Reborn Heiress: I Dumped My Gold-Digging Husband for a Billionaire

With trembling hands, I grabbed the phone on my nightstand and lit up the screen. The date was screaming at me—ten years ago! I had traveled back in time! I was reborn! Back to the days before I married that scumbag, Ethan! Just then, there was a knock on my bedroom door. Our housekeeper, Martha, called out from the hallway: "Miss Chloe, are you awake? Ethan is downstairs making a scene. He says it's urgent." Ethan! The warmth drained from my eyes instantly. "I got it. Tell him to wait." I walked into my walk-in closet, took my time picking out a silk slip dress, and did my makeup to look cold and untouchable. I deliberately wasted over an hour before putting on my stilettos and walking out. I slowly descended the spiral staircase. And there he was, sitting on my living room sofa. Hearing the click of my heels, Ethan looked up sharply. A flash of awe crossed his face when he saw me, but it was quickly replaced by impatience. "What took you so long?!" Ethan stood up, complaining with that familiar, entitled attitude: "I've been waiting for over an hour, Chloe!" Listening to his whining, I felt a wave of pure disgust. In my past life, he used this exact "I'm poor but I have pride and I'm not afraid of you" persona to make me fall for him. Instead of rushing to hug him like I used to, I crossed my arms and stared down at him coldly. "What do you want?" Ethan choked on his words, taken aback by my coldness. His arrogance faltered slightly, but he quickly put on his usual "offended pride" act. "Chloe, did you pay my mother's fifty thousand dollar medical bill behind my back?!" Ethan acted as if I had deeply insulted him. "How many times do I have to tell you? I can pay for my mom's treatment myself! I don't need your charity!" I watched his passionate performance, sneering inwardly. Back then, I would have apologized profusely, telling him I just wanted to help because he was working three jobs. To protect his fragile ego, I even secretly upgraded his mother to a luxury VIP suite under his name. And what did he do? He greedily soaked up all my money while pretending to be too noble for it. What a natural-born actor. "Oh, is that so?" I glanced at him sideways, a mocking smile on my lips. "In that case, I'll call my assistant and have them cancel the transfer immediately." The moment the words left my mouth, the fake anger on Ethan's face froze. He never expected me to call his bluff! Panic flared in his eyes, but he quickly tried to cover it by raising his voice. "Chloe! What kind of man do you think I am?!" He put on a face of righteous fury. "You think you can control me just because you're rich?! Don't think your money gives you power over me! I won't stand for this!" Looking at his hypocritical face, I burst out laughing. "What's so funny?!" My laughter stung him, and his face turned red with anger.

Just then, my phone rang from inside my bag. It was my dad. I raised an eyebrow and put a finger to my lips, signaling Ethan to shut up. Ethan gritted his teeth and swallowed his words. My father's voice came through, filled with sighing resignation: "Chloe, sweetheart. I know you've been seeing that security guard lately. But you two come from different worlds. He can't give you the life you deserve. Don't be stubborn. I've arranged a meeting with Liam Harrison, the heir to the Harrison empire. He's a gentleman, brilliant, and handsome. Just do me a favor and meet him, okay?" In my past life, I had screamed at my dad over this call. I cried, saying I would only marry Ethan, even threatening to end my life, which broke my father's heart. But in this life, I looked at the ungrateful man standing before me and smiled. "An arranged marriage? Sure, Dad. Send me the address. I'll be there this afternoon." Hearing how easily I agreed, my dad gasped in delight and immediately texted me the details. I hung up. Ethan stared at me, his face turning pale and then red. "Chloe, are you done throwing a tantrum?" "Do you think going on a blind date will make me jealous? Stop playing hard to get just to grab my attention!" "Ethan!" I snapped. "You're highly overestimating your value. Remember your place." "You...!" Ethan gritted his teeth. "Fine! Don't regret this!" He threw a tantrum, stomped out, and slammed my front door. I watched his departure with a cold, mocking smirk. Regret? The only thing I regret in my entire life was being blind enough to fall for a parasite like you! That afternoon, I arrived on time at the upscale cafe my father suggested. In my past life, brainwashed by Ethan, I had despised the idea of a business marriage and refused to even see the Harrison heir. But this time, when I walked into the reserved lounge and saw the man waiting for me, I couldn't help but gasp inwardly. My dad's taste was absolutely flawless! He was wearing a perfectly tailored dark bespoke suit, looking like a classic, strikingly handsome model. "Hello, Chloe. I'm Liam Harrison." He stood up and politely extended his hand, his voice deep and magnetic. "Nice to meet you, Liam." I smiled and took his hand. The date was surprisingly pleasant. Liam was not only breathtakingly handsome but also incredibly charming and well-spoken. We talked about everything from venture capital to art collecting. We clicked instantly. Over the next few days, Liam found every excuse to ask me out. We went to concerts, visited art galleries, and even rode horses at a private estate. I hadn't thought about Ethan's sickening face for days. Until one evening. After an exquisite dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant, Liam politely drove me home. "It's still early. Would you like to come in for some drink?" I stood by my front door, smiling as I invited him. "I'd love to." Liam smiled, his captivating eyes gleaming with warmth. I scanned my fingerprint, opened the door, and was about to gesture him inside. But as I stepped in, I froze. Ethan was sitting comfortably right on my sofa! Seeing me bring another man home, Ethan's face twisted into an ugly scowl. He glared at me, his tone accusing: "Chloe, it's so late. Why are you bringing another guy home?" I frowned, feeling sick at his casual use of my name. "Ethan, watch your tone. I am your employer, not your girlfriend." Embarrassed in front of a stranger, Ethan's face flushed bright red. "What are you standing there for?" I ordered him coldly, treating him like the hired help he was. "Go to the kitchen and brew some drink for Liam." Ethan's eyes burned with humiliation. But under my icy glare, he had no choice but to turn and slink toward the kitchen. "Liam, please make yourself comfortable. I'll change into something more comfortable and be right down." I smiled at Liam. "Sure." Liam nodded, his gaze lingering on me with quiet understanding. I went upstairs to change into lounge wear.

Just as I reached the landing of the stairs, I heard a loud crash from the living room, followed by Ethan's dramatic shriek! I hurried downstairs. Ethan was clutching his left hand, kneeling by the coffee table in theatrical pain. Liam stood nearby, completely unfazed. "What happened?" I walked over, frowning. "Chloe! He pushed me!" Seeing me, Ethan immediately whined. "I was just trying to serve him drink, but he was jealous because I'm close to you! Liam met my eyes, his voice steady: "Chloe, I didn't touch him. He tripped." I glanced down at Ethan's hand. The so-called "burn" was a tiny pink smudge no bigger than a thumbnail. There wasn't even a blister. Looking at his pathetic attempt at drama, I let out a dry laugh. "Cut the crap, Ethan." "It's barely a scratch. Why are you acting like you're dying? Just put a Band-Aid on it." Hearing me take a stranger's side, Ethan's face twisted with rage. "Chloe!" Ignoring him entirely, I turned to Liam with an apologetic smile. "Liam, I'm so sorry. The hired help clearly doesn't know his place. Let's call it a night. I'll make it up to you on our next date." Liam glanced at the trembling, furious Ethan, a subtle smirk playing on his lips. "Alright. Get some rest, Chloe. Goodnight." Once Liam left, the house fell quiet. It was just Ethan and me. Ethan stared at me, his eyes bloodshot, his voice thick with fake betrayal: "Chloe... you've changed. Why are you doing this to me?" Looking at his puppy-dog eyes, I felt absolutely nothing. "Have I?" Without another word, I walked past him and went upstairs. Over the next few days, he stopped acting like the proud, untouchable man. Instead, he became a total kiss-ass, desperately trying to get back into my good graces. He made breakfast before I even woke up. He ran to open my car door whenever I went to work, even trying to whisper cheesy French pickup lines to win me over. I wasn't touched, nor did I kick him out. I just used him. I happily let him serve me like a dog. Sometimes, I'd take Liam's FaceTime calls right in front of him, or dress up in stunning gowns to go on romantic dates with Liam. Every time, Ethan would swallow his anger and try even harder to please me. I knew he was terrified. He was terrified of losing his ticket to a life of luxury. He didn't want his billionaire dream to vanish. And when people are desperate, they make mistakes. I waited patiently for him to show his true colors. Finally, the moment arrived. Lind Enterprises was in the middle of a massive international acquisition. I worked late for several nights in a row, coming home past midnight. One night, I was reviewing the final financial reports in my study. There was a soft knock, and Ethan walked in carrying a tray. "Still working, Chloe?" He walked over and set the tray down. On it sat a cup of drink. "You've been working so hard lately. You look pale. I brewed this special wellness tea for you." He looked at me, his eyes full of fake worry. "Drink it while it's hot. It'll help you sleep." Smelling that familiar, metallic scent, my hand holding the pen froze. In my past life, he had looked at me with this exact loving expression, bringing me this slow poison every single night. I drank it for ten years until my body withered away and I died in agony. I took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to kill him right then and there. I picked up the bowl and slowly brought it to my lips. Ethan stood close, his eyes gleaming with suppressed, desperate anticipation. Just as the rim touched my lip, I stopped. I slowly lowered the bowl and slid it across the desk, right in front of him. "Chloe? What's wrong?" Ethan blinked, startled. I leaned back in my chair and stared at him. "I just remembered a family tradition of ours." "What's that?" Ethan asked, confused. "Whenever someone prepares an unfamiliar dish or drink, the staff must taste it first to ensure it's made correctly." "So, you drink it first." Ethan's face drained of color instantly. "Chloe... what do you mean by that?" He stared at me in disbelief. "Are you doubting me? Do you think I'd poison you?!" His eyes welled with fake tears of betrayal. "I might be poor, but my love for you is pure! How could you treat me like some lowlife?!" I remained silent. Seeing that his drama wasn't working, Ethan gritted his teeth. "Fine! If you don't trust me, I'll prove it to you!" He grabbed the bowl, tilted his head back, and chugged the entire thing! Then he slammed the empty bowl onto the tray. "Are you happy now?!" With that, he stormed out of the room. I sneered. So what if he drank it? It was a slow-acting toxin. Drinking it once or twice wouldn't do anything. Once he was gone, I opened a hidden folder on my laptop and brought up the security feed. My father had installed hidden cameras throughout the estate for my safety. Ethan had no idea they existed. On the screen, Ethan hadn't left the house. He rushed downstairs, made sure the hallway was empty, and slipped into the basement pantry. The camera caught his expression—it was cold and malicious. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. As soon as the call connected, he hissed in a low voice: "Plan B! That bitch Chloe knows something is wrong with the drink!" His voice was quiet, but my high-definition mic picked up every word. It rang clearly in my speakers. The person on the other end said something, and Ethan's face grew darker. "I know! We can't wait anymore. We need a quicker method. Just make sure your side is ready." He hung up, paced around the pantry for a moment, and then walked out as if nothing happened. He was getting desperate. It was time for him to make his final move.

I dialed the number of a private investigator. I hired them to dig into Ethan. At the next high-society gala, I made a grand entrance, clinging to Liam's arm. When reporters asked about our relationship, I leaned against Liam's shoulder and smiled warmly at the cameras. "I've accepted Liam's proposal. We will announce the engagement date very soon." Liam was surprised, but he played along flawlessly, planting a tender kiss on my forehead. I also leaked some details to the city's biggest gossip tabloids. The next day, headlines flooded the internet. #Lind Heiress to Marry Billionaire Liam Harrison! Security Guard's Golden Dream Shattered!# #Gold Digger Shut Out! Chloe Lind Announces Engagement, Leaving Ex-Guard as the Town's Laughingstock!# I expected Ethan to confront me after this humiliation. But surprisingly, he swallowed his pride. He kept showing up at my house, behaving even more like a devoted servant. It was as if he would endure any insult just to stay close to my money. This only made me more vigilant. A silent dog bites the hardest. Three days later, the investigator sent me the report. It revealed that Ethan had been meeting with Leo, my family's garage manager, over the past week. Leo's son had run up massive gambling debts, and loan sharks were threatening his family. Ethan had offered Leo one million dollars to cut the brakes on my car and stage a fatal accident. Once I was dead, Ethan would use a forged will to claim my entire estate. But what shocked me most was the last section of the report. The puppet master backing Ethan was actually someone inside my own family! But they were incredibly clever. Even my investigator couldn't trace the anonymous offshore accounts funding them. Cold sweat drenched my back as I read the files. So, it wasn't just Ethan the parasite who wanted me dead—there was a viper in my own family bloodline! I forced myself to calm down. Since I couldn't identify the mastermind, I had to lure them out. Leaning back in my chair, a brilliant plan took shape in my mind. If they wanted me dead so badly... Fine. I would gladly die for them. Just once.