CHAPTER SIX

LANCE'S POV

I stood in front of the mirror, buttoning up my shirt as the morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. I glanced at the wall clock and realized we were running late.

"Honey, are you almost done?" I called out to Ashley but received no response. She had been stuck in the dressing room for quite some time now.

The thought of being late to this event made my heart skip a beat. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity which I must not miss. I had been invited to a party organized by Marcus Roderigo, my number one idol. Meeting him had been my deepest wish for a long time, and now it was finally coming true.

I couldn't believe my luck, as someone who simply owned a small company, being invited to such an exclusive party seemed like a dream. I wasn't sure if it was a mistake or if there had been some sort of error, but I was determined to make the most of it.

“How do I look?" Ashley's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I raised my gaze up, looking at her through the mirror. Immediately, my eyes widened in surprise, almost popping out of its ball and I quickly turned around to see her clearly.

"What the fuck are you wearing?" I couldn't help but blurt out as I was shocked by the trash she was wearing.

"A dress, obviously. Can't you see?" She replied, emphasizing her point by showing off more of her body in the barely-there gown.

"Yes, I can see that. But all I see right now are your boobs and half of your butt. You're married, for heaven's sake! Can't you dress more appropriately? You look like trash," I scolded.

Rolling her eyes, Ashley adjusted her cleavage and pushed it up even more in the trash she was wearing. "Do you know how much I was paid to wear this 'trash'?" She retorted, crossing her arms. "A hundred thousand dollars! So, let me ask you this: has your company ever made that much money in a day, or even in a month?"

Her words left me speechless and a lump formed in my throat as I struggled to respond.

"Please, let this be the last time you talk trash about my dress,” Ashley warned as grabbed her purse angrily from the bed. “It's not as if you can afford any of my needs," she muttered as she left the room, slamming the door behind her.

I stood there, speechless. But I wasn't that surprised as this wasn't the first time she had acted this way. This behavior started as soon as we got married, and I realized that the Ashley I had dated back then was no longer the same person.

I couldn't pinpoint exactly what had changed her. I did not know if it was fame, because it couldn't have been money, as she also came from a wealthy family. Ashley's father owned one of the biggest companies in the world, ranking in the top 10.

As I turned back to the mirror, staring at my own reflection, the memories of the past flooded my mind.

"Good morning, sweetheart! It's time for breakfast!"

"Honey, don't forget your food flask."

"My king, do you want me to get you anything?”

Regret clawed at my heart as I remembered how I had mistreated Maya, and now I understood how it felt as Ashley was treating me the same way.

I had tried to find Maya for a while, to apologize for everything. But she seemed to have disappeared into thin air, as if she never existed.

"Maya, where exactly are you?" I sighed heavily as I lowered my head, feeling a deep sense of loss.

Just then, my phone rang and I glanced at the caller ID; it was my father-in-law, Maverick Wells but I chose now to pick up his call. I knew if I answered, he would likely insult me again, calling me names and questioning my manhood. He often blamed me for his daughter not getting pregnant since we were married, and even claimed that my first wife didn't have kids with me before she left.

Deciding to ignore his call, I quickly checked myself once more in the mirror before heading out of the room as I couldn't let his words get to me tonight.

Arriving at the party, Ashley pulled me closer with a wide smile on her face.

"Lance," Ashley leaned closer to me, whispering into my ear. "I know you've attended parties before, but this one is different. Please, don't embarrass me." Her words cut deep, but I masked my feelings with a wide smile and simply nodded.

We posed for the cameras and I could hear people complimenting us on how good we looked together.

As we entered the hall, I noticed our seats were in the front, among the important people and I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment at that moment.

The party began, and as the man I had always longed to see rose to the podium to give his speech, I adjusted in my seat, giving him my full attention.

I admired him as he spoke, and when he announced that his heir would take over the Empire, all eyes turned to the door. Everyone was curious to know who the daughter, whom he claimed was his life, would be.

The door flung open, and a lady with a beautiful figure and curvy figure entered. From afar, I could tell she was damn hot.

As she walked into the room with a guy by her side, everyone clapped and I joined in as well. But as she moved closer, she started looking more familiar to me and my heart began to race as I tried to place where exactly I had seen her before.

The loud sounds of the camera flashes and applause faded into the background as I focused on the lady walking closer to my side.

No, it couldn't be possible... The person right in front of me can't be her. She can't look like this, but she looks so much like her. How is this possible?

Different thoughts raced through my mind as I watched her approach and my mouth agape, my mind denied what my eyes were seeing. Then, our gazes met, and she flashed me a smirk.

Time froze at that moment, and my heart skipped a beat as I realized she was the one... she was my ex-wife, Maya.

.

.

.

.

“She looks so beautiful! Look at her glowing skin,” one of the guests nearby murmured with a radiant smile on his face.

My heart pounded heavily as I stared at Maya, who was giving her speech. She looked so different from the woman I married for four years as she spoke confidently and boldly with a wide smile. Maya used to be shy and hardly even had the courage to look directly into my eyes, not to mention standing in front of this large audience and giving a speech.

She also spoke some Italian words which I couldn’t understand, but those who did laughed at her words, and I guessed she must have cracked a joke. 

How could this be Maya? Or am I mistaken?

My feet tapped continuously against the floor as I eagerly awaited her to come off the podium so that I could approach her and talk to her because I could not really understand what exactly was happening here. Everything just seemed like a dream to me as I really wondered how exactly she had changed. How did she become the only daughter of Marcus Roderigo when she was just an orphan?

Did she perhaps have a twin that I wasn’t aware of? Or was Maya adopted?

No, I doubted that because if she was adopted, why would he claim that Maya was his only daughter when there was another real one?

I racked my head trying to think of what was happening but I couldn't figure it out. But what actually drew me more in was her beauty as she had completely transformed. She looked so elegant and…

“…and it's with great joy that I am announcing my upcoming marriage with Kingsley Bane.” Maya’s voice suddenly rose above the noise, clear and resolute.

My eyes widened in shock as I could not believe she was getting married to Kingsley Bane, the first son of NEXT Group, whose empire ranked second after A&R Empire because A&R ranked first.

I did not know why, but her announcement struck me like a physical blow and I felt a pain in my chest as if I was not happy about Maya marrying someone else when I was the one that abandoned her first.

Kingsley Bane stood up from his seat and walked to the podium where Maya stood, wrapping his hands around her waist, pulling her closer to him. The two of them exchanged wide smiles as the hall was filled with clapping and murmuring again, while I just sat there, totally shocked.

Well, he looks like a gigolo.

“Thank you all for being here to share in our joy. We are really excited to start this new chapter together and I hope our love continues to soar higher.” He raised up a toast.

“To the union of A&R Empire and NEXT Empire!” Kingsley Bane proposed a toast and others picked up their glasses and followed suit.

“To the union of A&R Empire and NEXT Empire!” All guests, except me, echoed loudly across the hall.

If two top empires merged together, then what about smaller ones like mine? Am I going to survive?

“Lance!” Ashley's voice cut through my thoughts, and I flinched in fear.

“Ye...yes… Ashley?” I stammered as I quickly turned to face her, thinking something had actually happened to her.

Ashley’s eyes were sharp, and I could see anger flashing in them.

“Why are you staring like a lost goat with its mouth open? Are you already gushing over her beauty?” Ashley said in disdain, and I swallowed hard, unable to find any words to say.

I wondered if that was the reason she yelled my name like that in the first place, and looking at her expression, I did not think she had any God reason as it seems she's jealous.

Not even replying to her, I just turned away and focused my attention back on Maya, but she was now being led down the podium by Kingsley. My eyes trailed after them as they took their seats, smiling at each other as if they were some sort of couple. My fists tightened as I remembered that I was the only one she used to smile like that with.

I silently prayed, over and over again, for Maya to stand up and leave the room as I really wanted to talk to her. After what felt like an eternity, my prayer was answered and Maya finally stood up and walked towards the restroom. 

I seized the opportunity and followed her without saying anything to my wife. But on getting there, I could not enter as there was a label “female restroom” barring the entrance.

Pacing to and fro with my hands in my pockets, I patiently waited for her to come out. Minutes later, the door opened and Maya came out of the restroom, turning towards the hall again.

“Maya!” I called out and she stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around to me.