He Chose Power, She Found Love

clusive summit. He and his new fiancée, Destany, publicly humiliated me,

old son, Justus, ran

ve, Destany snatch

ow-born commoner who had kidnapped a child of nob

my arms back. He ordered them to take my son away and deal with me. I scream

promised me everything was now helping to rip

o the room, forcing everyone to their knees. A tall, imposing figure appe

pte

ora'

ft hum of the exclusive business summit, slicin

fficer. Some people just d

ood just meters away, his words dripping with a calcu

e spoke to the entire room, ensuring every po

glint in his eyes. He looked exactly as I remembered, only more polished, more predatory. H

. Ruthless. But somewhere along the

g open then, revealing Clay's

liquid starlight, entered on his arm. Heads turned, conversatio

wning voices ros

any! What a

couple ha

, an unstoppabl

for a fleeting moment, met mine across the crowded room. There was a flicker of

ard him say, his voice carr

tany purred, her voice sweet as poison.

nounce that our wedding will be held at the end of the year, a celebr

ed chatter spread

d

y was pressuring them for a quick marriage to seal a critical busi

do anything for power, that love was a luxury he couldn't afford. He had t

y the

dge with new information. There was a piece miss

cough interrup

Henderson," stood over me. His expensive cologne, thick and cloying, assaulte

dn't I tell you this area was restricted? You look like yo

amed "poor" to him. My hair, pulled back in a no-nonsense bun, probably jus

for something that belongs to me, a very important item that was lost. I believe it might ha

g an even deeper shade of crimson. "We've had enough trouble

e polite hum of conversation died down,

ad cocked slightly. His eyes, sharp and calculating, traversed the room

. Martinez, my apologies, sir. Just handling a... minor inconve

ened into chips of ice. He gave a curt nod. "Indeed, Henderson

rd, his beefy hand reaching for my arm. "You heard the man. Let's go, pea

e," I warned, my voice low but firm. "I am simply trying to retr

his? A stolen serviette? Perhaps a dropped coin from a wealthy guest?" He gestured to the floor where I had been searching. "And l

is time for my shoulder,

r me. This man was a nuisance, a minor obstacle. I ba

's voice cut in, sharp an

looking confused. "But Mr. Martinez, s

on his face. "What is it you're looking for, Elenora? Trying to salvage some scraps of our

r those nearby to hear. "Don't act like this, Elenora. It's beneat

smug expression, now linked her arm possessively throug

e people just can't move on, can they? It's really quite sad. Perhaps it's time to accept your station, Elenora. There's no sham

n, Destany," I replied, my voice smooth as silk. "I wish you both all the happiness you deserve

gain, ignoring their shocked expressions. Justus. My little boy. This was for him. His tiny, custom-made locket, a

muttered, more to mys

fetime. Leave before I call the real police." He paused, a strange look flickering across his face, a mix of contempt and something else

er pathetic game you're playing, it's over. Our story ended five years ago. There's nothing

gust. "And for God's sake, Elenora, fix yourself. You

ed. My eyes were fixed on a glint beneath a ve

. Just as my hand closed around the familiar shape of the locket, Cl

. His jaw dropped. "Is that... is that his?" A cold sweat broke out on his foreh