The Tycoon Reluctant Bride

Thee Gala andd thee Ex

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*Chapter 3: The Gala and The Ex*

The dress was red.

Not the black Damian asked for.

“Mr. Adeleke said black, ma,” the stylist said, holding up 3 boring gowns.

“And I said red,” I replied.

If I was going to be a trophy wife, I’d at least pick my own trophy color.

7PM. The driver opened the door to the Lagos Grand Ballroom. Cameras flashed. Billionaires in tuxedos. Women in diamonds.

And then he stepped out beside me.

Damian.

Black suit. Black tie. Face like stone. But when he saw my red dress, his jaw ticked.

“You were told to wear black,” he muttered, offering me his arm.

“You said ‘don’t embarrass me’. Red doesn’t embarrass. It stands out,” I whispered back.

He didn’t argue. He just pulled me closer.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the host announced. “Mr. Damian Adeleke and his wife, Mrs. Amara Adeleke.”

Wife. The word echoed.

We walked in. People stared. Whispered.

“Who is she?”

“He’s never brought a woman before.”

“She’s too young for him.”

I smiled. Rule #2. Appear together. Don’t embarrass him.

Then I saw her.

A woman in white. Tall. Perfect hair. Walking straight to us with a glass of champagne.

Damian’s whole body went stiff beside me.

“Damian,” she said, voice sweet and poison. “It’s been a while.”

Damian’s eyes were cold. “What do you want, Tolu?”

Tolu. The ex.

She looked me up and down. From my borrowed shoes to my red dress. Then she laughed.

“Oh. So this is the replacement? Cute.”

My chest tightened.

Damian stepped in front of me. “Don’t talk to my wife.”

His wife.

Tolu’s smile dropped. “Wife? You? You swore you’d never marry again after what I did to you.” She turned to me. “Ask him why his last engagement ended, sweetie. Ask him why he’s so proud and so cold.”

The room went quiet.

Damian’s hand found mine. His grip was tight. Angry.

“We’re leaving,” he said.

“No,” I said. My voice shook but I said it. “We just got here.”

I looked at Tolu. “If you have something to say about my husband, say it to me. Not behind me.”

Tolu blinked. Surprised.

“Feisty. He’ll get bored of you in a month.”

She walked away, laughing.

The moment she was gone, Damian let go of my hand.

“Why did you do that?” he asked. Low. Furious.

“Because she was lying,” I said. “And because rule #2 says appear together. So we appear together.”

He stared at me. For the first time, there was something other than coldness in his eyes. Confusion.

“Fine,” he said. “Stay. But stay close.”

For the rest of the night, he didn’t let go of me. Not once.

In the car on the way home, he didn’t speak. Until we got to the mansion.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. “For not running.”

Then he went to his room.

I went to mine.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about one thing Tolu said:

_“After what I did to you.”_

What did she do?

And why does a proud man like Damian Adeleke still look hurt when he hears her name?

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*[End of Chapter 3]*

*Author’s Note:* TOLU HAS ENTERED THE CHAT 😭 Who else wants to know what she did to Damian?? Comment "MORE" if you want Chapter 4 fast! ❤️