# Chapter 124: The Taste of Freedom and the Sting of Betrayal
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 124 of "REMARRIED AFTER I SECRETLY DIVORCED THE CEO" — a chapter that delivers not one, but two bitter farewells, and a fateful encounter that no one saw coming.
---
The courier arrived swiftly that afternoon, and by five o'clock, Autumn held the divorce certificate in her trembling hands. The moment her eyes fell upon the official document, a wave of relief washed over her so powerful that she felt lightheaded. *She was free. It was finally over.*
For a brief moment, her mind drifted back to that day — the day she and Julian had registered their marriage. Her face had been glowing with happiness back then, her heart overflowing with dreams for the future. She had been wrapped so tightly in the sweet illusions Julian had spun for her, year after year. Truthfully, she had always known he was tangled up with other women. Every now and then, she'd even receive taunting messages meant to provoke her. But because she loved him, she kept compromising. Even when it was his fault, she forgave him over and over again, afraid of losing him.
They used to say the one who was loved held all the power — and Julian had proven that all too well over the past few years. But now, the relationship that had suffocated her for so long was finally ending. There were no real regrets, just a lingering sadness. Even getting divorced had required trickery just to get his signature on the papers. She wondered whether Julian would feel any remorse when he saw the certificate. But that no longer had anything to do with her. She no longer held the slightest attachment to him. From now on, if they crossed paths again, they'd be strangers — and that was exactly how she wanted it.
With that thought firmly in mind, Autumn called Selena. The phone rang for a while before it connected. As soon as it did, Derek Quinn's furious voice came through. "Selena, you actually pushed Sophie?"
Selena let out a cold snort. "You cheated on me with her, and now you want me to apologize? Keep dreaming."
Autumn asked with concern, "Selena, what's going on over there?"
Before Selena could answer, Derek's angry voice cut through again. "If you don't apologize today, we're done!"
"Fine by me. I'm done putting up with this," Selena snapped, then turned and walked away.
Autumn heard soft sobs and couldn't help asking gently, "Selena, are you okay?" She truly hadn't expected that after going through a divorce with Julian, Selena would be going through the same kind of heartbreak. They really were friends bound by misfortune.
On the other end, Selena wiped away her tears and said casually, "It's not a big deal. Just a breakup. Don't worry, I'm not going to die from it."
She had only stayed at that small company because of Derek, choosing to stand by him and help him build it from scratch. But like most couples, they could weather hardship together — just not success. Her family had strongly opposed their relationship, and she'd fought with them because of it. In truth, she was the heiress of the Long family in Northhaven, but for the sake of Derek's startup, she'd hidden her identity and willingly worked as a low-level accountant. Over the years, she had quietly pulled strings behind the scenes to bring him clients and help his business grow. Afraid Derek would feel emasculated or resentful, she'd never told him the truth. Yet somehow, he still managed to believe all the success was entirely his own doing.
Autumn let out a sigh. "What's really going on between you and Derek?"
At the mention of his name, Selena instantly deflated. Her voice lost all energy. "His first love came back, and now he finds fault with everything I do. It's like I don't even exist anymore. Autumn, why is love always so damn hard for us? There's always a third party in the way. These homewreckers are just shameless. I just want to get out of this mess as soon as possible. Break up, quit my job — I want to cut all ties with them. I just want to go home..." Her voice began to tremble. "Autumn, I need to learn from you. Cut the crap and walk away from this garbage man for good. He clawed his way to the top and dumped the one who helped him get there. Derek actually thinks it was all thanks to his own talent that those CEOs started recognizing him. Please. If it weren't for me pulling strings through my family's connections, he would've lost everything and been left in his underwear."
She blamed herself for falling for someone like that. Back home, she was the cherished little princess of the Long family — when had she ever suffered like this? Two weeks ago, Derek brought his first love into the company and made her his assistant, keeping her close by wherever he went. He even moved that homewrecker into the very apartment he and Selena had planned to live in after their wedding. And what was most shameless of all? As the actual girlfriend, she wasn't even allowed to complain. Otherwise, she was the unreasonable one.
She took a few days to calm herself, then handed in her resignation. What she didn't expect was that Derek approved it right away and even broke up with her today. It had all gone smoother than she imagined. Good. At least there was no dragging it out or making things uglier than they had to be. Thank God they hadn't been living together. She could walk away clean, without leaving behind a single trace.
Autumn comforted her, "Men like that don't deserve mercy. The more you indulge them, the more disgusting they get. Selena, I've got some good news too. I got the divorce certificate today. It's officially over between me and Julian."
Selena was even more thrilled than Autumn. "That's amazing. You should've done it a long time ago. I'm always behind you. I'm cutting things off clean on my side too. The sooner I get away from that jerk, the sooner I can breathe again. Autumn, let's go out tonight. Let's have a drink!"
Autumn had wanted to say that it took illness and heartbreak for her to finally wake up, but when the words reached her lips, she swallowed them back. If it hadn't been for the diagnosis — mid-stage stomach cancer — she probably wouldn't have woken up so quickly. Sometimes, she really envied Selena. With her family's love and support, she'd surely bounce back in no time. She wasn't so lucky. The so-called family she had only ever judged her from their own self-righteous perspective, constantly pointing fingers and blaming her. Family like that wasn't worth having.
"Alright," Autumn agreed. She hadn't planned on going out — given her condition, she wasn't supposed to drink. But she knew Selena was in a bad place and needed someone with her. She could always join her and toast with tea instead.
They arranged to meet at Royal Crest Lounge, one of the venues owned by the Long family. The place was private and low-key, and everyone there knew Selena. A single phone call was all it took.
Autumn had just stepped through the entrance when she unexpectedly ran into Julian and his group. Julian frowned subtly the moment he saw her, while Ryan and Grant exchanged a look of surprise. Autumn showing up at Royal Crest? That was a shock. She always popped up like a ghost — no matter where they went, they'd somehow run into her. If she said it wasn't on purpose, even she probably wouldn't believe herself.
Luna clung tightly to Julian's arm, blinking innocently as she looked up at him. "Julian, do you know this woman?"
---
**Reader's Impressions & Star Rating:**
This chapter hit me right in the heart. Watching both Autumn and Selena break free from toxic relationships was incredibly cathartic, yet bittersweet. Autumn's quiet relief contrasted beautifully with Selena's explosive anger, and their friendship felt so genuine. The encounter with Julian at the end was perfectly timed — just when Autumn thought she was free, fate throws her ex-husband back in her path, now arm-in-arm with another woman. The tension is palpable.
⭐ **Rating: 4.7 / 5 Stars** — A powerful chapter of liberation and confrontation, leaving us hungry for what happens next.
**Next Chapter Prediction:**
I have a feeling that Julian's discomfort at seeing Autumn at Royal Crest is about to boil over. He may try to question her or demand explanations, but Autumn — now holding that divorce certificate — has no reason to answer to him. Meanwhile, Selena's arrival could turn this chance encounter into a dramatic showdown. Will Luna use this opportunity to humiliate Autumn further? Or will Autumn finally stand her ground and show them all she's done playing the victim?
---
To listen free the next reviews chapters, please access website novelsaudio.com and search keyword: REMARRIED AFTER I SECRETLY DIVORCED THE CEO or click the link in the description of this video or if you want to listen or read full the REMARRIED AFTER I SECRETLY DIVORCED THE CEO please access website novelsaudio.com