A Divorce He Regrets

Chapter 7:

I lifted my chin, meeting her gaze with defiance. “You don’t know a thing about me, Vanessa.”

I held my ground, the urge to walk away warring with the desire to make her regret every last word. But as I opened my mouth, another figure moved in, his cold, commanding presence freezing me to the spot.

Alexander.

He looked at me, his gaze sweeping over the stain on my dress, lingering just long enough to let me know he saw it. He had that same aloof expression, that mask of indifference that hid everything. But for a fleeting moment, something else flickered in his eyes—a shadow of something almost… concerned? But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced by the familiar wall of disdain.

“Vanessa,” he said, his tone low, edged with irritation. “Enough of this. This isn’t the place for it.” He stopped, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he looked at her, his hand gripping her arm to pull her back.

Vanessa scoffed, her sneer still fixed on me. “You don’t belong here, Raina,” she hissed, wrenching her arm from Alexander’s grip. How they had torn my life apart.

But I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.noveldrama

Just as I was about to turn away, Dominic appeared at my side, his eyes hardening as he took in the scene.

“Who is she to say that my date doesn’t belong here?” Dominic announced, his voice steady and authoritative, shielding me with his presence. “Let’s get you cleaned up,” he said, guiding me toward the bathroom.

Once inside the bathroom, I leaned against the cold marble sink, my reflection staring back at me—a stranger cloaked in fear and defiance. What was I doing here? The weight of my decisions pressed heavily on my chest.

A woman entered, holding a stunning red dress. “Dominic sent me. He thought you might prefer something a bit more… vibrant.”

I took the dress, running my fingers over the fabric, feeling its smoothness against my skin. “Thank you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

After changing into the dress, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The bold red was striking against my skin, making me feel more alive. I could do this. I could face them all, even him.

𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮: gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⫸ⅽ𝗼𝗺

As soon as I got out of the bathroom, I glanced around the room, spotting Dominic across the hall, deep in conversation with some potential business partners. He seemed at ease, comfortable in his skin, while I felt like a fraud in this vibrant dress.

The crowd was bustling around us, laughter and chatter filling the air, yet it all felt muted, like I was living in a bubble. How could everyone else be so carefree when I felt like I was drowning?

In the corner of the room, a small group was gathered around an artist displaying breathtaking paintings. I found solace in their enthusiasm, allowing myself a brief escape from the reality of my situation.

But the moment was short-lived. I turned and found Alexander watching me from a distance, the coldness of his gaze unwavering. I felt my heart race again, caught between the urge to confront him and the instinct to run.

He stepped closer to me, his gaze cold and piercing. I could feel my defenses rising, every instinct telling me to guard myself, to stand tall.

The look on his face told me everything I needed to know—I was not ready to have a conversation with him. The room seemed to shrink around us, the air thickening with unspoken words.

Why did he have to be here? Memories of our time together flooded my mind—happiness intertwined with betrayal, love shadowed by loss. He had taken my son from me, and now he stood there, a ghost from a life I had tried to leave behind.

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