Chapter 002
1328 Words
One year later.
“You’ll make every woman in Miami feel insecure, Little sister,” Fernando said as he popped another chip into his mouth.
I set my diamond necklace down, narrowing my eyes at him.
“Why not?” I offered a tight smile, “Today is all about me and if they cannot take the heat then they shouldn’t attend in the first place,”
The dark-haired man chuckled, tossing his head back before getting up. “Everyone should bow at your feet and kiss it, just like this,” He fell at my feet but I stopped him from pressing his lips to my feet.
“No, Fer, you are older! It would be an insult!” I blurted with wide eyes but he shrugged.
“An insult is what that monster did to you,” Fernando’s eyes darkened as he spoke.
I frowned.
“You dedicated so many years of your life to him just so he could treat you like that? Like a good-for-nothing?”
I caught the tear that was about to roll down my cheek. “Aiden Wood's reign has come to an end, brother and I will personally reverberate it today.” I turned, locking eyes with him.
“After my launch — After he sees me, when our eyes meet. The score will be settled.”
“Or perhaps he needs to be a few feet under as well... ” I froze for a few seconds weighing his words.
The silence was thick but before I could speak, he burst out laughing. “It was a joke,” He brushed it off. “Can you not take a joke, sister?”
I rolled my eyes and walked out of the room, heading down the halls, Fernando barely caught up and when he finally did, we were outside, ready to enter the car.
The taller man paused to hand over my necklace, I reached for it but he simply draped it over my neck, clipping it behind.
“The most expensive jewel for the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“You have your way with words, we will be late,” I brushed past him and entered the car.
The drive to the Grande Hall took over an hour.
When we finally arrived, a smile spread across my lips at the crowd waiting.
I hoped Aiden accepted the invitation from the Oroy family — he had to.
Emmaline Conners Oroy, herself had invited him.
The heiress to the wealthiest conglomerate in Miami. Everyone, even presidents, was dying to meet me.
Yet he had me as his wife for three long years and all he did was humiliate and mock my love.
He broke my heart and left no crumbs. Now, I would give him a befitting response.
I stepped out of the car with Fernando’s help and walked into the grand hall.
As the doors opened, every single head turned to me and Fernando wrapped his hands around me. I took majestic steps toward the stage.
I put everything on hold when I chose to marry Aiden six years ago.
My designs, dreams, and career.
Now, I would get it all back. I assumed my position to make him regret his decisions.
“I’m grateful to everyone who has attended this year’s exhibition, as you must have noticed, for the first time in six long years, we have the designs made by Emm—“
“What are you doing here?!”
I spun in the direction of the voice and it took me a few seconds to register that the person had charged toward me.
Thankfully, the guards restrained — her.
Oh.
The Mistress.
The other woman.
“Elena?” I mused, glancing at her caked-up foundation and skimpy dress.
“I thought you’d hide your face in shame and not parade your clownery over here, especially since despite one long year, that finger is still vacant.” I gestured at her hand as she fumed, fighting against the guards.
“You’re the shameless one!” She boomed and everyone gasped.
“Everyone knows you probably slept your way into this event! Or maybe, you’re here to steal my—“
“Your, what?” I asked, stepping up.
“What do you have that is worthy of being taken? You took my problem, you took my biggest mistake and I’ve taken anything from you. If I did, he wouldn’t be yours, right?” I crossed my arms.
“But even today, despite being all decked up, Aiden cannot take his eyes off me.”
“Emmaline!” She boomed, glaring daggers into my skin.
“Keep my name out of your filthy mouth and while you are at it?” I closed the distance between us.
“It’s Miss. Oroy to you.”
“That’s impossible! Who? Who gave her an invitation? Who?!” She raged and my eyes finally caught Aiden’s.
My breath hitched, a lump growing in my throat — For the past year, I did everything to prepare for this moment, but now he was in front of me, so close…
“Emmaline,” I hated the way my name sounded on his lips, so familiar yet somehow so foreign.
At that moment, I understood what it meant to go from being Lovers to strangers.
But did I even matter to Aiden? Never.
There was not a moment when he loved me.
“I hate repeating myself,” I found my voice and glared at him. “My name is Miss. Oroy. Heavy on the last name, ensure to remember it.”
“You…” Aiden seemed speechless. He parted his lips and closed them over and over again. “What are you…”
“What am I doing here? Why am I here? Who am I here with? That’s not your business, Mr. Wood. I invited you to watch and not ask questions, do you understand?”
“Do you?” Fernando boomed from behind and Aiden shot him a glare before speaking.
“Who is he?” He growled as his eyes darkened.
The sound of whispers around us reminded me that we were in front of the press, camera clicks followed and I frowned, turning to them.
“Thank you so much for being here, after six long years of being on a hiatus, I am glad to finally be back and once again, manage my industries.” I added, “I hope you’ll put your faith in me once again after unveiling my new collection.”
As if on cue, the curtains came off and several antique designs were displayed. Sitting in their radiant glory.
Growing up, designing was something I took great pride in. My father believed in my dreams and allowed me to explore them.
Turns out he was right, my designs made us thrice as wealthy and when I went on hiatus, we were already the wealthiest family in Miami.
While I was away we were attacked on all sides with new designs, evolving and copying our patterns.
Now that I was back, I intended to keep my place and of course, remind everyone who had tried to pull us down that there was only one Elite Designer and it was me.
Emmaline Conner Oroy.
“Come, everyone is celebrating, let us dance,” Fernando murmured in my ear, I caught Aiden glaring at him and grinned.
“Yes,” I obliged and followed my brother to the dance floor.
I placed his hand on my waist and he frowned in confusion. I shrugged in response and gestured at Aiden who was fuming.
Fernando rolled his eyes and a smirk appeared on his lips.
He leaned toward me and pulled me closer, pretending to whisper into my ear when we were forcefully pulled apart.
One moment, we were dancing and the next, Fernando was on the ground, cradling his broken nose while Aiden towered over him.
- Writer
