The Underestimated Ex-husband

The Confrontation

The setting of the banquet hall defined extraordinary preparedness with style and standard. The beauty was composed by the marble floors, lightings, crystal glasses as well as liquid fires, and even the guests were all flamboyantly dressed. Tonight was a night of the powerful, the wealthy, and the untouchable, defining the night as an outstanding one yet to be something never to forget in a hurry because every scene spelt luxury and high class.

When Elena Hart entered on Victor’s arm, heads turned instantly.

“She’s stunning…” someone whispered.

“She looks untouchable” another added.

Victor smiled clearly enjoying the attention while Elena, in her sleek gown, lifted her chin higher as though the entire room existed only to admire her. But the crowd’s curiosity wasn’t just about her, it was about who would appear tonight. Everyone waited for Seraphina Doyle.

Victor suddenly stilled with his eyes narrowing “Well, well… look who decided to show up.”

Elena followed his gaze and froze because across the room in his sharp black suit with his presence commanding despite the whispers that were following him, stood Adrian Kane.

Victor chuckled under his breath but loud enough for Adrian to hear “Didn’t expect to see you here, Kane. Could it be you still can’t let go of Elena? Is that why you’re sniffing around this

banquet?”

Elena’s lips curved into a mocking smile and her voice dripping with scorn “Don’t tell me you came here to beg again, Adrian. How pathetic.”

Adrian’s gaze met hers without flinching, with his tone calm but almost cold “Don’t flatter yourself. I didn’t come here for you.”

Victor laughed and stepped closer placing a hand against his chest as though wounded “Ouch. But really, what else could it be? You’ve got no business here. Admit it that you’re still hung up on her. You just can’t stand watching her move on… with me.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened but his voice remained steady “When I signed those divorce papers, that was the end. Don’t delude yourself thinking I’d ever look back.”

Elena’s eyes flashed with anger sparking instantly “The end? Don’t act righteous, Adrian. Don’t you dare pretend you were the one who ended anything! You were nothing when I married you, and now you’re even less. Signing those papers was the best thing you ever did for me. They were freedom… mine from you.”

Adrian’s lips curved in a humorless smile “Freedom? No. It’s just you, parading your greed under another name. But call it what you want. Without me, you finally get to flaunt your arrogance without restraint.”

Her hand clenched at her side “Arrogance? I call it knowing my worth. Something you never had.”

The crowd rippled with gasps with eyes darting between them and the tension thick enough to choke on.

Victor raised a hand, his tone deceptively calm though his grin betrayed him “Easy, Elena. He’s not worth your energy. Let him bark. Dogs always make noise when ignored.”

Adrian’s gaze flickered toward him “Funny. For someone playing peacemaker, you seem desperate to shove yourself into a conversation that isn’t yours.”

Victor only spread his hands, stepping back, letting the fire between them burn.

Elena smirked, tilting her head “You failed me, Adrian. You dragged me through misery, and now you dare stand here as if you’re above anyone? No. You’ll face me, here, in front of everyone. Admit you wasted my time all those years. Or are you too proud to own up to it?”

Adrian’s eyes darkened, his words sharp and deliberate “Answer? To what? To the way you spat on loyalty and turned our marriage into a transaction? I owe you nothing. Nothing, Elena. The only thing I regret is giving my loyalty to someone who trampled it like dirt”

Her face flushed with fury “You think you can walk away after saying that? No, Adrian. Not tonight.” She stepped closer, her voice a blade. “You’ve been running long enough. You’ll answer me here.”

Adrian’s patience finally snapped, his voice ringing out “Owe you? I owe you nothing! The only thing I want is distance from the woman who destroyed every ounce of respect I had for her. You disgust me, Elena.”

Her chest heaved, fury spilling unchecked “Disgust? You dare…”

Adrian cut her off, his voice dropping low, calm but deadly “I’ll apologize when you deserve it. Which means never.”

Elena took a sharp step toward him, with her eyes blazing “Coward! You won’t walk out of here hiding behind that cold act. Not this time…”

Before Adrian could respond, a voice, smooth and commanding, rang out from the grand staircase, shifting the air “Who’s stopping him from leaving?”

Every head turned, and at the top of the grand staircase stood Seraphina Doyle, with her presence commanding instant silence.

The crowd parted, with whispers racing as she descended slowly, while her eyes were fixed on the trio.

Victor’s grin faltered, Elena stiffened while Adrian straightened with his expression unreadable.

Seraphina’s voice was calm but carried weight. “I asked a question. Who?” She demanded, “Dares keep him here against his will?”