Chapter 12
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Andrew’s fingers froze.
Over the past three years, he’d occasionally heard a bit of news about Emily. She’d gone abroad to study at a top design academy, and her works had begun to appear at small, niche exhibitions.
After graduating, she’d quietly returned to the country and started her own studio.
Every piece of news felt like a pinprick to his heart, giving him an explicable sense of annoyance and… despondency.
He found himself comparing Emily’s quiet independence to Lucy’s taxing reliance on him.
Emily, the ex–wife he’d once ignored completely and discarded as if she were trash, had quietly bloomed out of his sight, slowly revealing her dazzling existence. The brilliance of her newfound glory only made his “new life” seem even more chaotic and pathetic.
A week later, it was time for the triennial high–society charity gala. It was a gathering of all the most prominent people in society.
Andrew attended the event with Lucy.
Intent on being the center of attention, Lucy wore an outrageously elaborate gown, encrusted with crushed diamonds. Her makeup was meticulously done but bordered on garish. Every single one of her gestures carried a deliberate air of showiness and coquettishness, drawing countless sidelong glances.
When Andrew looked at her, he felt nothing but exhaustion. Subconsciously, her eyes began wandering across the venue.
Just then, a faint stir came from the entrance of the ballroom. All eyes converged on the striking figure slowly entering the place.
It was Emily.
She wore a black satin gown with a sleek, minimalist style. There were no other accessories, but the gown perfectly accentuated her slender, graceful figure.
Her long black hair was loosely pinned up, revealing her elegant neck and collarbone. Her makeup was subtle, but her complexion glowed, while her gaze was calm and self–assured. She had a quiet yet undeniable radiance to her.
Invited as an art consultant and collaborative designer for an international environmental foundation, she immediately captivated the room, becoming the true center of attention.
Andrew’s eyes were glued to her as well. He couldn’t pull them off her.
He felt as if he’d been struck in the chest, making his heart flutter in an unfamiliar yet intense manner. The Emily before him was nothing like the meek and timid wife he had, who was always surrounded by an air of melancholy.
Chapter 12
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When had she… become this dazzling?
Lucy spotted Emily as well and saw how Emily had easily snatched up all of the attention that was meant to be on her. Infuriated, she raised her voice and remarked pointedly, “Look at that gown, Andrew. It’s so plain. She looks like she’s attending a funeral. It’s in such bad taste…”
Andrew, however, didn’t seem to have heard her ranting. All of his focus went to the men who circled Emily, having been drawn to her.
They were some of the brightest and most talented men in the country, including the new CEO of a tech giant, an intentionally acclaimed architect, and an experienced investor with major connections.
All of them spoke with Emily easily, their eyes filled with open admiration and respect. She stood among them, poised and confident, laughing and conversing with effortless grace, her demeanor refined and sophisticated.
An unexpected pang of intense jealousy and rage shot through Andrew. Almost instinctively, he released Lucy and walked toward Emily.
“Emily,” he called, his voice laced with a hint of coldness and an almost imperceptible tone of someone marking his territory.
Hearing her name, Emily turned her head, her smile fading when she saw Andrew. Her gaze remained still as she greeted in a courteous yet distant manner, “It’s been a while, Mr. Stone.”
