Chapter 2: The Woman He Never Noticed
1632 Words
The night Amelia Hart signed the divorce papers, a private jet was already waiting for her at the airport.
The city lights stretched endlessly beneath the dark sky as the aircraft ascended.
Amelia sat beside the window, staring silently into the darkness.
Her eyes were swollen from crying.
Her heart felt empty.
For three years, Ethan Blackwell had been her entire world.
Every morning, she woke up hoping he would look at her differently.
Every night, she went to bed telling herself tomorrow might be the day he finally noticed her.
Tomorrow never came.
Now it was over.
The marriage.
The dreams.
The love.
Everything.
A soft voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Miss Amelia."
She turned.
James stood nearby with concern written across his face.
Despite being nearly sixty years old, the Hart family's chief assistant remained elegant and composed.
"Would you like something to eat?"
She shook her head.
"No."
James sighed.
"You haven't eaten since this afternoon."
"I'm not hungry."
The old man looked heartbroken.
For years, the Hart family had searched for Amelia.
Watching her suffer now made him feel guilty.
If they had found her sooner, perhaps none of this would have happened.
"Your grandfather will be very happy to see you."
Amelia forced a small smile.
"I hope so."
The conversation ended.
Silence returned.
Her thoughts drifted back to Ethan once again.
She hated herself for it.
Even after everything he had done, she still couldn't stop thinking about him.
Then she remembered his words.
Did you ever care about me?
No.
A fresh wave of pain swept through her chest.
She closed her eyes.
No more.
Tonight would be the last time she cried for Ethan Blackwell.
The last time she allowed him to break her heart.
When Amelia opened her eyes again, determination had replaced sorrow.
The old Amelia was gone.
What remained would be stronger.
Much stronger.
---
Several hours later.
The private jet landed.
Amelia stepped outside.
And froze.
An endless convoy of luxury cars lined the runway.
Dozens of bodyguards stood in perfect formation.
Waiting.
For her.
The moment she appeared, everyone bowed.
"Welcome home, Miss Amelia."
The greeting echoed through the night.
Amelia felt overwhelmed.
For years she had lived in a modest apartment.
She had cooked her own meals.
Taken taxis.
Done grocery shopping.
Lived like an ordinary woman.
Returning to this world felt unreal.
James smiled warmly.
"The chairman insisted on preparing a proper welcome."
Amelia laughed softly.
"He always was dramatic."
The convoy immediately began moving.
As the cars drove through the city, Amelia watched the scenery pass by.
The skyscrapers.
The luxury boutiques.
The private clubs.
Everything screamed wealth.
Eventually, they arrived.
Amelia stared at the enormous gates.
The Hart Estate.
Her childhood home.
The place she had abandoned years ago.
The gates slowly opened.
Her breath caught.
The mansion looked exactly as she remembered.
Grand.
Beautiful.
Magnificent.
Tears filled her eyes.
Not because she was sad.
Because she was finally home.
---
Inside the mansion.
Hundreds of servants stood waiting.
The moment Amelia entered, applause erupted.
"Welcome home, Miss Amelia!"
She laughed despite herself.
"You all make me sound like a celebrity."
One of the maids immediately burst into tears.
"We missed you so much!"
Soon several others were crying too.
Amelia smiled.
For the first time in a long while, her heart felt warm.
Then a voice spoke from upstairs.
"Is my granddaughter finally here?"
Amelia froze.
She knew that voice.
Slowly she looked up.
An elderly man stood at the top of the staircase.
Although age had weakened him, his presence remained powerful.
The chairman of the Hart Empire.
The man feared by governments and respected by billionaires.
Her grandfather.
Arthur Hart.
Tears instantly filled Amelia's eyes.
"Grandpa."
Arthur's eyes became red.
"My little girl."
Amelia ran upstairs.
A second later she was hugging him tightly.
The old man laughed through his tears.
"Look at you."
"I missed you."
"I missed you more."
For several moments neither of them spoke.
They simply held each other.
Eventually Arthur pulled away.
Then he examined her carefully.
His expression darkened.
"You're thinner."
Amelia looked away.
"I've been busy."
The old man snorted.
"You've been suffering."
Her silence confirmed everything.
Arthur's face hardened.
"That Blackwell boy."
"Grandpa—"
"No."
His voice became cold.
"I know exactly what happened."
Amelia blinked.
"You do?"
Arthur nodded.
"I had people watching over you."
Amelia stared in shock.
"Watching me?"
"Not interfering. Only protecting."
The old man's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"I know he divorced you."
The room became silent.
Everyone suddenly looked nervous.
Arthur continued.
"I also know he proposed to another woman on the same night."
A terrifying pressure filled the room.
Even the servants seemed frightened.
Amelia knew that expression.
Someone had made her grandfather angry.
Very angry.
"Grandpa, it's over."
Arthur laughed bitterly.
"Over?"
His voice dropped.
"No one hurts a Hart and walks away."
Amelia sighed.
"I don't want revenge."
That was only partly true.
A part of her absolutely wanted revenge.
Another part simply wanted peace.
Arthur studied her carefully.
Then he smiled.
"Fine."
Amelia relaxed.
Until he added,
"But if revenge happens naturally, I won't stop it."
Several executives nearby immediately looked excited.
Clearly, they had their own opinions about Ethan Blackwell.
---
The next morning.
For the first time in years, Amelia woke up without thinking about Ethan.
At least for a few seconds.
Then reality returned.
She was divorced.
The realization hurt less than before.
Perhaps she was finally healing.
After breakfast, James escorted her to Hart Group Headquarters.
The building dominated the city skyline.
It stood taller than every neighboring skyscraper.
A symbol of power.
The moment Amelia entered, employees stopped working.
Everyone stared.
Whispers spread instantly.
"That's her."
"The chairman's granddaughter."
"The future heir."
"She's beautiful."
Amelia tried not to laugh.
People always became dramatic when money was involved.
Inside the executive boardroom, dozens of directors waited nervously.
The moment she entered, everyone stood.
Arthur sat at the head of the table.
"Good."
The old man smiled.
"Let's begin."
The meeting lasted nearly four hours.
By the end, Amelia understood exactly how large the Hart Empire had become.
Hotels.
Technology companies.
Airlines.
Real estate.
Banking.
Energy.
Media.
The Hart family owned pieces of everything.
Even Amelia felt shocked.
Arthur eventually leaned back in his chair.
"The empire is yours."
The room instantly became silent.
Amelia blinked.
"What?"
The old man smiled.
"You heard me."
"Grandpa—"
"I don't have forever."
His voice softened.
"I want to see you lead before I leave this world."
Emotion filled Amelia's chest.
"Don't say that."
Arthur chuckled.
"Then stop making me wait."
The directors immediately nodded.
Clearly none of them intended to argue.
Amelia took a deep breath.
Then she stood.
The room watched carefully.
Finally she spoke.
"I accept."
The boardroom exploded with applause.
Arthur's eyes shone with pride.
For the first time in years, Amelia felt powerful.
Not because of money.
Not because of status.
Because she had finally chosen herself.
---
Meanwhile.
At Blackwell Group.
Ethan Blackwell stared at an empty chair.
For some reason, the office felt unusually quiet.
His assistant entered.
"Sir?"
Ethan looked up.
"What is it?"
Ryan hesitated.
Then he placed a folder on the desk.
"The divorce has been finalized."
Ethan nodded.
"Good."
Yet something felt strange.
Something he couldn't explain.
Ryan cleared his throat.
"Should I cancel Mrs. Blackwell's access cards?"
A strange irritation appeared in Ethan's chest.
Ex-wife.
Former wife.
Not Mrs. Blackwell anymore.
The realization felt unexpectedly unpleasant.
"Do whatever is necessary."
"Yes, sir."
Ryan left.
Ethan returned to work.
Or at least he tried to.
For some reason, he couldn't concentrate.
His gaze kept drifting toward the small couch in the corner.
Amelia used to sit there.
Reading books.
Waiting for him.
Bringing coffee.
Smiling whenever he entered.
The memory annoyed him.
Why was he even thinking about her?
The divorce was what both of them wanted.
Wasn't it?
Ethan frowned.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
At that moment, Sophia entered his office.
Her smile was bright.
"Good morning."
She kissed his cheek.
Ethan automatically smiled.
Yet strangely, the happiness felt forced.
Sophia wrapped her arms around him.
"Let's have dinner tonight."
"Okay."
"We should also announce our engagement."
"Okay."
Sophia blinked.
His responses sounded distracted.
"Ethan?"
"What?"
She studied him carefully.
"Are you thinking about her?"
His expression immediately darkened.
"No."
Sophia relaxed.
Yet deep inside, a tiny seed of fear began growing.
Because for the first time since her return...
Ethan looked uncertain.
---
That same afternoon.
A piece of news exploded across the business world.
Every television station reported it.
Every newspaper published it.
Every financial website displayed it on the front page.
BREAKING NEWS!
THE MYSTERIOUS HART FAMILY HEIRESS HAS RETURNED!
Future Chairwoman Amelia Hart Officially Enters Hart Group!
Pictures appeared across every screen.
A young woman stood beside Arthur Hart.
Elegant.
Confident.
Beautiful.
The entire business world went into chaos.
Inside Blackwell Group Headquarters, employees crowded around televisions.
"Oh my God."
"She's gorgeous."
"The Hart heiress actually exists?"
"She's even younger than expected."
Inside his office, Ethan casually glanced toward the television.
Then he froze.
The coffee cup slipped from his hand.
Crash.
The cup shattered across the floor.
But Ethan didn't notice.
Because the woman on the screen...
Was Amelia.
His Amelia.
His ex-wife.
The woman he had divorced less than twenty-four hours ago.
The entire world seemed to stop.
Ethan stared at the screen.
Unable to breathe.
Unable to think.
Unable to understand.
The television reporter smiled.
"Experts estimate Amelia Hart's personal wealth exceeds one hundred billion dollars, making her one of the richest women in the world."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then Ethan whispered one word.
"...Impossible."
But deep down...
He already knew it was true.
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