Chapter 2 The Charity Masquerade Ball
1224 Words
Elijah's complexion lost all color in an instant. "What did you say?"
Charlotte inhaled deeply, her gaze steady and direct. "Sofia killed my baby. I won't just let this go. I'll take everything she prides herself on. As for you, you'll get the divorce papers soon. Now, get out. I don't ever want to see you again."
Pain shot through Elijah, intensifying as he clenched his fists. Blood trickled down his side, forming a small pool on the floor, unnoticed by Charlotte on the bed.
Elijah looked at her pasty face, pity stirring within him. He longed to explain everything to his innocent wife. However, just as his family's internal conflicts reached their peak, he'd been manipulated into a serious car accident...
"Just rest for now... we can talk later." He forced out those final words, fighting through his discomfort, before swiftly exiting the room.
Elijah couldn't afford to collapse in front of Charlotte. He didn't want to see her worried face.
Outside, a commotion erupted, and shouts filled the air, "Mr. Garcia?! Are you alright?! Help! Someone has fainted!"
Charlotte couldn't hear much of those sounds outside as if they were muffled by a heavy curtain.
Elijah's indifference was a knife twisting in her heart, shredding her cherished memories.
Eight years ago, she had fallen in love with him and abandoned her thriving acting career to devote herself to being a good wife.
She had naively believed that her sacrifices would eventually win his heart.
Yet in that ward, she recognized the bitter reality of her losses: two years of her life and an unborn child.
It was time to wake up from her romantic dream.
She dialed a phone number, and the moment the call connected, tears overwhelmed her. "Can you come get me... I want to go home!"
Shortly thereafter, several helicopters landed with roars on the hospital's rooftop helipad. A handsome man dressed in a sharp suit disembarked, phone in hand, flanked by bodyguards in black.
He gently reassured the person on the other end of the call before snapping his phone shut. His expression was pretty stern.
"Let's go bring Lady Charlotte home!"
"Copy that!" the group, invigorated, replied as they entered the hospital in sync.
The hospital director, alerted to that visit, hurried to the rooftop to greet them.
As he approached, bodyguards swiftly blocked him, preventing any closer contact.
The handsome man, commanding and dignified, gave the director a look so intense it was impossible to bear.
The director, his scalp tingling with fear, murmured to himself, "I have never seen this man in New York! Who is he? So formidable... And who is he here for?"
The man issued a stern directive, "Tell no one about what happened today." And then, he strode purposefully into the hospital.
*****
Three years later...
A cruise ship glided across the tranquil ocean, its course set toward a horizon bathed in moonlight.
Onboard, a charity masquerade ball was in full swing, attracting a host of esteemed guests from across the nation.
The evening was hosted by the owner of the cruise ship, who also happened to be the founder of the internationally acclaimed jewelry brand "Glimmer Gems."
The founder's consistent absence from the public eye had only fueled intrigue, drawing many attendees eager to uncover the mystery.
Among the attendees were not just the curious and the gossip-hungry, but also businessmen eager for partnership opportunities. Glimmer Gems had recently announced its intention to penetrate the domestic market, making its debut retail location a coveted prize among major malls.
And that evening, the main event was an auction of raw gemstones, with all proceeds destined for charity.
The atmosphere was alive with melodious dance tunes, the clink of glasses, and bursts of laughter.
Upstairs in a private lounge, Elijah stood by the window when Amelia entered with a glass of champagne.
She was about to speak when the door swung open and Daniel Clark's voice boomed through the room. "Elijah! Have you seen those gemstones yet? I need some pointers!"
Noticing the imminent discussion, Amelia tactfully excused herself.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Daniel plopped down beside Elijah and ribbed him, "She's been trailing you for years. Aren't you the slightest bit interested?"
Elijah scowled. "Spare me the commentary."
Unfazed, Daniel continued, "I'm just saying... Bro, it's been three years since your divorce. Are you planning to live the bachelor life forever?"
That gave Elijah pause. Had it already been three years?
That day after he fainted outside Charlotte's room, she was whisked away by an unknown party, and all he had received was the divorce papers she had signed.
Since then, there had been no word from her, as if she had disappeared off the face of the earth.
"Man, Amelia is a catch. She's got looks and pedigree. She’s more than a match for a divorced man like you. Would you just..." Daniel prodded.
Elijah's icy stare finally made him stop.
Daniel reclined, switching topics with a shake of his head. "Did you hear? Matthew wants to meet the Glimmer Gems founder. Hard to believe that Williams Jewellery, once a leader in the industry, has stooped to riding the coattails of a newcomer."
The Williams family, once jewelers to the elite and Sofia's maternal family, had seen more prosperous times. Williams Jewellery had stagnated under the leadership of Matthew Williams, whose conservative designs failed to resonate with modern aesthetics.
Due to the family's decline, Sofia had lost her backbone. That was why she had eased tensions within the Garcia family in recent years. This paved the way for Elijah to seamlessly assume leadership of the Garcia Group three years prior.
As the banquet was about to start, Elijah and his friends made their way downstairs, quickly catching the attention of some eagle-eyed attendees who recognized the head of the Garcia family. They eagerly approached to shower him with flattery.
Suddenly, the crowd fell silent at the sound of high heels clicking on the stairs. as all eyes shifted toward the sound.
Thomas Robinson, the eldest heir of San Francisco's esteemed Robinson family, descended the stairs, instantly commanding the room's attention.
He carried himself with an impeccable posture and a commanding presence, his handsome features and regal demeanor suggesting he had everything firmly under control.
Beside him stood a woman who garnered even more intense scrutiny.
She was clad in a stunning deep red evening gown that glittered with countless tiny diamonds, dazzling the crowd. The gown embraced her figure perfectly, highlighting her elegant curves with a grace that made each step she took seem like a dance.
Her mask, a masterpiece of red velvet, was adorned with diamonds of all sizes at the corners, shone like a galaxy. Accentuated with a teardrop diamond starting at three carats under her eyes, it added a touch of splendor to her appearance.
Her long hair flowed over her shoulders, and the slight curve of her red lips beneath the mask lent her an air of mystery and allure. Even with the mask, it was clear she was extraordinarily beautiful.
The pair engaged in light, easy conversation, appearing to be a perfect match.
From across the room, Elijah caught a glimpse of the woman through the throng, sending a jolt through him.
Could it be her? Could it really be... Charlotte?
- Writer
