Delete My Billionaire Husband

Chapter 3

Annabelle Whitmore suddenly clutched her chest, her slender fingers gripping the fabric of her blouse. Her breathing grew ragged, and a sheen of sweat broke out on her temples.

"Annabelle!" Sebastian Kingsley rushed forward, catching her swaying figure. Panic flooded his eyes, his voice trembling. "What's wrong? I'll call an ambulance!"

She watched him fumble for his phone, her lips twisting into a bitter smile. This man, who looked on the verge of tears over her, was the same one who—

"No need," she pushed his hand away. "Just a stomachache."

Sebastian immediately knelt, his warm palm pressing gently against her abdomen. "Did you skip meals again?" His voice was thick with concern. "I'll make you some noodles."

As she watched him hurry to the kitchen, her nails dug into her palms.

Twenty minutes later, he returned with a steaming bowl of clear broth noodles. A golden fried egg lay atop the strands, garnished with fresh scallions—her favorite combination.

"Eat slowly," he murmured, carefully blowing on the broth as if handling something fragile.

Annabelle ate mechanically. The flavor that once brought her so much joy now tasted like ash.

"Annabelle," he suddenly took her hand, "next month is our anniversary. I booked a trip to the Maldives—"

"Sebastian," she cut him off. "Do you remember what you said when you proposed?"

He paused, then smiled tenderly. "Of course. I promised to love only you for the rest of my life, or else—"

"Be struck by lightning?" She let out a hollow laugh, her eyes icy.

His phone buzzed abruptly. The moment he saw the caller ID, his expression stiffened.

"Answer it," she said flatly.

A sweet, girlish voice rang through the quiet car. Sebastian quickly ended the call, beads of sweat forming at his temples.

"It's urgent. Let me take you home first—"

"No need." She opened the car door. "I'll go back myself."

In the taxi, Annabelle kept her eyes locked on the black Maybach ahead. When it turned into an unfamiliar gated community, her blood ran cold.

The moment Sebastian stepped out, a young woman in a pink sundress threw herself into his arms. Rising on her toes, she whispered something in his ear. He chuckled, pinched her cheek, and they disappeared into the villa together.

Standing in the rain, Annabelle watched the silhouettes merge behind the second-floor curtains. Cold droplets mixed with tears as she remembered their wedding night, when he'd slid the ring onto her finger with trembling hands and whispered, "Annabelle, I’ll always be yours."

Back at their villa, she went straight to the safe. Her hands shook as she pulled out the Adoration diamond ring—worth millions, custom-made with his first fortune, their initials engraved inside.

"Hello, I'd like to donate some jewelry," she said into the phone, her voice eerily calm. "Yes, liquidate everything for legal aid funding."

As she packed her suitcase, the bedroom door flew open. Sebastian stood there, drenched, clutching the donation confirmation, his face deathly pale.

"Why?" His voice was raw. "That was our—"

Annabelle zipped her luggage shut and met his gaze, her eyes devoid of emotion.

"Because it's tainted."