THE DISABLED EX-WIFE’S RETURN

CHAPTER SIX:KARA

Roman and I take our seats near the front, and almost immediately, I spot Noah on a nearby table with Vanessa Monroe. I’d found out through a reliable source that they had gotten married even before I fully recovered in London.

That was the day I stopped feeling the hurt, the pain and shame from all I went through.

That was the day my need for revenge was born.

Noah has a lazy, uninterested smile on his face as Vanessa whispers something to him.

He’s still as handsome as ever, that’s something I can’t deny. But his beauty is a huge contrast to the ugly monster that exists inside of him.

And her. Vanessa.

Her blonde hair has been tied in a ponytail, leaving her slender neck and collarbone exposed.

The damn b***h who stole my son from me.

I’m back to reclaim everything that I lost that day.

“No need to make it obvious you’re undressing your ex-husband with your eyes, Kara.” Roman’s voice cuts through my thoughts, bringing me back to the present.

“f**k you, Roman,” I scoff, pouring myself a glass of wine. “You have no idea what I’m doing.”

The award ceremony has already started, and Elijah Bennett has called a few dignitaries to receive their awards on stage.

We’re here on behalf of Maximus, Roman’s father. Not that he couldn’t be here, but us going instead of him was a part of his master plan.

I swirl the wine in the glass for a few seconds before I lift the glass to my lips to take a sip.

“Enlighten me, then,” he mutters, his eyes dropping to my mouth and back to my eyes. “We’re supposed to be in this together. I need to know if you’re planning on tackling or strangling him at an event like this.”

My head jerks back slightly at the irony of his words. “Right. We’re supposed to be in this together, but whenever it comes to you—”

Roman smirks, leaning back in his seat. “My business is mine, Kara. You’re aware of that. Your business, however…” He arches his brow. “It’s ours. That’s our agreement, isn’t it? You’re not the only one after the Hawthornes.”

I roll my eyes, not wanting to admit how right he is. It’s part of the rules he laid for me the night he asked me to marry him. “Don’t ask any questions,” he’d said. “Not how, not when, not why.”

I open my mouth to give him a snarky reply, but a loud, deep voice sounds through the microphone. It’s a voice that is all so very familiar to me.

A voice that was sweet to me one moment and brutal the next.

I hadn’t even noticed when Noah walked onto the stage, but now, my attention is on him. I feel my jaw tick as he taps the mic with his fingers, a gold-plated award plaque in his other hand.

“Tonight, we celebrate excellence in business and leadership,” he starts fluently. “This Legacy Award is being presented to Maximus Sterling, founder of Sterling International and former chair of the Global Commerce Council. Unfortunately, he is not available, but in his absence, the award will be accepted by his son…”

There’s a shift in the atmosphere as Noah pauses. And all of a sudden, Maximus sending us here instead of being here himself, makes so much sense.

I feel all eyes on our table as Noah announces, “Mr. Roman Sterling.”

Roman doesn’t look at me, but I notice the way the corner of his mouth twitches.

Everyone from every corner starts to applaud, and then Roman rises from his seat, towering over me.

I watch him, expecting him to invite me up to the stage with him, but he doesn’t.

Roman leaves me behind on our table as he walks toward the stage.

Something hot burns in my chest.

The evil bastard.

The cameras follow behind Roman, flashing nonstop, and when he climbs up the stage, Noah steps forward to hand the gold plaque to him.

They shake hands briefly as Roman accepts the award, and then he walks up to the mic as Noah steps away from it.

“My father couldn’t be here tonight, but he sends his regards,” he says with that polished indifference that people usually mistake for charm.

But Roman has no interest in being charming. He speaks to be heard. He raises the plaque in his hand. “He would also want me to acknowledge the incredible minds continuing this legacy, not just in business, but in vision.”

He pauses, letting his words sink in. And then he quietly surveys the small crowd for a full minute before his cold, green eyes land on mine. Even from where I sit, they remain mesmerizing.

He wasn’t looking for me. He just really enjoys being f*****g insufferable. Even from here, I can see the tiny smirk on his face.

Maximus is definitely going to hear about this. Roman was supposed to make the big announcement, letting everyone know that I’m the woman he’s secretly been married to for three years while we were in London.

But he just left me on the table.

“And on that note,” he continues, “It is my honor to announce that Domaine S., which has become one of England's top-performing luxury wine houses in just three years, has officially launched its Seattle branch, with exclusive distribution rights tied to Sterling International.”

The room stirs. There isn’t a single person in this room who doesn’t know Domaine S.

However, one thing about business is that people only show you what they want you to know.

“Effective immediately,” Roman adds, his voice curt and deep. “Domaine S. is expanding operations across the West Coast.”

More stirring, more murmurs and whispers. And then, Roman tilts his head slightly, so he’s looking directly at me.

A dark look crosses his eyes, and when he speaks, his voice is lower and a little bit soft.

That’s when I realize what he’s doing.

“And none of this would be possible without my darling wife, who has been the brains of this operation, and the founder of Domaine S.” He pauses. “Kara Sterling.”

My mouth pops open, because, even though I was aware of the announcements Roman was going to make, I had no idea that he would do it this way.

But then, Roman’s voice cuts through my thoughts, his voice echoing throughout the hall. “Come here, darling.” The microphone amplifies the deepness of his voice, and I hate the way shivers run down my spine from the way he’s looking at me.

The way he calls me darling.

I stand up from my seat as everyone claps, and then I begin to approach the stage, my heart pounding in my ears.

But all that initial fear and nervousness escapes me the moment my eyes land on the person who has just come to lend me a hand.

It all transforms into pure, hot hatred as Noah Hawthorne stretches a hand out, attempting to help me up the stage steps.

“I can walk,” I say, making sure to keep the bite in my tone as I speak.

And that’s when Noah looks at me.

Really looks at me.

His mouth drops open and he jerks backward as if I’ve just pushed him. “K–K–Kara?” he stutters.

This reaction? The way his eyes widen and his jaw practically being on the floor?

This. This is what I’m here for.

I tilt my head slightly. “Why so shocked, Noah?” I purr, jutting out my bottom lip. “Did you think I was dead?”