*Story Title: "The Ice I Became*Chapter 1

--- *Chapter 1: The Day I Stopped Waiting* I waited. Every single time. I forgave. Every single time. All for one mistake. But the day he called me his "option" in front of everyone... That's the day I ended. That's the day Alia died. --- The ballroom was full of light, champagne, and people who pretended they cared. He was standing on the stage, holding a microphone, with her on his arm. The girl he had been hiding for months. And me? I was standing in the crowd, wearing the dress he bought me for our anniversary. Someone pushed the mic towards him. He laughed. "Guys, relax. Alia is just an option. My real priority is here." He pulled the other girl closer. The whole room went silent. Then they laughed. My phone buzzed in my hand. A message from my assistant: `Ms. Alia, the merger papers are ready. Sign now and the company is yours.` I looked at him one last time. The man I loved. The man I waited for. The man who just called me disposable in front of 200 people. I smiled. Cold. Empty. And I walked out. That night, I didn't cry. I signed. --- *2 Years Later* The name "A. Queen" was on every business magazine. CEO of Queen Holdings. Net worth: 2.1 Billion. Cold. Ruthless. Untouchable. I don't do parties anymore. I own them. I don't wait for calls. People wait for mine. And tonight... he was back. The invitation said "Annual Gala - Hosted by Rayan Corp" Rayan. His last name. My assistant asked, "Cancel the meeting, Ma'am?" I adjusted my black gown. Diamond choker. Red lips. "No," I said. "Tell him the Queen is coming." The ballroom was the same. The lights were the same. But I was not. And then I saw him. Taller. Older. Tired. His eyes found mine across the room and froze. Because the girl he called "option" was now the woman everyone wanted to be. He took a step towards me. "Alia—" I raised one finger. My assistant stepped between us. "Ms. Queen doesn't do conversations with ex-options." I walked past him. The scent of his cologne still the same. My heart? Ice. But when I reached the stage to give my speech, I felt it. His eyes. Burning into my back. Game on, Rayan. You wanted to see what happens when you break someone? Now watch what happens when she becomes unbreakable. --- *End of Chapter 1*