped in to distract her. “Mrs. Hudson, just wait here. I’ll call the doctor to check on you.”

But Ellis didn’t hear his words. Her mind was flooded with a single thought.

Both Victoria and I were kidnapped, yet all the care and focus were directed toward Victoria. What was left for me?

No, she had to ask herself this crucial question.

What did I mean to him?Was I nothing more than the third wheel, disrupting the reunion between him and Victoria?Easton didn’t love me; that was painfully clear now. His first love, Victoria, had returned, and with Easton now firmly positioned as the Hudson family’s heir, having doubled the family’s fortune, what was left to keep him with me? The Brooks family couldn’t hope for a better son-in-law. Surely, divorce was the next step, and Easton would rekindle his relationship with Victoria.

Jackson, standing beside Easton and Victoria, noticed Ellis standing frozen in place.

He glanced at Victoria, who was sobbing in Easton’s arms, and then addressed Easton, “Mr. Easton, Mrs. Hudson has been found.”

Upon hearing that, Victoria’s eyes swept across the area.

Ellis stood still, her eyes fixed on Easton and Victoria, like a statue caught in place.

Victoria’s lips curved in a subtle, almost imperceptible smile before she held onto Easton even tighter, her voice soft and trembling with feigned fear. “Easton, those kidnappers were so frightening. They dragged me here, and if it weren’t for you,

Before she could finish, her body stumbled. Easton had already pushed her aside.

Victoria was shocked to see Easton remove his jacket and hand it to Jackson. With a frown, Easton said, “Throw it away.”

In this desolate place, any spot could serve as a trash can, so Jackson decided to walk a little farther to dispose of it.

Once Jackson moved aside, Easton’s gaze finally met Ellis’s.

Her long, black curls were slightly tousled, and her slender body seemed frail in the wind. Clearly shaken, her usual bright expression had disappeared, leaving her with a pale, blank stare.

“Are you okay?”

Easton’s question was casual, as if it didn’t matter much to him, as he approached.

Ellis let out a bitter laugh. “I’m not dead yet.”

Easton looked her over.

There were no obvious injuries to her.

Meanwhile, the two doctors he had brought with him were being pulled by the Brooks family to attend to Victoria.

“Once the doctors finish with Victoria, they’ll check on you.”

Ellis had always been strong, and Easton expected her to recover quickly. Unlike Victoria, Ellis wasn’t the type to break easily. In fact, he assumed that now that he’d spoken to her, she’d come rushing to him for comfort, just like she always did.

But things didn’t go as Easton expected.

Instead, Ellis spoke slowly and clearly. “Let’s get a divorce.”

Today’s events had shown her that holding on to her sad and hopeless fantasies was pointless.

She had loved Easton in secret for four years, spent two years fighting to be his wife, and had been married to him for three years. Ten years wasted on someone who saw her as nothing more than a stranger.

There was no future for them.

Instead of living in constant fear that Easton would divorce her one day, she decided it was better to end it herself.

As her words settled, Easton frowned deeply.

“Divorce? What kind of nonsense is this? Is this all because I didn’t believe the kidnappers on the first call?” His tone was sharp, almost mocking, as if her request for a divorce was some kind of bad joke.

“I’m not kidding! I want a divorce!” Ellis’s voice was firm, filled with resolve.

“Stop being ridiculous! If you’re thinking clearly, give your statement to the police first. The kidnappers haven’t been caught yet.” Easton dismissed her words, clearly not taking her seriously.

He assumed he had a good grasp of who Ellis was.

She was my aunt’s adopted daughter, driven by vanity and greed, someone who had desperately wanted to become part of the Hudson family. She had schemed and plotted her way into my life, even seducing me to become Mrs. Hudson. Given how much she had sacrificed to achieve that position, there was no way she would walk away from it lightly. She was probably just throwing a tantrum. If I agreed to divorce, she’d regret it and cause a bigger scene later.

As Ellis stared at him, she realized just how pitiful her situation had become.

He didn’t even bother to hide his relationship with Victoria anymore. He flaunted it openly, without concern. No one defended her; they acted like it wasn’t happening. Being Mrs. Hudson was meaningless.

“Easton, you…”

Sorrow and anger collided in her voice, causing it to rise.

But before she could finish, her vision went dark, and she collapsed.

Ellis’s body collapsed, but Easton caught her before she hit the ground. “Ellis, are you feeling alright?”

There was no response; her eyes closed.

Had she fainted?

Easton called out urgently, “Doctor, over here!”

The doctors, following Easton’s command, rushed over.

Left standing alone, Victoria pouted in dissatisfaction as she watched them hurry away.

Victoria remembered being in Easton’s arms just moments ago. His patience had run out as he said, “Let go; I need to find someone.”

She managed to keep her expression neutral, but inwardly she was irritated, especially as she noticed Easton holding Ellis. She cast a discreet, resentful glance at Ellis.

Jackson, who had recently disposed of Easton’s jacket, hurriedly made his way over as Easton’s faithful right-hand man.

“Mr. Easton, it looks like Mrs. Hudson passed out. The medical team doesn’t have sufficient equipment for a proper examination. For her safety, we should transfer her to...”

Before he could finish, Easton’s sharp glare stopped him in his tracks. Easton’s eyes flashed with irritation, silencing him. With no further words, Easton carried Ellis towards the ambulance.

Jackson was left to handle the remaining responsibilities. As Easton’s assistant, he was used to stepping in like this. The captured men were just serving as decoys meant to slow down any rescue efforts while the main culprits made their getaway. Finding the main culprits was now the priority. Jackson, watching Easton leave, resigned himself to the upcoming challenges.

……

When Ellis woke again, she found herself in a hospital room. It was empty except for the sterile hum of medical equipment. She pulled off the oxygen tubes and sat up slowly, her head spinning with disjointed thoughts.

In her confusion, she imagined Easton by her side, smiling at her tenderly and saying, “Darling, you’re finally awake.”

But sadly, it was only a fantasy.

Easton had never shown her such warmth, nor would he ever call her "Darling." He always spoke to her in a distant, formal way, often using her full name or, worse, not addressing her at all.

Even though she had decided to divorce him, she couldn’t deny that deep down, she still harbored expectations for him. She longed to wake up and see him by her side, caring for her.

But he wasn’t there.

Where had he gone? Was he with Victoria?

That thought sent a painful wave through her, and Ellis couldn’t suppress her disappointment. She slowly wrapped her arms around her knees and buried her head.

When Maya arrived to visit her, she found Ellis sitting there, all alone and engulfed in sorrow. It was a scene that would make her heartache.

"Ellis, thank goodness you're finally awake." Maya walked over and gently nudged her shoulder.

Just hearing the voice, Ellis knew it was her best friend, Maya.

Ellis sniffled and lifted her head. "Maya."

The moment Ellis raised her head, Maya saw the tearstains all over her face, and her voice was choked with sobs. Initially startled, Maya quickly realized this was a normal reaction.

Who wouldn’t be shaken after being kidnapped and unconscious for a day?

It was a relief she hadn’t developed PTSD!

Maya patted her back soothingly, like comforting a child. "It’s okay; you’re safe now. You've been rescued, and the kidnappers have all been caught, and no one will harm you again."

"Yes, no one will harm me again," Ellis repeated faintly.

"How long have you been awake? Why is there no one here looking after you? Where’s your husband?"

Maya didn’t have the heart to push further.

For the past couple of days, word had spread in elite circles about the kidnapping of Ellis and Victoria. People were gossiping about their rescue and how much ransom Easton and the Brooks family had paid.

Maya was genuinely shocked at how cold-hearted Easton was, unwilling to pay the ransom for his wife. Yet for Victoria, he generously gave the kidnappers ten billion dollars while also working with the police to capture the kidnappers.

Before coming to the hospital, Maya had checked with Easton’s assistant and learned that Easton and Victoria were at the police station identifying the kidnappers.

It was obvious that Easton was deliberately accompanying Victoria.

Leaving his wife behind in the hospital to be with his former fiancée. What a shameless, heartless man!

Knowing how much her friend loved Easton, Maya held back her urge to badmouth him and sighed, "Do you even realize you’ve been unconscious for three days? I’ve been here every day, terrified that you wouldn’t wake up."

"Honestly, being unconscious sounds like a pretty good option," Ellis responded with a bitter, self-mocking smile.

"Don’t talk like that! Have you thought about how I’d feel? We’ve grown up together. Losing you would break my heart."

The two were as close as sisters, practically family. Hearing Ellis say such despairing things, Maya would have hit her, if not for the fact that Ellis was still physically weak.

"Maya, I need you to help me with something," Ellis said, her gaze serious.

"You’re not even fully recovered, and instead of focusing on getting better, you’re asking me for favors? What could I possibly help you with now?" Maya couldn’t understand why Ellis would need her help. After all, Ellis's status had significantly improved; she was no longer the girl that people could easily take advantage of.

"Draft me a divorce agreement."

"What?" Maya exclaimed, standing up in shock. "I’m a lawyer, yes, but why do you want me to draft that?"

"I’m divorcing Easton," Ellis said, her tone filled with determination.

“What?” Maya nearly shouted.

In normal circumstances, Maya was always the overachiever. Maya had always been that perfect child that everyone admired.

She excelled in academics, was accepted into a prestigious university, finished her law degree, passed the bar, and secured a position at Kingsley Attorneys.

Maya had handled even the most challenging cases with ease, never failing. Her intelligence was unshakable. But at this moment, her brain seemed to freeze, unable to comprehend what Ellis was saying.

Maya paced in front of Ellis, staring at her.

"Are you the same Ellis I know? Are you seriously telling me you want to divorce Easton? Did I hear that right? Have you lost your mind?" Maya couldn’t believe her ears. The idea that Ellis would ever talk about divorce seemed like a fantasy.

Maya knew how much Ellis had given and how much she had endured to marry Easton and finally take the title of Mrs. Hudson. No one understood better than her the struggles she endured just to marry Easton.

"I don't want to continue living in a marriage where my husband doesn't love me," Ellis said, her earlier sarcasm fading into sorrow. "If I don’t ask for a divorce, Easton will eventually do it himself. I don’t want to be the woman people mock, the wife discarded by her husband. I don’t want to be the laughingstock. I want to keep some dignity."

"Are you sure you’re ready to let him go?" Maya’s eyes drifted to Ellis’s stomach. "Just a few days ago, you were telling me you and Easton were planning to have a baby and that you were preparing for it."

Ellis had talked about wanting to have children with Easton, and the moment he heard it, his face had darkened visibly. Ellis, absorbed in her happiness, hadn’t noticed the shift in his demeanor.

Maya had always felt that Easton and Ellis were too different. Easton’s actions made it obvious his heart wasn’t with her, and Maya had often urged Ellis to move on. But Ellis had remained stubborn, fixated on him.

Recalling that conversation, Ellis lowered her head, concealing the pain in her eyes as her bitterness deepened.

"Bringing a child into a loveless marriage would only cause more harm. I’ve decided to spare myself and the child from the suffering."

"What finally pushed you to this decision?" Maya asked, not trying to press but needing to understand. "Was it because of the kidnapping?"

Ellis didn’t respond. Silent tears slid down her cheeks.

At that moment, her silence was all the answer Maya needed.

Maya couldn’t stand to see Ellis crying, so she gently dried her tears with a tissue, her voice filled with care. “Think about it; there are over thirty billion men in the world. Why cry over one heartless man who doesn’t love you?"

Ellis, finding solace, hugged Maya tightly and let her tears flow freely in her friend’s embrace.

Maya tried every way to comfort her, but nothing seemed to calm Ellis down.

In the end, Ellis cried herself to exhaustion and leaned on Maya for support, quietly resting.

Maya's heart ached for Ellis, igniting a powerful urge within her to take on Easton.

……

At the police station, the mastermind behind the kidnapping and his two accomplices were caught.

Once the victims identified them, they would cooperate with the police to document their statements, pushing the case toward prosecution. The officers were prepared for the identification process, observing the three bound criminals.

To everyone’s surprise, the leader of the kidnappers suddenly kneeled, tears streaming as he pleaded for forgiveness. “Mr. Easton, I made a terrible mistake by kidnapping Ms. Victoria. I beg for your mercy; since I didn’t harm her, can you please forgive me?”

Realizing his escape plan had failed, Nolan understood that seeking forgiveness could potentially lighten his sentence. Yet the police remained unimpressed by his desperation.

Nolan, the leader behind the scheme to extort Easton, was now more concerned with pleading for Easton's mercy than seeking forgiveness from the victim.

Easton’s influence reached far beyond Stonebridge, extending across the country and even internationally. His power came from his position as the head of Hudson Group, a vast corporation involved in numerous fields.

Before gaining control of Hudson Group, Easton had mercilessly dealt with any family members who competed for the inheritance. After securing his position, business rivals found themselves at the mercy of his ruthless tactics, leaving no room for competition.

Nolan, once a wealthy man, had fallen into financial ruin and now lived in poverty, constantly borrowing money. His decision to target someone associated with Easton was a grave mistake. With just a nod from Easton, plenty of people would gladly handle someone as foolish as Nolan.

“Forgive you? How absurd.”

Easton’s short, cold laugh was followed by a sharp, chilling glare.

Nolan, who had previously been so brazen, now kneeled in fear, his arrogance shattered.

Bowing over and over, he mumbled nervously, insisting that despite taking two hostages, he knew exactly which one he couldn’t afford to touch.