Chapter 3
810 Words
I stared at him, surprised but not shocked.
The second time I met Mike and treated him, my sharp eye had recognized him as the man ranked first on the Forbes rich list, even though the magazine had published only a photo of his back.
He was the richest man in the world, a multibillionaire many times over.
But since he never mentioned it, I pretended not to know and focused on doing my job.
Robert emerged from the fitting room looking thoroughly satisfied. The young pregnant woman beside him was less than 10 years older than my daughter. My fists clenched until my nails bit into my palms.
No wonder Robert hadn't wanted me lately. He had been getting his fill elsewhere.
He could have divorced me before starting a new relationship, but he had chosen to cheat instead.
What a bastard.
I watched him buy his mistress a 15,000-dollar gown without hesitation. Then he supported her tenderly as they walked away together, and fury burned in my eyes.
So that was how it was, Robert.
He could spend our marital assets on his mistress, but claimed we couldn't afford opportunities for our daughter?
Fine. I would cut him out of my life for good.
And I would make him repay every cent, with interest.
I drew a deep breath and looked at Mike. "I accept your help. Please tell me your terms."
Mike paused for two seconds, then chuckled. "Help me complete my recovery successfully. Though I know you would treat me with the same dedication even without that condition."
"Of course," I nodded.
Mike helped me choose a suitable gown, then brought in a professional hair and makeup team.
"If you want to prove your husband wrong," he said, "you should arrive looking unforgettable."
This time, I didn't refuse.
*****
Night fell, and the city lights came alive.
At the Axis Group's grand anniversary gala, elegantly dressed guests mingled beneath glittering lights, wineglasses in hand.
When Robert brought Daisy Owens over to his supervisor, Oliver Stroud, Oliver frowned. "What's going on? I've met your wife. This isn't her."
Robert saw no problem at all. "This is Daisy Owens, my date for the evening. As long as you don't say anything, Oliver, no one else will know, right?"
More importantly, bringing Bella would have been what truly ruined him.
After all, Bella was an orphan with no background or connections. She couldn't help his career in the slightest.
Oliver had no desire to interfere in a subordinate's private life, so he offered only one warning. "Don't let Mr. Maeschild find out. He despises infidelity more than anything."
"Of course." Robert didn't believe anything could go wrong. "When will Mr. Maeschild arrive?"
"The gala is about to begin, so he should be here any—" Before Oliver could finish, a tall, imposing figure appeared at the ballroom entrance.
His eyes lit up.
"There he is!
"But why did he bring a date? He never lets women get close to him, and he has never brought one to a gala before. Could she be his future wife?"
Oliver led Robert over to greet them.
As the pair approached, Robert marveled at them. The founder of the Axis Group certainly lived up to his reputation. His build and presence were unrivaled. The woman on his arm was just as striking. Although Robert couldn't see her face clearly, her aura wasn't overshadowed by Mr. Maeschild's in the slightest. If anything, they looked like an impeccably matched power couple.
Yet she seemed strangely familiar.
At the entrance, the woman wore a couture gown of midnight-blue velvet. Its clean, plunging neckline framed her graceful neck, while the high waist lengthened her silhouette. A thigh-high slit shifted with every step, offering glimpses of one long, slender leg.
Pigeon-blood ruby and diamond drops hung from her ears. A whisper-thin platinum chain circled her neck, set at its center with a simple yet unmistakably valuable square-cut emerald.
Her only ring was an unadorned wide diamond band on her right ring finger.
Her makeup was understated and elegant. Calm, sharp eyes swept lightly over the room, and an air of innate nobility and reserve made her look every inch a decisive queen.
The surrounding noise seemed to fade. Every gaze in the room was drawn to her.
Unaffected by the curiosity and awe coming from every direction, she walked with composed grace, one hand resting in the crook of Mike's arm.
"Oh my God, she's stunning. I feel like I'm looking at a queen!"
"That man must be the founder of our group. And his date isn't overshadowed by him at all. They look like two equally powerful people who belong together."
"Wow. Are they a couple?"
As the guests exclaimed over them, Robert finally saw the woman's face. His expression changed abruptly, and he blurted, "Bella?!"
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