THE BILLIONAIRE'S BROKEN VOW

CELESTE “You ready?” Hannah—my assistant—asked. I mustered a smile and slowly nodded in response. She clasped her hands in mine, giving me a small smile as a way of encouragement. I knew I wasn't nervous. In fact, I was more confident than ever. It’s been three years since I've seen him. The man who ruined me. He thought he'd broken me, but I'd show him that I've risen back up and I am ten times stronger. I could remember that day like it was yesterday—the day he betrayed me and handed me those divorce papers. I had been with him from the start, building the company together with him, but he threw it all away and didn't look back. Now I am back—more confident and stronger. The car pulled over in front of a hall where the annual charity gala was taking place. I stared at the hall for milliseconds, remembering it like it was yesterday. I could never forget coming here with Dominic for the Vance Charity Gala. But then, I was known as just Dominic’s wife, with no other title attached to my name. This time was different. I was not his wife anymore. I was now the CEO of Moreau Atelier—my fashion empire. The chauffeur opened the door, and I stepped out of my Rolls-Royce. Immediately, the paparazzi surrounded us, flashing cameras in my face and asking me tons of questions. My bodyguards came into place quickly, trying to protect me from them, but I didn't mind much. As I made my way through the red carpet, I could hear their whispers, but I didn't pay attention to that—just smiled for the camera. “Miss Moreau, it’s been three years since you last made an appearance! Does this mean you're back together with Mr. Vance?” “Miss Moreau, is there any reason for your divorce from Mr. Vance?” “Is there anyone in particular you're interested in seeing tonight?” They all bombarded me with a bunch of questions that I didn't care to reply to. Hannah came to my rescue afterward. “She's not going to answer any of your questions. Please, respect her privacy.” We started making our way inside, then I paused and turned to them. “I am not getting back with Dominic, and for the rest of your questions,” I paused, “wait and watch what unfolds tonight.” I entered the hall, and since they weren't allowed inside, they didn't follow me in. All heads turned upon my entry, and all eyes were on me. As I walked deeper into the marble halls, the soft murmur of expensive laughter floated around me like perfume. I could feel their eyes on me—the subtle tilt of heads as whispers spread faster than champagne. “The ex-wife.” “The scandal.” “She looks colder now.” They said it like I couldn’t hear them. But I did. I heard every syllable, every hushed tone dripping with fascination and pity. Once, those whispers would have made my heart race and my hands shake. Now, they only fueled the fire already burning inside me. I lifted my chin and smiled—not because I was happy, but because I knew how much it disarmed them. Confidence was the one thing they could never take from me again. As I moved across the hall, the glittering lights reflected off my silver gown—one of my own designs. It was a statement: that I no longer needed Dominic Vance’s name to be seen. I had built my empire from the ruins he left me in. Every stitch of that dress was a quiet rebellion. People greeted me—fake smiles, fake admiration, fake curiosity. I returned each greeting with perfect politeness. Because I knew he was here. And when I finally saw him across the ballroom, everything else faded away. Dominic Vance. Tall, commanding, dressed in black that made his eyes look even colder. The crowd seemed to part for him naturally. For a moment, my breath hitched—not from longing, but from the sheer force of memory. Three years, and still, my body remembered him before my mind did. He turned slightly, and our eyes met. It was like the room fell silent. His gaze locked on mine. I saw something he couldn’t hide fast enough—shock, or maybe even regret. My lips curved into a smile. I wanted him to see what he’d lost—not the woman he destroyed, but the one who rose from the ashes he created. I held his stare for a moment longer, then turned away deliberately. Let him be the one left standing there. Hours later, I found myself alone on the balcony, needing air. The city glittered below while the sound of the party blurred behind glass doors. I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly, trying to steady the storm brewing inside me. Then I heard it—that voice. “You shouldn’t have come back, Celeste.” I turned slowly, my pulse jumping despite my calm façade. He stood there in the dim light, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable. Only his eyes betrayed him—that flicker of anger and something else I couldn’t name. I met his gaze squarely. “Then maybe you shouldn’t have betrayed me.” For a long second, neither of us spoke. I wanted to believe I felt nothing, but my heart didn’t get the message. It beat too fast, too hard. He took a step closer, the space between us shrinking until I could smell his cologne—the same scent I’d once loved, the one that still haunted my nightmares. “You came back for me, didn’t you?” His voice was softer now, almost a whisper, but the arrogance was still there. “All this… the dress, the headlines, the sudden return. It’s all for me.” I let out a quiet laugh. “You really think the world still revolves around you, Dominic?” His jaw clenched. “It always did, Celeste. You just stopped admitting it.” I took a step closer, matching his energy, forcing him to see what he’d done to me—what I’d become because of him. “You don’t get to twist this into some fantasy. You broke me once, but that woman died the moment you handed me those papers.” He said nothing, but I could see it in his eyes—the guilt, the confusion, the want. And maybe that was what hurt the most. That after everything, a part of me still wanted him to regret it. I leaned in slightly, my voice barely above a whisper. “No, Dominic. I didn’t come back for you.” I let the words linger between us, sharp and final. “I came back to destroy you.”