My Billionaire Ex-Husband's Deep Regret

Skylar Sterling crawled out of St. Anne Psychiatric Center with blood dripping down her legs.

The rusty fence had torn through her calves, but she didn't stop. She couldn't. She walked two miles on shredded skin, limping all the way to Gresham Villa.

Music and laughter spilled from inside. A party.

She slipped in through the servants' entrance.

The ballroom glittered. Crystal chandeliers, champagne flutes, guests in designer gowns. And there, in the center, stood her husband—Travis Gresham—in a black suit, handsome and cold.

Beside him, hanging on his arm like she belonged there, was Amber Crowder. Her sister.

Skylar's blood turned to ice.

She walked into the party. Every guest froze.

Travis's face darkened. "How did you get out?"

"Travis—" She barely got his name out before he stepped back, pinched his nose, and looked at her like she was garbage.

Whispers erupted.

"Is that Mrs. Gresham? She smells strange. Does she have a disease?"

"I heard she hurt Mr. Gresham's mother three years ago. He sent her to a mental hospital."

"Look at her. She really is crazy."

Skylar's heart shattered.

Three years ago, she was framed for hurting Travis's mother. Before she could defend herself, Amber produced a photoshopped photo of her in bed with another man and handed it to Travis. He didn't listen to her explanations. He took her to court.

Her father, Kyle Sterling, tried to save her by bribing a doctor for a mental instability certificate. Instead of helping, Travis used it to lock her away.

For three years, she was shocked, force-fed, tied to a bed for days without food or water.

Now she was out. And Travis was partying with the woman who destroyed her.

Skylar's gaze locked onto Amber.

Amber flinched. She clung tighter to Travis, voice trembling. "Travis, I'm scared..."

He squeezed her hand, then turned icy eyes on Skylar. "You put my mother in a wheelchair. Now you want to hurt Amber too?"

Skylar stared at him, protecting the woman who had framed her. Her chest felt hollow.

"We're not divorced yet, Travis."

"So what?" His lip curled. "You think I'd take you back?"

Desperation clawed at her throat. She had loved this man for over ten years. And when she needed him most, he pushed her deeper into hell.

Amber stepped forward, fake concern plastered on her face. She reached for Skylar's arm, then thought better of it, keeping half a meter away. "Sister, don't do this. Travis is already angry. If you keep making a scene—"

"Don't call me sister!" Skylar's voice cracked. "I don't have a sister like you."

Amber's eyes welled up instantly. She turned to Travis, all wounded innocence. "I just wanted to reason with her..."

Travis pulled Amber close, then looked at Skylar with pure disgust. "Get out. Now. Or I'll call the psych center and have you sent back."

Skylar stood frozen, trembling. The guests stared. She had once been the dazzling daughter of the Sterling family. Now she was nothing.

She should never have come. Never hoped.

"Fine." Her voice was barely a whisper. "I'll leave."

She struggled to her feet. Her leg still bled, but she felt nothing but cold.

"But I'm taking my daughter."

Travis's face went dark. "You still dare mention her?"

Amber chimed in, sweet as poison. "Skylar, we all know Eileen is the child you had with another man. Travis has been generous not to hold it against you. Why bring her up and hurt him again?"

Skylar stared in disbelief. "What are you talking about? Eileen is his daughter!"

"Shut up!" Travis's eyes blazed with hatred. "While you were locked up, I had Eileen's DNA tested. She is not my blood."

He threw a report at her feet.

Skylar grabbed it, shaking her head. "No. This is fake. Eileen is yours!"

Her gaze snapped to Amber, who was smirking. Skylar lunged.

"It was you!"

Amber ducked behind Travis, voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Skylar, you cheated. Don't blame me. Travis was kind—he sent Eileen to an orphanage instead of the streets. That's more than generous."

"Enough." Travis waved his hand. "Throw her out. If she comes back, call the police."

"But Mrs. Brenda—" the butler started.

"I'll explain to Grandma."

Two bodyguards grabbed Skylar and dragged her out. They dumped her in the snow behind the villa.

Snow fell harder. She wore nothing but a thin hospital gown, shivering violently.

She didn't care.

She had to find her daughter before dawn. Because once Travis realized she'd escaped, the first thing he'd do was erase that "stain" for good.