Chapter 1 - The Crash at the Gala
The massive carved mahogany doors of the grand ballroom swung open, sending a quiet wave through the high-society crowd.
Elena stood in the threshold, her jaw set, long brunette waves cascading down her shoulders. Her strapless red corseted gown flamed against the cool white marble under the crystal chandeliers, the ruffled slit skirt showing every inch of her dangerous confidence. She held her gold clutch like a shield.
Across the room, Ethan froze. He was holding a glass of vintage champagne, wearing a custom black tuxedo, looking like the pinnacle of corporate success. Beside him stood Vanessa Cole, radiating smug triumph in a backless, glittering champagne dress that practically screamed hidden affair.
The ambient music seemed to drop to a whisper. Whispers broke out among the city’s top investors and socialites.
"You thought I would stay home and let you replace me?" Elena’s voice echoed across the quieted hall, calm, rich, and lethal.
Ethan’s face drained of color, going from smooth satisfaction to dark fury in a split second. He set his glass on a passing waiter’s tray, stepping forward aggressive and sharp, his shoes clicking loudly on the polished floor. He reached out with a rough hand to grab her wrist, leaning in close with eyes blazing.
"Know your place!" Ethan hissed under his breath, his voice venomous and desperate. "Get out before you ruin everything I’ve built tonight."
Elena didn't pull back. Her eyes narrowed into slits of ice. Before his fingers could even make contact with her wrist, her right hand swung in a swift, devastating arc.
CRACK.
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The sound of the slap echoed off the vaulted ceilings like a pistol shot. Ethan’s head snapped sideways. His champagne glass slipped from his fingers, shattering across the reflective marble floor into a hundred sparkling shards.
👉 Read Part 2 to discover why Ethan believed his wife would never dare to show her face at the gala!
