Damien’s POV”This is a waste of time,” Jessica complained, adjusting her dress for the hundredth time.
She’d been fidgeting since we arrived, clearly uncomfortable in a room full of people who actually belonged here.
“Why are we even here?”
”Because Sterling Global might be our last chance,” I said through gritted teeth, forcing myself to keep my voice low.
The last thing I needed was to make a scene before I’d even had a chance to network.
“If I can just get a meeting with their CEO…”
”E.
Sterling,” Victoria said, finishing my sentence.
Her voice sounded strange, hollow.
“Still so mysterious. No one knows anything about them.”
I’d been trying for weeks to get information.
Just “E. Sterling” and a reputation for being ruthless in business.
Every contact I reached out to, every connection I tried to leverage, came up empty.
It was like this person existed only on paper.
“Well, we’re about to find out,” Mother said, sipping her champagne with elegance, but her reputation had long been tarnished by how she treated Elena.
Two months and I still couldn’t find her.
My investigator had hit a dead end, and she was gone, leaving no trace behind.
Sometimes I wondered if I’d imagined her entirely.
My quiet, plain wife who asked for nothing and got even less.
Who looked at me like I was everything when I treated her like she was nothing.
“I still can’t believe she actually left,” Jessica said, examining her nails with feigned disinterest.
“Where would she even go? She had nothing. No money, no family, no job. She was completely dependent on you.”
”Can we not talk about Elena?” I snapped, louder than I intended.
A few people at nearby tables glanced our way.
“She’s gone. It’s done.”
But it wasn’t done…the memories haunted me.
Her hopeful eyes.
The divorce papers I’d stubbornly refused to sign, holding onto the hope she’d return.
She never did.
“Damien?” Victoria touched my arm, her fingers cold even through my jacket.
“Are you listening?”
”What?”
”I said we should stick together tonight.
Then network and make connections.” But her eyes were darting around nervously, scanning the crowd like she was looking for someone or avoiding someone.
She’d been acting strange all week, jumpy and distracted.
“Victoria, what’s wrong with you?”
”Nothing.
I’m fine.” She gulped her champagne like it was water, draining half the glass in one go.
“Just nervous about the announcement.”
”What announcement?”
”The CEO.
They’re revealing them tonight.”
My heart was racing now, anticipation and determination running through me.
This meeting with E.
Sterling was my chance to shine, to show them what we were capable of.
“Damien, we need to talk about the mortgage,” Mother said suddenly.
“The bank called again. They’re threatening foreclosure if we don’t make a payment by the end of the month.”
”Not now, Mother.”
We’re running out of options.
Jessica lost her job, I’ve been dropped from three charity boards, and your company is running down.
We need to figure something out.”
”I said not now.”
”Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats.” The MC’s voice rang out.
“We are about to begin…”
We sat down at our table, front and center.
I didn’t complain, feeling lucky to have a good spot.
The lights went down, and a spotlight shone on the stage.
“Tonight is a very special evening,” the MC said, his voice reaching every corner of the massive ballroom.
“Not only are we gathered for charity, but Sterling Global has chosen this moment to introduce their CEO to the world.”
People were curious about who E.
Sterling was, and the room was buzzing.
“This remarkable individual has been running one of the world’s largest corporations with vision, precision, and unprecedented success. And tonight, she makes her first public appearance.”
She.
So E.
Sterling was a woman.
That narrowed it down at least.
“Please welcome to the stage, the CEO of Sterling Global, Miss Elena Sterling!”
The name hit me like a truck.
Elena.
Sterling.
No. No, that couldn’t be right.
It had to be a coincidence.
A different Elena.
It was a common enough name.
But then the spotlight swung to the stage entrance and she walked out.
My wife.
Except she wasn’t my wife anymore.
And she sure as hell wasn’t the woman I remembered.
This Elena was breathtaking.
Confident and powerful.
She moved like she owned not just the stage but the entire building, the entire city, the entire world.
Her dress probably cost more than my car, a midnight blue creation that caught the light with every step.
Diamonds sparkled at her throat, real ones, the kind that cost more than most people made in a year.
And on her arm was Caleb Harding.
The NFL star.
The business heir.
Looking at her like she hung the moon and stars.
The applause was loud, but I was frozen in shock, my mind reeling as I struggled to process the impossible scene before me.
“No,” Mother whispered beside me, her voice shaking.
“No, no, no.”
Jessica let out a shocked gasp, while Victoria looked like she’d seen a ghost.
“Good evening, everyone. Thank you for that warm welcome.”
Her voice was different.
Stronger, commanding.
This wasn’t the woman who’d asked softly with fear if I still loved her.
This was someone else entirely.
“Many of you don’t know me yet. That was intentional. For the past few years, I’ve been, shall we say…taking a personal sabbatical.”
Polite laughter rang from the crowd.
My hands were shaking so badly I had to grip the edge of the table to steady them.
“But I’m back now. And Sterling Global is entering an exciting new phase. We’re expanding internationally, launching new divisions, and restructuring several partnerships.”
Her eyes swept the crowd and landed on our table.
On me.
For one brief second, our gazes locked.
There was nothing in her eyes.
No anger, no hurt, no recognition.
Just a cold look.
Like I was a stranger.
Like I meant nothing.
Then she looked away.
“I look forward to working with those who share our values of integrity, respect, and mutual partnership. And as for those who don’t.” She smiled, sharp as a knife.
“Well. You’ll find Sterling Global has very high standards.”
More applause.
She was captivating the room, holding every person’s attention effortlessly.
“Elena,” someone at the next table whispered, loud enough for me to hear.
“I knew that name sounded familiar. Isn’t she married to him?”
They trailed off, looking at me.
Oh God.
Everyone was going to know.
Everyone was going to know I’d been married to a billionaire heiress and treated her like garbage.
“I need air,” I said, standing abruptly.
My chair scraped loudly against the floor.
“Damien, sit down,” Mother hissed, grabbing at my sleeve.
“You’re making a scene.”
I felt restless, unable to bear watching her shine so brightly, a woman I’d once taken for granted.
I pushed through the crowd toward the exit, people moving aside with annoyed expressions.
Behind me, I heard Elena’s voice continuing her speech.
Confident.
Happy.
Free.
She was finally free of me.
And I’d never felt more trapped in my life.