Chapter 6

ERIC'S POV

The moment I see her, the world narrows to just one person. Mia.

For a moment, time stops.

Her smile fades—not much, but enough that I know she recognizes me. My heart slams against my ribs like it’s trying to break free. She looks away almost instantly and her action stings more than it should.

“You alright, Manuel?” Gerald’s voice snaps me back to the present.

“Yeah.” My voice is hoarse, but I clear my throat and force a smile. “I’m fine.”

Gerald speaks “Well, I’ve got to head out for a bit. You should mingle. I’m sure you’ll find someone interesting to talk to.”

He turns back to Mia "Thank you once again for gracing us with your presence"

Mia smiles "It's fine, really. It's a lovely exhibition"

Gerald smiles at her before walking away and disappearing into the crowd.

I don’t move. My feet are glued to the floor as I watch Mia. She moves on to another painting, acting like I don't exist. She's beautiful, poised and very composed. I, on the other hand, feel like I’m falling apart.

I walk over to her. I need to talk to her.

“Mia,” I breathe.

She stares at the painting in front of her. She doesn't even bother to look at me “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Believe me, I’m just as surprised,” I admit. “I didn’t even know you were… here.”

“Here?” She raises an eyebrow. “In this city? In this industry? What exactly didn’t you know, Eric?”

“All of it,” I say honestly. “The last I heard, you were still in jail…” I trail off, unsure how to finish.

She doesn’t help me out. Instead, she smirks "Things happen and people change"

“You’re telling me,” I mutter.

I can't seem to stop myself from staring. She’s so different, and yet, underneath the poise and the polish, she’s still the same Mia I once married. I know she is.

“I’m sorry, but I have other people I need to talk to tonight,” she says as she walks away.

“Wait.” The word comes out more desperate than I want it to but I don't care. She pauses. “Are you really going to pretend we don’t know each other?”

She sighs, and for the first time, the façade slips. She looks at me—really looks at me—and I see the hurt in her eyes “I’m not pretending anything. But whatever we were… it’s in the past. You hurt me, remember? Let's keep things between us strictly professional. If we have to interact, it’ll be for business. Nothing more.”

I swallow the lump that's formed in my throat “You can’t just—”

“Yes, I can,” she interrupts “Goodbye, Eric.”

With that, she turns and walks away.

I stand there, rooted to the spot, unable to process what just happened.

The woman I once called my wife—the woman I thought I knew better than anyone—just walked away like I was a stranger.

And for the first time in years, I feel truly lost.

How did she get out of jail? How did she become a business mogul in a few years?

I have a lot of questions and it seems like I need to do a lot of digging.

MIA'S POV

I walk quickly toward my car. Inside, I have a lot of emotions but I do my best to keep myself in check. Seeing Eric again had been a punch to the face I didn’t expect tonight.

How dare he look at me like that? Like he didn’t destroy me all those years ago?

I keep my face calm. It's the perfect mask I’ve learned to wear over the years. The world knows me as Mia Williams now, a name that commands respect. But beneath this name I've made for myself is a woman who remembers every betrayal, every lie, and every wound Eric left behind.

As I approach my car, my hand trembles as I press the unlock button. The car beeps in response, but I hesitate before opening the door. My breath hitches. For a moment, the memories threaten to take over. Eric’s voice, his lies, the cheating, the suffocating walls of that prison cell.

“Mia.”

As soon as I hear the voice, I freeze. I turn slowly.

It’s him. Eric.

“What do you want?” I ask.

He steps closer “I need answers.”

I scoff “Answers? You didn’t care about answers when you ruined my life. Why should I give you anything now?”

His jaw tightens, and for a moment, he looks like the Eric I used to love, the man who could charm me with just a smile. But I remind myself that man was a lie.

“You can’t be real,” he says “The Mia I knew is gone. She's supposed to be in jail.”

“Well, maybe she is,” I snap. “And good riddance. She was a fool to believe in you.”

Eric grabs my arm “How did you do it? How did you get out? And how the hell did you end up here, like this?”

I pull my arm free, glaring at him. “That’s none of your business.”

“You owe me an explanation!” he shouts.

I laugh bitterly. “I owe you nothing, Eric. You took everything from me, my dignity, my life. And now you have the audacity to demand answers?”

“How did you get so successful? What did you do, Mia? Who did you sell yourself to? How many men did you have to—”

The slap comes before I even realize I’ve moved. I slap him hard across the face. The sound echoes throughout the parking lot. Eric stares at me, stunned.

“How dare you?” I whisper.

Eric recovers quickly “You think you’re better than me now? You’re still the same Mia,desperate and pathetic.”

Before I can respond, I hear another voice.

“What are you doing with her?”

I turn to see Alexander walking towards us. His presence is commanding as usual. His sharp suit glints under the streetlights and his expression is cold as ice. My heart skips at the sight of him.

Alexander steps between us, glaring at Eric "I believe Mia has told you to leave her alone. I suggest you listen.”

“You’re kidding me. Her?" Eric says "You know ti's pathetic bitch?"

Alexander’s jaw tightens, but he remains composed. “Watch your words.”

Eric scoffs “Do you even know what kind of woman she is? She’s a liar, a—”

“That’s enough,” Alexander interrupts.

Alexander turns to me and his hand rests lightly on the small of my back. The touch is calming

“Come on, Mia. We’re leaving.” he says.

He starts to guide me away, but Eric’s voice stops us.

“I see you haven’t changed,” Eric sneers. “You’re just the same as you were years ago—always running, always hiding.”

I stiffen, but Alexander doesn’t stop.

Eric isn’t done. “What’s your angle, Alexander? Why are you so interested in my ex-wife?”

Alexander turns back. Then he drops the bombshell.

“Because your ex-wife is my wife.” Alexander says.