FIVE YEARS AFTER THE DIVORCE HE WANT ME BACK

The birthday party Norah and Lucas had just arrived at the grand banquet held in celebration of the 80th birthday of Mr. Johnson, one of the world's most powerful and influential billionaires. The magnificent hall glittered beneath crystal chandeliers, while world-renowned business tycoons, politicians, and wealthy elites from different countries filled the venue with lively conversations. Every guest carried an air of prestige, making it clear that only the most influential people had received an invitation. As Norah and Lucas stepped inside, their eyes wandered across the luxurious hall. Suddenly, Lucas froze in his tracks. His breathing caught, and his expression stiffened. Standing gracefully beside one of the entrance pillars was Isabella. She wore an elegant gown that perfectly complemented her figure. One hand rested lightly on her waist as she calmly observed the arriving guests, her posture radiating confidence and quiet authority. Norah followed Lucas's gaze and blinked repeatedly. "Isn't that... Isabella?" she whispered in disbelief. Lucas narrowed his eyes, almost doubting what he was seeing. "Yeah... but what exactly is she doing here?" he muttered, still staring at her. A faint scoff escaped his lips as he tried to convince himself. "I don't think that's really her. And even if it is, she's probably here to serve the guests." Norah nodded uncertainly before the two of them walked toward her. Hearing approaching footsteps, Isabella slowly turned her head. Her expression remained calm and unreadable. It was as though the two people standing before her were complete strangers. "Isabella?" Lucas called. The sound of his voice pierced through her like a sharp blade. For a brief moment, her heart tightened painfully, but years of heartbreak had taught her how to hide every emotion. Not a single feeling appeared on her face. Lucas stopped in front of her. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his brows furrowing with confusion. Isabella simply folded her arms across her chest. Her face remained composed, and her eyes carried neither anger nor affection. She did not answer. The silence between them became increasingly awkward. Just as Lucas was about to question her again, two tall, well-built men dressed in perfectly tailored black suits hurried toward Isabella. Their respectful expressions immediately caught everyone's attention. One of them bowed slightly. "Ma'am, your seat is ready," he said politely. Norah's eyes widened. She slowly turned to Lucas. "Did... did they just call her 'Ma'am'?" she whispered, unable to hide the shock in her voice. Lucas swallowed hard, his mind racing. Before either of them could react, Isabella gave a graceful nod and followed the two men deeper into the banquet hall without sparing Lucas another glance. Norah and Lucas instinctively followed her with their eyes. Then they saw it. The attendants escorted Isabella past the ordinary guest tables and straight toward the exclusive VIP section—a place reserved only for the most powerful and respected individuals in attendance. The luxurious seat prepared for her stood directly beside several internationally famous billionaires. Lucas's eyes widened until they could widen no more. His heartbeat pounded violently against his chest. "What...?" he murmured under his breath. Norah was equally speechless. From the elegant welcome ceremony to the personal attendants assigned to her, every detail made it obvious that Isabella was no ordinary guest. Even the crystal tableware before her was far more expensive than anything placed on Lucas and Norah's table. Lucas stared at Isabella, completely overwhelmed. Five years ago, he had divorced her without a second thought, believing she would never amount to anything. Now... She sat among the world's elite while he could only watch from a distance. His mind spun with countless unanswered questions. The caliber of men surrounding Isabella at the banquet was enough to make Lucas uneasy. Every one of them carried an air of power, wealth, and influence. Seeing her seated among such distinguished guests made his heart pound with fear and regret. Across the hall, Norah sat calmly at their table, completely unaware of the storm raging inside Lucas. The moment Isabella's eyes met Lucas's, memories she had buried for five long years came crashing back. Every promise, every sacrifice, every betrayal replayed vividly in her mind. Her heart tightened painfully. "He's the last person I ever expected to see here," she thought bitterly. "If I had known Lucas and Norah would be attending this banquet, I would never have accepted the invitation. I have only come here to humiliate myself." She forced herself to remain composed, refusing to let anyone see the pain hidden behind her calm expression. Not far away, Sherman Johnson, the only son of the billionaire host, Mr. Johnson, watched Isabella with quiet curiosity. There was something about her elegance and sadness that immediately caught his attention. Unable to remain seated, Isabella slowly rose from her chair, leaving her handbag behind on the table. She walked toward the grand staircase and stopped at the top, folding her arms tightly across her chest as she stared into the distance, completely lost in thought. A sudden touch on her shoulder startled her. "My goodness!" she gasped, spinning around in shock. The moment she saw Lucas standing before her, every trace of calm disappeared from her face. "What are you doing here?" she asked coldly, her voice sharp with anger. Earlier, Lucas had told Norah he was going to the restroom, but instead, he had followed Isabella. His eyes were already filled with regret. "I've missed you every single day for the past five years, Isabella," he said softly. "When I finally realized losing you was the greatest mistake of my life, I searched everywhere for you... but I couldn't find you." Isabella let out a bitter laugh. "Do you even hear yourself, Lucas?" Her eyes glistened with tears she desperately tried to hold back. "Do you know how many times you broke my heart? You made me feel worthless. After everything I sacrificed for you... after giving you my youth, my loyalty, and every ounce of my love... what did you give me in return?" Her voice trembled with pain. "You slept with my own best friend, Cynthia." Lucas lowered his head in shame. "And when I thought our relationship still had a chance... you ran back into the arms of your ex-girlfriend, Norah." She pointed toward the banquet hall. "The same Norah who abandoned you when the government seized everything you had worked for. When everyone walked away from you, I stayed." Tears finally rolled freely down her cheeks. "I sold my inheritance so we could fight your case in court. I stood beside you when the entire world turned its back on you. During those difficult days, you called me the best woman on earth. You thanked me every single day. You praised me in front of everyone." Every word struck Lucas like a knife twisting deeper into his heart. His breathing became heavier. He could barely look at her. "Honestly..." he whispered, his voice shaking. "I don't know what came over me." Isabella stared at him in disbelief. "You don't know what came over you?" She laughed through her tears. "So you don't know what came over you when you pushed me down the staircase?" Lucas froze. "You stood there and watched me tumble down those stairs over and over again while blood covered my body." Her voice cracked. "And instead of helping me... you walked into the bedroom with Norah." Silence swallowed the space between them. "I lost our baby that day." Lucas's face turned pale. His knees almost gave way. The weight of those words crushed whatever strength remained inside him. "I'm sorry..." he whispered helplessly. "Please... forgive me." Isabella slowly wiped away her tears. "I already forgave you once." Lucas looked up. "That was why I allowed you back into my life. I believed giving you another chance... even sharing my body with you again... would make you realize how much I loved you." She shook her head slowly. "But instead..." Her lips trembled. "You tapped me on the shoulder one morning and told me it was over." Fresh tears streamed down her face. "The woman who gave you everything suddenly became someone you could throw away." Before Lucas could speak again— "Lucas!" Norah's voice echoed from behind them. Isabella quickly wiped her tears before turning around, refusing to let Norah see even a single drop. Norah walked over, her eyes immediately landing on Isabella. "What are you doing with this trash?" she asked arrogantly, glaring at Isabella before turning to Lucas. At that exact moment, Sherman Johnson, Mr. Johnson's son, approached them. "Hello," Sherman said politely, extending his hand toward Isabella. Although they had never spoken before, Isabella accepted his handshake with a graceful smile. She simply wanted to avoid giving Lucas and Norah the satisfaction of seeing how deeply they had wounded her. "Would you mind accompanying me back inside?" Isabella asked gently. Sherman blinked in surprise. For the first time since he had noticed her that evening, she had spoken directly to him. A warm smile spread across his face. "It would be my pleasure." Without looking back at Lucas, Isabella walked beside Sherman into the banquet hall. They returned to her table and sat together, engaging in light conversation. She smiled politely, doing everything she could to hide the storm inside her heart. From a distance, Lucas watched them. The smile on his face had completely disappeared. His chest tightened painfully as jealousy slowly consumed him. Meanwhile, Norah silently swirled the wine inside her glass. Her lips pressed into a thin line. The sight of Isabella sitting comfortably beside Sherman Johnson filled her with uneasiness.