006

Xavier's POV

Almyra was here!

I could almost smell and feel her, but she wasn't with me!

Kitara desperately tried to cling to my arm as we walked out of the bathroom, but I was too focused on the man Almyra had locked her hands with. The only problem was that he wasn't me, and I so desperately longed to tear him away from her.

My mom kept throwing snide remarks as we sat down, and she mentioned a name that stuck: The Stone Triplets. I couldn't help but wonder how she knew those boys who frequented the news daily.

I watched as she laughed at what her escort said before rubbing her hand over his arm.

My blood boiled as I fumed at the sight of them that way—not just my blood boiling but also my heart growing heavy with annoyance. She belonged beside me. 

"Your ex-wife seems to have hit the jackpot because her necklace was at the last auction I attended and sold for five million dollars," Mom said, eyeing her with nothing but malice.

I wondered who this Almyra was. From where did her sudden decision to leave me come? The money she returned to me was worse but tripled the amount. 

She was already really either well-to-do or not.

No! It was unlike Almyra. I refused to believe that Almyra was like that. For the past three years, we had been still married, and even though I hadn't been mostly around, I had slightly observed her to be quite timid and reserved.

She had no friends, nor did she have to give anyone a listening ear when she went out.

I gave her everything a woman wanted: money and freedom, but her request for a divorce still surprised me every time. The thought never crossed my mind.

"That foolish girl!" Kitara's voice snapped me from my thoughts. Seeing as she had my attention, she continued, "Don't try to mind her, Xavier. She's shameless! I can't believe she left you for that guy for the sake of money! She's so desperate, and God knows how much I hate desperate people!" 

Her words struck me, and I asked, "He's the one she is with now? "

"Damn right!" Kitara replied as she went on, "There's no way the Stone brothers would notice someone like her at all, so she must have traded her body to them. Rumor has it that she is in a physical relationship with the man that just took her away.. as well as the brothers, probably..." 

I was stunned.

Was Almyra capable of this?

A few minutes ago, I couldn't believe I didn't know what to say in front of her. 

After all this time, I didn't know how else to begin my conversation with Almyra, which surprised me. A confident CEO of one of the most prestigious companies in the city and almost the entire country, a highly regarded individual like myself shuddered in the presence of this girl. For the first time, I felt defeated by myself, and for the first time, I felt unsure of what to say or how to act. 

Whatever the effect Almyra left on me was starting to feel uncanny. 

After observing the man and her in front of me, like a fool I never envisioned myself to become, I had thought of the only thing to say: to ask who the man was. 

I didn't know what suddenly came over me, but I could feel a sudden sense of possessiveness washing over me.

My gaze moved over to where they giggled like teenagers, and for some reason, it seemed to rile the hell out of me. I also badly wanted to know who this guy was for Almyra, who had doted on me to leave me for him.

I guess it was clear that maybe Almyra had stooped so low this time and had become desperate and crazy for money. 

"I can't believe she got the nerve to do this to me.." I finally blurted out.

"Xavier, it's alright..."

"Yes, son, you staring there is aiding her to embarrass you. Almost everyone knows you were married, but its almost as though she wanted to prove a stupid point."

"Mom is rightm She is doing this to embarrass you." Kitara added trying to soothe me: "The good thing is that she's gone out of your life and wouldn't burden you anymore, right?" 

 

After hearing her words, I didn't pass any more comments. My heart tugged with a weird emotion.

I admit I didn't appreciate her presence back then, but after her departure, she left this void in my heart.

A lonely feeling slowly crept in, and even though many people could surround me, the only thing that seemed to have my attention was her.

I missed her calls, which I had once thought to be a bother. Worse still, I could see her everywhere, welcoming my cold self and ignoring the cold shoulders she always received. I heard her laughter from the kitchen, watched her read in the library, and watched me sleep when she thought I was asleep.

 

What was happening to me?

 

"By the way, where have you two been?" Mom sudeenly asked, but I shook my head so Kitara could shut up.

 

"It's nothing, mom. "I replied calmly. 

 

Thankfully, The event started progressing further as the bidding time finally approached.

 

"Good evening, astounding ladies and wonderful gentlemen.." the bidder started at the stage where he was. 

 

He continued, "So this event, as stated in the invitation, is to help gather money for the helping of many unfortunate lives out there. We've got acceptable items for you all to bid and buy according to your liking. Then, through this, we can raise the money for the support we're about to offer to many people's lives!" 

 

"I hope you support us also, and let the bidding begin." The hall erupted into clapping and cheering as items were brought to display and the bidding process began. 

 

Many businessmen and women also started making choices and bidding for items they liked. 

 

However, my attention was weirdly drawn to Almyra instead. Unfortunately, she spared me no glance as she focused on the event itself, causing me to feel annoyed with myself as I also tried to focus but it just wasn't working, at least not when men surrounded her!" 

 

"And for the ladies, particularly this time!" the bidder said, now displaying an elegant plush handbag."This vintage handbag was imported just today from London! You can see its sleek silk and the fine designs embroidered on it. Huh... huh... this indeed is beautiful, am I right, ladies?" he said in his enticing tone as the bidding continued. 

 

I felt someone nudging me as I turned to Kitara, whose face was fixed on the handbag. "Xavier, isn't that beautiful? I want to get it!" she stated with a dreamy expression. 

 

"Well, go ahead if you want it; just do what you want to do.." I said with a shrug so she could let me be. 

 

Kitara was about to bid when Almyra made her bid coincidentally at the same moment, surprising me. 

"$5000".