Divorce by Mistake: A Billionaire's Desperate Second Chance

My phone buzzed again right after the knock on the door had almost disappeared from my thoughts.

I looked down quickly, my heart beating faster as I noticed the name displayed.

The lawyer for Max, is James Porter.

My stomach tightened with a knot of anxiety.

I didn't feel like answering — I had already heard too much from him for a lifetime.

However, I had a feeling that I couldn't disregard this call.

I responded with a sigh, placing the phone against my ear. "Is that you, James?"

"Lila, I'm pleased that you answered," he said, his voice filled with tension. "I… there's another matter that requires our attention."

I've been going over some papers this morning, and… it seems like there has been an issue.

I scowled, feeling dread seeping into my chest. An issue? "What type of complexity?"

James was silent for a few seconds, causing my heart to be frightened. At last, James coughed to clear his throat. It appears that there was a mistake in the paperwork for your divorce.

Did a clerical mistake cause my heart to stop?

"What is it that you are referring to, James?" I couldn't control my voice being sharper than I meant it to be. "What type of mistake?"

"It's… difficult to describe," he cautiously stated, as if preparing himself for how I would respond.

However, in essence, the divorce was never officially completed. The documents were never formally filed.

I felt like the ground had vanished beneath me instantly. "I can't comprehend it," I whispered, shaking my head as if I could erase the words.

He went on, acknowledging that it might be challenging to listen to, his attempt at comforting coming up short.

However, the last signatures were not sent to the court. According to the law, you and Max are still married.

The final signatures were never submitted to the court. As far as the legal system is concerned, you and Max are still married."

The room whirled around me, my hold on the phone getting tighter as my knuckles went white.

Are you still married? I could hardly speak. Have the last half year of being apart and the difficult process of starting over been in vain?

"I'm confused," I stated, my voice shaking with surprise and irritation.

We went through all the paperwork, James. I sat in your office for hours, signed every document, went through all the meetings, the settlements. How could this happen?"

"There was an administrative mistake," he explained, though he sounded almost embarrassed. "A misfiled document on the court's end. It's extremely rare, but… unfortunately, it does happen."

A surge of hot and sharp anger grew inside me after months of trying to move on from Max, only to discover I was still connected to him due to a bureaucratic mistake. It seemed as though the universe was cruelly toying with me.

"What do we do next?" I paced back and forth in my small living room, feeling sudden trapped by the walls.

Should I act as if the past six months never occurred? How will this affect me? For all of it?

James reassured with a smooth voice. "I'm trying to resolve the issue." "I have begun the process of submitting the required documents to finalize the divorce; however, it might be time-consuming."

I sneered, my voice filled with bitterness. "James, time is the only thing left for me." Max is absent, and I just discovered that we are still legally wedded. I don't want any involvement in him, his life, or the problems he has caused.

"I understand, Lila," he said quickly, sensing the edge in my tone. "But right now, you need to be aware of your legal situation. Until the divorce is finalized, you are still Max's legal spouse. That means his assets, his debts… they're yours too."

The weight of his words settled over me, heavy and suffocating. "What are you saying? That I inherit everything?"

"Yes," he replied. "But this also means that any liabilities tied to Max's estate could fall on you as well."

"Liabilities." I felt a cold chill settle in my stomach. I was confused. God only knew what kind of financial disasters Max had left in his wake. I had no idea how deep his troubles ran.

His troubles ran deep. And now, due to a foolish error, his debts—his adversaries—might come seeking for me.

"I didn't request this," I murmured, my words tinged with anger. I really wished to move forward, to begin anew. Presently, I find myself entangled in his predicament and I lack understanding of its severity.

James's demeanor became more gentle, as though he comprehended. I apologize, Lila. I truly am. However, presently, you must exercise caution.

You are still legally connected to him until all matters are resolved. His duties, his obligations—those are also yours, at least temporarily.

I struggled to comprehend the magnitude of his words as my thoughts raced. "What has Max gotten himself involved in?" I inquired quietly, my voice barely audible. "You brought up the fact that he believed someone was pursuing him." "Who is it?"

James acknowledged he was lacking complete information, his voice filled with tension.

However, based on my findings, Max had been participating in high-risk business transactions. He admitted.

There are speculations about money laundering, offshore accounts… questionable associations. No matter what he was involved in, it's clear that he was in a situation he couldn't handle.

I feel like someone has hit me in the stomach.

Are you involved in illegal financial dealings?

Are the accounts located outside the country?

I always thought Max was ambitious and maybe even ruthless, but I never expected him to be caught up in something like this.

Nevertheless, in retrospect, I couldn't claim to be completely surprised. Max consistently maintained a distance in his business interactions with me, ignoring my questions and disregarding my concerns.

Now, it seemed that his concealed realities were emerging again to cause problems for me.

"So you think these people—whoever Max was dealing with—might come after me?" I asked, fear creeping into my voice.

"It's possible," James said, his tone grave. "As his wife—his legal wife, anyway—you could be considered an extension of him. If Max owes them money or if they think you know something… they could come looking."

I felt a chill down my back when I thought about the earlier door knock and the odd shadow in the hallway.

Is it possible that it's just a happenstance?

Was I already being sought by someone else?

"I can't believe this is happening," I muttered, my hand shaking while holding the phone. I desired to progress forward. I believed I was liberated.

...…

James assured Lila that he would make every effort to assist her. "But it's important to exercise caution. Make sure to keep your phone nearby. Remain vigilant. And if you sense anything amiss, contact me right away."

After finishing the call, I put down the phone and felt overwhelmed. The horror I believed I had gotten away from managed to bring me back in somehow. Max's decisions, his confidential information, his risks — they were all now shared with me.

While I trying to understand the extent of the situation, a loud sound echoed from the hallway close to my room.

The sound was followed by the clear shaking of the door handle.

All my instincts told me to hide or run, but I tried to remain calm.

Backing away from the door, I held on to my phone and my thoughts were filled with all that James had disclosed.

The person outside wasn't simply knocking on the door. They were attempting to enter unlawfully.

I dialed James's number again with a trembling hand, holding the phone to my ear while I quietly said, "There's someone at my door."

There was a brief silence, followed by James's tense and sharp voice. Secure all items. Do not allow anyone to enter. I will contact the authorities.

The individual on the other side was growing more and more aggravated.

I felt my heart racing, every part of me warning of danger and the need to hide, yet I was unable to move. I stayed still, gripping the phone tightly, waiting for the police to come, hoping they would get there in time.